CHAPTER XXVII (Part 103)
BIOGRAPHICAL
Lewis B. McKean, proprietor of the "Fairview Stock Farm" in Bogard township, is a native of Ohio. He was born in Seville, Medina County, August 12, 1866, a son of William James and Fedora (Hay) McKean, the former a native of Center County, Pennsylvania, and the latter of Seville, Ohio. The McKeans are descendants of prominent colonial ancestors, Thomas McKean, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, being a direct ancestor of the subject of this sketch. William James McKean was a Union veteran in the Civil War, having served for two years in Company K, 88th Regiment Ohio Infantry. In 1868, he came to Missouri and settled in Bogard township, Henry County, on the farm owned by L. B. McKean, the subject of this sketch. Here he was engaged in farming and stock raising practically up to the time of his death, December 11, 1902. To William James and Fedora (Hay) McKean were born the following children: Lewis B., the subject of this sketch; George H., died July 20, 1908, in Covington, Oklahoma; W. E., a prominent real estate and oil man of Guthrie, Oklahoma, who is prominent in politics of that State, having served as register of deeds of his county for seven years and was a delegate at large to the National Republican Convention in Chicago in 1912; Myrtle F., married A. D. Davis, Wheatland, Oklahoma. The mother of these children died September 16, 1877, and on February 15, 1880, William James McKean was married to Kate W. Crissman, a daughter of Oliver and Caroline (Sisler) Crissman.
The Crissman family were Pennsylvanians and came from Blair County, that State, to Henry County, Missouri, in 1869. The father died October 1, 1916, the mother having departed this life May 21, 1912. They were the parents of the following children: F. M., Clinton, Missouri; Mrs. Kate W. McKean; T. J., lives in Bogard township; Frank P., Colony, Oklahoma; Mrs. Mary McVay, Hutchinson, Kansas; Mrs. Maggie Shoemaker, La Due, Missouri; Mrs. Ida Cowden, Fields Creek township, and Mrs. Gertrude Ogan, Stevensville, Texas. To William James and Kate W. (Crissman) McKean were born two children: Ida, who resides at home in Bogard township, and Nerval, who is engaged in farming in Bogard township.
L. B. McKean is one of the progressive farmers and stockmen of Bogard township, and his farm, which is known as "Fairview Stock Farm," is located four and one-half miles southwest of Blairstown, and is one of Henry County's valuable farms. Here Mr. McKean is engaged in general farming and stock raising. Mr. McKean is one of the high class farmers and stockmen of the county. He is a graduate of the University of Missouri, having been a member of the class of 1892, where he ranked high in scholarship. Politically he is a Republican and has served four years as township collector and is now serving his second term. He is a member of the Masonic Lodge and the Modern Woodmen of America of Blairstown.
Levi A. Spangler, owner and proprietor of "The Willowbrook Farm," Fields Creek township, is one of Henry County's successful farmers and stockmen. Mr. Spangler was born in McDonough County, Illinois, March 20, 1850, a son of Lewis and Harriet (Sarles) Spangler, both natives of Kentucky, the former born on March 11, 1815, near Louisville, Ky., and the latter on July 29, 1816, at Albany, New York. The family came to Henry County, Missouri, in 1858, and in 1864 left this section of the country and drove across the plains with an ox-team and settled in Idaho. A few years later they returned to Missouri, and settled in Cass County, near Freeman, where the father died in 1882, and the mother departed this life eleven years later, and their remains are buried in the cemetery at Freeman, Missouri.
Lewis and Harriet (Sarles) Spangler were the parents of the following children: Norvall, who was a captain in the Confederate Army and was killed while in the service; Mrs. Susan White, deceased; Davis, who served in the Confederate Army, and after the war settled in Cass County and is now deceased; Mrs. Lucinda Calloway, died at Brunswick, Missouri; Mrs. Ruth Naylor died at Brunswick, Missouri; Isabelle died in Idaho in 1884; James M. resides at Clinton, Missouri; Levi A., the subject of this sketch; Mrs. Mary R. Luster, Springfield, Missouri; and George L., Appleton City, Missouri.
