KY-FOOTSTEPS-D Digest 27 Feb 2000 Volume 00 : Issue 108 ______________________________X-Message: #1 Date: Sun, 27 Feb 2000 08:26:37 -0700 From: "Nancy T. Green" Subject: BIO: Joseph Porter Grubb, parents natives of Pulaski Co From: Portrait and Biographical Record, Buchanan and Clinton Counties, Missouri containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, together with Biographies and Portraits of all the Presidents of the United States. Chicago Chapman Bros. 1883 page 223-224 JOSEPH PORTER GRUBB is the oldest active practicing attorney of St. Joseph and has served for more years as Judge of the Circuit Court than any other man in Buchanan County. He is said to be the best posted attorney in the city in regard to fine distinctions in law, and is justly considered a very impartial and righteous judge. Mr. Grubb was born in Pike County, Ill., February 3, 1833. His parents were Alfred and Eliza J. (Porter) Grubb, natives of Bedford County, Va., and Pulaski County, Ky., respectively. His paternal grandfather, Jacob Grubb, was of English descent, and raised tobacco extensively on his plantation in Virginia. His maternal grandfather, Joseph Porter, was a civil engineer and surveyor, who taught those branches, Judge S. D. Cowan, of this city, being numbered among his pupils. Our subject's father followed agricultural pursuits, was married in Virginia, and removed to Kentucky, going west in a wagon in true pioneer style. In 1830 he took his family to Illinois with teams, locating on new land in Pike County. He was one of the pioneers and in 1832 took part in the Black Hawk War. About eight years later he was admitted to the bar and practiced at Pittsfield. For several years he was sheriff of the county, and in the winter of 1846-47 was a representative in the Legislature. He later served as County Judge for a number of years, having probate and civil business. He continued in practice until 1867, when he died at the age of sixty-six. In politics he was a Democrat, and both he and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The latter, who was the mother of twelve children died in 1873. Seven of these are now living, our subject being the third in order of birth. By his first marriage Alfred Grubb had four children, two of whom are deceased. The school advantages of Judge Grubb were limited in his youth, but in later years this deficiency was amply atoned for. He lived on the homestead farm in Illinois until seventeen years of age, when he became a clerk in a country store and there continued for several years. In 1853 he came to Weston, Mo., by boat and entered the service of D. & T. D. S. McDonnell, general merchants and dealers in produce. For this company he was bookkeeper for a year. They were largely engaged in shipping hemp, and at that time Weston was the largest point for the shipment of this product in the world. Mr. Grubb was engaged in the general commission business in St. Louis during the following year. In 1855 Judge Grubb began reading law with ex-Governor Silas Woodson and the late Bela M. Hughes, of Denver, Colo. He was admitted to the bar in the following year, and at once began the practice of his profession, being elected in 1860 to the city attorneyship, to serve one year. The following year he was appointed Circuit Attorney of the Twelfth Judicial Circuit, which then embraced the entire "Platte Purchase," and which now constitutes the Fourth Congressional District. He continued in the difficult position during the border troubles and until January 1, 1865. He then resumed his general practice, in 1868, being elected City Attorney for two years. In November, 1872, Mr. Grubb was nominated Judge of the Circuit, on the Democratic ticket, to fill an unexpired term, while holding this office having charge of the civil and criminal cases of Buchanan and DeKalb Counties. In 1874 he was re-elected without opposition, but when he ran for the position in 1880 he was defeated by William H. Sherman. The successful candidate, however, died and Judge Grubb was again chosen to fill an unexpired term, which he held until the end. In 1886 he declined further service. In 18?? [unreadable] he revised the laws and ordinances of St. Joseph and the great assistance he lent toward strengthing the foundations of law and order in this district by his numerous and practical suggestions can scarcely be over estimated. In October, 1857, a marriage ceremony performed in St. Joseph united the destinies of Judge Grubb and Miss Cora A., daughter of Dr. Daniel G. Keedy, who was a prominent pioneer physician of this place. Two children grace the union of our subject and