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




ANDREW W. MacELVENY. Inheriting many of the commendable attributes of his
sterling Scotch ancestors, Andrew W. MacElveny has forged to the front in
the railroad service by his individual efforts, alone and unaided while
yet a young man. He has had a vast experience in remote sections of the
United States, where he has preferred to reside, although born and reared
under the British flag, beyond our northern border in the land of the
"mother of snows." We have always welcomed such men as he, no matter from
what clime they may hail, for he combines the essential elements that make
a good citizen.

Mr. MacElveny, who at present is chief clerk in the general manager's
office of the Frisco lines in Springfield, was born May 5, 1882, at
Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada. He is a son of Robert MacElveny, who
was born in Scotland, from which country he immigrated to America with his
parents when a young man, the family locating in the Province of New
Brunswick. Early in life he began railroading, eventually becoming master
mechanic for the Inter-Colonial Railway Company in New Brunswick,
remaining there until in the eighties, when he removed with his family to
Winnipeg, Province of Manitoba, where he established his permanent home
and where he still resides.

Andrew, W. MacElveny attended St. John's College, after passing through
the common schools and graduating from high school. Later he went to St.
Paul, Minnesota, as office boy in the general offices of the Northern
Pacific Railroad Company, where he remained several years, having been
first promoted to clerk, then stenographer. The company transferred him to
Tacoma, Washington, where he spent a year and a half, then returned to St.
Paul for the same road and worked in the engineer's office. From there he
went to Galveston, Texas, and worked for the Topeka, Atchison & Santa Fe
Railroad, under E. D. Levy, who was chief clerk there for a period of four
years. He became chief clerk under Mr. Levy, representing him in Texas,
and was for a time traveling agent. He was station agent for the Santa Fe
at Rogers, Texas, for a while. He was traveling agent for the Frisco lines
for six months, and he came to Springfield in 1908 as stenographer for Mr.
Levy, and later he was promoted to chief clerk of several different
departments in the Frisco offices. In 1911 our subject was promoted to
assistant superintendent of freight loss and damage claims; in March,
1914, he was appointed chief clerk for Mr. Levy, who is general manager of
the Frisco lines, and this position he still holds.

Mr. MacElveny was married on December 28, 1908, to Lillian Wilcox, .of
Temple, Texas, a daughter of Capt. George E. and Annie Wilcox. This union
has resulted in the birth of two children, namely: Walter E. and Katheryn
Elizabeth.

Politically, Mr. MacElveny is a Democrat. Fraternally, he belongs to the
Masonic Order, including St. Vincent Chapter and Solomon Lodge.




JUDGE CHARLES B. McAFEE. In the ages of the world in which might
constituted the measure of right, when controversies were determined by
wager of battle, lawyers were not much needed. It is interesting to trace
in the history of the world, and observe as civilization advances how law
and order were taught among men when rude barbarism gave way to farmers,
artisans and merchants; when the arts, science and commerce were
encouraged and protected among the people, the legal profession soon
became a necessity. Now they have become so intimately associated with
every department of business, in every part of our civil and social
polity, that society can not well get along without them. Indeed, it is
not too strong to say that order can not be preserved, right can not be
vindicated, justice administered, and, one might add, government
maintained, without them. In every age of the world's history the lawyers
have been the defenders of civil liberty against tyranny and oppression.
All the reforms for freedom and equality have been carried forward by them
as leaders. It has ever been their mission to promote and maintain right
and justice among men. No higher object in human life than this can
animate the patriot and philanthropist. One of the worthiest
representatives of this class of professional men in Greene county is
Judge Charles B. McAfee, formerly judge of the criminal court, and for a
period of sixty years a leader of the bar, now living in retirement, and
although he has witnessed the snows of eighty-six winters, is hale and
hearty, with keen intellectual faculties, and is entitled to the sobriquet
of his professional brethren here as "the grand old man of the law."

Judge McAfee was born in Lexington, Kentucky, March 28, 1829. He is a
scion of a sterling old Southern family, and a son of Robert and Martha J.
(Kavanaugh) McAfee, natives of Kentucky and Virginia, respectively. The
father was a frontiersman, a great hunter and brave pioneer, who carved a
comfortable home from the wilderness. Soon after our subject was born
these parents removed to Macon county, Missouri, locating near Palmyra in
1829, but in a short time went on to Shelby county and there Robert McAfee
spent the rest of his life, dying about 1870, his widow surviving some ten
years, dying about 1880. Their family consisted of eight children, only
two of whom are now living, Charles B., of this sketch, and Mrs. Elizabeth
A. Worley, of near Kansas City, Kansas.

Charles B. McAfee spent his boyhood in Shelby county, this state, leaving
home when sixteen years old, but returned in a few months and left the
parental rooftree again when seventeen years old, and went to Hannibal,
where he had worked for an uncle in a packing house. Later he engaged at
making wheat fans for five dollars per month and board. The shop in which
he was employed was removed to Chariton county, Missouri, and young McAfee
continued to work in the same, his wages having been increased to twelve
dollars per month, and the third year he received twenty-five dollars per
month. After a visit at home he returned to the same employment and was
given fifty dollars per month. After working another year he went to Henry
county, this state, to which the shop had been moved, but there the firm
dissolved. Our subject had become a partner in the firm and remained in
the manufacturing business until shortly before the commencement of the
Civil war. However, he had been studying law all the while during his
spare moments from the age of seventeen years, and had begun to practice
some in 1850, six months before he was twenty-one years old. He opened his
first office at Cainsville, Harrison county, in 1860. He also engaged in
the fur business, employing some twenty-five trappers and collectors of
pelts. When the war broke out he lost his money and horses and other
property, but later was reimbursed. He proved his patriotism by raising a
company of one hundred men and entering the Federal army, in which he
fought gallantly for three years as captain, and for meritorious conduct
was promoted to the rank of major at the close of his term of enlistment.
He was first with Neville's Battalion and later in the Third Missouri
State Militia, one of the ten regiments authorized by Congress. The
regiment was disbanded at Springfield and the field officers were mustered
out, whereupon Major McAfee entered the Seventh Missouri Volunteer
Infantry, with which he remained until the close of the war, receiving a
commission in the veteran service when the war was practically over. He
proved to be a most able and faithful officer and defender of the Union.

Immediately after the close of the war, Judge McAfee formed a partnership
with John S. Phelps, who previous to the war had served sixteen years as a
member of Congress from this district. The law firm soon became famous,
and had business in nearly all the counties south of the Missouri river.
In 1868 Judge McAfee made the race for Congress as a Democrat in the face
of the hopeless outlook. It took nerve to make a Democratic speech in some
localities, and men are yet living who saw the judge proclaim Democratic
doctrines with a revolver lying on the table before him. He was defeated
by S. H. Boyd, who was his Republican opponent in that race. In 1872 he
again made the race against Harrison E. Havens, but was defeated only by a
narrow margin.

At about this time the late Benjamin U. Massey entered the law firm of
McAfee & Phelps as a law clerk, and was later admitted to the bar. O. H.
Travers, now a practicing attorney in Springfield, also had his legal
training there, as was true of P. H. Simmons and other lawyers of note in
the Southwest. Judge Moore, now a judge at Paris, Texas, was a student in
Judge McAfee's office. In 1875 Judge McAfee was elected to represent the
district in the constitutional convention, and with the exception of one
or two now living, is the only survivor of the body that formulated the
present constitution of Missouri. In 1876 John S. Phelps was elected
Governor of Missouri, and after serving his four year term retired from
the law firm.

In those days Judge McAfee was among the foremost Democrats of the state,
and was a leader in the regime to which belonged John T. Philips, T. T.
Crittendon, David Armstrong, Joseph Pulitzer (later the owner of the New
York World), James O. Broadhead, Martin J. Clardy, John O'Day, Thomas H.
Sherwood and other noted men. In his law office, where now stands the
Landers building, were held many state pow-wows of Democratic politicians.

In 1879 Judge McAfee was employed by George H. Nettleton as the attorney
for the Kansas City, Fort Scott & Gulf and Kansas City, Springfield &
Memphis Railroads, now absorbed by the Frisco. He had charge of all
litigation of these companies in Missouri, and retained the position until
1891 when he retired from the active practice of the law following a
partial paralysis which occurred in April of that year. He soon recovered
from that, however, but never re-engaged in the practice.

In 1896, and at the request of the Democratic leaders, he made the race
for judge of the criminal court of Greene county, and defeated James J.
Gideon. The judge's term of office will long be remembered. His charge to
the grand jury when he took up his duties in 1897 is regarded as a
phillipic and attracted attention throughout the state. His terms of court
were brief. Court opened at 8 o'clock, and, if necessary, night sessions
were held and business expedited as it had never been before. His chief
aim was to hold the court at the least expense to the state, and to do
this he held down the number of witnesses to the minimum. In this way many
witnesses were summoned to court who, because they were not necessary,
were not permitted to testify and collect witness fees. The practice
discouraged the airing of neighborhood quarrels in court, and in this way
saved the county many thousands of dollars. At the succeeding election
disappointed witnesses were so numerous that their votes defeated Judge
McA-fee, who refused to make apology for administering the law strictly to
the letter.

Since he retired from the bench, Judge McAfee has-lived quietly at 604
Dollison street, his home since 1868. When he first moved there it was a
fifty-acre tract. As the town grew, Judge McAfee gave to the city Dollison
street, Cherry street from Dollison to the Boulevard, and the Boulevard
itself for half a mile was given by him to the United States. At this time
the whole tract, excepting what the judge has reserved for his home
place--about twelve acres--is built up in beautiful homes.

Judge McAfee was identified with nearly all of the larger interests
founded in Springfield. He organized the Greene County National Bank in
the early seventies. The original subscription list signed by Henry
Sheppard, Charles Sheppard, W. J. McDaniel, L. A. D. Crenshaw and C. B.
McAfee, is now in the possession of the Union National Bank. The
instrument was made before the days of typewriting, and is in Judge
McAfee's handwriting.

He was one of the organizers of the Springfield Cotton Factory, the
Springfield Iron Foundry, the Springfield Wagon Company, the Metropolitan
Hotel and the Springfield Traction Company. He was president of the
Springfield Driving Park Association, and the Springfield & Southwestern
Fair Association. The fair grounds occupied the eighty-acre tract now
occupied by the State Normal School, and the residence district now known
as the Driving Park Addition.

Judge McAfee was many times a delegate to the various national Democratic
conventions, and was Missouri's delegate to the celebration in New York of
the Centennial Celebration of the Inauguration of George Washington, and
through the administrations of Governors Dockery, Folk and Hadley was the
president of the Mountain Grove State Experimental Station.

At this time Judge McAfee's family remains intact. His wife, Mattie E.
McAfee (nee Ritchey), and his sons, Ernest C., John R., Charles B., Justin
J. and Robert B., are all living in Springfield, except Justin J., who is
a resident of Joplin.

Since he became twenty-one years of age Judge McAfee has been a Mason, and
has been a Knight Templar for half a century. He was one of the charter
members of Ararat Temple, Order of the Mystic Shrine, at Kansas City, the
first Shrine in Missouri.

Judge McAfee, until very recently, has been an enthusiastic fisherman, and
since 1887 has made frequent pilgrimages each year to Current river, where
is situated the Carter County Fishing and Hunting Club House. He is a
former president of that club, and designed the present clubhouse in 1887.
He is a great naturalist, and his declining years find him busy breeding
his gold fish in the lawn fountain at his home, and experimenting with
early berries and vegetables in his garden. Surely he bears his advancing
years with wonderful and becoming grace.




JOHN P. McCAMMON. John P. McCammon was born in Henry county, Iowa, May 25,
1853, and is a son of Samuel and Mary E. (Brown) McCammon. He is of
Scotch-Irish ancestry on the paternal side. His father was born in
Pennsylvania where he grew to manhood, received such educational
advantages as the old-time schools afforded, and he devoted his active
life to general agricultural pursuits remaining in his native state until
1852 when he removed to the state of Iowa, and in Henry county, but
subsequently removed to Davis county, that state, where his death occurred
in 1834. He was a man of courage and possessed the typical pioneer
industry that resulted in success, and he stood high in the estimation of
his neighbors, was a loyal Republican and did what he could toward the
general advancement of the communities in which he lived, and, held a
number of minor political offices, the duties of which he always
discharged with fidelity and credit, and at all times proved his worth as
a citizen. His wife, Mary E. Brown, was born in Washington county,
Indiana, near the town of Salem, and was the daughter of a pioneer family
of that state. After the death of her husband she came to Missouri and
made her home in Ash Grove, Greene county, subsequently going to Perry,
Iowa, where she lived until her death at an advanced age. To Samuel
McCammon and wife five children were born, named in order of birth as
follows: John P., of this review; William H., who established himself in
the mercantile business at Perry, Iowa; Jessie married John Irwin, and
they located in Belvidere, Nebraska; Augusta became the wife of I.
Woodridge, of Stockton, Cedar county, Missouri; Samuel A. established his
home in Perry, Iowa.

John P. McCammon grew to manhood on the home farm in Iowa and worked hard
when a boy, assisting his father develop a farm in the new country. He
attended the district schools in his community until he was about fifteen
years of age, then entered the Iowa Wesleyan University at Mount Pleasant,
Iowa, made a good record and was graduated from that institution with the
class of 1877. That his scholarship was profound and he had won the
highest estimation of his teachers is indicated by the fact that he began
teaching in that university the following fall after his graduation, and
he followed teaching with much success until 1879, becoming one of the
leading educators of that section of the state. In that year he came to
Springfield, Missouri, where he continued his profession, but he had been
studying law for some time before leaving his native state and he
continued the study of this profession after coming to the Ozarks and was
admitted to the bar in 1881. He practiced alone from 1881 to 1887 and was
forging constantly to the front ranks. He then formed a partnership with
Col. C. W. Thrasher and J. T. White, the same continuing until 1890, when
Mr. Thrasher retired, and our subject and Mr. White continued in
partnership until 1903 and the firm became one of the best-known in
Springfield. During the years he has been engaged in the practice of law
he has shown a superior ability all along the line, has kept well abreast
of the times, being ever a close student, not only of the statutes but of
current events of importance. He was one of the original incorporators of
the Missouri Fidelity & Casualty Company, in 1909, and was president of
the same for the first six months, and got it well established and it grew
rapidly into a large and important concern. He was then vice-president and
general counsel for the same until 1914, when it was merged with the
Southern Surety Company of St. Louis, and the offices moved from
Springfield to the Mound City, but Mr. McCammon became vice-president and
attorney for the new concern, and is doing much to make it a great success
as he did the former concern.

Mr. McCammon was married in 1859 to Lucy Owen, who was born irk
Springfield, Missouri, where she grew to womanhood, and received a good
education. She is a daughter of Jabez Owen and wife, an old and
influential family of Greene county. Five children have blessed the union
of our subject and wife, named as follows: Elizabeth Rush, born in
September, 1890, is taking domestic science and physical training at the
University of Missouri, Columbia; John Purdue, Jr., born in April, 1893,
is studying law in the University of Kansas at Lawrence; Owen, born in
December, 1896, is attending the Porter Military Academy at Charleston,
South Carolina;, Lucy, born in August, 1900, is a student in the State
Normal School at Springfield; and William Samuel, born in June, 1903, is a
student in the local grade schools.

Mr. McCammon has made the practice of law his foremost concern but has
also found time to take an interest in manufacturing and real estate and
has been very successful in a business way, accumulating a comfortable
competence through his good management and wise foresight. He has been
counsel for a number of corporations. Politically he is a Republican and
while interested in party affairs has never sought office. Fraternally, he
is a member of the Masonic order. He is a Beta Theta Pi. He was a member
of the board of regents, State Normal at Springfield, Missouri, his term.
expiring in January, 1915.




LUTHER QUINTER McCARTY. The name of the late Luther Quinter McCarty needs
no introduction to the readers of this volume, if indeed, it needs any
formal presentation to readers anywhere, for that name has been printed
repeatedly throughout the world, and it has attracted much attention and
aroused both admiration and regret--admiration owing to his physical
prowess, and regret that his brilliant career as one of the greatest
athletes of modern times should have terminated so soon and so tragically.
But we are reminded of the saying of the ancient Greeks, the wisest people
the earth has ever produced, that "whom the gods love die early." Those
same Greeks, also the Romans, were great admirers of athletes and the
latter nation especially boasted of its fine specimens of manhood. The
Olympic games held in those remote days were national affairs and attended
by emperors, senators, famous generals and men of letters, and the victors
at these great fetes--the winning athletes--were lionized by the
fashionable and cultured, and myrtle wreaths were placed upon their brows
as symbols of victory, these wreaths being coveted almost as much as
crowns of royalty. And from that epoch down to the present, the world has
never ceased to admire and applaud the man who is capable of showing
superior physical ability just as much as he who achieves fame in the
realm of intellect. Many thinking people of today are saying that we, as a
nation, neglect the physical development of the youth of the land and
place too much emphasis upon business qualifications, and are advocating
that more encouragement be given to a stronger, purer physical manhood.
Surely no one could object seriously to clean athletic sports, and the man
who excels, as did Mr. McCarty, is entitled to the plaudits of his
fellowman. Physically he was an Apollo, and personally a prince of good
fellows; no kinder heart or broader sympathy could have been found among
the young men in this country. His career was short, but it was brilliant,
like the meteor that flames along the horizon for a moment, then
disappears in darkness.

