Bates County Biographies
Bates County Biographies
RAFTER, Thomas D.
Mt. Pleasant Township - Thomas D. Rafter, dealer in dry goods, groceries, etc.,
was born on the 8th of March, 1838, and is a native of Canada. When sixteen
years old he removed to a point near New Haven, Connecticut, where he resided
for eighteen months, then returning to the country of his birth. For two years
he attended the city schools at Montreal, and the succeeding five years was a
student at Kenyon College, at Gambier, Ohio. After this he became principal of
the schools of Cambridge City, Indiana, of which he had charge one year. During
the term of 1864-5 he was employed as teacher at the Rome Academy, of Rome,
Indiana, and subsequently he gave his attention to mercantile pursuits for two
years, at Stevensport, Kentucky. In 1868 Mr. Rafter came to Bates County,
Missouri, and until 1875 was interested in farming, then resuming merchandising
at Butler. Since then this business has received his entire time and energy,
with the exception of six months, when teaching in the city schools. Mr. R. was
married in August, 1866, to Miss N.B. Huckeby, who came originally from Indiana.
This union has been blessed with four children: William, Thomas D., George C.,
and John P. He is a prominent and active member of the Episcopal Church, and is
at present superintendent of the Sabbath School connected with it. (History of
Bates County, Missouri, 1883)
RANDALL, Peter
Shawnee Township - Peter Randall was born in Pulaski County, Kentucky, October
5, 1837. His parents were Payton and Elizabeth (Renick) Randall. His father was
born in North Carolina, and was among the pioneer settlers of Kentucky, where he
married. Peter is the youngest of a family of ten children. Receiving a fair
education in the district schools, he remained at home until nineteen years old,
when, in 1857, he came to McDonald County, Missouri. There he stayed one year,
and the next year moved to Pettis County, where he farmed until 1863; thence to
Johnson County, and in 1869 he came to Bates County, and has been farming ever
since. He lives on section 27, where he owns 160 acres of good land, with good
improvements. November 23, 1862, Mr. Randall married Miss Mary E. Foster. Her
death occurred March 16, 1880. They had eight children, of whom two are dead,
Emma l. and Bertie E. Those living are: Virgil P., George T., James W., Charles
P., Minnie L. and Mary E. (History of Bates County, Missouri, 1883)
REDMON, John W.
Summit Township - John W. Redmon was born in Montgomery County, Kentucky,
January 22, 1840. S.P. Redmon, his father, was born in Clark County, Kentucky,
near Winchester, April 24, 1816, and was the son of William Redmon, also a
native of Kentucky, born in Bourbon County. S.P. moved with his father's family
to Montgomery County in 1835, where he grew to manhood and married Elizabeth J.
Berry, a daughter of Gen. John Berry, of the same County. After his marriage he
resided in Montgomery County until 1866, engaged in farming. In the fall of 1866
he came to Missouri, and located in Bates County, where he bought land and
improved a farm, and where he now resides. Here he lost his wife, who died April
16, 1882. He has four children, the eldest being J.W., the subject of this
sketch, Mary M. (now Mrs. F. Cheatham), Fannie (now Mrs. F.M. Trimble, of
Butler), and George W. John W. Redmon was raised on his father's farm, obtaining
a common school education. He was married in his native county, February 19,
1867, to Miss Mattie F. Steele, a daughter of John M. Steele. She died in
Kentucky, January 5, 1871. He was again married, to Georgia A. Steele, a sister
of his former wife, December 28, 1871. She also died in Kentucky, February 10,
1877. Mr. Redmon has two children, the eldest Myrtie G., by his first marriage,
and Mary Lizzie, by his second wife. He was married the third time, to Miss Emma
E. Hardman, December 11, 1877. She is a daughter of John Hardman, of Clark
County. In the fall of 1868, Mr. R. came to Missouri, purchased land and located
in Bates County. After living here about two years, he returned to Kentucky. In
January, 1878, he again came to his farm in Bates County, where he now resides.
