Bates County Biographies
Bates County Biographies
WADE, N.A.
Mt. Pleasant Township - N.A. Wade, editor of the Bates County Democrat, is a
native of Harrison County, Ohio, and was born April 27, 1843. His father, Robert
Wade, was born in New Jersey, and by occupation was a mason. His mother, whose
maiden name was Elizabeth Matson, was born in Virginia. N.A. was reared in his
native state and educated at Franklin College. During the late war he enlisted
in Company E, Fifteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served two years. He
participated in the Atlanta campaign, and was at Nashville and in the battle of
Franklin. After serving until the close of the war he was engaged for a time in
teaching, and during his leisure hours he read law and prepared himself for
admission to the bar, which occurred in 1868. He came to Butler in 1868, and
followed his chosen occupation until 1871, when he was appointed deputy county
clerk and recorder. In July, 1871, in connection with J. Scudder, Esq., he
purchased the Bates County Democrat, which he has since conducted with signal
success. Politically, as the name of his paper indicates, he is an unswerving
Democrat, and ever ready at all times to defend the faith of the party, and he
is a zealous worker for its interests. In 1876 he was a delegate to the national
convention which nominated Tilden for president. Mr. Wade was married, in 1871,
to Mrs. M.J. Weed, a native of Bloomington, Illinois. They have one son,
Benjamin R.W. They have lost one daughter, Hallie. Mrs. Wade is an aunt of the
noted American covalist, Litta. (History of Bates County, Missouri, 1883)
WAINSCOTT, Mrs. Alice
Shawnee Township - Mrs. Alice Wainscott, widow of Barnett S. Wainscott, is a
native of Washington County, East Tennessee, where she was born December 3,
1835. Her parents, Joseph and Anna (Johnson) Payne, removed to Polk County,
Missouri, about 1845, where she met and married Mr. Wainscott January 20, 1852.
Mr. Wainscott was a native of Missouri, having been born in Pike County December
23, 1831. He was the son of Thornton and Rebecca (Boone) Wainscott. His mother
is nearly related to the great pioneer, Daniel Boone, and is still living with a
daughter in Deepwater Township. Mr. Wainscott came to Bates County in 1867 and
settled where the family now reside, in Shawnee Township. He died here March 19,
1880, leaving a family of six children to comfort and cheer the declining years
of his lifetime companion. They were the parents of nine children, three of whom
are also deceased. The eldest, Rebecca Elizabeth, married David Carver, and is
left a widow with three small children, her husband dying quite recently,
October 13, 1882. Melinda Ann is the wife of John Ray. The next, Isaac Houston,
died February 7, 1876. Sarah Alice is the eldest at home. William Ewing died in
infancy. John Young died September 30, 1865, and the three youngest are at home:
Barnett Lee, James Herriford and Nancy M. (History of Bates County, Missouri,
1883)
WALLEY, Irvin
Mt. Pleasant Township - Irvin Walley was born in Franklin County, Ohio, December
7, 1833. His father, George Walley, and also his mother, formerly Elizabeth
Thomas, were both natives of the same state. In 1834 the family removed to
Grundy County, Illinois. Here the boyhood days of Irvin were spent in
agricultural pursuits. In 1855 he came to Bates County, Missouri, and was
engaged in farming until the outbreak of the civil war. He enlisted in the
Cass County Home Guards, known as Major Dean's Battalion, in February, serving
nine months. He afterwards attempted to enter the service but was prevented on
account of disability. He then served in the enrolled militia and was appointed
captain. After the close of the war he returned to Bates County and settled in
Butler and opened the first public house in Butler after the war. He laid out an
addition to the town, known as Walley's additions to Butler. Politically he is a
staunch Republican and a fearless advocate of its principles. Mr. W. was married
August 31, 1863, to Miss Mary E. Long a native of Virginia. Their family
consists of five children: Burdsey W., Bettie A., Flora E., Gertie E. and Ella
P. The father of Mrs. Walley, W.C. Long, and her motehr, whose maiden name was
Mary A. Gibson, came originally from Virginia. The latter is connected on the
maternal side with the celebrated Rutledge family of that state. (History of
Bates County, Missouri, 1883)
WALLS, William M.
