Sheridan Missouri

Biographical Sketch of Miles Bristow

Miles Bristow was born in Jackson County, Indiana, June 2, 1836. His father was a native of Kentucky. His parents moved to Gallatin, Daviess County, Missouri, when he was about three years of age, where he remained until the death of his father in 1851. During the next three years he spent the greater part of his time with his brother on a farm, and in a tannery at Gallatin; then purchased land in Sheridan township, and for over four years was engaged in farming and teaching. In 1862 he was enrolled in Company E, Fifty-first Regiment Missouri Infantry, and … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William Neal

William Neal is a native of Darke County, Ohio, born December 5, 1817. He is the son of Caleb and Anna Miller Neal; his father being a native of Tennessee and his mother of Indiana. The early life of Mr. Neal was spent on the farm and in acquiring such education as was afforded in those times. He remained in his native town until he attained his twenty-first year when he commenced farming in Darke County, but after a few years labor removed to Adams County, Indiana, and engaged in stock-dealing and speculation for several years, when he returned to … Read more

Biographical Sketch of I. B. Gurney

I. B. Gurney was born April 10, 1845, near Cleveland, Ohio. His father, Asa H. Gurney, was a native of Ohio, and his mother, Catherine Sortor Gurney, a native Allegany County, New York. When he was ten years of age his parents moved to Lake County, Ohio, where they were located on a farm, and where Mr. Gurney received his education, attending school during the winter for several years, and afterward entered college at Berea, Ohio. In August, 1863, he went to Venango County, Pennsylvania, where he became foreman in the office of the McClintock Oil Company, where he remained … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Enoch S. M. Donaldson

Enoch S. M. Donaldson, son of John H. Donaldson, was born January 19, 1840, in Muskingum County, Ohio. When Enoch was two years of age his father moved to Morgan County, Ohio. He remained with his father until he was twenty-two years of age, during which time he worked on the farm and attended school. He was engaged in fanning until 1864, when he went to Venango County, Pennsylvania, where he worked for three years. During part of this time he was employed by an oil company, and a part of the time worked at the shoemaker’s trade. He also … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Elwood M. Mann

Elwood M. Mann is a native of Hancock, Washington county, Maryland, born December 14, 1836. His parents, Jonathan and Mary A. Mann, removed to Missouri in 1844, and after stopping at Wellington one winter, came to Daviess county and settled in what is now Sheridan township. They lived there until 1846, then removed to Gallatin, where his mother died in 1848, and his father in 1859, he having lived with his parents and clerked in his father’s store until that time. In 1860 he engaged in the mercantile business with Jonathan Brosins and his brother William Mann,, under the firm … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William Elgin

William Elgin is a native of Ohio, born in Wayne County, May 28, 1827. When he was four years of age his parents moved to Montgomery County, Ohio, and until he reached his twentieth year he attended school in that County, and also learned the cabinet-maker’s trade and spent some tine in farming. In 1849 he went to Dayton, Ohio, and from thence to Logansport, Indiana, working at his trade in both cities. At the end of two years he returned to Montgomery County and turned his attention to farming. After this he removed to Warren County, and enlisted, in … Read more

Biographical Sketch of George N. Noah

George N. Noah was born in Portage County, Ohio, October 25, 1826. His father was a native of Pennsylvania, and his mother of New York. His parents came to Daviess County in 1836, and located on a farm in Sheridan Township, where George remained until he was twenty years of age. In 1861 he was enrolled in the home guards and served daring the war. Since that time he has been a resident of Daviess County. Mr. Noah was married, January 16, 1848, to Miss Marilla Bacon, a native of Portage County, Ohio, and daughter of Lawton Bacon, formerly of Connecticut. … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Andrew J. Creason

Andrew J. Creason is a native of Ray County, Missouri. His father, William Creason, was born in Bourbon County, Kentucky, June 6, 1796, and died in Ray County in 1871. His mother was a native of Tennessee. Andrew J. was born January 15, 1848, near the town of Orrick, and his childhood and early youth were passed in his father’s home. He received such advantages for education as were afforded in those days, attending school and working on the farm. When he reached the age of twenty-four he married, February 22, 1872, Miss Mary E. Proctor, daughter of Eldridge and … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John J. Caster

John J. Caster was born in Homer County, Ohio, July 9, 1822, near the city of Fredericksburgh. He is the son of McDonnell and Sarah Haley Caster, natives of Beaver County, Pennsylvania. His boyhood was spent on his father’s farm and at school, and after reaching manhood he turned his attention to stock-raising in connection with farming, and also pursued the trade of a carpenter. In 1856 he went to Gentry County, Missouri, and entered 200 acres of land, which he soon sold, and then gave his whole time to his trade for a few years. In 1861 he enlisted … 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 Isaac Givens

