Liberty Missouri

Liberty, the county seat of Clay County, was settled in the early 1820s and formally established in 1829, making it one of the earliest American settlements west of the Mississippi River, with land originally inhabited by Native American groups including the Missouria and Osage prior to Euro-American migration; early records for genealogical research begin with Clay County’s organization in 1822, including probate, land, and court records maintained at the county courthouse, while additional church registers and cemetery records date from the 1830s; geographically, Liberty lies near the headwaters of the Fishing River and along historic transportation routes connecting to the Missouri River, with early roads facilitating migration into western Missouri; notable landmarks include William Jewell College (founded 1849), which preserves archival materials, and nearby trails associated with westward expansion, making Liberty a key locality for tracing early settlers moving into the trans-Mississippi frontier.

Biographical Sketch of Charles A. Worden

Charles A. Worden was born in Vermont on November 17, 1836, and received his early education in Massachusetts. After becoming skilled in carpentry and cabinet-making, he transitioned to manufacturing machinery for cotton mills in 1860. In 1867, he moved briefly to Illinois before settling in Daviess County, where he took up farming in March 1868. He married Sarah P. Lewis in Gallatin later that year and currently owns a well-improved 100-acre farm with a picturesque view of Gallatin and Winston.

Biographical Sketch of Lucien B. Noah

Lucien B. Noah was born on August 23, 1829, in Ohio and moved to Daviess County, Missouri, with his family at the age of sixteen. After completing his education, he worked as a cabinet maker and carpenter before transitioning to farming in 1861. He later expanded into milling operations in 1866. Noah owns a 280-acre farm in Liberty Township. He married Cassandre Gisebert in 1858, and they had eleven children, with ten living today.

Biographical Sketch of William H. Hartman

William H. Hartman, born October 3, 1824, in Pennsylvania, moved to Chicago in 1844, staying until 1854 before relocating to California. He worked in teaming and later trucking for the Pacific Distillery Company in San Francisco. In 1868, he returned to Chicago, then settled in Jackson County, Missouri, before moving to Liberty Township, where he became a successful farmer on a 220-acre property. Hartman married Flora Auman in 1866, and they had seven children together.

Biographical Sketch of William Wilson

William Wilson, born in Ireland in 1800, was educated in his homeland and began his career as a farmer. In 1847, he emigrated to America with his family, initially settling in New Orleans before moving to southern Illinois, where he continued farming. He later relocated to northern Illinois and then Kansas, before finally settling in his current State and County in 1870. Married in 1881, Wilson had five children but lost his wife in Illinois. Now over eighty, he remains actively involved in farming and stock-raising.

Biographical Sketch of Samuel Wilson

Samuel Wilson, born in County Donegal, Ireland, in March 1842, emigrated to America with his family at the age of four. They first settled in New Orleans before moving to Illinois, where Wilson was raised and educated. He began his career as a farmer, transitioning to Kansas from 1868 to 1872. Later, he relocated to Daviess County, where he currently resides on a well-improved 196-acre farm. Known for his industrious nature, Wilson is respected by his community.

Biographical Sketch of Lafayette F. Myers

Lafayette F. Myers, born on June 1, 1844, in Daviess County, spent his early years in California, where he worked in the stock business and freighting. Returning to his birthplace in 1866, he focused on farming and stock-raising, owning a 280-acre farm with a brick residence and a large orchard. He married Mary E. Shelby on November 12, 1868, and they have four children. Myers is recognized as one of the most prominent citizens in Daviess County.

Biographical Sketch of George W. Morris

George W. Morris was born on March 28, 1847, in DeKalb County, Missouri, and moved to Liberty Township with his family as a child. He became a farmer, owning 120 acres of improved land, where he still resides. Morris married A. E. Lydick in 1871, and they had four children: Kittie, Alma, Charles, and William. He served as justice of the peace from 1875 to 1881 before becoming assessor of the township. His farm is well arranged, featuring ample water and fencing.

Biographical Sketch of John J. Wample

John J. Wample was born in Virginia in February 1829 and was educated there. He began farming independently before moving to Tennessee in 1848, then to Daviess County, Indiana in 1851, where he has since farmed on an eighty-acre property in Liberty Township. He married Elizabeth Hudle in 1850, and they have two children, Isaac E. and Mary J. Wample is recognized as a hardworking and successful farmer, providing well for his family.

Biographical Sketch of Benjamin Matchett Jr.

Benjamin Matchett Jr. was born in Essex County, England, on December 3, 1840, and emigrated to America at age fourteen. He worked on the Grand Trunk Railroad in Canada before moving to Indiana, where he completed his education. Matchett enlisted in the Twenty-ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry in 1861, serving as a spy and in signal service until his discharge in 1863. After a brief stint in farming, he became a minister, dedicating his life to preaching and helping others across three states. He married Alida Munn in 1863 and had six children.

