Biography of George W. Couch

GEORGE W. COUCH, one of the county’s most worthy citizens, is descended from substantial Virginia stock, for in that State his father and grandfather were born. The family afterward moved to North Carolina, thence to South Carolina, from there to Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, and Missouri, in which State the grandfather, Lindley Couch, passed the closing scenes of his life, after a long and useful career. Simpson Couch, father of subject, was born in Virginia and was there married to Miss Rebecca Roberts, who is still living although seventy years of age. Mr. Couch died in 1868. After his marriage he … Read more

Biography of Capt. Samuel W. Greer

CAPT. SAMUEL W. GREER. Industry, frugality and honesty were the main principles instilled into the lives of their children by the parents of Capt. Samuel W. Greer. Who can doubt but these principles, which have been adopted by Mr. Greer throughout his career, have had much to do with his success? He was born in Rockingham County, N. C., July 28, 1828. The son of John and Mary Jane (Brown) Greer, natives also of the Old North State. The mother died in that State when our subject was but a boy and the father afterward married Miss Parthenia Tuer. In … Read more

Biography of Joseph B. Johnson

JOSEPH B. JOHNSON. With a record that is enviable, Joseph B. Johnson has been county clerk of Oregon County, Missouri, for the past eight years, and will no doubt succeed himself to that position at the next election. He has won for himself an honored position among the representative men of this section, and has been closely identified with many of its best interests. Like two-thirds of the best citizens of the county, Mr. Johnson is a native of Tennessee, born in Jackson in 1852, son of William R. and Martha Ann (Brown) Johnson. The father was also born in … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Judge John Rowlett Woodside

JUDGE JOHN ROWLETT WOODSIDE (deceased). This gentleman was born in Calloway County, Kentucky, in the Kentucky Purchase, in 1814. He was self educated and from Kentucky removed to Scott County, Missouri, and later to Oregon County, and was engaged in school teaching for some time, but while teaching he broke his shoulder which forced him to other pursuits. He took up law and was soon admitted to practice, and later was made State attorney. He was a member of the State Legislature when the secession ordinance was passed. During the early part of the war he served as a recruiting … Read more

Biography of Capt. James B. Old

CAPT. JAMES B. OLD, a prominent citizen of Oregon County, Missouri, was born May 22, 1835, and is the son of Thomas E. and Mary E. (Posey) Old, who were born in Halifax County, Virginia, and lived in various places. They were married in Virginia and afterward moved to Weakley County, Tennessee, and January 1, 1841, landed in Oregon County, Missouri, coming through with teams, and located where Thomasville now is. They both died in 1872 at the age of seventy-two years. Mr. Old was a farmer, but practiced medicine for many years. He was educated at a prominent old … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Willard Sitton

WILLARD SITTON. Although Oregon County, Missouri, is well known for the energy, enterprise and push of its farmers, Willard Sitton stands at the van in this industry, and has shown much wisdom and good judgment in the conduct of agricultural affairs, and, through his own endeavors, has won an enviable reputation. He is a prominent resident of Johnson Township, this county, and is deservedly ranked among its successful farmers and stockmen. Mr. Sitton was born in Washington County, Missouri, October 14, 1856, and received a fair education in the common schools of the same. His youthful days were spent in … Read more

Biography of Ad V. Coppedge

Ad V. Coppedge, the pioneer lawyer of Delaware county and the first county attorney, has also been connected with every important constructive measure that has led to the up building, development and progress of this section of the state. He became a resident of Grove in 1963 and throughout all the intervening period has taken active part in shaping the county’s up building. Mr. Coppedge was born on a farm in Missouri near the Arkansas line, January 26, 1870, the old homestead being situated at Thayer. His parents were Houston Harrison and Tennessee Martha (Bledsoe) Coppedge, and the mother, a … Read more

Biography of William H. Payne

WILLIAM H. PAYNE. One of the best known and generally admired Democrats of Alton, Missouri, is William H. Payne, who is now the most efficient and capable collector of Oregon County, that State. He has earned deserved prominence and an enviable reputation as one of the leading citizens of the county. Oregon County cannot claim him as an original son, but he was only ten years of age when he came here. Mr. Payne was born in Giles County, Tennessee, in 1847, and he is the son of John and Martha (Williamson) Payne, natives also of that county and State. … Read more

Biography of William W. McLelland

WILLIAM W. McLELLAND. Howell County, Missouri, is remarkably well adapted to the purposes of farming, and one of the most progressive followers of this calling is William W. McLelland, who is a native of the Old North State, born October 9, 1848. His parents, Rufus and Almira (Percey) McLelland, were also born in that State, and when the subject of this sketch was about three years of age, came by ox-team to Oregon County, Missouri, and until after the war resided on a farm there. One year was then spent in Dade County, after which they returned to Oregon County, … Read more

Biography of Capt. John James Sitton

CAPT. JOHN JAMES SITTON, one of the wealthiest and most influential citizens of Oregon County, Missouri, has been prominently identified with the best interests of the county for many years, and no worthy movement is allowed to fail for want of support on his part. He is now located at Garfield, where he has a fine residence, and where he is highly esteemed. Capt. Sitton was born in Washington County, Missouri, at Palmer, July 5, 1842, and he is the son of Harvey and Martha F. (Wingo) Sitton, natives respectively of South Carolina and Virginia. Harvey Sitton was a young … Read more

