Greene County Biographies
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
BENJAMIN F. TEGARDEN. In studying the life record of Benjamin F. Tegarden
it will be seen that he is the possessor of those attributes which never
fail to win success if persistently and properly directed, as has
evidently been done in his case, for he has accomplished definite results
in many lines of human endeavor, including extensive mining operations, a
large meat packing business and at present he ranks among the most
progressive agriculturalists and stockmen of Greene county, being
proprietor of beautiful "Clover Leaf Hereford Farm" in Murray township,
where he is carrying on farming under the most approved and advanced
twentieth century methods and is making a specialty of handling a
high-grade of live stock.
Mr. Tegarden was born December 15, 1857, in Orange county, Indiana. He is
a son of Andrew and Sarah (Fisher) Tegarden. The father was born in
Kentucky in 1802, where he spent his boyhood, and located in Indiana in
1818, when sixteen years of age, with his parents, Basil Tegarden and
wife, and he spent the remainder of his life in Orange county, that state,
on the farm where he first located. He made many visits to Missouri but
never established his home in this state. He devoted his active life to
general farming and made live stock raising a specialty. He prospered
through his able management and judicious dealings with his fellow men,
and became one of the leading farmers of Orange county, owning seven
hundred and sixty acres of valuable land at the time of his death. He was
well informed on general topics and an influential man in the affairs of
his community. He was very successful in a business way and accumulated
considerable wealth all through his individual efforts, for he started out
in life without a dollar. His death occurred November 8, 1872, at the age
of seventy years. He was known as a man of public-spirits, charitably
inclined and a true friend to those worthy of his friendship, and he was
widely known and highly esteemed for his many fine qualities. Andrew
Tegarden was three times married, first to a Miss Lee, by which union four
children were born, namely: William Henry, Abraham, John and Jane, all now
deceased. His second wife, Mrs. _____ Finley, bore him five children,
namely: Joseph, Polly Ann, Sally, Amanda, all four deceased; and Preston,
who lives in Fort Scott, Kansas. His third wife, Sarah Fisher, was born in
Orange county, Indiana, in 1822, and her death occurred January 16, 1877,
at the age of fifty-five years. Ten children were born to this last union,
named as follows: Benjamin F., of this sketch; David Andrew lives in
Kansas; Winfield Scott lives in Arkansas; Elijah Elsworth lives in Kansas;
Ulysses Grant lives in Springfield, Missouri; Robert Basil makes his home
in Arkansas; Mrs. Cora Dell Carr, of Indiana, and John Reed, of
California, were twins; Elmer J. is a resident of Louisiana; the youngest
child died in infancy.
Benjamin F. Tegarden spent his boyhood days on his father's farm in Orange
county, Indiana, and there he learned the various phases of agricultural
pursuits which stood him so well in hand in later life, and he received
his early education in the public schools of his native community, but
left school at the age of thirteen years, when his father died, continuing
to assist with the work on the home place until he was eighteen years of
age, when he struck out in life for himself, and he is today a fine
example of a successful self-made man. He began his career by working in a
brick yard, keeping his eyes open the meanwhile and learning thoroughly
the brick making business, spending three years in the same yard. He also
learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed two years. For some time
he devoted his attention to well drilling in western Kansas. He has
traveled extensively, having been in twenty-seven states. Farming has
formed no small portion of his life work. He is entitled to rank with the
progressive, scientific, well-informed husbandman who is doing much to
place this country on an equal basis with the best as an agricultural
country. For ten years he engaged in the mining business at Joplin,
Missouri, Arkansas, and what was then the Indian Territory. He also
followed the show business for three years and the meat packing business
for eight years, in partnership with his brother, Ulysses Grant Tegarden,
they having founded the Tegarden Packing Company of Springfield, Missouri,
which has long been a successful and well-known concern throughout this
section of the country. Our subject is no longer connected with this
splendid and well-equipped plant, but it is still operated by the Welsh
Packing Company. Our subject also followed the meat packing business in
Fort Scott, Kansas, for some time. He at present has interests in mines in
California. It was in 1904 that he came to Springfield and he resided
there until 1913, when he bought his present fine farm of three hundred
and sixty acres in Murray township, which is one of the best and most
desirable farms in Greene county, none being more highly improved or more
productive, however, it was badly "run down" when he took possession of
it, but by hard work, the expenditure of ample funds and the application
of modern ideas of farming he has transformed it into an estate of which
he should be justly proud and which is one of the show places of the
township. He has remodeled the barns and painted them an attractive red
and made such other improvements as were necessary. He has a feed mill,
and his residence is commodious and nicely furnished. The general
surroundings are beautiful, and everything about the place indicates
thrift, good management and excellent taste. In connection with general
farming he is making a specialty of handling Percheron horses and Hereford
cattle, being a breeder of the latter. At this writing he has seventy head
of cattle and nine head of horses, and is also an extensive raiser of a
good grade of hogs. He has worked hard to make his place a model farm in
every respect and is realizing the accomplishment of his ambition.
Mr. Tegarden was married on December i8, i8go, to Margaret Crawford, who
was bom in Iowa, a daughter of Harvey and Mary (Riley) Crawford, both n
atives of Indiana and both now deceased. They spent their early days in
their native state, finally establishing their home in Iowa, where they
became comfortably located and were well known and highly respected and
there Mrs. Tegardert grew to womanhood and was educated. She has proved to
be a fit helpmeet to her energetic husband in every way and no little
amount of his success has been due to her encouragement and counsel.
The union of Mr. and Mrs. Teagarden has been blessed by the birth of three
children, namely: Hazel Dorothy, who married George Bolds, who is now
connected with the Kansas City Star, and he is also a vaudeville sketch
and song writer of some note and has placed two benefit shows on in Kansas
City which were a success; this marriage has been without issue. Harvey
married Nellie Harrison, a native of Greene county; he lives with his
father, whom he is assisting on the home farm; he and his wife have one
child, Benjamin F., Jr., Bernice, the youngest of our subject's children,
is at home with her parents.
Politically, Mr. Teagarden is a Progressive, is a man of liberal views on
civic, religious and other questions, and while he takes much interest in
public matters has never sought or held office and has no fraternal
affiliations. He is essentially a business man and a home man, never
better contented than when by his own cheerful fireside with his mutually
happy family. Mrs. Tegarden is a member of the Methodist church. They are
both known to their neighbors as hospitable, helpful and kindly disposed.
NORMAN FULLINWIDER TERRY, M. D. Ceaselessly to and fro flies the deft,
shuttle which weaves the web of human destiny, and into the vast mosaic
fabric enter the individuality, the effort, the accomplishment of each
man, be his station that most lowly or one of majesty, pomp and power.
Within the textile folds may be traced the line of each individuality, be
it the one that lends the beautiful sheen of honest worth and useful
endeavor, or one that, dark and zigzag, finds its way through warp and
woof, marring the composite beauty by its blackened threads, ever in
evidence of the shadowed and unprolific life. Into the great aggregate
each individuality is merged, and yet the essence of each is never lost,
be the angle of its influence wide-spreading and grateful, or narrow and
baneful. That properly applied industry, faithfulness to duty, a wise
economy and sound judgment, are the surest contributing elements to
success, was exemplified in the life of the late Dr. Norman Fullinwider
Terry, who for a number of years was one of the foremost physicians and
surgeons of Springfield and southwestern Missouri. The cause of humanity
never had a truer friend than this valued gentleman who has passed to the
higher life. The stereotyped words customary on such occasions seem but
mockery in writing of such a man when we remember all the grand traits
that went to make the character of this noble man. In all the relations of
life--family, church, civic, professional and society he displayed that
consistent gentlemanly spirit, that innate refinement and unswerving
integrity that endeared him alike to man, woman and child.
Doctor Terry was born October 3, 1853 in Kossuth, Iowa. He was a son of
Sherman and Leah Jane (Bruce) Terry. The father was a native of the state
of New York, from which he removed in pioneer times to Iowa and
established the future home of the family. After living a number of years
in Des Moines county he removed to Mt. Pleasant, that state. His
grandfather was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and his eldest son
Stewart Bruce Terry, served four years in the Civil war, in fact
throughout the struggle, in an Iowa regiment, and, being captured, he
served ten months in Andersonville prison.
