Other
SQUIRE JOHN FERGUSON-IBERIA'S GRAND OLD GENTLEMAN
    Squire John Ferguson was one of most colorful figures in Iberia's past history. He lived to the advanced age of 101 years and was a noted and respected citizen of the Iberia community.
    John Ferguson was born on Christmas Day in 1838 in the small village of Dumfries, Scotland. As a small boy, age eight, he started working as an apprentice to a local village shoemaker. He did not enjoy this type of work at all, so he quit and became an apprentice painter. He worked as a painter's apprentice for the next few years until he reached the age of 14 years learning this skillful trade. When he was six years old he began his schooling. These Scottish children were taught from the Bible and hardly anything else. At that time in history, the churches and the school of Scotland were under the control of the government.
    When John was 14 years old , his father decided to bring his family to America. They left Dumfries in 1852, going overland to Liverpool, England, and departing Liverpool in September 1852. William Ferguson & his wife, Isabella Hunter Ferguson, their son John, and daughters Martha & Elizabeth began their long sea journey across the Atlantic. Unfortunately John's father did not live to see the shores of his new homeland in America. He died on board ship and was buried with the usual procedure at sea. He was sewn in a canvas bag with a large piece of lead at his feet, lowered over the side of the ship and after a brief funeral service, was lowered into his watery grave. Two other immigrants also died on the same ocean voyage before the ship harboured in New Orleans in October of 1852. The name of the ship in which the family made their jouney across the Atlantic was "Colonel Cutts."
    Isabella Hunter Ferguson and her three children did not stay in New Orleans very long. They boarded a boat called "The Sovereign of Pittsburg" and went up the Mississippi River, arriving in St. Louis the latter part of October 1852. Isabella had a sister and brother-in-law, the William Dunlaps, living in St. Louis so they went to the home of the Dunlaps and lived with them for awhile. William Dunlap was Mississippi River boatman and he hired John to work for him on the river. He worked there for about nine years, until the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861.
     John Ferguson experienced some exciting times on the Mississippi and was a great story teller. Several incidents happened in his young life that would make a great plot for an adventure story. During the war he was a witness to most of the Camp Jackson skirmish which took place near St. Louis. He said One time in an interview that "If had not been for the loyal German regiments, I believe St. Louis would have been captured by General Jackson and his Confederate forces.
    John Ferguson drifted into Miller County in September 1861, but first stopped in Maries County where he had relatives living. I believe they were some of his mother's Hunter kinfolks. He moved westward to Miller County and began working on a farm about six miles west of Iberia. In June 1862, John married Dorcas Canzada Shelton, daughter of Thomas & Elizabeth Shelton, who had come to the Big Richwoods from McMinn County, Tennessee. John & Dorcas were married by Rev. Abraham Castleman, who was captain of a Confederate troop during the war. In order to get Rev. Castleman to come and marry them, John had to ride 15 or 20 miles to get him and then accompany him back home because Rev. Castleman was afraid of the "bushwackers" roaming the area who might be seeking him out.
    John's mother, Isabella Hunter Ferguson, came to to Miller county to live prior to 1880. She was living near the Madden community in southern Miller County during the census taken in 1880 and was listed as a "seamstress". A descendant of this family believes Isabella is buried at Madden Cemetery, although no tombstone marks her grave.
    During the war, John joined Colonel McClurg's Osage Regiment at Linn Creek, Camden County, and later he enlisted in regular service in Company M 3rd Missouri Cavalry Volunteers where he served with the Union Army until the close of the war. It is interesting to note that his wife's relatives were from the South and her uncle, William Rankin Wright, was a lieutenant in the Confederate Army in Miller County. This was typical of many families that were torn apart during this terrible time in American history.
    Squire John and Dorcas(Shelton) Ferguson were parents of 14 children, two of them dying in infancy. Those who survived to adulthood were: William, Charles, Fred, George, Edward, Jack, Harry, Frank, Laura, Belle, Elizabeth and Martha.
    Ater his discharge in New Orleans in 1864, Squire John and his family made Miller County their permanent home. Over the next 74 years, John was a prominent man in the Iberia area. For many years he was post commander of Miles Carroll Post 111 of the Grand Army of the Republic in Iberia and was instrumental in keeping the Post in active service. He very seldom missed one of the encampments, both state & national, and over the years he filled most all stations in the highly honored organization...On May 16, 1928 he was elected Department Commander of the G.A.R. for the state of Missouri at it's 47th annual encampment held in Springfield.
    John was active in the religious, political and public affairs of Miller County and was justice of the peace at Iberia for more than 50 years.
    In 1939, Iberia lost one of her most remarkable and unforgettable citizens...Captain John Ferguson, also called "Squire". He had reached his 101st year. There are many folks today who remember him so vividly and are still reminiscence of those long-ago days when he could be seen on the streets of Iberia with his snowwhite hair and long, white beard, much like a patriarch of old. There are many descendants of Squire John Ferguson who still live in central Missouri in the counties of Miller, Pulaski and Camden as well as those who have moved all over America.
FRED P. HAUS (John's brother-inlaw)
    Fred P. Haus was born June 3, 1842, in Mobile Alabama. At an early age, he moved with his parents to St. Louis and lived there for many yeas. He graduated from the public schools in that city. I do not know anything about his early years nor his ancestry, except his father was of German descent, born in Germany, while his mother was a native of South Carolina (per the 1900 census)
    Fred P. Haus married Elizabeth/Lizzie Ferguson in St. Louis in 1865. Elizabeth, born in Dumphries, Scotland in April 1843, was a daughter of William Ferguson and Isabelle (Hunter). When she was about ten years old, the family came to America. Her father died at sea and was buried in the depths of the Atlantic Ocean. Elizabeth's mother and her three children landed in New Orleans in October 1852 and eventually sailed up the Mississippi River to St. Louis where they had kinfolks living.
    After the Civil War, Elizabeth remained in St. Louis while her mother and brother (John Ferguson) ventured into central Missouri to Maries County, where Isabelle's family, the Hunters, were living. John Ferguson came on westward to Miller County and settled near Iberia. He married Dorcas Canzada Shelton of the old Madden community and they reared their family in that area. Squire John Ferguson, Elizabeth's brother was a well-known resident of the Big Richwoods.
    Fred P. Haus was employed by the Charter Oak and Stove Co. of St. Louis for many years as a traveling salesman. He also was an active member of the Gideon organization for more than 21 years and one year served as Missouri State Chaplain of the Gideons.
    Fred and Elizabeth/Lizzie were parents of  eight children:
Charles D. Haus (1878-1964) married Flora Keeth
William Haus.
Fred P. Haus Jr.
Richard M. Haus
Mary McCook Haus (1882-1957)
Margaret J. Haus born 1875 married James H. Long
Isabelle Haus married ??? Goodrich
Harry M. Haus born Sept. 1882 married Ellen Wall.
    I am not certain when the Haus family moved to Miller County. In the 1900 census, Fred & Lizzie were living near Iberia. In their home were three of there children: Margaret, Charles and Harry. According to census records, five of their eight children were still living in 1900.
    Fred P. Haus died in 1920 and was returned to St. Louis for burial in Bellefontaine Cemetery in the Haus family plot. His wife, Elizabeth/Lizzie (Ferguson) lived until April, 1928 and at her death, was also taken to Bellefontaine for burial beside her husband. Some ot their children remained in the Iberia area and reared their families. Their sons, Charles and Harry are both buried at Iberia Cemetery.
JEFFERSON DAVIS SKAGGS

Jefferson Davis Skaggs was born in Knox County, Tenn on March 22, 1861.
He was the youngest son of Freeman J. Skaggs (1816-1889) and Mary Ann Harbison (1822-1877). His Skaggs ancestors were originally from Norway
where the name was spelled Skeg. They later went to England and Scotland where the name change was made. His Harbison ancestors were natives of Ireland and England.
When about five years of age, Jeff Skaggs came to Miller County with his
parents from East Tennessee and they settled in the Brays community of Richwoods Township. His parents had several children including:
1. Rayburn McCammon Skaggs 1841-1861 (killed in the civil war).
2. Newton Canada Skaggs 1841-1877 never married (twin to Rayburn)
3. William Pleasant Skaggs 1843-1925 m Sarah Emeline Whitaker 1869.
4. Elizabeth Jane Skaggs 1845-1874 m Michael S. Graham 1865.
5. Gideon Pillow Skaggs 1848-1927 m Lucinda Jane Lambeth 1870
6. Lucinda Ellen Skaggs 1850-1893 m Thomas A. Murphy 1869.
7. Gordon Churchwell Skaggs 1852-1922 m Mary Elizabeth Ponder 1876.
8. Mary Hester Ann Skaggs 1854-1863 died of scarlet fever.
9. Sarah Haseltine Skaggs 1856-1887 m Phillip Raphael Ponder 1871.
10. James Monroe Skaggs 1858-1879 died of typhoid fever.
11. Jefferson Davis Skaggs 1861-1927 m Mary Alice Arendall 1882.
12. Medora Lee Skaggs 1863-1863 died of typhoid fever.
NOTE: Raymond, Newtown and William Skaggs, brothers to Jefferson, were
all Civil War soldiers and fought for the Confederate Army back in Knox County, Tennessee. Rayburn was killed in that war.
Jefferson Davis Skaggs, named for the president of the Southern
Confederacy during the Civil War, married Mary Alice Arendall on March 21, 1882 in Maries County. She was a daughter of Joseph Jones
Arendall (1812-1883) and Elvira Elizabeth Winston (1821-1912) both natives of
Virginia. Mary Alice was born in Maries County March 22, 1859. She was one of several children born to Joseph and Elvira Arendall. I think their children were:
1. Albert Allen Arendall b. c/1843 m Helen Goforth.
2. John Arendall b. m. Margaretta ____.
3. James Arendall b. c/1853 m Nellie Gardner
4. Elvira Augusta Arendall b. c1857 m N. B. Jones.
5. Mary Alice Arendall b. 1859 m Jefferson Davis Skaggs.
6. Mary F. Arendall b. m William F. Tynes.
7. NOTE: I am confused about the two youngest daughters ... both are
named Mary. Mary Alice married Jefferson Davis Skaggs and Mary F. married Wm. F. Tynes...I can find no clue to why both girls are named "Mary".
Albert and James Arendall, with their families, came to Miller County
before 1880. Albert operated the Brays Mill during the years they lived in the county and James married Nellie Gardner of , Iberia a daughter of Henry Pauling Gardner and Elizabeth (Bailey) Gardner. So when Jeff Skaggs married Mary Alice Arendall she had two brothers already living in Richwoods Township near
Iberia.
Jeff and Mary Alice Skaggs were parents of four children, but three of
the children died in infancy.
James B. Skaggs (1883-1883), Pearl S. Skaggs (1884-1886) and Olive Skaggs
(1887-1887) are all buried at Iberia Cemetery. The fourth child was a son, Gordon Bennett Skaggs, who was born in 1891 and lived until 1970. Bennett was married twice; his first wife was Beulah Irwin who died a few weeks after the birth of their third child. None of the three children survived childhood. Bennett's second wife was Myrtle Copeland and they had a daughter, Pearl Kathleen Skaggs. The descendants of Jeff and Mary Skaggs are few because of the death of so many of their children and grandchildren.
Jefferson/Jeff Skaggs and son, Bennett, operated the Iberia Light and
Roller Mills in the 1920s. A stock company of Iberia citizens built the roller mills in the early 1900s.
It was located just below the old Iberia Elementary School and was still there when I attended the school from 1941-49.
While Jeff operated the roller mills, he owned a steam calliope and pony
merry-go-round which he set up for many events at Hardy Park in Iberia. Many years ago I had a delightful letter from Helen Jones Nygaard of Texas. She was born and reared at Iberia and told me some wonderful stories of her childhood.
She is gone today, but I still remember her talking about Jeff Skaggs'
merry-go-round. She said, and I quote "On the third and fourth of July each year, Iberia had a picnic and time of recreation at Hardy Park. The highlight of the two-day event occurred on July 3 when Jeffrey Skaggs, owner of the local mill, would bring his merry-go-round to the park and then he would invite all the children to come down for free rides. He made so many children happy with his marvelous merry-go-round which had an old pipe organ on it that played such beautiful music. Surely God has a special corner in heaven for Jeffrey Skaggs."
Unfortunately, the old roller mills and electric light plant caused the
death of Jefferson Davis Skaggs, at age 66. On Aug. 25, 1927, he was accidentally caught in the roller arms of the mechanism and was
crushed to death. He had been oiling the machinery before the accident
occurred.
His funeral services were held at the Iberia Cemetery, conducted by Rev.
Miles Bowden of Hancock. All business places in Iberia were closed to pay tribute to their friend and neighbor. He was a member of the Advent Christian Church at Brays and was survived by his wife of 45 years, Mary Alice, his
only child, Bennett Skaggs and a granddaughter, Pearl Skaggs.

