Dade County Archives - Missouri Genealogy

Biography of William Marshall Young of Center Township

History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade and Barton Counties, Missouri

William Marshall Young, born in 1845 in Dade County, Mo., is a successful farmer in Center Township. Son of Isom A. and Mary M. (McLemore) Young, and grandson of Matthew M. and Elizabeth (Neal) Young, William married Dialtha McClure in 1870. They had seven children: Martha L., Viola M., Frank J., Ruthy F., Marshall A., Mathew Boyd, and Lucy V. Young owns a 65-acre farm and 391 acres on Sac River, focusing on agriculture and stock-raising. He is a Democrat and his wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.

Biography of Rev. David G. Young of Dade County

Rev. David G. Young, born in Niagara County, N.Y., in 1829, and orphaned young, was raised by his uncle in Michigan. He married Margaret Pratt in 1855, who died a year later, and then Amanda E. Roberts in 1861, with whom he had nine children. Young served in the Civil War, was captured, and held in several prisons. Post-war, he was a teacher and county superintendent of schools in Illinois before moving to Dade County, Mo., where he served as circuit clerk and ex-officio recorder for eight years. An active Baptist minister, he founded multiple churches and owned 200 acres of land.

Biography of Judge George W. Wells of Washington Township

George W. Wells, born in Monongalia County, W.Va., in 1839, was a notable figure in Washington Township, recognized for his roles as a judge, farmer, and stock-raiser. Son of Benjamin L. and Sophia (Kughn) Wells, he was raised by relatives following his parents’ early deaths. A Civil War veteran, Wells served nearly four years, reaching the rank of captain. Post-war, he settled in Dade County, Mo., married Letitia Poage, and had six children. Elected county judge in 1876 and presiding judge in 1878, he was also active in local education and community development. A dedicated Republican, Wells voted for Abraham Lincoln while in service.

Biography of Rev. Thomas Toney of Greenfield

Rev. Thomas Toney, A.M., M.D., born November 3, 1836, in Warren County, Kentucky, is a notable figure in Greenfield, Missouri, known for his roles in education, real estate, and insurance. An orphan, he worked through Mount Mary Seminary and Glenville College, eventually earning medical degrees from the University of Nashville and Vanderbilt University. Toney served as a captain in the Confederate Army and was involved in numerous battles. He founded several educational institutions and served as president of Ozark College from 1883 to 1887. A committed Cumberland Presbyterian pastor, he was also active in Masonic, Odd Fellow, and other fraternal organizations. He married Mintie Truitt and was a staunch temperance advocate.

Biography of J. W. Toliver of Dadeville

J. W. Toliver, a prominent merchant, farmer, and stock-raiser in Dadeville, Missouri, was born in Lawrence County, Missouri, in 1855. He is the son of John H. Toliver, a Tennessee-born Confederate Army captain and mule trader, and Ann Laster. In 1877, J. W. married Amanda A. Watkins, with whom he had two children before her death in 1883. He remarried in 1885 to Marrillena Clopton White, with whom he had three stepchildren. Toliver has served as Dadeville’s postmaster since 1886 and owns a general store. An active Democrat, he also owns significant land in Missouri and Kansas.

Biography of William M. Tarrant of Dade County

William M. Tarrant, a distinguished farmer and stock-raiser in Dade County, Missouri, was born in Warren County, Kentucky, on August 20, 1842. He moved to Missouri as an infant and enlisted in the Sixth Regiment Missouri Cavalry during the Civil War, serving as an orderly sergeant. He married Josie King in 1866, and they had four children. Settling on a 160-acre farm in 1867, Tarrant expanded his holdings to 320 acres. Formerly a Republican, he became a Union Labor party supporter. He and his wife were active members of the Baptist Church. His lineage traces back to English and Scotch ancestry, with roots in early American military history.

Biography of Mason Talbutt of Greenfield

Mason Talbutt, born in Greenfield, Missouri, in 1846, was a prominent ex-probate judge and attorney. Son of Columbus Talbutt, a French-descendant tailor and early settler of Dade County, and Amanda Allison, Mason’s career began at a young age in a printing office. He served in the Civil War and later engaged in various professions, including grocery and agriculture. Admitted to the bar in 1879, Talbutt was elected probate judge in 1882. He was married to Clara Kimber in 1879, with whom he had five children. Active in local politics and fraternal organizations, Talbutt was a dedicated community member.

Biography of Fergus C. Snoddy of Rock Prairie Township

Fergus C. Snoddy, a stock-raiser and farmer in Rock Prairie Township, was born in Clay County, Indiana, in 1847. He was the son of Josiah and Margaret (Clough) Snoddy, originally from Kentucky and Virginia, respectively. After his father’s death around 1848, the family moved to Greene County, Missouri. Fergus, the youngest of seven children, served in the Army of the Cumberland during the Civil War and later joined the Eighteenth United States Infantry, participating in expeditions against the Sioux. In 1869, he settled in Dade County, Missouri, and married Martha Landers in 1872. They have six children. Snoddy, a Republican, is a member of the A.F. & A.M. and the G.A.R., and he focuses on farming and stock-raising on his 312-acre farm.

Biography of John D. Smith of Lockwood

John D. Smith, a produce dealer and express agent in Lockwood since 1881, was born in Henry County, Tennessee, in 1851. He was the son of John W. Smith, born in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, in 1811, and Elizabeth (Haynes) Smith, born in Robertson County, Tennessee, in 1809. The couple spent most of their lives in Henry County, where John W. served as justice of the peace for eighteen years. After his parents’ deaths in 1868, John D. began farming. He married Nicie E. Walters in 1872, and they had six children. Moving to Lockwood in 1881, Smith became a successful businessman and a prominent citizen, active in the Democratic Party and the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

Biography of J. C. Shouse of Morgan Township

J.C. Shouse, a dedicated farmer and stock-raiser in Morgan Township, Dade County, Missouri, was born in Shelby County, Kentucky, on November 3, 1834. His parents, William O. and Harriet (Bryan) Shouse, both natives of Kentucky, moved to Jackson County, Missouri, in 1837. William Shouse, of German descent, later settled in Kansas City. J.C. Shouse married Mary Ann Campbell in 1857, with whom he had twelve children. After her death in 1874, he married Mrs. Niece in 1875, having five more children. By 1882, he had settled on a 347-acre farm, with 200 acres under cultivation. Shouse was a member of the Masonic Lodge in Dadeville.