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




JAMES QUINN. Farmers as a class are intelligent, industrious and
economical, and many of them are men of good business judgment. Further,
those who have made a thorough study of the business side of farming know
that it is not an easy matter to make money on the farm. Only the most
practical and experienced farmers are making any considerable profit out
of their business. Most of the money that has been made on the farm in
recent years has been made, not by farming, but by the rise of prices on
farm lands. In the nature of things this rise can not continue
indefinitely, and some one will own this land when the price becomes
practically stationary or perhaps starts to decline. Those who purchased
their farms years ago should consider themselves fortunate; that is, if
they like farming and are doing well, but the outlook is none too
encouraging for the man who is looking for a good farm at a price which he
can afford to pay and carry on general farming successfully, especially if
that man has but little or no experience in country life. James Quinn, of
Campbell township, is one of Greene county's prosperous and contented
farmers. He came here from a foreign strand and got good land when the
price was low, and, using sound judgment, has made a success.

Mr. Quinn was born in County Down, Ireland, June 5, 1848. He is a son of
John and Susanna (McClune) Quinn, and a grandson of John and Charlotte
(Hill) Quinn, all natives of Ireland and representatives of the farming
class. John Quinn, Jr., died at the age of ninety-eight years, and his
wife almost reached the century mark. Their son, John Quinn, father of our
subject, was born in County Down in 1806, and, like his father before him,
devoted his life to farming in the north of Ireland, dying there in 1892
at the age of eighty-six years, his wife having preceded him to the grave
in 1884. They were the parents of eight children, all boys but one,
namely: William has remained in Ireland and is a hammersman by trade; John
is a brick mason and lives in Ireland; James of this sketch; Samuel is
deceased; Hugh, who is now employed at Wolf's shipyards in Ireland, was
formerly a school teacher; Robert is a bridge builder in Ireland; David is
farming in Ireland; Susanna is deceased. A daughter of Hugh Quinn won
first premium, a gold medal, for penmanship, in a contest about 1880,
embracing the United Kingdom.

James Quinn grew to manhood in his native land, and there received his
education. When a young man he learned the blacksmith's trade, at which he
became quite proficient. When twenty-one years of age, in 1869, he crossed
the Atlantic to our shores, first locating in Luzerne county,
Pennsylvania, later coining on west to Chicago, thence to Burlington,
Iowa; from there to Cedar Rapids, that state; next to St. Joseph,
Missouri. In the fall of 1873 he came to Springfield and worked at his
trade for thirteen and one-half years for the St. Louis & San Francisco
Railroad Company. He had been following his trade ever since coming to
America. About 1880 he purchased his present farm of one hundred and
twenty acres, and several years later moved onto the same, and here he has
since resided and has engaged successfully in general farming and stock
raising. He has an excellent set of buildings on, his place, including a
fine two-story dwelling and large outbuildings.

Mr. Quinn was married on June 25, 1874, in Springfield, to Adelia
McGaughey, a daughter of James W. and Isabell (Cinnamond) McGaughey, both
natives of Kentucky, from which state they removed to this county in an
early day. Mr. McGaughey was a farmer during his active life, and he
served in the Mexican war. His death occurred at Sprague, Missouri, about
1895, and he was buried near that place. His family consisted of five
children, namely: Angeline is deceased; Keelan is deceased; Rufus lives in
Nevada; Adelia, wife of our subject; and Marcus, deceased. James W.
McGaughey was a Democrat, a member of the Masonic Blue Lodge, and the
Baptist church.

Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Quinn, named as follows:
John, who was graduated from the Springfield high school and the old
Normal here, is a locomotive engineer on the Frisco, and lives at Oklahoma
City; Mrs. Susanna Rountree, whose husband is engaged in farming in this
county, was also graduated from the local high school; William James died
when six months old; Mrs. Alma Waunette Gott is the wife of a Greene
county farmer; Hugh is deceased; Herschel, a high school graduate, lives
at home; George is a student in the State Normal school here.

Mr. Quinn made a visit to his old home in Ireland in 1900, and, after his
American training, claims that he saw more things of interest during his
short trip there than he saw during the twenty-one years that he lived
there in his childhood and young manhood. Politically, he is a Democrat.
He belongs to the Masonic Blue Lodge, and holds membership with the
Congregational church. He has been a keen observer, is well read, and,
jolly by nature, is a good talker and a pleasant man to meet.





EDWARD FORREST RACE. Some farmers who have cropped their soils from year
to year, taking everything off and returning nothing, when their crops
fall off until there are no profits, sometimes conceive the idea that they
can have their soils analyzed and have a fertilizer mixed for them that
will furnish all the needed elements of plant food, so that by applying
that fertilizer to their lands they should grow bumper crops. They are
doomed to disappointment. The chemist can tell the amount of plant food in
a sample of soil, but he cannot tell how much of it is in available form
for plant food, and another sample a few yards away would in all
probability show a very different amount of plant food. Knowing this,
Edward Forrest Race, a successful farmer of Campbell township, has always
tried to keep his land up to the standard of fertility by employing the
best modern methods, therefore rendering an analysis of his soil
unnecessary.

Mr. Race is a native of Greene county, Missouri, born on November 6, 1869.
He is a son of Alfred P. and Sarah C. (Greenwade) Race, the latter a
daughter of Moses Greenwade and wife, whose family consisted of ten,
children, six sons and four daughters. Alfred P. Race was born in
Hampshire county, Virginia, and was of Scotch descent. He was probably the
eldest in a family of ten children. He received his early education in the
district schools and devoted his life to general farming. He was married
in Maryland, in which state his wife, mother of our subject, was born and
reared. To this union ten children were born, five of whom are deceased.
Those living are: Mrs. Laura Moore, who resides at Willard, this county;
Edward F., of this sketch; Sarah M. lives in Nebraska; William T. makes
his home in Polk county, Missouri; Albert lives in Kansas. The parents of
these children left Maryland not long after their marriage and located in
Illinois, subsequently coming to Greene county, Missouri, purchasing a
farm, which, however, they later sold and moved back to Illinois, and
after a year's residence returned to this county and bought back the farm
near the village of Willard which they had previously owned, and here they
continued to reside, engaged successfully in general farming until Mr.
Race's death, in the fall of 1909, and there Mrs. Race still makes her
home. Politically, Alfred P. Race was a Democrat, but was never active in
public life. He stood high in his community and was well liked by all who
knew him.

Edward F. Race grew to manhood on his father's farm, and he received his
education in the district schools of Greene county. He has farmed all his
life, and has been very successful in general agricultural pursuits and
stock raising. He located on his present well improved farm of one hundred
and forty-two acres in 1904. His residence and outbuildings are
substantial and convenient, and he has made the excellent improvements now
to be seen on his place. He takes much pride in his home and farm, and
everything denotes close attention to details.

Mr. Race was married on March 1, 1899, to Lular Gillespie, a daughter of
William S. and Martha M. (Horn) Gillespie, natives of North Carolina, in
which state they grew to maturity, were educated and married, and soon
after the latter event they moved to Tennessee, and from there to Missouri
about thirty-five years ago, and bought a farm in Greene county, near the
town of Strafford. After living there five years they moved to a good farm
near Willard, where the family still resides. There are seven children ,of
this family, named as follows: C. Plato, of Willard; S. Ciscero of
Willard; O. Sular, the wife of D. C. Knox, of Willard; Lular C., wife of
our subject; O. Dexter lives at Willard; Willie T., of Springfield R.
Eddie, of Willard. William S. Gillespie, father of these children, served
all through the Civil war in the Confederate army, taking part in many
important engagements, including the battle of Richmond and those in the
vicinity of that city. He was only sixteen years of age when he enlisted.

To Edward F. Race and wife four, children have been born, namely: Pearl
Madalene is attending the Willard high school; Ester Naomi, Lloyd Franklin
and Orville Edward.

Politically, Mr. Race is a Democrat, but he has never been an aspirant for
political office. He is a member of the Grand Prairie Presbyterian church
at Willard and is an elder in the same and an active church worker.




HOWARD RAGSDALE. In the list of present day lawyers of Greene county, the
name of Howard Ragsdale, of Ash Grove, must not be overlooked. He has
passed the half-way house along the thoroughfare of the human years, and
has rapidly risen to an influential and prominent place in his profession
in both Greene and. Dade counties. He is a well-read lawyer, a ready
debater, an industrious, indomitable worker, and a skilful tacticians The
mighty Julius pleading at the bar was greater than when thundering in the
war. He conquered nations with his invincible legions: "'Tis of more
renown to save a client than to save a town." Mr. Ragsdale's arguments to
the courts embody no, surplusage, but are direct, terse and incisive; to
the jury they are plain, logical, matter of fact, compactly presented. He
cares more for a rod of truth than for a mile of rhetoric, more for a
principle than for a thrilling climax, more for a fact than an acre of
verbal felicities and gems. He has a clientage in the courts that older
practitioners would be pleased to command. He is a man of firm and decided
convictions, whether in law, politics or in any department of thought or
action employing his time and attention.

Mr. Ragsdale was born in Dade county, Missouri, August 16, 1869. He is a
son of Benjamin F. and Nancy E. (Buckner) Ragsdale. The father was born in
Greenfield, Missouri, in October, 1843, and was a son of Joshua and Sarah
Ragsdale. Joshua Ragsdale emigrated from the Carolinas in a very early
day, the early thirties, and located in Dade county, where he entered
twelve hundred acres of land from the government and here he followed
general farming the rest of his life, and became a prosperous and
influential citizen. He had married before leaving his native country, a
woman who also first saw the light of day under Dixie skies. Benjamin F.
Ragsdale grew up on his father's broad acres, which he assisted in getting
ready for cultivation and he helped with the general work of the farm when
a boy. He was given the usual educational advantages of the times. During
the war of the states he enlisted in a Dade county company in the Union
army and was captured by the Confederates but subsequently paroled. He
spent his life in Dade county, successfully engaged in agricultural
pursuits and was known there. His death occurred on November 25, 1899.
Politically he was a Republican. He and Nancy E. Buckner were married in
1867. She was born in Lawrence county, Missouri, in 1852 and her death
occurred in July, 1910.

Howard Ragsdale grew to manhood in his native county and received a good
common school education; later was a pupil at Ozark College, Greenfield,
Missouri. He began life for himself by teaching school a few terms with
satisfaction, then began studying law with E. P. Mann, of Greenfield, with
whom he remained two years, and in 1897 was admitted to the bar of
Missouri, and soon thereafter he began the practice of his profesion at
Everton, Dade county, where he remained thirteen years, enjoying a large
patronage and ranking among the leading attorneys of that county. He
served a term as prosecuting attorney of Dade county in a manner that
reflected credit upon himself and to the satisfaction of all concerned. In
1909 he located in Ash Grove and has remained here to the present time and
has from the first enjoyed a satisfactory and growing practice, throughout
this locality.

Mr. Ragsdale was married in September, 1899, to Ellen Finley, who as born
in Greenfield, Missouri, February 1, 1879, and there grew to womanhood and
received a good education. She represents one of the old families of that
town, and is a daughter of Milton Finley and wife.

Politically, Mr. Ragsdale is a Republican. Fraternally, he belongs to the
Masonic Order, the Blue Lodge at Everton, and the Royal Arch Chapter at
Ash Grove. He is also a member of the Knights of Pythias. He is a man of
excellent mental endowments and commanding personality, a man who has ever
stood well in this locality.




JAMES A. RAMSEY. The constant stream of humanity--capable boys and girls
from the country--that has flowed toward the cities of the world,
especially during the past few decades, has made a new economical problem
in our civilization. The truth is, if the children of farmers are given
the right sort of education at home they will not desert us and go to the
city. They will stay on the farm if they are so instructed as to feel that
on the farm they may find just as much pleasure in life and be just as
successful. In an Iowa county the rural pupils were examined as to what
they wanted to do with their lives. Most of the boys and almost all the
girls answered that they meant to leave the farm when they grew up. Two
years afterward the boys and girls in the same neighborhood were asked the
same question. Most of them answered that they meant to stay on the farm.
The change had been brought about because the teachers had been given more
practical work to do in the schools. They had been giving the teaching a
farm slant. They had been working in the schools on farm matters, and the
girls had been studying domestic science, and they had forgotten about
leaving the farm. They had been doing pleasant, interesting, practical
work, and they were happy. They had come to see that there is just as
fascinating work, just as intellectual work, just as big work in the
country as any of them could expect to get in the city--in fact, much
higher work than most of them could expect.

James A. Ramsey, a successful and contented farmer of Clay township,
Greene county, has been wise enough to remain in the country. He was born
on March 23, 1866, near Effingham, Illinois. He is a son of Robert and
Mary Anna (Jewlus) Ramsey. The father was born in Illinois in 1838 and was
reared on a farm in that state, receiving his education in the common
schools. About a year after the Civil war broke out he enlisted for
service in the Union army, in a cavalry regiment, and was sent into
Tennessee, where he took part in the battle of Lookout Mountain, and was
in a number of other engagements. He was honorably discharged at the close
of the war and returned to Illinois. He came to Greene county in 1869,
where he has since lived on a farm, but retired from active life five
years ago. He is a member of the Baptist church. The mother of the subject
of this sketch was born in Virginia and her early life was spent in that
state, Indiana and Illinois, and she was married in the last named state.
She is a member of the Baptist church. She received a common school
education. To Robert Ramsey and wife eight children were born, namely:
William F., John (deceased), James A. (subject); Mrs. Jennie Barnes,
Albert, Frank (deceased); Mrs. Belle Vess, Mrs. Mollie McCurty (deceased).

James A. Ramsey came to Missouri with his parents when two years old and
grew up on a farm in Greene county, and here he received a common school
education. He worked on the home farm until he was twenty-two years of
age, then rented a farm, later buying the place where he now resides,
which consists of one hundred and twenty-nine acres, and on which is four
good springs. It is well improved and one of the desirable farms of the
township.

Mr. Ramsey was married in 1887 to Martha Trentham, to which union two
children were born, Lee F., and Charle. Mr. Ramsey married for a second
wife Sallie Latham, who was born in Greene county, November 2, 1888. She
is a daughter of James and Mary Jane (Cox) Latham. The father was born in
Tennessee, September 24, 1853, and is now living on a farm near Strafford,
this county, having emigrated from his native state to Missouri in an
early day. His wife, who was a native of Greene county, died some time
ago. Mrs. Ramsey was reared on the home farm here and was in the district
schools. To our subject's second union five children have been born, all
living at home, namely: Mamie, October 16, 1904; Ivy, July 25, 1906; Ina,
May 30, 1908; Ethel, December 11, 1910; and Ona, born May 26, 1913.

Politically, Mr. Ramsey is a Republican, and fraternally he is a member of
the Modern Woodmen.




ROBERT L. RAMSEY. In his efforts he, who essays biographical or memorial
history, finds much of profit and much of alluring fascination when he
would follow out, in a cursory way, the teachings of an active, rightly
lived life, seeking to find the keynote of each respective personality.
These efforts and their resulting transmission cannot fail of value in an
objective way, for in each case the lesson of life be conned, line upon
line, precept upon precept. The late Robert L. Ramsey was a man who lived
to good purpose and while laboring for his own good and that of his
immediate family, helped others on the road that leads to the mystic goal
ahead.

Mr. Ramsey was born in Lewis county, Missouri, in 1836. He was a son of
Silas and Elizabeth (Brown) Ramsey, natives of Kentucky, where they grew
up and were married and from there removed to Missouri, being among the
early settlers of Lewis county, where the family has been well and
favorably known to the present time. Seven children were born to them, all
now deceased but one, namely: John; Martha is the only survivor; Sarah;
Lucy; Robert L., of this sketch, and Samuel, the youngest. Silas Ramsey,
the father, was twice married, our subject having been by his first union.
He became one of the leading farmers of Lewis county, and owned three
sections of fine land there.

Robert L. Ramsey grew to manhood in his native county and assisted his
father with the work on the farm, and he received a fairly good education
in the common schools. He was by nature an excellent mathematician. He
began life for himself as a farmer, but believing that the business world
held greater inducement for him he went to Canton, county-seat of Lewis
county when a young man, about 1869, and there began his mercantile which
he continued with ever-increasing success for over twenty years, enjoying
an extensive trade with the town and surrounding country. He always
carried a good stock of merchandise and dealt fairly and courteously with
his customers, and thereby retained their confidence and good will. His
health failing, he retired from active life three or four years prior to
his death, being at that time one of the oldest and best known merchants
in Canton.

