of the first payment. He now had just one dollar left. He possessed besides, five acres of corn, which he had grown in Clay county, and from the sale of it realized the sum of fifty dollars, selling at seventeen and a half cents per bushel of corn and fifty cents per hundred bundles for the fodder. This sum he also paid upon the price of the farm, and in consideration of paying in advance, of the stipulated time, received credit for sixty instead of fifty dollars. Mr. Wilson worked until he had the remaining forty dollars, and then paying the balance due on the place, received a deed to it. Thus he first became a land-holder, and laid the foundation for his future success and usefulness. He now owns a farm of 895 acres, ten miles north of Richmond, on the Kingston road; 800 acres of this place are under fence, about 340 acres of pasture lands, and 460 acres in a high state of cultivation. This is the largest and most valuable farm in the township. Mr. Wilson has always been a Benton democrat, and formerly took considerable interest in politics. He has repeatedly been a delegate to the democratic convention of his county and congressional district. He has never sought or desired office at the hands of his party, though he has never failed to support the nominees of both state and national conventions, except the nomination of Horace Greeley for the presidency, in 1872. Mr. Wilson did not regard him as a proper choice for a democratic convention to make, and did not support him. Mr. Wilson has never married, and his mother, now ninety-four years of age, lives with him, and despite her son's efforts to restrain her from attempting any household cares, she insists still upon superintending the domestic affairs of the house. Her health is good, and for one so old, she is remarkably strong and active. Mr. Wilson is one of Ray county's most substantial farmers and best citizens, and the perusal of his life's history should inspire the poor youth of the county to emulate his example in the acquisition of property.

JOHN C. GARNER.

John Campbell Garner was born in Clarke county, Kentucky, January 21, 1811. His father, Colonel Jesse W. Garner, was a carpenter, architect and draughtsman, and is known here as the original contractor and builder of the Missouri penitentiary at Jefferson City. His father came to Missouri some years before the subject of this article, and young John was reared by his uncle, John Campbell, after whom he was named. John Campbell was a revolutionary soldier and served through the entire war. He held the rank of lieutenant. Mr. Garner's uncle left his nephew, at his death, a handsome legacy, by will, of one hundred and sixty acres of land, and two valuable slaves. After the death of his uncle he took charge of the farm for his aunt. This aunt was the sister of Governor Clark, of Kentucky. Mr. Garner never married, and his aunt

and a cousin were his housekeepers, until 1854, when the former died. He then sold his farm for seventy-five dollars per acre, and the next year came to Missouri. He had been very successful in dealing in horses, mules and cattle, in Kentucky, and he brought about twenty-five thousand dollars away with him from that state. After coming to Missouri he first stopped near Morton, in Ray county, but remaining there only a few months, he removed, in March, 1857, to the place where he now resides, on the Kingston road, nine miles north of Richmond. Here he purchased six hundred and forty acres of land, and at once began improving it by fencing and building a dwelling house and barn. Mr. Garner had just gotten his place improved, and was ready to commence business in earnest, when the war came and his slaves were taken from him. Mr. Garner spent most of his time during the war in Richmond. He has never engaged in any but agricultural pursuits, and owns now about nine hundred and thirty-eight acres of excellent land, all lying near his homestead. Though Mr. Garner has never been a candidate for office, he has always taken a great interest, and kept himself well informed in political affairs. While he was living in Kentucky he organized the second Know-nothing council in Clarke county. Formerly he was a whig, but since dissolution of that party he has acted with the democracy. He has been, for a number of years, a member of the M. E. Church South, at Richmond. Although Mr. Garner did not enjoy many advantages for getting an education in his youth, he has read so much and so diligently and attentively, that his vigorous and retentive memory is well stored with valuable knowledge. His health has not been good for some time, and he is kept much indoors. This gives him a better opportunity to indulge his taste for reading. Mrs. Smith, his sister, keeps house for him. John C. Garner has been very successful as a farmer and stock raiser; he is an obliging neighbor, an honorable gentleman, and a highly respected citizen of the county of Ray.

A. D. CLARK, M.D.

The subject of this sketch was born in Clay county, Kentucky, on the 7th day of February, 1827. When he was four years of age his father removed to Ray county, Missouri, and he received his education partly in the common schools and partly at Richmond College. He began the study of medicine in the office of his father, Doctor Hiram Clark, at the age of nineteen years. Four years later, 1851, at the age of twentythree, he began to practice his profession in Knoxville township. The next year he bought a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, about a mile and three-quarters north of Knoxville, where he resided until 1859. Then he moved a short distance south of his former home, to a farm he had purchased, and there he has since resided. This farm now comprises 420

acres. Dr. Clark was married in August, 1852, to Miss Amanda Jones, daughter of Solomon Jones, Esq., of Ray county. The issue of this union was seven children, only three of whom, one son and two daughters, are now living. The son and one daughter are married; the other still lives with her father. Mrs. Clark is a member of the M. E. Church South, at Knoxville. Doctor Clark is a member of the order of A. F. & A. M., and was one of the charter members of King Hiram Lodge No. 309, of Knoxville. He continues to live upon his farm and superintend its management in connection with the practice of his profession. He is a very successful and popular physician, and enjoys a large practice.

HIRAM J. CLARK.