WILLIAM HASTEN BURKS

William Hasten Burks was born in Tennessee on January 29, 1861, a son of
William and Laura Burks, natives of Georgia. His family came to Miller County
about 1870 and settled in Osage township near the families of Flaugher,
Abbett, Martin, Ramsey, Prock and Bilyeu. The known children of William and
Laura were:
1. Milton Burks b. 1856 m. Adeline Stark 1879
2. William Hasten Burks b. 1861 m. Mary Agnes Agnew 1884
3. Elinora Burks b. 1868 m. William G. Abbett 1886
4. Robert Sidney Burks b. 1871 m. Livonia Albertson 1897
5. Stonewall J. Burks b. 1872 m. Laura B. Pierce 1894
6. Anna Burks, b. 1873 m.__________________________
7. Bedora Burks b. 1876 m. Randolph A. Abbett 1892

Note: I could find no record of a marriage of Anna Burks (b. 1873) in Miller
County. There was a girl named Mary Anna Burks who married Joseph Rowden,
son of James W. and Matilda (Whitaker) Rowden, but I do not know if this was
Anna, daughter of Wm. Hasten, or from another Burks family.

On November 13, 1884, William Hasten Burks married Mary Agnes Agnew, daughter of John and Mary Agnew, natives of Ohio. They were living in Jim Henry township in the 1880 census. Mary Agnes was born in September 1866 in Ohio.

Thirteen children were born to William Hasten and Mary Agnes Burks. Three of
the children died in infancy. Some of the children were:
1. Anna L. Burks b. August 1888
2. John W. Burks b. October 185
3. Frank M. Burks b. January 1891
4. Perrry C. Burks b. October 1892
5. Emma M. Burks b. March 1895
6. Robert L. Burks b. March 1897
7. Flora V. Burks b. March 1899
These children were listed in the 1900 census of Miller County, living in
their parents home in Osage township. Evidently there were more children
born after 1900, but I do not have their names. (I would like to have a
complete list, if possible).

William Hasten Burks died on March 14, 1936 at the age of 75 years. His
funeral service was held at Mt. Zion church, south of Tuscumbia. Rev. P. J.
Echoff of the Iberia Congregational Christian Church conducted his funeral.
He was buried in the cemetery near the church. In the inventoried records of
Miller County cemeteries, there is no listing of this burial at Mt. Zion
cemetery nor that of his wife, Mary (Agnew) Burks. His obituary stated he
was buried there so
he must be in an unmarked grave and I would imagine his wife is also buried
beside him.

JAMES E. WALKER, an overseer of Miller County's "POOR FARM"

James E. Walker was born in Wayne Courty. KY on April 10, 1849, a son of George W. Walker and Mary/Polly Coughron. He was one of three chidren born to his parents. His father was a painter by occupation and sometime during  James' childhood, his father was among the thousands who went to California in the western movement. He was never heard from again. It is not known if he died somewhere along the way or in California. James' mother also died when the children were young, so they were left orphans and were reared among strangers back in Kentucky.

James was reared to farm labor which became his chief occupation in his lifetime. About 1869, at the age of 20 years, he left Kentucky and moved to Warren County, Illinois where he stayed for 3 years. In 1872, he came on to Miller County and located near Pleasant Mount (today called Mt. Pleasant).
On September 23,1874, James married Mary Ellen Lawson in Miller County, the marrage performed by E. P. Belshe, minister. Mary Ellen, born c/1854, was a daughter of Lewis and Nancy Matthews, natives of Tennessee. The Lawsons were eanly settlers of. Equality township and reared several children in the Tuscumba area.

In 1886, James E. Walker was appointed as overseer of the county's "poor farm" located south of the Osage river and downriver trom Tuscumbia. He served for a few years as overseer of indigent persons who became 'inmates" of the poor farm (sometimes called "the poor house".

James and Mary Ellen became parents of six children;
    1.     Aurora Walker    b. c/1876
    2.     Elnora Walker    b. c/1878
    3.     Cora Walker    b. c/1880
    4. Alonso Walker    b. 4 Feb 1888
    5.     Walter Walker _______
    6.     Ollie Walker    b. _______

Evidently James and Mary Ellen Walker left Miller County before l900 because no record of them was found in the census taken that year. There is no record for a marriage of any of their children in Miller County records either, so I would suspect they left the county sometime between 1890-1900.

"ABOUT THE MILLER COUNTY POOR FARM"

    Aged and indigent people, considered paupers, were taken care of in the late 1800s and early 1900s in a county 'poor farm'. Private individuals were hired by the county court to run the poor and to take care of those who could not take care of themselves.

In 1884, a farm of 214 acres was bought by the county court whch was located about a mile downriver from Tuscunbia on the south bank of a bluff overlooking he Osage river. Wesley A Hackney was appointed by the county court to serve as the 'poor farm's' first superintendent, followed by James E. Walker in 1880.

In 1930, the county court levied a 10c tax per $100 valuation for a period of one year to secure money to buy property to erect a county home The same year the court bought  l98 acres about 21/2 miles southeast of Tuscumbia on Highway 17 and built a two-story brick building at the cost of $23,000.It was 92 ft. by32 ft.and later had other additions. This county farm was used for several decades until a new, more spacious home was constructed nearby. The old two-story building has been demolished and the replacement is now the Miller County Nursing Home which is funded through a tax levy and is one of the county's political subdivisions.

Gordon C. Skaggs

Gordon Churchwell Skaggs was born in Knox County, Tennessee, on Aug..
11,1852. He wan one of 12 children born to Freernan J. Skaggs (1816-l889)
and Mary Ann Harbison (1822-1877). His father's ancestors were originally
from Norway (where the name was spelled Skeg) and his rnother's ancestry had
roots in Ireland and England. He came to Miller County in 1866 with his
parents from East Tennessee.The children of Freeman and Mary Ann Skaggs
were:

1. Rayburn McCammon Skaggs 1841-1861 (killed in the Civil War)
2. Newton Canada Skaggs 1841-1877 m. single (twin to Rayburn)
3. Williarn Pleasant Skaggs 1843-1925 rn- Sarah Emeline Whiteker 1869
4. Elizabeth Jane Skaggs 1845-1874 m. Michael S Graham 1865
5. Gideon Pillow Skagge 1848-1927 m. Lucinda Jane Lambeth 1870.
6. Lucinda Ellen Skaggs 1850-1893 m,Thomas A. Murphy 1869
7. Gordon Churchwell Skaggs 1852-1922 m. Mary Elizabeth Ponder 1876.
8. Mary Hester Ann Sknggs 1854-1853 died or scarlet fever.
9. Sarah Hazeltine Skaggs 1856-1887 m. Phillip Raphael Ponder 1871.
l0. .JamesMonroe Skaggs 1858-1879 died.of typhoid fever
11. Jefferson Davis Skaggs .1861-1927 m. Mary Alice Arendall 1882
12. Medora Lee Skaggs 1563-1863 died of typhoid fever.

Note: Rayburn, Newton and William Skaggs were all in the Civil War and
fought for the
Confederate Army. Rayhurn was killed in that war.
Gordon Churchwell Skaggs married Mary Elizabeth Ponder in Miller County on
Sept.16.1876. She was born March11. 1558, a daughter of Wencelaus Ponder
(1822-1902) and Joanna Robinson (l831-1916). Her father was a native of
Baden Germany and her mother was born in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri.
Mary Elizabeth was one of sev­eral children born to Wencelaus and Joanna
including.

1. Pliillip Raphael Ponder 1849-1937
md. Sarah Hasoltine Ska~gs 1871, 2-Lillie Kellison.
2. Theodore Lawrence Ponder 1853-1919 in. Martha E. Pilkingon 1875
3. Oscar Fitzallen Ponder 1856-1945 md. Jennie Crismon,
2. Susan Clayton, 3-Mary Lucinda Dodds.
4. MaryElizabeth Ponder 1858-1952 md. Gordon C. Skaggs 1876.
5. Rachel C. Ponder 1861-1935 md. John Preston Wilson 1877.
6. George. Washington Ponder 1864-1956 md.Hepsibeth Stone 1890
7. William Jerry Ponder,­ 1866-1929, md. Margaret Shackleford.
8. Emma Olivc Ponder 1869-1901 md. John Grant Thompson 1886.
9. Frank Raymond Ponder 1873-1967 md. Elsie Ann Lilly 1898.