When Norman F. Terry was a small child he removed with his parents to Mt.
Pleasant, Iowa, and there grew to manhood and received his early education
in the public schools, later becoming a student in the Iowa Wesleyan
University. Ambitious to become a physician and especially a great
surgeon, he taught school two years in order to get money to defray his
expenses in medical college, meanwhile laying a foundation by home study
during his spare time. In due course he entered Miami Medical College in
Cincinnati, Ohio, where he made a brilliant record, and from which
institution he was graduated with the class of 1876. And in 1893 he took a
post graduate course at the Chicago Polyclinic Medical School. He first
began practicing his profession in northern Iowa, but owing to the
severity of the climate and the condition of his father's health he
removed with his parents to Lyons, Kansas, where he built up a large
practice, and while there was local surgeon for the Santa Fe and Frisco
systems. He was especially successful in surgery and spared no pains and
efforts to become a great surgeon, and he lived to see his laudable
ambition gratified. He came to Springfield, Missouri, in 1894, where he
remained in active practice until his death, or for a period of twenty
years, during which he ranked in the fore-front of the medical men of
Greene county and the Ozark region and was widely recognized as one of the
greatest surgeons of the Southwest. Scores of calls from all over this
locality made him see the great need of a modernly appointed hospital in
Springfield, and he founded one here, Springfield Hospital, of which he
became president. Although it was a commodious one to begin with, it had
to be enlarged from time to time to adequately meet the great demand.
Under his able management it became very successful and still stands as a
monument to his devotion to the public welfare, city pride and profession.
Doctor Terry was married on February 3, 1881, to Leora Hibler, a lady of
many commendable attributes of head and heart, who has always been a
favorite with a wide circle of friends. She is a daughter of Alton H. and
Mary A. (Baxter) Hibler, of St. Louis, Missouri. She had the advantages of
an excellent education. The union of Doctor and Mrs. Terry was without
issue.
Politically, Doctor Terry was a Republican, and religiously he belongs to
the Methodist church. He belonged to the Society of Sons of the American
Revolution, and was a member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity when in the
university. He was a member of the Association of Railway Surgeons, the
Missouri State Medical Association, the American Medical Association, and
the Greene County Medical Society, and at one time was president of the
last named. He was a charter member of the Springfield Club. He was for
several years a lecturer to advanced students in Drury College on
physiology. He was a fluent, learned and entertaining writer and
contributed numerous papers to various medical journals and for a number
of org animations to which he belonged, and he left in manuscript a work
of fiction which was intended to portray his ideal of a true man in
medical practice. Personally, he was modest, unassuming, but progressive
in his ideas and helpful to all those with whom he came in contact.
ABNER D. THOMPSON. One of the most enterprising farmers of Clay township,
Greene county, is Abner D. Thompson, who has considered himself fortunate,
and indeed he might well do so, that he has been permitted to spend his
life on the homestead, for, in the first place, as one of our great
writers said long ago, "There is no place like home," and also because his
home happened to be in a country greatly favored by nature. It is true
that it took a great deal of hard work to get Greene county in proper
shape for agricultural purposes, but once in condition there is no better.
Mr. Thompson was born in Greene county, Missouri, July 28, 1855. He is a
son of James and Elizabeth (Dabbs) Thompson. The father was born, in Henry
county, Tennessee, December 13, 1822, and in 1829, when seven years old,
he came to Missouri with his parents, the family having made the trip in
wagons, experiencing a number of hardships en route. They settled in
Greene county among the earliest pioneers, when this locality was indeed a
wilderness, the vast forests having as yet heard the ring of the axe but
little and the wide rolling prairies were still unscarred by the
plowshare. It was amid such environment that the father of the subject of
this sketch grew to manhood. He found plenty of hard work to do in
assisting to develop a farm, and he received a meager education in the
old-time subscription schools. He remained under his parental roof tree
until he was twenty years of age, then began life on the farm for himself,
entering land from the government and purchasing other tracts until he
became owner of valuable holdings aggregating eight hundred acres. He had
some of the finest farms in the county. He kept his land in good shape and
was a prosperous farmer and extensive raiser of live stock and also a
large dealer in stock, was very successful as a trader. He was one of the
prominent men of the county in the early days. In the fall of 1864, during
the Civil war days, he drove a large herd of cattle to the northern part
of the state, where he sold them and upon his homeward trip was waylaid
and killed, October 5, 1864, about a mile from his home. It was supposed
that he had a large sum of money on his person at the time, and
bushwhackers murdered him; however, the mystery has never been cleared up.
Politically, be was a Democrat. On May 21, 1854, he married Elizabeth
Dabbs, who was born in North Carolina, March 27, 1831, who came at an
early age to Missouri with her parents, the family locating in Greene
county. After her husband's death she reared her four children. She, too,
met a tragic end, having been killed by a cyclone April 18, 1880. In all,
five children were born to James Thompson and wife, namely: Abner D.,of
this sketch being the eldest; William Edward, born February 3, 1858, died
August 13, 1861; James P., born May 16, 1860, is living in California;
Mrs. Mary L. Fulbright, born May 15, 1863; Mrs. Elizabeth McCracken, born
January 25, 1865, is living in California.
Abner D. Thompson was born and reared where he is now living, and educated
in the district schools. Being the oldest child he took the lead in making
a livelihood for the family after his father's death, being only nine
years old at that time. He finally became owner of the homestead, and at
this time has one of the best farms in the township, consisting of three
and ten acres. He has kept the place well improved and has a good home.
The land is all in cultivation with the exception of about thirty-five
acres which is in timber. He has been very successful as a general farmer.
Mr. Thompson deals extensively in live stock, shipping on an average of
twenty cars of hogs and cattle each year.
Mr. Thompson was married, December 4, 1879, to Janie S. Galloway, who was
born in Barry county, Missouri, and is a daughter of Major Charles and
Susan (Carney.) Galloway. She came to Greene county when a young girl and
was reared on a farm. She received a common school education. She had a
narrow escape from death in the cyclone of April 18, 1880, in which her
mother was killed.
Nine children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Thompson, namely: Mrs. Jessie
Anderson lives in California; Susie E., born November 15, 1883, lives at
home; Charles E., born March 15, 1885, is farming in Greene county;
Catherine Rena, born February 14, 1887, is working in Springfield at the
McDaniel National Bank; Mrs. Janie Dee Gibson, born June 1,1889, lives in
Greene county; Mrs. Ruth Gibson, born June 18, 1893. Janie and Ruth
married brothers. Bettie, born July 20, 1895, lives at home; Anna Lee,
born July 27, 1897, lives at home; Mary Eunice, born February 8, 1903, is
at home.
Politically, Mr. Thompson is a Democrat. Fraternally, he belongs to the
Modern Woodmen.
WILLIAM E. THOMPSON. It used to be if there was a bright boy in the
farmer's family he must needs forsake the farm to become a lawyer, or a
doctor, or some sort of a. professional man, but those whose wits were
seen to be dull, would do very well on the farm. On the surface it would
seem that the farms lost and the professions gained. But it was not always
so and more often the farmer lad who chose to remain on the farm
outstripped his apparently brighter brother. Yet because he dealt with
things earthly his occupation and he himself, likewise, were very
frequently "looked down upon." As years went by, however, it became more
and more apparent that to succeed in crop producing required knowledge no
less exacting in its requirements and covering a vastly wider range of
subjects than the knowledge which brought success in other walks of life.
For many, many years, however, it was true that our practice as applied to
crop raising far outran our knowledge of the principles involved. While it
is true that the cultivation of the soil and the handling of crops will
never become an exact science, yet the knowledge which we now apply to the
work in which we are interested and which any tiller of the soil must have
at his command, has increased manifold within very recent years. And it is
because of this gain in knowledge, both theoretical and practical, that
the attitude of every one toward the farmer and his occupation has
changed. Today farming in its several more or less specialized branches of
vegetable growing, fruit growing, berry raising, poultry raising, and
field crop production is regarded as a worthy calling for the brightest
and best minds in the land. One of the most progressive general
agriculturists of the northern part of Greene county is William E.
Thompson, of Cass township, who owns a large acreage of valuable land and
who applies twentieth century methods to his business.