Biography of Hon. Conrad H. Dryer

HON. CONRAD H. DRYER. The labor of compiling a review of the industrial institutions of Howell County, Missouri, involves an arduous task, and no subject is found more worthy of the historian’s attention than the mercantile trade, of which Hon. Conrad H. Dryer is a most honorable exponent. In addition to this he is a successful follower of the primitive occupation of man -farming-and the success which has attended his efforts is owing to his own good fighting qualities. He was born in Minden, Prussia, and many of his most worthy business qualities have been inherited from his worthy German … Read more

Biography of Maj. Matthew George Norman

Beginning life with a clear head, true heart and high purpose, Maj. Matthew George Norman pressed on past the ranks of adversity and became what he is today-one of the most prominent and honored of Oregon County’s citizens. As a representative man of the county he is looked upon as one of the best type. Maj. Norman was born near Winchester, Franklin County, Tennessee, February 27, 1830, and was the seventh of eight children born to John and Elizabeth (Colquit) Norman, natives, respectively, of North Carolina and Georgia. The parents were probably married in Tennessee, and she died in Alabama … Read more

Biography of D. F. Martin

D. F. MARTIN, circuit clerk of Howell County, Missouri, is closely identified with the welfare of West Plains, widely known as a politician, popular as a citizen and who hasbeena resident of south Missouri since 1851. Born in Lincoln County, Tennessee, December 9, 1833. He is a son of St. George and Emaline (Gaither) Martin, natives of Virginia, the former born in 1806, and the latter in 1807. The grandfather, George Martin, was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and a friend of George Washington. He was born in the Old Dominion, but moved from there to Georgia, and thence … Read more

Biography of R. I. January

R. I. JANUARY. Youth is not a bar to promotion, for the American people have learned that ability is not measured by the length of time man has spent upon earth. Some men might live a thousand years and not know anything, and others are bright and able to take their places among men long before they have arrived at mature manhood. The subject of this sketch belongs to the latter class, for he was bright at school, brilliant as a student of law, and now that he is a member of the bar, has a good practice, which rapidly … Read more

Biography of James K. P. Conner

JAMES K. P. CONNER. The subject of this sketch is a gentleman of ripe intelligence, and a man of large benevolence and broad sympathies. He is a citizen of Jobe, Missouri, and the most efficient postmaster at that place. Mr. Conner is a native Hoosier, born in Dubois County, December 23, 1844, and the son of Rial and Clara (Berry) Conner, natives, respectively, of Tennessee and Illinois. The parents were married in Indiana, and the father died in Dubois County, that State, in 1861. The mother is still living and finds a comfortable home with her children. All his life … Read more

Biography of A. K. Oliver

A. K. OLIVER. Eminently worthy of mention in this work is A. K. Oliver who has devoted his life to farming, and now has a comfortable home and a fine estate in Pike Creek Valley. He is a native of Smith County, Tennessee, and there first opened his eyes on the light of day in 1825. A son of Bluford and Polly (Link) Oliver, natives of Virginia, who were born in 1782 and 1784 respectively, and were reared and married in the State of their birth. They eventually removed to Smith County, Tennessee, and in that section they resided until … Read more

Missouri Cemetery Records McDonald to Phelps Counties

Missouri Cemetery records are listed by county then name of cemetery within the Missouri county. Most of these are complete indices at the time of transcription, however, in some cases we list the listing when it is only a partial listing. McDonald County Following Cemeteries hosted at McDonald  County, Missouri Tombstone Transcription Project Brush Creek Cemetery Roller Cemetery Mercer County Following cemeteries hosted at Mercer County MOGenWeb Hart Cemetery St Paul Cemetery Following cemeteries hosted at Grundy County MOGenWeb Brummitt Cemetery Half Rock Cemetery Old Union Cemetery Prairie Ridge Cemetery Union Cemetery White Oak Cemetery Following Cemeteries hosted at Mercer County, Missouri … Read more

Biography of John F. Church

JOHN F. CHURCH, senior member of the well-known firm of Church & Kissel, Winona, Missouri, is one who has built by years of industry and good management a business that is recognized as being one of the best of its kind in the country, a credit to Winona and Shannon County. Mr. Church is a man who possesses the inherent qualities requisite to commercial success, in a very high degree, and in his chosen calling has attained an eminent position among his compeers, and the high regard of his fellow-citizens, entirely through his own efforts and sterling personal qualities. Mr. … Read more

Biography of Judge Alfred Perry Couch

JUDGE ALFRED PERRY COUCH. The gentleman whose name heads this sketch has always been a potential element in the growth and development of Oregon County, Missouri, and as a representative citizen stands second to none in the county. He was born in what is now known as Couch, in Oregon County, Missouri, November 28, 1842, and is the son of Simpson and Rebecca (Roberts) Couch. It is thought that the father came originally from Virginia, but the family lived in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky and Illinois, and long years ago, in the thirties, came to Fulton County, Arkansas … Read more

Biography of Joseph Jackson Pierce

JOSEPH JACKSON PIERCE, who is familiarly known as Joe Jack, is a prominent and influential citizen of Oregon County, Missouri In Benton County, West Tennessee, he was born in 1849, and is.a son of S. .D. and Kesiah (Forest) Pierce, the former a native of Wake County, N. C., and the latter of west Tennessee. The father was but a child when his parents took him to west Tennessee, and he there grew to manhood and married. In the year 1855 he came to Missouri and first settled in Ripley County where he remained two years, after which he moved … Read more