In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1912) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
From History of southeast Missouri : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests (1912), History of Dunklin County, Mo., 1845-1895 (1896)
[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]
W. G. Bragg.
under different firm names. In 1878 he was elected to the position of Clerk and in 1882 re-elected, filling the position for six years. A few years ago Mr. Bragg went to Washington and spent about two years there, but returned to Dunklin County and again located in Kennett, where he is at present in the real estate business. In 1877 he was united in marriage to Kittie Chapman, daughter of Turner and Hulda Mott-Chapman. Mr. and Mrs. Bragg are members of the Christian Church, and Mr. Bragg of the Masonic fraternity.
C. D. Bray, son of E. M. and N. M. Owen-Bray, was born January 20, 1874. Mrs. N. M. Owen-Bray is a daughter of Dr. Given Owen, and a native of this State, and now resides on the Bray Old Farm," near Campbell. Mr. E. M. Bray was a native of Tennessee, and came to Dunklin County in 1858, and married Miss N. M. Owen in 1867.
Cyrus D. Bray.
Their children were five in number: Rhoda T., Cyrus D., Mary E., Adrian O., and Elija Monro. Mr. Bray died in 1884, and, since his death, Cyrus D., the subject of this sketch, has done much toward the support of the family. He is assistant postmaster and druggist in the well-known McCutchen pharmacy, and is polite, efficient and fast climbing up the ladder of honorable prosperity. He is Democratic in politics, and his parents were members of the Baptist Church, and his father was a Mason. Mr. Bray is the young man whom a couple of burglars coolly tied to his bedpost in the winter of 1894, while they robbed his pockets, the McCutchen safe, etc. He says they were in his room when he awoke; they gave him a whiff of chloroform and told him to keep quiet; he complied and they were quite polite in their treatment of him, being careful not to wrap the cords painfully tight around his limbs. He soon released himself but the burglars had made good their escape.
Nathaniel Baker and Joe Peltz are two of the pioneers of this county yet living, who have enjoyed many buffalo hunts and elk drives together in what is now Dunklin ('county, but which was, when they were lads, an exceedingly fine hunting-ground, actually and truly flowing with wild meat, wild fruit and wild honey. They lived here when swan were so plentiful that they would not waste ammunition killing geese, thinking them too small, when wild cattle, bear, wolves and fur-bearing creatures were as plentiful as is now the rabbit, squirrel and opossum. The geese, ducks, swan, etc., had to be watched out of the corn patches like swarms of blackbirds.
'* Uncle Nathaniel," came to Dunklin County with his father, James Baker, in 1833. They first settled on Buffalo Island, and were the second family to locate there. They removed to Grand Prairie in 1842, and settled on the place where Mr. N. Baker now resides. He soon married a daughter of Hugh Shipley, and their pioneer home is yet preserved almost as first built.
Mr. Baker is a Democrat in politics, and both he and wife are members of the Old Liberty class of M. E. C. S.
Mr. Peltz came to Dunklin County a little later than Mr. Baker, and there were but about ten white families in the south end of the county when he arrived here. *' Uncle Joe " is yet a great hunter, a staunch Democrat, and a member of the Missionary Baptist Church. These pioneers have lived to see the *' Buffalo Wallows " and *' Elk Stamping Grounds " turned into cotton and cornfields; the Indian wigwams replaced by modern buildings; the poky old pack-horse and two-wheeled ox cart outstripped by the " wheeledhorse " and steam engine; the old-fashioned summer barbecues rounded up into an annual Fair lasting several days. In short, what was 62 years ago, when they first saw it, an Indian hunting-ground, has been given the name of Dunklin County, and people by 20,000 busy and progressive Americans.
Kev. J. M. Blaylock was born Oct. 28, 1846, in North Carolina. His parents, Mariet and Martha Swarengin-Blaylock, were natives of North Carolina. They emigrated to East Tennessee on French Broad River in 1859, and in 1865 came to West Tennessee. August 12, 1866, J. M. Blaylock, who had been long a wanderer from his father's house, started home, and on arrival found that his father had died on the same day and about the same hour that he had started for home. February 5, 1867, he was married to Miss M. M. Rowe, a native of Tennessee. Six children have been born to this union, the eldest dying in infancy; the others are, W.M., Mettie L., Mittie Bell, John M., and L. C. Rev. Blaylock says he was converted on a Methodist camp-ground at Manley Chapel, under the preaching of Rev. John Peoples, in 1869, united with the Missionary Baptist Church at Bear Creek, Carroll County, Tennessee. Was ordained a deacon shortly after, and was ordained to the ministry by Union Hill Church in 1884.
In the same year he came to Dunklin County and located near Valley Ridge. The first year he was pastor of Old Four Mile Baptist Church, doing missionary work the third year, and before and since that time he has been pastor of a number of churches. In 1889 he removed to Caruth, this county, but now resides near Shady Grove, one of the churches of which he pastorates. He is recognized as a forcible and impressive speaker.