Mr. Thompson was born in the above named township and county on January
14, 1867. He is a son of William E. Thompson, who was born on April 28,
1827, in Tennessee, and there he grew to manhood on his father's farm and
received a common school education. Remaining in his native state until
1851, he emigrated to Greene county, Missouri, and established the future
home of the family in Cass township. During the Civil war he served in the
Federal army, in a home militia regiment, and was stationed in Springfield
during the latter part of the conflict, however, he saw little actual
fighting. After being discharged from the service he located on a farm of
his own in Cass township and developed a good place through his good
management and hard work. He married Malinda Earnest, May 23, 1850. She
was born, June 11, 1830, and was a daughter of Wesley Earnest, one of the
early settlers in the vicinity of Cave Spring, this county. To their
marriage ten children were born, six of whom died when young; those who
survived were named as follows: Sarah married Doctor Delzell, of
Rogersville, Webster county, Missouri, where they still reside; Alice is
the wife of W. S. Julian and they make their home near Gravel Springs,
Oklahoma; William E., of this sketch; Ethel is the wife of W. E. Haun, and
they live on a farm in Cass township.
The father of the above children was a Democrat. He was an active member
of the Presbyterian church, and gave liberally of his time and means in
building the church of this denomination at Cave Spring, which structure
has been used as a high school for a number of years. He was a member of
the Masonic Order and was active in the work of the same in this county.
The death of Mr. Thompson occurred on February 3, 1908, his wife having
preceded him to the grave on June 14, 1906. They were held in high esteem
by their neighbors and friends, being noted for their honesty, charity and
hospitality.
William E. Thompson, of this sketch, grew to manhood on the homestead farm
in Cass township and there worked hard when a boy during the crop season.
During the winter he attended the common schools and the high school at
Cave Spring, later spending one term in Morrisville College and one term
in Drury College, after which he worked with his father on the home farm
for two years, then purchased a farm of his own. Ten years after leaving
school he purchased his present excellent home farm of two hundred and
forty acres. He has managed well and applied himself closely to his work
as general farmer and stock raiser and, prospering with advancing years,
has added to his original purchase other tracts until today he owns in all
four hundred and five acres of valuable and well-improved land. He makes a
specialty of raising large numbers of mules for the market. He is an
excellent judge of live stock, especially of mules. He has a commodious
home and substantial and convenient outbuildings where his stock, which he
tries to keep up to a good grade, is properly cared for at all seasons.
Everything about his place denotes thrift and that a man of modern ideas
is at the helm.
Mr. Thompson was married on February 12, 1890, to Fanny Staley, who was
born in Cass township, Greene county, and there reared and educated. She
is a daughter of Weldon E. and Angeline (Evans) Staley, a complete sketch
of whom will be found on another page of this volume. To our subject and
wife one child was born, which died in infancy.
Politically, Mr. Thompson is a Democrat, and he has been more or less
active and influential in local party affairs for some time, having been
township committeeman for twelve years.
GEORGE W. THURMAN. In any rich and progressive agricultural country, like
that contiguous to the town of Republic, Greene county, Missouri, the
flour milling business is usually found to be one of the most important
industries. Here a vast acreage is put to wheat annually and the total
number of bushels produced after the results of the threshing season are
known is enormous, so a great and modern mill in the center of this
nature-favored locality has sprung up, known as the Republic Custom and
Merchant Mill Company, of which George. W. Thurman is manager. To conduct
such a business successfully requires ability of a high order and
characteristics that have been known to make for success whenever and to
whatever they are properly and persistently applied.
Mr. Thurman was born in this county, February, 22, 1870, and is the son of
Caleb and Mary S. (Jenkins) Thurman. The father was born in Sevier county,
Tennessee, in 1834, where he spent his boyhood and during the Civil war he
removed to Arkansas, and after the close of the conflict came to Greene
county, Missouri, and soon thereafter purchased a farm and devoted the
rest of his life to general farming and stock raising here, making grain
raising a specialty. He was a man of rare business ability and industry,
and although he came here with little of this world's goods, only fifty
cents in money and a pair of mules, he worked hard, managed well and
prospered with advancing years, became owner of one of the finest farms in
the western part of the county, which contained three hundred acres, and
at the time of his death was worth twenty-five thousand dollars. He was a
well-known man and influential citizen. His first wife was also a native
of Tennessee and there spent her girlhood and they were educated in the
common schools of their native state and were married upon leaving there
for Arkansas. She proved to be a faithful helpmeet and is still living on
the home place near Republic, at the age of eighty years. The death of Mr.
Thurman occurred in January, 1909, at the age of seventy-five years. To
these parents ten children were born, seven sons and three daughters, six
of whom survive, namely: William H., I. J., Samuel G., Robert E., and
Martha C., twins; James G., our subject; John died in infancy; Cyphronia
A., and Mary Jane.
George W. 'Thurman was reared on the homestead in Greene county and there
he did his full share of the work during crop seasons when he became of
proper age, and he received a good practical education in the local
schools. In August, 1898, he was married to Hattie A. Orr, a native of
Greene county, where she was reared and educated. She is a daughter of
Elias R. and Martha Jane (Norman) Orr. Mr. Orr was of German descent, and
he came to Greene county, Missouri early in the nineteenth century, from
Ohio, and here became well established on a farm and spent the rest of his
life, dying in Republic in October, 1907. His wife died in 1889. They were
the parents of seven children, one son and six daughters, namely: Mary
Elizabeth, Gracy Alta, Libby Emma, Hettie A., wife of our subject; Lula
Mehelia, Horner Noah, and Edith Audry.
Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Thurman, named as follows:
Gaynell H., born in October, 1899; Jewell Ivan, born March 7,1891; Noel,
born March 7, 1903; Geneva died in infancy; Ruth, born in March, 19l4.
Mr. Thurman remained on the home farm until he was twenty-three years of
age, then began working as a stationary engineer, which he followed for a
number of years. In March, 1904, he and five others formed a stock company
and built the Republic Custom and Merchant Mill and have operated the same
ever since. During the ten years of its existence it has been a marked
success and its volume of business has gradually increased with the years.
Mr. Thurman is active manager of the mill, and its pronounced success has
been largely due to his able management. He is a close student of
everything that pertains to the flour-milling business and has mastered
every phase of the same, keeping fully abreast of the times in modern
methods. This is one of the largest and best equipped mills in southwest
Missouri. The building is a three-story substantial, well arranged and
well located structure, and the equipment is up-to-date in every respect.
In February, 1911, an electric light plant was added to .the equipment.
The capacity of the mill is fifty barrels per day of flour and same of
cornmeal, and the products of the same find a very ready market over the
Southwest, owing to their superior quality. The following are the
principal brands of flour produced here: "White Lily," "Satisfaction," and
"Premium."
Politically, Mr. Thurman is a Republican and he has long been active and
influential in local public affairs. He is now incumbent of the office of
police judge of Republic and is discharging his duties in this connection
in a highly commendable manner. He has also served as alderman, and has
done much for the material and moral upbuilding of Republic. Fraternally,
he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Modern Woodmen
of America, and the Free and Accepted Masons. He and his family are
members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. and Mrs. Thurman belong to
the Knights and Ladies of Security, and the Eastern Star.
JOSEPH A. M. TILLMAN. During the sixty-four years of his residence in
Greene county, Joseph A. M. Tillman, a retired farmer of Clay township,
has noted many important changes in this locality in which he is well and
favorably known and in which nearly all his life has been spent, and here
he has made a success as a general agriculturist because he has been both
industrious and a close observer. He is a descendant of a prominent old
Southern family, and is a second cousin of Benjamin Tillman, the noted
United States senator from South Carolina. Many of the commendable
qualities of his ancestors are noticeable in our subject.
Mr. Tillman was born in McNeary county, Tennessee, July 7, 1848. He is a
son of Samuel Taylor Tillman and Mary (Perry) Tillman. The father was born
in Chatham county, North Carolina, in November, 1800, and the mother was
born in the same county, in May, 1810, and there they grew to maturity.