Mr. Ramsey was married in his native county, February 3, 1859, to Sarah E.
Ray, who was born in Lewis county, Missouri, March 22, 1839. She is a
daughter of Judge M. and Sarah (Brown) Ray, the former a native of
Tennessee and the mother of Kentucky. To Mr. and Mrs. Ramsey six children
were born, two of whom are living, namely: M. Beatrice; Mattie L.; Luta
E.; Roberta; Sarah and Elizabeth, twins, are the only survivors; Sarah
married Walter W. Baxter, who is mentioned in the sketch of Kirk Baxter on
another page of this volume; Elizabeth married George H. Baxter, who is
living retired life in Springfield.

The death of Robert L. Ramsey occurred in Canton, Missouri, September 19,
1900, at the age of sixty-four years. His widow subsequently removed to
Springfield, this state, to live with her two daughters. She purchased a
home on South Fremont street, and there spent the rest of her days, being
called to join her husband in the Silent Land on April 13, 1914. The
daughters now occupy the cozy home she left.

Mr. Ramsey was a Democrat, and religiously he was a member of the Baptist
church. Fraternally he belonged to the Masonic Order, and his
father-in-law was the first Mason in Lewis county. Mr. and Mrs. Ramsey
were excellent people, religious, neighborly and charitable and were
beloved by all who knew them.




B. F. RATHBONE. Many minds labor under the misapprehension that real
patriotism is peculiar to men of high genius or the favorites of fortune.
The true patriot is one who, from love of country, does, or tries to do,
in the proper sphere, all that appears necessary to promote her honor,
prosperity and peace. The substantial, elements of this precious virtue
which underlies the welfare of every nation, and especially of one
professing to be free, like our own, are furnished by men in every walk of
life, who step out of the realm of mere self-love, and seek to further and
augment the commonweal. Among those who fill the highest seats, and prove
themselves most deserving of public gratitude, many have been the farmers
of the land, who have redeemed this great country from the wilderness and
made even the rocks drip with fatness and blessing; or they may have, many
of them, come from the ranks of tradesmen, doing their allotted tasks in
the shops and factories of the country, in fact a patriot and useful
citizen may spring from any walk of life. B. F. Rathbone, formerly an
agriculturist, and for many years one of the Frisco's dependable shop
employees, was born under alien skies, but he has spent most of his life
in America, fifty-seven years of which have been lived in Greene county.

Mr. Rathbone was born March 13, 1848, in Birmingham, England. He is a son
of Thomas H. and Sarah Ann (Warr) Rathbone, a sketch of whom will be found
on another page of this work. The father of our subject immigrated to the
United States in the spring of 1851, and the family followed during the
autumn of that year. They all remained in New York City until 1858, when
they removed to Greene county, Missouri, and established their permanent
home.

B. F. Rathbone, of this sketch, was three years of age when his parents
brought him from England. He spent his boyhood in New York City, where he
attended school. He also went to school after coming to Greene county,
having attended the Capt. John R. Kelso Academy. However, his education
was limited, the Civil war having interfered with his studies. The family
settled at the old Rathbone spring, northeast of Springfield, and there
our subject worked on the farm when he was a young man, in fact, he
followed general farming until 1882, in which year he removed to
Springfield, and in August of that year began working in the old North
Side Frisco shops. His first work for this road was the hauling of all the
rock for the culverts from Springfield four miles cast of the city. His
first work in the shops proper was as blacksmith's helper. He remained in
the shops until 1888, when he was elected constable of Campbell township,
and he became deputy sheriff under Joe C. Dodson, however, he served but a
short time in this capacity when he was appointed to a position on the
police force. He served in all twelve years in the various official
positions, proving to be an efficient and dependable officer. He then
returned to the shops and finished learning his trade. About nine years
ago he was assigned to the work of spring maker at the North Side shops,
and this position he has continued to hold to the present time, having
long since become an expert in his line.

Mr. Rathbone was married March 13, 1871, in Springfield to Emily Rush
(Woods), a daughter of Samuel Woods, a well-known citizen here a few
decades ago. He came to Greene county from Tennessee in an early day and
devoted his attention to general farming. During the latter years of his
life he served one term as county treasurer, and prior to that was deputy
sheriff. He made a good official and was well liked by all who knew him.
He was a gentleman of the old school. Our subject's wife's mother was
known in her maidenhood as Mary Ragsdale. To their union six children were
born, only three of whom are living at this writing. Mrs. Rathbone was
born at Springfield, reared to womanhood and educated here.

To Mr. and Mrs. Rathbone six children were born, all of whom survive,
namely: Emma R., born March 1, 1872, is the wife of Albert L. Schofield;
Ernest G., born January 9, 1874, married Erma Smith, and they reside in
Springfield; Harold H., born August 29, 1877, married Ida Robinson, to
which union two children were born, Milton and Marjorie; John D., born May
24, 1879, married Mary Culler, and they have two children, Erma and
Dorothy; Walter G., born September 9, 1884, married Clara Parker, and they
have two children, Ross and Emily; Edith L., born January 18, 1891,
married Brandt Gaffga, and they have one child, Emily L.

Politically Mr. Rathbone is a Republican and he has always been loyal in
his support of the party. He is a member of the Orient Lodge No. 86,
Knights of Pythias, and he served as captain of Ascolon Division No. 15,
Uniform Rank, Knights of Pythias, and Lodge No. 218, Independent Order of
Odd Fellows, having passed the chairs in both these orders. He also
belongs to the Blacksmiths' Union. The family holds membership in the
Benton Avenue Methodist Episcopal church.




WILLIAM H. RATHBONE. If the husbandman is fortunate enough to have the
true vision of farming, and starts out to make it a reality, he will
certainly find the business of farming a most profitable one. He will urge
the backward acres of his farm into activity that will make them produce
an hundred-fold. The highest grades of live stock will be found about his
barns. He will acquire labor-saving and pleasure-giving machinery and
equipment of various, kinds. He will make his surroundings attractive and
he will experience the full joy of living. William H. Rathbone is one of
Greene county's farmers who seems to have the right idea about
agricultural matters, and although he does not farm on so large a scale as
some, he does it rightly and makes a comfortable living.

Mr. Rathbone was born, June .9, 1857, in Rochester, New York. He is a son
of Thomas Henry and Sarah Ann (Warr) Rathbone. The father of our subject
was born in Warwickshire, England, July 19, 1827, a son of John and Sarah
(Taylor) Rathbone, both natives of England, and who have been long
deceased. Thomas Henry Rathbone grew to manhood in his native land and
married there, finally emigrating, with his wife and two children, to New
York, where he spent seven years. Leaving that state, he came to Greene
county, Missouri. He was a tinner by trade, which .he had learned in
England, was quite expert, and he continued to follow his trade in the
United States, working at it for some time in Springfield, Missouri, or
from the year 1858 to 1860, then bought a farm in North Campbell township,
consisting of eighty acres, mostly undeveloped, but by dint of hard toil
he made a good farm here and remained on the place five years, then took
up the tinning business again, leaving the farm in the hands of his sons.
Five years later he sold his farm and entered the hardware business in
what was then known as North Springfield, maintaining the business for a
number of years, then sold out and retired from active life. He built a
comfortable home on North Jefferson street where he now resides, having
reached the advanced age of eighty-eight years. He is a fine old
gentleman, greatly beloved by his many friends, for he has lived an
honorable life and his business career was fraught with much good to those
with whom he came in contact. He always tried to follow the Golden Rule
explicitly. He is a great lover of flowers and enjoys the simple life. He
has been twice married. His second wife was a Mrs. Wright, a widow, and a
native of England. To this union five children were born, all of whom died
in infancy. By his first wife, Sarah Ann Warr, four children were born,
namely: John, deceased; Bernard F. is engaged in the hardware business in
Springfield, on the north side; Mrs. Teresa Massey lives in Springfield;
and William Henry, who also makes his home in this city.

Mr. Rathbone often recalls the trying voyage to America, spending three
months on the ocean, the captain of the vessel being drunk most of the
time and incapable of handling his ship. Drinking water gave out and the
passengers were almost starved and famished when they reached New York.
During the Civil war Mr. Rathbone was a member of the Home Guards of
Greene county and fought at the battle of Springfield, January 8, 1863,
when General Marmaduke made his raid on the place. He was in the thickest
of the fight and men were killed on each side of him. He had narrow
escapes from death. His first wife was a native of the same locality in
England where he was born and there she grew to womanhood. She has been
deceased many years.

Politically, Mr. Rathbone is a Republican. He is a member of the Knights
of Pythias, and belongs to the Second Presbyterian church in Springfield.
He is a man of strict Christian character and has always taken much
interest in church affairs.

William H. Rathbone spent his boyhood days in Greene county, whither he
was brought by his parents when only a year, old. He grew to manhood on
his father's farm in North Campbell township, and when nineteen years of
age started out in life for himself. He received a common school
education. He has been living on his present farm of eighty-three acres
for a period of fifteen years, during which he has made many improvements,
and he is very successful as a general farmer and truck raiser. However,
after spending seven years on this place, he went to Springfield, where he
became foreman of the casting department of the Crescent Iron Works for
awhile, but preferring the country, moved back to his farm.

Mr. Rathbone was married twice, first to Margaret Potter, a daughter of
Henry Potter, a native of Kentucky, who came to Greene county, Missouri,
where he located and where Mrs. Rathbone was born and reared. She has been
deceased for some time. To this union one child was born, Mrs. Lou Lamson,
who lives near Strafford, Greene county. Mr. Rathbone's second wife was
Emma Fielder, a daughter of Thomas Fielder, and to this union one child
also was born, Mrs. Rosa Potter, who lives at Ebenezer, Greene county.

Politically, Mr. Rathbone is a Republican. He belongs to the Knights of
Pythias, and his wife is a member of the Methodist church in Springfield.




COL. GEORGE SOLON RATHBUN. For nearly a quarter of a century the late Col.
George S. Rathbun occupied a conspicuous position among the professional
men of Springfield, his reputation as a lawyer and politician being state
wide for half a century. In the active practice of the law his character
for personal and professional integrity was fully recognized and
appreciated. He escaped the suspicion of ever having knowingly failed to
fulfil all proper obligations of his profession. Combined with the
excellent personal and official qualities of the highest type of public
servant, he was infused with the genius of enterprise, and was a man of
enlarged public spirit. He was always ready to identify himself with his
fellow citizens in any good work and extended a cooperating hand to
advance any measure that he deemed would better the condition of things;
that would give better government, elevate mankind, insure higher
standards of morality and the highest ideals of a refined, ennobling,
intellectual culture. The educational, moral and material interests of the
locality honored by his citizenship were matters of concern to him, and
the promotion of them were not forgotten in his cherished objects of life.
He was for years the federal referee in bankruptcy. He took a prominent
part in the war between the states and was a candidate for Confederate
senator against the famous George G. Vest. He was especially well known in
central Missouri where he spent his young manhood, residing in Lexington
prior to removing to Springfield.

Colonel Rathbun was born at Newburgh, Ohio, February 27, 1829. He was a
son of George Steward and Harriet (Warren) Rathbun. His mother died when
he was thirteen years of age. After having received a fair academic
education and graduating at Bacon's Commercial College at Cincinnati,
Ohio, he entered upon the study of law in the office of Bishop & Baccus,
attorneys, at Cleveland, Ohio. Previous to completing his studies at the
age of nineteen years, he removed to the state of Missouri, residing for
several years in St. Louis county, when he removed to Lafayette county and
for a time engaged in teaching, having charge of the Wellington Academy.
On May 25, 1857, he was duly licensed by Judge Russell Hicks of the Sixth
judicial Circuit as a practicing attorney and enrolled as a member of the
Lexington bar.

In November, 1860, as a candidate of the Whig party upon the Bell and
Everett ticket, he was elected to represent his county in the state
Legislature. In politics he remained an active Democrat, although he held
few political offices, contented to be a worker for the cause. In the
Civil war he took a prominent part and was a Confederate soldier with a
record of which his descendants may well be proud. Prior to the sounding
of the guns at Fort Sumter, Mr. Rathbun received his commission from
Governor Jackson as lieutenant colonel and judge advocate of the Eighth
military district, including the border counties south of the Missouri
river, and immediately repaired to Lexington to organize forces for the
coming struggle. He actively participated in the siege and battle of
Lexington, and rendered efficient service in the organization of the army
at Boston mountains and in the advance to Pea Ridge and at Elkhorn Tavern
was present upon the field and participated with the Missouri troops in
all the vicissitudes of that memorable engagement. He commanded the
advance at the battle of Prairie Grove and fought at Lone Jack, Granby and
Newtonia, was also on the expedition to Cape Girardeau, commanding the
rear from Bloomfield to the crossing of the St. Francis river, repulsing
repeated attacks made upon it, and he participated in the ill-fated
expedition to Helena. In August, 1864, it having been determined to invade
Missouri, a company of officers and men numbering about one hundred were
sent into the state in advance of Price's army to penetrate to the western
border and concentrate all the irregular troops and volunteers to join the
regular forces upon their arrival. Of this company Colonel Rathbun was
chosen commander, and starting out upon the march from Batesville,
Arkansas, entered the state near West Plains, and passing through Texas
county entered Laclede. Passing on, without interruption through Henry and
Johnson counties, Lafayette county was reached, Lexington menaced, the
federal forces stationed there crossed the Missouri river and the city
formally surrendered and was occupied by the Confederates some three weeks
before the arrival of General Price's command. Then followed the battle of
Westport and the retreat southward which, after leaving Missouri, became
the march of a disorganized rabble, without order, without commissary
stores and without any fixed purpose except to get through the wild Indian
country, if possible, into southern Arkansas and Texas.

Our subject remained at Arkadelphia until the year following the close of
the war, when he returned to Lexington, and, as soon as he was permitted
to do so, resumed the practice of his profession and thereafter his rise
was rapid. As attorney for the Lexington & St. Louis Railroad Company he
aided materially in the successful operation of that road, and secured its
first lease in the Missouri Pacific.

Colonel Rathbun was married July 4, 1858, to Dicie Jennie Dean, a daughter
of Jesse. Dean and wife, of Lexington, Missouri, who removed from
Carrollton, Kentucky, to a farm in Lafayette county, Missouri, about the
Civil war period. Mr. Dean was a successful agriculturist during his
active life and a highly respected citizen. Politically he was a Democrat.
To Colonel Rathbun and wife six children were born, four of whom are
living, namely: Jesse W. is the eldest; George is deceased, William A. is
a well-known attorney of Springfield; Edward B. is deceased; Jennie L.,
and Hattie M. are the two youngest.

Colonel Rathbun removed from Lexington to Springfield in 1886 and here
continued the practice of law for a period of twenty-three years with his
usual success, and ranked among the leaders of the Greene county bar, and
here his death occurred March 1, 1907, at the age of seventy-eight years.

We quote the following from a Lexington newspaper, under date of March 20
1907: "The passing away of Col. George S. Rathbun will be a reminder to
many of his old-time friends in this county that they too have climbed to
the summit of life's tortuous journey and are traveling rapidly toward the
sunset of this existence. He was well known all over Lafayette county. The
most active and useful period of his career as a lawyer and citizen was
when he resided at Wellington and Lexington in this county. He was what
might be termed one of the pioneers of this county, having come here many
years before the Civil war from the Buckeye state, locating in Greenton
Valley where he began life as a teacher in the public schools, afterwards
studied law and the year preceding the war was elected to the state
Legislature on the Whig ticket from this county.

"Colonel Rathbun was truly one of the most remarkable men that the war
period brought into the spotlight of publicity in Missouri. Arriving in
this section of the state at about the same period that the late Senator
Vest arrived from Kentucky, they were thrown much together in the practice
of law and became fast friends. It was against Rathbun that Vest made his
first political eloquence count with telling effect and thereby paved the
way to his future greatness in the field of politics. Though the warmest
of friends they were decidedly unlike in physical appearance and.
temperament. This marked difference in the makeup of the two men is
doubtless responsible for Missouri sending Vest, the ex-member of the
Confederate congress, to the United States senate, while Rathbun, who won
the epaulets of a colonel in the service of his beloved South, ended his
days in practicing the profession of law. As practitioner at the bar,
Rathbun was the equal of Vest at every turn of the legal road. Where Vest
was eloquently persuasive, Rathbun was logically invulnerable. What Vest
would accomplish with a rapier Rathbun could do equally as well with a
club. In mental attainments Rathbun was equally the equal of Vest, and as
a student, those who knew both men, say that he clearly outranked the
'Little Giant.' When the Civil war broke out Rathbun and Vest both
enlisted under 'Old Pap' Price. Vest was given a place on the staff of
General Price with the title of colonel while Rathbun commenced further
down the line. Vest had a decided aversion to soldiering. He had to take
part in the battle of Lexington, but was heard to say soon thereafter that
he would never be in another battle. It was doubtless this pronounced
dislike for army life that prompted him to wax so eloquent down in
Arkansas a few months later when General Price's army held an election to
send a representative to the Confederate congress. Colonels Rathbun and
Vest were the two leading candidates. Vest was bringing all his cunning
into play to secure his election while Rathbun awaited the result of the
ballot with utter indifference. At the opportune moment Vest had one of
his supporters to start the cry for a speech. It was the 'Little Giant's'
opportunity and he made the most of it. His portrayal of the soldierly
qualities of his friend Rathbun made him loom on the military horizon like
a Napoleon. The cap-sheaf of his eloquent speech was when he pointed to
the magnificent and nearly perfect figure of Colonel Rathbun and said,
'Boys, are you going to allow the Confederate service to lose such a
soldier when a d_____ runt like myself, who is of no earthly use to the
military, can serve you in the Confederate congress just as well. After
the speech a ballot was taken and Vest beat Rathbun just one vote.

