Greene County Biographies


From:  Past and Present of Greene County, Missouri
Early and Recent History and Genealogical Records
of Many of the Representative Citizens
by Jonathan Fairbanks and Clyde Edwin Tuck




WARREN NELSON CAMP. Longfellow said, "The talent of success is nothing
more than doing what you can do well and doing well whatever you do,
without any thought of fame." Illustrative of this sentiment has been the
life of the late Warren Nelson Camp, one of the well-known railroaders of
Springfield, of a past generation. Those familiar with his life work
readily corroborate the statement that he did well whatever he turned his
attention to and therefore success attended his efforts.

Mr. Camp was born at Adrian, Michigan, August 5, 1843. He was a son of
Robert Camp and wife, and grew to manhood and spent his early life near
his native city, and there received a good practical education, however,
his schooling was not as extensive as he desired, for his father was a
farmer and on the homestead our subject found plenty of work to keep him
busy most of the year when he was a boy. He began life for himself as a
railroader in his native state, and he followed this line of endeavor the
rest of his days, his promotion being rapid owing to his faithfulness to
duty, his sober habits and intelligence. He engaged in the creamery
business in Michigan for about seven years. After leaving his native
state, he went to Ft. Wayne, Indiana, where he continued railroading for
some time. On March 17, 1898, he came to Springfield, Missouri, and took a
position with the Frisco System in as conductor and continued in the
service until his death, which occurred here on May 6, 1901. He
accumulated considerable property, which was left to his widow and
children, Mrs. Camp being well provided for.

Mr. Camp's marriage was celebrated in Detroit, Michigan, to Mrs. Marie O.
Holmes, widow of John B. Holmes, a railroad man who was killed while on
duty for the Michigan Central railway. By her marriage with Mr. Holmes
three children were born to the widow of our subject, namely: Walter B.,
Charles R., and Howard D. Her union with our subject was without issue.
Mr. Camp became the father of three children by his first marriage,
namely: Maude, who is the wife of William Shotwell; Major and Mamie,
twins, both deceased.

Mrs. Camp is one of four children, she being the oldest; her three sisters
are: Mrs. Margaret Louise Carnley, Mrs. Josephine Odell is a widow, living
in Detroit; and Mrs. Sarah Lanniere lives in Ottawa, Canada. The parents
of these children were George and Oberline (Paquette) DeGras, both natives
of St. Johns, New Brunswick, and all their ancestors were of French
origin. In his earlier career George De Gras was a deep-sea sailor, and
later went into the ship-building business, and with his father he also
engaged extensively in fishing, which is a great industry, for some time
before coming to this country. Mrs. Camp was twelve years of age when her
father died. He was a "forty-niner" making the long journey to California
across the great plains. He never returned; in fact, was never again heard
from, and it is the supposition that he was murdered. Mrs. Camp received a
good common school education. She is a member of the Sorosis club.

Mr. Camp joined the Presbyterian church early in life. He belonged to the
Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Masonic Order and the Benevolent and
Protective Order of Elks.





WILLIAM P. CAMP. The subject of this sketch is one of the Greene county
inhabitants who has had the good judgment to remain in his native locality
and devote his energies to the things with which he is the most familiar,
hence he has had a better chance of ultimately attaining the
ever-sought-for guerdon--success, in the quest for which a very large
percentage of men leave their native localities and go out into strange
countries among people of different habits and costumes, consequently many
of them fail who would have succeeded if they had remained at home.

Mr. Camp, who owns and operates a good farm in Taylor township, near the
village of Strafford, was born in this county, January 17, 1857. He is a
son of John H. and Susan H. (Anderson Camp) The father was born near
Petersburg, Virginia, which place was destined to become world-famous for
the memorable siege there during the Civil war. The date of his birth was
December 25, 1826. He grew up on farms in his native state and in
Tennessee, and received a common school education. He immigrated to Greene
county, Missouri, in 1851, entering a farm from the government which he
improved and on which he prospered, and later became owner of a valuable
farm of two hundred and twenty acres and was one of the successful general
farmers of this county a generation ago. During the Civil war he joined
the Home Guards, under Captain Coleman, but was in the service only a
short time. Before leaving Tennessee, he was married in Rogersville, that
state in 1850, to Susan H. Anderson, who was born near that town, reared
and educated there. These parents died on the home farm in Greene county,
the father in the year 1898, and the mother a few years prior to that
time. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and she belonged
to the Cumberland Presbyterian church. To John H. Camp and wife ten
children were born, namely: Mrs. Martha Vaughn, Charles A. is deceased;
William P., of this sketch; Mrs. Mary Danforth is deceased; Mrs. Lucy
Cunningham, Mrs. Francis Barnett, Mrs. Laura Barnett, Eliza Saddler, Mrs.
Lennie Cunningham and one who died in infancy, unnamed.

William P. Camp was reared on the home farm near where he now resides and
there he assisted with the work in the summer months and in the winter
time attended the district schools. He remained at home until he was
twenty-one years of age, then began life for himself by hiring out on
different farms for several years. He saved his earnings until he was able
to purchase the place where he now lives, in 1894. He has a productive and
well-kept farm of eighty-five acres and is making a good living and tying
by something each year for the proverbial "rainy day" which is supposed to
be ahead for everyone, which, however, is not necessarily true, as
observation would teach.

Mr. Camp was married in 1880 to Martha Bristow, who was born in Greene
county, December 21, 1863, and was reared on a farm here and attended the
rural schools. She is a daughter of William H. and Lavina D. Bristow. The
mother died some time ago, but the father is living in Greene county and
is still active.

Twelve children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Camp, namely: Mrs. Columbus
Dykes, Mrs. Maggie Potter, John H., Mrs. Bessie Mann is deceased; Mary,
Cora is teaching school; Mattie, Ruth, Mark, Edith, Ruby is deceased, and
Lois, who is also deceased.

Politically, Mr. Camp is a Republican. He belongs to the Masonic Order and
to the Anti-Horse Thief Association. He is a member of the Cumberland
Presbyterian church.





IRVIN H. CAMPBELL. The old Keystone state has furnished many of her good
citizens to the newer western states who have been of inestimable value in
developing them, for it seems that they have ever been people noted for
their enterprise and courage. Although poor when they came into the wilder
west, many of them, a few years finds them in possession of good homes,
for they work with a will, are not thwarted by obstacles and make good
citizens in general. One of this number was the late Irvin H. Campbell,
for many years a successful agriculturist, later devoting his time to
railroading, and was one of the trusted employees of the Frisco System for
a number of years.

Mr. Campbell was born in Huntington, Pennsylvania, January 8, 1848. He is
a son of Armstrong Campbell and wife, both natives, of the state of
Pennsylvania, where they grew up, were educated in the early-day schools
and married, later removing to Ohio, and from that state moved finally to
Illinois, the mother, however, dying while the family lived in Ohio.
Armstrong Campbell devoted his life to general farming. His death occurred
in 1893. He was twice married, the only child by his first wife being
Irvin H., the subject of this memoir. Four children were born to his
second marriage.

Irvin H. Campbell grew to manhood on the home farm and he assisted his
father with the general work on the same during the crop season, and
during the winter attended the district schools in Ohio. However, he had
little opportunity to receive an extensive education in his boyhood, but
he developed himself and always depended upon his individual resources.

Mr. Campbell was a soldier in the days immediately following the Civil
war, having enlisted, in May, 1865, in Company I, One Hundred and
Thirty-second Regiment, Ohio National Guard. This was during the
reconstruction period and his service was about the same as if he had
enlisted during the regular period of the Civil war, in which he would
gladly have served had he been old enough. He saw some service, however,
and was in one skirmish. He was honorably discharged, and not long
thereafter came west to Bureau county, Illinois, where his father had
previously located, and there he took up farming, which he followed until
March 8, 1881, when he came to Springfield, Missouri, where he first
secured employment in the Queen City Mills, with which he remained some
time, then went to work for the Frisco railroad, remaining with this
company until about a year prior to his death, when he retired from active
life, after a faithful and successful career as railroader.

Mr. Campbell was married June 5, 1869, in Illinois, to Anna S. Ott, who
was born in Maryland, April 21, 1853. She is a daughter of Jacob D. and
Margaret Ann (Houck) Ott, both natives of Maryland and representatives of
old Southern families. Mr. Ott was a tanner by trade. When the wife of our
subject was five years old the Ott family moved to Illinois, and later
came to Missouri, where the death of the father occurred in 1904. The
mother is still living, making her home in Springfield. Mrs. Campbell is
the oldest of ten children, all living. She received a good education in
the common schools in Illinois.

Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Campbell, namely: Eva. M., born
October 30, 1870, makes her home in Springfield; Blanche E., born April
30, 1872, married J. E. Ledman, and they have one child, Margaret Ann,
born March 17, 1913; Lillian B., born August 30, 1874, has remained
unmarried; William E., born October 8, 1885, died in infancy.

Politically, Mr. Campbell was a Republican in his earlier years, but later
was a Socialist. He was a Christian Scientist in his religious beliefs,
and he was formerly a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, but in
later years dropped his membership in the same. He was a man of fine
character and had a large number of friends here.





JOHN POLK CAMPBELL. Agriculture is the greatest among all the arts of man,
as it is the first in supplying his necessities. It favors and strengthens
population; it creates and maintains manufactures; gives employment to
navigation and transportation, furnishing materials for commerce. It
animates every species of industry, and opens to nations the safest
channels of wealth. It is the strongest bond of well-regulated society,
the surest basis of internal peace, and the natural associate of correct
morals. Among all the occupations and professions of life, there is none
more honorable, none more independent, and none more conducive to health
and happiness. One of the successful farmers of the pioneer period of
Greene county, Missouri, was John P. Campbell, a native of this locality,
having been among the early white children born here, and, here, amid the
wilderness scenes of the early times, he spent his life, dying many years
ago when still a young man.

Mr. Campbell was born in Springfield, Missouri, January 2, 1835. He was a
son of Junius T. and Mary (Blackwell) Campbell, who came to Greene county,
this state, from Tennessee in the earliest frontier days and located their
permanent home on a farm, and here our subject grew to manhood, and
assisted his father clear and develop the place. He received his education
in the early schools of Springfield; later attended school in
Fayetteville, Missouri, for some time. Then young Campbell, after leaving
his paternal roof-tree, began farming for himself, and became owner of a
good farm five miles from Springfield, where he engaged successfully in
general farming and stock raising until his death, which occurred on
October 18, 1878.

Mr. Campbell was married on January 20, 1857, to Sue E. Gray, a daughter
of Elijah and Anna (Brooks) Gray. These parents were natives of Virginia,
where they grew to maturity, were educated in the early schools, and there
were married and began housekeeping, later removing to the state of
Tennessee, where they remained some time, then came to Springfield,
Missouri, when their daughter, Sue, was but two years of age and here she
grew to womanhood and attended the common schools.

Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. John P. Campbell, three of whom
are living at this writing, namely: Mary Frances, who married Charles W.
Doling, formerly a merchant of Springfield and a well-known citizen here,
now deceased, his death having occurred on May 27, 1892, leaving four
children, James Francis, Rafe Campbell, Charles Lee, and Lillian
Elizabeth. Mrs. Doling is at this writing principal of Berry ward school
in Springfield and is one of the popular educators of the county. She and
her daughter, Lillian Elizabeth Doling, are both members of the Daughters
of the American Revolution. The other children of J. P. Campbell and wife
were James Madison and Richard Huntly, both deceased; John Polk is farming
in Greene county, this state; James is deceased; Robert Bruce is living on
the old home place near Springfield, which he operates; Russell Vinton is
deceased.

Politically Mr. Campbell was a Democrat, and he was a member of the
Christian church. Mrs. Campbell, now advanced in years, is living on South
Jefferson street, Springfield.





JAMES THOMPSON CANTRELL. As an agricultural region of which Greene county,
Missouri, forms a part is not surpassed by any state in the Union. It is
indeed the farmer's kingdom, where he always reaps an abundant harvest of
one kind or another. The soil in most portions of Greene and adjoining
counties, has an open flexible structure, quickly absorbs the excessive
rains, and retains moisture with great tenacity. This being the case it is
not so easily affected by drouth. The prairies are covered by esculent,
luxurious grass, equally good for grazing and hay; grass not surpassed by
the famous Kentucky blue grass, the best of clover and timothy in raising
live stock. This grass is now as full of life-giving nutriment as it was
when cropped by the buffalo, the elk, antelope, and the deer. One of the
enterprising men of Greene county who took advantage of the naturally
favorable conditions for agricultural purposes in this locality and was
adequately repaid for his pains, is James Thompson Cantrell, now living in
the town of Walnut Grove, Greene county, after a long, active and
successful career as general farmer and stock raiser. He has also a good
record as a public servant, having filled a number of county offices in an
adjoining county, and he is also a veteran of the Civil war and a citizen
who has ever enjoyed the respect and confidence of his fellow men.

Mr. Cantrell was born in DeKalb county, Tennessee, on a farm, October 29,
1842. He is a son of Peter and Elizabeth (Cantrell) Cantrell. Peter
Cantrell was a native of Tennessee also, where his parents located in an
early day, having removed from South Carolina. After spending his earlier
years in his native state, Peter Cantrell came to Dade county, Missouri,
arriving there. November 3, 1848, and entered two hundred and forty acres
of land from the government, one hundred and twenty acres of which his
son, James E., of this sketch now owns. Here he worked hard developing his
raw land into a good farm, the work of clearing and improving being an
arduous task, but he was not a man lacking grit and courage, and here he
farmed successfully until his death on June 24, 1874. Politically, he was
a Republican and was quite active in political affairs, was always ready
to defend his position on any public question. Religiously he was a
Baptist, and active in the work of the church. He married his cousin,
Elizabeth Cantrell, in Tennessee, where she was born and reared. Her death
occurred in 1862. To them a large family, fifteen children, were born, two
of whom died in infancy. Seven of the sons were all soldiers in the Union
army during the Civil war, and all survived the conflict except one who
was killed by a guerrilla near Dadeville, Missouri.

James T. Cantrell grew to manhood on the home farm, being six years old
when his parents brought him to Dade county, this state. He assisted his
father clear and develop the homestead, and he received what education he
could in a few books at home by the old fire place, school advantages of
those days being very limited in his locality. On August 8, 1862, when but
eighteen years of age, he enlisted in the Missouri-State Militia in which
he served a year, then enlisted in the Fifteenth Missouri Cavalry, and was
continuously fighting guerrillas while in this regiment. While in the
service he contracted rheumatism from which he has never recovered. He was
honorably discharged on June 30, 1865, in Springfield, after which he
returned home and resumed work on the farm, and continued farming in Dade
county, which joins Greene county on the west, until 1890 when he was
elected recorder of Dade county, which office he held four years, then
returned to farming, which he continued with his usual gratifying results
until 1911 when he retired from active life and located in Walnut Grove,
Greene county. He always kept his farm in Dade county under a high state
of cultivation and improvement and was regarded as one of the leading
farmers of his community. He served as clerk of his township for some
time, and was also assessor of his township for two years.

Politically, Mr. Cantrell is a Republican and has been more or less active
in the affairs of his party for many years. He attends the Baptist church,
and he belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic.

James T. Cantrell was married on December 8, 1867, to Mary E. York, who
was born in Kentucky, April 15, 1852, a daughter of Greenberry and
Elizabeth (Hardcastle) York, and when young in years she came to Dade
county, Missouri. Ten children have been born to our subject and wife,
three of whom are now deceased, namely: Alva B. is the wife of William
Carlock and they live in Dade county; Louis E. is practicing dentistry at
Everton, Dade county; Nora E. is the wife of T. J. Drisdel, and they make
their home in Dadeville, Missouri; Benjamin F. is practicing dentistry in
Walnut Grove; Homer A. lives on the home farm; Henry C. lives in San
Pedro, California, and Kate B. is the wife of F. A. Wheeler, of Walnut
Grove.





FRANK P. CARROLL. If there is one thing which distinguishes the American
tradesman or business man from those of any other country it is the
faculty with which any and all occupations are readily taken up by him and
made successful. In the older countries it was customary for the son to
follow the father's pursuit. "Follow your father, my son, and do as your
father has done," was a maxim which most of sons were expected to adopt.
In this country we find few men of the present generation engaged in the
same pursuits as were their fathers, except among the farming element.
Frank P. Carroll, chief engineer in the Frisco's North Side shops,
Springfield, has turned his hands to various things and proved that
farming was not the only occupation which he could make successful.

Mr. Carroll was born May 2, 1863, near Frankfort, Clinton county, Indiana.
He is a son of Moses Carroll, who was born at Troy, New York. He grew up
in his native state, attended school and learned the carpenter's trade
there, later removing to Clinton county, Indiana, where he established his
home. He is now deceased. He married Hannah Clark, a daughter of A. B.
Clark, of Clinton county, Indiana, and a native of Kentucky, from which
state the family removed to Indiana in 1840. Ten children were born to
Moses Carroll and wife, four of whom died in infancy; the others were
named as follows: Louisa J. is a widow and resides at Zion City, Illinois;
Wilson B., who was a carpenter and engineer, is deceased; Mattie, also a
widow, is engaged in dressmaking at Phillipsburg, Montana; Relda is the
wife of Ellis Kiser, a draftsman by trade, and they reside in Springfield,
Missouri; Mary, commonly known as Mollie, is the wife of Gus Widmeyer, a
farmer of Greene county, this state, and Frank P. of this sketch.

The subject of this review spent his boyhood in Clinton county, Indiana,
and received his education in the common schools. When seventeen years of
age he went to work as a farm hand, later worked as fireman in a flouring
mill in Boone county, Indiana, for two years, then came to Springfield,
Missouri, in 1884, and went into the dairy business with his
brother-in-law, J. N. Kern, remaining in this line of endeavor two years.
The next two years we find him employed at an electric light plant and in
various other positions. He also worked at the old Coon Tobacco Works,
under George H. McCann, who was president of the concern. Our subject
worked here as engineer from 1888 to 1900, in which year he was made chief
engineer, and continued in this capacity with the plant until it was
absorbed by the American Tobacco Company, whereupon he went to the South
Side or old Gulf shops, and was assistant engineer here for two years. He
then went to California, where he remained a year as chief engineer for
the Italian-Swiss Wine Company at Kingsburg, that state. Returning to
Springfield, Missouri, he took a position as gas and steam fitter with the
Springfield Gas Company and worked at this two years, then farmed a year,
having previously purchased a farm near the Valley Water Mill. He then
came back to Springfield and worked as chief engineer at the Frisco
Hospital for two months, then was chief engineer at the Metropolitan Hotel
for some time, after which he worked as night engineer in the North Side
Frisco shops, remaining there from September, 1905, to May 12, 1910, when
he was promoted to chief engineer there, which position he still holds. He
has thirty hands under his direction and as in all his former positions is
giving entire satisfaction.

Mr. Carroll was married in 1890 to Dora Gardner, who was born on the old
Phelps farm in Greene county, Missouri. She is a daughter of Allen A.
Gardner, of Springfield. She grew up in this county and was educated in
the common schools.

To our subject and wife four children have been born, namely: Myrtle is
single and lives at home; Leonard married Mattie Leamon, and he is
employed as typewriter repairer at the Gardner Office Supply Company in
Springfield; Frank is employed as typewriter repairman at the office of
the Underwood Typewriter Company in Springfield; Paul is attending school.

Our subject and wife celebrated their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary on
November 5, 1914. They reside on Clay street.

Politically Mr. Carroll is a Republican. He belongs to the Christian
church. He is a member of the National Order of Stationary, Engineers No.
9, the Springfield division.





CHARLES W. CARTER. In examining the life records of self-made men, it will
invariably be found that indefatigable industry has constituted the basis
of their success. True, there are other elements which enter in and
conserve the advancement of personal interests, such as perseverance,
discrimination and mastering of expedients; but the foundation of all
achievement is earnest, persistent labor. It seems that Charles W. Carter
realized this fact when but a boy and it has had much to do in shaping his
substantial career, for he learned to rely upon himself, observe closely
those things which could be of service to him and therefore he has
advanced from an humble environment by his own efforts to the responsible
position of foreman of the paint department of the new Frisco shops at
Springfield.

Mr. Carter was born in Laclede county, near Lebanon, Missouri, January 21,
1874. He is a son of Berry Frank Carter, who was born near Knoxville,
Tennessee, July 9, 1842. He was eleven years old when he moved with the
family to Greene county, Missouri, locating on a farm near Springfield,
where he grew up, attended school and lived many years, then moved to
Laclede county, this state, and spent the last years of his life in
retirement. He devoted his life to farming. He died at the age of
sixty-nine years. During the Civil war he served in the Federal army. He
was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and he belonged to the
Presbyterian church. He enlisted in Company A, Twenty-fourth Missouri
Volunteer Infantry, early in the war and served three years, seeing
considerable hard service and participating in a number of engagements. He
was wounded once while in camp. He married Mary E. Headlee, a native of
this county, and a daughter of James and Mary A. (Dysart) Headlee. Her
death occurred on February 11, 1914, at the age of seventy-five years, her
birth having occurred October .27, 138 She and her husband are both buried
in Maple Park cemetery, Springfield. These parents were married, August
29, 1865, and to them the following children were born: Eliza has remained
single and is living in Springfield; Emery Frank is employed in the store
room of the Frisco shops, Springfield; Cora is unmarried; Edward is
deceased; Charles W. of this sketch; William H. is an engineer on the
Frisco, running out of Springfield.

"Jack" Carter, grandfather of our subject, was a native of Tennessee, from
which state he removed to Greene county, Missouri, in pioneer days,
locating on a farm near Fair Grove, in Jackson township, and died here.

Charles W. Carter grew to manhood on the home farm and was educated in the
common and high schools of Greene county, where he was brought by his
parents when young in years. He left school when sixteen years of age and
began working on a farm. When a young man he served an apprenticeship as
house carpenter. He began work for the Frisco railroad, April 6, 1893, as
laborer, later serving an apprenticeship as painter in the locomotive and
coach department. He soon became proficient and was sent out on the road
as sign and depot painter, and was thus employed for a period of seventeen
months during which time he was sent all over the system, after which
returning to the old North Side shop where he remained till July 8, 1909,
when he was placed in the new Frisco shops at Springfield, being promoted
to foreman locomotive painter, which position he held until April 16,
1914, when he was appointed coach painter foreman at the new shops in
connection with his duties as foreman of the locomotive paint shops, and
he still holds this position, having about one hundred men on an average,
under his direction. He is not only an expert in his line, but being a man
of more than ordinary executive ability, knows how to handle his men so as
to get the best results and at the same time retain their good will and
friendship.

Mr. Carter was married, January 23, 1895, to Ida Wright, of Fayetteville,
Washington county, Arkansas. She is a daughter of William T. and Mary E.
(Burrow) Wright. The father was born September 2, 1844, in Illinois, his
death occurred in Greene county, Missouri, September 28, 1908. Mrs. Wright
was born January 17, 1848, her death occurred June 22, 1888. She was born
in Washington county, Arkansas, near Fayetteville. Mr. Wright devoted his
life to farming. His family consisted of ten children. To Mr. and Mrs.
Carter three children have been born, namely: Herschel, born May 25, 1896,
a sheet metal apprentice at the new shops, Springfield; Pearl, born
January 3, 1901, died when two years of age; Edgar, born December 24,
1902, is attending school.

Politically, Mr. Carter is a Republican. His family belongs to the
Presbyterian church. Fraternally, he is a member of the Masonic Order,
including the Blue Lodge, the Chapter and the Council, Temple and Shrine;
also belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows No. 218, the Woodmen
of the World, the Improved Order of Red Men and the Eagles.





WILLIAM C. CARTER, M. D. The medical profession in Greene county has two
able and honorable exponents in the persons of Drs. William C. Carter and
Oscar N. Carter, located at the town of Republic, and for many years their
names have been household words in the western part of the county. Like
many of our best citizens, they are Southern gentlemen, hailing from the
grand old state bearing the proud sobriquet, "the mother of Presidents,"
in which the Carter family has for a number of generations been
influential, and we necessarily compliment the family when we say that the
Carters have ever been regarded as true representatives of the Old
Dominion, the cradle of the real and only commendable aristocracy of
America. The two gentlemen of whom the biographer writes in these
paragraphs are the possessors of many of the winning characteristics of
the people of that commonwealth.

