was again married, in 1856. The lady becoming his bride this time, was Miss Margaret Morris, a native of Ray county. By her he became the father of five children. Their names are: Kate, Mattie, Virginia, Lucy, and Benjamin. Mr. Spurlock owns a good farm of two hundred acres of very productive land, with a fine residence and other substantial improvements. He also deals quite extensively in live stock. He is one of Ray's most enterprising men and best citizens.

JAMES F. BATES.

Was born in Ray county, Missouri, in the year 1851. He attended the public schools of his native county, and in them received his education. His father owned a large farm, the same upon which Mr. Bates now lives, and after leaving school he commenced work on his father's farm, in which business he has ever since continued. He was married in 1876, to Miss Ella Morrison, a native of Ray county, and a most excellent young lady. The issue of this marriage is two children: Edward T. and Emily V. Mr. Bates owns one of the very best farms in the county of Ray, comprising four hundred acres of most excellent land, highly improved, having a handsome, commodious dwelling house, a good roomy barn, a fine orchard, and all in a fine state of cultivation, under good and substantial fencing. He is also extensively engaged in breeding and raising fine stock, and yearly feeds and ships large numbers of cattle and hogs to the eastern markets. Mr. Bates is highly esteemed in the community in which he lives, for his many excellent qualities as a neighbor and a citizen. He has done a good work tor the improvement and advancement of the agricultural interests of the county.

JAMES T. YATES.

The subject of this article is a Kentuckian, having been born at Shelbyville, in that state, on the 15th day of November, 1851. His parents. removed from Shelby county to Scott county, when he was quite young. He attended school for a time at Stamping Ground, in his native state. Then his parents immigrated to Ray county, Missouri, and located upon the same farm where Mr. Yates now resides. He has been a farmer all his life, and is now the owner of a fine and very valuable farm upon which he is at present making great improvements, which will add much to the beauty and comfort of his home, as well as very greatly enhancing its value. James T. Yates was married on the 8th day of February, 1876, to Miss Janie Richardson, a native of Hart county, Kentucky. This union is blessed with two promising children: William F. and Mary E. Mr. Yates is a brother of Doctor Yates, of this county, and is rapidly advancing to the front ranks among the substantial farmers and prominent citizens of his adopted county.

JOHN C. PORTER.

John C. Porter is a native of Lexington, Lafayette county, Missouri, where he was born on the 12th day of December, 1854. He had the advantages of the excellent public schools of his native state for the acquirement of an education. He entered upon the work of farming, and, after some time spent in pursuit of this calling, he went west with the tide of emigration in 1874, and was engaged for about two years in the cattle business in Colorado. He afterward returned to Missouri, to the county of his birth, and, becoming the possessor of a fine farm, again went to farming, in Clay township, near Wellington. He removed to Ray county in 1880, and has since made his home and been engaged in farming here. Mr. Porter was married on the 23d day of September, 1880, to Miss Mary D. Mallory. He is a rising, prosperous young farmer, an industrious and honorable man, well thought of and popular among his friends, of whom he has scores.

ROSS P. BELL.

The gentleman whose name heads this article is a native of the Old Dominion state. He was born at Harper's Ferry, Jefferson county, Virginia, in the year 1852. His parents removed with him to Ray county, Missouri, in 1860, and here he acquired his education in the public schools. After attaining his majority he was occupied for a considerable time in farming. Then he went to Texas, and, during the years 1872-’73 and '74, was engaged in the cattle trade in that state. Returning to Ray county, he again devoted his time and attention to farming for the space of about two years. Subsequently he went into the mercantile business in the town of Hardin, where he is yet engaged in a prosperous and lucrative trade. Mr. Bell was married to Miss Ella Johnson, a native of Ray county, on the 24th day of February, 1879. They have two children, Frank and Susan, who are twins. He is a rising, public-spirited, and popular young man.

JOHN H. GROVE.

John H. Grove is a farmer and stock-raiser. He was born in Highland county, Ohio, in the year 1839. He received the advantages of a common school education in his youth, at home, and was reared in the man ner usual with the sons of farmers in those days; and followed in afterlife, of choice, the avocation to which he had been reared. He owned a fine, well-stocked farm in Ohio, and was also engaged for a number of years as a stock-dealer. Mr. Grove was married in the year 1859, to Miss Lydia R. Cowman, also a native of Ohio. They became the happy parents of six children: Laura V., Eva M., Charles Grant, Maggie,

Mattie, and John, who are at present living. He removed to Ray county, Missouri, in 1871, purchased land, improved and beautified his home, and has lived here ever since in the enjoyment of the fruits of his industry, surrounded by a happy family and many warm friends. Mr. Grove has been justice of the peace for several years, and yet holds that office in his township. He is one of Ray's best and most substantial farmers.

GEORGE H. BUSH.

A native of the state of Kentucky. Was born in the month of September, 1847, in Hart county. He attended the schools of his father's neighborhood, and in them received his education. After he was grown he devoted his time to farming in his native state until about the year 1864. In the month of October of that year he emigrated from Kentucky to Missouri, and established his home in Ray county, since which time he has been engaged in his favorite avocation of farming. Miss Amy D. Lentz, of Ray county, became the wife of Mr. Bush on the 27th day of September, 1866. The result of this union is nine children, still living. Their names are as follows: Mary L., James H., George E., Elmer N., Myrtie A., Charles T., Philip W., Houston A., and Monroe P. Mr. Bush received the substantial evidence of his popularity among the people of his township by receiving their almost unanimous support for the office of constable, which position he now holds. Mr. Bush has a good, comfortable, and handsome home, a fine productive farm, and is highly regarded by his friends and neighbors.

