Page images
PDF
EPUB

Missouri, born in 1846. The issue of this union was four children, two of whom only are now living: Mary F. and Aeda.

WILLIAM G. ESTILL.

William G. Estill was born in Clinton county, Missouri, January 16, 1860, where he lived until 1877, and then went to Liberty, Clay county, Missouri, and engaged as clerk in a dry goods store for two years. At the expiration of that time he came to Vibbard, this county, and engaged as clerk and salesman in Doctor Donoven's drug store, commencing at the same time the study of medicine under the instruction of Doctor DonDuring the winter of 1880-81 he attended lectures at the Missouri Medical College, St. Louis, and intends completing the course and graduating from the same institution. He is a young man of good character, with steady, studious habits, and the prospect of his future is one of great promise.

oven.

J. F. SPENCER.

Joel F. Spencer was born in Sullivan county, Missouri, September 17, 1845, and lived there until he was eighteen years of age, and then traveled for several years through different states and territories of the west. He came back to Linn county, Missouri, and lived there for three years, during which time he learned, and worked at the trade of a carpenter. He came to Ray county in the year 1870, and has lived here ever since. He is now located at Vibbard, and is dealing in furniture in addition to his carpentering business. Mr. Spencer was first married in Linn county. in the year 1866, to Elizabeth James. One child, Demaris, was born of this union, June 22, 1867, Mrs. Spencer died March 1, 1875, and our subject was again married in 1877, to Sarah J. Goodman. They have two children: Bertha, born February 14, 1879, and an infant, yet unnamed, born October 2, 1880. Mr. Spencer and his wife are members of the Christian Union Church.

W. J. SCANTLING.

William J. Scantling was born in Clay county, Misscuri, September 8, 1845, and lived there until the age of twenty years, when he went to Clinton county, Missouri, and engaged there in farming until 1877, when he began to work in a flouring and saw mill. He continued in that business till 1880, and then came to Ray county, and located at Vibbard, where he is now working at the blacksmithing trade. Mr. Scantling was married in Clinton county, Missouri, in 1867, to Miss Mary A. Rogers, by Rev. G. S. Huffaker. Mrs. Scantling was born in Platte county, Missouri, in the month of October, 1847. The issue of this marriage has been five children: Alice E., born July 12, 1869; John H., born Octo

ber 21, 1870; Lewis J., born August 8, 1873; William B., born November 23, 1875; Franklin P., born August 29, 1878. Both Mr. Scantling and his wife are members of the M. E. Church South.

ELIAS HIGHTOWER.

Elias Hightower was born in Ray county, Missouri, November 5, 1832. His father, Joseph Hightower, was born near Charleston, South Carolina, in the year 1812, and when eighteen years old, went to Virginia, and from there to East Tennessee where he was married to Miss Elizabeth Cleavenger, a native of that state. He came to Ray county, Missouri, in the year 1828, and settled near the old town of Bluffton. He subsequently removed to a farm near Fredericksburg, upon which he died, in September, 1869. His wife (Elizabeth), is still living on the old homestead in this county, at the age of sixty-seven years. Elias Hightower attended the schools of his father's neighborhood during the winter, and worked on the farm in summer until he attained his majority, and then began farming on his own account. With the exception of about four years, he lived in Caldwell county, and two years spent in California, he has always resided in Ray county. He settled on the farm he now occupies, in the year 1856. He owns, (besides two hundred acres in the state of Kansas), a fine farm of two hundred and eighty-six acres, one hundred and sixty acres of which are in cultivation. This farm is inclosed by good, strong fences, is well improved, and supplied with an abundance of pure water, a fine, thrifty orchard, and everything necessary to the successful management of a model farm. Mr. Hightower is giving attention also to raising the best breeds of live stock. He was first married in 1855, to Miss Nancy Ann Wyman, daughter of Christian Wyman, of Ray county. One child, Nancy A., (now wife of Thomas P. Montfort), was born of this union, July 3, 1856. Mrs. Hightower died the same year, and our subject was again married in January, 1857, to Mary F. Wyman, by Rev. Samuel Cleavenger. She was born in Ray county, Missouri, October 5, 1842. They became the parents of ten children, six of whom are now living: Cornelia J., born July 23, 1857; Harriet C., born August 11, 1859; Mariah E., born June 2, 1866; Robert E., born March 4, 1869; Mary M., born January 24, 1871; Oran L., born August 8, 1873; William A., born August 13, 1861, died April 22, 1862; Colona A., born February 27, 1865, died August 28, 1865; Fanny E., born August 11, 1859, died June 11, 1872; Ninon A., born August 30, 1876, died January 3, 1878. Mr. Hightower is a leading member of the Missionary Baptist Church, and of Harmony Lodge, No. 384, A. F. & A. M. He is a leading farmer, a prominent and useful citizen, and a man universally respected and esteemed by all who know him.