Dr. William C. Carter was born in Amherst county, Virginia, September 27,
1859. He is a son of Robert N. and Amanda M. (Turpin) Carter. The father
was born in Rockbridge county, Virginia, and there he grew to manhood,
received a common school education and devoted his life to general
farming, the latter portion of it in Amherst county. His father before him
also owned and operated a plantation in the former county. The Carters had
a large grant of land in Colonial Virginia from King Charles of England.
Col. Robert Carter, who finally became governor of that state, was among
the first to form a colony in Virginia, where a large number of this
family located about that time, and now their numerous descendants are
scattered all over the Union, but perhaps more are to be found in Virginia
than anywhere. The father of the subject of this sketch and eleven uncles
of the doctor were soldiers in the Confederate army, and four of them lost
their lives in the service.

Seven children, four sons and three daughters, five of whom survive, were
born to Robert N. Carter and wife, namely: Molly B. married Joseph H.
Smith, a railroad man of Roanoke, Virginia, and they have seven children;
George P. is farming near Staunton, Virginia, is married and has four
children; Dr. Oscar N., mentioned later in this article; Emma is the wife
of Thomas L. Worsham, a railroad man of Roanoke, Virginia; Dr. William C.,
of this review; two children are deceased. The parents of these children
died a number of years ago.

Dr. William C. Carter grew to manhood on the home farm in Amherst county,
Virginia, and he received his education in Hill Academy, Allwood, his
native county, later attending medical college in Richmond, Virginia, also
spent one term at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Baltimore,
Maryland, and was graduated in 1888. Soon thereafter he began the practice
of his profession at Burdett, West Virginia, where he remained eight
years, then came to Lebanon, Missouri, where he practiced for six years,
then located at Dixon, this state, and continued his profession there six
years, after which he came to Republic, Greene county, and joined his
brother, Dr. Oscar N. Carter, who had been practicing medicine here
several years. He has been ver successful as a general practitioner, and
has enjoyed a good practice in the several fields that he has practiced in
and now has a large business.

Dr. William C. Carter was married on August 6, 1893, to Annie Elizabeth
Carpenter, of Putnam county, West Virginia. She is a daughter of John T.
Carpenter and wife, and was one of ten children. She grew to womanhood in
her native locality and received a common school education. To our subject
and wife five children have been born, two of whom died in infancy. Those
living are: William C., Jr., born May 20, 1903; Carl, born May 14, 1904;
and Erma, born May 23, 1906.

Politically, the doctor is a Democrat. He attends the Baptist church, and
fraternally is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, the
Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Order of Eastern Star, and the
Woodmen of the World.

Dr. Oscar N. Carter was born, April 9, 1874, in Amherst county, Virginia
and reared on the home farm in that county. He was educated in Hill
Academy, in the town of Allwood, his native county, later attending
medical college in Richmond, and he was graduated from the University of
the South at Sewanee, Tennessee, in the class of 1899. He took one year of
hospital training at Richmond, Virginia. He began the practice of his
profession at Lebanon, Missouri, where he remained two years, then came to
Greene county and located at Republic, in 1902, and here he has been
engaged in the general practice to the present time, and has met with
continued success, enjoying a rapidly growing patronage all the while. He
and his brother practice together.

Dr. Oscar N. Carter married Anna Hovey, a daughter of Judge Hovey, a
prominent man, a successful lawyer and jurist. Mrs. Carter was educated in
the common schools. She has borne her husband four children, namely:
Oscar. Mary E., Virginia and Helen.





DUDLEY CASS. Cass was formerly spelled Casse. It is said to have been
derived from the name of a Celtic tribe or class located in what is now
central France, bordered by ancient Germany and ancient Britain. These
people lived in the latter country at the time of the invasion of Julius
Caesar, when he led his Roman legions to the far north. The tribe located
on the banks of the Thames river, and fruitlessly resisted the Roman
invaders. The tribe continued to reside in England for centuries until
some of those bearing the name immigrated to America in the early Colonial
period and from them the present numerous family of Cass in the United
States descended. We first have definite record of John Cass, who was an
English Puritan by birth, born at St. Alban, England, date not known, but
he emigrated from that country to America in 1640, locating at Hampton,
New Hampshire. The lineage of the subject of this sketch may he traced
directly to him, back nearly four centuries. Records show that he married
Martha Philbrick in July, 1647, that he died April 7, 1675, and that his
family consisted of the following children: Joseph, born in 1656; Samuel,
born in 1659; Mary, born about 1661; Jonathan, born in 1663, and who died
in 1745, was the next in line of our subject's progenitors; Elizabeth,
born in 1666; Marcy, born in 1668, Martha, born in 1669; Abigail, born in
1674; and Ebenezer, born in 1676. The great-grandfather of our subject was
Mason Cass, and the grandfather was Capt. Mason Cass, Jr., who was born at
Spring, New Hampshire, May 24, 1751, and died at Alexandria, New
Hampshire, October 15, 1777.

Mason Cass, father of our subject, was born at Alexandria, Grafton county,
New Hampshire, in 1788, but he moved to New York state when young, located
near Syracuse where he spent the rest of his life. He was a carpenter by
trade, also engaged in farming, and for some time was a manufacturer of
coffins. At the time of the breaking out of the war of 1812 he lived in
Canada and, being an American, was forced to leave that country. In 1810
he married Mary Merrell, who was born in Endfield, Vermont, in 1793. She
was of Scotch-Irish descent. Her death occurred at Sheboygan, Wisconsin,
in 1884, at an advanced age, and there she was buried. His death occurred
at Chenango, New York, in 1837, forty-seven years prior to the death of
his wife, who was much younger than he. To these parents seven children
were born.

Dudley Cass was born on March 21, 1811, in New Hampshire. He grew to
manhood in the East and received a common school education. He worked with
his father until the latter's death, and thus learned to be both a
carpenter and farmers He then moved to the state of Wisconsin, making the
long journey, through wilderness a large part of the way, on horseback, in
1840, when Wisconsin was still in the wilds and little improved. He
located at what is now the town of Salem, where he purchased a farm which
he conducted until 1873, successfully engaged in general farming and stock
raising. He was one of the early pioneers of the state, and was a man of
much courage and force of character, a man whom hardship could not
conquer. He cleared and developed his land by hard and persistent work, in
due time establishing a comfortable home. He was a stanch Democrat, and,
taking a leading part in political affairs, was for some time a member of
the general assembly of Wisconsin. He was for four years president of the
fair association in his county. He held many county offices in Wisconsin,
in fact, was active in public affairs all his mature life, was known
throughout the Badger state, and did much for its early development. He
remained in that state until 1873 when he removed to Springfield,
Missouri, and here engaged in the grocery business with his son, Lewis
Cass. They started in with a capital of only five hundred dollars,
locating their store on Campbell and College streets. They managed well,
dealt honestly and courteously with their customers and, increasing their
stock from time to time as they prospered, became one of the largest
grocery merchants in this city, and at the time of his death our subject
was considered one of the wealthy men of Springfield. A part of his
competency was gained through judicious and extensive speculation in real
estate.

Dudley Cass was married in 1835 to Martha L. Robbins, Who was born on
March 4, 1816, at Deerfield, Massachusetts. She was reared in the East and
received her education in the common schools. She came of a sterling old
New England family, and she was a woman of many praiseworthy attributes,
and she proved to be a most suitable helpmeet for her husband, her
sympathy and counsel contributing much to his success in life. Her death
occurred on October 13, 1894. The death of Dudley Cass occurred ten years
previously, on October 28, 1884.

Politically Dudley Cass was an ardent Democrat all his life. Fraternally
he belonged to the Masonic order. He was a member of the Baptist church
and a large contributor to its support. While living in Wisconsin he and
three other men alone supported the church of this denomination in his
community.

To Dudley Cass and wife the following children were born: Louis S., born
on November 3, 1837, in the state of New York, died June 12, 1906; in
early life he was a school teacher, later engaged in the grocery business
in Springfield, as noted above, with his father; he married Charlotte
Collier, who was born in the state of New York, June 14, 1839, and died in
March, 1897; she was a daughter of John and Ann Collier, natives of
Buckingham, England. To Louis S. Cass and wife, who were married on
September 17, 1862, seven children were born. Thressa A., second child of
Dudley Cass and wife, was born on September 27, 1844, at Syracuse, New
York, and she was nine months old when her parents took her to Sheboygan,
Wisconsin; there she grew to womanhood and received her education in the
common and high schools, later took a course in the Seminary at Evanston,
Illinois. She is a well-educated, cultured and affable lady, who preferred
to remain unmarried in order that she might devote her active life to the
care of her parents in their declining years. She is a devout member of
the Baptist church, in which she was a Sunday school teacher for many
years. She resides in Springfield in a comfortable and neatly kept home,
and it is to her that we are indebted for the data in this sketch of this
interesting family. Kimball K., the youngest of the three children born to
Dudley Cass and wife, first saw the light of day on April 20, 1846, in
Sheboygan, Wisconsin, where he grew up, and he has devoted his life to
agricultural pursuits, living now in retirement at Bristol, Wisconsin.

Members of the Cass family have been known as law-abiding, intelligent and
good citizens wherever they have dispersed.





JOHN C. CHAFFIN. Conditions are so widely varied in the vast area in the
Middle West that is devoted to agricultural pursuits on a more or less
extensive scale; the results desirable by both individuals and communities
are so widely divergent, and the fact that most profitable results to one
would mean positive loss to another, make any general rules, laid down to
cover the entire country, unsuited to many farmers; so, it is necessary
for each to use his brains as well as his brawn and decide for himself the
problems that are most vital to him personally. Such methods have been
adhered to by John C. Chaffin, a farmer of Washington township, Greene
county, and he has therefore, been successful in his chosen vocation.

Mr. Chaffin was born in this county on September 25, 1859, and he has been
contented to spend his life in his native community. He is a son of Joseph
and Eliza (Day) Chaffin. The father was born in Hawkins county, Tennessee,
September 21, 1824, was a boy when he was brought to Missouri by his
parents, was reared on a farm and educated in the early day schools of
Greene county, where the family settled upon arriving here, after a
journey of hardships in wagons from the state of Tennessee. Joseph Chaffin
worked for his father on the home farm until he was twenty-one years of
age, then entered one hundred and twenty acres of land from the
government, to which he later added two hundred acres, cleared most of his
land and developed a good farm, which he kept in first class condition in
every way. He was a very industrious man and made a great success as a
general farmer and stock raiser. In 1869 he went to Montana for his health
and remained there four months, and died at Corvallis, that state January
27, 1870. He was a man noted for his liberality and kind deeds, helping
the poor and needy whenever occasion demanded, and he was influential and
highly esteemed in his community. He was a member of the Christian church,
and, politically, was a Republican. In the early days he hauled goods from
Rolla to Springfield with an ox team. He worked for Governor Phelps for
some time as overseer on the governor's farm. His wife, Eliza Day, was
born in Greene county, Missouri, May 4, 1837, was reared on a farm and
educated in the early-day schools. She was a fine type of the industrious,
self-sacrificing women of her day (different from the majority of women of
this generation). She was willing to assist her husband get a start in
life, raised cotton, from which she spun and wove cloth for her family and
did much hard work that the average woman of today would not do. But there
were few in her day who did not do the same things. She was a worthy
member of the Christian church and set a good example among her neighbors
and acquaintances. Her death occurred in Christian county, Missouri, March
1, 1913, when nearly seventy-six years of age.

To Joseph Chaffin and wife six children were born, namely: James E., who
lives in Greene county; Mrs. Nancy S. Samuels lives in Greene county; John
C., of this review; Mrs. Emma J. Everly lives in Montana; Mrs. Mary
Frances Summers lives in Montana, Mrs. Orlena A. Stow lives in Christian
county.

John C. Chaffin grew to manhood on the farm where he is now living. He
received a common school education in this vicinity. He was eleven years
old when his father died, and our subject and his elder brothers operated
the farm after that until the mother married again. When twenty-three
years old our subject bought forty acres of the homestead, to which he
later added one hundred and forty acres. He went in debt for the place,
but paid for it in due time by hard work, good management and economy,
often depriving himself of many things in order to do so. He sold eighty
acres of his land some time ago, and now operates one hundred acres. He
cleared about thirty-five acres of his land. He has a well-improved and
productive farm and has made a success as a general farmer and stock
raiser. Twelve acres of his land is timbered. This farm was known to the
old settlers at the "Bill Jessup" farm.

Mr. Chaffin was married, August 13, 1879, to Winnie Stephens, who was born
in Wright county, Missouri, February 19, 1861. She is a daughter of John
G. and Cynthia (Beattie) Stephens. The father was born in middle
Tennessee, and there grew up on a farm and received a meager education in
the early-day schools. He immigrated to Missouri prior to the breaking out
of the Civil war, and settled in Wright county on a rented farm. During
the war he was a member of the Sixth Missouri Cavalry and saw service in
the Union army, was honorably discharged at the close of the war, but came
home sick, and died a few days later. He was a member of the same company
in which "Uncle Jeff Watts, of Rogersville, served. His wife, Cynthia
Beattie, was born in middle Tennessee, July 4, 1837, was reared on a farm
and received limited educational advantages in her native community. When
young she came to Missouri with her father, the trip being made in ox
wagons. She was a member of the Methodist church. Her death occurred on
December 8, 1906.

Mrs. Chaffin was reared on a farm in Greene county and was educated in the
common schools, walking three miles to attend school in an old log house.
She is a member of the Methodist church.

Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Chaffin, namely: Armanda D.,
born September , 1880 died October 9th of the same year; John H., born
July 11, 1889, died on March 5, 1890; Eunice J., born on May 12, 1893, is
living at home; Stewart C., born June 30, 1895, lives at home.

Politically, Mr. Chaffin is a Republican, and while he has never sought
political honors, is always ready to do his part in furthering any good
movement for the general welfare of the community in which he lives and in
which he is well and favorably known.





EPHRAIM CHALFANT. The late Ephraim Chalfant enjoyed distinctive prestige
among the enterprising men of Springfield and Greene county of a past
generation, having fought his way onward and upward to a prominent
position in the circles in which he moved, and in every relation of life,
his voice and influence were on the side of right as he saw and understood
the right. He was always interested in every enterprise for the welfare of
the community and liberally supported every movement calculated to benefit
his fellow men. Although the last chapter in his life drama has been
brought to a close by the "angel with the backward look and folded wings
of ashen gray," who called him to a higher sphere of action, his influence
for good is still felt in the locality long honored by his residence and
he is greatly missed by hosts of friends and acquaintances, for he was a
man in whom the utmost confidence could be reposed, scrupulously honest in
all his dealings with his fellows, always making good his promises, was
kind and obliging, especially to the unfortunate, and a man whom all
respected and admired.

Mr. Chalfant, who was a citizen of Springfield for over a quarter of a
century, and widely known in southwest Missouri as a piano dealer, was
born May 11, 1829, in Loydsville, Belmont county, Ohio. He was a son of
Robert and Elizabeth (Orin) Chalfant, both parents natives of
Pennsylvania, the father born August 29, 1779, and died November 24, 1854;
he was a son of Robert and Rachael Chalfant. The mother of our subject was
born July 2, 1789, and died December 10, 1857. Robert Chalfant devoted his
life to general farming. He left his native state when he was a young man
and moved to Ohio, having married in Pennsylvania and established the
family home in Belmont county. Politically, he was first a Whig and in
later life was quite active in politics. He and his wife were both
Quakers. Their family consisted of nine children, all of whom are now
deceased. They were named as follows: Benjamin, Miller, Milton, Phoebe,
Rachael, Mary, Elizabeth, Ephraim (subject of this memoir), and Lydia.

Ephraim Chalfant grew to manhood on the home farm in Ohio and there
assisted with the general work when he was a boy, and, being compelled to
work most of the time, he had little opportunity to obtain an education,
but he was ambitious, studied hard at home and in this manner and through
contact with the business world he became a well-educated man and was a
success in life, an example of a self-made man. In his early life he
learned the cabinet maker's trade, at which he worked until the breaking
out of the Civil war, when he entered the service at the first call for
troops by President Lincoln, enlisting at Wheeling, West Virginia, in the
spring of 1861 and served three months. Re-enlisting, he was made a
lieutenant in August, 1862, in the Wheeling Battery and was soon in the
full service, principally in the famous Shenandoah Valley, where he proved
himself to be a most capable and efficient soldier for the Union. He was
honorably discharged, and afterwards removed to Cooper county, Missouri,
where he engaged in farming for five years, then located in Boonville,
that county, and opened a piano store, which he conducted with success
until in 1881, when he removed with his family to Springfield, this state,
where he spent the rest of his life, continuing in the piano business,
enjoying a large and ever-growing trade as a result of his business
ability, his honest dealings and courteous treatment of his many
customers. He understood thoroughly every phase of this particular line
and was by nature. musically inclined.

Mr. Chalfant was married November 3, 1852, to Susan Humphreville, who was
born in Mt. Pleasant, Jefferson county, Ohio, February 14, 1831. She is a
daughter of William B. and Sarah (Dew) Humphreville, the father a native
of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and the mother was born in North
Carolina. Mr. Humphreville was a cabinet maker by trade, and he made his
own glue and varnish, and was a very skilled workman. He was a stanch
member of the Quaker church, in which he was a pillar, and he was a
"Free-soiler," in his political views. His family consisted of ten
children, six of whom are still living, and of this number the widow of
the subject of this memoir is the oldest. They were named as follows:
Susan, who married Mr. Chalfant; Joseph is deceased; William, Alexander
and Theodore are all three living; Julia is deceased; Ensley is living;
Lewis, Sarah, are both deceased; and Fannie is the youngest of the family.
Mrs. Chalfant received a limited education in the Quaker schools of her
day. She is now a member of the First Congregational church in
Springfield. She makes her home with her son, Prof. William A. Chalfant,
who resides on Benton avenue. She is a woman of pure Christian sentiments
and her long life has been one of usefulness and a good example to those
with whom she has come in contact.

Two children were born to Ephraim Chalfant and wife: William Addison, born
June 22, 1854, married Hattie Leach, and they have one child, Clinton; the
elder Chalfant has been a professor in Drury College for a period of
thirty-three years, his long retention being sufficient evidence of his
scholarship and satisfaction, for during that period he has seen a number
of presidents come and go, but he has kept the work of his department up
to such a high standard and has kept abreast of the times so well that
they have all been glad to work with him. Alonzo B., second son of the
subject of this sketch, was born January 8, 1858, and is one of the most
efficient and popular photographers of Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania. He
married Elizabeth May, and they have two children, May and Elizabeth.

Ephraim Chalfant was a Republican but never an office seeker or ambitious
to lead in public affairs. Fraternally, he belongs to the Independent
Order of Odd Fellows, and passed all the chairs in the local lodge. He was
a member of the First Congregational church of which he was trustee and
treasurer, and was long active in church affairs, and when he was called
to his eternal rest on January 26, 1908, he was greatly missed in church
and business circles. He was nearly seventy-nine years of age.





LEWIS E. CHAPPELL. The influence of a good dairy in any locality can
hardly be measured in money value. A good example of how the dairy will
pulverize the farm mortgages and establish bank accounts may be seen in
the transformations which have taken place in some of the localities of
the Ozarks during the past few years. The value of well-managed dairies
has been manifest in the growth of bank accounts. The real value of
dairying to the farmers in any community is not in the fact alone that the
keeping of cows will increase the fertility of the soil and make the farm
more productive, but the big thing is the fact that every time a farmer
takes a can of milk to the market he has increased his credit with every
man he has dealings with in the community. One of the leading dairymen of
Greene county is Lewis E. Chappell, whose sanitary and modernly equipped
dairy and well-kept farm is located just southeast of Springfield.

Mr. Chappell was born on March 7, 1854, in the state of New York. He is a
son of S. E. and Cordelia M. (Baker) Chappell. The father died in 1902;
the mother's death occurred in 1860. They were both natives of New York
state, and there they grew up and were married. They received good
educations, the father being a graduate of Hamilton College in his native
state, and the mother was a graduate of Bosser College in Poughkeepsie,
that state. They spent their active lives in agricultural pursuits. When
our subject was three years of age he removed with his parents to Cass
county, Michigan, where they lived until our subject was twelve years of
age, and where the death of his mother occurred, and while there the Civil
war came on and the father enlisted, in 1861, in Edwinsburg, in a Michigan
regiment, and he was made hospital steward, in which capacity he served
for two years, then spent two years more as a regular soldier and saw
considerable hard service. After being honorably discharged from the
service he returned to Michigan, where he made his home most of the time
during the rest of his life.

Lewis E. Chappell spent his boyhood on the farm in Michigan and he
received a common school education. In 1866 he went with an uncle to Henry
county, Missouri, and settled on a farm, where our subject remained seven
years, or until he was nineteen years old, when he went to Montana with
Doctor Hayden, a government surveyor, and with him covered a large portion
of the upper Rocky Mountain country, remaining in the West eight years,
spending the latter part of the time in Mexico. Then returning to Henry
county, Missouri, he remained there three years, carrying the mail on a
star route, during which time he traveled in every state in the Union. In
1895 he came to Greene county, rented a farm on which he soon had a good
start, and in 1906 he bought eighty acres southeast of Springfield about
two miles from town, and this he has improved, erecting most of his
buildings, which are modern and substantial, conveniently arranged for a
dairy, including a large milk house, silo, etc. He started out with six
cows and on rented land, and by industry, good management and honest
dealings with his customers, he has gradually built up one of the Most
extensive, up-to-date and most desirable dairies in the Southwest, and his
products are finding a ready market at all seasons owing to their superior
quality. He milks his evening milk separately puts the cream on ice, and
it is taken out in the morning, and he puts it on the market without any
"doctoring"--selling four percent milk from Holstein, Durham and Jersey
cows, all a good grade and kept in the best of health, his herd now
consisting of forty cows. He uses a gasoline engine to run his separator,
all his mixed grade being four per cent. He runs two wagons to the city to
haul his milk to market. His dairy is under the name of L. E. Chappell &
Sons.

Mr. Chappell was married on March 1, 1882, to Nancy Jane Norris, who was
born in Ohio, where her family had long resided. To our subject and wife
six children have been born, namely: Blanche, born in 1879, married Doctor
McCandless, of Kansas City; Ruth, born in 1892, married Henry LeCompte,
and they live in Springfield; Fred, born in 1884, is assisting his father
in the dairy business; Nettie, born in 1891, married H. B. McCammon, and
they live in Colorado; Charles J., born in 1893, is also with his father
in the dairy business; Esther, born in 1896, married Lem Fisher, and they
live in Springfield.

Politically, Mr. Chappell is a Republican, and fraternally he belongs to
the Modern Woodmen of America.





CHARLES C. CHAVOSE. It should be impressed upon the minds of youth that at
an early age they should practice introspection and should seriously study
the famous Delphic oracle, "Know thyself." At an early age Charles C.
Chavose, yard and lumber foreman at the Springfield Wagon Works, began to
determine, if possible, what he was "cut out for," to use a common
expression, and he thus became acquainted with his abilities and
weaknesses and began to form his plans for the future accordingly, with
the result that he has been successful in his chosen life work.

Mr. Chavose was born on July 31, 1873, at Lexington, Kentucky. He is a son
of John Franklin Chavose, whose birth occurred on a farm near Lexington,
representing an old Southern family of that section of the Blue Grass
state. There our subject's father grew up on the homestead, attended the
rural schools and later was a student in the schools of Lexington,
including a course in the law college there. He was accordingly admitted
to the bar and subsequently came to southeastern Missouri, and practiced
his profession at Caruthersville, Pemiscot county, ranking among the
foremost members of the bar of that county for many years. He continued
the practice of his profession until his death at the early age of forty
years, in 1882 and was buried at Memphis, Tennessee. During the Civil war
he served as bugler and staff officer under Gen. John Morgan, serving
throughout the conflict in the Southern army. He was taken prisoner and
after being held for some time was sent to the Federal prison at Alton,
Illinois, and there was exchanged, after which he returned home.
Politically he was a Democrat, and he was a member of the Masonic Order,
also a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He married Mary R.
Colley, a daughter of Charles and Annie (Allman) Colley, of Mecklenburg
county, Virginia, the Allmans having been among the first families of the
Old Dominion. Mrs. Chavose now resides with her son, our subject, and is
seventy-two years of age. She is a type of the old-time Southern
aristocracy, hospitable and with pleasing personal address.