GEORGE B. HINMAN.

George B. Hinman is a native of the state of Illinois, born in Pike county, in the year 1839. His early education was received in the district schools, and in the schools of Quincy, and finished by a commercial course in one of the best business colleges of Chicago. After leaving school he was occupied for some time in buying and shipping stock from Pike county, Illinois, to St. Louis. Subsequently he came to Ray county and bought the farm where he now lives, and where he has been engaged since, in tilling the soil, and in feeding and shipping live stock to market. Mr. Hinman was married on the 9th day of April, 1863, to Miss Arabella Lindsay, of Elizabethtown, Hardin county, Kentucky. The issue of this marriage was seven children: Arthur B., Anna M., George W., Fred L., Lena B., Ella M. and Mary F., now living. Mr. Hinman owns one of the largest, best, and most desirable farms in Ray county. It is well situated, high, rolling and fertile, in a healthful section of the country, with a fine large residence, and other necessary improvements upon it. He is a good neighbor, an honorable man, and a good citizen.

THOMAS M. DEACY.

The subject of this sketch is a public school teacher, and a native of Ray county, Missouri. He was born on the 3d day of March, 1851. The foundation of his education was laid in the common schools of this county, where he early evinced a fondness for books, and established a reputation for studious habits. After leaving school he entered the profession of teaching and continued his studies unaided by teacher, during the evenings and such leisure times as he could find to devote to them. He has ever since, engaged almost constantly, at his chosen profession in his native county. The fact that he has taught school almost interruptedly, in one district for eight years, and is now engaged for the succeeding year, is a strong proof of his popularity and efficiency as a teacher. He was, in 1877, elected to the honorable and responsible office of commissioner of public schools for Ray county, and discharged the duties so well and so acceptably that he was re-elected in 1879, and again, by a handsome majority, in 1881. Mr. Deacy was married December 23, 1875, to Miss E. Hawkins, a native of Ray county, and a lady in every way worthy of her excellent husband. They are the parents of one child, named James M. Mr. Deacy is a rising, justly popular, and highly esteemed young man, with a bright future ahead of him.

WM. H. FLOURNOY.

Was born on the 23d day of December, 1824, in Washington county, Kentucky. He received his education at Springfield Seminary, and spent his youth and early manhood in his native state. In the spring 1843 he immigrated to Missouri, settled in Ray county, and engaged in the pursuit of farming. About two years and a half afterwards he returned to Kentucky and remained there for some time. Again in 1846, he left Kentucky and came back to Ray county, Missouri. In the summer of the same year, he volunteered under Colonel Price, in the American army for the war against Mexico. After arriving in Mexico, General Price ordered a detail of one hundred men as escort to conduct him to conference with General Wool, supposed to be at that time quartered at Chihuahua. Ten of these men were from the company to which Mr. Flournoy belonged, and he himself was one of them. This little band met with General Doniphan, then their commander-in-chief, one hundred and fifty miles south of Santa Fe, who ordered them to halt and wait for him to finish preparations to join them. Proceeding on with Doniphan they fought two battles, one at Brazito, near El Paso, and the other at Sacramento, near Chihuahua. When they reached the last named place, they found that General Wool had not arrived there, and sent to General Taylor at Monterey, for further orders, which when received, were found to

the effect that they should report as soon as possible to him at that place. From there Mr. F.'s company was sent to New Orleans, Louisiana, and discharged. Chartering Captain Chamber's boat, they came up the Mississippi to St. Louis, and thence Mr. Flournoy returned to Ray county by river. The company to which he belonged captured nine peices of artillery at the battle of Chihuahua, which were afterwards distributed to different points on the Missouri river. One of them, a nine pound gun, was bored out and made a twelve pounder for use in the civil war. It was called the Sacramento, from the name of the place where it was captured. One of the ingredients in its composition was $8,000 worth of silver. It was cast in Spain more than 300 years ago. To prevent the enemy from capturing it at the battle of Corinth, the Confederates, then its owners, dismounted and sunk it in the river, and it has never been recovered. Mr. Flournoy was married in the year 1849, to Miss Malinda Clark, a niece of the late General John B. Clark; two children, the result of this union, are yet living: Matthias and Hugh C. After the Mexican war Mr. Flournoy was engaged in farming until the breaking out of the rebellion in 1861, when he volunteered under the "stars and bars," entering General Price's army to battle for the cause of the south. His health failing, he was not kept regularly on duty, but engaged in some battles, and remained in the service to the end of the war, being discharged at St. Louis, Missouri, in 1865. Returning home to Ray county, he found his house had been burned, and his fine farm of three hundred and sixty acres, confiscated. He then went west and spent one year upon the plains of Nebraska, after which he came back to Ray county, and has been farming here ever since. He was married the second time, in 1868, to Mrs. Louisa Hawkins, of Ray county. They have one child: Nannie F. Mr. Flournoy now owns a fine farm, and is in a highly prosperous condition.

HENRY BOGGESS.

A native of Kentucky, was born twelve miles southwest of Frankfort, Anderson county, on the 23d day of February, 1805. His advantages for early education were limited to the common schools, but being possessed of a strong intellect, a practical turn of mind, and gifted with the faculty of imbibing knowledge from passing events, from mingling with men and intercourse with the world, Mr. Boggess has become more thoroughly educated than would have been possible, perhaps, by the superficial course usually taught in our high schools and colleges. He followed the business of farming, to which he was reared, and in the year 1833, came to Ray county, Missouri, where, purchasing a farm, he settled, and has continued ever since to live, except one year he spent in the state of Illinois. Mr. Boggess was married before leaving Kentucky, in the year 1830, to Miss Lucinda Wall, also a native of Anderson county, that state.