May. Henry H. Bedford, attorney at law, Bloomfield, Mo., was born November 27, 1823, in Jackson County, Tenn. He is the son of J. M. and Elizabeth Hale-Bedford, natives of North Carolina and Tennessee respectively. The father was born in 1799. The son, H. H., is a citizen of Stoddard and not of Dunklin County, Mo., but has been identified with both counties for over half a century. He attended the first Circuit Court ever held in Dunklin County, and has attended every other regular term held in this county but three. No other personnge is so constantly seen in the courts of this county as May. H. H. Bedford. He was one of its first attorneys and came all the way from Bloomfield, Stoddard County, to Hornersville, Dunklin County, on horseback for his first wife, whom he married in 1847, and who was a daughter of Frank Lee, one of the very earliest pioneers of this county. After her death he was again married in 1852 to Mrs. Minerva Handy. The children of this marriage living are: Orlando, Ida V., Ethel, Arthur C, and May. In 1861 he enlisted in Capt. Hale's Company of Cavalry, and when the regiment was organized at Belmont he was elected major, in which capacity he served for about a year, when he was taken ill with pneumonia; his regiment returning home he never again resumed command. He participated in several hard skirmishes during his service and bore himself like a brave and gallant soldier. In 1857 and 1858 he represented Stoddard County in the Legislature,and for fifty years has been prominently connected with the public affairs of that county and Dunklin.
He is a large landholder in both counties and knows as much, perhaps more, of the early history of these two counties than any other man living. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and is held in high regard by legal and official circles in Dunklin County.
D. T. Boyd, M. D., of Campbell, was born in Collin County, Texas, March 5, 1870. Attended school at McKinney, Texas, two years, and afterward at Farmerville, Texas. Taught in the public schools of that State for a while, but commenced the study of medicine in the spring of 1890. Entered the medical college at Nashville, Tenn., in the fall of 1890, and graduated from the University of Nashville and Vanderbilt University in the spring of 1892. He came to Dunklin County in March of the same year and located at Campbell, and is now the leading young physician of that place. Married Miss Lula Taylor of Bonham, Texas, in August, 1893. Was made a Mason in
Dk. D. T. Boyd.
August, 1892, and has been a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church since 1889.
The parents of Dr. Boyd were M. M. and Mary J. Walker Boyd, both natives of Henry County, Tenn.
T. C. BuFORD, merchant. Maiden, Missouri, was born in Oford, Mississippi. He is the son of H. A. and S. L. Gill-Buford. His father was a native of Murray County, Tennessee, and his mother of Rock Hill, South Carolina. They emigrated to Mississippi, and here their third son, T. C, was reared and educated. He is well educated and follows the profession
As printed in History of Dunklin County, Mo., 1845-1895 (1896). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
WaLiAM G. Bragg. There is no man in all Dimklin county who has gained more prominence than William G. Bragg, the man who never let himself be discouraged. There is no kind of a man that nature hates so much as a quitter. The start in life is like a horse race, where opporttmity is equal. The racers are all bunched at the first turn, but from there they begin to scatter. At the second turn two stop and two are seen forging ahead. There is still a goodly bunch to be seen from the grand stand and individuals cannot be distinguished. At the third turn the bunch has elongated itself to a single file and each individual can be seen. Several have "done quit." As the leaders turn into the home stretch you see only two horses out of the dozen that started. These two come on with a steady, sustained matter of hoofs, one.just a length behind the other. They keep their places until within a hundred yards of the wire, when the horse that is behind seems to let out an extra link and he forces ahead and comes in under the wire, an easy winner by two lengths. With men as with horses the supreme test is the ability to stay in and to give the extra burst of power when it is required, thus qualifying to start in a higher contest. Mr. Bragg is one of the kind who has won out in all the different heats of life's battle. He has had staying qualities and come out victorious.