Mound Township - William M. Walls is a native of Nicholas county, Kentucky,
where he was born September 11, 1823, being the third of thirteen children,
eight of whom are now living. Five of these are in Missouri. His father,
Zachariah Walls, was originally from Virginia, and his mother (formerly Tempe
Osborn), was a native of Clark County, Kentucky. William's younger days were
spent in a distillery, of which his father was the proprietor, and his
advantages for acquiring an education were quite limited. When about
twenty-eight years of age, March 3, 1851, he married Miss Eliza Alexander, and
continued farming and running his distillery until coming to Missouri in 1877.
After spending some months in Butler he came to his present farm in Mound
Township, and is now interested in tilling the soil. Mr. and Mrs. Walls have
nine children: James Thompson, Sarah Pickett, Isaac Walter, Emma Belle, Harriet,
William, Cordia Mary, George Henry, and Benjamin F. James married Miss Susie
Canterbury, and is a practicing physician in Butler; Sarah is the wife of
Richard Willey and lives in the Neosho Valley, Kansas; Emma is the wife of Henry
Belt, of Elkhart, and Harriet is the wife of John Cowdrey, also of Elkhart. Mr.
Walls is a member of Butler Lodge, A.F. & A.M., and has been connected about
thirteen years with that order. (History of Bates County, Missouri, 1883)
WALTON, G.W.
Summit Township - G.W. Walton, farmer and stock raiser, was born in Cooper
County, Missouri, January 28, 1841, and is the third of a family of eight
children, of whom five are living in Bates County. His parents were among the
early pioneers of Cooper County, having settled there in 1826. His father, John
Walton, was born in Virginia, and married Miss Jane Ruley, of Kentucky birth.
G.W. grew to manhood on his father's farm, receiving his education in the common
schools. In 1864 he went to Montana, and for two years was engaged in freighting
to that country, where several towns were just springing into existance. In 1866
he returned to Cooper County and resolved to embark in farming. Accordingly, he
began to look for a suitable location, and noting the natural advantages offered
by this section of country, he came to Bates County, and has since been
following the calling of a farmer and stock man. He succeeded in securing in the
capacity of a wife the services of one of the most intelligent, accomplished and
refined young ladies of the country, in the person of Miss Regina Etzler, a
native of Bond County, Illinois, where she was born November 10, 1855. They were
married in this county January 23, 1873. Mr.W. lives in section 5, where he has
a farm of 400 acres, in fine cultivation and well suited to stock raising of all
kinds. He handles annually about one hundred head of cattle and a proportionate
number of swine, and from fifteen to twenty head of horses and mules. He is
Democratic in politics and is a member of Butler Lodge, of the A.F. & A.M.
fraternity. Himself and wife are identified with the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church. They have had three children, two of whom are living, Maggie, nine years
old, and Emma, a bright little girl of two summers. One child, Lillie, died
March 23, 1875. (History of Bates County, Missouri, 1883)
WALTON, William E.
Mt. Pleasant Township - Confessedly one of the shrewdest business men in Western
Missouri is the gentleman whose name appears at the head of this sketch, and his
life and character fully demonstrate what may be achieved by energy, economy and
pluck. William E. Walton is a native of Cooper County, Missouri, where he was
born in 1842. His father was W.P. Walton, of Virginia, and his mother was
formerly Louisa J. Tueley, a native of Cooper County, Missouri. Her father,
Samuel J. Tueley, settled in Cooper County in 1814, two years before its
organization. Kit Carson, the celebrated scout and Indian fighter, was an
adopted son in the Tueley family. J.B. Tueley, a brother of Samuel, wrote a
biography of Kit Carson, which is regarded as the most authentic narative of the
famous hunter. Mr. Walton received such an education only as common schools of
the county afforded. Being reared to agricultural pursuits, he adopted farming
as a livlihood, but after a short experience he became convinced that his talent
as well as his ambition led him in another direction. Therefore he abandoned the
vocation of his youth and applied himself to merchandising. In 1859 he entered a
store in Cooper County, where he remained as clerk for three years. He then
served as deputy circuit clerk in Belleview, Illinois, for two years, and
afterwards was an employee of William H. Trigg, banker and real estate dealer,
in Boonville, Missouri, continuing with this firm for two years. He then went to
Sedalia, Missouri, where he remained until 1870, when he came to Butler, his
present home. Upon his arrival at Butler he opened an abstract and real estate
office, which he still controls. In 1869, the year previous to his removal to
Bates County, he invented and copyrighted the Walton system of abstract books,
which has become so popular that he has realized therefrom the sum of $10,000,
already, saying nothing of what may be his income from this source in the
future. In 1874 he was elected county clerk of Bates County, serving four years.