Luther Q. McCarty, for some time white heavyweight champion pugilist of
the world, was born on a ranch near Omaha, Nebraska, March 17, 1892. He
was a son of Aaron and Margaret McCarty. The mother died when our subject
was an infant, and the future champion lived in various homes when a boy,
but later the father remarried and the boy was partly reared by his
stepmother. The father, Dr. Aaron McCarty, known as "White Eagle, the
Indian doctor," spent his earlier life in Nebraska, but for a number of
years he has made his home in Ohio and he and his second wife are
residents of the city of Piqua, that state. Dr. McCarty is a giant in
size, measuring six feet and eight inches and weighing three hundred and
fifteen pounds.

Luther Q. McCarty received a meager education in the public schools of
Nebraska, and later in life became a well informed man by wide travel and
contact with the world. He was endowed with good common sense and learned
quickly. He was the right kind of man to make a good pugilist. He never
had the bad habits that wreck so many of the young men of the world. There
was no taint of easy living to be worked out of his system. He was a
working man from the start. He was brought up on the farm, where he lived
in the open air all the time, riding horses, herding cattle, working hard,
and it was this free life on a western ranch that aroused in him a love
for horses which characterized his subsequent career, and, useless to add,
that he was an expert rider and horseman. Nothing delighted him more than
to "break" an unruly bronco. When a poor lad, he admired the great saddles
of the cowboys, and it was his ambition to own one when he grew up. This
desire was gratified beyond his youthful dreams, for during the last year
of his life he had made to order a very fine saddle, beautifully studded
with silver and various trappings that would have been the envy of any
Indian chieftain in the country, paying the sum of seven hundred dollars
for the saddle and a special trunk in which to keep it.

When he left the ranch, Mr. McCarty went to sea, where he lived the hard
life of a common sailor for two or three years. After that he became an
iron worker, a bridge builder. This kind of work required nerve, strength
and courage and it made McCarty's sinews like the iron he handled. When he
left that trade, having had his leg broken in an accident, he went back to
the West again and took up the old cowboy life. There he accidentally had
occasion to take on a glove fight and discovered that he was fitted for
the profession that brings in the money faster than any other open to a
man without a college training. He not only had the physical strength and
agility, but he had also one of the most important qualities which a boxer
can have--intelligence. When in the ring he needed no coaching or advice
from his seconds, he used his own brains.

Entering the ring when about eighteen years old, his first fight was at
Swift Current, for which he received only fifteen dollars. His rise was
perhaps the most rapid of any prize ring star in the history of pugilism,
and his last battle, about eighteen months after his first, brought him
many thousands of dollars, and during that brief period he earned about
one hundred thousand dollars. In all he engaged in twenty-three-battles
and won sixteen of them with knockouts. Four of the other seven were ten
round, no-decision bouts, two were six-round, no-decision bouts, and one,
the last, was to have been a ten-round fight. He won over such widely
known pugilists as Carl Morris, Al Kaufman, Jim Flynn and Al Palzer. Upon
the defeat of the last named at Los Angeles, California, January 1, 1913,
he was given a diamond-studded belt, valued at five thousand dollars, and
was the recognized white heavyweight champion of the world, which honors
he retained five months, or until his untimely death,

Mr. McCarty was married at Sidney, Ohio, May 28, 1907, to Rhoda Wright,
who was born November 9, 1888, in Sidney, Ohio, and there grew to
womanhood and was educated in the common schools. She is a daughter of
Theodore and Amanda (Stumpff) Wright, both natives of that place, also
where they grew up, were educated, married and established their home. The
father was born January 23, 1855, and his death occurred at Sidney,
February 26, 1914. The mother was born March 23, 1852, and, she still
lives in Sidney. Mr. Wright devoted his active life to general farming,
also operated a threshing machine. Politically he was a Democrat, and
fraternally a member of the Masonic Order. His family consisted of six
children.

To Luther Q. McCarty and wife one child was born, a daughter, Cornelia,
Alberta McCarty, the date of whose birth was February 14, 1911. Mrs.
McCarty and daughter make their home in Springfield. The champion was very
fond of his little daughter, and intended retiring the ring on her account
after he had amassed a sufficient fortune to live comfortably the rest of
his life and provide for her in every way, especially giving her an
excellent education. He left a large bank account and valuable property at
Venice, California, and elsewhere.

The death of Luther Q. McCarty occurred at Calgary, Province of Alberta,
Canada, May 24, 1913. The exact cause has never been fully determined. He
was engaged in a bout with Arthur Pelkey, and in less than three minutes
after the opening of the engagement McCarty fell to the mat and expired
almost immediately. It seems certain that he was not killed by a blow from
his antagonist. However, such a blow probably had its effects in causing
the champion's tragic end. It was at first believed that heart failure was
the cause, but this was later doubted by physicians, who found that a
dislocation of a vertebra in his neck had taken place, and it was the
accepted theory by most that this injury had been caused a few days
previous when the champion was riding a bucking mustang and that Pelkey's
blow caused a further dislocation, resulting in death.

The remains of the great athlete were sent to Piqua, Ohio, for burial. The
body was viewed by thousands as it lay in state. Beautiful floral
tributes, were sent by admirers from all over the country. Interment was
made in the family lot in Forest Hill Cemetery. The city of Piqua never
saw so large a crowd at a funeral. Newspaper representatives from big
dailies throughout the country were there covering the funeral, as well as
magazine writers of national reputation.

The following obituary, written by Billy McCarney, manager of the subject
of this memoir, during his successful ring career, appeared in The Ozark
Magazine in its issue of June, 1913:

"'Luther McCarty, Springfield, Missouri,' were the last words ever written
by the lamented heavyweight champion who went to his death in an orthodox
ring engagement with Arthur Pelkey, at Calgary, Alberta, Canada, May 24th
. The night preceding the bout, McCarty remained in he city of Calgary
instead of returning to his training camp. Where he elected to stay was
the best hotel the city of Calgary affords, the Royal King George, and it
was on the register of the hotel he inscribed his name and home town.
Luther McCarty was essentially a product of the Queen City of the Ozarks.
He was heard continually referring to Springfield as he grandest place in
the world and no matter when his trips across the country were being
routed, he always tried to have it so arranged that he could go through
the city he loved. When we were leaving the East to make the trip through
Calgary, Luther asked me to try and arrange it so that we could go by way
of St. Louis and Springfield, but it was so much out of the way and meant
such a sacrifice of time that I declined changing the ticket routing and
we made the run by the shortest route, via Chicago. I am sorry that I
refused his request.

"The sudden and unlooked for death of McCarty jarred the whole world, but
nowhere did it hit with such terrific heart aches as it did in
Springfield. They loved the big good-natured boy in the city he loved to
call home. They had seen him in his budding days, saw him blossom the
night he tumbled Carl Morris to the mat and later when he returned from
his triumphal, sensational astounding tour of the West, with the
championship of the world in his keeping, it was the people of Springfield
who gave him his greatest reception. McCarty returned in full bloom to
greet his friends of the early struggling days. Despite the fact that he
had won the greatest honor a man of his chosen profession could acquire,
he returned to Springfield as just the same plain Luther McCarty they had
known here in the days of privation. He did not run to grasp the hands of
the big men of the city. It was not his way. With the reception over he
jumped on the same horse he had ridden in the early days and rode from
place to place meeting the friends he called friends when he was just one
of the common herd. His success never turned his head and he never forgot
anyone who befriended him in the early days. The religious element did not
take kindly to the reception planned for the return of the lad who went
forth from Springfield to conquer and, incidentally, placed Springfield on
the map, and headed by one individual they made the home-coming of the
champion somewhat different from what it was planned, but McCarty never
once referred to it as an unpleasant memory. His idea of life was that we
all travel in our own grooves and it hurt him to know that he had been
spoken of so illy by the man who fought the giving of a reception for him.
It was not the individual; it was not a combination of forces working
against him; it was not the stout-hearted friends who battled to have him
received properly, that stood out in his mind. It was simply that he loved
Springfield. Despite the harsh things said of him by the man who opposed
his being received properly, I am glad to say Springfield loved Luther
McCarty. Not Springfield alone, but the world loved the big boy. The world
admires a winner, but some are better liked than others, and Luther
McCarty was loved to the fullest. I do not recall him ever speaking mean
of anyone.

He lived a temperate life, was free from profane language, loved his
fellow man and was ready at all times to benefit one in need. The Golden
Rule was his motto and he never was so well pleased as when, in his days
of prosperity, he was able to help one of those in need. His charity was
not of the noisy kind. He was unostentatious in the performance of good
deeds and his enjoyment was in knowing he had done something for someone,
that he at some time in his early life would have appreciated having done
for him.

"In the death of Luther McCarty the world lost a noble character. His
loyalty to a friend was unbounded. Appreciation of good done for him was
paramount and the one way to awaken him to a point of showing his temper
was to have anyone speak disparagingly of his friends. As a companion he
was truly lovable. Of a sunny disposition, he loved the good things of
life and wanted those nearest to him to share his every pleasure.

His treatment of myself was so perfect and our days of close association
so crowded with sweet memories that he will live in my mind for all time.
I loved him as a son and he respected me as an obedient son would a
father. In our eighteen months of daily association we never had a cross
word. I did at times chide him for some of his recklessness, but he never
answered me back. He knew I had his interest at heart. By his death I lost
the dearest pal man ever had, one who knew no wrong. His equal in manly
principles will never again grace the profession he adopted. May the dust
rest lightly over him."

It would require volumes to hold all that was published about him. The
Springfield Daily Leader, in its issue of June 8, 1913, contained an
article under the caption of "McCarty and Ketchel," which we deem worthy
of reproduction here:

"With the sad taking off of Luther McCarty, the name of his home town,
Springfield, Missouri, became temporarily the most talked of place in
America. Twice before the Queen City was the central focus point of the
Union. The night Carl Morris went down to defeat from the powerful right
of Luther McCarty and the day Stanley Ketchel, was done to death were the
two occasions when, everywhere over the country, this city was foremost in
the topics being discussed. Speaking of Ketchel and McCarty, two of the
most sensational men who ever gained distinction in the sport world, it is
strange that this city should have to do with the end of one and the rise
of the other. They were two grand characters standing out in bold relief
from all others of their profession. Each bore a name, one Stanley, the
other Luther, new to fistiana. They both rose meteorically, astonished the
world by the character of their ring work, champions of the
never-to-be-forgotten kind, and after brief careers each went to a
sensational death. From the beginning of their lives to their untimely end
these two men, lovable socially and dreaded when in the roped enclosure,
traveled in almost parallel lines. Disciples of Nomad by choice,
stout-hearted to the point of recklessness, with the love for adventure
uppermost in their hearts, it was but natural when they took to boxing
that their very temperaments would carry them to the front ranks of their
new profession. Both men sprang into prominence from the unknown class
over night. It was Joe Thomas, then welter-weight champion of the world,
who was the stepping stone for Ketchel, while Carl Morris answered the
same purposes for McCarty.

From the first time they attracted attention, McCarty and Ketchel were
lionized by the public. Their care-free ways won people to them. The
newspapers of New York attacked both men, but was the result of work on
the part of their managers demanding what they figured the right price for
service s of the men wanted by the New York clubs. The unjustness of their
attack on McCarty was so palpable that many other papers took sides with
the big boy, and the unwarranted abuse of the New York sport writers cut
deep into McCarty's sensitive brain, but he never once complained. Both
McCarty and Ketchel survived the attacks and when away from New York were
idolized. They both thrived on the adulations they received, loved to be
in the limelight and the very air the breathed, they breathed, they
exhaled with a sensational flavor. Dying sensationally as they did, they
lived their parts right to the very last earthly move. Even in death, the
eyes of the world were focused on them. The train bearing McCarty's
remains was met all along the line by throngs of people who stood about,
sad-eyed, talking of the good traits of the boy they all loved just so
with Ketchel. When the former, on his tour, visited Grand Rapids,
Michigan, he made the trip to the Polish cemetery and paid his respects to
the grave of Ketchel-- the man whom he had always looked upon as his hero.
May the memory of both be kept green forever."




HUGH McCLERNON. The career of Hugh McClernon, a retired farmer of
Springfield, is a splendid example of what many of the thrifty sons of
Erin's Green Isle have accomplished in this great western republic, after
landing within our borders with little capital and being compelled to
start out in a strange environment without sympathetic and helpful
friends. There have been many such during the past century or more, and we
have always welcomed them, knowing that most of them would turn out to be
good citizens and be beneficial to us in a general way.

Mr. McClernon was born in County Dary, Ireland, March 12, 1850. He is a
son of Hugh and Margaret (McElwee) McClernon, both natives of Ireland,
where they grew up, received meager educations and were married and
established their home. The father was a stone mason by trade, also
engaged in farming. His family consisted of nine children, two of whom are
still living, Hugh, of this sketch, and a sister who has remained in
Ireland, A brother of our subject came to America in an early day, but the
rest of the family remained in the old country.

Hugh McClernon grew to manhood in his native land, and, when a boy,
assisted his father with his work. He received a common school education,
and there, when about twenty years of age, he was united in marriage with
Margaret McElhone, a daughter of James and Sarah (McKenna) McElhone. Soon
thereafter he brought his bride to the United States, about 1870. They
landed in New York, but came on west to St. Louis, where they lived three
years, where our subject worked as a stone mason, which trade he had
learned under his father when a boy. He then came to Springfield and
purchased a farm in Campbell township, then about two miles northeast of
Springfield, but now only about one mile northeast of here. He went to
work with a will, and from a small beginning forged to the front as a
general farmer, later being able to add to his original purchase. It was
his custom to buy land, improve it, and when the price raised on land in
his community, sell out at a profit. In this way he became a man of
comfortable financial circumstances. After living here several years he
engaged in the dairy business, selling his products in Springfield, and
became known as one of the successful dairymen of Greene county. Under his
able training his sons all took up this line of business and have done
well with it. He also became a successful dealer in live stock, trading
extensively in horses and mules. He still owns his productive, well
improved and most desirable farm, but in the autumn of 1914 he retired
from active life, having accumulated a handsome competency through his
good management and, close application to details, and purchased a fine
residence on Cherry street, Springfield, where he now resides, surrounded
by all the comforts of life. He also owns considerable other real estate
in this city.

To Mr. McClernon and wife nine children have been born, namely: Hugh, Jr.,
the eldest, is deceased; Henry is a retired stockman; Mrs. Maggie Boll is
the wife of a brick manufacturer; Patrick J. is engaged in the dairy
business; Sarah married Con Shay, who died in 1913, she lives with her
father and has one child, Nora Marie, five years of age; Jane and Mary are
living at home; John is engaged in the dairy business, living on his
father's farm; Annie is at home. These children were given excellent
educational advantages; the girls have all been trained in music.

Politically, Mr. McClernon is a Democrat. He was a member of the county
school board for a period of nine years; he was road overseer for four
years in his district, and also served four years as road commissioner. He
proved to be a most faithful, able and conscientious public servant,
always looking closely to the interests of his locality and county. He is
a member of the Catholic church and is a charter member of the local lodge
of the Knights of Columbus.




JAMES H. McCLUER. We are always glad to revert to the lives of the old
pioneers, for it seems that they had elements about them that are not
found in the lives of men in the present generation; they seem to have
been more courageous, more patriotic and more uniformly honest—it is at
least indisputable that they were more hospitable. The stranger was always
welcome and a guest need have no money with which to defray expenses of a
night's lodging at the humble home of the early settler, and if he needed
assistance in any way, he could always obtain it readily. There was
evidently more brotherly love between men—a broader altruism. The change
from such conditions to those of the present day is calculated to arouse
regret. James H. McCluer, one of the oldest citizens of Greene county, has
come down, to us from the pioneer epoch. He has lived to see vast forests
melt away before the sturdy stroke of the conquerors of the wilderness and
fine farms spring up as if by magic, and the country everywhere dotted
with substantial dwellings in place of the log cabins, school houses and
churches built in every community, and thriving towns and populous cities
where once were the tepees of the red men or roamed at will the denizens
of the wild, and he has seen the winding Indian trails changed into costly
turnpikes and broad highways, where now speeds the high-powered motor car
instead of the prolix ox-cart. He has not only been an interested
spectator to all these vicissitudes, but has played well his part in the
transformation. He can look back over it all, now as he stands on the
threshold of his ninety-fifth year, with a clear mind and a good
conscience (the fruits of right living), and recall many interesting
reminiscences of the olden times, and can look forward into the mystic
Beyond with no fear.

