Virginia till 1833, when his parents came to Howard county, Missouri, and he lived there about twenty years, then removed to Linn and Scotland counties and remained till 1871. In this latter year he moved to Grundy county, where he has since resided. He married Miss Elizabeth J. Schrock, June 24, 1849. She was born in Hampshire county, Virginia, in 1824; her parents were both natives of Virginia, but moved to Missouri in 1845. The parents of both Mr. and Mrs. Stone died in Linn county, Missouri, at a very great age. Ten children have been born to them, eight of whom are still living; viz., James J., at Spanish Fort, Texas; Sarah C., wife of John Reese; Ann S., wife of Arthur Baxter; Margaret A., wife of A. Case; Robert L., living at home; Lucy Belle, wife of C. Smith; Henrietta ‘and Ella, both at home. John W., died in 1876, and Mary E., in 1878. Mr. Stone owns a farm of fifty acres, nicely located.

JAMES T. TRACY

Was born in Garrard county, Kentucky, July 22, 1831, and was reared on a farm and educated at the common schools of that county. He married Miss Nancy Walter on the 28th of May, 1852. She was born in Jessamine county, Kentucky, April 26, 1832. In 1852 this young couple came west seeking a home, and located and began life on the same farm now occupied by the family. Here they reared a family of five children; viz., David Andrew Tracy, now owner of the Lindley Mills; Thomas Edward, a farmer in Grundy county; John W., Nathan R., and Burdette, at home; Mary F., Sarah E., Charles W., and one infant, died when young. Mr. Tracy died January 30, 1873; was a member of the Presbyterian Church; left an estate of three hundred and twenty acres of good land, and also a large amount of personal property; was highly esteemed in his life as a publicspirited man. Mrs. Tracy, with the aid of the younger members of the family, carry on farming upon the old homestead, and are esteemed members of society.

LEONHART TRUMP

Is a native of Wurtemberg, Germany, born November 9, 1827. His parents were natives of the same place, but came to America in 1851, and settled in Pickaway county, Ohio. His father died in 1861, and his mother still lives in Ohio. The subject of this sketch received his education in Germany, and March 2, 1849, started for America. After his arrival he worked on a farm near Waterville, New York, and from there went to Pickaway county, Ohio, and where he learned the cooper's trade, and lived about six years. He then traveled over Indiana and Illinois for about three years. December 13, 1858, he was united in marriage to Miss Eve E. Klaedar, who was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, September 27, 1832. Eight children have been the issue of this union; namely, Paulina, born September 8, 1858, now wife of John Voegel; Martin, born January 22, 1860; Leonhart, born

November 24, 1861; Caroline, born December 30, 1863; Mary, born September 5, 1866; Rosa, born November 14, 1868; Richard, born February 7, 1871; and John E., who died in infancy. Mr. Trump owns a farm of two hundred and thirty acres, with fine buildings, orchard, etc., all of which have been gathered together by the united industry of himself and family. They are members of the Lutheran Church.

J. P. WARD

Was born in Monroe county, Ohio, March 3, 1836, and lived there until eighteen years of age and then moved to Boone county, Indiana, where he became a very successful school teacher during his residence there of fourteen years. At the expiration of that time he removed to Grundy county and engaged in farming for three years, since which time he has been in the employ of the Rock Island Railroad Company at Tindall, where he is also postmaster. He was married, November 8, 1857, to Eliza J. Maxfield, of Belmont county, Ohio. She was born April 5, 1838. They have had four children; viz., Sarah E., born February 14, 1859, now the wife of William Legg; Henry A., born April 4, 1860; Will. R., born December 18, 1861; and Eli C., born August 3, 1864. Mr. Ward has filled the offices of trustee, clerk and justice of the peace. He has also served as school director for eight years, and takes a deep interest in educational matters. Mr. and Mrs. Ward are both members of the Christian Church.