He also represented his ward several times in the city council. In 1880 he
projected and established the banking house of Walton, Dutcher & Co. This firm
reorganized the Butler National Bank, of which Mr. Walton is cashier and the
largest stockholder. In 1882 he erected the opera house at Butler, which is
located on the southwest corner of the public square (a full and complete
description of which may be found in the history of Mount Pleasant Township in
this work) where it will stand as the most enduring and the most splendid
monument, testifying to his financial success, to his spirit of enterprise and
to his liberality. Mr. Walton is emphatically a self-made man, and has risen
through the various gradations of farmer, clerk, etc., by his own invincible
will and business tact. In 1867 he married Miss Nellie Kincaid, of Kentucky, who
died two years thereafter. In 1879 he married Miss Cora Allen, who is the
daughter of F.M. Allen, now of Nevada, Vernon County, Misouri. Mrs. Walton is a
native of Ohio. Mr. Walton is a member of the Christian Church and one of its
most liberal supporters. (History of Bates County, Missouri, 1883)
WALLS, James T., M.D.
Mt. Pleasant Township - James T. Walls, M.D., was born in Nichols County,
Kentucky, December 15, 1851. He was reared to manhood there, and received his
literary education, attending for a time the State Normal School at Carlisle. In
July 1874, he began the study of medicine under Dr. M.M. Dills, with whom he
continued until 1877. During the terms of 1875-6-7, he was a student of the Ohio
Medical College, of Cincinnati, from which institution he subsequently
graduated. In March, 1877, he came to Burdette, Missouri, and established
himself in practice there, making his home in the place until October 25, 1881,
at which time he removed to Butler. July 17, 1882, Dr. Glessner became
associated with him in practice, and they have since enjoyed a lucrative
patronage. July 17, 1879, Dr. Walls was married to Miss Susan Canterberry, a
native of Missouri. They have one child, Cecil V. The Doctor is a member of the
Masonic and I.O.O.F. fraternities and also belongs to the Christian Church.
(History of Bates County, Missouri, 1883)
WARFORD, Mitchell
Spruce Township - Michell Warford, farmer and stock feeder, a native of
Kentucky, was born in Estill County, April 10, 1827, and was the son of Jewell
and Nancy Warford, nee Servner, of the same county. Mitchell grew to manhood in
his native county, and spent his youth on the farm, obtaining a fair education
in the common English branches. He was married in Estill County, April 12, 1849,
to Miss Elizabeth Hamilton, of that county, and a daughter of Henry Hamilton.
After about three years Mr. W. moved to Illinois and settled in Hancock County,
but in two years and one-half went to Iowa, in the spring of 1855, and located
in Davis County, where he resided five years; thence to Appanoose County, which
was his home for two years. In the spring of 1864 he visited Colorado and
located near Canon City, in Fremont County, where he stopped three years. In the
spring of 1867, he came to Johnson County, Missouri, bought land and improved a
farm, and was engaged in farming about five years. Selling his property there,
in the fall of 1872 he moved to Bates County, purchased and improved his present
farm in section 6. He has 240 acres, all fenced and fairly improved, with a
comfortable house and a bearing orchard of 100 apple trees, with some peach,
cherry and small fruits. Mr. and Mrs. Warford have raised a family of four
children: William H., Mary E. (now Mrs. George Price); James E. and John A. He
and his family are all members of the Missionary Baptist Church. They have lost
one son, who departed this life November 3, 1879, aged nineteen years. He was
also a faithful member of the Baptist Church. (History of Bates County,
Missouri, 1883)
WEBB, Hiram
Spruce Township - Hiram Webb was born in Polk County, Missouri, April 10, 1852.