Mr. McCluer was born in Blount county, Tennessee, February 16, 1821, his
people having been early settlers in the mountains of the eastern part of
that state, not many miles from the Virginia border. He is a son of John
and Elizabeth (Mitchell) McCluer, the father born in Virginia, February
25, 1796, and the mother was born in eastern Tennessee, March 16, 1800.
The father of our subject left the Old Dominion when young in years and
located in Blount county, Tennessee, where he was married on January 28,
1819, and began life on the farm. From there he emigrated with his family,
in 1835, to Polk county, Missouri, being thus among the earliest settlers
in this section, of the state. There he continued farming with great
success until 1858 when he removed with his family to Springfield,
locating at what is now the corner of Campbell and Mt. Vernon streets,
which at that time was at the edge of the village. Here the parents of our
subject spent the rest of their lives, the father dying on November 20,
1884, and the mother passed away on November 16, 1865. To these parents
eight children were born, four of whom are still living, namely: Elmira is
deceased; James H., of this sketch; Morris Mitchell is deceased; Louise is
deceased, Rufus lives in Greene county where he has long been a leading
farmer and stockman; Avery is deceased; Elizabeth lives in California; and
Caroline makes her home in St. Louis.

James H. McCluer grew to manhood on his father's farm and there he worked
hard assisting in the development of the raw land for general agricultural
purposes. He was fourteen years old when his parents brought him from
Tennessee to Polk county, this state and here he received a limited
education, in the old-time subscription schools, taught a few weeks out of
each year in the primitive log school houses of those days. He began life
as a farmer which he followed in Polk county, getting thereby a good
start, and he continued general farming for twelve years after his
marriage. In 1863, he moved to Springfield and engaged in mercantile
pursuits, under the firm name of M. M. McCluer & Company, maintaining a
large and popular store on the public square until after the close of the
Civil war. The rest of his active life was spent in improving various
properties and building, retiring a few years ago owing to his advanced
age and is now living a quiet life at his picturesque old home on South
street. He has managed well and his sound judgment and industry has
resulted in financial success.

During the war between the states he was a member of the Home Guards and
his service was confined to this locality.

Mr. McCluer was married in Polk county, Missouri, in November, 1847, to
Lorina Bovd, who was born in eastern Tennessee, April 17, 1823. She was a
daughter of Hugh and Levina (Williams) Boyd, who immigrated from Tennessee
to Polk county in 1835, the same year that the McCluers came and there
they became well established on a farm, on which Mrs. McCluer grew to
womanhood and there she attended the pioneer subscription schools. Her
death occurred on November 11, 1899.

Three children were born to James H. McCluer and wife, namely: Addie, born
in Polk county, has remained unmarried and is living in Springfield; the
second child died in infancy; Florence, the youngest, died in St. Louis,
Missouri.

Politically, Mr. McCluer is a Republican, as was also his father, but
neither of them ever aspired to public office. Our subject and family are
members of the Grace Methodist Episcopal church. In 1906, Mr. McCluer
built and now owns the brick store building on the corner of Market and
College streets, which is now a very fine property, He built many business
blocks in the city.




GEORGE A. McCOLLUM. In what is popularly termed the learned professions,
success is the legitimate result of painstaking effort and innate
attributes, but close study and indefatigable research are also necessary
in short, proper intellectual discipline. These, together with the
possession and utilization of other characteristics of equally laudable
nature made the late George A. McCollum of Springfield, eminent in his
chosen calling, and for a number of years he ranked among the leaders of
the Greene county bar. From the start he seemed to realize that there is a
vital purpose in life, "that the thoughts of men are widened with the
process of the suns," and that there is no honor not founded on true
worth, as well as that the highest and most praiseworthy accomplishment
must come from a well trained mind and unselfish, sympathetic nature. All
who knew him well will agree that he was a master of his profession, a
leader among men distinguished for the high order of their legal ability,
and his eminent attainments and ripe judgment made him an authority on all
matters involving a profound knowledge of legal science and vexed and
intricate questions growing out of the various phases of jurisprudence and
its interpretation. He was also prominent in public and fraternal affairs,
and when "death, like a friend's voice from a distant field called to him"
when in the prime of manhood, this locality felt that it had sustained an
irreparable loss.

Mr. McCollum was born in Belfast, Tennessee, April 6, 1868. He was .a son
of E. Alexander and Martha Jane (Jones) McCollum.

E. Alexander McCollum., the father, was born in Marshall county,
Tennessee, December 19, 1834, and Martha Jane McCollum, the mother, was
born in Giles county, Tennessee, May 5, 1844. They both received a limited
education in their native state. Mr. McCollum enlisted in 1861 in the
Forty-second Tennessee Regiment in which he served three years and was
wounded in the battle of Chickamauga. He served under Albert Sidney
Johnson in the battle of Ft. Dollison and saw lots of active service.

Mr. McCollum's parents, Mr. and Mrs. E. A. McCollum still reside in
Belfast, Tennessee. Seven boys and four girls were born to them, namely:
John Henry lives near Belfast. George A., of this sketch; James Edward is
with the Frisco lines; Martin Barney lives in Texas; Henry Clinton lives
near Belfast; Susan; Phenton; Ethel; Ernest lives near Belfast; Max lives
in Michigan and Mattie L.

George A. McCollum grew to manhood in his native community in Tennessee
and there received a good education. He remained at Belfast until 1888,
when he removed to Springfield, Missouri, attending high school here. Soon
after he geban teaching school near Elwood, Greene county, then took up
the study of law in the office of J. R. Vaughan. A comparatively short
time later he was admitted to the bar and in 1892 he and Major W. M.
Weaver formed a partnership for the practice of law. In 1898 the firm was
dissolved and Mr. McCollum entered the office of Judge Arch A. Johnson as
a partner. This association was discontinued in 1907, at which time Mr.
McCollum was retained as attorney for a local public utility. For more
than three years prior to his death he had maintained a suite of modern
offices in the Woodruff building and enjoyed a large and lucrative
practice. In counsel he was thorough, exhausting, always delving to the
bottom of things, eager to know the truth. He was earnest and resolute,
never urging his imagination to soar into vapory nothings. He always went
into court with his case completely in hand, every preparation had been
made—no gaps were let down. In forensic disputation his strong weapon was
pure reason, by both comparative and deductive processes, without
marshaling the aids of rhetoric or eloquence, accessories, it may be
added, which, if occasion would suggest, he employed as invaluable
reserve. He proceeded firmly and strongly on and along direct lines to his
objective, deflecting neither to the right hand nor to the left. Fluent in
expression, with purity and elegance of style, precise and faultless in
language and the orderly and symmetrical arrangement of words and ideas,
the stream of calm, subtle, sinewy, unbroken logic, disdaining.
unnecessary ornament and declining the ordinary resources of the orator,
was fascinating to hear and often almost irresistible in its persuasion.
At the time of his death he was attorney for the Springfield Gas and
Electric Company and the Springfield Traction Company.

Mr. McCollum at one time was exalted ruler of the Florence Lodge,
Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Springfield. He was also a member
of practically all the Masonic bodies having chapters in Springfield. He
also was a member of the Knights of Pythias and was also a member of the
Scottish Rite at Joplin, Missouri; the Modern Woodmen of America lodges.
At various times he had held offices in these lodges. He was at one time a
member of the school board, also served in the city council. He was an
active worker in the Democratic party and in 1906 was chairman of the
Democratic county committee. He was possessed of much business sagacity
and was known to be highly successful in the Springfield commercial world,
having had considerable business interests here. He owned a beautiful home
on South Market street where his family still reside.

Mr. McCollum was married in Springfield in 1896, to Ivy Holman, who was
born here, where she was reared and educated. She is a daughter of Dr.
David E. and Mary S. Holman. To Mr. and Mrs. McCollum two children were
born, namely: Katherine, now sixteen years of age; and Josephine, .who is
four years old.

Mr. McCollum's death occurred suddenly and unexpectedly. when only about
forty-six years of age, on August 10, 1914. Mrs. McCollum and children
were spending the summer at Colorado Springs, Colorado, and were thus
absent from Springfield at the time of his death, which came as a shock to
the entire community.




JOHN AARON McCONNELL. Many elements contribute to the development of a
country, but no one thing plays so large a part as sterling worth and
character. It is to the rugged, steadfast men and women who come into its
domain that any country must look for its progress, and it is most often
the plain, blunt men of business and everyday affairs who most affect a
country's history. One of the most extensive farmers in the southwestern
part of Greene county is John Aaron McConnell, who grew up just after the
Civil war. Through the years that have passed since then, his life has
been a busy and fruitful one, and he has played an important part in the
affairs of the community during the most important period of its
development. He is one of our best examples of a successful self-made man.

Mr. McConnell was born on South street, Springfield, Missouri, April 17,
1865.He is a son of Thomas C. and Hannah B. (Bledsoe) McConnell, who
emigrated to Springfield from Tennessee during the Civil war, and in this
city the father maintained a grocery store until 1868, when he removed to
Granby, Missouri, where, shortly afterward he was accidentally killed. Our
subject was at that time less than two years old, and his mother removed
with him to Christian county to make their future home, with Mrs.
McConnell's parents, who resided on a farm in that county, and there our
subject spent his early boyhood. When eight years of age his mother
married again, her last husband being James Holderby, a Baptist minister
at Wilson Creek, where our subject lived until he was fifteen years old,
leaving home at that time to work out as a farm hand. He had little
opportunity to obtain an education, but this lack in his early life has
been subsequently made up for by wide home reading until he has become a
well informed man on current topics and important movements in the world's
affairs. Saving his money when a lad he was enabled to purchase his first
land, forty acres, in Brookline township, Greene county, when twenty-four
years of age. He was not only a hard worker, but a good manager as well,
and, prospering with advancing years, he added to his original purchase
until he owned a fraction less than nine hundred acres of valuable land.
He has given each of his three children forty acres, and the use of eighty
each out of his ranch, the rest he keeps well improved and well cultivated
and engages in general farming

and stock raising on a large scale, being regarded by his neighbors as one
of the progressive agriculturists of the county. He has a large and well
furnished home and numerous good barns and outbuildings in general, and an
excellent grade of live stock of all kinds may be seen on his place. All
this is the result of close application and honest dealings with his
fellow men as well as the exercise of sound judgment. About three hundred
acres of his land embraces the Wilson Creek battlefield, a part of
historic "Bloody Ridge" where the greatest slaughter took place being on
his land, and the home that he occupies at the present time is the one
where the body of Gen. Nathaniel Lyon, commander-in-chief of the Union
army, was laid out soon after he was killed about noon on the day of the
battle. Mr. McConnell has a number of relics picked up on the battlefield
which he takes a pride in exhibiting. Mr. McConnell handles a number of
car loads each season of cattle, hogs and grain.

He raised two hundred and fifty acres of wheat in 1914 that averaged over
twenty-three bushels to the acre. In 1915 he had about the same acreage,
with about sixty acres of corn. His farm is second to none in the county.

Mr. McConnell was married in December, 1885, to Mollie Keltner, a daughter
of George and Martha Keltner, of Republic, this county. She was born in
Greene county and here grew to womanhood and was educated in the common
schools. She proved to be an excellent helpmeet and when her death
occurred in 1902 she was greatly missed by her neighbors who knew her for
a woman of the finest character and noble impulses.

To our subject and wife the following children were born: Josephus married
Minnie Hagwood, lives in Brookline township and they have three children,
Earl, Virgil and Elsie; Bessie married William McElhany, of Brookline
township, and they have two children Gladys and Glen; Myrtle married
Robert McClure, of Republic township: and they have one child, Eva; a son
died in infancy, unnamed.

Mr. McConnell is a stanch Democrat.




MILTON C. McCONNELL. The life of Milton C. McConnell, for many years a
prominent farmer and grain dealer in Campbell township, Greene county, who
is now a deputy sheriff of this county and living in Springfield, has been
such as to bear aloft the high standard which has been maintained by his
father, who was one of the early residents of this section of the Ozarks,
and whose life was singly noble and upright, one over which falls no
shadow of wrong in word, thought or deed. Such was the type of men who
laid the foundation and aided in the development of this locality, and to
their memories will ever be paid a tribute of reverence and gratitude by
those who have profited by their well-directed endeavors and appreciated
the lesson of their lives.

Mr. McConnell was born in Giles county, Tennessee, November 24, 1856. He
is a son of James A. and Nancy C. (Knox) McConnell, both natives of
Tennessee, the date of the father's birth being October 10, 1825. These
parents grew to maturity in their native state and were married there and
spent their earlier years. The mother of our subject died when he was
quite young and he has little recollection of her. James A. McConnell
received a good education of his day and he devoted his life to teaching
and farming. He came to Greene county, Missouri, with his family in 1857
and located in the western part of the county on a farm and there spent
the rest of his life, dying in 1899. His family consisted of seven
children, all sons, namely: John K. lives in Greene county; George H.
makes his home in Prairie county, Arkansas; James C. of Springfield;
Milton C., of this sketch; Henry D., of St. Louis; Albert A. lives in
Oklahoma, and Josephus is a resident of Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Milton C. McConnell grew up on the farm and he received a common school
education, which was limited for lack of opportunities, as the war between
the states was in progress during his boyhood days. He remained with his
father until he was about twenty-four years of age And then went to
farming for himself. In 1880 he purchased one hundred and forty-five acres
in Brookline township, which he improved until it ranked with the best
farms of the township, and here he carried on a general farming business
successfully, and also did a large and lucrative grain business for years,
maintaining an elevator at Brookline. He also devoted considerable
attention to handling live stock. He removed to Springfield a few years
ago and now lives in a good home on West Walnut street. In January, 1913,
he was appointed deputy sheriff of Greene county and is discharging the
duties of that office at this writing. Politically, he is a Democrat, and
has long been more or less active in the ranks of his party. He and his
wife are members of the Presbyterian church.

Mr. McConnell was married in 1884 to Mattie E. Firestone, a daughter of
James H. and Mary J. Firestone, natives of Tennessee, where they grew up
and from which state they came to Greene county, Missouri, in an early
day. They were the parents of twelve children, Mrs. McConnell being next
to the oldest.

To Mr. and Mrs. McConnell five children have been born, named as follows:
Mrs. Gertrude Crowe lives in Lebanon, this state; Thomas T. is a graduate
of Purdue University, Lafayette, Indiana, and is now director of athletics
and teaches agriculture in the University of Arkansas, at Fayetteville;
Milton Lee lives in San Francisco, California; Lucile died in infancy, and
Ethel, who is at home. Mrs. Mary J. Firestone is still living and is
making her home with our subject and wife. Mr. Firestone has been deceased
a number of years.




GABRIEL McCRAW. When Greene county was covered with primeval forests and
tall prairie grass and when wild animals of many species roamed the then
little developed lands, over which wound Indian trails, the McCraw family
came here and began carving a home from the far-stretching woods, and
assisted in building schools and churches and assisting in the general
introduction of the customs of civilization in the wilderness, giving vent
to that mysterious quality in the blood of primitive people to push on to
the edge of things. They were genuine pioneers, willing to take the
hardships that they might acquire the soil and the home that was sure to
rise. Gabriel McCraw, well known citizen of Taylor township, who has lived
beyond the allotted barrier of three score and ten years, all of which
have been spent in this locality, can relate many interesting things that
have transpired here since the country was first settled. He has witnessed
with his own eyes the many changes that have taken place and in which he
has taken no inconspicuous part himself.

Mr. McCraw was born on the farm which he now occupies, April 3, 1843. He
is a son of John L. and Elizabeth (Kenner) McCraw. The father was born in
Hawkins county, Tennessee, December 8, 1808, and there he grew up on a
farm. The mother was also born in that county and state, in 1806 and was
reared on a farm. They both attended the district schools, and were
married there in 1835. They immigrated to Greene county, Missouri, in
1836. Here John L. McCraw prospered and became owner of a fine farm of
three hundred and thirty acres, and here he and his wife spent the rest of
their lives, his death occurred April 2, 1882. She preceded him to the
grave many years, dying in 1854. Politically, he was a Republican, and for
a number of years he was county surveyor. He was well known and was
influential in public affairs. His wife was a member of the Methodist
church. They were the parents of eight children, namely: Susan is
deceased, Josephine, Elizabeth is deceased, John L., Gabriel William,
deceased; Joseph P., deceased; and James E.

