Biographical Sketch of William Kerr

The father of William Kerr, whose name was Thomas, died when he was six years of age. They were originally of Virginia, but at the time of Mr. Kerr’s death they were living in Mercer County, Ky. William was bound out by his mother, who did not feel able to raise him; and in 1827 he came to Montgomery County. Here he married and had James H. H., George W., Elizabeth, William A., John T., Melissa C., Benjamin, Sophia, William, Douglass M., and Milton. Two of the children are dead, and all the others, except one, who resides in Lincoln … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Samuel Morris

The parents of Joshua and Samuel Morris died in Virginia. Joshua married Narcissa Vallandigham, and settled in Missouri in 1821. Their children were William H., Samuel J., Lewis R., Sarah J., and Rachel A. Samuel Morris, brother of Joshua, was a saddler by trade, and made such good saddles that they became popular all over the country, and he had all the work he could do. He settled in Missouri in 1821, and married Esther Bryan, daughter of Henry Bryan. Their children were Joshua, Chester, Marion, Naoma, Cynthia, Lucinda, Julia, Virlena, and Alice. Mr. Morris lives in Saline County; his … 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 Charles Woodruff

Charles Woodruff, of Buckingham Co., Va., married a Miss Gatewood, and their son, Wyatt P., married Mary Talphro, and settled in St. Louis Co.; Mo., in 1825. In 1827 they removed to St. Charles County, and from there to Montgomery County in 1832. They had John, Charles E., Robert H., Francis S., and David B. all of whom live in Montgomery County.

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

Biographical Sketch of John B. Williams

John B. Williams was the son of Cordey and Mary Williams, was born upon a farm in Callaway county, Missouri, August 11, 1844. When he was two years old his parents removed to Montgomery county and settled on a farm near Danville, where he lived until seven years of age. In the spring of 1853 his parents again changed their place of residence, this time moving to Gentry county, near Albany, where he lived until he reached his seventeenth year, when, in 1861, he enlisted in the Union army, joining Colonel Manlove Cranor’s regiment of six months militia. At the … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William Farthing

William Farthing, of Albemarle County, Virginia, married Polly Vaughn, and settled in Kentucky. They had Sarah, Elizabeth, William, John, Thomas, and Shelton B. Sarah married James Hunt, who settled in Montgomery County in 1836. Elizabeth married William P. Hill, of Kentucky, who also settled in Montgomery County in 1836. William married Nancy Wood, and settled in Iowa. John married Lucena J. Moran, and settled in Missouri City, Missouri. Shelton B. married Lucy A. Glenn and settled in Montgomery County in 1836.

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 William Andrews

William Andrews, of Virginia, had a son Robert, who married Nancy Edmonds, and settled in Missouri in 1833. Their children were William, Samuel, Sally, Mary J., and Catharine.

Biographical Sketch of Christopher Sanders

Christopher Sanders settled near Loutre Lick, in Montgomery County, at an early date. He was a great hunter, but somewhat indolent, and generally depended upon borrowing a gun to shoot his game with rather than perform the labor of carrying one. He raised four sons and two daughters Jack, James, Joseph, William, Nancy, and Rachel. William married Ivy Slavens, a daughter of Stewart Slavens, of Middletown.

Biographical Sketch of Benjamin White, Sr.

Benjamin White, Sr., was a native of Wales. He married Elizabeth Smith, and their son Benjamin, Jr., married Rebecca Chesell. They all lived in Montgomery Co., Md. Benjamin, a son of Benjamin White, Jr., was born November 4, 1796. He was married in 1821 to Rebecca Darby, who died, and in 1831 he married Lucy Scott. In 1837 they came to Missouri and settled in Montgomery County. Their children were Edward G., William H.., Richard G., Benjamin, Susan, Mary A., and Sarah E., all of whom are married and -living in’ Montgomery County.

Biographical Sketch of John Anderson

John Anderson, of England, had a son John, who married Letitia Stewart. They also had a son John, who married Jane Clark, and they had-Gustavus A., William E., Theresa J., Robert S., Eliza C., and John W. Gustavus A. graduated in medicine, and settled in Missouri in 1836. He was married first to Jemima E. Fisher, and after her death to Mary A. Talbott, daughter of Major Kit Talbott, of Loutre Island.

