Bates County Biographies
Bates County Biographies
ABBOTT, Robert Henry
Mt. Pleasant Township - Robert Henry Abbott was born in Detroit, Michigan, in
1828. The family moved early to Coldwater, where Robert learned the tin and
stove trade, at which he worked for several years. He lived for a time in
Orland, Indiana, and when the war broke out he enlisted in the celebrated
Lampher's Battery and served three years, receiving an honorable discharge. In
1876 he came to Missouri, and for several years has been foreman of McBride &
Co.'s tin and store shop. He is an excellent mechanic, and thoroughly
understands the business in all its branches. He married Miss Emma Paulin, of
Ashland County, Ohio, in 1864. Mrs. Abbott owned a millinery store and was doing
a good business, when the great fire in 1879 burned the store and her stock of
goods. Since that time she has been keeping a boarding house. Her sister died in
Illinois in 1867, and left two daughters, whom Mr. A. took to bring up. Ada
Miller died in 1878 when seventeen years of age, and Emily married Henry Wolf,
of Nevada, Missouri. Mr. Abbott is an active member of the Masonic fraternity.
(History of Bates County, Missouri, 1883)
ADAMS, Jonathan
Deer Creek Township - Jonathan Adams, farmer, section 30, was born in Chester
County, Pennsylvania, July 31, 1841, his father being Jonathan Adams, a native
of England and a farmer by occupation. The subject of this sketch remained on
the farm in Pennsylvania until eleven years of age, when his parents removed to
Illinois, from whence, after two years, they came to Bates County. Here Jonathan
was reared, attending for a time the common schools. After arriving at manhood
he engaged in farming, which he followed until 1861, when he went to Pike's
Peak. He was interested in freighting there for about seven months, and
subsequently resumed farming in Missouri and Kansas until February 24, 1864,
when he was drafted in the United States Army. He was discharged September 10,
1865. After the war closed he returned to Bates County and gave his attention to
agricultural pursuits, during which time he received injuries by a mowing
machine. He then embarked in the mercantile business at Crescent Hill, which he
conducted five years. Selling out, he purchased his present farm, containing 165
acres of good land, well improved. Mr. Adams was township collector two terms
and township trustee for two terms. He is a member of the Baptist Church.
September 20, 1863, he married Martha Hiser, who was born in Bates County,
Missouri, May 7, 1844. They have three children living: Newman J., Nettie A. and
Alice. Four are deceased: Mary E., Louesia, Lousa and Frank. (History of Bates
County, Missouri, 1883)
ADAMS, Lewis
Deer Creek Township - Lewis Adams, farmer and stock raiser, section 30, was born
in Chester County, Pennsylvania, May 11, 1837, and was the son of Jonathan
Adams, a native of England, who emigrated to America in 1837, settling in
Pennsylvania. He died in 1870. His mother's maiden name was Ann Chapman, also
from England. Her death occurred in 1864. Lewis was the sixth of thirteen
children. He remained on his father's farm in Pennsylvania until sixteen years
of age, when he came to Bates County, Missouri, following agricultural pursuits
until June 22, 1861, when he enlisted in Company B of the Home Guards. He was
discharged February 28, 1862. He then removed to Kansas, where he remained until
the close of the war, then returning to Bates County. His farm contains 300
acres of good land, all under fence, improved and well adapted for stock
raising. May 11, 1861, Mr. Adams was married to Miss Harriet Holderman, a
daughter of Barton Holderman. She was born in Illinois, March 10, 1841. They
have seven children living: Barton, Samuel A., William, Mattie, Hattie, Frank
and Lewis Henry. They lost one, Allen D., who died in August, 1868. (History of
Bates County, Missouri, 1883)
ALEXANDER, Rev. Samuel
Mt. Pleasant Township - Rev. Samuel Alexander, pastor of the M.E. Church at
Butler, was born in Toronto, Canada, June 23, 1837. His father, Robert
Alexander, who was born in Scotland, received an excellent education in the
schools of Dublin and London. He came to Canada at an early day, and settled
there permanently. His wife was of English parentage, and was born in England,
emigrating to this country in her youth. The subject of this sketch acquired a
good education at the schools in Toronto, supplementing it by an attendance at
the Ruthven Institute. In 1859, he commenced to preach, and in June, 1862,
joined the Wesleyan Conference, and preached in Western Canada for three and a
half years, when his throat became afflicted, making a change of climate
necessary. He moved to Missouri, and settled at Marshall, in Saline County, and
was the only man who would or did, take the iron-clad oath, which was necessary
in order that he might preach. He met with great opposition, but his zeal for
the Master's cause and determination to do his duty, overcame every obstacle. He
has held numerous appointments; was at Little Rock, Arkansas, and Jefferson
City, Missouri, where he was elected chaplain of the senate. Wherever he has
labored, churches have been revived and much good done by his ministrations. Mr.
