Greene County, Missouri - Biographical sketches, 1915 (part 25 of 29)

Mr. Smith was married. November 25, 1S75. to Margaret P.. Butcher, a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, her birth occurring February 9. 1852. She is a daughter of Stephen and Maria (LeKeux) Butcher. The father was horn in England, near London, in the year [802, and there he grew to manhood and married Maria Fclxcux in 1S47, and they subsequently immigrated to America, locating in Pittsburgh. Pennsylvania. His wife was also a native of England. Mr. Butcher received a good education in his native land, traveled extensively and followed the sea for six years. Mr. Butcher enlisted in the Civil war, in [861, serving the full time enlisted in a Missouri calvary regiment, lie was in several battles, including the battle of Wilson's (reek, was a very faithful soldier and a strong Union man. His family consisted of five children, three of whom are - rill living, namely: Margaret P.. who became the wile of Mr. Smith of this memoir: Mrs. Mary P. King, and Stephen II. Mrs. Smith grew to womanhood in Pittsburgh, where she was given excellent educational advantage-, and she engaged in teaching for a while after leaving school.

Lucian L., who married Lallah Smith, is claim agent for the Frisco railroad; Mable married Charles F. Bishop, and they live in Ouincy, Illinois; Ada married John J. Tooker, and they live in Boonville, Missouri.

Politically, Mr. Smith was a Republican and a great worker for his party. Fraternally he belonged to the Masonic Order. He was one of the leading members of Calvary Presbyterian church for many years and was active in church work. He was chairman of its board of trustees and was most efficient in this capacity. He was a devoted Christian, with marked administrative ability and was enthusiastically devoted to the service of the church.

The substantial Smith residence is on Benton avenue, and there the summons came for Mr. Smith to close his earthly account and take up his work on a higher plane of being, March 10, 1914.

George E. Dillard

One of the well-known railroad men of Springfield is George E. Dillard, assistant superintendent of locomotive performance for the Frisco lines. He is a scion of one of the old and respected families of Greene county, and for reasons which are too apparent to enumerate here should be given a place in this volume.

Air. Dillard was born in Taylor township, Greene county, Missouri, September 12, i860. He is a son of George A. and Eliza J. (Gibson) Dillard. The father was born in Tennessee, in 1827, and his death occurred on the old homestead in this county in 1903. The mother was horn in Tennessee in 1835 ancl died on the home place here in 1911. They grew up mi farms and received limited educational advantages. They came to Greene county. Missouri, when young and were married here, each emigrating here with their parents about the year 1837. William Dillard, our subject's paternal grandfather, was a native of North Carolina, where he was born on May 1. 1782, removing from that state to Tennessee, where he lived for some time before coming on to Greene county, Missouri, where he spent his last years, dying here on April 13, 1877. His wife was known in her maidenhood as Sarah Gregory. The maternal grandfather was John H. Gibson, who was a native of Tennessee. He died in this county in the early eighties. His wife was Isabelle Buchanan before her marriage. She was a native of Tennessee, and her death occurred in this county in 1863. George A. Dillard enlisted for service in the Civil war in the spring of 1861, becoming captain of Company E. Twenty-second Enrolled Missouri Militia, and his father was a member of the Home Guards. The former saw little service outside of Greene county, taking an active part in the defense of Springfield during General Marmaduke's raid. He spent his life engaged in farming and stock raising. His family consisted of nine children, five of whom are still living, namely: William C., who lives in Springfield, is clerk in the office of the circuit court clerk's office; Mrs. Margaret Turner; Mrs. Isabelle Demar; James L. lives on the farm; and George E., of this sketch.

Our subject grew to manhood on the home farm and he received his education in the district schools, remaining on the homestead until he was twenty-one years old, then came to Springfield and began working for McGregor-Xoe Hardware Company as clerk for a short time, then began railroading, which he has continued ever since, first as fireman on the Frisco between Springfield and Dixon. He was firing a freight locomotive when the road extended no farther than Pacific. Missouri. Later he fired a passenger engine, and in icS86 was promoted to freight engineer. In 1910 he was promoted to the position of road foreman of equipment, and he is now assistant superintendent of locomotive performance for the Ozark division, from Springfield to Memphis, Tennessee. The fact that he has been with the same company so long and that his rise has been steady would indicate that he has given entire satisfaction and that he is capable and trustworthy as well as thoroughly understanding his work and diversified duties.

Mr. Dillard was married on November 29, 1883, to Sarah G. McGinty, who was born in Howell county, Missouri, September 13, 1861. She is a daughter of A. C. and Susan (Hayden) McGinty.

Politically, Mr. Dillard is a Republican. Fraternally, he belongs to the Masonic order, including the Blue Lodge, also the Royal Arcanum and Knights and Ladies of Security. He and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

Elisha B. Maddox

Jt is a noticeable thing, to people who have Formed habits of comparison, that the people of the various >tates are somewhat individualistic, each having peculiar traits of their own. and notwithstanding the fact that the same language is spoken in all our forty-eight state-, each state has localisms of its own. Thus it is easy to single out the true Kentuckian, principally because of his gallantry and unfailing courtesy, his thought fulness of the welfare of his friends and those with whom he comes in contact. The late Elisha I'.. Maddox, for main- years a faithful employee of the

Frisco system, was a typical son of the Blue Grass state, and he was a man of praiseworthy traits of character and he was always well liked by those who knew him.

Air. Maddox was born in Campbell county, Kentucky, May 16, 1803. He was a son of Charles and Barbara ( Vaughn ) Maddox, both natives or Kentucky also, the father being born in 1833 and died there in 1891. The mother was born in 1840 and died in 1882 in that state. They had spent their lives there on a farm, and were the parents of the following named children: William, Elisha B. (our subject), Ida, Lucy, Hettie H. and Hubbard.

Elisha B. Maddox grew to manhood on the farm in his native state, where he did his share of the general work when growing up, and he received his education in the rural schools of his community. He farmed in Campbell count}-, Kentucky, until he was about twenty-six vears old, then went to Covington, that state, and began working on the Louisville & Nashville railroad, in the coach department of the company's shops, and there learned his trade - coach carpenter - at which he became quite expert. He remained there eleven years, and removed from Covington to Springfield, Missouri, in the fall of 1901 and at once secured employment in the coach department of the Frisco road, in the north side shops, where he worked until the new shops were opened, when he was transferred to them and worked there the rest of his life.

Mr. Maddox was married on April 16, 1890, in Covington, Kentucky, to Jennie Culvertson, who was born in Kenton county, that state, April 16, 1863. She is a daughter of George A. and Melissa ( Rusk ) Culvertson, both natives of Kentucky, the father born in 1822, and the mother in 1820. They grew to maturity in Kentucky, attended the common schools and were married there. The father died in Ohio on August 8, 18(54, after spending his active life in farming, and the death of the mother occurred in Covington, Kentucky, in 1892. They spent most of their lives in their native state, but moved to Ohio eventually. They became the parents of twelve children, named as follows: Lafayette, Isabelle, Joanna and Thomas are all living: Jennie, widow of the subject of this sketch; Michael and Catherine are both living; the other five are deceased. Mrs. Maddox grew to womanhood in Kentucky and received a common school education.

Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Maddox, namely: Stella. born on August 7, 1891, is a successful school teacher, and she lives with her mother in the Maddox home, just outside the limits of Springfield on the Fremont road ; Byron, born on May 27, 1893, lives at home ; and Joan, born on December 19, 1897, is with her mother also. These children have received good educations in the local schools.

The tragic death of Mr. Maddox occurred on July 16, 19 14, at the age of fifty-one years. He died at the Frisco hospital from injuries he received a few minutes after going to his work that morning, having been knocked from the top of a coach by a crane, falling twelve feet to the floor, which injured him internally, never having regained consciousness. He was warned by his fellow workers, but the din in the shops prevented him hearing the shouts of the onlookers.

Walter H. Henderson

Books keep us from yielding to the commonplace. They equip us not only for more serious tasks in the daily tread-mill of existence, but also for an appreciation of the things about us, nature in her varied forms, for hearing the music of the spheres and for seeing the beautiful in life. Everyone, from the poorest to the richest, may find in literature a rich and large life. Walter H. Henderson, city treasurer of Springfield, is a man who regards his books as among his best friends and spends much of his spare time among them, therefore is a well rounded man mentally.

