My Genealogy Hound

Augustus De Lissa, of Barton County, Mo., was born in St. Augustine, Fla., August 5, 1835, and is a son of Isadore Joshua and Matilda (Cohen) De Lissa, who were born in France, but came to America when young, and were married in St. Augustine, Fla. When their son, Augustus, was quite young, they moved to Albany, N. Y.; and Mr. De Lissa had a school at Troy, where he taught the French language. On Saturday, June 9, 1838, about 3 P. M., he was crossing the plank between the steamboats John Mason and Jonas C. Heartt, and meeting a lady he attempted to turn back, but was accidentally precipitated into the river, the current of which was so strong that all attempts to save him failed, The mother then moved to New York City, and about 1843 to Lexington, Ky., where she married John F. Bell, afterward moving to Iowa, and then to Louisville, Ky., where John F. Bell died of Bright’s disease, January 22, 1882. Mr. A. De Lissa’s mother is still residing in Louisville, being an earnest member of the Christian Church. Augustus De Lissa is the elder of two children (a son and daughter) born to his parents, and up to the age of fifteen years attended the common schools, after which he learned the carpenter’s trade, which he followed for a number of years. In 1857 he went to Logan County, Ill., and was married the same year to Nancy, a daughter of Israel and Emily (Hope) Dyer, who were Virginians, and in 1858 Emily (Hope) Dyer died at her home in Logan County, Ill., and Israel Dyer died at the same home in July, 1863. Mrs. De Lissa was born in Circleville, Ohio, and became the mother of three sons and three daughters, namely, Matilda, Arminda, Emily, William, Edward and Leonard L. In 1872 Mr. De Lissa removed his family to Fort Scott, Kan., and was engaged in stock dealing until 1874, when he moved to Barton County, Mo., and purchased 1,140 acres of land in one tract, besides other tracts. He is also engaged in merchandising in Pedro, Mo., the firm name being De Lissa & Son, C., H. Deweese is the proprietor of the Commercial Hotel of Golden City, Mo., which house was established in 1881, and of which Mr. Deweese assumed management March 16, 1887. It has a sleeping capacity for eighteen persons, has a sample room attached, and is the only first-class hotel in the city. Mr. Deweese was born in Warren County, Ill., and is a son of Cornelius and Helen (Davidson) Deweese, Kentuckians, who emigrated to Warren County, Ill., in 1832, where the father followed the occupation of farming until 1858, when he moved to Cass County, Mo., and improved a prairie farm. He made his home here until 1861, then farmed in Johnson County, Kan., till 1878, when he returned to Cass County, and resided in this place until his death, in 1880, at the age of seventy-one years. His wife died in Johnson County, Kan., in 1868, at the age of fifty-nine years. They reared the following family: Martha Jane, who died at the age of nineteen years; Josephus H., who is residing in Rich Hill, Mo.; Irene Frances, the deceased wife of Ira Connett, of Franklin County, Kan.; Elizabeth Lucinda, wife of J. G. Clinton, of Johnson County, Kan.; Josiah Franklin, who is in the hotel business in Olathe, Kan.; Sylvanus P., a farmer of Miami County, Kan.; C. H.; Mary Ellen, who died at the age of twelve years; and James S., farmer of Miami County, Kan. The parents of these children were earnest members and workers of the Christian Church, and all their children follow their example, except one. C. H. Deweese was educated in the common schools, and reared on a farm, and at the age of twenty left home and engaged in farming for himself, being occupied in that business until 1884, when he began keeping hotel in Sheldon, Vernon County, Mo. Twenty months after he went to Lamar, Mo., and took charge of the City Hotel of that place, continuing until 1887, when he assumed management of the Commercial Hotel at Golden City. He was married August 13, 1865, to Miss Charlotte Jamison, who was born in Jackson County, Mo., and by her has three children: Katie, John C., and Wilda L. He and wife, and daughter Katie, are members of the Christian Church. During the Civil War he served for two years in the State Militia.