Alexander married Miss Laura M. Pinney, in 1868. She was the daughter of H.H.
Pinney, of Lorrain County, Ohio, and is the only sister of Mrs. Horr, wife of
the Hon. R.G. Horr, M.C. from the Eighth District of Michigan, and sister of Dr.
C.H. Pinney, of Council Bluffs, Iowa. She is an accomplished lady, and much
devoted to the cause in which her husband is engaged. They have one daughter,
Carrie E., a young miss of twelve years. Mr. A. received the appointment to the
M.E. Church in Butler, in April, 1882, coming here from Sedalia, Missouri.
(History of Bates County, Missouri, 1883)
ALLEN, Harrison P.
Mt. Pleasant Township - Harrison P. Allen was born in Putnam County, Indiana,
February 9, 1841, and is a son of David and Mariah (Whitzel) Allen, the former a
native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Virginia. His mother was a niece of the
well known Indian fighter, Louis Whitzel, who was many times with Daniel Boone,
and who was engaged in troubles with the Indians in Indiana, Ohio, Illinois,
Louisiana, and other states. H.P. was reared on a farm in his native county, and
in 1869 came to Bates County, Missouri, where he was engaged in farming till
1874. Then he began the grocery business at Butler, and continued it some six
years, since which time he has been somewhat retired from active trade. In the
spring of 1862 he enlisted in Company C, Fifty-fifth Indiana Infantry, and
remained in service about one year, when he went to Iowa. At Knoxville, that
state, he served till the close of the war, having participated in many
important battles, receiving slight wounds. He returned from the army much
impaired in health. Mr. Allen was married, January 1, 1868, to Miss Maggie
Vawel, a native of Putnam County, Indiana. By this union they have had three
children, two of whom are now living, Franklin and Walter. Harry died when two
years old. (History of Bates County, Missouri, 1883)
ALLEN, R.E.
Osage Township - R.E. Allen, dealer in dry goods, groceries and general
merchandise, is one of the prominent merchants of the city of Rich Hill, having
opened here in August, 1881. Mr. Allen is a native of Missouri, and was born in
Clay County, March 6, 1830. His father came originally from New York, while his
mother was a Kentuckian by birth. He was reared and educated in the county of
his birth, and was there employed as a clerk till 1856, when he went to
Leavenworth, Kansas, where he sold goods for ten years. For a period of time he
was interested in the drug business and freighting. In 1871 he moved to
Concordia, Kansas, and gave his attention to the mercantile trade till he came
to Rich Hill. He was married in February, 1863, to Miss Sallie McDowell, of
Highland County, Ohio. By this union they have five children: Sallie, Lizzie D.,
Josie and Hattie, twins, and Robert E. (History of Bates County, Missouri, 1883)
ALLEN, Wilson
Grand River Township - Wilson Allen, proprietor of the Altona House, was born in
Montgomery County, Tennessee, December 22, 1836, and is the son of William
Allen, a farmer by occupation, and a native of Virginia. His mother, formerly
Nancy Usuary, was born in Tennessee. The subject of this sketch was the youngest
of eight children, four sons and four daughters. When six years old his parents
removed to Miller County, Missouri, where he was reared on a farm. When eighteen
years old his father died and his mother removed to Jefferson City. Wilson
remained there about four years, after which he returned to Miller County and
farmed two years. In 1861 he enlisted in Captain Hawthorne's Company, and
participated in the battle of Wilson's Creek, and was a member of the same
company until the close of the war, when he settled in Morgan County, Missouri.