Five children were born to John F. Chavose and wife, namely: Annie is the
wife of O. Peterson, a stockman, who is engaged in furnishing, live stock
to feed the smelter people at Omaha, Nebraska, where he makes his home;
Charles C. of this sketch; Lillie is the wife of W. H. Day, who is
connected with the Springfield Furniture Company; Louis E., who was a
painter by trade, died in 1911 at the age of thirty-four years; Tex L. is
foreman at the Moore Manufacturing. Company's plant in Springfield.

Louis Edward Chavose, paternal grandfather of our subject, was born in
France, from which country he was brought to America by his parents when
about six years of age, the family locating in North Carolina. He grew up
in the South and devoted his active life to farming.

Charles C. Chavose was a child when his parents brought him to
Caruthersville, Missouri, where he grew to manhood and received his early
education; however, he left school when thirteen years of age and went to
work in a general mercantile establishment at Hartfield, this state, being
employed as clerk for some time by Gorman-Mansfield & Company. Later he
engaged in farming, also worked in the coal mines, then, in 1898, he came
to Springfield and found employment in the Springfield Wagon Works as
laborer in the lumber yard. His ability and faithfulness was at once noted
by the management and he was rapidly promoted, going through all
departments of both the yard and factory proper, and now holds the
position of foreman and inspector of the lumber department, having twenty
men under his direction. He has been continually in the employ of this
plant for over sixteen years. He also owns and operates a roller skating
rink on South street. He has remained unmarried, preferring to devote his
attention to the care of his mother during her old age, which, indeed, is
a most commendable act.

Politically, Mr. Chavose is a Democrat, and he is a member of the First
Baptist church. Fraternally he is a member of the Knights of Pythias, in
which he was for some time vice chancellor; he is also a member of the
Knights and Ladies of Honor, and the Woodmen Circle, Loyal Order of Moose
and the Woodmen of the World.





JAMES GARFIELD CHILDRESS. It is a great privilege to be able to spend our
lives on the old home place. "The roof that heard our earliest cry" has a
charm and fascination for us which we cannot find elsewhere, and no matter
where on earth our restless footsteps may wander we ever long to be back
under the old roof-tree of our parents. However, this is by no means
practicable to many people. For various reasons, often through necessity,
we leave our child-hood home and seek our fortunes in other countries, and
seldom revisit the hearth-stone around which we played as a child. James
Garfield Childress has been favored by fate in this respect and has always
lived on the home-stead in Wilson township, Greene county, with the
exception of a short period spent in the city.

Here Mr. Childress was born May 1, 1880. He is a son of William and Ellen
(Tensley) Childress, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of
Illinois. The father of our subject came to Greene county, Missouri, in
1863, and settled on two hundred acres in Wilson township, a part of which
excellent farm our subject now owns, and the elder Childress continued to
reside here until his death, which occurred in 1883, his widow surviving
until 1912, outliving him twenty-nine years. To these parents twelve
children were born, six of whom survive at this writing, namely: Mrs. Mary
Jones, Wife of John Jones, a farmer of this township, and who is
represented in this work by a separate sketch; Will lived in Clever,
Missouri, until his death, which occurred about one year ago by accident;
Charles lives south of Marionville; Dave lives in Clever, Missouri; Mrs.
Minnie Campbell lives in Springfield, Missouri; Mrs. Fannie Brayfield
lives in Carthage, Missouri; and James G., of this sketch, who is the
youngest of the family.

James G. Childress was reared on the home farm and here he has always
lived, with the exception of two years spent in Springfield. He received a
limited education in the district schools of Wilson township. While his
mother lived he was to be found at home, being very attentive to her every
want, and since her death he has remained on the home farm, and is doing
his own housework, since he has never entered the marriage state. He
possesses seventy acres of the estate, and on this he carries on general
farming, renting twenty acres from his sister, which he also operates and
thus has a good acreage out each year in various crops. He has kept the
old farm well cultivated and well improved, so that its value has
increased in every respect, rather than deteriorated as some negligent
farmers allow their land to do.

Mr. Childress has never affiliated himself with either church or fraternal
organization, but in politics his views are pronounced, and he adheres to
the Republican party in both victory and defeat, and he is desirous of
seeing his locality improve in material and civic ways.





JOHN MALONEY CHRISMAN. Greene county and other parts of southwestern
Missouri are greatly indebted to the grand old state, "the Mother of
Presidents," for the Old Dominion has sent to us a large number of her
enterprising and high-minded citizens who have done much toward a general
upbuilding of this locality. They have, almost without exception, proven
to be most desirable and valuable citizens, being ever willing to assist
in the material, moral and civic upbuilding of the localities in which
they have settled, and they have brought to us not only a commendable
industrial and public spirit but a refinement of manners which has made
for the good of this mountain country, originally somewhat uncouth and
rough. One of these citizens from beyond the Blue Ridge mountains who is
deserving of special notice in these paragraphs was the late John Maloney
Chrisman.

Mr. John Maloney Chrisman was born in Lee county, Virginia, October 23,
1841. He was a son of Gabriel S. and Margaret (Maloney) Chrisman. Gabriel
S. Chrisman was born November 14, 1814, in the same county and state, and
was a son of Isaac and Sarah (Yeary) Chrisman. Isaac Chrisman was also a
native of Lee county, Virginia, as was his father, Gabriel Chrisman. -
Gabriel Chrisman in the early forties removed to Jackson county, Missouri,
where he farmed until the early fifties, when he moved to Andrew county,
Missouri, where he spent the remainder of his life.

Isaac Chrisman devoted his life to farming and preaching, being an old
school Baptist preacher. He moved to, Greene county, Missouri, in the
spring of 1851. He purchased a farm near Ozark, Christian county, this
state, in 1852, and moved his family thereto. He entered eighty acres of
land which belongs to the estate of the subject of this sketch. The elder
Chrisman farmed this land until his death in 1873. Gabriel Chrisman, his
son, then purchased the farm which he farmed for some time, finally
selling it to his son, John M. Chrisman, of this sketch. Gabriel S.
Christman's death occurred in 1901. Margaret Maloney, mother of John M.
Chrisman, was born in Addington county, Virginia, in 1810, and was a
daughter of John Maloney. She and Gabriel S. Chrisman grew to maturity in
their native locality and were married there in 1833. Her death occurred
in 1890, on the old homestead in Christian county, Missouri.

John M. Chrisman grew to manhood on the farm, where he worked during the
summer months, and in the winter time he attended the district schools. On
March 28, 1862, he enlisted in the Missouri State Militia, Company B,
Fourteenth Regiment, which was afterwards mounted and known as the Fourth
Cavalry, Mr. Chrisman being transferred to Company M of the same. He saw
some exciting service, mostly in fighting guerillas. He was in Springfield
as a member of the Home Guards in August, 1861, when the battle of
Wilson's Creek was fought; he was at Jefferson City in the fight against
Gen. Sterling Price's army in 1864, and on October 9th of that year he was
wounded in the left shoulder and side at the battle of California, this
state. He was later brought back to Jefferson City and from there fought
bushwhackers. He caught the smallpox in Sedalia, because of which he lost
his eyesight in January, 1865, in Jefferson City. He was mustered out of
service March 28, 1865, as first sargeant of his company and honorably
discharged.

After the war he returned to the farm and, in 1869, went to St. Louis,
where he spent two years in an institution for the blind learning the
trade of a broom maker. He resumed general farming, broom making and stock
raising, which he carried on successfully until 1881, when he moved to the
city of Springfield, where he lived a retired life. His family now own a
finely improved and valuable farm of three hundred and twenty acres in
Christian county, also several pieces of valuable city property.

Mr. Chrisman was married May 1, 1881, to Mary Day, who was born in
Walworth county, Wisconsin, February 20, 1845. She is a daughter of Isham
and Emily (Bigelow) Day, a highly respected family of that county, where
she grew to womanhood and was educated. Her father was born in Tennessee
in 1810, and died April 7, 1862, in Christian county, Missouri, being
killed by guerrillas. The mother was born in Nova Scotia, April 27, 1810,
and she died about fifteen years ago. Mrs. John M. Chrisman's father was a
farmer and preacher of the Christian church.

To Mr. and Mrs. Chrisman three children were born, one dying in infancy:
Oscar D., born on July 1, 1884, lives in Springfield; he married Katherine
E. Ramsey on June 1, 1911; she is a daughter of J. W. Ramsey, Oscar D.
Chrisman was appointed assistant city engineer about three years ago.
Pearl L., born on May 2, 1887, died on March 22, 1911.

Politically Mr. Chrisman was a Republican. He was a member of the Grand
Army of the Republic, and religiously was a member of the Christian
church. He led a quiet, honorable life and had a host of friends wherever
he was known.

The death of John M. Chrisman occurred August 24, 1914 in his
seventy-third year.





MATTHIAS CHRISTMAN. It is not the kind of work, but the kind of spirit
with which it is done that dignifies and exalts human service. This is a
thought that should put heart into every worker, put glow and cheer into
his service and fill him with a large degree of satisfaction in doing the
work that nature seems to have, in a way, appointed for him. Matthias
Christman, general machine foreman in the North Side Frisco shops,
Springfield, is a man who gets satisfaction out of his daily tasks and
therefore his work is not only well done, but life is worth living to him.

Mr. Christman was born in Springfield, Illinois, January 29, 1863. He is a
son of Michael and Caroline (Duffner) Christman, both natives of Germany,
in which country they spent their childhood years, and from there
immigrated to America when young, both locating in Springfield, Illinois,
where they were married, and there established their permanent home, the
father of our subject, who is now eighty-four years old, and who has
devoted his active life to the machinist trade, is still a resident of
that city, but the mother passed away on May 17, 1914, at the age of
seventy-five years. To them seven children were born, three of whom are
living at this writing, namely: X. B. is engaged in the hardware business
in Springfield, Illinois; Matthias, of this sketch; John D., who was a
machinist by trade, is deceased; Mary is the wife of Joseph Phillipp, who
is engaged in the furniture and dry goods business in Springfield,
Illinois. The other children died in early life.

Matthias Christman spent his boyhood days in his native city and there he
went to school until he was fourteen years old, when he left his text
books and went to work as an apprentice in the Wabash railroad shops in
that town, remaining there from August, 1877, until 1882, completing his
trade as machinist, then went as journeyman to the Atchison, Topeka &
Santa Fe shops at Raton, New Mexico, working there from September, 1882,
until April, 1883, in April of which year he went to Decatur, Illinois and
worked at his trade in the shops of the Wabash Railroad. From April, 1883,
until July, 1883, he worked for the Wabash & Decatur Railroad, and in
August he worked as machinist in Kansas City for the Kansas City, Ft.
Scott & Memphis Railroad Company, which transferred him in 1890 to its
shops in Springfield, Missouri; as erecting foreman, which position he
held there until August, 1911, having continued in the employ of the
Frisco System, which leased the former road in 1900. In August, 1911, he
was transferred to the North Side shops as assistant general machine shop
foreman, and in 1912 was promoted to general machine shop foreman, which
position he now holds, there being about one hundred and fifty men under
his direction. He is giving his usual general satisfactory service, being
a man highly skilled in his trade and possessing marked executive ability.
He has an interest in the Christman Adjustable Hub Plate Company, being a
director and stockholder in the same. He has been the dominating factor in
the success of this concern, indicating that he is a man of fine business
acumen. He is also of an inventive turn of mind, and has invented piston
valves and bushing for air pumps and holds patents on each. These devices
have been highly praised by manufacturers.

Mr. Christman was married in 1884 to Elizabeth Hurley, of Mt. Pleasant,
Iowa, and to this union two children have been born, namely: John M., who
was educated in the ward and high schools of Springfield, is now a
machinist in the North Side Frisco shops; Carrie, who was also well
educated in the Springfield schools, lives at home with her parents.

Politically Mr. Christman is a Democrat. He belongs to the Modern Woodmen
of American, and to the Catholic church.





CLARENCE M. CLARK. That "man liveth not to himself alone" is an assurance
that is amply verified in all the affairs of life, but its pertinence is
the more patent in those instances where persons have so employed their
inherent talents, so improved their opportunities and so marshaled their
forces as to gain prestige which finds its angle of influence ever
broadening in practical beneficence and human helpfulness. He whose
productive activities are directed along legitimate and normal lines is by
virtue of that fact exerting a force which conserves human progress and
prosperity, and the man of capacity for business affairs of importance
finds himself an involuntary steward upon whom devolves large
responsibilities. To the extent that he appreciates these duties and
responsibilities and proves faithful in his stewardship does he also
contribute to the well-being of the world in which he moves. The late
Clarence M. Clark, for many years a trusted employee of the national
government, to uphold the honor of which government he fought faithfully
as a captain during the great war between the states, and who was a
scholarly and public-spirited citizen, was essentially a man who "did
things" and this accomplishment was altogether worthy in all the lines in
which he directed his energies. As a man of ability, sturdy integrity and
usefulness, and as a representative citizen of the utmost loyalty he
merited consideration by his fellow men, and his life record is deserving
of a place in this publication, which touches the careers of many of those
worthy men who have given to and sustained the civic and, material
prosperity and precedence of our country and its institutions.

Mr. Clark was born in Ohio, February 27, 1845. He was a son of Silas
Chauncy and Sarah Hill (Fitch) Clark, the latter a daughter of Governor
Fitch of Connecticut. The father of our subject was born in 1814 in
Connecticut, where he grew to manhood and received a good education. He
followed teaching for some time in his native state, later in life
operating a wholesale hardware store in the city of New Haven, which he
conducted until the commencement of the Civil war, when President Lincoln
called him to Washington, where he was assigned to the revenue office and
he was instrumental in raising two regiments, the Fourteenth and Fifteenth
Connecticut Volunteers, for service in the Federal army. He remained in
Washington City until his death in August, 1892, and took a very prominent
part in the civic affairs of the capital, was well known there to many of
the leading men of the nation, many of whom visited his home on
fashionable Capitol Hill, especially when he was one of the leaders in the
movement for "better city government" and civic improvements. He was a
deep student of current events, was a scholarly, broad minded man, and
always a loyal Republican. His wife, Sarah H. Fitch, was born in
Connecticut, December 21, 1821, and her death occurred in Washington, D.
C., December 27, 1908. To these parents two children were born, Clarence
M., subject of this memoir, and Mrs. Florence Stout, who is living in
Washington City.

Clarence M. Clark was young in years when his parents established the
family home in Connecticut and there he grew to manhood and was educated,
attending the military school at New Haven for some time, later was
graduated from Yale University, from which famous institution he was
graduated with the class of 1869. During the Civil war he left school to
offer his services to his country, enlisting in 1862 in the Fifteenth
Connecticut Volunteer Infantry, which was sent south from New Haven, later
Clark was commissioned captain and given a company in the Twenty-ninth
Connecticut Volunteer Infantry, and he was in the service about three and
one-half years, during which time he fought gallantly and faithfully in
defense of the Union, taking part in the Peninsular campaign, the battles
about Richmond and many others, proving to be a most efficient soldier and
greatly admired by his men. He was honorably discharged in Texas, April,
1865, after which he returned north and after finishing his education took
a position with the government at Washington in the Quartermaster
General's office, assisting in the laying out of national cemeteries, and
from 1885 until 1890 he lived in Washington, D. C., in the employ of the
government, department of rivers and harbors. His continued retention by
the government over a long lapse of years is sufficient evidence of his
faithfulness to duty, his ability and trustworthiness.

Mr. Clark was married, October 14, 1885, to Gertrude Haseltine, in
Springfield, Missouri. She was born in Richmond Center, Wisconsin, and she
is a daughter of Ira and Augusta (Thomas) Haseltine, both natives of
Vermont, his birth occurring July 12, 1821, and his death on January 8,
1898; the mother was born December 21, 1828, and died May 19, 1902. Ira
Haseltine laid out the town of Richland Center, Wisconsin. His father was
Orien Haseltine, while his father Amos was a soldier in the Revolutionary
war, and Orien Haseltine was one of the pioneer settlers of Wisconsin
where he located in the early thirties. Ira Haseltine was a successful
business man, dealing in lands and other property; he purchased a number
of sections of land, located the county-seat of Richland county,
Wisconsin, built the court house at Richland Center--donating the land as
well as the building--and was one of the most influential men in the early
history of that place. Politically he was a Republican and he attended the
convention that nominated Abraham Lincoln for his first term as president.
He was elected to the Wisconsin state legislature in 1867, in which he
served very faithfully. In 1871 he moved his family to Missouri in order
to get the benefits of a milder climate. After locating in Greene county
he planted extensive apple orchards, which he made pay, giving it his
close attention, and became known as one of the large orchardists of the
Ozarks, in fact, planted and owned the first large commercial orchard in
Missouri which comprised ninety acres; he added to this until he had an
orchard of one thousand six hundred acres which he owned at the time of
his death. He continued to take an active interest in public affairs here
and in 1880 was elected a member of Congress on the joint Republican and
Greenback ticket. In this important trust he served his district most
faithfully and ably and won the hearty approval of his constituents.

Nine children were born to Ira Haseltine and wife, all still living, named
as follows: Spurgheim Ira; Louis Kossouth; Seward A.; Summier C.; Lincoln;
Gertrude A., who became the wife of Mr. Clark of this memoir; Nellie,
Rosie, and Vinnie. They are all living and have families.

Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Clark, namely: Chancey Hazeltine,
born September 7, 1888, who was graduated from the Penn Academy in Iowa,
after which he spent two years in Drury College, Springfield, later
attended Yale University, and was graduated there with the class of 1909,
being one of the honor students; after spending a year at home he entered
the law department of Harvard University, from which he was graduated, and
is now successfully engaged in the practice of his profession in St.
Louis, with the firm of Boile & Priest; he married Grace Goode, a daughter
of Judge R. L. Goode, formerly of the St. Louis court of appeals, and for
many years a prominent citizen of that city and Springfield. The second
child of our subject and wife was Clarence Stephen Clark, who was born on
September 29, 1890; he grew to manhood in Springfield and received his
early education here, passing through high school, after which he took up
the study of electrical engineering in the University of Kansas at
Lawrence, and has become an expert in his profession; he married Ethel
Melville, November 6, 1912. She is a daughter of Frank E. Melville, an
engineer of Parsons, Kansas. She attended the University of Kansas. They
have one child, Jean Augusta, born November 20, 1913.

Mrs. Clark has a pleasant home at 997 Benton avenue, Springfield, and she
is popular with a large circle of friends, being a member of a number of
clubs, including the Daughters of the American Revolution, is president of
the Women's Federation Club, is a member of the Sorosis Club and the
Ladies' Saturday Club. She and her family are members of the First
Congregational church.

Politically, Clarence M. Clark was a stanch Republican and well versed .in
public matters, so that his counsel was frequently sought by politicians.
He was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and belonged to the
Congregational church. He was summoned to his eternal rest on June 15,
1890, and his loss will long be deplored by the hosts of warm friends and
admirers which were his in all the relations of life.





JAMES WILLIAM CLARK, M. D. Concentration of purpose and persistently
applied energy rarely fail of success in the accomplishment of any task
however great, and in tracing the career of Dr. James William Clark, a
well known and successful physician of Bois D'Arc, Greene county, it is
plainly seen that these things have been among the main secrets of his
rise to a position of prominence and respectability. Moreover, he
possesses genuine love for his work and regards it as a privilege to carry
comfort and aid to the sick and suffering.

Dr. Clark is a scion of an old Southern family, and himself was born under
Dixie's skies, having first seen the light of day at Bowling Green,
Kentucky, March 15, 1874. He is a son of Joseph. M. and Harriet H.
(Shannon) Clark. The father was born, July 25, 1833, and died March 8,
1909. He was a son of Bowling McKagy Clark, who was born, December 8,
1777. The latter married on June 6, 1831, Jane Hagerman, who was born
November 30, 1808, Joseph M. Clark grew to manhood in the old Blue Grass
state and received a common school education, and there he followed
general farming and stock raising until 1882, when he moved to near
Halltown, Lawrence county, Missouri, where he purchased about four hundred
acres of land, where he carried on general agricultural pursuits on an
extensive scale until his death, making a specialty of handling live
stock, and while living there he shipped on the market over five hundred
head of cattle and over three thousand hogs. He and Harriet H. Shannon
were married, December 4, 1862. She was born, March 30, 1842, in Bowling
Green, Kentucky, and is a daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (King) Shannon.
Samuel Shannon was born in Warren county, Kentucky, August 1, 1798, and
was killed by falling off a horse in 1882. He followed farming in Warren
county, Kentucky, all his active life. He and Elizabeth King were married,
February 5, 1822. She was born in Warren county, Kentucky, May 21, 1803,
and her death occurred in young womanhood, June 2, 1832. Politically,
Joseph M. Clark, mentioned above, was a Democrat. Fraternally, he belonged
to the Masonic Order, and he was an active worker in the Baptist church,
was responsible for the Antioch church, and was a deacon in his
congregation for a number of years. His wife, mother of our subject, is
still living, making her home in Halltown, Missouri.

Five children were born to Joseph M. Clark and wife, namely: Arthur V. is
farming near Perry Springs, Missouri; Miles J. is cashier of a bank at
Halltown, Missouri; Readie J. is the wife of C. H. Johnson, and they live
near Halltown; Dr. James W. of this review and Dr. Samuel M., who is a
practicing physician at Halltown.

Dr. James W. Clark grew to manhood on his father's farm. He was eight
years old when the family left Kentucky and settled in Lawrence county,
Missouri. He received his early education in the public schools, and he
was graduated from the high school at Halltown in 1892. When but a boy he
decided to enter the medical profession, and with this end in view he
began reading medicine with Dr. C. A. Wilkerson as preceptor, and also
lead with Dr. R. W. Paris while at home and during vacations. In 1896 he
entered the St. Louis College of Physicians and Surgeons, where he made an
excellent record, and from which institution he was graduated with the
class of 1899. Soon thereafter he established himself for the practice of
his profession at Miller, Lawrence county, where he remained two years,
then located in Ash Grove, Greene county, where he remained two years.
After practicing in Springfield three and one-half years he came to Bois
D'Arc, where he has since remained, and here he has built up a large and
satisfactory practice and is one of the busiest of the younger general
practitioners in the county. He has remained a close student of all that
pertains to his science and has met with a high degree of success.

Dr. Clark was married, May 17, 1899, to Pearl M. Misemer, of Perry
Springs, Missouri. She was born, October 1, 1876, and was a daughter of
William and Mary E. (Berry) Mesimer, a highly respected family of that
locality. Mrs. Clark was killed in Springfield, September 26, 1914, by a
runaway team that ran into the automobile driven by our subject.

Politically, Doctor Clark is a Democrat. He is a member of the Methodist
Episcopal church, South, and fraternally, belongs to the Independent Order
of Odd Fellows, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and the
Modern Woodmen of America. He has made a host of friends since locating at
Bois D'Arc and enjoys the confidence and good will of the people
throughout this section of the county.





LUTHER M. CLAYPOOL. The old-fashioned notion that hard work, patient
industry and farsightedness make for success in the various avenues of
life, seems yet to hold good, although not perhaps so universally accepted
in our day, the spread of pessimism engendered by many phases of our
complex life being in a great measure responsible for some lack of faith
in the old ideas. However, if we observe conditions closely we will find
that the intelligent individual who leads a practical and industrious
life, will reach a point of success commensurate with his efforts. The
career of Luther M. Claypool, well known insurance man of Springfield,
will afford us an instance of this, for he is an advocate of persistency,
honesty and the adoption of new ideas and in having system in his work,
and these elements have resulted in success.