Was born in Ray county, Missouri, on the farm where he now resides in the year 1843. His father was Dr. Hiram Clark, a practicing physician of Knoxville, and the father of a family of five children, of whom our subject is the youngest. Mr. Clark received his education in the schools of Ray county. His father having died, he bought the interests of the other heirs, and became the sole possessor of the old homestead at the age of nineteen years. Soon after, in 1862, he started west and went to Oregon, where he remained about five months, and then came back as far as Idaho territory. Here he lived about the same length of time as in Oregon, and then returned to Ray county. During the first year after his return he was engaged very profitably, trading in cattle. The next year he took possession of his farm, and has made his home there ever since. Mr. Clark was married on the 28th day of June, 1865, to Miss Elizabeth Thomas, daughter of Mr. John Thomas, a resident of Ray county. Seven children were bore to them, five boys and two girls, all now living. Since the war, Mr. Clark has prospered greatly with his farming, and has extended his landed possessions, until now he is the owner of the north half of section one, township 53, range twenty-eight, He is a member of the old school Baptist Church, and also of lodge No. 309, A. F. & A. M., at Knoxville.

JACOB T. CRAVEN.

Is a native of North Carolina. He was born in Randolph county, that state, in the month of May, 1831. He was educated in the district schools of his father's neighborhood, and, after leaving school, began the work of farming, and this has been his chief occupation. In 1853 Mr. Craven was married to Miss Sarah Wright, also of Randolph county, North Carolina. They became the parents of four children, all now living, and two married. Three years after his marriage he removed to Nodaway county, Missouri, and entering and improving a farm there, lived upon it till the outbreak of the great civil war. Mr. Craven was among the first to

respond to Governor Jackson's call for state troops, and, when the time for which he had enlisted in the Missouri guard had expired, he joined the regular Confederate army, and went to the war with Colonel Gates' first regiment of Missouri cavalry. He was in every battle and skirmish in which his regiment was engaged, till he was wounded at the battle of Peach Tree Creek, in 1863. After the fight of Pea Ridge his brigade was transferred to the department of war east of the Mississippi, and here Mr. Craven followed all the movements of the army. He was twice wounded and once taken prisoner. When the war was over, Mr. Craven went to the state of Illinois, where his wife joined him, and lived there for four years. In 1869, having sold his farm in Nodaway county, Missouri, he came to Ray county, and has ever since lived here, upon a farm he bought, south of the town of Knoxville. Mr. Craven is a member of Marion (Baptist) Church, and also a member of the Masonic Lodge, at Knoxville, which he joined by demit from the lodge of which he had been a member, in North Carolina. Mr. Craven was a brave soldier, has been a successful farmer, and is now a useful and highly respected citizen of the community in which he lives.

JEREMIAH CAMPBELL."

Was born in Campbell county, Tennessee, in the year 1802. He received the advantages of such schools as his native county at that time afforded. He was married at about the age of twenty-two years, to Miss Elizabeth Vanderpool. Eight children were born to them as the result of this union, four of each sex. Five of them are still living. Jeremiah Campbell was a soldier in the Black Hawk war. He removed from Tennessee to Ray county, Missouri, in the year, 1836, and settled about ten miles northeast of Richmond. Both Mr. and Mrs. Campbell were consistent members of the "old school" Baptist Church. Mr. Campbell died in July, 1875. In life he was greatly respected by all who knew him.

JAMES G. COLLIER.

J. G. Collier was born in Bourbon county, Kentucky, March 6, 1841. Here he received the principal part of his education. When he was fourteen years of age, his parents came to Missouri and located, for a time, in Saline county, where he engaged in farming. He went into the Confederate army from Saline county, with General Marmaduke, in the autumn of 1864. He was at the battle of Independence, Missouri, and also engaged in several minor battles during the war. He received his discharge from the army at Shreveport, Louisiana, and returned to farming, in Saline county, Missouri. He was, at one time, the owner of the "Bruce farm," one of the best in the county of Saline. Moved to Carroll county, in 1876, and remained one year there. Then he came to Ray

county, and has ever since lived here. Mr. Collier was married on the 14th day of May, 1871, to Miss Kate Milés, of Ray county. They became the parents of four children, John U., William K., Lizzie and an infant, which has not yet (April, 1881) been named. He owns a fine farm, of rich land, well improved. His residence is a brick house, distinguished from the fact of its being the only one of that character in Crooked River township. He is a practical, successful farmer, and an intelligent and prominent citizen of his community.

EPHRAIM D. FERREE.

Is a blacksmith and wagon-maker, and was born on the 10th day of April, 1827, in Franklin county, Pennsylvania. He received the privileges of the public schools of his native state, and in them acquired his education. He served an apprenticeship of two years and a half in the shop of his brother, in Franklin county, three miles west of Greencastle, Pa. At the expiration of this time he immigrated to Missouri, arriving at Lexington, Lafayette county, on the 20th day of October, 1846. Here he went to work at his trade and remained five years. He then came to Richmond, Ray county, and continued the business of blacksmithing and wagon-making. In the spring of 1857 he went to Daviess county, Missouri, but the following year came back to Ray county and located at what was then called "Shaw's Shop," now the enterprising town of Morton. Mr. Ferree was married in December, of the year 1850, to Miss Mary A. Griffin, of Lafayette county, a native of the state of Kentucky. The issue of this union is six children: William W., Margaret A., Charles W., John W., Frank Y., and George C., now living. Mr. Ferree is a most excellent workman in his branch of business, and is the recipient of a large and lucrative custom. He is a good and substantial citizen, and one that the people of Morton and vicinity would be very sorry to lose from their midst.

JAMES JOHNSON.

The subject of this sketch was born two miles north of the town of Richmond, in Ray county, Missouri, in the year 1833. He received his education in the common schools, and after leaving school began work on his father's farm. He purchased the farm upon which he now lives, in 1861. This land was originally entered for twelve and a half cents per acre. It is now worth at least forty dollars per acre. Mr. Johnson spent most of the time during the civil war in the state of Illinois. He was married on the 3d day of March, 1861, to Miss Mollie Pugh, an excellent lady and a good wife. He has travelled extensively through the south and west, and visited almost every point of interest in these sections of the country.