Gabriel McCraw was reared on the homestead here, where he worked when he
became of proper age, and in the winter time he attended the district
schools. In 1862, when only eighteen years of age, he enlisted in Company
L., Eighth Missouri Cavalry, under Captain Keller, and served faithfully
for the Union until the close of the war, when he was honorably discharged
at Little Rock, Arkansas. He saw considerable hard service, and
participated in the battle of Prairie Grove, where he was taken prisoner
and held for three weeks, when he was exchanged, in April, 1863, rejoining
his regiment at Rolla, Missouri. He participated in the battle and capture
of Little Rock in that year. He was in a number of skirmishes. After his
discharge he returned home and has since been actively engaged in general
farming and stock raising on the home place, which consists of four
hundred and ten acres, in which his brother, James E., has one-half
interest. They have kept the place well tilled and well improved and the
buildings in good repair.

Mr. McCraw was married on April 27, 1877, to Columbia E. Watterson, who
was born in Tennessee, near the town of Rogersville, but her parents
brought her to Greene county, Missouri, when she was a child and here she
was reared and educated in the common schools. They were married in this
county. She was a daughter of Francis E. and Martha (Gabraith) Watterson,
both long since deceased. Mrs. McCraw's death occurred in California,
August 26, 1882.

To our subject and wife two children were born, namely: Mrs. Susan E.
Potter, and James G.

Politically, Mr. McCraw is a Republican. He is a member of the Grand Army
of the Republic.




CHARLES W. McCROSKEY. "Earn thy reward; the gods give naught to sloth,"
said the old Greek sage, Epicharmus, and the truth of the admonition has
been verified in human affairs in all the ages which have rolled their
course since his day. Charles W. McCroskey, county superintendent of
public schools of Greene county, and a scion of an old family of the
Ozarks, has, by ceaseless toil and endeavor, attained a large degree of
success, while yet young in years, in his chosen calling and has gained
the confidence and respect of those who know him.

Professor McCroskey is a native of Christian county, Missouri, where his
birth occurred on the 12th day of July, 1878. He is a son of Matthew Duff
McCroskey and Sarah E. Barnett McCroskey and is one of ten children, an
equal number of sons and daughters, all still surviving but two. The
father, M. D. McCroskey, was born, reared and has always lived on the old
homestead in Christian county, Missouri, which the paternal grandfather of
our subject entered from the government in 1846 and which he developed
from the wilderness by hard work and persistent efforts, and there spent
the rest of his life, through many trying scenes of the early days in that
county. His death occurred in 1869. The farm consists of three hundred
acres, and there the father of our subject is carrying on general farming
and stock raising on an extensive scale, raising and shipping to the
markets probably as much live stock as any other farmer of his county. He
has long been known as one of the leading citizens of that county, where
his influence has been exerted all his life for the general good. His wife
came from Tennessee in her youth, her family locating in Christian county.
She received a good education and taught school for a while. She is not
only a woman of strong mind but a devoted worker in the interest of her
family.

Professor McCroskey spent his childhood and youth on his father's farm
amid the stimulating influences of nature, which are conducive to a
well-rounded physical development. Here he learned the habits of industry
and matured plans for the future with the object in view of becoming
something more than a mere passive agent in the world which calls for men
of strong will and well-defined purposes to direct and control its
affairs. Possessing a keen and naturally inquisitive mind and a liking
almost akin to passion for books and study, he made rapid progress in the
country schools he first attended. His rural school work was supplemented
with high school work at Ozark. Mr. McCroskey then decided to teach, so he
entered the old Springfield Normal and finished the teachers' course
there. Desiring further training he entered the Warrensburg State Normal
for two years, at the close of which the Springfield State Normal was
established, so he entered this, his home institution, and received the
degree of Bachelor of Pedagogy in 1907. He then attended the Wisconsin
University for a short time, and spent two summers in Chicago University,
and one year in Drury College, Springfield, Missouri, where he received
the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1913.

During all these years he continued teaching at intervals. Professor
McCroskey taught in a number of rural schools, and in 1907 became
principal of the schools at Willard, Missouri, where he stayed only one
year, being promoted to the head of the schools at Walnut Grove, Greene
county. His work in these two towns caused the board at Republic,
Missouri, to call him to head its schools, and he served as superintendent
for four years, during which time he inaugurated a modern system of
education, which was admirable and effective. From Republic he was called
to the superintendency of the Ash Grove, Missouri, schools, where he
labored with the same zeal and courage, boosting the schools to the front
rank in this part of the country. At the close of his first year of work
in Ash Grove, in 1915, he was elected to head the schools of Greene county
as superintendent, in which position he is now serving. Professor
McCroskey's work as a student and as a teacher has largely been in Greene
county, and here he is doing a work that will long be remembered and felt.
Although a well-rounded man and scholar, history and science are his
favorite lines.

Professor McCroskey owns and operates a valuable, well-improved and
productive farm, ten miles south of Springfield, paying particular
attention to the raising of live stock and grain. He believes in
scientific farming, as was indicated most forcefully in 1912, when he took
the first premium in the corn exhibit at Columbia, for southern Missouri.

Politically, Professor McCroskey is a Democrat. Fraternally, he belongs to
the Modern Woodmen of America, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and
the Masons. Religiously, he affiliates with the Methodist Episcopal
church.




McCUTCHEON BROTHERS. One of the most extensive, best known and reliable
vehicle firms in the Southwest is the McCutcheon, Bros. Vehicle and
Harness Company, manufacturers sales agents for Pekin and New Ebbert farm
wagons, Blue Ribbon vehicles, and wholesale manufacturers of light and
heavy harness, whose large and modernly appointed place of business is
located at 233-235-237 West Commercial street, Springfield, Missouri.

The firm was incorporated under the laws of the state of Missouri in 1908,
located and started business at the corner of Campbell and Commercial
streets, at which place the firm is still doing business, occupying a
commodious, substantial and attractive brick block, conveniently located,
especially as to shipping facilities. They carry a complete line of
buggies, wagons and farm implements of standard makes and representing the
high grade of workmanship and material. From the first their business
prospered and since has shown a substantial gain in volume from year to
year.

Springfield has proven itself important as a distributing center for the
Ozark country on a large list of commodities, and it seemed to the
McCutcheon Bros. that excellent opportunities were offered for the
wholesaling of vehicles and agricultural implements, with Springfield as
distributing point. Therefore, during the early part of 1912, they
completed arrangements with several manufacturers of vehicles, wagon and
implement lines to represent them in the sale of their lines in
southwestern Missouri, north-western Arkansas and Oklahoma. They also
equipped and installed a modern factory for the manufacture of harness
goods. The manner in which dealers of this territory have patronized this
firm is ample proof that the faith of these gentlemen in the project was
not misplaced and that the distributing arrangements were thoroughly
appreciated.

The firms which the McCutcheon Bros. represent are the Durant-Dort
Carriage Company, manufacturers of Blue Ribbon vehicles; Pekin Wagon
Company, manufacturers of Pekin and New Ebbert wagons; the Reeves Pulley
Company, manufacturers of Reeves gasoline engines; Racine Sattley Company,
manufacturers of corn planters, etc. The McCutcheon Bros. also distribute
for Bucher & Gibbs Plow Company, Acme Harvesting Machine Company, Pattee
Plow Company, Hayes Pump and Planter Company, and the American Seeding
Machine Company. The firm also manufactures a complete line of harness
goods which are sold under the name of "Quality Brand" harness, and which
owing to their superiority to other brands find a very ready market over a
wide territory.

The officers of the company are O. J. McCutcheon, president; and L. C.
McCutcheon, secretary.




ALEXANDER McDONALD. The veterans of the great Union army that saved the
nation from disruption during its darkest period should be justly proud of
what they have done for succeeding generations, having left an inheritance
of which we should be very grateful; indeed we owe them a debt of
gratitude that we can never pay. Now that the "sunset of life" is upon
them and the "grand army of the republic" is continuously marching across
the "great divide" to join the "phantom army of the silent land," let us
of the aftermath accord them every courtesy and honor, and prove our
gratitude for what they have achieved while we have the opportunity. One
of this worthy number is Alexander McDonald, who has a long successful
business record here, having conducted a grocery store in the same
locality on West Commercial street, Springfield, for a period of over a
quarter of a century.

Mr. McDonald was born in Morgan county Illinois, June 21, 1844. He is a
son of William McDonald, who was owner of a large farm in the, above named
county and state and a well-known citizen there up to his death, which
occurred many years ago. On this farm our subject was reared until he was
seventeen years of age, obtaining in the meantime a meager education in
the old-time subscription schools. Then the Civil war began, and although
a mere boy, he enlisted in the First Missouri Cavalry, at Jacksonville,
Illinois, under Capt. Barber Lewis, of Company G, and he proved to be an
efficient and brave soldier. He was first sent to Benton Barracks, St.
Louis, then to Tipton, Missouri, later coming to Springfield with Gen.
Fremont's army, in October, 1861, and served in this part of the state
under the dashing Maj. Charles Zagonyi, and in February, 1862, as in the
battle at Springfield when Price retreated, our subject's regiment being
the first to raise the Stars and Stripes over the court house. They
followed Price to Sugar creek, Arkansas, where another battle was fought,
twelve men being lost in our subject's company. About a week later he was
in the two days' battle at Pea Ridge, Arkansas, where some five hundred of
his comrades fell. From Pea Ridge they went to Helena, that state, then
back into Missouri, but later were sent to Little Rock and there engaged
in a skirmish. Mr. McDonald was mustered out and honorably discharged at
St. Louis, in August, 1865, after a faithful service of four years, during
which he was not wounded, sick or a prisoner. Soon thereafter he went to
Jacksonville, Illinois, and took a position as superintendent of the
Jacksonville Woolen Mills Company, with which he remained for a period of
nine years, giving the firm eminent satisfaction in ever respect. He then
went to Bonaparte, Van Buren county, Iowa where he was superintendent of
the Meek Brothers' Woolen Mills for some time, later going to Lewiston,
Illinois, where he continued in the woolen mill business, spending in all
twenty-one years in that line of endeavor, and was a master of this
business, which was an important industry in the Middle West a generation
ago. In 1888 Mr. McDonald came to Springfield, Missouri, and for about six
months was manager of the Springfield Woolen Mills, which was at that time
"tottering to the fall." He then engaged in the grocery business on West
Commercial street, and this he has continued at the same locality to the
present time, enjoying a large, and lucrative trade all the while, owing
to his honest and courteous treatment of his hundreds of regular
customers. He has always carried a large and well-selected stock of staple
and fancy groceries.

Mr. McDonald was married in Jacksonville, Illinois, in 1869, to Elizabeth
Wilson a daughter of James and Jane Wilson, a highly respected old family
of Jacksonville. They became the parents of six children, three of whom
survive; they were named as follows: William is deceased; Sarah is the
wife of Capt. J. A. Rutherford; Elizabeth, wife of Mr. McDonald, our
subject; Samuel is deceased; James is living in Long Beach, California;
Anna married a Mr. Buces, and they live in Seattle, Washington.

To Mr. and Mrs. McDonald one child has been born, Mary M., born in
Jacksonville. She married Fred Garrett and they live here, Mr. Garrett
being engaged in the shoe business.

Politically, Mr. McDonald is a Republican, but he has never aspired to
office. He belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic, and to the Woodmen
of the World. He and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church. She
belongs to the Saturday Club.




GEORGE LAFAYETTE McELHANY. Few residents of the western part of Greene
county are so well and favorably known as George Lafayette McElhany, the
enterprising farmer and representative citizen whose life history is
briefly told in the following lines, and none stand higher than he in the
esteem and confidence of the community in which he has spent his entire
life and for the material, civic and moral advancement of which he has
devoted both time and influence. During his residence here of over three
score years he has noted wonderful changes and talks interestingly of
them. He is of Scotch-Irish descent, and the family of which he is an
honorable representative has been known in America for many generations,
especially has the name been a familiar one in various portions of the
state of Tennessee, but wherever they have dispersed the McElhanys have
been known as enterprising and public-spirited citizens.

Mr. McElhany was born in Brookline township, Greene county, Missouri,
March 13, 1852. He is a son of Warry and Jane (Robertson) McElhany, both
natives of Tennessee, the father born in Granger county, August 3, 1820,
and the mother's birth occurred in Rome county, February 24, 1826. Our
subject's great grandfather was a Scotchman, and his wife was a native of
Ireland. The father died when Warry McElhany was three years old and the
latter spent his boyhood in Tennessee, being seventeen years of age when
he made the overland journey to Missouri with his mother and stepfather,
the family stopping a mile and a half southwest of Springfield, and
cultivated the old Eperson farm, in October, 1837, where they remained a
year, then moved on the north side of the James river in Wilson township
on the old Edwards farm, where they remained a year, then moved to
Brookline township and entered one hundred and sixty acres from the
government, near where the town of Brookline is now located. Warry
McElhany assisted his stepfather, Joel Phillips, clear and develop the
land into a good farm. In 1839 and 1840 he carried the mail between
Springfield and Neosho. In the fall of 1845 he went to Texas, where he
remained a few months, later returning to the home farm in Greene county.

Warry McElhany married, December 23, 1847, Jane Robertson, a laughter of
Linsey and Delilah Robertson, and to this union the following children
were born: Mary, who married Reuben Rose, is deceased, but he is living in
Brookline township; Delilah first married W. T. Adams, now deceased, and
later she married Charles Lloyd; George L., of this review; the next child
died in infancy.

The father of the above named children settled on the farm now owned by
George L. McElhany, in Section 15, in 1850, and here the subject of this
sketch was born and spent his life, working on the place during the summer
months when a boy and attending the neighboring schools in the winter
time, mostly subscription schools. He was nine years of age when the
battle of Wilson's Creek was fought, of which he has a very vivid
recollection and tells many interesting things, also tells of the days
when the Indians still occupied this part of the Ozarks, when his father
was hired by the government to assist in removing the red men from the
vicinity of Springfield to below Cassville. The death of Warry McElhany
occurred July 20, 1889, and his wife preceded him to the grave, December
8, 1885.

George L. McElhany was married twice, first to Alice Garton, August 9,
1874. She was a daughter of J. W. and Elizabeth (Rainey) Garton, and to
this union eleven children were born, namely: Henry H. lives in Brookline
township; Myrtle is the wife of P. F. Shelton of Republic township; Jane
is the wife of G. T. Norman of Brookline township; Lucy is the wife of W.
A. Wiley, of Kansas City; Maggie is the wife of G. W. Ward and they live
in Christian county; Charles and Warry both live in Brookline township;
Robert makes his home in California; Bessie and William Bryan both live at
home; Alice died in infancy. The mother of the above named children passed
away January 6, 1901, and Mr. McElhany was again married July 1, 1907; his
last wife, Mrs. Emma Manley, widow of C. B. Manley, deceased, a native of
Greene county, is a daughter of Ben and Barbara (Fleming) McCormick, who
were residents of Illinois, and in that state Mrs. McElhany was born. She
was one of ten children, all now deceased but two--Mrs. McElhany and the
oldest child, Mrs. Mary Ramsey, who is now seventy-four years of age, and
is living in Woodbine, Iowa.

Politically Mr.; McElhany is a Democrat. He has served as school director
of his district for a period of twenty-five years. Fraternally he belongs
to the Masonic order and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is a
member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church at Brookline.

Mr. McElhany is one of the best farmers of Brookline township. His
well-tilled and well-kept place contains two hundred and eighty acres, all
under cultivation but about sixty acres. His holdings were formerly much
greater but he has given his children forty acres each as a start in life.
His place is known as "Springdale Farm" and is one of the most desirable
in the community. It is a rich red loam soil with a red clay sub-soil a
foot or more under the surface. He has made a pronounced success as a
general farmer and stock raiser, especially in hogs and mules.




WILLIAM H. A. McGINTY. With the higher prices for land and increase in
labor cost we must produce more per acre and get a larger proportion, of
the cost to the consumer. The young men who are using scientific methods
today will hasten the solution of many agricultural problems and it will
pay those interested to keep up with the methods of the young men. One of
the successful farmers of Jackson township, Greene county who is an
advocate of modern methods of farming is William H. A. McGinty

Mr. McGinty was born at Marshfield, Webster county, Missouri, December 12,
1856 He is a son of Abner C. and Mary S. (Haden) McGinty. The father was
born in Tennessee, June 28, 1833. He came to Greene county, Missouri, when
a small boy, and began his career working in the general store of John
Debruin on the west side of the Public Square in Springfield, later
entering the mercantile field for himself, and finally went to West
Plains, Howell county, this state, where he was in business for a while.
During the war he had a general merchandise store in Rolla, Missouri, and
was postmaster there for a short time. The last twenty years of his life
was devoted to the ministry of the Methodist church, in which he ranked
high and did a great deal of good. He became owner of a valuable farm in
Greene county and was a very successful and influential man, highly
esteemed by all who knew him. Politically, he was a Republican. His death
occurred in Springfield, June 26, 1893. The mother of the subject of this
sketch was reared in Greene county, where her birth occurred May 10, 1837,
and here she received a common school education. She was a member of the
Christian church. Her death occurred in Springfield, February 16, 1882. To
these parents eleven children were born, namely: Mary V., born August 14,
1854, married John B. Foster, of Marshfield, Missouri; William H. A., of
this review; Elizabeth, born January 10, 1859, married M. C. Vinton, of
Strafford, Missouri; Sarah G., born September 13, 1861, married George E.
Dillard, of Springfield; Abner J., born March 7, 1864; Freddie, born
-November 14, 1866; Clara, born November 7, 1868, married Dr. W. L. Smith,
of Springfield, Missouri, he is deceased; Abner C., Jr., a merchant of
Neosho, Missouri, born February 17, 1872; James, a merchant in Neosho,
Missouri, born March 13, 1874; Ralph, born November 23, 1876, a farmer of
Neosho, Missouri; and Susan, born February 12, 1882, died in childhood.