Mr. Claypool was born in Bell county, Texas, August 16, 1884. He is a son
of C. W. and Sarah (Hall) Claypool, both reared in Missouri, the former of
Scotch-Irish and the latter of Irish extraction. C. W. Claypool grew up a
farmer boy and was educated in the rural schools of his community. His
wife was born in Tennessee, from which state she came to Missouri in her
girlhood and received her education in the common schools. These parents
were married in 1876 and two years later removed to Bell county, Texas,
where Mr. Claypool engaged in farming. His family consisted of, five
children, namely: Nettie, Charles O., Luther M., Eiza V., and Lonnie B. C.
W. Claypool remained in the Lone Star state with his family until 1902,
when he returned to Missouri, locating on a farm in Greene county, which
has been his chief life work and which he has been successful in. He was
justice of the peace for several years at Phoenix. During the past two
years he has been engaged in the mercantile business there, handling boots
and shoes, and has built up a good trade. He has been a loyal Republican
since reaching his majority, and he and his wife have been members of the
Baptist church for many years.

Luther M. Claypool grew to manhood on the home farm. After attending the
public schools he spent two years in Central Texas Institute, from which
he was graduated in June, 1902, with honors, having made an excellent
record for scholarship.

He began life for himself as a farmer for one year, then followed
stationary engineering for five years at Phoenix, Missouri, during which
time he took a course in stationary engineering and steam fitting. He
became an expert in this field of endeavor and followed it successfully
until 1909, when he accepted a position in the Heer Department Store in
Springfield, remaining there until the fall of 1910, when he took up the
insurance business which he has continued ever since with increasing
success. In January, 1915, he accepted an agency for the Central Life
Insurance Company, having agencies covering twenty counties. Eleven men
are working under his direction. He is not only a good judge of men but is
a splendid salesman and is one of the most successful insurance men in
Springfield.

Mr. Claypool was married. March 7, 1909, to Maud V. Brady, a daughter of
John and Maryland (Keer) Brady. The father was born in Ireland, from which
country he immigrated to the United States in early life and for a number
of years followed farming. The mother of Mrs. Claypool was born in Greene
county, Missouri. Both these parents are of Scotch-Irish extraction.

To Mr. and Mrs. Claypool one son has been born, Denziel Leon Claypool.

Mr. Claypool is a Republican, and he belongs to the Independent Order of
Odd Fellows. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. They
have made many warm friends since taking up their residence in
Springfield.





CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS CLEMENTS, M. D. The man who devotes his talents and
energies to the noble work of conscientiously administering to the ills
and alleviating the sufferings of humanity pursues a calling which, in
dignity, importance and beneficial results is second to no other. If true
to his profession and earnest in his efforts to enlarge his sphere of
usefulness, he is indeed a benefactor of his kind, for to him more than
any other man are entrusted the safety, the comfort and in many instances
the lives of those who place themselves under his care and profit by his
services. Of this class of professional men was the late Dr. Christopher
Columbus Clements, who stood for many years with few peers among the
general practitioners of Springfield. He realized that to attain
determinate success in the medical profession there must be not only given
technical ability, but also a broad human sympathy which must pass from
mere sentiment to be an actuating motive for helpfulness. So he dignified
and honored the profession by his able and self-abnegating services. His
long and useful life as one of the world's workers was one of devotion,
almost consecration, to his calling.

Doctor Clements was born at Clementsville, Jackson county, Tennessee,
April 8, 1838. He descended from an old Colonial American family. He was a
son of Christopher Columbus Clements, who was born in Virginia in 1791,
and whose family immigrated to the Old Dominion from England prior to the
Revolutionary war, in which conflict they participated. Our subject's
father spent his early life in Virginia, from which state he removed to
Tennessee in the early settlement of that state and devoted his life to
general farming. He was active in politics and held various elective
offices. He was a colonel of militia and served in the Seminole Indian War
in Florida. The town of Clementsville, Tennessee, was named after him, and
there his death occurred, August 11, 1858, at the age of sixty-four years,
his wife having died on the home farm there on September 11, 1849. He was
a member of the Christian church, while she held membership in the
Cumberland Presbyterian church. Mrs. Clements was known in her maidenhood
as Mary Frame, a native of Tennessee, and of Scotch-Irish descent. To
these parents eight children were born, six sons and two daughters,
namely: Leroy S., Henderson M., Dr. Christopher C., William M., Andrew J.,
George W, Tabitha and Sallie.

Dr. C. C. Clements grew to manhood on his father's farm near
Clementsville, Tennessee, and there he received his early education in the
public schools and when a young man began the study of medicine under the
preceptorship of his brother, Dr. William M. Clements, with whom he
pursued his medical studies for several years, then attended the medical
department of the University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky,
completing his education at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, from which noted institution he was graduated with the
degree of doctor of medicine. Thus well equipped for his chosen
profession, he returned to Tennessee and began practice in Macon county,
where he was building up a good business during the earlier years of the
Civil war, and he was appointed assistant surgeon of the Second Tennessee
Mounted Infantry. Later he was major and surgeon of the Fourth Tennessee
Mounted Infantry, serving in such capacity until the close of the
struggle. His record in the Union army is a most commendable one. His
military service was mostly in the states of Tennessee, Kentucky and
Mississippi. He participated in many important battles and skirmishes and
was one of the surgeons who, cared for the wounded at the battle of
Nashville.

Following the close of the war between the states he went to Texas,
spending a year in Sherman and Paris; leaving northern Texas in the spring
of 1867, he located in Springfield, Missouri, where he resided and
practiced his profession continuously and with pronounced success until
shortly before his death, which occurred on December 20, 1905, or during a
period of thirty eight years.

Doctor Clements was married in Springfield, in 1870, to Albina Carson
Parrish, a daughter of Dr. Horatio M. and Sarah J. Parrish, both natives
of Warren county, Kentucky, from which state they came to Springfield,
Missouri, in 1848, and here spent the rest of their lives, Doctor Parrish
having been a well known pioneer physician. Two children were born to
Doctor and Mrs. Clements, namely: Charles Edward, who died in infancy, and
Frank Parrish Clements, who was born in Springfield and educated in this
city and Chicago, and was engaged in the banking and manufacturing
business in Springfield until 1903, since which time he has been engaged
in business in the Southwest, although he has retained his legal residence
in Springfield.

Mrs. Dr. Clements resides at the commodious family residence on East
Walnut street, Springfield.

Doctor Clements was a Republican in politics. He belonged to Solomon
Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Springfield. He was a member of
the Grand Army of the Republic. He was a member of and one of the
organizers of the Springfield Medical Society, of which he was for many
years president. He was president of the Board of Health at various times,
and was president of the Springfield Board of Pension Examiners. He was
interested in various public enterprises. He was a patron of the leading
medical periodicals of his day, and kept well abreast of the times in his
profession, and he stood high not only as a physician of rare skill, but
as a man of high integrity in the city of his adoption, where he passed so
many years of successful practice.





OSCAR S. CLEMENTS. Such a young man as Oscar S. Clements, superintendent
of the electrical department of the Springfield Gas and Electric Company,
with offices in the Woodruff building, is a credit to any city or
community, and his life forcibly illustrates what energy and consecutive
effort can accomplish when directed and controlled by correct principles
and high moral resolves. The qualities which have caused him to win in
life's battle have no doubt been inherited from his worthy New England
ancestors, and he himself hails from the far away Pine Tree state.

Mr. Clements was born in Bucksport, Maine, October 3, 1881. He is a son of
Wesley P. and Dora I. (Mayo) Clements. The father was also born in the
above named town and state, about the year 1853, his parents having
located there in an early day. He there grew to manhood and was educated;
he became a mining engineer and was an expert in his line. His untimely
death occurred in 1883 at the early age of thirty years. The mother of our
subject was born in Ellsworth, Maine, in the year 1858, and there grew to
womanhood and was educated. She is now living at Saco, York county, her
native state.

Oscar S. Clements was only two years of age when his father died. He grew
to manhood in his native state and received his primary education in the
public schools. Being of a mechanical turn of mind he decided to take up
the gigantic study of Electricity, the real substance and possibilities of
which no man seems to know, and in order to equip himself for this line of
work he went to Boston, Massachusetts, and entered the Rallo Institute,
and took the course in electrical engineering, in which he made rapid
progress. After finishing his studies there he went to Lynn,
Massachusetts, where he secured employment with the General Electrical
Manufacturing Company, doing practical work in shop testing. During the
earlier years of the building of the Panama Canal, he went to the Isthmus
and was a government employee under Col. George Goethals, and had charge
of the construction and operation of the power houses at Colon and
Cristobal, doing his work in a highly acceptable manner leaving the
Isthmus of Panama in 1908, he went to Eastport, Maine, as superintendent
of the electric light company for one year, after which he did
construction work for a while, then went on a long voyage to Kwanchenstz,
Manchuria, in the northern part of China, where he built a steam-driven
turbine generator power house, a complete plant, inside and outside,
including a steam-heating plant. This job was for the Chinese government,
and he did his work faithfully and most acceptably. He finished his work
there and left China in 1911, and.returned to Lynn, Massachusetts, where
he remained six months, then came to Springfield, Missouri, and on January
1, 1914, took charge of the electrical department of the Springfield Gas
and Electric Company as superintendent, and during the short time that he
has been here he has proven most conclusively that he is a master of his
vocation, thorough and up-to-date in every respect. His long years of
study and his practical experience, especially abroad, have equipped him
for his life work in a most splendid manner, and, judging from his past
record and the fact that he is only a young man, one must necessarily
predict for him a brilliant and useful career in future years as an
electrician.

Mr. Clements was married in August, 1907, to Myrtle A. St. Clair, who was
born in Lubec, Maine, December 28, 1888, and there grew to womanhood and
received a good education. To this union two children have been born,
Beatrix T. Clements, who is attending school, and Paul W. Clements.

Politically Mr. Clements votes independently, and in religious matters is
a Congregationalist. He is a young man of genial and pleasing manners, and
at once impresses the stranger as an experienced and traveled man of the
World.




DANIEL E. CLOUD. Much depends on the kind of start one gets in this world,
just as it does in a race. The horse that gets the best start, all other
things being equal, will almost invariably win the race. So in the race of
life; if you are properly started, with suitable grooming, such as good
educational and. home training, you will lead in the race in after years
and enjoy your existence, at the same time accomplish something worth
while and be of service to, your associates. Such home influences were
thrown around Daniel E. Cloud, one of the best known citizens in the
northern part of Greene county. Both father and mother were people of
sound principles and exemplary habits and at their deaths, many years ago,
there was no word of reproach spoken by any one, and they left a name
revered by their many friends.

Mr. Cloud was born on December 8, 1857, in Pike county, Arkansas. He is a
son of John B. and Amanda (Kelley) Cloud, the latter having been a
daughter of Elijah and Elizabeth Kelley. Mr. Kelley was for many years a
prominent citizen of Arkansas in the days of the early settlers. He was a
minister in the Christian church, and had the distinction of being a
member of the first Legislature of Arkansas. John B. Cloud was born in
Logan county, Kentucky, in November, 1836. There he grew to manhood, was
educated in the common schools and there resided until 1854, when he re
moved to Clark county, Arkansas. He became owner of a good farm of one
hundred and sixty acres which he operated and he also dealt extensively in
live stock. During the Civil war he served four years as a member of
Company H, Sixth Arkansas Volunteer Infantry, of the Confederate army. He
enlisted early in the conflict, proved to be a gallant and efficient
soldier, and for meritorious conduct was promoted to captain of his
company in April, 1862, and continued as such until the close of the war.
He saw much hard service and participated in many battles and skirmishes,
including Pea Ridge, Corinth, Farmington, Iuka and Port Hudson. He was
captured during the last named engagement and was held prisoner nine
months at Johnson Island, Ohio, being exchanged in March, 1864. Soon
thereafter he returned home and joined the army of the Trans-Mississippi,
his operations being confined to Arkansas during the rest of the war.
After the close of hostilities he went to Okolona, Clark county, Arkansas,
where he engaged in raising blooded stock. He and Amanda Kelley were
married in 1856, in Arkansas, and to them seven children were born, named
as follows: Daniel E., of this sketch; Elizabeth, of Chickasha, Oklahoma,
is the widow of Adolphus Cothan, he being deceased; John S. died when
fourteen years of age; Hettie, of El Centro, California, is the widow of
Charles Kemp, he being deceased; Nannie died in 1895; William T., who is
treasurer and col- lector of Washita county, Oklahoma, lives at the town
of Chickasha; Beulah is the wife of Thomas Hayes and they reside in
Arkansas. Politically, J. B. Cloud was a Democrat. He was a member of the
Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, also belonged to the Christian church,
in which he was an elder for many years. His death occurred in 1894, his
wife having preceded him to the grave on May 10, 1885.

Daniel E. Cloud grew to manhood in Arkansas and there attended the common
schools, and after working in a store for two years he came to Missouri
and attended Morrisville College in Polk county for two years, then
returned to Arkansas and engaged in the live stock business for two years
Returning to Missouri he located in Greene county, where he has since
resided, engaged in general farming and stock raising, also merchandising.
He operated his farm in Cass township until 1898, and still owns two
hundred and twenty-five acres there. In the last mentioned year he engaged
in the general merchandise business at Cave Spring, continuing for five,
years, then came to Willard and continued in the same line of endeavor
until 1914 when he traded his stock of goods for a farm in Murray
township, which he is now superintending, keeping his Cass township farm
rented. He owns in all four hundred acres of valuable, well-improved and
productive land and is successfully carrying on general farming and stock
raising on a large scale. While a merchant he enjoyed a large patronage,
both at Cave Spring and Willard, always carrying a large and well-selected
stock of general merchandise and dealing courteously and honestly with his
many customers.

Mr. Cloud was married on July 11, 1882, to Ida B. Appleby, a daughter ,of
Samuel G. and Martha Appleby, one of the oldest and best-known families of
northern Greene county. Mrs. Cloud grew to womanhood on the farm here and
was educated in the public schools and finished her schooling in
Morrisville, Missouri. Five children have been born to our subject and
wife, namely: Gertrude is the wife of A. F. Logan, a traveling salesman
for the firm of Keet & Rountree, of Springfield; Horace E. died February
22, 1904; Beulah is the wife of Guy Murray, a farmer of Greene county;
John S. lives at home and is engaged in the general mercantile business at
Willard; William Clay is attending school, he completed the eighth grade
this term, while only twelve years of age.

Politically, Mr. Cloud is a Democrat. He belongs to the Masonic Order,
Blue Lodge, Royal Arch and Council; also the Independent Order of Odd
Fellows, the Modern Woodmen and the Court of Honor, all of Willard. Mrs.
Cloud is also a member of the last named order. They belong to the
Christian church at Cave Spring, in which Mr. Cloud was an elder during
the period of his residence at that place.





WILLIAM B. CLOUD. It was Oliver Wendell Holmes who said that the human
race is divided into two classes--those that go ahead and do something and
those who sit and inquire, "Why wasn't it done the other way." A review of
the history of the Cloud family of Greene county shows clearly that they
have ever been of the former class, and therefore have not only attained a
large measure of material success, but have contributed in no uncertain
degree to the general development of the community which has been honored
by their residence for three-quarters of a century. When they cast their
lot in Clay township they found a wild, sparsely settled community, and
they endured the usual privations of pioneers, but being possessed of
those qualities which turn adversity into success, they bore with brave
hearts the vicissitudes of the early days and in due course of time became
well established and at the same time did much toward the progress of that
section of the county, which owes much to them. A creditable
representative of this old family is William B. Cloud, who for the past
eight years has filled the responsible position of clerk of the Greene
County Court, being still incumbent of the office. Up to that time he had
devoted himself to general agricultural pursuits with ever increasing
success, ranking among the best farmers of his native vicinity.

Mr. Cloud was born in section 25, Clay township, this county, October 16,
1862. He is a son of Calvin M. and Elizabeth (Kirshner) Cloud. The father
was a native of Granger county, Tennessee, and the mother was born in
Hawkins county, that state. There they spent their childhood, were
educated in the old-time subscription schools, and were married in Greene
county, Missouri. Leaving their native state in 1838, they traversed the
rough roads westward to Greene county, Missouri, and located in Clay
township, entered land from the government, which they improved through
close application and hard toil, and here spent the rest of their lives,
the death of the father occurring in 1887 at the age of sixty-five years,
the mother surviving until January 10, 1895, attaining about the same age
as did her husband. Calvin M. Cloud was a prominent man in his township.
For many years he served the people as justice of the peace, and was also
clerk of the school district for some time. Politically he was a
Republican. His father also entered a farm from the government in Clay
township, but joined the great caravan of gold seekers across the great
plains of the West to California in 1849, and there he spent the rest of
his life. Our subject's maternal grandparents also immigrated to Greene
county in the early period of her history, locating in the east part of
Campbell township, on the James river and Pierson creek, and there spent
the rest of their lives.

Calvin M. Cloud and wife were the parents of ten children, seven of whom
are still living, namely: Mrs. L. F. Wills of Norwich, Kansas; John James
died at Winfield, Kansas, in November, 1913; Mrs. Mary E. Wills, of
Milton, Kansas; Mrs. Martha M. Gault is deceased; Mrs. Lucy A. Wrightsman,
of Springfield, Missouri; Thomas H. lives in Winfield, Kansas; Mrs. Sarah
R. Kinser is deceased; William B., subject of this sketch, Mrs. Harriet E.
Chapman, of Ozark, Missouri; Edward C. lives near Grandfield, Oklahoma.

William B. Cloud grew to manhood on the home farm and he received his
education in the rural schools of Clay township, and later took a business
course. He remained on the home farm, of which he owns eighty acres, which
he has kept well improved and under a high state of cultivation, and the
buildings well repaired. He remained on the farm until he was elected
clerk of, the county court eight years ago, taking office on January 1,
1907. He now resides in Springfield. He has filled the office of clerk in
an able and satisfactory manner, being painstaking, obliging and courteous
to the public, and is popular with all who have occasion to visit the
office or having dealings with the court.

Mr. Cloud married, in 1886, Mary V. Patterson, who was born, reared and
educated in Clay township, Greene county. She is a daughter of William
Patterson, a well-known contractor and farmer who came here from Tennessee
and established the family home in Clay township many years ago. Two
children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Cloud, namely: James R., now
deputy clerk under his father, married Mida Ewing, of Ozark, Missouri, and
they have two children, Velma Gene and Bernice Burton; Roxie Inez, the
second child of our subject, is also one of his deputies in the county
clerk's office. She married Harry T. Brundidge, Jr., of Kansas City, where
he was a prominent newspaper reporter.

Politically, Mr. Cloud is a Republican. He is prominent in fraternal
circles, holding membership with the Knights and Ladies of Honor,
Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Modern Woodmen of America, Improved
Order of Red Men, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Loyal
Order of Moose. He attends the Methodist church, but Mrs. Cloud affiliates
with the Baptists.





THEODORE A. COFFELT, M. D. A name that is deserving of a high position in
the list of physicians in Greene county is that of Dr. Theodore A.
Coffelt, formerly a Methodist minister. He is appreciated and respected in
every relation of life--professional, social and religious--a learned
doctor, a sincere and reliable citizen, and in the better and higher
conception of him, an honest man. The unostentatious candor and openness
of his character were never warped by selfish instincts, or obscured by
professional ardor. As a friend and neighbor he is known as a genial,
generous, kind-hearted man, free from circuity and deceit, gentle in
disposition, modest, judicious, placid, reasonable and just; who holds his
own and his friend's honor above all the blandishments of passion and the
seductions of ambition and wealth; and who aims to come, as nearly as
human nature can come, to loving his neighbor as himself.

Doctor Coffelt was born in McDonald county, Missouri, April 10, 1855. He
is a son of Rev. Wyatt and Jane (Sligar) Coffelt, the father a native of
Kentucky, and who devoted his active life principally to the ministry and
was one of the prominent pioneer preachers of his day. He spent the last
years of his life on a farm. His death occurred in Springfield, Missouri,
October 17, 1901, and he was buried in the Coffelt cemetery near Mason
Valley, Benton county, Arkansas. The mother of our subject was a daughter
of Adam Sligar, a German; she was born on June 18, 1816, in McMinn county,
Tennessee. Her death occurred on January 20, 1886. She and her husband are
buried in the same cemetery. They became parents of a large family, twelve
children, an equal number of sons and daughters.

Philip Coffelt, the paternal grandfather of our subject, was born in
Greenbriar county, Virginia, now a part of West Virginia. He was a son of
Henry Coffelt, a native of Germany, from which country he emigrated to
America in the old Colonial days. He was a member in George Washington's
company at the time of Braddock's defeat, during the French and Indian
war. Henry Coffelt married Ellen Ryan, who was born in Ireland, from which
country she emigrated to America when five years of, age. She and her
older brother were captured by the Indians when she was seventeen years
old, but effected their escape after eight weeks of captivity. Their
freedom was gained by the wit, perseverance and ingenuity of the girl. Her
brother was lame, suffering with what was then known as white swelling of
the hip. When the Indians were within one day's journey of their
settlement they compelled this girl and her lame brother to carry wood
from the nearby forest into camp. The girl suspected that this meant that
they were to be burned at the stake while the red men engaged in their
accustomed revels on such occasions. So she instructed her brother how to
leave the encampment, where to go and await her coming. He got away late
in the afternoon and when night came on she made a break for liberty
herself. Finding her brother at the appointed rendezvous, they concealed
themselves under a fallen tree in a dense thicket and remained there for
three days, never daring to move. At one time the Indians in their search
for the runaways climbed upon the very tree under which the children were
lying. All the sister and brother had to eat during that trying period was
the dried tongue of a horse which Ellen had stolen from her captors
shortly before she escaped. Finally deciding that it was safe for them to
leave their hiding place they traveled by night, secreting themselves
during the day, and eventually came to the Ohio river, which was at that
season low, and, finding a shallow place the girl carried her brother on
her back across the river, which she waded. The hardships proved too much
for the cripple and when sixty miles from home he died. Ellen having no
way of digging a grave, placed the body in the crotch of a fallen tree,
and with much hard work piled limbs of trees, rocks and leaves over the
body, and that was his only grave. She made her way back home which she
reached after much privation and suffering from hunger and exposure. After
Ellen Ryan's marriage to Henry Coffelt they settled in Greenbriar county,
Virginia, and to them ten children were born. One of their sons, Philip,
was the grandfather of Dr. Coffelt of this sketch. He married a Miss
Wyatt, of English ancestry who was a cousin of Sir Francis Wyatt, first
governor of Virginia under old Colonial conditions.

Doctor Coffelt received his education in the common schools and the high
school at Pea Ridge, Arkansas, after which he entered the medical
department of Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, in 1883, where
he remained one term, and in 1885 entered the Missouri Medical College
from which he was graduated in 1886. He has been a practicing physician
and surgeon since 1884. His earlier years were spent in Arkansas. Leaving
that state in 1891 he entered the post-graduate department of the Missouri
Medical College, where he remained until 1893, then removed to Carthage,
Missouri, and began practicing as a specialist on the eye, ear, nose and
throat. Remaining there two years, he then entered the ministry of the
Methodist Episcopal church, South, and was thus engaged from 1895 to 1901,
having joined the Southwest Missouri Conference. During that period of six
years he served the congregations of that denomination two years at
Pineville, in his native county; two years at Willard, Greene county; and
two years at Marshfield, Webster county. He did an excellent work in
building up, the churches at these places and was regarded as an earnest,
faithful and capable pastor in every sense of the word. But on account of
failing health he gave up the ministry and resumed the practice of
medicine, opening an office in Springfield where he has since remained,
confining himself to the eye, ear, nose and throat, in which field he has
few equals and no superiors in southwest Missouri and has enjoyed a
constantly growing business all the while. He maintains an up-to-date
suite of rooms in the Woodruff building. In order to further equip himself
for this special line of work, the doctor took the course in the New York
Post-Graduate School of Medicine, from which he was graduated, and he also
has a certificate of graduation from Washington University, 1888.

