Bates County Biographies
Bates County Biographies
EDWARDS, David C., Judge
Grand River Township - Judge David C. Edwards, farmer, stock dealer and
merchant, Altona, was born in Jackson County, Missouri, December 18, 1838. His
parents were Hiram and Jane (Swift) Edwards, the former a farmer by occupation
and a native of Virginia. They came to Bates County when David was but four
months old. He was reared on a farm and remained with his father until
twenty-three years of age, when he enlisted in Company F, Sixteenth Missouri, in
Parsons' brigade, and was orderly sergeant of the company. He participated in
the battles of Lone Jack, Pleasant Hill, Mansfield, Little Rock and Helena. In
the winter of 1863 he was confined in the hospital at Little Rock. He
surrendered at Shrevesport on June 8, 1865, and returning to Bates he resumed
farming, to which he has adhered to the present time. Judge Edwards is one of
the most extensive real estate owners of the county, his home farm consisting of
500 acres of improved land, well fenced and stocked, with good buildings. He has
260 acres of timber land in the county, and owns a farm of about 100 acres near
Clinton, Henry County. In addition he is the owner of a general merchandise
store at Altona. In 1874 he was elected a justice of the county court, in which
position he remained for five years. He is a member of Altona lodge of the A.F.
and A.M. and of the chapter at Butler, as well as the Gouley Commandery at
Butler. He also belongs to the Patrons of Husbandry, recognizing in that order
the means of supplying a want long felt among the farming community. On January
4, 1866, he was married to Miss Bethias Sharp, daughter of John F. Sharp, one of
the early pioneers of Henry County. She is a native of Henry County, and was
born January 4, 1837. They have four children: Sarah Jane, Harriet E., David and
Bethias. (History of Bates County, Missouri, 1883)
EDWARDS, J.P.
Mt. Pleasant Township - J.P. Edwards, farmer and cattle feeder, section 15, is
the owner of a landed estate which consists of 650 acres, improved and well
watered. He is a native of Nashville, Tennessee, where he was born in 1838. With
his parents he moved to St. Charles County, Missouri, in 1844, and when fourteen
years old to Sheridan County, Missouri, where he grew up and was educated. He
has spent many years in Colorado and New Mexico, and at one time was largely
interested in the cattle trade in Southern California. He was married January
14, 1869, to Miss Anna L. Hines, a native of Sheridan County, Missouri, born in
1844. Their family consists of six children: Lola, Lelia, Louna L., Elmer and
Claude. Mr. and Mrs. Edwards are both members of the Christian Church. The
former began life poor, but by his industry, godo management and economy has
secured an excellent property and has prospered. He settled at his present
location in 1871. (History of Bates County, Missouri, 1883)
EICHLER, Lewis C.
Mound Township - Lewis C. Eichler was born in St. Charles County, Missouri,
December 27, 1836. George and Margaret (Weems) Eichler, his parents, who were
natives of Germany, were married in Baltimore in 1832. While Lewis was young the
family came to Lafayette County, where he lived till 1856, then settling in
Bates County, where he purchased his tract of land. After stopping here for four
years he returned to Lafayette County, and at the outbreak of the civil war
served in Claib. Jackson's State Guard for several months. In August, 1862, he
enlisted at Fayetteville, Arkansas, in General Price's Division, under Parsons,
and participated in the fights at Lone Jack, Drywood, Prairie Grove, Cane Hill,
and Pleasant Hill, Louisiana, and when the end came he surrendered at
Shreveport, Louisiana. Mr. Eichler was married, May 18, 1876, to Miss Sarah J.
Early, daughter of John Early, of Lafayette County. They have two children, Lucy
Lee and George Harry. In 1880, Mr. Eichler returned to Bates County, and has
since endeavored to improve his farm. (History of Bates County, Missouri, 1883)
ELDRIDGE, William W.
Mt. Pleasant Township - William W. Eldridge, builder and contractor, was born in
New London, Connecticut, in 1831. His parents were Peter and Mary Mariah
(Ingham) Eldridge, the former of England and the latter a native of Connecticut.
Peter Eldridge moved to near Cleveland, Ohio, in 1836, and there bought and
improved a farm. William received a good practical education in Cleveland and
learned the carpenters' trade, and wehn twenty-two years old he went to Fayette
County, Iowa, where he commenced contracting and building. He married Miss
Elizabeth Ann Smith, daughter of Daniel B. and Maria (Simmonds) Smith, of
Fayette County, in 1857. They have by this union four children living: Frank M.,
Charles E., Edna A. and Sarah E. They have lost two. Ernest b., died in 1877,
aged fifteen, and Willie died in 1860, aged three years. Mr. E. commenced life
poor but has always been very industrious and has been equally successful
financially. He did much in building up West Union until 1870 when he came to
Missouri and settled in Butler, at that time a small town. He has been one of
the principal builders here, erecting many of the finest structures in this city
and also in Rich Hill. He is among our best mechanics and does his own drafting
and makes his own plans. He is a Republican in politics and belongs to the
Masonic order and is a Knight Templar. He has a partner in business, W.P. Dean,
the firm name being Eldridge & Dean. Mr. Dean has charge of the work at Rich
Hill. (History of Bates County, Missouri, 1883)
ELLIOTT, W.R.
