Macon County, Missouri - Biographical sketches, 1910 (part 16 of 20)

John J. Williams was born in the township in which he now lives on April 14, 1868. He began his education at the White Oak district school near his home and completed it at the college in Brookfield, Missouri. After his return from college he continued to work on his father's farm under parental supervision until 1893, when he assumed the management of all its interests. He has ever since been actively, intelligently and successfully occupied in farming and raising stock on the home place, 520 acres of which now belong to him and show in their highly improved condition and great productiveness how skilful and energetic and progressive he has been as a husbandman. He, also, is a Republican in polities, and deeply interested in the welfare of his party. In fraternal life he belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America and the Yeoman of the world. In religion he is allied with the Presbyterian church. In his political party, his lodges and his church he takes an active interest and to all he renders valnable and effective service.

Williams, a native of Wales, born in 1868, and a daughter of W. D. and Margaret (Jones) Williams, who were born and reared in Wales and died in Macon county. Mr. and Mrs. Williams have had one child, their daughter, Winifred, who is still living with them and helping to brighten and popularize their home. The father is a very progressive, enterprising and publie-spirited man. He is loyal to his township and county, and shows his interest in their welfare by earnest aid in every worthy project for the promotion of their advancement and the good of their people. He has no fondness for publie life and never seeks official honors or emoluments, but he gives practical and helpful attention to local public affairs, looking upon every phase of the civic life of the community with the same careful scrutiny and working for all with the same zeal and energy that he bestows on his personal interests and private business. "The people of the eounty know his value as a citizen and esteem him accordingly.

Prominent in the publie and social life of his township, enterprising and suecessful in business, aetive and zealous in promoting the welfare of the community in whieh he lives and has labored from boyhood, it is not surprising that David E. Williams, of Valley township, this county, is regarded with universal esteem and accounted one of the. highly useful and truly representative citizens of the county. In every relation of life he has shown himself to be a man in the true and elevated sense of the word, and the good opinion of his friends, neighbors and acquaintances, which he so fully enjoys, is the logical result of modest merit, whieh has found expression in aets and registered itself in enduring results.

Mr. Williams is a native of Jackson county, Ohio, where he was born on September 17, 1855. His parents, an account of whose lives will be found in a sketeh of his brother, John J. Williams, in this work, were William W. and Winifred (Edwards) Williams, natives of Wales and residents of Macon county for many years. They brought to the land of their adoption the sterling traits of character they had inherited from thrifty and upright ancestors and the habits of industry and frugality they had formed in the land of their nativity. These characteristies sustained them well in this country and brought them a substantial fortune in material wealth and won for them a high place in the regard of the people of this county.

David E. Williams obtained his education in the White Oak distriet school in Valley township, filling his place and doing his full part as a hand on his father's farm while attending school and for a number of years after he quit going. He remained at home, in fact, until 1892, and then began a career as a farmer and stock breeder on his own account that has continued to the present time (1909) and is still in active progress. He has been very enterprising and very successful, acquiring by his own efforts and business eapacity the ownership of 640 neres of first-rate land and developing it to a high state of improvement and produetiveness by his care, intelligence and persevering diligence as a farmer.

In the commercial, political, fraternal, social and religious life of the community, Mr. Williams has taken a very active and helpful interest and a leading part. Wherever the good of the township or county or the welfare of the people is concerned he is found among the first and most energetic volunteers for service, and continues to the aecomplishment of the undertaking one of the most intelligent advisers and stimulating influences connected with it. He is a stockholder and direetor of the Farmers and Merchants' Bank, of New Cambria, and connected with other financial and commercial institutions in the county. For ten years he served the people wisely, effectively and acceptably as road supervisor and also as a member of the school board. He is a Republican in polities and always a zealous worker for the success of his party. As a member of the Order of Modern Woodmen of America, he has contributed materially to building up and elevating that fraternity, and as devout and faithful communicants in the Presbyterian church, he and his wife have been of great benefit to the moral agencies at work in the community. They are active workers for the church and ranked among its most progressive and serviceable members. Mr. Williams was married on June 29, 1892, to Miss Elizabeth Jones, a daughter of Benjamin and Hanna (Thomas) Jones, natives of Wales, but for years residents of this county. Of the four children born of this union only one is living, a son named Benjamin, who is still at home, the light and life of the household.

