Bacon Chapel Neighborhood

21 March 1902

Clarence, Mo.

Shelbina TORCHLIGHT

GEORGE KENDALL

Mr. Kendall was born in Jackson county, Indiana in 1835. In early life he settled in Illinois, where he lived fourteen years. In 1865 he came to Missouri and settled in Walkersville where he lived for eight years. He lived three years in the Eaton neighborhood, on the Eaton farm, northeast of Walkersville. In 1876 he settled on the Perry B. Moore farm, one mile east of Bacon Chapel, where he lived for sometime. Mr. Kendall afterwards settled in the Hale neighborhood, where he lived for eighteen years. This neighborhood embraces a portion of the country between Shelbina and Shelbyville. He is now a citizen of Shelbina.

Mr. Kendall made a profession of religion and joined a Baptist church in 1858. When he settled in Walkersville he united with Black Creek Baptist church, where his membership remained till in 1861. When Walkersville Baptist church was organized, he became one of the members. Mr. George Kendall learned the plasterer’s trade in his early manhood, and while he has lived on a farm following agricultural pursuits most of his life, he has worked at his trade, and kept up with its progress and advancement. Mr. George Kendall has lived a consistent life, and has added much to the moral and religious influences of the communities in which he has lived. One of the noted and most successful Baptist preachers of Shelby county owes much to Mr. George Kendall’s life, his entreaties and warnings, that led him to seek religion, after he made a profession, (although a man of family,) Mr. Kendall gave him encouragement and assistance in entering the ministerial office and has since done much to sustain him in his work.

ALBERT KENDALL

Albert Kendall is a son of Mr. George Kendall, and was born in Illinois in 1862. He came to Missouri with his parents when but a small child, and when a youth lived near Bacon Chapel. He went with his parents to the Hale neighborhood, where he grew to manhood. Soon after becoming of age he married a daughter of Patrick Coats. He then moved to Bacon Chapel neighborhood and settled on the Robert Smith farm, one and one-half mile west of the church. After being a few years in the old buildings, he built a nice house near where the old school house stood. Mr. Kendall lost this house by fire soon after its completion, when he rebuilt on the same foundation. Another misfortune befell Mr. Kendall, death entered his home and claimed his companion, leaving a baby boy, who, in a few months followed its mother to the spirit land.

Several years later he married a daughter of Mr. R. J. Capp, who lived on the Andrew McBroom farm north of Bacon Chapel. Last fall Mr. Kendall sold his farm and moved to Clarence, and has purchased a twenty acre tract of fine land adjoining the city, on which he contemplates the building of a nice house, and making a comfortable home. Albert Kendall is an honorable citizen, and a worthy adjunct to the city of Clarence.

GEORGE W. BOYCE

Mr. Boyce was a native of Delaware, born in Sussex county in 1825. He was raised on a farm. After he became of age he married, and in less than two years, death robbed him of his bride. In 1857 Mr. Boyce came to Missouri and settled in Bacon Chapel neighborhood. He was a carpenter by trade and when not farming worked at his trade. In 1857 he married a daughter of James R. Barr. In 1862 he joined the confederate army and was with Col. Joe Porter in the battle of Kirksville and was taken prisoner and on his release he went back to Delaware. In 1863 his wife died leaving one child, a girl who died shortly afterwards. In 1866 he came back to Missouri and to the old neighborhood, and in 1873 he married Miss Mary J. Brewington.

Mr. Boyce bought a tract of land, one-half mile east of Bacon Chapel, where he improved a farm and made a comfortable home. Together he and his wife and one child lived happy in this home for some ten or twelve years when death for the third time claimed his companion. This left Mr. Boyce in the evening of life, and without a companion, and but one child to comfort and cheer him to the close of day. He and his little boy remained on the farm close companions for a few more years, when, he too, was called hence to try the realities of the unknown.

Mr. Boyce was a good neighbor, a kind husband and father, and an upright citizen. Mr. Boyce was a Democrat and a Master Mason, a member of the Shelbina lodge, and was laid to rest by said lodge with all the honor of a Master Mason, assisted by Clarence Masonic Lodge. He was the second Master Mason to be buried in Bacon Chapel cemetery.

GEORGE TILDEN BOYCE

This is the son and only child of George W. Boyce. He was born and raised on the farm above mentioned. He was a lad when his mother died. He and his father kept house, and attended to the farm work, till he was some fifteen or eighteen years old, when his father died and left him an orphan. He had attended the district school and acquired a thirst for education. He applied himself to his books and as soon as he could arrange his business he commenced to attend school, taking one term in Clarence High School, and then attended school at Savannah, Mo., for sometime. Then he went to Indiana and took a special course in civil engineering. He has been filling a position as teacher in a Military school of this state for sometime. George Tilden Boyce is a young man of exceptional ability, and being high-minded, industrious, truthful and persevering, he will some day take a position among the leading men of the state. He is a Master Mason and a bright one of his age, made a Mason by Clarence lodge, three years ago. George Tilden Boyce is one of the youngest of the boys of old Bacon Chapel neighborhood, who has taken a prominent position in the great drama of life, and he is one of whom we are especially proud.

J. H. Pollard