The father moved to Tennessee when a young man, locating in Bedford
county, where he married and bought a farm, also owned a mill on Duck
river. After living in Bedford county for some time he located in McNeary
county, and remained there until 1850, when he brought his family to
Greene county, Missouri, purchasing a farm a mile east of where his son,
our subject, now resides, the place having contained one hundred and
forty-six acres. Later the elder Tillman entered forty acres from the
government here and had a good farm. He cleared all of his land and kept
it in good condition. He was an extensive______ and trader and was a very
successful general farmer. He took much interest in public affairs and
before leaving Tennessee was justice of the peace for a period of fourteen
years and also served in this capacity after coming to Greene county for a
period of sixteen years. After buying a place in Greene county he went
back to Tennessee where he remained fifteen years before returning to
Greene county, Missouri. He died on his farm here in 1864. His wife was
reared in North Carolina on a farm and moved with her parents to
Tennessee. She was a member of the Christian, church. The father of our
subject was twice married, his second wife being a sister of his first
wife, and to his first union five children were born, namely: Louisa,
Lidia, Calvin, Wesley, Newton, all deceased, the two latter having been
killed while soldiers during the Civil war. The mother of these children
was Clara Perry. His children by his second wife, Mary Perry, were ten in
number and were named as follows: Margaret, Oram, both deceased; Newton
was killed while serving in the Civil war; Stanley, Martha W. Caroline and
Pearlee, all deceased; Joseph A. M. of this sketch, is the only survivor
of the, fourteen children; Lucy, deceased; Samuel, deceased.
The immediate subject of this sketch was two years old when his parents
brought him over the rough roads from Tennessee to Missouri. He was reared
on the farm and received a common school education in the Schools of
Greene county. He remained on the homestead until his father's death, and
he then operated the farm for his mother until he was married, on March
22, 1868, to Rebecca J. (Cunningham). He remained on the home farm about
seven years, then rented land for five years, which he cultivated, and in
March, 1881, bought one hundred acres, later adding twenty acres. He
cleared and improved most of his land and built a cozy home on it and here
he has since resided and has been successful as a general farmer, although
he has been taking life easy for some four years, renting his land and
merely overseeing it in a general way.
Mrs. Tillman was born in Obion county, Tennessee, September 12, 1850. She
is a daughter of Charles M. and Mary P. (Hubbard) Cunningham. The father
was a native of middle Tennessee, where he was reared on a farm and
received a common school education, and he became owner of a two hundred
acre farm in his native state. He removed to Fulton county, Kentucky, in
1859, where he remained about two years, then went to Carroll county,
Arkansas. When the Civil war broke out he came to Missouri and joined the
Federal army in 1861, but died of measles soon after his career as a
soldier began.
Eleven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Tillman, namely: John W.
lives in Greene county and during the campaign of 1914 was a candidate
from two districts for associate judge; Samuel is deceased; Mrs. Mary J.
Climer lives at Mentor, this county; Joseph's home is in Springfield; Fred
is engaged in the mercantile business at Rogersville; Bertha is deceased;
Mrs. Viola Wills lives in Springfield; Mrs. Minnie Hunt was a teacher in
the Greene county schools for six years; Mrs. Pearl Chaffin lives in
Ozark, Missouri; Mattie is deceased; Ross E. lives in Springfield. The
wife of our subject was thirteen years old when she came to Greene county.
She received a common school education. She often recalls the trip from
Tennessee, which the family made in an ox wagon. She is a member of the
Christian church.
Politically, Mr. Tillman is a Democrat and has long been an active worker
in the party. He has served as justice of the peace for four terms, also
as notary public four terms, discharging his duties in an eminently
satisfactory manner. He was appointed by the governor. While incumbent of
the first office he married forty-eight couples. Fraternally, he belongs
to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He has been a consistent member
of the Christian church since he was eighteen years of age. He is one of
the leading citizens in Clay township.
ISAAC T. TRACY. It is a pleasure to farm if one manages like Isaac T.
Tracy, of Jackson township, Greene county. On his farm of large acreage it
is doubtful if you could find anything materially out of its place. The
owner has even been his own manager and carefully looks after details.
Nothing is done in a haphazard manner, everything being carefully planned
and methodically carried out.
Mr. Tracy was born in Webster county, Missouri, April 15,1858, and the
fact that he has spent his life in this section of the Ozark Mountains
indicates that he has been contented with local conditions. He is a son of
Evans and Sarah (Kinselo) Tracy, the father born near Glasgow, Barren
county, Kentucky, in 1814, was reared on a farm there and received the
usual limited education in the subscription schools of those frontier
days. He remained in the Blue Grass state until 1840 when he emigrated to
Missouri and settled in Greene county in 1841, entered a farm from the
government, owning a good place of one hundred and twenty acres, which he
cleared and developed. His wife was also born in Kentucky in 1817, and her
death occurred on the homestead in Webster county, Missouri, December 16,
1888. She was reared on a farm in her native vicinity and attended the
early-day schools. These parents were married in their native state. The
father died on his farm in Webster county, where he removed from Greene in
an early day, the date of his death being May 17, 1891.
To Evans Tracy and wife nine children were born, namely: Mrs. Nellie Hill
is the eldest; Erasmus lives in Fair Grove, Greene county; Mrs. Mary
Debbis, Mrs. Amanda Burgone; James is deceased; Mrs. Mealy Britton, Mrs.
Sarah Wommack, Isaac T. of this sketch; Samantha is the youngest.
Isaac T. Tracy grew to manhood on the farm in Webster county, where he did
his full share of the work about the place when not in school. He attended
the public schools of his home district, and assisted his father with the
work on the place until he was twenty-one years of age, then started in
life for himself, buying a farm of eighty acres in Webster county on which
he got a good start. Finding this too small for the proper exercise of his
talents as a husbandman, he sold it and purchased an excellent place in
Jackson township, Greene county, consisting of two hundred and forty
acres, which he still owns. He has made many substantial improvements with
the advancing years until he now has one of the most up-to-date farms in
this part of the county as well as one of the most productive, and he has
been very successful as a general farmer and stock raiser. He has a
commodious home and numerous substantial outbuildings. A good grade of
live stock is always to be seen in his fields and about his barns and no
small portion of his annual income has been derived from this source. His
boys now operate the place for the most part, he merely planning and
overseeing the work.
Mr. Tracy was married in 1888 to Lucretia Wommack, who was born in Greene
county, October, 1861, and here she was reared on a farm and attended the
rural schools in her neighborhood.
Six children have been born to our subject and wife, namely: Mrs. Lodena
Bass, Everett, Henry, Emmitt, Avery and Casper.
Politically, Mr. Tracy is a Republican and while he has remained loyal to
his party through both defeat and victory he has never sought to be a
leader in public affairs. Fraternally he is a member of the Independent
Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen. Religiously, he is a member
of the Baptist church.
ALVIN B. TRENARY. Although Springfield is a noted railroad town, thousands
of trainmen and shopmen making their home here, it is impossible for each
to know the other, but in some instances, like that of Alvin B. Trenary,
an individual becomes well known in his own circle. This is partly because
our subject has been a resident of this city for a period of thirty years,
during which he has followed railroading, and partly because he is a good
mixer, a jovial, companionable gentleman and is therefore popular among
his fellow workers, and is a widely known passenger engineer.
Mr. Trenary was born in Franklin, Indiana, February 20, 1862. He is a son
of Thomas L. and Mary A. (Stairs) Trenary, the father a native of Indiana
and the mother was born in Ohio. They grew to maturity in their respective
localities and received good educations for that period, the father
becoming a successful teacher, which he followed for some time. He was
also a carpenter by trade. During the Civil war he enlisted from Johnson
county, Indiana, in 1862, and met death in the service of his country,
being wounded in battle, and died from the effects of the same in a St.
Louis hospital. His widow survived to old age, and died in Greene county,
Missouri. Our subject's paternal grandfather and mother had the
distinction of being the first couple to be married in Tippecanoe county,
Indiana. To Thomas L. Trenary four children were born.