He has 100 acres of land, all in cultivation, with fair improvements, and
resides on section 11. Mr. Redmon enlisted in teh Confederate service in the
fall of 1861, in Clay's Cavalry Battalion. He was taken prisoner in the spring
of 1862, in Montgomery County, and held a prisoner for five months, when he was
paroled; but he did not again enter the service. He and his wife are members of
the Christian Church. (History of Bates County, Missouri, 1883)
REEDER, Austin
Mingo Township - Austin Reeder was born in Wythe County, Virginia, on the
eleventh day of January, 1813, and was the eldest of four children. His parents,
John and Mary (Montgomery) Reeder, were natives of Virginia. The former died
when Austin was a lad of fifteen and the care of the farm fell upon him, and
until 1839 he carried on the old homestead. In that year, on the eighth of
October, he married Miss Nancy A. Shough, a native of Tennessee, and removed to
Missouri, making his location in Bates County, where he was among the first
settlers. When he located in this state his only neighbors were Hiram C.
Edwards, Elisha Evans and Jacob Coffman. He attended the first divine service
held in his section of the county, which was conducted by James Fuel, a Baptist
Missionary. In those days his trading was done at Lexington, and he was obliged
to go fifty miles to mill. He assisted in the first funeral service held in the
township and on that occasion the coffin was made from puncheons split from the
log expressly for the occasion. Mr. Reeder entered all of his land, and now owns
about 1,200 acres. His residence is in section 20, and his home farm consists of
500 acres of well improved land. Mrs. Reeder died August 12, 1865, leaving nine
children, of whom five are now living: Joseph A., William B., James B., Mary J.
(wife of J.M. White), and Laura E. (wife of Thomas Clements). Those deceased are
John S., Thomas P., Julia A., and Gustavus. (History of Bates County, Missouri,
1883)
REEDER, Joseph
Mingo Township - Joseph Reeder, farmer and stock-raiser, section 31, was born in
Wythe County, Virginia, July 10, 1814. His father, John Reeder, a native of
Virginia, married Miss Nancy Montgomery, of the same state. Her father, Joseph
Montgomery, was a soldier during the revolutionary war. Joseph Reeder was the
second of a family of four children, two boys and two girls. He was reared on
his father's farm and received a common education in the subscription schools of
his native state. In 1840 he came to Bates County, Missouri, and was one of the
pioneers of this county. He then entered his land and commenced farming wild
prairie, from which he has made one of the best farms in this portion of Bates,
consisting of 220 acres. September 17, 1840, he married Miss R.A. Sears, a
native of Indiana. She was reared in Henry County, Missouri. They have ten
children: Oscar, Nancy J. (now Mrs. Cox), W.F., Rosie, John, C.P., Robert,
Joseph F., Edna F. (Mrs. A.B. Owens), Otis. Mr. R. has been constable of this
township. Himself and wife are members of the Christian Church. (History of
Bates County, Missouri, 1883)
REEDER, William M.
Mingo Township - William M. Reeder, farmer and stock dealer, is one of the
rising young men of Bates County. He is a native of Bates County, having been
born here January 29, 1855, the son of Austin Reeder one of the county's
substantial farmers. William was reared to hard work on his father's farm and
received his education in the country schools. In his twentieth year he was
married, August 12, 1874, to Miss Sarah E. Prigmore, who was born in this county
May 6, 1856, and a daughter of Daniel and Polly (Sean) Prigmore. Soon after he
began farming and trading in stock at which he continued until 1875; going to
Texas in that year, he remained there only a short time. He continued the stock
business until 1880 when he again visited Texas and dealt in stock for one year,
returning to Bates in the fall of 1881. He is now occupied in farming, and his
place on section 17 contains 140 acres, is well improved with one of the best of
young orchards. Mr. and Mrs. Reeder are members of the Christian Church. They
have three children: Loney Warren, Ida Mary and William Claude. (History of
Bates County, Missouri, 1883)
RENICK, Dr. O.F.
Mt. Pleasant Township - Dr. O.F. Renick was born and raised near Lexington,
Missouri. He studied medicine with Dr. C.L. Wilcox, of Pleasant Hill, Missouri,
as preceptor and attended lectures at the St. Louis Medical College in 1848 and
in New Orleans in 1852 and 1853 and was graduated from the medical department of
the Louisville University in 1860. He received the adendum degree from the St.
Louis Medical College in 1868. He commenced practicing medicine with his
preceptor at Pleasant Hill and subsequently removed to Carrollton and practiced
with Dr. F.B. Atwood. He spent four years in Texas, and was a charter member of
the first medical association of that state. He afterwards settled in
Leavenworth and after attending lectures at Louisville in 1859-60 he made his
home at Wellington, Missouri, where he practiced successfully for twelve years.
