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of the neighborhood possessed. After leaving school young Mitchell engaged in various avocations until two years ago, when he entered the hardware and agricultural implement trade at Orrick, in which business he has been engaged with good success ever since. He is an accommodating, popular and rising merchant, and although young in years, is possessed of good, practical judgment, and a degree of business acumen seldom seen in men of more mature years. He can not fail of abundant success in the future.

ELIJAH B. BAILEY.

Elijah B. Bailey was born in Casey county, Kentucky, September 27, 1829. He is the son of Samuel and Rebecca Bailey. His father was born in Lincoln county, Kentucky; his mother, in Nelson county, Virginia. Mr. Bailey received his education, and grew up in his native state. He learned the trade of a saddler and harness-maker, in the town of Danville, Kentucky, and in the year 1853, emigrated to Missouri, and, finally, located at Orrick, in Ray county, and has ever since lived there. Mr. Bailey was first married, August 12, 1855, to Miss Miriam T. Stanley, the daughter of Larkin and Elizabeth Stanley, natives of the state of North Carolina. Mrs. Bailey died in January, 1861, and Mr. Bailey was again married, in September, of that year, to Mrs. Betty S. Ross, daughter of Thomas and Nancy Anderson, natives of Tennessee. The second Mrs. Bailey lived twelve years after her marriage, dying December 18, 1873. Mr. Bailey was married the third time, September 17, 1874, to Mrs. Elizabeth Good, daughter of William and Sallie Roberts, natives of Adair county, Kentucky. Mr. Bailey has seven children living, and two dead. Their names, with dates of births and deaths, follow: George L., born June 18, 1860; Edmond S., born December 22, 1862; William T., born February 6, 1865; Kate L., born February 10, 1868; Bettie B., born March 25, 1871; Lucetta G., born December 9, 1873; Dora, born September 4, 1876; Benjamin F., died in 1876, and Jennie in 1879. In the year 1869 Mr. Bailey made a visit to Kentucky, and spent two years in that state. He is now engaged in the saddle and harness manufacturing business at Orrick. He commands a large patronage, and is an excellent workman.

W. R. ERWIN.

William R. Erwin was born in Oneida county, New York, on the 5th day of February, 1847. At the early age of fourteen years, he enlisted in company K, 146th New York regiment of Zouave volunteers, as a private, and was engaged in the battles of Fredricksburg, Chancellorsville, second Bull Run, Culpepper C. H., Gettysburg, Wilderness, Spottsylvania C. H., Fort Wagoner, Cold Harbor, Fort Fisher, and numerous

skirmishes. He was discharged in the month of June, 1865, at Raleigh, North Carolina, and returned to his home in the state of New York, Soon after, he went to Montana Territory, and engaged as clerk in a store there, for two years. He then went to the state of Texas, and, after staying there for a short time, to Colorado. From there he came to Kansas City, Missouri, in the year 1870, and the same year he went to Indian Territory, where he remained for two years, and then, returning to Missouri, located at the town of Orrick, in this county, where he has since resided. Mr. Erwin was married, in the month of February, 1877, to Miss Sarah E. Sheppard, daughter of David and Mariah Sheppard, natives of the state of Kentucky. Mr. and Mrs. Erwin have one child, Lawrence, born April 14, 1879. Mr. Erwin is now dealing in groceries and provisions, at Orrick, and commands a good patronage.

N. B. PIGG.

The subject of this sketch is a native of Ray county, Missouri, and was born January 12, 1847. His parents were W. J. and Julia A. Pigg. His father was born in the state of Kentucky. N. B. Pigg was educated in the schools of this county, and lived with his parents, working on the farm until he was twenty-five years of age. He was married, December 25, 1874, to Miss Mary Embree, daughter of Benjamin and S. E. Embree, natives of the state of Kentucky. She was born July 4, 1854. From 1870 to 1873, Mr. Pigg clerked in the dry goods store of E. T. Dardon. His father then bought an interest in the store, and our subject was employed to conduct it one year longer. At the expiration of that time he returned to the farm, and was engaged in farming during about six years. He then engaged in the general merchandise and agricultural trade at Orrick, and is still successfully conducting that business. Mr. and Mrs. Pigg have one child Alice, born November 17, 1875. Mr. Pigg is a member of Ada Lodge, No. 444, A. F. and A. M. He is a staunch business man, and a highly respected and valuable citizen of the town of Orrick.