The subject of this sketch grew to manhood in Webster county, receiving
his education in the schools of Marshfield. He was in the merchandise
business in Marshfield with his father for four years. When about
thirty-five years of age he inherited the homestead consisting of eighty
acres, and he soon took up general agricultural pursuits, which he has
since followed with success. He now owns a well-kept farm of eighty acres
in Jackson township.

Mr. McGinty was married on April 28, 1879, to Catherine Pritchard, who was
born in Stone county, Missouri, March 28, 1860. She is a daughter of John
and Mary (Sallee) Pritchard. The father was a soldier in the Union army
and died in Arkansas while in the service. The mother died in Greene
county on May 14, 1906. Mrs. McGinty was reared in this county and
educated in the public schools. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal
church.

Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. McGinty, named as follows:
Mrs. Myrtle May Gillespie, born January 4, 1880 lives in this county; Mrs.
Catherine F. Galloway, born July 22, 1882, lives in Springfield; Charles
W., born February 16, 1884, lives in this county; Susan E., born March 23,
1888, died December 23, 1891; Abner P., born January 27, 1892, lives at
home.

Politically, Mr. McGinty is a Democrat. He is a member of the Methodist
Episcopal church.




GUY H. McGUIRE. Whenever an attempt is made to write the history of a
successful enterprise or the worthy career of any man, it has been found
that ability, backed by energy and push, has been the basis of it all, and
this fact can not fail to impress itself upon the writer of history
proper, or that branch of history which consists of the biographies of
those who have achieved sufficient distinction to make the record of their
lives of interest to the public. Guy H. McGuire, a well-known North Side
groceryman, is one of Springfield's business men who owes his success in
life to his own fighting qualities the fighting ability that overcomes
obstacles.

Mr. McGuire was born at Brighton, Polk county, Missouri, October 9, 1878.
He is a son of Henry and Margaret (Cunningham) McGuire, both natives of
Tennessee, the birth of the father occurring on January 1, 1849, and the
mother's birth occurred on August 22, 1857. They grew to maturity on the
farms of their parents in their native state and in Polk county, this
state. They attended the old-fashioned schools, and were children when
their parents brought them to Missouri, each locating in Polk county. The
father devoted his active life to general farming near the village of
Brighton, but he and his wife are now living in Springfield. They have
always been known as plain, honest, church going people, highly respected
by all who know them. They are the parents of five children, named as
follows: Mrs. Nora Page lives in Springfield; Guy H. of this sketch; Mrs.
Grace Randalls is also a resident of this city; Jessie is the wife of R.
W. Coleman and lives in Springfield; Esther married W. T. Fout and lives
in this city. These children all received common school educations and
they are all well situated in life.

Guy H. McGuire spent his early childhood on the farm in Polk county, and
when nine years of age removed with his parents to Springfield, the family
locating on Commercial street, and here he received his education in the
public schools. He began his career in the grocery business when but a
boy, first driving a wagon; he then engaged in farming a few years in both
Polk and Greene county, as well as other sections of the Southwest. He
went into the grocery business for himself in 1906 on Commercial street,
this city, later moving to his present location, 318 West Commercial
street, where he has built up a large business and maintains one of the
most modernly appointed and attractive grocery stores of its size in
Springfield. He carries a complete line of staple and fancy groceries At
all seasons, and he always aims at honesty and promptness in dealing with
his many customers.

Mr. McGuire was married on February 17, 1904, in Springfield, to Margaret
Wells, a native of Webster county, Missouri, and a daughter of P. P. and
Mary (Humphrey) Wells, the father a native of North Carolina and the
mother was born near Lead Hill, Arkansas, and her death occurred in
Springfield on February 8, 1913. Mr. Wells is living retired in this city.
In his earlier life he dealt extensively in the cattle business, later was
a merchant.

To Mr. and Mrs. McGuire one child has been born, Jack P., whose birth
occurred on September 5, 1906, in Kansas City.

Politically, Mr. McGuire is a Democrat, and fraternally he belongs to the
Modern Woodmen.




CHARLES H. McHAFFIE, M. D. The humanizing influences of Christianity are
shown in thousands of directions, but in none to a more marked degree than
that of medicine, and although there are pretenders and incompetents in
every profession who, for a time may seem to succeed as well as those more
worthy, if not, indeed, overshadow them, they eventually reach their level
and the deserving are then shown in their true light. Of the younger
element of Greene county's energetic and promising physicians is Dr.
Charles H. McHaffie, of Springfield, for during the years that he has
practiced his profession he has shown that he is endowed with superior
ability and his comprehensive knowledge of materia medica, together with
the soundness of his judgment, secured him almost immediate recognition
among his professional brethren.

Doctor McHaffie was born in Christian county, Missouri, September 21,
1879. He is a son of Marion and Mary I. (Miller) McHaffie. The father was
born in Tennessee in February, 1845, and he grew up in Christian county,
Missouri. He began life as a farmer, and continued general farming until
his death, which occurred on December 21, 1897. The parents of the mother
of our subject died when she was very young, and she was reared by her
uncle, Solomon Miller. She is still living on the homestead in Christian
county with her youngest son, Marion A. Besides our subject, Dr. Charles
H., there are also three other sons, Oliver Newton, James D. and, Marion
A.

John McHaffie, the paternal grandfather of our subject, was a native of
Tennessee, where his parents were among the earliest settlers, and there
he grew up, married and devoted his life to farming and other business.
The date of his birth was 1818, and he died in Christian county, Missouri,
on June 6, 1876. He was of Scotch and Irish ancestry.

Dr. Charles H. McHaffie grew to manhood on his father's farm and there
assisted with the general work when a boy, and during the winter months he
attended the district schools of Christian county. When but a boy he
determined on the medical profession and began bending every effort in
that direction, and entered, when twenty-two years old, Ensworth Medical
College, at St. Joseph, Missouri, where he made a very satisfactory record
and from which institution he was graduated with the class of April 21,
1906. Soon thereafter he began the practice of his profession at Cross
Timbers, Hickory county, Missouri, remaining there from the spring of 1906
until August 5, 1907, enjoying a very encouraging general practice. He
then located at Rogersville, Webster county, where he practiced with his
former success until April 4, 1914, removing to Springfield at that time,
and after a year's stay he has proven to be not only a capable physician
but also a man of upright principles and is building up a lucrative
practice, maintaining an office at 400 West Commercial street, where he
intends to remain permanently.

Doctor McHaffie was married December 15, 1897, to Myrtle Phillips, a
daughter of Pleasant R. Phillips, a farmer of Christian county, where she
was reared and educated. Three children have been born to our subject and
wife, all of whom died in infancy.

Politically, Doctor McHaffie is a Republican in principle but is inclined
to vote independently. He is a member of the Christian church. He belongs
to the Masonic order, the Woodmen of the World and the American Yeomen. He
also holds membership with the Greene County Medical Society, the
Southwest Missouri Medical Society, the Missouri State Medical Association
and the American Medical Association. He makes every effort to keep fully
up-to-date in his profession.




JAMES S. McILVIN. The great Empire state (which seems to have been given a
most appropriate sobriquet) has sent large numbers of her enterprising
citizens into the great West, where they have made commendable records in
every walk of life, being people who believe not only in doing things but
in doing them well; they seem to be, almost without exception, men and
women who combine the proper elements of character and innate qualities to
make good and useful citizens. James S. McIlvin, a locomotive engineer of
the Frisco Lines, living at Springfield, is one of this number.

Mr. McIlvin was born at Rochester, New York, May 16, 1856. He is a son of
Robert and Rosine E. (Richards) McIlvin, both parents natives of New
Hampshire, each representing an old New England family. They .grew to
maturity in their native state, attended the common schools there and were
married in New Hampshire, but removed from that state to the state of New
York about the middle of the nineteenth century. The father of our subject
was a carpenter by trade and he followed carpentering and building during
the latter part of his life, but his earlier years were devoted to
farming. His death occurred at Westfield, New York, about ten years ago.
He removed his family to Kansas when that state was being settled by
Eastern people and there the mother of our subject died, in the town of
Lacygne, in 1872. To these parents two children were born, namely:
Herbert, a conductor on the Southern Pacific railroad, lives in Dallas,
Texas; and James S., of this sketch.

James S. Mcllvin was taken to the state of Kansas by his parents when he
was a small boy and there-he grew to manhood and received his education in
the common schools. He began his railroad career in 1877, in Pennsvivania,
on the Bessemer railroad, which at that time was known as the old
Alleghany road. He began as fireman and remained with this road about five
years, then came to Kansas and worked out of Dodge City a short time as
fireman on the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe road, removed to Kansas City,
Missouri, in 1881, and began firing on the Kansas City, Ft. Scott &
Memphis railroad. He was sent to Springfield by this road in 1882 and
worked on the Ozark division. He assisted in track laying from Cedar Gap
to Mammoth Spring. In 1883 he was given a regular run as engineer on this
division. He remained with the old "Memphis Route" until it was leased to
the Frisco Lines in 1900, when he went with the latter road, with which he
has remained to the present time. He is now engineer on a freight train,
between Springfield and Thayer. He has given excellent satisfaction in the
various positions he has held with different railroads, being capable,
alert, conscientious and trustworthy.

Mr. Mcllvin was married in Mercer, Pennsylvania, October 23, 1883, to Ida
A. McGinnis, who was born in Venango county, Pennsylvania. She is a
daughter of Samuel and Sarah (Jolly) McGinnis. The father is deceased, but
the mother is living at the advanced age of eighty-five. Mr. McGinnis
devoted his life to farming. Mrs. McIlvin's maternal grandfather, Capt.
Thomas Jolly, was a soldier in the War of 1812, in which he made an
excellent record. He lived to the unusual age of ninety-three years.

Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Mcllvin, namely: Gertrude is
the eldest; Annetta is teaching in the public schools of Springfield;
.Mary, Hazel, Edith K., and June are all at home.

Our subject owns an attractive and well furnished home at 1820 Demming
Place, Springfield.

Politically, Mr. McIlvin is a Republican. He belongs to the Masonic order
and the Order of Eastern Star, he and his wife being charter members of
Crescent Chapter, No. 21. The family belongs to the Cumberland
Presbyterian church.




CYRUS BYINTON McINTIRE. The name of a man of the type of Cyrus
Byington,Mclntire, one of the leading and best known publishers of
Missouri and Kansas a generation ago, should not be permitted to perish
from our historical annals, for he did more to develop a higher grade of
work in his special line of endeavor in the Middle West than anyone else
had ever done and his efforts were greatly appreciated and their effects
are still felt, although he has long been a traveler to the mysterious
realms of shade of which poets and philosophers have dreamed and
speculated since the dawn of civilization, or more properly, the beginning
of man on the earth. Our subject was also a man who did an inestimable
amount of good in a moral way, by both word and deed, his example having
been such as to inspire right living in those with whom he came into
contact.

Mr. McIntire was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, December 5, 1830, and was a son
of James and Hannah (Bigler) McIntire. The father was for years a
prominent business man of Cincinnati, in which city his death occurred
prior to the breaking out of the Civil war. His wife was a daughter of
Governor Bigler, who was chief executive of the state of Pennsylvania in
an early day, and descended from German ancestry. The father was a
prominent Presbyterian and gave largely of wealth to the church and its
causes.

Cyrus B. McIntire spent his youth in Cincinnati where he was given every
advantage in the way of education that the period afforded. He was
educated for the Prebyterian ministry, but later discovered he had little
inclination for the work of a minister and turned his attention to
learning the binding business. In 1852 he went to St. Louis where he
started the largest bindery in the Middle West which was a great success
under his able management. He did all the legal printing for the state of
Missouri as well as much work for private individuals. His work was far
ahead of anything in its line ever before seen in this country, and the
volumes which his presses turned out over a half century ago are still
sound and show high-grade workmanship, comparing most favorably with
modern work by our best publishing houses. Remaining in St. Louis until
1861, Mr. McIntire went to Kansas, locating his binding and printing
establishment in the town of Leavenworth. His reputation had preceded him
and he had all the work he could do from the start, including the state
work. He remained in the Sunflower state until 1878 when he came to
Springfield, Missouri, and opened a printing and binding establishment and
continued with his usual success until his death November 5, 1885.

Mr. McIntire was a man of exemplary Christian character and never
overlooked an opportunity to work for his Master. He was especially active
and loyal in Sunday school work, which he kept up practically all through
his business career. After locating in Springfield he was superintendent
of the Sunday school in Grace Methodist Episcopal church until his death.

Mr. McIntire married Susan F. Fraser of St. Louis, March 6, 1856. She was
born in New York City, November 15, 1837, and is a daughter of Mathew H.
and Hetty Grace (Merritt) Fraser. Mathew Fraser was also a book binder by
trade at Albany, New York, and he had charge of all the state printing in
New York until he moved to St. Louis, Missouri, in 1852. The Merritts were
an early Pennsylvania Quaker family. Mrs. McIntire died in St. Louis in
1860 and Mr. Mclntire some ten years later. Mrs. McIntire spent her
girlhood in New York and she received a good education, being educated at
the Mrs. Willard Seminary of Troy, New York. She is one of the oldest
members of Grace Methodist Episcopal church, in Springfield. She is an
earnest Christian and has practically devoted the latter years to the work
of the church. She is a charter member of the local branch of the Woman's
Christian Temperance Union and is still active in the work. She also
belongs to all the church societies of her denomination. She is
superintendent of the jail and prison work for southwest Missouri, and
while she has had many trying things to contend with, she has been very
successful in her work in this connection, overcoming many discouraging
obstacles and has become widely known for her work in this line. She was
one of the leaders in establishing juvenile courts in this section of the
country and in getting laws framed covering such courts.

Twelve children were born to Mr. and Mrs. McIntire, six of whom are still
living, namely: Mrs. Nellie F. Banks, born in 1860; Stephen L., born in
1864; Mrs. Charlotte A. Barton, born in 1870; Mrs. Jesse May Banks, born
1872: Cyrus B., born in 1874; Mrs. Grace S. Bruer; those deceased never
reached maturity.

Politically Cyrus B. McIntire was a Republican, but never evidenced a
desire to be a politician or office holder. Fraternally, he belonged to
the Knights of Honor, also Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He was an
active member of Grace Methodist Episcopal church.




ELMER E. E. McJIMSEY. Elmer E. E. McJimsey is the editor and owner of The
Springfield (Missouri) Republican. His brother editors declare that to
think of the city of Springfield or of the beautiful Ozark country is to
think in the same moment of Editor McJimsey, so closely has the fame of
the region and of the Missouri journalist, politician and orator become
interwoven.

Mr. McJimsey is not a native of the Ozark country, nor even of Missouri.
This information frequently surprises his most intimate friends. He was
born in the little Indiana town once known as Pleasant Hill, but now
called Wingate, in Montgomery county, February 23, 1862. His father,
Joseph McJimsey, a native of Wheeling, West Virginia, was a merchant of
Pleasant Hill before and during the Civil war and for some years
afterward. In 1875, however, the family came to Missouri, locating at
Maryville, Nodaway county, where Joseph McJimsey engaged in the livery
business, conducting this establishment for years. Joseph McJimsey died at
the age of eighty-two years in Chillicothe, Missouri, March 9, 1906. His
wife, nee Isabel Bales, was born in Xenia, Ohio, in 1837, and is now a
resident of Long Beach, California.

Elmer E. E. McJimsey was educated in the public schools of his native town
in Indiana and those of Maryville. He was from his earliest boyhood a
lover of horses, and at fourteen years of age rode as a jockey with such
success that he continued in this calling for two years. At the age of
sixteen he was made a full partner with his father in the Maryville livery
business, the first name becoming McJimsey & Son.

It was while pushing the interests of this business that the young man,
always a lover of books, began to show a fondness for writing and later
for public speaking.