Biographical Sketch of Henry Wade

Henry Wade and his wife, Lucy Turner, lived in Culpepper Co., Va. They had Luke, Zackfifl, Henry, Andrew, John, Orinda, Polly, and Sally. Henry married Mary D. Waller, in 1810, and settled in Lincoln Co., Mo., in 1835. His children were William, Henry, John, Richard, Andrew, Martha, Judith, Lucy, Polly, and Margaret. William married Susan Sitton, of Lincoln County. Henry lives in California, unmarried. Richard died in that State. John married Levisa Wright. Andrew died in his youth. Martha was married first to Peter Shelton, and after his death to George Dyer. Judith married John Carter, and is now a … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Isaac King

Isaac King, of South Carolina, married Lydia Sitton, and settled in Tennessee. Their children were Joshua, Abraham, Sarah, and Joseph. Joshua, Abraham, and Sarah settled in Lincoln County, Mo., in 1817. Joseph married Elizabeth Yates, and settled in Montgomery County, in 1823. They had six children Conrad, Isaac, John, Charles, and Sarah. Mr. King built a horse mill, which was run principally by his wife. He took a great deal of interest in politics, and was elected Justice of the Peace and Captain of militia.

Biographical Sketch of William G. Powell

William G. Powell, of Holland, settled in Albemarle County, Virginia. His son, Lewis G., had three sons, James, Buck, and Lewis, Jr. James married Nancy Shelor, of Germany, and settled in Montgomery County, Missouri, in 1820. They had John W., James W., William L., Thomas J., and two daughters, who died in infancy. After the death of James Powell, his widow, who lived for many years afterward, proved herself to be a woman capable of managing the business affairs of life and carrying them to a successful issue. During the cold winter of 1831-2 she had what is called a … Read more

Biographical Sketch of David Dryden

David Dryden, of Pennsylvania, married Barbara Berry, and settled in Washington County, Va., where he and his wife both died. Their children were Jonathan, David, Nathaniel, William, Thomas, Rebecca, Elizabeth, and Mary. Jonathan married Fanny Duff, and lived and died in Kentucky. David was married twice, the name of his second wife being Jane Laughlan. He settled in Blunt County, Tenn. Nathaniel was also married twice; first to Ellen Laughlan, a daughter of Alexander and Ann Laughlan, but she died without children. Mr. Dryden was married the second time to Margaret Craig, a daughter of Robert Craig, who was a … Read more

Biography of Peter VanBibber

Peter and Isaac VanBibber, of Holland, came to America and settled in Botetourt Co., Va., previous to the revolution. Peter married Marguety Bounds, and they had Peter, Jr., Jesse, Jacob, James, Joseph, Matthias, Nancy, Sophronia, Ellen, and Olive. James married Jane Irvine, and settled in St. Charles County in 1803. He was Coroner at the time William Hays was killed by his son-in-law, James Davis. In 1817 he removed to Callaway County, and settled on the Auxvasse. His children were Joseph, Irvine, Frances. Lucinda, Melissa, Daniel and Minerva. Joseph was a surveyor and made the government surveys in range eight, … Read more

Biography of John Davis

John Davis, of Jonesburg, familiarly known as “Uncle John,” is the oldest son of the late Thomas Davis, of Shenandoah Co., Va. John was born October 30, 1791, in Shenandoah County, and is now nearly 85 years of age. When he was about sixteen his parents removed to Bourbon Co., Ky., and when the war of 1812 began, he enlisted in the army and served under Generals Winchester and Payne. He was stationed at Forts Wayne and Laramie, in Ohio, for some time. In 1820 he came to Missouri, and stopped a short time in St. Louis, which then had … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Charles Howard

Charles Howard, of Halifax County, Virginia, married Nancy Lewis, and settled in Warren County, Kentucky. One of their sons, named Joseph, married Malinda Lennox, and settled in Montgomery County, Missouri, in 1818. Their children were Sylvesta, Cynthia E., Elijah, Rachel, Estelle, Cordelia, and Malinda. Mr. Howard’s first wife died, and he was married again to Phoebe Saylor, by whom he had John and George. She also died, and he married a lady named McCormack, by whom he had Greenup, Nancy, and Matilda. He was married the fourth time to Sydney Hall, by whom he had Joseph W. and a daughter. … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Jesse Wright

Jesse Wright and his wife, Dicey Galarby, of Amherst Co., Va., had George G., Ellis, Shelton, William, Daniel, and Nancy. George G. married Sally Jacobs, of Nelson Co., Va., and settled in Montgomery Co., Mo., in 1837. Their children were-Margaret, Anna V., Catharine and George G., Jr. Margaret married John R. Arnor. Anna V. married Isaac H. Talbott, of Montgomery County. Catharine married Hon. Norman J. Colman, editor of Caiman’s Rural World and Lieut.-Gov. of Missouri. George G., Jr., lives in Montgomery County, is an influential citizen and a leader of the Democratic party of his locality.