Gorden C. Skaggs was a well known farmer and cattleman of Richwoods
Twonship. He and Mary Elizabeth lived an a farm near the Brays community
and reared their children there. He served as Presiding Judge of the Miller
County Court from 1915-1918, elected on the Democrat ticket. He was alsa
known as a good 'left-handed' flddle player and played for many country
dances. He and Mary Elizabeth were parents of five children.

1. Theodore Thomas Skaggs 1878-1973 md. Octavia Minnie Hunphrey 1904.
2. James Merritt Skaggs 1883-1920 md. Eliza Shelton 1909.
3. Clyde Charles Skaggs 1885-1942 md. Mamie Hale 1911.
4. Ethel Minnie Skagge 1887-1976 md. George B. Morrow 1908.
5. Herman Ponder Skaggs 1893-1975 md. Martlia Jarrett 1918.

Gordon C. Skaggs died a very mysterious death. He was found dead on the
slopes of Pike's Peak near Manitou Springs, Colo. He died on Sept 1, 1922,
but was not found for four dads He was found near the cog railway which was built on the famous Colorado mountain. Some men of the rail­road found his body and contacted authorities. Not knowing who he was (he had no identification in his clothesc). They buried him in Ever­green Cemetery in Colorado Springs. His family read an ar­ticle in the newspapers about an unidentified man found dead on Pikes Peak and they became suspicious.
Gorden had sold his car and sent the money home to his family.
He stated in his letter he was in Colorado. His son-in-law George Morrow,
made the triip to Colorado, Springs had the body exhumed, made the identifica­tion, and then returned it back home to Miller County for a proper
burial. He was laid to rest on Sept. 18, 1922, in Brays Union Cemetery, in
the same Commu­nity from which he had left al­most a month earlier.
He was survived by his wife Mary Elizabetly (Ponder); three sons, Theodore Thomas, Clyde Charles, and Herman P. and one daugter, Etheyl Skaggs Morrow. His other son, James, had died two years earlier in 1920. Mary Elizabeth (Ponder) Skaggs lived until May 12, 1952, and died at the age of 94 years. Most of these family members are buried at Brays Union Cemetery.

BOYD/CLARK FAMILIES

The Boyd and Clark families lived in Greenup Co., Kentucky in the early
portion of the 19th century. In 1811, they were landowners in that Kentucky
county having purchased land on Barretts creek and the Little Sandy river.
The families of Boyd and Clark were neighbors and friends in those years
in Greenup County, so therefore, I am combining the history of both families.

In the early 1800s, Greenup County was still an unsettled and virgin land.
Kentucky had acquired statehood only 20 years previously in 1792 and
although there had been a steady migration in those 20 years, it was still
a big, wide and spacious countryside the Boyds and Clarks inhabited.

This was an interesting era in our country's history...President James
Madison was serving in the White House; the battle of Tippicanoe was being
fought; Missouri Territory ws being organized; war was declared on Great
Britian; and the infamous Battle of New Orleans fought. The Boyd and Clark
ancestors were new residents of Kentucky during those interesting years of
American history.

Philip and Sarah Boyd, both natives of Virginia, were living in Greenup Co.
in the early 1800s. They homesteaded 150 acres of land on Barrett's creek in
1817. They were parents of 8 children who were apparently all born in
Virginia. Philip died in the time era of 1824/25. His widow, Sarah, was left
his estate. In 1830, she sold off a portion of her property to her youngest
son, James Boyd (my great, great, great grandfather.psh) The agreement was
that he would provide her with a sufficient quantity of corn, meat, sugar,
coffee, and other vegetables necessary for life. The children of Philip and
Sarah Boyd were: Philip, Jr.; Catherine Boyd Farley; Joseph Boyd; Carey
Boyd; Robert Boyd; Rhoda Boyd Davidson; Adam Boyd; and James Boyd.
Four of the eight children moved into Miller County in the mid 1830s and the
remaining four apparently chose to remain in Greenup County. The four who
migrated to Missouri were: Carey and Lydia Clark Boyd; Robert and Susannah
Clark Boyd; Rhoda (Boyd) and William Davidson; and James and Ruth Clark Boyd. Philip, Jr., Joseph, Catherine, and Adam remained in Kentucky and I
have no further history of those families.
James Boyd married Ruth Eles Clark in Greenup Co. on July 20, 1829. John
Clark, her borther, was the bonsman and the consent for marriage was given by
Ruth's mother and step-father, Susannah and Robert Boyd. Robert Boyd was an
older brother of James, so not only was he her step-father, but he was her
brother-in-law as well, but stranger yet, with this marriage performed, her
mother became her sister-in-law! Carey Boyd, another brother to James,
married Lydia Clark in Greenup Co. on July 9,1822. There was a close kinship
between the Boyd and Clark families in the early 1800s.
There has been a beautiful legend handed down through the generations about
John 'Hoppin" Clark, brother to Ruth Boyd. He acquired this nickname through
the impossible feat of jumpin over covered wagons! He was a loner for a few
years preferring to travel the wilds of Kentucky's back country. One night
he ventured upon a wagon train traveling westweard and they hired him to
serve as the scout. On this wagon train was an Indian family with the
English name of Farmber who had a beautiful young daughter named Snow
Princess. Her English name was Elizabeth and John hoppin' fellin love with
this beautiful Indian maiden. He asked her father for his consent to marry
her, but he refused, so John kidnapped Snow Princess and they were eventually
married without her father's blessing. John Hoppin' & Elizabeth Clark moved
into Miller Co. and settled near his sister and family who had bought land in
Osage township. As a child, I was told many stories about this colorful
couple, but my favorite has to be this bit of legend:...One day old Hoppin'
went out squirrel hunting and was gone all day. By nightfall, Betsy
(Elizabeth) was getting a little worried. After dark he finally came home but
was a terrible mess---he was scratched, torn, and bleeding all over. He was
dragging a big, black panther and as he threw it into the kitchen door, he
said these infamous words..'Here Betsy, skin this squirrel!'.....It is also
family legend that John Hoppin' Clark served as a scout for the Cherokee
Indian Nation when they were forced from their homes in the Smokey Mountains
of No. Carolina & eastern Tennessee. This was the "Trail of Tears" march to
Oklahoma territory in the late 1830s.

After James Boyd married Ruth Clark, they lived in Greenup Co., KY  for
approximately 6 years. Their 3 older children were born in Kentucky (Sarah
1830); Susannah 1831; and Lydia 1833). The two older daughters were given
the names of their grandmothers--Sarah Boyd & Susannah Clark Boyd. The 4th
child, Greenville Boyd, was born in 1835 in Miller Co., so apparently they
moved into Missouri in 1834 or 1835 and permanently settled in Osage township in the northeaster section of the county.

The children of James and Ruth (Clark) Boyd were as follows:
Sarah S. born 23 July 1830 m. Charles O. Curtman;
Susannah b. 28 Dec 1831 m. Thomas Hampton;
Lydia b. 22 Nov 1833 m. Thomas Goff;
Greenville b. 18 Oct 1835 m. Jane Freeman;
Robert b. 8 Sep 1838 m. Martha Clark;
Rhoda b. 10 Nov 1840 m. ________;
Martha D. b. 2 Nov 1841 m. Riley Messersmith;
Sidney b. 30 Apr 1844 m. _____;
James, Jr. b. 12 May 1847 m._______;
John C. born 20 Dec 1849 m.____;
Melissa born 27 May 1851 m.____;
and William O. born 10 Feb 1853 m.________.

Carey Boyd, his wife Lydia, and her brother, Isaac Clark, may have been the
first of the families to venture westward out of Kentucky. Notice of the
death of Carey Boyd is found in Pulaski Co. records in 1833.

Between the years 1837-1870, there are many land transfers and purchases for
these Boyd and Clark families in Miller Co. they were all located in Osage
township near present day St. Elizabeth and St.Anthony.

James Boyd died in 1856 and his widow, Ruth, married Thomas Millers on 21
July 1862. She died a short time later. There is no record of where either
James or Ruth is buried, but it has been legend that Ruth was the first
person buried in the Wickham cemetery on land owned today by Floyd Johnson
near the Big Tavern creek southwest of St. Elizabeth.

Sarah Boyd, oldest daughter of James and ruth , married Charles O. Curtman, a
German immigrant who became very prominent in Miller & Maries County where he served the populace as a physician and chemist. From THE HISTORY OF MARIES COUNTY by Everett King..."In association with his practice and medical profession, Dr.Charles O. Curtman, a native of the Grand Dutchy of Hesse, Darmstadt of Germany, opened a store at Fair Play on the eastern side of the Osage river near St.Elizabeth. Dr. Curtman became a naturalized citizen in 1855. He was the husband of Sarah Boyd , having married her in 1852."

Greenville Boyd, oldest son of James and Ruth, married Jane Freeman in Miller
Co. on Dec. 18, 1856. Their marriage was performed by Greenville's
brother-in-law, Dr. Charles O. Curtman who was also a Justice of the Peace.
Greenville was born in Miller County on October 18, 1835 and Jane Freeman was also born in Miller Co. on August 20, 1840.

The parents of Jane Freeman Boyd were James and Deborah (Jenkins) Freeman of Claiborne County, Tennessee. Jane was born after they came to Missouri. She was born in Jim Henry township near present day Marys Home. James Freeman died as a young man in 1844 leavin his wife, Deborah, with 6 young children to rear. the children of James and Deborah were:
NELSON FREEMAN;
LOUSIA FREEMAN m. Thomas Edgeman 1848;
MARY ANN FREEMAN m. T.A. Williams 1849;
JANE FREEMAN m. Greenville Boyd 1856;
SARAH FREEMAN m. James Jenkins 1857; and
ISABELLE FREEMAN m.____Stepp.....After James' death, Deborah married Bluford Van Hoozer in 1847. She had 2 sons by Bluford--James born 1847 and John born 1849. Deborah Jenkins Freeman VanHooser died in the mid 1850's but the place of her burial is unknown.

The children of Greenville and Jane (Freeman) Boyd were :
Robert born 22 Nov 1857 m. Sintha Ann Grosvenor 1876;
James born 20 Jun 1858 m. Cecelia Adeline Shelton 1879;
Sarah b. 12 March 1863 m. Edward Clark:
her twin, Greenville--he died at the age of 5 years;
Lydia b. 6 Dec 1869, never married;
Mary born 15 Oct 1871 , died as a child;
John born 4 Oct 1873 m. Della Wickham;
Laura born 12 Sept 1875 m. Andrew Roark & (2) James Coffman;
Edward born 26 Dec 1878 m. Cecile Clark;
Iva born 10 Aug 1882 m. Willis Rowden.