WILLIAM A. WELLS.

This gentlemen was born in Ray county, Missouri, July 24, 1843. He is the son of John and Sarah Wells. His father was born in North Carolina and his mother in Tennessee. Our subject attended the schools of this county in his youth, and worked on his father's farm until he was twenty-eight years of age, and then clerked in a store for four years, at the end of which time he opened a family grocery store on his own account, and conducted it for three years. He then returned to farming for about a year, and then served as constable, to which office he had been elected, for two years. He then returned to mechandising, at Orrick, and is yet so engaged. Mr. Wells was married January 16, 1873, to Miss Cor

nelia B. Sheppard, daughter of D. B. and Minerva Sheppard, natives of the state of Kentucky. Mr. and Mrs. Wells have adopted Anna, daughter of Andrew J. and Lorena Wells.

ELLA S. DORTON.

The subject of this sketch was born in Knox county, Kentucky, April 6, 1837. Her parents were James B. and Sallie B. Dorton. Her father was a native of Virginia, and her mother of the state of Kentucky. The family came to this county when our subject was twelve years of age, and settled upon a farm, (section twenty-three, township fifty-one, range twenty-nine), where Orrick is now situated. Schools were few and far apart in those days, and such as were accessible to Miss Dorton, did not come up to the standard of excellence since established in the county, but she made the most of her advantages, and her naturally strong and vigorous mind, supplied by close and diligent application, the inefficiency of teachers, and the want of better books and more modern "aids to education." Having exhausted the course in the schools of her father's neighborhood, and carefully studied such books as came within her reach, she began to teach, in the district schools, for the laudable purpose of securing means sufficient to defray the expenses of higher education. She taught school for two years in the district where she now resides, and then entered the Catholic school of the Sacred Heart, an excellent institution, at St. Joseph, Missouri. After she had attended this school for two years, her further education was interrupted and permanently broken off, by the death of her father, which occurred April 30, 1863. She left the school of the Sacred Heart, and entered upon the honorable profession of teaching as her life work, and she has ever since battled nobly in the cause of popular education. She has met with very flattering success in the school room, and her services are much sought after. Miss Dorton inherited, and now owns a portion of her father's homestead.

R. H. McWHORTER.

Richard H. McWhorter is a native of Adair county, Kentucky, and was born September 7, 1844. He received his education and remained at home on a farm until eighteen years of age, and then enlisted in company C, 13th regiment of Kentucky cavalry, commanded by Col. J. W. Wetherfold, army of the Cumberland. He participated in the battles of King's saltworks, Virginia; Perryville, Kentucky, and Lebanon, Tennessee, besides many skirmishes. He was discharged January 10, 1865, at Camp Nelson, Kentucky, and went home to Adair county and engaged in farming for about five years. He then went, for a time, to Collin county, Texas, whence he came to Ray county, Missouri. Mr. McWhorter was married August 13, 1871, to Miss Laura Brasher, daughter of A. D. and

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Elizabeth Brasher. She was born in Ray county, Missouri, January 27, 1851. The issue of this union was two children: Elizabeth S., born December 2, 1873; Charles A., born March 9, 1875. Our subject is the son of R. W. and Elizabeth McWhorter, natives of the state of Kentucky. He is a member of Ada Lodge No. 444, A. F. & A. M.