Doctor Coffelt is a member of the Greene County Medical Society, the
Southwest Missouri Medical Society, the Missouri State Medical
Association, the Western Academy of Ophthalmology and Oto-Laryngology and
the American Medical Association. Fraternally, he is a member of the
Masonic Order, including the Royal Arch and the Council degrees.
Politically, he is a Democrat, and he belongs to the St. Paul Methodist
Episcopal church, South. He has always been an ardent worker in the lines
of his profession. He has been president of the Greene County Medical
Society, also president of the Southwest Missouri Medical Society,
vice-president of the Missouri State Medical Association, and in 1908 was
appointed a delegate to the international tuberculosis congress which
convened in, Washington, D. C. He is now president of the board of
directors of the Springfield Hospital.

Doctor Coffelt was married on October 1, 1885, to Mary M. Clayton, a
native of Arkansas, where she grew to womanhood and was educated. She is a
daughter of Rev. John M. and Cynthia (Dameron) Clayton. The father's death
occurred in 1902 and the mother passed away September, 1914, in
Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Five children have been born to Doctor Coffelt and wife, named as follows:
Everett C., born at Pea Ridge, Arkansas, July 14, 1886, was educated in
the high school in Springfield and Drury College; he married Vita Hampton,
and they have two children, Kenneth, born in 1912, in Kansas City, and
Kathryn Ruth, born on March 1, 1915. They reside on a farm in Webster
county, Missouri. Anna Maud, second child of Doctor Coffelt, was born in
Pea Ridge, Arkansas, September 5, 1889, was educated in the Springfield
high school and Drury College, also attended the State Normal here, and is
at this writing a student in the Ward-Belmont School at Nashville,
Tennessee. Oscar T., the second son, was born in Pea Ridge, Arkansas,
December 18, 1890, was graduated from the Springfield high school and is
now a student of Drury College, where he will graduate with the class of
1915; Mabel Ruth, born in Willard, Missouri, September 19, 1898, is
attending high school in Springfield; Glenn Palmore, born in Marshfield,
this state, July 11, 1900, is in his last year in ward school.

Doctor Coffelt is, practically speaking, a self-made and self-educated
man, and is a credit to himself, his family and the public; he is a master
of his specific profession, and justly merits the large practice which he
has gained through skilful work, honest dealings and courteous manners.





STEPHEN HENRY COLE. A well-known and successful north side groceryman is
Stephen Henry Cole, who belongs to that class of American citizens who are
enterprising, thoroughgoing and industrious, and who rise in a few years
by their own efforts from a condition of dependence to one of stability
and independence. In fact, he is a self-made man in all which that
much-abused term implies, and the property he has accumulated is the
result of his own honest industry.

Mr. Cole was born in Pemiscott county, Missouri, July 29, 1856. He is a
son of Mexico Cole, who was born in Tennessee in 1811, where he spent his
boyhood, removing from there to Pemiscott county, this state, in 1832,
among the early settlers, and bought a farm at Cottonwood Point, which he
developed and on which he established his future home. This land is still
in the possession of the Coles. Although much of his attention was given
to his farm, he practiced medicine a great deal, having been a physician
of the old school. In 1831 he married Julia Chilcutt, in Henry county,
Tennessee, and to this union sixteen children were born, and in addition
they reared two orphan boys. Of this large family only two are living at
this writing, Stephen Henry, of this sketch, and Mrs. Nancy Patrick.
Several of the sons served in the Confederate army, one under Gen.
Sterling Price. The death of Dr. Mexico Cole was a tragic one, he having
been killed in a cyclone in 1869, a tree having fallen on him while riding
through the woods on horseback.

Stephen H. Cole grew to manhood on the home farm where he worked when a
boy and in the winter he attended the rural schools in his community. On
December 11, 1880, he left home and came to Seymour, Webster county, and
there ran a transfer line for a period of eight years, then began his
career as groceryman in that town, where he remained seven years and
enjoyed a good business with the town and community, then removed to
Springfield, where he followed the grocery business at various stands for
a period of seventeen years, with the exception of eight months spent in
Oklahoma in a grocery store. He now operates a modern and neatly kept
grocery at 1000 East Commercial street, where he carries a large stock of
staple and fancy groceries and, dealing courteously and honestly with his
scores of customers, has built up an extensive trade.

Mr. Cole was married, August 6, 1876, to Nancy L. Cunningham, a daughter
of Green and Nancy (Martin) Cunningham, natives of Tennessee and North
Carolina, respectively. Mr. Cunningham has devoted his active life to
farming, having removed from his native state to Pemiscott county,
Missouri, about the year 1863, in the winter. His family consisted of nine
children, only two living at this writing, our subject's wife and Belle
Randolph, who lives in Senatobia, Mississippi.

To Mr. and Mrs. Cole six children have been born, namely: Mrs. Etta Gentry
is the wife of a merchant at Canyon City, Colorado; Frank is engaged in
the transfer business at Shawnee, Oklahoma; Mrs. Carrie Moore is the wife
of a coach builder and they live in Springfield; Mrs. Iva Carter is the
wife of Harry A. Carter, the storekeeper at Villa Grove, Illinois, for the
Chicago & Eastern Illinois railway; Earl is engaged in the transfer
business with his brother at Shawnee, Oklahoma; Charlie died when
twenty-three years of age; he was next to the youngest in order of birth.

Politically Mr. Cole is a Democrat. He belongs to the First Congregational
church, Springfield. Fraternally he is a member of the Independent Order
of Odd Fellows, with which he united twenty-nine years ago, having joined
at Seymour, Missouri, Lodge No. 363, and he has never transferred his
membership. He has been given a twenty-five year badge by this order. He
is one of the best known grocerymen in Springfield and enjoys a wide
friendship among his erstwhile patrons and his present customers as a
result of his excellent personal characteristics.





HUGH P. COLVIN. There was something essentially American in the life and
character of the late Hugh P. Colvin. The United States has given rare
opportunities from the first to men of courage, honesty of purpose,
integrity and industry, to achieve success. The bulk of our public men and
those who have legitimately achieved fortune, have been men of the above
characteristics, and Mr. Colvin was essentially one of that stamp,
although never a man of wealth or a holder of important public trusts, but
his record shows that he was the possessor of the traits of character that
men must have if they achieve much success in any field of human endeavor.
He was a man of the people, and his success in life came as a result of
his devotion to right and his tenacity to purpose.

Mr. Colvin, who devoted his active life principally to railroading in one
form or another, was born February 4, 1861, in Clinton county, New Jersey.
He was a son of Bernard and Rose (Mulligan) Colvin, both parents natives
of Ireland, from which country they came to America when children with
their parents, each family settling in New Jersey in which state the
parents of our subject were married. Bernard Colvin was a quarryman by
trade, and while he was an authority on political questions he was not an
office seeker. His family consisted of ten children, eight of whom are
still living, namely: Mary, Elizabeth, John is deceased, Bernard, Hugh P.
of this sketch; Alice, Mike, Catherine, James and Ella.

Hugh P. Colvin grew to manhood in New Jersey and there received a common
school education. He remained there until he was about twenty-one years
old, when he came to southeastern Missouri and he and his brother went
into the railroad construction work, and became successful contractors.
They built part of the Cotton Belt railroad in Arkansas, also part of the
Canadian Pacific railroad. Later the subject of this sketch became an
employee of the former road and worked his way up to a responsible
position in the same. In 1886 he began with the Memphis railroad, first as
fireman, and five years later he went to West Memphis, Tennessee, where he
handled the trains across the Mississippi river on transfer boats, was
yard master and in charge of a switch engine. In the summer of 1890, he
went on the road as engineer in the freight service, was twice in the same
service, and while still in the service went to Thayer, Missouri, where he
remained in the same line of work until 1893. In 1893 he moved with his
family to Springfield, and continued railroading as engineer in the
passenger service between Springfield and Thayer, pulling the "Memphis
Flyer," the Frisco fast train. In 1908 he was injured in a wreck, his
fireman being killed at that time, and our subject was incapacitated for
service for three months as a result of his injuries. He resumed his work
as engineer which he followed until December 19, 1911, when he and his
fireman were both instantly killed in a wreck two miles south of Mountain
Grove, Missouri. He was well known to railroad men and was one of the
Frisco's most trusted and efficient engineers.

Mr. Colvin was married, January 28, 1892, to Margaret Irby, who was born
in Memphis, Tennessee, May 23, 1875, and there reared to womanhood and
educated. She is a daughter of Charles and Drusilla (Grant) Irby, natives
of Kentucky and Tennessee, respectively. Mr. Irby was born on October 15,
1845, and his death occurred on December 31, 1913; his wife was born on
January 11, 1852, and she died in September, 1878. Mr. Irby was a railroad
man and for many years was an engineer on the Memphis & Little Rock
railroad, maintaining his home at Hopeville, Arkansas, and later he was
master of mechanics for that road at Memphis, while the great bridge
across the Mississippi river was being built. Politically he was a
Democrat. He was twice married, and had two children by his first wife,
Mrs. Marie Smith, and Mrs. Margaret Colvin, widow of our subject.

Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Colvin, all still living, namely:
Harry, born on November 1, 1892; Bonnie, born on August 6, 1894; Edith,
born on August 15, 1896; Frank, born on September 13, 1902; Hugh, born on
March 3, 1905; Margaret, born on March 2, 1907; John, born on August 28,
1910; and James, born On July 24, 1912.

Politically Mr. Colvin was a Democrat. He was a member of the Brotherhood
of Engineers. Fraternally he belonged to the Knights of Columbus. He was a
Catholic in religious matters. His widow has a pleasant home on College
street. He was a man whom his officials could always rely upon and whom
his acquaintances and friends all liked for his friendly manner and high
character.





GEORGE W. CONDON. The fair Sunflower state just to the west of us is a
land of great opportunity and a pleasant place in which to live, therefore
not a very large percentage of her native sons leave her prairies for
other climes; however, some find it to their advantage to do so, and this
is well for the communities in which they locate, for the native Kansasan
is almost without exception a man of energy, tenacity of purpose,
ingenuous and withal a good citizen. We have been fortunate in securing a
number of them in Greene county, among whom must consistently appear the
name of George W. Condon, foreman of the Oxweld plant of the reclamation
department of the Frisco's South Side shops, Springfield.

Mr. Condon was born at Osage City, Kansas, February 4, 1880. He is a son
of Charles and Catherine (Hett) Condon; the mother is a native of England,
and is now fifty-eight years of age. The father is sixty years old and
lives at Hanna, Illinois. He is a native of the state of New York from
which state he moved to Pennsylvania where he grew to manhood, and was for
some time employed as telegraph operator with the Western Union Telegraph
Company, at Williamsburg, Pennsylvania, later worked in the same position
at Osage, Kansas, for a year, then went into the coal business for himself
at the last named city, operating a soft coal mine for about five-years,
then worked for three years as a coal miner, after which he went to Hanna,
Illinois, and was a manager in the coal mining fields there for five
years, then he engaged in the insurance business for a period of ten
years, representing the Home Insurance Company of New York, and was also
in the real estate business. He is at this writing assistant state mine
inspector for the state of Illinois, which position he has held some time.
He has made his home at the town of Hanna for the past ten years. He was
justice of the peace there for some time, and was also elected police
justice which position he now holds. Politically, he is a Democrat. He is
a thirty-second degree Mason and a member of the Shrine and the
Independent Order of Odd Fellows. His family consists of eleven children,
namely: Charles died when seven years of age; William died when nineteen
years old; the next three children died in infancy; Thomas is a lawyer in
San Francisco; George W. of this sketch; Robert is engaged in coal mining
in North Dakota; Mary is the wife of Charles Wise, a carpenter and
contractor at Arma, Kansas; Margaret married Earl Welling, who is engaged
in the hotel business at West Carlisle, Ohio; and Joseph who is engaged in
the plumbing business in Des Moines, Iowa.

George W. Condon was educated in the common schools, leaving school when
fifteen years of age and worked as clerk in a grain and feed store at
Osage City, Kansas, for three years, and then engaged in coal mining there
for six years, then operated a coal mine there two years, after which he
engaged in the laundry business there for four years. After this he began
railroading, working for the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe railroad in its
shops at Topeka, in 1910, as machinist helper for about six months, then
he was promoted to acetylene welder which position he held until 1913. In
June of that year he went with the Oxweld Acetylene Company of Chicago, as
demonstrator, and remained in that position until October 1, 1913, then
came to Springfield, Missouri, and installed this system for the Chicago
company in the Frisco shops and now he is foreman of that department, and
has ten men under his direction. The plant is under the general direction
of the reclamation department of the South Side shops.

Mr. Condon was married on June 16, 1908, to Mary Clerico, a daughter of
Louis and Anna Clerico, of Osage City, Kansas, where she grew to womanhood
and was educated. To this union one child, Marguerite Condon, has been
born.

Politically, Mr. Condon is a Democrat. He belongs to the Catholic church
and fraternally is a member of the Loyal Order of Moose and the
Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

Mr. Condon has the distinction of being the first man to use the Oxweld
system on any railroad in the United States.





WALTER CONSTANCE. Railroad service in some form has a fascination for a
very large number of men, and when they once enter it, whether it be on
the road or in the shops, they seldom give it up unless compelled by
various circumstances to do so. It is well that this is so, for when we
come to think of it a vast army is needed to keep necessary transportation
lines of the world in successful operation, and it has been said that one
of the chief differences between civilization and barbarism is in modes of
transportation. To the contemplative mind this statement is not so far
fetched as it might at first appear. Walter Constance, foreman of the
blacksmith department of the reclamation plant in the South Side Frisco
shops, is one who, although well qualified by both nature and education to
follow other lines of human endeavor, selected railroad service.

Mr. Constance was born on December 7, 1877, at High Hill, Montgomery
county, Missouri. He is a son of William and Josephine (Florence)
Constance, the father a native of England and the mother of Highland
county Ohio. William Constance grew to manhood in his native land and
there received his education, immigrating to the United States when
twenty-two years of age, finally located his permanent home on a farm in
Montgomery county, Missouri, where he is still living and is actively
engaged in his vocation, although sixty-seven years old. He served his
county four years as county assessor. He is a Republican in politics. His
wife grew up in Ohio and received a common school education, and she came
West when young. She is now seventy-seven years of age. To these parents
five children have been born, namely: Edward, who is a civil engineer, now
in the employ of the United States Government, lives in St. Louis; Walter,
subject of this sketch; the next two children died in infancy unnamed;
Florence married Owen Palmer, a farmer at High Hill, Missouri.

Walter Constance grew up in his native county on the home farm, where he
assisted with the general work during crop seasons, and during the winter
he attended the local schools there. First deciding to enter the
educational arena as teacher, he entered the state normal school at
Kirksville. Upon leaving that institution, he taught two years in Warren
county and one year in Montgomery county, this state, with success, but,
not liking the work as he had anticipated, he went to Topeka, Kansas in
1898, and entered upon his railroad career, securing employment with the
Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe railroad. He worked there three years as
helper and blacksmith, then came to Springfield, Missouri, and continued
his trade in the North Side Frisco shop's for a period of eight years,
then was transferred to the same department in the new shops when they
were opened in 1909, remaining in the blacksmith department at his old
trade until 1913, when he was changed to the reclamation department of the
South Side shops, October 20, 1913, as foreman of the blacksmith
department, which responsible position he still holds, having a number of
men under his direction. He has long been regarded as an expert in his
line and has been in the service of the Frisco for fourteen years.

Mr. Constance was married in 1897 to Viola McClure, a daughter of John and
Sarah (Gosney) McClure, of Clark county, Missouri; to this union four
children were born, namely: Grace, a junior, and Rae, a freshman, in the
Springfield high school at this writing; Mary is deceased, and Margaret is
attending ward school.

Politically, Mr. Constance votes independently. The family attends the
Congregational church. He belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America, and
for a period of eleven years was a member of the Blacksmiths' Union.





WALTER A. COON. Walter A. Coon, president of the Bank of Republic, is
recognized as one of the enterprising citizens and business men of
Republic, Missouri. Mr. Coon was born near Urbana, Dallas county,
Missouri, January 18, 1872. His parents were William Benton and Harriet V.
(Andrews) Coon. His grandparents on his father's side were of German and
Irish extraction while on his mother's side they were of English and
Scotch-Irish descent.

Walter Coon is a product of the public school and has always been a warm
friend and protector of the public school. His father was a noted school
teacher, and he saw to it that the son should not lose any of the
advantages of the public school, especially when he was the teacher. The
subject of our sketch began teaching school at the early age of eighteen
and taught some eight or nine terms of school and was very successful as a
teacher. He points with pride to the fact that he taught three years at
one place, two at another, and completed thirteen months of public school
in less than one school year by teaching three different schools in three
different counties and boarding at the same place during the whole year.

He was married November 27, 1895 to Mira A. Crudginton, the eldest
daughter of T. B. Crudginton. They have three children, two daughters and
one son. Merle Coon, born December 2, 1896; Faye Coon, born January 5,
1899, and Teddy Benton Coon; born February 12, 1903. Merle Coon is a
graduate of the public school at Republic and is now a student of Drury
College. Mr. Coon learned the mercantile business under the care of Uncle
Steve Burris, the "Merchant King" of Dallas county. After a thorough
training in the mercantile and business world, he engaged in the newspaper
business and was associated with the Pendletons in the Buffalo Reflex
during the Spanish-American war. He developed considerable ability as a
writer but after two years of newspaper experience he decided to embark in
the mercantile business for himself and chose Republic as a desirable
place to live and rear his family. He located there in the summer of 1899
and continued in the mercantile business until December, 1911, when he
sold out to J. S. Morris, of Pierce City. The store is now being conducted
by William Dela Rue. Shortly after disposing of his mercantile stock he
accepted the presidency of the Bank of Republic, the fourth oldest bank in
Greene county. Mr. Coon has always been very successful in all business
dealings and never speculates but is cautious and conservative in whatever
he undertakes. Politically, he is a Republican and has never departed
therefrom. He was appointed postmaster of Republic by President Roosevelt
in 1907 and served one year, resigning voluntarily on account of his
health. He is a member of the Christian church and teacher of the Bible
class, rarely ever missing a Sunday. He is a member of the Masonic
fraternity, having attained the rank of the thirty-second degree in the
Joplin Consistory of the Scottish Rites. It was largely through his
efforts that a Masonic lodge was organized in Republic which now has a
membership of nearly one hundred. He is secretary of the Ancient Free and
Accepted Masons at the present time. He is also a member of the Abou Ben
Adhem Temple Shrine, Past Worthy Patron of the Eastern Star, and belongs
to the Woodmen of the World, Knights of the Maccabees, and Independent
Order of Odd Fellows. Mr. Coon has been a great friend of the public
school and has been president of the Republic school board almost
continuously since 1903. He has seen the school grow from four teachers to
nine teachers, from a six months' term to a nine months' term, from a two
years course to a four years high school course, and from an unclassified
school to a school of the first class.

Mr. Coon is an example of what can be accomplished by persistence and
perseverance, as he has always been a hard worker and tireless in his
efforts to accomplish whatever he undertakes. In fact, his life has always
been a battle for supremacy and while he has had much opposition and
competition, he has met the conditions fairly and honorably and
successfully. There is no such word as failure in his vocabulary of
business enterprises.





GEORGE COOPER. Memoirs dealing with enterprising men, especially good men,
are very often of inestimable benefit to others, having a tendency to
point the way to the goal of worthy things. The examples they furnish of
steadfast endeavor and patient integrity forcibly illustrate what is in
the power of each individual to accomplish when they have courage and
right principles to control their course of action. Some men belong to no
exclusive class in life; apparently insurmountable obstacles have in many
instances awakened their dormant faculties and served as a stimulus to
carry them to ultimate renown. The instances in the face of adverse fate
would seem almost to justify the conclusion that self-reliance, with a
half chance, can accomplish any reasonable object. The late George Cooper,
a well-known business man and enterprising citizen of Springfield during
the past generation, was a man who lived to good purpose and achieved
greater success than that which falls to the lot of the average
individual. By a straightforward and commendable course, he made his way
from a none too favorable early environment to a respectable position in
the industrial world, winning the hearty admiration of the people of his
adopted city and earning a reputation as an enterprising, progressive man
of affairs and a broad-minded, upright citizen which the public was not
slow to recognize and appreciate, and there is much in his life record
which could be studied with profit by the young man starting out into what
we are prone to allude to as the battle of life.

Mr. Cooper was a representative of a sterling old English family, whose
genealogy traced back to ancient days; he first saw the light of day under
England's skies on December 5, 1863, at Leicester. He was a son of Henry
and Mary (Richardson) Cooper, both natives of England and also, where they
grew to maturity, were educated, married and established their home,
residing there until in 1872, when they immigrated with their children to
the United States, landing in New York City. From there they came direct
to Missouri and established the future home of the family in Wilson
township, Greene county, where the father secured a farm and became one of
the enterprising general agriculturists of his locality, and is now living
in retirement on a small farm in that township, where he bears an
excellent reputation. Upon taking up his residence in the Republic of the
West he made a careful study of the political situation in this country,
and cast his lot with the Democrats, He has served as a member of the
school board in his district. He is a member of the Episcopal church. His
father, William Cooper, was born and reared in England, and there spent
his life. He was a man of rare business ability and was for many years
regarded as one of the foremost and wealthiest citizens of the city of
Leicester, in the upbuilding of which he took much interest; one of his
principal benefactions was the building of a handsome Episcopal church
there, he being the principal contributor, and he was long an active
member of that denomination. He retained the coat-of-arms of his
ancestors, the older Coopers having been a prominent family in that part
of England.

Henry Cooper was twice married, his first wife, mother of the subject of
this biographical memoir, passing away in 1874, leaving two sons, namely:
Harry, a well-known business man of Springfield, a complete sketch of whom
will be found on another page of this work, and George of this review.
Elizabeth Jackson became Henry Cooper's second wife, and to this last
union one son was born, Frederick Cooper, who is now engaged in the
plumbing business in Springfield.

George Cooper spent his early boyhood in England, being nine years of age
when his parents sailed with him to America in 1872. He grew to manhood on
his father's farm in this county and assisted with the general work during
the crop seasons, attending the public schools during the winter,
continuing to farm on the homestead until he was about twenty years of
age, then decided on a business career and went to Springfield, where he
was employed as clerk in Sutter & Bryan's grocery store for a short time,
then began learning the plumber's trade, in which he became an expert, and
followed this until 1887, when he formed a partnership with his brother,
Harry Cooper, establishing a plumbing business of their own at 412 South
street, later moved to 414 that street, then to 402 the same street, the
last location being now the site of the Bank of Commerce. They were
successful from the start and their gradually increasing business
compelled them to seek larger quarters from time to time. They did not
only have an excellent practical knowledge of the plumbing business, but
they each proved to be men of exceptional executive ability. They
continued in this line of endeavor with ever-increasing success until
1908. During that period of twenty-one years the Coopers became widely
known throughout the Southwest in their line of endeavor, and turned out
some of the finest work and some of the largest contracts in the state of
Missouri, including the plumbing for the Missouri state building at the
Louisiana Purchase Exposition in 1903, at St. Louis. They maintained a
large up-to-date and well equipped establishment and kept a large number
of skilled artisans constantly employed.

Having accumulated a comfortable competency, George Cooper lived a retired
life from 1908 until his death. He had long desired to visit his native
land, particularly his boyhood home at Leicester, so he and his brother.
Harry sailed for England, February 9, 1910. After spending some time at
the old home they made extensive tours about the British Isles and were
preparing for their return trip to America when our subject was suddenly
stricken with illness and a few days later was summoned to his eternal
rest on April 9, 1910. His body was brought back to Springfield for
burial.

Mr. Cooper was married in 1891 to Grace Keet Smith, who was born in
Keetsville, Barry county, Missouri, November 3, 1866, and she received a
good education in the high schools of Springfield. She is a daughter of
Dr. John R. and Frances R. (Keet) Smith, a prominent family of
Springfield, a complete sketch of whom will be found on another page of
this volume. Mrs. Cooper has long been a favorite with a wide circle of
friends, and she and her children belong to the Episcopal church.

Mrs. Cooper is living quietly in her beautiful home on Cherry street, with
her two winsome daughters, Mary Ruth, born October 30, 1892, and Elizabeth
Fearn, born May 31, 1894, who are receiving excellent educational
advantages.