JACKSON WILSON

Was born in Tazewell county, Virginia, July 21, 1828; son of James C. Wilson and Nellie Wilson, both natives of Virginia. They moved to Grundy county, Missouri, in 1836 and settled near Edinburg. His mother died in 1854 and his father in 1861. He attended school a short time in Virginia and in Missouri. Has always been engaged in farining and is a plasterer by trade. He lived at Edinburg fifteen years, then near Trenton seven years, and in Franklin township five years, when he removed to his present location in 1876. He was united in marriage, January 5, 1854, to Lou Emma J. Wilson, a native of Tazewell county, Virginia, born October 20, 1833, a daughter of Aaron and Sallie Wilson, both natives of Virginia, but who came to Missouri in 1834 and were among the very first settlers of this part of the State. They have had five children, four of whom are still living; viz., Frank, born November 28, 1854; William C., born October 2, 1856; Sallie, born June 20, 1865; John, born May 4, 1863; and Jessie, a daughter born July 1, 1876, and died when one year old. He enlisted in the Missouri State militia for three years, and then as a member of the Fifty-first regiment, Missouri cavalry, and served during the remainder of the war. He is one of those quiet men who think only of securing a comfortable home for his family and giving them a good education. His son Frank was educated at the Trenton high school and prepared himself for teaching, which profession he has followed very successfully.

JAMES C. WILSON

Was born in Tazewell county, Virginia, April 17, 1831; son of Aaron and Sarah Wilson, nee Maxwell. They were both natives of Virginia. When the subject of this sketch was about seven years of age his parents moved to Chariton county, Missouri, and there remained for about three years, then moved to Grundy county and located about one mile east of the present site of the city of Trenton. Here he lived till about nineteen years of age and then, on May 13th, 1850, started across the plains to California, driving an ox team, and was five months, lacking one day, on the journey. He remained in California till 1857, and on the 11th day of June of that year arrived in Trenton township and has since remained in the county, engaged in farming. Mr. Wilson married, December 24, 1857, Miss Sarah A. Wisdom, who was born in Randolph county, Missouri, August 9, 1838, a daughter of Moses and Zilpah Wisdom; her father was a native of Kentucky, and her mother of Missouri. By this marriage eight children. have been born, seven of whom are still living; viz., Lou Emma, born March 7, 1860; William T., born February 16, 1863; Lora F., born February 2, 1866; Martha M., born September 17, 1869; Edley C., born January 24, 1871; Walter, born September 4, 1875; Lydia, born April 25, 1879; Augustus, born May 4, 1873, and died April 6, 1880. They had no help but their own strong hands and willing hearts, yet they have succeeded in rearing a large family and gathering together a large amount of property.

JARVIS WOODS.

The subject of this brief sketch is entitled to all the honors belonging to the pioneers of Grundy county. He was born April 17, 1812, in Howard county, Missouri; his parents were Kentuckians by birth, but settled in the State of Missouri in 1808. When our subject was but seven days old, the Indians drove all the settlers, together with his father's family, into Cooper's Fort, in Howard county. The family remained there four years not daring to move outside of the fort on account of Indians. After this they moved back on the original claim and remained there until he was seventeen years of age, then sold out and moved to Keytesville, Chariton county, where he remained until the spring of 1837, when he engaged with Lisbon Applegate, United States surveyor, to assist in the original survey of what was then called the Indian territory, but the most of the work being done in what is now Grundy county. He continued this labor till February, 1838, and then returned to Keytesville, remained there a short time assisting his mother in caring for the farm, but soon returned to what is now the flourishing city of Trenton, where, during his arduous labors as assistant surveyor, he had not only found a delightful country for his future home, but the greater attraction of a beautiful and accomplished young lady by the

