N. B. OGG.

Napoleon B. Ogg was born in Madison county, Kentucky, in the year 1840. He received his education and grew up there, working on his father's farm. His father is still living there, and is now quite old. N. B. Ogg came to Ray county, Missouri, in the year 1868, and in the month of January, 1872, was married to Miss Lou Emma Burns, daughter of A. Burns, Esq., formerly a resident of Ray county, now deceased. Four sons have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Ogg, all of whom are now living. Their names in order of birth are as follows: Cyde, Charles B., Montie Lee, and Bertie. On first coming to this county Mr. Ogg engaged in the mercantile business at Ogg's Mill, west of Richmond, and subsequently at the town of Morton. He was four years in this business, and during that time he was constantly occupied in buying and selling cattle and hogs. The business of a stock trader is Mr. Ogg's chief occupation at present, though he also conducts a farm near Richmond. Mrs. Ogg is a worthy member of the M. E. Church South, at Todd's Chapel. Although Mr. Ogg has not been a resident of Ray county for many years, he is well identified with those who are deeply interested in her welfare and most active in the development of her resources and the promotion of public enterprises.

WILLIAM WILSON.

This gentleman was one of the company who sunk the first shaft for coal in Ray county. Wm. Wilson was born in Lawarkshire county, Scotland, in the year 1845. He has always been a miner. In the year 1865, he came to America, and spent a short time, after his arrival in this country, in the state of Pennsylvania, then coming west, he lived for a time in different states, until 1869, when he finally settled in Ray county, Missouri, and received naturalization papers from the circuit court here. Soon after locating in this county, Mr. Wilson began mining for coal, and, as has been stated, inaugurated the business by sinking the first shaft in is what now known as mine number six, on the railroad, one mile south of Richmond. This enterprise was highly successful, and the great coal beds of Ray county were opened to the world. There was a ready market at a good price, for all the coal that Mr. Wilson could get out, and he continued the business until now he is the possessor of a handsome income from mines and real estate. He is the owner of a beautiful place of seventy-three acres, in the western suburbs of Richmond, where he has of late, turned his attention to the raising of the best varieties of poultry. He has a patent incubator with which to hatch his fowls, and is prepared with every modern convenience and device to assist in raising them. If this venture proves a success, as no doubt it will under the management

ness.

of Mr. Wilson, he intends to increase his facilities and enlarge the busiHe now has the finest chickens of the white Brahma, Leghorn and Plymouth Rock varieties, and the Toulouse geese. He is now associated with Mr. Peter Wilson in the mining business, under the firm name of Wilson & Wilson. They have just sunk a new shaft on our subject's land, near the track of the St. Joseph branch of the Wabash, St. Louis and Pacific Railway. William Wilson was married at Richmond, in the month of March, 1873, to Miss Mary Blair, daughter of Mr. Robert Blair, formerly of that place, now dead. Five children were born of this union, and four of them are living at this time (April 1881). Mr. Wilson is a practical, energetic business man, and has now, by his own enterprise and industry, the property and good name which he now enjoys.

A. J. KINCAID.

The subject of this sketch is a native of Ray county, Missouri, and was born on the 19th day of September, 1837. He acquired his education in the common schools of this county, and spent the time, until his marriage, working upon his father's farm. A. J. Kincaid was married in the year 1862, to Miss Mary Renfro, daughter of John Renfro, Esq. They became the parents of seven children, all of whom are now living at home with their parents. Mrs. Kincaid and the eldest son are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, at Knoxville. Mr. Kincaid is not a member of any church or secret order. He owns a good farm of 200 acres, in sections thirty-one and thirty-six, township fifty-four, range twenty-eight, and is a very successful farmer. He is also extensively engaged in buying and selling cattle and hogs. His business is very prosperous, and he is highly regarded and respected by all his neighbors.

JOHN LARKEY.