Alvin B. Trenary was a small child when he lost his father and he was
thrown upon his own resources early in life, consequently his education
was limited, but he has made up for this lack in later life by general
reading and contact with the world. What schooling he obtained was in
Urbana, Illinois, and when but a boy he began working in a grocery store
in that town, and when eighteen or twenty years of age he went to
Indianapolis, Indiana, and began his railroad career by firing extra on
the Big Four road, and there he remained until in the autumn of 1884, when
he came to Springfield, Missouri, where he has since resided, He went to
work here for the old Kansas City, Ft. Scott & Memphis Railroad as fireman
of a freight train on the Ozark division, and eighteen months later as
fireman on a passenger train and about the same run. Later he ran a switch
engine about three years, then was promoted to a regular freight engineer,
and ran in this capacity on the Ozark division about six years, then was
promoted to passenger engineer on this division, and at this writing still
has the same run. This road has been a part of the Frisco System since
1900. Our subject is regarded as one of the safest and most efficient
engineers out of Springfield, always sober, cool, alert and careful.
Mr. Trenary was married in Springfield on November 14, 1889, to Lutie
Seaman, a native of Iowa, who was a small child when her parents brought
her to Springfield, and here she grew to womanhood and was educated. She
is a daughter of Levi and Mary (Fisher) Seaman. Mr. Seaman is a carpenter
by trade.
To our subject and wife two children have been born, namely: Helen V.,
born on August 13, 1890, received her education in the local high school
and normal, and is living at home; Elsie Louise, born on April 12, 1896,
is a junior in the Springfield high school at this writing.
Mr. Trenary has a splendid and well furnished home on West Walnut street.
Politically he is a Democrat. He belongs to No. 378, Brotherhood of
Locomotive Engineers. Fraternally he belongs to the Masonic Order, in
which he has attained the master's degree. He and his family are all
members of St. Paul's Methodist Episcopal church, South.
CLAUDIUS ELSBERRY TREVITT. In presenting the biographical memoir of this
well-remembered gentleman, whose life was that of a high-grade man, of
noble ideals and laudable ambitions, it is believed that the youthful
reader, whose destinies are yet matters for future years to determine,
will be much benefited and encouraged, for his was a life that made for
success because of the honorable principles he employed in dealing with
his fellow men and because of the many admirable qualities he possessed
which made his daily walk one worthy to be emulated. It is no easy matter
to achieve a high degree of success in any calling in this age of
strenuous endeavor and sharp competition, and when an individual succeeds
in several vocations, as did the late C. E. Trevitt, for many years one of
the leading citizens of Ash Grove, Greene county, he wins the admiration
of all.
Mr. Trevitt was born in Greene county, Tennessee, November 3, 1857, and
was a son of James F. and Locaddie (Ripley) Trevitt. The father was a man
of influence in public affairs. He spent his earlier life in Tennessee,
but removed to Georgia in the latter sixties and represented his county in
the state Legislature.
Claudius E. Trevitt grew to manhood in the South and received a very good
education in the public schools and Tecumseh College in Tennessee. He went
to Georgia when about sixteen years of age, and remained in that state
three years. In 1878 he came to Greene county, Missouri, locating on a
farm just east of Ash Grove and worked on various farms for about three
years, then engaged in the furniture business in Ash Grove for about ten
years, after which he devoted his attention to the grocery and hardware
business, also dealt in real estate. He was very successful in all these
lines of endeavor and built up a large business in each, having the
confidence of the community by reason of his honest and straightforward
dealings. He continued a very busy man until 1912 when he was compelled to
retire from active life on account of failing health, and he continued to
decline until he was summoned to close his eyes on earthly scenes on April
21, 1914.
Mr. Trevitt was married on January 25, 1880, to Nora McCrory, who was born
in Louisiana, July 12, 1861, a daughter of James and Mary E. (Moss)
McCrory. The father of Mrs. Trevitt was born in Wilkinson county,
Mississippi, in 1829, and was a son of William and Mary (Hubbard) McCrory.
His father was born in Ireland, December 25, 1792, and from that country
emigrated to America in an early day, finally establishing his home in
Wilkinson county, Mississippi, where his death occurred in 1843. His
mother was a native of Tennessee and died in 1829 when he was an infant.
James McCrory grew to manhood in his native state and was educated in the
common schools there, and was engaged in farming until he removed to
Louisiana. He remained there until 1867, most of the time farming in
Catahoula parish. He then came to Illinois but soon thereafter came on to
Missouri and stayed a year in Saline county, and then removed to Greene
and located on a farm where he spent the balance of his life, three miles
cast of Ash Grove. His fine farm consisted of one hundred and seventy
acres. He was one of the successful general farmers and stock raisers of
this section of the county. He was one of the first in his section of the
county to help organize a grange in 1874. Mr. McCrory was married in 1855
to Mary E. Moss, daughter of George Moss, Esq., of Wilkinson county,
Mississippi. Mrs. McCrory died February 14, 1868. They reared a family of
three children all of whom grew to maturity married and located in Greene
county. Mr. McCrory's death occurred in 1902. Mrs. Trevitt grew to
womanhood on the home farm in Greene county and received her education in
the public schools.
To Mr. and Mrs. Trevitt nine children were born, seven of whom are living,
namely: Ada, deceased; Claude McCrory is an assayer for a gold mining
company in the state of Washington; Cle F. died when six years of age;
Fannie L. is the wife of L. L. Dyer, of Springfield; Carl L. is farming in
Alberta, Canada; Clyde V. lives in Washington; James F., Helen and Roger
P. are all at home.
Politically, Mr. Trevitt was a Republican, and was a worker for the
general improvement of his community in which he was influential and held
in the highest esteem.
GEORGE TRIECE. It was nearly thirty-five years ago that George Triece came
to Ash Grove, and he has ever since been a resident of Greene county, and
has been an interesting spectator to the general development of this
vicinity. A Hoosier by birth, his earlier life was spent in that state,
and most of his active life has been devoted to general farming, but the
latter part has been spent as a hotel keeper. He is one of the honored
veterans of the great war between the states, having proved his patriotism
to his country by fighting in defense of the Stars and Stripes on many a
sanguinary field, and he was one of the sufferers at Andersonville prison.
Mr. Triece was born in Vermilion county, Indiana, March 26, 1841. He is a
son of Samuel and Sarah (Missemor) Triece. The father was born in 1801, in
Pennsylvania, and he was a son of Henry Triece, a native of Pennsylvania
and of German descent. The latter came from his native state to Vermilion
county, Indiana, in 1832, and entered three hundred and twenty acres of
land which he farmed until his death in 1850. His son, Samuel Triece, came
to Indiana at the same time, and spent the rest of his life farming in
Vermilion county, dying there in 1860. The mother of the subject of this
sketch died in 1872 at the age of sixty-nine years. Politically, the
father of our subject was a Democrat, and in religious matters he was a
Methodist.
George Triece grew to manhood on the old homestead in Indiana and there
worked hard when a boy, and he received his education in the common
schools. When the Civil war broke out he enlisted in August, 1861, in
Company K, Seventy-first Indiana Volunteer Infantry, in which he served
one year and was transferred to Company K, Sixth Indiana Cavalry. In fact
the former regiment was merely changed into the latter. As infantry the
regiment fought at Richmond and Muldo Hill, Kentucky, and as cavalry at
Knoxville, under General Burnsides; Kenesaw Mountain, Resaca, Buzzard's
Roost, and was with General Stoneman on July 20, 1864, on his raid to
Macon, Georgia, where our subject was captured and sent to Andersonville
for three months, then, to Florence, South Carolina, for two months, from
which prison he was paroled and sent to Savannah, thence to Maryland, and
on home, and was mustered out and honorably discharged June 27, 1865.
After the war Mr. Triece returned to Vermilion county, Indiana, and
resumed farming which he carried on along general lines until 1880 when he
came to Ash Grove, Missouri. He was deputy postmaster here for three
years, then operated the Grove House twelve years and the Commercial House
nine years, then conducted a grocery store and restaurant two years. He
also spent two years in Springfield, and during the past two years has
been running a boarding and rooming house in Ash Grove. He has become one
of the most widely known men in his vocation in this part of the country,
and the traveling public have always found him a genial, obliging and
honest host.
Politically, Mr. Triece is a Republican. He belongs to the John Matthews
Post, Grand Army of the Republic at Springfield.
Mr. Triece was married May 22, 1866, to Lydia McBuey, who was born May 16,
1851, in Fountain county, Indiana. She is a daughter of Daniel and Mary
(McKewn) McBuey; they came from Ireland. Mrs. Triece received a limited
education.
