Greene County Biographies
Greene County Biographies
From The History of Greene County, Missouri,"
St. Louis: Western Historical Company, 1883
John M. Donnell
(Deceased). This gentleman was born in 1802, and died in 1860, upon
the farm he settled in 1832 in Jackson township. He and Robert Small
came together from Middle Tennessee, and were among the first settlers
in that township. He was a very large farmer and stock dealer, and
for many years took large droves of mules annually to the Southern
markets. He was married in Tennessee to a Miss Maxwell, by whom he
had thirteen children, seven sons and six daughters. Six sons and two
daughters are yet living. Mr. and Mrs. Donnell brought the first
stove to this county.
Joseph A. Dryden
The subject of this sketch was born in Lawrence county, Missouri, Jan-
uary 13th, 1853. On the 2nd of June, 1877 he commenced "firing" on the
St. Louis and San Francisco railroad, running in that capacity till
March, 1882, when he was promoted to the position of engineer, which he
still continues to hold. Mr. Dryden is a member of Star Lodge No. 20,
K. of P., and also belongs to the 'Frisco Lodge No. 51, B. of L. F., of
which he is master. Besides these, he holds membership in the Locomo-
tive Firemen's Mutual Benefit Association. January 28th, 1880, he
married Miss Sivinnia Whitworth, of Franklin County, Missouri. They
have one child, a son, named William A., born September 6, 1882.
Philander E. Dryden
The subject of our sketch is a son of James and Mary Dryden. He is a
native of Rockbridge County, Virginia. When twenty-one years old he
went to Huntsville, Alabama, and there worked at the carpenter's trade
three years, then went to St. Louis, Missouri and worked for a few
months at his trade. In 1874 Mr. Dryden commenced braking on a freight
train on the St. Louis and San Francisco railway, and three years
thereafter was promoted to freight conductor, which position he holds
at present. He is a member of Ozark Division No. 30, Order of Railway
Conductors, of which he was one of the charter members.
H. S. Duncan
H. S. Duncan was born in Morgan County, Tennessee, July 8, 1843. In the
spring of 1846, he removed with his parents to Lawrence County, and
there received his education in the common schools. His parents were
Dennis K. and Melinda (Hope) Duncan, the former of whom died in 1850,
and the latter in 1865. He entered the Confederate service in 1861,
and took part in many of the principal engagements of the West, includ-
ing Lexington and Lone Jack. In 1863, he was taken prisoner and sent
to Richmond. After the war he returned to Lawrence county and engaged
in school teaching. Coming to Greene County, he taught school here for
two years during 1869-70. In 1871, he began merchandising, but taught
again in 1872-73. Soon after this, he began mechandising with Mr. W.T.
Chandler, of Ash Grove, where his business interests still are at the
present writing. Mr. Duncan was elected registering officer of Boone
Township in 1872, and was mayor and member of the council when Ash
Grove was incorporated. At the election in the fall of 1872, Mr. Dun-
can, on the Democratic ticket, was elected to the office of county
collector, by a good majority over his Republican opponent. Mr. Duncan
was married October 12, 1871, to Miss Mollie C. Robbins, daughter of
Harvey Robbins, deceased; Mrs. Duncan's parents were also from the
State of Tennessee. Four children have been born to this union, three
of whom still survive. Mrs. Duncan is a member of the Baptist church,
and it is one of her prime objects in life to rear her children in a
manner becoming to Christian parents.
J. K. P. Duncan
Squire Duncan is the son of Dennis K. and Malinda (Hope) Duncan, and
was born in Roane County, Tennessee, June 1, 1845. His father came to
Lawrence County in 1846, and lived there several years, and then took
a trip to Arkansas, where he died. His mother died in 1865. J. K. P.
Duncan attended his first school in Greene County, James Van Bibber
being the teacher. He was educated principally, however, in Lawrence
County and at an early age commenced farming, which has been his occu-
pation ever since, with the exception of two years spent in Texas. Mr.
Duncan is one of the most prominent citizens of Boone Township, having
been a justice of the peace for eight years and deputy assessor two
years. He was a candidate for the Legislature in 1880. He purchased
the farm where he now resides in 1874. It is two miles south of Ash
Grove, and consists of one hundred and twenty acres of fine land, most
of which is under cultivation. Mr. Duncan was married December 28,
1865, to Mary E., daughter of Josiah Mason, Esq. She was born May 7,
1842. Their union has been blest with eleven children, viz.: Wm. H.,
born October 26, 1866; Tennessee M., born February 23, 1868; Josiah H.,
born May 25, 1869; Mary C., born October 19, 1870; Mattie, born Febru-
ary 16, 1872; J. K. P., born June 2, 1873 and died September 26, 1873;
Edward W., born March 26, 1875 and died May 27, 1877; Rosa, born July
3, 1876 and died November 17, 1876; Cinderilla, born November 25, 1877
and died February 8, 1879; Cora A., born January 6, 1880; and Hale S.,
born March 21, 1882. Mr. Duncan and wife are members of the Sac river
Baptist Church.
John H. Duncan
Mr. Duncan is the son of Harvey and Mary (Bowden) Duncan, and was born
at Georgetown, Kentucky, January 8th, 1854. He was educated at Evans-
ville, Indiana; Canton, Illinois; and McGee College, Macon county, Mo.
He came to Springfield, Missouri in March, 1876, and studied law in the
office of Bray & Cravens, and was admitted to the bar upon the 20th of
October, 1876. He was elected, upon the Republican ticket, city recor-
der, in April, 1878 and was re-elected in 1879. In November, 1878 he
was elected justice of the peace, and served four years. He was appoi-
nted notary public by Gov. Crittenden, January 19th, 1883. He is now a
practicing attorney before the courts and has the qualifications to
succeed. Mr. Duncan was married June 6th, 1877 to Miss L. A. Carson.
They have two children, Hume and Leroy. His father is living at Canton,
Illinois and his mother died at Evansville, Indiana in 1861.
Thomas J. Duncan
Mr. Duncan is the son of James and Elizabeth (Yeakle) Duncan, and was
born in Greene County, Tennessee, March 23, 1848. His parents were
natives of that county, and his grandfathers upon both sides were sold-
iers in the War of 1812. In 1863, before he was fifteen years of age,
he enlisted in Company E, 4th Tennessee Regiment, Infantry, and at the
battle of McMinnville, Tenn., was taken prisoner by General Wheeler.
He was paroled and in the spring of 1864 was exchanged and served thro-
ugh the war. He was at the battles of Knoxville and Warm Springs. He
learned the blacksmith trade after the war and worked at it in Tennes-
see until 1876, when he came to Greene County, Missouri, and located at
Bois D'Arc, where he has since carried on his trade, and is doing a
flourishing business. He owns a nice property in town, and is one of
the charter members of the Bois D'Arc Lodge, I. O. O. F. Mr. Duncan
was married February 9, 1871, to Miss Mattie J., daughter of William
and Mary (Lowdermilk) Chapman, of Greene County, Tenn. Their union has
been blest with four children, viz.: Annie B., John H., Bessie A., and
Freddie W. Mr. Duncan is a good, substantial citizen and respected by
all.
Gustave Eckstorm
Mr. Eckstorm was born in St. Louis, Missouri, October 12th, 1855. When
he was about fourteen years of age he went upon the Missouri Pacific
railroad as a brakeman, and worked at it about a year. In 1879 he came
on the St. Louis & San Francisco railroad and braked until 1880, when
he was promoted conductor, and is now running a train. Mr. Eckstorm
was married December 16th, 1880, to Miss Mary Wahl, of Pacific, Mo. He
is a member of Pacific Lodge No. 122, Ancient Order of United Working-
men.
Thomas E. Edmundson
Mr. Edmundson is the son of Thomas and Sarah (Roberts) Edmundson, and
was born in Greene county, Missouri, January 16, 1851. His parents
were natives of Tennessee, and came to this county in 1844. Thomas E.
was educated in this county and at Baxter's Institute, where he com-
pleted his education in 1869. He has made farming his occupation, and
owns one hundred and sixty acres of land in this township, all of
which is in cultivation, well improved. He was married December 19,
1876, to Miss Mary, daughter of William and Eliza (Snow) Freeman. Mrs.
Edmundson was born December 4, 1856. They have three children, viz.:
Samuel, born October 29, 1877; Mabel, born February 13, 1879; and
Olivia, born October 25, 1881. Mrs. Edmundson is a member of the
Presbyterian church. Politically Mr. Edmundson is a Democrat, and one
of the staunch men of the county.
James P. Edwards
His parents were William B. and Mary (Ratliff) Edwards, and James P.
was born in Newton County, Mo., November 10, 1840. When he was quite
a child his father came with his family to Greene county, and located
in Wilson township, on Wilson creek. James was reared on the farm,
and acquired his education in the schools of the county. In 1862, he
enlisted to aid the Union cause of the civil war, under Col. Jones in
the Enrolled Missouri Militia and served for nine months. He then en-
listed in the regular U. S. army, joining the 16th Mo. cavalry under
command of Col. McMahan, and served thus till the war closed. He was
in the fight at Springfield when Marmaduke attacked the place in 1863
and a number of other fights and skirmishes. After the war, he took
a government contract to furnish the Cherokee Indians with meal, dur-
ing the famine that fell upon them. He then returned to his farm, and
has made farming and stock trading his chief vocation ever since. Mr.
Edwards was married September 16, 1866, to Miss Sarah F. O'Neal, of
Greene county. They have had seven children, five of whom still sur-
vive. The children's names are: James C., William R., Mary E., Harry
A., Annie Belle, Fidelio J., and Tillie May. Mr. Edwards owns 110
acres of the best land on Kickapoo prairie. He has been a citizen of
this county from early childhood, and is a successful farmer and a
fine business man generally.
John Egan
John Egan was born in Washington County, Pennsylvania, May 8, 1849. In
1869 he began "firing" on the Pennsylvania Central railroad, continuing
four years, when he was given charge of an engine and ran it till 1880.
He then came to Missouri and took charge of an engine on the St. L. &
S. F., R.R., which engagement he still holds. He was a member of the
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, Division 104, of Columbia, Penn.,
for six years, from which he took a withdrawl card and joined the
Pacific City, Division 83, Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, and is
still a member of the same. January 13, 1872 he married Miss Nettie E.
Fairlamb, of Columbia, Pennsylvania. They have had four children, viz:
Annie, Maggie and Nellie, who still survive, and Edgar, who died in
1876.
W. P. Elson
Mr. Elson was born in Stark County, Ohio, September 9, 1837. He was
educated in the common schools and at Mt. Union College at Alliance,
Ohio. He taught school for a time and then embarked in the mercantile
business for a number of years. He moved to Greene County, Missouri,
in 1866, where, by strict attention to business, economy and persever-
ance he has accumulated a magnificent property, owning some five hun-
dred acres of choice lands two miles east of Ash Grove. Mr. Elson was
married in 1875 to Miss Elizabeth C., daughter of S. P. Frame. Their
union has been blest with three children, two boys and one girl. Mr.
Elson's father was John Elson, and his mother was Miss Osee Wilson, a
daughter of Douglas Wilson, of Ohio. They are still living at Waynes-
burg, Ohio. His ancestors were from Virginia, and W. P. Elson's grand-
father, John H. Elson, was a captain in the war of 1812. Mr. Elson is
a thorough-going successful farmer, having been one of the first to
introduce into the county the celebrated merino sheep, which breed he
successfully rears.
Daniel H. Elwood
Mr. Elwood is a son of Henry and Nancy (Diendorff) Elwood, and was born
in Herkimer County, New York, March 12, 1821. He grew to manhood upon
the farm, which business he followed until 1853. He then went to Ohio
where he was foreman of a force of men upon the Marietta & Cincinnati
R.R. for a year. In 1854 he worked upon Illinois Central R.R., and
from 1855 to 1865, he was roadmaster of a division and land agent for
that road. In 1865 he engaged in the lumber and planing mill business
at Decatur, Illinois. In 1870 he went to Michigan, where he engaged
extensively in the lumber business. He sold out in 1877 and moved to
Butler County, Kansas, and engaged in the hotel business at Augusta. He
next bought, fed, and shipped hogs until April, 1882, when he came to
North Springfield, where he has charge of the St. Louis & San Francisco
R.R. eating house. Mr. Elwood was married in 1844 to Miss Jennie Jones
of Herkimer, New York. She died in 1859. She left three children, two
of whom are living, viz.: William H., head salesman in a mercantile
house at Decatur, Illinois, and Celia A., wife of B. R. Hampashire,
editor of the Decatur Republican. Mr. Elwood was married the second
time, in 1865, to Mrs. Ellen E. Litten, of Jacksonville, Illinois.
Before the war Mr. Elwood's father was colonel of the 192nd New York
Militia, and Daniel was adjutant of the regiment for four years.
George D. Emery
Mr. Emery is the son of Amasa and Abigail (Dutton) Emery, and was born
December 4, 1831 in Cheshire county, New Hampshire. His father is yet
living there, and his mother died in 1876. They had seven children,
but two of whom are now living, George D. and Alonzo A. George was ed-
ucated in his native county, and in 1850 went to New York City where he
lived about fifteen years in that city and in Brooklyn. He was in the
hotel business for about twelve years, and in 1861 had a contract to
feed the soldiers of several regiments for three months, when Chester
A. Arthur was quartermaster general. September 20, 1870 he came to
Springfield, Missouri and for nine years was of the firm of Emery &
Comstock, furniture dealers. In 1880 he was elected marshal of the
city of Springfield upon the Democratic ticket and served one year. He
is now the proprietor of a general feed store on South street. Mr.
Emery was married October 23, 1863 to Miss Maria Van Arsdale, of Brook-
lyn, N. Y. They have two sons, Alonzo W. and Frank E. Mr. Emery is a
member of the Knights of Honor, and Mrs. Emery is a member of the Cal-
vary Presbyterian Church.
Capt. S. H. Epley
This gentleman was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, November 15, 1843
and is a son of George W. and Catherine Epley. When about two years of
age his parents moved to Marion, Ohio where his father died and he
learned the carpenter's trade. In April, 1861 he enlisted in Company K
4th Ohio Infantry, as a private and served three years with that comp-
any. He was promoted to second lieutenant, and after a successful en-
gagement against Colonel Ashby he was promoted to the captaincy of his
company, and served with that rank until the war closed. He was in the
"Gibraltar Brigade," and was wounded five times, three times severly,
viz.: by a sabre cut in the head at Rappahannock, and left for dead; he
next received a severe bayonet thrust while charging a North Carolina
brigade who were behind a stone wall at Gettysburg; and was shot in the
knee in front of Richmond, and nearly died from lockjaw. After the war
he returned to Marion, Ohio and in the spring of 1866 went to Mansfield,
Ohio but in the fall of the same year he came to St. Louis and followed
his trade until 1879. He then came to Springfield and engaged in con-
tracting and building. Captain Epley was married October 26, 1878 to
Miss Rebecca, daughter of Enoch and Emily Harris, of St. Louis. He is
a member of the I. O. O. F. and G. A. R. societies.
Thomas J. Epperson
This gentleman is the son of Joseph and Jane (Walker) Epperson, and was
born in Hawkins county, Tenn., February 13, 1808. His father died when
he was but six years of age, and at the age of thirteen he went to Ken-
tucky and engaged in driving cattle. He remained in that State about
nine years, and in November, 1837, came to Greene county, Missouri, and
settled about fourteen miles south of Springfield, where he lived for
some time and then removed to within four miles of Springfield, where
he lived until 1875, when he moved into the city and has lived there
ever since. Mr. Epperson was married in 1829, in Hawkins county, Tenn-
essee, to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Jacob Wolf. Mr. Epperson began
life without a dollar, and now has a sufficient competency to live upon
without being actively engaged in business.
George Smith Escott
Mr. Escott is the son of Joseph and Betsy Escott, and was born March
23rd, 1845, in Kent County, Michigan. He was educated in the Grand
Rapids High School, and began teaching when he was nineteen years of
age. In 1868 he taught a graded school at Big Rapids, Michigan, and
in 1870 he came to Springfield, Missouri, and taught a subscription
school in North Springfield for seven months, assisted by his wife and
sister-in-law, Miss Nellie Snow. From there he went to Houston, Texas
County, Missouri, where he taught the Houston Public School acceptably
for five years. He next went to Mountain Grove and taught five years,
and from there to West Plains and taught one year. He then accepted
the position of principal of the North Springfield Public Schools,
which position he now holds, with three assistant teachers. On the 3d
of July, 1868, he was married to Miss Lettie W., daughter of John and
Jerusha Snow, by whom he has had two children, viz.: Nellie and Albert.
During his vacations he has written historical sketches of the counties
in which he lived, and in 1878 published the Springfield and North
Springfield history and directory. Mr. Escott is one of the best edu-
cators in this section, and one of the substantial men of the city.
Dr. James Evans
Dr. Evans was born in Wayne county, Indiana, June 6th, 1829. He never
attended school until he was seventeen years of age, but studied some
at home without a teacher. When he began school he bent his whole
energy to his work. He soon began teaching and studying medicine at
the same time, giving eighteen out of twenty-four hours to his books.
He graduated from Rush medical college at Chicago in 1855, and prac-
ticed his profession in Lebanon, Indiana, twenty-three years, and
keeping a drug store in connection with his practice. He made seven
additions to the town of Lebanon during his residence there. In 1871
he came to Missouri and settled in Springfield and engaged in the drug
business three years, and since has been dealing in real estate. In
1880 he purchased the farm where he now resides, at Nichols' Junction.
It was known as the Robinson farm, and the dwelling is the finest
brick farm house in the county. Dr. Evans now owns seven hundred acres
of land in this county, besides property in Indiana. He is now rearing
some thorough bred shorthorned cattle, and makes a specialty of rearing
stock of a high grade. He was married May 3rd, 1855, to Miss Louisa A.
Thompson, of Boone county, Indiana. Their union has been blest with
four children, viz.: Alpha D., J. B. Breckenridge, E. Ella and Freddie.
Dr. Evans is a member of both the Odd Fellows and Masonic societies.