The defeat never soured Rathbun the least bit. He served throughout the
entire war and returned home with the title of colonel which was gallantly
earned under Gen. Joe Shelby. After the war was over he took up the
practice of law in this county and was one of the leaders of the bar,
until he removed to Springfield."

A lengthy address, eulogizing Colonel Rathbun, before the Springfield bar
association, shortly after our subject's death, after recounting in detail
his long career as a soldier, lawyer and politician, closed with this
paragraph:

"Colonel Rathbun's life since 1884 here in Springfield has been an open
book to you all. His genial nature, warm and generous heart was clouded to
his latter day acquaintances and more recent friends by the growing
physical malady which overtook him. But to those who knew him of old, his
heart was as of yore, and through that heart back along the cycle of
years, I come to the picture on memory's wall that I love best, one in the
bloom and beauty of a vigorous manhood, going forth with a proud
unconscientiousness of strength to do and to dare, to battle for the right
as it was given to him to see that right, to give and receive the blows of
honorable conflict, to accept without murmur the fate of battle and to
bring to the new life a spirit unbroken, and a heart without taint. This
picture, treasured in my heart, wreathed in immortelles, is the tribute I
bear to the memory of Colonel Rathbun, the true friend and brother of the
bar of us all."

After the principal address at the memorial held to honor the subject of
this memoir, which was delivered by Mr. Massey, the following attorneys
also spoke of the commendable qualities of the deceased, of his ability as
a lawyer, his courtesy, his scholarship, his kindness to young lawyers, of
the value of his friendship and counsel, of his kindly and gentlemanly
methods of conducting himself under all circumstances: Judge J. T.
Neville, Judge W. D. Hubbard, Judge J. J. Gideon, Judge Howell, A. H.
Wear, Perry T. Allen, Guy D. Kirby, J. T. White and E. A. Barbour.




FRED WILLIAM RAUCH.

Spake full well in language quaint and olden,
One who dwelleth by the castled Rhine,
When he called the flowers so blue and golden
Stars that in earth's firmament do shine;
Stars they are in which we read our history
As did astrologers and seers of eld,
Yet not wrapt about with such awful mystery
As were the burning stars which they beheld.

Thus wrote the poet Longfellow in his fine poem on the flowers, which have
been a favorite theme of poets since the days of Homer, and it has ever
been the opinion of the thinkers of the world that he who does not love
and admire these "stars of earth" has little good in him. No vocation
could be more conducive to pure and high thinking, and consequently right
and wholesome living, as a natural sequence of such thoughts, as
floriculture. Most of the flower gardens and green-houses in this country
are conducted by Germans. We offer no theory as to why this is so. Suffice
it to add that we are greatly indebted to our brothers of Teutonic blood
in many respects, and especially because they keep us supplied with their
beautiful and necessary "hot-house" products during the "winters of our
discontent."

Fred William Rauch, a young German-American, is one of the successful
florists of Springfield. He was born on July 7, 1881, in Springfield,
Ohio, and is a son of peter and Caroline (Winter) Rauch. The father was
born in Hessedarmstadt, Germany, April 26, 1854, and there he grew to
manhood and received a common school education. He remained in the
Fatherland until 1873 when he emigrated to America with a brother, and
settled in Urbana, Ohio. He learned the blacksmith's trade when a young
man, also was a tool dresser and he followed his trades in a machine shop
in Urbana a short time, then removed to Springfield, Ohio, where he
continued working at his trade until 1884, in which year he came to
Billings, Missouri, located on a farm near there, which he operated four
years. He then returned to Urbana, Ohio, and followed the cigar
manufacturing business for eleven years, then came back to Billings, this
state, and for the past fifteen years has engaged in farming there. He has
been very successful in a business way and owns a good farm and is highly
respected by all who know him. Politically, he is a Democrat. He has been
school director at billings for a number of years, having received every
vote in that place except his own in the elections for director.
Fraternally he is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Independent
Order of Odd Fellows. He is a member of the German evangelical church. He
and Caroline Winters were married in 1877. She was born in Baltimore,
Maryland, December 31, 1859, and she received a good common school
education. She is a daughter of William Winters and wife. Mr. Winters is a
baker by trade and is still living, making his home with Mrs. Rauch at
Billings. His wife died about fifteen years ago.

Eight children were born to Peter Rauch and wife, namely: George is a
florist at Monett, Missouri; Fred W., of this sketch; Lulu is the wife of
Frank Dean, of Billings; Charles is a florist in Monett; Katie lives in
Monett; Anna and Phillip are at home with their parents; William died when
six years old.

Fred W. Rauch received a good education in the common schools, and when a
boy learned broom making and worked at the same about four years, after
which he worked on a farm near Billings, Missouri, for four years, then
came to Springfield and worked for a florist about two and one-half years,
meanwhile learning the ins and outs of the business, then was employed at
the Chalfant conservatories a year, then, with two brothers built
green-houses and laid out gardens at Monett where they are still in
business, his two brothers remaining there and operating the business,
while our subject stays in Springfield, where he returned in 1911 and
began operating the Chalfant conservatory and later established offices in
the Colonial Hotel under the firm name of Rauch Brothers, and he has built
up a large and constantly growing business.

Mr. Rauch was married March 10, 1907, to Bertha Kemm, a native of
Springfield, born April 10, 1886, in Wisconsin. She received a good
education in the public schools. She was a child, when her parents, Karl
and Mary (Schmith) Kemm, brought her to Springfield. Her father's active
life has been devoted to the ministry.

To Mr. and Mrs. Rauch one child has been born, Frances Rauch, whose birth
occurred on April 21, 1908.

Politically, Mr. Rauch is a Democrat, and religiously he is a member of
the Presbyterian church. He is a prominent Mason, being a member of Gate
of the Temple Lodge No. 422, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; Vincent
Council, Royal and Select Masters; St. John's Commandery No. 20, Knights
Templar; Abou Ben Adhem Temple and Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the
Mystic Shrine. One would judge from Mr. Rauch's daily intercourse with his
fellow men that he is endeavoring to live up to the sublime percepts of
Masonry.




EGMONT RAUM. To a great extent the prosperity of the agricultural sections
of our country is due to the honest industry, the sturdy perseverance and
the wise economy which so prominently characterizes the foreign element,
both those who have come direct from European nations and their American
born children. All will agree, after so much as a mere cursory glance over
our forty-eight states, that they have entered very largely into our
population. By comparison with their "old country" surroundings these
people have readily recognized the fact that in the United States are to
be found the greatest opportunities for the man of ambition and energy.
And because of this many have broken the ties of home and native land and
have entered earnestly upon the task of gaining in the new world a home
and a competence. Egmont Raum, one of Greene county's hard-working
farmers, is one of this class.

Mr. Raum was born on August 9, 1849, in Leutzen, Province of Saxony, now a
part of the German Empire. He is a son of John William and Emelie (Grosse)
Raum, the father having been born in Altenhof near Dueben-on-the-Mulde. He
grew up and was educated in his native locality and became a minister in
the Lutheran church. He was the father of two sons, Egmont, our subject,
being the eldest, and Fred, who is living in Florida. The father served
his required time in the German army when a young man. His death occurred
in 1890 at the age of seventy years, his wife having died in 1880 at the
age of fifty-three years.

Egmont Raum grew to manhood in Erfurt, in the Province, of Saxony, and
there received his education and remained until 1865, when sixteen years
of age, when he left the Fatherland and set sail for America, and after a
tedious voyage of six teen months, in which time he rounded Cape Horn,
landed on our shores on Christmas day, 1866, at New York City. He soon
became a sailor and followed the sea until 1875. His work was satisfactory
and he was gradually promoted and was first mate for years, when he was
given a master's certificate, but never served. In 1875 he came to Greene
county, Missouri, and purchased forty acres of land from the Atlantic &
Pacific Railroad Company, now the Frisco. On this small tract he went to
work earnestly and, managing well, prospered. From time to time he added
to his original purchase until he became one of our large land owners and
prosperous farmers, his place now containing two hundred and eighteen
acres of valuable and well-improved land, well located in Campbell
township on the Mt. Vernon street road, near Springfield. He carried on
general farming and stock raising on an extensive scale and also
maintained a dairy. Formerly he made a specialty of raising mules, but is
now practically retired, engaged principally in raising various grains,
following a five-year system of crop rotation, and therefore he not only
reaps abundant harvests, but keeps his land in first-class fertility. He
has a large and neatly furnished home and substantial outbuildings,
everything about his place indicating that a master hand is at the helm.

Just before he quit his seafaring life Mr. Raum made a visit to his
boyhood home in Erfurt, in the Province of Saxony, and married there
Eleonore Berndt, a native of Erfurt, and a daughter of Henry Berndt and
wife of that place, and there she grew to womanhood and was educated. Her
father was a wholesale and retail leather merchant. His wife was known in
her maidenhood as Mary Otto, and she was a daughter of a carpenter and
contractor. Mrs. Raum has one sister, Anna, who lives in Europe and is the
wife of a minister.

To Mr. and Mrs. Raum three children have been born, who survive at this
writing, namely: Egmont, Jr., born on July 6, 1888, who is engaged in
farming; William, born on July 20, 1891, also a farmer, and Emelie D.,
born on September 18, 1882, who is at home with her parents. The sons were
given sixty-five acres each of good land by their father, and they live on
places adjoining that of our subject and are each good farmers. One
daughter, Anna, died at the age of five years.

Politically Mr. Raum is a Democrat, and he belongs to the Lutheran church.
He has long been prominent in the affairs of the Masonic order. He is one
of the directors of the Masonic building in Springfield. He is past master
of the Blue Royal Arch lodge, and was excellent high priest for two years
of Springfield Royal Arch chapter, No. 15, and worthy patron of the Order
of Eastern Star for four years, Crescent chapter, No. 20. He is well known
and has made a host of warm friends during his residence here of forty
years. He is held in high esteem as a result of his upright character and
many good personal qualities.




GEORGE E. RAYMOND. Perhaps as much suffering has been caused in this world
of ours from inadequate heating facilities as from any other cause. This
was especially true in the earlier ages before mankind had evolved modern
methods. Even what we now call old-fashioned fireplaces were not thought
of until comparatively recent epochs in history. For centuries they were
very crude affairs; even the chimneys of the log cabins built by the first
settlers of our country less than a century ago were made of poles and
clay or mud, and later, when houses contained several rooms, all but one
of them were without any method of heating, for but one fireplace, as a
rule, was to be found in a home, some of the wealthier classes having two,
perhaps. Then stoves became generally used, but many rooms were still left
without heat, few caring to go to the expense and trouble of keeping the
entire house properly warmed during the winter months. So mankind has
undergone a great deal of physical discomfort and downright suffering,
especially among the poor of nearly all countries for lack of heat in
their dwelling places. But with modern methods, such as are installed by
the Raymond Heating Company, of Springfield, people are now making
themselves more comfortable during the cold months, entire buildings, no
matter how large, being kept warm continuously from one central source, so
that the rigors of the long northern winters are now without their
terrors, even farmers throughout the country enjoying their furnace heat,
which is distributed over their modernly appointed houses in the form of
hot air, steam or warm water.

George E. Raymond, head of the above named company, has long been engaged
in this line of endeavor and understands thoroughly every phase of modern
heating, and he is one of the well known and successful business men of
Springfield, where he has resided nearly a half century. He was born in
Pekin, New York, July 8, 1861, and is a son of Joseph P. and Elizabeth
(Bromley) Raymond, both natives of New York state, the father born in 1820
and the mother in 1818. They grew to maturity in their native state,
received limited educations in the common schools and were married there.
When a young man Joseph P. Raymond learned the shoemaker's trade, which he
always followed for a livelihood. He removed from New York with his family
to Springfield, Missouri, in the fall of 1868, and here spent the rest of
his life, dying in 1887, and here his wife died in 1880. They were parents
of five children, namely: Emmett B. lives in Los Angeles, California;
Bedten S., deceased; Mary J., deceased; William B. lives in Springfield,
Mo., and George E., subject of this sketch.

Mr. Raymond of this review was seven years of age when he came with the
family to Springfield, Missouri, and here he grew to manhood and was
educated in the common schools. When a young man he went to Ohio and
served an apprenticeship in a tinshop at Dayton, returning to Springfield
a few years later, where he finished learning his trade, and here he
worked at the same until 1887, when he went into business for himself on
South street, establishing a heating and sheet metal works, continuing to
the present time with ever increasing success until he enjoys a very
extensive and lucrative business as a result of his close application and
good judgment and his fair dealings with the public. In 1900 his son,
Clyde, formed a partnership with him and the firm name became the Raymond
Heating Company, and their plant at 219-221 West Walnut street is one of
the best of its kind in the Southwest, equipped with up-to-date appliances
of all kinds, and skilled work is promptly done, a specialty being made of
warm air heating and ventilating and sheet metalwork.

Mr. Raymond was married July 12, 1881, in Springfield to Milicient Ewers,
who was born in Knox county, Ohio, October 4, 1861. She is a daughter of
Orrilla and William G. Ewers, both natives of Ohio, where they grew up,
were married and educated and established their home. They are both now
deceased. Mrs. Raymond was nine years old when, in 1870 her parents
removed with her to Springfield, Missouri, and here she grew to womanhood
and received a common school education. The Ewers home was established on
the north side.

To Mr. and Mrs. Raymond only one child was born, G. Clyde Raymond, whose
birth occurred April 11, 1883, in this city, and here he grew tip and was
educated. He married Georgia Davis. He is in business with his father, as
before stated, and is a young man of enterprise and ability.

Politically, Mr. Raymond is a Democrat. Fraternally, he belongs to the
Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Knights of Pythias and the
Royal Arch Masons. He is an associate member of the Springfield Club. He
has always borne an excellent reputation in local business circles.




LOUIS LAZZARO REBORI. It was Robert Louis Stevenson, the great. Scottish
author, who said that a man who follows his own virtuous heart will be
always found in the end to have been fighting for the best; that one thing
leads naturally to another in an awakened mind, and that with an upward
progress from effect to cause. The late Louis Lazzaro Rebori, for many
years one of the best-known business men of Springfield, was a man who had
evidently "an awakened mind," and whose career was marked by "an upward
progress." And since it is true that individual success is determined, in
true measure, by what one has accomplished, his name is deserving of a
high rank in the list of Greene county citizens of a past generation who
rose, of their own efforts, from all humble beginning to the top rungs of
the ladder of material success.

Mr. Rebori was born near Genoa, Italy, August 31, 1867, a scion of an
excellent old Italian family. He was a son of Jiacomo and Catherine
(Gandolfo) Rebori, both also natives of the same locality in which our
subject was born. There they grew to maturity, attended school and were
married. The death of the father occurred in i889 at the age of
fifty-three years, being killed by falling from a cherry tree. The mother
is still living in Italy, at the age of seventy-three years. The father
was in the fruit business all his life and was highly successful. In the
early eighties he immigrated to the United States with his parents when
our subject was eleven years old, the family locating in Indianapolis,
Indiana, where the father engaged in the wholesale and retail fruit
business for about fifteen years. He prospered and, branching out,
established a retail fruit business in Knoxville, Tennessee for his sons,
he laying there the foundation for a large fortune, and was a very rich
man at the time of his death. After retiring from active life he returned
to Italy with his wife, and there they erected a beautiful home, along the
American line of architecture, and there spent the rest of his life. He
was not only a man of superior ability along business lines but was also
of superior mental ability, and he was a scrupulously honest man, in fact,
a devout Christian. His family consisted of three children, namely: Louis
L., of this sketch; Andrew, who is engaged in the wholesale fruit business
in Springfield; and Stella, who is living in Genoa, Italy.