Mr. Henderson was born on September 16, 1877, in Laclede county, .Missouri. He is a son of C. C. and Mary A. (McFarland) Henderson, natives of Kentucky and Tennessee, respectively, but when young in years they removed with their parents to Missouri and were married in this state, after receiving limited educations in the common schools. C. C. Henderson has si>ent his active life in general farming pursuits, making a specialty of cattle raising, also owned a general merchandise store at Phillipsburg for several years. Me and his wife are now living on a farm near that town and are well known throughout that locality. Politically, he is a Democrat, and has long been active in party affairs. Fraternally, he belongs to the Masonic Order. His family consisted of nine children, namely: Maude, the eldest, is deceased; Walter H.. of this sketch; Ethel is married and living in Laclede county: Ona is married and lives in Laclede county; Glynn is living at home; Rosa i> married and lives at Phillipsburg, Missouri; Freda lives at home; Byrle is also a member of the family circle, and Mabel is with her parents.

Walter il. Henderson spent his boyhood years in Laclede county and he received his education in the rural schools and the high school at Lebanon, this state. He worked in his father's store at Phillipsburg for some time when a boy. In 1004 he came to Springfield and engaged in the grocery business, but not long thereafter he went to work for Edward V. Williams in his clothing store on Commercial street, remaining with him until 1909, proving to be an excellent clerk, being alert, polite and trustworthy. Upon leaving the employ of Air. Williams he was made manager of the Springfield Security Company, with which he remained until August 1, 1914, giving satisfaction to all concerned. He is at this writing vice-president of the .\ lurry Farm Loan and Title Company. He is also filling the position of city treasurer of Springfield, to which he was elected in the spring of 1914 and is discharging his duties in a faithful and capable manner.

Mr. Henderson was married on January 11, 1903, in Phillipsburg, Missouri, to Dora Barnes, who was born in Laclede county, this state, and reared and educated there. She is a daughter of Samuel C. Barnes, for years a well known resident of that county.

Politically, Mr. Henderson is a Democrat and is active in the party. Fraternally, he belongs to the Knights of Pythias, the Woodmen of the World and the Modern Woodmen of America. He belongs to the Young .Men's Business Club, and is a member of the Central Christian church.

William M. Hansell

A history of the Hansell family shows that they are peopie who have ever been characterized by industry, thrift, foresight and honesty in dealing with their fellow-men, and when, with these qualities are coupled the attributes of sound sense, tact and fortitude, which people of their blood universally possess, there are afforded such qualities as will enrich any land and place it at the top of the countries of the world in the scale of elevated humanity. The career of William M. Hansell, who is now living practically retired in his beautiful home in Springfield, is an interesting and varied one, the major portion of which has been devoted to railroad service. He has been a resident of Springfield for over a quarter of a centurv and is well known in railroad and business circles here.

Mr. Hansell was born in Clinton county, Ohio, March 24, 185 1. He is a son of Joseph A. and Hannah (Leeka) Hansell, the father having been the oldest child of Michael and Rachael (Adams) Hansell, and he was born in Clinton county, Ohio, also, and there occurred the birth of the mother of our subject. These parents grew to maturity, were educated in the common schools and were married there. The Hansell family originally lived in Virginia, from which state they removed to Ohio in a very early day. Joseph A. Hansell was a carpenter by trade and a very highly skilled workman. He moved from Ohio with his family in 1853 to Linn county.

Iowa. His family consisted of four children, all still living, namely: Frank M. lives in Marion, Iowa; Mary E. lives in Marion, Iowa; William M. of this sketch; and J. E., whose sketch appears in another part of this work. The father of these children was born in 1823, and the mother was born in 1824; they spent the last years of their lives in Linn count}-, Iowa, where the father died in 1895 anil the mother passed away in 1897.

William M. Hansell received a common school education and when a boy he learned the printer's trade in the office of the Marion Register, in Iowa, remaining- there two or three years, then went back to Ohio, where his mother's people lived and went to school for a year at Hillsboro, Highland county. Not caring to follow the printer's trade he learned the saddlery trade, and was working in Chicago at the time of the great fire in the autumn of 1871. He then returned to Marion, Iowa, where his parents resided, and soon thereafter began his railroad career on the Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern road as brakeman, working there about a year, then went to Clinton, Iowa, and began work for the Chicago Northwestern railroad as brakeman. and eight months later was promoted to freight conductor and worked at the same with that road for a period of four years, then as passenger conductor for ten years. He then went to Chadron, Nebraska, and ran a passenger train from that city to Ft. Casper, Wyoming, this being a branch road of the Chicago Northwestern. Leaving the West in 1889 he came to Springfield, Missouri, and began working for the Kansas City, Ft. Scott & Memphis railroad as freight conductor. A year and a half later he quit railroading and since then has been engaged in the real estate business, handling principally his own property and has been very successful in a business way. He owns considerable valuable property here, including a handsome and modernly appointed residence on East Elm street, one of the most desirable homes in the city

Mr. Hansell was married in September. (877, in Clinton, Iowa, to Emma Dickson, to which union two children were born, one of whom died in early life; Harry Howard, born. October 20, 1878, was graduated from the high school at Clinton, Iowa, and is now living in Chicago, where he is engaged in the drug business. The wife and mother passed to her rest in January. [885. In 1888 Mr. Hansell married Lucy Torrence, at Chadron, Nebraska. She is a daughter of John and Sophia ( Wilson ) Torrence.

To our subject .and his second wife one child has been born. Charles ('.. whose birth occurred December 10. [890. He received a good education in the Springfield schools, being a graduate of the high school, and isnow living in Kansas City, where he is in the employ of the Swift Packing Company.

Politically, Mr. Hansell is a Republican and has long been active and influential in political affairs. He is chairman of the state legislative committee, and is chief of Division No. 321, Order of Railway Conductors. Fraternally, he belongs to the Masonic Order, being a Knight Templar, lie is an Episcopalian in bis church affiliations. He is broad-minded, and a gentleman of pleasing personality.

W. Robert Keller

The name of W. Robert Keller is a well-known and highly respected one in railroad circles in Springfield, he having been connected with the local lines for a quarter of a century, principally as conductor, having had a passenger run on the Ozark division of the Frisco since 1900. Early in life he manifested a natural inclination to this important field of human endeavor and, being alert, a keen observer and trustworthy, bis rise was rapid and he is one of the most efficient conductors that has ever run out of the Queen City.

Mr. Keller was born near Marshfield, Webster county, .Missouri. December 25, 1865. He is a son of Joseph and Martha (Burks) Keller, both natives of Tennessee, from which state they came to Webster county in an early day, locating on a farm and there the death of the father occurred in rQi3> when past seventy years of age. his birth having occurred in 1842. He was well known in Webster county, was a successful farmer and a good citizen. The mother of our subject, wbo was also born in 1842, is still living on the old home place near Marshheld. Joseph Keller took a great ileal of interest in the public affairs of his count}- and for a period of twenty years was a judge of the County Court, retaining the office until his health failed and compelled him to retire. During that period be did a great deal for the permanent good of bis county, always alive to its best interests. He was a Republican in politics and a leader in his party in Webster county. During the Civil war he enlisted at the beginning of the struggle in the Home Guards and was stationed in Springfield with a regiment of over one thousand men during the time of the Wilson's Creek battle and was wounded at that time. His family consisted of six children, all still living, namely: James; W. Robert, of this sketch: John, Jennie, Sophia and Catherine.

W. Robert Keller grew to manhood on the home farm in Webster county and there did his full share of the work when a boy. He received a common school education there and while yet a mere lad he began his railroad career. He came to Springfield in the fall of 1890 and secured a position as brakeman on a freight train for the Kansas City, Ft. Scott & Memphis road, now a part of the Frisco System. His run was between Springfield and Thayer. He proved to be a hard and faithful worker and in 1893 was promoted to freight conductor, at which he worked until 1900, when he was promoted to passenger conductor and has remained thus engaged to the present time, his run being from Springfield to Memphis. Tennessee.

Mr. Keller was married in Springfield, in October, 1890, to Millie Pipkin, a native of Greene county, where she was reared and educated. She is a daughter of James Pipkin, who was a soldier in the Civil war.