Greenville was a veteran of the Civil War serving with the Union army in Co.K
12th Missouri Cavalry Volunteers. He also spent 14 months in the Home Guards
under the command of Captain Jacob Capps in the Miller Co. area. When he
enlisted, he was 27 years old and his occupation was a farmer. He was
mustered out of service on 9 April 1866.

Greenville died on 18 Feb 1931 at his home, which was called Sudheimer during those years. He had lived a full, rich life reaching the advanced age of 95
years. Jane Freeman Boyd died 24 July 1928 at the age of 88 years. They
celebrated 72 years of marriage. Both are buried in the Lawson cemetery near
the Maries County boundary line.

James Boyd, son of Greenville and Jane, was born 20 June 1858. He marreid
Cecelia Adeline Shelton on August 7, 1979. She was a daughter of Edmund and Clarissa (Lawson) Shelton of Miller Co. The children of James and Cecelia
Boyd were :
Leonard born 1844 m. Mary Lou Bodford in Okla.;
Conard b. 1886 m. Dennie Moon in Okla.;
Azalia b. 1893 m.(1.) Carl Musgrove,(2) Roy Sowder;
Sarah Eliza b. 1888 m. Henry Franklin Smith;
Minnie Jane b. 1890 m. (1) Ferman Jones Clark (2)Sam Simmons;
Nollie b. 1897 m. Michael Hanvey;
Isabelle b 1883 m. William Clark;
and Clara Alta b. 1898 died young.

About 1897, James and Cecelia Shelton Boyd moved to the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma and settled near Stroud in Lincoln County, OK. Cecelia died there
just a short time later after the birth of her 8th child. Cecelia is buried
somewhere near Stroud, but the exact location is not known. Later james Boyd
had one son , William Boyd born 1904. In 1906, James Boyd died of pneumonia
and is buried in the Duncan cemetery in eastern Miller Co. He had moved back
to Miller County after his 2nd marriage. The majority of the children of James and Cecelia chose to remain in Oklahoma and reared their families there.

Sarah Eliza Boyd, daughter of James and Cecelia, remained in Miller County
and married Henry Franklin Smith, son of William Harrison and Lucy Ann
(Gardner) Smith on December 16, 1906. The children of Sarah Eliza and Henry
F. Smith were:
Carl Everett 1 Jan 1912-12 Jan 1912;
Conard Isaac 23 June 1908-20 Apr 1970 m Tressie Gale;
Gene Oliver 11 Nov 1914-15 Apr 1980 m. Verlie A.Wyrick;
Priscilla Idolia 28 Mar 1919-m. (1) Clark Davis, (2) James Karr:
James William Raymond 25 Jun 1925-15 Apr 1975 m. Dorothy Robinson.

Gene Oliver Smith, son of Sarah (Boyd) and Henry Frank Smith, was born 11 Nov 1914 and married Verlie Alberta Wyrick of Miller County. Their children
were:
Peggy Lee Smith born 10 August 1935 m. (1) Kenneth Harold Warman, son of
William George and Lattie Cecile (Jones) Warman;
and Billy Gene Smith born 15 Nov 1936 married Bonnie Alleta Luttrell, daughter of Milton and Opal (Duncan) Luttrell.

Peggy Lee Smith, daughter of Oliver Gene and Verlie (Wyrick) Smith married (1) Kenneth Harold Warman of Dixon, MO. and (2) Ambrose Herman Hake, son of Conrad and Ida (Volmert) Hake of Marys Home, MO. The children of Peggy and Kenneth Warman were:
Kevin Dean born 10 Sept 1955 died 27 Oct 1955;
Kathy D'Ann born 16 Feb 1957 m. Richard Kemp II;
Kerry Douglas born 24 July 1958 m. Tina Darlene Baston:
Kelly Denise born 5 April 1960 m. Ray Edwards Stallings;
Kirk Duane b. 16 Apr 1962 m. Twyla Luttrell....the grandchildren of Peggy Smith
and Kenneth Warman include: ALICIA NICHOLE STALLINGS born 25 Dec 1976, AMANDA NICHELLE STALLINGS born 21 Oct 1979; RAY EDWARDS STALLINGS II born 24 May 1981; KYLE DOUGLAS WARMAN born 9 Jan 1980, KANDRA D'ANN WARMAN born 31 Jan 1981; KEIDRA DENISE WARMAN born 30 Dec 1984, KRYSTAL DAWN WARMAN born 28 Nov
1986, and KEISHA DANIELLE WARMAN born 1 June 1989.

Bill G. Smith, son of Gene Oliver and Verlie Smith, married Bonnie Alleta
Luttrell, daughter of Milton and Opal Luttrell of Miller County. The
children of Bill and Bonnie are: Randall Gene born 11 Dec 1962 and Russell
Dean born 1 Oct 1966: Mitzi Ann born and died April, 1960. The grandchildren
of Bill and Bonnie are: Christopher Smith born 7 Apr 1985 and Jerry Dean
Smith born 25 Aug 1986.

The grandchildren of Bill G. Smith and Peggy Smith Hake are the 9th
generation from Philip and Sarah Boyd of Greenup County , Kentucky, pioneers
of early Kentucky in the early 19th century.

THE HACKNEY FAMILY

Wesley A. Hackney, son of WilliamM. and Isabel (Rice) Hackney, was born in
Cole Co., Missouri on 12 Nov 1835. He was one of 10 children born to
William and Isabel Hackney. William and Isabel married in Cole Co. 24 July
1834; she was a daughter of Rachel Rice. William, the father of Wesley, was
reared in Tennessee and went to Kentucky wehn he was about 24 years old.
William was a son of Jacob Hackney, native of Virginia, who also lived in
Tennessee for a few years and died in Laurel Co., Kentucky.

William Hackney was a soldier of the Mormon War of the late 1830s and also
served in the Civil War, holding the rank of Captain in Co.B, 6th MO
Cavalry.
Isabel (Rice) Hackney died in Cole Co. in 1857 and after her death, William
moved to Texas Co., MO in 1859. He died there in 1873. When William died
in 1973, he was survived by 3 of his 10 children including:
Wesley A. Hackney,
Mrs. William Walker (Mary E.), and John L. Hackney.

In 1855, Wesley A. Hackney moved to Miller County from Cole County and the
same year married Eliza Roberts, daughter of Aaron and Elizabeth (Grimmet)
Roberts. They located at Little Salem in Saline township. In 1860, he
bought the farm on the Saline creek which later became the farm of Herman
Tellman and family. This farm had earlier ben the location of the Miller
family log cabin, site of the first county court after the county was
organized in 1837.

Durin the Civil War, Wesley served in the Home Guard for 3 months in 1861.
He then enlisted in Co. K, 6th MO Cav. in 1862 and was mustered in as 2nd
Lt.
He was in battles across the South in Mississippi; on the Red River
expedition; and fought in several other hard battles. In December 1862, he
was captured at Helena, Arkansas and was incarcerated for about a month. He
was paroled and was sent to St. Louis where an exchange of prisoners took
place. In February 1865, he finally returned to Miller County.

During the 1860s Wesley Hackney owned a general store in Tuscumbia and
bushwhackers made a raid on the store. A posse followed the outlaws into
another county and salvaged some of the goods.

After the Civil War, Wesley and Eliza continued to live in the Saline creek
area, and abut 1868, he bought land in what was called the Gageville area.
This was about 6 miles north of Tuscumbia. In 1874, lead was found on his
property. A lead mine was constructed there and he later sold his Gageville
property and the Hackney Mine for $30,000 to a St. Louis farm owned by a
Mr. Gage and Mr. Quinby. I would surmise the Gageville name came from the
Mr. Gage who owned the mine after Hackney.

Wesley and Elizabeth moved south of the Osage river in Equality township to
what later became the county's 'poor farm', about a mile downriver from
Tuscumbia near the mouth of Dog Creek. The county's poor, downtrodden,
indigent, and paupers were housed and taken care of with county funds paid
to the supervisor of the "Poor Farm".. He built the house that was used for the
county's inmates during those years of the late 19th century. About
1887-88, the Hackneys moved to another piece of property in the same general area of southern Equality township.

Wesley A. Hackney was active in Miller County politics, a Republican, and
served in the Missouri State Legislature in 1882-1886 and again in
1892-1894.
He was also an active member of the G.A.R. and the I.O.O.F. Lodge.

Wesley and Eliza (Roberts) were parents of three children, none whom lived
to adulthood. Eliza died on August 10, 1912 and Captain Wesley (as he was
commonly known) lived until 1928. He died at the home of his nephew, Mon
Roberts, in February 1928 atthe adbanced age of 92 years. He was survived
by one brother, John Hackney, his nearestof kin. He was buried beside his
wife, with whom he had shared 57 years of marriage, at Mt. Zion cemetery,
south of Tuscumbia.

Wesley A. Hackney 13 Nov 1835-3 Feb 1928
Eliza (Roberts) Hackney 12 Mar 1833-10 August 1912

In the 1850 census of Miller Co. lived Hightower Hackney, age 68, born ca
1782 in North Carolina, and his wife Susannah, age 42 born ca 1808 in
Kentucky. They lived in Jim Henry township near the families of Jenkins,
Allen,Coggburn, Newton, Musick, and Riggs. This family of Hackney was
probably related to the Hcakneys who moved to Cole County in the 1830's.
The exact kinship is not known. Hightower and his young wife (probably #2)
had 3 children in their home in 1850: Sarah born ca 1838 in MO.; William H.
born ca 1839 in MO. married Avarella Gossett 1855; and John J. born ca 1843
in Missouri. Evidently Hightower died in Miller Co., between 1860-70, but
there is no record of his burial place.

In 1856, Hightower and Susannah deeded their 200 acre farm in Jim Henry
township, about 3 miles southeast of present-daty Marys Home, to their 2
sons, William and John for the total price of $5.00.They reserved to
themselves the right to live upon and occupy said land during thier natural
lifetime; and to reserved the right upon and occupy said land during their
natural lifetime; and to reserved the right of the use of the farm and
sufficienttimber; to keep in good repair, firewood, and all neccessary
purposes during their natual lives and after their death, all would revert
to the 2 sons, William and John Hackney.

THE WHITTLE-KEETH FAMILIES

Missouri Territory was part of the vast tract of land President
Jefferson purchased from Napoleon in 1803, called the Louisana
Purchase. It laid west of the Mississippi river and was new,
open, free, and wild land. That was what inspired the
Kentuckians onward to the unknown. I can almost visualize
history being made before my eyes...men and women in wagons
rolling on, the wilderness tamed, the rivers crossed, the homes
being built, and the children being born to a new
heritage...this was America's fantastic history.......