Dr. Arthur H. Eversol
This gentleman is the son of Silas and Sarah (Godman) Eversol, and was
born in St. Louis, Mo., September 27, 1849. He was educated in that
city and at the military institute near Kirkwood, Mo. He first studied
his profession in the office of Dr. P. L. Williams, of Cairo, Illinois.
He came to Springfield, Missouri, in 1873, and studied for some time in
the office of Dr. C. F. Wright. He now has a large and lucrative prac-
tice. Dr. Eversol was married April 9, 1877, to Miss Minnie, daughter
of Mrs. Dr. Augustus Smith, of Springfield. They have one child, a
daughter. He and his wife are members of the Calvary Presbyterian
church. The doctor's parents are now living at Commerce, Mo. They had
four children, two sons and two daughters. The girls are both dead.
His father was a Virginian, and settled in St. Louis in 1829.
Cyrus M. Eversol
Mr. Eversol is the son of E. K. and T. A. (Godman) Eversol, and was
born in Cape Giradeau county, Missouri, July 11, 1839. He received his
education at the St. Louis High School, and then learned the miller's
trade in Scott county, Missouri. In 1861 he enlisted as a private in
Company A, 15th Illinois cavalry. He participated in the battles of
Shiloh, Fort Henry and Corinth. He was mustered out at Springfield,
Ill., September 1, 1864, when he returned to Scott county, Missouri,
where he lived some four years. In July, 1868, he came to Springfield,
Missouri. In 1870 he built the Eagle Mills, on Boonville street, and
has carried on that business ever since coming here. The firm is now
Eversol & Son. Mr. Eversol was married November 29, 1864 in Scott
county, Missouri, to Miss Julia Rhodes. Their union was blest with
three children: Felix, Anne and Hattie. He and his wife are members
of the Calvary Presbyterian Church, and he belongs to the A. O. U. W.
B. F. Ezell
April 24, 1881, a tragedy occurred in Fair Grove which is still vividly
remembered, and yet the subject of comment. The unfortunate affair re-
sulted in the killing of B. F. Ezell by J. L. Smith. Both were prom-
inent citizens and resident farmers of the vicinity, and, up to immedi-
ately previous to the tragedy had always been friendly. On the morning
of that day there was a quarrel between them over a trivial matter. Mr.
Smith had engaged one Goodwin to work for him, but, later, Goodwin had
agreed to work for Ezell, and Smith accused Ezell of coaxing away his
help. This quarrel was on Ezell's land, but as neither was armed,
nothing serious resulted at the time. In the afternoon Ezell went to
Fair Grove, where he was met by Smith, who, in the meantime, had armed
himself. The altercation was renewed, and Smith shot Ezell down. The
latter died in three days. Smith was not apprehended for a month after
wards, and is now out on bail. Ben. Ezell was a son of William Ezell,
one of the first settlers of Jackson Township.
Rev. Thomas D. Fain
This gentleman is the son of Jesse and Nancy (Doil) Fain, and was born
October 24, 1821, in Johnson County, Illinois. He was educated in the
common schools of his native county. In June, 1856, he came to Greene
County, Missouri, and lived near where Brookline now is until the close
of the war. In 1866 he moved to Lawrence County, where he remained un-
til 1879, when he returned to this county and purchased a small farm.
Mr. Fain was licensed to preach by the Baptist church in 1865, by
George Long, moderator, and Wiley W. Fain, clerk. He was ordained to
preach the third Sabbath in April, 1869 by Elders Elisha Clark and
George Young, with T. B. Youngblood, church clerk. Mr. Fain was marr-
ied in November, 1842, to Miss Nancy Tollor, of Johnson County, Ill.
Their union was blest with four children, three of whom are living.
Mrs. Fain died December 22, 1857, and in February, 1858, he was marr-
ied the second time to Miss Mary R., daughter of William Phillips.
They have one son, Calvin C., by this marriage. Mr. Fain joined the
Baptist church at the age of eighteen, in Illinois, and both his wives
were of the same faith. His father was a native of Georgia, and went
to Illinois when six years of age, where he died at the age of sixty.
His mother was a native of Kentucky, and died in Lawrence County, Miss-
ouri. They had eight children, six of whom are living, Thomas D.,
being the second child.
Jonathan Fairbanks
This gentleman is the son of Varnum and Margaret (Haddin) Fairbanks,
and was born in Andover, Massachusetts, January 7, 1828. When he was
about a year old his parents moved to New York, and his father, being
a manufacturer, took charge of large factory. His father died in 1832
and the family returned to Massachusetts. Mr. Fairbanks is a fourth
cousin of Fairbanks, the inventor of the celebrated scales of that
name. Jonathan lived with an uncle at Sudbury, Massachusetts, until he
was eighteen years of age, and then went to school for three years.
First went to New Ipswich, and from there went to Wilmington, Delaware,
and taught school just out of the city for several years. He next went
to St. Mary's, Ohio and taught as first assistant there, and went to
Piqua and took charge of the high school for a year. He then returned
to St. Mary's, where he remained six years as superintendent of the
public schools. He again went back to Piqua where he was superinten-
dent of the high school there for five years. He resigned his position
in the fall of 1866, and came to Springfield, Missouri where he engaged
in the lumber and real estate business for about ten years. Subsequen-
tly he accepted the superintendency of the public school here, to which
position he had been elected in 1875. He has held the position ever
since, save one year when he traveled. R. L. Goode, Esq., was in
charge of the school during Mr. Fairbanks' absence. Mr. Fairbanks has
been mayor of the city, member of the council, member of the board of
education three years, and president of the board two years. During
the time he had been traveling he has done hard and faithful work, so
hard, indeed, that his health ran down under it, and he had to desist
from overwork. He taught his first school at Ashby, Massachusetts, and
it was pronounced the best in the place. He was married August, 1855,
to Miss Angie Bowker, daughter of Noyes and Mary Bowker. They were
educated together at Sudbury, Massachusetts. By this union they have
four children living, viz.: Annie P., George B., John W. and James O.
Mr. Fairbanks is one of the best educators in the country and deserves
his popularity.
Benjamin A. Fay
Mr. Fay is the son of Lorenzo D. and Deborah (Richmond) Fay, and was
born in Vermont, September 16, 1832. His ancestors were from England
and among the first settlers of Vermont, three of the Fays being sold-
iers in the Revolutionary War. Benjamin was educated in his native
State, and at the age of twenty-one learned the carriage maker's trade
and in 1856 went to Winneshiek County, Iowa where he worked at his
trade. In April, 1861, he enlisted in Company A, 1st Iowa Cavalry. He
did duty in North Missouri in 1861, and in 1862 he was at the battles
of Lone Jack, Prairie Grove and Iron Mountain. He was also in the
battle at Little Rock, and was under Gen. Steele upon Bank's Red River
campaign. He was at the engagements at Camden and Bayou Metre. In
1864 he went back to North Missouri. His company was body guard for
Gen. Fish, and during Price's raid was body-guard for Gen. Rosencranz.
They were next sent to Memphis, and after the war they went to Texas to
look after government property. They were discharged in the spring of
1866, Mr. Fay having served five years. He came to Springfield, Miss-
ouri, in 1866, and worked at carpentering and building until 1869. He
then worked in the 'Frisco shops until 1877. He now has a hotel and
restaurant, and from a capital of one hundred and fifty dollars he has
accumulated property to the amount of ten thousand dollars. Mr. Fay
was married in 1860 to Miss Kate Norton, of Iowa. They have two child-
ren, viz.: Frank and Nellie.
Edwin L. Fay
Mr. Fay was born at Barnard, Orange County, Vermont, August 5th, 1849.
He is the son of Lorenzo D. and Lavinia B. Fay, who are natives of Ver-
mont, and are now living at Palatine, Cook County, Illinois. They em-
igrated to Iowa in 1862, and settled in Butler County, but removed to
their present home in 1864. Edwin L. Fay commenced railroading in
September, 1867, on the Chicago and Northwestern, and ran upon that
road until 1870. In March, 1871, he ran as a brakesman upon the popu-
lar "Frisco" road for four months, and then took charge of the yards at
Springfield. He next was an "extra" freight conductor for eight months
and was then promoted to the position of a regular conductor on a
freight. In March, 1878, he was given a passenger train, as conductor,
which responsible position he still holds. Mr. Fay was married on the
27th of August, 1873, to Miss Dot Kern, of St. James, Missouri. This
union has been blest with three children, two of whom: Edith Grace and
Ethel Idelle, are living. Mr. Fay is a member of the St. John's Comm-
andery No. 20, Knights Templars, of Springfield; A. O. U. W., Wentworth
Lodge No. 114, and the Order of Railway Conductors, Ozark Division No.
30, North Springfield. He was one of the charter members, and was a
delegate to the national meeting at Buffalo, New York, in October, 1881
and at St. Paul, in October, 1882.
Col. Homer F. Fellows
Col. Fellows, whose full Christian name is Homer Franklin, was born in
Wellsborough, Tioga county, Pennsylvania, July 30th, 1832. Johnathan
Fellows, grandfather of Homer F., came from England prior to the Revo-
lution, and settled first in Connecticut, where Erastus Fellows, father
to the subject of this sketch, was born. They subsequently (1815) moved
to Pennsylvania, where Erastus married Mrs. Elizabeth Johnson, relict
of Moses Johnson, who became the mother of Col. Fellows. Homer passed
his early life in Wellsborough, where his father was a hotel keeper and
farmer. He worked on the farm in spring and summer and during winter,
attended the schools of his native town. He spent one year in a general
merchandise store at the age of eighteen, then taught school one term
at Osceola, Pennsylvania, at the conclusion of which he entered Geneseo
College, at Lima, New York, remaining one year. In 1853, he being "of
age" started with a party to Texas, but changed his mind and went to
Iowa. He had procured letters of intreduction to some prominent gen-
tlemen, including Gov. Grimes. Procuring an engagement as traveling
salesman for Geer & Baum, of Burlington, he remained one year, till the
firm dissolved, traveling on both sides of the Des Moines river with a
team. After the dissolution, Mr. Fellows was employed in settling up
the business, and in 1854, was sent by Mr. Baum with a stock of goods
to Chariton, Iowa where he remained a year, and wound up the business
when Baum sold out. He then came to this State and went into the real
estate business with Messrs. Scheller & Baum, in Plattsburg, where he
remained till 1857, when he established two other offices, one in War-
saw, Benton county and another in Springfield, this county, the firm
then being Fellows, Todd & Robinson, he taking charge of the Spring-
field office. Col. Fellows was married November 18, 1859 to Miss
Vidie, daughter of Maj. R. J. McElhaney. She died at Springfield,
October 10, 1869, leaving three daughters: Emma, Clara and Adah. He
was again married August 18, 1872 to Miss Minnie L. Boyden, daughter of
Capt. Ezekiel Boyden, of Peoria, Illinois. During the civil war, Col.
Fellows was engaged in the mercantile business at Rolla, Phelps county,
but left there in 1864, to engage in the wholesale grocery business in
St. Louis. He was associated with several different firms in St. Louis
till the spring of 1867, when he moved to Arlington, then the Southwest
Pacific Railroad terminus, where he was interested in business. When
the road was completed to Springfield he moved to that point, engaging
in merchandising and erecting an elevator, which was burned in 1872. In
December of that year he became superintendent of the Springfield Wagon
factory. Two years later he and his brother bought out the concern,
assuming all liabilities. They are still conducting the factory, and
the reputation of the "Springfield Wagon" is well and most favorably
known throughout the Southwest. In 1865 Col. Fellows was a director of
the Missouri Loan Bank, and also of the Occidental Insurance Company.
He was Lieut. Colonel of the 63rd Missouri Militia, called into active
service on Price's raid into this State. In 1861 he was appointed
register of lands by President Lincoln. He was elected mayor of Spring-
field in 1877, and re-elected by an increased majority in 1878. Few
men have more of genuine public spirit than Col. Fellows, or are more
ready to further public improvements by purse and personal action. He
took a leading part in the construction of the Springfield street rail-
way, and when the water-works question was agitated, he lead out in
that enterprise, and paid for the carriages, out of his own pocket, to
bring voters to the polls the day the question was carried in favor of
the Perkins proposition to supply the city with water. In politics
Col. Fellows is an independent Republican. He is a Mason and an Odd
Fellow, and a member of the Brotherhood of Druids, and Knights of Honor.
He is liberal in his religious opinions, and willing that all men should
do their own thinking.
Benjamin F. Fielder
Mr. Fielder is the son of John L. and Mary (Denton) Fielder, and was
born in Maury county, Tennessee, February 7, 1825. His parents were
early settlers of Tennessee, and his father was at the battle of New
Orleans. Benjamin was reared and educated in Maury and Hickman count-
ies, Tennessee, and at about the age of twenty-one he began manufactur-
ing cotton gins at Columbia, Tennessee, and subsequently learned the
carpenter's trade, which he followed exclusively, with the exception of
two years in which he was an overseer. He came to Greene county,
Missouri, in November, 1855, and settled in Washington township, where
he lived until the beginning of the civil war. He enlisted in the
militia and was taken prisoner upon the 8th of January, 1863, but was
paroled in a few days. At the close of the war he settled where he now
resides, three and one-half miles southwest of Springfield, where he
has one hundred and fifteen acres, all under cultivation. Mr. Fielder
was married October 7, 1855, to Mary Estes. They had four children,
viz.: Mary A., Margaret R., William T. and Andrew J. His first wife
died in April, 1863, and February 6, 1876, Mr. Fielder was married to
Mary S. Barnes. Their union has been blest with three children, Emma
M., Cordie B. and Benjamin F. Mr. and Mrs. Fielder are members of the
Methodist Episcopal Church South, and in politics he is a Democrat.
Judge Felix F. Fine
Judge Fine is the son of Melsor and Margaret (Sappington) Fine, and was
born in St. Louis county, Missouri, February 23rd, 1833. His father
was born August 14th, 1801, and died November 19th, 1843. His mother
was born August 8th, 1813 and died October 11th, 1882. Felix F. was
educated in the common schools of St. Louis and at the St. Louis Uni-
versity. He was engaged in farming and in the nursery business until
he came to Greene county in November, 1867 and located three miles west
of Springfield on the Carthage road. Here he carried on the nursery
business extensively, and farmed until his removal to where he now
lives, about four miles east of Springfield. He owns a fine farm of
one hundred and sixty acres, well improved. In the fall of 1882 he was
elected upon the Democratic ticket as one of the county judges of
Greene county, which office he now holds, enjoying the full confidence
of his constituency, and guarding well the county's interest. He was
married February 16th, 1858, to Miss Martha L. Gesferd, a native of St.
Francois county, Missouri. Their union has been blest with two child-
ren, only one of whom is now living. The judge and his wife are mem-
bers of the Catholic church.
Col. Hezekiah Fletcher
Col. Fletcher is the son of Abraham and Margaret (Crocker) Fletcher,
and was born June 16th, 1818, in Washington county, Maine. He was
educated at Washington academy, and graduated from the Worcester
medical college of Massachusetts in 1848. He practiced at Grafton,
Mass., for two years and then went to St. Anthony's FAlls, now Minn-
eapolis, Minnesota, and continued the practice there two years. He
then sold goods there many years, and was one of the largest merchants
of the place. during the last four years of his residence there, he
was receiver of public moneys in the land office, having been appoint-
ed by President Lincoln. As receiver of public moneys, hundreds of
thousands of dollars passed through his hands, all of which was scrup-
ulously and accurately accounted for by Col. Fletcher. When a final
settlement on his accounts was had at Washington City, there was one
cent placed to his credit, which still stands on the books, the Col.
keeping it there with the gratified consciousness that "Uncle Sam" is
in his debt. He was also prominent in assisting the Governor in
equipping several regiments for the war. He came to Springfield, Mo.,
in March, 1867, and engaged in the mercantile business for about eight
years, and is now in the real estate and insurance business. Col.
Fletcher was married to Miss Priscilla S. Sanborn. Their union has
been blest with five children, two sons and three daughters. Three
are now living, one son and two daughters. His wife died in 1858, and
in 1862, he was married the second time to Miss Laura Woodbridge, of
Lincoln county, Maine. One daughter was born to this marriage. Col.
Fletcher's father died in 1856 and his mother in 1859, in Minneapolis.
They had twelve children, nine boys and three girls.
John W. Forshee
This gentleman is the son of Jesse and Mary Forshee, and was born in
Monroe county, Tennessee, Feb. 15th, 1840. At the age of seventeen,
he came to Greene county, Mo., and worked at well drilling until the
war began. In the spring of 1861 he joined the Light Guard company of
Springfield, and in September joined Col. Phelps' regiment, and served
in that until it was discharged. He then joined the 8th Enrolled Miss-
ouri Militia, and served in that regiment until the war closed. He was
taken prisoner by Gen. Marmaduke, but paroled in five days. He is now
actively engaged in farming and stock dealing, and owns a good farm.
Mr. Forshee was married October 11th, 1866, to Margaret Woodrow, of
Fannin county, Texas. Seven children were born to this marriage, viz.:
William A., Margaret J., Hattie I., Samuel N., Mattie, James and George
T. Mr. Forshee is a member of the A. F. & A. M. society, and one of
the substantial citizens of the county.
H. M. Foster
This gentleman is the son of Elias W. and Sarah J. Foster, and was born
in Tioga county, New York, January 10, 1831. His father was at first
engaged in the lumber trade, but for the past twenty-five years has
been farming and is yet hale and stout at the age of seventy-eight. His
mother died in July, 1882, at the age of seventy-seven. Mr. Foster be-
longs to a long lived family, his father, brothers and sisters all yet
living, and his father's mother lived to be one hundred and four years
of age. H. M. Foster was brought to Tioga county, Pennsylvania, when
he was seven years of age, where he lived until 1860, and then moved to
the central part of Michigan where he remained seventeen years, and in
April, 1877, came to Missouri, and settled in Jackson township, Greene
county. Before coming to this State, Mr. Foster was engaged in the
lumber business, but here he has followed the occupation of farming. He
improved a farm of eighty acres south of Strafford, which he sold in
1881, and then bought the place upon which he now lives. Mr. Foster
was married January 1, 1855, to Miss Eunice, daughter of Thomas L.