William Webb, his father, was a native of Kentucky, while his mother came
originally from Tennessee. Hiram moved with his parents from Polk to Saline
County, in 1863, and after living there some four years, came to Bates County in
1867, and located on the farm now occupied by the family. He spent his youth on
the farm and at the public schools where he received a common English education.
He was married in Henry County, April 8, 1877, to Miss Emma Beck, a daughter of
George Beck; she is a Kentuckian by birth. Mr. Webb settled on his present farm
in 1877 and now owns ninety acres, with eighty acres in good cultivation. His
family consists of two children: Ada, born April 18, 1878, and Early Lee, born
June 23, 1882. They have lost one child, Alonzo, born July 9, 1880, and died
August 6, 1881. William Webb died at his residence in Bates County, July 8,
1882. (History of Bates County, Missouri, 1883)
WELCH, Samuel
Summit Township - Samuel Welch, farmer and stock raiser, is a native of Ohio,
and was born in Harrison County, February 14, 1834. His parents John and
Margaret (Gillmore) Welch, were born in the same county. Samuel spent his youth
on his father's farm; attending the common schools, where he received an
ordinary education. He was married in Morrow County, Ohio, June 12, 1855, to
Miss Almira Shipman, also a native of Ohio, born in Morrow County, October 12,
1836. After his marriage, Mr. Welch was occupied in farming and stock raising in
Morrow County for some thirteen years. He sold his property there in February,
1867, and in the summer of 1868, moved to Missouri, and located in Bates County,
where he purchased land and improved his present farm. He has 420 acres all
under fence, and in a fair state of cultivation. His large residence is finished
in a neat and tasty manner, and is situated on an elevation. His yard is
ornamented with forest trees, evergreens and shrubs. An orchard of twelve acres,
with some select varieties of fruits, is upon the place which is in section 30.
Mr. Welch is quite extensively engaged in handling Merino sheep. He and his wife
have a family of four children: Harvey H., born April 6, 1856, is married and
resides in Iowa; Francis E., was born December 13, 1858; Alice W., (deceased)
was born January 30, 1860, and died December 19, 1871; U.S. Grant Welch was born
April 3, 1865, and Delmina Welch was born March 13, 1872. Mrs. Welch is a member
of the Baptist Church. (History of Bates County, Missouri, 1883)
WERNOTT, Theodore T.
Shawnee Township - Thoedore T. Wernott was born in New York November 24, 1826,
and his wife (formerly Ella S. Walker) was born near Boston,
Massachusetts, April 12, 1838. Her father was Mathias Walker, a native also of
the Bay State. Her mother's maiden name was Lydia A. Brickam. Ellen S. was
educated in the excellent schools of Massachusetts, and on the 18th of February,
1857, was married to Mr. Wernott. The same year they removed to Dubuque, Iowa,
and after remaining there but one year went south and lived in Texas until 1868.
Then they settled in Bates County. Their home farm now contains 160 acres of
excellent land, and is well improved. The residence was erected in 1880 at a
cost of $1,500. They also have a tract of sixty acres on section 30, and upon
this place is found a fine vein of coal. Their family numbers seven children:
Ada, Arthur, Herbert, Mary A., Clauda, Stella, and Maud. (History of Bates
County, Missouri, 1883)
WEST, George W.
Mingo Township - George W. West, druggist at Mayesburg, is the youngest of a
family of eight children, and was born on the 16th of April, 1859, in Worth
County, Missouri. His parents were J.C. West, a farmer by occupation and a
native of Kentucky, and Elizabeth (Mahan) West, also from the same state. At the
age of fourteen years George was taken to Iowa, remaining there two years when
the family moved to Jackson County, Missouri. From thence they came to Bates
County in 1868. His education was acquired in the schools of this county and he
resided on the farm until 1881 when he discontinued tilling the soil, then
entering the drug store in Mayesburg in company with G.A. Poage. They own the
building which they occupy and are doing a satisfactory business. Mr. West is
one of the rising young business men of Bates County, and is held in high esteem
by its citizens, having the confidence of all who know him. He is a respected
member of the Johnstown Lodge of the Masonic fraternity. (History of Bates
County, Missouri, 1883)
WHITE, Joel N.