Mr. McJimsey purchased in 1895 a half interest in the Maryville Tribune
and became at once its editor. Almost as soon as he had fully entered upon
his new duties he realized that he had found his life work, and during the
succeeding eight years the vigor of his writings making possible in a
short time the issuance of The Tribune as a daily instead of a weekly
newspaper attracted wide attention.

Mr. McJimsey was deeply interested in politics and scarcely did his
success as a journalist become assured when he also began to win fame on
the public platform. An enthusiastic believer in and supporter of the
principles of the Republican party, he defended that faith in state
campaigns and became one of a company of earnest young men who took for
their slogan, "Win Missouri for Republicanism." But he was not permitted
to confine his campaign efforts to his own state. Mr. McJimsey's fame as
speaker reached the national Republican headquarters in Washington and he
was called upon to visit the East and participate in the great battles
being waged there for the predominance of Republican principles. One of
his memorable oratorical efforts was when, the day of the death of
President McKinley, he spoke in a pouring rain to a great concourse of
people on the public square of his home town, Maryville, the address being
such a tribute to the martyred executive as stirred his hearers
profoundly.

Calls to more extensive fields came constantly to the Maryville editor as
his reputation grew, and in 1903 he disposed of his holdings in the
Maryville Tribune to his business associate, Curtis Wray, and associated
himself with Charles D. Morris in the purchase of the St. Joseph
(Missouri) Gazette. Mr. McJimsey became at once editor-in-chief of this
paper and soon the journal took front rank with the best daily papers of
the country. In 1906 Mr. McJimsey severed his connection with the Gazette
in order to enter a yet more promising field. With John E. Swanger he
bought The Springfield Missouri Republican on March 1st of that year, and
at once Mr. McJimsey assumed editorial and managerial control. He has seen
this paper grow to one of the influential and valuable properties in the
Middle West, and is not only its editor now, but also principal owner and
president of The Republican Company, as well as a stockholder in the St.
Joseph Gazette Company.

The Republican has wielded, from the moment Mr. McJimsey took up the
direction of its policies, a potent influence in the development of
Springfield and southwestern Missouri. The Republican has stood firmly for
public improvement in city and country. The paper originated the good
roads movement in southern Missouri, and by persistent and wise effort
built up an enthusiasm for highway improvement which has resulted in that
section equalling other portions of the state in the extent and permanency
of its road building. The Republican set about making known to the world
the richness of the natural resources of the Ozarks, the salubrity of the
climate of that region, the beauty of the scenery and the charm of year
around life there. More than to any other factor, it is admitted far and
wide, the ensuing wonderful growth and development of this section of
country is due partly to The Republican's work of loyalty and love toward
this end.

Among the recognitions of his service which have come to Editor McJimsey
have been offers of posts of honor and of opportunity for yet additional
achievements for the public weal. Owing to the extent of his own business
affairs, not all of these responsibilities could be undertaken by Mr.
McJimsey. He accepted the supervisorship of the census in the fourth
Missouri district under President McKinley. He declined the appointment to
the consul-generalship of Peru, South America, offered him by President
Roosevelt. Mr. McJimsey was named by Governor Folk as a member of the
Missouri commission to the Portland Fair in 1905, and by Governor Hadley
as a member of the board of regents of the Springfield State Normal for
six years, beginning with 1909. After serving as president of the board
from 1911 to 1913, Mr. McJimsey was compelled to resign because of other
growing duties. He was appointed by President Taft as postmaster of
Springfield, April 11, 1910, and also as custodian of the Federal building
of that city, resigning both positions in January, 1914. He was named to
the Springfield library board by Mayor Ernst in 1910 resigning in 1913, in
which year he was appointed by Mayor Culler as a member of the Springfield
public park board and was made the first president of that board, which
was created by vote of the people largely as the result of the tireless
work of The Republican to inaugurate a park and boulevard system in
Springfield. Mr. McJimsey was a member of the Republican state committee
of Missouri for two terms, beginning with 1898, was chosen as both
temporary and permanent chairman of the Republican state convention held
at Jefferson City in 1902 and was president of the Young Men's Republican
Association of Missouri, 1911-12. He is a member of the Masonic, Knights
of Pythias, Modern Woodmen and Elks fraternal orders. He is a member of
the Springfield Club and served as its president from 1909 to 1910, and
belongs to the Country Club and the Springfield Club. His family is
Methodist in religious affiliations.

Mr. McJimsey was married at Maryville, August 24, 1901, to Caroline M.
Webb, daughter of H. N. Webb, at the time of his death editor of the
Unionville (Missouri) Republican, and at one time secretary of the
Republican state committee.




ROY McKEE. By a life of persistent and well-applied energy, led along the
most approved lines Roy McKee has won the right to a position in this
history along with other good citizens of Greene county, of which he is a
native and in which he has spent his life. He is one of the best-known and
most promising young men, who has been willing to work hard for his
advancement. He came up from the soil, improved every opportunity as best
he could and the fact that he has recently been elected for a second time
to the responsible position of city collector of Springfield indicates
that he is not only a man of ability and tact, but also of scrupulous
honesty and integrity.

Mr. McKee was born in the northern part of Greene county, Missouri, on a
farm, June 15, 1888. He is a son of William D. and Fanny (Alexander)
McKee. The father was born in Bedford county, Tennessee, March 5, 1852,
and there he grew to manhood and received his education in public schools.
Remaining in his native state until 1882, or until he was thirty years of
age, he came to Greene county, Missouri, where he has since resided. His
earlier life was devoted to general farming, but during the past twelve
years he has been employed in the upholstery department of the Frisco
shops in Springfield, and is a proficient workman in his line. His wife
was born in the year 1856, in Greene county, and to them the following
children were born: Lella, Roy, Auddroth and Ralph. Roy McKee was reared
on the farm in his native community and there he worked when growing up.
When a boy he attended the rural schools in his district. Like many boys
from the farms in the territory adjacent to the Queen City he came here
seeking employment, and became a conductor on the Springfield Traction
Company's lines, which position he held a number of years, giving the
company most satisfactory service in every respect. In 1912 he made the
race for city Collector of Springfield and was duly elected, and he
resigned his position with the traction company to assume his official
duties. The fact that he was re-elected to this office in the spring of
1914 is sufficient evidence of his popularity as a public servant and the
faithful, conscientious and honest discharge of his duties.

Mr. McKee was married February 18, 1908, to May Foster, of Springfield, a
daughter of John and Malinda Foster. She was born in Springfield in 1889
and was reared and educated here.

Two children have been born to our subject and wife, namely: Bernice, born
on September 11, 1909, and Leroy, born May 14, 1911.

Politically, Mr. McKee is a Democrat and is a worker in the ranks of his
party. He is popular in fraternal circles, belonging to the Free and
Accepted Masons, Gate of the Temple Lodge No. 422; Vincil Chapter No. 110,
Royal Arch Masons; St. John's Commandery, Knight Templars; Abou Ben Adhem
Temple of the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine; also
belongs to the Knights of Pythias, Woodmen of the World, Independent Order
of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America.




WILLIAM McKERALL. The annals of Greene county do not present to the
historian a name more worthy of laudation than that of the late William
McKerall, a fine type of the old-time chivalrous Southern gentleman, one
of the largest land owners of this county for many years and in his
earlier career a lawyer of distinction and a soldier of talent, having
been a West Point product and, an officer in the Mexican war. His life was
one of hard study and unselfish industry, whose laborious professional
duties in the various relations in which he was placed, led to a high
position in the esteem of the public, which gave evidence that the
qualities which he possessed afforded the means of distinction under a
system of government in which places of honor and usefulness are open to
all who may be found worthy of them. He passed over the troubled sea of
life like a galleon through the phosphorescent Spanish Main, leaving in
its wake a pathway of illuminating radiance.

Mr. McKerall was born in Orange county, North Carolina, June 17, 1824. He
was a son of John Wilson McKerall and Lorena McKerall, a prominent old
family of the Carolinas. The father of our subject was born at Norfolk,
Virginia, in 1771. His father was a Scotch sailor and was lost at sea.
During John McKerall's early life, his folks moved to North Carolina and
his mother was married to a man by the name of Childs. While Mr. McKerall
was in Tennessee attending to business, the children of his mother's
second marriage, influenced his creditors to push their claims, which they
did, and John McKerall lost his entire estate. He was a lawyer but gave up
his practice late in life and was recorder in Orange county, North
Carolina. He was commander of a company in the War of 1812. His sister was
the wife of one of the governors of North Carolina. John McKerall died of
apoplexy in 1834 on the way from his home to his office in Hillsboro.

Our subject grew to manhood and attended school in Orange county, North
Carolina. When sixteen years of age he entered West Point Military Academy
and was in the same class with Winfield S. Hancock, who, became a famous
general and was called the "hero of Gettysburg." Owing to failing health,
our subject was compelled to leave West Point before he finished the
course. He returned to his home in North Carolina and later entered
Caldwell Institute. When the Mexican war began, he enlisted as a volunteer
and was elected first lieutenant of Company E, in a North Carolina
regiment. Later he was promoted to captain. On one occasion he commanded a
detachment on escort and conducted a supply train one hundred and eighty
miles without loss or mishap. He was a most capable and faithful officer,
trusted and admired alike by his men, and superior officers. He was
honorably discharged at Old Point Comfort, Virginia. He then took up the
study of law and settled in Louisiana, and practiced his profession in
Texas for some time, moving to Waco in 1854. After a successful career at
the bar, he engaged in merchandising and raising cattle on a large scale.
The same year he was appointed to fill an unexpired term as chief justice
of McLennan county, Texas. He discharged his judicial duties in a manner
that reflected much credit upon himself and to the eminent satisfaction of
all concerned.

Our subject was married twice, his first wife being a Miss Sedbury and to
their union two children were born, Nannie and William. In the summer of
1868 he came to Greene county, Missouri, and married Mrs. Mary Roan
(Danforth) Campbell, widow of Capt. John M. Campbell. She was born
February 22, 1838, and was reared and educated in Greene county. She was
the daughter of J. F. and Latitia Danforth. Her first husband, Capt. John
M. Campbell, was born in Springfield, November 17, 1832. When fifteen
years old, he joined the United States army when the Mexican war began and
served in that conflict with credit, taking part in a number engagements.
His father was also a soldier in that war, at the close of which, the
latter was made bearer of dispatches to Washington City. The Campbells
were honorably discharged at the close of the war. Five children born to
Mrs. William McKerall by her marriage with Captain Campbell, namely:
Louisa, Argyle and John, all deceased; Finley lives in California; and
Mrs. Mary Schaffer lives in New Mexico.

To the union of our subject and wife, four children were born, Josiah
Danforth is living in Greene county; Fannie Elizabeth, widow of Thos.
Jackson Bennett, who died November 8, 1913. He was a native of Dallas
county and was a farmer and capitalist. Mrs. Bennett is living on the
homestead with her mother. Daisy is the wife of Jei O'Kino, to whom she
was married December 19, 1913. He is a graduate of the Imperial University
of Tokio and is a gentleman of rare ability. Mrs. O'Kino is also making
her home with her mother; and John Wilson, who is the youngest of the
family. After the marriage of our subject and wife, they settled on land
inherited by Mrs. McKerall, northeast of Springfield. Mr. McKerall
prospered as a general farmer and stockman and at one time owned seven
hundred acres of valuable land in this county and for years ranked among
our most progressive men of affairs and influential and honored citizens.
The house in which the widow and her two daughters reside was built in
1849 and is of the Colonial type.

Politically, William McKerall was a Democrat. He was a member of the
Masonic Order and the Independent order of Odd Fellows. He belonged to the
Methodist Episcopal church. Personally, he was a scholarly, broad-minded
gentleman of never-failing courtesy.




ALBERT SIDNEY McLINN. Diversified farming is essential to profitable
production and maintenance of soil fertility, but it is necessary to
specialize on something to secure a superior standard of excellence. A
well-diversified farm will have the customary crops that are grown in the
locality, together with the usual farm animals, and some one crop or some
one kind of animals should be singled out as a specialty, or the farmer
should give his close attention to some phase of endeavor more than
others. Albert Sidney McLinn, one of the most progressive general farmers
of Murray township, Greene county, has succeeded in a general way, but has
made a specialty of dealing in livestock, for some time feeding, buying
and shipping, and is one of the best-known stock men in the northern part
of the county.

Mr. McLinn was born in Washington county, Tennessee, March 31, 1862. He is
a son of Robert Alexander McLinn and Margaret Caroline (Seehorn) McLinn,
and a grandson of William Richard McLinn, who was a native of Tennessee,
and whose father was a native of Ireland, from which country he immigrated
to the United States in old Colonial days, and from him descended the
present numerous McLinn family. Robert A. McLinn, father of our subject,
was born in Washington county, Tennessee, in 1827, and he spent his life
within one-fourth of a mile of the old homestead there. He was a farmer
and stock trader, bought and shipped mules, cattle and hogs. He was a man,
of prominence in his community and was a leader in Democratic politics. He
served one term as judge of the county court. He was a member of the
Presbyterian church, in which he was an elder for a number of years, and
he took a very active part in church work. His wife was also a native of
Washington county, Tennessee, was a member of the same church and was
active in church and Sunday school work. His death occurred on October 18,
1895, she having preceded him to the grave on August 16, 1880. They were
the parents of nine children, namely: William Richard, deceased; Mrs. Mary
Ida Sellers lives on the old homestead in Tennessee; Mrs. Anna Cordelia
Robinson lives in Lockney, Texas; Albert S., of this review; Luella McLinn
died in Ft. Worth, Texas; James Alexander also lives in Ft. Worth, Texas;
Charles Seehorn lives in Galveston, Texas, and was in the great flood
there in September, 1901; Mrs. Ada Jane Moore lives in Telford, Tennessee;
and Benjamin Franklin is deceased.

It is worthy of note that Washington College, in Washington county,
Tennessee, was founded by James McLinn and was long supported and managed
by the McLinns, who were near relatives of our subject's father.

Albert S. McLinn grew to manhood on the home farm in Tennessee, and there
assisted with the work when a boy, and received a good education in the
home schools. He remained in his native county until May 10, 1881, when he
left his native state and crossed the Cumberland mountains alone, carrying
his clothes in a pillow-case. He was employed by a man named Day at
Jackson, Breathitt county, Kentucky, and helped survey a railroad in the
Cumberland mountains under Captain Kelton, who surveyed and built the
Frisco railroad through Willard, Greene county, the road being known as
the Bolivar branch, terminating at the county-seat of Polk county, until
it was built on north many years later to connect the Blair line at
Osceola. He also attended school at Hazelgreen, that state, for three
years, the town being at that time about one hundred miles from a
railroad. Coming to Missouri, in 1884, he worked under Captain Kelton at
St. Louis. Mr. McLinn located in the vicinity of Cave Spring, Greene
county, on rented land, bought a team and began general farming, and has
lived in this locality ever since. In 1896 he purchased eighty acres, in
Murray township, on which he resided until 1900, then sold out and rented
the Spencer Watson farm of forty acres and the Wesley Wadlow farm of one
-hundred and fifty-three acres together and lived there until 1903, when
he moved to the old homestead residence of Wesley Wadlow, whose widow
still lived on the place, and after her death Mr. McLinn purchased the
interests of the other heirs, in 1909, and here he still resides, now
owning one hundred and ninety-seven acres of good land, on which he has
made many important improvements, and carries on general farming and stock
raising, handling large numbers of mules, cattle and hogs annually. During
the winter months he buys, trades and ships live stock, and usually feeds
a large herd of cattle and hogs. He has erected on his place a modern barn
and silo and other substantial buildings, and his place, which is known as
the "Side View Farm," is one of the best appearing and valuable in the
township. Twenty-five acres of his land has been set to apples,
principally the Ben Davis variety, and he devotes considerable attention
to the same, and in favorable years this nets him a neat income. The, farm
is well located; public roads run past three sides of his farm and one
passes through the place.

Mr. McLinn was married, first, on October 21, 1886, to Rachel Wilson, a
native of Greene county, who died in 1900, leaving three children, namely:
John Herman, who married Barbara Lee Kime, of Willard, lives on a farm in
Murray township; Jessie Leona, who married Clarence Gorsuch, lives in
Lamar, Missouri; Gladys Lucile lives at home.