Moore, of Tioga county, New York. They had three children by this
marriage, all of whom are dead. Mrs. Foster died June 18, 1865, and he
was married the second time to Miss Alice Davis, daughter of Thomas
Davis, of this county, formerly of Tennessee. Their union has been
blest with three children, two girls and a boy.
Marion A. Frame
Mr. Frame was born at Lodoga, Indiana, August 26, 1850. In 1877 he
commenced firing upon the St. Louis and San Francisco railway, and
December, 1881, was promoted to engineer, and has run an engine on
that road ever since. He was married August 22, 1872 to Miss Elvira
W. Johnson. Their union has been blest with four children, viz.:
Minnie May, Frederick A., Clara E. and Ellen. Mr. Frame is a member
of Frisco Lodge, Brotherhood of Local Engineers.
Franklin T. Frazier
Hon. Franklin T. Frazier (deceased). Franklin Tennessee Frazier was
the third child of Julian and Elizabeth Frazier who reared a family of
thirteen children. He was born near Knoxville, Tennessee, March 15,
1810. He grew to manhood upon his father's farm, and was educated in
Paris, Tenn. He was married the first time to Maria J. Crawford, when
he was twenty-three years of age. That union was blessed with five
children, viz.: George W., Thos. M., Wm. J., James M., and Samuel L.
His first wife died June 4, 1847, and he was married the second time,
April 26, 1848 to Miss Malcena Boone, daughter of Col. Nathan Boone,
of this county. By this marriage there are four children, viz.: Con-
stantine C., Nathan B., Laura J., and Franklin T. Mr. Frazier was
elected to the State Senate in 1858, and was one of the ablest members
of that body. He met with the Legislature called by Gov. Jackson, at
Neosho, and voted in favor of the secession ordinance. He was a member
of Gov. Jackson's staff at the battle of Wilson's Creek, and then went
with the army to Arkansas, and lived at Fayetteville until 1863. He
then went to Colin County, Texas and lived there until September, 1865.
He then returned to Missouri and lived in Saline County, until 1867,
and then returned to the farm he settled soon after coming to the State
and where his widow still lives. He carried on farming upon a large
scale, and no man in the county stood higher in the regard of the
people than he. He was always an unswerving Democrat, never proved re-
creant to any trust committed to his care. He died upon the old home-
stead, December 16, 1881, in his seventy-second year and was buried in
the family burying ground upon the home place by the Masonic fraternity
of which he was a member.
William J. Frazier
This gentleman is the son of Hon. Franklin T. and Maria J. (Crawford)
Frazier, and was born in Henry County, Tennessee, September 22, 1838.
His parents moved to Greene County, Missouri, in 1847, where William
grew to manhood upon the farm. In 1861 he enlisted in Captain Camp-
bell's company of Missouri State Guards, and was at the battle of Dug
Spring and Wilson's Creek, and was slightly wounded at the former en-
gagement. He served out his term of enlistment, and, as his health
failed, he did not enter the regular Confederate service, but went with
his father to Texas, and stayed until 1865, when they came back to this
State, and in 1866 they returned to Greene County. Since the war Mr.
Frazier has been engaged in farming, and is a prosperous, substantial
citizen. He has been both justice of the peace and constable. He is a
Mason, and has been a member of the Baptist Church six years. He was
married July 27, 1863, to Miss Martha, daughter of Greenberry and Pru-
dence (Tatum) Robinson, of this county. Their union has been blest
with two children, George T. and William F.
William T. L. Freeman
This gentleman is a son of William T. and Theresa J. (Eldridge) Freeman
and was born at Shreveport, Louisiana, June 12, 1847. His grandfather,
John Freeman, was a Revolutionary soldier, and one of Washington's
scouts. His father died near Stockton, California, on a ranche known
as Freeman's ranche. His mother lives at North Springfield. She has
contributed largely to magazines and other literary publications, but
is best known as an authoress, by her book, "Silver Lake; or The Belle
of Bayou Louis." After his father's death the family moved to St.
Louis, where he was reared and educated. They lived in St. Louis until
1868, and then moved to De Lassus, Mo., and with Col. De Lassus, built
the De Lassus hotel. He then returned to St. Louis, where he was en-
gaged in business about three years. He came to North Springfield in
August, 1880, and accepted the position of secretary of the master of
the transportation of the St. Louis and San Francisco railroad. Mr.
Freeman was married April 28, 1867, to Miss Emma Bourgeat, of Point
Coupee, Louisiana, daughter of Dr. Bourgeat, of that place, and grand
neice of the Marquis De Lassus, the last Spanish governor of the Terri-
tory of Louisiana, of which Missouri was then a part. Their union was
blest with one child, Julius B. De Lassus, born November 7, 1870. Mrs.
Freeman died February 24, 1872. Mr. Freeman is president of the North
Springfield Literary and Musical Association.
Robert A. Fryar
Mr. Fryar is the son of John and Sarah (Jack) Fryar, and was born in
Monroe County, Tennessee, August 25, 1820. His father was a native of
Ireland and died in 1831, at the age of eighty-eight. His mother died
in 1838. Robert was educated in the common schools of his native
county, and began farming when he was quite young. At the age of
twenty-three he learned the carpenter's trade, which, in connection
with farming, he has followed all his life. He came to Greene County
in the fall of 1851, and purchased land two miles west of Walnut Grove.
He sold out in 1853, and purchased land in Vernon County, where he
lived two years, and then went to Cedar County and bought land. He soon
after removed to Benton County, Arkansas, where he remained two years,
and then moved back to Greene County, Mo., and built the seventh house
in Walnut Grove, and has lived there ever since. He enlisted in the
militia during the war and was stationed most of the time at Ash Grove.
He was married in 1850 to Miss Martha E. Williams. Their union has
been blessed with five children, four of whom are now living. Mr. and
Mrs. Fryar are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and have
a host of friends in this county.
John L. Gardner
Mr. Gardner is the son of John and Letty (Woods) Gardner, and was born
in Barren county, Kentucky, May 27, 1815. When he was quite a small
boy his parents moved to Carroll county, Tenn. Shortly after, they
came to Greene county, Missouri and entered the land where the 'Frisco
depot now stands. They lived there two years, and then moved to
Springfield, where John L. learned the trade of a wagon and carriage
maker, and has followed it ever since. During the war he remained in
Springfield, and helped to bury the dead at the battle of Wilson's
Creek. Mr. Gardner was married to Miss Matilda E. Parker, of Kentucky.
Their union was blessed with four sons and three daughters. His first
wife dying, he was married the second time, to Miss Freeman, by whom
he had three sons and two daughters, all living. Mr. Gardner's father
was a native of North Carolina. He moved from his native State to
Kentucky, from there to Tennessee, thence to Dallas county, Missouri
and finally to Greene county.
William C. Gardner
Mr. Gardner is the son of J. L. and Matilda (Parker) Gardner, and was
born in Polk county, Mo., November 11, 1849 and came to Springfield
when but a small boy. He was educated in Springfield, at private
schools. He is one of seven children, four boys and three girls. His
twin brother, James A., died September 23, 1882. They had been pro-
prietors of the "Twin Brothers" saloon for five years. William now
conducts the business himself.
William B. Garoutte
Mr. Garoutte is the son of James S. and Mary (Bobington) Garoutte, and
was born in Washington County, Ohio, May 9, 1820. His grandfather was
a French soldier, who settled at Tuckahoe, N. J., after the Revolution-
ary War was over. France sent some of her best sons to aid us in
securing our independence, and many of them stayed in America. In 1829
his parents moved to St. Joseph County, Indiana, and in February, 1830,
his mother was frozen to death. She was an eminent practitioner in
midwifery, and had gone nine miles to see a patient. She was caught in
a snow storm, and it is supposed she dismounted to walk so as to keep
warm, and her horse got away from her. She was found the next day dead.
In 1837 he and his father came to Greene County, Mo., and settled in
Pond Creek township. His father died in 1876. William went back to
Indiana in 1848, and in 1849 went to California and returned in 1852,
and has since resided in Greene County. He was elected justice of the
peace when he was twenty-one years of age. In 1856 he was a candidate
for the State Senate upon the Benton ticket, but was beaten by Judge
Price by seventy-seven votes. In 1859 he was a candidate for Congress,
and in 1882, he was a candidate for the Legislature upon the Democratic
ticket, and though his district was Republican by three hundred major-
ity, he reduced it to fifty-six. He was a Union man until the war
actually came on, and then took the position that the Jackson troops
were the law and authority troops. He was offered and refused a brig-
adier general's commision. In 1862 cast his fortunes with the Confed-
eracy, and went South with Gen. Price. In the fall of 1862 he returned
to Greene County, as provost marshal for the county, but was taken
prisoner at his home before the Confederate troops arrived. He was
taken to St. Louis, then to Johnson's Island, and from there to Fort
McHenry, and held prisoner two years. Just before the war closed he
was exchanged at Demopolis, Alabama and sent by Gen. Hardee, with dis-
patches to Gen Price in Arkansas. He was there when the war closed. He
lost twenty thousand dollars by the war, and has since labored to re-
pair his losses. He owns over seven hundred acres of land. Mr. Garo-
utte is a Master Mason. He has been married twice, the first time to
Miss Amanda, daughter of Royal and Mehitable (Arms) Hazelton, of this
county. They were blest with five daughters. Mrs. Garoutte died April
7, 1857, and he was married the second time, October 15, 1857, to Miss
Mehitable, daughter of Magruder and Theresa (Hazelton) Tannahill, also
of Greene County. They have by this union eight children.
Warren W. Garoutte
His name indicates his French extraction. His grandfather came over
from France as one of the soldiers who helped us so gallantly in the
Revolutionary War. After the close of that war he settled at Tucka-
hoe, New Jersey, where William, the father of W. W., was born in 1798.
William moved to Ohio, where he was married in 1829 to Elizabeth
Dutton. This marriage was blest with ten children, Warren Werter
Garoutte being the fifth child. He was born in Washington County,
Ohio, July 23, 1839. When he was eight months old his parents moved
to Greene County, Missouri, and settled in Pond Creek township, a
sparsely settled portion of the county. His father died in 1863, and
his mother in 1869. Mr. Garoutte was married in September, 1860, to
Miss Martha, daughter of John S. and Mary (Chastaine) Richmond. Her
parents were natives of Tennessee, but she was born in Missouri.
Their union was blest with ten children, nine of whom are living:
William S., John L., Anthony S., Mary E., Susan R., Marcus D., George
L., Franklin L. and Lillie M. Mrs. Garoutte died October 19, 1882.
She had been a consistent member of the church since eighteen years
of age. Mr. Garoutte settled where he now lives in 1866. He owns a
farm of two hundred and forty acres, besides one-third interest in
another tract of the same size. He has always followed farming and
blacksmithing. He is a Royal Arch Mason, and a member of the Baptist
Church since 1868.
Jacob Garton
Mr. Garton is a native of Tennessee, born in Dixon County, November 14,
1822, and is a son of John and Elizabeth (Condrey) Dixon. When he was
twenty-four years old, he went to Marshall county, Miss., and there
took charge of a large plantation, which he managed successfully for
two years. Returning to Tennessee, he engaged in the cotton culture
for seven years in Maury county. August 12, 1855 he married Miss Pene-
lope Elizabeth Rainey, a native of the above county. Five children
were born of that union, three of whom are living at this writing. His
first wife died in September, 1865, and he was again married, March 5,
1870 to Miss Alzany Wallace, a native of this county. Six children,
four surviving and two deceased, were born of the latter marriage. It
was in November, 1855, that Mr. Garton came to Missouri, stopping the
first three years on the "Blakey place," in this county, before purcha-
sing the place on which he now resides in Wilson township. He has add-
ed to his original purchase from time to time, till he now owns some
380 acres of fine land in Greene and Christian counties. Mr. Garton
built a hotel and some bath houses at Eaudevia Springs in Christian
county, the waters of which are good for neuralgia, rheumatism, and
sore eyes, and is also a specific for growths of a cancerous nature.
During the war Mr. Garton enlisted, in 1862, in the Home Guards under
Gen. Holland, and served about eight months. Both Mr. Garton and wife
are members of the Congregational church at Brookline. Politically, he
is a Democrat, and holds allegiance strictly to that party. He has al-
ways been a farmer, and his industry has been well rewarded.
William S. Garwood
Mr. Garwood was born in Strasburg, Pennsylvania, June 1, 1858. January
23, 1877, he went into the office on the "Frisco" R.R. as messenger boy
for the telegraph company for three months, then went to Richland,
where he was night operator for eight months. He next spent five mon-
ths as night operator at Sullivan, after which he returned to North
Springfield and was operator for three months in the office of train
dispatcher. On August 17, 1879, he was given the office of general
baggage agent, which position he holds at this writing. He is an Odd
Fellow and belongs to Springfield Lodge, No. 218. Mr. Garwood was
married October 23, 1880, to Miss Lizzie G. Stone, of Springfield. They
have one child, a daughter named Willie, born December 12, 1882.
Daniel B. Gates
This gentleman is the son of Zebediah and Betsy (Maxon) Gates, and was
born in Courtland County, N.Y., March 11th, 1836. His mother is the
daughter of General Maxon of Revolutionary fame, and his great grand-
father was General Gates, whose name and deeds are familiar to every
schoolboy. Mr. Gates' grandfather enlisted in the Continental army at
the age of fourteen, and his father was a soldier in the Black Hawk
War. Daniel lived at home until he was seventeen years of age and then
went to Chicago where he was engaged in railroading for several years.
He speculated largely in Missouri lands by buying and laying land warr-
ants, owning at one time twenty thousand acres of land. He raised a
company for the 111th Illinois Volunteers, but resigned the captaincy
and was appointed by General Yates assistant provost marshal for the
11th Illinois congressional district, where he remained until the
close of the war. In 1866 he went to Kansas City and Fort Scott, and
in 1867 purchased the place where he now resides. He owns a finely
improved farm of eight hundred acres, besides other lands in different
parts of the State. He is one of the most substantial citizens of
Greene County, and is regarded as a thorough gentleman. He has been a
member of the Masonic fraternity for twenty-five years. Mr. Gates was
married December 28, 1858, to Miss Mercy Wells, of Lafayette County,
Wisconsin. They have had four children, two of whom are living, E. E.
and Henry.
Judge Washington F. Geiger
This gentleman, the present judge of the twenty-first judicial district
of Missouri, was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, in June, 1836. His
family ancestors on the paternal side came from Germany, and settled in
Pennsylvania at an early date. His grandfather served in the Revolu-
tionary War, and his father, Henry Geiger, was a soldier in the War of
1812, and was afterward a thrifty farmer, living in his native State
until 1834, when he removed to the State of Ohio, where he died in 1860.
He was married in 1816, to Julian Ruebush, whose family were natives of
Virginia. Washington F. Geiger received an English and classical edu-
cation in Urbana, Ohio. He began the study of law in 1853, teaching
school at the same time. He afterward continued his studies in the law
office of his brother, in Urbana; was admitted to the bar in 1858, in
Springfield, Ohio; practiced in Urbana one year, and removed to Steel-
ville, Crawford county, Missouri in 1859, where he practiced his pro-
fession until the outbreak of the civil war. He then organized a comp-
any of infantry, which with others was organized into the Phelps Regi-
ment, United States volunteers. Of this regiment he was commissioned
major, and on the second day of that hard fought battle of Pea Ridge,
was in command of the regiment, Col. Phelps being in command of the
brigade. In this engagement the Phelps regiment suffered terribly,
more than one-half of the officers and enlisted men being either killed
or wounded, Major Geiger having his horse killed under him by a cannon
shot. In 1862, he organized at Springfield, the 8th Missouri Cavalry,
United States volunteers, of which he was commissioned colonel, in June
of that year. After the first six months he was put in command of the
second brigade of the Army of the Frontier, and subsequently, for four
months commanded the 3rd division of the 7th army corps. Thence to the
close of the war he commanded the 2nd brigade, cavalry division, 7th
army corps. Col. Geiger participated in the battles of Prairie Grove,
Clarendon, Brownsville, Little Rock, Bayou Metre, Prairie Long, also a
number of minor actions and skirmishes. He retired from the army at
the close of the war, having given four years of honorable service to
his country, and leaving behind him a record without a stain. In Sep-
tember, 1865, he was married to Henrietta C., daughter of Almaren Bodge,
Esq., of Portland, Maine, and located in Springfield, and at once re-
sumed the practice of his profession. In 1868 he was elected circuit
attorney of the 14th judicial circuit. In 1869 he was elected judge of
the 21st judicial circuit, which was formed from parts of the 13th and
14th judicial circuit. In 1869 he was elected judge of the 21st judi-
cial circuit, which was formed from parts of the 13th and 14th circuits.
At the expiration of his first term, in 1874, he was re-elected, and
again in 1880, at present serving his third term, he being the only
judge who has presided over the courts of the 21st judicial circuit.
As a practitioner Judge Geiger was regarded as a safe counsellor, and
skilful in the management of his causes. Upon the bench, added to his
legal attainments, his manner of conducting proceedings, dispensing
even-handed justice without fear or favor, has won for him the esteem
and confidence of the entire bar in this circuit. Politically he is a
Republican.
William Geister
Mr. Geister was born in Franklin County, Missouri, February 4, 1862.
He is a son of Adam and Fredricka Geister, who moved to Springfield,
Greene County, Missouri, in 1872, where they lived until 1879, and
then moved out upon a farm one mile east of Springfield where they
reside at present. In 1875 William went to work in the paint shops
o the 'Frisco railway shops where he worked two years. He then work-
ed in the machine shops eighteen months, and then began firing upon
an engine on the St. Louis & San Francisco railway, which position he
still holds. He is a member of the Frisco Lodge, No. 51, Brotherhood
of Locomotive Firemen, of which he is managing agent.
John J. A. Gibson
This gentleman is the oldest son of John and Mary Gibson, and was born
in Greene county, Missouri, March 13th, 1855. His parents came from
Lincoln county, Tennessee, among the first settlers of this part of the
county, and now resides in section 12, Campbell township. John was ed-
ucated in the common schools of the county, and began farming when
quite young, which occupation he yet follows. He has by industry and
economy acquired considerable property, owning one hundred and twenty
acres of good land. In politics he is a Greenbacker, and is a consis-
tent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. He is one of the
safe, reliable young men of the county.