While living here he was an active member of the Lafayette County Medical
Association, and in 1870 he was a delegate to the American Medical Association.
He came to Butler, Missouri, in 1872 and has since been in active practice and
is recognized as one of Bates County's most prominent medical practitioners. Dr.
C. Winfrey, of Pleasant Hill, was a student at the same time with the same
preceptor. He commenced practice at Lone Jack. Dr. D.W. Flourney, Dr. Robert B.
Smith and Dr. T. Windsor, of Lexington; Dr. Ray Morrow, Dr. Ray Bowmer, Drs.
James and William Horn, of Johnson County, Missouri, studied medicine, attended
lectures and commenced practice at the same time. Dr. Winfrey and Dr. Renick are
the only two now living. The latter has been twice married; first, in 1847, to
Miss Sarah E. Renick. She died in Wellington, Missouri, May 1, 1869, leaving one
son, A.D., who became a practicing physician and died in Butler in 1877. He
married for his second wife Miss Lucy W. Henry in 1871. Their family consists of
two children: Prudie, aged seven years, and Joseph Henry, aged two years.
(History of Bates County, Missouri, 1883)
REYNOLDS, Cornelius
Grand River Township - Cornelius Reynolds, farmer and stock dealer, is a native
of Missouri, and was born in the county of Saline, February 19, 1832, the fifth
of a family of seven children. His father, Cornelius Reynolds, was a Virginian
by birth, and came to Missouri when a young man. He married Miss Evalina
Thornton, also a native of Virgnia. He was a farmer by occupation and died when
Cornelius was a lad of ten. The son was reared on the farm upon which he was
born, and received a fair education in the public schools. When he was nineteen
years old he began farming and lived in Saline until 1874. He married December
22, 1859, Miss S.N. Hancock, also of Missouri. Her death occurred April 8, 1874,
when Mr. R. removed to Pettis County, where he was again married on December 20,
of the centennial year, to Miss Amanda A. Divers, originally from Virginia. He
continued to live there until 1879, when he came to Bates County, and here he
engaged in farming. His home is on section 26, where he has a farm of sixty
acres in a high state of cultivation. Mr. Reynolds is identified with the
Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and his wife is a member of the Baptist
denomination. The family consists of seven children, of whom five are by the
first marriage. They are Evalina V., John P., Eliza F., J.I., Ernest, Cordia and
Cornelius. (History of Bates County, Missouri, 1883)
RISLEY, George M.
Mt. Pleasant Township - George M. Risley, a prominent dentist at Butler, is a
native of Jersey County, Illinois, and was born July 10, 1857. He was reared in
that county in the occupation of farming and stock raising, obtaining his
education from the schools of the vicinity. In 1872 he came to Bates County,
Missouri, and continued stock raising and farming for two years, and for the
following two years, he was a student of dentistry under Dr. Tucker, of Butler.
He then became associated with that gentleman in the practice of his profession,
and after a year's partnership they dissolved. Dr. R. then continued practice
alone (1879), and has met with a success which he richly merits. He is a member
of the Baptist Church. (History of Bates County, Missouri, 1883)
RITCHEY, Judge Andrew
Grand River Township - Judge Andrew Ritchey, farmer, was born in Belmont County,
Ohio, March 1, 1817, and is the eldest in a family consisting of four boys and
one girl. His father was David Ritchey, a farmer by occupation, and a native of
Pennsylvania. His mother, whose maiden name was Mary Boggs, was born in
Delaware. Andrew was reared on his father's farm in Ohio, and for a while
attended the common schools. He remained on the home farm until twenty-eight
years old, when he was married March 20, 1845, to Miss Elizabeth Nickols, a
native of Ohio, born April 16, 1825. He then continued at farming in Ohio till
1866, when he came to Bates County, Missouri, and here he has been occupied in
tilling the soil. His farm in section 27 consists of over 400 acres, well
improved and with good buildings; his house which he built in 1870, cost $2,500.
In addition to owning cattle, hogs and horses, he handles quite a number of
sheep. At the election in November, 1882, Mr. Ritchey was chosen as the county
justice for the northern district. He has held a number of minor township
offices, the people now recognizing his business ability. He looks to the
interest of the farmers and is accordingly a member of the order of the Patrons
of Husbandry. His wife died July 16, 1879, leaving six children, James B.,
Hannah A. Saunders, Thomas J., Mary E., Amos and Seth. (History of Bates County,
Missouri, 1883)
ROBINSON, G. Wilse, M.D.
