"The Old Settlers' History of Bates County" Tathwell & Maxey, Amsterdam, Missouri, 1900
R. E. PRITCHARD one of the editors of the Rich Hill Tribune, was born in Calhoun county, Iowa, May 31, 1877, and with his parents removed to Missouri in 1879, and in the spring of 1881 came to Rich Hill where they still reside. He was educated in the public schools of that place and after finishing the high school served his apprenticeship as a printer, but on account of ill health was forced to leave the case. In 1897 he attended the Rich Hill Business College and graduated with honors in the class of '98. He then returned to the case but decided to teach school during the winter and taught a very successful term. In March, 1899, he purchased an half interest in the Rich Hill Tribune and continues as its junior editor. He is an intelligent, upright and industrious young man, a staunch Republican and true to his party's principles.
was born in McDonough County, Ill., October 27, 1862, came with his parents to this county when seven years old, locating near Burdett, and has ever since resided in the county. His early life was spent on the farm and he attended the public schools. In 1886 he was married to Miss Belle Timmons, who died one year after their marriage. In 1889 he was again married to Miss Nannie Heavilin, she also died soon after their marriage. On April 1, 1892, he bought a half interest in the Adrian Journal, since which time he has been engaged in the business. On October 11, 1892, he was united in marriage with Miss Laura Holloway. Mr. Purkey is an active member in the United Brethren Church, and is at present superintendent of the Sunday School of that denomination in Adrian.
The subject of this sketch was born in Davis County, Iowa, and grew to manhood in Decatur County, Iowa. Was educated in the public schools and in an academy at Leon, Iowa. Was admitted to the bar at the age of 21, at Leon, Iowa, and soon afterward came to Bates County, in 1877, and began the practice of his profession in Butler in 1878. Was elected prosecuting attorney of Bates County for a term, January 1st, 1880. He has also served the people as city attorney several terms. As a lawyer he is regarded as among the ablest attorneys at the bar of this county and state. His forensic ability is of the first-class, and few lawyers have had a more uniform success. Quiet, unassuming and companionable he has many warm friends in all the walks of life.
was born in Shelby county, Ohio, Sept. 5, 1841; was raised on a farm, worked in the fields in summers and attended the country school from three to six months in the winter. His father dying when he was thirteen years of age he was thrown upon his own resources, and was to a great extent his own master at a very early period in his career. He saw active service in the Union army during the war. First enlisted in Co. F. Benton Cadets, or Freemont's Infantry Guard, and was with Freemont in his Missouri campaign in 1861. After Freemont was relieved of the command in Missouri this regiment, which was irregular, was ordered to St. Louis, and on January 8th, 1862, was mustered out of the service. He returned to his home in Ohio and remained till July, 1862, when he enlisted in Co. B. 50th Ohio Infantry, with which he remained to the close of the war, and has a record as a soldier of which he is justly proud. He came to Bates county in 1866 and has been a citizen of the county ever since. He has been closely identified with the farm interests of the county and is at present engaged in the Nursery business at this place. Since the above was written Mr. Speer has been called to his reward beyond the dark river.
was born near Mt. Sterling, Montgomery county, Kentucky, February 27, 1843. Received a common school education. Removed to Johnson county, Mo., in 1868, thence to Bates county in 1881. He has held the office of Treasurer and Justice of the Peace in Deepwater township, Bates county, Mo. He enlisted in the Confederate army in September, 1861, and served three and a half years, in the First Kentucky, mounted, and in the Eighth Kentucky Cavalry, under General John Morgan, and captured during his raid into Ohio in July, 1863. He was married in Johnson county, Mo., in 1870, and has two children. In 1898 he was nominated by the democrats and elected Associate Judge of the County Court, and is now serving the people acceptably in that capacity. He is a consistent member of the Christian church.
a descendant of an early family of Virginia, of Scotch descent on the side of Michael Templeton, his father, and of an old Pennsylvania family of German descent on the side of Lovina Templeton, his mother, was born in Champion, Trumbull County, Ohio, the 26th day of May, 1850, lived and worked on a farm and in a mill in his native county until he reached the age of about twenty-two years, up to which time his opportunities for an education had been limited to a few months attendance at district school. At this age, and at his own expense, he began the task of educating himself, and the following nine years of his time was spent alternately in attending Hiram College and Medina Normal School, in teaching and working on the farm, spending part of the time 1878 to 1881 in reading law in the office of Senator L. C. Jones, at Warren, Ohio, and in the office of the lion. T. W. Whiteman at Carrollton, Mo., at which last named place he was admitted to the bar in January of the year last named, and in the same month located at Rich Hill where he has ever since resided and practiced his profession. He was married on December 15, 1881, to Emma J. Streator, a resident of his native neighborhood in Ohio and a member of one of the well known families in the northern part of said state; from this union two sons were born, George S. and Frank H. Judge Templeton, as he is familiarly known, is a republican, conservative but strong in the faith of his party. He was nominated in 1881 for prosecuting attorney and in 1898 for state representative and in both campaigns developed a strength beyond that of his party vote. As a lawyer he has enjoyed a lucrative practice, is regarded strictly upright and noted for his fidelity to his clients. The judge's early farm attachments still cling to him as is evidenced by his ample and commodious home surroundings, he being noted for his love for fine stock, of which he is regarded an excellent judge.