Louis L. Rebori received a limited education in the public schools of
Indianapolis. However, he became a well-informed man, by coming in contact
with the business world, by close observation and by wide miscellaneous
reading. He was a fine example of a successful self-made man, and was
certainly deserving of a great deal of credit for what he accomplished in
a business way. He assisted his father in the fruit business until he was
twenty-three years of age. He went back to Italy with his parents where he
remained two years, but, tiring of life there, he desired to come back to
America to make his fortune where he deemed business conditions better and
existence pleasanter in our "land of the free." After spending four years
in the fruit business in Knoxville, Tennessee, he came to Springfield in
the year 1895, at the solicitation of his brother, who had previously
located here, Andrew.Rebori, being now president of the well-known Rebori
Fruit Company, which operates a large wholesale house between Mill street
and Phelps avenue, near the Frisco depot. Andrew Rebori had opened a fruit
store at South street and the public square, Louis L. Rebori entering the
firm with a capital stock of less than six hundred dollars, provided by
his father. Later he was in different locations, one stand being on Walnut
street, another on St. Louis street, and still another on Commercial
street, and other places. The loan was repaid within a year and after
remaining in partnership with his brother nine years, he opened his first
business on East Walnut street. The last stand he owned was on South
Jefferson street, now the property of his widow. He was apparently a
genius at selecting good business locations, for he placed fruit stands at
points where none had ever been established before, and usually selling
them in a short time at material profits. A striking illustration of the
success of this enterprising man of affairs is seen from the fact that he
left an estate of over twenty-seven thousand dollars, amassed during
twenty years of business in Springfield. During his two decades of
business here on a small scale, he became one of the wealthiest merchants
of his kind that the city has ever known. A large portion of his earnings
were invested in Italy, the remainder being invested in Springfield.

Mr. Rebori was married on September 2, 1891, in New York City, to Laura
Crover, who was born in Springfield, Ohio, September 16, 1876. She is a
daughter of Andrew and Columbia (Mousante) Crover, both born near Genoa,
Italy, where they spent their earlier, years, emigrating to America from
their native land, and establishing their home in Springfield, Ohio. The
death of Mr. Crover occurred in New York City, May 1, 1903, where he had
located a number of years previously. The mother of Mrs. Rebori is now
making her home in Springfield, Missouri, being now sixty-three years of
age. Mr. and Mrs. Crover were young when they came to America, and they
were married in New York City, from which place they removed to
Indianapolis, Indiana, and later to Springfield, Ohio, and finally moved
back to New York City. Mr. Crover spent his life engaged successfully in
the fruit business, being engaged for many years as a wholesale and retail
merchant. His family consisted of four children, namely: Emma lives in
Springfield; Laura, who became the wife of Mr. Rebori; Della lives in
Springfield; and Ralph, who is also a resident of this city. Mrs. Rebori
had the advantage of an excellent education, and is a woman of fine
business tact and excellent personal characteristics.

The union of Mr. and Mrs. Rebori resulted in the birth of one child, Ralph
A. Rebori, whose birth occurred on April 2, 1899. He is receiving a good
education, and he gives promise of a successful business career.

Politically, Mr. Rebori was a Democrat and while he was a strong man in
his party, taking an abiding interest in public affairs, especially such
as pertained to the general upbuilding and welfare of the city of
Springfield, he was never an office seeker. He was a member of St. Agnes
Catholic church and was noted for his fair dealings with his fellow men,
his upright character and his kindness. He was held in high favor by all
who knew him, both in the circles of his countrymen and Americans. He was
a man who had-a prodigious working capacity, his average working day being
seventeen hours or more, the common comment of his customers being that
"he was the last one to go home at night and the first one to be out in
the morning." He frequently returned to Italy for short periods, crossing
the ocean twenty-three times, being accompanied on twelve of them by his
wife and son. He was always ready to help in any good cause, always gave a
helping hand to those in need who appealed to him, and he did many a kind
and generous act that the public never knew about, for he never gave from
an impulse to gain the praise of men, but from a sense of duty and
brotherhood.

The death of Louis L. Rebori occurred after a brief illness, on March 23,
1915, in his forty-eighth year, when just in the prime of life and
usefulness and when the future promised most to him.




JESSE O. REDFEARN. One farmer may develop particular skill in feeding
cattle; another has great success in raising horses; another has a special
knack for planning crops, still another farmer can make fruits and
vegetables do exceptionally well. Such farmers are experts in these lines
of work. They ought to be made the experts for the community so their
skill can be brought on to all the farms in the locality. If this could he
carried out the production of the farms in any section would be greatly
increased. While Jesse O. Redfearn, of Center township, Greene county,
does not seem to have specialized on any one phase of agriculture he has
studied all carefully and has made a success as a general farmer. His
neighbors might do well to observe his methods in many lines.

Mr. Redfearn was born in Greene county, Missouri, April 10, 1856. He is a
son of Josiah F. and Lucy K. (Bennett) Redfearn, the mother being a
daughter of Perminter Bennett, of Tennessee. However, she was born in
South Carolina. The father of our subject was born in Tennessee and was a
son of Townley Redfearn. The latter was a farmer and stock man and he
migrated to Greene county, Missouri, in the early thirties among the first
settlers, worked hard developing a farm from the wilderness and spent the
rest of his life here as did his wife, both being buried in the Yeakley
cemetery. Their six children were named as follows: Josiah, Jesse, Henry,
Louisa, Polly and Susan. They are all deceased.

Josiah Redfearn grew up on the home farm, assisting his father clear up
the land, and he received a meager education in the old-time subscription
schools. His family consisted of five sons and four daughters, namely:
Mrs. Harriet E. Hoyal lives at Bois D'Arc, this county; Mary is deceased;
Sarah died in infancy; Leonidas died in infancy; Jesse O., of this sketch;
George H. is teaching school at Republic; William E. is engaged in
merchandising at Bois D'Arc; John Perminter is deceased; Redella A. lives
in Bois D'Arc. Politically Josiah Redfearn was a Democrat and during the
Civil war he was a member of the State Militia. His death occurred on
August 13, 1902, at an advanced age. His wife preceded him to the grave on
July 17, 1896. They were buried in the Yeakley cemetery.

Jesse O. Redfearn grew to manhood on the home farm where he assisted with
the work when a boy and he received a limited education in the country
schools. On December 21, 1876, he was united in marriage with Catherine H.
Johnson, a daughter of Richard and Cecilia (Morris) Johnson. The father
was a farmer and a native of Greene county, Tennessee, from which state he
came to this county in an early day and here our subject's wife grew to
womanhood and attended the public schools. Twelve children were born to
Mr. and Mrs. Johnson, namely: Mary P., deceased; Barton F., deceased;
James William, deceased; Mrs. Susan Jane Baker is the wife of a farmer in
this county; Mrs. Martha C. Harrelson is also the wife of a Greene county
farmer; George C. is deceased; Catherine H., wife of our subject; Benjamin
B. lives on a farm in this county; Alexander S. lives in Greene county;
Julia Ann is deceased; Joseph Ross lives on a farm in this county; Mrs.
Emma D. Dyer lives-in California.

The following children have been born to Jesse O. Redfearn and wife: Mrs.
Bertha C. Barrett is the wife of a Greene county farmer; Mrs. Carrie Jane
Sweeney lives at Willard, this county; William Ross died when thirty-two
years of age; Melvin Floyd has remained unmarried and lives in Los
Angeles, California; James H. lives at home; John Carlos married Neva
Mayes, November 25, 1914; she is a daughter of J. A. Mayes; J. Clives
lives on a farm near the home place; Mrs. Lucy M. Elson is the wife of a
Greene county farmer.

Mr. Redfearn has devoted his life to general farming. He located on his,
present place in 1878, which at that time consisted of sixty-three acres,
but he prospered with advancing years by hard work and good management and
is now owner of a good farm of one hundred and sixty acres. This land was
formerly owned by his father. Our subject has made practically all the
present improvements on the place. In connection with general farming he
makes a specialty of raising blooded live stock, in which he is very
successful.

Mr. Redfearn is a Republican. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal
church, South. In 1882 he joined Masonic Blue Lodge No. 449 at Bois D'Arc.
He is active in church work, being at this writing a trustee in the church
where he holds membership, and he has been superintendent of the Sunday
school for a period of twenty years. He has also been clerk of the school
board in his district for some time. He has assisted in furthering any
movement calculated to be of general benefit to his community.




SAMUEL A. REED. The people of Greene county have been fortunate in
securing such men as Samuel A. Reed as their public servants and it would
be difficult to replace the present county officials, clerks of the
various courts and those in general who are serving the people here in an
official capacity with better men, at least this is in the main true. It
seems that they have been chosen for these responsible positions more for
their ability and honesty than for political reasons. One of these is
Samuel A. Reed, present incumbent of the office of clerk of the circuit
court.

Mr. Reed is a scion of a worthy old family of the far Southland and he was
born in the fair state of Mississippi while the family was en route to the
North, on September 8, 1859. He is a son of Robert S. and Sarah (Goode)
Reed, and is one of a family of twelve children, eight sons and four
daughters, of which number only four sons now survive. Robert S. Reed, the
father, was a native of Tennessee, where he grew to manhood, was educated
and married and there he spent his earlier years engaged in farming. His
wife was also a native of that state where she grew up and was educated.
The paternal grandfather of the subject of this sketch was of English
descent, and he was born in Virginia, from which state he removed to
Mississippi in a very early day.

The Reed family was desirous of getting out of the South on account of the
turmoil there during the Civil war period. The long journey over rough
roads to Christian county, Missouri, required over six weeks. It was on
this trip that our subject was born. The family located on a farm and made
their permanent home in this locality, unlike most of the Southern
families who left on account of the war, after which, they returned to
their old homes. Robert S. Reed continued farming up to old age and he is
now living in Springfield at the advanced age of eighty-four years. He is
well known in the sections of Christian and Greene counties in which he
has lived and his record is of the best. His wife passed away a quarter of
a century ago, dying in 1889.

Samuel A. Reed grew to manhood on the farm and assisted his father with
the general work of the same when a boy. He received his education in the
common schools of his locality.

On November 3, 1881, he was married to Susie W. Turner, a daughter of John
and Edith Turner, an old family of Greene county who spent their active
lives on a farm, and here Mrs. Reed was reared to womanhood and was
educated in the common schools. She is one of a family of thirteen
children.

Five children have been born to our subject and wife, namely: Lulu Maud
married R. N. Farren, an electric engineer; they live in Wright county,
Missouri, and have three children: Sarah E. married Fred W. Hoover, who is
engaged in the lumber business in Tacoma, Washington, where they reside;
Elizabeth, born in 1888, is at home; Benton, born in 1892 is a natural
artist and at this writing is attending the Chicago Art School, expecting
to be a member of the graduating class of that institution in 1915;
Nellie, born in 1894, is at home.

Politically Mr. Reed is a Republican and has been more or less active in
political affairs. In 1910 he was chosen clerk of the circuit court here,
the duties of which he has discharged in an eminently satisfactory manner,
being accurate, prompt and courteous. He was re-elected in 1914.

Mr. Reed and family are members of the Grace Methodist Episcopal church on
South street.




JAMES W. REILLY. The name Reilly has long been a familiar one among
railroad men of Springfield, for both our subject and his father before
him were long on the Frisco payrolls in this city, having come here from
the great Crescent City of the far South shortly after the close of the
war between the states. The one is now living in retirement and the other
has passed on to his eternal rest.

James W. Reilly was born on January 25, 1856, at New Orleans, Louisiana.
He is a son of John and Bridget (Fitzpatrick) Reilly, and as the names
would indicate, his Irish blood comes from both sides of the house. The
father of our subject was born in County Cavan, Ireland, where he spent
his boyhood days, emigrating to New York City when a young man, and from
there went south to New Orleans, working some time as a laborer and gang
foreman. Coming to Missouri in the sixties he assisted in building the St.
Louis & San Francisco railroad line from St. Louis to Springfield, working
from Rolla to Neosho. Later he became gang foreman in the North Side
shops, Springfield, having long been connected with the blacksmith
department, and was numbered among the Frisco employees for a period of
twenty years. His death occurred in 1897 at the age of sixty-seven years,
and he was buried in St. Mary's cemetery. He and his wife were both
members of the Catholic church. The mother of our subject died in 1886 at
the age of fifty-five years. The following children were born to John
Reilly and wife, namely: James W., of this sketch; Charles, who was a car
repairer in the Frisco shops at Springfield, died when forty-nine years of
age; Mary is the widow of Warren Reed, deceased, and lives with her
children in St. Louis; Eugene died in infancy; John is a car repairer in
the Frisco's North Side shops, Springfield; Ellen married John Powell, a
traveling engineer for the Chicago & Eastern Illinois railroad and lives
at Danville, Illinois.

James W. Reilly was twelve years of age when he came to St. Louis. Two
years later he was employed as water-boy, when the road was being built
into Springfield, having thus begun his railroad career at a tender age,
after a brief schooling. However, it was not long until his father removed
with him to a farm, where they remained some time, then young Reilly
returned to the city and went to work in the North Side railroad shops,
learning the trade of car repairer. He worked as foreman for sixteen years
in the North Side shops, also as journeyman for some time. At intervals he
had engaged in farming for short periods. In September, 1911, he left the
road permanently and has since lived in retirement. He owns several
valuable properties in Springfield, which he keeps rented. He now lives on
the site where his father built the first house for the family upon coming
here, it being one of three homes in the section of the city now known as
"the North Side." Our subject erected his present splendid residence in
1911.

Mr. Reilly was married in 1879 to Mary E. Hooper, a daughter of Spencer
and Harriet F. (Kane) Hooper. Her father was a native of North Carolina,
from which state he came to Missouri in 1845, located in Greene county,
and the Hooper family lived on a farm on the Cherry street road, near
Springfield. Mrs. Reilly grew to womanhood in this locality and was
educated in the common schools of Greene county.

To our subject and wife six children have been born, namely: Paul married
Hattie Dodson and is employed as switchman in St. Louis for the Iron
Mountain railroad; Kate married T. E. McKenna, a Springfield switchman,
and they have four children, Francis, Thomas, Elenore and Paul; James L.
is a switchman for the Cotton Belt at Jonesboro, Kansas. He married Maud
Gaffker and they have two children, Clifford and Louise; Charles died in
infancy; Ralph is engaged in the grocery business on Jefferson street,
this city; he married Annie Connelly and they have two children, Connelly
and Clarence; Clarence died on May 26, 1914.

Politically, Mr. Reilly is a Democrat. Fraternally, he belongs to the
Catholic Knights and the Modern Woodmen of America.




MOSES M. RENSHAW. A man who has spent his life as a farmer can not move
into town and make himself indispensable in an art studio, nor can the
artist, the machinist, the dry goods clerk, those from the professional
offices, become prosperous in any early time as hewers of wood and drawers
of water, tillers of the soil, or salesmen of its products. No greater
disaster could come to the masses in cities than to thrust them unprepared
into the strange situations they would encounter in attempted farm life.
Their story would be one of tragedy. There are a great many people in the
cities now-a-days who desire to heed the "back-to-the-land" slogan, who
have very little conception of what is to be done to success after they
are located on a farm All such should have some capital to start with and
go slow until they can learn what they should know of the thousand and one
things regarding life as an agriculturist. On the other hand, those who
have spent their lives as farmers should stay away from town unless they
have laid by enough money to live comfortably without an income. Moses M.
Renshaw, a farmer of Cass township, near Cave Spring, Greene county, has
lived on a farm many years; and being contented and successful, has no
desire for city life.

Mr. Renshaw has spent practically all of his life of three score and ten
years in the vicinity where he now resides, having been born there
December 15, 1844. He is a son of Joseph A. and Sarah (Griffis) Renshaw, a
pioneer family of the northern part of this county. The father was born in
Tennessee, in 1813, and the mother was also a native of that state. There
they both spent their childhood years, received limited educations in the
old-time subscription schools, and when young, removed with their parents
to Greene county, Missouri, the mother coming here in 1842. Here the
parents of our subject spent the rest of their lives, the father dying in
the year 1863 and the mother died May 9, 1914. They were the parents of
eight children, namely: Robert, who is making his home on the farm with
our subject; Moses M. of this review; the next child died in infancy;
Sarah J. married Gilbert Hughes and they live in Murray township, Greene
county; Howard A. died in 1900; William C. lives on a farm near the home
of the subject of this sketch; Mary is the wife of J. B. Easly, who is
engaged in the real estate business in Springfield; Francis A. is living
with our subject.

