Montgomery County MO

Biography of William L. Nelson, M.D.

Dr. William L. Nelson, a physician with office and residence at No. 1483 Union boulevard in St. Louis, was born in Montgomery county, Missouri, July 12, 1879. His father, William Nelson, was of American birth, but his father came from Ireland to the new world. The former took up the occupation of farming in southeastern Missouri, where he owned three hundred acres, constituting a valuable farm to which he added many modern improvements. He married Ursula Gibbens, who was also born in the new world and was a niece of Brigadier General Gibbens of Civil war fame, serving with the … Read more

Biography of William Groom

William Groom, of England, emigrated to America, and settled in Kentucky, where he married Sally Parker. They had Abraham, Isaac, Moses, Jacob, Aaron, Susan, Elizabeth, and Sally. All except Susan came to Missouri. Abraham and Isaac settled in Clay County. Jacob and Aaron settled in Montgomery County in 1810. Jacob was a ranger under Captain Callaway, and, in company with Jackey Stewart, was scouting in the woods the day Callaway was killed. A man named Dougherty was killed the same day, at Salt Peter Cave, not far from Groom’s farm. After they had killed him the Indians cut his body … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Spiers Singleton

Spiers Singleton was the son of George Singleton, of North Carolina. He married Lucinda Whitesides, of Christian Co., Ky., and settled in Illinois, where he died, leaving a widow and seven children. Her brother, James Whitesides, brought her and the children to Montgomery County, and attended to their wants until the children were grown, and at his death he left most of his property to them. The names of the children were James W., Ewell D., John S., Emeline, Cynthia A., Polly, and Mary A.

Biographical Sketch of Thomas Stevens

Thomas Stevens emigrated from England and settled on the James River, 120 miles above Richmond, Va., prior to the revolution. His children were John, William, Susan, Delila, Elizabeth, and Lucy. John married Amanda Thornhill, of Virginia, and they had Thomas, William, Absalom, Elizabeth, Nancy, Susan, and Hope. Thomas was a soldier in the revolutionary war. He married Agnes Perkins, and settled in Missouri in 1826. His children were John, William, Agnes, and Eliza. He was married the second time in Missouri. William, who was a Baptist preacher, was born in May, 1786. He married Frances A. Ferguson, daughter of Dougal … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Presley Anderson

Presley Anderson and his wife, Elizabeth Steele, settled in Montgomery Co., Ky., in 1779. Their children were John A. S., James, William, Presley, Jr., Lucy, and Eliza. John A. S., better known as Captain Jack, was a remarkable man in his day, and is well remembered by the old citizens of Montgomery and Callaway counties. We give his history elsewhere. Presley, Jr., married Euphemia Jones, of Tennessee, and settled first in Warren Co., Mo., in 1814, from whence he removed to Montgomery County in 1817, and settled near Brush creek. He brought his family to Missouri on pack-horses, and they … Read more

Biography of Abraham Snethen

Abraham Snethen and his wife, Elizabeth Stewart, were natives of Germany. They emigrated to America and settled in New Jersey, where they had eleven children, of whom the names of only seven are now remembered. They were William, John, Reuben, Polly, Lydia, Elizabeth, and Margaret. William married and settled in Kentucky in 1792, and in 1810 he removed to Ohio, where he lost his wife. He then started to return to New Jersey, but died of cholera, at Hagerstown, Md. John was born in March, 1789, and when he was eight years old his mother died. He was then bound … Read more

Biography of Robert Wilson Morrison

ROBERT WILSON MORRISON. – This leading pioneer of the immigration of 1844 was born March 14, 1811, in Fleming County, Kentucky, of Scotch parentage. In 1822 he moved with his parents to Montgomery County, Missouri, living with them until his marriage in 1831, to Miss Nancy Irwin. Two years later a move was made to Clay County, and thence to Clinton County, on the border of the territory occupied by the Indians of the plains. Upon the consummation of the “Platte purchase,” he moved with his family into that frontier region, and for six years lived in Andrew County. The … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Cornelius Mabrey

Cornelius Mabrey, of Pittsylvania Co., Va., was a. mill-wright by trade. He was married twice, but of his first wife and her children we have no account. His second wife was Polly Chaney, by whom he had Patsey, Pleasant, Letitia, Elizabeth, Polly, and Philip. Mr. Mabrey moved to middle Tennessee and lived there several years. He afterward settled in Logan County, Ky., where, after a residence of several years, he was drowned. In 1828 his widow and her children came to Missouri, and settled in Lincoln County, where she died two years after-ward. The eldest daughter, Patsey, married George Huss, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Enoch Spry

Enoch Spry came to Missouri from Clark County, Kentucky, with Simon Griggs and Cornelius Howard, when he was fifteen years of age. He married Mary A Logan, the only sister of William, Alexander, Hugh and Henry Logan, and settled in Montgomery County in 1817. They had eight children. Soon after steamboats began to navigate the Missouri river, Mr. Spry, happening to be in the vicinity of the river one day, heard a boat blow its whistle, at which lie became very much frightened, and ran home. He told his neighbors that a panther had caught a man down on the … Read more

Biography of James Cope

James Cope, of East Tennessee, settled in Montgomery County in 1837. He married a Miss Hutton, of Tennessee, whose father was a soldier of the war of 1812. On one occasion the portion of the army with which he was acting met with some reverses, by which it was cut off from its base of supplies, and the soldiers were reduced to the verge of starvation. As a last resort, Mr. Hutton cut off a portion of his horses’ tail, and ate it, and thus saved his life. The horse seemed to experience very little inconvenience from the loss of … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Jacob Lewellyn

Jacob Lewellyn, son of Samuel Lewellyn, had a son Samuel who settled in Pike Co., Mo., at a very early date, and died in 1837. He left a son, John W., who married Jane Trabue, of Kentucky, in 1824, and had ten children, nine of whom are still living. Mr. Lewellyn lived for some time in Clarke Co., Mo., where he was Judge of the County Court for eight years. He settled in Montgomery County in 1839, having lived in St. Charles County in 1818, and in Pike County in 1820.