He gave his attention to farming and trading for two years and then removed to
Moniteau County, where he farmed until 1876, when he came to Bates County. After
tilling the soil until the spring of 1882, he engaged in the drug business with
Dr. Hudson at Altona. In September, 1882, he took charge of the Altona hotel and
livery stable, which he has since conducted with great success. Mr. Allen is a
member of the Baptist Church. On April 12, 1854, he was married to Miss Della
Aust; she was born in Nashville, Tennessee, April 28, 1837. They have seven
children living: Eva D., John W., Amanda, Nancy, Jimmie, Lee, and Marve; they
have lost two: John T., and Miller. (History of Bates County, Missouri, 1883)
ALLISON, Professor Luther Bernard
Mt. Pleasant Township - Professor Luther Bernard Allison was born in Erie
County, New York, in May 1835. His father, Rev. J.C. Allison was a native of
Newberry, Orange County, New York, and his mother, formerly Charlotte Bailey was
born in Ulster County, the same state. The subject of this sketch was the son of
a missionary and was brought up on the frontier of Western New York and in
Canada. After obtaining a common school education, mostly at home, he entered
the Union School at Gowanda where he remained for two years. When eighteen years
old he commenced to teach school, and after several terms he took a thorough
course of study at the celebrated Fredonia Academy, where he received his
certificate of graduation in 1857. his life work has been devoted to teaching,
he having taught most of the time for twenty-nine years. He came to Bates
County, Missouri, in 1866 and was elected in the fall of 1868 county
superintendent of schools, holding this position for two years and during which
time he organized some sixty schools. He did more in reorganizing schools and
building school houses than any other superintendent. In 1873 he took charge of
the Butler public schools and continued as principal for three years, in which
his health failed. He resigned and spent a season in Colorado and upon
recovering his health he returned in the fall of 1876 and became engaged in the
Butler Academy with Professor Naylor, where he still remains. He married Miss
Apolina Scott, daughter of Justice Scott of Cattaraugus County, New York. Her
mother was formerly Selecta Darling. Professor Allison has a finely improved
farm in Hudson near the town, upon it there being a good orchard of choice
fruit. Politically he belongs to the Republican party and he is a liberal
contributor to the support and building of churches. John C. Allison, the father
of Luther B., was deprived of his mother by death when he was but five days old
and was adopted by his grandparents with whom he lived until fourteen years old,
when his grandfather died. He then worked on a farm and attended school until he
ws seventeen years of age, when he commenced teaching school which he followed
for eight years. At the age of twenty-five he united with the Presbyterian
Church and commenced a course of study preparatory to the work of ministry. His
study caused a change of views on the subject of baptism and he therefore joined
the Baptist Church in 1833. He was married to Miss Charlotte Bailey May 14,
1833, and on the same day both were baptised and joined the Baptist Church at
Lattingtown. In September following he was ordained to preach and in the
succeding October he moved to Holland, Erie County. Aided by the missionary
society he entered upon the work and found his first labor in St. Catherines,
Canada. The patriot war made it necessary for him to leave that field, and upon
returning to Erie County he supplied the destitute churches in that region. In
1839 he became pastor of the Baptist Church in Evans where he stayed until 1842.
He preached at many churches very successfully and remained on the parsonage
farm for eight years. While at Versailles (where he settled in 1846) Mrs.
Allison died, and May 25, 1852, he married Miss E. Webster. In 1854, he was
called to the church in Nashville. He purchased a small farm and farmed and
preached alternately and for a few years supplied the churches of Nashville and
Cherry Creek - then giving up his pastoral labors. He died June 2, 1866.
(History of Bates County, Missouri, 1883)
ANDREWS, R.G.
Spruce Township - R.G. Andrews was born in Tennessee, January 10, 1816, and was
the son of W.G. and Nancy (Graham) Andrews. The former was a native of Virginia
and the latter of North Carolina. His father early moved to Tennessee with his
parents, where he grew to manhood and was married. The subject of this sketch
was rasied in his native state, and spent his youth on the farm, having but
limited chances for attending school. His education has been obtained
principally through his own efforts, but he is a man well informed on the
current topics of the day. In 1840 he came to Missouri and located in Polk
County, where he entered land and improved a farm, being one of the pioneers. He
was married in March, 1842, to Miss Amanda Cates, a daughter of Ransom Cates, a
native of North Carolina. Mr. Andrews was engaged in farming in Polk County
until 1863, when he moved to Cooper County, but in one year he went to Saline
County, where he resided for three years. In the spring of 1868 he came to Bates
County, purchased land and improved his present farm. He has eighty acres, all
fenced, with improvements, and resides on section 16. He has raised a family of
seven children: Lizzie (wife of Burt Hayes); William L., Ann Eliza (wife of J.M.