Moses M. Renshaw grew to manhood on the farm in his native locality, and
he received his education in the common schools of Greene county, and here
he began life for himself as a farmer. In 1877 he removed to Arkansas,
where he engaged in the livery business in Pine Bluff, Jefferson county,
remaining there until 1900, enjoying a large and successful business all
the while, and became well known throughout the county. He then went to
Wyoming, where he remained only a short time, after which he returned to
his native vicinity in Cass township, Greene county, locating on his
present farm of two hundred acres of well-improved and productive land,
his well-kept place bearing the name of "Locust Lawn Farm." He carries on
general farming, keeping tenants on his place to assist him. He is also
owner of valuable land on the prairie south of his home district, his
holdings in all amounting to nearly six hundred acres. He farms on an
extensive scale, is careful of details, always exercising proper system
and adopting advanced methods. He handles large numbers of live stock from
year to year.

Politically, Mr. Renshaw is a Republican, but he has never been especially
active in public affairs. He is a member of the Presbyterian church, in
which he has been a director.

Our subject has remained unmarried.




C. L. RHODES. Life is pleasant to live when we know how to make the most
of it. Some people start on their careers as if they had weights on their
souls, or were afraid to make the necessary effort to live up to a high
standard. Others, by not making a proper study of the conditions of
existence, or by not having the best of trainers--good parents--are
side-tracked at the outset and never seem thereafter to be able to get
back again on the main track. C. L. Rhodes, well-known produce man of
Springfield, seems to have been fortunate in being reared under the superb
influences of a good old Southern home and, having gotten a proper start
on the highway of life, has succeeded admirably.

Mr. Rhodes was born in the northern part of Georgia, April 19, 1853. He is
a son of Wesley and Nancy (Stewart) Rhodes, both natives of North
Carolina, in which state they grew to maturity, received limited
educations and were married, removing in an early day across South
Carolina into northern Georgia where they established the future home of
the family on a farm which they purchased, and there they spent the rest
of their lives, the mother dying in 1881 and the father in 1891. During
the war between the states Wesley Rhodes enlisted in the Confederate army
under Captain Stewart, in Tennessee, but served only six months. His
family consisted of seven children, namely: C. L. of this sketch is the
eldest; John is engaged in farming in Georgia; Mrs. Sarah Freeman and
husband live on a farm in Lawrence county, Missouri; Nancy has remained
single and lives in Alabama; William N. lives in Billings, Christian
county, Missouri; James and Emanuel are both deceased.

C. L. Rhodes grew to manhood on the home farm in Georgia and he received
his early education in the public schools of his home district. He spent
his early life in general farming and also operated a country store for
awhile or until he removed to Christian county, Missouri, in 1886. There
he engaged in farming four years, then moved to the town of Billings where
he engaged in the produce and mercantile business, general trading, etc.
Continuing there two years he returned to the farm for awhile, and in 1891
moved to Springfield and at once opened up a produce business which he has
conducted with every growing success to the present time, or for a period
of twenty-three years, during which he has become one of the most widely
known dealers in produce in southwestern Missouri. However, he has had
other business interests the meantime. His place of business has remained
in the same block on South Campbell street ever since coming to this city
and he is widely known to the rural visitors from Christian, Taney and
other counties who come to Springfield to trade. He buys and ships all
kinds of produce in carload lots, doing mostly a jobbing business,
handling chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, eggs, furs, hides, roots, etc.

Mr. Rhodes was married in August, 1874, at Blairsville, Georgia, to Sarah
Bishop, who was born in Georgia in 1858, and there she grew to womanhood
and was educated in the common schools. She was a daughter of Alfred and
Mary (England) Bishop an old Georgian family, Mr. Bishop having been a
successful planter in that state many years. Mr. Rhodes' first wife died
on August 2, 1911. To this first union twelve children were born, namely:
Mary is deceased.; Bettie is deceased; William S. lives in Springfield,
and is engaged in business with his father; Mrs. Ida Bowman lives in this
city; James and John, twins, both live in Springfield; Lou and Gertrude,
twins, are both deceased; Hershel and Ernest, twins, the former deceased,
the latter living in this city; Minnie, died in early life; Jessie also
died when young.

On September 12, 1912, C. L. Rhodes married Frances Little, in Aurora,
Missouri; she was born in the same vicinity in northern Georgia of which
our subject was a native, but was brought to Christian county, Missouri,
when young by her parents and there grew to womanhood and attended school.
She is a daughter of William and Louise Jane (Cobb) Little. Her mother was
born in North Carolina, February 14, 1837, and her death occurred in
Billings, Missouri, in 1908. The father of Mrs. Rhodes was born December
31, 1836, in North Carolina and his death occurred at Billings, Missouri,
June 26, 1892.

Mr. Rhodes has been very successful in a business way and owns
considerable valuable property in Springfield, including a substantial
modern residence on Phillips street. Politically, he is a Republican.
Fraternally, he belongs to the Woodmen of the World and the Modern Woodmen
of America. He and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal
church, South, in which he is a trustee and a liberal supporter.




CLARENCE J. RHODES. The life of the average man of affairs today is spent
amidst so much bustle and hurry and worry that he often imagines he can
find but little time to devote to books, recreation, retrospection; and
there are many who hardly ever open a book, seldom spend a day in the
woods communing with nature, who content themselves with the dull routine
of the daily drudge, and who never lose themselves in prose or poetry or
fiction, in science, art or history. Perhaps one of the most busy men who
lived in the past century was William E. Gladstone; yet he was one of the
best informed and most deeply read men in Europe. The same may be said in
America of Theodore Roosevelt. Such men do their work better because they
come to it with minds refreshed and strengthened, and they move under the
heavy load of the world's affairs with ease and grace and dignity because
they hear things that other ears are deaf to and see upon all things a
light to which untaught eyes are blind. Clarence J. Rhodes, of
Springfield, is one of our citizens who takes a delight in keeping up with
current events and investigating the various realms of learning, having
never permitted himself to become wholly absorbed with his daily tasks,
therefore he is not only happier but does his work better than if he
ignored his tastes for culture.

Mr. Rhodes was born at Zinc, Arkansas, February 1, 1887. He is a son of
Eugene J. Rhodes, Sr., a well-known man of affairs, formerly of northern
Arkansas, now of Springfield, a complete sketch of whom will be found on
other pages of this work.

The subject of this sketch received a practical education in the high
school and Springfield Normal, having come to this city with his parents
when he was a child. After leaving school he went to St. Louis with a
bonding company, where he remained until in February, 1907, when he
returned to Springfield and went to work for the Kansas City, Clinton &
Springfield Railroad Company as assistant ticket accountant or
statistician, then became revising clerk, joint freight accountant and
voucher clerk, and at present he is bookkeeper, with offices in the
Woodruff building. He has given eminent satisfaction in all the above
named positions, being alert, painstaking, energetic and trustworthy.

Mr. Rhodes was married on July 30, 1908, in Springfield, to Stella I.
Sanders, who was born in Billings, Missouri. She is a daughter of J. W.
and Elizabeth T. (Tipper) Sanders, both natives of England, from which
country they came to the United States in early life. The father is now
deceased, but the mother is making her home in Springfield. Mrs. Rhodes
was given good educational advantages.

To our subject and wife two children have been born, namely: Warrena. L.,
born July 14, 1909; and Richard J., born November 20, 1911.

Politically, Mr. Rhodes is a Republican, and fraternally he belongs to the
Knights of Pythias.




EUGENE JOSEPH RHODES. There could be no more comprehensive history written
of a community or even of a state and its people than that which deals
with the life work of those who, by their own endeavor and indomitable
energy, have placed themselves where they well deserve the title of
progressive, and in this sketch will be found the record of one who has
outstripped the less active plodders on the highway of life, one who has
not been subdued by the many obstacles and failures that come to every
one, but who has made them stepping stones to higher things and at the
same time that Mr. Rhodes has been winning his way to the front in
business affairs he has gained a reputation for uprightness and honor.

Eugene Joseph Rhodes, a well known citizen of Springfield, formerly of
northern Arkansas, was born in Jefferson county, Iowa, March 17, 1845. He
is a son of Ira G. and Ann Emelia (Botts) Rhodes. Ira G. Rhodes was born
in the state of New York on August 29, 1814, but when a child he was
brought to Trumbull county, Ohio, where he grew to manhood and received
his education. His father was of German ancestry, his mother English,
though the former was born in Massachusetts and the latter in Connecticut.
The family record shows that John Rhodes, grandfather of Ira G., was born
May 2, 1779, and died June 24, 1819. His wife, Hannah Graves, was born
June 17, 1783, and died September 10, 1835. Their son, Joseph, father of
Ira G., was married to Polly Waters, February 15, 1801. The parents of
Polly Waters were named Guerdon and Eliza, the former dying December 25,
1813, and the latter dying January 24, 1819. Joseph and Polly Rhodes were
the parents of eight children, five girls and three boys, Ira G. being the
sixth child. The exact place of his birth is not known. In 1814 his
parents left Connecticut to go to Ohio, and while en route this son was
born. It seems that the trip from the old Nutmeg state to the Buckeye
state required quite a long time, and when the family reached Ohio their
infant son was one year old. Thus it was in 1815 that the Rhodeses took up
their residence in what was then the western frontier or wilderness, still
the domain of the red men, and there endured the usual hardships and
privations of early pioneers. There Ira G. Rhodes' parents spent the rest
of their lives and there their children grew to maturity and then left the
old home to become, themselves pioneers in the still farther West. Ira G.
remained with his parents until twenty-one years old, working on the farm
in summer and attending district school in winter. Although he had no
other schooling than was afforded by the common schools of Ohio, yet he
prepared himself for a successful teacher and taught several terms of
school before he became of age. His first school was a winter term of
three months, at eleven dollars per month, and "board around," which
necessitated going to the poorest cabins, sleeping with dirty children,
with scant covering, and in huts where through the cracks between the logs
the snow sifted in winter and the stars were visible through the roof, and
the usual fare nothing but "hog and hominy." Though his early life was
that of the farm boy, he eventually had good training, his parents being
people of sturdy character and strong minds. In his early life Ira G.
Rhodes was a Whig and first cast his vote for Gen. William Henry Harrison;
following his father, however, he later joined the Free Soilers and became
a Republican on the organization of that party. He was all his life a
stanch advocate of temperance. His father died at the old farm in Trumbull
county, Ohio, December 30, 1853, and his mother died there on November 1,
1848.

Soon after reaching the age of twenty-one, Ira G. Rhodes, with only a
capital of one hundred dollars, started West to seek his fortune,
traveling horseback through the states of Ohio, Indiana and Illinois,
locating in Hancock county in the last named state, where he engaged in
teaching school for seven years. Here he met and married Ann Emelia Botts.
She was born in Kentucky, May 14, 1820. Her ancestors were originally from
England. Her father, Joseph Botts, was the ninth child of John and Lucy
(Gaines) Botts, and was born in Virginia. He married Sabra Wilkes, of
Boone county, Kentucky, and they became the parents of twelve children, of
whom Ann Emelia was the fourth. She lived with her parents on the farm in
the old Blue Grass state until she was sixteen years of age, when they
emigrated to Hancock county, Illinois, the journey requiring four weeks,
Ann Emelia riding the entire distance on horseback. Illinois was then
principally a wild, unbroken prairie, with a settlement here and there.
Mr. Botts was a slave owner in Kentucky, but finally freed his slaves and
sought a country where slave holding was not the custom. He was a minister
in the Baptist church for over a half century and a great preacher among
the pioneers.

It was on January 15, 1843, that Ira G. Rhodes and wife were married, and
in April of that year they went to Iowa to make their future home,
settling in the timbered lands bordering the Skunk river in the northeast
corner of Jefferson county. Here, six years before Iowa became a state, on
the outskirts of civilization, where the tracks of the Indians were still
fresh in the soil, far away from relations and friends, with only a few
scattered neighbors, they began housekeeping and homebuilding. On that
farm in the woods, carved out of Nature's raw material by their own hands,
they lived for nearly fifty years, rearing their family of eight children,
their way being hard and toilsome, but it was always cheerful and hopeful.
By persistent, well directed labor and judicious economy, they won
prosperity and secured a competence, so they were enabled to spend their
old age in quiet and comfort. Mr. Rhodes was always active in school
matters, and for many years after he gave up teaching he was a school
director. He was a good debater and took an active part in all literary
and debating societies of the neighborhood. Before and during the Civil
war he took great interest in politics and was active in his locality. In
1874 he allied himself with the Grangers and was elected by that party
county treasurer, holding the office two years in an able manner, this
being the only public office he ever held, and this he did not seek.
However, he was often urged to become a candidate for the legislature, but
always refused. Upon his election to the office of county treasurer he
abandoned his farm and moved to Fairfield, the county seat. At the close
of his official career he purchased a home in Brighton, four miles from
the old home, and there they continued to reside, spending a portion of
each year visiting their children in Missouri, Arkansas and other places.
Mr. Rhodes was a robust man physically, was never known to be sick. He
never used tobacco and liquor or indulged in profane language. He was a
kind husband, father and neighbor and beloved by all who knew him, as was
also his good wife. He was a man of liberal religious views and never
belonged to any church, although his daily life was that of an honest,
upright man and his character was always exemplary. He was a thinking man
and all his life he was true to himself and the world. Mrs. Rhodes also
shared her husband's views on religion, and they believed in right for
right's sake, opposing the dogmas and creeds of orthodox churches. They
both closed their days in Jefferson county, Iowa, his death occurring in
March, 1898, and she followed him to the grave on November 9, 1912.

To Ira G. Rhodes and wife nine children were born, all of whom grew to
manhood and womanhood but the fifth, Helen Louise, who died in infancy.
Lucilia Jane Rhodes, the oldest child, was born October 22, 1843, taught
school three years prior to her marriage, which occurred October 23, 1863,
to R. H. L. Barricklow, a farmer of her own neighborhood, and to this
union six children were born, Grace, Irvin Ernest, James Luther, Dell
Eugene, Ira G., and Lulu Lillian; the Barricklow family removed from Iowa
to Arkansas in 1887 and settled at Stuttgart. Eugene J. Rhodes, the
immediate subject of this sketch was the second child in order of birth.
The next in order was Luther Graves Rhodes, whose birth occurred February
24, 1847, was educated for a teacher, which profession he followed nearly
twenty years in Iowa, Illinois and California; February 28, 1877, he
married Sadie Irvin, and to them three sons were born, Claudie Irvin,
Glenn Vernon and Lester Ray; after giving up teaching, Mr. Rhodes located
in Yolo county, California, and engaged in horticultural pursuits and
official work. Mary Sophronia Rhodes, the fourth child, was born February
8, 1849, and engaged in teaching for a short time before her marriage,
which occurred on November 11, 1868, to John W. Townsley; to this union
one child was born, Nettie; her second husband was A. S. Bailey, whom she
married December 28, 1879, and to this union three children were born,
Homer Garfield, Ralph Emerson and Faith. Mr. Bailey is now engaged in
newspaper work in Iowa at Shenandoah, where he is active at the age of
eighty years. William E. Rhodes was born May 31, 1853, and was also
educated for a teacher, which profession he followed many years in Iowa,
Kansas and Alabama, in which state he established his permanent residence,
where he finally engaged in the jewelry business and merchandising, also
was farmer, justice of the peace, postmaster, surveyor and now a banker at
Linden, Alabama; he married Sarah Emma Miller, and to them four children
were born, Ray Gustavius, Charles Eugene, Ira George and Carrie Alvaretta.
Myrtle Ann Rhodes was born January 5, 1856, taught school a while before
her marriage, on December 24, 1873, to Gideon G. Sampson, a native of
England, who followed teaching for twenty years, finally removing from
Iowa to Boone county, Arkansas, in 1890, and to this couple four children
were born. Ernest Eugene, Fred Vernon, Grace Helen and Myrtle Agnes.
Florence Alvaretta Rhodes was born September 2, 1858, the youngest
daughter; she married, May 14, 1887, Nathan A. Heacock, for many years
engaged in the United States postal railway service, and to the union of
this couple one daughter was born, Florence Natalie. Homer Ellsworth
Rhodes, youngest of the nine children, was born November 18, 1861, married
Ida Barricklow, on September 27, 1882, and to this union the following
children were born: Mabel Irene, Earl Edwin, Margaret Ann (deceased),
Hazel Adline, Victor William (deceased), Arthur, Marie, Gladys, Garland,
Mildred and Lucile. After their marriage this couple lived on a farm in
Iowa until 1889, when they emigrated to Arkansas, establishing their
future home at Stuttgart, where Mr. Rhodes engaged in the hardware
business, and is now living retired.

