TEAYS BIOGRAPHIES, Henry County, Missouri ==================================================================== TEAYS, James E. source: 1919 History of Henry Co MO, Uel W. Lamkin, Historical Publishing Co - page: 384 residence: Bear Creek Twp James E. Teays. The Teays family is one of the oldest pioneer families of Henry County and western Missouri. Since 1840 when the elder Teays, father of James E. and Edward Teays, of whom this sketch is written, first entered a large tract of land in the southeast corner of Bear Creek township, this land has remained in possession of the family. James T. Teays, the elder, in his dying words to his sons, said: "Take care of the place." Ever since that time the sons have been improving this splendid tract of seven hundred seventy acres, one of the largest individual farms in Henry County. There are two sets of splendid improvements on this farm. The homestead is one of the largest and best built structures in the county. James E. Teays was born March 20, 1844, in a log cabin which was the first structure erected by his father upon his land in 1841. He is the son of James T. Teays (born 1807, died April 1, 1875). James T. Teays was a native of Kanawha County, West Virginia, and he migrated to Missouri in 1840. The following year he brought his family to the new home in Henry County and resided here until his death. He was accompanied by his father-in-law, John Everett. Until the log cabin could be erected in 1841 the family lived under a large tree which stood upon a high point of the Teays land. Mr. Teays entered Government land and also purchased land at $1.25 an acre until he accumulated a large tract of nearly 800 acres. In West Virginia James T. Teays married Eliza Ann Everett, born in Cabell County, Virginia, in 1810 and departed this life in 1880. The children born to James T. and Eliza Ann Teays were: Stephen, Francis Asbury, William Carroll, and Mary Elizabeth, deceased; James E., of this review; Edward, also of this review; Virginia and Henry deceased. Mr. Teays was a Democrat and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. The brothers, James E. and Edward Teays, erected the Teays Chapel on a beautifully wooded and grassy plot of ground between the two residences on the place, because of the expressed wish of their parents. James T. Teays and his wife had planned, eventually, to build the church and had selected the place for its erection. Not long before her death the mother accompanied her son, James E., to the site she preferred and said to him: "Father and I often talked of building a church on this spot, and if you build it, build it right here." He did so and the church is a handsome, substantially built structure, situated on a grassy sward shaded by giant forest trees, making it one of the most beautiful country churches in this section of Missouri. The Teays brothers built this chapel in 1881, and consecrated the edifice to the memory of their parents. What better memorial could devoted children erect than a religious edifice? The deed showed nobility of character and a reverence for the memory of godly parents seldom surpassed or equaled. The mother of Joseph H. Wilson, the sage of Deepwater township, and James T. Teays' mother were sisters, of Revolutionary ancestry, the particulars of which can be found in the biography of Mr. Wilson, elsewhere in this volume. The great-grandfather of James T. Teays was once captured by savage Indians and kept captive for seven years in Virginia. James T. Teays was the son of Stephen Teays, who married a Miss Carroll of the Carrolls of Carrollton, Virginia, and of Carrollton, Ohio. Thomas Teays, father of Stephen Teays, married Catherine Lee and was an officer in the Colonial Army which served in the French and Indian Wars. He was captured by the Indians and condemned to death at the stake, but his life was saved by the intercession of a squaw. He was held a prisoner for seven years. The family is of French Huguenot origin and the direct ancestors in France fled to Germany to escape religious persecution. James E. Teays has lived all of his life upon the land where his birth occurred. He has never married but has devoted his life to the care of his brother's family. He is one of the best citizens of Henry County, who is universally respected and stands among the leaders of his county. Edward Teays was born on the Teays homestead June 5, 1850, and was married April 15, 1875, to Miss Elizabeth Dickison, who has borne him seven children, six of whom are living: Rev. William Combes Teays, a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, at Papinville, Missouri; Mary Everett, wife of F. W. Drake, Glenwood Springs, Colorado; James Dickison, residing on the old home place; Sarah Virginia, wife of F. L. House, Appleton City, Missouri; Edna Eliza, wife of W. B. Wooldridge, Trinidad, Colorado; Betsy Eleanor, wife of W. F. Henry, Walsenburg, Colorado. Mrs. Elizabeth (Dickison) Teays was born in Bear Creek township, Henry County, January 23, 1854, and is the daughter of Samuel (born May 25, 1807, died 1862) and Mrs. Sarah Ann (Combes) Dickison (born July 23, 1816, died March 5, 1876), natives of Virginia. Samuel Dickison moved to Ohio from his native State with his parents in 1819 and was there reared to young manhood. He came to Henry County and entered a tract of Government land in Bear Creek township in 1836. Mrs. Elizabeth Teays was the only child of this second marriage of her father. There were three children born of a former marriage, one of whom is living: Artemus Jefferson Dickison, Sumpter, Oregon. Sarah Ann (Combes) Dickison was the daughter of Col. John Combes, who was born September 11, 1777, and was a pioneer in Johnson County, Missouri. He served as commissioned officer in the War of 1812 and received a tract of land in Kentucky for his services. ==================================================================== TEAYS, James E. & Edward - b: 1850 Henry Co, MO source: 1883 History of Henry Missouri , National Historical Co. - page: 772 residence: Bear Creek Twp Teays Brothers, James E. and Edward Teays, are natives of Missouri, and were born in Henry County. Their father, James T. Teays, was born in West Virginia, where he grew to manhood and married. He moved to Missouri in 1840 and settled in Henry County where he bought land and improved the farm where these brothers now reside. He was one of the early pioneers of the county and was a man esteemed by a large circle of friends and acquaintances. James and Edward here grew to manhood, spending their youth on the old home farm, and attending the common schools, where they were educated. They now own 920 acres of land in a body and mostly improved and in cultivation. There are two good farm residences upon it and also other buildings. They are extensively engaged in feeding and handling cattle and hogs. Edward Teays was married in February, 1875, to Miss Sarah E. Dickinson, a daughter of Samuel E. Dickinson. They have four children: Willie C., Mary E., James D. and Sarah V. They are members of the M. E. Church, South. There is a new church building located on this land (Teays Chapel), built by subscription, and to which these brothers contributed largely and liberally of their means. J. E. Teays is connected with the Masonic fraternity. ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by the Henry County MOGenWeb http://www.rootsweb.com/~mohenry/henryco.html Contact the Henry County Coordinator for comments or corrections. ====================================================================