Thomas J. Gideon
Mr. Gideon is the son of William C. and Malinda (Byrd) Gideon, and was
born in Greene county, near Ozark, Mo., January 28, 1845. He was edu-
cated at private schools at Springfield. In 1861 he was in Capt. Jesse
Gallaway's company of Home Guards for about two months, and upon the
7th of March, 1862, enlisted in Company F, 14th Missouri cavalry. He
was wounded January 8, 1863, in the Marmaduke attack upon Springfield,
and discharged March 7, 1863. In November, 1866 he was elected county
and circuit clerk of Christian county, and served two terms. He stud-
ied law in the office of his brother, Hon. James J. Gideon, at Ozark,
and was admitted to the bar by Judge Geiger, in 1877. In the fall of
1880 he removed to Springfield, Mo., where he enjoys a good practice.
Mr. Gideon was married to Miss L. F. Williams, of Ozark, Mo. They have
been blest with three sons and two daughters. He is a member of the
I. O. O. F. and A. F. & A. M. His father was a native of North Caro-
lina, but was taken to Hawkins county, Tennessee, when a child. He came
to Greene county, Missouri in 1836, and settled near Ozark. In the late
war he enlisted in Company F, 14th Mo. Cavalry, and then in Company I,
8th Mo. State militia. He was killed December 17, 1863, near Highland-
ville, Christian county, by bushwhackers. He was out recruiting for
Rabb's battery. His wife is still living upon the farm in Christian
county. They had seven sons and one daughter.
James Kennon Gilmore
This gentleman is a native of Grainger county, Tennessee, and was born
in 1827. He moved to Greene county, Missouri in December, 1835 and has
been engaged in farming ever since coming to the State. He was married
in this county on the 24th of May, 1849, to Miss Sophronia E. Edmonson.
They have ten children living, four of whom are married and living in
Greene county. His father was one of the early settlers, and died in
August, 1879. Mr. Gilmore owns about seven hundred acres of land in
the county, and is one of its most substantial citizens. During the
war he was a Union man, and has since been identified with the Republi-
can party. He and his excellent wife are members of the Baptist church.
They have passed through all the phases of pioneer life, and now enjoy
the fruits of their industry.
Thomas D. Glover
Mr. Glover is the son of Samuel and Ellen (Metzger) Glover, and was
born in Vermillion County, Indiana, September 8, 1831. His father was
born April 8, 1802, in Ohio, and died December 25, 1872. His mother
was born in Pennsylvania, June 21, 1803, and is now living at Perry-
ville, Indiana. Thomas D. was educated in the common schools of his
native county, and at an early age commenced the occupation of farming,
which he has followed to the present time. He came to Greene County,
Missouri in October, 1866, and purchased the farm upon which he now re-
sides, one mile and a half south of Ash Grove. He has by strict fru-
gality, industry, and perseverance, made a splendid farm, and is well
fixted to enjoy the fruits of his labor, and is one of the best farm-
ers in the county. Mr. Glover was married February 29, 1856, to Miss
Indiana, daughter of Jonas and Mary (Craig) Metzger. They have had
ten children, of whom only two, Eliza and Elias, are living.
Benjamin J. Gott
Mr. Gott is a son of Joseph and Nancy C. Gott, and was born June 15th,
1843, in Arkansas. His parents emigrated to Greene county, Missouri,
in 1845. Here Benjamin grew to manhood and followed farming. Upon the
18th of May, 1862, he enlisted in Company A, 8th Missouri cavalry, and
served until the close of the war, participating in all the battles
into which his regiment was called. Mr. Gott was married Nov. 16th,
1865, to Amanda C. McCaslin, a native of Tennessee. Their union has
been blest with five children, viz.: Edwin W., Fannie J., Ida B.,
Hattie and Charlie. Mr. Gott and wife are members of the Methodist
church, of Fairview class. He owns a good farm and raises considerable
stock, and for the last seven years has been in the nursery business.
John S. Gott
Mr. Gott is the son of John D. and Gracie Gott, and was born in Shelby
county, Kentucky, January 26th, 1816. He spent his early life in
Warren county, Kentucky, and came to Greene county, Missouri, in Decem-
ber, 1845 and settled in Springfield. He lived there about twenty-one
years, and then moved out upon the farm where he resides. He has a
fine farm of two hundred acres. Mr. Gott has been twice married, the
first time to Miss Polly Davis in May, 1837. She died in March, 1852,
leaving one daughter, Frances A., now Mrs. Robert Miles. He married a
second time, August 3rd, 1854, Henrietta McKee, a native of Tennessee,
who came to this country in 1851. They have five children living, viz:
Sarah C., now Mrs. Frakes, John D., Anthony W., A. L. and Mabel H. Mr.
and Mrs. Gott are exemplary members of the Methodist church.
Joseph Gott
Mr. Gott is the son of John S. and Grace (Stubbins) Gott, and was born
in Shelby county, Kentucky, August 24, 1812. His father died when he
was about ten years old, and he stayed upon the farm until he was twen-
ty years of age. In 1832 he went to Bowling Green, Ky., and learned
the carpenter's trade. He was married upon the 13th of October, 1833,
to Miss Nancy C., daughter of John McKee, of Rutherford county, Tenn.
Their union was blest with four children, three girls and one boy. The
first born died in infancy, and those living are Margaret M., Sarah J.,
and Benjamin J. Soon after his marriage, Mr. Gott moved to Warren cou-
nty, Kentucky, and farmed until 1842, and then emigrated to the Red
river country, Arkansas, and located in Pike county, for a short time,
and then moved to Hempstead county. In October, 1845, they came to
Greene county, Missouri and settled in Springfield, in a log house
where the Southern Hotel now stands. Mr. Gott then worked at his trade
for about eight years, and helped to build some of the first good
houses in the city. He and his son own the farm upon which are the
famous Pacific springs, three miles north of Springfield. He was con-
stable of Campbell township in 1856, and in the fall of 1862 he was
employed by the government as general forage master. In 1867 he was
city assessor, which position he filled with credit to himself, and his
books were always reliable. He and his wife are members of the Metho-
dist church, and he is a Mason of the best standing. His father died
in 1822, and his mother in 1846. They had seven children, five sons
and two daughters, only three of whom are now living, viz.: Rowland S.,
John S., and our subject, Joseph.
Richard S. Gott
Mr. Gott was born June 7th, 1806, in Shelby county, Kentucky, and spent
his early life in his native State. At the age of seventeen he learned
the carpenter's trade and followed it the greater part of his life. He
came to Springfield, Missouri, in the fall of 1842, where he followed
his trade for twenty-seven years altogether. In 1851 he took his family
to Oregon, and remained there two years and returned to Missouri. In
1854 he crossed the plains to California with a drove of three hundred
and thirty head of cattle, and returned the same fall, since which he
has dealt in stock more or less. In 1872 he moved out upon the farm
where he now lives. Mr. Gott joined the Methodist church at Bowling
Green, Kentucky, in 1828, and has ever since been an active member. He
was married March 12th, 1824, to Nancy H. McChesney, of Nashville, Tenn-
essee. Their union has been blest with four children yet living: Fran-
ces, now Mrs. Gay, Samuel J., William H. and James W. The latter is
still living at home, and deals extensively in stock, particularly in
cattle.
William H. Gott
This gentleman is the son of Richard S. and Nancy (McChesney) Gott, and
was born October 10, 1843, at Van Buren, Ark., while his parents were
on their way from Tennessee to Greene County, Missouri. In 1852 his
parents moved to Lane County, Oregon, where William received most of
his education. They lived in Oregon some two or three years, and then
returned to Springfield, Mo., where he worked at printing for about
three years. At the age of eighteen he joined the militia, and then
joined Company E, 16th Missouri cavalry, and served about two and one-
half years. He was at the battles of Springfield, Jefferson City,
Boonville, Independence and Westport. He was mustered out at Spring-
field in July, 1865. Mr. Gott was married March 1, 1866, to Miss
Almira J., daughter of Thomas Green. They were blest with six children
five girls and one boy, one daughter dying in infancy. Mr. Gott owns a
good farm near Brookline, upon Grand prairie, and eight miles southwest
of Springfield. He has been a successful farmer, and is one of Greene's
substantial citizens. He and his wife are members of the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church.
Conrad Gottfried
Mr. Gottfried is the son of Sebastian and Catherine (Dillon) Gottfried,
and was born December 2nd, 1826 in Prussia, Germany. At the age of
thirteen he commenced to learn the cabinet makers trade, and, at the
age of twenty-one, he emigrated to America, landing at New York, Novem-
ber 13th, 1847. He lived there about twelve years, and then went to
Columbus, Indiana, where he remained only one year. In 1859, he came
to Springfield, Missouri, where he has since resided. He worked at his
trade for a year and a half and then embarked in business for himself,
opening a furniture store on Boonville street, where he kept for about
eighteen years. He then moved to his present location on St. Louis
street, where he carries a magnificent stock of furniture. He was
married August 24th, 1851 to Miss Eva E. Shelhurst, of New York City.
They were blessed with eight children, all of whom are living, viz.:
Annie, Charles, book keeper and salesman for his father; Fernando, up-
holsterer of St. Louis; William, clerks for his father; Henry, book
keeper in St. Louis; Eliza, Albert and Emma. During the war, Mr. Gott-
fried was a member of the Home Guards, and a member of Phelp's regiment
and participated in the battle of Pea Ridge. His father died in 1828,
and his mother in 1838. They had four children, three girls and our
subject, Conrad.
James G. Grantham
This gentleman was born in Washington County, Indiana, February 23,
1828. His father was Silas Grantham, a native of North Carolina, and
his mother was a Miss Nicholson. They removed to Illinois about the
year 1835, where they lived a year and then removed to Montgomery Co.,
Indiana, and lived there until James was about twelve years of age,
and then emigrated to Missouri. James G. was educated in the common
schools of Indiana and in Greene County, Missouri. He has followed
the occupation of farming all his life, except a short time spent in
blacksmithing. When the "gold fever" broke out in 1850, Mr. Grantham,
with several of his neighbors, went to California and spent four years
in mining with varying success. He returned to Dade County, Missouri,
in 1854 and bought land upon which he lived until 1860, when he moved
to Greene County, and engaged in farming. He enlisted in the Home
Guards at Springfield. He went with them to Rlla and remained there
until just before the battle of Pea Ridge, where he received two very
severe wounds, which came near rendering him totally disabled. He
was then mustered out and returned to Greene where he has since lived.
He has a fine farm of three hundred and twenty-one acres of land in
this part of the county. Mr. Grantham was married November 18, 1849,
to Miss C. Robinson. Their union has been blest with two children,
Sarah, born November 22, 1854; and James W., born April 14, 1858. Mrs.
Grantham is a member of the Baptist Church.
Daniel Gray
Mr. Gray is the son of Robert and Mary Gray, and was born April 18th,
1806 in Christian county, Kentucky. He was educated in the common
schools of his county, and at the age of twenty-one, went to Logan
county, Kentucky and worked at the carpenter's trade until the fall of
1831, when he came to Greene county, Missouri and settled one mile
south of the James River. From there he went to Finley creek and lived
six years, and then returned to James river, where he, in partnership
with his brother-in-law, R. M. Langston, ran a saw mill for a year,
sawing the lumber with which the first court house of the county was
built. He was the second assessor of the county, in 1835 and 1836. He
moved to Cedar county, Missouri in 1839, and came back to Greene in
1847. He next crossed the great plains to California, and returned in
1851. Mr. Gray was married June 4th, 1829, to Miss Elizabeth Gallion,
by whom he had four boys and one girl. His first wife died April 2nd,
1848 and is buried on the old Langston farm. He married October 13th,
1853, Elizabeth Crumpley, and they were blessed with four boys and one
girl. Mr. Gray is the tenth child of a family of twelve children, and
the only one living. He is remarkably well preserved, enjoying good
health and a fine memory.
Elijah Gray
This venerable pioneer was a Virginian, born in Halifax County, Decem-
ber the 14th, 1799. When he was about seven years old, his parents
(John and Anne Gray) moved to Williamson County, Tenn., where he lived
till 1827, and then emigrated to Callaway County, Mo. Here he remained
but one year, then returned to his old home in Tennessee. In 1840 he
sold out there and came direct to this county, settling two miles west
of Springfield, where he remained a year. He next removed to the place
where James Price Gray now resides, and that continued to be his home
till the time of his death, which occurred May 23, 1882. He had been
married, September 25, 1823, to Annie Brooks, of Tennessee, and when he
died left four living children, of whom James P. is the only son. Eli-
jah Gray lies buried in the Gray family cemetery on his old homestead
in Greene county. James Price, the son above mentioned, was born in
Williamson County, Tenn., January 10, 1832, and came with his parents
to this county in 1840, and when he was grown up, settled upon the
place owned at this writing, by Mrs. J. P. Campbell. He sold out in
1864, and moved to Montgomery County, Mo., but the succeeding year re-
turned to his father's old homestead in Greene county, which place he
fell heir to on the division of property left by the elder Gray. Mr.
Gray was twice married, his first wife being Mary E. Blakey, to whom he
was married January 24, 1856. She died in 1857, leaving one child, who
also died when four years old. He was married a second time on January
10, 1859, to Sallie Gilmore, of Cass county, Mo. By the last marriage,
Mr. Gray has had seven children, six of whom still survive.
James K. Gray
Mr. Gray is the son of John and Sallie (Whinrey) Gray, and was born in
Greene County, Tennessee, December 12, 1827. His parents were natives
of that State, and his maternal grandfather was a soldier in the War of
1812. James K. grew to manhood upon the farm in his native State, and
has always followed farming. He moved to Greene County, Missouri, in
1850, and in 1858 he came to the place where he now resides. During
the war he served for some time in Captain Redferan's company of mili-
tia. He owns a well improved farm of one hundred and sixty acres. Mr.
Gray was married March 17, 1853, to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of James
and Jane Johnson, of this county. By this union they had three child-
ren, one of whom, Sarah J., is still living. Mrs. Gray died November
16, 1858, and upon the 11th of August, 1859, he was married the second
time to Miss Nancy J., daughter of Edward and Elizabeth West, also of
this county. Her parents were among the pioneers of this county, and
were natives of Tennessee. Her grandfather was a soldier in the War of
1812. Their marriage has been blessed with seven children, John E.,
Julia A., deceased, Elizabeth, James H., Noel, George W., and Louisa C.
Mr. Gray has been a member of the Baptist Church for twenty-five years.
Benjamin Grist
Mr. Grist was born in Bradford County, Pennsylvania, July 12th, 1833.
In 1850 he went to LaSalle County, Illinois, where he was engaged for
some years in the nursery business. When he was twenty-two years of
age he began railroading. His first work was to pump water with a
hand pump on the Illinois Central at Wenona, and then he began braking.
In 1855 and 1856 he attended school at Farm Ridge, Ill. He then re-
turned to the Illinois Central and began braking, which he carried on
one summer, and was then appointed yardmaster at Amboy, Ill. He held
that position a year, and then returned to Wenona and was elected tax
collector for a year. In 1861 he moved to Livingston County, Ill.,
where he farmed two years and then moved to Montgomery County, Ill. and
farmed there two years. In 1865 he moved to Jefferson City, Missouri,
and began braking upon the Missouri Pacific, and was promoted to con-
ductor in 1866. He ran on that road as conductor until 1869, when he
went to the Iron Mountain railroad as conductor, where he remained for
eight months. He came upon the 'Frisco road in December, 1869, and ran
the first mixed train into North Springfield in May, 1870, and was pro-
moted passenger conductor in April, 1871, and is now. Mr. Grist is a
member of the Gate of the Temple, Lodge No. 422, A. F. & A. M., of
which he was worshipful master in 1876-7. He is also a member of the
Royal Arch Chapter, No. 15, and St. John's Commandery, No. 20. Mr.
Grist was married October 6th, 1856, to Amanda Williams, of Tonica,
Illinois. They have two children, Maud F. and Susie E. Mr. Grist is
president of the school board of North Springfield.
Jacob Gubler
Mr. Gubler is the son of Goachin and Varenna Gubler, and was born in
Canton Thurgau, Switzerland, December 25th, 1842. He was educated in
the common schools of his native country, and at an early age learned
the blacksmith's trade. He emigrated to America in April, 1867, and
located in Macon county, Illinois, where he lived until July, 1869. He
then removed to Greene county, Missouri, and located at Springfield,
where he worked at his trade until January 1st, 1871, when he moved
out to where he now lives, four miles east of Springfield, where he
owns a farm and carries on blacksmithing. Mr. Gubler is one of the
safe, reliable men of the county, has made many friends here in the
new world. He was married March 3rd, 1867, to Laugacher Ellis, daugh-
ter of Jacob and Graff Ellis. They had one child, born July 27, 1868,
and died September 27th, 1869. Mr. Gubler is a member of the Ancient
Order of United Workmen, and he and wife are members of the Lutheran
church.
Thomas M. Gurley
This gentleman was born in Alabama, January 20, 1841. When he was four
years of age he came with his parents to Greene county, Missouri, and
began farming for himself, when nineteen years of age. He was married
October 10, 1858, to Miss Mary A. McCurdy, by whom he had two children,
a son and a daughter, the daughter marrying at the age of thirteen.
Mr. Gurley's first wife died September 27, 1863, aged twenty-two years.
He was married the second time April 11, 1868, to Miss Mary A. McKee.
This union has been blest with seven children, six of whom are still
living, the last two being twin boys. He lost all his property during
the war, and when the war ceased he found himself in possession of one
yearling calf. So he had to begin at the bottom of the hill, and now
seems to have made rapid strides toward a competency, for he owns one
hundred and twenty acres of fine land, four and one half miles from
Springfield upon the Bolivar road. Mr. Gurley being yet a young man is
what few men reach at his age, and that is the grandfather of five
children. Mr. Gurley's father died in Arkansas on his way to this
county, leaving a widow and nine children, Thomas M. being the seventh.