West Boone Township - Joel N. White was born in Adams County, Illinois, August
5, 1843, his parents being John A. and Elizabeth (White) White, the former a
native of Tennessee, and the latter of Virginia. They were among the first
settlers of Adams County, Illinois. Joel N. is the second of fourteen children,
six of whom are living, but he is the only one now in Missouri. He received a
good common school education, and has spent his life on a farm. During the war
he served three months at Springfield, Illinois. In the spring of 1872, Mr.
White came to Missouri, and now lives one-half mile west of Rosier, where he has
a farm of over 300 acres in a good state of cultivation. He is one of the
principal stock raisers in his township, handling each year from one to three
car loads of cattle and two or three hundred head of hogs. He was married
September 27, 1864, to Miss Mary Colter, also a native of Adams County,
Illinois. They have five children: Laura, Arvilla, Dora, Lizzie and Jane A.
(History of Bates County, Missouri, 1883)
WILHITE, Henry F.
Deer Creek Township - Henry F. Wilhite, farmer and stock raiser, section 29, was
born in Hancock County, Illinois, February 12, 1839, being the son of Robert
Wilhite, a Virginian by birth, who removed to Illinois in an early day where he
married Peche Bucker. Henry was the oldest of eight children, three sons and
five daughters. He was reared on the home farm, receiving his education in the
common schools and after arriving at manhood he worked on a farm for three
years. He then bought land and was engaged in tilling the soil in Illinois until
1869, when he came to Bates County, Missouri, where he has since followed
agricultural pursuits and stock raising. His farm contains 220 acres, 170 acres
under fence, with a good young orchard and house, built in 1882 at a cost of
$7,000. He is a member of the Dunkard Church, and also belongs to Crescent Hill
Lodge, No. 368 A.F. and A.M. Mr. Wilhite was married October 12, 1864, to Miss
Ella Cruse, a native of Illinois. She died August 12, 1880, leaving three
children living: Hattie May, born July 6, 1870; Charles S., born July 22, 1872;
and Laura, born October 28, 1875. They lost two: James A., born September 18,
1865, and Alburtus L., born August 28, 1867. They were drowned July 16, 1876,
while in bathing. (History of Bates County, Missouri, 1883)
WILLIAMS, Richard D.
Mt. Pleasant Township - Richard D. Williams was born in Wales, September 2,
1827, and in 1848, in company with his brother William, he came to this country
and settled in Oneida County, New York. He learned the wagon and carriage trade,
and after spending two years there, in 1850 he went to Watertown, Wisconsin,
where he worked eighteen months. He was then located in Chicago for two years.
In 1853 he visited California and mined for two years with good success.
Returning to La Crosse, Wisconsin, he made it his home until the spring of 1857,
when he came to Missouri and settled in Cooper County, and in the fall following
visited Wales. In February, 1858, he returned to New York City, and married Miss
Elizabeth Evans, of Brooklyn. She was born in Wales in 1825. Soon after their
marriage they came to Cooper County, Missouri, and bought a farm and improved
it. In 1861 Mr. Williams joined the Missouri militia and continued with them
until 1864, when he moved to Weston and worked at his trade. He next located at
Atchison, Kansas, and in 1866 he came to this city and settled on the property
where he now lives, for which he had previously traded. He owned 100 acres of
land, sixty of which forms an addition to the city. He built a fine residence
and other buildings, and also set out five acres to choice fuit trees, which now
constitutes a valuable orchard. Mr. and Mrs. Williams have two children living:
George F. and David A. They lost their eldest child, Mary Caroline, who died May
30, 1863, when three years of age. Mr. W. is a Republican in politics, and with
his estimable wife belongs to the Presbyterian Church. He donated three acres of
land, the site of the Butler Academy, to the trustees of that institution and
also made a liberal contribution for building the same. He came to the county
with limited means, but has been fortunate in his buiness enterprises, and has
always been foremost in making donations to all the enterprises which would tend
to promote its prosperity. (History of Bates County, Missouri, 1883)
WILSON, Major D.H.