Politically Mr. Cooper was a Democrat, but being a quiet, unassuming
business and borne man, he never sought public office. Fraternally he
belonged to the Royal Arcanum lodge, and was an active member of the
Episcopal church, in which he was a vestryman for twenty-six years. He was
held in the highest esteem by all who knew him.





HARRY COOPER. The gentleman whose name heads this paragraph is widely
known as one of the enterprising men of affairs of Greene county whose
methods are those of the progressive twentieth century business man, who,
despite obstacles and opposition, is forging to the front along
conservative and legitimate lines. He is sole proprietor of the large
supply company of Springfield which bears his name, and he has long been
prominently identified with the commercial interests of the capital city
of the Ozarks. His well-directed efforts in the practical affairs of life,
his capable management of his business interests and his sound judgment
have brought him large financial rewards for the labor he has expended,
and his life forcefully demonstrates what may be accomplished in this free
land of ours by the, gentleman of foreign birth who comes here with a
willingness to work honestly and persistently in any legitimate line of
established endeavor.

Mr. Cooper was born near Leicester, England, September 12, 1861. He is a
son of Henry Cooper, who was born in England, where he grew to manhood,
received his education and married and from that country he emigrated to
the United States with his family in 1872, landing in New York City, but
came direct to the state of Missouri, secured a good farm in Wilson
township, Greene county, and there became a successful farmer and
stock-raiser for many years and the latter part of his life was spent in
retirement on his small farm of forty-five acres. He was seventy-seven
years of age when his death occurred. Politically, he was a Democrat and
served his township as a member of the school board. He belonged to the
Episcopal church and led a quiet, honorable and industrious life. Mr.
Cooper was twice married, his first wife, mother of our subject, whose
maiden name was Mary Richardson, died in 1874, leaving two sons, Harry of
this sketch, and George, who was associated in business with his brother
in Springfield, from 1888 to 1908; he was for many years one of the well-
known citizens of this city and while he and our subject were on a visit
to England in 1910, he was stricken with illness and died in that country.
Henry Cooper's second marriage was to Elizabeth Jackson, and to this union
one son was born, Frederick Cooper, who is now engaged in the plumbing
business on College street, Springfield.

William Cooper, the paternal grandfather of our subject, was born and
reared in England and resided there all his life. He was a successful
business man and became one of the wealthiest citizens of the city of
Leicester. He retained the coat-of-arms of his ancestors, the Coopers
being a prominent old English family, and he was very active in church
work and was a heavy contributor, building a handsome church unaided for
his denomination near Leicester.

Harry Cooper, our subject, spent his boyhood in England, where he attended
school and was eleven years of age when, in 1872, his parents brought him
to America. He continued his education in the public schools of
Springfield, attending about one year when he went to Wilson township to
his father's farm and there assisted with the general work during the
summer months. However, his educational advantages were limited and he
left school when thirteen years of age. He remained under his paternal
roof-tree until he was twenty-two years of age, then came to Springfield
and went to work for the Springfield Gas Company, under J. S. Ambrose, and
began learning the plumbing trade. After remaining with this concern a
year, he went to-Ft. Smith, Arkansas, where he worked at the plumbing
trade in 1883 and 1884. He worked as journeyman plumber until 1887, then
opened a plumbing business of his own at 412 South street, Springfield,
and later moved his shop to the southeast corner of South and Walnut
streets. He was successful from the start and his business grew to large
proportions with advancing years. For twenty years his brother, George
Cooper, was in partnership with him, the business being conducted under
the firm name of Cooper Brothers. In 1908 Mr. Cooper purchased his
brother's interest, since which time he has been sole proprietor of his
establishment, which is now known as the Harry Cooper Supply Company On
June 1, 1908, he moved to 30 East Water street, where he rented a one
story brick building, twenty by one hundred and forty-five feet, and
opened a strictly wholesale supply house. The following year he was
obliged to seek larger quarters and he rented the adjoining property,
doubling his space on the ground floor and adding another story also of
equal capacity, and here he remained until again forced to seek more
commodious quarters, when he purchased a lot, sixty by one hundred and
thirty-five feet, at 223-227 East Water street, early in 1914, and here he
constructed a substantial modern three-story and basement reinforced
concrete brick front building, purchasing his own cement, iron and all
supplies and had the building erected according to his own ideas and plans
made by George F. Reed, architect. It is one of the models of its kind in
the Southwest. The building contains thirty thousand feet of floor space,
and he has one of the best display rooms in the state, which room with his
office occupies the entire front of the building. He does a large
wholesale business over a vast territory contiguous to Springfield,
handling plumbing, heating and engine supplies, well casings, pumps and
wind mills. Everything in these lines may he found at his large plant and
it requires fifteen experienced assistants to help manage the daily volume
of business which is constantly and rapidly growing. The business was
incorporated under the laws of Missouri early in 1915. While doing
plumbing work, Mr. Cooper was employed in several adjoining states as well
as throughout Missouri and he is widely known to the plumbing trade of the
Southwest. He did the plumbing work in the Missouri building at the
Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St. Louis, in 1903. He gives his business
his personal attention and promptness and honesty are his watch-words.

Mr. Cooper was married in 1890 to Catherine Elizabeth Coombs a daughter of
David Coombs, who was a native of New Jersey. Both the parents of Mrs.
Cooper died when she was quite young and she made her home with her uncle,
John Coombs, a native of New Jersey. He came to Springfield when Mrs.
Cooper was but twelve years of age and it was here that she received her
education in the public schools.

To our subject and wife two children have been born, namely: Catherine R.,
who was graduated from the Springfield high school and later from Wheaton
College in Massachusetts. She was married on February 3, 1915, to Allen F.
Mack, of this city, who is in the dry goods business. John Henry George
Cooper, second child of Mr. and Mrs. Cooper, is attending local high
school.

Politically, Mr. Cooper is a Democrat and fraternally is a thirty-second
degree Mason.





WILLIAM C. CORNELL. It is not everyone that can make a success of the real
estate business. Some men fail at it no matter how long and hard they may
try. Those who enter this line of endeavor should study themselves
carefully, weigh their good and bad qualities accurately and be influenced
rather by sound reason than by impulse. If he has a mind capable of
grasping situations quickly and accurately, if the arithmetic is the
easiest to him of all text books, if he likes the work better than
anything, else, and, finally, if he is willing to he uniformly courteous,
pleasant and honest, then he may open an office and announce the fact that
he has entered the real estate field as his serious occupation. We do not
know whether William C. Cornell did all this or not, but as manager of the
National Land and Investment Company, of Springfield, he has shown himself
to be capable real estate man in every respect, well suited by nature for
the work which he has chosen.

Mr. Cornell was born in Greene county, Missouri, January 3, 1874, and he
comes of one of our honored old families, being a son of Leonard W. and
Elizabeth (Witherspoon) Cornell, the latter still living at the age of
sixty-seven years, the father having died in 1914 at the age of
seventy-two years. He was a son of Charles Cornell, a native of the state
of Michigan, who died there at an advanced age.

Leonard W. Cornell was a soldier in the Union army, having enlisted in
1861, soon after the outbreak of the Civil war, in a Michigan cavalry
regiment, but owing to sickness overtaking him he did not get to the front
and was discharged for disability, but upon his recovery he re-enlisted in
a different company and regiment and served until the close of the war
with an excellent record. He is remembered as a quiet, home loving man and
a good neighbor. Our subject's maternal grandparents were William and Mary
Witherspoon, who were well known Greene county farming people, the former
having died in 1882, but the latter is still living, having attained the
unusual age of ninety-four years, and she is in possession of all her
faculties and enjoying good health. To Leonard W. Cornell and wife seven
children were born, four sons and three daughters, namely: Arthur, John,
Hiram, William C., Mrs. E. O. Rogers Mrs. Nettie Jones and Mettie Cornell.

William C. Cornell spent his early life on the farm, removing with the
rest of the family from Greene county to Kansas when he was young, and in
that state he attended the public schools and later was a student at Union
College, Lincoln, Nebraska. His father was engaged in the wholesale hay
and grain business, and our subject assisted him in this work until he was
twenty-three years of age, and then began life for himself by engaging in
the livery business in Springfield, Missouri, for two years, after which
he was associated with the Deering Harvester Company until this concern
consolidated with the International Harvester Company, and he continued
with the last named firm until 1909, giving eminent satisfaction to both.
In that year he began his career as a real estate dealer in Springfield
and has continued in this line to the present time with ever increasing
success, and is at this writing manager of the National Land and
Investment Company, which is doing an extensive business under his able
guidance.

Mr. Cornell was married on October 21, 1897, to Della Berry, a daughter of
James and Elizabeth (McCurdy) Berry, both still living in Greene county,
at the home where the subject of this sketch was born. They were among the
early pioneers of this county. Mr. Berry was born in North Carolina,
January 1, 1841, and he made the long overland journey from that state to
Greene county, Missouri, with his parents when he was eight years of age,
and he has since resided in this county. The original farm, which the
grandfather entered from the government, is still in possession of the
family. Elizabeth McCurdy was a daughter of Thomas McCurdy, and she was
born in this county, February 3, 1842, and here she grew up and married
Mr. Berry in 1860, shortly before the breaking out of the Civil war, in
which he served as a member of the Home Guards of Springfield. His father,
William Berry, was a native of North Carolina, where he spent his earlier
years and married. He spent his latter years in Greene county, dying here
at the age of seventy-four years. To James and Elizabeth Berry the
following children were born: O. D., R. P., G. F., J. B., Mrs. L. F.
Patterson, and Della, wife of our subject.

The union of Mr. and Mrs. Cornell has been without issue. Politically, Mr.
Cornell is a Democrat. He belongs to the United Commercial Travelers, and
is a member of the Presbyterian church.





BENJAMIN B. COUNTS. "Whatever is, is best" wrote the poet Longfellow.
Evidently he did not believe in destiny or good fortune; rather, any man
who blames destiny should blame himself. Good fortune simply means good
opportunities that come to every man if he has the sagacity to see and
accept that which is offered. Providence rules, but not to the advantage
of the lazy and inefficient. Every man must be the architect of his
success. If he has the right mettle in him he cannot be kept down. If he
is made of inferior material he cannot be kept up, though all the world
try to elevate him. Benjamin B. Counts knew at the beginning of his career
that if he succeeded he would have to be industrious, capable and
conscientious, and so he has forged ahead because of these qualities.

Mr. Counts was born on March 22, 1874, at Indianapolis, Mahaska county,
Iowa. He is a son of James Alexander Counts, a native of West Virginia,
where he spent his boyhood and attended school, coming West before the
breaking out of the Civil War, but was in Ohio when Lincoln called for
troops to suppress the Southern rebellion, so he at once cast his lot with
the Union and enlisted in the Forty-fifth, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in
which he served as a private for three years, taking part in many of the
most important battles of the war. In early life he learned the
blacksmith's trade, at which he became an expert and owned and operated a
large shop of his own until three years before his death, when he retired
from active life. He died at Afton, Oklahoma, in 1910 at the age of
sixty-nine years. Politically he was a Democrat. He belonged to the
Masonic order and to the Baptist church. He married Margaret L. Houghton,
who is living at the homestead in Afton, Oklahoma, being now sixty-seven
years of age. To these parents five children were born, namely: John
Vester, formerly a section foreman on the Santa Fe road, is now farming in
Oklahoma; Benjamin B., of this sketch; Claudius is a printer by trade and
lives at Alhambra, Colorado; Erma is the wife of Oscar Byers and they live
at Afton, Oklahoma; Joat is an electrician and lives at Bartlesville,
Oklahoma.

Benjamin B. Counts received his education in the public schools, leaving
school when seventeen years of age and went to work for his father at
blacksmithing, remaining with him until he was twenty years of age, then
married and began working for himself, following his trade, at Seneca,
Missouri, where he ran a shop two years, then worked in the lead and zinc
mines at Webb City for eight years. He came to Springfield on October 5,
1908, and began working in the Frisco's south side shops as fireman, later
being promoted to assistant engineer, which position he held until the
spring of 1915, when he resigned and moved to his farm of forty acres near
Republic.

Mr. Counts was married on February 25, 1893, to Sarah S. Westfall, a
daughter of William and Sarah F. (Linger) Westfall, of Afton, Oklahoma.
The father was a native of West Virginia. To our subject and wife six
children have been born, namely: Bertha is the wife of William F. Hartney,
a machinist in the north side Frisco shops, Springfield; the second child
died in infancy unnamed; Mildred lives in St. Louis; Ralph, Cecil and
Harold are deceased.

Politically Mr. Counts is a Democrat, fraternally he belongs to the
Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen of America; he is a member of
the National Order of Stationary Engineers and religiously he holds
membership in the Methodist Episcopal church.





JOHN MAXWELL COWAN. There is nothing in the world more beautiful than the
spectacle of a life ,that has reached its late autumn with a harvest of
good and useful deeds. It is like the forest in October days when the
leaves have borrowed the richest colors of the light and glow in the
mellowed sheen of the Indian summer, reflecting in their closing days all
the radiance of their carthly existence. The man who has lived a clean,
useful and self-denying life and has brought -into potential exercise the
best energies of his mind that he might make the world brighter and better
for his being a part of it, while laboring for his individual advancement,
cannot fail to enjoy a serenity of soul that reveals itself in his manner
and conversation. When such a life is preserved in its strength and
integrity so that even in age its influence continues unabated, it
challenges the added admiration of those whose good fortune it is to be
brought in contact with it. Such a life has been that of, John Maxwell
Cowan, who has played no inconspicuous part in the affairs of Springfield
and Greene county since he cast his lot in our midst over a quarter of a
century ago, and now in the ninety third year of a life that has been
noted for its sterling honesty, industry and devotion to family, church
and his country, he can look backward with no compunction of conscience
for misdeeds and forward to the mystic Beyond with no fear. Such a life
merits a record of its deeds, that the debt due it may be acknowledged and
that it may serve as a stimulus to others to endeavor to emulate it. But
his record is too familiar to the people of the locality of which this
history treats to require any fulsome encomium here, his life-work
speaking for itself in stronger terms than the biographer could employ in
polished periods. There is no doubt but that his long life has been due to
his conservative habits, wholesome living and pure thinking. He is
hospitable and charitable, his many acts of kindness springing from his
altruistic nature rather than from a desire to win the praise of his
fellow men.

Mr. Cowan springs from a sterling old family on both sides of the house,
which may be traced back to the old Colonial days in American history. He
was born December 6, 1821. He enjoys two distinctions worthy of note, one
is that he was the first white child born at Indianapolis, Indiana, he is
the oldest living graduate of Wabash College, one of the oldest and .most
important schools of the Hoosier state. He is the only child of John and
Anna (Maxwell) Cowan, and he is of pure Scotch ancestry and inherits the
sturdy qualities of his forefathers who were all frontiersmen of Virginia
in Colonial and Revolutionary times, who helped blaze the trails into
Kentucky and Tennessee. John Cowan was born in Rockbridge county, Virginia
in 1768, and at an early age went to Tennessee, locating at Knoxville,
where many of his family still live. From there he went to Charlestown,
Indiana, and joined the army under Gen. William Henry Harrison, in the
service during the entire campaign against the Indians in 1811, taking
part in the famous battle of Tippecanoe, November 9, 1811. He was a
mounted ranger during the war of 1812. He was a son of Samuel Ann (Walker)
Cowan, both natives of Virginia. Samuel Cowan was killed by the Indians
while working in the harvest field, and his wife was taken prisoner the
same day and held a captive many years, was finally ransomed and returned
to her home in Virginia. John Cowan married first, Margaret Weir, in
Virginia, 1769, and his second wife was Anna Maxwell, who was born in
Albemarle county, Virginia, in 1781. They were married in Jefferson
county, Indiana, December 30, 1819, and she died in Indiana, in and he
died in 1854, and he died in 1832 in Indiana. Anna Maxwell was a daughter
of Bezaleel and Margaret (Anderson) Maxwell, the former born in Albemarle
Virginia, in 1751, the latter born in Virginia in 1755; they were in 1775;
his death occurred in 1824, and she died in 1834. Bezaleel Maxwell was a
son of John and Fannie (Garner) Maxwell, and Margaret Anderson was a
daughter of John and Ann (Irwin) Anderson, the former born in Virginia in
1723 and died in Kentucky in 1796. Ann Irwin was a daughter of Mathew and
Elizabeth Irwin; the father died in Augusta county, in 1762. John Maxwell,
who was a son of Bezaleel and Rebecca (Boyd) Maxwell, became a captain in
the Revolutionary war, and both he and his son fought at the great Indian
battle of Point Pleasant. John Anderson, mentioned above, was also a
soldier in the war for independence and these three men all fought in the
battle of King's Mountain and other engagements.

John M. Cowan, of this sketch, grew to manhood in Montgomery county,
Indiana, where his parents removed soon after his birth, locating near
Crawfordsville, where he received his early education in the common
schools later attending Wabash College there, from which institution he
was graduated with the class of 1842 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts,
the degree of Master of Arts being conferred on him later by that college.
As before stated he has been the oldest living graduate from that school
for many years, it having been seventy-two years, more than the Psalmist's
allotted life for a man, since our subject received his degree there.
Deciding upon a legal career he then entered the law department of the
University of Indiana, from which he was also graduated in 1845.
Immediately thereafter he began practicing law at Frankfort, Clinton
county, Indiana, and became one of the leading lawyers in western Indiana,
enjoying an extensive and lucrative practice. He was judge of the eighth
judicial circuit in Indiana for a period of twelve years, the duties of
which responsible position he discharged in a manner that reflected much
credit upon himself and to the eminent satisfaction of all concerned, his
long retention being sufficient criterion of his efficiency and
popularity. His decisions were noted for their profound knowledge of the
basic principles of jurisprudence and for an unbiased fairness to all
parties concerned, and they seldom met reversal at the hands of higher
tribunals. He held this office from 1858 until 1870. Retiring from the
bench he resumed the practice of law, entering into partnership with
'I'homas M. Patterson, who eventually became a United States senator from
the state of Colorado. Subsequently our subject formed a partnership with
Hon. M. D. White and his second son, James P. E. Cowan. He carried on his
practice with greater success and popularity than ever until 1881, when he
retired from the profession owing very largely to his wife's failing
health, and he and his wife removed to Springfield, Missouri, in search of
a better climate. Col. W. D. Crothers, an old-time friend, having settled
in the Ozarks, which country he pronounced decidedly healthful, was mental
in bringing the Judge here. Soon thereafter, our subject purchased the old
Murray farm, two miles south of Springfield, one of the finest and most
desirable farms in Greene county, and he became one of largest
agriculturists and stock men. In 1889, Judge Cowan built an attractive
home on South Jefferson street, and he purchased The Springfield
Republican, which his two sons, James and William, edited and managed
successfully for some time. The judge was a pioneer in the development of
Walnut street as a business center, which has rapidly gained on the other
business centers during the past few years until it bids fair to soon
surpass all competitors.

Judge Cowan was married at Stockwell, Indiana, November 13, 1845, to
Harriet Doubleday Janney, who was born July 29, 1826, and was a daughter
of Abel and Margaret (Porter) Janney. She was a descendant of a Quaker
family of that name in Virginia, and her maternal ancestors were from the
Porter family of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania and the Judahs of
Switzerland. Mrs. Cowan was a woman of strong intellect and many estimable
characteristics. She was called to her eternal rest, June 28, 1905.

To Judge Cowan and wife the following children were born: Edward Howard
Cowan, born December 21, 1846, was graduated from Wabash College,
Crawfordsville, Indiana, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, later
received the degree of Doctor of Medicine from Miami Medical College; he
married November 13, 1877, Lucy L. Ayars; they live at Crawfordsville,
where he is a successful physicians and they have had two children, John
Ayars Cowan, born August 11, 1880, died September 27, 1891; Elizabeth L.
Cowan, born June 21, 1884, is a teacher of domestic science in the high
school at Crawfordsville, Indiana. James Porter Ellis Cowan, second son of
the Judge, was born October 29, 1848; he received the degrees of Bachelor
of Arts and Master of Arts from Wabash College (was the first grandchild
of that institution); he is a special pension examiner in Washington, D.
C. He married, first, Louana Burnett, January 30, 1873, and to this union
was born Harriet Janney Cowan, November 12, 1873. She married Lewis
T.Gilliand, November 13, 1900; they live in Portland, Oregon, and have one
child, Maxwell Porter Gilliland born August 15, 1901. James P. E. Cowan's
second marriage was on December 31, 1883, to Lalula R. Bennett, and to
this union three children were born, Janet L. Cowan, born July 7, 1885;
Mary Bennett Cowan, born July 20, 1888; Anna J. Cowan, born August 18,
1891; they all three live at Marietta, Ohio. Laura Anna Cowan, third child
of Judge Cowan and wife, was born March 14, 1851, was educated at Glendale
Female College in Ohio, lives in Springfield, Missouri, is a member of of
the Daughters of the American Revolution and Daughters of the War of 1812;
she married on February. 16, 1876, Allen Trimble Blaine, who was born
November 13, 1846, and died April 26, 1880. He was a soldier in the
Seventy-fourth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, later veteranized and was a
member of the Twenty-second Indiana Volunteer Infantry; to Mr. and Mrs.
Blaine was born Mary Maxwell Blaine, October 3, 1877; she was graduated
from Drury College with the degree of Bachelor of Science in 1898, and
Master of Arts from the University of Pennsylvania in 1900. She lives in
New York City; was married February 14, 1906, to Rudyard S. Uzzell, who is
an A. B. and a member of the Sigma Alpha-Epsilon fraternity from the
University of Denver; to Mr. and Mrs. Rudyard Uzzell two children have
been born, William Cowan Uzzell, born January 14, 1910; and Rudyard S.
Uzzell, Jr., born June 26, 1912. John William Cowan, the youngest child of
the Judge and wife, was born October 6, 1853, is unmarried and lives in
Springfield, Missouri.

Judge Cowan was formerly a strong Whig and later just as strong a
Republican. He has been a life-long Presbyterian. He is a member of the
Society of Colonial Wars, and is a member of the Sons of the American
Revolution. Although past his four score years he is hale and hearty and
as active as many men at fifty. He is a grand character and is beloved by
all who know him.




JAMES S. COWDEN. James S. Cowden was born in Greene county, Missouri,
September 11, 1851. He is a son of James A. and Margaret A. (Steele)
Cowden, both natives of Tennessee, where they grew to maturity and were
married and there made their home until 1842, when they emigrated to
Greene county, Missouri, locating on a farm. Here the father found a
country little developed and he endured the hardships incident to life in
a new country, but was a man of courage and a hard worker and in due
course of time established a home for his family, but died in early life,
in 1851, when his son, James S., was an infant. He also left two other
small children, Mary married Robert Pace, a ranch man of Calexico,
California, and they have two sons and two daughters; John F., who is
connected with the Heer Dry Goods Company, of Springfield, Missouri,
married Malissa J. Walsh and they have one child, Cora Lee. The mother of
these children was a woman of rare fortitude and industry and she accepted
the discouraging situation with good grace, after the death of her
husband, and reared her children in comfort and respectability, giving
them such educational advantages as those early days in the rural
districts afforded, and kept them together. In 1861, she married again,
her second husband being W. R. Patterson, and she lived to an advanced
age, her death occurring in 1897, and her remains repose in the cemetery
at Pleasant Hope, Polk county, this state.

James S. Cowden grew to manhood on the old homestead, where he was born in
a log cabin. Being ambitious to own the farm left by his father, he began
buying out the other heirs when eighteen years of age, and he remained
there, successfully operating the farm until in the early seventies. He
continued farming in his native community until 1893, also ran a saw-mill
for some time during this period and at the same time raised and handled
live stock, buying and shipping to the markets. He made his home

in Springfield from 1890 until 1893, then purchased the Bennett Robinson
farm, ten miles north of Springfield, to which he removed and on which he
lived three years, then located in Morrisville, Polk county, for the
purpose of educating his children in the college there. Several years
later he purchased a large farm near Brookline, Greene county, and moved
thereto, where he has since maintained his home, and he still owns three
hundred and twenty acres of this place, which is one of the best improved
and most productive farms in the township. In 1908 he purchased a
residence in Springfield, at the corner of Walnut and Main streets, which
was subsequently destroyed by fire. A few years ago he purchased a tract
of valuable land in Arizona, where he spends a part of his time, engaged
in raising alfalfa and cattle. He has been a general farmer and stock man
all his life, and is regarded as one of the best judges of live stock in
the western part of Greene county, where the major portion of his life has
been spent. He often feeds large herds of cattle for the market. He has
also engaged to some extent in road contracting work, in fact, has built
more good roads than any one man in this part of the county.