To Mr. and Mrs. Triece four children were born, three of whom are
deceased, namely: Charlie L., Millard the third died in infancy, and
Mandrid M. Triece, the surviving child, is living in Long Beach,
California.
JOHN PARKER TROGDON. Farming has been considered a game of chance too long
and the uncertainties of the elements have been overcome to such an extent
by intelligent study and use of fertilizers, irrigation and drainage, and
intensive cultivation that day by day agriculture is becoming more and
more an exact science and the best and brightest minds of the country have
not thought it beneath their dignity or effort to give it the best of
their genius. John Parker Trogdon, of Brookline township, Greene county,
is a type of our better class of farmers, a man who uses more brain than
brawn in operating his place. He has been successful both as farmer and
merchant and also as a dealer in live stock. The reason that he has been
able to succeed in whatever he has turned his attention to is because he
plans well is energetic in their execution, "preparedness" being his
motto, in other words, he first decides that he is right, then goes ahead.
Mr. Trogdon was born near Ash Grove, Missouri, March 6, 1872. He is a son
of Reuben and Phoebe (McDorman) Trogdon, the father of English descent, a
native of North Carolina, the mother a native of Tennessee.
Seven children were born to Reuben Trogdon and wife, four sons and three
daughters, namely: W. Clinton, Henry F., Loran E., all three live near
Ash. Grove, this county; John P., of this sketch; Lottie married F. H.
Moomaw, of Brookline township, Greene county; Effie married D. G. Hendrix,
also of Brookline township; Laura married Jay Mason, of near Bois D'Are,
Missouri.
John P. Trogdon grew to manhood on the home farm where he worked during
the summer months, and in the winter attended the district schools
remaining on the farm with his father until he was twenty-one years of
age, or until his marriage, then started farming for himself, renting a
farm near Ash Grove, where he remained nine years, then moved to that city
and engaged in general merchandising two fears, after which he bought his
present farm of one hundred and thirty acres near Brookline. His place is
well improved in every respect and he keeps it under a high state of
cultivation. In connection with general farming he devotes considerable
time to the breeding of Jersey cattle, and he is very successful with his
fine stock. He has a modernly appointed, nine-room residence of the
bungalow type, only a fourth of a mile from Brookline on the main highway
between that place and the village of Battlefield. His spacious yard is
sown with Kentucky blue grass, which has given the place the appropriate
name of "Green Lawn," by which it is known throughout the neighborhood.
Mr. Trogdon has numerous substantial outbuildings, including two large
barns, one of which is especially equipped for the care of his milk cows
and is kept sanitary in all seasons. He has a concrete silo with a
capacity of one hundred and fifty tons, a wagon and buggy-shed, a
water-tank with a capacity of three hundred and fifty barrels, also a
garage large enough for two cars.
Mr. Trogdon was married on March 6, 1894, to Dilla A. Johnson, a daughter
of George A. and Jane Johnson, of near Halltown, and a native of Greene
county, Missouri, where the family settled in the early thirties, having
emigrated from Tennessee. Mrs. Trogdon grew to womanhood and was educated
in her native community. The union of our subject and wife has resulted in
the birth of two children, namely: Alta, born July 2, 1895, lives at home;
Mabel, born December 24, 1901, is also with her parents.
Politically Mr. Trogdon is a Republican and is influential in the affairs
of his party. He has served several years as township committeeman and has
done much toward the success of the party in the county in years past.
Fraternally he belongs to Brookline Lodge, No. 328, Independent Order of
Odd Fellows; also the Modern Woodmen of America, of Springfield, and the
Anti Horse Thief Association, of Nichols.
Mr. Trogdon is one of the progressive and useful citizens of his township
and is ever ready to lend his support and encourage any movement having
for its object the general good.
WILLIAM C. TROGDON. When the farmer matures his plans and operates his
farm on the basis of a real purpose for the future, just as the business
man, the railroad, or the corporation, then will he have the ability to
get the long-time mortgage loans at the lower rates and with the many
privileges that business organizations now enjoy. He must figure out.a
certain definite annual expense on the basis of a certain gross income
which must be sufficiently in excess of the expense to provide funds for
proper maintenance of the farm and its equipment and its soil fertility,
as well as an ample sum to take care of the annual payments on principle;
he must provide for the usual accidents and failures and then an
additional net sum or dividend of profit, at a proper rate, based on the
market and increasing value of the farm which he is operating. In short,
the successful farmer of this day and age must look well to the financial
side of his business. William C. Trogdon, of Boone township, is one of our
Greene county farmers who does this and consequently he is living very
comfortably and setting a good example before his neighbors
Mr. Trogdon was born in Lawrence county, Missouri, July 15, 1875. He is a
son of Reuben F. Trogdon, who was born in North Carolina, from which state
he removed to Indiana in an early day, settling near Mooresville,
subsequently removing to Missouri, prior to the breaking out of the Civil
war. He settled at the head of Clear creek, Greene county, where he
resided ten years, then moved to Lawrence county. He finally returned to
Greene county and bought a farm of two hundred and six acres in Boone
township, which he has brought up to a good state of cultivation and
general development and on which he is still residing. As he prospered he
later added one hundred and thirty-five acres to his holdings, the latter
excellent tract lying at Brookline. He is one of the best known citizens
of this part of the county, and has an attractive home. He married Phoebe
Ann McDorman, daughter of William McDorman, a farmer, who spent many years
on a farm in Greene county, Missouri, where he became well established.
William C. Trogdon grew to manhood on the home farm where he assisted with
the general work when a boy, and he acquired his, early education in the
common schools of Greene county. At the age of twenty-one years he began
farming for himself, which he continued with gratifying results until
1904, when he engaged in merchandising at the village of Miller, Lawrence
county, until 1910, having enjoyed a satisfactory trade with the people of
that locality. Deciding to return to farming, he purchased one hundred and
twenty acres in 1911, two and one-half miles southeast of Ash Grove, where
he still resides, engaged in general farming and stock raising,
experimenting with alfalfa. He is a man who gives his affairs the closest
attention, using his brain as well as his brawn. His land is well tilled.
Mr. Trogdon was married in 1896 to Ollie Burney, a daughter of James
Burney, a farmer and miller of Greene county. He originally came from
Tennessee.
Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Trogdon, namely: R. Lail, born
December 14, 1899, and Velta, born December 1, 1901, both attending public
school in their neighborhood.
Politically, our subject is a Republican. Fraternally, he belongs to the
Masonic Order, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Woodmen of the
World. Mrs. Trogdon is a member of the Rebekahs, Royal Neighbors and the
Order of Eastern Star.
EDWARD GARNER TUCKER. There is an inherent something in every successful
man that singles him out and sets him apart. He has ideas of his own, and
in those ideas he has faith that nothing can shake. He defies precedent,
ignores rules and falters not to do what others have failed to do before
him. Edward Garner Tucker, president of the Tucker-Ferguson Company, of
Springfield, has proven that he is a man of individual ideas and the
possessor of those qualities which make for success, such attributes as
ginger, candor, honesty of purpose coupled with a naturally optimistic
temperament, which has been stimulated by actual observation.
Mr. Tucker is a scion of an old Southern family, and his birth occurred
May 11, 1872, in Lebanon, Kentucky. He is a son of Creed H. and Rowanne
(Riffe) Tucker. The father was born in Virginia, July 13, 1832, and when
young in years moved to Kentucky with his parents, where he spent much of
his life, successfully engaged in the hotel business until 1869, when,
owing to failing health, he retired from active affairs. His death
occurred in 1897. Politically, he was a Democrat, and in religious matters
a Baptist. He and Rowanne Riffe were married in Lebanon, Kentucky, about
1859. She was born in the Blue Grass state in 1842 and there grew to
womanhood, and, like her husband, received her education in the old-time
common schools. She is still living, although past her alloted three score
and ten years. She makes her home among her children, of whom there are:
Mrs. Verne Powell, Boston, Massachusetts; Mrs. Florence Tucker, Doling
City; and Mrs. A. H. Gifford.
