HISTORY OF HICKORY, POLK, CEDAR, DADE AND BARTON COUNTIES, MISSOURI

 1889, published by Goodspeed
Polk County Biographies Section

Thomas H. B. Dunnegan - page 639

Judge Thomas H. B. Dunnegan, who resides at Bolivar, Mo., was born in Lawrence County, Mo., April 1, 1842. His paternal ancestors were of Irish descent. His great-grandfather was a Revolutionary soldier, after which period, with his family, he emigrated from the State of North Carolina to the State of Tennessee. His grandfather served under Gen. Jackson in the War of 1812, participation in the battle of the Horseshoe Bend. His father, Matthew Dunnegan, was born in Tennessee, came to Missouri with his father in 1832, and to Polk County in 1835. In 1837 he married Priscilla Akard, also a native of Tennessee, whose parents settled in Polk County in 1831. She is still living at Dunnegan Springs, he having died there in August, 1871. The subject of this sketch received what little education was afforded by the old-time district and subscription schools of Southwest Missouri. Early in 1861 he enrolled in the Polk County Home Guards, and in December of the same year enlisted in Company A, Eighth Missouri State Militia Cavalry, serving until January 27, 1865. On his return from the army he located in Bolivar, where he engaged in merchandising for about a year, when he was appointed to fill an unexpired term as county clerk. For two years he was deputy sheriff and collector, and in 1868 was elected sheriff and collector, holding the office until January, 1873. From 1878 to 1882, he was associate judge of the county court, and in 1888 was again elected to the same position. For about fifteen years he has been a member of the Bolivar School Board. In 1872 he engaged in banking, in which business he has continued. He is also occupied in farming and stock raising. On April 5, 1866, he married Miss Sallie A. Beggs, daughter of the late Dr. Joseph Beggs, of Clarion County, Penn., by whom he had four sons, three of whom, Willard B., J. Matt. And Carl F., still survive. She died October 8, 1876. Four years later, June 15, 1880, he married Miss Ella A. Carothers, daughter of the late Judge Carothers, of Shelby County, Mo., by whom he has had four daughters, three of whom, Grace B., Bessie A. and Olive L., are living. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, a Master Mason, Knight Templar, member of the G. A. R. and
A. O. U. W., and last, but not least, a Republican in politics.

M. W. Easley - page 639, 640

M. W. Easley. Any sketch in the history of Polk County, Mo., would be incomplete without mention of Mr. Easley, who is one of the oldest living settlers of that county. He was born in Ray County, Tenn., in 1815, and grew to manhood in Grainger County, of that State. His parents, Warham and Catherine (Counts) Easley, were both natives of Tennessee. The father was a farmer by occupation, was married in his native State, and reared his children there. He was a soldier in the Black Hawk War, and was twice a member of the State Legislature from Grainger County, Tenn. He died in his native State at the age of eighty-seven years. To his marriage were born four hildren, M. W. Easley being third in order of birth. The latter came to Missouri in 1837, locating in Polk County, and began clerking in a store in Springfield, where he remained until the next spring and then went to farming. At this time Indians were numerous and the town of Bolivar consisted of two or three houses. Mr. Easley entered land, and followed farming for five or six years. In 1852 he engaged in mercantile pursuits at Oakland, and was postmaster for some years. He continued his mercantile pursuits for twenty-nine years, or until ten years ago, and in connection has always carried on farming. He has had goods hauled from St. Louis, Mo., on wagons, and has experienced all the hardships suffered by early settlers. On account of being postmaster at Oakland he did not go to the war. He was a Whig previous to that time, but since then has been a Republican in his politics, his first presidential vote being for William H. Harrison. He has been a member of the Masonic fraternity. Aside from his mercantile interest, of which he has made a complete success, he is the owner of more than 700 acres of land, and has given much to his children. He was married in Polk County, Mo., to Miss Sophronia Akard, a native of Tennessee, born in 1829, and they had a family of three children: Warham, deceased; John, died at the age of about twelve years; and James B., collector of revenue. Warham grew to manhood, married, and was the father of four children at the time of his death. They were named as follows: Shelton W., Magnes T., Mary E., and Booker, who died in infancy. Miller W. Easley, grandfather of our subject, was born in Virginia, and became an early pioneer of Tennessee, where he passed the remainder of his days. The paternal grandmother was of the Lyons family.

