biographies

GALWITH
FINKS
MILES
McCOWAN

Book Title: History of Callaway County, Missouri 1884
Page #: 770-771
JOHN H. GALWITH, shoemaker, New Bloomfield. Mr. Galwith's father, John W. Galwith, a native of Maryland, but subsequently an early settler in Callaway County, lived to the advanced age of ninety-five and died at the residence of another son of his, George W. Galwith, in this county. His wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Finks, was also a native of Maryland. They had seven children: Eliza Ann, John H., Peter, Elizabeth, Gabriel, Susanna and George W. John H., the oldest son and the subject of this sketch, was born in Hagerstown, Maryland, February 2, 1820, and was reared in his native State. He was brought up on a farm to the age of fifteen when he entered the shoemaker's trade and has worked at it ever since, except for three years while he was engaged in the grocery business at Fulton, a period now of nearly fifty years. He was engaged in the grocery business of Fulton during the years 1855, 1856 and 1857. Mr. Galwith's first wife, formerly Miss Martha T. Miles, to whom he was married in Charleston, Virginia, died in December, 1847. He was afterwards married to Miss Catherine Sitton, who died in 1854, leaving him one child, William, who now lives near Fulton; one other died in infancy. To Narcissa McCOWAN, formerly of Tennessee, daughter of Isaac W. McCOWAN. She has borne him three children: Mabel, I. Mason and Gertrude. Mr. Galwith has been engaged in the shoemaking business (and of course he makes boots too) for sixteen years, since 1867. He is without doubt the most experienced and skillful boot and shoemaker in the county.

TINSLEY MAHONE HARDKINS HOWARD

Book Title: History of Northeast, Missouri
WILLIAM HOLCOMB TINSLEY, senior member of the mercantile firm of Tinsley & Bankhead, of Bowling Green; is a representative of an old Virginia family and of that branch of it which has figured prominently in the building up of Pike county. The Tinsley family date back to Thomas, who came to the United States from England in 1680, and got a grant of land in what is now Hanover county, Virginia. Mr. Tinsley's paternal grandfather, Elisha Tinsley, was a cousin of Dr. Gabriel N. Tinsley, whose record appears in this work. Elisha Tinsley passed his life as a slave-holding farmer and stockman of the Dominion state. The maternal grandfather of William H. Tinsley was James B. Goodman, a Virginia farmer and a courier of the United States Volunteers in the War of 1812, as a result of which service he was made a pensioner of the government. James Goodman's father-in-law, a great-grandfather of our subject, was a private in the Colonial army in the Revolutionary war and in that capacity was with George Washington at Valley Forge. Elisha Tinsley 's son, William, was born January 7, 1838. His education was slight and one of the notable experiences of his earlier life was his military service. At the opening of the Rebellion he entered the Confederate army as a member of the Fifty-eighth Virginia Infantry. Serving in the army of northern Virginia, he took part in many of the great battles of that army which figured in the fate of the Confederacy. He suffered no injury, with the exception of a "knock-down" from the explosion of a shell at the battle pf Gettysburg. At the close of the war he returned to the farm, still retaining a rather active interest in politics, particularly as a follower of Senator William Mahone. When the Mahone wing of the Democratic party detached itself from that body, Mr. Tinsley indorsed Republicanism. He was appointed postmaster of Big Island by President Harrison, serving into Cleveland's administration, and was later reappointed by President Harrison. To William Tinsley and his wife, nee Eliza Goodman, ten children were born. taton Nicholas, the eldest, is a resident of Bristol, Tenn~ see. The second son was William, who, as the specific subject of this sketch, is given more detailed account in the remainder of the article. James B. Tinsley is a citizen of Perch, Virginia. John H. Tinsley still represents his family in the old home, Big Island, Virginia Lucy B., who is the wife of John Coleman, also resides in Bedford county in the Old Dominion state. Eugene Tinsley, who died as a young man, left no posterity. Sallie M., who is Mrs. John Hardkins, and Howard, are also Big Island representatives of the family; Celina, Mrs. John Turner, lives in Roanoke, Virginia. Thomas R. Tinsley, the youngest member of the family, is a resident of the same city. William Holcomb Tinsley was born in Big Island, Bedford county, on April 10, 1864. His education was acquired in the country school and when he reached the age of fourteen he went forth from home to become the author of his personal fortunes. Having learned no other mode of existence save labor he made industry his sole capital in his early employment as a farm hand. At this vocation he busied himself in his native county, until, at the age of twenty-two years, the wanderlust seized him and he went forth to the promising land of Missouri. For five years here he continued his former employment, acting during the last three years of that period as foreman or overseer for John McCune. Closing that engagement he married, rented a farm and began his independent career. He soon found himself interested in trading and in the stock business, in both of which he demonstrated his own ability. With this work he was closely identified until, in the year 1906, he was honored by the Democratic, party with the nomination for the office of county collector; in November of that year he was elected to the aforesaid office, the duties of which he ably discharged for four years. From time to time Mr. Tinsley has acquired more ~ands and has in the mean-time established his connection with the furniture and undertaking business. This enterprise he owns and conducts in partnership with A. C. Bankhead, the two present owners having purchased the business from J. P. Armstrong. William Tinsley 'S farming properties are in the vicinity of Edgewood, in Pike county. Mrs. William Holcomb Tinsley, nee S. Janie Myers, is a daughter of Ovid A. Myers and Michie Shaw Myers. The latter are the parents of two daughters, the elder being Mrs. Elliot Major, wife of the attorney general of the state of Missouri. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Tinsley took place September 1, 1891. She was born November 23, 1874. The life of their household has been enriched by the advent of five children. The eldest, Miss Martha, a young lady of exceptional intellectual ability, is now a student of the University of Missouri at Columbia. The others, Ovid, Michie, Edward T. and Ellen Jane, are still at home. The members of Mr. Tinsley 's family are active in the ser-vice and support of the Baptist church of Bowling Green. He is popular in fraternal circles, being a member of the Louisiana chapter of the Free and Accepted Masons and a past master of the same, besides holding membership in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.