The Whittle and Keeth families were part of this westward
movement in the history of our nation. Joseph and Susanna
(Kinser) Whittle were natives of the state of Virginia. He born
about 1790 and Susanna approxinmately in 1800. They moved into
Kentucky as newlyweds. Susanna's father was Frederick Kinser,
of German descent, who was a big landowner in Edmonson County,
Kentucky having purchased many acres in the Green river valley
in 1826. Frederick Kinser died in 1833 leaving his lands and
holdings to his wife and children. Susan Kinser Whittle was one
of his heirs and she was awarded 100 acres upon his death. She
and Joseph Whittle lived on this land and most of their children
were born there. I believe they left Kentucky and came to
Miller County about 1845.

The children of Joseph and Susanna Whittle were: Nancy, born ca
1820 married Isaac Cross 1841; Lucinda born ca 1824 married John
Allen 1840; John Levi born ca 1825 married Nancy Jane Keath
1849; Catherine born ca 1828 married John Keath; Ann Eliza born
ca 1834 married 1) Jonathan Allen 2) Nicholas Long; Peter J. born
ca 1834 married Serilda Hoskins. There may have been other
children who died young.

John Levi Whittle, the oldest son of Joseph and Susanna (Kinser)
Whittle, was my great, great grandfather. He was born circa 1825
in Edmonson Co., Kentucky. He was a young man when his family
moved to Miller County. On January 2, 1850, he married Nancy
Jane Keath in Miller County. She was a daughter of John and
Ruhanna (Allen) Keath also of Edmonson Co., Kentucky. Nancy
Jane was born in Kentucky circa 1832. In the 1850 census of
Miller Co., the Keath and Whittle farms were adjoining. On
October 6, 1847, Nancy's brother, John Keath, married Catherine
Whittle, a sister to John Levi. The family name of Keeth has
been spelled Keith, Keath, and Keeth in the various records I
researched.

John and Ruhanna (Allen) Keeth, parents of Nancy Jane and John,
were natives of Virginia. Ruhanna was the second wife of John
and he was many years older than she. He first married her
sister and had several children. After the death of his first
wife, he then married Ruhanna and they had five children. I
believe John Keath fathered at least 14 children by his two
wives. John Keath and Ruhanna Allen (daughter of Stephen Allen
and Sarah Radford) were married in Warren County, Kentucky on
November 23, 1820. I believe John Keath died in Edmonson
County, Kentucky and his wife, with several of the children,
accompanied the Whittle family to Miller County in the mid
1840's.

The known children of John Keath/Keeth included: John Keeth who
married Catherine Whittle; Nancy Jane Keeth married John Levi
Whittle; Daniel Keeth married Susan Hoskins; Soloman Keeth
married Mary Ellen Bourne/Boren; Francis Marion Keeth married
Sarah Smith Shelton; Lucinda Keeth married Alexander Long; and
Sarah Keeth married Joshua D. Cochran.

John Levi Whittle, son of Joseph and Susanna (Kinser) Whittle
married Nancy Jane Keath, daughter of John and Ruhanna (Allen)
Keeth, in Miller County on January 2, 1850. They homesteaded
land in southern Richwoods township. There they produced 4
children: Josephus born 8 Sep 1856 married Leatha Jane Loveall;
Analize born 8 Mar 1858 (died young); Elizabeth born 29 Aug 1860
married Seth Robinson; and Delila T. born 15 Feb 1863 (she was a
deaf-mute who never married). During the Civil War, John Levi
Whittle was killed in what was called the 'Elsey farm fight'
east of Iberia. It was the only recorded civil war battle in
the county. He was buried near the spot where he died and today
it is called the Billingsley cemetery. After his death, Nancy
Jane married Thomas Owen Workman, a circuit-riding preacher who
helped to establish several churches in central Missouri. She
had 4 children by Owen including: Richard E. born ca 1869
married Sarah Cochran; James Melvin born 1872 married 1) Violet
Stout 2) Elizabeth Steen Spearman; Theodore Benton born 1875
married Elizabeth Loveall; and Paradine born 1866 married Edward
Stout.

Josephus Whittle, son of John Levi and Nancy Jane, married
Leatha Jane Loveall, daughter of Silas and Amanda (Colvin)
Loveall, on August 29, 1878. They continued to live on the
Whittle land that his father homesteaded in 1850 and reared a
large family. Their children were: James Levi born 1879-died
young; Silas A., born ca 1880-died young; Lallah Brooks born 23
Nov 1883 married Frank Andrews; Carrie Gertrude born 18 Jan 1886
married Perry T. Wyrick; Olia Rayford born 6 Nov 1888 married
Fannie Jane Luttrell; Arlie Everett born 1890 married Ida
Johnson; Bertha Irene born 1894 married Nicholas Shelton; Amanda
Elizabeth born 4 Sep 1896 married Chesley Sylvester Wyrick; Otto
born 1900 married Sarah Stone; Sylvia Alice born 1904 married
Ransome Alexander; and John Wilburn born 1907 married Lois
Stites.

There are many descendants of the Whittle/Keeth families still
living on land that was homesteaded by their ancestors almost
150 years ago.

Edmonson County, Kentucky is a beautiful land. The Green river
valley is rich in corn and tobacco fields and beautiful Mammoth
Cave is situated there. One might wonder why these ancestors
left this beautiful land and moved on westward into the unknown.
I once read a passage that said..."Every man is a modern-day
Moses; he hopes to see the Promised Land in his own lifetime."
Perhaps this was the inspiration which drove our ancestors into
these new lands in search of a greener valley or a clearer
stream. An early Kentucky writer said in 1831..."I found a race
of proud optimists, an ardent, boastful, and enthusiastic breed
of people, who made a religion of their politics and a creed of
their hospitality."....they did not hesitate to venture onward
toward a new adventure!

BOECKMANN BRIDGE AND THE BOECKMANN FAMILY
by Peggy Smith Hake

Boeckmann Bridge is the only structure in Miller County which has been placed
on the National Register of Historic Places. It was placed on this
prestigious register in March 1979 after having been submitted by Lake of the
Ozakrs Council of Local Governments. The old bridge was named for Joseph
Boeckmann who donated the right-of-way for the bridge's construction in 1926.
Since the county's only "historic site" is this uniquely built bridge, I thought it fitting to tell the history of the family for whom it recieved its name.

The BOECKMANN FAMILY were German immigrants who came to America in the mid 1800s from Prussia/Germany and first settled in Osage County. There were four different Boeckmann families who came to Central Missouri including
Joesph Boeckmann b. c/1800 in Prussia and arrived in New Orleans in 1860;
Ferdinand Boeckmann b. 1805 in Prussia, arrived in America in 1850; Martin F.
Boeckmann b. 1809 in Westphalen, Germany, arrived in New Orleans on the ship "George Washington" in 1839; and Joseph Boeckmann b. 1811 in Prussia, arrived in New Orleans on the ship "Oldenburg" in 1851.

I am sure all the men listed above were related to one another, perhaps some
were brothers. The Boeckmann families settled at Weshphalia, Rich Fountain,
and Koeltztown in Osage Co., MO.

By 1870, Joseph and Maria Josephine Boeckmann (who had come to America on the "Oldenburg" in 1851) had moved to Miller County and had located near the Big Tavern creek, southeast of present-day St. Elizabeth. They were parents of three sons, Herman Boeckmann b. 1846 in Germany; Francis/Frank Boeckmann b. 1850 Germany and Joseph Boeckmann born 1852 in Missouril. Among their neighbors in 1870 were the families of Weimmer, Whalen, Lee, Braiser, West, Hill, Hawk, Wade, and Broherhoff.

Joseph Boeckmann lived to the age of 84 years and died in 1895. He was
buried at St. Lawrence Cemetery in St. Elizabeth. His wife, Maria Josephine,
died one year earlier in 1894 at the age of 73 years and was also buried at
St. Lawrence.

Herman Boeckmann, the oldest of the three sons, married Gertrude Dicke
Buechter at Old St. Elizabeth on 18 Feb 1873. Their marriage was performed
by J. M. Buergler, a Catholic priest at the old river town. Gertrude was the
widow of Frank Buechter who had died in 1872 and is buried at Old St.
Elizabeth Cemetery, sometimes called Charleytown Cemetery. Gertrude Buechter was several years older than Herman and had four children by Buechter when she married Herman. In 1880, they were living on the Boeckmann farm and also in their household were her two youngest children, Elizabeth age 17, and Catherine age 12. The older daughter, Gertrude, had already married and left home and the only son, Joseph Buechter, was living with another family in the same community.

Sometime betwen 1880-1886, Gertrude Buechter Boeckmann died. I have not been able to locate her burial place. It is possible she is buried beside her
first husband at Old St. Elizabeth Cemetery in an unmarked grave. On
November 23, 1886, Herman Boeckmann married his second wife, Theresa/Tracy Albers of neighboring Osage County, the marriage performed by Ferdinand Walser, a Catholic priest.

Herman Boeckmann and his second wife were parents of several children
including: MARY JOSEPHINE BOECKMANN b. 1887; ANNA C. BOECKMANN b. 1889; KATHERINE O. BOECKMANN b. 1891; MARY BOECKMANN b. 1892: and JOSEPH A. BOECKMANN b. 1899. There may have been other children born after the 1900 census was taken.

In 1900, Herman and Tracy Boeckmann were living on the old Boeckmann farm
whree his parents had settled more than 30 years earlier. Among their
neighbors at the turn of the century were the families of Buechter, Dose,
Clark, Grosvenor, Crismon, Goeller, Ortbals, Heckemeyer, Steinman,
Lindenbusch and Kesel. This is the farm and the family which gave the name
to Boeckmann Bridge. The old bridge was constructed in 1926 within sight of
the old Boeckmann homestead which still sits on a bluff overlooking the Big
Tavern creek as it meanders north and east through Osage township before
finally reaching the Osage river a few miles north of St. Elizabeth.

NOTE: Gertrude Dicke Buechter, the first wife of Herman Boeckmann, was the
great grandmother of my husband, Ambrose Hake. She and Frank Buechter were parents of three daughters and one son. She had no children by Boeckmann.
Ambrose's grandmother, Elizabeth Buechter, was the third child born to
Gertrude and Frank Buechter. Elizabeth married John Volmert and had a large
family . They reared their children "up the Big Tavern Creek" a few miles
from Boeckmann Bridge.