Levi A. Spangler was educated in the public schools of Illinois, Idaho and Cass County, Missouri. He then attended school at the Brunswick, Missouri, Academy. In 1876, he came to Henry County. He was a poor boy without capital and worked as a farm laborer for twenty-five dollars per month. He was frugal and industrious and after a few years had saved fifteen hundred dollars out of his earnings, which he invested in a farm, making the first payment on two hundred forty acres in 1883. He added to this place from time to time until he now owns six hundred seventy-nine acres of well improved land and located about five and one-half miles northeast of Clinton. It is one of the well improved and valuable farms of Henry County and is probably worth considerably more than seventy-five thousand dollars, if placed on the market today. The Spangler residence is one of the fine homes of Henry County and is equipped with all modern conveniences, including heat, light and water, and the other farm buildings about the place are thoroughly in keeping with the residence.
Mr. Spangler was married October 26, 1882, with Miss Frances Houston, who was born in Deer Creek township, October 16, 1863, the daughter of Bayard and Kate (Adamson) Houston of Deer Creek township. The father is now deceased and his remains are interred in Englewood Cemetery and the mother now resides in Clinton. They were the parents of the following children: William, who is engaged in mining in Idaho; Mrs. Alice Spangler, Clinton, Missouri; Thomas J. lives in Nebraska; Berry died at Cheyenne, Wyoming; Frances, wife of Levi A. Spangler, subject of this sketch; Eliza, died in Clinton at the age of nineteen years; Samuel B., whose present address is unknown, and Mrs. Hattie Cameron, Deer Creek, township.
To Mr. and Mrs. Spangler have been born five children as follows: Mabel, Dr. Harvey B., James S., Frank A., and Louise, who died at the age of two years. Mabel Spangler was born on October 16, 1904, married Fred W. Olson, a banker of Windsor, Missouri, and is mother of two children, Frederick A., and Frances. Dr. Harry V. Spangler, who is now a member of the Hospital Corps No. 40, National Army, and is in the service at the western front in France, was born October 18, 1886. He was educated in the Clinton High School and graduated from this school, also completed a business course in the Gem City Business College, at Quincy, Illinois, graduated from the medical department of Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri. He practiced medicine in Salt Lake City, Utah, for four years prior to his enlistment as first lieutenant in the Medical Corps on June 25, 1917. Doctor Spangler is a Scottish Rite Mason. James S., a farmer in Fields Creek township, was born February 13, 1890, and was educated in the Clinton High School, the Sedalia Business College, and studied the Science of Agriculture at the State University, Columbia, Missouri. He married, Ruby, daughter of R. T. Lindsay, and has two children, Sarah Frances, and R. T. Lindsay Spangler. Frank A. Spangler was born November 18, 1893, graduated from the Clinton High School, and the banking department of the Gem City Business College, Quincy, Illinois, enlisted in the United States Navy in December, 1917, and received his training for the sea service at the Great Lakes Naval Training Station and is now serving his country aboard a United States Naval Vessel in European waters.
Mr. and Mrs. Spangler are justly proud of their fine family and are especially proud of the two sons whom they have contributed to the nation's service as soldiers in defense of their country. It is probable that they take more pride in their family than in their own accomplishments which have placed them in the front rank of Henry County citizenship. The Spangler home is a beautiful and spacious one and is noted for the warm hospitality and kindliness of its occupants. Nothing is too good for the Spangler children, and at Christmas time in 1917, Mrs. Spangler made her sons and son-in-law each a present of a valuable Masonic ring. Mr. Spangler is a Knights Templar Mason, and both he and Mrs. Spangler are members of the Eastern Star. Since the organization of the Clinton National Bank in 1907, Mr. Spangler has served on the directorate of this thriving financial institution.
J. W. Page, a progressive and enterprising farmer and stockman of Bogard township, was born in Cedar County, Missouri, April 15, 1883, and when an infant was adopted by Franklin M. and Mary J. (Beech) Page, both of whom are now deceased. The former died May 7, 1918, in his eightieth year and the mother departed this life in 1896.
