Bates County Biographies
Bates County Biographies
LAKEY, J.B.
Mingo Township - J.B. Lakey, farmer, section 28, was born January 3, 1847, in
Howard County, Missouri. His father, J.J. Lakey, a farmer and blacksmith by
occupation, was a native of Tennessee. His mother, formerly Elizabeth Stopp, was
a Kentuckian by birth. J.B. was the sixth child of a family of eight. When one
year old he accompanied his parents to Bates County, Missouri, where he was
reared on a farm, receiving his education in the common schools. When twenty-one
years old he engaged in farming in his adopted county. His farm now contains
sixty-three acres, improved and well adapted to the raising of wheat, corn and
oats. Mr. L. has been constable of his township for a number of years. March 7,
1872, he married Miss Polly Ann Gragg, of Missouri. They are members of the
Christian Church. They have four children living: Clarine B., Minnie A., Albert
B. and Lula L. They have lost two, Rosa A. and Ira I. (History of Bates County,
Missouri, 1883)
LAMB, Alexander H.
Mt. Pleasant Township - Alexander H. Lamb was born in Butler County, Ohio,
November 4, 1836. His father, William Lamb was born in Randolph County, North
Carolina, in 1806, and was married to Miss Jane Wilson, a native of Butler
County, Ohio. She was a very large woman, weighing 320 pounds, and six feet four
inches in height. She was an early settler at Fort Hamilton. In 1858, William
Lamb removed to Kansas and settled in that state. The subject of this sketch
attended school until sixteen years of age, when he learned the painter's trade,
which has been his chosen calling in life. In 1855 he went to Kansas, and
located at Big Springs, between Lawrence and Topeka, on the old Santa Fe trail,
where he made a claim and improved a farm. In 1856 he embarked in the dry goods
business with a team, supplying those in the vicinity of Kansas City with this
merchandise. When the border warfare continued to increase in fury he
experienced many annoyances, and finally lost his outfit, and in fact all his
possessions, and to defend his own life and the lives of his family, he joined
the free state forces. He happened to be at Ossawatomie the night of the trouble
with John Brown, and participated in that battle. He was with General Jim Lane
through the troubles in Kansas, and took part in many battles which followed. In
May, 1861, he enlisted in Company B, Second Kansas Infantry, and was at Wilson's
Creek, where he received a wound and he was within a few feet of General Lyon,
when he fell mortally wounded. In 1862, he was detailed as a scout and continued
that perilous duty until the close of the war. A history of what he saw and
passed through would make an interesting volume. He organized a company of
eleven resolute men in 1862 to act with him, and at the close of the service,
three of them only were alive, and he was the only one perfectly well; one is a
total wreck, and the third one had both his eyes shot out. After being mustered
out in October, 1865, Mr. L. came to Missouri and settled in Butler, and found
but one family in the city - that of Judge Pyle. He repaired an old house and
moved into it, and has lived there since. He started the first paint shop in the
town and has kept it since. In 1868 he was appointed postmaster by President
Grant, and held the appointment for eight years. He married Miss Pauline Ledyard
in Fort Smith, Arkansas, August, 1864. She died December 4, 1874, leaving four
children: Lillie, Charles W., William, and Harvey W. For his second wife he
married Miss Elna E. Grout. They have two children living: John and Archie;
Harry died in infancy. Mr. Lamb lost all his stock and personal property by the
guerillas during the war, and was in debt when he came to Butler. He first
entered the employ of the stage company, running from Fort Scott to Pleasant
Hill, established all the stations and supplied them, being successful in the
management of this business. He acted as deputy sheriff of this county for two
years. Politically, he is an active Republican. He belongs to the Masonic order,
and also to the subordinate lodge and encampment of the Odd Fellows, and has
passed the chairs of the encampment. Mr. Lamb has been faithful in the discharge
of the varied duties entrusted to him, and is a man well thought of in this
community. (History of Bates County, Missouri, 1883)
LAMON, Isaac N.
Grand River Township - Isaac N. Lamon, farmer and blacksmith, was born in
Washington County, Tennessee, September 14, 1838. His father, Emanuel Lamon, and
his mother (formerly Teziah Hartzler) were also natives of the same state. Isaac
is the second of five children. When he was but two years old his parents came
to Missouri, and lived one year in Taney County, coming to what is now Bates
County in 1840, where they located a claim in the present Deer Creek Township.
Here he grew to manhood and attended the first school taught in the township in
1843, the teacher being Andrew Youree. In those days the trading was done at
Pleasant Hill, and that was the nearest post office. At that time only ten
families lived in Deer Creek Township. When about twenty-one years old, Mr. L.
learned the trade of wagon making and blacksmithing. This he followed together
with farming until 1863. He was married December 29, 1858, to Miss Liza J.
