CHAPTER XXVII (Part 93)
BIOGRAPHICAL
Omer H. McIntire, a farmer of Big Creek township and a descendant of a family of Missouri pioneers, was born in Adair County April 8, 1856. He is a son of Daniel and Agnes (Huston) McIntire, natives of Kentucky.
Daniel McIntire was born October 25, 1821, and in 1841, when he was twenty years of age came to Missouri with his parents. He was a son of Hugh McIntire, a native of North Carolina, who came to Clark County, Kentucky, in 1828 with his family. Hugh McIntire was a son of Francis McIntire, who was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and served throughout the seven years of that conflict for American independence and during the term of his service, was wounded five times.
Daniel C. McIntire married Agnes F. Huston in Scotland County, Missouri, September 23, 1847. She was a daughter of Archibald Huston and a native of Boone County, Kentucky. Daniel C. and Agnes (Huston) McIntire were the parents of the following children: William Seldon, Joseph M, Omer H., the subject of this sketch; Mrs. Martha E. Gray, Ada Lee and Daniel M.
Daniel C. McIntire entered Government land in Adair County, Missouri, and lived there until 1858, when he came to Henry County and settled in Honey Creek. Here he built a grist and saw mill which he operated for a number of years. Later, he bought a farm which he moved on in 1866. He was prominent among the early day pioneers of Henry County and influential in this section. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge and the Methodist Church, South. He died in 1912 at the advanced age of ninety-one years. His wife departed this life in 1914 and their remains rest side by side in the Carrsville Cemetery.
Omer H. McIntire was reared in the pioneer home in Henry County and received his education in what was known as the subscription school, the pioneer educational institution of Henry County. He remained on the home farm and followed farming and stock raising during the lifetime of his parents. The McIntire farm is one of the valuable and productive farms of Big Creek township, and Mr. McIntire has met with success in his chosen field of endeavor and is one of the substantial men of his community.
Omer H. McIntire was united in marriage in 1901 to Miss Ida Garrison, daughter of Robert and Susie Garrison, natives of Tennessee. The mother died in 1887 and the father now lives near Huntingdale. Mrs. McIntire is one of eight children born to her parents, the others being as follows: Robert, resides in Montana; Charles, deceased; Joseph, Huntingdale, Missouri; David, deceased; Harry, at home; Mrs. George Ridge, Urich, Missouri; Mrs. Homer Inmer, Shawnee township. Mr. and Mrs. McIntire have two children: Margaret Katheryn and Robert Daniel.
Omer H. McIntire is a progressive citizen and the McIntire family rank among the leading representative citizens of Henry County.
Francis M. Gray, a native of Henry County, born in Big Creek township July 28, 1865, is one of the progressive farmers and stockmen of Big Creek township. His parents were John L. and Catharine E. (Ross) Gray. The father was born in east Tennessee October 4, 1812, and died October 7, 1866. The mother was born in Kentucky January 21, 1828, and died August 14, 1909. They were married February 17, 1848, and the following children were born to this union: Francis M., the subject of this sketch; Mary J., born November 29, 1848, died June 14, 1867; Clayton C, born February 10, 1850, died February 12, 1850; Margaret E., born January 23, 1851, died January 25, 1851; Sarah C, born May 6, 1852, died May 18, 1852; Webster W., born July 9, 1853, died March 27, 1913; Anna E., born September 15, 1855, died August 30, 1857; Washington G., born June 14, 1857, died June 16, 1867; William H., born June 26, 1858, died July 4, 1858; John C, born July 21, 1859, died May 1, 1869; Alice L., born January 24, 1862, died May 21, 1883; Joseph, born February 6, 1867, died April 18, 1867.
John L. Gray came to Henry County about 1840 and settled in Big Creek township, where he entered land and also bought a number of acres. His entire holdings aggregated about 2,600 acres. He built a residence on section 22 and here was engaged in farming and stock raising during the remainder of his life. Prior to the Civil War, he owned a number of slaves. When he first settled here, Lexington was his nearest important trading point and he made frequent trips to that place. He hauled a part of the lumber for his first home from Otterville, a distance of fifty miles.