Franklin M. Page was born in Moniteau County, Missouri, December 26, 1837, and when a boy came to Henry County with his parents. He grew to manhood in this county and was married here in 1859. Later he removed to Cass County, which was his home for many years. In 1904 he returned to Henry County and bought a farm of one hundred sixty-five and one-half acres five miles northwest of Urich, which is now the home of J. W. Page, the subject of this sketch. This place was formerly owned by Asa Hendricks, who entered this land from the Government. Franklin Page was one of the pioneers of this section and a man of high integrity and sterling worth. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge at Creighton, having been made a Mason at Old Wadesburg, an extinct Cass County town. This was before the town of Creighton or the railroad through that section was thought of. During the Civil War Franklin M. Page served as a member of the Home Guards. Both he and his wife were worthy pioneers of Henry and Cass Counties, and are well worthy of commendable mention in a work of this character.
John Wesley Page was educated in the public schools at Creighton, Missouri, and remained with his adopted parents as long as they lived, caring for them and giving them all the attention of loved and respected parents until they passed to the great beyond.
Mr. Page is one of the successful farmers and stockmen of Henry County, and has always been engaged in that line of work. He is well known as a breeder of Polled Durham cattle and spotted Poland China hogs. He is a good farmer and understands the stock business. He is a member of the Masonic Lodge at Creighton, Missouri, and is one of the substantial men of the community.
Nelson H. Tillman, a Union veteran of the Civil War and a Henry County pioneer, is a native of Ohio. He was born in Darke County, April 14, 1842, a son of Jacob and Eliza (Nighswonger) Tillman. They were the parents of the following children: A. M., resides in Clinton, Missouri; Nelson H., the subject of this sketch, and William H., of Clinton, Missouri. The mother died in Darke County, Ohio, about 1852 and the father was married again. To this second marriage were born two children: George and John, both of whom are now deceased.
Nelson H. Tillman was reared in Darke County, Ohio, and attended the public schools. The Civil War broke out when he was about nineteen years of age and in August, 1861, he enlisted at Arcanum, Ohio, in Company K, 34th Ohio Infantry, and served throughout the war. He participated in the battles of Cedar Creek, Harper's Ferry, Ball Towns and numerous other hard fought battles and important engagements. At one time he was struck by a minnie ball which knocked him down, although he was but slightly injured. Mr. Tillman was captured during his term of service in the army. He with eight hundred other Union soldiers were captured by General Rosser's forces while engaged in guarding the Baltimore and Ohio railroad in Virginia. Mr. Tillman was confined in the Confederate military prison during the winter of 1864 at Richmond in Libby prison until April of 1865. During the period of his confinement he never lost courage and with his good humor and optimistic view of the situation he gave much comfort and encouragement to many of his more despondent comrades.
At the close of the war Mr. Tillman received his honorable discharge by general order of the war department and returned to his Ohio home. Here he remained until 1868, when he came to Missouri, settling in Pettis County, near Dresden. A short time later he went to Cherryville, Kansas, where he remained two years. He then came to Henry County and operated a saw mill south of Calhoun for about three years. In 1873, he bought a farm in Shawnee township in partnership with his brother William, and since that time he has been successfully engaged in general farming and stock raising. He owns one hundred ninety-eight acres of good farm land under a high state of cultivation. His farm is well improved. All the improvements have been placed there by Mr. Tillman.
Nelson A. Tillman was united in marriage January 26, 1873, with Miss Harriet A. Leaton, a daughter of Edward and Pinkston Leaton, pioneer settlers of Tebo township, Henry County. Edward Leaton was born in Kentucky and came to Henry County, Missouri, an orphan boy. Harriet Pinkston was a widow when he married her, her first husband having been a Mr. Stephenson. Both parents of Mrs. Tillman are now deceased. Mrs. Tillman was one of the following children born to her parents: Flavius, Harriet A., wife of Nelson H. Tillman; Franklin, Verilous, Oscar and Mrs. Laura Crabtree, who lives in Oklahoma, all of whom are deceased except Mrs. Tillman and Mrs. Crabtree.
To Nelson H. and Harriet A. (Leaton) Tillman have been born three children, as follows: Clara, resides at home with her parents; Ruby, married M. E. Merritt, Calhoun, Missouri, and Carl, who is living on the old home place in Shawnee township, Henry County. Mr. and Mrs. Tillman have five grandchildren: Tillman, Evangeline Merritt and Harless C., Ruth O. and Carl C. Tillman. Mr. and Mrs. Tillman are one of the honored pioneer couples of Henry County and well deserving of mention in a work of this character, the chief aim of which is to preserve the story of the pioneers of other days.