Levi Anthony Atkisson
by Peggy Smith Hake
Levi Anthony Atkisson was born 9 Nov 1873 near Old Bagnell. He was a son of Harley Carter Atkisson (1839-1918), a native of Ohio, and his second wife, Cynthia Jane Elizabeth Jones (1848-1922), born in Arkansas. During the Civil War, Harley Atkisson and his first wife, Sarah Smith, came to central Missouri from Izzard County, Arkansas. Her Smith family had also left Izzard County and moved to southern Miller County, locating near Iberia (then called Oakhurst). Harley and Sarah (Smith) Atkisson had three children:
1. John S. Atkisson b. 1860
2. Martha S. Atkisson b. 1865 m. William H. Cleveland
3. Joseph Luther Atkisson b. 1867
Sarah Smith Atkisson died in 1872 and on January 1, 1873, Harley married Cynthia Jane Jones, daughter of Jesse and Elizabeth Jones, who lived near the Atkisson's, south of the Osage river. Both the Atkisson and Jones families worked in the railroad tie business in the late 19th century where they cut and floated ties down the Osage river on homemade rafts. I believe Harley and his first wife, Sarah, lived in Camden County when they came to Missouri. There were enumerated in the Camden County census of 1870. Evidently Harley moved a short distance to the east and settled south of the Osage and across from Old Bagnell about 1878.
The children of Harley Carter Atkisson and Cynthia Jones were:
1. Levi Anthony Atkisson b. 1873 m. Lucy Lenora Landrum
2. Mary E. Atkisson b. 1876 m. Charles W. Burks
3. James Harley Atkisson b. 1880 m. Annie Thompson
4. Theodore B. Atkisson b. 1883 m. Annie M. Wright
5. Lillie J. Atkisson b. 1886 m.________________
6. Dora Belle Atkisson b. 1893 m. Perry F. Snellings
7. Effie May Atkisson b. 1894 m.________________
Levi Anthony Atkisson, oldest son of Harley and Cynthia, was born on their Osage river farm in November 1873. He probably helped his father in the railroad tie business as he grew to adulthood. About 1895, he married Lucy Lenora Landrum (1877-1967). They became parents of several children including:
1. Leonard Atkisson (later lived in the state of Nevada)
2. Goldie Atkisson (Mrs. Carl Duaine of Texas)
3. Olive Atkisson (Mrs. Woten of Eldon)
4. Elzie Atkisson 1898-1924
5. Raymond Atkisson 1903-1921
Later in their married life, Levi and his wife moved to Eldon from the Bagnell area and established a business. At the time of his death in 1938, he operated an auto parts store. Levi died in March 1938 at the age of 64 years and was buried at Eldon cemetery beside his two sons, Elzie and Raymond, who had died in the 1920s. Levi's wife, Lenora/Nora, lived until 1967 when she died at the advanced age of 90 years.

ON THE TRAIL WEST
by Peggy Smith Hake
(From my book, THEY LEFT A LEGACY, HISTORICAL STORIES OF MILLER
COUNTY, MISSOURI)
“Gold in California....Free Land in Oregon Territory....” These headlines caused the largest influx of western immigration in America’s history. Gold was discovered in the mountain streams of California in the 1840s and in 1850, the territorial legislature of Oregon guaranteed settlers ownership of large tracts of land if they would settle it, live on it for four years, and cultivate the rich soil. At that time there were only about 13,000 people in Oregon Territory but, as the word spread, the population increased to about 55,000 by 1860. There were nearly a half-million pioneers there by 1870. They had migrated from all sections of the United States and had pulled up stakes and headed for Oregon. They also came from all parts of the world including the Germans, Swedes, and English. In 1859, Oregon became America’s 33rd state.
‘Moving On’ had been an American habit for over 200 years. They no sooner landed at Jamestown in the early 1600s than these new Americans left the Tidewater Basin of eastern Virginia and plowed inland toward the hills of the Blue Ridge and Alleghanies. Still not satisfied, they wanted to see the other side of the mountain and discovered the canebrake country of Kentucky. Emmigrants who had settled New York, went to Ohio; left Ohio and went on to Indiana and Illinois; left Illinois and crossed the Mississippi river into Missouri Territory. Lewis and Clark had proven there was still 2,000 miles of unseen land left, so they continued to push the frontier west until the Pacific Ocean stopped them in their tracks.
The ‘itch’ to move west drove our ancestors to the Pacific coast through many hardships and often death on the old Oregon Trail. These pioneers had to make 15 miles a day, mostly on foot, to cross the huge mountain ranges before the early snows of autumn arrived. Yes, indeed, the way west was hard and difficult! They rode wagons, horses, pulled hand carts, and a few pushed wheel barrows, but, believe it or not, most WALKED the 2,000 miles to the Pacific! Rarely in all history had so many people picked up their earthly belongings and traveled so far over so huge a wilderness...........
Many died along the way.....it is estimated that at least 20,000 pioneers perished. Most deaths were by accidents and the dreaded cholera diease. The legends of Indian massacres are highly exaggerated. Very few pioneer wagon trains were attacked by Indian warriors. Old western movies have performed a great injustice to the Native Americans by portraying them as savages attacking and slaughtering every immigrant wagon train that tried to cross the plains. The path west was dotted with gravesites of unfortunate pioneers who did not live to see their dreams fulfilled.
Old Westport (present-day Kansas City) and Independence, Missouri were ‘stopping off’ places for most wagon trains. The two settlements were well equipped with blacksmith shops, livery stables, and general merchandising stores where the travelers could repair and outfit their covered wagons for the long journey across the barren plains and steep mountains before reaching the green valleys of Oregon Territory.
Earlier, trappers had found a better way across the Rockies than Lewis and Clark had used. They went to the south, at the end of the Wind River Range where the Continental Divide flattens into a wide plain of sand and sagebrush. They called it South Pass. It became the route for the thousands of wagons which crossed the Rockies, and thus began the Oregon Trail.
There was nothing out there from Independence, Missouri to the Willamette Valley but the Pawnee, Sioux, Shoshone, and Bannock Indians and an uncountable number of buffalo. Why leave the fertile fields of Miller County for six months or more of exhaustion, perhaps death, in the vast western desert? Well, folks, life was grim in those days. Some of the lands were still swampy and many suffered the ‘ague’ (chills, aches, and fever). Taxes were high and by 1840, the country was in a bad depression. The best land had been taken by the early pioneers. By 1840, nearly 400,000 settlers had poured into Missouri. The general thought was, “I want some elbow-room”.
Glowing reports were given by some promoters and it sounded wonderful to these pioneers....”gentle winters, no ague, lots of free land’....this is what drove them westward.
Most traveled the same route. They went northwest from Independence, Missouri to the Platte river valley of Nebraska; across the plains and onward to the gigantic Rockies, taking the Sweetwater River route to South Pass. A dividing of trails was located at South Pass in southwest Wyoming. One trail went to Oregon, the other to California. Those heading for Oregon went over the Blue Mountains, crossed the Columbia river and on into the Cascade Mountain range to the Willamette Valley. Today you can still see the wagon tracks permanently embedded in the earth. They can be seen for over 300 miles across southern Wyoming. On a trip I took in 1990, I saw the tracks in Nebraska and Wyoming. Escorting my mother, aunt, and sister-in-law in my 20th century vehicle along the old Oregon Trail, gave me a sense of the stress endured by all those pioneers. I only had to keep my fellow travelers entertained and interest for 2 weeks....how much more difficult it would have been had the year been 1850 with 2,000 miles of untamed land laying before us and a journey that would have lasted six months ! ! !
I have tried to present a scenerio of pioneers crossing our vast American continent to establish new homes and new lives on that Far West Frontier. Now, I will take you on an armchair tour over the Old Oregon Trail with some Miller County, Missouri pioneers....the Bilyeus, Kinders, Sheltons, Bryants, Biggers, McCubbins, and others. The following are name of those who once lived in Miller County and then made their way West: William and Diana (Coker) Bilyeu, Peter and Jane (Coker) Bilyeu, George and Hester (Reed) Bilyeu, John M. and Hannah (Wasson) Bilyeu, Hubbard and Mary Ann Bilyeu, John and Nancy (Workman) Bilyeu, Joseph and Anna (Osborne) Bilyeu, John and Lucinda (Bilyeu) Bryant, William and Julia Ann (Bilyeu) Kinder, William and Nancy (Bilyeu) McCubbin, Creed T. and Nancy (Lane) Biggers, Mordecai and Celia (Atkinson) Lane, James H. and Olive (Spurlock) Shelton.....all these folks went to the Willamette Valley of Linn County, Oregon.
After the 1849 gold rush, members of the Bilyeu family, predominantly farmers, decided to join the migration west to the fertile fields of Oregon. Peter Bilyeu, son of John Bilyeu and the husband of Jane (Coker), was the first of the Bilyeu family to travel to Oregon Territory. He left Miller County in 1850 and traveled over the Oregon Trail eventually settling in the Willamette Valley (later Linn County). His wife, Jane, did not go with him, but chose to stay behind with her children. By 1852, some of their children left Miller County with William and Diana (Coker) Bilyeu and made the trip west. Jane still refused to join her husband in Oregon. About the same year (1852), she left Missouri with a daughter and family and re-settled in Iowa. She remained there until about 1870, and for some unknown reason, finally decided to go to Oregon to be with Peter Bilyeu after an absence of 20 years! They are buried, side by side, in Bilyeu Den Cemetery on a beautiful hillside overlooking the Willamette Valley below. I visited their graves in 1990.
According to John D. Unruh, Jr., author of the book THE PLAINS ACROSS, more overlanders than ever before trailed west in 1852. Oxen were used more than any other animal to make the long trip overland. Our Miller County ancestors were among those travelers that year. Int he spring of 1852, William and Diana (Coker) Bilyeu left Miller County with their six children and joined a wagon train at Independence, Missouri. For six months they endured the long, tiresome, arduous trip, arriving in Oregon on September 16, 1852. They endured hardships that would be difficult to envision today.....hunger, freezing weather, sickness, death, and terrain that was almost impassable. New babies were born along the way and some died on the trail.
A journal exists that was written by one of the Miller County pioneers on their trail west. It describes their daily travels and the route has been easy to trace as they spoke of familiar sights along the trail........the Blue River in Kansas; Ft. Kearney, the North Platte River, Chimney Rock all in Nebraska; Ft. Laramie, Independence Rock, South Pass, Emigrant Springs all in Wyoming; Soda Springs, Ft. Hall, the Snake River in Idaho; some falls, huge mountain (Mt. Hood) in Oregon.....it is thought one of the men of the Bilyeu clan kept this daily journal on their trip across the plains and mountains in 1852.
Those who were fortunate to make the whole trip, found much work awaited them once they settled on their new land. Homes had to be built; food had to be obtained; land had to be cleared for spring planting. There was a shortage of doctors in the area and many families suffered losses after they arrived from dieases such as cholera, measles, whooping cough, pneumonia and others. Determination and perserverance was the make-up of those tough pioneers and they survived against all odds. They carved a new world out of the forests of the Northwest and their descendants numb
In 1952, the ALBANY DEMOCRAT, a newspaper in Albany, Linn County, Oregon, ran a wonderful story entitled, “Oregon’s Biggest Family Holds Reunion in Albany”.....The story began....”Descendants of William and Diannah/Diana (Coker) Bilyeu, comprising what is probably the largest family in Oregon, met on Sunday, August 17, 1952, to celebrate the family’s 100th year in Oregon and to re-enact a scene from the pages of Bilyeu history. Over 300 family members were on hand to celebrate. Nearly 1,000 descendants of the original family live in Oregon and it is estimated over 2,000 family descendants live on the Pacific coast.....William and Diana Coker Bilyeu and their eleven children came west via the Oregon Trail in 1852, settling near Thomas Creek, north of Scio, Linn County, Oregon, after obtaining almost 3900 acres of donation land claims. The area is now known as ‘The Bilyeu Den’ in eastern Linn County. About 320 acres of the original land is still farmed by direct descendants of the Bilyeus.........”
In Bilyeu Den, in a valley of the Cascades, is Bilyeu Den Cemetery, established in 1857. This is the final resting place for many of the Oregon pioneers of the Bilyeu family including:
William Bilyeu 17 Mar 1795-25 Jun 1879
Diana Coker Bilyeu 7 Jan 1801- 9 Mar 1877
Peter Bilyeu 29 Sep 1802-21 Jul 1877
Jane Bilyeu 4 Dec 1801- 9 Apr 1878
(Pioneers of 1850)
John L. Bilyeu 23 Jul 1824-18 Dec 1892
Nancy Workman Bilyeu 10 Nov 1828-23 Jan 1927
There are about 40 other gravestones in Bilyeu Den Cemetery with the name Bilyeu on them. Other cemeteries in Linn County, Oregon with Miller County pioneers buried in them include Franklin Butte Cemetery near Scio; Providence Cemetery near Scio; Miller Cemetery near Scio; Pine Grove Cemetery near Halsy; and Alford Cemetery near Harrisburg.
I do not know how many of the Oregon Bilyeu, Kinder, McCubbin, Bryant, Shelton, Lane and Biggers families ever came came back to Missouri for visits. Perhaps none until later generations. In the 1890s, a son of Creed T. Biggers came through Miller County on his way to New York City. He visited the site of his birth in 1848. It was owned by the Spearman family in the 1890s and was located west of Iberia near the Barren Fork creek.
In our modern age, with genealogy so popular, Miller County has been visited by descendants of the Oregon Bilyeu families who were researching their ancestors that once lived in our county. I have become acquainted with several of these descendants and we have exchanged information and materials concerning our families. In 1990, as I stated before, I took a marvelous trip to the Willamette Valley of Oregon an visited the land where my great, great, great grandparents lived and died. They were Peter and Jane (Coker) Bilyeu who married in Overton County, Tennessee in 1821; moved to Miller County in the mid 1830s; he moved to Oregon in 1850; she followed him there about 1870 and both are buried in Bilyeu Den Cemetery in Linn County. On a cold, rainy day in early June 1990, I drove to the Bilyeu Den country of Linn County and searched for the graves of my ancestors. While Bonnie, my sister-in-law, held an umbrella over my head, we trudged through the west grass of Bilyeu Den and i took photographs of as many graves as I could find. It was not too easy hobbling along with gout in my right foot, but we accomplished what I had driven 2,000 miles to do......I found the final resting place of my ancestors. You would have to be a lover of family history and genealogy to understand my joy!
Remember, as you live out your comfortable 20th century life, those who came before us made many sacrifices and overcame almost insurmountable odds so that we can benefit by the hardships and labors of our ancestors. We often forget and overlook our heritage. We should always take pride in it and try to preserve it for those generations yet to come. Our forefathers carved out a new country from the Tidewater marshes of Virginia to the timbered forests of Oregon and California and left a portion of that heritage in Miller county as they stopped off here temporarily.....just long enough to be a part of our 165 years of history ..............(Miller County was founded in February 1837)
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
“Gone West”, Volume 3, No.1, The Jefferson National Expansion Historical Assn.
“Oregon Trail”, National Geographic, Volume 170, No. 2, August 1986
“Scio in the Forks of the Santiam” by Carol Bates, Gates Graphics 1987
“Westward Ho” by George Hendrix from Midwest Living Magazine, April 1987.
“A Celebration of the Bilyeu Heritage”, by Virginia Bilyeu 1982
“Pioneer Families of Miller County, Missouri” by Peggy Smith Hake 1990
“Historic Sites Along the Oregon Trail”, Patrice Press, Inc. 1987 (available at
National Park Historic Sites)

