Bates County Biographies

 

PACE, James L.
Mt. Pleasant Township - The subject of this sketch is one of Butler's most enterprising citizens and a man who has probably done fully as much toward making Bates County, Missouri, what it now is any man here. He is a native of St. Clair County, Missouri, where he was born March 13, 1834. His father, James Pace, was born in Henry County, Virginia in 1807. He was there reared and married Miss Mildred Davis. They had five children of whom Jame L. was the third child. He grew to manhood and was educated in the county of his birth, and at the age of eighteen years, in 1861, he enlisted in Company C. of Colonel John T. Coffer's Regiment, Missouri State Guards. In 1862 he enlisted in the regular service (the company remaining the same) in Joe Shelby's Brigade, under General Marmaduke's Division and Regiment. Thus he served till 1864. After that time he was on the disabled list until the close of the war. Mr. P. was twice wounded - first at Unionville, Missouri, in 1862, where he received a wound over the eye, causign a fracture of the skull. While on the retreat at the battle of Cape Girardeau, Missouri, he was wounded in the arm and through the body by one shot. At the close of the war he went to Saline County, Missouri, and for two years was engaged in farming. He then gave his attention to mercantile pursuits and stock dealing at Longwood, Pettis County, for two years, fter which time he located at Altona, Bates County. There he was interested in trade for three years. In 1874 he was elected to the office of Recorder of Bates County which he held till 1883. He has twice been city alderman of Butler and has been director of the city schools. He is now a member of the Masonic fraternity and belongs to the blue lodge, chapter and commandery. Mr. Pace was married March 18, 1868, to Miss Mary Hyeronymus, a native of Missouri. They have one daughter, Ada. Mr. P., during his term of service as county recorder made a most excellent officer. He has won a host of friends while a resident of the county by his affable and courteous demeanor and is a man respected by all. (History of Bates County, Missouri, 1883)

PAGE, Louis F.
Deer Creek Township - Louis F. Page was born in McHenry County, Illinois, August 15, 1852. His father, Reed Page, was a native of New Hampshire, and early removed to Illinois, where he was married, in 1840, to Miss Mary E. Lillibridge, of Pennsylvania. They had three sons and one daughter, of whom Louis was the youngest child. When he was two years old his father died, and his mother moved to Marengo, Illinois, where he attended the schools of the town. After this he was a student at the Chicago University and the law department of the State University at Ann Arbor, Michigan. In 1873 he came to Butler, where he was admitted to the bar, and practiced law with his brother for five years. In 1878 he was located at Hastings, Nebraska, and there practiced for six months. Returning to Bates County, he engaged in farming. His farm now contains 460 acres of the best of land, surrounded and sub-divided with good fences. The improvements are excellent; his house is one of the best farm houses in the county, and was built in 1879 at a cost of $2,200. He also owns a large farm in Kansas and one in Barton County, Missouri. Mr. Page deals extensively in stock and real estate. He is vice-president of the Adrian Bank and a member of Butler Lodge, No. 254, A.F. and A.M., and Miami Royal Arch Chapter, No. 76. He was married to Miss Emma Mopes, a native of Illinois, September 6, 1880. (History of Bates County, Missouri, 1883)

PARDEE, John
Grand River Township - John Pardee, farmer and stockman, resides on section 19, where he has lived since 1850, and where he has a farm of 180 acres, well improved with a good orchard. This land he entered himself. When he came here his post office was at Harrisonville. His father, Philo Pardee, a native of Connecticut, and a blacksmith by trade, died when the son was an infant, and he was reared by his grandfather, Joseph Montgomery, and with him went to Indiana in 1832, where he lived until coming to Missouri, and where he received a limited education in subscription schools. His mother was formerly Rachel Montgomery, a native of Wythe County, Virginia, where John was also born May 27, 1820. Of a family of two brothers and one sister he is the second child. He was married February 14, 1861, to Miss Elizabeth Murray, a native of Ohio. During the war he served for a time in the home guards and then went to Osawatomie, Kansas, where his wife died October 24, 1864, leaving one child, Joseph William. Mr. Pardee was married again November 17, 1867, to Miss Elizabeth C. James, a Kentuckian by birth. They have two children: James S. and Samuel M. (History of Bates County, Missouri, 1883)