Francis M. Gray spent his boyhood days on the home farm in Big Creek township and was educated in the rural schools of the neighborhood and later attended Central College at Fayette, Missouri, and also took a course at the Gem City Business College, Quincy, Illinois. He then returned to the home farm, where he remained until 1894, when he moved to his present place, which is located about a mile southeast of Norris. Here he owns 1,280 acres, which is one of Henry County's most valuable farms. It is one of the best improved and best places to be found in Henry County. The residence, which is an unusually attractive home, is located on the Clinton and Holden highway. There are two sets of buildings on the Gray farm, one of which is occupied by Mr. Gray's son. Mr. Gray and his son are not only extensively interested in general farming and grain raising, but have established a reputation as being among the leading stock breeders of the county, and on their place may be found some of the highest type of cattle and hogs. They are breeders of white face cattle and Duroc Jersey hogs and their registered stock have a high reputation among stockmen throughout this section of the State.
Francis M. Gray was united in marriage May 29, 1889, with Miss Mary A. Butcher, a daughter of Alexander M. Butcher, a pioneer settler of Big Creek township and a personal sketch of whom appears in this volume. To Mr. and Mrs. Gray have been born two children: Cecil E., born February 21, 1894, educated in the Norris High School, Missouri University, married Mary J. Stansberry, a daughter of W. A. and Sarah E. Stansberry of Big Creek township, and is now in partnership with his father in operating the home place. Harry P.. the youngest son, was born March 27, 1897. He was educated in the Norris High School, Central College at Fayette, Missouri, and received the degree of Bachelor of Arts in the University of Missouri in June, 1918. He enlisted in the United States Navy July 1, 1918, and is in training at the Great Lakes Naval Training Station.
Mr. Gray has always taken an interest in public affairs and has been especially a strong supporter of public schools and to him and W. S. Ward, T. M. Swindell and W. S. Swart belong the credit of promoting the local high school, which later developed into the Consolidated High School District No. 1 of Henry County, which was the first consolidated high school district in the state of Missouri. Mr. Gray is a Henry County citizen of real worth and his push and public spiritedness has not only rewarded himself but is of inestimable value to his community and county. The co-operation of such men as Francis M. Gray makes it possible to build democratic empires.
Charles L. Thompson, a successful farmer and stockman of Big Creek township, while yet a young man, has probably had more experience than any other man in Henry County. He was born near Lone Jack, Jackson County, Missouri, February 9, 1874, and is a son of William and Elizabeth (Simmons) Thompson, the former a native of West Virginia and the latter of Kentucky. The father is now eighty-two years of age and the mother is seventy-seven. They were the parents of the following children: Jemima, married James Bynum and is now deceased; T. H., Odessa, Missouri; William A., on the home place in Jackson County; Alice, married C. B. Kennedy; Minnie, married John Cummings, Bliss, Oklahoma; Charles L., the subject of this sketch; Robert, deceased; Oliver, Lone Jack; Oscar, lives in Wyoming; Maud, married Clifford Tyson, Callaway County, Missouri; George, Barton County, Missouri, and four died in infancy.
Charles L. Thompson was reared in Jackson County, Missouri, and educated in the public schools. He remained at home with his parents until he was twenty-one years old, and then went to New Mexico. After remaining there a short time, he went to eastern Colorado. Here he bought two farms, aggregating 280 acres and, for sixteen years, was engaged in the cattle and sheep business. He was an extensive feeder and met with success in that business. While he was interested in business in Colorado, Mr. Thompson made a trip to Alaska in the interest of a mining company and while there developed some mining property which he still owns. In 1910, he disposed of his interest in Colorado and returned to Henry County, where he bought 475 acres of land. Later, he sold 160 acres and now owns 315. This is one of the well improved and valuable farms of Big Creek township. Since purchasing the place, Mr. Thompson has made many improvements and the place has a good residence and ample barns and other farm buildings. The place is well watered by natural springs and Norris Creek. Mr. Thompson is not only a large producer of grain but one of the extensive stockmen of the county. His farm is located four miles southeast of Blairstown and is recognized as one of the best farms in the county.