He was born in Knox county, Missouri, September 21, 1852, the son of Captain William G. Bragg, Senior, who was a native of Virginia, having been born there March 4, 1811. As a child he was taken by his parents to Kentucky, where they located. William was educated and he there married Fanny Tully, a young girl who was a native of Kentucky. Soon after their marriage they moved to Missouri, in 1838. They settled in Knox county, staying there until 1865. They cultivated some wild land, making many improvements and then engaged in the general merchandise business until the war broke out. I\Mr. Bragg raised a company for the state militia, but very early in the war they were captured in Missouri by General Porter. Mr. Bragg, now having the title of captain, was paroled, but not being exchanged he saw no further service in the war. His son, Leonard T. Bragg, had enli.sted in the Federal army with the Second Missouri Division; he had come with this ''company through southeastern Missouri and they were stationed at Bloomfield tmtil the close of the war. Leonard T. Bragg was made circuit clerk and county clerk for Dunklin county during the reconstructive period; he took office in 1865, his father coming to assist him in the office. At the end of the term L. T. Bragg was re-elected, serving one year longer. At the end of that term L. T. Bragg resigned and the Captain was appointed by the Governor to succeed his son, who then went out west to Oregon. The Captain then held the offices of circuit clerk, county clerk, probate clerk and county recorder all at one time. At the end of his term he went into the general merchandise business, running his general store for several years. He also operated a hotel in his private home. He was active until his death, in his seventy-eighth year, in 1888. He did not consider himself a politician, though he was a Republican and had served in public capacities. His closest friends were found amongst the Democrats, as in the case of his son Leonard T., who although a Republican was elected by Democratic votes. When the Bragg family first came to Kennett. in 1865. they came down the Mississippi river to Cape Girardeau, where a two horse wagon met them, that being the only two horse wagon in the whole county. On their journey to Kennett they met and passed ox teams in plenty, but no horse wagons. For a long time after this when any of the family had occasion to go from Kennett to Cape Girardeau they used ox teams, sometimes taking eighteen days to make the trip. All goods had to come by Cape Girardeau, so it was necessary for them to make periodical trips there. The Captain was an active member of the Christian church, helping in any way that was possible, giving money and time for the support of its various enterprises, ilrs. Bragg died at the age of fifty-seven, having borne twelve children, those besides William G. being: Mary E.. who is now the widow of Colonel Solomon G. Kite-hen and is living in the state of Washington. Leonard T. has been in the flouring mill business at Colfax, Washington. He is now retired, ilartha H. married John C. Towson, a manufacturer living at Sikeston, Missouri. Bettie is the widow of Edward B. Sturgis, who was a merchant at Kennett. Anna married Benjamin T. Walker and she died young. Ruth B. married Dr. N. F. Kelley, late of Kennett. She died in Kennett. Cornelia V. married Dr. A. B. IMobley. who died January 21, 1911, she having died some years ago. Eva M. is the wife of A. J. Sellers, of Arkansas; he is her second husband, she having first married the Honorable James P. Walker, ex-member of congress, late of Dexter, ]Missouri. Lillian F. married James F. Tatum, an old established merchant at Kennett, now dead. She still lives at Kennett. Constance married Frank Sanders. She died young, leaving two sons and one daughter, one of whom, Robert, is assistant cashier in the Bank of Kennett. Robert Bruce is the youngest of this large and interesting family. When he was a young man he went to Oregon, where he became a merchant at Hood Rim, Oregon.
William G. Bragg was only thirteen years old when the family first came to Kennett, but he even then began to show of what stuff he was made. He worked in his father's store and also worked for others. In 1879 he opened a general store of his o-vn, continuing in the merchandise business for about twenty years. In 1882 he was elected clerk of circuit court and recorder of deeds, offices which his brother and his father had both held. At the end of his term he was re-elected on the Democratic ticket. After the close of his second term he went back to the merchandise business, in which he continued until 1893. During this time he went out to the state of Washington, where he engaged in the real estate business at Pullman for two years. He is now in the real estate and insurance business at Kennett, where he handles his own property very largely, buying and selling farm lands and city land. He has laid out additions to Kennett, one called the Bragg Addition in his honor; here he sells and builds on easy terms. Mr. Bragg has always been a staunch Democrat, but he does not concern himself with politics any more. He has served as delegate to various conventions and served his party in other ways. He is, however, not the less interested in the county.
On May 3, 1877, he married Kittie V. Chapman, of Grand Prairie, eight miles south of Kennett. She is the daughter of Mrs. W. H. Helm, who was born at Hickman in Kentucky and came to missouri as ilrs. Chapman in 1852 and soon afterward she married W. H. Helm, a native of Tennessee, who came to Missouri from Arkansas during the war. Kittie V., now Mrs. Bragg, was only an infant when her mother brought her to Missouri. At that time Kennett had very few people, so that ilrs. Helm and her daughter are among the oldest residents of Dunklin county. Mrs. Helm saw the country in its primitive condition and has watched its progress with the deepest interest. Sidney Douglas, well known in Kennett, is a grand-nephew of Mrs. Helm, his father's mother being a sister to Mrs. Helm. Mrs. Helm has been a member of the Church of Christ in Kennett for over fifty years. She had the misfortune to lose her second husband after about thirty years of wedded life. Mr. and Mrs. William G. Bragg have one son, William Ballard, aged thirteen, now attending school.
Mr. Bragg can lay claim to being the oldest male resident in Kennett, as there is not a house standing nor a person living here who was in Kennett when he came here in 1865. He and his wife are both members of the Christian church, which would suffer greatly if it did not have the help of the Bragg family. Surely Mr. Bragg has lived a life full of usefulness. He has kept right on in the race of life, one of the leaders throughout. He has not yet reached the last goal, but has time for more efforts. He shoAvs no sign of loss of interest in any of the things he has always taken such an active part in, but we believe will keep right on to the end and will gain the reward he so merits, the words of commendation, "well done."
As printed in History of southeast Missouri : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests (1912). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Named in this biography: Given Owen (b. 1818) James F. Tatum (b. 1850) James P. Walker
The printed record stops around 1912. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.