Edward G. Tucker spent his boyhood in Kentucky and moved with his parents
to Sedalia, Missouri, when young. He received a common school education
and attended high school at Sedalia, later studied at Garfield University,
Wichita, Kansas. After leaving school, he worked for the Adams Express
Company in Springfield, Missouri, for a period of fourteen years, having
come to this city in 1888. He gave the company eminent satisfaction in
every respect and was regarded as one of their most faithful and efficient
employees. He was alert, prompt, reliable and courteous. He went to
Pittsburg, Kansas, in 1904, and engaged in coal mining for three years,
and his ventures there as an operator were quite successful. In 1907 he
returned to Springfield and engaged in the warehouse business, enjoying a
good patronage for two years, and in 1909 he and C. A. Ferguson
incorporated the company of which he is now president and manager, and
which, by his able management and close application, has grown to large
proportions. They conduct one of the best known and most successful
storage and transfer businesses in this part of the state.
A detailed description of the Tucker-Ferguson Company will be found on
another page of this volume, to which the reader is respectfully directed.
Politically, Mr. Tucker is a Democrat; however, he votes independently in
local matters. Religiously, he is a member of the Christian church.
Mr. Tucker was married, August 15, 1897, to Elizabeth Ferguson, who was
born, October 5, 1876, in Springfield. She received a good education, and
is a daughter of John R., Sr. and Virginia Ferguson.
Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Tucker, namely: Edward G.,
Jr., born February 14, 1899, died when seventeen months old; Florence R.,
born in 1902; Edna M., born in 1905; Anna E., born in 1907; Alice B., born
in 1911. The daughters are all in school.
TUCKER-FERGUSON WAREHOUSE & TRANSFER COMPANY. One of the thriving business
firms of Springfield which is worthy of specific mention in this volume is
the Tucker-Ferguson Warehouse and Transfer Company. They maintain three
large warehouses, located as follow: Office building, a one-story concrete
building with 30,000 square feet of floor space, at 666 East Chestnut
street; a three-story brick building, corner Summit and Chestnut streets.
It is equipped with electric elevator, containing 400,000 square feet; a
three-story brick building, corner Phelps avenue and Grant street,
containing 300,000 square feet of floor space, with electric elevator.
There is five hundred feet of private trackage, and there is also a large
barn for live stock, accommodating twenty-five head of draft horses. The
company operates three solid, enclosed, padded moving vans, and all
household goods is guaranteed not to be soiled by bad weather, dust or
scratched in transit. Three stake wagons, are also kept for freighting and
ordinary moving; also two curtain vans for household goods, other
equipment, such as floats, trunk and delivery wagons and a special wagon
for safes and heavy hauling. Eighteen experienced, skilled and reliable
men and drivers are constantly employed, and prompt and first-class
service is the aim of the firm at all times. Special carload consignments
are given prompt attention, and they handle about four hundred carloads
annually. Household goods are packed for shipment by experts. Their
slogan, "The quality service merchants of Springfield."
The firm was incorporated in 1909, for twenty-thousand dollars, fully paid
up. E. G. Tucker, a complete sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this
work, is president and manager, and E. A. McKay is secretary and
treasurer. Some estimate of the reliability and efficient management of
the firm may be obtained by the mention of the fact that one sugar company
alone entrusts them with $500,000 of sugar for storage and distribution.
Elmer Alexander McKay was born in Knox county, Missouri, July 25, 1881. He
is a son of. James G. and Clara J. (Bryson) McKay. The father was born in
Lafayette county, Indiana, May 13, 1845, and when fourteen years of age
came with his parents to Knox county, Missouri, where he followed farming
for nearly forty years, and at this writing he is president of the Home
Bank in Knox, Missouri, and is one of the prominent citizens of Knox
county. Politically he is a Republican. He belongs to the Presbyterian
church and is a member Of the Knights of Pythias. Clara J. Bryson, mother
of E. A. McKay, was born in Knox county, this state, October 28, 1858, and
there grew to womanhood, received her education, and, in fact, has lived
there all her life.
Elmer A. McKay was reared in his native community and obtained a good
education; he was graduated from the Knox high school in 1895, from the
Kirksville State Normal in 1901, and from the University of Missouri at
Columbia in 1906. After leaving the university he took a position in the
Home Bank at Knox, where he remained until in June, 1911, when he came to
Springfield and bought an interest in the Tucker-Ferguson Company, of
which he is secretary and treasurer, and the large success of the same has
been due in no small measure to his industry and foresight.
Mr. McKay was married on June 20, 1907, to Mary Asbury, who was born in
Farmington, Missouri, February 12, 1883, and there grew to womanhood and
received her education at Elmwood Seminary and University of Missouri .
Mrs. McKay is, a member of the Saturday Club, the Daughters of the
American Revolution, and state treasurer of the Missouri Parent-Teachers'
Association.
To Mr. and Mrs. McKay one child has been born, James Asbury Mc-Kay, whose
birth occurred September 14, 1912.
Politically Mr. McKay is a Republican. He belongs to the Presbyterian
church, and fraternally is well known in Masonic circles, being a member
of Edina Lodge No. 219, Free and Accepted Masons, at Edina, Missouri;
Edina Chapter No. 61, Royal Arch Masons, also at Edina; and Zabud Council,
Royal and Select Masters. He is a member of the Young Men's Business Club,
and is secretary of the same.
JOSEPH HENRY TURK. It is oftentimes considered by those in the habit of
superficial thinking that the history of so-called great men only is
worthy of preservation and that little merit exists among the masses to
call forth the praises of the historian or the cheers and appreciation of
mankind. A greater mistake was never made. No man is great in all things
and very few are great, even especially competent, in many things. Some by
a lucky stroke achieve lasting fame, who before that had no reputation
beyond the limits of their neighborhoods. It is not a history of the lucky
stroke that benefits humanity most, but the long study and effort which
made the lucky stroke possible. It is the preliminary work, the method,
that serves as a guide for the success of others. Among those enterprising
men of Greene county who have forged ahead along well-established lines,
gradually mounting to the ladder's summit by earnest, honest endeavor is
Joseph Henry Turk, the present efficient and popular postmaster of Ash
Grove and for many years a well-known hardware dealer of that city.
Mr. Turk was born in Lawrence county, Missouri, October 18, 1871. He is a
son of Thomas B. and Sarah Jane (Stotts) Turk. The father was born in
Cumberland county, Kentucky, in 1834, and there grew to manhood, received
his education and resided until about 1865 when he emigrated to Missouri
and located in Lawrence county, where he engaged in general farming until
about eighteen years ago when he returned to Kentucky, and engaged in the
real estate and insurance business in Bowling Green, that state, until his
death on August 14, 1914. Politically, he was a Democrat. He belonged to
the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and was a member of the Presbyterian
church. He and Sarah Jane Stotts were married in 1865. She was born in
Cumberland county, Kentucky, about 1840, and there she was reared and
educated and they were married in their native locality. Thomas B. Turk
and wife were the parents of five boys and one girl, namely: James; Joseph
H.; Lee; Luther; Loren and Hiram.
Joseph H. Turk, of this sketch, grew up on the home farm where he worked
when a boy, and he received his education in the common schools. Having a
natural inclination to machinery he secured a position in an implement
house, and later was a traveling salesman for a champion implement firm
for three years, giving it entire satisfaction and doing much to increase
its prestige in the territory to which he was assigned. In 1892 he
launched out in the hardware business in Ash Grove where he has remained
ever since and has built up a large and growing trade which extends all
over this section of the country. He has always carried a large and
well-selected stock of general hardware and farming implements.
Mr. Turk has manifested an interest in public affairs for some time, and
on July 13, 1913, he was appointed postmaster at Ash Grove, and is
discharging the duties of the same in a manner that reflects much credit
upon himself and to the satisfaction of the people and the department.
Politically, he is a Democrat, and he has been a committeeman for eight
years and is active and influential in the affairs of his party.
Fraternally he is a member of the Masonic order, and is now worshipful
master of the local Blue Lodge; he is also a member of the Chapter, Royal
Arch Masons, Zabud Council, Royal and Select Masters, and the Order of the
Eastern Star. He is one of the active and prominent Masons in this part of
the state. Religiously he belongs to the Presbyterian church.
Mr. Turk was married on April 22, 1896, to Laura Barham, who was born in
Ash Grove, in September, 1873, and here grew to womanhood and was
educated. She is a daughter of Mr. W. F. and Mrs. T. E. Barham, natives of
Missouri. Mr. Barham devoted his active life to farming. His family
consists of six children.