Johnson); Anice A., Rebecca A., R.G. and Henrietta. Mrs. Andrews died December
13, 1878. (History of Bates County, Missouri, 1883)
ANDREWS, William L.
Spruce Township - William L. Andrews, farmer, section 16, was born in Polk
County, Missouri, March 23, 1845. R.G. Andrews, his father, is a native of
Tennessee, and was born in Maury County, January 10, 1816, while his mother,
whose maiden name was Amanda Cates, came originally from North Carolina. The
former moved to Missouri in 1840, and settled in Polk County. William L. passed
his boyhood days on a farm and attending the common schools. He enlisted in
August, 1862, in the Confederate service, in the Eighth Missouri Cavalry, Col.
Jeff Thompson's Regiment, and served until the close of the war. He participated
in several important engagements, among which were the fights at Lone Jack,
Missouri, Helena and Prairie Grove, Arkansas. After the war, Mr. Andrews
returned to Saline County and engaged in farming. In the fall of 1869 he came to
Bates County, where he has since been occupied in farming and stock raising. In
1878 he moved upon his present farm, which contains eighty acres, with sixty
acres improved and twenty acres of timber, a fair house and a young orchard. He
was here married, January 20, 1878, to Miss Charity Logan, a daughter of E.W.
Logan. She was born in Perry County, Illinois, and was there raised and
educated. They have two children: Carrie E., born April 11, 1880, and Leonora
E., born December 4, 1881. Mrs. Andrews is a member of the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church. (History of Bates County, Missouri, 1883)
ARGENBRIGHT, L.H.
Grand River Township - L.H. Argenbright, farmer, was born in Augusta County,
Virginia, November 19, 1842, and is the fourth child of John and Catherine
Argenbright nee Steele. When thirteen years old he came to Saline County,
Missouri, with his father (who was a cooper by occupation), and remained one
winter in Jonestown, then going to Morgan County, where he lived on a farm,
growing to manhood and enjoying fair school advantages. He enlisted, August 14,
1862, when scarcely twenty years old, in Company C, Thirty-third Missouri
Volunteer Infantry, known as the Merchants' Exchange Regiment, of St. Louis. He
was sergeant of the company, and was in several battles, among others those of
Marshville, Helena and Mobile. He received his discharge August 14, 1865.
Returning to Morgan County, he was engaged in teaching school for two terms. In
1868 he worked at mining for some time. He was married on the 16th of July of
that year to Miss M.M. Harrison, a native of the state, who was born September
30, 1852. In 1871 Mr. A. removed to Bates County and embarked in farming, and
here he owns 200 acres of land, which lies adjoining the village of Altona. His
place is well watered, timbered, and among the best farms of the township. Mrs.
Argenbright is a member of the Methodist Church South. They have two children,
George L.C. and Aaron B. (History of Bates County, Missouri, 1883)
ARGENBRIGHT, Preston
Grand River Township - Preston Argenbright, one of the principal farmers and
stock men of this township, was born in Augusta County, Virginia, on October 16,
1838, being the second in a family consisting of four brothers and two sisters.
His parents, John and Catherine Jane (Steele) Argenbright, were also Virginians
by birth, and the former was a cooper by trade. Preston was educated in a common
subscription school. When seventeen years of age he came to Missouri and for one
year was a resident of Saline County, his father having gone there in 1855.