The mother braved all the dangers and obstacles of pioneer life and
reared six of the children to manhood and womanhood, and is still liv-
ing enjoying the fruits of a well spent life.
G. Wilson Hackney
Mr. Hackney is the son of Wilson and Mary (Kimbrough) Hackney, and was
born in Springfield, Mo., in the house where he now lives upon West
Walnut street, May 29, 1855. He was educated here, and learned the
tinner's trade, following it about seven years. In September, 1881,
he formed a partnership with Ernest Speaker. The firm of Hackney &
Speaker is the third largest stove and tinware house in the city. Their
store is on Boonville street, and is a 70x20 two story building, be-
sides a warehouse 16x25. They employ three tinners, one salesman and
one porter. They have been very very successful in business, and are
one of Springfield's substantial business firms. Mr. Hackney married
Miss Ora Goffe, of this city, January 22, 1880. Their union has been
blest with two children. Mrs. Hackney is a member of the Baptist
church. Wilson Hackney, Sr. came to Springfield from Bowling Green,
Kentucky, in 1840 and was the only hat maker ever in Springfield. He
died April 12, 1863, and his widow is yet living.
Charles A. Haden
Col. Charles A. Haden. This gentleman is the son of Joel H. and Martha
(Smith) Haden, and was born in Bourbon County, Kentucky, May 9, 1813.
His mother was a native of that State and his father of Virginia. His
grandfather was a captain in the Revolutionary War. His father, the
Rev. Joel Haden, was a Christian minister and organized nearly all the
older churches of that denomination in Southwest Missouri. In 1824 he
moved to Howard County, Missouri and in 1835 he and his son Charles
came to Springfield, where he was appointed register of the land office
which position he held several years, and also carried on the work of
organization of Christian churches. He returned to Howard County,
where he died in 1862. Charles worked here in his father's office un-
til 1841, when he removed to the farm upon which he now resides, where
he has been farming and dealing extensively in stock. He now owns a
fine farm of five hundred acres, besides giving to his children some
three hundred. Mr. Haden is one of the pioneers of Greene County, and
was a colonel of militia in the early days of the county. He has been
a member of the Christian church since a young man, and a Mason since
1842. He was married May 6, 1841, to Miss Louisiana, daughter of Major
Joseph and Judith Weaver. Their union was blest with eight children,
six living: Martha H., Judith M., Gabrella S., Joel H., John S. and
Mollie E. Mrs. Haden died August 18, 1859. Her parents were among the
earliest settlers in Greene County, and her father was a soldier in the
War of 1812.
Henry R. Hall
Mr. Hall is the son of Dr. James H. and Mary (McCready) Hall, and was
born in St. Louis county, Missouri. He was educated in St. Louis cou-
nty and at Belleview college. He attended the law school at St. Louis
and was admitted to the bar February 28th, 1882, at Hillsboro, Jeffer-
son county, Missouri. He came to Springfield, Missouri, in September,
1882. He was married in January, 1882 to Miss Carrie Kerr, of St.
Louis. They are both members of the Methodist church. Though young,
Mr. Hall gives promise of becoming an able lawyer, and, to that end,
has cast his lot among the good people of Greene.
Isaac M. Hall
Mr. Hall is the son of Pleasant and Cynthia A. (McAden) Hall, and was
born April 15, 1836, in Halifax, Virginia. His parents moved to North
Carolina, thence to Tennessee, and next to Greene county, Missouri. In
the fall of 1849 they settled the place where Isaac M. now lives and
has remained ever since. Mr. Hall was a lieutenant in the Home Guards
and after the battle of Springfield, January 8, 1863 he was elected 2nd
lieutenant of a company of enrolled militia. After the war he returned
home and has since lived quietly upon his farm. He owns several tracts
of good land in Franklin township. He was married in this county, Dec-
ember 8, 1864, to Miss Martha A., daughter of Thomas King. Their union
has been blest with eight children, five sons and three daughters. One
son died in infancy. Mr. Hall's father was a native of Virginia, and
died August 18, 1854, aged seventy-two years. His mother was also a
Virginian and died March 1, 1875. They are buried at Mt. Comfort
church. They reared a family of thirteen children, four sons and nine
daughters.
Joseph W. Hall
Mr. Hall was born in Southville, Connecticut, January 1st, 1848. In
April, 1872, he engaged with a civil engineer corps at Carthage, and
assisted in the survey of a route to Halstead, Kansas, on which survey
the St. Louis & San Francisco railway is located. In the following
year, he went in the freight office of the railroad at Carthage, Mo.,
as clerk, and two weeks later was promoted to the position of ticket
agent, which place he held till June 24, 1881, when he was transferred
to North Springfield, and given charge of the freight and ticket depot.
He is now acting in the capacity of freight and ticket agent for that
station. On March 30, 1876, Mr. Hall was married to Miss Clara E.
Starr, of Carthage, Mo. He is a trustworthy gentleman, and adds one
more to the class of citizens that tends to give all towns prestige
among strangers.
William A. Hall
Mr. Hall is the son of John and Elizabeth Hall, and was born in Tenn-
essee, in November, 1834. His parents were Pennsylvanians by nativity
and emigrated to Tennessee in 1828, where they lived ten years, thence
removing to St. Louis, where the husband and father died in 1862. In
1848, the mother, with her youngest child, was lost in a steamboat
disaster on the Alabama river. William acquired a common school educa-
tion in St. Louis, and resided, after his mother's death, with his
married sister, Emily Jane, wife of Mr. Mordecai Oliver, then a resi-
dent of Richmond, Ray county, Missouri. While living in Richmond, he
attended the academy presided over by A. C. Redman. He opened a drug
store in Liberty, Mo., in 1856, in which business he continued fourteen
years, then accepting the position of cashier of the Commercial Savings
Bank of Liberty. In 1872, he went to Mexico, Missouri and engaged one
year in the drug business, going thence to Springfield, where he and
John R. Ferguson opened a drug store. In March, 1876, he bought his
partner's interest and continued to build up an extensive wholesale and
retail trade. In 1876 he was elected mayor of Springfield. Mr. Hall
is a prominent Mason, and has served as W. M. of United Lodge No. 5,
and also as eminent commander, of St. John's Commandery No. 20, Knights
Templar. Politically he is a Democrat, having cast his first vote in
the interests of that party, to which he has ever since adhered. In
1856 he married Florence, daughter of Samuel Ringo, of Liberty, Mo. Six
children, four sons and two daughters, have been born to them, named:
William, Samuel, Richard, Oliver L., Lizzie and Florence. Both Mr.
Hall and wife have been active members of the Christian church for a
quarter of a century. Personally, Mr. Hall is a gentleman of commanding
presence, and his genial, social qualities and strict business recti-
tude, render him popular as a man and a citizen.
Abner Hamblen
Abner Hamblen is the son of Hezekiah and Nancy (Holt) Hamblen, and was
born in Hawkins county, Tennessee, May 16, 1820. He grew to manhood in
his native county, and was there educated at McMinn academy, of Rogers-
ville. August 19, 1841 he married Miss Matilda Beeler, also of Hawkins
county, Tenn. He emigrated to this county (Greene) in September, 1848,
settling on Kickapoo prairie, where he purchased land. Two years later
he bought the place (his present homestead) on which he has lived
thirty-three years. For two years, after coming to Missouri, he utili-
zed his education by teaching, but since that time has devoted himself
to farming. He was elected justice of the peace for Campbell township
in 1850, when Wilson was a part of Campbell. In all, he has served 12
years in the two townships. In politics Squire Hamblen has always been
a Democrat. During the latter part of the great war he served in the
46th Infantry, U. S. regulars, commanded by Col. Fyan. His original
sympathies were with the South, as he was a slaveholder. Several times
his life was attempted at his home by robbers and camp-followers. On
one occasion Mrs. Hamblen forcibly ejected one of the robbers from the
house. Since the war Squire Hamblen has held no office, though often
solicited to accept official positions by his friends. His married
life has been blest with nine children, five of whom still survive. The
county was sparsely settled when Squire Hamblen first came, and he has
lived to see many changes come over both the country and the people. He
relates that, in early times, the chief topics of conversation were
"pre-emption claims" and "bull yearlings." Immediately after the war
when the schools were being reorganized, out of a total of thirty votes
cast for director, Mr. Hamblen received twenty-nine of them, himself
being the only man who cast his vote for another candidate.
James Harralson
The subject of this sketch is the son of William and Catherine (Wills)
Harralson, his father being one of the pioneers of Greene County, com-
ing as early as 1837, when there were but five other families in what
is now Center township. The father, William, was a native of North
Carolina, born June 22, 1784. He moved to Tennessee in an early day,
and soon afterwards served through the War of 1812. He died December
16, 1882, aged ninety-eight years. James Harralson's grandfather serv-
ed through the Revolution of 1776, and James has a relic, a candle
stick, that his ancestor captured when Charleston was taken. James,
with whom this sketch has particularly to deal, was born in Monroe Co.,
Tenn., December 16, 1823. He came with his parents to Greene County in
1837, and they settled on the land where he resides at this writing. He
attended the first school taught in that part of the county, remaining
in Greene till 1856, when he moved to Laclede County, Mo., and there
resided till 1863. He then returned to Greene County, and has ever
since resided here, chiefly engaged in farming. He lost his personal
property by the war, but retained his land. At this writing he owns
600 acres of land, and has given 400 acres to his children. Mr. Harral-
son was married August 9, 1849, to Miss Sarah Leeper, of the pioneer
family of that name, in Greene County. She died June 9, 1876 and he
was again married March 31, 1878, to Mrs. E. S. Hughes, a daughter of
William and susan McClure, who came to Greene County in 1837, from
Tennessee. By his first marriage Mr. Harralson had six children, five
of whom are living. Mr. Harralson ranks as one of the best citizens
and most substantial farmers of the county.
S. I. Haseltine
Mr. Haseltine is the oldest son of Ira S. Haseltine, Greenback congress
man from this district in the Forty-seventh Congress. He was born in
Waukesha, Wisconsin, May 1st, 1849. He was educated in the high school
of his city, and at the Wisconsin State University. In August, 1871,
he came to Missouri with his father, and has had charge of the railway
station at Dorchester since October 1st of that year. He deals in
grain and fruit, shipping over the 'Frisco road. He was married Novem-
ber 23rd, 1871, to Miss Annie L. Miller, a native of London, Canada.
Their union has been blest with three children, viz.: Edwin I., Alfred
E., and Charlotte A. Mr. Haseltine is a member of the A.O.U.W., the
Grange and Brothers of Freedom.
Thomas L. Hasler
Mr. Hasler is the son of Eli and Maria Hasler, and was born in Balti-
more, July 14th, 1852. His parents came to Missouri in 1858, and are
now living upon a farm in Phelps County, Missouri. Thomas L. commenced
firing upon an engine on the St. Louis and San Francisco railway in
June, 1874, and at the end of four years was promoted to the position
of engineer of a locomotive engine, which he now runs upon that road.
He is a fine engineer, and enjoys the confidence of all. He was marr-
ied September 3rd, 1879, to Miss Lucy E. McLean. They have one child,
Thomas Allen, born December 5th, 1880. He is a member of Pacific City
Division, No. 83, Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, also of the
Locomotive Engineers' Life Insurance Association.
Alansom M. Haswell
This gentleman is a grandson of Anthony Haswell, a Revolutionary sold-
ier, who, at the close of that war, started the first paper in Benning-
ton, Vermont, and probably the first in that State. It was called the
Vermont Gazette, and Mr. Haswell was its editor and publisher for about
thirty-five years. His son, James M. Haswell, D. D., was born in Benn-
ington, Vermont, February 4th, 1810. His father died when he was about
seven years of age, and he went to Pennsylvania and learned pharmacy.
While in the drug business, he prepared himself for college, and enter-
ed Madison University at Hamilton, New York, where he graduated in 1835.
On the 23rd of August, 1835, he married Miss Jane M. Mason. Soon after
his marriage he was appointed by the Baptist church as a missionary to
Maulmain, British Burmah. He sailed September 10th, 1835, and arrived
there the following January, and remained until his death, on the 25th
of September, 1876. His widow and two daughters are yet living in
Maulmain. Alansom M. Haswell was born June 29th, 1847, at Maulmain,
British Burmah. His father brought him to the United States when he
was two years of age, where he remained three years, and then was taken
back to Maulmain, and lived with his parents until he was twelve years
old. He was then brought back to this country to be educated, receiv-
ing his primary education at Boston. He graduated from Hamilton Uni-
versity in 1866. He then engaged in farming two years, and next moved
to Springfield, Missouri, where he engaged in surveying and classing
railway lands in Southwest Missouri for three years. He then farmed in
Greene County until the 8th of June, 1878, when he took charge of the
St. Louis and San Francisco railroad land office, at North Springfield,
for Dr. E. T. Robberson, the agent. In August, 1879, he went into
partnership with E. T. Robberson, and, upon Robberson's resignation in
1881, Mr. Haswell and A. H. Sander were appointed joint agents for
about one hundred and fifty thousand acres of land belonging to the St.
Louis and San Francisco railroad company, which position he still holds,
besides doing a general real estate business. March 11th, 1873, he
married Miss L. C. Butler, by whom he had five children, three of whom
are now living. He and his wife are members of the Congregational
Church.
Isaac N. Hasten, J.P.
Squire Hasten is a son of Carroll and Nancy (Leak) Hasten, and was born
in Cass township, Greene county, Missouri, January 22, 1844. His father
emigrated from Knox county, Tenn., to this county in 1835 and settled
upon Grand prairie, and lived upon the farm he settled until his death,
in 1845. He was buried in the old Hasten family burying ground. Isaac
was educated in the common schools of the county. He grew up on the
farm, and in 1861 enlisted in the 72nd Missouri militia. After six
months he joined the 16th Missouri Rangers, and served with them two
years. He then enlisted in the regular service under Capt. Isaac Jul-
ian, in the 46th Infantry of U. S. A. He was mustered out at the end
of seven months. He was married January 29, 1865 to Miss Mary E.
Jennings, of Neosho, Mo. Their union has been blest with three child-
ren, viz.: Alice Theodosia, John and William (deceased). He was elected
justice of the peace in 1878, and re-elected in 1882. The 'Squire is a
Greenbacker, but had been a Republican. He and his wife are members of
the Missionary Baptist church, and he is a member of both the A. F. &
A. M., and I. O. O. F. societies.
Thomas J. Hawkins
This gentleman was born July 6th, 1847, in Tennessee, but his parents
emigrating to Missouri when he was two years of age, he grew up and was
educated in Missouri. They first stopped in Dade County, but shortly
afterward removed to Cedar. They lived in Cedar until 1864, and then
moved to Greene County, where he has since lived. He was educated
chiefly at Stockton, Cedar County, and after coming to Greene he foll-
owed farming until 1874, when he served an apprenticeship in black-
smithing, and opened a shop of his own in 1876. He has built up a good
trade, and is one of the substantial men of Ash Grove. He commenced
running his shop in connection with Mr. Daniel Murray's wagon shop in
1881, and they do excellent work, and are deservedly successful. Mr.
Hawkins was married in 1874 to Miss Sarah R., daughter of John Tyler,
one of Greene's early settlers. Their union has been blest with one
child, William L.
William P. Hawkins
Judge Hawkins is the son of Henry and Anna (Majors) Hawkins, and was
born July 13, 1816, in Grainger County, East Tennessee. His grand-
father came to Tennessee from Prince William County, Virginia. His
father was reared in Tennessee, and his mother was a native of Sulli-
van County, same State. They had ten children, viz.: Elizabeth,
Catherine, Sarah, Matilda, Priscilla, Susan, Stephen, Henry, William
P., and Madison, all of whom are dead, save Susan, Priscilla, William
P., and Madison. William P., grew to manhood in the State of his
birth, upon his father's farm. At the age of twenty he sold goods for
Gen. Brazelton, at New Market, Tenn., for three years. He was then
married on the 6th of June, 1839, to Elizabeth M. Burnett, of Cocke
County, Tenn. He farmed for five years, and then emigrated to Dade
County, Missouri, where he farmed two years. He next moved to Stock-
ton, Cedar County, Mo., and sold goods for Wm. Jones for two years.
He traveled over the country, selling goods to the Indians and the
soldiers at Fort Scott in the year 1852. In 1853 he sold goods at
Caplinger's mill. In 1854, in partnership with James Frazier, he sold
general merchandise at Stockton until the breaking out of the Civil
War in 1861. The judge being a Union man suffered somewhat at the
hands of the Confederates. In 1863 he was elected probate judge of
Cedar County, and became ex-officio, recorder and deputy county clerk.
He served about one year, and then removed to Ebenezer, ten miles
north of Springfield, in Greene County, where he and his brother Madi-
son sold goods for two years. In 1866 he moved to Ash Grove, and in
partnership with Joseph Aumoth and Calvin Kraft, under the firm name
of Kraft, Aumoth & Co., did a general merchandising business for three
years. Then, with his son Henry, and son-in-law, C. A. Crane, he sold
goods for two years in a house where the new brick store-house of
Wilkerson & McCray now stands. Since that time the judge has not been
actively engaged in business. He and his wife have been blessed with
eight children, viz.: Ada Ann, who died at Stockton, Mo.; Henry, a
physician and druggist of Ash Grove; Cornelia, wife of James Smith of
Texas; Swan P. Burnett, who died in August, 1853; Thomas J., of Ash
Grove; Sarah, wife of C. A. Crane, lumber dealer; William J., a farmer
of Greene County, and Benjamin F., a merchant of Ash Grove. The judge
is still in fine health, and enjoys the esteem and confidence of all.
He is courteous and affiable, and endears himself to those who meet
him. His brother, T. J. M. Hawkins, represented Stone County in the
Legislature a few years since. Mrs. Hawkins is of North Carolina stock
and is a very estimable lady.
