HOWARD COUNTY MISSOURI BIOGRAPHIES (Bonne Femme Township) ************************************************************************ File contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Noah Smothers USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is obtained from the contributor of the file. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor, OR the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ************************************************************************ BONNE FEMME TOWNSHIP _________________________________ ELIJAH ANCELL, section 28, is a Virginian by birth, and was born in 1830, being the son of James ANCELL, who was born in 1798, in Lawrence county, Virginia. He lived there until his marriage, in 1816, to Miss Francis ESTES, of the same state, and they had six sons, all now living but one, of whom Elijah is the youngest. In 1836 he accompanied his father to Howard county, Missouri, locating at first two miles from his present residence, and two years later moving to the place he now occupies. The senior ANCELL died in 1872, his wife's death occurring June 19, of the same year. Mr. ANCELL was married in 1850 to Miss Sarah F. MASON, who bore him five children - Falicia Frances, Mary W., Lucy S., James T., and Samuel N. He was again married in October 1879 to Miss Lucinda HARGES, a daughter of Caleb and Elizabeth HARGES, of this county. They have one child Elijah C., born August 28, 1881. Mr. A. owns 160 acres of land. He and his wife are members of the Christian church, in which he is an elder. JAMES JOHNSON AVRETT is an old resident of Howard county, having always made his home within her limits. He was born June 16, 1836, near Fayette, his parents being James and Polly (HALE) AVRETT. The former was born in South Carolina in 1803. Their family consisted of twelve children, all of whom arrived at manhood and womanhood, and of these nine are living. James J., the eighth child, lived upon the farm with his father until twenty-five years old, his education being somewhat neglected in youth. In March 1861, he was married to Miss Cynthia Jane WINN, daughter of Thomas and Margaret WINN, both of Howard county. To them were born eight children - Effie L., Boyd, William K., Luther, Peter H. and Cassius are living, and two daughters, Minnie and Lulu, are deceased. Mr. AVRETT is greatly interested in educational matters, and has given his children excellent opportunities for attending school. He owns 240 acres of land, 200 acres being in section 16, upon which is located his residence. MINTER H. BAILEY. In Fauquier county, Virginia, on the 20th day of August 1808, occurred the birth of the subject of this sketch. He was principally reared in Lewis county, West Virginia. In 1830 he came as far west as St. Louis, and remained there until 1833, then moving to Howard, county and locating on Salt creek. Mr. B. was married February 6, 1854, to Miss Nancy BRADLEY, who was born in May 1814. Nine of the twelve children born to them are living: Mary J., born February 18, 1838; Samuel, born February 6, 1840; Rachel, born January 2, 1842, Sarah, born December 21, 1843; Nancy, born September 21, 1848; Minter, Jr., born December 30, 1850; Susan M., born January 6, 1853; James S., born August 6, 1855; Thomas, born August 19, 1858. Elizabeth, John and Melinda are deceased. John was killed in the army under PRICE, MAY 10, 1864. Mr. BAILEY's father, Samuel was born in Southern Virginia. He married Agnes HUTCHINSON, of Virginia, and to them were born six sons and two daughters. Mr. B. owns 280 acres of land, most of it a superior quality. JOHN BARTON, a justice of the peace of Bonne Femme township, residing at Bunker Hill, was born in England, June 18, 1844. His father, Solomon BARTON, also a native of that country, married Susan DALLAS. They emigrated to the United States and settled in Kentucky. The subject of this sketch left Kentucky in 1868 and emigrated to Howard county, where he was married in 1878 to Miss Nancy HERN, a daughter of George Hern, of Howard county. They have two children, William and Joseph. ANDREW COLLINS was born in Madison county, Kentucky, Sept 15, 1815, and was taken when young by his parents to Tennessee. The family lived in that state until 1819, then emigrating to Cooper county, Missouri. His father, Thomas COLLINS, was a native of Kentucky, and in 1809 married Miss Francis WOODS, of the same state. Andrew was the third of a family of eleven children. Thomas COLLINS was engaged to some extent in freighting on the lower Mississippi, and in 1829 died in New Orleans. His wife's death occurred in 1882. The subject of this sketch was married in Cooper county, in 1845, to Miss M.L.SMITH, a native of Missouri. They have had nine children: James D., Thomas, Susan F., William B., Martha E., Isaac G., John G., Rebecca P. and Andrew. Politically Mr. C. is a staunch democrat, and takes deep interest in the Grange, of which he is a member. He owns 240 acres of land, 100 acres of which are good