Major D.H. Wilson, merchant and dealer in hardware at Papinville, was born
October 25, 1828, in New Boston, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire. His father,
Samuel Wilson, was a native of the same town, and his mother, formerly Sally
Hadley, came originally from Goffstown, that state. The former was quite an
extensive farmer for his day and the locality in which he resided. D.H. Wilson
received the principal part of his education at Sanborn Bridge High School. When
seventeen years of age he went to Massachusetts and apprenticed himself to learn
the mason's trade, to which he applied himself for five years. Upon arriving at
manhood and determined to seek his own fortune, he came westward and settled in
Brown County, Illinois, which was his home for eighteen years. In October, 1861,
he entered Company K, Tenth Illinois Cavalry, as a private, and on
reorganization of the company he was elected first lieutenant, which rank he
held until 1862, when he was detached as quartermaster. In 1863 he was promoted
to captain, and served in that capacity until the re-enlistment of the regiment,
when he was elected major. In 1865 he was honorably discharged. In 1867 Major W.
was appointed internal revenue collector and disbursing agent of the Ninth
Congressional District of Illinois, but only served four months, the senate,
which was Republican, failing to confirm him, a Democrat. In March, 1868, he
came to Bates County, Missouri, and established himself in the merchandise
business, in which he is now having a good trade. He is also connected with the
firm of Sanderson & Wilson, dealers in hardware at Rich Hill and Papinville.
September 22, 1870, he married Miss S.W. Moss, of New Hampshire, a most
estimable lady, and one possessing the true characteristics of New Englanders
and the generous hospitality of the Southerners. They have one child, Ellen
Maud, nine years of age. Major Wilson and his wife are members of the M.E.
Church. He has been connected with the Masonic order since 1863. His trade has
been very satisfactory since his location here and is constantly on the
increase. (History of Bates County, Missouri, 1883)
WILSON, W.M.
Mound Township - W.M. Wilson, a prominent farmer and stock raiser of Bates
County, was born in Greene County, Ohio, on the 28th day of February, 1854. His
father, Joseph E. Wilson, was born in Maryland, but was principally reared in
Virginia. He afterwards moved to Ohio. The maiden name of his mother was Delia
P. Marshall. W.M. spent his boyhood days on a farm and received his educatioin
at Antioch College and the Ohio State University, from which institution he was
graduated in 1876. He remained in his native state until 1879, when he came to
Bates County, Missouri, and since that time hs been engaged in handling and
feeding stock, with a good degree of success. Mr. Wilson was married, November
21, 1877, to Miss Mary A. Woodard, a native of Crawford County, Pennsylvania.
Their family consists of two children: Mary and Minnie L. (History of Bates
County, Missouri, 1883)
WIX, Clark
Deepwater Township - Clark Wix, the subject of this sketch, was born in Bates
County, Missouri, February 5, 1850. His father, Judge Joseph Wix, is a native of
Tennessee. He moved with his parents to Illinois when quite a small boy, and
located in Fulton County. When eighteen years old he came to Missouri, and for a
short time lived in Polk County, after which he moved to Bates. Here he was
married to Miss Sarah E. Beatty, a Kentuckian by birth, and after his marriage
he settled on a farm in this county, where he is one of the prominent men. Clark
Wix spent his youth on his father's farm and received a good common school
education. He was married in the county of his birth, February 21, 1871, to Miss
Caroline E. Brown, a daughter of John W. Brown, of Bates County. She was born in
Champaign County, Ohio. Mr. Wix afterwards farmed for three years on his
father's estate, and then bought the land and improved his present farm in
section 32. He has 320 acres, 180 under fence and 100 acres in cultivation, with
a fair house, barn and outbuildings, and a bearing orchard. He is Republican in
politics, and was appointed notary public in 1879, and was the postmaster of
Lahai Post Office until it was discontinued in September, 1882. In the spring of
1881, he was nominated and elected a justice of the peace of his township. Mr.
and Mrs. W. have three children: Nellie F., born June 10, 1874; Levi, born
December 20, 1879, and Sarah, born September 22, 1882. (History of Bates County,
Missouri, 1883)
WOLFE, Marshall L.