William Jackson Haydon
Rev. William Jackson Haydon. Rev. Haydon is the son of Jarvis and
Harriet Ann (Mitchell) Haydon, and was born near Lynchburg, Virginia,
June 8th, 1835. His father (Jarvis) was born in the same State,
February 1st, 1797, and died there February 10th, 1852. His mother
was a daughter of John Mitchell, and was born in Amherst County, Vir-
ginia, April 13th, 1805. She was married at sixteen years old, and
died August 7th, 1850. William Jackson Haydon was the third born in
a family of six children, all but two of whom are dead. The other
surviving one, Alexander, still lives in Virginia, engaged in rail-
roading. The subject of this sketch received his education at Lynch-
burg, and Lewisberg, West Virginia, and at an early age professed
religion and joined the Old School Presbyterian Church. After leaving
school Mr. Haydon engaged in the mercantile business at Lewisburg, and
was afterwards engaged in teaching. He came to Missouri in the spring
of 1860, landing at Louisiana, where he remained for some time engaged
in teaching in Pike County. Subsequently he was engaged in merchandi-
sing in Mexico, Missouri, for about five years. Although the war was
raging, Mr. Haydon's zeal in the Christian cause would not allow him
to remain idle, and he promptly and earnestly engaged in church and
sabbath school work. He was elected a deacon in the church, and his
devotion to church work was known far and near, he assisting in the
convocation and organization of one of the first Sabbath school conven-
tions ever held in Missouri. The superintendent of missions for the
American Sunday school Union recommended Mr. Haydon for Sunday school
missionary for North Missouri, and he accepted that work in "times that
tried men's souls." The war just over, it required great Christian
courage to stand up for the cause, but Mr. Haydon, like the Apostles of
old, quit his peculiar vocation in which he had been successful, and
followed the Master. He was commissioned June 15th, 1866, and has been
faithfully laboring ever since. June 27th, 1867, he married Miss
Maggie C. Ford, an accomplished young lady of Monroe County, Missouri,
and a descendant of one of the best families of Kentucky. Six children
have been born of this union, five of whom, Ambrose Paxson, Laura C.,
Bettie Ford, William Wurtz, and Leonard Mitchell, still survive. The
one deceased was named William Jackson, Jr. Ambrose is, at this writ-
ing, a student of Drury College. Mr. Haydon came to Springfield in
December, 1868, and took charge of the missionary work of Southwest
Missouri and Northern Arkansas, under the auspices of the A. S. S. U.
He went earnestly to work organizing schools, and has visited nearly
all the school houses and churches in this entire region of country,
from Iowa to Central Texas. Up to date (February, 1883), he has organ-
ized in this State, Arkansas and Texas, 800 schools, and gathered in
50,000 children, besides visiting and aiding as many more, out of which
have grown 125 church organizations. In former years he has done the
prodigious amount of work of presiding or addressing the people every
evening in the week and three times on Sundays, traveling from five to
twenty miles to reach appointments. He organized twenty counties into
county Sunday-school conventions, and was president of the Greene
county convention for seven consecutive years. April 30th, 1878, Mr.
Haydon was licensed to teach the gospel by the Presbytery, and has
faithfully dispensed the Christian doctrine from the pulpit since then,
aiding his brethren in many revivals and meetings. Besides his devo-
tion to the Christian cause in general, he is also a strong temperance
advocate, and was, at one time grand worthy patriarch of the Sons of
Temperance for Missouri, and organized 51 temperance lodges. He was
one of the original movers in the Confederate Cemetery Association, and
is still secretary of the same. In every good work Mr. Haydon is a
leader in good works, and well known as one of the best organizers in
the West. He is a member of the Odd Fellow's fraternity, and was grand
representative of the Encampment for the session of 1882, held at St.
Louis. He has taken all the degrees and passed all the chairs in that
order. So far, he has been a success, not only as a Christian workerk,
but as a good, ready financier. A large, carefully-selected library,
mostly works on religious subjects, has a place in his well appointed
home, and his comfortable residence is ornamented with works of art and
enlivened with music, the two greatest essentials to make home attrac-
tive.
Francis A. Heacker
Mr. Heacker is the son of Joseph and Frederica Heacker, and was born in
Prussia, Germany, May 28th, 1843. In 1844 his parents emigrated to the
United States, and located at Louisille, Kentucky, where he began lear-
ning the cigar maker's trade, when he was eight years of age, and has
made it the occupation he has since followed. At the beginning of the
civil war he was in St. Louis, where he enlisted in the three months
service, at the first call for troops, in Company I, 1st Missouri regi-
ment. At the expiration of his term of service he re-enlisted in
Company K, first Missouri artillery, for three years, and served until
August 24, 1864. He was at the taking of Camp Jackson, the battles of
Wilson's Creek, Fort Henry, Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth, Helena,
Little Rock, and upon the Steele campaign. After the war he worked at
his trade in different places, and in 1875 engaged in the manufacture
of cigars at Springfield. In 1876 he moved his factory to North Spring-
field, where he is now doing a flourishing business in the wholesale
line, employing about fifteen hands. Mr. Heacker was married December
31, 1873, to Miss Martha E. Webb, of Springfield, Missouri. They have
two children, Pearle and Francis. Mr. Heacker is justly regarded as
one of the substantial men of the county.
Hon. Samuel W. Headlee
This distinguished citizen of Greene county is the son of Cabel and
Mary (Steele) Headlee, and was born in Maury county, Tenn., March 6,
1823. His parents were from North Carolina, but emigrated to Tenn-
essee where they lived until 1836, when they came to Missouri and
settled in Greene county, where his father died in August, 1847.
Samuel W. was educated in the common schools of that early day, and
for some time taught school in the county. In 1850, having caught
the "gold fever" he went to California, and in four years returned,
having been successful in mining, and purchased the old homestead
farm upon which he has since resided. He was elected to the lower
house of the Legislature by the Benton Democracy, re-elected in 1862
and in 1864. In 1866 he was elected by the Republican to the State
Senate, and in 1872, he to heal the breaches in his party, became a
candidate for the lower house, and was elected by a handsome majority.
He was again elected to the Legislature in 1876. In all that period
of sixteen years' service he voted as his conscience and judgement
dictated, and won for himself the applause and approval of all good
men. During the war he took an active part in the support of the
Union, and in 1862, to that end, was commissioned captain of militia.
From 1863 to the close of the war, he was captain in the 16th Miss-
ouri cavalry, U.S.A. In 1874 he was complimented by a nomination by
the people's committee as their candidate for lieutenant governor
upon the ticket headed by Major Gentry. Since retiring from public
life he has followed farming, and in the decline of a long, honorable
and useful life enjoys the satisfaction of peace with himself and the
full confidence of those who know him best. He was married May 2,
1855, to Emily L. Armor, and their union is blest with eight children.
Frank E. Headley
Mr. Headley is the son of Aaron C. and Hannah (Eberly) Headley, and was
born at Groveport, Franklin county, Ohio, September 5th, 1852. He was
educated at the public school of Columbus, Ohio. He came with his par-
ents to Springfield, Missouri, in October, 1870 and he and his brothers
were in the game and produce business for six months. June, 1871 found
them penniless, and Frank then accepted a clerkship in the grocery
house of N. Kelley at a salary of twenty dollars per month. He worked
there about three years and six months, and then clerked for Sutter &
Townsend for six months. He then bought out Mr. Townsend's interest,
and the firm became Sutter & Headley for four years. Then Oscar bought
out Sutter, and the firm became Headley Bros. The firm of Headley Bros.
is now composed of Frank E. and Oscar M. They have a house 106x23 feet,
two-story and a basement, and employ some seven men. They do a whole-
sale and retail grocery business, and they do the largest retail busi-
ness in the Southwest. In 1879, Frank was elected upon the Democratic
ticket to the city council from the second ward, and again in 1882. His
father and mother are both living in Springfield. They had five child-
ren, four sons and one daughter; the little girl died at the age of two
years. The young men have had fine success and deserve to rank as
highly as any merchants in the country.
Henry M. Heckart
Mr. Heckart is the son of John and Nancy (Pool) Heckart, and was born
in Hannibal, Missouri, February 28th, 1855. In 1863, his parents moved
to Marshfield, Missouri, where Henry was in the jewelry business for
five years. He came to Springfield June 3rd, 1879, and now has one of
the leading jewelry houses in the city. He was married December 26th,
1878 to Miss Belle Jarrette, of Marionville, Missouri. They have one
child, Bessie. Mr. Heckart's father was a native of Pittsburgh, Penn.,
but came west, settling first in Iowa, then at Hannibal, then at Marsh-
field. He died July 2nd, 1882. His widow is living in Springfield.
Their union was blest with four sons and four daughters, all of whom
are living. Henry M. is a member of the K. of H., and he and wife are
members of Grace Methodist Episcopal Church. He is one of the substan-
tial business men of the city.
Charles H. Heer
Charles Henry Heer is the son of Gerhard W. and Mary E. (Klecker) Heer,
and was born in the parish of Ostercappeln, province of Osnabruck, Han-
over, upon the 30th of April, 1820. His father died in January, 1820,
and Mr. Heer is consequently a posthumous child. He was educated in
Germany at the common schools, and in company with his mother and step
father, Lewis Schneider, emigrated to America; landed at Baltimore, in
December, 1835. From there they went to Wheeling, West Virginia, and
stayed a short time, and then went to St. Louis, Mo., in January, 1836.
He soon found employment in the wholesale china and glassware house of
R. D. Watson, where he remained six or seven years. In October, 1842,
he in partnership with an old schoolmate, Rudolph Hiltkamp, started a
general grocery store, but sold out in 1843, and with Bernard L. Meyer,
went into business on the corner of Eighth and Franklin streets. His
health failing in 1844, he bought a farm in Monroe county, Illinois,
where he lived two years, when he returned to St. Louis and remained
there until 1847, when he again went to Illinois and opened a general
store at Waterloo, and continued to sell goods until the war, when he
again moved upon the farm. In March, 1868, he came to Springfield,
Missouri, and purchased the lot where his fine store now stands, upon
Boonville street. The building was completed in 1869 and in 1871 the
firm changed to C. H. Heer & Co., C. H., Jr. being the other member of
the firm. They have one of the largest wholesale and retail dry goods
and boot and shoe houses in Southwest Missouri, having two traveling
salesmen and about fifteen clerks in the store. C. H. Heer is manager
of the wholesale department, and W. C. Hornbeak, of the retail depart-
ment. Mr. Heer was married January 6, 1846 to Miss E. Beneneman, of
St. Charles county, Missouri. They had seven children, four boys and
three girls, viz.: C. H., Henry L. (died April, 1882), Mary E. (widow
of William Crodus), Agnes (a sister of the Sacred Heart, St. Louis),
Lewis H. (died April 30, 1863 at Waterloo, Ill.), and Celia Ann. Mrs.
Heer died December 25, 1881 and is buried in the Catholic cemetery at
Springfield. She was a member of the Catholic church for twenty-four
years, and all the family are of the same faith and belong to that
church. Mr. Heer was chairman of the financial committee in the city
council in 1875, and has been urged to run for mayor, but declined.
William H. Hefferman
This gentleman was born in Australia, March 6, 1847, and is the son of
Stephen and Margaret Hefferman. His mother is dead and his father now
lives in Springfield. William came to America when he was about four
years of age. In 1861 he commenced braking upon the Illinois Central
railroad, and worked at it about eighteen months. He then went on the
C., R.I. & P. R.R., and fired seven years. He then went on the Hanni-
bal & St. Joe road and fired about three months and was promoted to
engineer and ran as such about six months. He then went to Minnesota
and learned the miller's trade, and worked at it four years. In 1871
he came to North Springfield and fired five years, and was then given
an engine and has been an engineer upon the 'Frisco road ever since.
Mr. Hefferman was married December 25, 1865 to Miss Catharine Hickey,
of Minnesota. Their union has been blest with five children, viz.:
Ellen R., John F., Maud, Harry and Lilliard. Mr. Hefferman is a member
of Pacific City Division, No. 83, Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers.
Frances S. Heffernan
Mr. Heffernan is the son of Stephen S. and Margaret (O'Day) Heffernan,
and was born in Walworth county, Territory of Wisconsin, March 13th,
1846. He was educated at the country schools of his native county, and
at Hamilton University, at Red Wing, Minnesota. He afterwards took a
course of study at Bryant & Stratton's Commercial College at Milwaukee.
He came to Springfield, Missouri, in October, 1867, and finished the
study of law in the office of Julian & O'Day. He was admitted to the
bar on August 9th, 1868. He was solicited to run for Congress in 1882,
and received the votes of several counties, but was defeated in the
convention by Robert Fyan. Mr. Heffernan was married April 29th, 1872,
at Springfield, to Miss Alice Chambers, a native of Augusta, Georgia.
Their union has been blest with three children, viz.: Talma, John F.,
and Marie. Mr. and Mrs. Heffernan are members of the Catholic church.
His father was from Limerick, Ireland, and came to the United States in
1832, and located in Vermont. In 1839 he went to Chicago, Illinois,
and was one of the first settlers of that now great city. He is now
living in Springfield, Missouri. His wife was from county Clare, Ire-
land, and died at Springfield, January 18th, 1871. They had fourteen
children, of whom nine are now living.
Eli E. Hendrix
His parents were Nicholas and Sarah Ann (White) Hendrix, both natives
of Tennessee. Eli, was born in Greene County, Tennessee, March 9,
1853. He came with his father's family to Kentucky in 1856, but they
all moved back in 1860, remaining till 1872, when Eli came to Greene
County, Mo., where he has since resided. Farming was his principal
calling till early in 1881, when he began merchandising in Bois D'Arc.
Mr. Hendrix married December 24, 1876, his wife being Miss Nancy, a
daughter of Merideth and Eliza Jane Redfearn, old settlers of Greene
County. Mr. and Mrs. Hendrix have had three children: Sarah Ann,
William, and Maude J. Mr. Hendrix, besides his residence in Bois D'Arc
owns a farm of 103 acres, and other property, most of which he has acc-
umulated on his own energy and industry.
Dan. H. Herman
Dan. H. Herman and Brother. These enterprising gentlemen, who are the
leading spirits in the Herman clothing and tailoring house of Spring-
field, are both sons of Henry and Hannah Herman, and were born in the
State of New York. D. H. Herman, the senior member and general manager
is a native of the city of Syracuse, born June 2nd, 1857 and received
his education partly in his birthplace and partly in Rochester, of the
same State. He came to Springfield in 1880, and went into the clothing
business, as D. H. Herman's one price clothing house. The firm name was
changed, however, as above, when they opened the other establishment on
the southeast corner of the public square and South street. Both houses
are under the same general management, but the one on Boonville street
is under the especial direction of Mr. Charles Herman. The south-side
house has three floors, devoted to the respective departments of cloth-
ing and furnishing goods on the first floor, cutting and piece goods
department on the second floor, and manufacturing department on the
third floor. The entire building is elegantly and attractively fitted
up, with all the novelties in the way of modern conveniences for the
display and sale of goods. As a tailoring establishment, this house is
doing an immense business, and the solicitors for orders of elegant
suits made by this house have done business far and near, and even have
taken and filled orders for five suits in the city of St. Louis itself.
They work a large force of operatives in the way of clerks, book-
keepers, cash-boys, tailors and janitors, and no establishment anywhere
can boast of a more attentive and respectful corps of salesmen than
this one. It may be said in justice to Mr. Dan Herman, that he was the
first to introduce and establish the one price system in the Southwest.
They had their grand opening in March, 1883, of the newer and larger
branch of the concern, and hundreds of people visited the building, de-
lighted by the display and by the elegant music for which Mr. Herman
had provided, with a cornet band outside and an orchestra of skilled
musicians inside the house. Springfield may well congratulate herself
on the acquisition of these live young gentlemen to the ranks of her
already wide awake business men. Young, energetic, liberal advertisers
and pushing their success on a grand scale is already assured.
Dr. H. Lot Higgins
Dr. Higgins is the son of Henry and Elizabeth (Balthis) Higgins, and
was born in Virginia in 1830. He received an academic course in educa-
tion, and received his medical education at Winchester College and at
the University at Baltimore, where he graduated in the spring of 1853.
In the spring of 1854, he went to Wardensville, West Virginia, where he
practiced his profession until 1872. In the spring of 1874, he came to
Missouri, and lived four years at Graysonville, Clinton county. He then
went to Iowa, and in October, 1882, he came to Springfield, Missouri.
In June, 1861, he joined the 14th Virginia regiment as surgeon, and so
remained until the close of the war. He was married October 12th, 1858
to Miss Martha O. Shull. He and his wife are members of the Presbyter-
ian church. Dr. Higgins' father was a minister of the church of the
United Brethren. He died when the doctor was a small boy. His mother
died before the civil war. Of a family of six children the doctor was
the third child.
Henry B. Hill
This young gentleman was born in Tioga County, New York, February 22,
1856, where he grew to manhood and received a good education. In 1877
he came to Christian County, Missouri, where he engaged in teaching and
farming. In 1881 he embarked in the mercantile business at Ponce De
Leon Springs, and in 1883 he located at Galoway Station, in this county
where he and Mr. Ethan Miller are doing a general merchandising busi-
ness. They are building up quite a trade, and deserve the success they
meet.
B. F. Hobart
This gentleman is a native of Yates County, New York. He came West in
1870 and engaged for some time as a private banker at Oswego, Kansas.
July 1, 1882 he moved to Springfield, Missouri, and is now the popular
vice president of the bank of Springfield.
Lee Holland
Mr. Holland is the son of John L. and Martha (Wade) Holland, and was
born in springfield, Missouri, January 6th, 1849. His parents were
natives of Robertson county, Tennessee. Educational facilities being
poor in Missouri during the civil war, Lee was sent to McKendree Coll-
ege and the Michigan State University at Ann Arbor, to be educated. He
graduated in a commercial course at the Christian Brothers' College at
St. Louis, and then returned to Springfield, where he engaged in the
mercantile business for about three years. He then accepted a posi-
tion in the First National Bank as book-keeper, and afterward as tell-
er. In 1879, he was elected vice-president of the bank, which office
he now holds. He was married November 15th, 1873 to Miss Alice, the
daughter of Dr. E. F. and Elizabeth (Sproul) Robberson. This union
has been blessed with two children, viz.: Ralph and James. He and his
wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. Mr. Holland
is one of the safe, substantial business men of Springfield, and is an
upright, honorable gentleman.