Was born in Easton, Northampton county, Pennsylvania, on the 25th day of December, 1807. At the age of fifteen years, he was apprenticed to a tobacconist for a term of four years. At the expiration of his apprenticeship, young Larkey obtained employment in a tobacco factory at Pittsburg. From Pittsburg he went to Cincinnati, and worked at his trade in that city for about nine months. Then he moved to Washington county, Kentucky, and worked there at the same business. From Washington county he went to Louisville, and, establishing a cigar factory, entered business for himself. After living in the city of Louisville for about two years, he went to St. Louis, Missouri, and conducted the cigar business there for about three years. In the year 1836, Mr. Larkey came to Ray county, and, settling at the town of Camden, on the river, engaged in the cigar business until 1843, when he removed to a farm he had pur

chased, in the river bottom, five miles above Camden. He had just succeeded in getting comfortably settled, when the great rise in the river, known as the "flood of 1844," came, and his crops and fences were carried away and destroyed. His loss was considerable, and, during the three years succeeding the flood, he rented his farm, and then sold it, and bought a place near Albany, upon which he resided for several years. Afterward he sold this place, also, and bought the one upon which he at present resides, five miles west of Richmond. John Larkey was married in Ray county, Missouri, in the year 1837, to Miss Lydia Stout, daughter of Joseph Stout, Esq. The issue of this marriage was six children, three of each sex, all now living, and all but the youngest son are married. Following are their names, in order of birth, viz: Charles H., September 25, 1838; Maria Louisa, July 7, 1840; Edward, November 20, 1843; Lydia Ann, July 31, 1846; Amanda, January 1, 1848; John, October 20, 1851. Mr. Larkey is an old settler of the county, having been here for forty-five years. He is doing well in business, and is a good citizen of his adopted county.

RICHARD S. ELLIOTT.

Richard S. Elliott was born in the state of Virginia, in 1811. He went from his native state to Tennessee, soon after he was grown. He was married at Murfreesboro, Tennessee, in 1829, to Miss Margaret C. Uselton, of that city. For the space of two years after he was married, Mr. Elliott was engaged in farming, and then he came from Tennessee to Ray county, Missouri, and entered a farm of forty acres. To this place

he added by subsequent purchases until his farm now numbers some two hundred and five acres in the home tract (section 16, township 52, range 28). At the time of his death he owned, in all, about seven hundred acres in Ray county. To Mr. and Mrs. Elliott nine children were born, only six of whom are now living. Their names are as follows: Melinda Jane, wife of P. L. Carter; Palestine, wife of J. G. Ashley; Arthur B., Fannie, wife of John C. Burgess; Garner, and Landon F. All are married but the last named, who lives upon the old homestead, with his mother, and conducts the farm. Richard S. Elliott died on the 24th day of October, 1873. He was highly esteemed by all his neighbors and acquaintances. He was a successful and prosperous farmer, and a leading citizen of his section of the county.

JOHN GIBSON.

This gentleman is one of the pioneers in the development of the coal mines of Ray county. His father, Robert Gibson, a Scotchman, was a miner in his native country. John Gibson was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, December 24, 1843, and lived there until he was twenty-one years of

age. He was engaged in mining there, from his twelfth year. At his majority he immigrated to the new world, landing at the city of New York, after a five weeks' passage in a sail vessel, on the 10th day of January, 1865. He proceeded to Alleghany county, West Virginia, and, after working in the coal mines there for about four months, came on as far west as Lasalle, Illinois, and spent about one year in mining there. He then went to Ohio and worked a year, returning, at its expiration, to the mines of Illinois, at Braidwood. After remaining in Illinois for some time, he came in 1869, to Camden, Ray county, Missouri. Here he formed a partnership with Mr. William Wilson, a countryman of his, whom he had formerly known in Ohio, and together they commenced mining for coal on the lands of Joseph S. Hughes, Esq., about one mile south of Richmond. Before they succeeded in reaching coal Mr. Hughes entered into partnership with them, and the firm was styled J. S. Hughes & Company. This enterprise proved highly successful and remunerative, and a large business has been built up, and numerous rich mines since developed. Mr. Gibson was married at Richmond, Missouri, in the year 1872, to Miss Elizabeth Fortune, daughter of Judge W. D. Fortune, of Ray county. They became the parents of five children, three boys and two girls, all now living. Mr. Gibson resides in the western suburbs of Richmond. He also owns a farm of one hundred and twenty-seven acres, a mile and a half south of that town, where he intends, at some future time, sinking a shaft for coal. He is still interested with Messrs. J. S. Hughes & Co., in several richly yielding mines, and is in a highly prosperous condition. He is an active, enterprising and public spirited man, and his services have been very valuable in the development of the coal interests of Ray county.