Mr. Thompson was united in marriage in 1904 to Miss Catherine Smith of Danville, Illinois. She was born in that city in 1874, a daughter of Joseph and Susan (Keykendall) Smith, the former a native of West Virginia and the latter of England, who came to this country at the age of sixteen. Mrs. Thompson departed this life March 4, 1916, leaving the following children: Joseph and Catherine.
Mr. Thompson is one of the substantial citizens of Henry County and his worth as such is universally recognized. In politics, he is a Democrat.
A. Davis, a prominent farmer and stockman of Big Creek township, belongs to a pioneer family of Henry County. He was born in Clark County, Ohio, in 1870, and when one year of age came to Henry County, Missouri, with his parents, Daniel and Margaret (Hill) Davis, both natives of Ohio. Daniel Davis was born in Green County, Ohio, in 1838, and his wife, Margaret (Hill) Davis, was born in Ohio in 1847. She died April 30, 1915, and her remains were interred in Carpenter Cemetery. Daniel Davis has been an invalid for a few years past and resides with his son, A. Davis, the subject of this sketch.
To Daniel and Margaret (Hill) Davis were born the following children: James M., deceased; Mrs. I. G. Farnsworth, Holden, Missouri; Mrs. J. L. Hunt, Big Creek township, Henry County; Elmer, deceased; Absolom, the subject of this sketch; William, deceased; Mrs. R. L. Jackson, Holden. Missouri; Mrs. R. L. Wall, Blairstown, Missouri, and J. C, Big Creek township.
Absolom Davis received his education in the district schools of Henry County. He has made farming his life's occupation and has spent over forty-eight years of his life on the old home place where his father settled upon coming to this county in 1871. The place is located in Big Creek township about one and one-half miles from Blairstown. This land was originally entered from the Government by William Fox and when Daniel Davis settled here he purchased the land for twenty dollars per acre. The farm consists of 455 acres and is one of the valuable farms of Henry County. Mr. Davis is extensively engaged in stock raising and is one of the successful stock feeders of the county, as was his father while actively engaged in business.
On March 8, 1911, Absolom Davis was united in marriage with Miss Linnie Thornburg at Oklahoma City. She is a daughter of J. W. Thornburg of Bridgeport, West Virginia. Mrs. Davis' mother is deceased and her father resides at Bridgeport. They were the parents of the following children: Carl, William, Jesse, Frank and Linnie, the wife of A. Davis. Mr. and Mrs. Davis have one daughter, Virginia Ruth, who was born January 30, 1918.
Mr. Davis is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and is one of the well known and substantial citizens of Big Creek township.
James A. Marksberry, a successful farmer and stockman of Big Creek township, is a native son of Henry County and a descendant of one of the honored pioneer families of this section of Missouri. Mr. Marksberry was born in a log house on the old home place in Big Creek township, July 26, 1871, and is a son of Alex and Melissa (Kimsey) Marksberry, both natives of Missouri. The father was born in Clay County and is now deceased, having departed this life November 13, 1913. The mother was born in Big Creek township in 1842 and now resides at the place of her birth. Her parents, Alfred and Sarah Kimsey, were among the pioneers of Henry County and settled in this section before Henry County was organized. The father was killed during the early part of the Civil War and his wife died July 4, 1901. Alexander and Melissa (Kimsey) Marksberry were the parents of the following children: Mrs. Mary Murphy, who resides in Ohio; James A., the subject of this sketch; Edwin R., who lives in Big Creek township, Henry County; John, Shawnee township; Mrs. Nora Murphy, deceased, and Linn, who resides at Blairstown, Missouri.
James A. Marksberry was reared on the home farm and attended school at the Agricola school district in Big Creek township. He remained at home with his mother until he was thirty-two years of age and, in 1906, purchased his present farm, which consists of 300 acres of well improved land located two miles southeast of Blairstown. Mr. Marksberry has a splendid farm residence which was built in 1915. It is a two story, nine room structure and one of the line residences of the county. He carries on general farming and stock raising, and is recognized as one of the successful men of Henry County.
To Mr. and Mrs. Marksberry have been born the following children: Mary Lee, Dorothy, Kathryn and James, Jr. The Marksberry family are prominent in the community and Mr. Marksberry is one of the substantial and progressive men of Big Creek township.