On May 2, 1903, our subject married Lillie D. Wadlow, and two children
have been born to this union, namely: Robert Wesley and Mary Margaret.
Mrs. McLinn was born and reared near Willard, this county, and was
educated in the local schools. She is a daughter of John Wesley Wadlow,
who was born in Washington county, Virginia, now a part of West Virginia,,
December 17, 1797, and there he spent his early boyhood, immigrating from
Tennessee to Greene county, Missouri, about 1835, and settling twelve
miles northwest of Springfield. On July 24, 1837, he married Mary
Hastings, and to them seven children were born, namely: Alzirah Jane,
deceased; Mary Louisa, living; Sarah Ann, Margaret Elizabeth, Martha
Agnes, Matilda Caroline and John W. are all deceased. Mary Hastings was
born on January 27, 1820, and her death occurred on December 12, 1854. On
November 29, 1858, John W. Wadlow married Mary Ann Lethco, a native of
Greene county, and seven children were also born to this union, namely:
Joanna, Susan Arbell, Charles F., George W. and Dora Emma were twins;
Laura May is deceased; and Lillie Daisy, wife of our subject, is the.
youngest of the family. The death of the mother of these children occurred
on March 13, 1909. Cyrus Cunningham, grandfather of the wife of our
subject was a soldier in the Revolutionary war.

John W. Wadlow was a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal church,
South, and he gave a tract of land on which was built the Wesley chapel,
of this township, and he also donated ground for a cemetery, and in this
he was finally laid to rest at. the advanced age of ninety-two years,
after a long, useful and honest life, replete with kindness, good deeds
and blessings to others. In his early days he taught school, and was
justice of the peace in Greene county for many years. He was a typical
pioneer. He entered land from the government in Virginia, and from that
state moved to Tennessee with his parents, John Wesley Wadlow and Marv
(Kenold) Wadlow, and received his education. He was a Democrat, was a well
read and influential man and was a hard-working, successful farmer, and by
his thrift and good management accumulated a comfortable competence. He
remained vigorous in his old age and was able to do a great deal of work
up to the last. His wife, Mary Ann Lethco, was born on March 28, 1829, in
Richland county, North Carolina, and when twelve years of age she made the
long overland journey from that remote section of Dixie land to Greene
county, Missouri, the family locating near Ebenezer, in Robberson
township. Her death occurred at the age of seventy-nine years. She was a
member of the Methodist Episcopal church, South, at Wesley chapel and
Willard, holding membership in this denomination over sixty years.

Mr. McLinn, our subject, made a trip to Tennessee with his family in 1905
and attended a reunion of the McLinns, a large number of whom still reside
in Washington county. He has many valuable heirlooms, such as old gold and
silver pocket-pieces, bed-spreads, table-cloths of fine linen, and many
other things, all of which he highly prizes.

Politically, Mr. McLinn is a Democrat, but has never cared for an active
public life. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, South, at
Willard, to which his wife also belongs, and they both take an active
interest in church and Sunday school work, the missionary society and the
young people's meetings. They are advocates of all good things for their
community, and the general welfare of the township and county, being
broad-minded, well-read and neighborly.




CYRUS J. McMASTER. There are always valuable lessons to be gained in
perusing the life histories of such men as the late Cyrus J. McMaster, one
of Greene county's, most progressive citizens of a past generation, whose
life forcibly illustrated, what energy, integrity and fixed purpose can
accomplish when animated by noble aims and correct ideals. During the
years of his residence in the county he held the unequivocal esteem of
those with whom he came in contact, for he was a man whom to know was to
trust and admire, owing to his many commendable attributes of head and
heart, and when the "reaper whose name is death" gathered him in his
sheaves he was greatly missed by a wide acquaintance. For many years he
was one of the leading business men on the north side of Springfield, and
was widely known as a hardware and implement dealer over this section of
the Ozarks.

Mr. McMaster was born in Dade county, Missouri, on May 18, 1847. He was a
son of Edward H. and Eliza J. (Bull) McMaster, both natives of North
Carolina, where they grew to maturity, were educated exceptionally well
for their day and generation. The father studied medicine and received his
degree, after taking the prescribed course in a medical college, and he
became a successful general practitioner, most of his active life being
devoted to this vocation. The parents of our subject were married in their
native state, but while yet young removed to Missouri in an early day,
located in Dade county, where they became prominent among the pioneer
settlers, and they spent the rest of their lives in this state. Their
family consisted of nine children, four of whom are still living, named as
follows: Rufus W., Mrs. Carrie Patterson, Mrs. Ester Denby and Mrs. Madge
Denby.

Cyrus J. McMaster received his early education in the public schools of
Dade county, but he was for the most part a self-made man, having had
little assistance in any way, working persistently and earnestly to
advance himself. He came to Walnut Grove, Greene county, when young, and
there remained until he was about twenty-six years of age, when he came to
Springfield. He had for some time been engaged in the harness and saddlery
business, which he continued after coming to this city for three or four
years then went into the buggy and wagon business, which he conducted
alone and on an extensive scale for a period of thirty-four years, during
which he carried on a successful trade over a wide territory and was one
of the best known men in this line of business in southwestern Missouri, a
large part of his trade extending into adjoining counties. He was the
county agent of a number of the best makes of wagons and buggies and had
full charge of the business of these firms in this section of the state.
Eight years before his death he went on the road as traveling salesman for
the Joel Turney Brothers Wagon Company, of Illinois, and gave this firm
eminent satisfaction in every respect, doing much to extend the prestige
of the same in the territory assigned him. He remained active in his
chosen line of work until his death. He was one of the best informed men
in the implement trade in the state, and his judgment and veracity could
always be relied upon, so that his thousands of customers reposed implicit
confidence in his integrity at all times during his career. His large
vehicle house on Commercial street was kept fully stocked with various
kinds of standard wagons, buggies, carriages and other similar things used
by farmers and in fact, all classes of citizens who bought and used
vehicles of any kind.

Mr. McMaster was married, December 16, 1869, at Walnut Grove, to Belle
Weir, who was born in Springfield, Illinois, April 23, 1852. She was a
daughter of James D. and Fidelia (Meachel) Weir. They were natives of
Kentucky and Illinois, respectively. They grew up in their localities and
were educated in the common schools, and when a young man Mr. Weir left
the Blue Grass State and located in Illinois, where he married. They
established their home on a farm, devoting their lives to agricultural
pursuits. Their family consisted of nine children, three of whom are
living at this writing, namely: Andrew, Mrs. Agnes Dagan and Marion. Mrs.
Belle McMaster grew to womanhood in Illinois and received a good education
in the schools there. She proved to be a most faithful helpmeet and was a
woman of many commendable characteristics. Her death occurred on September
14, 1914.

To Mr. and Mrs. McMaster two children were born, namely: Vernie, born
April 6, 1871, married John French, and they live in St. James, Missouri;
Walter W., born March 22, 1874, married Nettie Smith. He was in the
recorder's office of Greene county for a period of twelve years, eight
years as deputy, and four years as recorder. His long retention in this
office, one of the most important in the county, would indicate that the
people imposed implicit confidence in his ability and integrity. He is now
engaged in business on the north side.

Cyrus J. McMaster was a veteran of the Civil war, having been but a mere
boy when he enlisted in 1861 in a regiment of Missouri volunteers, having
enlisted from Walnut Grove. He was in the army four years, seeing quite a
good deal of active service, and serving in a most creditable manner for
one of his tender years. Politically, he was always a Republican, and
religiously, he belonged to the Presbyterian church, while his family
affiliates with the Methodist Episcopal church.

Mr. McMaster was called to his eternal rest on December 30, 1912, at the
age of sixty-five years, after a successful and honorable life.




WALTER WEIR McMASTER. Walter Weir McMaster belongs to the class of
citizens whose lives do not show any meteoric effects, but who by their
support of the moral, political and social status for the general good,
promote the real welfare of their respective communities, and are
therefore deserving of honorable mention in the pages of history. He takes
an abiding interest in the progress and improvement of schools, good
roads, in fact, in all matters pertaining to the upbuilding of his city
and county.

Mr. McMaster was born in Springfield, Missouri, on March 22, 1874. He is a
son of Cyrus J. and Belle (Weir) McMaster. The father of our subject was a
son of Dr. Edwin K. and Eliza J. (Bull) McMaster, and was born in Dade
county, Missouri, May, 1847. His parents were natives of North Carolina,
and were among the pioneer settlers of Dade county. In 1851 his parents
moved to Greene county, where Cyrus J. grew to manhood and was educated.
In 1864 he enlisted in the Fourteenth Missouri Cavalry, and served until
the war closed. During 1869-70 he carried on the saddle and harness
business at Walnut Grove, this county. In 1871 he came to what was then
called North Springfield and engaged in the produce and commission
business. In 1880 he entered into partnership with George O. Vick and they
carried on a thriving business in produce and grain shipments, handling
about a quarter of a million dollars' worth of grain in 1882. We next find
him engaged in the buggy and wagon business, which he conducted alone and
on an extensive scale for a period of thirty-four years and was one of the
best known dealers in this line in southwestern Missouri. Besides, he was
local agent for a number of the standard makes of wagons and buggies.
About 1904 he went on the road as traveling salesman for the Joel Turney
Brothers Wagon Company, of Illinois. He remained active in business
affairs until his death, which occurred, on December 30, 1912. In Walnut
Grove, on December 16, 1869, he had married Belle Weir, who was born in
Springfield, Illinois, on April 23, 1852; she was a daughter of James D.
and Fidelia (Meacheld) Weir, natives of Kentucky and Illinois,
respectively. They spent their active lives on a farm in Illinois, and to
them nine children were born, only three of whom now survive, namely:
Andrew, Mrs. Agnes Dagan and Marion. To Mr. and Mrs. McMaster two children
were born, namely: Vernie, born on April 6, 1871, married John French, and
they reside in St. James, Missouri, and Walter W., subject of this sketch.

The death of Mrs. Belle McMaster occurred on September 14, 1914.

Walter W. McMaster was educated in the Springfield schools, and where
seventeen years of age he went into his father's store as clerk, remaining
there several years, then took a position in the coach department of the
Frisco shops, in the repair department, in which he remained three years,
then started in the implement business with his father on Commercial
street and remained in this two years, then, in 1902, he was appointed
deputy recorder of deeds and. served eight years as such in a most
faithful manner. In 1910 he wag elected recorder of deeds on the
Republican ticket, serving one term, discharging the duties of the same in
a manner that was highly satisfactory to all concerned. He is now engaged
in the implement and real estate business.

Mr. McMaster was married on July 10, 1893, to Nettie Smith, who was born
in Springfield, Missouri, on August 28, 1875, and here grew to womanhood
and received her education. The union of our subject and wife has resulted
in the birth of five children, named as follows: Raymond, born in, 1894;
Irma, born in 1899; Verna, born in 1901; Marjorie, born in 1903, and
Louise, born in 1910.

Politically Mr. McMaster is a Republican, and has been faithful in his
adherence to the party in both victory and defeat. Fraternally he is a
member of the Modern Woodmen of America, the Yeomen and the Court of
Honor, and religiously he belongs to the Presbyterian church, in which he
is a trustee and is active in the affairs of the congregation.




JOHN A. McMEHEN. At the outset of his career John A. McMehen, well-known
farmer and stockman of Walnut Grove township, Greene county, recognized
the fact that it takes self-reliance, perseverance and fortitude to win
success in any line of human endeavor, so he did not seek any shady lanes
to the goal of prosperity, but began to work diligently and along
honorable lines to advance himself and the result is that he is now
numbered among the successful and progressive citizens of his locality,
and is a creditable representative in every way to the McMehen family, one
of the most influential in the vicinity of Walnut Grove for the past forty
years or more.

Mr. McMehen was born on a farm near Champaign, Illinois, November 12,
1869, some four years after his parents, James and Hannah R. (McConnell)
McMehen, settled there. (See sketch of William A. McMehen on another page
of this volume for further mention of parents.)

John A. McMehen grew to manhood on the home farm, being a small boy when
the family removed here from Illinois, and he received his education in
the local public schools. He remained on the home farm until he reached
young manhood, doing his share of the general work, then started out for
himself, buying seventy-three acres from his father and at the present
time he owns a productive and well-kept place of one hundred sixty-nine
land one-half acres. In connection with general farming he handled
livestock on an extensive scale, especially mules, and is one of the
well-known and successful stockmen of the county, being all excellent
judge of them.

Mr. McMehen was married on December 24, 1893, to Jessie B. Rountree, who
was born in Cedar county, Missouri, October 22, 1874, and there she grew
up and was educated in the public schools. She is a daughter of Thomas B.
and Dorothy (Haley) Rountree, both of whom still live on the homestead in
Cedar county, and are actively engaged in the mercantile business at Cain
Hill, Missouri.

To Mr. and Mr. McMehen six children have been born, namely: The first
child died in infancy, unnamed; John A., Jr., born August 26, 1898;
Rountree, born on September 7, 1900; Blon, died on April 29, 1902; Jessie
B., born March 23, 1903, and Andrew M., born December 30, 1912.

Politically, our subject is a Democrat, fraternally a member of the
Masonic order, and he belongs to the Methodist church. His wife is a
member of the Christian church.




WILLIAM A. McMEHEN. The student interested in the history of the
northwestern part of Greene county does not have to carry his
investigations far into the annals of Walnut Grove township before
learning that William A. McMehen has long been an active and leading
representative of its fine agricultural interests and that his labors have
proven a potent force in making this a rich farming region. Through
several decades he has carried on diversified farming and stock raising,
gradually improving his extensive farm, and while he has prospered in this
he has also found ample opportunity to assist in the material development
of his locality, and his co-operation has been of value to the general
good.

Mr. McMehen is one of the few Canadians in Greene county, and, like all of
his fellow countrymen, is energetic and resourceful. His birth occurred in
the province of Ontario, Canada, April 30, 1864. He is a son of James and
Hannah (McConnell) McMehen. The father was born in same locality as was
our subject, April 26, 1826, and the mother was also born in Canada. There
these parents grew to maturity, each received fairly good educations in
the schools there and were married in that country. Removing from Ontario
in 1865 they first located near Champaign, Illinois, where they spent five
years on a farm, then came on to Greene county, Missouri, and here James
McMehen became owner of a good farm of two hundred and forty acres, to
which he later added sixty acres, and was a successful general farmer, and
here his death occurred in February, 1908. The mother of our subject is
still living, now advanced in years, and makes her home in the town of
Walnut Grove, on part of the old homestead. She is a member of the
Methodist church, of which Mr. McMehen was also a member. They were the
parents of eight children, one of whom is deceased, and named as follows:
Mrs. Barbara Rice, Andrew M., Charles A., William A., Mrs. Minnie E.
Reger, John A., and James. The other child died in early life.

William A. McMehen was six years old when his parents removed with him
from Canada to Illinois and there he spent his early boyhood, being six
years old when the family established their future home at Walnut Grove,
Missouri, and here he grew to manhood on the farm where he now lives, and
attended the public schools. He worked for his father until he was
twenty-one years old, then bought a part of the homestead, to which he has
added until he now owns one of the finest and best improved farms of
Walnut Grove township, comprising three hundred thirty-two and one-half
acres, where he has been very successful as a general farmer and stock
raiser, making a specialty of shorthorn cattle and he also deals
extensively in live stock especially mules and cattle, being, like his
brothers, an excellent judge of both.

Mr. McMehen was married in 1892 to Nattie Waltz, who was born in Polk
county, this state, and reared there on a farm. She received a good
education and in her girlhood taught school very successfully for some
time. She is a daughter of Elias and Helen (Britton) Waltz, the father now
deceased but the mother is still living.

The union of our subject and wife has resulted in the birth of one child,
Ena Lee McMehen, born on December 20, 1907.

Politically, Mr. McMehen is a strong Democrat, loyal to the party in both
victory and defeat. Fraternally he is a member of the Masonic order,
including the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He is a
member of the Methodist church. He is one of the influential men of this
section of the county.




OTTO D. McMILLAN. Among the enterprising restauranteurs of Springfield is
Otho D. McMillan, who was formerly engaged in the meat market business
here. He has been successful in both fields of endeavor because of his
close attention to business. Mr. McMillan came to Springfield twenty-four
years ago from Wichita, Kansas, when entering young manhood, and this has
been the scene of his life's activities ever since. He was proprietor of a
meat market on South street for a period of fifteen years, enjoying a good
trade all the while. Six years ago, or in 1909, he purchased the
well-known Culley cafe at 311 College street, and this he has conducted to
the present time, during which period he has had his share of the
restaurant business of the city.

This cafe has been in existence over thirty years, having been the
original "owl" restaurant of Springfield. Mr. Cully, who conducted the
place many years, was well known as a caterer in this section of the
country until his death some twelve years ago. His restaurant was the
gathering place for visitors to the city from the smaller towns in this
region, and many of them still repair to their old eating-place when
stopping here.

Mr. McMillan has not only maintained the well-earned reputation of the
establishment, but under his management the Culley cafe has become even
more attractive to epicures than ever before.

Otho D. and Laura H. McMillan have a comfortable home on East Elm street.