Isaac Givens is the son of Merritt Givens, one of the early settlers of Daviess County, born in 1817, and a resident of the county up to the time of his tragic death by accidental shooting, while attempting to arrest a prisoner, in 1862. Isaac Givens was born in Daviess County, Missouri, November 7, 1847, where he remained, working on a farm and attending school until he was eighteen years old. In 1862 he was enrolled in the home guards and while not in active service, was ready for duty during the war. In 1872 Mr. Givens purchased a farm … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Robert H. Grantham

Robert H. Grantham has been a resident of Daviess County since 1849, at which time he came with his parents from Montgomery County, Indiana, where they resided for sixteen years. He was born in Washington County, Indiana, near the town of Salem, November 17, 1831. His father was a farmer and stock-raiser, and a native of North Carolina. The early life of Mr. Grantham was spent on his father’s farm and in acquiring an education. From 1859 until 1862 he was engaged in farming and teaching, but during 1862 he enlisted in Company A, First Regiment Missouri State Militia, and … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John Rorabaugh

John Rorabaugh was born in Stark County, Ohio, August 19, 1835. He is the son of Henry and Elizabeth Shaffer Rorabaugh, both natives of Pennsylvania. His father’s occupation was that of a farmer, during a long and useful life, and both parents attained the full time allotted to man-the father reaching the age of four score years, and the mother four score and one. The subject of this sketch remained with his parents until he was twenty-one years of age, and then engaged in farming in his native County until he came to Daviess County and purchased the farm in … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Aaron B. Whiteaker

Aaron B. Whiteaker was born in Bremer County, Iowa, near the town of Independence, February 24, 1849. His father, Joseph T. Whiteaker, was born in Virginia in 1818, and came to Daviess County in 1876, where he died July 14, 1881. His mother, Eliza Harris Whiteaker, was a native of Ashland County, Ohio. The subject of this sketch spent his early life with his parents in Putnam County, Illinois, working on his father’s farm and attending school. After the removal of the family to Daviess County, he made a permanent home in Sheridan, and gives his time to the cultivation … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Charles L. McCrary

Charles L. McCrary was born in Daviess County, Missouri, January 23, 1844. He is the son of Ephraim McCrary, who was born in North Carolina, March 1, 1820, and came to Daviess County in youth, where he died October 30, 1861. Charles’s mother, whose maiden name was Rebecca Linville, was born in Ray County, Missouri, in May, 1825, and is now living with our subject. Charles remained in his birthplace in Monroe Township until twelve years of age when his parents removed to Sheridan Township where the family settled. After being here about four years our subject’s father died. Charles … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Irwin Bacon

Irwin Bacon is a native of Portage County, Ohio, and was born January 19, 1843. His father was a native of Connecticut, and his mother, of Ohio. His parents came to Daviess County in 1848, when he was five years of age, and settled on a farm, where he remained until 1861, when he enlisted in Company G, Thirty-third Regiment Enrolled Missouri State Militia, and was on duty at intervals during the war and participated in several noted engagements. At the close of the war he returned to his home and engaged in farming until 1870, and has been a … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Daniel White

Daniel White, son of Samuel White, was born near the city of Richmond, in Madison County, Kentucky, February 26, 1831. He remained in his birthplace until he was about twenty-one years of age, during which time he was engaged in farming and working for his father. After becoming of age he was engaged in farming for two years, and then worked in a mill three years. August 9, 1862, he was enrolled in Company F, Seventh Kentucky Cavalry, and was in the service during the war, being in several battles and skirmishes. After the war Mr. White moved to Tazewell … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Horatio E. Needham

Horatio E. Needham is a native of Addison County, Vermont, born September 10, 1827, near the village of Shalott. While in his infancy his, parents migrated to St. Lawrence County, New York, remained six years, and then went to Cuyahoga County, Ohio, where they remained until 1852. During this time Horatio was employed on the farm and also at stone-cutting. In 1859 he went to Fremont County, Iowa, and in 1862 enlisted in Company E, Twenty-ninth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and was on duty three years, being in many important engagements, among which were the battles, of Little Rock, Helena, Mobile … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Herman E. Retzlaff

Herman E. Retzlaff was born in Germany, August 28, 1857. He is the son of Michael Retzlaff, who came to this country in 1861. His father was in business in Akron, Ohio, eleven years; came to Daviess County in 1874, and died here in 1878. Herman received his education at Akron, and after his parents came to Daviess County remained with them until he attained his majority, when he turned his attention to farming. He now resides on a farm in Sheridan Township, engaged in agricultural pursuits.