Mound Township - Marshall L. Wolfe, county surveyor and inspector of mines, was
born in Hyattstown, Maryland, December 10, 1843, and was the third of a family
of five children, four boys and one girl. He is the brother of C.R. Wolfe, mayor
of Rich Hill, and also has one brother, George C., living on a farm near Rich
Hill. One brother, John B., is a merchant at Johnstown, Moniteau County, and his
only sister, Anna Embree, lives in Pettis County. His parents were Josiah Wolfe,
who died when Marshall was about five years of age, and Ann L. (Bell) Wolfe, who
afterwards married L.T. Hyatt, now a merchant at Columbus, Johnson County. In
1860 the family came to Missouri, and lived one year in Lafayette County,
removing to Johnson, near Warrensburg. He attended the Lexington College for
several months. In October 1865, Mr. Wolfe married Miss Kittie A. Dawson,
daughter of Captain E.W. Dawson, of Johnson County. Her death occurred at
Butler, December 21, 1880. She left two boys: John C., aged sixteen, and Dawsey
R., a lad of twelve. In 1868 Mr. W. came to Bates County and located on the coal
lands in New Home Township, where he engaged in farming and stock raising and
where he lived until Rich Hill was started when he sold his land to the coal
company, who began mining upon it. They have one of their best shafts on land
bought of him. He had opened a mine and conducted it for three or four years
prior to disposing of it. Going to Butler he erected a residence on Main Street.
He invested money in farming lands, purchasing a farm of 160 acres in Mound
Township, where he now lives, and 400 acres in New Home Township. He has also a
farm of 480 acres in Greenwood County, Kansas. In 1880 Mr. Wolfe was elected
county surveyor and overseer of roads and bridges, and was soon after appointed
by the county court inspector of mines. Religiously he was brought up a
Campbellite and in his political views he is a Democrat. (History of Bates
County, Missouri, 1883)
WOODS, Marion
Grand River Township - Marion Woods was born in Lawrence County, Missouri, April
3, 1852. His father, Marvel S. Woods, is also a native Missourian. His mother
was formerly a Miss Lucinda Bridges. They had a family of three sons and two
daughters of whom Marion was the eldest. When ten years old he went to Kansas
and worked on a farm for three years, then coming to Bates County and here he
has since resided. He was married November 13, 1873, to Miss Catherine Crawford,
also a native of this state. They have an interesting family of four children:
Crayton, Lafayette, Coleman and Thomas. Mr. Woods lives on section 22 where he
has a farm of 160 acres of good land with fair improvements. He keeps a number
of horses, mules, cattle and hogs and trys to handle the best. He usually raises
a large crop of wheat, having had fifty acres of his farm sown to wheat the past
fall. (History of Bates County, Missouri, 1883)
WRIGHT, J.D.
Mt. Pleasant Township - J.D. Wright, farmer, section 27, was born in the state
of Delaware on September 24, 1809, and is the son of O.H. and Nancy (Baker)
Wright, also natives of Delaware. The former was born January 16, 1784, and the
latter December 24, 1784. They were married October 10, 1806. When eleven years
old J.D. accompanied his parents to Fayette County, Ohio, and there he grew to
manhood. He was married October 7, 1830, to Miss Christina Wright, originally
from Ross County, Ohio, born May 2, 1809. Subsequently Mr. W. began life in poor
circumstances in Ohio, but in 1838, removed to Indiana, where he improved land,
besides sixty acres of timber. Mr. and Mrs. Wright have eight children living:
Joel, Mary, Malinda, Harriet, Jacob, Margaret, Christina and Annette. Four are
deceased: Matilda, Jasper, Elizabeth and an infant. Mrs. Wright is a member of
the Christian Church. Mr. W. was a county judge in 1864, and while in Indiana
served one term there as county judge. (History of Bates County, Missouri, 1883)
WYARD, Augustus F.
Mt. Pleasant Township - Augustus F. Wyard, dealer in harness, saddles, etc.,
came originally from Monroe County, Illinois, where he was born September 27,
1852. There he resided till sixteen years of age, when he removed to Bates
County, Missouri, and engaged in cattle herding which he continued most of the
time till 1873. He soon began learning the trade of harness making with J.T.