John Rees

Enterprising and successful in his business, and public-spirited and progressive in reference to local publie affairs, John Rees, one of the prominent and influential farmers of this county, living in Valley township, is well worthy of the good opinion the people have of him and the universal esteem and consideration they bestow upon him. He came to the eounty in 1866, a boy seven years of age, and has lived in the township of his present residence ever since. His record is, there-

Mr. Rees is a native of Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, where he was born on June 3, 1859. He is descended from old Welch ancestry and has exhibited in every field of endeavor that has engaged his attention the salient charaeteristies of industry, frugality and striet integrity whieh distinguish the race from whieh he sprang. His parents were John and Mary (Williams) Rees, natives of Wales, where the father was born in 1817. He came to the United States about 1850 and found a home in the New World of hope and promise, whose persuasive voice had reached him in his distant ancestral habitation, and in the vigorous and judieious use of the opportunities it gave him, he amassed a competence and rose to general respect and considerable influence wherever helived. The busy East won his admiration and satisfied his longings at first. He located in Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, soon after his arrival in this country, and there he lived for a period of sixteen years. Being a capable and skilful carpenter, he soon found employment on construction work in the coal mines, a source of industry and wealth with which he was also familiar. He did his work well and stuck to it faithfully, notwithstanding it involved many unpleasant experiences, and all the time was steadily forging ahead toward substantial comfort for himself and his family, and gratifying consequences among the appreciative people living around and associating with him.

But as time passed he heard another strain of inspiring American music. This was the pleading of the great West for volunteers in her army of conquest and civilization, and, in 1866, he determined to yield to the plea and join this army. He came to Missouri that year and took up his residence in this county, near New Cambria, where he bought land and turned his attention to cultivating and improving it. He did not, however, abandon his trade, but in connection with his farming and stock-raising industries he did considerable building, erecting many dwellings and schoolhouses in the county and some other localities. He prospered in both lines of work, accumulating a good landed estate and gaining the respect of all the people.

Mr. Rees, the elder, was married, in about 1840, to Miss Mary Williams, like himself, a native of Wales, and a person of resolute courage and persistent application. They became the parents of ten children, three of whom have died. Those living are: Joseph, a resident of Bucklin, in Linn county; Hannah, the wife of Thomas R. Evans, who lives at New Cambria; Mary the wife of Thomas R. Phillips, whose home is in Pennsylvania; Jennie, the wife of David Roberts, of New Cambria;

John Rees was brought as a boy of seven from an intensely active and congested region on the Atlantic slope to the open plains and sparse settlements of this state, as it was at the time, and reveled in the change. It was food for his imagination and gave him new views of the magnitude of this country and the many varieties in the conditions and pursuits of men, which he reflected over, even as a boy, and which were useful to him in enlarging the sweep of his vision and developing his mind. It was important to him as his means of education were limited to the scant curriculum of the publie schools of the country districts, and he was not allowed to get the full benefit of them. His attendance upon their exercises was often interrupted by the exigencies at home, which compelled him to give his first consideration to the work on the farm and provision for the wants of the family. He was also obliged to leave school at an early age, and thereafter he devoted all his time and energy to the farm requirements for the benefit of the household until 1 In that year his father died and devised to him a farm of 150 aeres in Valley township, this county, and on this he has lived ever since, busily engaged in developing and improving his place and conducting an annually increasing business in raising cattle, horses and mules for sale. At this time (1910) he owns 298 acres of excellent land, a large part of which is devoted to cereals and other farm products and the rest to grazing purposes. He now has also about 100 head of stock, such as he favors, and is prosperous in every department of his enterprise.

In the affairs of the community Mr. Rees has always taken a leading and helpful part. He served three years as road overseer of the township and was for a long time a valued member of the school board. The financial and commercial interests of the county have also interested him in a leading way, and he has done his part to advance them along lines of wholesome development. He was one of the founders and a charter member of the directorate of the Farmers and Merchants' Bank of New Cambria, and has been its president from its organization in August, 1907. The institution has flourished under his management and is regarded as one of the best and most progressive of the younger fiscal agencies in this part of the state.

ris, a daughter of John and Jane (Evans) Morris, prominent residents of this eounty. One ehild has sanetified their union and blessed and brightened their home, their daughter, Mina L., who still abides with them. Mr. Rees is cordially interested in political affairs and gives expression to his convietions as a firm and loyal member of the Republiean party. He and his wife and daughter are members of the Congregational church and do energetic work in behalf of all its beneficent undertakings.

The fertile section of Macon county, known as Ten Mile township, has among the people who live in it and flourish on the bountiful produets of its fruitful soil many expert and progressive farmers and stockbreeders, and all are entitled to great eredit for the manner in which they compel Nature to yield up her treasures in response to their persistent and intelligent industry. None of these, however, is superior in enterprise and skill, in business capacity and vigor of management, 1o John W. Gwinner, who is everywhere recognized as one of the leading and most successful farmers and live-stock dealers in the county.