D. B. SHEPARD.

David B. Shepard was born in Fleming county, Kentucky, March 13, 1832. He is the son of Robert and Lydia Shepard, also natives of the state of Kentucky. He lived in his native state until the year 1865, and then immigrated to Marion county, Indiana. After remaining there for about three years he came to Ray county, Missouri, and has ever since resided here. Mr. Shepard was married December 9, 1853, to Miss Minerva Todd, daughter of John and Mary Todd. Her father was a native of Ireland, and her mother of the state of Kentucky. Mrs. Shephard was born in 1834, in Kentucky. Our subject was reared on a farm and continued in the business of farming until 1860, when he began keeping hotel, etc. At the commencement of the civil war he enlisted in company C, second Kentucky mounted rifles, and engaged in the battles of Louisa, Kentucky, Cove Gap, Chicamauga, McMinville, and Anderson's Cross Roads, where he was captured and imprisoned at Camp Morton, for nineteen months. He was finally released from prison and returned to his family. He lost all his property by the war. Mr. and Mrs. Shepard have four children living, one dead: Lydia, Cordelia B., Mary F., Sallie. and Martha dead. Mr. Shepard was mayor of the town or Orrick for three years, and is at present a member of the city council of that town.

M. G. TAYLOR.

M. G. Taylor is a native of Ray county, Missouri, born September 28, 1838. He is the son of Daniel and Hannah Taylor. His father was born in the month of September, 1802, in Halifax county, Virginia. His mother was born in Missouri. Our subject was reared on a farm and continued living and working at home until he was twenty-four years of age and then went to learn the business of milling in the Albany mills. Mr. Taylor was married March 18, 1873, to Miss Mary Brasher, daughter of A. D. and Elizabeth Brasher. She was born in the year 1842, in Ray county, Missouri. The issue of this marriage was the following children: Ollie, born January 12, 1864; Alice, born April 11, 1866; Lucy, born December 1, 1869; Lena, born February 9, 1873; Edna, born February —, 1876; Maud, born December 11, 1874, died in February, 1875; Herbert, born May 25, 1878. Mr. Taylor is a member of Ada Lodge, No. 444, A. F. & A. M., and also a member of the Christian Church. He is, also, in

addition to his milling business, conducting a general merchandise and hardware store, at Albany. His business is in a highly prosperous condition and Mr. Taylor is universally popular with his large circle of friends, respected and esteemed by the community at large.

T. A. ROTHROCK.

Thomas A. Rothrock was born in the city of New York, July 2, 1855. His parents were Alexander and Ellen Rothrock. His father was a native of New York and his mother of the state of Pennsylvania. The family immigrated from New York to Ray county, Missouri, when Thomas was only five years old. He was educated in this county, and after leaving school, engaged in clerking for different stores for a number of years. Mr. Rothrock was married November 22, 1874, to Miss Florence Wall, daughter of Van and Margaret Wall. Her father was born in Ray county and her mother in Boone county, Missouri. She was born July 22, 1857, in this county. Mr. and Mrs. Rothrock have three children: Bessie, born April 9, 1875; Clardie, born November 18, 1876; Ernest, born April 26, 1880. Alexander Rothrock, father of our subject, was born November 12, 1815, and died February 3, 1881, at Albany. Thomas A. Rothrock is conducting a drug and grocery store at Albany. He commands a good trade and is doing well.

EDWARD T. DORTON.

Is a native of Russell county, Virginia, and was born on the 3d day of August, 1830. His parents were Joseph and Martha Dorton, natives of Virginia. His father was born July 19, 1795; died July 20, 1870. His mother was born April 15, 1807, and died February 12, 1871. Our subject finished his education at Emery and Henry College, and then began teaching school. In the year 1852 he came to Missouri, first living four years in Calloway county, and then settling permanently in Ray county. June 17, 1861, Mr. Dorton enlisted in company A, 15th Arkansas volunteer infantry, and participated in the battles of Pea Ridge and Wilson's Creek. At the latter fight he was captured by the enemy, and taken to Camp Douglass at Chicago; was afterward exchanged at Jackson, Mississippi. He was again taken prisoner at Walnut Grove, Arkansas, but was fortunate in escaping from his captors. He was paroled, April 12, 1865, at Pea Ridge, and went to Illinois, where he remained about ten months, and then came back to Ray county, where he has lived ever since. Mr. Dorton was married April 16, 1867, to Miss Pauline Dorton, daughter of James B. and Sallie Dorton. She was born May 15, 1849, in Knox county, Kentucky. The issue of this marriage has been one child: Clementina, born November 8, 1868. Soon after his marriage Mr. Dor

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