name of Amanda Devaul, the daughter of Daniel and Sarah Devaul, the first settlers in Trenton. She was born in Chariton county, Missouri, July 14, 1820, and came with her parents to this county in 1835. February 26, 1838, Mr. Woods led this fair maiden to the hymeneal altar, and 'Squire Thrailkill (one of the first justices of the peace) united them as one, and for nearly half a century they have lived together in love and harmony, together have toiled and endured all the privations of the pioneer life, and have seen the then unbroken wilderness converted into beautiful and fertile fields, and thickly settled with an intelligent and thrifty class of inhabitants; yet with all the luxuries and conveniences of an old settled and prosperous country surrounding them, they say that they are no happier to-day than when on that early spring morning in 1838, they commenced the journey of married life together; when their first shelter was erected by felling a large tree and placing clapboards against it; this they occupied until Mr. Woods with his strong hands and the aid of his bride soon erected a commodious and convenient log cabin near what is known as the Paint Lick settlement; here they lived about one year, then he sold his claim for $100, and moved on what is now known as the Belshe farm; in 1874 he purchased land in Lincoln township where he has since lived, and owns eighty acres of fine and well improved land. Eight children were the fruits of this marriage, six of whom are still living; named, respectively, Eliza Jane, wife of John Rallston, of Spickardsville; Mary Ann, wife of Tyler Martin, of Lincoln township; Cemira, wife of Bourter Legg, of Lincoln township; Henry B., a railroad employé; B. F. and Jarvis G., both living at home. James C., a soldier in the Union army, died at Nashville, in 1865; and one babe died in infancy. This aged couple have been life-long and consistent members of the Baptist Church. Mr. Woods says he is, and always has been, a staunch Republican and is proud of it. He was never out of the State of Missouri but once in his life, and that under the following circumstances, and for one night only: He had sold two pigs to a man on the edge of Iowa, by name of Jefferson Moore, and he was to pay for them with a barrel of honey. Mr. Moore came in the fall but did not bring the honey, and told Mr. Woods that as he had never been out of the State he would not pay him for the pigs till he went into the edge of Iowa, and so he went and got his honey and was one night out of the State. He is now in the seventieth year of his age and a man who with his entire family are highly respected by all.

CHAPTER XXIII.

WILSON TOWNSHIP.

Early Settlement-Silken Bonds—Into the World, and Out-Schools and Churches-First Universalist Church—Organization-Population, etc.-Tragic Events-Town of Alpha— Petition to Incorporate-Present Officers--Business Directory-Biographies.

WILSON TOWNSHIP.

The township which bears the above name is one of the finest rolling prairie townships in the county. Broad, well tilled farms are found on every hand, and the people are thrifty and industrious. Peace and plenty make happy homes in Wilson township, and contentment reigns, a joyous monarch. Belts of rugged timber, with wide-spreading branches, skirt the serpentine courses of the streams that flow through her territory.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

Wilson township was blessed with an earlier and more numerous and compact settlement than many of her neighbors. Her rich soil drew many early settlers, while others had but few. The first comers were from Kentucky-the Works family, consisting of a widow and six sons, who settled on section thirty, the southern part of the township, in the spring of 1838. These sons were all grown, and their names were James, Hopkins, Henderson, Alexander, Fleming and Robert. The family afterward moved to California, but are still remembered by the old settlers as industrious and kindly neighbors. In the fall of the same year quite a colony from Ohio came and cast their fortunes with the Works family in the sparsely settled region of what was then the southern part of Marion township. They were the families of William Castile and his two grown sons; also Alexander Carroll and Meredith Blalock, and the same fall came Wilson G. Perkins, from Tennessee. The settlement was growing rapidly, and in the summer of the next year, 1839, new additions were made to the flourishing community in the families of William Anderson, Sr., and his son William Anderson, Jr., who settled near the Works on the 30th of July. The Andersons were from White county, Tennessee, and William Anderson, Jr., still resides in the township, a sturdy old gentleman with pleasant recollections of the pioneer days. In the fall of 1839 Richard Belshe, from Tazewell county, Virginia, made his home in the township, and Michael Chrisman, from Indiana, moved in, as did also the family of Joseph Rooks, from the same State. From this on there was an inflow of new-comers; the families of Thomas and James Clevenger, from Indiana, Thomas Kilburn from Kentucky, Reuben Perkins from Tennessee, and the Bethard family from Ohio,