LEVI A. HOLMAN.

Levi A. Holman is a native of Ray county, Missouri, born January 24, 1843, and has lived in the county all his life except the time he was absent in the late civil war. He enlisted, in the fall of 1862, in company F, tenth Missouri cavalry, and served until the close of the war. He participated in the battles of Cherokee Valley, Tupelo, Corinth, Selma and a number of others. He was discharged in June, 1865, and returned to his home in this county, and resumed his former business of farming and stock raising. Mr. Holman was married, December 28, 1865, to Miss Mary Teegarden, a native also of this county, born July 31, 1846. The issue of this marriage has been six children: Celia C., born April 21, 1867; Hardy, born March 21, 1869; Fanny B., born November 24, 1871; James, born January 9, 1873; Nancy, born December 9, 1878; Julia, born December 24, 1880. Mr. Holman and his wife are both members of the Christian Union Church, and he is a member also, of the Farmers' Club, Mr. Holman is a prosperous farmer and a valuable and leading citizen.

GEORGE A. GORDON, M. D.

Was born in Todd county, Kentucky, on the 28th day of October, 1822. He began the study of medicine in the year 1845, with Dr. Vaugh. of Todd county, Kentucky, as his preceptor, and graduated from the Louisville Medical College in 1848, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. He came to this county in 1850, and has practiced his profession with good success here, ever since. Dr. Gordon was married in Ray county, Missouri, in 1851, to Miss Martitia Hargrave, by Rev. D. H. McClure. Mrs. Gordon was born in Alamance county, North Carolina, in 1830. Three children were born of this marriage: Howard S., born August 2, 1852; George A., born May 11, 1861; Mary A., born August 8, 1863, died August 11, 1864. Dr. Gordon is a member of the Masonic fraternity. He is now located at the town of Vibbard, this county, where he owns valuable property. His practice is very extensive, and his attention is entirely given to it. He is an able and popular physician and leading citizen.

THOMAS A. SLOAN.

Thomas A. Sloan was born in Bledsoe county, Tennessee, August 28, 1848. He came, with his parents, to Ray county, Missouri, in the year 1853, and has had his home here ever since, and has been engaged chiefly in farming. Mr. Sloan enlisted, May 2, 1862, in company A, 3d Missouri cavalry, Captain Elliott, Colonel King, and General Schofield commanding, and served during the remainder of the war. He was captured by General Jo. Shelby's men, at Neosho, Missouri, and taken to Little Rock,

Arkansas, and paroled. He returned to his regiment, and was subsequently captured by a guerrilla band, under Captain Johnson, but succeeded in making his escape, and rejoining his comrades the night following his capture. He participated in the battles of Lone Jack, Springfield, Cane Hill, Camden, Little Rock, Ft. Smith, Van Buren, Pilot Knob, and others. He was discharged, May 11, 1866, at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Mr. Sloan was married, June 21, 1868, in Ray county, Missouri, to Miss Susan M. McGaugh, by Reverend D. H. McClure. Mrs. Sloan was born in Warren county, Missouri, April 15th, 1846. They are the parents of three children: Joseph S., born April 15, 1869; William H., born July 4, 1871; Frederick H., born July 10, 1874. Mrs. Sloan is a member of the M. E. Church South. Mr. Sloan located at Vibbard, September 1, 1880, and opened a livery stable in that place, which he is at present (April, 1881) conducting. He is a very popular gentleman, and a useful citizen of Vibbard.