Dr. George W. Curtman
by Peggy Smith Hake
Dr. George W. Curtman was born in Miller County 2 November 1857 and died near Sudheimer (an old post office and general store in eastern Richwoods township) on 26 July 1933 at the age of 76 years. George was the son of Charles Otto Curtman and Sarah Boyd. He had an older brother and sister who died in infancy, so he was the only surviving child of his parents. His father, Charles, was also a physician and chemist, born in Giessen, Darmstadt, Germany. His ancestors belonged to the German nobility and Charles attended and graduated from a school in Berlin with the credentials of a chemist. It has been said he was the first person to set up an x-ray in the United States.
Charles O. Curtman became a naturalized American citizen in 1855; the document is in the Miller County courthouse (Circuit Court Book A, page 338). Charles Otto Curtman married Sarah A. Boyd, daughter of James and Ruth (Clark) Boyd. She was born in Greenup County, Kentucky on 23 July 1830. Her parents came to Miller County in the mid 1830s. Charles and Sarah were married in 1852, the marriage performed by John L. Fulkerson, a justice of the peace. Sarah died in 1857 after the birth of her 3rd child, George. She was preceded in death by two infants, a boy and a girl. After Sarah’s death, Charles married Elizabeth Jane Wilson, daughter of Joseph Wilson of Maries County. Elizabeth was born in McMinn County, Tennessee in 1834. They married in Maries County in 1858.
Charles Otto Curtman, father of George, was one of the first storekeepers in the county. He set up a store and medical practice at Fair Play, a small settlement on the east bank of the Osage river, northwest of present-day St. Elizabeth. There was an island near Fair Play that was called Curtman Island and it was the scene of a massacre during the Civil War by military forces of Confederate General Crabtree.
About the time of the outbreak of the Civil War, Charles and Elizabeth moved to St. Louis and there he went into the employ of the U.S. government. His chief occupation was manufacturing gun caps. His knowledge of chemistry made this position possible for him during the war year of the 1860s. He and Elizabeth had three daughters and one son born over the ensuing years. All their children lived and died in the St. Louis area.
George W. Curtman remained in Miller County as a child and attended the country schools in his home area. He may have lived a number of years with his grandmother, Ruth Clark Boyd, in the Big Tavern country of Osage township. When he grew older, he went to St. Louis and lived with his father, stepmother, and their family.
When a young man, George W. Curtman attended St. Louis Medical School, later known as Washington University. His father was a professor in this school in the years following the Civil War. After receiving his medical degree, he returned to the land of his youth and practiced medicine at Iberia, Dixon, Koeltztown, St. Thomas, St. Elizabeth, and Van Cleve.
On January 17, 1881, at the age of 23, George married Rachel Jane Helton, daughter of Isaac Helton Sr. They were married in Maries County where her family lived. George and Rachel were parents of four sons: Elmer, Edward, William Frederick, and Charles Otto.
Dr. George W. Curtman died on 23 July 1933. His services and burial was held at the Dick Lawson Cemetery, in eastern Richwoods township, conducted by Rev. Hollyfield. The cemetery is near the old Sudheimer community where he was living at the time of his death. His wife of 52 years, Rachel Jane (Helton) Curtman, lived until 1954 when she died at the age of 87 years. She was buried beside Dr. George at Lawson Cemetery. Their son, Charles Otto Curtman (1885-1925) and his wife, are also buried at Lawson.