JOSEPH PICKERING.

Joseph Pickering is a native of England. He was born in Blackwell, Yorkshire, on the 22d day of March, 1831. His father, Richard Pickering was a boiler maker by trade, and soon after the birth of our subject he removed to Shildon, on the Stockton & Darling railroad, and began work in the machine shops of the railroad company. Here Joseph learned the trade of a machinist. His apprenticeship commenced when he was fourteen years of age, and he finished it in four years. He continued working in the city of Shildon until the year 1849, when he came to America. In this country he worked, first, for Tompkins & Son, of Towander, Pennsylvania. He then went to New York and subsequently worked at his trade, in several different cities and states until the month of May, 1870, when he came to Richmond, Missouri, and purchased one hundred acres of land just outside the western limits of the town. Upon

this farm he established his home and has since lived. He established the Richmond foundry in the spring of 1871, and the following June was manufacturing castings, etc. At first he used only horse power but, at the end of four years, put in a fifteen horse power engine, which, of course, serves the purpose much better. His principal business is repairing and in this respect, especially, his enterprise in establishing this foundry, supplied a long felt want. Joseph Pickering was married, soon after coming to America, in Pennsylvania, to Miss Eliza Hartzal. The issue of this union was nine children, seven of whom are yet living and all at home with their parents, but one. Mr. Pickering conducts his farm in connection with the foundry business, both are, prospering well under his management. His eldest son, William, is now associated with him in business under the firm name of Pickering & Son.

ORVILLE H. SEARCY.

Orville H. Searcy, one of the first school teachers of Ray county, was born in Nashville, Tennessee, February 26, 1800. His father, Colonel Robert Searcy, was an officer of 1812, and figured prominently in the battle of New Orleans. He, also, served with distinction in the war with the Creek Indians in 1818. He was one of the Tennessee regiment with whom the iron hearted "Old Hickory" (Jackson) invaded the Indian country. Our subject attended the schools of Nashville, until he was fifteen years of age, and then entered Princeton College, New Jersey. From this celebrated institution of learning he graduated four years later with honor. Returning to Nashville he remained at home until his marriage which occured soon after his graduation. He was married on the 25th of February, 1821, to Miss Mary Ann Patton, daughter of Thomas Patton, Esq., and sister of Rev. Daniel Patton who became so well known, afterwards, in Ray county. Mr. Searcy removed soon after his marriage to Bedford (now Coffey) county, Tennessee, and engaged in teaching school. This occupation he followed for several years and then began merchandising, with which business he was occupied until he came to Missouri, in 1830. He settled on a farm one mile and a half east of Richmond, Ray county, and lived there for about four years. This farm he then exchanged for one nearer Richmond and removing to it, lived there until his death. Mr. and Mrs. Searcy became the parents of thirteen children; their names in order of birth as follow, viz: Elizabeth Jane, born February 27, 1822; Robert Thomas, born January 11, 1824; Archie Patton, born September 20, 1825; John Joseph, born July 30, 1827; Elvira Juliet, born May 3, 1830; Susan Dederick, born April 5, 1832; Mary Ann, born December 27, 1833; Martha Ann, born November 16, 1835; Nathaniel Davis, born April 14, 1838; William Patton, born February 14, 1840; Orville Henderson, born February 20, 1842; Lucinda Clay, born June 21, 1846; Sarah