Bacon Chapel Neighborhood

2 May 1902

Clarence, Mo. Shelbina TORCHLIGHT

OVERTON WINSTON

This worthy citizen of Bacon Chapel neighborhood was a native of Kentucky and came to Missouri and settled in this neighborhood sometime in the thirties. Mr. Winston improved a farm on Salt River, one and one-half miles east and one-half mile north of Bacon Chapel. On this farm he raised his family and resided till his death, which occurred many years ago. Mr. Winston was a member of Bacon Chapel and began his religious life with this church in her early history. He was one of the substantial men of this community, socially, politically and religiously. He was a democrat of the old Kentucky school.

RICHARD WINSTON

This is the oldest son of Overton Winston. He was raised in this neighborhood. In 1862 he joined the Confederate army. He was with Col. Joe Porter on his famous raid. At the Battle of Newark, Knox County, Mr. Winston received a very painful wound. The Federals were in the upper room of a public building and fired from the windows, when one of their bullets struck Mr. Winston on the nose, passing through the bridge of the nose at an angle and carrying a portion of the nose away. When this wound healed it left Mr. Winston somewhat disfigured, as his nose was crooked and badly scarred.

Mr. Winston improved a farm joining his father’s on the west, now owned by the Porter brothers and occupied by John Porter. He lived on this farm till some twenty years ago he moved to the state of Oregon where he still lives, a worthy citizen of his adapted state. He was a worthy citizen of old Bacon Chapel neighborhood, a good neighbor, a Democrat and a member of Bacon Chapel church.

WILLIAM WINSTON

The second son of Overton Winston was born and raised on the old homestead. Mr. Winston owned a farm dear Duncan Chapel, where he lived for a number of years. Some two years ago he sold his farm and moved to one of the western states where he still lives. He has been a farmer all his life. He is a Methodist and Democrat.

OVERTON WINSTON

This is the third and youngest son, and was also born and raised on the old farm above described. Overton remained on the farm till after he was grown. He married and settled in Clarence where he lived for a few years, conducting a livery stable for some time. He now lives in the North West part of this state where he is engaged in the hotel business. Overton was a member of Bacon Chapel church and a Democrat.

JOHN GURDANE

This gentleman came from Wisconsin in the latter part of 1860 and bought a farm one-mile east and one-half mile south of Bacon Chapel. The school house that bears his name is near this farm. Mr. Gurdane has been married twice. His present wife is a daughter of Andy McBroom. Mr. Gurdane left this neighborhood some twenty years ago, and settled in the state of Oregon, where he became very prominent in political affairs, representing his county in the state legislature twice. He was a Methodist and a member of old Bacon Chapel.

JONATHAN WOOSTER

This gentleman is a native of the state of Maine, and came to Missouri and settled in this neighborhood some time in the sixties. Mr. Wooster was a sailor for many years before he came to Missouri. He is a man above the average in point of education. He adopted the profession of school teaching and taught several terms while living in this neighborhood. Mr. Wooster married Mrs. Carothers, a daughter of Charlie Christian, and the widow of Armstrong Carothers. Mr. Wooster farmed for sometime, living on the Armstrong Carothers farm, which is located two miles east and a little north of Lentner. Some twenty years ago when several families left this neighborhood and went to the state of Oregon, Mr. Wooster was one of the number, and is yet living in that state.

NATHANIEL MORRIS

Mr. Morris was born and raised in Maryland. When the Civil war began in ’61, Mr. Morris, then a young man, joined the confederate army and went to the front where he took part in many of the hard fought battles. At the close of the war he returned home and soon after came to Missouri and stopped in Bacon Chapel neighborhood. Here he remained for many years, working at his trade which is that of plastering. He is a first class mechanic and has done a great deal of work in this section of the country. Mr. Morris settled in Shelbina many years ago where he has since resided, honored as a brave soldier of the past cause, and respected as an upright, worthy citizen.

J. H. Pollard