| A B C D E FG
H J K L
M NO P R S TU W Y |
| John McMellan |
| John McMellan, farmer, was born April 9, 1813 in Canada about sixty-five miles west of Montreal, and is the son the John and Mary McMellan, who were born in Scotland. They immigrated to Canada in the very early days and when immigration to this country was in its infancy. After their arrival in Canada they purchased a place, and resumed their old occupation of farming, dying upon a farm and leaving eleven children, viz: Dougald, Allen, Duncan, Hugh, John, Mary, Margaret, Catherine, Ewen, Llochlen and Donald, all married. John, the subject of this sketch, was about eighteen years old when he left his home to earn his own living and he commenced by clerking in a store at a small salary. About four years later he entered school, remained one session, and afterward taught school some eighteen months. Thinking that he could better his fortune in the United States, he left Canada and located in Hardin County, Tenn., about 1838, where he taught school and did farm work for about three years. During this time he married, in 1840, Miss Rebecca J. Riddle by whom he had nine children, three now living, vis: Henrietta M. (married to George Sides), Henry C. and James M. (married to Mattie Robbins) In 1841, determined upon finding a better locality than the one in which he was than located, Mr. McMellan started in a wagon, accompanied by his wife's relations, and finally located in Stoddard County, Mo., about five miles south of Bloomfield, and from the time of his location until the war broke out, he followed school teaching and during vacations, farming. He, in 1862 entered the army, enlisting in Company C, Twelfth Regiment Missouri State Militia Cavalry Volunteers, in which he served fifteen months. He then returned home and soon secured the appointment as provost-marshal for enrollment for Stoddard County, and shortly afterward received three other counties under his appointment. During his enlistment he was voted the position of lieutenant of his regiment, Company C, Twelfth Missouri Cavalry Volunteers, commanded by Col. Albert Jackson. In 1864 having lost his first wife, he married Miss Sarah Kenny, by whom he has had two children, both now deceased. In 1867 he was elected judge of the probate court, which position he held one term. In 1860 he was elected county judge, but the Legislature passed acts which compelled him to retire. He also held the position as supervisor of registration for one term. In 1865 Mr. McMellan purchased the place he now occupies, comprising a tract of land of about 160 acres, of which seventy-five acres are cleared and in good cultivation, with good house and out-buildings. He has not been able to do any work since the war, having contracted rheumatism during his service. Mr. McMellan is a Mason, also a member of the G.A.R. and the Union League. He and wife are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. He was elected justice of the peace of his district in 1873, which office he held for four years. |
| Stephen A. Mayfield |
| Dr. Stephen A. Mayfield, practicing physician of Advance, was born near Marble Hill, Bollinger Co., Mo., August 25, 1856 and is the son of George W. and Sarah P. (Cheek) Mayfield, natives of Cape Girardeau County, Mo. Both are now living, and are residents of Bollinger county. The father was born in 1818 and is a successful farmer of Bollinger County. He started in very poor circumstances, but has accumulated considerable property in that county. The mother was born about 1820, and both parents are members of the Missionary Baptist Church. Mr. Mayfield is a Democrat in politics. Dr. Stephen A. Mayfield was the sixth of eleven children, eight now living. He received a liberal education at the Mayfield-Smith Academy, located at Marble Hill, Mo. He was engaged in farming until early in 1882, when he began the study of medicine under his brother DeWitt Mayfield. The same year he began to attend the College of Physicians and Surgeons at St. Louis, and at the end of two years he graduated. He then began the practice of his profession in St. Louis. Previous to this, in August, 1887, Dr. Mayfield came to Advance, and has since been actively engaged in the practice of his profession at that place. The same year he formed a partnership with W.C. Stewart in the drug business and in 1888 he was appointed postmaster at Advance. |
| J.N. Miller |