PARKER, Green B.
Summit Township - Green B. Parker, the subject of this sketch, is a native of Missouri, and was born in Henry County, December 25, 1845. His parents were Benjamin G. Parker, a native of North Carolina, and Susana (Hudson) Parker, a Kentuckian by birth. Benjamin G. moved to Missouri in the fall of 1830, and located in Henry County, and was among the first settlers of the county. Green Parker, his son, spent his youth on the home farm, and was a student at the common schools. He was married in his native county, March 6, 1870, to Rachel J. Gutridge, daughter of Elijah Gutridge. She was born in Ohio. After this, Mr. P. was engaged in farming for about two years, and in the fall of 1872 he moved to Bates County. In the fall of 1878 he came upon his present farm. He has 130 acres of land, all fenced, with fair improvements, a good house and barn and a young orchard. He resides on section 13. He is Democratic in politics, and was elected collector of his township in the spring of 1881. He takes great interest in educational matters, and is the director of his school district and acted in the same capacity in his district in Henry County. Mr. and Mrs. Parker have six children: Claudius E., Benjamin E., Lucinda F., Melvin G., William R. and Elizabeth. Mr. Parker is a member of the Baptist Church. (History of Bates County, Missouri, 1883)

PATTISON, Thomas W.
West Point Township - Thomas W. Pattison, township clerk and assessor, was born in Guernsey County, Ohio, March 29, 1829. His father was Samuel Pattison, a native of Virginia, and his mother, was formerly Martha Alexander, of Pennsylvania. Thomas is the fifth of eleven children, five of whom are living. They are: Jane McGaw, of Homer Township; Alexander, in Madison County, Iowa; Susan Speck, in Ringgold County, Iowa, and Sarah A. Patterson, in Monmouth, Illinois, with whom his mother is now living, at the advanced age of eighty years. One brother John is at Keithburg, Illinois. Mr. Pattison was married in Sangamon County, Illinois, March 29, 1853, to Miss Ann R. Crawford. In 1854 he removed to Van Buren County, Iowa, where he lived seven years, when he began the carpenter trade, at which he has worked ever since. In 1861 he returned to Illinois and lived in Monmouth seven years. In 1869 he came to Peculiar, Cass County, and after three years there, settled where he now lives in West Point Township. Mr. and Mrs. Pattison have reared one child, Edward K. Pattison, who married Galathus I. Sankey, now living in Kansas, and a little girl of nine years, Anna Coldsmith. Mr. Pattison has spent a portion of his life, serving in the capacity of a school teacher. (History of Bates County, Missouri, 1883)

PATTY, James M.
Mt. Pleasant Township - James M. Patty, stock dealer and shipper, was born in Tippecanoe County, Indiana, on December 27, 1831. His father, Eli Patty, came originially from North Carolina, and when eighteen years of age removed to Ohio, and from thence to Tippecanoe County, Indiana, in 1820. He was there married to Miss Catherine Guyun, a Virginian by birth. They had seven children, of whom James was the sixth child. He remained at his birthplace until fifteen years of age, when he went to Vermillion County, Indiana, passing his youth and early manhood there, and also completing his education, after which he engaged in farming. In 1847 he removed to Miami County, Indiana, and six months later returned to Georgetown, Vermillion County, where he was interested in agricultural pursuits and dealing in stock. In the year 1865 he came to Bates County, Missouri, and resumed his former occupation, near Butler. Of late he has resided in the city, and has devoted his entire attention to the stoc business, in which he hs met with satisfactory financial success. He is one of the directors of the Bates County National Bank, and was one of the projectors and stockholders of the Bates County Republican, of which he has been president since its organization. Mr. Patty was married, September 27, 1851, to Miss Catherine Campbell, who was born in Tennessee. They have four children living: Mary E., Jennie L., Alexander, and William M. Mr. P. is a member of the A.O.U.W. of Butler. (History of Bates County, Missouri, 1883)