JOSHUA B. GANT.

Joshua Butler Gant is a native of Ray county, Missouri, born April 15, 1848. He was reared on a farm and engaged, after growing up, in farming, until the age of twenty-nine years, when he and his brothers entered the mercantile business at the town of Vibbard, Ray county. This business they have ever since conducted, and now have a flourishing trade besides owning the handsome store house in which their stock is kept, and other valuable property in Vibbard. Mr. J. B. Gant is a practical experienced business man, a good citizen and a valuable member of the community in which he lives.

S. N. CROWLEY.

Samuel L. Crowley was born in Ray county, Missouri, May 20, 1850. He grew up on his father's farm, which was the present site of the town of Vibbard, and has spent the greater part of his past life here, engaged for the greater time in buying and shipping live stock to market. From 1873 to 1879 he lived in Vernon county, Missouri, occupied in farming and dealing in stock. He returned to Ray county in 1879, and is now located at Vibbard, where he owns and operates a large flouring and saw mill, and his business is in a highly prosperous condition. Mr. Crowley was married in the month of June, 1869, in Vernon county, Missouri, to Miss Fannie Hughes, by Rev. W. Ditzler. She was born in Ray county, Missouri, May 27, 1851. The issue of this union has been four children: James W., born April 9, 1872; Eugene, born January 9, 1874; Robert and Frank dead. Mr. Crowley is a member of Harmony Lodge, No. 384, A. F. & A. M., and his wife is a member of the Christian Union Church. Mr. Crowley is a man of great energy, industry and enterprise

in business, and he has, in consequence, been more than ordinarily successful. He is respected and esteemed for his many excellent qualities as a man and a citizen, by all who knew him.

THOMAS H. LILE.

Thomas H. Lile was born in Warren county, Missouri, January 1, 1845, and at the age of ten years came with his parents to Ray county, and has had his home here ever since. He enlisted in 1861, in company B, 3d Missouri regiment of volunteers, but was soon afterward transferred to the 6th Missouri, commanded by Colonel Catherwood. He served during three years and was discharged at St. Louis, in 1864. He participated in the battles of Springfield, Lone Jack, Pineville and Sycamore, Arkansas, besides many skirmishes. Mr. Lile was married in 1871, in Ray county, to Miss Mary Meyers, a native of this county, born September 17, 1847. They became the parents of five children: Matthew W., born August 22, 1872; Robert, born January, 1874; Etta May, born March 1, 1879; Henry T. and George E. dead. Mr. Lile and wife are members of the Christian Union Church, and he is also a member of the Farmers' Club. He owns a neat, well cultivated farm, and is very popular among his neighbors, the respect of whom he enjoys.

STEPHEN SAVAGE.

Stephen Savage was born at New-castle-upon-Tyne, England, April 29, 1842. He came to the United States at the age of twenty years, and enlisted in company A, Fifth New York artillery, and rose from the rank of a private to that of seeond lieutenant. He was discharged at Harper's Ferry, Virginia, in 1865. He was in the battles of Piedmont, first and second Winchester, Snicker's Gap, and others. Was twice wounded. After the war he was engaged at the watchmaking trade, in New York city, and afterwards in different places in Illinois. He was married December 31, 1870, in Illinois, to Miss Anna LaPlaunt, a native of St. Joseph, Missouri, born May 16, 1849. They became the parents of four children. Mr. Savage and wife are members of the Baptist Church. He is now located, engaged at his trade, in Vibbard.

J. R. HOLMAN.

James R. Holman was born in Ray county, Missouri, August 15, 1849. After finishing the common school course here, our subject attended college at Columbia, Missouri, and subsequently took a commercial course at St. Louis. Mr. Holman has been dealing in stock during the past fifteen years, and is now, perhaps, the largest shipper in the county. He owns one thousand acres of land, about four hundred acres in the prairie, all fenced, handsomely improved, and stocked with the best

« PreviousContinue »