breeds of horses, cattle, sheep and hogs. He is one of the most prominent and successful farmers in Ray county. Mr. Holman was married, in 1868, in this county, to Miss Eliza Lanier. The issue of this union was one child. Mrs. Holman died in 1872, and our subject was again married, March 11, 1874, to Miss Martha Johnson, by Rev. Hardy Holman. They have one child. Mr. Holman is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and a highly respected and influential citizen. JOHN KNIGHT. Was born in the county of Mayo, Ireland, May 16, 1817. Came to the United States in 1840, landing at Baltimore. He settled in the Shenandoah Valley, Virginia, where he lived until 1855, and then removed to Boone county, Kentucky. From Kentucky he came to Missouri, in 1857 or '58, and stopped first in Macon county, where he secured a contract on the Hannibal & St. Joe railroad. He worked on the railroad also in Platte county, and then engaged in building a turnpike road. He came to Vibbard, this county, where he now lives, in 1876. Mr. Knight was married in Shenandoah county, Virginia, in 1850, to Miss Catharine Jenkins, a native of Shenandoah county, Virginia, born in 1830. They became the parents of nine children, six of whom are now living: Mary J., born May 16, 1852; William, born December 16, 1853; Ellen, born December 26, 1856; Michael and Amanda, twins, born June 4, 1860; Annie, born November 11, 1868. WILLIAM KNIGHT. William Knight was born in Rockingham county, Virginia, December 16, 1853. He left his native state, when quite young, with his parents, and lived for a time in Kentucky, then in Macon and Clinton counties, Missouri. He came to Ray county in 1876, and settled at the town of Vibbard, where he is now engaged, very successfully, in business. JOHN W. TURNER. John W. Turner was born in Clay county, Missouri, July 25, 1843, and has lived there all his life, except two years, spent at Denver, Colorado. He owns a very valuable farm, just across the Ray county line, well improved and in a fine state of cultivation, with an abundance of water for stock, and a good bearing orchard. This farm is partly in the prairie, with just enough timber to afford material for buildings, fences and fuel. Mr. Turner is very extensively engaged in buying and shipping cattle, hogs and sheep to market. His business extends through the counties of Ray, Clay, Clinton and Caldwell. By his good management and excellent judgment, he has made the stock-dealing branch of his business very profitable and successful. By an accident in the summer of 1867, Mr. Turner had the misfortune to lose his left arm. While carrying a sharp scythe, on a mule, the animal took fright and threw him, cutting his wrist so severely on the scythe as to necessitate amputation of the arm below the elbow. Mr. Turner is a leading member of the M. E. Church South, and an honorable, highly respected and influential citizen. JAMES T. HURT. The subject of this sketch was born in Ray county, Missouri, October 12, 1849, and has lived here all the time during his past life. He was engaged in farming prior to 1870, when he began merchandising at Lawson in company with Mr. Robert Clark. In 1876, he bought a store in Lisbonville and lived there for four years, at the expiration of which time he returned to Lawson, and in the beginning of 1881, entered in partnership with Mr. Allison, forming the firm of Allison & Hurt, dealers in general merchandise. Mr. Hurt was married December 15, 1874, to Miss Allie E. Crithfield, by Rev. W. C. Campbell. Mrs. Hurt was born November 22, 1849, in Ray county. The issue of this marriage has been three children: Austin, born May 22, 1876; Thomas, born October 21, 1878; Arthur, died in infancy. Mrs. Hurt died February 10, 1881, deeply mourned by her friends and relatives. Mr. Hurt is a member of the M. E. Church and also of the Masonic order. J. B. TOMPSON. Was born in Ray county, Missouri, February 4, 1859, and has lived there all his life, engaged, since he was old enough to work, in farming. Mr. Tompson was married in this county, in 1879, to Miss Susan Glasscock, by Rev. Hardy Holman. Mrs. Tompson was born August 26, 1860, in Ray county, Missouri. She is a member of the Christian Union Church. Mr. Tompson is a member of the Farmers' Club, and owns a neat, pleasant home of ninety-six acres, and is an industrious, rising young husbandman, with a promising start in life. J. R. BERTEN. John R. Berten was born in Caldwell county, Missouri, February 26, 1857. He is the son of Thomas J. and Celia (Cravens) Berten, who were married at Knoxville, this county, in 1843, by Solomon Cravens, J. P., and became the parents of a family of eight children, five boys and three girls. When John was yet a small boy his parents removed to Ray county, Missouri, where he was reared on a farm and has since lived. He removed to the town of Lawson, 1873, where he now lives, engaged in the livery stable busiuess. At the age of eight years, Mr. Berten had a severe fever, which left him a permanent cripple. He has a good English education and is fond of books and study. He is a very popular young gentleman and enjoys the esteem of all who know him. WILLIAM HANNAS. William Hannas was born in Hampshire county, West Virginia, October 8, 1836, and lived there until the age of twenty-two years, when he removed to Green county, Ohio, and remained there five years. He then went to Pike county, Illinois, and lived there about the same length of time. In 1870, he came to Missouri, and settling in Carroll county, remained there until April, 1881, when he came to this county. He has been a life-long farmer. He owns two hundred and sixty acres of land, principally prairie, well fenced and cultivated, improved with a good residence, barn and other buildings and bearing a neat, prosperous appearance. Mr. Hannas was married in West Virginia, in the year 1859, to Miss Mary M. Williams, a native of Hampshire county, Virginia, born May 26, 1842. The issue of this marriage has been the following named children, viz: Philip W., born September 2, 1860; Edgar, born July 6, 1864; Mordacai, born February 27, 1866; Mollie, born December 5, 1869; Daniel A., born April 27, 1871; Rosa E., born September 30, 1874; Margaret, born October 26, 1876; Virginia, born February 19, 1879. Daniel Hannas, the father of our subject, was born in Hampshire county, Virginia, in October, 1812, died January, 1875. Jacob Williams, the father of Mrs. Hannas, was born in Frederick county, Virginia, January 7, 1792. Mr. Hannas is a successful farmer and an active, influential citizen. JOSEPH A. SMITH. Joseph Addison Smith was born in Guilford county, North Carolina, September 23, 1822. His parents removed to Ray county, Missouri, in 1838, settling within two miles of where Mr. Smith now resides. Here our subject lived, occupied with duties on his father's farm, until 1846, when he enlisted in company C, 1st Missouri cavalry, under Col. A. W. · Doniphan, for the war with Mexico. From Leavenworth, Kansas, the 1st Missouri marched to Santa Fe, and thence across the Rio Grande river into Mexico. Mr. Smith served twelve months, and was discharged at the old Mexican town of Monterey. He participated in the battles of Brazito (near El Paso, New Mexico,) Sacramento, marched to Chihuahua, and thence to Monterey, where he was detailed to the care of the sick, and remained while his regiment marched on, to be discharged at New Orleans. After the war, Mr. Smith returned to this county, and commenced improving a farm on the open prairie, which at that time was not settled and hardly thought to be habitable, building a small log cabin where his residence now stands. His friends wondered at his going so |