PECK, John Henry, John Thomas & Robert
History of the Peck Family - (Including JOHN HENRY PECK, father of JOHN THOMS PECK and JAMES and ROBERT PECK)
 John Thomas Peck, was born on May 1st 1832 in Staunton Virginia and came to Missouri and located in Bates County on Mormon Fork in 1837, on a farm in the North West part of the county. John married Susan Jane Stanford on August 23rd, 1855 in Butler, Missouri. Susan was born on January 2nd, 1840 near the White River, in Taney County, Arkansas. In 1862 John & Susan were compelled to leave their farm on account of the Kansas Red Legs, who invaded the County which made it dangerous for the men in that part of the State. By this time they had three children, Wyatt Sanford Peck, Mary F. Peck, and James Pickeyune Peck. At sundown on an October evening in 1862 they left the farm and went to William B. Irwin's in Saline County, Missouri. In 1863 John rented the Dan Trigg farm. That spring John planted a large field of corn and sowed a field of hemp, both yielding a large crop, which sold for a good price.  In the spring of 1864 John moved to Dr. Martin's farm in a two room house. While there, Joe Sanford gave Wyatt S. Peck a little bay pony. In the same year, on June 15th, John headed for California with one wagon driven by three yoke of oxen, one yoke were cows which gave milk all the way across the plains. He also had a carryall for the family to ride in, which was drawn by two horses. At that time there  were John & Susan, and there children: Wyatt, Mollie, James and William Lee (who was only three weeks old). There were also two colored people Bob and Fanny, who did the cooking and Bob drove the ox team. On our way to California, we could not cross the Platte River owing to high water so father journey on to Denver, Colorado arriving there in the later part of July. On the trail across the plains, the Indians were very hostile and were massacring the whites in great number.  At Fort Kearney we were stopped until we had 100 armed men in the train, which made it safe for us to journey on across the plains. On our journey we saw men who had been killed by the Indians arrows still in them. The cooking was done on a sheet iron stove the wood consisted of buffalo chips which we picked up on the roadside. Arriving at Denver in July, James was taken sick and after a few days lingering he passed away and was buried in a Denver cemetery. Shortly after that father went about 40 miles north to the Senvorange River where he put up much hay. When he was through putting the hay in ricks he went up in the mountains and bought a hotel called an Inn. There were 12 rooms in the Inn. It was on the roadside 10 miles above Golden Gate. This inn was on the side of the mountain in a lovely place with no other houses for miles. This inn received many travelers from all parts of the U.S. who had gone west on account of the Rebellion of 1861 between the North and South. In May of 1865, father was taken down with what was called Mountain fever and was confined to bed for some weeks. After his recovery he sold the inn and made a trip to the head of the Blue River where the hydraulic water works were used to search for Gold by using water in a powerful way to wash away the dirt and stones. A sight never to be forgotten. Peace being made between the North and South, father decided to return to his farm in Bates County,  Missouri.  After many hardships, we arrived at the farm and the house barn and fences all had been destroyed.  Not having the heart to improve it again, he sold it and went to Kansas City about November of 1862. On January 20th twins were born in McGees addition K.C. MO. In the fall of 1866, Grandfather came to K.C. from Searcy Ark.  and induced father and mother to go to Searcy and take charge of a farm 10 miles from town it being cotton picking time, requiring the help of many Negroes.  The ginning of the cotton was done in a crude way with the aid of a cotton gin and the power was a 1 horse sweep. Father no being satisfied in that country decided to return to MO. So on December 25th Christmas day he started back to MO, and a days drive found us in a raging snow storm.  On the morning of the 26th, the snow was so deep it was unsafe to continue on our journey, so father returned to Searcy and sold all the stock wagons harness and Wyatts pony, receiving $100 for the pony, Grandfather Sanford bought the pony. About March 1st, we took passage on a boat at Searcy down the Little Red River to the Mississippi where we changed to the Belle of Memphis for St. Louis. On our way up the Mississippi there was much floating ice which hindered the progress of the boat. Arriving at St. Louis, we took a train for Sedalia, MO, where father bought a span of mules and a wagon and started to Bates County, camping out on the way, about the 1st of April 1867. We arrived at Mrs. Simpson's farm 10 miles east of Butler, the County Seat of Bates Co. MO. There father bought 100 acres of land which we improved into a farm. In October 20th 1867, little Estell was born on the farm. In 1883, father sold the farm and moved to Carthage, Jasper Co, MO. where he bought two houses on the eastern part of town.  In the Spring of 1884, we moved to Sedalia MO, and in the spring of 1885 we went to Kansas City, and then bought a lot in Springfield addition and built a large residence. In 1890, we moved to Madison, Ill. , then to East Park Pl.  In 1892 we moved to St. Louis Ave and from there to Spencer Place where father resided until his death on February 13th, 1914 at 8:40 PM. (Written by Wyatt Sanford Peck (01/23/1856 – 12/19/1933). Submitted by Mitchell C. Wield,. mitchwieldt@prodigy.net , who acquired a copy in October 2005; edited by Richard Pier (mostly spelling and grammatical corrections) in the 1980s.

