Martin C Hurt,(b 1819 Virginia) Dwelling 147 Buffaloe Lick, Chariton Co MO 1860 Tobacconist Slave Owner $10,560 real estate holdings. In 1860 he had 20 slaves and 4 residential houses in Chariton Co. MO He had a number of sons Peyton Leonidas Hurt born in 1845 became a well known physician. Another son Horatio C. Martin has a small book in the Provost Marshal Files and managed to get a Major Lewis of the EMM to vouch for him in 1864.
Captain Herreford is actually William Heryford, Chariton, Chariton Co MO 1860 a landed farmer with $10,600 in real estate and owned 6 slaves. Born April 14, 1818 in Chariton Co. Missouri. He is listed as having a house in Keytesville on the slave schedule but his farm property is listed with a Glasgow post office dwelling 20. "Portrait and Biographical Record of Clay, Ray, Carroll, Chariton and Linn Counties, Missouri", by Chapman Bros., 1893, page 579, for more or "History of Howard and Chariton Counties, MO," pp 830-855. William Heryford has several entries in the PM file as well.
Duncan Lock is John Duncan Lock (b: Oct 1803 Virginia d:Nov 1 1869 Chariton MO) of Prarie Twshp, Chariton Co MO 1860 another landed farmer listed with $25,000 of real estate. Father was Abraham Lock(e) who died Chariton Co 1844 and was the original emmigrant from Scotland for the family line. He too was a slave owner, having 11 listed in 1860 along with an addititional 8 listed by his brother William M Lock who lived and farmed jointly it appears.
The postmaster was indeed Jackson John (or John Jackson) Miles (note one "l" not two) born in North Carolina in 1799. He is living with the J.J. Wyncoop family (son-in-law and daughter I believe) in the 1860 census in Brunswick Twsp, Chariton MO. Of the bunch mentioned, he is the odd man out as he is of little means and other than being former postmaster does not appear to have significant claim to fame.
Mr Plunkett refered to is most likely Green W. Plunkett of Prarie Twsp Chariton Co, (born 1808 Kentucky died March 1876 Chariton Co MO) he too was a landed gentleman who owned 4 slaves who was also the local blacksmith or at least local forge owner. Of particular interest is his sons James T born 1840, and William C. b 1842. It appears that James T survives the war but I've not found anything on William C past 1860 to date.
There is a James D Plunkett (married to Minerva) (b 1819 Virginia) in Chariton Co in 1860. He relocates to Callaway Co in the 1860's and is found there at least through 1880. All of his children are too young to be of interest I beleive. He is not a slave owner though he was the postmaster at Brunswick MO in 1860.
FWIW if you accept the premise that the authors of the history were remarking on gentlemen of means and southern proclivities who were "burned out" then I'd lean towards the Green W Plunkett family being the one of interst with more work on the sons of Green W. needing to be done.
John R.