Charlotte Township - W.R. Elliott, farmer, section 6, came originally from
Bourbon County, Kentucky, where he was born, September 24, 1829. His parents,
Joseph and Eliza C. Elliott, were both Kentuckians by birth, and both died in
Indiana. He was brought up and educated in the vicinity of Bourbon County, and
in 1854 went to Linn County, Iowa, and was occupied in the brick business until
1856. Going to Omaha, Nebraska, he followed the same calling, and in 1858 he
removed to Topeka, Kansas, and for many years freighted from Leavenworth to
Denver. In 1879 he came from Topeka, where he had been interested in keeping a
hotel, to his present location. Mr. Elliott was married in February, 1864, to
Miss Mary Beaty, who was born November 4, 1835. They have one child, Edwin.
(History of Bates County, Missouri, 1883)
EMBREE, John M.
Shawnee Township - John M. Embree, farmer, was born in Clark County, Kentucky,
September 19, 1833, and was the son of Tarleton Embree, whose father, John
Embree, was a revolutionary soldier. His mother's maiden name was Martha Vivian,
both also natives of Kentucky. John, the eldest of five children, was reared on
a farm and was educated in the country schools. In 1856 he came west, and for
three years was engaged in freighting from Leavenworth to Salt Lake, Denver and
Santa Fe. His father had settled in Johnson County, Missouri, and in 1858 J.M.
commenced farming with him, continuing unitl the outbreak of the war, when he
served in the Missouri State Militia for about four months. He then entered the
regular Confederate service under General Price and remained until the close of
the war, surrendering at Shreveport June 15, 1865. He participated in numerous
engagements, and was wagon and forage master for some time. Returning to
Missouri, he resumed agricultural pursuits in Pettis County, and on the 16th of
February, 1866, was married to Miss Mary Hull, a native of Virginia. In 1872
they came to Bates County, and here he has been farming since. His farm,
containing eighty acres, lies in section 35, and is well improved and in a fine
state of cultivation. Mr. Embree is a member of the Masonic order and also of
the Patrons of Husbandry. They have lost one child, Peache, who died when about
nine months old. (History of Bates County, Missouri, 1883)
EVERINGHAM, J. - M.D.
Mt. Pleasant Township - J. Everingham, prominent among the medical practitioners
of Bates County, was born in Oxbridge, Middlesex County, England, April 7, 1831,
and is the son of Thomas and Mary (East) Everingham. In 1840 the family
emigrated to the United States and settled in Lee County, Iowa. His primary
education was received in his native country and Iowa, and he was for a time
employed as a clerk in a store. When eighteen years of age he went to Fort
Madison, Iowa, where he served two years at the printer's trade. He also learned
telegraphy, but followed it only a short period, having already formed a desire
for the practice of medicine, and at the same time was diligently prosecuting
his studies and preparing himself for the active duties of his chosen
profession. He completed his studies with Dr. John Major, of McComb, McDonough
County, Illinois, and attended lectures at the Eclectic College of Cincinnati,
from which institution he was graduated in June, 1854. He commenced active
practice in West Point, Lee County, Iowa, and supplemented his knowledge of
medicine by attending the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania,
in Philadelphia, receiving a diploma from that institution in the spring of
1857. In the fall of 1858 he visited London, England, and availed himself of the
opportunities offered in the hospitals of that city for still better qualifying
himself for his profession. In 1859 he returned to his adopted country and
resumed the practice of medicine in West Point, and continued the same until
1862, when he was appointed assistant surgeon of the Seventh Iowa Infantry. The
first year he was on detached service, and was present at many important
battles. September 13, 1863, he was commissioned surgeon of the regiment, and
remained therein until July 12, 1865. He participated in the Atlanta campaign,
and was with Sherman in his march to the sea. After being mustered out at
Louisville, Kentucky, he returned to his home with his health much impaired, and
he has since been more or less a sufferer from disease contracted in the service
of his country. After practicing in West Point until 1873, Dr. E. came to Bates
County, and settled in Butler, where he has since been closely identified with
the interests of the city. In educational matters he has taken an active
interest. The Butler Academy finds in him a warm friend, nad also as a director
a wise counsellor and an efficient clerk. He is also a stockholder in the
Electric Light Company. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, being a Royal
Arch Mason and a Knight Templar. He also belongs to the I.O.O.F. The Doctor was
married in the autumn of 1859, to Miss Mary R. Steele, a native of West Point,
Lee County, Iowa, and a daughter of William and Nancy (Jones) Steele, natives of
Kentucky. Their family consists of two children living, Luella and Edith. They
have buried two. (History of Bates County, Missouri, 1883)
EWIN, Charles S.
Deepwater Township - Charles S. Ewin, section 34, is a native of Missouri and
was born in Howard County October 1, 1850. He is the son of W.D. and Abigail H.
(Bridges) Ewin, both of whom were born in Howard County, the former on April 13,
1819. Charles S. divided his youth between working on a farm and attending the
common schools. When seventeen years old he commenced to learn the blacksmith
trade. In the fall of 1874 he moved to Appleton City and worked at his trade
there for some six years, after which he was engaged in the grocery business for
about one year. He came to his present farm in December, 1881, and now owns 140
acres of land, with 120 fenced and in cultivation and a young orchard. Besides
carrying on his farming operations, Mr. Ewin has a shop and works to some extent
at his trade. He was married here, December 17, 1874, to Miss Alice A. Newberry,
a daughter of Hon. John B. Newberry. She is also a native of Missouri and was
born in Bates County. They have one child, Everett N., who was born June 9,
1878. (History of Bates County, Missouri, 1883)