PECK, John T.
Deepwater Township - John T. Peck was born near Stanton, Augusta County, Virginia, May 1, 1832, and was the son of John H. and Mary (McCrary) Peck, who were also natives of Virginia. John T. moved with his parents to Missouri in 1836 and located in Saline County, being among the pioneers of that vicinity. After living there about one year they settled at Lexington where John H. Peck engaged in the hotel business. Our subject spent his youth until eighteen years old on a farm, after which he worked in a rope factory for two years. He was married in this county, August 23, 1855, to Miss Susan Jane Sanford, a daughter of Wyatt Sanford, of Butler. She was born at Lexington but was raised and educated in Springfield, Missouri. After this event Mr. Peck located in Bates County where he entered land and improved a farm and where he resided about fifteen years. Selling out in 1866 he went to Arkansas and located in White County, but in a short time returned to Bates County, when he bought his present farm in section 17. He owns one hundred acres of land all fenced, with seventy-seven acres in cultivation, and a fair house, barn and improvements. A fine orchard of 1,000 bearing apple, about 500 bearing peach, some cherry, pear, and plum trees is on the place. Mr. and Mrs. Peck have nine children: Wyatt S., Mary F. (now Mrs. Cicero Graham), William Lee, Lillian E., Ellen Bell, Flemming H., Florence May, Walter and Flora Ethel. Mr. P. is a man of more than ordinary intellect though he hsa been almost entirely self educated. He is general manager of the Home Life Associaton of Burlington, Iowa, for Cass and Johnson Counties and is doing a good business for his company. He and his wife are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and he belongs to the Grange. (History of Bates County, Missouri, 1883)

POAGE, George A.
Mingo Township - George A. Poage, druggist, Mayesburg, is a native of Virginia, having been born in Pocahontas County, December 3, 1850, the eldest of fourteen children. His parents were Samuel Poage and Sallie, nee Allen, also of Virginia. At the age of five years he, with the family, came to Missouri and settled in Daviess County, where he was reared on a farm. He was educated at McGee College, and when of age began life for himself by first securing a companion, in the person of Miss Carrie J. McCarty, a native of the same state as himself. They were married December 20, 1871. He embarked in farming in Daviess County, which he continued until 1881, having come to Bates in 1880. He entered the drug store with Mr. West in 1881, and is still in the same business. Mr. Poage has the respect of his acquaintances, and has been elected to the offices of justice of the peace, treasurer and township trustee. He and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church, and he is also a Master Mason. Mr. and Mrs. Poage have had three children, but have lost two of them, only one, Harry B., now living. The other two were named John H. and Lola T. (History of Bates County, Missouri, 1883)

