Nodaway County Archives - Missouri Genealogy

Biography of Thomas Nathaniel Garten of Union Township

Thomas Nathaniel Garten wife, Sarah Jane Garten

Sarah Jane Garten, residing in Union Township, Nodaway County, Missouri, was the widow of Thomas Nathaniel Garten. Thomas was born in Virginia in 1828 and passed away on April 19, 1884, at the age of 56. He married Sarah Jane Simonson in Daviess County, Indiana. They later moved to Nodaway County, where Thomas purchased and improved a 100-acre farm. The couple had six children: Winfield Scott, Charles Cornelius Sigel, Edward Seward, Cora Effie, Alta Emma, and Cordelia. After Thomas’s death, Sarah and their son Charles continued to manage and expand the farm successfully.

Biography of Lewis E. Rogers of Polk Township

Plat Map of Nodoway County Missouri 1910

Lewis E. Rogers, born April 12, 1877, in Polk Township, Nodaway County, Missouri, was a successful farmer and stock raiser. He resided on the farm where he was born, originally settled by his parents, Francis E. Rogers and Grizell Hogue, in the early 1870s. The Rogers family developed the farm and maintained a strong local reputation. Lewis married May Crouse on February 11, 1896, and they had four children: Lester E., Oral E., Yesta, and Elsie A. Active in local politics as a Republican, Lewis was also a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Woodmen of the World.

Biography of Thomas Henry Roach of Polk Township

Thomas Henry Roach, born November 16, 1853, in Dubuque County, Iowa, was a successful farmer and stock raiser in Polk Township, Nodaway County, Missouri. His parents were Richard Roach, a native of Ireland and a “forty-niner,” and Julia Malone, originally from New York of Irish descent. The family moved to Missouri in 1865. Thomas settled in Nodaway County in 1872 and built a prosperous 300-acre farm. On January 1, 1877, he married Martha Neal, and they had five children: Charles H., Julia, Nellie, Maud, and Golda. Thomas was active in educational affairs and served as road overseer and school board member.

Biography of Charles W. Stafford of Polk Township

Charles W. Stafford, born July 15, 1872, in Polk Township, Nodaway County, Missouri, was a prominent young farmer and energetic citizen. He was the son of John L. and Sarah (Pruden) Stafford. Charles grew up on the family farm and married Edith Blanche Lawson on March 30, 1893. They had four children: Ernest, Mildred M., Lyonel M., and Hugh M. (deceased). Active in Republican politics and community affairs, Stafford was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and various fraternal organizations. He managed a successful 160-acre farm in Nodaway County.

Biography of Samuel Scowden of Maryville

Samuel Scowden, born July 12, 1849, in Adams County, Ohio, was a prominent citizen of Nodaway County, Missouri. After moving to Nodaway County in 1874, he settled near Gaynor City, Independence Township, and expanded his farm to 160 acres. Scowden married twice: first to Elizabeth Barks, who died after three years, and later to Phoebe Jane Lowery, with whom he had two children. Active in the Methodist Episcopal Church and the Masonic Lodge, Scowden retired to Maryville in 1904. He was known for his commitment to farming, community service, and education.

Biography of Theodore Blatter of Maryville

Theodore Blatter, born March 23, 1849, in Baden, Germany, became a leading German-American citizen of Nodaway County, Missouri. Immigrating to the U.S. in 1869, he initially settled in Illinois before moving to Maryville in 1872. Blatter established a successful butcher business and invested in local real estate, including a notable block on North Main Street and a 22-acre property in Maryville. Married to Elizabeth Wittauer in 1875, they had four children: Anna, B.F., Willie, and Anthony. A Democrat and devout Catholic, Blatter is remembered for his community contributions and business integrity.

Biography of Abraham Lutz of Union Township

Abraham Lutz, born March 8, 1845, in Knox County, Ohio, was a notable farmer in Union Township, Nodaway County, Missouri. Moving to Missouri in 1857 with his parents, Jacob and Sarah Lutz, he grew up on the frontier. Abraham served briefly in the state militia during the Civil War and began his farming career on his father’s land. He married three times: first to Melissa Thornton, with whom he had two children; then to Melissa’s sister, Lucetta, with whom he had several more children; and finally to Maggie E. Proctor in 1905. A prosperous farmer, Lutz expanded his holdings significantly, contributing to local agricultural development. He was an active Republican and involved in the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Biography of Roland E. Thomas of Maryville

Roland E. Thomas, born April 26, 1867, near Galesburg, Illinois, is a respected farmer and stockman in Maryville, Missouri. Son of Milam and Eliza (McMurtry) Thomas, he moved to Nodaway County in 1883. He inherited and expanded his family’s farmland, owning properties in Polk Township and Maryville. On August 14, 1887, he married Alice Thompson, with whom he had three children. Active in community affairs, Thomas served on the Maryville city council and participated in several fraternal organizations. Known for his success in farming and stock breeding, he is also a member of the Maryville Commercial Club.

Biography of Rev. Jehu C. Allen of Maryville

Rev. Jehu C. Allen, born December 5, 1833, near Greencastle, Indiana, was a dedicated minister and farmer in Nodaway County, Missouri. Son of John G. and Sally (Cole) Allen, he moved to Missouri in 1839. After marrying Mary Best in 1856, he developed a successful farm and became a respected community member. An ordained minister in the United Brethren Church, he founded a local church in Polk Township and preached actively for decades. After Mary’s death in 1886, he remarried Letitia (Graves) Donaldson in 1890. Retired and residing in Maryville, Allen is known for his lifelong dedication to faith and community service.

Biography of Smith Hines of Hopkins Township

Smith Hines, born in 1865 in Warren County, Iowa, was a respected and successful farmer in Hopkins Township, Nodaway County, Missouri. Son of William and Louisa (Chapin) Hines, he was raised in Iowa and moved to Nodaway County in 1904, where he purchased and developed a 400-acre farm. Married to Katherine Barton in 1889, they had seven children: Frank, Henry, Cassius, Lora, John, Eunice, and Wallace. Hines was known for his progressive farming techniques and community involvement. A committed Republican and member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, he was esteemed for his integrity and contributions to local agriculture.