Thence he removed to Morgan County and made it his home for nine years, being
married there February 10, 1861, to Miss Rebecca P. Harrison, a native of
Tennessee. He held the position of justice of the peace for three years in
Morgan County, and for four months was connected with the Enrolled Missouri
Militia. At the close of the war he came to Bates County, and was thus enabled
to secure his choice of country. He now has one of the best farms in the
wealthiest portions of the county. His residence is on section 16, where he owns
490 acres of good land, in good condition, and admirably adapted to the raising
of stock. He handles annually about sixty head of cattle, twenty of horses and
mules, 100 hogs and over 200 sheep. Mr. A. and wife are members of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, South. They have eight children: Albert, John A., James E.,
Charles H., Anna Steele, Lena Price, Dosia, and Bertha Lee. (History of Bates
County, Missouri, 1883)
ARNOLD, Wilson
Wilson Arnold, section 4, was born in Gwinnett County, Georgia, June 29, 1840,
and was the son of Colonel Henry J. Arnold, a native of Virginia, and Mary
Frances(Watley) Arnold, of Georgia. Wilson spent his youth until about eighteen
years old on a farm at his birthplace. In 1856 he came to Missouri with his
parents and located within three miles of Kansas City, but shortly after went to
Kansas. They soon removed to Bates County, Missouri, on account of the Kansas
troubles. Wilson Arnold took a trip to Texas in 1859 and spent two years in that
state. Returning to Missouri in 1861, he enlisted in the Confederate service in
June of that year under Colonel Payton, but was afterward transferred to
Shelby's First Missouri Cavalry and served till the close of the war, when he
surrendered at Shreveport. He participated in the fights of Lone Jack, Wilson's
Creek, Missouri; Prairie Grove, Helena, Jenkins' Ferry, Arkansas, and Cape
Girardeau. He was wounded at Lexington and also at Wilson's Creek. After the
final surrender he returned to his family, who had removed to Benton County,
where he farmed for two years. In 1867 he went to Henry County and resided there
ten years. In March, 1877, Mr. Arnold came to St. Clair County, locating on his
present farm in March, 1882. He has 160 acres, all improved. Mr. Arnold was
married in this county April 2, 1862, to Miss Hannah F. Hinkle, a native of
Kentucky and a daughter of D. M. Hinkle, who was one of the pioneer settlers of
St. Clair County. They have five children: James W., Henry J., George W., Ollie
Octavia and Joseph M. Mr. and Mrs. Arnold are members of the M. E. Church,
South. (1883 History of St. Clair County MO, National Historical Co., page 1127)
AUSTIN, O.D.
Mt. Pleasant Township - O.D. Austin was born in Shelby, Richland County, Ohio,
October 7, 1841. His ancestors were of French origin and immigrated to America
early in the history of colonial settlements, locating in Massachusetts. His
father, Horace Austin, was born in Massachusetts, July 16, 1804. He afterwards
took up his residence in Pennsylvania, where he engaged in teaching school and
studying medicine. He graduated from a medical school in Philadelphia, and came
to Shelby, Ohio, where he began the practice of his profession, remaining there
till 1844, when he removed to Plymouth, in the same county. At the beginning of
the war he entered the Union army as a surgeon, but fell a victim to the
hardships and exposure of a vigorous campaign. He became an invalid, returned
home and died in 1863, in the fifty-ninth year of his age. His wife was formerly
Flavia A. Conger, sister of Hon. O.D. Conger, United States Senator from
Michigan. The subject of this sketch was the eldest of six children, and until
sixteen years of age was a student at the public schools of Plymouth, the home
of his father. He then attended school for one year in Illinois, and returning
to Ohio he entered the Herald newspaper office in Mansfield. In 1862, through
the influence of Hon. John Sherman, he received the appointment of a clerkship
in the United States Treasury Department in Washington. He was a spectator in
Ford's Theater on the night of April 14, 1865, when President Lincoln was
assassinated. In April, 1866, he accepted a position as foreman in the office of
the Kansas City Advertiser, the first daily Democratic paper established in that
place. He remained in this position about six months, and in November of the
same year became general manager of the Bates County Record, at Butler,
Missouri. In the spring of 1867, he returned to Kansas City, and acted as local
editor on the Advertisor until October of the same year, when he returned to
Butler, purchased the Record office, and has continued the publication of that
paper until the present time. In October, 1881, he was appointed postmaster at
Butler. Politically he is a Republican, taking an active part in political
affairs, and rendering essential service to the party. In his religious
preferences he is liberal. He is a member of the Masonic order and a Knight
Templar. He was married May 3, 1871, to Miss Florence May Stobie, daughter of
George and Maria L. Stobie, of Butler, formerly of Pittsfield, Illinois. They
have two children: Edwin S. and Nellie B. As a journalist Mr. Austin is liberal,
courteous and sincere, denouncing the iniquities of all parties with an
unsparing hand, and advocating such measures as he believes to be for the public
good. (History of Bates County, Missouri, 1883)