Politically, Mr. Keller is a Republican. He is a member of Division No. 321, Order of Railway Conductors. He belongs to the Masonic order, including the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, and religiously he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

Job Xfwton

It is proper to judge of a man's life by the estimatiton in which he is held by his fellow citizens. They see him at his work, in his family circle, in church, hear his views on public questions, observe the operations of his code of morals, witness how he conducts himself in all the relations of societv and civilization and are therefore competent to judge of his merits and demerits. After a long course of years of daily observations, it would be out of the question for his neighbors not to know of his worth, for, as has been often said, "Actions speak louder than words." In this connection it is not too much to say that Job Xewton, well-known business man of Springfield, has ever stood high in the estimation of his acquaintances here, during his residence of forty-five years, for his conduct has been honorable in all the relations of life and bis duty well performed whether in private or public life, and that be has ever been industrious, never waiting for some one else to perform his ta>ks. He is one of the surviving band of the famous "forty-niners" in Greene county, and his reminiscences of his various experiences in the pioneer days when he was a young man are indeed interesting.

parent of English descent. Mr. Xewton's father died when be was an infant, and he has no recollection of him. His mother brought him overland through a long stretch of wilderness from Delaware to St. Louis, Missouri, in the year 1838; her other two children were Ann and Benjamin. Soon thereafter a brother of our subject's mother came to St. Louis and removed her and her children to Wabash, Indiana, in 1839, and there she spent the rest of her life, dying in 1848.

Job Newton grew to manhood in St. Louis, was educated there in the public schools and married there, remaining in that city until 1869, when he removed his family to Springfield, where he has since made his home. He first engaged in the woolen mill and fur business in St. Louis, but upon reaching Springfield he went into the dry goods business in which he remained about eight years, enjoying a good trade, then he started a produce business which gradually grew with advancing years until it reached extensive proportions and he is still thus engaged, with the exception of one year spent in Kansas City. He now handles not only produce but grain, hay and seed under the firm name of the Newton Grain Company, of which he is president, Dwight E. Newton being secretary and treasurer. They have a large substantial building and their operations extend over a vast territory. Although our subject is now advanced in years, being nearly eighty-nine years old, he is hale and hearty and is still actively engaged in business.

Mr. Newton was married in the fall of 1856 to Minerva C. Ault, a native of Ohio, from which state she removed with her parents to Missouri when she was a child. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Newton, three of whom are still living, namely: Harry C. is the eldest; Joseph and Jefferson are both deceased ; Emmitt and Dwight E. are the two youngest, the latter being associated with his father in business, and the former is manager of the Lander theater of this city.

Mr. Newton is a member of the Masonic Order, Lhiited Lodge No. 5, Royal Arch Chapter No. 15, is past commander of St. John's Commandery, No. 20, and is also a member of the Chapter, also the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, and is past grand patron of the Eastern Star of Missouri ; he has long been prominent in Masonic circles. Politically, he is a Democrat and has been more or less active in public affairs, and has been a member of the city council twice, and in the earlier years of his residence here he was chairman of the Democratic committee.

One of the most interesting chapters in Mr. Newton's life is that relating to his trip to the far West, when be crossed the plains with the goldseekers in 1849, and had the distinction of taking the first goods into Salt Lake City, Utah, after the Mormons had settled there. He started on his long journey from St. Louis on March 17, of that year, and arrived in California the following October, going the Truckee route, and he built the second house in the city of Grass Valley, California. He returned to St. Louis in 1851 by the Nicaragua route, on a Yanderbilt vessel,, the first line run in opposition to the Pacific Mail route, Mr. Newton being one of the first passengers to come over this route. He crossed the Isthmus of Panama in 1855 en route to San Francisco, California, and in the spring of 1856 he returned to St. Louis, coming hack via the Nicaragua route. In the spring of 1868 he came to Springfield, having sold his business interests in St. Louis. He immediately took up activities in the dry goods business, and in the spring of 1869 he moved his family here, where they have since remained with the exception of one year, which was spent in Kansas City. Iii the spring of 1854 he again crossed the arid and wild lands of the western territories, freighting to Salt Lake City, having charge of about twentv-five wagons, and he took a large herd of cattle on into California.

Edwjx L. Fay

Among the best known railroad men of Springfield is Edwin L. Fay, v. ho has been railroading for nearly a half century, and for over forty years connected with the Frisco system, at one time being superintendent of a division, and for the past quarter of a century has been a passenger conductor. His long and honorable record is one of which he may be justly proud. He has been regarded all the while as one of the most trustworthy and able of the employees of the Frisco, and his services have shown him to be a man of ability, fidelity and sobriety, thus meriting the confidence reposed in him and the high esteem in which he is universally field among rjiilroad men.

Air. Fay is a descendant of an old Xew England family, of which country he himself is a native, having been born in Orange county. Vermont, August 5, [849. lie is a son of Lorenzo L). and Levina (Chamber- Hn) Fay. The father was born in the state of Xew York in 1809, and died in [893 in Illinois; the mother was born in Vermont in 1822 and died in 1902. They both received good common school educations, and for a number of vears the mother engaged in teaching. Lorenzo D. Fay was a mason, plasterer and building contractor and was very successful in his vocation. He was twice married, our subject being the eldest of four children by his second marriage.

Edwin L. Fay spent his early boyhood in Vermont and received most o] his education in the public schools there. When he was twelve years of age the family removed to the state of Iowa, where they lived three years, then located in Illinois, where they established their permanent home. Our subject began his railroad career in [867, when fie took a position with the Chicago Northwestern railroad as brakeman, between Chicago and Janesville, Wisconsin; continuing as brakeman until 1870. he went with the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy railroad, his return being between Rock Island and Bridgeport, Illinois. In March, 187 1, he came to Springfield, Missouri, where he has since resided. He went to work soon thereafter as brakeman on the Frisco and four months later was given a train, and, showing that he was a man of ability in this line of endeavor, he was rapidly promoted and was made superintendent in 1889 of the eastern division, with headquarters at Newburg, Missouri, this being one of the most important divisions on the system; although he was an efficient superintendent, he preferred active service on the road and was given a position as passenger conductor in 1890. A part of the time his run was between Springfield and St. Louis. During the past fourteen years he has been running between Monett, Missouri, and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He has been very fortunate in handling his trains and is one of the most reliable conductors on the system.

Mr. Fay has a good home on Robberson avenue, Springfield, the presiding spirit of which is a lady of pleasant manners, known in her maidenhood as Lydia F. Kern, whom he married in St. James, Missouri, August -/- 1^'73- She was born in Pennsylvania, and is a daughter of Joseph and Hannah Kern. When she was a young girl her parents removed with her from Pennsylvania to Missouri.

Politically, Mr. Fay is a Republican. He is a member of No. 415 Division, United Railway Conductors. Fraternally, be is a prominent Mason, having attained the thirty-second degree in that order, and is a member of the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He also belongs to the Benevolent and Protective Order of Flks.

James O. Atteberry

Cultivation of the soil began with the desire on the part of the cultivator to destroy weeds or plants not desired that were likely to crowd out and injure the ones in which he was interested. But we now know that the destruction of weeds is a matter of very secondarv importance. We now cultivate to conserve moisture and to promote chemical and biological activity. Our viewpoint has changed greatly with increased knowledge, yet it is a fact that we do not do all we might in this direction. We do not stir the soil during rainless periods as frequently as we should, or we do not do it at the time we should and allow valuable moisture to escape. It must be borne in mind that it is often quite as important to do a thing at the right time as it is to do it at all. One of the successful farmers of Clay township, Greene county, is James O. Atteberry. who not only seems to