Mr. Gwinner is a native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where his life began on April 7,1858. He is a son of John and Katharine (Buehter) Gwinner, natives of Germany. The father was born in the city of Rheim in 1820 and eame to the United States in 1838. He located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he remained two years, then made a tour of inspection to and over Macon county in this state. He did not remain in this county, however, at that time, but returned to Milwaukee and passed the succeeding years of his life in that city until 1858. All the while he had a hankering for the farther West, and in the year last mentioned he satisfied this by moving to the county that had pleased him so well. He bought land in Ten Mile township on which he settled down for the remainder of his days and devoted himself wholly to farming and raising stock until his death in 1888. The move proved a fortunate one for him. He was successful in all his undertakings and aceumulated a comfortable estate before he died.

He was married to Miss Katharine Buehter, like himself, a native of the Fatherland, as has been stated, and they had seven children, six of whom are living and residents of this portion of Missouri, Eva, the wife of Fred Spellman, and Barbara, now dead, who was the wife of Charles Wisemar, lived in Chariton eounty; and John W., William, George, and Lizzie, the wife of John Poehlman, having their homes

John W. Gwinner was brought to Macon county by his parents in his infancy and grew to manhood on his father's farm. He obtained what education he had opportunity to get in the district schools in the neighborhood of his home and in a school of higher grade in Macon City. He remained at home assisting the family until 1883, when he bought land and began operations as a farmer on his own account. Since then he has been actively, continuously and successfully engaged in farming and raising stock, adding to his land from time to time as he continued to prosper, until he now has 770 acres, nearly all of which is profitably tilled, and feeds about seventy-five head of cattle every year on an average. A portion of his land is reserved for grazing purposes and is well adapted to that use.

Mr. Gwinner has adhered steadily to his ehosen pursuits, but he has amplified his business, taking in other interests of a character that would not divert him from his main purpose. He is a stockholder and president of the Bank of Atlanta and connected with other finaneial, industrial or commereial institutions. He has also taken an active part in local and publie affairs, filling several township offices with credit to himself and advantage and acceptability to the people, among them those of township collector and constable. In both official and private life he has shown himself to be progressive and enterprising, deeply und intelligently interested in the welfare of the community and willing at all times to do all in his power to advance its prosperity, promote its development and enlarge the comfort, eonvenience and happiness of its people.

Mr. Gwinner was married in 1883 to Miss Anna Zollman of this county. Their offspring number five and all are living and dwell in this county. They are: John H. and Fred E., who have homes of their own, the latter living in Macon City, and Harry, Edward and Clara, who are still at home with their parents. The mother of these children lost her life in the Wabash railroad wreck at Moberly, in 1904, and two years later the father married a second wife, Mrs. Jannie (MeNess) Varnes, widow of Sanford Varnes and daughter of William and Lydia MeNess. The father is allied with the Republican party in national polities and renders it loyal and devoted service in all its eontests. In fraternal relations he is eonneeted with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America, and is warmly interested in the suecess and prosperity of both orders. His religious allegiance is given to the Lutheran church, while his wife is a member of the

Methodist Episcopal sect. Both are active workers in church interests, giving their countenance and aid to all worthy undertakings no matter where they originate, or whether or not they have any direet bearing on the congregations to which they themselves belong. Mr. Gwinner's success in business is not his only gauge of merit. He has the record of an upright and useful life, also, to his eredit, and square dealing with all his fellow-men, and it is upon these features of his career that the universal esteem in which he is held among all elasses of the people around him is based. He is regarded as a good man and an excellent citizen in every sense.

E George W. Riley

The history of the family to whieh George W. Riley, one of the most successful and prominent farmers now living in Jackson township, Macon county, belongs, runs like a thread of gold through the chronicles of three of the great commonwealths of the American union, dignifying and adorning the life of all and fruitful in usefulness to each. The grandfather of the present generation of the branch under consideration was born and reared in New Jersey. He became a minister of the gospel and in later years, after his removal to Ohio, was an intimate associate of Rev. Peter Cartwright, the renowned evangelist, who set the prairies of what was then the West on fire with his eloquenee and zeal. Early in the thirties this good man moved his family from its ancestral home to Allen county, Ohio, where he took up government land, which he farmed in connection with his evangelical work and other duties of the Christian ministry.

