Goodspeed biographies filename C_D..txt contributed by Mary Collins USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. *************************************************************************** Subject: Goodspeed C and D JOHN L. CLEVELEN, dealer in jewelry, organs, sewing machines, books, stationery, etc., is a native of Iron County, Mo., the birthplace of his mother, Eliza W. (Miller) Clevelen. His father, Charles Clevelen, grew up in Albany, N.Y., his native place, until he reached the age of eighteen, when that desire to see the world, which often takes possession of a young man, led him to run away from home. He came west, and for several years was employed on the Mississippi River. He had married and was living at Ironton, Mo., at the birth of the subject of this sketch, April 2, 1858. He spent the most of his life in farming and mercantile pursuits. His decease occurred in 1875, but his widow still survives him. John L. was the fifth of eight children, and received school training in those “ruby founts of knowledge,” called the district schools, and a short time in Poplar Bluff. In 1878 he became a salesman in the store of R.P. Liles, of Poplar Bluff, for $11 per month, and was employed there for three years. The next three years he served as postmaster of Poplar Bluff. His present business grew from an $85 investment in a news-stand, to which he added from time to time, until he now has an extensive trade in organs, sewing machines, books, stationery, and the best stock of jewelry in the city. Mr. Clevelen holds a prominent position in the K. of P. order as Deputy Grand Chancellor for his district. He is a Republican in politics. Pages 1067-1068. GEORGE H. CRUMB, attorney- at-law, and editor of The Republic, is a native of the Empire State. His father’s ancestors were early settlers of Rhode Island, but the parents lived in New York, when the son, Judge C.B. Crumb, was born. The Judge graduated at Union College, New York, in the class of 1839. He practiced law in Syracuse, N.Y., where his son, George H., was born, August 14, 1845. He also practiced at Rochester of that State, until he removed to Illinois in 1856. About 1859 Stoddard County, Mo., became his home, and here he held various public offices of trust and honor, and lived to reach the ripe age of seventy-two years. His wife, Sarah J. Peck, also a native of New York, was of the old Puritan stock. She died at the age of sixty-eight years, an esteemed lady, and the revered mother of four children. The family had the best educational advantages, and the second child, George H., was graduated from Union College in the class of 1866. He carried on his legal studies under his father’s direction, and was able to be admitted to the bar in 1867. He practiced his profession from that time until 1880. In 1870 he was elected circuit attorney of the twenty-third Judicial Circuit, and rendered valuable service, especially in connection with the land interests of the various counties of the circuit. In 1875 his attention was turned to journalism somewhat, and he has been occupied in that line more or less ever since. He was appointed receiver of the United States Land office at Ironton, Mo., in 1881, by President Garfield, and served until his advent at Poplar Bluff, in 1885. Here he founded The Republic, a journal which has sprung to a prominent place, under the influence of his facile pen and good management, and now has an extensive circulation in Southeast Missouri. He is a Republican. In 1878 Mr. Crumb married Miss Sallie A., a daughter of F.W. May, and native of St. Charles County, Mo. But one of their three children is living, Nellie. Mrs. Crumb is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Page 1068. JAMES L. DALTON, of the firm of Wright & Dalton, dealers in hardware, furniture and agricultural machinery, was born in Ripley County, December 28, 1866. His father, William Dalton, was a native of the same county, where his mother, Mary C. (Myatt) Dalton, was brought as a child from her native place in Tennessee. The father was a farmer by occupation, and served also in the Confederate army during the Rebellion. He died in 1872. The mother still lives, and is an esteemed member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Of her large family of ten children our subject was the fifth child. He was about eight years old when they went to Arkansas, and he received his education at the La Crosse Collegiate Institute. When he reached his sixteenth year, he went to Doniphan, Mo., and became a salesman in the hardware store of J.R. & E.W. Wright, who opened a store in Poplar Bluff, in 1886, and made Mr. Dalton their manager at that point. His mercantile ability soon led him to buy out the first mentioned partner, and the firm name at Poplar Bluff assumed its present form. Their large and select stock fills a two-story brick block, 36 x 110 feet, and is one of the leading business houses in the city. To this standing Mr. Dalton has arisen from the position of a clerk at $15 per month. In 1887 he married Miss Clara Wright, the sister of his former employer, J.R. Wright. She is also a native of Ripley County. Mr. and Mrs. Dalton are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. The K. of P. is the only fraternity with which he is identified, and in political opinions he finds congenial spirits in the Democratic party. Page 1068. DR. HUGH C. DAVIDSON, a successful practitioner and farmer of Black River Township, was born in Hickman County, Tenn., in 1832, and is the son of Rev. David and Theresa (Green) Davidson. The father was probably born in Davidson County, Tenn., in 1802, and was married about 1823. He then settled in Hickman County, and in 1854 he removed to Butler County, Mo., Black River Township, where he made his home until his death, which occurred in 1866, in Iron County. He had a limited education, and from almost a young man was a minister of the Christian denomination. Notwithstanding his poor education Rev. Davidson was well informed in history and Scripture, and was an eloquent and fluent speaker. He owned a good farm, and was a good man. His father, Josiah Davidson, was, perhaps, born in Scotland. He was reared in North Carolina, but was one of the early settlers of Davidson County, Tenn., that county being named in his honor. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and a stanch Jeffersonian Democrat to the last. He died in Hickman County, Tenn., at the age of one hundred and four. The mother of Hugh C. was born in Shawnee, Ohio, in 1806, and died in 1864, the result of grief brought on by war. She was a member of the Christian Church and an excellent woman. Mr. Davidson’s ministerial duties called him all over Southeast Missouri, and he was an earnest worker for the cause of religion, with but little compensation. Dr. Hugh C. Davidson was the fourth of nine children, eight of whom lived to be grown and were married. He received a fair education in the common schools, and at the age of seventeen spent five months at grammar school, and after leaving school, studied Latin and Greek privately. At the the age of twenty-one he took up the study of medicine, and after reading five or six years began practicing in order to get means to send him to college. He then entered the medical college at Philadelphia, and graduated from that institution in 1866. In 1852 he married Miss Martha Ann Higgins, a native of Maury County, Tenn. She died in 1864, and of the four children born to this union, two are now living. Dr. Alexander W. resides at and is practicing his profession in Poplar Bluff, Mo., and Dr. Josephus M. is practicing at Polk’s Station, Obion Co., Tenn. In 1867 Mr. Davidson married Miss Eliza S. Stewart, who died in 1869. Two children were born to this marriage, one now living, Abraham L. Mr. Davidson was married the third time in 1871 to Miss Sarah Epley, who died in 1878. Two children were also born to this union: Henry C. and Viola. In 1854, shortly after his first marriage, the Doctor went to Butler County, Mo. In 1862 he joined the secret service, and after about ten months he was appointed provost-marshal for the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Districts of Missouri, and held that position until June 1864, when he moved to Illinois, and there lived until 1867, during which time he attended college. He then returned to Butler County, where he as since resided two miles south of Hendrickson. He has a good farm of 533 acres, all the result of his own work, and is also engaged in the practice of his profession, which he has followed for thirty years with success. Twice his name has been placed on the Republican ticket for the General Assembly, but suffered defeat, with the rest of his party, as the county is strongly Democratic. In 1886, he was the choice of his party for Congress from the Fourteenth District, but owing again to the Democratic majority in the county suffered defeat. He was reared a Democrat, and his first presidential vote was for James Buchanan, in 1856. Since the war Mr. Davidson has been a stanch Republican. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, a member of the I.O.O.F., and is also a member of the G.A.R. His religion is “To do right because it is right,” and “To do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” ISAAC M. DAVIDSON is an attorney-at-law, at Poplar Bluff. David Davidson was born in Tennessee in the county bearing his name, in 1802, and as he reached manhood was engaged in farming, and also preached the gospel for the Christian Church. In 1806 there was born in Butler County, Ohio, one who became Miss Firza A. Greene, a young lady who came to Davidson County, Tenn., with relatives, and soon became Mrs. David Davidson. They lived in Tennessee until 1854, when Butler County, Mo., became their home, where, but ten years later, the wife died, only to be followed by her husband a year later. They were devoted Christian people, and he was in politics, a supporter of the Democracy. Among their nine children, two boys were physicians, and one—the one born in Hickman County, Tenn., February 25, 1835—became a member of the legal fraternity. It is needless to say this one was the subject of this sketch. Young Davidson received the advantages of rural Tennessee schools, and on coming to Butler County became a pedagogue, but the war interrupted this occupation, and in 1862 he enlisted and was commissioned first lieutenant of Company D, Thirty-first Missouri Infantry, United States army. After a time he resigned and became connected with the enrolling service. It was in 1867 that he returned to Butler County, and his previous legal studies enabled him to become a member of the bar, and since that time he has built up at Poplar Bluff, a large and lucrative clientage. From his assets of $100 in 1857, he had become one of the county’s heaviest taxpayers. In 1872 he was elected school commissioner of the county, and from 1876 to 1880 served as its prosecuting attorney. He also deals in real estate. Mr. Davidson was married in 1857 to Lucinda Ross, a native of Kentucky, who died three years later, and in 1863 Mary I. Barfield became his wife. Two children-now deceased- were born to them, and in 1868 her death followed. His second marriage was with his present wife, Miss Mary McCullough, a native of Arkansas. Six children have been born to them. Mr. Davidson’s family have always held the faith of the Christian Church. He is a Republican and is identified with the G.A.R., K. of H., and K. of P. Pages 1069-1070. ALEX W. DAVIDSON, M.D. In Hickman