Dr. G. Wilse Robinson, who is accorded a position of distinction as one of the
eminent members of the medical fraternity in Missouri and is now serving as
superintendent of the Insane Hospital at Nevada, this state, is widely known as
a specialist in neurology and mental diseases. His birth occurred in St. Clair
County, Missouri, August 1, 1871, his parents being George W. and Cornelia
(Beckwith) Robinson, the former a farmer and stock raiser. In boyhood a student
in the public schools, Dr. Robinson acquired his literary education in Appleton
City Academy and in the State University of Missouri, which he entered in 1893.
Subsequently he attended Beaumont Medical College, of St. Louis, and was
graduated with the class of 1896, the degree of M.D. being at that time
conferred upon him. Dr. Robinson immediately entered upon the active practice of
his profession in Bates county, Missouri, where he remained for eighteen months,
and for four years was located in Joplin, Missouri. In January, 1892, he came to
Kansas City, where he practiced the superintendency of the Insane Hospital at
Nevada, Missouri, to which position he was chosen by its board of managers on
the 3d of May, 1907. He was a professor of physiology in the University Medical
College of Kansas City for a term of five years, is still a member of the
faculty, and thus continues in active relation with the medical fraternity here.
He belongs to the American Medical Association, the Medical Association of the
Southwest, the Missouri Medical Association, the Jackson County Medical Society
and the Kansas City Academy of Medicine. Robinson has also gained prominence in
his profession, building up a very lucrative practice here. He has made a
specialty of neurology and psychiatry, and because of this specialization he
accepted the proffered position of superintendent at the Insane Hospital to
enlarge his knowledge through the study of mental and nervous disorders as
manifest there. (Kansas City, Missouri: It's History and It's People, 1808-1908)
ROBINSON, Jarvis A.
Mt. Pleasant Township - Jarvis A. Robinson, blacksmith and carriage
manufacturer, was born in Livingston County, New York, August 31, 1818. He
received a common school education, and when eighteen years old learned the
blacksmith's trade. After working in Pennsylvania and other places for some time
he started a shop in Danville, New York, and conducted it for some twelve eyars,
then going to Genesee County. He remained here until 1870, when he moved to
Atchison, Kansas. Two years later, or in 1872, he came to Butler, and started a
shop at this point, which small beginning has grown into a large and profitable
business, and perhaps the leading business of the kind in the city. He was
married, June 13, 1844, to Miss Rebecca Ann A. Karchar, who was born in Steuben
County, New York. They had four children: Henry B., Calvin Barzilla, Charles
Eugene, and Emma Jane. Henry learned the blacksmith trade of his father, and is
a partner in the business. He is a natural mechanic, and has invented many novel
tools of great convenience. He married Miss Frances M. Sherwood, in Livingston
County, New York, in June, 1871. They have three daughters: Edith May, Nellie
Gertrude, and Mabel Pearl. Calvin B. married Mrs. Matilda Jane Morrowson Miller,
November 19, 1876. They have two children, Myrtle G. and Gracie. Charley Miller,
the son of Mrs. R., is also a blacksmith, etc. Charles Eugene married Miss Sarah
E. Coutts, of this city, in April, 1879. They have two children, Walter Lewis
and Eddie. He is a carpenter by occupation. Emma Jane was married November 14,
1882, to Isaac N. Maddox, of Butler. Mrs. Jarvis Robinson died November 1, 1878.
Mr. R. and his sons politically are Republican. They are members of the M.E.
Church. Henry B. belongs to the Odd Fellows' order. (History of Bates County,
Missouri, 1883)
ROBINSON, Lossin R.
West Boone Township - Lossin R. Robinson, druggist, was born March 17, 1860, in
Johnson County, East Tennessee. His parents were Joseph H. and Little L. (Coal)
Robinson, both natives of Tennessee. His father was a practicing physician, and
L.R. clerked in his drug store until coming west, in 1879. He then clerked for
Dr. Bennett, at Aubrey, Kansas, for some time. When the town of Rosier was
started Mr. Robinson opened out a drug store in partnership with Dr. Bennett,
but soon after bought his partner's interest and is now conducting it on his own
account. He has a good stock of drugs and is doing a satisfactory trade. Mr.