bottomland. DR. T. H. DINWIDDIE, druggist at Bunker Hill, and a prominent and enterprising young physician of the vicinity, was born on November 5, 1858, and is a native of Boone county, Missouri. His father, Dr. Archie Dinwiddie, a Virginian by birth, located in Madison, Indiana, and from there came to Missouri in 1830. He was married three times: first to a Miss MITCHELL, of Fayette, afterwards to Miss DUDGEON, daughter of Captain DUDGEON, and lastly to Miss Sallie A. HARRIS, daughter of Tyler Harris, a noted "stump speaker." T. H. resided with his father until about sixteen years of age, and later he attended the medical department of the state university at Columbia for ten months. Subsequently he became a student in the Missouri Medical College at St. Louis, graduating from that institution, March 5, 1878. Dr. D. soon went to Moberly, Missouri, and remained with the surgeon of the Missouri, Kansas and Texas railroad for a time. In three months he located at Bunker Hill, where he is now enjoying a lucrative practice. August 17, 1880, Miss Susan M. JONES, daughter of W. M. JONES, of this county became his wife. They have one child, Harry M. The doctor is the owner of a well-stocked drug store at this place. JAMES H. FELAND was born in Howard county, Missouri, near Fayette, in 1830. His father, William M. FELAND, was a native of Kentucky and was born in 1802. He came to Howard county in 1817, and was married in 1827, in this county to Miss Elizabeth SNELL. To them were born seven children, four of whom are now living. Mr. FELAND was a farmer by calling and followed this occupation until his death, in 1846. James H. spent his early life on his father's farm, obtaining a common school education. At the age of twenty-one years he commenced teaching school, and after pursuing this avocation for a time resumed farming for one year, and then received the appointment of deputy sheriff from Bird DEATHERIDGE, Esq. After holding this position for eight months he was elected in August, 1855 assessor for two years, but owing to a new law going in force he was legislated out of office at the expiration of one year. He was then appointed district assessor for two more years, by the county court. In 1860 he was elected by the democrats, sheriff, and served the county faithfully in that capacity. After the expiration of his term of office he returned to his farm on section 36, and has devoted himself to the more peaceful calling of farming and stock raising. His farm consists of 160 acres of excellent land. Mr. FELAND was married in December 1858 to Miss Elizabeth Gates, of Howard county, she being the daughter of Daniel GATES. Of ten children born to Mr. and Mrs. FELAND, nine are now living: Susan I., Mamie J., William A., Oliver D., Carrie M., Sallie F., Thomas, Nannie P., John B. and James M. REV. JACKSON HARRIS pastor of the Missionary Baptist church at Bunker Hill, and now residing on section 7, was born near Fayette, Howard county, Missouri, April 12, 1825, and was the son of William HARRIS, a farmer by occupation, born May 15, 1792, in Virginia. He lived there until nineteen years old, emigrated to Kentucky, and in 1812 or 1813 married Miss Margaret DOWNING, daughter of Ezekiel DOWNING. After living in Kentucky a few years, Mr. H. removed to Missouri, locating in Lincoln, but two years later, in 1820, came to Howard county before the present town of Fayette contained a house. He helped to carry the chain for Alfred W. MORRISON when this county was surveyed. Jackson remained with his father until twenty-three years of age, soon entering the employ of General CLARK, for whom he had previously worked at intervals. He travelled for one year, and during this time, on January 22, 1851, was married to Miss Nancy CASPER, daughter of John CASPER, of Howard county, and one of its old settlers. They have had eight children, and brought up three sons and three daughters. About 1848 Mr. HARRIS was converted under the preaching of Wm. T. ELLINGTON, and in 1849 commenced preparing himself for the ministry. After due study he acted as a local exhorter until in August, 1867, when he was ordained a minister of the Baptist denomination. He has ever followed farming in connection with his ministerial labors, and now owns 222 acres of land, all in this township, except forty acres, in Randolph county. His home place contains 142 acres of well improved land. JOHN R. HITT, was born April 2, 1827, in Virginia. His father, Joab HITT, also a Virginian by birth, was born about the year 1780, and was married to Miss Nancy VAUGHAN. They had six children, of whom John R. was the second, and he is one of four now living. He was educated in his native state, and in 1846 he came to Howard county, Missouri, remaining for three years, and returning in 1849 to Virginia. In 1852 he again came to this county. He was married first, in 1849, to Laura L. BROWN, who bore him nine children: Joel H., James B., Samuel H., Andrew J., Bennett, Ernest (now deceased), Russell V., Arthur (now deceased) and John C. His second marriage occurred in Giles county, Tennessee to Miss Sarah L. QUARLES, of Tennessee, a daughter of Ammon T. QUARLES. To them have been born seven children; Laura E., Francis., Tennessee, Jennie, Emily Jane, Adda and Luavedia. Politically Mr. H. is democratic. He owns 220 acres of land. WALTER H. HITT, a Native of Howard county, Missouri, was born October 25, 1846, and was the son of Joab HITT, originally from Virginia, and one of the earliest settlers of Howard county, Missouri who married Miss Francis B. TAYLOR, also of that state. To them were born ten children, of whom six survive: James R., John H., Francis A., Elizabeth, Warren T., and Walter A. The latter received his education in the district schools, and continued to reside at home until twenty-one years old. December 26, 1876, he married Miss Anna T. DOUGHERTY, daughter of John T. DOUGHERTY, of this county. They have had three children: Archie S., Edna E., and Roy B. One of these children is deceased. Mr. HITT owns 205 acres of land near Meyers' post office (Bunker Hill), nearly all of which is well improved. He is a member of the Grange. During the war he belonged to a company which acted for the Confederate cause. WILLIAM M. JONES is one of Bonne Femme's most prominent citizens. He is a native of Jessamine county, Kentucky, and was born on the 13th day of July, 1827. His father, J.D. JONES, was also born in Kentucky, in 1797. The maiden name of his mother was America BOWEN. William M. was the fifth son and sixth child of a family of ten children. His youth, until eighteen, was spent in the state of his birth, after which he passed three years in Illinois. In 1848 he returned to Kentucky and was there married to Miss D. BOGGRY, of that state. Their eight children were named Susie M., Jennie, Joseph, Fannie, Callie, America, Henrie and William J. In October, 1871 Mr. Jones located to where he now lives, and at this time he now owns over 300 acres of valuable land; besides conducting his farming operations he is engaged in a successful mercantile business at Bunker Hill, and also is a stock dealer of prominence. He holds the position of postmaster of Meyer's post-office. GEORGE STEPHEN LAY Alfred Lay, the grandfather of George, is remembered as being one of the pioneers of Howard county, and one of the first, if not the first, to operate a mill in the county. His son, William, was born in this county in 1822, and married Mirand Simeons. Of their nine boys and three girls, five attained manhood and womanhood. The subject of this sketch was born in Howard county, Missouri, June 20, 1854. He found a wife in the person of Miss Flora STEWART, a daughter of C. C. STEWART, of New York. They have two children living - C.L. and Arthur. Ada and George are deceased. Polically, Mr. L. is a republican. His farm contains 180 acres. GEORGE S. and HENRY C. MUIR, who are now residing on section 36 of this township, are the sons of W. B. and Margaret T. MUIR , nee Blue, who were married in 1827, in Kentucky. Their family originally consisted of twelve children, six of whom survive. In 1827, emigrating to Missouri, they settled in Boone county, and in 1828 located where Mrs. MUIR now lives, it being on the first farm cleared in this township. W. B. MUIR died in September, 1875. Mrs. M. owns 160 acres of land, her sons, George S. and Henry C., making their home with her. They are both democrats. SAMUEL M. NAYLOR is the seventh child of a family of eight children born to George T. and Rosa NAYLOR, nee NEWCOMB, both natives of Kentucky. His father was born in 1786, and married in 1809. Samuel M. was born in Howard county, Missouri, October 19, 1831. He lived with his father until eighteen years of age then went to New Mexico, and after a short residence there returned to his former home. In 1852 he was married to Miss Amanda AVERY, daughter of James Avery, of Howard county. They have five children living - Samuel P., born January 20, 1853; Cornelia, born June 5, 1855; Rosa A., born July 1, 1860; Mary M., born March 23, 1863; William F., born December 25, 1867; John H., born May 30, 1857, died August 1, 1861; Mr. NAYLOR owns a farm of 160 acres, in sections 31 and 32. He and his wife are members of the Christian church, and Mr. N. belongs to the Masonic fraternity at Fayette. FRANKLIN NAYLOR was born in Howard county, Missouri, March 26, 1842, being the son of George T. NAYLOR, born in May, 1768, who, in 1800, emigrated to Kentucky, coming thence to Howard county, Missouri, in 1830. He was married twice, his first marriage occurring to Miss Rosa NEWCOMB, in 1809. In 1837 he married Miss Margaret GRIFFIN. Of their family of five children, Franklin was the third. He remained with his father until 1873, and on June 26, 1877, he was married. He has two children - Oscar and Allie E. Mr. N. owns a farm of fifty-three acres in section 36. GEORGE W. POTTER may well be said to have been the architect of his own fortune. He is the son of William J. POTTER, a native of Maryland, who was born in 1793. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and participated in the battle of Plattsburg. He came to Missouri first in 1826, moving to the state to reside permanently in 1829. He married Miss Ann C. PARTEN, and to them were born four children, George W. being the youngest. His birth occurred April 14, 1836.At the age of fifteen he left home and commenced working for himself, and attending school, qualifying himself for a teacher. He supplemented the primary education received in the common schools by attending Central college at Fayette. Mr. P. married Miss Mary A. GATEWOOD, in 1867. They have had six children – George W., born May 12, 1868; Orange, born July 30, 1869; Anna L., born November 9, 1871; John M., born August 27, 1873; Dora, born November 22, 1875; Arthur, born March 25,1877. Mr. Potter's homestead is situated in section 31, and he owns 471 acres of highly productive and splendidly improved land. He is a thoroughly practical, progressive farmer, and keeps fully up with the times in everything. His stock is of excellent breed and numerous. EDWARD S. ST. CLAIR is a son of Isaac B. ST. CLAIR, who was a native of Virginia, born in 1800. He lived in his native state until 1857. He was married, in 1822, to Miss Maria WILSON, daughter of James WILSON, and to them were born nine children, the subject of this sketch being the seventh child. He was born in Prince William county, Virginia, in 1847. During the late war he enlisted in company E, 8th Missouri cavalry, Shelby's brigade, and served faithfully for three years and eight months, proving himself a brave and efficient soldier. In 1864 he received injuries in the service that disabled him of the use of one of his arms for life. He was married, in 1869, to Miss Nancy BAILEY, of Howard county, Missouri. She is a daughter of Minter H. BAILEY. Their family circle consists of six children - George W., born in 1870; Archie E., born in 1872; Nora J., born in 1873; Isaac T., born in 1876; John M., born in 1878, and Mary A., born in 1880. Mr. and Mrs. ST. CLAIR are members of the Christian church. Mr. ST. CLAIR's farm , in section 22, contains 160 acres, nearly all of which is covered with fine grass. He is one of the most extensive stock dealers in the eastern part of the county. H. B. TURNER was born in Simpson county, Kentucky, in 1859. He was reared in his native state, and was educated at Russellville college, Logan county, Kentucky. He is at present engaged in the important duties of teaching school, and has attained a well-merited success as a capable instructor. His father, Richard O. TURNER, was born in Kentucky. The maiden name of his mother was Susannah J. BLEWETTE. The subject of this sketch was the third child of a family of eight children, of whom seven are now living. JUDGE GEORGE J. WINN is the seventh child of a family of eight children born to James and Elizabeth (ADAMS) WINN. They were both natives of Madison county, Kentucky, the former having been born in 1797, and the latter in 1799. Mrs. W. died in 1822. They came to Howard county, Missouri in 1817, and July 7, 1829, Mr.Winn was killed by Indians in Adair county. George J. WINN was born in Bonne Femme township, Howard county, April 28, 1828. May 20, 1852, he was married to Miss Francis A. HITT, daughter of Joab HITT, of this county. They have had ten children: William H., Mary E., Francis B., George J., Joab H., Edward L., John B., James W., Alice B., and Bertha M. Of these eight are living. Mr. WINN owns 620 acres of land, his home farm containing 320 acres, upon which is an excellent residence. He is a stock raiser of considerable prominence. In 1882 he was elected by the democratic party, one of the judges of the county court, a position he is at present filling. REV. WILLIAM K. WOODS one of the early Baptist ministers of Howard county, is the son of Peter and Jale (CAVINAUGH) WOODS, early pioneers of that county. The father of our subject was born in 1762, and the mother in 1765. The marriage that changed the name of Miss Jale CAVINAUGH to Mrs. Jale WOODS, was consummated in 1783. By this union there were sixteen children born, of whom Wm. K., born in August, 1807, is the twelfth. His parents resided in Howard county from 1810 until 1825, when the father departed this life. Wm. K. was married on the 17th day of January, 1828, to Miss Sallie MAGUYER, of Howard county. To them were born Susan B., Peter W., John, Sarah A., Jale A., Nancy C., Charles K., Andrew E., William G., and Mary E. Nine of these children are now living. Mr. WOOD's farm in section 24, contains 120 acres. For years he was actively engaged in ministerial work, but now, owing to his age, he has given place to those who are younger, but still remains an active worker in the church, and for his past labors receives the highest praise from his co-laborers. SOURCE: History of Howard and Cooper Counties, St. Louis: National Historical Company, 1883, (Bonne Femme township, pp. 602-609.)