Mr. Atteberry was born in Cassville, Barry county, Missouri, January 30, 1861. He is a son of John B. and Mary E. (Bills) Atteberry. The father was born in Tennessee, January 30, 1830, on the banks of the famous Cumberland river, and there he spent the first nine years of his life, then his parents brought him to Dallas count}-, Missouri, where he grew to manhood on a farm and there received a common school education. He worked f 1 >r his father until he was twenty-one years of age, then bought a farm of eighty acres. He learned the blacksmith's trade, which he followed in connection with farming. Then went to Barry county, where he owned a blacksmith shop for some time. Later he went to Springfield where he followed his trade and at which he was engaged at the outbreak of the Civil war, when he enlisted in the Federal army and was kept busy as a blacksmith for some time by his general and later drove a team for his regiment. After the close of the war he returned to Dallas county, where he lived until his son James O. was fourteen years old, then came back to Springfield and resumed blacksmithing, at which he was quite expert. About five years later he moved back to Dallas count}- and bought a farm of eighty acres, which he operated about seven years, then moved back to Springfield, where he has resided to the present time, and is still active. Politically, he is a Democrat. He is a member of the Christian church. Tie had natural talent as a musician and when a young man taught vocal music, conducting singing schools. His wife. Mary E. Bills, was born in Tennessee, October 8, 1836, and was reared in that state and in Missouri, having been seven years of age when her parents brought her to Dallas count}-, making the overland journey in wagons, experiencing numerous hardships. The family located on a farm and there Mrs. Atteberry was reared. She has known what hard work meant, wove and spun in her earlier years and made clothes, the last suit she made having been for the sheriff of Greene count}-. She is a member of the Christian church and has long been a great church worker. To these parents thirteen children have been born, namely: Mrs. Eliza Jane of this sketch, and George, who lives in Christian county. Missouri, are twins; F.lsie is living in the West; Daniel lives in Springfield; Mrs. Francis Welch lives in Christian county; Mrs. Laura Fishel lives in Springfield: Mrs. Etta Lawing lives in St. Joseph, Missouri; Mrs. Blanche Pritchard lues in Oklahoma City; the three youngest children died in infancy.

James ( ). Atteberry spent his early boyhood on the home farm in Dallas count}', where he worked during the crop seasons and in the winter time attended the common schools. When fourteen years of age he hired out on farms in Greene county, working thus until he was twenty-two vears of age, when he married Mary E. McCorkle, and rented a farm for several years, then moved to Christian county, where lie rented land for fourteen years, also bought a farm of one hundred and ten acres which joined the farm he rented. In connection with general farming he raised cattle and hogs in large numbers, also sheep. Finally selling out, he bought the farm where he is now living in Clay township, Greene county, which consists of one hundred and forty-five acres and is well improved and productive, one of the best in this part of the county. In connection with general farming he is successfully operating a dairy.

Mr. Atteberry's wife was born in Greene county, October 8, 1859. When three years old her parents brought her to the place where she is now living. She received a good common school education, and when eighteen years old began teaching and taught two years in the rural schools. She is a daughter of Neely and Catherine (Rainey) McCorkle. She is a member of the Christian church.

To Mr. and Mrs. Atteberry eight children have been born, namely : George A. is living in Greene county; Elmer is deceased; Neely J. lives in Springfield ; ; Mrs. Mary Snyder lives in Greene count}- ; Stanley lives at home; Lemuel lives in Greene county; Airs. Birdie Jones lives at home with her parents ; Nellie is married and lives in Clay township, Greene county, .Missouri.

Politically, Mr. Atteberry is a Republican. Fraternally, he belongs to the Woodmen of the World, the Modern Woodmen, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Maccabees. He belongs to the Christian church.

Silas M. Johnson

Silas M. Johnson was born in Tennessee, August 30, 1855. He is a son of John A. and Nancy (Ferguson) Johnson. The father was a son of Benjamin and Betsy Johnson, the former a native of Scotland, from which country he immigrated to North Carolina in an early day. and in that state his son John was born, and was four years of age when the family removed to Tennessee where he grew up and married. Nancy Ferguson was a native of Tennessee, in which state she spent her earl}- life. Benjamin Johnson spent the rest of his life in Tennessee, dying there after an active life on the farm. John A. Johnson spent his boyhood on the farm, and received his education in the common schools at Pulaski, Giles count}-, Tennessee, and began his career as a farmer in that vicinity. He married in Macon county, that state. During the Seminole Indian war in Florida he enlisted in a Tennessee regiment and served with credit. Politically, he was a Re- publican, and he belonged to the Christian church. His family consisted of twelve children, namely: Benjamin, deceased; William, who was a soldier in the Union army, was killed in battle; James was also a soldier in the Federal ranks during the Civil war; Mrs. Clarissa E. Powell was next in order; Louis lives on the Carthage road in this county; Agnes is deceased; John is railroading in California; Neil owns and operates a ranch in Colorado; Mary makes her home with our subject; Silas M. of this review; Nannie is deceased; one child died in infancy.

John A. Johnson, the father, left Tennessee in 1854 and lived in Texas a year; then moved to Arkansas, where he lived until 1863, in which year he located in Greene county, Missouri, purchasing a farm of one hundred and sixty-eight acres, and on this spent the rest of his life.

Silas M. Johnson grew to manhood on his father's farm and he received his early education in the district schools, and he has devoted his life to general farming and stock raising. He owns sixty-six acres in Campbell township, where he has a substantial home, with many modern conveniences, large barns and well-kept surroundings.

Air. Johnson has remained unmarried. Politically, he is a Democrat. He belongs to the old brick Christian church in his vicinity. He is a member of the Anti-Horse Thief Associatiton. He leads a quiet life, and personally, is a very accommodating gentleman and is therefore well liked by all who know him.

William R. Watson

One of the most enterprising of Greene county agriculturists is William R. Watson, now living practically retired in Springfield. He believed from the outset of his career that the "wisdom of yesterday is sometimes the folly of today," and that while the methods of our ancestors in tilling the soil were all right in their day, yet in the twentieth century we have been compelled to adopt new methods and farm along different lines, in view of the fact that conditions of climate, soil, grains, etc., have changed since the days of the pioneers. Mr. Watson has been a close observer of modern methods and is a student at all times of whatever pertains to his chosen life work and he has therefore met with encouraging success all along the line. and while comparatively young took his place among the leading farmers and stock raisers of a locality noted for its line farms and adroit husbandmen.

.Mr. Watson was born in Robberson township, Greene county, Missouri, July 11, [854. lie is a son of Spencer and Margaret (Holloway) Watson, both natives of Tennessee. The mother was a daughter of Minter Hoi- loway, an old settler in Tennessee. The parents of our subject grew to maturity in their native state and there received the usual limited educations in the country schools of those earl)- days and they were married in their home locality, continuing to reside there until the spring of 1852, when they made the overland journey to Greene county. Missouri, arriving here on May 10th. They bought and entered land in Robberson township, which they developed into a good farm by hard persistent work and there they resided until December 5, 1866, when they removed to Cass township, this county, and there the death of the father occurred on June 20, 1887, being born on December 9, 1823. He was a Southern sympathizer during the war between the states but he was not in the service. Politically he was a Democrat, and he held membership in Wesley Chapel Methodist Episcopal church, South.

William R. Watson, of this sketch, grew to manhood on the home farm where he worked hard when a boy, and during the winter months he attended the district schools, entered Drury College in 1877 and in 1878 took up his studies at Morrisville College in Polk county. After leaving school he began his life work as a teacher and for ten consecutive years followed this profession with much success in the schools of Greene county, then began his career as farmer on his own land in Cass township. Working hard, looking well to details and being on the alert for new and better methods of doing things he prospered with advancing years and he is now owner of a wellimproved and productive farm of six hundred and ninety acres in Cass township, on which is to be seen a large residence and a group of substantial Here he has long carried on general farming and stock raising on an extensive scale, making a specialty of the mule business. He is at present making his home on Benton avenue. Springfield, owning a cozy residence there. He left the farm on August 26, 191 1, his object being that his children might have better school facilities.

Mr. Watson was married on October 12, 1884, to Laura Boston, a daughter of Thomas Y. Boston, an old settler of Cass township, and a prosperous farmer and well-known citizen in the northern part of the county. Our subject began housekeeping on a sixty-two-acre farm near Harold, November 6, 1884. Our subject's first wife died on March 3, 1889; she was the mother of two children, the second of whom died in infancy; it was named Olga; the other. Nannie, was born December 26. 1885, who married Ray Chumm, lives in Carthage. On September 25, 1S90, Air. Watson took for his second wife Clara Boston, a sister of his first wife. To this second union six children have been born, namely : Agatha, born on August 9, 1891, who lives at home, was graduated from Drury College in June, 1915, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts; Minnie, born on February 10, 1893. (i 13 1

Willie, born on December 16, 1895; Pauline, born October 7, 1897, an<i Florence, born on February 19. 1899. are all attending the Springfield high school; Helen E., born on July 12, 1906, died when four years old.