Hatfield, a native of Morgan County, born February 7, 1842. He continued to
reside for two years in Morgan County, toward the close of the war, and then
worked at his trade in Johnson County two years, returning to Bates County in
1867, when he settled where he now lives, on section 29. Here he has a farm of
140 acres, and conducts his shop in connection. He still owns a farm of eighty
acres in Deer Creek Township. He is a member of the Baptist Church, and also
belongs to the Masonic order. Mr. and Mrs. L. have six children living: Henry
T., Nancy E., William J., Theodore K., Hester A. and Martha L. They have lost
three: Susan, James and Charity Fanny. (History of Bates County, Missouri, 1883)
LANGSFORD, N.B.
Mt. Pleasant Township - N.B. Langsford, farmer and stock raiser, section 17, was
born in Nelson County, Kentucky, in February, 1838, and was a son of Daniel and
Rebecca (Stellard) Langsford, Kentuckians by birth. They had a family of seven
children of whom N.B. is the oldest one living. He passed his boyhood days and
received a good education in his native county, commencing life for himself as a
farmer. This occupation he has since followed. In 1868 he was united in marriage
to Miss Fanny Ray, one of Kentucky's fair daughters and a native of Marion
County, she having been born in January, 1849. She is a graduate of Bardstown
Seminary, of Kentucky. Her parents were Samuel T. and Margaret (McElroy) Ray. In
1870 Mr. L. came to his present home which was then unbroken and raw prairie. He
now owns 200 acres of finely improved land and the entire estate and
surroundings are the result of his own energy. Mr. and Mrs. Langsford have two
children: Guy and Ray. Their only daughter, Anna, is deceased. (History of Bates
County, Missouri, 1883)
LEFKER, John A.
Mt. Pleasant Township - John A. Lefker, manufacturer of and dealer in flour,
etc., is proprietor of the Empire Mill, and is also a member of the firm of
Lefker, Childs & Co., dealers in grain. He was born in Richmond, Wayne County,
Indiana, January 16, 1836, his parents, Frederick and Mary (Schuloff) Lefker,
being natives of Germany. John A. was reared and educated in his native city,
where he was engaged in clerking for different mercantile firms till 1855, then
going to Cincinnati. He was also employed in the same business there till 1857,
when he went to Linn County, Kansas, settling on a farm. For some time he gave
his attention to agricultural pursuits, after which he embarked in the
mercantile trade, continuing the same till 1867. Moving to Kansas City he was
interested in a planning mill till 1868, and after this he resided in Cass
County one year, where he had a saw mill, which he moved, in 1869, to Bates
County. This he located on the Marais des Cygne River, and subsequently added
the machinery for manufacturing flour. In 1877 he brought it to Butler, where he
has since been enjoying a thriving patronage, having four run of burrs and doing
a general milling business. In 1861 Mr. Lefker enlisted in Mansfield's Blues,
Second Kansas, with which he served for three months. In the spring of 1882 he
was elected mayor of this city, and has so far succeeded in filling the office
to the satisfaction of the people and with great credit to himself. He is a
member of the following societies: Butler Lodge, No. 180, I.O.O.F.; Butler
Encampment, No. 176; and Mound Lodge, No. 107, A.O.U.W. February 12, 1858, Mr.
L. was married to Miss Agnes Thompson, a native of Richmond, Indiana. She was
born May 5, 1835, and died May 1, 1871, leaving one child, Frederick O. Mr. L.
was married the second time February 22, 1877, to Miss Anna Brown, of Fairfield
County, Ohio. By this union they have one child, Clyde R. (History of Bates
County, Missouri, 1883)
LENTZ, Warren
Deer Creek Township - Warren Lentz, farmer, section 33, was born in Elkhart
County, Indiana, August 25, 1853, and was the son of Adam and Annie (Neff)
Lentz. The former was a native of Pennsylvania and a farmer by calling. Warren
was the fourth child of eleven children. He received his education in the public
schools of Indiana, and when fifteen years of age with his father removed to
Illinois. He remained on a farm until he arrived at manhood, when he engaged in
farming for himself in Illinois, which he followed until 1872. Then he came to
Bates County, Missouri. His farm now contains 160 acres of the best of land,
well improved. October 1, 1876, Mr. Lentz married Miss Lundy Carpenter, daughter
of William Carpenter. She was born in Illinois, in 1856. They have three
children: Mary Olive, Clarrie Jane and Eva May. Mr. and Mrs. Lentz are members
of the German Baptist Church. (History of Bates County, Missouri, 1883)
LEVY, Samuel
Mt. Pleasant Township - Samuel Levy, a member of the firm of S. Levy & Co.,
dealers in dry goods, clothing, boots and shoes, notions, carpets, etc., is one
of the leading and most prominent business men of Butler. He was born in
Prussia, on the 6th of September, 1846, and continued to make his home in that
country until he attained his seventeenth year. Then, upon emigrating to the
United States, he settled in New York City, and for three months was engaged in
clerical work. Subsequently he removed to St. Louis, Missouri, and continued
clerking for three months, at the expiration of which time he embarked in
business for himself in that city. After six months he located in New Madrid,
where he was an extensive dealer in clothing, etc., until 1876. In that year he
came to Butler and established his present house. The firm carries as heavy and
complete a stock of goods as any one in this city, and their trade is constantly
on the increase, though the liberal patronage they are receiving is not more
than such energetic men deserve. They occupy two store roms and also the floors
above them. Mr. Levy was married on the 13th of May, 1874, his wife being
formerly Miss Hattie B. Levy, a native of St. Louis, Missouri. Their family
consists of two children, Deborah and Harry. Mr. L. is a member of the Masonic
fraternity. (History of Bates County, Missouri, 1883)
LITTLE, Walter R., Dr.