Mr. Cowden was married in July, 1877, to Sarah E. Wallace, who is a
daughter of Allen and Mira Wallace, an old and highly respected family of
Greene county. Mrs. Cowden is one of seven children.

Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Cowden, named as follow:
Christy is living in Phoenix, Arizona; Maude married William C. McClure, a
farmer of Republic, this county, and they have three children, Dwight,
Mary and Marjorie; Claude W., a ranch man and stock man of Arizona and is
manager of the large Glendale Cattle Company; Efton Ray is associated with
his brother in the cattle business in Arizona. The two sons and the eldest
daughter are unmarried.

Politically Mr. Cowden is a Democrat. He is an advocate of good roads, and
has given both time and money in this worthy cause in his vicinity.





WILLIAM H. COWDEN, M. D. Amidst the splendors of twentieth century
achievements and the numerous factors that go to make up the component
parts of our boasted advanced civilization one factor looms among the most
conspicuous—the art of healing. This fact may not be readily accepted by
the rank and file of the peoples of the world, who no doubt believe the
palm should be given to mechanical science, because the conspicuous
progress in this field is more a part of our every-day life and is
therefore kept more constantly before us and is more quickly observed and
appreciated. The student of the early history of the human race finds that
ignorance and superstition surrounded the anatomy of the human organism,
which resulted in the belief that disease was of supernatural and
mysterious origin. For ages it was believed that the sick and afflicted
were possessed of devils and weird chants, incantations and so-called
religious rites were common resorted to rather than the application of
drugs or other means of modern healing. In fact, it was not until the
thinking Greeks proved that the medical cure was the practical way of
overcoming the multiform ills of the flesh which were not due to the
presence of evil spirits or to the anger of the gods, and thus was placed
upon a scientific basis the study of the human organism with its various
ailments. There is generally a wide diversity of opinion among the people
outside the medical profession in their estimate of the skill and ability
of a particular physician. A family is likely to pin its faith to one
practitioner and distrust all the rest. If there is a member of the
profession in Greene county who has successfully fought down this
prejudice, and now stands secure in the confidence of the general public,
that man is Dr. William H. Cowden, of Springfield, a man whose research in
the fields of science has produced such pronounced results as to leave no
question of his knowledge of his profession.

Dr. Cowden was born in Polk county, Missouri, on February 9, 1850. He is a
son of Robert Blackburn Cowden and Martha J. (Headlee) Cowden, who were
born in Maury county, Tennessee, the father in 1825 and the mother in
1831. There they spent their early childhood, but were young when they
accompanied their parents to this section of the Ozarks, the Cowden family
emigrating to Polk county in about 1839, and the Headlee family coming to
Greene county in 1836. The parents of our subject received such
educational advantages as the early day schools afforded, and here they
were married, and immediately thereafter settled on a farm in Polk county,
where they became successful in general agricultural pursuits, and there
the death of the father occurred in July, 1892, and the death of the
mother occurred on October 10, 1899. Robert B. Cowden was a stanch
Democrat and was active in party affairs, however, during the Civil war he
was in sympathy with the Union, but took no part in the war. After the
close of the war he was registering officer for a number of years. He was
one of the successful and influential men of his locality and of
unquestioned integrity. He was a member of the Masonic Order, Ozark Lodge,
No. 297, at Fair Grove, and was prominent in the affairs of this order. He
and his wife were Presbyterians in their religious affiliations. They were
the parents of the following children: Dr. William H., of this sketch;
Christopher C., who remained on the old home farm in Polk county, becoming
a successful general farmer and stock raiser, and previous to his death
moved to Colorado, near Lamar, his death occurring on June 29, 1913; Mary
Caroline, who died unmarried, and Albert S., who studied law and became
one of the leaders of the Springfield bar.

Robert Cowden, paternal grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was
born in Alabama about the year 1793, where his father, also, Robert
Cowden, who was a captain in the American army during the Revolutionary
war, had settled after the close of the war for independence. He removed
to Tennessee with his father, where he soon after married and began
farming. About the year 1838 or soon thereafter he emigrated by wagon to
Polk county, Missouri, located on the Upshaw Prairie, where he developed a
good farm and established a comfortable home, and there spent the
remainder of his days, dying about 1863. He was of Irish descent.
Politically he was a Democrat, and was a member of the Cumberland
Presbyterian church. His family consisted of the following children:
James, who was a farmer in Greene county, died prior to the Civil war;
John A. engaged in farming and mercantile pursuits at, Pleasant Hope, Polk
county; William was a farmer and died at Pleasant Hope, leaving a family;
Robert Blackburn, father of the immediate subject of this sketch; Newton,
who remained on the old homestead near Pleasant Hope; Marshall became a
farmer and miller at Pleasant Hope; Samuel, who was a soldier in the
Confederate army, operated a part of the old home farm; Hannah, long since
deceased, was the wife of Newton Fawcett; Elizabeth married Lundy Crocker,
who died in early life; Jane became the wife of J. P. Fullerton and they
established their home in Polk county, and Melissa married Rev. J. B.
Landreth, a Polk county minister of the Methodist Episcopal church, South;
he died a few years ago at Morrisville, Polk county, and his widow is
still living there.

Judge Elisha Headlee, the maternal grandfather of the subject of this
sketch, was one of the pioneer settlers of Greene county, where he was
well known among the early residents, was prominent in public affairs and
was a successful general farmer. His death occurred on his farm here about
1876. His grandfather, John Headlee, was a soldier in the Revolutionary
war, and his father, E. Headlee, was born in the state of New Jersey in
May, 1760, and was married there to Mary Fairchild, and soon thereafter,
in 1790, removed to North Carolina. Judge Elisha Headlee was the seventh
of eleven children, and was born in Burke county, North Carolina, in
October, 1802, where he received a limited education. He removed to Maury
county, Tennessee, with his parents in 1823, and there, in 1825, he
married Rachael Steele, who was also a native of North Carolina, born in
1803, and removed from the old Tar state to Tennessee with her parents in
1810. Mr. Headlee farmed in Tennessee after his marriage until 1836, then
migrated overland with his family to Greene county, being thus among the
pioneer settlers here, and eventually one of its most prominent and useful
citizens. He was a justice of the peace for several years, and in 1846 was
elected a member of the County Court for four years, after which he
received his appointment from the governor of the state and served two
terms more with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of all
concerned. In 1858 he was appointed public administrator and served in
that capacity until 1872. He was a stanch Democrat all his life, and voted
for Gen. Andrew Jackson in 1824, and for every Democratic President until
his death. However, during the Civil war he was in sympathy with the
Union. In 1813 he became a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and
after the war followed the Southern branch of that denomination. He and
his wife enjoyed a happy wedded life of over half a century and became the
parents of the following children: Dr. Samuel H., who established himself
as a physician at St. James, Missouri, once represented Phelps county in
the state Legislature; Mary Caroline, who died in childhood; Caleb C., who
died in Louisiana in 1891 after a life devoted to farming; Martha J.,
mother of the subject of this sketch; Hannah A. married J. D. W. Kerr, who
died many years ago; David A. died shortly after the Civil war; he was a
soldier in the Federal army; Emma A., who became the wife of Robert Armor;
Margaret M., who was a twin of Evaline (deceased); Rachael E. and Harriet
I. all remained unmarried and still live at the old homestead in this
county.

Dr. William H. Cowden grew to manhood on the home farm where he worked
when a boy, and he received his early education in the public schools at
Ebeneezer and at McGhee College in Macon county, Missouri. During this
period he spent a portion of his time in teaching. He finished his
literary education in Drury College, Springfield, and in 1876 began the
study of medicine with his uncle, Dr. Samuel H. Headlee, of St. James,
Missouri, and in 1878 entered the Missouri Medical College at St. Louis,
from which institution he was graduated in 1880. He returned to his home
in Polk county and, staying but a short time, when he went to Fair Grove,
and there he practiced his profession until 1882, when he went back to
Polk county, staying until 1887, then returned to Fair Grove and remained
until 1911, when, seeking a larger field for the exercise of his talents,
he located on the public square, Springfield, where he maintained his
office until the disastrous fire of the spring of 1914, when he located at
200 East Commercial street, where he has remained. He had built up quite
an extensive practice in the northern part of this county and in the
southeastern part of Polk county, his name being a household word in that
locality for years, and upon locating in Springfield he found that his
reputation had preceded him, and he has enjoyed a good practice since
coming to this city. He has been very successful as a general practitioner
and has kept well abreast of the times in all that pertains to his
profession. Soon after locating in Fair Grove he purchased a drug store,
with which he was connected until he removed to Springfield. He owns a
comfortable home at 1376 North Jefferson street.

Dr. Cowden was married in 1890 to Mcie Butts, a daughter of J. M. and
Fannie (McLaughlin) Butts, natives of Kentucky and Barry county, Missouri,
respectively, and are now residents of Fair Grove, where Mr. Butts has
long been engaged in the drug business. Mrs. Cowden was born in Barry
county, this state, but ever since early childhood has been a resident of
Fair Grove until removing to Springfield four years ago, and was reared
and educated in the former place.

To our subject and wife one child has been born, William B. Cowden, whose
birth occurred on June 5, 1894, in Fair Grove, Missouri. There he grew to
manhood and received his education in the public schools and in Drury
College. He was making a splendid record for scholarship when he was
compelled to give up his studies on account of trouble with his eyes. He
is living at home.

Politically Dr. Cowden is a Democrat. He is prominent in Masonic circles,
being a member of Ozark Lodge, No. 297, at Fair Grove; also of Vincil
Chapter, No. 110, and St. John's Commandery, No. 20, both of Springfield.
He is a member of the Greene County Medical Society and the Southwest
Missouri Medical Society.

Dr. Cowden's generous treatment of his patients has won for him not the
respect alone, but the earnest regard of the large clientele which he has
gathered around him, and like many other family physicians, he has become
in many cases the family adviser in matters of business and affairs other
than of a professional nature.





JOHN COWELL. The name of John Cowell is well known to the people of
Springfield, whither he came forty-five years ago, during which period he
has been an interested and most active spectator to the city's development
along general lines, always having the interests of the Queen City at
heart and abiding faith in her future. Through close attention to business
and unswerving industry, he has met with a larger degree of material
success than falls to the lot of some of our foreign-born citizens. He
comes of a sturdy English ancestry, his family on both sides going far
back into the annals of that "merrie isle." So he has in him many of the
elements that always win in the battle of life, no matter where fought
out, and while Mr. Cowell was fortunate in coming to a country of
unlimited opportunities, where the soil is new and competition not so
fierce, and where, as the poet Mackay, his noted countryman, wrote nearly
a century ago, "The humblest may gather the fruits of the soil, and a man
is a man if he is willing to toil." Yet Mr. Cowell, no doubt, would have
succeeded in establishing a good home in any country where he might have
settled.

John Cowell, who is at this writing, one of the three judges of the Greene
county court, was born in Peet, England, June 23, 1844. He is a son of
John and Isabelle (Skinner) Cowell, natives of that locality, where they
spent their lives engaged in farming, being honest, hard-working gentle
folk, highly respected by their neighbors. Their family consisted of six
children, of whom John of this review was second in order of birth; one
child is deceased; two sons and one daughter reside in England, and two of
the sons make their home in America.

John Cowell was reared on the home farm in his native land and there he
assisted with the general work and received his education in the home
schools. He immigrated to the United States shortly after the close of the
Civil war, and came on west to Springfield, Missouri, where he located his
permanent home in 1869. Here he followed the business of stone contractor
for more than forty years, and was eminently successful in this line,
being known as a man who did his work thoroughly, promptly and in an
up-to-date manner. He has handled many big jobs in this city and vicinity.
Having accumulated a competency sufficient for his old age, he abandoned
active work a few years ago.

Mr. Cowell was married in 1872 to Sarah Daniels, a native of Springfield,
Missouri, where she grew to womanhood and was educated. She was a
representative of an old family here. Her death occurred in 1898 at the
age of fifty-one years. She was known to her friends as a woman of many
fine personal characteristics.

Six children, five sons and one daughter, were born to Mr. and Mrs.
Cowell, named as follows: Edwin, a graduate of the local high school, is a
bookkeeper by profession, is married and has two children; Minnie married
H. W. Thompson, and they are living in Detroit, Michigan, and have one
son, eight years old; John W., who is in the tailoring and notion goods
business in Joplin, Missouri, is married; Harry B. is a traveling
salesman, lives in Springfield and is married; Frank, who is clerking in a
clothing store in Oklahoma, is married and has one child; Charles L., who
is engaged in the tailoring and clothes pressing business in Springfield,
is married and has one child.

Politically, Mr. Cowell has always been a stanch Democrat and active in
local political affairs. He has long been a member of the city council
from the Sixth ward and has made his influence felt not only for the good
of that section of the city but for the general community, and his work as
a public-spirited citizen has been greatly appreciated by all classes. In
the fall of 1912, he was elected judge of the Greene county court, and is
now incumbent of that office, the duties of which he is discharging in a
manner that reflects much credit upon his ability and integrity, and to
the satisfaction of his constituents. He at the present time, is serving
his second term. Fraternally, he belongs to the Knights of Pythias and the
Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He is a member of the Christian
church. He has always enjoyed the utmost confidence of his fellow men
owing to his straightforward and honorable course.





DR. THOMAS V. B. CRANE. It must be true that an honest, faithful, capable
life, considered even in its temporal relations, is not lived in vain;
that its influence is not as transient and evanescent as mere physical
vitality, but that the progress of mankind, in all that is virtuous, and
ennobling, is accelerated by it; that although the life of one man may be
a small factor in the aggregate lives of the race, yet if well spent, its
after influence is perceptible and continues to endure for the good of
mankind. One such life in Greene county is that of Dr. Thomas V. B. Crane,
one of the best known general physicians of the city of Springfield, a man
who has always guarded well his conduct in all the relations which he has
sustained to the world, and while advancing his individual interests has
not neglected his general duties as a neighbor and citizen and "while
living in a house by the side of the road, has been a friend to man."

Doctor Crane was born on June 1, 1869, in Phelps county, Missouri, in the
midst of the beautiful verdure of the Gasconade river. He is a son of A.
W. and Roda A. (McDaniel) Crane. The former devoted his active life to
farming and he died in July, 1914. The mother, who is now seventy-eight
years old, is living with the subject of this sketch, he taking a delight
in ministering to her every want in her declining years. Josiah Crane, the
paternal grandfather of our subject, was born on the Hudson river in the
state of New York, in the year 1800. During young manhood he moved to
Pennsylvania, where he met and married Prudence Bates, and finally moved
to Cannon county, Tennessee. To Josiah Crane and wife six sons and one
daughter were born, Allison Woodville Crane, the youngest, being the
father of the subject of this sketch. He was born in the year 1841. His
family consisted of six children, named as follow: Mattie, deceased;
Thomas V. B., our subject; George A. is a Presbyterian minister in Texas;
Melissa is deceased; Mrs. Maggie E. Belcher is living in Florida; Henry D.
lives in Little Rock, Arkansas.

The Crane family is of Scotch-Irish ancestry.

Soon after Doctor Crane's birth his father moved with him to Salem, Dent
county, Missouri, where he lived two years, the family then moving to
Kentucky. In the fall of 1874 his father moved back to the old Josiah
Crane home in Tennessee. Meeting with reverses, the most notable being the
destruction of his home by fire in the winter of 1874-75, A. W. Crane
moved with his family to Kentucky again, thence to Illinois, and in the
fall of 1880, moved to near Mountain Home, Arkansas, where, although then
eleven years of age, our subject entered school for the first time. The
terms averaged from three weeks to three months that he spent in school
each winter during the four years that he lived in Arkansas. In the fall
of 1884 his father moved to Missouri, locating in Ripley county, where
about three months of schooling out of each of the next two years were all
he could embrace on account of assisting with the farm work. In the fall
of 1886 his father moved to Bushton, Cole county, Illinois, where young
Crane worked on the farm in summer and attended public school in winter
during the succeeding five years. In June, 1891, our subject came back to
Ripley county, Missouri, where he began teaching and farming. He took the
literary course in Abbott College, at Maynard, Randolph county, Arkansas;
then, in the year 1899, he entered the St. Louis College of Physicians and
Surgeons, where he spent two years, then transferred to Barnes' Medical
College, St. Louis, from which institution he was graduated with the class
of 1903. Soon thereafter he began the practice of his profession in
Washington, where he remained one year; then came to Springfield, where he
opened an office on July 19, 1904, and here he has remained to, the
present time, enjoying all the while a growing and satisfactory patronage.
He is deserving of a great deal of credit for what he has accomplished in
view of the fact that he is purely a self-made man, having educated
himself.

Doctor Crane was married on September 18, 1892, to Amanda Marlin, of
Osceola, Mississippi county, Arkansas, where she was born on February 26,
1871. She is a daughter of David M. and Elmira (Casey) Marlin. Mr. Marlin,
who devoted his life to farming died in May, 1909, his wife having
preceded him to the grave several decades, dying when Mrs. Crane was a
small child.

Three children have been born to Doctor Crane and wife, namely: Marvin
Elsie, born in Ripley county, Missouri, in 1893, was educated in the
public schools of that county and the ward schools of Springfield; she was
graduated from the high school here, after which she spent two years in
Drury College. Bryan D., the second child, was born on October 30, 1896,
was graduated from the ward schools in Springfield, after which he spent
two years in high school here, then entered Scarritt-Morrisville College
at Morrisville, Missouri, where he was making an excellent record when he
met an untimely death. Adolphus H., the youngest child, was born in Ripley
county, this state, October 24, 1898; he was graduated from the ward
schools in Springfield and at this writing is in his third year in the
local high school.

It must not be forgotten that, although our subject was deprived of the
privilege of attending the common schools in early life, his education was
not neglected altogether, for both his father and mother, especially the
latter, were painstaking in the tutoring of their children; and many were
the nights, although tired and weary from the cares and toils of the day,
by the light of the tallow candle, grease lamp or pine knot fires, and
other means for artificial light, the parents and the children might have
been seen as tutors and pupils, searching for those things which go to
build character and fit boys and girls for future usefulness. This is a
tribute which will not be paid to the average father and mother of today.

Doctor Crane is a stanch Democrat. He is a member of the Blue Lodge,
Council and Chapter, of the Masonic Order; also the Modern Woodmen of
America and the Royal Neighbors. He is also a member of he Greene County
Medical Society, the State Medical Society, the American Medical
Association and the Southwest Medical Society. The family are members of
the Methodist Episcopal church, South.





A. B. CRAWFORD. This biographical memoir has to do with a character of
unusual force, for A. B. Crawford, whose life chapter has been closed by
the fate that awaits all mankind, was for many years one of the best known
and enterprising citizens of Springfield and Greene county. He was a
representative of one of the oldest and most popular of pioneer families
of this locality, members of which, including himself, assisted in many
ways in advancing the interests of the community with which his life was
identified. He was practically a self-made man, having fought his way to
success in the face of obstacles that would have discouraged men of less
courage and grit; and while he carried on special lines of business in
such a manner as to gain a comfortable competency for himself, he also
belonged to that class of representative citizens who promote the public
welfare while advancing individual success.

Mr. Crawford was born April 10, 1859, on the old Crawford homestead, now
the McClure farm, just east of Springfield. He was a son of Charles W. and
Sally (Jernegam) Crawford, both natives of Tennessee, and both of good old
Southern families. They grew to maturity in their native state, received
such educational advantages as the early days afforded, which indeed were
meager, and there they were married, and from there made the overland
journey in pioneer days to Greene county, Missouri, establishing the
future home of the family on a farm and here Charles W. Crawford became an
extensive farmer and well-known citizen. For several years after his
arrival here he engaged in teaching school during the winter and developed
his farm during the summer months. During the Civil war he enlisted for
service in the Union army and became quarter master, a position which he
filled with credit and satisfaction. His family consisted of seven
children, five of whom are still living.

A. B. Crawford grew to manhood on the home farm and assisted with the
general work during the crop seasons. He received his education in the
Springfield schools, but a large portion of his education was gained by
actual contact with the business world and by wide home reading, until he
was eventually known to his friends to be an exceptionally well informed
man.

Mr. Crawford was married on October 6, 1892, to Agnes M. O'Day, who was
born in Springfield, where she grew to womanhood and was educated in St.
Charles county, Missouri. In Springfield she has long been a favorite with
a large circle of the best families, and her beautiful home on West Walnut
street is often the gathering place for her many friends. She is a sister
of John O'Day, one of Springfield's most prominent men of a past
generation, a sketch of whom appears on another page of this work. The
union of Mr. and Mrs. Crawford was without issue.

Mr. Crawford turned his attention to various lines of business and by
close application and the exercise of sound judgment he became one of the
financially strong men of the city. For many years he was an official in
the Holland Bank, later engaged in the loan and insurance business and for
years he carried on an extensive business in this line of endeavor. He
owned considerable valuable property in Springfield. He took an interest
in public affairs and he was the principal factor in locating the new
magnificent county court house at Center and Boonville streets.
Politically he was a strong Republican, and while he took much interest in
local public affairs he was never a candidate for office, preferring to
give his attention to his home and to his extensive business interests,
being best contented when by his own fireside. He was a member of the St.
Agnes Catholic church, as also is Mrs. Crawford.

The death of A. B. Crawford occurred on June 6, 1913, at the age of
fifty-four years.





WILLIAM J. CRAWFORD. William J. Crawford was born on June 18, 1862, at
Coshocton, Coshocton county, Ohio. He is a son of Robert Crawford, who was
born in Steubenville, Ohio, and he grew to manhood and attended school in
his native state. When a young man he engaged in the cooperage business at
Coshocton, making barrels in large numbers, later he was in the real
estate business there, owning considerable land, and was a successful
business man. He engaged in farming on an extensive scale, not only
operating his own vast acreage but rented some land and worked it on the
shares. At times he employed over one hundred hands. He was a prominent
and influential man in his community. Politically, he was a stanch
Democrat of the Jackson type and took much interest in politics, holding
numerous offices, such as that of overseer of roads, township treasurer, a
member of the school board in his district, of which he was president for
a period of twelve years, during which he did much for the educational
uplift of the township. He was at one time urged to become candidate to
the state legislature but declined. He was a man of fine personal
character. His word was as good as his bond and he enjoyed the confidence
and respect of all who knew him. He loved his home and was best contented
when by his own fireside and was never known to neglect his family in any
way, which was a mutually helpful and happy one. He was a well-read man
and a good debater, and was in deportment quiet and unassuming. He reached
an advanced age and was active up to the last, dying in 1903 when past his
eighty-first birthday. He married Evelyn Daugherty, a daughter of George
Daugherty, of Belmont, Ohio. Her death occurred in 1904 at the age of
seventy-seven years. She was a woman of fine Christian sentiment, helpful
and neighborly. To these parents five children were born, namely: George
died in infancy; John M., who was in the employ of the Frisco system, died
in 1912; Lenore, who taught school for some time, died in Ohio; William J.
of this sketch; and Harriet E., who is the wife of J. N. Edwards, a
traveling salesman of Springfield.

James Crawford, paternal grandfather of the subject of this review,
engaged in the cooperage business at Steubenville, Ohio, for many years,
making iron-bound barrels which he shipped to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,
and he was very successful as a business man. He lived at Steubenville
until his death.

