fourth child in a family of eight children. He received a practical education from the common subscription schools of this State. When he was thirteen years old he was taken with his father's family to Osage County, where he remained until the year 1846, when he enlisted as a soldier in the Mexican War, remaining until its close. He then returned to his home in Missouri. In 1849, Mr. S., like many others of that day, caught the gold fever, which took him to California, but he only remained in the golden State about eighteen months, when he returned to his native State, and in the spring of 1850 he moved to Pettis County, locating in the northwestern part of the county, where he has since resided. Mr. Shanks was married March, 1852, to Miss Bobbitt, a daughter of John Bobbitt, of

"PRAIRIE HOME," RESIDENCE OF SAMUEL SHANKS.

Johnson County. From this union there were four children, three of whom are now living, viz: Emma, now the wife of Will D. Carpenter; Florence, now wife of Dr. Seaton Tyler, and David, at home. Mrs. Shanks dying, he was again married to Miss Lucy B. Tate, of Texas. From this union there were four children, three of whom are now living, viz: Fox, Wilford and Daisy. Mr. Sharks owns one of those model farms, "the Prairie Home," for which the northwestern part of the county is noted, 640 acres in extent, and like the other farms of this section, it is well watered, has a handsome residence and fine out-buildings, fences, etc., a fine view of which produced on this page. Mr. Shank farms exten

sively, though keeping many acres of his farm in meadow and blue grass, upon which he has a choice herd of twenty-five Short-horns, representing the Young Mary and Rose of Sharon families, led by the Second Duke of the Roses, an animal of great merit. He also has in his barns a fine selection of brood mares, among them one sired by old St. Lewis Denmark, that has carried off many prizes. Mr. Shanks is a thorough stock man, and has been for years President of the Brownsville District Fair. He is a man of influence and character, one of whom his county can justly feel proud.

SOLOMON SPURGIN.

Post-office, Sigel. One of the early settlers of Blackwater township is Solomon Spurgin, a son of the Rev. I. Spurgin, who was a native of North Carolina, and a preacher for many years. Solomon was the oldest child in a family of seven children, and was born in Davidson County, N. C., Oct. 10, 1822. In the fall of 1843 Mr. Spurgin, with his father, moved to Missouri, settling first in Henry County, near Calhoun, where the family remained one year. Then the father moved to Pettis County, where he died Aug. 4, 1877. Mr. Spurgin remained on the farm he entered in the winter of 1849, excepting the time he was in the United States service during the late rebellion. Mr. Spurgin was married July 7, 1842, to Miss Eliza M. Haines, a daughter of George Haines, and a native of Davidson County, N. C. From this union there were ten children, only five of whom are now living, viz: Sarah A., Mary J., Phoebe L., Mary A. and Carrie. Mr. Spurgin has been very unfortunate, losing two of his daughters, viz: Nannie H. and Clara E., who had just grown to womanhood— kind and affectionate, beloved by all. The children living are all married excepting Carrie, the youngest. Mr. Spurgin owns a beautiful farm of

160 acres.

J. R. SPURGIN.

Post-office, Houstonia. One among the most successful farmers of Blackwater township is J. R. Spurgin, a son of William Spurgin and a native of North Carolina. Mr. Spurgin is also a native of North Carolina, he being born in Davidson County of that State on Nov. 14, 1825. He received his education from the common subscription schools of his native State. In the fall of 1848, Mr. S. with a brother and two sisters emigrated to Missouri, settling in the northwestern part of Pettis County, upon the farm where he now resides, he buying about 120 acres, and entering some, about the same time. Mr. Spurgin was married Oct. 22, 1852, to Miss Mary A. Clinard, a daughter of Henry Clinard, also a native of North Carolina. From this union there are four children, all of whom are living, viz.: Larkin H. S., Jennie, Emma E., and Samuel J. Jennie is married

to the Rev. W. T. Campbell of Kansas City. Mr. S. has just met with the sad misfortune of losing his estimable wife, who died March 8, 1882; she was a kind wife, a loving and an affectionate mother. Since Mr. Spurgin's residence in Pettis County, he has been engaged in farming and the raising of stock. He owns a fine farm situated on the beautiful rolling prairie of this section. His home farm consists of 490 acres, with fine substantial improvements under a high state of cultivation. On this farm there are 8 miles of hedge fence, and there has been raised in one season over 5000 bushels of wheat, and there is in wheat at the present time 320

acres.

T. M. TRIPLETT.

Son of William Triplett,, who was a native of Loudoun County, Va. The subject of this sketch was born in Fauquier County, Va., May 18, 1828, and was the fourth child in a family of five children. He received a liberal education from the common subscription schools of his native county. Mr. Triplett, in the fall of 1868, emigrated with his family to Missouri, settling in the north-western part of Pettis County, where he has since resided. He was married in the spring of 1852 to Miss V. R. Silcott, a daughter of Jacob Silcott, who was also a native of Fauquier County, Va. From this union there were nine children, eight of whom are now living, viz.: Henry F., John T., William A., Ida M., Jacob, Thomas M., Howard L. and Mollie E. Since Mr. Triplett's residence in Pettis County he has been engaged in farming, raising and the feeding of live stock. He owns a fine farm of 385 acres, situated on the beautiful rolling prairie in the northwestern part of the county. This farm is finely improved, having a large dwelling house, barn and other out-buildings. Mr. T. is spoken of by his neighbors as an upright and straight-forward man and a worthy citizen.

MILTON W. TYLER, JR.