David S. Holman
Mr. Holman was born in Iredell county, North Carolina, November 13,
1824. His parents, Lazarus and Elizabeth Holman, moved to Rutherford
county, Tennessee, when he was eight years of age, and remained there
a few years, and in 1837 they came to Missouri. They settled in Frank-
lin county where David received as good an education as the schools of
that time afforded. He was licensed to preach for the Methodist Epis-
copal Church South by the quarterly conference in the district embrac-
ing the city of St. Louis. He preached in Oregon county, Crawford
county, and Lexington. He was then put for a time upon the African
Mission and built a church for them. He assisted at the first services
held in Kansas City. He came to Springfield and spent a year, and then
went to Jasper county. His health failing he went into the nursery
business in 1867, and has followed that occupation ever since, doing a
good business. He was married December 14, 1856, to Miss Mary, daugh-
ter of Ellwood B. James, Esq., of Carthage, an early settler of Jasper
county, and county clerk for twenty years. Their union has been blest
with four children, viz.: Rosa E., Sudie L., David E., and Joy S. The
family are Southern Methodists, and Mr. Holman is a Royal Arch Mason.
Jesse Homan
This gentleman is the son of Jesse and Elizabeth (Edgar) Homan, and was
born at Boonville, Cooper county, Missouri, April 7th, 1841. His
father was born in Saratoga county, New York, August 21st, 1801, and
his mother was born in Virginia. Jesse was educated at Boonville,
finishing his education at Kemper's College. Mr. Homan is a skilful
piolet, having run for a number of years upon the Missouri river. Dur-
ing the war he was piloting in the interest of the government, and he
piloted a fleet from St. Louis up to Boonville for Gen. Lyon. Mr. Homan
was married at Boonville, upon the 26th of December, 1867, to Miss Ruth
Parrott, a granddaughter of Wm. B. Leftwich. She was born in Pettis
county, Missouri, December 26th, 1847. Their union has been blest with
eight children, six sons and two daughters. Mr. Homan moved to this
county in 1869, where he has since been engaged in farming, three miles
from Springfield. He is a Democrat in politics, and Mrs. Homan is a
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.
William C. Hornbeak
Mr. Hornbeak is the son of James T. and Sallie (Johnson) Hornbeak, and
was born January 18th, 1835, in Warren county, Tennessee. His parents
emigrated to Missouri in December, 1840, and stopped at Springfield for
a short time, and then moved seven miles south of town, to where the
bridge crosses the James River. There was quite a little town there,
consisting of a saw and grist mill, carding machine and distillery, and
Mr. Hornbeak was interested in all them. They lived here two years, and
then removed to a farm, where William C. grew to manhood. He then came
to Springfield and clerked in the dry goods house of S. S. and R. A.
Vinton from 1856 until 1861, and also being a partner in the firm for
some time. When the war began, he joined Phelps' regiment as adjutant;
then he went to St. Louis and was mustered out, and took a position in
the quartermaster's department. In January, 1862, he was appointed by
Gov. Gamble as one of the bank commissioners with A. J. Edwards, of St.
Louis, now one of the assistant treasurers of the United States. At the
close of Gamble's administration, he went to Davenport, Iowa, where he
sold goods until 1855, when he returned to Springfield and formed a
partnership with W. H. Graves in the general merchandising business. In
1871, John B. Oliver bought out Graves, and the firm became Hornbeak &
Oliver, and continued so until 1874, when he went in with C. H. Heer &
Co., where he now is, in charge of the retail department. Mr. Hornbeak
has been a member of the city council, is connected with the public
school now, and has been for nine years. He was one of the organizers
of the national bank here, was one of the directors and vice presidents
and has been connected with various railroad enterprises of the South-
west. He is a prominent member of the Royal Arch Chapter, and was the
secretary of the lodge for some time. He was married June 14th, 1860,
to Miss Georgia E., daughter of Hon. Mordecia Oliver, ex-member of
Congress, and ex-secretary of State under Gov. Gamble. They had six
children, five boys and one girl. Mrs. Hornbeak died in May, 1875 and
Mr. Hornbeak was married again, to Miss T. E. R. Paul, on December 27,
1877. They have two children, a boy and girl. Mr. Hornbeak has been
an elder in the Christian church for twenty-four years. His mother
died in 1857, and his father in 1864. They had eleven children, four
boys and seven girls. John, the oldest son, represented Christian
county, Missouri, twice in the Legislature.
Peter Horning
Mr. Horning was born in Portage county, Ohio, June 30th, 1842, and is
the son of George and Margaret (Kerling) Horning. His parents were
natives of Bavaria, Germany. Peter was educated in the common schools
of his native country, and when old enough, learned the carpenter's
trade, at which he worked until 1876. He went to Winona, Minnesota,
in 1859, where he worked at his trade until his removal to this county
in 1876. He settled in Campbell township, about two and one-half mile
east of Springfield, where he owns a fine farm of eighty acres, well
improved. Mr. Horning was married July 7th, 1864, to Miss Johanna
Daley, who was born in County Kerry, Ireland, March 17th, 1842. Their
union has been blest with seven children, viz.: Mary E., born July 25,
1865 and died July 9th, 1866; Clotilda, born December 19th, 1866;
George, born May 8th, 1868; Charles A., born November 21st, 1869; Nora
E., born October 8th, 1871; Robert P., born September 25th, 1877; and
William H., born December 3rd, 1880. Mr. Horning and wife are members
of the Catholic church.
James N. Hosey
Judge James N. Hosey. This gentleman is the son of Samuel M. and Sarah
(Newell) Hosey, and was born September 25, 1832, in Clarion County, Pa.
He was educated at Allegheny College, Meadeville, Pa., garduating in
1856. From 1857 to 1861 he was principal of the academy at Freedom, Pa.
In August, 1861 he was made Captain of Company E, 78th Pennsylvania
Volunteers, and served two and one-half years with that rank, and in
February, 1864, he was commissioned major. He was in the battle of
Stone River, and all through Sherman's campaign. After the war he re-
turned to Pennsylvania, and for some time was engaged in the oil busi-
ness in different parts of the State. In April, 1872, he came to
Greene County, Mo., where he has taken rank as one of the best citizens
of the county. He was elected associate justice for the western dis-
trict of Greene county in 1882, upon the Republican ticket, and as
county judge is making an enviable record. Judge Hosey was married
November 15, 1860, in Pennsylvania, to Miss Lawson. Their union has
been blest with nine children, eight of whom are living. He and his
wife are members of the Methodist Church. The judge's father is a
native of Clarion County, Pa., and is still living. His mother died in
1851. They had six sons and two daughters, James N. being the oldest.
Alfred Hosman
Mr. Hosman was born in Loudoun County, Virginia, August 2, 1810. His
parents moved to Fayette County, Kentucky, when Alfred was about eight
years of age. They soon after moved to Scott County, Kentucky, where
his father, Esaias Hosman, died in 1831. His mother died in 1843.
Alfred was the youngest child and was educated in the home schools of
Fayette and Scott counties. He was married in Scott County, December
23, 1830, to Miss Martha H. Cox, who died August 9, 1839. They were
blest with four children, one son and three daughters, viz.: Sarah A.,
born January 1, 1831; Nancy E., born November 25, 1834; James W., born
December 6, 1836; and Martha H., born June 24, 1839. Mr. Hosman came
to Missouri in 1841, where he married the second time to Miss Mary C.
Boone, of Boone Township, Greene County, Missouri. She was the ninth
daughter of Nathan Boone, the youngest child of the famous Daniel
Boone. This marriage was blest with thirteen children, viz.: Mary F.,
born July 22, 1842; Olive A., born February 9, 1844; Daniel B., born
February 12, 1845 and died February 22, 1852; Nathan B., born April 16,
1847 and died January 8, 1848; Mahala P., born November 25, 1848 and
died June 16, 1852; Charles L., born November 10, 1850; Sanford E.,
born May 8, 1853; John B., born May 5, 1855; Thomas A., born June 4,
1857; Luther A., born August 31, 1859 and died September 25, 1859;
Joseph K., born September 22, 1860, and Robert L. and Belle P., born
June 3, 1866. Shortly after his second marriage, Mr. Hosman moved back
to Kentucky and lived upon the old homestead, and remained there till
the death of his mother, when he came back to Greene County, Missouri,
and lived upon his farm till 1863, when the unsettled condition of the
country during the civil war caused him to remove his family to Howard
County in September of that year. In March, 1864, he moved to Illinois
and lived near Bloomington until December, 1865, when he came back to
Missouri, and lived in Springfield about two years, and then moved to
where he now lives in Boone Township. He carries on farming upon a
large scale, and is one of the first citizens of the county. He is
probably one of the oldest master masons in the county. He was made a
member of Benevolent Lodge, No. 58, in Fayette County, Kentucky, in
1843. Mr. Hosman has served as school director for many years, and has
been a leading member of the Baptist Church since 1850.
Dr. E. Hovey
Dr. Hovey was born in Trenton, Oneida county, New York, September 23,
1816. He is the son of Eleazer and Sibyl (Coburn) Hovey. They moved
to Indiana in 1820, where his father died. In 1826 his mother moved to
the northeastern portion of Ohio. Dr. Hovey received his education at
the common schools, but acquired most of it by his own exertions. He
came to Texas county, Missouri in 1840, and worked at the millwrights'
trade for ten years. It was here that he studied dentistry, and after-
wards studied medicine, and practiced both in conjunction at Buffalo,
Dallas county, Missouri. He soon abandoned medicine and made dentistry
a specialty. He belongs to the Missouri State Dental Association, hav-
ing joined in 1865. The doctor is well posted in his profession, and
was at one time offered a chair in one of the St. Louis dental colleges.
He went back to Ohio and remained a few months in 1850, but soon re-
turned to Missouri, and entered into partnership with his old preceptor,
at Buffalo, Dallas county. He practiced until the war commenced, and
was elected a lieutenant colonel, of a regiment of Home Guards raised
in Dallas county. He came to Springfield in 1862, and his family
followed in 1863. He practiced his profession here until the war clos-
ed, then, on account of failing health, he sold out to his partner and
returned to his home in Dallas county, Missouri. He lived there for
fourteen years, and came back to Springfield in 1880. He married the
first time in 1836 in Ohio to Miss Evelina Abell. This marriage was
blest with two children, Mrs. Julia A. Colby and Mrs. Ellen Lewey, both
of Marshfield. His first wife died on a steamboat at Louisville on
their way back to Ohio and is buried at that city. In 1848 he married
again to Miss Caroline E. Penniman of Ohio. By her he had three child-
ren, viz.: Eva Celestia, Romeo Hamlet and Charles Eugene, now post-
master at Buffalo, Dallas county, Missouri. Dr. Hovey was solicited to
run for State senator, but prefers private life. He is of Scotch
descent upon his mother's side, and German upon his father's side.
Edward Howell
Mr. Howell is the son of Benjamin and Nancy (Bishop) Howell, and was
born in South Hampton, Long Island, June 20, 1824. When he was about
twelve years of age his parents emigrated to Michigan, and settled in
Wayne County. He grew to manhood in that county and has always foll-
owed farming. He received his education in Long Island, and in Wayne
County, Michigan. He came to Missouri in December, 1870 and stopped
in Audrain County until the following May, when he moved to this
county, and lived in Springfield nine months. He then purchased the
farm upon which he now lives in Brookline township. He owns one hun-
dred and forty-five acres of the best land in the county, and has the
best farm house in his section. Mr. Howell's mother died in September,
1870, in Michigan, and his father died in this county, in 1874. He has
been married twice, the first time to Miss Leona Moore, in 1849. This
marriage was without issue, Mrs. Howell dying in the fall of 1849. Mr.
Howell was married the second time to Mrs. Jane M. Tibbets. This union
has been blest with four children, all of whom are living. He is a
member of the Congregational Church at Republic. He is a Republican in
politics, and has always acted with that party. No man in Greene Coun-
ty stands higher in the estimation of the people than he, and all
regard him as one of Greene's most substantial citizens.
Humphrey E. Howell
This gentleman was born in Wales, about forty miles from Liverpool, on
the 23rd of October, 1839. He came to Newark, Ohio, when he was about
five years of age. He was reared upon the farm, and received his edu-
cation at Dennison University, Ohio, Columbus, Ohio, in a commercial
school and at Dartmouth college, where he graduated in 1863. He then
attended the law department of the Michigan University, at Ann Arbor,
and graduated from that celebrated university in the spring of 1866,
and came to Springfield, Missouri to practice his profession. He was
nominated without his knowledge or consent for city attorney of Spring-
field, and was elected by a handsome majority. He was in office when
the Gulf railroad entered the corporate limits, and acted in the city's
behalf during negotiations between the road and the city. He married
September 2nd, 1864, Miss Sarah Reese, also a native of Wales. This
union has been blest with four children, viz.: Maynard D., Mellila,
Mary and Una, all of whom are now living. Himself and wife are members
of the Calvary Presbyterian Church. Mr. Howell is a gentleman of in-
tegrity, and one in whom all place great confidence as an honest man
and a gentleman.
Jesse L. Hoyal
Mr. Hoyal's parents were David and Margaret J. Hoyal, both natives of
Tennessee. Jesse was born in Roane County, Tenn., June 24, 1846. In
1858 his parents moved to Lawrence County, Mo., where they continued
till 1863, when they removed to Randolph County. There they remained
but a short time, removing next to Cooper County, Mo., where they re-
mained till the civil war closed. The family then moved back to Law-
rence County, where the elder (David R. Hoyal) was soon afterwards
killed, shot by some unknown assassin as Mr. Hoyal was on his way to
the barn. Jesse then spent a year on the plains, and, in 1868 located
in Greene County, and engaged in farming and mule trading, buying mules
and driving to the Southern markets. He also bought and shipped wheat,
and that latter still continues to be his business in part, he shipping
over 150 car loads per year. He owns a fine farm of 200 acres, and
also owns property in Springfield, all of which he has accumulated by
his own efforts. Mr. Hoyal was married June 4, 1868, to Larua, daugh-
ter of A. and Susannah Leeper, of Greene County. They have had five
children, three of whom still survive. Mr. Hoyal is a member of the
Masonic fraternity, and also belongs to the Methodist Church. He is a
citizen in whose trustworthiness all who know him have confidence.
Melvin S. Hoyal
Mr. Hoyal is the son of David R. and Margaret E. Hoyal, and was born in
Roane County, Tennessee, October 29, 1844. In 1860 his parents moved
to Lawrence County, Missouri, and in 1863 Melvin enlisted in the Con-
federate army and served until the end of the war. He spent the years
1865 and 1866 in Colorado, Montana, and Dakota. He then came to this
county and engaged in farming until 1879, when he went to Bois D'Arc
and embarked in the mercantile business, under the firm name of Bymas-
ter & Hoyal. In the spring of 1882 he became one of the firm of Hoyal,
Redfearn & Johnson, the leading house of the place. Mr. Hoyal was
married in 1866 to Miss Harriet E., daughter of Josiah F. and Lucy R.
Redfearn, of Greene County. Their union has been blest with five chil-
dren, four of whom are still living: Addie C., Leonidas S., Olive and
Lucy. Mrs. Hoyal's parents were natives of Tennessee, and among the
pioneers of Greene County.
Hon. Walter D. Hubbard
The subject of this sketch is a son of John H. and Sarah A. Hubbard,
and was born in Madison County, Kentucky, October 3rd, 1840 and is of
Welsh-English stock. He received a good English education in Clay and
Clinton counties, this State, his father having moved to Missour in
1845, and settled in Clinton county in 1849. He developed great math-
ematical talent, and before he was fifteen years old, had mastered
arithmetic, algebra and geometry. He began reading law in 1859, con-
tinuing his legal studies while teaching school in the years of
1860-61. In the latter year he was principal of the public school at
Plattsburg, Missouri, but gave up the school to enlist for national
defense in Captain Edgar's company of militia. He served in that com-
pany till 1862, when he re-enlisted for three years in the 6th regiment
of cavalry militia. To attempt anything like a full outline of the
many valuable services of Mr. Hubbard to his country during that long
and bloody struggle for national existence, would far excel the space
that this volume can assign for personal mention; suffice it to say
that he was promoted through various gradations from private, as he
first enlisted, to adjutant of his regiment and captain of a company,
and was several times commended from high official sources for "gallant
conduct in battle." He mustered out his own company in May, 1866, and
was retained to muster out the volunteers then serving on the plains,
which duty finished, he was ordered to Springfield, Missouri, where he
was finally and honorably discharged, and was "breveted" by President
Johnson, lieutenant colonel of volunteers. After quitting military
life he entered the law and claim office of Col. John M. Richardson,
and in 1870 was duly enrolled as an attorney and counsellor at law in
the circuit court of Greene county, and has actively practiced his pro-
fession ever since. In 1875-76, he was U. S. circuit court commission-
er, and was a member of the common council of Springfield in 1869-70.
He was elected county attorney in the fall of 1876, on the Republican
ticket, that having been his political bent at all times. June 28th,
1866 he was married to Miss Emily F., youngest daughter of Maj. Gen.
Joseph Powell, deceased. Scarcely yet in the prime of life, full of
vigor, and efficient organizer, devoted to his profession and to his
party, there remains for Mr. Hubbard a long period, the most useful
part of human life, in which to labor for the benefit of self, home and
country.
John P. Hubble
This young gentleman is the son of Martin J. and Mary J. (Powell)
Hubble, and was born on Market street, Springfield, Mo., April 3rd,
1860. He was educated in the common schools and at Drury College, in
this county, and in the fall of 1877 he went to St. Louis, and attend-
ed Washington University three years, one year in the law department.
From 1881 to 1883 he was State adjuster for the insurance department.
He was admitted to the bar by Judge Fyan, in March, 1882. He has a
good practice for a young man, and "is of such stuff as men are made."
J. H. Hudgings
J. H. Hudgings was born in Monroe County, Tennessee, February 26, 1851.
His parents were William and Mary Hudgings, and they came to Greene in
1854, where the subject of this sketch grew up and was educated. Early
in life he began farming, and that has been his vocation since. In 1874
he came in possession of the place where he now resides, three and a
half miles southeast of Ash Grove. The farm contains eighty acres of
fine land under good cultivation, and well improved. He was married
January 5, 1873 to Miss Judith Spraggins, who was born February 7, 1854.
