Bates County Biographies
Bates County Biographies
NAYLOR, Prof. James M.
Mt. Pleasant Township - Prof. James M. Naylor, principal of the Butler Academy,
was born in Butler County, Ohio, November 3, 1842. His father was the Rev. A.R.
Naylor, who was a Presbyterian clergyman, and connected for many years with the
domestic missions of the west. His mother was formerly Elizabeth Montgainy, of
Ohio. James M., determined to be a scholar, prepared himself for a course of
study, and entered the Miami University at Oxford, Ohio, where he graduated in
1866. In 1862, he joined the Eighty-Sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, which was
with the Fifteenth and also the Sixteenth corps, and accompanied General Sherman
through his memorable campaigns. He acted as a scout for many months, and after
serving through the war, discharging many important trusts, he received an
honorable discharge and returned home. Not having completed his collegiate
course he re-entered and after the last year's study received his diploma. He
took the second degree of M.A. in 1869. His life work has been spent as teacher,
mostly as principal in an academy, he having had under his tutorship, some of
the best schools in Ohio and Indiana. In September, 1879, he came to Butler and
took charge of the academy in this place, where he is meeting with great
success. His school is largely and deservedly popular. Professor Naylor married
Miss Martha A. McCord in 1869. She was the accomplished daughter of Robert
McCord, of Vincennes, Indiana. Professor N. is a zealous member of the
Presbyterian Church, and the active and efficient superintendent of the Sunday
School. (History of Bates County, Missouri, 1883)
NEWBERRY, Hon. John B.
Deepwater Township - Among the prominent men of Bates County, is the subject of
this sketch, who was born in Orange County, New York, May 25, 1829. Joshua
Newberry, his father, and also his mother (formerly Elizabeth Stevens) were
natives of the same county, the former born November 2, 1792, and the latter
March 14, 1791. Joshua served in the war of 1812, and was in several important
engagements. He held different local offices in his native state, where he died
in 1862. John B. Newberry moved with his parents to Broom County, New York, in
1841, and there grew to manhood, spending his youth on the farm and attending
the common schools, where he received a good education of the English branches.
When in his twentieth year he was a student in the Harford Academy, in
Susquehanna County. He had previously worked one year and a half learning the
blacksmith trade, and after completing his studies at school he labored at his
trade in different parts of the state for about four years. In 1853, he came to
Missouri and located in Bates County, continuing his chosen calling at
Papinville, where he remained four years. In the spring of 1857, Mr. Newberry
moved to his present farm. He has 400 acres of land in his home place, with 300
under fence and about 200 in cultivation and fairly improved. There is a good
house, barn and outbuildings, and a bearing orchard of 200 apple, with some
peach, cherry and pear trees upon the place. He resides on section 22. In the
summer of 1862, he enlisted in Company F, Sixtieth Missouri Enrolled Militia,
and when his company was organized he was elected captain, in which capacity he
served until the fall of 1864, when his company was discharged. The captain is
identified with the Democratic party, and was elected sheriff and collector of
Bates County in the fall of 1862, and served for two years. In the fall of 1870,
he was re-elected sheriff and collector and served one term. In the spring of
1873, he returned to his farm. In the fall of 1874, his party further recognized
his ability by nominating and electing him state senator for the Fourteenth
State Senatorial District. He served in this capacity with distinction and
credit to himself for four years. Since retiring from office he has taken more
than ordinary interest in politics, and has served as a delegate to numerous
conventions. Mr. Newberry was married in Bates County, December 10, 1854, to
Miss Elizabeth Drake, a daughter of George Drake, of Licking County, Ohio, where
she was born. She came to Missouri in 1844, and was raised and educated in Bates
County. Mr. and Mrs. N. have four children: Alice A. (wife of C.S. Ewin); Susan
L., Jessie E. and George W. They have lost one child, an infant. Mr. Newberry is
a member of the Masonic fraternity, the Odd Fellows and also the Patrons of
Husbandry. (History of Bates County, Missouri, 1883)
NEWSOME, Dempsey G.