JAMES GILMER McMURTY. In placing the name of James G. McMurtry, president
of Drury College, in the front rank of educators who have at one time or
another honored Springfield with their residence, simple justice is done a
biographical fact, recognized by all who are familiar with his history. A
man of high intellectual attainments, wise discretion and rare executive
ability, he has managed with tactful success the great institution of
which the citizens of Greene county are justly proud. He has been very
largely the architect of his own fortunes, has been true and loyal in all
the relations of life and stands as a type of that sterling manhood which
ever commands respect. He is a man who would, no doubt, have won a
conspicuous position in whatever environment fate might have placed him,
for he has sound judgment, coupled with great energy and keen discernment,
all of which make for success wherever they are rightly applied and a
laudable ambition is persistently followed. Withal, he is an unassuming
and cultured gentleman, popular in all circles in which he moves.

President McMurtry was born on a farm in Parke county, Indiana, April 2,
1870. He is a scion of a sterling old family of the Hoosier state, being a
son of David W. and Martha E. (Cooper) McMurtry. The father, also a native
of Parke county, was born in 1837 and died in 1910, at the age of
seventy-three years, after a long and successful career as a general
farmer and stock raiser. He was a son of John S. and Margaret (McKee)
McMurtry, both natives of Kentucky, from which state they came to western
Indiana in pioneer days, and there became well established through their
industry. The McMurtrys have ever stood for right living and good
citizenship, and it has been a pleasure to our subject to keep untarnished
the bright escutcheon of the family name.

James G. McMurtry grew to manhood on his father's farm on which he laid
the foundation for a robust manhood by performing his full share of the
work during crop seasons. In the winter time he attended the district
schools, later taking a course in Wabash College, from which institution
he was graduated in 1893, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. In 1895
this institution conferred upon him the degree of Master of Arts, and
Doctor of Philosophy in 1898. After leaving college he began his career as
educator, in which his rise was rapid, each succeeding year finding him
further advanced, until today he is universally recognized as one of the
foremost educators of the Middle West. He has specialized in Greek, and is
regarded as an authority on that old classic language. He has made himself
proficient in Latin also, and he taught these languages in the Collegiate
Institute at Carthage, Missouri, in 1893-94. From 1895 to 1897 he was
vice-president of Washington College in Tennessee, and was professor of
Greek and philosophy in that institution, then taught the same branches in
Henry Kendall College until 1902. He then went to Parsons College,
Fairfield, Iowa, where he remained seven years as professor of Greek. When
he first entered upon his duties there one pupil out of every twenty-three
was studying Greek. He made this department so popular that when he left
there one out of every two students was studying this dead language, a
remarkably notable increase which perhaps has not been equalled in any
other school.

His insatiable thirst for higher learning led Professor McMurtry, after
five years' work in Parsons College, to an extended sojourn abroad in
travel and study in Scotland, France, Germany, Italy, Greece, Egypt and
Palestine. He had not been in Europe long until he became a member of the
American School of Archaeology at Athens, Greece. He has also been a
member of the Classical Association of the Middle West and South since
1905, and since 1907 his name has been on the membership roll of the
American Philological Association. He is a man of highly developed
perceptive faculties, and thus being a keen observer, he was greatly
benefited by his studies in foreign lands, and since his return to the
United States he has given many interesting and instructive lectures,
especially on Jerusalem, also many other places of importance, having been
frequently requested to do so. His descriptions of the scenes and places
through which he passed are graphic and are of greater value to the
auditor than the average lecture by travelers. He produced a masterly
sermon or prose poem on the twenty-third psalm several years ago, and,
while not a theologian, his interpretation of this beautiful portion of
the Scriptures, is superior to any yet known, according to those who have
had the good fortune of hearing his address. He has been frequently
importuned to have it published, but, never having put a single line of it
to paper, he has so far refused to give it to the printer.

Upon his return from Europe he went back to Fairfield, Iowa, and continued
his connection with Parsons College until 1909, when, much to the regret
of the curators and all concerned, he resigned in order to give his
attention to personal business interests at El Campo, Texas, and although
he had never given much time or attention to business affairs, he was so
successful that while there he was offered the position of cashier in the
First National Bank, which he accepted, acting in that capacity from
January 1, 1911, until the following September. Such was his
administration of the bank's affairs that he received numerous flattering
offers of positions in Eastern banks. However, he had never been imbued
with an ambition to become a captain of industry, and he preferred to
return to educational work, and he gave up his high-salaried position with
the El Campo bank to accept the chair of Greek in Drury College, at a
salary of less than one-half of the amount he was receiving as cashier.
Thus he has been connected with Drury College since the fall of 1911. He
proved to be such a valuable addition to the faculty that his salary was
raised a number of times and in August, 1913, he was appointed acting
president of the college for one year. However, before the close of the
year, he was elected president, which responsible and exacting position he
has since filled in a manner that has reflected much credit upon himself
and to the satisfaction of all concerned. He has done much to strengthen
the work in all departments and increase the prestige of the school. His
exceptional business acumen has been of great service in placing Drury on
a sounder financial basis. He is greatly enamored of his work, believing
that teaching is the greatest of all professions. He mixes freely with his
students, encourages and assists them in any way possible, unlike the
heads of some of our great institutions of learning who hold themselves
aloof from their students. He is easy of approach, obliging and of
unquestioned altruistic impulses, and is therefore popular with all with
whom he comes in contact. His superior scholarship, sound erudition and
rare ability as an educator being unquestioned by those who know of his
commendable work. Unlike many of his profession he has never become narrow
or pedantic, but his views on national and other questions are broad and
progressive. He has marked ability as a public speaker.

Doctor McMurtry's domestic life began on July 25, 1894, in Crawfordsville,
Indiana, when he was united in marriage with Mary Anice Bray, a daughter
of Ira M. and Emma Bray, a prominent and highly esteemed family of that
city. Mrs. McMurtry received the advantages of an excellent education, and
is a lady of culture and refinement.

The union of our subject and wife has been blessed by the birth of two
children, namely: Mildred Oenone and James G., Jr.

Politically, Doctor McMurtry is an independent voter. Socially he he longs
to the University Club of Springfield, the Young Men's. Business Club, and
the Springfield Club.




JOHN T. McNABB. We are told that civilization follows the flag. Would it
not be more appropriate to say that it follows the ax? Civilization never
found its headquarters in the woods. The mighty ax must first clear the
land and hew out the logs for the pioneer's cabin. Without it our
ancestors could not have subdued the wilderness and made smooth the way
for American civilization. Therefore the little insignificant ax is
civilization's fore-runner. Its ring through the forest is the trumpet
call, directing the onward march of the army of progress. The flying chips
mark the footsteps of those who fight in the army's van. Let us then not
forget to render due homage to the ax. Among those who blazed the way with
this instrument for present-day progress and prosperity is John T. McNabb,
a farmer and respected citizen of Republic township, Greene county, who
came to the Ozark region when it was still mostly undeveloped, so he did
his full share of the work of clearing the wild land and bringing it up to
its present state of cultivation.

Mr. McNabb was born in Polk county, Tennessee, September 23, 1859. He is a
son of Taylor and Margaret D. (Whaley) McNabb. Grandfather McNabb was a
native of Scotland, from which country he emigrated to America before the
Revolutionary war and he was a soldier in that war. Taylor McNabb was a
native of South Carolina and Margaret D. Whaley was born in Georgia. They
spent their early lives in Georgia and Tennessee, received such meager
educational advantages as the schools of those early times afforded and
were married in Dixie land. Taylor McNabb was twice married, the mother of
our subject having been his second wife. He became the father of a large
family. Five of his children were born to his first union, namely:
Lucretia, deceased; Vovaline, deceased; Ann is the wife of Sam Hocksett
and lives in Oklahoma; the fourth child is deceased; Virgil lives in
Georgia. The following children were by Taylor McNabb and his second wife:
Mrs. Louisa Nicholson, a widow, lives in Georgia; L. T., deceased; Mary,
wife of Lon Bates, lives in Tennessee; Bettie, wife of Frank Jack, lives
in Tennessee; William T. and a twin brother are both deceased; Rachael,
deceased; Victoria, deceased; Clementine, deceased; John T. of this sketch
is the youngest.

John T. McNabb received his education in the common schools. He was
fifteen years old when his father died. He remained on the home farm in
Tennessee until he was twenty-one years of age, then emigrated to Greene
county, Missouri in December, 1881, landing here with but a wife, a horse
and eighteen dollars in money. He located in Republic township. He is
deserving of a great deal of credit for what he has accomplished. Although
starting out in life with nothing he has worked hard and managed well, and
today is owner of one of the choice farms of his township. He first rented
land here and raised a crop in partnership with Hugh Boyd, then moved on a
farm on the James river, near Nelson's mill, but the following fall moved
across the line into Christian county, remaining there twenty-three years.
Having prospered, he purchased a farm of one hundred and twenty acres, and
twelve years ago he returned to Republic township, buying one hundred and
twenty acres more, place now known as the Oak Grove Stock Farm. All of his
land is under cultivation but fourteen acres. He also owns sixty acres in
Section 29, Republic township, having an aggregate of three hundred acres
on which he carries on general farming and stock raising on an extensive
scale. His land is well improved and he has an attractive home and large,
convenient outbuildings, and an excellent grade of live stock is always to
be seen about his place.

Mr. McNabb was married on October 19, 1879, to Sarah Adaline Land, a
daughter of Hester and Lucindy (Baker) Land, natives of Tennessee, where
they spent their earlier years, finally emigrating to Greene county,
Missouri. Mrs. McNabb was born in 1864 and was one of nine children,
namely: Mrs. Ann Couch lives in Republic township; Jane, Maggie, William,
Thomas are all deceased; John lives in Ash Grove; Ellen, deceased; Yankey
is deceased; and Sarah A., wife of our subject, is the youngest. She grew
to womanhood on the home farm and received a common school education.

To Mr. and Mrs. McNabb eleven children were born, eight of whom still
living, namely: Margaret is the wife of John Gray, of Stone county; Taylor
lives in Republic engaged in automobile business; Walter, deceased; Mrs.
Delilah Richardson lives in Republic township; Benjamin lives in Christian
county; Dave lives in Oklahoma; Earthy, wife of E. Clark, in Greene
county; Bertha, wife of E. M. Mullikin, lives in Springfield; Virgil lives
at home; the two youngest children died in infancy, unnamed.

Politically Mr. McNabb is a Progressive. Fraternally he belongs to the
Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Mrs. McNabb is a member of the Royal
Neighbors, and they both hold membership in the Baptist church.

Personally Mr. McNabb has inherited many of the winning characteristics of
his sterling Scotch ancestors, such as determination, courage, industry,
fortitude and unswerving honesty, and these together with other equally
admirable traits have combined to make him a successful man and a good
citizen.




E. B. McNEILL. Like many another boy reared on the farm, E. B. McNeill,
agent of the Missouri Pacific railroad at Springfield, turned his
attention to railroading and has continued to the present time, showing a
peculiar adaptability for the same so that he has won and retained the
confidence of his employees, for he is not only capable of quickly
grasping the various, details of his work, but is faithful and energetic
in the performance of the same.

Mr. McNeill was born in White county, Arkansas, May 16, 1881. He is a son
of John T. and Amanda (Lessenbury) McNeill. The father was born in
Tennessee, from which state he came to Arkansas in an early day, where he
established the family home on the farm where he still lives in White
county. The mother of our subject was also born in Tennessee. Her death
occurred in White county, Arkansas, July 10, 1914. These parents were
young when they left their native state and they were married in Arkansas.
John T. McNeill served as a Confederate soldier during the last two years
of the Civil war, was under Gen. Sterling Price and was in the famous raid
of that great leader into Missouri.

John T. McNeill has been a successful farmer and stock raiser. His family
consisted of eleven children, six of whom are still living, namely:
Florence married C. M. Welbon, and they live in Colorado; E. B. of this
sketch; William E. lives in Kensett, Arkansas; Elmer is engaged in
railroad service in Arkansas; Mrs. Anna Davidson lives in Kensett,
Arkansas; Mrs. Grace Taylor lives in White county, Arkansas.

E. B. McNeill grew up on his father's farm in his native county and there
assisted with the general work when a boy, and in the winter months he
attended the common and high schools in Arkansas. He left the farm when
nineteen years of age and began his career as railroader for the Iron
Mountain as clerk and later as telegraph operator in his native state,
working at many points on the system. He came to Springfield in June,
1912, since which time he has been filling his present position, most of
his work being on the White river division.

Mr. McNeill was married on June 12, 1907, at Calico Rock, Arkansas, to
Allie M. Crews, who was born at Walker, Missouri. She is a daughter of
Cassie Crews and wife. She received a good common school education. One
child has been born to our subject and wife, Dorothy May McNeill, whose
birth occurred May 12, 1911.

Politically, Mr. McNeill is a Democrat. He is a member of the Knights of
Pythias, is associate member of the Springfield Club, and his wife belongs
to the Methodist Episcopal church. Our subject has never affiliated
himself with any religious body.




BRANDT McQUISTON. Works of biography and history, for the most part,
record the lives of only those who have attained military, political,
literary or professional distinction, with now and then a captain of
industry, or those who in any other career have passed through
extraordinary vicissitudes of fortune. But the names of men who have
distinguished themselves in their day and generation, in the ordinary
walks of life, for the possession of those qualities of character which
mainly contribute to the success of private life and to the public
stability--of men who, without special talents or genius, have been
exemplary in all their personal and social relations, and at the same time
enjoyed the confidence and esteem, the respect and good will of those with
whom they associate or come in contact--ought not to be permitted to
perish; for all are, or should be, much benefited by the delineation of
those traits of character which find scope and exercise in the common
walks of life. Among the individuals of this class of a past generation in
Greene county was the late Brandt McQuiston, for a long lapse of years one
of the best known locomotive engineers on the Frisco system. Those who
knew him well say that his life history was marked by the most substantial
qualities of character and exhibited a long and somewhat strenuous career,
And his memory will continue to be cherished by his many friends for many
years to come.

Mr. McQuiston was born on October 22, 1859, in Indiana where he grew to
manhood and received a common school education. He came to Springfield,
Missouri, when a young man, and went to work as fireman for the Kansas
City, Ft. Scott & Memphis Railroad Company, which was leased by the Frisco
system in 1900, later he went with the Frisco as passenger engineer, his
run being between Springfield and Thayer. He was then passenger engineer
for the former road, commonly known as the "Gulf" from 1886 until this
road was absorbed by the Frisco and he continued in his regular run after
that for the latter road until his tragic death on October 1, 1903. He met
death in a head-end collision between extra freight train No. 251, going
east on the Southern division, and passenger train No. 202, bound from
Memphis to Kansas City, at half-past five o'clock in the morning of the
above mentioned date, at Horseshoe Curve, five miles north of Thayer,
Missouri. It is the supposition that the freight had mistaken its order
and was running on the passenger's time. A sort of mist or fog prevailed
at the time, which added to the darkness of night and prevented the crews
from seeing very far ahead of their trains, which were running at full
rate of speed. The two trains were almost totally wrecked and a section of
the track about the length of four cars was torn up. Mr. McQuiston,
engineer of the passenger train and his fireman, Ernest White, were
instantly killed, while John Finch, engineer of the freight, and John
Tune, the fireman, both died soon thereafter. Some of the other members of
the train crews and passengers were badly hurt. Our subject was spoken of
at the time by the press as one of the oldest and best engineers running
out of Springfield. One of the sad features of his death was the fact that
he was soon to retire from the road, having purchased a good farm in
Greene county and was preparing to remove thereto and spend his old days
quietly. He had made his home on the South Side until the consolidation of
the freight business on the North Side. He was buried with Masonic honors.

Mr. McQuiston was married on October 16, 1882, to Agnes L. Wright, a
daughter of Charles James and Wells (Lee) Wright, who were born in
England, from which country they emigrated to the United States in early
life; the father became a successful physician and also a minister in the
Episcopal church. Mrs. McQuiston is still residing at the old home place
on College street.

To our subject and wife three children were born, namely: Kenneth, born,
on July, 10, 1884, married Jessie Petty, and he is a machinist in the new
shops of the Frisco in Springfield; Arthur C., born on March 31, 1889, has
marked natural talent as an artist, and he is living in San Francisco,
California, where he is a paint salesman; Janet W., born on August 12,
1891, was graduated from the local high school, later attended Drury
College and the University of Missouri at Columbia, specializing in
languages, paying particular attention to German; she is one of the
successful teachers in Gallatin, Missouri, schools, being exceptionally
well qualified for her chosen work.

Politically, Mr. McQuiston was a Republican. He belonged to the
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. Fraternally, he held membership with
the Royal Arch Masons and the Knights of Pythias.







Missouri Records
Kansas Records
Cemetery Transcriptions


Census Transcriptions
Marriage Records
Obituary Index


Family Research
Research Requests
Email Webmaster

 



Alienware Computer Coupons