Janies F. Pendleton
James F. Pendleton, father of Larkin C. Pendleton, and grandfather of Walter Pendleton, pioneers of Marceline, was one of the two first white settlers in Linn County. He and a companion came to Locust Creek country in 1830 on a hunting exhibition. They found the country in accordance with their desires and determined to return and settle on some of its fertile land. In the fall of 1831 they came back and built the first two cabins erected within the borders of the county, they chose as their location what is now Locust Creek Township. They fenced 5 or 6 acres of land the next spring brought their families; thus became the first bona fide white settlers in Linn County. A son, Larkin C. Pendleton, married Ada Spurling, a native of Kentucky. They lived in Laclede, Missouri and were the parents of two sons and one daughter. In 1888 the family moved to what is now Marceline. The father was a carpenter and clerk in times of peace, a valiant soldier in the Union Army for four years during the Civil War. They were members of the Christian Church here, where he served as elder and sang in the choir. He was a member of Havre De Grace Commandery. His wife helped to organize the Order of the Eastern Star and was its first treasurer. Mr. Pendleton died in May, 1906 and his wife in December 1928. Their daughter Effie taught in the public schools of Marceline later marrying Joseph Batra, who owned the Batta Hardware Store for a number of years before moving to Chillicothe. Their son John never married and their son Walter resided in and near Marceline until his death in 1953. He had begun life as an apprentice to the printing trade in the office of the Marceline Journal. He worked at this until 1897 when he started farming. On March 10, 1897 Walter married Miss Louisa Alice Wyant and they were the parents of three children. Mrs. Raymond Jones (Irene) who is the only one residing in Marceline. They had five grandchildren and two great, great grandchildren. Mrs. Pendleton is now 90 years old and resides at the Braley Rest Home. She is the last of the Wyant family. They were all members of the Methodist Church.
A.L. Dawkins
A. L. and Samintha Coffey Dawkins came to Marceline from a farm in North Missouri, Schuyler County in 1889 with their three children, William, Bertha (Mrs. Ed. F. Hayden), and Jewell (Mrs. Charles Willis, Kansas City, Kansas). Mr. Dawkins bought a half interest in a furniture store, which was called Finnell and Dawkins. The store later burned down and Mr. and Mrs. Dawkins bought a farm south of Marceline and resided there until a few years before they died in Marceline. Mr. Dawkins died at the age of 92 in 1941 and Mrs. Dawkins at the age of 87 in 1941.
C. G. Bigger
In 1844 Harrison Bigger and wife Lucinda Crews Bigger arrived in Linn County from Marion County, Kentucky. There were five children born to this union, one of which was Clellan Guy. He was county surveyor for several terms as well as holding other county offices. While in office as county surveyor he assisted in platting Marceline as a town. In 1912 Mr. Bigger was the Marceline City engineer. His first venture in public life was teaching school. After this he studied medicine under Dr. John Fred Powers. He met and married Dr. Powers’ daughter, Leah Jean. They moved to the farm presently owned by V. R. Preston. In 1881 they moved to the farm which is now owned by a grandson, Fred Bigger. Mr. and Mrs. C. G. Bigger were the parents of nine children, all of whom are deceased. Guy and Ray were merchants in the early days of Marceline. Edwin married Nelle Moore a school teacher in Marceline and moved on the homeplace in 1912. C. G. Bigger moved to Marceline to make his home. Mable lived in Bucklin, Eva and Locelle went to Chicago, Charlie was a cabinet maker in Kansas City, Kansas, and Harry was contractor in Texas. Ida remained in the home. The children all attended Carpenter School of which was reorganized in 1952 to the Public school of Marceline R5. Edwin’s children Lois and Fred attended eight years at Carpenter and went to High School in Marceline. Fred’s daughter Maurice attended Carpenter three years, making three generations in the same schools. The Carpenter schoolhouse was bought by the neighborhood for a Community Center.