Politically, Air. Watson is a Democrat but has never been especially active in public affairs. He is a Royal Arch Mason, a member of Ash Grove Chapter, Blue Lodge membership, O' Sullivan Lodge No. 7, Free and Accepted Masons, at Walnut Grove ; he also belongs to the Modern Woodmen lodge at Cave Spring. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. South, at Pearl. Cass township. Personally, he is a well-educated, well-read gentleman, with correct views in all the relations of life.

Mr. Watson is especially proud of the time spent in the interest of the public schools of Greene county. He enjoys the distinction of being the oldest member, in point of service, of any school board in Greene count)-. He has always been a man to whom any deserving teacher could come for advice and sympathy, for, being an old teacher he has always known the needs and ambitions of those in this profession. As chairman of the school hoard he put his energy and zeal into the work and placed the Pearl district school at the head of the list of schools of Greene county, which position it held until he left the district and ceased giving his attention to the rural schools.

Although Mr. Watson paid more taxes than any other citizen of his school district he always advocated and voted for the constitutional limit for school purposes.

Henry C. Youxg

Henry C. Young, descended from a family of pioneers, was born near Louisville. Kentucky, in 1835, being brought to southwest Missouri as an infant in the early settlement of this country. His father, Gabriel Richardson Young, born a generation before in the same place, inherited a change of name from his father whose family, in Wales, had borne the name of Yong. The emigrant ancestor, cherishing the memory of wrongs resulting from the iniquity of the entail system, sought forgetfulness in the borderland, taking part with the follower- of Daniel Boone in the conquest of "The Dark and Bloody Ground," since known as Kentucky, lie married a Miss Stillwell. Their children went in different directions on leaving the Kentucky home. Gabriel Richardson Young, who had married Nancy Me- Kenzie, of Charleston, South Carolina, followed the immigration of his kinsman, Alexander McKenzie, to this country. McKenzie sojourned two years on a place three and a half miles south of where the town of Springfield was afterward laid out. being one of the first settlers in this vicinity, removing, when neighbors became numerous, to the Spring' river country, west of the present site of Mount Vernon. Mrs. Nancy McKenzie- Young, who was the only daughter of her family, had ten brothers who came to southwest Missouri with the early settlers, all of them eventually moving on, with the continuous emigration of pioneers seeking larger freedom, to locations in Texas, where the MeKenzies are well known. Gabriel Richardson Young was well along in years when he arrived in the Spring river country and began preparations for the establishment of his new home and he did not long survive the event, leaving his family to meet the difficulties which beset pioneers, in somewhat straitened circumstances. Henry C. was the oldest of three boys, his brothers being J. Mansil Bonaparte and Richardson. The sisters were, Gabrella, afterward Mrs. Bennett Wellman; Amanda, Mrs. Stone-Hardin; and Mary Ellen, Mrs. T. A. Sherwood. Two other sisters, Sarah and Pauline, died in their youth. Henry worked and studied by turns, as a farmer boy, and this he continued by turns while engaged in different occupations in which he contributed to the support of the family. He was about half grown when Mr. Wellman, who had opened a store at Cape Fair, in Stone county, took the boy in as a clerk, which was his initiation in commercial pursuits, which he followed successfully while completing his education.

He attended the Arkansas College at Fayetteville, making great progress in a short time and altogether utilizing his advantages in a manner which qualified him for important undertakings and won him favor with Robert Graham, president of the institution, and other men of note whom he met at that time. His energy and perseverance in the face of difficulties attracted general attention and he was known throughout his life for the pertinacity with which he adhered to his purposes and carried out his work. While in St. Louis on his first trip to the city he was introduced in the house of Hargadine & Company and was by them intrusted with some important collections. He attended to this business with such promptness and diligence that he became their permanent representative in this section.

He married, at Mount Vernon, in 1858, Isabella Robinson, daughter of William and Nancy ( Kelsy ) Robinson, related to the Robinson family of Troupe county, Georgia, and the Kelseys. of Napa. California. After living in Mount Vernon a short time the couple moved to St. Louis and made their home in Cote Brilliante, a suburb of that city. Four sons were born to them, namely: Charles Graham and Henry C. Jr., in Mount Vernon; Robert E. Lee and Gabriel Richardson, in Cote Brilliante.

In the meantime, Henrv C. Young read law, and, after being admitted to the bar, formed a partnership with T. A. Sherwood. Beginning- practice at Mount Vernon, the firm of Sherwood & Young soon became widely known, afterward moving their office to Springfield. Mr. Young took a prominent part in what has been called "The Missouri Movement," one of the initial steps in the beginning of the reaction against the ascendancy of radicalism in the North which followed the close of the Civil war. B. Gratz Brown was elected governor, a new constitution was written for Missouri, the Democrats came into power in this state and soon afterward throughout the entire South. Judge Sherwood was elected as one of the justices of the Supreme Court. Mr. Young was named as one of the first board of railroad commissioners by Governor Charles H. Hardin, whose cause of reform he had championed early, but declined in favor of General Marmaduke, for whom he had solicited the position. President Peirce, of the Atlantic & Pacific railroad, then building into the Southwest under difficulties, had heard of the indefatigable Henry Young and he was employed at the munificent salary of three thousand dollars to do as much work as is now ordinarily allotted to several railroad attorneys. Among the concessions which he secured at that time was a grant of ten thousand acres for every mile of a branch line to be built from Red river through eastern Texas to Sabine Pass, a distance of four hundred miles, and another grant to a subsidiary company of the Atlantic & Pacific for a branch from Central Texas to Laredo on the Rio Grande. In the selection of these routes the building of important lines which have since materialized was anticipated, but the promoters of the pioneer projects were robbed of all benefits by the hard fate which precipitated the panic of Black Friday in 1873, just as their projects were getting under way, Mr. Young then being in Xew York on his way to London to negotiate the sale of the bonds. He was interested in a number of important enterprises in Springfield and the Southwest in those days. Later he formed a partnership with Col. C. W. Thrasher and the firm of Thrasher & Young held a leading place in the practice here for a number of years. Notable among the matters which they bad in band in the course of an extensive practice was the litigation in connection with the issuance of bunds in aid of the Hannibal & Saint Joe railroad in which they won for taxpayers contesting the legality of tbe bonds in a series of suits extending through about twenty years until a decision was finally rendered in a Federal court in favor of the bondholders as innocent purchasers.

.Mr. Young was a member of tbe Christian church and a Master Mason. He died at bis home here in 1886. Among those who hold him in kindly remembrance is Professor Jonathan Fairbanks, who says: "He was a gentleman in every sense of that word, urbane and full of cheerfulness, courteous to everyone, dignified and well poised, big hearted and generous, even to his enemies, of whom he had but few. He was a man of large calibre. capable of grasping any situation, making the most of everv opportunitv. As his opponents learned 1m know him they became his friends, llis person- ality won the hearts of all. It was my pleasure to know him intimately. If I needed a friend in any matter I knew that i could find one in him. He was a man to be remembered for his rare qualities, one of those whose life is a blessing' to any community. I loved him as a brother."

William S. Miller

One of the best methods to keep the soil from becoming depleted of its natural strength is by proper rotation of crops. Some of our farmers grow too much grain and not enough grass on their land, especially if it is old land. With a little study and experience it is always possible to determine exactly what particular crop should succeed another. This problem seems to be well understood by William S. Miller, who is engaged in general farming in the western part of Greene county. He has spent his life in this vicinity and has watched closely the best methods of farming.

Mr. Miller was born in Pond Creek township, Greene county, Missouri, March 27, 1851. He is a son of James and Ellen (McDaniel) Miller, and is the youngest of two children; his sister, Sarah T. Miller, married Edward Potts, of Republic, and they have live children. James .Miller, the father, was born in Tennessee where he spent bis early life on a farm and was educated in the rural schools. He remained in his native state until the breaking out of the Civil war when he removed to Greene county. Missouri. He enlisted in the Confederate army and served faithfully, lie engaged in farming here until his death, which occurred when our subject was a child, and the mother of our subject also died when be was young. So he was reared by his grandparents on the mother's side, William and Sarah Ann (Glades) McDaniel, who were also natives of Tennessee, from which state they came to Greene county, .Missouri, in 1830, among the earliest settlers, and here spent the rest of their lives on a farm.