was born in St. Clair Co., Alabama, April 1, 1830; emigrated with his parents to Cherokee County, Alabama, in 1837, where he attended such schools as existed at that time�the school house was built of pine logs, with the openings between the logs for windows. He emigrated to Bates County in 1855 and came to Butler when the place was covered with prairie grass, where he has resided ever since. Together with R. L. Duncan, who was then county surveyor, he surveyed the town when the same was made the county seat in 1856, and surveyed most of the additions made to it since. He operated as deputy county surveyor under R. L. Duncan for four years; was appointed by the county court as assessor of Bates County for the years 1862, '63 and 64, and was elected county surveyor for 1866, and also was elected assessor of Mt. Pleasant Township for two years, 1889 and 1890. Worked in county clerk's office for W. E. Walton; also in recorder's office for Capt. J. C. Martin during his term, and during his long residence in Bates county has followed various other pursuits. Was made a member of the Masonic fraternity in the first lodge that was established in Butler in 1858, and was also a charter member of Butler Lodge No. 254 when same was organized in 1868, of which he is now a member. From Mr. Van Dyke: "On the 2nd day of March, 1862, I was married to Miss Precilla Scroggins. In 1866 I came back to Henry county, about ten miles from Clinton; in 1867 I bought the Shaw farm, on Peter creek, and moved to it, in Bates county. That fall the wolves would come and kill our pigs and geese and scratch at the door and try to get in. Flour was then worth $5.00 per 100 pounds, and we had to go to Warrensburg after it; butter was 25 cents per pound; eggs, 20 cents per dozen in summer; hens, $4.00 per dozen; calicoes, 15 cents per yard; thread, 10 cents per spool. In an early day this country was a perfect paradise, the prairie was one vast flower bed, most beautiful to behold; the woods were full of wild bees and in the later part of summer we would cut bee trees and get honey for winter use, and as barrels and other vessels were very scarce we would cut large linn and hackberry trees, split the logs open and hew out huge troughs to store away our honey in. The people did not possess wealth, but they were healthy, happy and contented. At the Old Settlers' Reunion in October, 1898, I was awarded the cane for the oldest settler in Bates county."
Senior Editor of Bates County Weekly and Butler Daily Democrat, was born in Harrisville, Harrison County, Ohio, April 27, 1843. His father, Robert Wade, was a native of New Jersey, and his mother, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Matson, was born in Virginia. He was reared in Ohio, and educated in its public schools and at Franklin College. He was a member of Co. E, Fifteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry during the Civil War and served two years. He participated in the battles of the Atlanta campaign and at Nashville and Franklin. He taught school before and after the war, and was Principal of the St. Clairsville (Ohio) High School just previous to coming to Missouri. Read law when he could spare the time from school duties arid was admitted to the bar in Ohio in 1868. Came to Butler, Mo., October 23, 1868, and practiced law until January 1st, 1871, when he was appointed Deputy Circuit Clerk and Recorder. In July, 1871, he and Mr. Scudder, the latter of whom subsequently became President of the Adrian Bank, after he had sold his interest to the former, January 1, 1882, and since deceased, purchased the Bates County Democrat, and the former has been editor of same and is now. He started the Daily which he is conducting, in June, 1889. He was a delegate to the National Democratic Convention of 1876 at St. Louis which nominated Samuel J. Tilden. Was Postmaster in Butler during President Cleveland's first administration. Is holding the position of Inspector of Oils for Bates county during absence of Lieut. Wade in the Philippines. Was united in marriage to Mrs. M. J. Weed, whose maiden name had been Mary J. Dimmett, daughter of Wm. Dimmett of Bloomington, Ills., a native of Maryland, in December, 1871. They have one son, Lieut. Ben R. Wade, formerly assistant editor of the Democrat, now 2d lieutenant in the 32d U. S. Volunteer Infantry, serving in the Philippines. They had one daughter, who died quite young.
was born March 26, 1844, in Woodford county, Illinois. Received a common school education. At the age of 17 he learned the trade of sign and ornamental painting, at which he continued until 1862, when he enlisted in the 108th Regiment Illinois Infantry Volunteers. Was wounded at Spanish Ft., near Mobile, Alabama, March 27, 1865, and was discharged August 17, 1865. Returned home and engaged one year in teaching school. Served two years as township assessor, and one year as collector. He was married to Miss Agnes McLaughlin April 23, 1868, and moved to Bates county, Mo., March, 1870, and located in Walnut township. Taught school for several terms, and served as collector two years, assessor for nine years, and Justice of the Peace for two years. He moved to Butler in the spring of 1895. Was elected Presiding Judge of Bates county Court in the fall of 1898 and took charge of the office January 1, 1899, and his term will expire December 3, 1902. He is a quiet, conservative, honorable man, and has the confidence of all who know him. He has always been a Democrat.
The subject of this sketch was born in Wilson county, Kentucky, in 1847, and moved with his parents to Indiana in 1854. He was raised on a farm and educated in the common schools. He came to Missouri in 1878 and engaged in farming and stock raising in Jackson county. The following year he was married to Miss Lemora B. Goe. He moved his family to Bates county in 1890 and engaged in the mercantile business in Adrian. After conducting this business successfully for several years he sold out and moved on his farm near that town, in Mound township, where he now resides. He was a member of the Adrian School Board when the High School building was erected and was re-elected by unanimous vote of the district. Served two terms as city councilman. Elected associate Judge of the Bates County Court, for the north district in 1898. He is a member of the Baptist church, and is a member of the Masonic Fraternity. He was nominated and elected as a Democrat. |