County, Tenn. Hugh G. Davidson grew to manhood and learned with diligence what he could in the common schools, so that he was able to himself become a teacher. He also became a farmer and married Miss Martha A. Higgins, also a native of that county. In 1854 he moved to Mississippi County, Mo., and after one term of teaching came to Butler County, Mo. He united with the Christian Church and preached for several years. In 1862 he became a provost United States marshal, and for over a year acted as spy, but failing health caused him to resign. He settled in Jackson County, Ill., in 1864, and there lost his wife. The study of medicine next attracted his attention, and he graduated from the medical college of Philadelphia. In 1867 he returned to Butler County, where he practiced until age caused the venerable Doctor to retire to the farm. His present wife is his fourth one. To his first wife, while they lived in Hickman County, Tenn., there was born on September 26, 1853, a son who is the subject of this sketch, the eldest of eleven children. Alex. W. was a babe when they came to Butler County, and here attended school and studied medicine under his father. He then entered the American Medical College of St. Louis, and graduated in 1876, and at once located at Greenville, Wayne County, where in 1878, he married Miss Lizzie C. Atkins, a native of that county. Four children have been born to them, two of whom are living. Mrs. Davidson is a Missionary Baptist. Since 1884 they have lived at Poplar Bluff, where the Doctor has built up a good practice. Although he is a young man, his experience covers about thirteen years. His political preferences are Republican, and in fraternal matters he supports the I.O.O.F. and K. of P. Page 1070. JOSEPH T. DAVIDSON, prosecuting attorney for Butler County, is a son of William R. and Eliza J. (Walker) Davidson, natives of Pennsylvania, where they were also married. Franklin County was the native place of the father. About 1843 he moved to Dayton, Ohio, and became a merchant. From that time he did business successively and successfully in Covington, Ky., Cincinnati, Ohio, and Bloomington, Ill., living at the latter place from 1853 until his death in 1867. His wife resides there still. Both held the faith of the Old School Presbyterian Church, of which he was an elder for many years. His political convictions were Whig and Republican. Eight children were born to them, and of the four living, Joseph T. is the eldest son. He was born in Dayton, Montgomery Co., Ohio, June 29, 1846, and, while they lived at Bloomington, he was educated in the public schools and the model department of the State Normal there. His school work was twice interrupted by the war. In 1862 he served three months in the Sixty-eighth Illinois Volunteers, and in 1863 entered the Third Illinois Cavalry Volunteers, serving in Company I and Company D until the close of the conflict. The most severe engagement of the many he was in was the second battle of Nashville. The Adams and American Express Companies made him their money-clerk at Cairo, Ill., for about six years, and he served as teller in the City National Bank of Cairo, for two years. He had been in Butler County ten years, when in 1884 he was admitted to the bar, and was elected to his present office two years later, on the Farmer’s Union ticket. His public life has been quite extensive, serving as mayor of Poplar Bluff one term, also as an alderman. Of the K. of H. and K. of P. he is a charter member and was presiding officer of both the first two terms. He is Post Commander of R.L. McCook Post No. 114, G.A.R., and secretary of the Poplar Bluff Building and Loan Association. In 1879 he married Lela, a daughter of Dr. James A. Greer, and to them have been born four children. Mrs. Davidson was born in Kentucky in 1861, and has long been an esteemed member of the Presbyterian Church. Attorney Davidson is a strong Republican. Page 1070 BYRD DUNCAN, of the firm of B. Duncan & Co., is a native of Wilson County, Tenn., born July 20, 1846. His father, Richard M. Duncan, also a native of Tennessee, was of North Carolina ancestry, while his wife, Miss Alapher Breece, was a native of the same State, but of British stock. The father was a stone- cutter by trade, and about 1859 engaged in the business near Bowling Green, Ky. With the opening of the war he moved to Shawneetown, Ill., where the mother died in 1870 at the age of sixty-two years. He still lives near there at the advanced age of seventy-six years. Although he is now a Republican in politics his earlier views grew from Whig opinions. Both parents held the Baptist faith. Byrd, the youngest of seven children, received a good common school education, and when about sixteen years of age began the brick-layer’s trade, with which he was occupied for about seven years. He came to Wayne County, Mo., in 1873, and turned his attention to clerking until he came to Poplar Bluff in 1878. After a year as clerk he became a member of the firm of B. Duncan & Co. with Pat Harmon. His capital when he came to Southeastern Missouri was represented by the munificent sum of $85, but his ability and skill have made him one of the first hardware men of Poplar Bluff. Mr. Ducan’s public life has been on the city council and the school board, and his clear-cut Republican convictions led to his being a delegate from the Fourteenth District to the National Republican Convention of 1884. He is a member of the Baptist Church. In 1879 he married Miss Mollie Spence, a native of Butler County. Two sons and two daughters have been born to them. Pages 1070-1071. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Use your Browsers "Back" button to return from this text page to Butler county GoodSpeed File 22:56 7/2/2001 Mary Hudson mahud@fidnet.com