Mr. Miller spent bis boyhood on his grandfather's farm and there worked hard during the crop season, and in the winter time he attended the district schools. When twenty years of age he left the home of bis grandparents and purchased eighty acres nearby and here he has since resided. He is making a specialty of raising shorthorn cattle and keeps a fine herd.

Mr. Miller was married in April, 1880, to Nancy E. Jackson, a daughter of William Jackson, a farmer and school teacher, who came from Georgia to Greene county, Missouri, in 1854, making the long overland journey with wagon and team, and began life here in typical pioneer fashion as did the parents of our subject, and his grandparents. Mr. Jackson's death oc-

The following children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Miller : Ritta Ethel, born November 17. 1888, is at home; Bertha Alma, born September 8, 1891, is at home; Emmet Clarence, born on July 11, 1893, has a taste for mechanics; Alpha Ellen, born July 7, 1895. married William Carter, a farmer living in Center township, Greene county ; Tressie Marie, born December 1, 1898, died June 13, 1899; Ernest Lester, born October 29, 1901.

Politically, .Mr. Miller is a Republican, and he is liberal in his religious views, attending no particular church, being a friend of all denominations.

James S. Cowden

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

James S. Cowden grew to manhood on the old homestead, where he was born in a log cabin. Being ambitious to own the farm left by his father, he began buying out the other heirs when eighteen years of age, and he remained there, successfully operating the farm until in the early seventies. He continued fanning in bis native community until 1893, also ran a sawmill for some time during this period and at the same time raised and handled live stock, buying and shipping to the markets. He made his home in Springfield from 1890 until 1893, then purchased the Bennett Robinson farm, ten miles north of Springfield, to which he removed and on which he lived three years, then located in Morrisville, Polk county, for the purpose of educating his children in the college there. Several years later he purchased a larg-e farm near Brookline, Greene county, and moved thereto, where he has since maintained his home, and he still owns three hundred and twenty acres of this place, which is one of the best improved and most productive farms in the township. In 1908 he purchased a residence in Springfield, at the corner of Walnut and Main streets, which was subsequently destroyed by fire. A few years ago he purchased a tract of valuable land in Arizona, where he spends a part of his time, engaged in raising alfalfa and cattle. He has been a general farmer and stock man all his life, and is regarded as one of the best judges of live stock in the western part of Greene county, where the major portion of his life has been spent. He often feeds large herds of cattle for the market. He has also engaged to some extent in road contracting work, in fact, has built more good roads than any one man in this part of the county.

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

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

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

John Beckerleg

Enjoying the distinction of being the oldest engineer on the Frisco system, John Beckerleg is deserving of special mention in the present volume. Forty years is a long time to work for one company, and in one line of work, but that is his record. It indicates many things to the contemplative mind, among them being the fact that he has been not only faithful but efficient, trustworthy and reliable, for a railroad company is not going to trust its costly rolling stock, to saying nothing of the lives of its patrons - the passengers - to men who are not true and tried. It also indicates stabilitv.

Some men fly from one occupation to another, go from one place to another, are never settled, never satisfied ; they may be railroaders by profession, but if they stick to the work forty years they have perhaps worked for a score of roads.

Mr. Beckerleg was born in the extreme southern part of the Dominion of Canada, just across the river from Detroit, Michigan, November n, 1852. He is a son of John and Margaret (Glendenning) Beckerleg, both natives of England, the father born April 1, 1825. He received a good education, learned the trade of stone cutter when young, and followed the same the rest of his life. When young he emigrated to Canada, where he established his future home. He was twice married, our subject being by his second wife. Our subject's father died on October 4, 1869, an<i tne mother's death occurred in November, 1885, both dying in Canada. Our subject is one of five children, three of whom are still living, namely : John, of this review; James lives in Paris, Texas; William and George are deceased; Joseph lives in British Columbia.

John Beckerleg grew to manhood in Canada, where he received his education, and there he resided until 1870, when he came to Pacific. Missouri, which was on the east end of the Frisco railroad, and there he went to work, on March 17th, of that year, in the machine shops, and later became a blacksmith, and before the end of that year he was given a run as fireman on the east end of the division, later he ran on the middle division, from Dixon to Springfield, then worked as extra out of Springfield and in various capacities, until 1875, when he had a regular run as engineer on a freight train. In 1880 lie was promoted to extra passenger engineer, and in 1882, was given a regular passenger run from Pierce City. Missouri, to Van Buren, Arkansas: continuing as engineer of a passenger be was given a run in 1886 out of Ft. Smith. Arkansas, ami for a number of years he has been running between that city and Springfield, and is still active and as good an engine driver as at any time in his career. As stated, he is the olde-t engineer on the Frisco, in point of years of service, and is deserving of a great deal of credit for his faithful work.

Mr. Beckerleg was married July 23. 1874. near Sullivan, Missouri, to Retta Waits, who was horn in August, 1054, twelve miles from Rolla, this state. She is a daughter of John 1*'. and Mary (Botoff) Waits, the father a native of Columbus, Ohio, and the mother was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Mr. Waits was an iron molder by trade. His death occurred in Springfield, Missouri, in March, t888, and his wife preceded him to the grave in 1883. They had made their home in Springfield many years. They were both of German blood.

Waits, born on September 8, 1875, in Franklin county, Missouri, received a common school education, and early in life gave evidences of a mechanical turn of mind. He began working in the round-house in Springfield, for the Frisco, and later was given a position as fireman, and has been in the road service ever since 1898; twelve years ago he was given charge of a switch engine and is still thus employed; he married Vedie May White, a native of Greene county, this state ; they have no children ; he is a member of the Brotherhood of Firemen No. 51. The second child of our subject was Charles Wesley, who was born in 1877, and died when three months old. Walter Blanchard, the third child, was born April 20, 1886. He received a public school education, and he began railroading as a fireman before he was twenty-one years of age, and he is now an engineer. On November 2, 1908, he married Edna Morris, which union has been without issue.

Politically, John Beckerleg is a Republican. He belongs to the Masonic Order, is a member of Division No. 83, Brotherhood of Engineers, and religiously he is an Episcopalian.

Clayton R. Pickering

That the career of such a man as the late Clayton R. Pickering, for many years a popular justice of the peace in Greene county, besides being treasured in the hearts of relatives and friends, should have its public record also, is peculiarly proper because a knowledge of men whose substantial reputation rests upon their attainments and character must exert a wholesome influence upon the rising generation. While transmitting to future generations the chronicle of such a life, it is with the hope of instilling intothe minds of those who come after the important lesson that honor and station are sure rewards of individual exertion.

Mr. Pickering was born near Greenville, Tennesee, May jj, 1841-. Me was a son of Samuel Pickering and wife, both natives of Tennesee, where they were reared and married. Our subject's mother died when he was quite small and he was reared by his step-mother, who was Margaret Johnson before her marriage. Samuel Pickering devoted his active life to farming. A few years after the Civil war he removed with his family, including our subject, to Missouri, locating in Green county. He was the father of eight children, four by each of his wives, our subject being one of the first union, and was a first cousin of David Crockett, the famous scout and adventurer.

schools there, and later in life became a well informed man by home study. He left school when the Civil war began and enlisted in the First Tennessee Cavalry, serving in the Union army under Gen. Sherman, and was in the Atlanta campaign and on the march to the sea, and was in many important engagements and saw considerable hard service during the three years of his enlistment. He narrowly escaped death many times, once in particular when his horse was shot from under him, wounding him by the fall. When a young man he learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed after locating in Greene county, Missouri, and was regarded as an exceptionally skilled workman. He finally located in the town of Republic, this county, where he served as postmaster for some time, then was elected justice of the peace for two terms. In 1902 he located in Springfield, where he spent the last years of his life, and served as justice of the peace, in which capacity he proved to be an efficient, unbiased and popular public servant, his decisions always being fair to all parties and showing a sound knowledge of the basic principles of jurisprudence, and they seldom met with reversal at the hands of higher tribunals.