POWER, Melvin Sidney
Mt. Pleasant Township - Melvin Sidney Power was born in Ontario County, New York, in 1827. His father, William Powr, married Miss Dorcas Arnold. Melvin spent his early days at the common schools, acquiring a good business education. After attaining his majority he settled on a farm, and married Miss Prudence Eugenia Rapalje May 27, 1852. Her father, Abraham Rapalje, was born in Dutchess County, New York, and subsequently moved to Ontario County. Her mother was formerly Eliza Scott, of Saratoga County. Mrs. Power received a thorough education at the Fitzhue Seminary at Rochester. They have three children living: Ralph Edward, Melvin Rapalje and Sarah Eliza, Lizzie. Jerome Alexander, who was born August 17, 1859, at Santiago, Island of Cuba, died July 31, 1881, at Mankato, Minnesota, where he was stopping for his health. In 1857 Mr. Power went to Cuba, where he remained for nine years, engaged as a general produce and egg dealer, also dealing in stock. He was successful in making money, but also met with many heavy losses. Coming to Missouri February 14, 1868, he bought the Planters House at Pleasant Hill, which he kept for six months, then selling it and moving to Butler, where he purchased an old mill. He at present has lumbering interests in Arkansas and ships logs to the mill here to be manufactured into lumber. The Butler Mill was started by him on the 15th of December, 1866, commencing with one run of burrs for grinding corn. Its capacity was forty bushels of corn per hour, and many grists came forty and fifty miles from Cass, Henry and Vernon Counties, Missouri, and Linn County, Kansas. About one year after this a run of burrs and other machinery for grinding wheat were added, also a saw mill. There were two boilers and two engines, and in the fall of 1868 one boiler exploded, breaking the leg of one man and cutting the head of another man open. The building was totally demolished. In ten days from the time of the explosion the mill was running again, night and day. This was the first steam mill in Bates County since the war and the first steam one ever in Butler. M.S. Power sold the mill to his sons, E.R. and M.R. Power, in the fall of 1877. The capacity of the mill is 120 bushels of wheat and 400 bushels of corn and 6,000 feet of lumber every ten hours. Grinding and sawing are done at the same time. This firm employes thirty-five men, including log haulers and choppers. Their sales are mostly home trade, they furnishing seventeen stores and three bakeries with flour in Butler. Their lumber is sold mostly to farmers. (History of Bates County, Missouri, 1883)

PRICE, Samuel W.
Spruce Township - Samuel W. Price, section 16, was born in Lafayette County, Missouri, November 20, 1837. His parents, Anderson and Margaret (Brown) Price, were Virginians by birth. The former grew to manhood and was married in Virginia, and moved to Missouri in an early day, locating in Lafayette County, where he was among the first to settle. In the spring of 1837 he went to Daviess County, nad was also a pioneer there. Samuel passed his youthful days on a farm and received a common school education. He was married in Grundy County, Missouri, October 23, 1862, to Miss Wilhelmina Conkling, a daughter of Zela Conkling. She is a native of Missouri; was born in Grundy County. After this event Mr. Price farmed in Daviess County for about two years, and in January, 1865, visited Nebraska, and the following spring moved to Iowa, where he lived one year. In the spring of 1867 he returned to Lafayette County, and in five years, or in the spring of 1872 he came to Bates County, and bought a farm in Spruce Township, which he still owns. He located at his present residence in the spring of 1881. He has about 400 acres of land, mostly improved, with a good dwelling on his home place and a young bearing orchard. He is quite extensively engaged in raising and feeding stock and has been very successful in this business. Mr. P. and his wife have five children: Thomas W., William Lee, Anna B., Dora Bell, and Samuel M. Mrs. Price is a member of the M.E. Church, south. (History of Bates County, Missouri, 1883)

PULLIAM, George W.R.
Deer Creek Township - George W.R. Pulliam, farmer, section 28, was born in Boone County, Missouri, October 19, 1840. His father, Richard R. Pulliam, originally from Kentucky, immigrated to Missouri in 1819, where he married Miss Ann Smith, a native of Tennessee. The subject of this sketch was reared on the farm in Boone County, receiving his education in the common schools. In 1863-4, he taught school, after which he engaged in farming, which occupation he followed until 1881. At that date he came to Bates County, Missouri. His farm contains eighty acres of good land, well improved. Mr. Pulliam's grandfather, Smith, lived to the age of 103 years. His father died in 1877. His mother is now sixty-eight years old, and is residing in Boone County. He was married April 6, 1864, to Miss Nancy C. Short, a native of Missouri, born March 2, 1844. They have ten children: Sally E., Amanda, John Y., William T., Katie E., Annie B., Attelie N., Rue E., George and Richard. (History of Bates County, Missouri, 1883)