wife, namely, Joseph and Cecelia K., wife of C. A. Taney, a wholesale dealer in Texas. ______________________________X-Message: #2 Date: Sun, 27 Feb 2000 08:28:20 -0700 From: "Nancy T. Green" Subject: BIO: Nelson Monroe McCorkle, parents born KY From: Portrait and Biographical Record, Buchanan and Clinton Counties, Missouri containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, together with Biographies and Portraits of all the Presidents of the United States. Chicago Chapman Bros. 1883 Page 366-367 NELSON MONROE McCORKLE owns and occupies a well-developed farm, located on Section 10, Marion Township, which consists of one hundred and twenty acres, and is tillable throughout its entire extent. Since it came into his possession he has by well-directed efforts brought it to a good condition, it being supplied with neat fences, good stock of various kinds, and all the needful machinery used in its cultivation. The father of our subject, Alexander McCorkle, was born in Kentucky October 3, 1793, and participated in the Mormon War. His wife, who, prior to her marriage, was Miss Elizabeth Fristo, was also a native of the Blue Grass State, the date of her birth being July 29, 1798. The young people were married in that state, and in 1818 made their way to Missouri, locating for a short time in Cooper County. Thence they removed to Clay County and in 1833 were numbered among the earliest settlers of Buchanan County. Their neighbors were few and far between and the family were aften troubled by the Indians who came to their cabin begging. Deer, turkeys and fish were very plentiful near their home, and thus the larder was always supplied with fresh game in its season. Alexander McCorkle was very poor when locating here, and in that early day disposed of his pork at $1.50 per hundred pounds. His wheat when marketed, brought him forty cents per bushel, oats ten cents, corn ten cents, and potatoes sold for the same amount. It will thus be seen that in addition to clearing his place and battling with the many hardships which came to the pioneers, it was very difficult to get along, to say nothing of laying by a sum sufficient to clear his place. He was very industrious and economical however, and at the time of his decease, eighteen years later, possessed one of the best estates in his township. His wife died in September, 1855. Of the parental family of twelve children, the following are living: Barbara Ann, Mrs. Hartman, Urial J., A. Marion, Catherine E., Mrs Wiles, our subject, Cynthia, Mrs. McIninch, and John L. The elder Mr. and Mrs McCorkle were consistent members of the Baptist Church and were greatly beloved by all who knew them. On the death of Alexander McCorkle, his son Urial, closed up the estate and found among his tax receipts $3.65 to be the highest ever paid. The home place included four hundred and sixteen acres, all of which was excellently cultivated with the exception of eighty acres. The father was very prominent and influential among his fellow agriculturists and was ever ready to do his share in building up his community. Nelson M. McCorkle was born April 18, 1835, on his father's estate in the southeastern portion of this county, had but little opportunity for obtaining an education as the schools of the neighborhood bore little resemblance to the model temples of learning at the present time, and then the teacher often knew but little more than the pupil. Mr. McCorkle was given a thorough training in farm work and when a lad of seventeen, in company with his brother Urial, crossed the plains to the Golden State, the trip consuming four months and twenty four days. There the brothers worked in the mines at Mud Springs for eleven months, and when ready to return home came back by the Nicaragua route. In 1855 Mr. Mc Corkle drove six yoke of cattle to Salt Lake City and on his return trip brought the first mail from that city to Independence, and while en route witnessed the battle of Ash Hollow on the North Platte. January 1, 1857, Mr. McCorkle and Miss Rebecca, daughter of Washington Toland, were united in marriage. Her parents, who are now deceased, were among the earliest settlers of Clifton (sic) County, this state, where they were well to do farmers. Mrs McCorkle was born in Montgomery County, Ky., November 11, 1836. After his marriage Mr. McCorkle located on land near the old homestead, where he remained for two years and then removed to St. Joseph. During five years of the twelve he made his home in that city he was engaged in freighting from St. Joseph to Denver, Colo., and Nebraska City. Returning again to rural life, Mr. McCorkle farmed for three years on property