Mr. Pickering was married July 3, 1902, in Springfield, to Mrs. Vassie (Douglass) Morris, who was born in Greene county. Missouri, on April 1, 1863, and here grew to womanhood and was educated in the common schools. She is a daughter of Rufus and Caroline (Bottom) Douglass, both natives of Tennessee, where the}- grew up and were married, and from there moved to Springfield, Missouri, in an earl}- day and they spent the rest of their lives on a farm in Greene county. Mr. Douglass was also a trader in live stock, etc., and was a highly respected man. His political relations were with the Republican party. His family consisted of these children: Jonathan, Elizabeth, Jane Vassie. our subject's wife, and Amanda. Mr. Douglass came to Greene count}-. Missouri, on horseback in an early day, but died soon thereafter. The death of Mrs. Pickering's father occurred on December 31, 189 1, and her mother died on August 13, 1902.

Airs. Pickering was first married to Elvis Morris, by whom she had one child, Opal Morris, who was born October 18, [889, and she was reared in Springfield, where she received a good education. She is living with her mother in their home <>n West Mount Vernon street. The union of .Mr. and Mrs. Pickering was without issue.

Politically Mr. Pickering was a Republican, and religiously he belonged to the Congregational church. His death occurred on November 1, 191 1. when past his three score and ten.

Mrs. Pickering's uncle. James Douglass, had a good many slaves before the Civil war, but finally freed them, however, but not until one of them murdered his wife. The guilt}' negro was hanged. This uncle raised an orphan child. Seley Johnson, who was well known here.

Reuben J. Hiatt

While such men as the late Reuben J. Hiatt are not lauded in the public press as the leaders of world's workers, yet they perform their roles in life's drama quite as successfully and are just as necessary in the general scheme of things as their more famous compeers, for it was Longfellow who wrote that "each thing in its place is best," and might as well have said that each person in his place is best, for mother Nature designed each of us for a specific niche in the world and it is our fault if we do not fill it properly and faithfully. Mr. Hiatt was a man of many strong natural characteristics and he tried to do his best in whatever capacity he was placed, and his life, which has been closed by the common fate awaiting all that is mortal, was a useful and successful one.

Mr. Hiatt was born, March 2j, i860, in Crab Orchard, Kentucky, where the Hiatts had long been well established. He was a son of Ormstrom and Elizabeth (Roberts) Hiatt, both natives of Kentucky also, where they grew to maturity, were educated in the old-time schools and were married and established their home. Ormstrom Hiatt has been engaged in active farming from his boyhood until the present time, and is still living near the town of Crab Orchard, Kentucky. His family consisted of twelve children, four of whom are still living. He is now advanced in years.

Reuben J. Hiatt grew to manhood on the home farm in Lincoln county, Kentucky, near Crab Orchard, and there assisted his father with the general work during the summer months, when he became of proper age, and in the winter time he attended the district schools, receiving the usual education of farmer boys of that period. He remained in his native community engaged in farming and stock raising until he was about twenty-six years of age, then came to Missouri, first locating at Liberty, Clay county, where he remained until his removal to Springfield, this being his home until 1901, when he went to Dallas, Texas, where he spent five or six years, then returned to Springfield, where he spent the rest of his life.

In his earlier career he was engaged in the sewing machine business, and was very successful in the same; later he traveled for a well-known piano house. He gave his employers eminent satisfaction in everv respect and was regarded as one of their most faithful, efficient and trustworthy employees, and he remained a traveling salesman the rest of his life. He was widely known over the territory which he made and was popular with the trade, being a genial, obliging and friendly gentleman who made friends easily.

becca (Bryan) Cravens. The father was born in 1835, died in 1883, and the mother was born in 1838 and died in 1888. These parents spent their active lives on a farm. They removed with their only child, Minnie Cravens, who became the wife of our subject, to Springfield, Missouri, about fortysix years ago, when the town was small. Here Mrs. Hiatt grew to womanhood and received her education in the common schools.

Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Hiatt, named as follows: Emma, born December 31, 1886, married Jerry Cravens, and they live in Chicago; Homer, born December 17, 1890; Thelma, born September 11, 1894, and Wilbur, born September 4, 1895; the last three children live with their mother at the family home on St. Louis street.

Hugh P. Colvin

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

Mr. Colvin, who devoted his active life principally to railroading in one form or another, was born February 4, [861, in Clinton county. New Jersey. He was a son of Bernard and Rose ( .Mulligan) Colvin, both parents natives of Ireland, from which country they came to America when children with their parents, each family Nettling in New Jersey in which state the parents of our subject were married. Bernard Colvin was a quarryman by trade, and while he was an authority on political questions be was not an office seeker. I lis family consisted of ten children, eight of whom are still living, namely: Mary. Elizabeth, John is deceased, Bernard, Hugh P. of this sketch: Alice. Mike, Catherine. James and Ella.

common school education. He remained there until he was about twentyone years old, when he came to southeastern Missouri, and he and his brother went into the railroad construction work, and became successful contractors. They built part of the Cotton Belt railroad in Arkansas, also part of the Canadian Pacific railroad. Later the subject of this sketch became an employe of the former road and worked his way up to a responsible position in the same. In 1886 he began with the Memphis railroad, first as fireman, and five years later lie went to West Memphis, Tennesee, where he handled the trains across the Mississippi river on transfer boats, was yard master and in charge of a switch engine. In the summer of 1890, he went on the road as engineer in the freight service, was twice in the same service, and while still in the service went to Thayer, Missouri, where he remained in the same line of work until 1893. In 1893 he moved with his family to Springfield, and continued railroading as engineer in the passenger service between Springfield and Thayer, pulling the "Memphis Flyer," the Frisco fast train. In 1908 he was injured in a wreck, his fireman being killed at that time, and our subject was incapacitated for service for three months as a result of his injuries. He resumed his work as engineer which he followed until December 19, 191 1, when he and his fireman were both instantly killed in a wreck two miles south of Mountain Grove, Missouri. He was well known to railroad men and was one of the Frisco's most trusted and efficient engineers.

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

Columbus. He was a Catholic in religious matters. His widow has a pleasant home on College street. He was a man whom his officials could always rely upon and whom his acquaintances and friends all liked for his friendly manner and high character.

James Garfield Childress

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

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

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

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

John Jones

As every one knows, methods of farming are changing and we are learning many things that the husbandmen of half century ago did not know or at least did not attach much importance to. Among other things the farmer of today has learned that the soil is a mixture of ground rock fragments ami mineral mixed with more or less organic material. Some one has rightly said, "The soil is Nature's dumping-ground." All animal and plant refuse not burned or carried away by streams, eventually reaches the soil. Were it not for the fact that this vast amount of material is constantly decaying and becoming soluable we would eventually become polluted in Nature's waste products.

One of the farmers of Wilson township, Greene county, who has not been slow in adopting advanced methods of tilling the soil is John Jones, owner of "Shady Grove Farm." Mr. Jones was born in Taney county, Missouri, September 4, 1847. He is a son of Jabis and Elizabeth Jones, natives of Missouri. The father owned eighty acres and rented the same amount of land in Greene county. He at one time lived near Lebanon, Laclede county. His death occurred when the subject of this sketch was seven years of age, and a year later the mother passed away.

John Jones received a very limited education. After his father's death the mother sold the home farm, and after her death our subject lived with his uncle, James Cook, and later with an aunt. When eighteen years of age he was married to Mary Graham, a daughter of James Graham and wife, both of Christian county, this state, where they lived on a farm. After four years of married life, the wife of our subject died. To this union two children were born, one dying at the age of three years and the other in infancy. Three years after the death of his first wife, Mrs. Jones married again, choosing as a helpmate Mary Childress, a daughter of William and Ellen Childress, formerly of Illinois, from which state they came to Greene county, Missouri, after the Civil war and settled in Wilson township on one hundred and sixty acres. Mr. Childress was born in Kentucky. Our subject's second union has resulted in the birth of seven children, named as follows : Johnnie, Ira, Robert, Madeen, Bessie (deceased), Mrs. Myrtle Barber, and Vida, the last named being at home with her parents.