PUTNAM, L.W.
Deer Creek Township - L.W. Putnam, school teacher, was born in Yates County, New York, March 1, 1841. His father, Jacob Putnam, who was a farmer by occupation and a native of the same state, was married, in 1839, to Miss Louisa Cora, of New York. They had four sons and three daughters, L.W. being the eldest. He was reared on his father's farm, receiving his education in the common schools and the Academy at Dundee, New York. In August, 1861, he enlisted in Company H, Fiftieth New York, and was discharged in June, 1865. He was promoted from private to sergeant, and after the war he returned to New York and taught school until 1868, when he removed to Bates County, Missouri, and located at West Point. He has taught school in this county from that time except for two years spent in the State of Kansas. In March, 1882, he came to Adrian and accepted the principalship of the Adrian school. Mr. P. is a member of the Baptist Church, as is also his wife. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity. August 27, 1865, he was married to Miss Mary Eveland, a native of New York. They have one child, Carrie, born June 29, 1866. (History of Bates County, Missouri, 1883)

PYLE, Elliott, M.D.
Mt. Pleasant Township - Elliott Pyle, M.D., dealer in drugs, books, stationery, &c., was born on June 21, 1827, and is a native of Clinton County, Ohio. He continued to make his home in that locality until 1847, in the spring of which year he removed to Lee County, Iowa. 1853, he began the study of medicine under Dr. E.D. Adkinson, at Dover, the same county, and continued to prosecute it earnestly until 1857. During this time, in 1855-6, and 1856-7, he attended the medical department of the Iowa State University. In 1857, he embarked in the practice of his profession at Hager's Grove, Missouri, at which point he remained for one year. Upon going to Croton, Iowa, he made it his home until 1860, when he moved to West Point. There he had a most successful practice. In July, 1862, he was appointed assistant surgeon of the United States Hospital, at Keokuk, and after two months service there he joined the Second Iowa Regiment in a like capacity. He served with that command until September, 1863, when he was commissioned surgeon and assigned to hospital duty in Arkansas. He remained on duty at different points throughout the state up to the fall of 1866, when he received his discharge. During the greater part of that year he was acting surgeon-in-chief of the state, in the absence of the regular official. Upon obtaining his discharge, Dr. Pyle returned to West Point, Iowa, and continued to reside there until the spring of 1867, when he came to Butler, Missouri, resuming the practice of his profession. He also started the drug business, to which after a short time he devoted his entire attention. Since his location here the doctor has been an acknowledged leader among our citizens in promoting the general improvements of the place. His drug store is now the best fitted one in the locality, and his business is a remunerative one. He was married April 22, 1857, to Miss Mary A. Walker, originally from Illinois. They have a family of three children: William E., Nancy J. and Ruby A. Dr. P. is a member of the Masonic fraternity at Butler. (History of Bates County, Missouri, 1883)

PYLE, John H.
Mt. Pleasant Township - John H. Pyle, blacksmith, was born in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, November 6, 1830. He was there reared and educated, and has followed from his eighteenth year the trade of blacksmithing. In 1868, he emigrated to Bates County, Missouri, where he engaged in the farming and dairy business, which he continued for four years. Returning to Pennsylvania, he gave his attention to his trade at Meadville for one year. Then he again came to Bates County, Missouri, and established himself in his present business. In 1882, he built the brick store adjoining his shop at a cost of $2,500. He owns besides this a fine farm of 160 acres of land, one and one-half miles from town, and also several dwellings in Butler. Mr. Pyle was married, November 9, 1854, to Miss Jane Elliott, a native of England. They have three children living, Charlie H., Melvin A. and Jessie F. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and also belongs to the Presbyterian Church. (History of Bates County, Missouri, 1883)
 

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