WOODSON LYNES

(From the History of Callaway County Missouri, 1884, page 783-784.)
Transcribed by Kris Breid, 25 March 2008

WOODSON LYNES, merchant, farmer and stock raiser. One of the most active and successful business men and farmers in this section of the county, and one of its leading and influential citizens is Mr. Woodson Lynes, the subject of the present sketch. He was the eighth of a family of eleven children of Jefferson W. and Catherine (Suggett) Lynes, old and highly respected residents of this county, and was born here on the 13th of January, 1844. The others of the family were Monroe, Louisa, Joseph, Perry and Ben (twins), Elmira, Melcenie, James, Albert R., Samuel C., Robert J., Alexander and Mary Ann. The father was a native of Kentucky and the mother came originally from Kentucky.

Woodson Lynes was reared on the farm in this county and obtained his education almost entirely by his own efforts at home and without the aid of an instructor--a very good education by the way, sufficient for all the practical affairs of life. On the 9th of September, 1869, he was married to Miss Martha A. B. Alexander of this county, born November 8, 1844. They have five children: Herbert A., born October 6, 1870; Arthur W., born October 30, 1882; Mary C., born December 7, 1874; Franklin A., born March 4, 1860, and Evelyn, born August 3, 1881.

Mrs. Lynes was the daughter of Robert J. Alexander and Mary Ann Sheley, who was reared in Kentucky, but who came to Callaway county, Missouri, near New Bloomfield, in an early day, and were married here. They had three children: Martha A. B., Laura and Benjamin W. Mrs. Lynes' mother's parents were Benjamin W. and Patsey Boulware, who were married in Kentucky, September 7, 1815. They had four children: John, Martha A., Nancy and Mary A. The father of these was born in Virginia, June 22, 1786; the mother, November 27, 1789. The parents of Benjamin Sheley, John and Ann Sheley, were born respectively September 17, 1757, and March 20, 1759, and they were reared in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, where they reared the family and lived until their deaths. They had nine children: John, Mary, Benjamin, Horace, Singleton, Elizabeth, Reason, Van and Charlotte.

Mr. Lynes, the subject of this sketch, engaged in farming for himself before reaching manhood, and has since followed it, including also stock raising, with excellent success. In 1876 he also engaged in merchandising at New Bloomfield, and he has a large store well stocked with goods and commands an extensive and steadily increasing trade. His success as farmer, stock raiser and merchant, all three, has been more than ordinary, considering the time he has engaged in them. Mr. Lynes has some exceptionally fine graded stock, of the raising of which he makes a specialty. He also deals, to a considerable extent, in grain. Mr. Lynes, although desiring no public office, takes an active interest in public affairs and is looked to as a leader in such matters in this section of the county. A steadfast and zealous Democrat, he has been chosen representative for this part of the county in the County Democratic Central Committee, a position he fills with singular ability and satisfaction to his constituents. He was a prominent member of the grange during its lifetime, and is an earnest member of the Christian church. He is also a member of the Masonic order.

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