James B. Easley - page 640, 641

James B. Easley, the present efficient county collector, was born in Polk County, Mo., February 3, 1855. He is a son of Miller W. and Sophronia (Akard) Easley, both natives of Tennessee, though they came to this county when young, and here married; they still live in Madison Township. His father has been a farmer and a merchant; in politics he was a Whig before the war, and since then has supported the Republican platform. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and a well respected citizen. The subject of this sketch, the only one living of a family of three sons, was raised on a farm and educated in the common schools. He worked in his father's store till 1879, when he married Mary L. Renshaw, of Greene County, and by her had three children, Eugenia E, Frank B. (who is deceased), and Willie R. His wife is a Presbyterian. He is a Republican, a Mason, and belongs to the Knights of Pythias. When the railroad was put through, Mr. Easley and W. M. Potts were in business about a year at Fair Play, when they were burned out. In 1886 Mr. Easley was elected collector, which position he still holds. Though a young man, he fills one of the most important offices in the county. He is highly esteemed, and deserves the confidence reposed in him by the people of his county.

W. N. N. C. A. Fox - page 643, 644

W. N. C. C. A. Fox, one who is successfully engaged in farming and stock raising in Polk County, Mo., and who resides two miles southeast from Fair Play, was born in Polk County, Mo., October 15, 1844, and is the son of Silas and Martha A. (Akard) Fox. The maternal grandfather, who was a native of Germany, emigrated to the United States in childhood, and settled in South Carolina, moving from there to Tennessee. In 1831 he moved to Gasconade County, Mo., in 1832, to Polk County (then Greene County), and died soon after arriving here. The maternal grandmother was a native of South Carolina, and was married in that State. She was the mother of eleven children, four of whom survive. She died October 13, 1869. Silas Fox was born in Williamson County, Tenn., February 4, 1818, and grew to manhood in that county. He removed to Polk County, Mo., with his parents in 1834, and was married to Miss Akard in 1841. He was in the Seminole War a few months, and was also in the Enrolled Missouri Militia during the late unpleasantness. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He died April 4, 1877, at the old homestead, two miles southwest of Fair Play. His wife, Martha A. (Akard) Fox, born March 22, 1822, was a native of Tennessee, and was the daughter of Jonas and Elizabeth (Hopkins) Akard. She came with her parents to Polk County, Mo., when twelve years of age. She was the mother of six children, four now living: William N. C. C. A., Henry C., John A. and James A. The mother of these children died at the old homestead in Polk county, Mo., July 19, 1864. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. W. N. C. C. A. fox grew to manhood in Polk County, Mo., and received a fair education in the common schools. He entered the Missouri State Militia, Company D, Eighth Regiment, March 1, 1862, and served four months and eighteen days, and was in the battle of Humansville; afterwards he served in the Twenty-sixth Enrolled Missouri Militia. After the war he returned home, and entered Bolivar Academy, where he remained one term. He was married July 18, 1868, to Miss Amanda Appleby, and removed to Cedar County, Mo., December 15, 1868, where he remained five years. He then returned to Polk County, Mo., February 13, 1876, and has been a resident of this county ever sine. After leaving Bolivar Academy he taught school for three years. He is a Mason, a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and Union League, also belonging to the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mrs. Fox was born in Polk County, Mo., November 28, 1845, and is the daughter of James and Nancy (Lane) Appleby. She taught school five years, from 1863 to 1868, and was very successful. There were born to Mr. and Mrs. Fox five children, of whom two, Ida A., born July 13, 1869, died February 9, 1886; Amy J., born January 10, 1871, died July 12, 1887. An infant daughter, born July 13, 1872, died the same day. James E., born September 8, 1874, and Robert S., born November 20, 1880, survive. Mrs. Fox is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, as were Ida A. and Amy J.