Biographical Sketch of John McDougall

John McDougall, born in Isla, Scotland on April 17, 1824, began his career in farming before transitioning to a role in the customs office in 1847. Seeking new opportunities, he immigrated to the United States in 1853, working various jobs including in a foundry, farming, and as a stone-quarry laborer before settling in Daviess County, Indiana in 1866. Married to Janet Johnston in 1853, they had five children. Janet passed away in 1877, leaving behind a legacy of respect and admiration.

Biographical Sketch of H. C. Thompson

H. C. Thompson was born on April 27, 1846, in Caldwell County, where he was raised. In 1865, he moved to Daviess County, where he has since farmed on a well-improved 280-acre property in Liberty Township, specializing in livestock. Married on January 26, 1867, to Maria H. Lynn, they have six children. A respected figure in his community, Thompson is known for his practical farming skills and integrity as a businessman.

Biographical Sketch of R. L. Vallandigham

R. L. Vallandigham was born on January 1, 1837, in Ray County and raised in Daviess County. Initially a farmer, he shifted to operating a grist and saw-mill in 1868 before returning to farming in 1874. A Confederate soldier during the Civil War, he served in Company F and was wounded at Pea Ridge. He married M. A. Parks in 1873, with five children resulting from their union. Vallandigham currently resides on a 164-acre farm in Liberty Township.

Biographical Sketch of Benjamin Matchett Sr.

Born on May 24, 1812, in Stickney, England, Benjamin Matchett initially worked as a railroad contractor before immigrating to America in 1855. After working on the Grand Trunk Railway in Canada, he settled in LaPorte, Indiana, where he farmed until 1868, eventually moving to Daviess County, Missouri. Matchett was married twice, fathering four children. He owned and improved a 175-acre farm and played a key role in the early development of railroad track fastening technology.

Biographical Sketch of J. A. Stigers

J. A. Stigers was born on October 23, 1838, in Fulton County, Pennsylvania. At thirteen, his family moved to Ohio, where he pursued farming. After spending two years in Mahaska County, Iowa, he settled in Liberty Township, Missouri, owning a 160-acre farm. In 1868, he married Jennie Chadwick, with whom he had three children. An accomplished farmer, Stigers managed a herd of cattle and hogs and served two terms as justice of the peace but chose to focus on his farming endeavors.

Biographical Sketch of Jacob Tingler

Jacob Tingler was born on January 30, 1823, in Guerusey County, Ohio. After completing his education, he worked in the boot and shoe trade for three years before turning to farming. He married Elizabeth J. Sailor in 1847 and moved to Steuben County, Indiana, in 1849. In 1866, they relocated to Daviess County, Missouri, enticed by the area’s fertile land, where they established a home on a well-improved forty acres. They had six children, with four surviving, and were known as good citizens and neighbors.

Biographical Sketch of R. S. E. Lewis

R. S. E. Lewis was born on May 29, 1836, in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. He began his career in farming and lumbering before relocating to Illinois in 1851, then briefly to Iowa. In 1857, he settled in Daviess County, where he has engaged successfully in farming, managing a 230-acre property. Married twice, Lewis is a father of six and has a notable interest in stock-raising, particularly horses, with annual sales averaging between fifteen to twenty.

Biographical Sketch of T. A. Martin

T. A. Martin was born on November 9, 1842, in Belmont County, Ohio, and raised in Indiana. He worked as a farmer until enlisting in the Seventy-second Indiana Volunteers during the Civil War, serving from 1862 to 1865 and participating in several significant battles. In 1868, he moved to Daviess County, Missouri, where he continued farming on 120 acres of improved land. Martin married N. J. Rude in 1869, and they had six children. He is recognized as a skilled farmer and a respected community member.

Biographical Sketch of J. Koger

J. Koger, born on September 10, 1834, in Kentucky, moved to his current county at the age of eight. He became a farmer and stock dealer, owning a 500-acre improved farm in Liberty Township. A Union supporter during the Civil War, he enlisted in 1852 and served until the war’s end. Koger was married twice, first to Elizabeth Netherton, with whom he had four children, and later to Miss Lydick, with whom he had six children, two of whom survived.

Biography of William M. Fitch

William M. Fitch, born in 1870 in Missouri, pursued education at local schools and graduated from William Jewell College in 1893. He began his law career in 1894, serving as clerk and later prosecuting attorney in DeKalb County. Fitch partnered with notable lawyers and held positions including assistant attorney general of Missouri. In 1915, he became vice president of the Mississippi Valley Trust Company and later president of The Indemnity Company of America. Active in politics and community, he was married and involved in various fraternal and educational organizations.

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

Dr. J. S. Summers, born in Indiana in 1870, is a respected specialist in eye, ear, nose, and throat diseases, practicing in Jefferson City, Missouri. His education includes degrees from William Jewell College and the University of Missouri. After initially practicing general medicine, he focused on his specialty in 1912. Dr. Summers is dedicated to patient welfare, offering his services during World War I and engaging in various medical associations. He is married to Nettie Violet Pickett, and they have one son.