Her parents were William and Sophronia Spraggins, who were natives of
Alabama. Mr. and Mrs. Hudgings were blessed with two children, Ethel
and Marcia A. Mr. Hudgings and wife are members of the Baptist Church,
and stand well in the regard of all who know him.
John Hulse
John Hulse was born in England, September 14th, 1850. When he was one
year old his parents brought him to America, remaining one year and
then returning to England. In 1866 the subject of this sketch came
back to this country, and a few weeks later his parents also came. He
lived with them till he was twenty-five years old, then, on the 5th of
April, 1875, he married Miss Parilee Huff. After his marriage he began
farming, and continued till 1879, when he commenced to "fire" on an
engine of the 'Frisco, and is still so engaged. He is the father of
two children, named Ethie and Hugh. Mr. Hulse is a member of 'Frisco
Lodge, No. 81, Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen, and is secretary of
that lodge.
Benjamin F. Huntington
This gentleman is the son of Ambrose and Parmelia (Keeler) Huntington,
and was born August 2nd, 1843, at Mexico, Oswego county, New York. At
the age of fourteen he was bound out to his uncle and learned the
tailor's trade, at Watertown, New York, serving seven years. In 1849
he went to California by way of the Isthmus of Panama. He lived in
California about fifteen years, following at his trade and mining. In
1866 he came to Springfield, Mo., where he has since lived, working at
his trade. He has been very successful in building up a good business.
His shop is on the north side of College street, in the old Presley
Beal property, one of the landmarks of Springfield. He employs several
hands and carries a fine line of goods, both imported and American. He
was married to Miss Ellen E. McElhaney. Their union was blest with one
daughter, now dead. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., Harmony Lodge
No. 71, and his wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr.
Huntington is one of the substantial business men of Springfield, and
is regarded as an upright, honorable citizen.
George M. Huston
Mr. Huston was born in Somerset, Ohio, July 8th, 1849, and is the son
of J. E. and Annie Huston. At the age of fourteen he went to Lancaster,
Ohio, and entered the shops of the C. & M. V. railway, where he learned
the machinist's trade, working four years. He next went to Columbus,
Ohio, and worked in the shops of the P. C. & St. L. railroad, where he
remained two years. In the spring of 1872, he came to Missouri, and
engaged in the St. Louis and San Francisco shops at North Springfield
until 1879, when he commenced firing on a locomotive. He fired a year,
and then took an engine, which he has shown himself abundantly able to
handle. He is a member of Pacific Division, No. 83, Brotherhood of
Locomotive Engineers, Locomotive Engineers' Mutual Life Association,
and the "Frisco" Locomotive Engineers' Health Association. He was
married December 20th, 1880, to Miss Annie Payton, daughter of B. F.
and Cordelia Payton, now of Joplin, Missouri. They have one child,
Cordie, born October 16th, 1881.
Dr. John Hyde
This gentleman is the son of Abijah and Eunice (Green) Hyde, and was
born in Trumbull County, Ohio, April 10th, 1836. Here he grew to man-
hood, was educated at the Western Reserve Seminary. He taught school
from 1855 to 1859, reading medicine in his leisure hours. He complet-
ed his medical studies at the Medical Institute, at Baltimore. He
practiced for a time in his native county, but in 1863 gave up the
practice and began the study of law. He entered the law department of
the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, that year, and graduated in
1864. The same year he commenced the practice of law at Warren, Ohio,
and continued until 1868, when he moved to Gainsville, Ozark County,
Missouri, where he again took up the practice of medicine. He did a
good practice and in 1871 opened a drug store in connection with his
profession. In 1875 he added a general stock of merchandise to his
store, and he owns the store at present. He gave up medicine then,
and in 1871 and 1872 he was county school commissioner of Ozark County.
He was prosecuting attorney from 1874 to 1876, and from 1876 to 1880
was county treasurer. All of which offices he filled with credit to
himself and to the satisfaction of his constituents. In 1881 he moved
to North Springfield, where he is engaged in the fancy dry goods and
millinery business. Dr. Hyde was married in 1865 to Miss Amelia E.,
daughter of Aaron W. and Mary Wood, of Warren, Ohio. They have had
four children, only one now living, Nellie E. Dr. Hyde is a member of
the Methodist church, and a most worthy citizen.
Archibald F. Ingram
The subject of this notice is the son of Martin and Annie A. (Howard)
Ingram, and was born June 30, 1830, in Wilson County, Tennessee. His
parents emigrated to Missouri in 1834, reaching Springfield on the 29th
of November. He was educated in the common schools of the country, and
remained at home with his parents until he was twenty years of age when
he went to work on the "Southern Flag", the second paper ever published
in Greene County. The publisher was W. P. Davis, and the editor, John
M. Richardson, the U. S. commissioner at Carthage. He worked in that
office until the paper changed hands in 1851, when he and W. P. Davis
went South. They returned in 1852, and in 1853 they started a book
store. On the 4th of July, 1853 he was appointed postmaster of Spring-
field by President Pierce, and served for fourteen months when he was
succeeded by William Jones. In the fall of 1855 he went to Greenfield,
Dade County, Missouri, and started the "American Standard", afterwards
changed to the "Greenfield Southwest," which he published until 1859,
when he returned to Springfield and established a job printing office,
the first of the kind in Springfield. He continued the business until
the war broke out, and then enlisted in Captain Holland's company of
Home Guards, for three months. In 1862 he started an irregular paper,
The Springfield Missourian, which he sold in 1863, and in 1864 he
bought the Missourian again then established the Patriot. In the foll-
owing October he sold one-half interest of the "Patriot" to William J.
Feed. He was appointed county treasurer in 1864, to fill the unexpired
term of William McAdams and served two years. In 1867 he sold his in-
terest in the "Patriot" to E. R. Shiply, the present postmaster. In
1868 he started the "Weekly Gazette," and after none months, sold it to
the "Patriot". He was then elected county treasurer on the Republican
ticket. He ran again in 1870, but was defeated by Liberals. In 1872
he ran again and was elected. He was married in February, 1854 to Miss
Mary A., daughter of Randolph W. and Sarah (Gibson) Moore. They have
four children, viz.: Charles R., one of the proprietors and publishers
of the "Daily Extra"; Frank M., of California; Sallie A., a teacher in
the public schools; and Mollie, also a teacher.
Sidney N. Ingram
This gentleman is the son of Martin and Annie A. (Howard) Ingram, and
was born July 15, 1832, at Wilson, Tennessee. His parents came to
Greene County, Missouri, in December, 1834 where Sidney received his
education, attending school until nearly of age. He taught school for
several years and in 1857 taught in Collin county, Texas. In 1859 he
and A. G. McCracken built a mill on the James river and ran it in
partnership until Mr. McCracken's death in 1878. Mr. Ingram and his
sons now run the mill and have fitted it with the latest and best
improvements and make the best grades of flour. Mr. Ingram enlisted
in the Home Guards in 1861, and in 1863 and part of 1864 was first
lieutenant of a home company organized in the neighborhood of the
mill. In the fall of 1864 he was in R. J. McElhany's company, 46th
Missouri infantry. During the war Mr. Ingram was a Republican, but
in 1870 joined the Liberal movement and was nominated for circuit
clerk. In 1876 he was upon the Greenback ticket for county assessor.
In 1882 he made the race for presiding justice of the county court.
He ran ahead of his ticket receiving 1,115 votes. He was married on
January 19, 1860 to Miss E. Stephens of this county. She died on Dec-
ember 10, 1868, leaving four sons and one daughter. He was married
the second time April 27, 1871 to Miss E. J. Fine, also of this county.
She died November 23, 1871, and on the 4th of January, 1874, he was
again married to Mrs. Hellen Burnham. They have one son Emory H. His
sons Herchel and Thomas are graduates of the Springfield public school.
Stephen Jackson
Mr. Jackson is the son of Edmund and Ann Jackson, and was born in York-
shire, England, April 17th, 1849. In 1854 his parents came to the
United States and located upon Long Island, where his father purchased
a third interest in the race course. He went to Kankakee County, Ill.,
in 1855, where Stephen lived until he was fourteen years of age, and
then went to work with the civil engineer corps of the Danville & Great
Western R.R., as rodman, and in three years held the position of civil
engineer. In 1862 he went to Louisville, Ky., and ran the wrecking
train for Gen. Rosencranz to Nashville, until 1863. He then enlisted
in Company F, 64th Illinois infantry, and was at the battles of Snake
Creek Gap, Resaca, Dallas, Big Shanty and Kennesaw Mountain. He was
detailed as orderly for Gen. McPherson's staff, and was by the side of
that general when he was killed at Atlanta, and himself wounded in the
action. He then returned to his regiment and was at the following en-
gagements: Kingston, Savannah, Thunderbolt, Beaufort, Columbia and
Bentonville. He then returned home and resumed railroading, working
upon several different roads, the last being conductor upon the con-
struction train on the Iowa division of the Rock Island R.R. from 1870
to 1878. He then engaged in the grain, produce and general merchandise
business at Avoca, Iowa, until 1882. He then came to Springfield and
laid the track for the People's Street Railway. He is now the proprie-
tor of the North Springfield House, and is one of the best landlords in
the Southwest. Mr. Jackson is a member of the I.O.O.F. and A.F. & A.M.
He was married March 22, 1869, to Miss Eliza, daughter of Daniel and
Eliza Hamer, of Clifton, Ill. They have three children, Arthur E.,
Bertha S. and Stephen H.
Jason R. James
Mr. James is the son of Thomas and Nancy (Gately) James, and was born
February 25, 1827, in Madison county, Tenn. His father was born in
South Carolina, December 21, 1791. He was a son of David and Nancy
(Atchison) James. His parents moved close to the Tennessee line,
where he was educated. His marriage with Nancy Gately was blest with
nine children, five sons and four daughters, Jason R. being the seven-
th child. Only three are now living, Jason, Winfrey, of Oregon; and
Mrs. Minerva Putnam. Their father died November 9, 1837, and their
mother died April 11, 1863, aged about seventy. Thomas James was jus-
tice of the peace in Tennessee years before he came to Missouri. Jason
R. came with his parents to Greene county, Missouri, in December, 1835
and settled the farm where our subject is now living. He was educated
in the common schools of the neighborhood, and has always followed
farming. During the war Mr. James was in Capt. Jenkins company of
militia, and was at the battle of Springfield, January 8, 1863. Since
the war he has farmed upon the old homestead.
Robert Jenkin
Mr. Jenkin was born in Ontario, Canada, January 6th, 1849. His parents
died when he was quite young. In 1862 he went to St. Clair, Michigan,
and enlisted for the U. S. service, but the officers refused to receive
him on account of his youth. He went, however, with the 8th Michigan
cavalry, and stayed through the war. He went to Leavenworth, in 1866,
and there learned brick laying, remaining three years. After working
at his trade one year in Texas, he went to Mississippi and engaged in
cotton raising two years. In 1872 he came to North Springfield, this
county, and followed his trade till 1876. On October 30, 1880, he was
married to Miss Mary A. Blankenship, daughter of W. S. Blankenship, by
whom he has one child, named Inez Gordon. Mr. Jenkin is one of the
leading business men of North Springfield. He owns a brickyard that
turns out 750,000 bricks per year, and also operates as a building con-
tractor. He is also book keeper for the street railway company, look-
ing after their interests generally, and is connected with various
other enterprises of the town. He owns a handsome and elegantly furn-
ished brick residence, belonging to which there are six acres of ground.
As a citizen of thrift and enterprise, Mr. Jenkin takes front rank, and
the style in which he lives bespeaks the social position his family
holds.
Capt. Irwin W. Jenkins
This gentleman is the son of William and Susan (Gateley) Jenkins, and
was born July 17, 1831, in Caldwell county, Kentucky. His parents
moved to Greene county in 1836, where he grew to manhood, and received
his education in the country schools. He remained at home upon his
father's farm until the war broke out, and in October, 1862, he enlist-
ed in Company G, 72nd regiment infantry militia. He was elected first
lieutenant at the organization and in about a year was elected captain
of Company G. He was at the battle of Springfield, January 8, 1863.
He remained in the service until the close of the war, and since then
has been actively engaged in farming. He has a farm of three hundred
and fifty acres, two hundred of which is in cultivation. He has one of
the finest barns in the county. His father was born in Virginia, but
removed to South Carolina, then to Tennessee, and then to Missouri. He
died January 15, 1863. His mother was born September 11, 1791 and died
April 14, 1881. They had eleven children, Irwin W. and his twin
brother, James W., being the youngest.
Thomas F. Jessup
This gentleman is the son of Eli and Sarah (Lattimore) Jessup, and was
born in Greene county, Missouri, March 4, 1843. His parents were nat-
ives of North Carolina, and after coming to this county, his father
carried on the business of tanning, running a yard where the wagon
factory now stands, and also owned eighty acres of land where North
Springfield was afterward built up. Eli Jessup died in this county,
and his wife died in Texas in 1879. Thomas was educated in the common
schools of this township, and began learning the carpenter's trade in
1858 under Capt. Smith, of Springfield. In 1860 he went upon a farm
and was farming when the war broke out. During the years 1861-2, he
was in the employ of the government in the stock and teaming department.
In 1863 he enlisted in company E, 6th Missouri, State troops, and was
stationed most of the time in the county. He moved to Cole county the
same year, and in the fall of 1864 was captured by Gen. Price's army
and released in a few days. He came back to this county in 1868, and
this has been his home ever since. Mr. Jessup was married July 20,
1864, to Miss Frances, daughter of the Hon. J. W. D. L. F. Mack, a very
prominent citizen of Greene county. She was born in Maury county,
Tennessee, February 15, 1844. Their union has been blest with six
children, five are living, viz.: Effie L., Edward F., Pearl, Lottie,
Thomas F. Mr. and Mrs. Jessup are members of the Christian church, and
Mr. Jessup is a member of the Greenback party.
Robert T. Johns
This gentleman is the son of William and Martha (Robinson) Johns, nat-
ives of Tennessee, who came to Greene County, Missouri, in 1844. Robert
was born in Robertson County, Tennessee, March 4, 1838. He grew to man-
hood here in this county, receiving such education as the schools of
the county afforded. At the age of seventeen, he commenced to work at
milling. His father built a mill in 1855, near where the Johns Bros.'s
mill now stands. He has since followed milling and farming, building
his mill in 1872. Mr. Johns was married December 23, 1860, to Miss
Sarah E. Wallace, daughter of Prior and Martha D. (Neil) Wallace, of
this county. Her parents were natives of Tennessee. Their union has
been blest with five children, all living, viz.: Montzell, Mary O.,
Belle R., Ida L., and Stella J. Mr. Johns has been a liberal patron of
the religious denomination of which he belongs, the Methodist Episcopal
Church South, giving about one-fourth the cost of the church building
named in his honor in his neighborhood. He has been an active member
of the Methodist Church for eighteen years, and is a memeber of the
Masonic fraternity. He owns over three hundred acres of land, besides
his milling property. No man in the county enjoys the confidence of
his neighbors to a greater extent than Robert T. Johns.
Benjamin R. Johnson
Benjamin R. Johnson was born in Greene County, Tennessee, September 1,
1824. His parents were Benjamin and Mary Johnson, the former a native
of South Carolina, and the latter of Virginia. Benjamin, Jr.'s father
was a great hunter, and achieved quite a reputation for sports of the
chase in Tennessee. He came with his family to Greene County, Missouri
in 1841, and settled where the subject of this sketch still resides, in
Center township, where he lived till he decease in 1867. His wife, the
mother of Benjamin R., also died in this county the following year.
Benjamin was then seventeen years old when he came with his parents to
this county, which has been his home ever since, with the exception of
a short time spent in Dade County. In 1862, he enlisted on the Union
side for the Civil War in Capt. Redfearn's company, 44th State Militia,
and was in active service for two years, doing duty all over Southwest
Missouri, and participating in a number of fights and skirmishes. He
held the rank of sergeant. Mr. Johnson was married October 6, 1846, to
Miss Celia D., daughter of L. and Millie Morris, natives of Tennessee.
Mrs. Johnson's mother had died when she was an infant, and a Mr. Doug-
las adopted and reared her. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are the parents of
twelve children, of whom there are living at this writing: James W.,
Susan J., Martha C., Catherine H., Benjamin, Alexander S., Joseph R.,
and Emma D. Mr. Johnson owns a fine farm of 250 acres, besides the
liberal gifts made to his married children. He has been a consistent
member, for over forty years, of the Methodist Church in which he has
filled many official positions. He is regarded as one of the most sub-
stantial farmers of that part of Greene County.
L. D. Johnson
Mr. Johnson is a son of John A. and Nancy Johnson, and was born in
Giles county, Tennessee, November 11, 1845. His parents came to Greene
county, Missouri in 1863. L. D. Johnson was reared upon a farm, and in
1864 began clerking in a store in Van Buren, Arkansas, and in 1872 em-
barked in the general merchandise business for himself. He carried on
the business six years, when his father died in this county, leaving
eight children, viz.: Clarissa, now Mrs. Powell; Lewis D., John A.,
Agnes R., Neil B., Mary V., Silas M., and Nannie V. Lewis D. then
closed up his own business and has since followed farming and stock
raising. Mr. Johnson is a member of the Christian Church, and is one
of Greene's substantial citizens.
William D. Johnson
Mr. Johnson is a son of Barton and Susannah (nee Horne) Johnson, both
natives of Tennessee. The family moved to Greene County, this State,
in 1839, where William D. was born, April 19th, 1850. He was reared on
the farm and educated in the common schools, and for some time followed
the vocation of farming himself. In 1882, however, he engaged in the
mercantile business at Bois D'Arc, as a member of the firm of Hoyal,
Redfearn & Johnson, one of the livliest business houses in the county.
Mr. Johnson was married September 12, 1870, to Miss Eliza, daughter of
Jefferson and Hannah Grantham, of Greene County. They have had six
children, five of whom survive at this writing, named: Estella V.,
James C., William F., Maggie M., and Pearia. Mr. Johnson is a live
young business man, and has the entire confidence of his neighbors and
patrons.