just south of the city of St. Joseph, and in 1873 located on his present beautiful estate. As before stated, it comprises one hundred and twenty acres, from which he reaps bountiful harvests. In 1887 he erected a commodious residence at a cost of $2,500. Mr. and Mrs. McCorkle have never been blessed with children of their own, but have taken into their hearts and home seven little ones, viz: Lizzie McClure (now deceased), Andy Erringston, Allie, Dora, Hugh and Julia Lucket (the last four brother and sisters), and Pearl Morgan. Mr. McCorkle has been Deacon of the Christian Church for twenty years, of which organization his good wife is also a devoted member. He has been very much interested in Sunday school work and for the past two years has served as Superintendent. In politics he is a staunch Democrat, and has been sent to the numerous conventions of that party. As a member of the School Board he rendered efficient service for seven years as a Trustee. Peter Toland, a brother of Mrs. McCorkle, was a soldier in the Confederate Army during the late war. He was a color bearer, and while on duty at the battle of Helena, Ark., was killed. ______________________________X-Message: #3 Date: Sun, 27 Feb 2000 08:34:26 -0700 From: "Nancy T. Green" Subject: BIO: Thomas Hall (father native of KY) From: Portrait and Biographical Record, Buchanan and Clinton Counties, Missouri containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, together with Biographies and Portraits of all the Presidents of the United States. Chicago Chapman Bros. 1883 page 643-644 THOMAS HALL. The village of Gower contains no citizen more worthy than the subject of this sketch. Careful, temperate and industrious, he has been endowed by Nature with all the Christian virtues and is regarded in his community as one of its most useful and reliable men. For many years he was closely identified with the agricultural interests of Buchanan County, and was a prominent factor in bringing about its present prosperous condition. In 1872 he retired from his farm and removed to Gower, having accumulated a competency and desiring to have more leisure and freedom from care, in order to enjoy more fully the attractions of his cozy home. The Hall family originated in England, whence some of its members emigrated to America at an early day and settled in New Jersey, with the progress of which they were thereafter connected. The paternal grandfather of our subject, Thomas Hall Sr., was born in that State, but removed thence to Kentucky, where his later years were passed. The parents of our subject, John J. and Elizabeth (Rice) Hall, were born in Kentucky, where also they were reared and married and spent their entire lives. Thomas Hall was born in Henry County, Ky., in December, 1816, and in that county passed his boyhood years. His educational advantages were few and were gained under a system widely different from that now used in our schools. It may be said of him that experience has been his chief teacher, and the valuable lessons learned in that school have been of the highest importance to him. His father was a blacksmith, and under his supervision he learned that trade, which he followed for twenty years in Kentucky, residing in the village of Pleasureville. In 1858 Mr. Hall removed to Missouri and settled in Buchanan County, where he followed the calling of a farmer with marked success. He still owns two hundred acres of fertile land, all under cultivation, but his advanced age prevents him from doing anything more than superintend its improvement. In all his work he has had the cheerful co-operation and active aid of his wife, to whom he was married in 1837. She was in her girlhood Miss Edna F. Fallis, and was born in Kentucky, the daughter of George Fallis, a native of North Carolina. Mr. and Mrs. Hall are the parents of seven children, four of whom are living, as follows: John W., a resident of Gower; Davis S., who is living in Colorado; George T. who makes his home in Kansas City; and Erasmuth C., who is in Plattsburgh. Mr. Hall began life at the foot of the ladder, without other resources than his own resolution and energy, and is now the owner of a fine property. He is one of the most liberal-minded men of the village of Gower and takes an interest in everything calculated to benefit the people around him, being willing to contribute of his time and means to bring about this result. Politically he is a Democrat, and in his earlier life was active in the party. With his wife he is a devoted member of the Presbyterian Church, with which he has been long identified. 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