Mr. Jones owns sixty acres of good land in Wilson township, which he operates together with twenty-two acres which he rents from his brotherin-law, Mr. Childress. He is making a comfortable living as a general farmer and stock raiser, and, considering his early environment and the fact that he grew up without the protection, advice and guidance of parents and lias had to "hoe his own row" from the first, he is deserving of a great deal of credit for what he has acomplished. On his farm is one of the most splendid wells in the township, which is a favorite among his neighbors. In connection with raising general crops. Mr. Jones is doing a very good business raising horses and mules, also handles other live stock.

A forward-looking, dynamic-energied citizen of Springfield, a man of vision and purpose, who has in many ways aided in Missouri's betterment, is A. J. Johnston.

Mr. Johnston was born in Washington county, this state, near Potosi, on June 14th, in the year 1869, of English and German parentage. His father was a minister of the Christian church, later joining the Baptist communion. While still a mere child he was brought to Houston. Texas county, and was reared on a farm near the county-seat. His equipment for the affairs of life in the way of an education came from the common schools and the training of a model Christian home. Reaching manhood's estate, in [890, he and Miss Verta Cross were married and for twenty-five years now have faced sunshine and storm together. Mrs. Johnston is the daughter of T. A. Gross, of Marion, Ohio.

The four children who have blessed this union are. Ray Augustus. Floyd Albert. Glen Paul and Beulah, but the little girl crossed over the riyer many years ago.

Some six years ago, Mr. Johnston moved to Springfield and for the last five years has been in the real estate business. He has made a number of deals and always ha- 1 >n his l» oks a list of good properties. When he came to Springfield he determined to give of his talent, time and money in aiding the upbuilding of Greene county and its capital, and has never failed b ' do bis part.

In his chosen business, Mr. Johnston has always stood high, for he is honest and careful in all his dealings. Recently he has leased a suite of rooms in the Landers building, which are perfectly adapted to the business, fitted up with every modern convenience.

Mr. Johnston has been prominently identified with the development of southern Missouri, in which he has extensive interests. No one has given more time, thought and effort to bringing before the people of the United

States the great resources of the Ozark region and the opportunities which are presented here for men of moderate means to get a start and secure a competence in a few years.

Prominent among the propositions which he has on hand at the present time is the disposition of the Springdale ranch, the only body of land of its kind remaining in this section. Eight thousand acres of virgin soil underlaid with mineral wealth and covered with a forest in which valuable timber abounds, here await development. The position of this great tract of land is in the midst of a portion of the country in which important projects are (114) on hand and rapid progress is being made. Springdale ranch is interesting, not only in connection with prospective developments there, but in the fact that it is a great reservation in which the natural resources of the Ozark region are shown in a remarkable manner, exhibiting to the people of this day and generation a view of the land as it appeared to the pioneers who made their way into this country in the first quarter of the nineteenth century, a reminder of the vision which excited the enthusiasm of the French explorers of an earlier period, causing them to write charming descriptions of this portion of the domains of the king of France, then known as Louisiana. Samples of ore- taken from the Springdale ranch have been sent to a prominent assayer at Denver, Colorado, who reports a value of $78.90 of gold, silver, lead and zinc per ton.

James E. Lup'Er

All who have studied the present-day problems of supply and demand, will agree that there is always a market for what the farmer raises, but that it is costing" him too much to "get by the middle men" and get his products in the hands of the consumers. When this problem is satisfactorily solved such careful and industrious fanners as James E. Luper, of Wilson township, Greene county, will be more justly rewarded for their labors.

Mr. Luper was born in Washington county. Arkansas, January 5. 1867. He is a son of John and Eliza (Ingram) Luper, both nativ.es of Tennessee, born on farms and there spent their early lives, but removed to Arkansas when young and established their future home, and there the death of the father occurred in 1807, a few months before the subject of this sketch was born. The mother survived until in January, 191 1, reaching an advanced age, having survived her husband about forty-seven years. To these parents six children were born, named as Eollow: Mrs. Amanda Luttrell. Mrs. Jane M,i\ie. Simion A., John A., William S.. all live in Arkansas; and James E., of this sketch.

James E Luper grew to manhood on the farm in Washington county, Arkansas, and there he received his education in the rural schools. When eighteen years of age he left home and came to Greene county. Missouri, June 27, [885, and went to work for Jonathan Moore, with whom he remained two years and Four months. He saved his earnings and finally began fanning for himself, which he has continued to the present time, and is now owner of eighty acres of good land in Wilson township on which he is making a comfortable living by general farming and stock raising. He has

Mr. Luper was married on September 4, 1887, to Ella Moore, a daughter of S. B. and Ann (Payne) Moore, who were old residents of Greene county, where they spent their active lives in farming, and they are now living retired in Springfield. The following children were born to them : Ella, wife of our subject ; J. R., win > lives in Greene county; Mrs. Ollie Burkhead, of Springfield; Anderson lives in Kansas; Flossie V., who lives in Springfield, is the widow of Dr. Knowles, deceased ; Charles lives in Springfield; Bessie has remained unmarried; Fred and Harvey both live in Kansas City. Mrs. Luper grew to womanhood in Wilson township, this county, and received her education in the district schools, and, having spent her life in her native vicinity has many friends throughout same.

Politically Mr. Luper is a Republican in national affairs, but often votes independently in local elections. He and his wife are members of the Christian church.

Warren Nelsox Camp

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

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

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

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

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

Emil O. Davis

Though no land is richer in opportunities or offers greater advantages to its citizens than America, success is not to be attained through desire alone, but must be persistently sought. In this country "labor is king," and the man who resolutely sets to work to accomplish a given purpose is certain of success if he has but the qualities of perseverance, untiring energy and practical common sense. Emil (). Davis, well known Frisco passenger conductor, of Springfield, through his diligence and perseverance has attained definite success in his calling and has won the respect of all who know him through his unfailing courtesy and trustworthiness.

i, 1870. He is a son of Robert Henry and Victoria (Caynor) Davis. The father was born in Nashville, Tennesee, and the mother is a native of Greene county, Missouri. Robert H. Davis left his native state and located in this county in an early day and here established his permanent home. He was a soldier in the Civil war, in Company H, Eighth Missouri Volunteer Infantry, under Capt. "Bob" Mathias, serving over four years in a most faithful manner, taking part in several engagements, including the battle of Wilson's Creek. He was mustered out and honorably discharged at St. Louis. After the war he returned to Springfield and spent the rest of his life engaged as traveling salesman for many years for the J. Baum Shoe Company, of St. Louis.

Emil O. Davis, only child of his parents, grew to manhood in his native community, and he received his education in the common schools of Springheld. He spent his boyhood days at home, but in early life took up railroading for a career, which he has followed ever since. In his early boyhood, however, he was employed as a grocery clerk, and once when delivering goods a patrol wagon overtook him and two policemen climbed into his delivery wagon and were rapidly driven by young Davis to a place where they desired to make an arrest, and in their haste most of the groceries were lost along the street. This resulted in his employer discharging him upon his return to the store. This seemingly insignificant incident resulted in changing the lad's subsequent career, for soon thereafter he took up railroading. In 1885, he accepted a position with the Frisco as caller and later worked as switchman until 1899, when he began his road service as brakeman, continuing thus for three years, then was promoted to freight conductor and, in 1896, to passenger conductor. Leaving the road service he was appointed yard master of the terminal in 1900, which position he held until 1904, when he went back to a passenger run and has continued to the present time. During his entire service with the Frisco, covering a period of nearly thirty years, he has never been discharged. He has done his work faithfully and conscientiously and is one of the company's most trusted employees.

Mr. Davis was married in this county, November 23, 1890, to Axie Burford, a daughter of Phillip L. and Martha (Nichols) Burford, both natives of Tennessee, where they spent their earlier years, but came to Missouri in pioneer days and settled in Webster county on a farm, and became prominent citizens in that section. In 1888 the family located in Springfield, and here made their permanent home, in which the parents spent the rest of their lives, the father dying in January, 1908, and the mother in March, 1904. They were the parents of twelve children, namely: William L., deceased; Jonathan D. ; Daniel; F. ; Ferdinand L., deceased; Albert N. ; Mrs. Elizabeth Callaway; Benjamin T. ; Morris B. ; Mrs. Lucy Pipkin; Phillip I.;