Eugene J. Rhodes, of this review, grew to manhood on the old homestead in
Jefferson county, Iowa, where he assisted with the general work during the
summer months and during the winter he attended the district schools,
remaining at home until he was twenty-one years of age; then he entered
Eastman's National Business College, at Poughkeepsie, New York, where he
made an excellent record and from which institution he was graduated in
the spring of 1867. He then attended the State University of Iowa at Iowa
City, graduating from the normal department of the same in June, 1869. In
July of that year he left his native state and located in Johnson county,
Arkansas, where he engaged in teaching school for a short period; locating
in Fayetteville, two years later, he was appointed register of the United
States land office at Harrison, removing the office from Clarksville, and
he began upon his duties in 1871. After filling this office very
acceptably for a period of three years, during which his ability and
faithfulness, courtesy and high integrity commended him to all concerned,
he went to California, in May, 1873, where he engaged in teaching for four
years and also in bookkeeping for some time. In 1878 he returned to
Arkansas and located in Boone county, and on November 14, 1878, was
married there to Mattie Keener, who was born in Pennsylvania September 30,
1859. She is a daughter of Judge William Keener, who removed with his
family from the old Keystone state to Missouri when she was a child, and
here and in Arkansas she grew to womanhood and received a common school
education; in 1872 the Keener family removed to Arkansas.

After his marriage Mr. Rhodes resided some time in Harrison and later
moved to the pinery, where he resided a number of years, enjoying the
comforts of a home in the pine-clad, picturesque hills, and engaged
successfully in the manufacture of lumber and in commercial orcharding.
Here he owned a tract of land comprising three thousand one hundred acres
and many acres of mining land, and was also engaged in farming, stock
raising , and operating his mines, besides discharging the duties of
United States mineral surveyor for a period of ten years for the state of
Arkansas. In his locality he held the office of justice of the peace and
also that of notary public. He was always a stanch Republican and was
influential in public affairs in Boone county, having been for some time
an active member of the county central committee. While there he was a
director of the Boone County Bank. His principal business for a number of
years there was the manufacture and sale of pine and oak lumber, and he
was president of the Arkansas Zinc and Lead Company, which was
incorporated in 1890 to operate in the mining regions of Arkansas, and
which had control of twelve hundred acres of rich mining land in Marion
county. He was half owner of the well-known Diamond Cave in Newton county,
Arkansas, and it can of truth be said of him that he has done as much as
any man in Arkansas to push forward the zinc and lead industry. He was
regarded as one of the most substantial and foremost citizens of Boone
county, and owned one of the finest homes and one of the largest orchards
in that county.

Mr. Rhodes left Arkansas in 1895 and located in Springfield, Missouri,
where he has since resided, and has been engaged extensively in the lumber
business here, both retail and wholesale, his business extending over a
vast territory of the Southwest. He has also engaged in the coal and wood
business on a large scale, and has done considerable engineering work for
various railroads, also surveying, having served as deputy surveyor under
Surveyor Phillips and also Massey, and ten years ago he was elected county
surveyor of Greene county, serving one term with ability and general
satisfaction. At this writing he is extensively engaged in the ornamental
and concrete business, and he was the first person to introduce the
manufacture of artificial marble, a splendid imitation of marble. He is
regarded as one of the leading men of affairs of this locality and is a
man who has always enjoyed the good will and confidence of those with whom
he has come in contact. He owns much valuable property here.

Seven children, five sons and two daughters, have been born to Mr. and
Mrs. Eugene J. Rhodes, named as follows: Homer, born September 23, 1879,
died September 6, 1880; Florence Ethel, born February 3, 1881, teaching in
Harrison, Arkansas; Eugene Joseph, Jr., born March 26, 1883, is engaged in
business in Springfield; William Ira, born January 12, 1885, is engaged in
the feed and fuel business in Springfield; Clarence Julius, born February
1, 1887, lives in Springfield and is engaged in business here; Carrie
Lena, born March 17, 1889, married Trevor Sanks, and lives in Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania; Arthur Clyde, born September 18, 1891, is in the motorcycle
business in Springfield.




EUGENE J. RHODES. JR. For most of us life has the elements of abundant
cheeriness in it. It represents more of encouragement than discouragement,
more of satisfaction than disappointment, more of joy than sorrow, more of
comfort than pain. Souls that are depressed and downcast are quite likely
to be weighted down by borrowed trouble. A successful business man must be
of the former type. Understanding this, Eugene J. Rhodes, Jr., who is
engaged in the motorcycle business in Springfield, never permits the
little things of daily life that "wear and fret the soul" manifest
themselves in his countenance or disposition, and his agreeable manner is
a good asset in his business.

Mr. Rhodes was born in Arkansas on March 26, 1883. He is a son of Eugene
J. Rhodes, Sr., a prominent business man and citizen, formerly of northern
Arkansas, now living in Springfield, a complete sketch of whom is to be
found on another page of this volume, hence will not be reproduced here.

Our subject moved with his parents from Arkansas when young to Springfield
and here he received his education in the high school and the State
Normal. For three years he worked as deputy under his father, when the
latter was surveyor, after which he engaged in the lumber business in
Arkansas, also engaged in this business in Springfield with his father for
some time, then for a year or more he engaged in the grocery business in
this city, and in 1911, with his brother, Clyde A. Rhodes, he began in the
motorcycle business, under the name of Rhodes Brothers, at 319 South
Jefferson street, where they have remained to the present time, and have
enjoyed a large and growing business all the while. They handle all kinds
of motorcycle Supplies and auto accessories, maintaining a well-equipped
garage and repair shop, doing all kinds of auto and motorcycle repairing
promptly and of the highest grade of workmanship. They are also agents for
several standard grades of motorcycles, including the Indian, Flying
Merkel and Thor, and have built up a large trade in these. Our subject has
made this line of business his special study for a number of years and has
kept well up-to-date on the same.

Eugene J. Rhodes, Jr., was married on July 14, 1901, to Murel Hart, a
native of Iowa and a daughter of W. H. and Dora Hart. Mrs. Rhodes came
with her parents to Springfield when young and she received a good
education. To our subject and wife five children have been born, namely:
Boyd, born on February 15, 1903; Vivian; born on September 22, 1906; Hugh,
born on February 14, 1909; Maxine, born on April 7, 1912, and Mildred M.,
born on January 21, 1915.

Politically Mr. Rhodes is a Republican, and Mrs. Rhodes is a member of the
Christian church.




LEMUEL C. RICKETTS. In pioneer days when farming implements and machinery
were of .the crudest kind, requiring a goodly supply of both muscle and
grit to use them to advantage, brawn, more than brains, was needed in the
business of farming, in order to rescue the fertile soils from the
wilderness of forest and prairie growth. In these modern days of worn and
worn-out soils and the abandoned farm, with the most improved labor-saving
farm machinery, the business of farming needs brains more thaw brawn, that
our soils may be rescued from the wilderness and desert or wasted
fertility that has stifled and depleted them. One of the farmers of
Jackson township, Greene county, who is evidently intelligently applying
himself to his vocation, is Lemuel C. Ricketts, who not only uses his
brains, but is a hard worker with his hands, and therefore has succeeded.

Mr. Ricketts was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, November 3, 1873. He is a
son of Jesse M. B. and Othelia (Chancy) Ricketts, both natives of that
county and state also, each born near the town of Carroll, the father's
birth having occurred in 1819. There they spent their earlier years and
attended the common schools. Jesse M. B. Ricketts also went to school in
Columbus, Ohio, studied law, and later practiced his profession at Finley
and Lancaster, that state, with success. He retired from his professional
life at the age of sixty-five years, and moved to a farm in Greene county,
Missouri, his place here consisting of eighty acres. His death occurred in
Colorado at the advanced age of eighty years. His family consisted of
three children, namely: Mary Ella, deceased; Lemuel C., of this sketch;
Mrs. Viola M. Russell lives in Billings, Montana.

Lemuel C. Ricketts was reared in Ohio. He was thirteen years of age when
he removed with the family to Greene county, Missouri. He received a good
education. He hired out most of the time until he was twenty-one years
old. In 1897 he went to the West, where he worked for some time as a
contractor, returning to Greene county in 1907. Soon thereafter he
purchased the farm of two hundred and twenty acres where he now lives. He
has a well-improved and productive place, which gives every indication of
good management. He has been very successful in a business way and is one
of the substantial and influential citizens of this section of the county.
He is president of the Bank of Stafford, which he helped to organize,
which, under his able and judicious management, has become one of popular
and sound banking institutions of this part of the state. He has been
president since its organization. It has had a constant and satisfactory
growth and a general banking business is carried on. He has built an
attractive home on his farm. This place was settled in 1845 by Erskin
Danforth.

Mr. Ricketts was married, January 6, 1899, to Estella Palmer, who was born
in Wisconsin, August 19, 1876. She is a daughter of Randolph and Marira
(Dearth) Palmer. She spent her early life in Iowa, Kansas, Arkansas,
Oklahoma and Missouri. She received a common school education.

The father of Mrs. Ricketts was a soldier in the Civil war, having
enlisted in Company D, Sixty-third Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and he
served in the Georgia campaign under General Sherman, with whom he marched
to the sea. He is now living in Joplin, Missouri.

Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Ricketts, namely: Hugh,
October 25, 1899, lives at home; Lemuel E., born October 29, 1901, October
20, 1908; Jesse Paul, born January 17, 1905, is at home; Arthur L., born
July 6, 1907, is at home; Helen May, born August 7, 1910, is at home;
Ralph Randolph, born July 4, 1912, died March 3, 1915.

Politically, Mr. Ricketts is a Republican. Fraternally, he is a
thirty-second degree Mason, and is a member of the Independent Order of
Odd Fellows.




OMER E. RISSER. Among the well known and popular railroad men of
Springfield is Omer E. Risser, passenger conductor, who has been connected
with the Frisco for over a quarter of a century, and his long retention by
the system would indicate that he is a man of ability and worth of the
trust reposed in him. He is of German descent on his father's side and has
inherited many of the commendable qualities of those people, and his
success in life has been due entirely to his own efforts.

Mr. Risser was born in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, July 26, 1864. He is a son of
Daniel and Martha (Townsend) Risser. The father was born in Germany in
1830, and there he grew to manhood and had the advantages of a good
education, and he served three years in the army, as is the custom in that
country of every able bodied man when he becomes of certain age. He was a
shoemaker by trade, which he followed for a livelihood, and became quite
an expert workman. He emigrated to the United States when a young man and
spent several years in Indiana, where he was married; later lived in Iowa
during a protracted period, but finally removed to Springfield, Missouri,
where his death occurred in 1898. The mother of the subject of this sketch
was born in 1832, in New England, of Quaker parents, and was reared in
their faith. She is now living on East Walnut street, Springfield,
Missouri. To Daniel Risser and wife eleven children were born, five of
whom are living at this writing, namely: Mrs. J. E. Hansell, of
Springfield (a complete sketch of Mr. Hansell and family appears on
another page of this work); Dr. C. H. Risser lives in North Manchester,
Indiana; Omer E. Risser, of this sketch; Mamie Risser is living with her
mother in Springfield; Mrs. A. T. Moore, who lives on West Walnut street,
Springfield.

Omer E. Risser received his education in the public and high schools of
Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, and when but a boy he took up railroading as a career,
first working, however, for the American Express Company, in the office at
Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. In 1883 he went to work for the Chicago, Burlington &
Quincy Railroad Company, with which he remained until 1886, in January of
which year he came to Springfield, Missouri, and went to work for the
Frisco system as brakeman, his run being between Springfield and Newburg,
Missouri. In 1888 Superintendent W. A. Thomas requested our subject to go
to the southwestern division, at Talihina, Indian Territory (now
Oklahoma), and after working there a short time he was promoted to freight
conductor. Mr. Risser worked between Talihina and Paris, Texas, until
1893; then returned to Springfield and went to work on the Kansas City,
Ft. Scott & Memphis railroad as brakeman behind twenty-six extra
conductors. In 1897 he was promoted to the regular crew again as conductor
of a freight, and in 1903 he was promoted to extra passenger conductor,
and for many years his run has been between Springfield and Thayer, this
state. He has been very successful as a conductor and is one of the best
known and most popular men of his division.

Mr. Risser was married June 19, 1889, in Springfield, to Rose Conlin, who
was born in St. Louis, December 11, 1864. She is a daughter of Thomas and
Ann (Mooney) Conlin, both born in Ireland, from which country they came to
America in early life and were married in Auburn, New York.

Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Risser, namely: Ralph D.,
born March 23, 1892, is at present employed in the city engineer's office,
Springfield; Kathryn, born January 8, 1896, and Marjorie, born December
28, 1899.

Politically, Mr. Risser is a Democrat. 1890 he joined Division 30, Order
of Railroad Conductors, and when on the old Gulf road was transferred to
Division 321. He joined the Masonic order in 1907, is a Knight Templar and
became a member of the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine
in 1908. In 1910 he was elected councilman from the fifth ward and served
two years with much credit. Since 1907 he has been secretary of the local
Order of Railway Conductors, and was a delegate to the annual meetings of
the order at Jacksonville, Boston and Detroit. He has long been an active
and influential worker in the same.




AARON M. RITTER. Few men live to the advanced age of Aaron M. Ritter, a
venerable citizen of Campbell township, who has passed his eightieth
birthday, without having changed his life work several times, but it seems
that he has been wise in sticking to agricultural pursuits. For it takes a
farmer to succeed at farming, just as it takes a clerical man to make a
success of office work, an engineer with a locomotive, an architect in
architecture, or a musician in music. That man is indeed fortunate who,
when young and starting out in life, chooses his work wisely, selects the
thing for which nature has best adapted him and in which he can make the
greatest success in his, immediate environment, for both innate ability
and one's surroundings must be taken into consideration. No matter how
strong a natural bent one might have for agricultural pursuits, he could
not display that faculty to advantage on the banks of the Red Sea. Our
subject has made a success, of his chosen life work because he was fitted
for it and because he located in a country propitious for general farming.
He has been a resident of Greene county forty-five years.

Mr. Ritter was born May 25, 1834, in St. Joseph county, Indiana, near the
city of South Bend. He is a son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Miller) Ritter,
and a grandson of John and Mary (Gauver) Ritter. John Ritter was born in
Ohio, but his father was a native of Germany, from which country he came
to the United States when young, in the old Colonial period, and he was
living in Massachusetts at the time of the famous Boston "tea party," in
which he participated. He lived to be eighty-seven years of age. John
Ritter grew up in Ohio and married there, later establishing his home in
Wayne county, subsequently removing to Portish Prairie, thence to Iowa, in
which state he died. He was one of the pioneers in the last named state.
He devoted his life to farming. His family consisted of ten children.
Politically, he was a Whig, and religiously a Dunkard. His oldest son,
Jacob Ritter, father of our subject, was probably born in Ohio. He went to
Wayne county when a young man, being one of the first settlers in that
part of the state of Indiana. He resided there about twenty years, or
until his death. His wife, Elizabeth Miller, was a daughter of Daniel and
Sarah (Hardman) Miller. Her father was a minister in the Dunkard church.

To Jacob Ritter and wife twelve children were born, seven of whom are
still living. Aaron M., of this sketch, was the fourth child in order of
birth. The father was a Whig in politics in his earlier life, but finally
became a Democrat. He was a member of the Universalist church. He belonged
to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He devoted his active life to
farming in St. Joseph county, Indiana, and for a number of years was
justice of the peace there.

Aaron M. Ritter grew to manhood on his father's farm in Indiana, and there
he worked when a boy. He received a district school education, also spent
one term in Mercantile College, Cincinnati, Ohio. He has been married
three times. First, in the spring of 1869, in Lawrence county, Missouri,
he was united with Martha A. Johns, who died in early life. One child born
to this union is also deceased. Our subject's second marriage. took place
in 1872, to a Mrs. Isabelle Gray, nee Landreth, and to this union three
children were born, all of whom are deceased, and the mother passed away
in 1898. Mr. Ritter was subsequently married to Emma J. Perryman, a
daughter of John J. and Cassey (Griffen) Perryman. This last union
resulted in the birth of two sons, Miller and Howard Ritter.