Biographical Sketch of William Cundiff

William Cundiff, of Virginia, settled in Montgomery County at a very early date. His children were Joseph, John, William, Jane, Uraney, Elizabeth A., and Polly. Joseph married Sally McFarland, of Kentucky. John Married Polly Snethen. William died a bachelor. Jane married William Groom, a son of Jacob Groom. Polly married Joseph McFarland. Elizabeth A. married Nelson Hunter.

Biographical Sketch of Robert Haslip

Robert Haslip was a native of Maryland, but settled and lived in Virginia. He had two sons, Samuel and John. The latter was a soldier in the war of 1812. He married Lucy Johnson, by whom he had Robert, James N., Samuel, John, William, Malinda, Jane, Elizabeth, and Polly. James N. settled in Montgomery Co., Mo., in 1838. His wife was Esther Clements, by whom he had ten children. Robert, brother of James, settled in Lincoln County in 1837, and in 1860 he was killed by a wagon running over his body.

Biographical Sketch of Simon Diggs

Simon Diggs, of Lancaster County, Virginia, had a son named William, who married a Miss Goe, of Middlesex County, Virginia, by whom he had one son, named Christopher. His first wife died, and he was married the second time to Mary Seeton, by whom he had William, Isaac, Simon, John H., Dudley, Rowland, Barbee., Cole, Nancy, Polly, and Elizabeth. John H. married Sarah Hathaway, who lived to the age of 103 years. Their children were Lawson, Christopher Y., John H., Jr., Cynthia, Malinda, Nancy, Elizabeth, and William C. Lawson and John H., Jr., were ship carpenters. The former married Sarah … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John Stewart

John Stewart, of Bath Co., Va., was of Irish descent. He married Hannah Hickland, of Virginia, and their children were James, John, Edward, Jacob, Miranda, David, Margaret, Nancy, and Jennie. John married his cousin, Mary Stewart, and they had Octavia, Tabitha, Osborne, Margaret, Alonzo, Emily, Martha and Cortez. Mr. Stewart settled in Montgomery County in 1839. His three younger children died before they were grown. Octavia married Frank Devine. Tabitha married Rev. Martin Luther Eades, who died in old age, and she afterward married Lewis Busby. Margaret married John See.

Biographical Sketch of Calvin Ford

Calvin Ford came from Ireland, and settled in Charlotte County, Virginia, where his son Hezekiah was born. The latter married Ann Garrett, by whom he had thirteen children, eleven of whom he raised. Their names were Calvin, James, Claiborne, Laban, Marley, Thomas, William, Elizabeth, Morning, Susan, and Martha. William, James, Elizabeth and Martha came to Montgomery County with their mother, who was a widow, in 1835. William was married first to Martha A. Eperson, of Virginia, and after her death he married Margaret H. Nettle. James was married first to Mary Robinson, and after her death he married the widow … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Thomas Massey, Sr.

Thomas Massey, Sr., married Nancy Hill, of Kentucky, and settled in Montgomery County in 1809, and in 1813 he settled at Loutre Lick, having obtained permission to do so from Nathan Boone, who owned the land on which the Lick is situated. His son, Thomas, Jr., was a ranger in Boone’s company. There were eleven children in all, viz: Israel, Thomas, Jr., Harris, Ann, Agnes, Sally, Nancy, Matilda, Elizabeth, and Docia.

Biographical Sketch of John McGinnis

John McGinnis and his wife came from Ireland, and settled first in Virginia, from whence they removed to Kentucky. Their son, Greenberry D., married Sallie Lewis, of Kentucky, and settled in Lincoln Co., Mo., in 1832. His children were Elizabeth, Margaret B., William B., Jane, Nancy, Thomas S., Maria, Milton, Sarah E., and Mary E. Milton married Margaret Williams, and settled in Pike County. Elizabeth married Enoch Sevier, and lives in Lincoln County. William B. married twice and settled in Illinois. Jane and Nancy died single. Sarah E. married John Harris, and settled in Illinois. Samuel, son of John McGinnis, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William S. Slavens

William S. Slavens was born in Greenbriar Co., Va., September 15, 1887. He was married five times; first to Anna Hawkins, by whom he had three children, second to Mary Riggs, third to Elizabeth Elsbury, by whom he had seven children, fourth to the widow Thomas, whose maiden name was Rebecca Stanley, by whom he had two children; and fifth to the widow Meyers, whose maiden name was Paulina Hunt. Mr. Slavens settled in Montgomery, on Brush Creek, in 1820, and removed to near Middletown in 1829. He owned part of the land that Middletown was built upon. Mr. Slavens … Read more

Biographical Sketch of David Gentry

David Gentry, of Virginia, married Jane Kendrick, and settled in Madison County, Ky. They had Bright B., Pleasant, David, Dickey, Martin, Bailey, and five daughters. Bright B. married Martha Jones, and they had James, Margaret, David, Jonathan J., Eliza, Susan, Albert, and Fanny. David settled in Montgomery County in 1833, and married Polly A. Groom. Jonathan also settled in Montgomery County in 1833, and married Elizabeth McFarland.