Post-office; Sigel. Among the representative young men of Pettis County there are none who stand higher with the people than M. W. Tyler, of Blackwater Township. He is the son of M. W. Tyler, Sr., who was a native of Jefferson County, Ky. The subject of this sketch was born in Jefferson County, Ky., March 2, 1850, and was the sixth child in a family of seven children. When he was about two years old his father moved. his family from Kentucky to Johnson County, Ind., where he remained eighteen years; here he received the rudiments of his education. In the fall of 1869 his father moved to Missouri, settling in Johnson County, where he still lives. In the winter of 1876 Mr. Tyler moved to Pettis County, settling in the northwestern part of the county, where he still resides. Mr. Tyler was married Nov. 9, 1875, to Miss Kate Hall, a

daughter of Sylvester Hall, a native of Bourbon County, Ky., who was born in the year 1811 and moved to Cooper County, Mo., in the year 1819; then in the year 1824 he moved to what is now Pettis County, before it was organized. Mr. Hall was one of the gold seekers of 1849 who went to California, and since that time he has crossed the plains ten times. Mr. Hall was married to Miss Nancy E. Gallagher in 1853, and from this marriage there were four children, viz.: Kate, Victoria, George and Charles, three of whom are living-Victoria having died in the year 1873. Mr. Hall moved to Johnson County in 1865, then back to Pettis County, February, 1882, where he resides at the present time. He owns fine tracts of land in Johnson and Pettis counties to the amount of 1,600 acres, and a salmon fishery on the Columbia River, W. T. From the marriage of Mr. Tyler and Miss Hall there are three children, all of whom are now living, viz.: Victoria J., Seaton and Viola E. Since Mr. Tyler's residence in Pettis County he has been engaged in farming, raising and feeding of stock. Mr. Tyler owns a fine farm of 333 acres, well improved. In business matters Mr. Tyler is honorable and just, commanding the respect of all who know him.

J. E. WHITFIELD.

Post-office, Lamonte. The world furnishes men of every type and character. Some have breadth and liberality of mind; others never perceive that which is beyond their own narrow sphere of operations, and they never go beyond the neighborhood in which they were born. To the mind that never experiences the educating influences of new and strange surroundings, a great part of life's joy and satisfaction is lost. Few men, indeed, among the quiet farmers of our rural districts have had the varied experiences, the success and adversity which have fallen to the lot of J. E. Whitfield. He is the son of Wm. Whitfield, who was a native of North Carolina, and served as a soldier in the War of 1812. The grandfather, John Whitfield, was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and the musket the old grandsire carried in that struggle is now in the possession of the grandson, J. E. The subject of this sketch was born in Granville County, N. C., Aug. 9, 1817, and emigrated to Missouri in the spring of 1849, settling in Blackwater Township, where he has since resided, except the time he was in the south during the late war. Mr. Whitfield was married June 12, 1844, to Miss H. H. Winston, a daughter of Jesse Winston, of Franklin County, N. C. From this union there were seven children, only three of whom are now living, viz.: Lucy F., Wm. H. and J. Ella. Lucy is married to Mr. B. Delap. William is also married and living near the father, and Ella is the wife of W. T Morris. For many years Mr. Whitfield has been engaged in farming, feeding, and the raising of stock. He owned before dividing with his

children, 1,040 acres of land. These lands are situated on the beautiful rolling prairie of western Pettis County. The home farm where Mr. Whitfield resides is finely improved with dwelling, barns and other out buildings. Mr. Whitfield has near his residence a family burying ground, in which are buried his father, who died in the spring of 1861, and his children. This little burial place is beautifully enclosed with a solid wall of masonry 50x50 feet, and is seven feet high from foundation, and the wall is furnished with a cap projecting two inches.

W. H. WHITFIELD.

Post-office, Lamonte. Among the young men of Blackwater Township, we find none more highly esteemed than W. H. Whitfield. He is the son of J. E. Whitfield, and was born, March 9, 1849, in Franklin County, N. C. When he was quite young his father emigrated to Missouri, șettling in Pettis County, near where he resides at the present time; here he has ever since lived. Mr. W. received a liberal education from the common schools of this county. He was married, Feb. 16, 1871, to Miss Nancy E. Scott, a daughter of Adam Scott, who was a native of Missouri, but has been dead about twenty-three years, from this union there are three children, all of whom are yet living, viz: James E., Della and Arthur. Since Mr. Whitfield has been doing business for himself he has been engaged in farming. He owns a beautiful farm of two hundred and forty acres, finely improved and under a high state of cultivation.

CHARLES T. WIDNEY, M. D.

Post-office, Rowletta. Dr. Charles T. Widney is the son of James H. Widney, who was a native of Pennsylvania. The Dr. was born in Muhlenburg County, Ky., Dec. 2, 1841, and was the youngest child in a family of four children. He was educated partly at Hart's Seminary, Owensboro, Ky., and completing his literary education at Franklin College, Lancaster, Penn. Dr. Widney attended a course of lectures at the Kentucky School . of Medicine, and graduated at the University of Louisville. Louisville. After receiving his diploma he practiced his profession a few months in Kentucky. There, joining Olcorn's Brigade, where he was made a Surgeon of a battalion, which afterwards became the Eighth Kentucky. Then he was made Surgeon of the Cumberland Artillery, three companies that were formed on the Cumberland River. He was taken prisoner at the battle of Fort Donelson, Feb. 16, 1862, and was imprisoned at Camp Chase for five months, when he was exchanged. He was then assigned to Gen. Albert G. Jenkins' staff of Lee's Army of Virginia. Here he served nine months; then he was elected Major of a calvary battalion, which was almost destroyed at the battle of Gettysburg. He was then appointed Surgeon of the Fourteenth Virginia Cavalry, serving here until