To Mr. and Mrs. Turk the following children have been born: Seth, is
attending the Springfield high school; Harold is attending the high school
in Ash Grove; Richard is in the public school; Geraldine is also a school
pupil; and Helen, who is the youngest.
GRANVILLE W. TURNER. To be employed nearly a half century by one firm,
continuously, is a record of which few citizens of Springfield and Greene
county can boast, Granville W. Turner has been connected with the bridge
building department of the St. Louis & San Francisco Railroad Company
since 1866, and for forty years has been in charge of that department. He
would not only have had to proved himself to be an expert in his line, but
also a man courage, fidelity, integrity and industry to have been retained
during so a period. He is one of the most widely known Frisco employees.
He is a man who has always valued his good name and today takes pleasure
in feeling that he has won the respect of his fellow workers and
acquaintances by his course in life.
Mr. Turner was born in Knox county, Missouri, January 3, 1843. He is a son
of Granville D. and Maria (Taylor) Turner. The father was born in the
mountains of Kentucky and the mother was a native of Ohio, but she came to
Harrison county, Kentucky, when young. These parents were married in
Quincy, Illinois. Our subject's father and the first governor of Illinois
came to Quincy together. Mr. Turner became a large land owner. He was a
cabinet maker by trade. Leaving the Prairie state in an early day, he
located in Knox county, Missouri and he and his wife died in this state.
He was a minister in the Christian church, an old-time circuit rider, and
preached among the pioneers. Politically, he was a Democrat. His family
consisted of nine children, named as follows: The eldest child died in
infancy; William is deceased; Mary; Emma; Granville W., of this sketch;
James, deceased; Reuben, deceased; George and May E.
Mr. Turner of this review received a limited education in the common
schools, and he grew up on the farm in Knox county, where he worked when a
boy. He has worked hard and is a self-made man in the best sense of the
term. In his youth he learned the carpenter's trade. In September, 1861,
he enlisted for service in the Civil war, at Rolla, Missouri, under
Captain Rich and Colonel Phelps, and although his term of enlistment was
but for six months, he served nine months. He saw considerable service
during that brief period, including a number of skirmishes and the battle
o Pea Ridge, Arkansas. He was honorably discharged in April, 1862, then
went to work for the government, building pontoon bridges, corrals,
barracks, coffins, etc. He continued in this work until the close of the
war, gaining valuable experience which stood him well in hand in his
subsequent career. He began work for the Frisco at Rolla in 1866, in the
bridge building department, with which he has been connected ever since,
being head of the department for the system for some four decades. In 1913
he was retired by the company on a pension. However, he is still doing
special work in his department, reporting direct to the general manager.
He long ago mastered every phase of the art of bridge building and has
kept well abreast of the times in this line of endeavor.
Mr. Turner was first married in June, 1879, to Malissa Trower, in St
Louis, her native city. She was a daughter of Samuel Trower, a farmer and
stock raiser, a pioneer of the Mound City, where, for a number of years,
he was justice of the peace, also holding other minor offices. Mr.
Turner's first wife died October 10, 1889, leaving five children, namely:
Walter G. married Gertrude Singleton in St. Louis and he is a civil
engineer by profession; Mary Agnes married Mr. Greenridge and they live in
Douglas, Arizona; George R. married Goldie Holder and they live in Walnut
Grove, Missouri; Nellie E. married Thomas Wommock, an employee of the
Frisco and they live in Springfield; Lillian F. married G. Marks, who is
also connected with the Frisco and lives in Springfield. Mr. Turner's
second marriage was consummated in February, 1893, in Carthage, Missouri,
when he was united in marriage to Mrs. Agnes L. Brown, a daughter of John
and Eliza Deyell, of St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada. To this second union two
children have been born, namely, William E. and James D.
Politically, Mr. Turner is a Democrat. Fraternally, he belongs to the
Masonic order, Gate of the Temple blue lodge and St. John's Commandery.
Mr. Turner made his headquarters in Springfield in 1873 and moved here to
make his home in 1879. In 1872 he was made assistant superintendent of the
bridge and buildings department of the old Atlantic & Pacific railroad,
later known as the Frisco. In 1875 he was made general superintendent of
this department. He has had something to do with the building of nearly
every bridge on the entire Frisco system.
WILLIAM LAFAYETTE TURNER, M. D. Belonging to Greene county's enterprising
class of professional men, Dr. William Lafayette Turner, of Galloway, Clay
township, is deserving of specific mention in these pages. To the active
practice of medicine he has given, not only the gravity of his thought and
the truest exercise of his abilities, but the strength of his personality
and the momentum of his character. He is a physician of discriminating
mind, keen and acute in reasoning, a patient and persistent investigator,
sinking his inquiring lead down to the bottom of principles, and thereby,
being enabled to better and more fully understand the case or cases to be
treated, and consequently he meets with a high degree of success.
Doctor Turner was born near Marshfield, Webster county, Missouri, July 17,
1871. He is a son of Robert N. and Sarah F. (Cox) Turner. The father was
born in Webster county, this state, in 1843, was reared on the farm and
received a meager education in the early day schools. He worked for his
father on the homestead until he was married, then began working at the
carpenter's trade, at which he became quite expert and which he has made
his principal life work. Has also done considerable contracting. Naturally
talented as a musician he made himself proficient in that art and for some
time taught music during the winter months when there was no carpenter
work. About 1899 he moved to Texas where he remained some three years,
then went to Ft. Smith, Arkansas, and established his home, and in that
city his death occurred on March 12, 1914. Politically, he was a Democrat,
and he belonged to the Methodist Episcopal church, South. His wife was
also a native of Webster county, Missouri, where she grew to womanhood and
was educated, her birth having occurred in February, 1841. She is still
living in Springfield. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church,
South To these parents ten children were born, namely: Doctor William L.,
of this sketch; Mrs. Hepsabeth Straughan, Robert J., John B., who lives in
Ft. Smith, is the inventor of the automatic street car switch which is in
use all over the country; Lucy, Jessie P., Mrs. Nellie Guthrie, Della, Oma
and Lee.
Doctor Turner grew to manhood on the home farm in Webster county and there
he assisted with the general work during the summer months. He received
his education in the public schools of his native county, later attended
high school at Marshfield, and when nineteen years of age he began life
for himself as a teacher. He kept up home study and in 1895 was enabled to
enter the Springfield Normal where he spent a year, then studied two years
at Drury College, after which he resumed teaching, which vocation he
followed for some time in Greene and Webster counties. He gave a high
degree of success as an educator and his services were in large demand,
but believing that his true bent lie in another direction, he abandoned
the school room in 1901 and began the study of medicine, entering Barnes
Medical College, St. Louis, he remained in that institution until his
graduation in 1906, making an excellent record. Returning to Marshfield he
remained there a short time, then located for the practice of his
profession at Galloway, Greene county, where he has since remained, and
has built up a large and growing practice and is regarded among the
leading general practitioners in this section of the country. He owns a
pleasant home on the Springfield and Ozark road.
Doctor Turner was married on July 18, 1901, to Joel P. Haden, who was born
in Greene county, Missouri, April 22, 1883. She is a daughter of Joel H.
and Nancy A. (Beshears) Haden. The father was born in this county,
December 4, 1847, and here grew up on a farm and received a common school
education. During the Civil war he served in the Home Guards, seeing
considerable service in his native county. After the war he returned to
the farm, and has followed general agricultural pursuits, being now owner
of a valuable and well-improved farm of three hundred acres. He has long
made a specialty of raising fine live stock, and is an excellent business
man, well known and influential in his vicinity. Politically he is a
Democrat. His wife was born in this county, December 2, 1858, and here she
grew to womanhood and was educated in the public schools.
Mrs. Turner was reared on the home farm and was given good educational
advantages.
To Doctor Turner and wife six children have been born namely: Edith,
deceased; Retha, deceased; Joel, Fred, Mary and Pinkney are all at home.
Politically, Doctor Turner is a Democrat. He is a member of the Greene
County Medical Society, and the Missouri State Medical Association.
Religiously, he belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church, South. He is a
man of exemplary habits and is popular with all classes.