Mr. Ritter came to Missouri in the sixties. He served a short time as a
volunteer soldier in the West for the government in assisting to protect
mining towns. In 1870 he located on a farm in Greene county, and has since
resided here, engaged successfully in general farming and stock raising.
He owns a productive and well improved farm of one hundred and seventy-six
acres in Campbell township.

Politically, he is a Socialist, is well read and a man of progressive
ideas. Fraternally, he is a Master Mason. He has been regarded as one of
the leading citizens in his part of the county for nearly a half century.




DAVID MILLER RITTER. We are always glad to talk to the aged veterans of
America's great Civil war, in which nearly five million men took part, but
of this vast number only a comparatively few remain with us to tell the
interesting story of the dreadful hardships they endured in their winter
camps, in the hospitals, the harassing marches, in the battles and
skirmishes, or in the prison hells. But their time is short now, so all
persons should join in honoring them for sacrifices they made when they
were young and full of the love of life, but which was offered free on the
altar of their country. David Miller Ritter of Center township, Greene
county, is one of this number. He has made his home in our midst nearly a
half century during which he has progressed from a modest beginning as a
farmer to one of the largest agriculturists in the township.

Mr. Ritter was born near South Bend, St. Joseph county, Indiana, February
10, 1842. He is a son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Miller) Ritter. The father
was one of the pioneer settlers of that county, having moved there from
Wayne county, Ohio. Our subject traces his ancestry back to the historical
Boston "Tea Party," when Aaron Miller, his maternal great-grandfather,
assisted in throwing the tea overboard. To Jacob Ritter and wife twelve
children were born, seven of whom are living, namely: Aaron is a retired
farmer of Greene county; William H. H. is a retired farmer of St. Joseph
county, Indiana; Franklin is farming in the last named county; Emeline is
the wife of I. N. Miller, a retired farmer of New Carlisle, Indiana;
Clarinda B. is the widow of John T. Buchtel, of South Bend, Indiana;
Lorinda is the wife of Quinn Bulla, a fruit grower of Pomona, California,
and David, M. of this sketch.

Our subject was reared in his native county and received a good education
in the common schools and the Northern Indiana College at South Bend. In
1862 he enlisted in the Twenty-first Indiana Battery of Light Artillery
and served gallantly in the Union army until the close of the war,
reaching the rank of corporal. After he was honorably discharged he
returned to Indiana, and after a term in college came to Springfield,
Missouri, in the spring of 1866, accompanied by H. E. Hardman, a former
army comrade. They came overland, driving a herd of one thousand sheep.
They were three months on the road. They first settled on Leeper Prairie,
Greene county, buying forty acres there, selling out two years later and
moving near Springfield on the Campbell farm, where they broke seventy
acres of prairie for June Campbell, using ox teams for this purpose,
having traded their sheep for cattle. They remained with Mr. Campbell
three years, then our subject and Mr. Hardman dissolved partnership and
Mr. Ritter and his brother Aaron formed a partnership and bought forty
acres in the eastern part of Center township, adjoining our subject's
present farm. Mr. Ritter of this sketch then homesteaded eighty acres
adjoining on the south where he now resides, later purchasing one hundred
and sixty acres from the Frisco railroad in Campbell township, but
adjoining his home place, the property lying on the eastern boundary of
Center and western boundary of Campbell township. Later he purchased forty
acres more, making a total of three hundred acres, one hundred and twenty
acres of which has been set to an apple orchard, which is one of the
largest producers in this section of the Ozarks. His land is all well
improved and he has an attractive home and numerous outbuildings. He has
been successful as a stock raiser also, giving preference to horses and
mules. He is regarded as being exceptionally well informed in general
farming subjects as well as horticulture and stock raising.

Mr. Ritter was married on May 30, 1872, to Josephine Martin, a daughter of
Joseph and Lucinda (Beets) Martin, who came from Anna, Union county,
Illinois, to Greene county, Missouri, many years ago and here established
their permanent home.

Three children have been born to our subject and wife, namely: Howard J.,
born on July 4, 1873, was educated in the Springfield high school and
Drury College, married, in 1907, Ollie Piper, a daughter of Wesley Piper,
of Ash Grove, Missouri; he is engaged in farming, his place lying beside
that of his father, our subject; Clara L., born on January 31, 1876, was
educated in the Springfield high school, married in September, 1895,
Robert L. Toombs, a traveling salesman of Springfield, and they have two
children, Robert, Jr., age eighteen; and Ethel May, age sixteen. Ethel E.,
our subject's youngest child, was born on April 21, 1878, was educated in
the Springfield high school, married, in 1900, Alfred O. Smith, a
traveling salesman of Springfield, and they have three children, Alfred
Ritter, who is now thirteen years old; Richard Ritter, who is now ten
years old; and Helen Josephine, who is eight years old.

Politically, Mr. Ritter is a Republican.




DR. EDWIN T. ROBBERSON. In the early days southwest Missouri was often a
tempting field to the energetic, ambitious, strong-minded, courageous
people of Tennessee, Virginia and the Carolinas, and this country was
filled with them during the time Missouri was struggling up to a
respectable position in the sisterhood of states. There was a fascination
in the broad fields and great promise which this new region presented to
activity and originality that attracted many men, and induced them to
brave all the privations and discomforts of frontier life for the pleasure
and gratification of constructing their fortunes in their own way and
after their own methods. It is this class of men more than any other who
give shape, direction and character to the business of a community county
or state. The late Dr. Edwin T. Robberson, one of the early pioneers of
Greene county and for a long lapse of years one of the most substantial,
useful and prominent citizens of Springfield and vicinity, became
identified with the affairs of this favored section during its first
stages of development and he subsequently wielded a potent influence in
industrial circles and professional life. He gave to the world the best of
an essentially virile, loyal and noble nature and his standard of
integrity and honor was ever inflexible. He was a citizen of high civic
ideals, and ever manifested his liberality in connection with measures and
enterprises tending to advance the general welfare of the locality honored
by his residence, his keen discemment and sound judgment auguring much for
the general upbuilding of the Queen City of the Ozarks. Doctor Robberson
won a reputation, not only as a successful physician and business man, but
as a leader in public affairs and a citizen who was well worthy of the
unqualified confidence and esteem in which he was universally held.

Doctor Robberson was born November 3, 1830, in Maury county, Tennessee,
and was a son of Bennett and Elvira (Sims) Robberson, both natives of
Tennessee, in which state they grew up and were married and spent their
earlier lives. In 1831 they removed to Greene county, Missouri, when the
subject of this memoir was an infant, and settled on what has since been
known as Robberson Prairie, and there by hard work and perseverance
established the permanent family home. The father devoted his life
successfully to farming and he became a prominent man in the county, was
active in Democratic politics and was elected to the state Legislature
from Greene county, serving a term of two years with ability and
satisfaction. He was one of our best known pioneers.

Doctor Robberson grew to manhood on the home farm in this county and there
found plenty of hard work to do when a boy, and for those early times he
had good educational advantages. Later he attended Jefferson Medical
College at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from which institution he was
graduated with the class of 1854. Returning home he began the practice of
his profession in Greene county continuing the same with great success the
rest of his life, or a period of nearly forty years, during which he
ranked among the leading general practitioners of the county, throughout
which his name was a household word. He became a man of means and owned
considerable valuable property and was a heavy stockholder in the National
Exchange Bank in Springfield, of which he became president, discharging
the duties of this responsible position, along with his large practice, in
a manner that reflected much credit upon his ability, fidelity and
integrity and the entire satisfaction of the stockholders and patrons of
the bank the rest of his life; in fact, the large success of this widely
known institution was due for the most part to his wise counsel and
judicious management.

Doctor Robberson was married April 18, 1854, to Elizabeth J. Sproul, who
was born in Monroe county, Missouri, March 11, 1837.

The union of Doctor Robberson and wife was blessed by the birth of seven
children, all living but one.

Doctor Robberson was a Democrat, and while he was interested in public
affairs never had time to seek political office. In his earlier years he
was a-member of the Masonic Order and the Independent Order of Odd
Fellows. He was a member of the Missouri State Medical Association and the
American Medical Association. Religiously, he belonged to the Methodist,
Episcopal church, South.

Doctor Robberson was called to his eternal rest November 10, 1893. He was
in every respect entitled to the esteem of all classes which was freely
accorded. He was the architect of his own fortune and upon his entire
career there rests no blemish, for he was true to the highest ideals and
principles in business, professional, civic and social life, living and
laboring to worthy ends, and as one of the sterling citizens and
representative men of Greene county in the generations that are now merged
with the irrevocable past, his memory merits a tribute of honor on the
pages of history.




WALTER BENNETT ROBBERSON. As a man of twentieth century industry, Walter
Bennett Robberson, vice-president of the Springfield Grocery Company, is
well worthy of representation in a work of the nature of the one in hand,
as a representative of that class of alert, far-seeing men of affairs who
are giving an enduring character to the industrial and civic make up of
the Queen City of the Ozarks and vicinity. He has shown both the power of
initiative and that of concentration, and has made for himself a secure
place as one of the leaders of his day and generation in Greene county.

Mr. Robberson, who is a scion of one of the prominent and honored old
families of this locality, was born in Rolla, Phelps county, Missouri,
February 11, 1864. He is a son of Dr. Edwin T. and Elizabeth Jane (Sproul)
Robberson, a complete sketch of whom appears on other pages of this
volume, hence the chronicle of their interesting lives will not be
repeated here. Suffice it to say however, that for many years Dr.
Robberson was one of the leading physicians and business men of this
section of the state, and did as much as any other one man for the
material development of Springfield a generation ago.

Walter B. Robberson was but a child when his parents removed to
Springfield and here he grew to manhood. He had excellent educational
advantages. After passing through the public and high schools he took the
regular course in Drury College, making an excellent record, and was
graduated from that institution with the class of 1885, receiving the
degree of Bachelor of Arts. Soon thereafter he entered upon his business
career, obtaining a position as receiving clerk in the Springfield Grocery
Company. He was ambitious and soon proved to be a faithful, painstaking
and trustworthy employee and his promotion was rapid. He has remained with
this large and widely known concern to the present time and has done much
to increase its present great volume of business and its prestige. He has
long been a stockholder in the same. He was manager for a period of six
years, and is now vice-president of the company. A wholesale business is
carried on exclusively and no grocery house in the great Southwest is
better or more favorably known. Prompt and honest service is the motto of
the firm, and in view of the fact that many of its thousands of customers
have remained with it for a quarter of a century or more would indicate
that this high code of modern business ethics had been strictly adhered
to. The firm's modern, mammoth and substantial place of business is
conveniently located in the heart of the wholesale district of
Springfield, with excellent railroad facilities, and a large and carefully
selected stock is carried at all seasons, everything being handled that is
found in an up-to-date grocery store, in the way of staple and fancy
groceries.

Mr. Robberson was married on November 3, 1887 to Emma Hardin, who was born
in Illinois in i863. She received a good education, is a lady of culture
and refinement, and is an active worker in the local clubs and especially
in the work of the Women's Christian Temperance Union.

Three children have blessed the home of Mr. and Mrs. Robberson, namely:
Edwin T., born June 1, 1889, died September 24, 1894; Susie Belle, born
December 15, 1891 is studying for a trained nurse in the Burge Deaconess
hospital, Springfield; Edwina, born September 29, 1894, is attending
Kindergarten Training School in Chicago. They are both young ladies of
much promise.

Mr. Robberson has long been an active and influential worker in Democratic
politics, but has never sought or held public office. Fraternally, he
belongs to the Masonic order, including Gate of the Temple Lodge No. 422,
Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; Vincil Chapter No. 110, Royal Arch
Masons; Zabud Council, Royal and Select Masters; St. John's Commandery No.
20, Knights Templar; and Abou Ben Adhem Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of
Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He is also a member of Florence Lodge No.
409, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and Red Men. He and his wife
belong to the First Congregational church.

Personally Mr. Robberson is a plain, unassuming gentleman, uniformly
courteous and pleasant, and is one of Springfield's most representative
men of affairs.




PROF. JOHN R. ROBERTS. Of high professional and academic attainments and
ranking among the foremost educators of southern Missouri, Prof. John R,
Roberts, the efficient and popular superintendent of the Greene county
public schools has achieved marked distinction in the noble work to which
his talents and energies have so long been devoted, and judging by the
past it is safe to predict for him a future of still greater usefulness
and honor. Not only as a teacher and manager of schools has he made his
presence felt, but as a citizen in the daily walks of life, his influence
has tended to the advancement of the community and the welfare of his
fellow men, while the responsible public. positions to which he has been
called from time to time bear testimony to his ability to fill worthily
high and important trusts. His name with eminent fitness occupies a
conspicuous place in the profession which he adorns and his career,
presenting a series of successes such as few attain, has gained for him
much more than a local reputation as a successful organizer and manager of
educational interests. The major portion of his life has been spent in
this, his native state, and at the proper age he entered the school room,
where he early displayed the powers of mind and desire for study which
subsequently won for him honorable distinction as a scholar and success as
a teacher. Ten years ago he accepted the superintendency of the Greene
county public schools, and in this perhaps the greatest of his labors as
an educator and manager have been thus far accomplished. His great force
of character and ripe scholarship, together with his ability as an
organizer enabled him to bring to his work in this county the results of
his professional experience with marked effect, and it was not long until
the schools under his supervision advanced to the high standing of
efficiency for which they are now noted. The teaching force during his
incumbency has been increased and the enrollment of pupils is vastly
greater than a decade ago, while many things tending to lesson the
teachers' labors and at the same time make them more effective have been
introduced; the course of study throughout has been modified and improved,
the latest and most approved appliances purchased and everything in
keeping with modern educational progress, tested and where practical
retained.

Prof. Roberts was born in Macon county, Missouri, January 8, 1849. He is a
son of Joseph P. and Celia (Rippetoe) Roberts, natives of Jackson county,
Tennessee. They were married in Tennessee, from which state they emigrated
to Missouri in 1844 and located in Macon county, where they made their
home until 1856, when they removed to Greene county. Joseph P. Roberts was
a pioneer minister in the Christian church and he did an incalculable
amount of good among the early settlers in this state. Upon coming to this
county he located on the James river. Our subject was then about seven
years of age. They lived in what is now a part of Christian county, which
was formed from Greene county in 1858. The father died in 1888 and the
death of the mother occurred in 1898. Their family consisted of six
children, two sons and four daughters, five of whom survive at this
writing, namely: Prof. John R., of this sketch; P. W., a farmer and
minister of the gospel, a veteran of the Civil war, and ex-judge of the
county court of Christian county, is still living there; Mary A., married
N. A. Inman, a farmer of Christian county, bore him eight children and is
now deceased; Wealthy is the wife of H. C. Collins, a stock dealer of
Christian county, and they have fix children; Nannie has been a teacher
for forty years at Pea Ridge, Arkansas, where she is still employed;
Martha, who married N. J. Robbins, a farmer and fruit grower of
Bentonville, Arkansas, has eight children.

Prof. John R. Roberts received his early education in the public schools
of Ozark, this state, then entered Abington College, Knox county,
Illinois, from which institution he was graduated in the degree of
Bachelor of Arts in 1873, and later that college conferred on him the
degree of Master of Arts. After leaving school he went-to Arkansas and
established a college at Pea Ridge, of which he was president for a period
of twenty years and which grew to be an institution of great importance to
that country under his able management, and it has sent thousands of
useful young men and women from its halls to benefit northwestern Arkansas
especially, and this school will ever be a monument to our subject of
which his descendants may well be proud. Coming to Springfield, Missouri,
in 1896, Prof. Roberts continued his profession here, teaching most
acceptably in both the Normal and high schools until 1905, when he was
elected county superintendent of public schools and has discharged the
duties of this important trust for a period, often years in a manner that
has reflected much credit upon himself and to the eminent satisfaction of
all concerned.

Prof. Roberts was married in 1876, in Arkansas, to Alice Dean, of Benton
county, that state, where she grew to womanhood and was educated. She is a
daughter of W. B. and Laura Dean. Mr. Dean was a merchant during his
active life, and his death occurred in 1910. His widow is now living in
Dallas, Texas. Their family consisted of seven children, namely: A. J.,
Alice, John L., William A., Henning A., Marguerite and Nannie.

To Professor Roberts and wife one child was born, Josephine, who was given
excellent educational advantages, and she is the wife of H. P. Mobberly, a
well known civil engineer, who has been employed in the engineering
department of the Texas Pacific railroad for a period of twenty years. Mr.
and Mrs. Mobberly reside in Springfield and have one child, Alice Dean
Mobberly, born in 1906, and is now a student in a local grade school.