Graves and after a little over two years' service, worked at journey work in
different shops till 1877. Then he embarked in the business for himself, buying
out T. Glass. Upon conducting that shop till December, 1881, he purchased the
interest of J.T. Groves and consolidated the two stocks in his present place of
business. He also has a branch establishment at Windsor, Missouri. Mr. W. was
married April 28, 1879, to Miss Lizzie Evans whose death occurred September 24,
1880. He was again married December 28, 1881, to Miss Nanna Major, a native of
Missouri, she having been married in the house where she was born. Mr. Wyard is
a member of the I.O.O.F., and also of the Masonic fraternities. (History of
Bates County, Missouri, 1883)
WYATT, Hiram C.
Mt. Pleasant Township - Hiram C. Wyatt, proprietor of lumber yard, planing mill,
etc., was born in Athens County, Ohio, May 5, 1831, in the same house in which
his father, George Wyatt, ws born in 1803. He died in 1868. His mother, formerly
Maria Cable, was born in New York, in 1804, and died in 1867. They were married
in 1822, and had ten children, of whom H.C. and Philander L. only are living.
Hiram C. received a good education at the schools of his native county, and
worked on his father's farm until of age. He then settled on a part of the old
farm, where he married Miss Mary F. Pratt, in 1859. She was the daughter of Eben
and Susanna Wells Pratt, of Athens County. They have three children, two of
whom, Anna M. and George Pratt, were born on the same place as their grandfather
and father, and Edward Wells was born in Butler. Mr. Wyatt sold out his property
in Ohio, in 1871, and came to Missouri and located in Butler, where he has since
resided. He bought twenty acres, which is now within the city limits, built a
good residence, one of the finest in the city, and in 1874 formed a
co-partnership with John F. Boyd. They purchased the small lumber yard of John
A. Warner, and added a large and well assorted stock of lumber, shingles and
building materials, it now constituting one of the finest yards in the county.
In the spring of 1882 they started a planing mill and a manufactory of doors,
moulding, etc., which is located at the depot. They have good machinery, and are
doing an excellent business. Mry Wyatt was a member of Capt. E.P. Henry's
company in the Thirty-sixth Regiment Ohio Volunteers, Fourteenth Army Corps,
during the war, and shared all the hardships incident to many hard fought
battles in which the regiment participated. He was wounded at Mission Ridge, the
bullet passing thorugh the body and lodging in his clothing. He then was sent to
the hospital in Washington, where he remained until mustered out, in 1864, with
the regiment. In politics he is a Republican, and in his church affiliations a
Presbyterian. (History of Bates County, Missouri, 1883)
WYATT, Philander L.
Mt. Pleasant Township - Philander L. Wyatt, farmer and breeder of fine Merino
sheep, was born in Athens County, Ohio, in 1847, and was the son of George and
Maria (Cable) Wyatt, both natives of Ohio. He attended good common schools and
remained at home on his father's farm for the most of the time, until in 1871,
when he came to Missouri, settling in Butler, when with his brother he bought
forty acres of land which is now a part of the city. He erected a good
residence, which with the location and surroundings are among the best in the
city. He has a farm of 800 acres, west of town, where he keeps from 1,000 to
1,500 head of sheep. He is breeding from the best flocks in the west, and few
flocks can be found east or west, of superior breeding. He makes sheep raising
and herding his principal business. Mr. Wyatt married Miss Maria Henry in 1868.
They have three children: Frank, Jessie and Almon. Mr. Wyatt is a true type of
eastern enterprise - thorough in all business transactions, and unassuming in
his intercourse with those about him. Matthew Henry, father of Capt. E.P. Henry,
and of Mrs. Wyatt, was born in Washington County, Pennsylvania, in 1797. He came
with his father to Washington County, Ohio, when six years old, and in 1839,
moved to Athens County. He married Miss Mary Peak in Washington County in 1825.
They have nine children living: Sarah Ann (now Mrs. Henry Glazier), Almon, Mary
Louse (now Mrs. Wallace Henry), Harriet (now Mrs. Charles Wyatt), Kate (now Mrs.
George Henry), Capt. Edward P., Robert Barnard, Charles and R.B. live on the old
homestead, with Maria (now Mrs. P.L. Wyatt); George died when eleven years old,
Matthew Henry died in 1852. Mrs. Henry is now seventy-five years of age, and
very active for one of her years, and lives with her youngest daughter (Mrs.
P.L. Wyatt), where she is enjoying every comfort possible. (History of Bates
County, Missouri, 1883)