| J.N. Miller, of the firm of Miller, Ladd & Co., merchants at Dexter was born in Stoddard County, December 7, 1851. His grandfather Miller was a very early settler of this region, and his father, John C., spent the most of his life here. John C. Miller was engaged in farming, and also owned and ran the grist-mill a mile south of Dexter until his death in 1870. His wife, Mrs. Mahala (Hodge) Miller, survives her husband and make her home in Texas. Four of the eight children born to them are now living: Sarah E. (now Mrs. R. Cuthbertson), William, George and the subject of this sketch. John N. lived at home until his twenty-second year and found his sphere in the mercantile life, which he began for himself in 1873 and until 1878 managed it alone. He then took in F.M. Ladd as a partner and the firm was Miller & Ladd until in 1882 it became Miller, Ladd & co., by the addition of Mr. A.H. Carter as partner, and has since kept up its well-deserved and successful trade. In 1874 Mr. Miller married Miss Mary Sitton, and their union has resulted in the following family of children: Dora, Anna, Minnie, Charles and Myrtie. Mrs. Miller is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and Mr. Miller belongs to the fraternity of the K. of H. |
| John Mitchell |
| John Mitchell, a prominent citizen of Pike Township, Stoddard Co., Mo., is a native of Vermont, born July 23, 1827 his parents being Peter and Sophia Mitchell, who were of French extraction, but born near Montreal, Canada, the father in 1803. They came to the United States and located first in Vermont and afterward come to Williamson County, Ill. About 1848 or 1849, he went to California and that was the last ever heard of him. He was both a shoemaker and a carpenter, and worked as a mechanic up to the time when he went to California. The mother is still living and is a resident of Jackson County, Ill. She is a member of the Catholic Church, as was also her husband. Four children were born to their marriage: Mary, John, Louisa and Sarah Jane. John Mitchell's advantages for receiving an education were limited, but this has been improved by observation, general reading and contact with all kinds of business. He remained with his mother until twenty-three years of age, or until 1848 when, on May 17 of that year he married Miss Ataline Moore, a native of Tennessee, born August 16, 1832 and the daughter of Thomas and Nancy Moore, also native of Tennessee. They moved to Illinois at an early date and passed the remainder of their days in Williamson County, of that State, where the father was engaged in farming. He died in 1868 and she in 1864. To Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell were born ten children, four living: Elizabeth Ann, Sarah M., John W. and Thomas A. Those deceased were names as follows: Nancy M., Mary J., Hannah J., Ataline F., Eliza J. and George W. After marriage Mr. Mitchell began as a farmer, in connection with which he operated a grist and sawmill. In 1869 he came to Stoddard County, where he has since resided. In August, 1862, he enlisted in Company D, Eighty-first Illinois Infantry, and served until the close of the war. He participated int the battles of Fort Gibson, Black River, Jackson, Miss., Vicksburg, Champion's Hill, Guntown, Brownville; was in the Red River expedition seventy days and at Nashville, Tenn. At Guntown, his eyes were effected by the heat, and he is now totally blind. He is a Republican, but is not so radical but that he crosses the line for better men. He and wife are members of the Baptist church, and three of their children are members of the same church. |
| James W. Morgan |
| James W. Morgan, farmer and stock raiser, was born in Henderson County, Tenn., July 9, 1835. The "Old Dominion" was the birthplace of his father, Daniel Morgan, who found the partner of his life in Tennessee, in the person of Miss Jane Parker. They lived in both Henderson and Hardin Counties, but the last year spent together were in Mississippi, where he died in 1847. Mrs. Morgan afterward married H.G. McCormick, of Hardin County, and about 1853 located in Butler County, Mo. The subject of this sketch located in Butler County about two years later, and when the war came on was conscripted into service in the Price raid. About 1864, however, he turned his attention to his present farm, where he has since lived, successfully engaged in the culture of grain and stock. He owns about 137 acres in two tracts with about sixty acres cleared land. An artificial pond eighty yards by fifty feet furnished him the facilities for the culture of German carp, with which he is successful. Mr. Morgan was married in 1861 to Mrs. Elizabeth Vandegriss (a widow) daughter of John Mentor (deceased). Their children are James, Alfred, Alexa and Azaline, the last two of whom are now married. Mrs. Morgan's daughter by her first marriage is deceased. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in fraternity matters he is a Mason, member of the Dexter Lodge, with the Master degree. |
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