Politically, Professor Roberts is a Republican, but has never cared for
political preferment. Religiously, he belongs to the Christian church. A
gentleman without pretense, broad-minded, of pleasing personality, he is
honored by all with whom he comes in contact.




CHARLES L. ROBERTSON. Year has been added to year and decade to decade
until seventy-seven years have been numbered with the past since Charles
L. Robertson, a venerable and highly honored farmer of Murray township,
came to Greene county, this long span of years embracing nearly the whole
of his life, which has been spent in this locality. Upon the arrival of
the Robertson family this section of the state was largely an undeveloped
region awaiting the awakening touch of the sturdy pioneers to transform
its wild lands into rich farms and beautiful and comfortable homes, to
establish churches and schools, and in many other ways, reclaim the
country for the use of man. Our subject has played well his part as a
citizen of enterprise and public spirit, has lived to see and take part in
the transformation of the county, whose interests he has ever had at
heart, and, having been a close observer all the while, he is an
interesting talker on what the vicissitudes of time has wrought here.

Mr. Robertson was born in Hamilton county, eastern Tennessee, April 5,
1837. He is a son of Jefferson and Mary Ann (Lodspeach) Robertson,
representatives of very old Southern families. Jefferson Robertson was
born in Roane county, Tennessee, in 1806, and there he grew up and married
and made his home until 1837 when he came to Greene county Missouri, with
his family, Springfield then being known to many of the settlers as "Stump
Town." In 1839 he purchased two hundred acres of land where our subject
now lives, the latter owning forty acres off this tract. The father
devoted his life to general farming, and here he resided until his death
in 1877, was known to his neighbors as an honest, hospitable and hard
working man. He was a Democrat, and belonged to the Methodist Episcopal
church, South, first, when the services of this denomination were held in
Murray school house; later, when a church house had been built at Willard,
he attended there. His wife was born in Greene county, Tennessee, and when
nine years old she left there with her parents and the family located at
Sweetwater, Tennessee, where she grew to womanhood and married. She was
born in 1817 and died May 9, 1908, at the unusual age of ninety-one years,
having outlived her husband thirty-one years, he having died in the prime
of life. She was a grand old lady, beloved by all who knew her.

To Jefferson Robertson and wife eleven children were born, namely: Charles
L, of this review; Mrs. Elizabeth Ann Young of Willard, Greene county;
Mrs. Nancy Caroline Grant of Polk county, Missouri; Mrs. Armeldia Potter
of Oklahoma; John Lindsay of Oklahoma; Mrs. Josephine Gilmore, of Cave
Spring, Cass township, Greene county; Mrs. Eliza Jane Snider, who lives on
the old homestead in Murray township; Mrs. Sally Murray, of Murray
township; Mrs. Martha Frances Philips, of Panhandle, Texas; the two
youngest children died in infancy unnamed.

Charles L. Robertson was about two years old when his parents brought him
from the mountains of Eastern Tennessee to the vicinity where he now
resides and here he grew to manhood on his father's farm and there worked
hard when a boy in assisting to clear and develop the place, and during
the winter he attended the brief sessions of the old time subscription
schools in his locality. He remained on the homestead until he was
twenty-one years of age then began farming for himself, settling on a part
of what he now owns and has lived here continuously to the present time,
successfully engaged in general farming and stock raising. He owns one
hundred and twenty-acres, one hundred acres of which is under cultivation.
He has been a hard working man all his life and has a well improved and
well kept place and a good group of outbuildings. He always keeps an
excellent grade of various kinds of live stock and is one of the best
known men in the township, respected by all his acquaintances.

Mr. Robertson was married May 10, 1857, to Eliza Ann Wittenburg, a native
of Greene county, Missouri, and a daughter of Phelix and Nancy (Robberson)
Wittenburg, both natives of Eastern Tennessee, the father born August 17,
1810, and the mother August 15, 1820. The latter was eleven years old when
her parents brought her to Missouri and she died here October 5, 1844.

Ten children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Robertson, all dying in early
childhood but two, who are still living. Mrs. Mary Caroline Olinger, of
Murray township, this county; and William J., who lives in Walnut Grove,
Missouri.

Politically Mr. Robertson is a Democrat, but has never aspired to office,
preferring a quiet home life. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal
church South, at Pearl, Cass township, where his wife and daughter also
hold membership. During the Civil war he served three months in the
Confederate army in a very creditable manner.




DAVID H. ROBINSON. Although the number of Scotchmen in the United States
has never been so large as that of men of other European nationalities,
they have made their presence felt from the earliest days of our history
to the present time, the earlier emigrants pointing with pride to John
Paul Jones, the great sea fighter of Revolutionary days, and men of later
periods who were like him, natives of the land of heath and blue bells,
have accomplished much in our land of the free in various ways. We have
always welcomed them, for they have proven at all times and in all
vocations to be people of sterling worth and their courage and industry
never lacking. One of this type was the late David H. Robinson, for a
quarter of a century a very familiar figure on the streets of Springfield,
and for eighteen years of that time superintendent of the Springfield
Water Works, a position which he filled, evidently most satisfactorily,
else he would not have been retained so long, and it was with regret on
the part of the company that failing health compelled him to turn over his
work in that capacity even after nearly a score of years.

Mr. Robinson was born in Scotland, February 16, 1849. He was a son of
Henry and Martha Robinson, both natives of Scotland, also where they grew
up, were married and always lived. They received exceptionally good
educations for their day and generation. Henry Robimon learned the baker's
trade when a young man, which he followed during his active life. He never
came to America. His family consisted of five children.

David H. Robinson was the only member of his family to emigrate to the
United States. He grew to manhood in his native land and there received
his education, and when young learned the jeweler's trade which he
followed for some time, later turning his attention to the water works
business. He crossed the Atlantic when about twenty-five years of age and
came to Springfield, Missouri, about 1875, and helped lay the first city
water mains, and he continued in some capacity with the local water works
company the rest of his active life here. He was the second superintendent
of the company to which position he was promoted in 1887, and which he
held until 1905, when failing health compelled him to relinquish his work,
and he spent the rest of his life in retirement. He was the principal
factor in developing a modern and efficient water works system here and he
discharged his duties as superintendent in an able and highly satisfactory
manner to all concerned, was very industrious and took delight in keeping
everything in excellent condition.

Mr. Robinson was married in Springfield, on September 22, 1884, to Mrs.
Susan P. Askins, widow of Philip Askins, and a daughter of Samuel and
Elizabeth (Olive) Keyes. She was born in Kentucky, in the city of
Louisville, March 27, 1852. Her parents were both natives of Kentucky
also. Mr. Keyes was a blacksmith by trade and he spent his earlier years
in his native state, finally removing with his family to Missouri, where
he died. His wife spent her last days in Springfield, dying in this city.
They were the parents of seven children, two of whom are still living.
Mrs. Robinson received a common school education. She has a home on North
Jefferson street.

Three children were born to David H. Robinson and wife, all of whom are
living at this writing, namely: Jesse H., Anna L., and David W.

Politically, Mr. Robinson was a Democrat. Fraternally, he was a Mason,
having attained the thirty-second degree of that order, and he belonged to
the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. Religiously he
was a member of the Presbyterian church. His death occurred August 16,
1912. Mr. Robinson was active in the upbuilding of the city, having built
the two-story store building at the corner of Lyon and Commercial streets;
also, built his fine home on North Jefferson street, both now owned by
Mrs. Robinson.




HENRY D. ROBINSON. In working for others it has always been the aim of
Henry D. Robinson to do his full duty, and do well and honestly the tasks
assigned him, and this conscientiousness and fidelity have resulted in
success and a good conscience. If it had not been for these qualities he
would not today be holding the responsible position of engineer of the
crane and magnet reclamation department of the Frisco's South Side shops
in Springfield.

Mr. Robinson was born in Waynesville, Pulaski county, Missouri, on
December 9, 1875. His father, John Robinson, was born in Tennessee, where
he grew up, attended school, married and engaged in farming, and from that
state removed to Pulaski county, Missouri, prior to 1875, where he owned
and conducted a farm for a number of years, finally removing to
Springfield, where he engaged in the livery business under his own name
for five years, then spent the rest of his life in retirement, dying in
November, 1913, at the age of seventy-five years. He was a member of the
Methodist Episcopal church. He married Sarah McMillan, also a native of
Tennessee, where she grew to womanhood and attended school. Her death
occurred in 1897, in Pulaski county, Missouri, and she was buried at
Waynesville. Nine children were born to these parents, namely: Mrs. Mollie
Trower lives at Crocker, Missouri; William is engaged in farming near
Waynesville; Mrs. Alice Gilliat was next in order; Mrs. Cora Walker lives
in St. Louis; Henry D., of this review; Mrs. Nira Wryrick is deceased;
Edward lives in Springfield and is a brakeman on the Frisco Lines; Lilburn
is engaged in the manufacture of stoves in St. Louis; Charles lives in
Springfield.

Henry D. Robinson grew to manhood on the home farm in Pulaski county,
where he worked when a boy, and he received his education in the public
schools of that vicinity. He remained with his parents until he came to
Springfield, in 1900. In February, 1901, he began working here for the
Frisco, in the old North Side shops, a hostler, continuing at this for
four years, then was fireman for a short time, after which he was
appointed engineer of the traveling steam crane in the construction
department, making trips all over the various divisions of this road. In
September, 1913, he was transferred to the reclamation department as
engineer of the yard crane and magnet, which position he holds at this
writing in a manner that reflects credit upon himself and to the
satisfaction of the company. His duties are manifold, including the
overseeing of the shipment of a certain amount of junk from the yards,
etc.

Mr. Robinson was married on June 4, 1897, to Augusta King, a daughter of
Martin King and wife, of Bellefonte, Pulaski county, where she was reared
and educated. To this union four children have been born, namely: Ray,
John, Estelle and Mabel.

Politically, Mr. Robinson is a Democrat. Fraternally, he belongs to, the
Knights and ladies of Security, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and
the Loyal Order of Moose.




WILLIAM FRY ROPER. One expression of the discontent of the people of the
twentieth century is the back-to-the-farm movement. While the wages of
workmen have increased and the hours of labor have decreased, the desire
for the better things of life and the luxuries have grown proportionately.
That which satisfied the laboring man of forty years ago would be regarded
with disdain by the workers of today. The increased cost of living in the
city undoubtedly has much to do with the discontent of the people, and the
imperfect marketing system which, raises the cost to the consumer and
minimizes the profits of the producer, is another fertile source of
discontent. Whether conditions will adjust themselves under the present
economic arrangement and our imperfect system of distribution is a
question. It will require more than an ordinary prophet to rise in his
place and foretell what the answer will be to the rising tide of
discontent of the people of the cities. Having spent his life close to
Nature, engaged in peaceful agricultural pursuits and dealing honestly
with his fellow men, thereby keeping his conscience clear, William Fry
Roper, a well-known citizen of Republic township, Greene county, has never
been seized with the spirit of discontent that is so apparent over the
land; in other words, he has had the tact to live his life along
well-regulated and proper channels.

Mr. Roper was born in Greene county, Missouri, February 17, 1853. He is a
son of Wylie B. and Minerva (Fry) Roper. The father of our subject
emigrated from middle Tennessee to Greene county, this state, in 1851, and
rented land nine miles northeast of Springfield, but in a short time
settled north of Nichols, on a tract of about two hundred acres. He was a
native of Tennessee, as was also his wife, and there they grew to maturity
and received limited educations and were married. Our subject was then
about one year old, and it was on this place that he spent his boyhood,
and attended subscription school at old Antioch. His parents rented their
farm and moved to Springfield, where Wylie Roper was selling goods when
the. Civil war began. Later the elder Roper moved with his family to Texas
and bought a large farm, of which he placed two hundred acres under
cultivation. To Wylie Roper and wife ten children were born, namely:
DeWitt C. is the eldest; Maggie L., is the wife of Frank White and they
live near Nichols, in Greene county; Russell, deceased; John W. lives in
California; William F., subject of this sketch; George lives in Lawrence
county, Missouri; Wylie B. lives in Oregon; Mrs. Lulu Martin lives in
Springfield; Mary and Myrtie, the two youngest, both died in infancy.

William F. Roper was married August 2, 1877, to Minerva Sparkman, a
daughter of W. D. and Jane (Rainey) Sparkman, both natives of Tennessee,
where they grew up, were educated and married, and from that state
immigrated to Greene county, Missouri, in 1854. Their family consisted of
eight children, named as follows: Dr. Allen G.; Orren lives near Bois
D'Arc, Greene county; Jefferson lives in California; Lizzie is deceased;
Minerva, who married Mr. Roper of this sketch; James lives in Seattle,
Washington; John lives in Republic township, this county; Alice, who
married J. M. Short, is deceased.

To Mr. and Mrs. Roper nine children have been born, namely: Ada is the
wife of Edward Roop, of Independence, Missouri; James lives in Seattle,
Washington; Ollie is engaged in the furniture and carpet business in
Republic, and, being an ardent lover of horses, owns and trades in them.
Alice is the wife of Oscar Roop, of Republic; Janie is the wife of George
Burris, of Seattle, Washington; Charlie lives in Republic; Bruce lives in
St. Louis; Leon lives in Republic; Thomas also resides in Republic.

Mr. Roper owns fifty-nine acres of valuable land on the outskirts of the
city of Republic, which land he keeps rented, and he lives quietly in his
attractive home here, having been retired from the active duties of life
during the past two years.

Politically he is a Democrat. He is a member of the Christian church, to
which his wife and children also belong.




JOHN ROSBACK. John Rosback, veteran harness maker, and for thirty years a
resident of Springfield, was born on January 15, 1844, in the River Rhine
country, Germany. He was a son of Peter and Magdalene Rosback, both
natives of Germany, where they grew to maturity, attended school and were
married. They continued to reside in their native land until 1852, when
they immigrated to the United States, and for many years lived at
Springfield, Illinois, where the mother of our subject died, after which
the father remarried and in January, 1879, came to Springfield, Missouri,
where he spent the rest of his life, dying some thirty-four years ago.
While living in Springfield, Illinois, he was employed by the Wabash
Railroad Company. His family consisted of three children, namely:
Margaret, who died in Memphis, Tennessee; John, of this sketch; and Fred,
who makes his home in Benton Harbor, Michigan.

John Rosback was eight years old when his parents brought him to America.
He grew to manhood in Springfield, Illinois, and there received a common
school education, and when a boy learned the saddle maker's trade, which
he made his life work and in which he became an exceptionally skilled
workman. He worked at this trade fifty-six years. When he first came to
Springfield, Missouri, he worked as foreman at the old Moore Saddlery
concern, then worked for the Steineger Saddlery Company as foreman for
fifteen years. He was next employed by the Herman Sanford Saddlery
Company, continuing as foreman for this firm until his death. He gave
eminent satisfaction in the three firms mentioned above and did much
toward making each successful. He was not only thoroughly familiar with
every phase of the business, but was a man of good executive ability,
sound judgment and foresight, and knew how to handle his men so as to get
the best results possible and at the same time retain their good will and
friendship. He was an artist at stamping leather and made many beautiful
designs in leather work.

Mr. Rosback was married on October 9, 1865, in Springfield, Illinois, to
Louise Pletz, who was born near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, February 3,
1844. She is a daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (Witce) Pletz, both
natives of Pennsylvania, where they grew up, attended school and were
married. Later in life they removed to Springfield, Illinois, where they
spent the rest of their lives and died there. Mr. Pletz was a shoemaker by
trade and an accomplished workman. Mrs. Rosback was a small child when her
parents removed with her from Pennsylvania to Springfield, Illinois, and
there she grew to womanhood and received her education.

Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Rosback, namely: Ira, born on
August 23, 1866, is a candy maker and lives in Chicago; Oscar, born on
August 12, 1870, is engaged in the harness business on West Walnut street,
Springfield, Missouri, and resides on South Market street; he married
Flora McClure, a representative of an old family of Greene county. Frank
E., born on November 9, 1875, lives in this city and is engaged in the
clothing business; John, born on April 2, 1879, died when a small boy.

Politically, Mr. Rosback was a Republican. He belonged to the Masonic
order and the Order of the Eastern Star. In his earlier life he took an
active interest in Masonry and always tried to live by its high and noble
precepts, which constituted his daily religion, and for this reason he was
known as a man of exemplary character.

The death of Mr. Rosback occurred after a brief illness on November 6,
1914, at the cozy family residence on South Jefferson street, where he had
resided sixteen years. He was seventy-one years of age. Mrs. Rosback is a
member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church, and is known as a
neighborly, kind and hospitable woman who has a very wide circle of
friends.







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