WINDOW TO THE PAST
by Peggy Smith Hake
PETER SMITH.........FOUND IN OREGON ! !
I had presumed, after researching for a long time, that my great, great, great grandfather, Peter Smith, had died in Pulaski County, Missouri between 1840 and 1850. He was in the 1840 census of Pulaski County with his young wife and several children. By 1850, he was no where to be found in Central Missouri, so I thought he had suffered the same fate of many ancestors---he died and was buried in an unknown place that was known only to God.
On June 9, 1840, Peter married Orpha/Ortha Dean in Miller County, Missouri (near where he lived in northwestern Pulaski County). In the 1840 Pulaski County census, Peter’s household contained three young sons and one daughter. There was another daughter, but she was not enumerated in their household. These were his children by his first wife (name not known). A young woman (Ortha Dean Smith, his second wife) was listed in his home and she was between 20 and 30 years of age. Peter was several years older (born c/1794 in North Carolina). While in Pulaski County, about 1838, there is record that Peter Smith operated a ferry boat service across the Gasconade River.
About a year ago, in 2001, I found a clue that Peter and Ortha Smith may have moved to Oregon over the old Oregon Trail and settled in Yamhill County. I looked up some old Patent Land Records for Oregon Territory on the Internet and found where Peter and Ortha had homesteaded 643 acres in Yamhill County, at the north end of the Willamette Valley in the beautiful Cascade Mountains of northwest Oregon. The land became available by the Donation Land Act of 1850. They had been living there for 14 years when they homesteaded their land in 1858. His occupation in 1850 was listed as ‘blacksmith’.
Looking up further records on the Internet, I learned that Peter, Ortha, and seven of their nine children headed west to Oregon on a wagon train that left Independence, Missouri in May 1844. I think the wagon train they traveled with was led by Capt. Nathaniel Ford and also on board was famed mountain man, Moses ‘Black’ Harris. There were 358 people on the Ford train with 54 wagons, 500 cattle, 60 horses and 28 mules. As they advanced further west, more wagons and people joined this wagon train. By 1845, the year after the Smiths moved to the Willamette Valley, there were about 2,000 new settlers in the Valley.
Two older sons of Peter and his first wife remained in Missouri. One was John Wesley Smith (born 1821) who was my great, great grandfather and Phillip D. Smith (born c/1823.) I wonder if John and Phillip ever saw their father or their siblings again after 1844 when they left Missouri. I doubt they did...........
Peter was about 50 years old when he uprooted his family and headed west. Ortha was about 32 years old and the children who made the trip were: Mary, about 19 years old; William C., about 18 years; Isabella, 15 years old; Matilda 4 years; Martha 3 years and twins, Elizabeth and Sarah Jane, about 1 year old. After they arrived in Oregon, Ortha gave birth to another set of twins, Marion D. and Maria.............
I can only imagine what a long, tiresome trip it must have been by wagon in 1844 with a father, mother and seven children! There were many diaries written that have been preserved over the generations and they are so interesting to read as the pioneers told of their eye-witness experiences traveling over the Oregon-California Trails. They traveled through all kinds of terrain and weather conditions. It has been documented in diaries that many folks walked most of the way on their trip west......usually only the sick and the elderly rode in the wagons. There were some problems along the way including some skirmishes and fights with Indian tribes, but not nearly as harrowing as portrayed in western movies of today. Most deaths along the routes were due to a variety of dieases and accidents. Many women also died in childbirth as they traveled across the open prairies and through the mountain regions of the Rockies.
Peter Smith lived much longer than I had first thought. He arrived in Yamhill County in the fall of 1844 and lived in Oregon for almost 20 years before his death. He died in Yamhill County, Oregon on June 6, 1863 at the age of 70 years. I am not sure where his gravesite is, but I did find record of a Peter Smith buried in Pike Cemetery near Yamhill, Yamhill County, OR. The record stated there was no marker at the grave.
Peter’s probate records are on file in Yamhill County, so I ordered photostat copies. His heirs were listed in his probate and that is where I learned the identity of his children. They were:
1. John W. Smith b. c/1821 KY m. Nancy Stinnett (he remained in Pulaski
Co., MO)
2. Phillip D. Smith b. c/1823 KY (he remained in Missouri and was thought to
be deceased in 1863)
3. Mary Smith b. c/1825 KY m. ____McGinnis (she was deceased
in 1863)
4. William C. Smith b. c/1826 KY m. Adelia Ann Laughlin (they lived in
Yamhill Co., OR in 1863)
5. Isabella C. Smith b. c/1829 KY m. E. W. Stillwell (they lived in Yamhill Co.
Oregon in 1863)
6. Matilda Smith b. c/1840 MO m. ___Stillwell (lived in Yamhill Co., OR)
7. Martha E. Smith b. c/1841 MO m. ______Fouts (lived in Yamhill Co., OR)
8. Elizabeth J. Smith b. c/1843 MO m. J. M. Fryer (lived in Yamhill Co., OR)
9. Sarah Jane Smith b. c/1843 MO m. _____Kelty (lived in Yamhill Co., OR)
10. Marion D. Smith b. c/1848 OR m._______(lived in Yamhill Co., OR)
11. Maria Smith b. c/1848 OR (she was deceased by 1863)
Ortha (Dean) Smith, Peter’s second wife, is buried at Coos Bay, Oregon, which is about 200 miles southwest of Yamhill County, located on the Pacific coast. I do not know why she was buried there and not in Yamhill County where Peter was buried in 1863. Perhaps she had been living with one of her children and was not taken back to her home for burial.
I wish I had known that Peter Smith and his family had moved to Oregon because in 1990, I made a trip to northwest Oregon to research some of my Bilyeu ancestors who had moved there in 1852. I found them in Linn County, Oregon and spent some time there traveling over the countryside where they had lived and found their graves in Bilyeu Den Cemetery in the beautiful Willamette Valley.......Yamhill County is in the same area of Northwest Oregon and I could have spent some time there looking for my Smith ancestors.
Peter Smith, my great, great, great grandfather, was typical of many pioneers. He was born in North Carolina on the eastern seaboard of America; traveled to Kentucky and stayed awhile; moved to Tavern township in Pulaski County, Missouri in the 1830s and lived there less than ten years; in 1844, at the age of 50 years, decided to move to Oregon Territory which was on America’s Northwest frontier. There seemed to be a wanderlust in our forefathers that was never satisfied. I have often said, “Had not the Pacific Ocean been in their way, most of our ancestors would have probably ended up in China!”

Francis Marion Beard
by Peggy Smith Hake
Francis Marion Beard was born in Miller County in 1848, a son of William R. and Martha Jane (Scott) Beard. His father was a native of Tennessee, born c/1820, and his mother was born in Indiana bout 1825 (per census records). Sometime around 1848, they moved to Miller County and settled in Equality Township, south of the Osage river. They lived near the families of Scott, Nicholds, Wiggington, Dobson, and Shelton 1850.
The children of William and Martha (Scott) Beard were: Nancy J. Beard b. 1844 m. James Blize 1860; James R. Beard b. 1846 m. (1) Sally Ann Hill (2) Mary J._______; Francis Marion Beard b. 1848 m. Emily Jane Martin 1867; Joseph M. Beard b. 1850 m. Joanna Barringer 1888; Sarah E. Beard b. 1854 m. James M. Wyrick 1874; Thomas R. Beard b. 1855; Phoebe A. Beard b. 1856 m. James Griffin 1876; Obadiah Beard b. 1860 m. (1) Sarah Sullivan 1878 (2) Nevie Horton 1897; and Haziah Seigle Beard b. 1862 m. Mary Elizabeth Henderson 1884.
On April 16, 1867, about the age of 19 years, Francis Marion Beard married Emily Jane Martin, a daughter of Charles D. and Malinda (Shelton) Martin, both natives of Tennessee. Charles and Malinda married in McMinn County, TN in July 1839. They came to Miller County in the mid 1840s with Malinda’s family, the Sheltons, and settled in southern Richwoods Township.
The children of Charles and Malinda Martin were: Sarah E. Martin b. 1840 m. William Burgess; Wm. T. Martin b. 1844 m. Ruah Lavina Setser; John W. Martin b. 1847; Emily Jane Martin b. 1849 m. Francis Marion Beard; James Zebedee Martin b. 1851 m. Mahala ____; and Andrew J. Martin b. 1855.
Malinda Shelton Martin died in 1866 and Charles then married Mary/Polly Hickman about 1869. They had three children: Paralee S. Martin b. 1870; Charles Frederick Martin b. 1872 m. Leona Gibson, and Francis M./Frank Martin b. 1874 m. Lectie____.
In the early years of their marriage, Francis Marion and first wife, Emily Jane, lived near her kinfolk in southern Richwoods township. Some of their neighbors were the Maddens, Martins, Carrolls, Duncans, Sheltons, and Burgesses.
Francis and Emily became parents of several children including: James H. Beard b. 1868; Cordelia J. Beard b. 1871 m. William N. Clark 1888; George A. Beard b. 1873 m. Martha/Mattie Williams 1895; Lewis Beard b. 1880 m. Zella Carty 1900; Tony F. Beard b. 1885 m. Minnie Nally 1904; Hiram Beard b. 1888; Rosa E. Beard b. 1890; and Ollie Beard.
Before the turn of the century, the Beards moved to Glaize Township, closer to the area where Francis Marion’s family lived. Francis died on 29 March 1897 and was buried at Sullivan Cemetery, which is located one mile west of Ulman on Rt. JJ. The old cemetery is in a field on the north side of Rt. JJ and a few years ago it was still fenced. The only stones standing are those of Francis Marion Beard and several members of the Sullivan family. He was a veteran of the Civil War and has a military-issued stone to mark his gravesite. He served in Company K of the 48th Missouri Infantry. I do not know when Emily (Martin) Beard died nor where she is buried, but I would presume she is buried beside Francis in an unmarked grave.

Silas Capps
by Peggy Smith Hake
Silas Capps was born in Claiborne County, Tennessee in 1818 (per military records) and arrived in Miller County about 1837 with his brother, Jacob Capps, and Benjamin Capps, thought to be their father. Jacob was about 4 years older than Silas. Other Capps in the area at the time were Rebecca Moulder Capps who settled in Camden County in 1837 with the Moulder family; William Capps who settled on the Niangua river near Allison Ford in Camden County about 1832; and Willis Capps, born c/1778, who also settled in Camden County. Benjamin Capps, mentioned above, was born c/1794 and was living in Ozark County, MO in 1850. He listed his occupation as “Baptist preacher”. Jacob Capps was a preacher also and performed many marriages in Miller County.
Silas Capps married Julia Ann Brumley on April 1, 1838, the marriage performed by Squire Jesse Kendrick, justice of the peace in Equality township. Their marriage was the 12th one recorded in Miller County records. Julia was only 14 years old at the time, by her own account. Family, census, and army service records indicate they had 8 children, but actually they were parents of 12 including: NANCY CAPPS b.c/1839 m. Carroll Roark; LOUISA CAPPS (1841-1841); LUCINDA CAPPS b. c/1843 m. (1)Archie Roark (2)______Hamilton; BENJAMIN L. CAPPS b. c/1845; SILAS WRIGHT CAPPS (1847-1847); MARIAH M. CAPPS b. 1849 m. Fielding Bilyeu; GALEN HART CAPPS (1851-1851); MARY ELIZABETH CAPPS b. 1853 m. Henry Bilyeu (brother to Fielding); PAULINA B. CAPPS b. 1855 m. Allen W. Burnett; MARTHA CAPPS (1856-1856); JOHN BRUMLEY CAPPS b. 1860 m. Rosa L. McCommons; and HENRY HALLECK CAPPS b. 1862 m. Clementine Flaugher.
Silas taught some ‘hog and hominy’ schools in early Miller County...I think the phrase ‘hog & hominy’ referred to the subscription schools in early Miller County when the parents had to pay a teacher to teach their children just the basics. Sometimes the cost was $1.00 per month and that was quite costly for many, so the educator may have been paid with food items to help supplement his wages.
Silas Capps also mined in the old Capps area and listed his occupation as a ‘miner’ for quite sometime. During those days of the 19th century, there were some old mines on both sides of the Osage river. He also had more than a passing interest in politics and business. He participated in a petetion to split up the area of Osage township in August 1837. In 1850, he was a candidate for the state legislature; was a school trustee during 1857-1859; was an associate judge of the Miller County Court in 1863; and he also ran an old mill at Capp’s Landing on the Osage river.
Silas helped his brother, Jacob Capps, organize and was a First Lt. of Company H, Hickory Battalion, Osage Valley Regiment of the Missouri Home Guards during the early days of the Civil War. He was later replaced in that position by Wm. Carroll Brumley. Silas enlisted in the federal service on December 11, 1863 in Jefferson City. He must have used some of his political saavy because at the age of 45 years, he was over the age for enlistment. Most of his federal service was spent in various military hospitals and he died of acute diarrhea on January 7, 1865 aboard the steamer R.C. WOODS which was being used as a U.S. Army general hospital at St. Louis. His wife, Julia Ann, remained his widow for 43 years and died at her home in Iberia 25 Aug 1908 at the age of 91 years. I do not know for sure when Julia moved to the Iberia area, but I think some of her children had moved to Richwoods township. When Julia Ann died in 1908, she was survived by 6 of their 12 children. According to her obituary, she certainly left a huge number of descendants in addition to her 6 children......she was survived by 66 grandchildren, 89 great grandchildren, and 10 great, great grandchildren......quite a legacy!