Robinson was married September 15, 1880, to Miss Rosalie Harrison, daughter of
Thomas T. Harrison, of Aubrey, Kansas. They have one child, Joseph H., born
March 19, 1882. (History of Bates County, Missouri, 1883)
ROBORDS, Judge Charles Israel
Mt. Pleasant Township - Judge Charles Israel Robords, nurseryman and flourist,
was born in Monroe County, New York, February 22, 1832, and was the son of Rev.
Israel Robords, a Missionary Baptist clergyman, and for many years pastor of the
First Baptist Church of New York City. His mother was formerly Olive Dake, of
Saratoga County, New York. Charles I. received a thorough education at the
Madison University in Hamilton, and subsequently studied law for two years, when
he was prevented from completing his course by the death of his father in
Missouri, where he had settled with his family in 1843. Young Robords returned
to Bates County and settled up the estate, and has been an honored citizen of
this county since that time. He was employed for many years in teaching, and
taught some of the best schools in Bates and Cass Counties. He then took charge
of the Asbury Manual Labor School, of North Fork, Creek Nation, Indian
Territory, and remained there until the war in 1861, when he enlisted in the
Union Home Guards, with which he continued through the war. He was one of the
first to occupy the county after the war, and immediately set about improving
his farm in Hudson, devoting some time to the nursery business and teaching. In
1868, he was one of the directors of the Tebo & Neosho Railroad Company, and
elected its secretary. The road is now a part of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas.
In 1865, he was elected presiding judge of Bates County, discharging the duties
with marked ability. In the spring of 1882, he moved into Butler, purchased a
fine lot, built a beautiful residence and bought several acres of land near by,
on which he planted a nursery and built a subsstantial green house, and filled
it with a collection of plants. Judge Robords married Miss Thalia A. Bryner, of
Lucas County, Ohio, and daughter of George and Margaret Bryner, of that county.
The former died in 1851. Mrs. Bryner's sister was the wife of Dr. Jared P.
Kittard, of Cleveland, Ohio, of floral fame. They have one child, Margaret C.,
born October 1, 1880. The judge is a Republican in politics, and religiously a
Baptist. He now owns a good farm, well improved, adjoining the village of
Hudson. (History of Bates County, Missouri, 1883)
ROGERS, John
Deer Creek Township - John Rogers, farmer, section 28, was born in
Herefordshire, England, May 19, 1851, and was the son of Thomas Rogers, a farmer
by calling and a native of England. His mother's maiden name was Jane Lewis,
also of that country. John was the youngest of four sons and one daughter. He
remained on the home farm until 1868 when he emigrated to America. He worked in
Osceola, Pennsylvania, until 1873, then went to Kansas City, Missouri, where he
remained about six months, after which he came to Bates County, Missouri, and
resumed agricultural pursuits. His farm contains seventy-five acres and
constitutes as fine a farm as there is in the county. The improvements are of
the best and he is one of the most enterprising farmers in this vicinity.
November 25, 1880, Mr. Rogers married Miss Louisa Haas, a native of Illinois.
They have one child, Louisa Bertie, born September 4, 1881. (History of Bates
County, Missouri, 1883)
RUDY, William
Summit Township - William Rudy, a native of Ohio, was born in Muskingum County,
December 25, 1838. Rudolph Rudy, his father was born in Germany, but emigrated
with his parents to the United States when four years old. He married Miss
Elizabeth Harholser, a native of Pennsylvania, but who was raised in Ohio,
wither her parents had moved when she was a child. William passed his youth on
his father's farm, and received a common school education. In 1858 he moved west
to Illinois and located in Sangamon County. He was married there December 22,
1863, to Miss Susan M. Fairbanks, also a native of Ohio. After this he resided
in Sangamon County, engaged in farming and stockrasising for some five years. In
1868 he visited Kansas, and in Nehama County purchased a farm, where he lived
about eleven years. In 1878 he sold his Kansas property and in the spring of
1879 came to Missouri, and located in Bates County on his present farm. Mr. Rudy
has 283 acres of land, 240 acres of which in his home place on section 11, are
in cultivation, with a fair house and a bearing orchard and a new barn. He makes
a specialty of raising and feeding cattle for the market. Mr. and Mrs. Rudy have
a family of five children: Ollie E., William F., Artemus J., Henry V., and Susan
May. (History of Bates County, Missouri, 1883)