William J. Crawford grew to manhood at Coshocton and there he attended the
common and high schools, leaving school when seventeen years of age to
enter the milling business at his home town, serving, an apprenticeship of
two and one-half years in the Empire Mills there. He then came to Topeka,
Kansas, where he had charge of the Shawnee Mills for a period of nine
years, being head miller, and he was responsible for the prestige and
general popularity of these mills during that period. Next we find him at
Newton, Kansas, where, for fifteen months he operated the Newton Mill &
Elevator Company's plant. He came to Springfield, Missouri, in the latter
nineties and while here enlisted for service in the Spanish-American war
on August 20, 1898, in Company A, Thirty-second United States Volunteers,
and served in the army until 1901 with a most creditable record, having
seen active service in the Philippine Islands, taking part in several
campaigns on the island of Luzon, and fought in the battles of Tarlac,
Orami, Colcobin and others, also was in many skirmishes. He was injured
while in the service and was for two months in a hospital in San
Francisco, in which city he was mustered out in May, 1901. Soon after he
went to his old home in Ohio, and from there returned to Springfield and
entered the employ of the Frisco railroad, first as check clerk in the
freight department, then became chief of the delivery department in the
inbound freight department which responsible position he still holds.

Mr. Crawford was married in 1902 to Mary E. Voorhees, a daughter of George
W. and Elizabeth (Bretz) Voorhees. He was a captain in the Union army
during the Civil war, having enlisted at Scio, Harrison county, Ohio. Mrs.
Crawford's uncle, Richard Voorhees, is at this writing circuit judge in
Ohio, his circuit embracing the counties of Coshocton, Muskingum and
Summit. The Voorhees has long been a prominent family in Ohio and Indiana.
Mrs. Crawford was born in Ohio, grew to womanhood there and was educated
in the common schools.

The union of our subject and wife has been without issue.

Politically, Mr. Crawford is a Democrat in principle, but he votes
independently. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias, and he belongs to
the Presbyterian church. He resides on Washington Avenue in a pleasant
home.





LOUIS ALLEN DICKEN CRENSHAW. Few men of a past generation in Greene county
were held in higher esteem than the late Louis Allen Dicken Crenshaw, who,
now that life's fitful fever is over, is sleeping serenely in the
"windowless palaces of rest." Although more than a quarter of a century
has elapsed since he was an actor in the local arena of material affairs,
his memory is still revered by a vast circle of friends who knew him well
and admired him, for he was a man in whom all took delight, owing to his
sterling honesty, his indomitable industry, his charitable nature and his
readiness to help in the furtherance of any movement looking to the
general upbuilding of the community. He was one of our sterling pioneer
citizens to whom we owe so much, for he came here when little improvement
had been made, and, working long and hard, redeemed, with others, the
fertile fields and the fine farms which we of today enjoy and which are
now so valuable. We can never say too much regarding these splendid, brave
and courageous pioneers who literally took their own lives in their hands,
and, not counting the cost, cast their lot in a new country, away from the
pleasant hearthstones of their ancestors and the advantages of more
advanced civilization. Mr. Crenshaw by his own efforts rose to be one of
the most substantial men in the community, was one of the county's most
extensive land owners and largest farmers and stock men, and influential
in public affairs.

Mr. Crenshaw was born in 1821 in Nashville, Tennessee, and was a son of
William and Susanna (Ward) Crenshaw. The father was a native of Virginia,
a representative of a prominent family, members of which built the capitol
building in Richmond, and the Crenshaws owned the mansion which was used
by the Confederate president in Richmond. The mother of the subject of
this memoir was born in North Carolina; her father, emigrated from that
state to Nashville, Tennessee, when it was a little more than a fort. To
William and Susanna Crenshaw four sons and one daughter were born.

Louis A. D. Crenshaw spent his early life in Tennessee. When a boy he
assisted his father, who was a wholesale grocery merchant in Nashville. In
1839, when just entering young manhood, our subject removed with his
father to Greene county, Missouri, and. located on a farm. Later the
father purchased another farm, on which he spent the rest of his life.

In, 1849 Mr. Crenshaw went to California, crossing the plains at the head
of a large train of wagons drawn by oxen and loaded with provisions and
merchandise of all kinds. He took with him twenty-seven men, who gave
their services for their expenses on the trip. One of this number was
later well known as Governor McClurg, of Missouri, being honored with the
highest office in the gift of the people of this state. While in
California, Lewis A. D. Crenshaw fitted up a store with the merchandise
which he had taken to the coast, and then sold his stock and all his
wagons at a big price. This business sagacity was characteristic of him.
He seemed always to recognize the full value of an opportunity and by the
wise use thereof he gained success. In all of his dealings he was
thoroughly reliable and his efforts upon the Pacific coast gave him a good
start. After about a year he returned by way of the Panama route and New
York to Missouri. Again settling in Springfield, he engaged in dealing in
mules and likewise became interested in a wholesale hardware business and
other undertakings. He also made extensive investments in land and resided
upon a large ranch of about three thousand acres four miles south of
Springfield, which, since his death, has been divided into several farms.
He planted forty acres in black walnuts, which made a magnificent grove.
On this place he built a commodious substantial and at that time, elegant
home, in the old Colonial style of architecture, and near by stands a
large, expensive barn. Here his widow, who owns the place, still spends
the summer months, but lives in Springfield with her daughter in the
winter time. Mr. Crenshaw was one of the principal contractors and
builders of the Kansas City, Ft. Scott & Memphis railroad, commonly known
as the "Gulf" line, which is now a part of the Frisco system, his
operations being between Springfield and Ash Grove, this county, and he
owned considerable stock in that road.

Mr. Crenshaw was twice married, first, in 1851, to Louise Crenshaw, whose
death occurred in September, 1865, having borne her husband six children.
On June 20, 1867, Mr. Crenshaw married Fanny Smith, who was born in
Nashville, Tennessee, May 28, 1841. She is a daughter of John T. and
Elizabeth (Shockwell) Smith, the father and the mother natives of Georgia.
To John T. Smith and wife six children were born, only one of whom, Mrs.
Fanny Crenshaw, is still living. She grew to womanhood in Nashville, and
there received her education, being graduated from a seminary there in
1857.

Eight children were born to our subject's second marriage, seven of whom
are still living, namely: Susanah, born May 10, 1869, married Dr. J. W.
Love; they live with her mother and they have two children, Louis C. and
Bettie Love; Anna W., Mrs. Shepard; Edith is deceased; Dicken W.; Smith
S.; Aileen Sandridge; Thomas, and Clara C., who is the wife of Allen
Earley.

Politically, Louis A. D. Crenshaw was a Whig, later a Greenbacker, and
finally a Democrat. He was a strong supporter of the Union during the
Civil war times. When he was but a boy he was a deputy constable. His
death occurred on his fine farm near Springfield on December 23, 1884.





THOMAS T. CRENSHAW. Success is only achieved by the exercise of certain
distinguishing qualities and it can not be retained without effort. Those
by whom great epoch changes have been made in the political and industrial
world began early in life to prepare themselves for their peculiar duties
and responsibilities, and it was only by the most persevering and
continuous endeavor that they succeeded in rising superior to the
obstacles in their way and reaching the goal of their ambition. judging
from the record Thomas T. Crenshaw, president of the Greene County Lumber
Company, is making, while still a young man, he has carefully laid the
foundation for large future success, some of which he has already
achieved.

Mr. Crenshaw was born in Springfield, Missouri, February 18, 1881. He is a
son of L. A. D. and Fannie (Smith) Crenshaw. The father was born in
Tennessee, from which state he came to Missouri in 1845 and located on a
farm four miles south of Springfield, where he carried on general farming
and stock raising successfully, making a specialty of raising mules and
horses, being thus engaged until his death in 1884, comparatively early in
life. His widow has survived him thirty years and is now living on Market
street, Springfield, being advanced in age. To these parents seven
children were born, named as follows: Sue E. is the wife of Dr. Joseph
Love; Anne W. is the wife of C. C. Sheppard; D. W. lives on a farm; Smith
S. was next in order; Aileen S. is the wife of J. H. Hoffman; Thomas T.,
of this review; Clara C. is the wife of Allen Earley.

Thomas T. Crenshaw spent his childhood on the farm, and he received a good
education in the common schools which he attended until 1895, then went to
Culver, Indiana, and entered the Culver Military Academy, where he
remained three years. When the war with Spain broke out he enlisted in
Company K, Second Missouri Infantry, and was sent with other troops to the
large military camps at Chickamauga Park and Albany, both in Georgia, and
Lexington, Kentucky. He remained in the service one year, and was mustered
out at Albany, Georgia. He then returned to Springfield, where he remained
a year, then went to the Pacific coast, where he began his career as a
lumberman and there gained his first knowledge of the business. After
remaining in the far West three years he went to Columbus, Ohio, and
became sales manager in an eastern territory for a large lumber concern,
the Missouri Lumber and Land Exchange Company, of Kansas, City, and
remained in the East about nine years, doing much to increase the prestige
of his firm in that territory, and was regarded as one of the firm's most
capable and trustworthy employees. In the meantime he had mastered the
various phases of the lumber business, and in 1912, returned to
Springfield, Missouri, and helped organize the Greene County Lumber
Company, being incorporated under the state laws of Missouri. Mr. Crenshaw
is president and general manager and his close application, able
management and wise foresight has made this one of the most successful
firms of its kind in Greene county, its business and prestige rapidly
increasing with the years. All grades of lumber are handled, all kinds of
building materials--everything to be found in an up-to-date twentieth
century lumber establishment. Their extensive yards are located at 447
South Campbell street.

Mr. Crenshaw was married, May 12, 1906, to Mabel C. Noggle, a daughter of
Ira and Allie E. (Erickson) Noggle, both natives of Unionville, Missouri.
The father died about twenty-five years ago, but the mother survives. Mrs.
Crenshaw has a brother, John R. Noggle, who makes his home in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Mrs. Crenshaw received a good education. She
is a member of various clubs, in all of which she is popular. She is also
a member of the Presbyterian church.

To Mr. and Mrs. Crenshaw one child has been born, Thomas T., Jr., who is
now five years of age.

Politically, our subject is a Democrat. He belongs to the Christian
church. He belongs to the Springfield Club, the Country Club and the Young
Men's Business Club.




J. W. CROW. That the products of the farm will continue to find a
reasonably safe market is indicated by a constantly increasing consumption
within our own country, to say nothing of America's rapidly growing export
trade; that the business of farming and handling live stock as a business
compares favorably with any other vocation in stability; that the security
of farm investment assured invites and encourages the inclination
landward. With all these influences working in one direction supported by
the incalculable forces of the agricultural schools and colleges, the
press, and vast aggregation of brains identified with the vocation, it
would seem that the most radical predictions of the present day may prove
far too conservative before another decade has passed. One of the most
progressive and extensive agriculturists and stockmen of the great
Southwest is J. W. Crow, familiarly known as "Wess" Crow, whose valuable
interests in both Polk and Greene counties, including the famous Percy
Cave, near Springfield, have made him a well-known man in the Ozarks.

Mr. Crow was born on February 13, 1866, in Polk county, Missouri. He is a
son of J. W. and Louisa Jane (Frieze) Crow. The father was born in
Tennessee, and the mother was born in Polk county, this state. J. W. Crow,
Sr., grew to manhood in his native state, and when about twenty years of
age immigrated to Missouri, locating in Polk county, where he became a
prominent and influential man. He was a lawyer by profession, and a good
one for those early days. He was for a period of twenty years a justice of
the peace, was a county judge, and was a leader in Republican politics. He
was one of the two first men to vote for Abraham Lincoln in Polk county.
He also devoted much of his time to farming and handling live stock. He
was married in Polk county, and he became the father of ten children, all
still living but one. They were named as follows: Elvira, Sigel Fremont,
Louise (deceased), J. W., Jr., of this sketch; Mandy, James Alfred, Mathew
Woodson, Minnie, Eva and Tennessee. The parents of these children were
among the oldest settlers of Fair Play, Polk county, and there spent their
latter years, the father dying in 1904, the mother's death also occurring
in 1904.

J. W. Crow of this sketch grew to manhood on his father's farm in Polk
county and he received a common school education. In his earlier years he
followed farming, but the major portion of his attention during the past
fifteen years he has directed to buying and shipping live stock, doing an
average annual business in this line of two hundred thousand dollars, and
he enjoys the distinction of being one of the largest shippers into Kansas
City and St. Louis, the world's greatest live stock markets. He has bought
and sold more cattle than any other man in Polk county, if not the entire
southwestern part Of the state. He is owner of four thousand acres of
land, in various localities between Polk county and the Panhandle, Texas.
His holdings in Greene, county consist of four hundred acres constituting
a valuable farm in the vicinity of Percy Cave. He spends a great deal of
time here, but maintains his home at Fair Play, Polk county, where he is a
heavy stockholder in the Farmers Bank of Fair Play.

Mr. Crow married Sarah G. Akins, who was born in Cedar county, Missouri.
She is a daughter of Nathan and Mary (Tindle) Akins, a well-known old
family of that section of Missouri. To our subject and wife eight children
have been-born, namely: Pearl is at home; Buel is also at home; Zula
married Emmett Thompson, and they live in Kansas; Jerley, Willard, Elsie,
Gale and Joe are all at home. These children have been given excellent
educational advantages.

Politically, Mr. Crow is a Republican, and fraternally he belongs to the
Knights of Pythias and the Woodmen of the World at Fair Play.





CHARLES CROWDUS. That the dairy cow can be the means through which
agriculture can be put on a permanent and profitable basis is clearly
shown by the history of Denmark. Forty years ago that country was on the
verge of bankruptcy. The land had been run down through years of
continuous grain farming. The people were poor and dissatisfied and were
leaving the country for America as fast as they could get the money for
their passage. A few of the far-sighted men of the country saw a possible
solution of their national problem in the dairy cow. Dairying was
introduced into Denmark, and now the little nation once poverty-stricken
is pointed out as an example of what can be done when the proper system of
farming is followed. The country is prosperous. The production of the soil
has been increased to more than double what it was forty years ago. People
no longer have a desire to leave, and, as a whole they are considered
among the best educated and intelligent of the world. The country exports
annually over seven million dollars' worth of dairy products, to say
nothing of the enormous amount consumed within its borders, and all from
an area much less than one-fourth of Missouri. No country in the world is
better adapted for dairying than the Ozark region, and yet it is
surprising how few have become aware of this fact. Here is a fine rolling
country, a good black limestone soil, an abundance of pure spring water, a
long growing season and the center of an unlimited market. Among the
Greene county men who have had the sagacity to see this opportunity and
take advantage of the same is Charles Crowdus, proprietor of the Crowdus
Sanitary Dairy and Poultry Ranch in Campbell township, in the outskirts of
Springfield, in which city he has long been well known, having for years
been connected with the Heer Dry Goods store prior to taking up his
present line of endeavor.

Mr. Crowdus was born at Weatherford, Texas, April 5, 1878. He is a son of
William B. and Mary (Heer) Crowdus, the latter a daughter of C. H. Heer,
of Illinois. He was a native of Hanover, Germany. William B. Crowdus was
born in Kentucky, from which state he came to Springfield, Missouri, when
a young man, and for a number of years engaged in the grocery business on
the public square and South street. This was in 1873, forty-two years ago.
In 1877 he went to Weatherford, Texas, and there his death occurred in
1879, when his son, Charles Crowdus was only a year old; his only other
child, a daughter, died in infancy unnamed. William B. was a brother of J.
C., J. B. and R. L. Crowdus of the Crowdus Hide & Wool Company, a widely
known concern, engaging in business at Fort Worth, Texas, Oklahoma City,
and St. Louis.

Charles Crowdus was brought back to Springfield by his mother soon after
his father's death, and here he grew to manhood and was educated in the
parish schools, later attending Christian Brothers College at St. Joseph,
and Jesuits College at St. Mary's, Kansas, also studied at Notre Dame
University, South Bend, Indiana. Applying himself assiduously he took
advantage of this excellent opportunity for education and became well
equipped for life's serious duties. After leaving school he was with the
Heer Dry Goods store in Springfield for a period of about ten years, where
he did much to make the business a success during that period. Finally
tiring of the exactions of this line of endeavor he moved just south of
the city limits and turned his attention to dairying and poultry raising
and has made a pronounced success in both. He runs a retail route and has
built up a good business in this city, finding ready sales for all his
products. He is well equipped in every respect for the dairy business,
having a modernly appointed dairy barn, convenient, up-to-date and
sanitary in every respect, and he keeps a superior grade of cows. He makes
a specialty of raising White Wyandotte poultry and has built up a-good
demand for his fowls and eggs. He keeps well posted on all phases of the
dairy and poultry business and gives his close attention to each line. He
has a cosy home on South Jefferson street.

Mr. Crowdus was married on October 2, 1909, to Mary Ethelyn Lawing, a
daughter of R. J. Lawing and wife, an influential family of Ozark,
Christian county, this state. Mr. Lawing is a farmer in that vicinity and
was for a number of years postmaster at Ozark. His wife was known in her
maidenhood as Mary Clark, and to their marriage eight children were born,
all of whom survive at this writing. Mrs. Crowdus grew to womanhood in the
vicinity of Ozark and received a good education in the local schools.

To Mr. and Mrs. Crowdus two children have been born, namely: William
Robert, born on June 10, 1912, and John Paul, born on June 1, 1914.

Politically, our subject is a Democrat, and he is a member of St. Agnes
Catholic church of Springfield.





GEORGE W. CULLER. Holding distinctive prestige among the enterprising and
public-spirited citizens of Springfield and Greene county is George W.
Culler, a popular and efficient public servant and a progressive business
man, and recent mayor of the city. His record as here briefly outlined is
that of a successful self-made man, distinctively the architect of his own
fortunes, who by the judicious exercise of the talents with which nature
endowed him, surmounted unfavorable environment and rose to the position
he now occupies as one of the substantial and influential men of the
locality honored by his citizenship, having been true and loyal in all the
relations of life, standing as a type of that sterling manhood which ever
commands respect and honor.

Mr. Culler was born in York, Pennsylvania, April 2, 1872. He is a son of
John W. and Anna M. (Holland) Culler. The father was born January 22,
1840, in Virginia, and his death occurred on December 1, 1903, in
Springfield, Missouri. The mother of our subject was born April 24, 1844,
in York, Pennsylvania, and she is still living in Springfield. John W.
Culler was living in North Carolina when the war between the states began,
and he was drafted into the Confederate army, but later made his way to
the North and enlisted in the Union army, in which cause he sympathized
from the first. He joined a Pennsylvania regiment and saw considerable
hard service and was wounded at the battle of Fair Oaks. He was captured
by the enemy and was confined in a Confederate prison for six months.
After the war he went to York, Pennsylvania, where he was married. He
devoted the major portion of his life to farming and remained in the old
Keystone state until 1887, when he removed with his family to Springfield,
Missouri, where he was connected with the mechanical department of the
Frisco shops on the North Side. Politically, he was a Republican all his
life, but was never active in public affairs. His family consisted of six
children, all living at this writing, namely: Charles T. lives in St.
Louis; Anna married Prof. A L. Stickel and they live in Kansas; George W.,
of this review; Laura R. married E. E. Ennis, a sketch of whom appears
elsewhere in this volume; Mary Ann married J. D. Rathbone, of Springfield,
and Samuel E. is engaged in the lumber business at Bunker, Missouri.

The mother of these children was twice married and the above named
children were by her second union.

George W. Culler was fifteen years of age when he removed with his parents
to Springfield. Here he studied at the high school and Drury College.
Early in life he entered politics, and, having made himself proficient as
a civil engineer, he was elected city engineer in 1902 and served two
terms. In 1904 he was elected county surveyor, which position he held
until 1912, being re-elected each time his term expired. He also served
four years as a member of the city council, from 1907 to 1911, being
re-elected successively. In the spring of 1912 he was elected mayor of
Springfield, which office he held one term of two years, or until the
spring of 1914. In all these important offices he discharged his duty in a
manner that reflected much credit upon his ability and fidelity and to the
eminent satisfaction of all concerned. He ever looked carefully to the
best interests of the city and county, desirous of seeing the general good
prevail, and his honest, conscientious work has been heartily praised by
his constituents.

Mr. Culler is secretary and treasurer of the Ennis-Culler Lumber Company,
of Springfield, and he is a director of the Bunker-Culler Lumber Company,
at Bunker, Dent county. He understands the lumber business thoroughly,
enjoys an extensive and growing business and has been very successful in
material affairs.

Mr. Culler was married November 29, 1900, in Springfield, to Caroline
Schmook, who was born in this city January 24, 1880, and here grew to
womanhood and received excellent educational advantages. She is a daughter
of John and Anna M. (Kerber) Schmook, one of the prominent pioneer
families of this city. John Schmook was born in Berlin, Germany, August
29, 1825, and was a son of Michael and Fredericka (Zinner) Schmook. He
received the education of the public schools and learned of his father the
cabinet maker's trade, at which he served as an apprentice four years.
From April 1, 1846, to April 1, 1849, he served in the Prussian army in
the engineer corps. In the month of September, 1850, he crossed the
Atlantic and landed at New York, in which city he remained for a year and
a half. From there he came west and first stopped at Iowa City, where he
worked at his trade until 1856, and then visited New Orleans. Later he
visited Leavenworth, Kansas City and St. Joseph, but not liking the
business outlook in these places, he returned to Iowa City and made his
home there until 1859, when he came to Springfield, Missouri, in the
latter part of April and worked at his trade for Ebert Hursh & Company,
furniture dealers and manufacturers. In September of the same year he
engaged in the furniture business for himself and followed it in
connection with the carpet business until 1865. During this time he was
also a contractor and erected many buildings. In 1863, besides his other
enterprises, he engaged in the lumber business and built and operated a
planing mill, also a small grist mill. Withdrawing from his other
enterprises gradually, Mr. Schmook devoted his attention to his grist
mill, and greatly increased his business. In 1879 he formed a stock
company and built the Queen City Flouring Mill, which for a number of
years had next to the greatest capacity of any mill in the city. In 1882
he sold out his interest in the milling business and built the Central
Hotel on Boonville and Mill streets. In 1886 he built a steam flouring
mill at Ozark, Christian county, and this he sold in 1891. In the spring
of the following year Mr. Schmook bought valuable lead and zinc mines at
Aurora, Lawrence county, which he developed and worked with success,
producing more valuable mineral ore than any mines in Aurora and yielding
handsome returns. From time to time Mr. Schmook invested in Springfield
real estate and owned excellent business properties, upon which he erected
a number of substantial buildings. Through his own efforts he became one
of the wealthy men of Springfield. In his political views, Mr. Schmook was
a Republican, but in city affairs he voted for the man, irrespective of
party. On September 1, 1865, he married Anna M. Kerber, and to them six
children were born, namely: Paul, John, Otto, Harry B., Frederick and
Caroline E., the latter being the wife of the subject of this sketch. Mr.
Schmook was a believer in education and gave all his children college
educations. He has always been a public-spirited man and contributed
liberally of his means to assist the educational institutions of
Springfield, and gave freely to the different churches. He was in favor of
progress and never refused to aid any good enterprise that he thought
would benefit Springfield. Always modest and unassuming, he pursued a
quiet and steady course and by his different enterprises was of valuable,
practical benefit to Springfield, as his efforts gave employment to others
and added to the material wealth of the town. It has been such men as
these practical workers who have built the cities and towns of the United
States. He deserved a great deal of credit for what he accomplished.
Commencing the battle of life in a strange country, where he spoke a
foreign language, he by dint of thrift and industry, surmounted every
obstacle and became a substantial and highly esteemed citizen, he passed
through the entire period of the Civil war in Springfield. He was a member
of the Home Guards during that eventful period and assisted in the defense
of Springfield January 8, 1863, when General Marmaduke attacked the place.
His death occurred in 1898, and his wife is still living at Springfield.

To George W. Culler and wife two children have been born, namely: Vesta
Maria, born September 22, 1902 and George W., Jr., born June 7, 1904. The
attractive home of the family is at 998 North Jefferson street.

Politically, Mr. Culler is a stanch Republican. Fraternally, he is a
member of Masonic Chapter No. 110, the Benevolent and Protective Order of
Elks, the Improved Order of Red Men, Iroquois Tribe No. 41, and the
Knights of Pythias, and is a member of the grand lodge of the state of
Missouri. He belongs to the Springfield Club, the Commercial Club and the
Young Men's Business Club. He is a man who stands well with all classes,
being plain, sociable and of unquestioned integrity.






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