Mt. Pleasant Township - Dempsey G. Newsome was born on the 28th of October,
1842, in Forsythe County, North Carolina. He spent his youth at is birth place
and attended the schools of that vicinity, and was interested in different
branches of business until 1861. Then he enlisted in Company B, 11th North
Carolina Volunteers, of the Confederate army, and was in active service until
August, 1863, when he was wounded at the second battle of Bull Run. On account
of disability he was therefore discharged. In 1864 he removed to Knob Noster,
Johnson County, Missouri, where he resided for two years. Coming to Butler he
followed the trade of painting until 1869, when he was appointed deputy sheriff
and collector of Bates County. This position he continued to fill for two years.
Subsequently he was employed as a clerk by R. Weil & Co., at Butler, and in 1872
he established the Bates County Times, which he edited for two years with marked
ability as a journalist. Selling his interest in this paper he again entered the
house of R. Weil & Co., as manager of their store at Harrisonville. He remained
there until they closed business at that point when he returned to Butler, and
in December, 1881, he accepted his present position as manager of the boot and
shoe department of the extensive establishment of M.S. Cowles & Co., in this
city. Mr. Newsome was united in marriage on March 8, 1871, to Miss Emma F.
Campbell, a native of Illinois. They have an interesting family of four
children: Stonewall J., Ora, Dixie L. and Goldie. Mr. N. is a member of the
I.O.O.F. fraternity. (History of Bates County, Missouri, 1883)
NOLAND, Thomas B.
Shawnee Township - Thomas B. Noland was born in Columbus, Ohio, July 13, 1841.
His parents were William Noland and Margaret, nee Weatherinton, the former
a native of Virginia and the latter of Ohio. Her father was a pioneer settler of
Ohio, and was in the war of 1812. They were the parents of three sons and five
daughters, Thomas being the eighth child. The family located in Hancock County,
Illinois, when he was nine years old, and there he grew to manhood, attending
the acedemy at Denmark, Iowa, thus receiving a good education. At the age of
nineteen years he began to teach, and taught in the schools of Illinois until
1874, when he came to Bates County. Since moving to Missouri he has been
occupied in farming and occasionally teaching. His farm lies on section 21, and
contains 160 acres, all under fence and in cultivation. Mr. Noland has been a
justice of the peace for five years, and being interested in causes of education
has been repeatedly elected a school director. He is a Methodist in his church
connection, and belongs to the farmers' order, the Grange. He was married,
January 5, 1862, to Miss Margaret Florence, a native of Ohio. They have six
children: Leroy W., Charles G. Harriet B., Florence M., A.B. and Lizzie. They
have lost one daughter, Maggie. (History of Bates County, Missouri, 1883)
NORMAN, William
Deer Creek Township - William Norman, farmer, section 22, was born in England,
July 5, 1853, his parents were Thomas and Susan (Shaver) Norman, being natives
of England. William was the oldest of five sons and two daughters. He lived with
the family in England until 1867, when he emigrated to America, settling in
Illinois, where he followed farming until 1878. Then he came to Bates County,
Missouri. Mr. N. received his education in Illinois, and on August 5, 1875, he
was married to Miss Anna M. Howe, a native of Illinois. Her death occurred in
April, 1876. He was again married October 19, 1880, to Alice McKill, of Pettis
County, Missouri. He has two children: John and Susan. (History of Bates County,
Missouri, 1883)
NORTH, James C.
Mound Township - James C. North was born in Juniata County, Pennsylvania, in
1838, and was the son of Thomas and Catherine (Brenansoltz) North, who are of
English ancestry. James was the third of six children, five of whom are still
living. He is the only one in the west, the others being in Pennsylvania. His
father was a tanner by trade, and he was initiated into the secrets of the
tanyard at an early age. He continued at this work until about twenty-two years
old. At the outbreak of the war he was attached to Milroy's Brigade, and served
in the capacity of sutler for the 123rd Ohio, until about the time of the battle
of Gettysburg, when he retired from the army and soon after moved to Tazewell
County, Indiana, where he remained until about 1868. Coming to Missouri he
purchased land where he now lives, near the town of Adrian. Mr. North is one of
the first farmers and stock men of Mound Township, and his present comfortable
condition is simply the result of untiring and diligent attention. In politics
he is a Republican of advanced views and supports everything tending to promote
and develop this country. (History of Bates County, Missouri, 1883)