CHAPTER XXVII (Part 8)
BIOGRAPHICAL
Chesley G. Woodson - Nearly four score years have elapsed since Chesley G. Woodson of Walker township was brought to Henry County by his parents. Far back in 1839 this county was largely an un-peopled waste with here and there a lone settler's cabin in the timber tracts along the streams. The nearest trading point was Boonville, on the Missouri River, or Jefferson City. The pioneers of those faraway days would drive to either of these cities with ox teams and the trip required a week's time in the making. For a long time the pioneers would of necessity have their milling done at Boonville or Jefferson City until Cook's mill was erected on Grand River. During the days of his young manhood, Chesley Woodson shot many deer and wild turkeys and he recalls that his father killed a bear on Bear Creek. Various settlers operated grist mills by horse power and some of them ground their corn meal by hand.
The main commodity which the settlers had to sell were hides and furs. These they would take to Boonville and exchange for salt and groceries sufficient to last for several months.
Mr. Woodson has a distinction which few men possess. He served in both armies during the Civil War, having first enlisted in the Confederate Army and later through force of circumstances over which he had no control he was compelled to serve in the Union Army.
Mr. Woodson was born on February 25, 1837, in Hancock County, Kentucky, and is the son of Shadrich and Agnes (Gates) Woodson, the former of whom was born in Virginia and the latter in Kentucky.
Shadrich Woodson came to Missouri in 1838 and after a year's residence in Johnson County he came to Henry County and entered a tract of Government land in Walker township. He cut and hewed the logs for his two room cabin and spent the remainder of his days on the farm which he broke up and placed in cultivation. He was a hunter and killed a great deal of game which was very plentiful in those early days.
He died December 4, 1852, at his home in Walker township. Of the children born to Shadrich Woodson and wife, three are living: Jonathan, residing with Adam H. Woodson, his nephew; Mrs. Elizabeth Steele, who makes her home with William Steele in Walker township, and Chesley G., subject of this review.
Chesley G. Woodson was reared to young manhood under primitive conditions and enjoyed the frontier life to the utmost. He grew up a strong and sturdy lad who was skillful with axe or gun and knew how to till the soil. He served for two years in the Southern Army during the war between the States and after his term of service expired he went to St. Louis. While in that city he became a member of the 87th Missouri Regiment of the Federal Army under Capt. A. J. Smith and served for one year with the Union forces. After the expiration of his term of service he returned home. After his marriage, he settled down to active farm life and accumulated a total of one hundred sixty-six acres. Of late years, Mr. Woodson has retired from active farm life and is now making his home with his son, Adam H. Woodson.
The marriage of Chesley G. Woodson and Mary Ann Harness took place on March 1, 1866. Mrs. Mary Ann (Harness) Woodson was born in Franklin County, Missouri, February 10, 1839, and was a daughter of Adam Harness, a pioneer of Henry County, concerning whom an account is given elsewhere in this volume. Mrs. Woodson died on March 31, 1898.
The following children were born to Chesley G. and Mary Ann Woodson: Chesley A., deceased; Nancy Agnes, deceased; Adam H., and Mary Elizabeth, wife of J. M. Hull, a biography of whom is given in this volume.
Adam H. Woodson was born February 7, 1869, and has achieved a splendid success as an agriculturist in Walker township. He is owner of three hundred twenty-four acres of well improved farm land upon which he has placed all of the buildings and fencing. Mr. Woodson has resided upon his farm for the past thirty years. He is a Democrat in his political faith as is his father, and has served as school director of his district. The other members of the Woodson household are Chester D. Hull and wife, nee Olga Robinson, who are keeping house for Adam H. Woodson.
Mr. Hull was born August 29, 1894, the son of J. M. Hull of Davis township. He was married September 26, 1917, to Olga Robinson, the daughter of Thomas and Mary (Moreland) Robinson.
Dr. Samuel Allen Poague, a leading physician and surgeon of Henry County, is a native son of Missouri. His parents were George Samuel and Eliza Christena Kellar Poague. A sketch of George Samuel Poague appears in this volume, with a detailed history of the Poague family.
Doctor Poague was born in Benton County, just east of the Henry County line, May 10, 1865. He was reared on a farm and attended the public schools. Later he attended Missouri University and for four years taught school in Benton and Henry Counties. In 1889, he matriculated in the St. Louis Medical College and was graduated April 25, 1892, with a degree of Doctor of Medicine. He immediately engaged in the practice of his profession at Clinton, where he has built up a large practice and won a place in the foremost ranks of his profession in this section of the State.
Doctor Poague also owns a drug store in Clinton, which is one of the most complete and best equipped drug stores to be found anywhere. He has a manager in charge of this store, which is located on the south side of the square, and the doctor's office is located over the drug store.
June 1, 1904, Doctor Poague was united in marriage with Miss Ethel E. Baugh, a daughter of Doctor J. H. Baugh, who was engaged in the practice of medicine at Leesville, this county, for a time. He died at the age of thirty-six years. Mrs. Poague was born at Leesville. To Doctor and Mrs. Poague have been born two children, Martha Christena and Henry Frederick.
Doctor Poague is a member of the Henry County and the Missouri State Medical Societies. At present he is the county and city physician and is a member of the local military draft board. He is a member of the Christian Church and is a Democrat.
Doctor Poague is a man who makes friends and keeps them. He is a genial gentleman and is interested in the welfare of his fellow men.