East Boone Township - Dr. Walter R. Little was born in Fulton County, Illinois,
March 29, 1838. His parents were Patrick and Mary Ann (Riley) Little, who were
married in Illinois. His father was a native of Pennsylvania, and his mother was
a Kentuckian by birth. Walter is the eldest of five children. He was educated at
Abingdon College, Abingdon, Illinois, until he began the study of medicine when
he attended the Keokuk Medical College of Physicians and Surgeons. After
receiving his diploma in 1869, he began the practice of his profession in
Schuyler County, Illinois, where he practiced for ten years, coming to Missouri
in 1879, and locating at Grant, Cass County. When Adrian started, he located
there, and in August 1882, came to Burdett, where he is having a highly
satisfactory practice. Dr. Little was married September 11, 1859, in McDonough
County, Illinois, to Miss Almira Hayes, a native of Fulton County. They have
three children: Alonzo, Frederick and Franklin. Himself and wife are members of
the Christian Church. In politics, he is a Republican. (History of Bates County,
Missouri, 1883)
LOGUE, Joseph
Deer Creek Township - Joseph Logue, farmer and school teacher, section 16, was
born in Gallia County, Ohio, February 14, 1848, and was the son of Abner and
Ellen (Rife) Logue, natives of Ohio. Joseph was the fifth of thirteen children.
He was raised on a farm in Ohio and was educated in the public schools of his
native county, and at the age of eighteen years he engaged in teaching school.
He taught five years in Ohio and Virginia, and in 1871 he removed to Cass
County, Missouri, where he farmed and taught school two years; thence to Bates
County, Missouri, and here has since been interested in the same calling. His
farm contains 120 acres of average land, well improved and one of the best for
stock purposes in the township. He is township clerk and assessor. He and his
wife are members of the M.E. Church. March 3, 1871, Mr. Logue married Miss
Saphrona Kinkade, born in Gallia County, Ohio, November 16, 1846. They have four
children living: Jessie C., Charles E., Katie and James. They lost one, Louie.
(History of Bates County, Missouri, 1883)
LUDWICK, John Lafayette
Mound Township - John Lafayette Ludwick is among the old settlers of Bates, and
stands prominent as one who has been identified with the various interests of
the county since its first settlement. Not only has he seen these prairies turn
into beautiful homes, but has put his hand to the plow and has done much to make
Bates County what it now is. He was born in Licking County, Ohio, January 31,
1829, his parents being George and Susan (Lutzenheizen) Ludwick, of German
ancestry. In 1839 the family came to Bates County, and the surviving members of
the family are still living in Western Missouri, one sister and one brother in
Deepwater Township. The first settlement was made near Johnstown, in Spruce
Township. December 25, 1851, Mr. Ludwick married Miss Mary E. Fletcher, who had
just come to this county from Saline. In 1858 he went to Kansas and bought a
claim in Linn County, but owing to the unsettled state of affairs at that time
he remained but four months, abandoned his claim and then returned to Deepwater.
August 17, 1862, he enlisted soon after the fight at Lone Jack and served
through Missouri and Arkansas, taking part in all the principal actions until
the battle of Helena, July 4, 1863, when he was wounded in the head and
shoulder, being in the hospital at Little Rock. When the place surrendered he
was made prisoner and taken to St. Louis, Alton and Cairo, and finally sent to
New Orleans for exchange, which was effected at the mouth of Red River, just in
time to surrender with his command at Shreveport. On his return he found his
family in Henry County, whither they had gone on account of Order No. 11. In
1874 Mr. Ludwick visited Texas and spent one year in Hayes County, but tiring of
the South, he retraced his steps, and in 1880 moved to Butler, where he lived
until recently, when he came to his farm seven miles north of town. His family
has numbered eight children, but the three eldest died in infancy. The remaining
five are: John Franklin, Andrew Bruce, Gustave Beauregard, Alice Medora and
Arthur Lee. Mr. Ludwick has held many positions of trust in the county. (History
of Bates County, Missouri, 1883)