His son, Leslie V. Riley, the father of the subject of these paragraphs, was also born in New Jersey, coming into being on October 27, 1827, and was brought to Ohio by his parents in his childhood. He began his education in the country schools near his home and completed it at the high school in Lima, Ohio, from which he was graduated and received a first grade certificate as a teacher for the publie schools. He thereupon taught school for sixteen consecutive terms, two of them in this county, where he located in 1866. Soon after his arrival in this part of the eountry he bought 160 aeres of land, whieh he farmed in conneetion with his educational work, earrying on extensive agricultural operations and raising live-stock for the markets on a large scale, his specialties in the live-stoek line being faney horses and sheep, some of which were prize winners at numerous county and state fairs, where they were exhibited with pride and viewed with admiration, the result

The elder Mr. Riley, who won local renown in Ohio as a captain in the state militia, was married on Oetober 22, 1848, to Miss Catherine Cupp, a native of Rockingham county, Virginia. They became the parents of nine children, five of whom are living: George W.; Mary, the wife of Stephen Hopper, of Sturges, Missouri; Charles, who lives at Decatur City, Iowa; James, a resident of Larned, Kansas; and Edward, whose home is in Macon City. In polities the father was an active working Republican, giving earnest and effective attention to the needs of his party on all occasions, and contributing his support of its candidates in wise counsel and energetie personal influence, He and his wife were zealous members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in whieh the latter was a teacher in the Sunday-schools and a determined worker. 'lhey both died in. Maeon county, the father September 2, 1897, and the mother January 21, 1901.

George W. Riley was edueated in the distriet schools of this county after a short attendanee in those of Allen county, Ohio. He was fourteen years old when the family moved to Missouri, and his opportunities for schooling were limited both before and after the change of residenee. He remained at home, assisting on the farm and relied on as the main-stay of the household, until 1875, when he bought forty acres of land and began operations on his own account. Since then he has been eontinuously and successfully engaged in farming and raising stock, inereasing his possessions until he now owns 280 acres and has the whole traet under cultivation.

in connection with his farming and live-stoek industries, he was also extensively and profitably engaged in general merchandising from 1883 to 1898, and during that period held three commissions as postmaster from presidents of the two leading politieal parties, his administration of the oflice being so vigorous and satisfaetory that there was no opposition to him. In all his efforts to raise the rank of the office he was firmly sustained by the people of the community and county, and by strenuous endeavors he elevated it from a little country station, with a weekly mail, to a busy and progressive postoffice, with daily service and greatly inereased facilities, including a money order department.

Mr. Hiley was married on December 21, 1873, to Miss Maria E. Gillespey, a native of Ohio, who bore him five children who are living and one who died. Those who are alive and contributing to the progress and development of the country are: Louisa, the wife of Charles Green, of Wisconsin; Getta, the wife of Virgil Grayott, of Kansas City, Mis- souri; Roy, who lives in Montana, and Joseph and Floyd, residents of Cameron, Missouri. Their mother died on April 4, 1906, and on December 18, 1907, the father married again, being united on this occasion with Miss Jennie M. Chandler, a daughter of Captain Taylor Chandler, a native of Kentucky and a resident of Palmyra, in this state.

Mr. Riley takes a warm and practical interest in publie affairs, local, state and national. He is a zealous working member of the Republican party, and omits no effort possible to him to advance its welfare and bring success to its candidates. His services are highly appreciated by the party leaders and also by the militant hosts who follow them, for he gives them freely and without stint and they are skilful and effeetive. The life story here briefly narrated is one that should inspire the young to emulate the example it gives them, for it shows how industry, frugality and upright living bring success in this land of boundless opportunity, winning not only worldly substance, but also general esteem and good will from all who know of them.

John F. Leffler, who is one of the most successful and representative farmers of Callao township, in this county, is now a little less thar fifty-one years old, and the whole of his life to this time has been passee in Missouri and all but about sixteen years of it in Macon county. Ir his useful and inspiring career here he has been actively and servieeably connected with the productive industries of the county in both an intel leetual and a material way. He was an efficient and popular teacher in the publie schools of the county for more than ten years, and since he quit that oceupation, which, although trying and nerve-racking to the teacher, is uplifting for the people, he has been prominently, profitably and successfully engaged in farming on an extensive scale and with commendable skill.

Mr. Leffler was born in Boone county, this state, on February 3, 1859. He is a son of J. I. Leffler, who is also a native of Boone county and was born there on August 10, 1836. He grew to manhood in that county and followed farming among its people until 1875, when he moved his family to Macon county, and here he continued his operations as an agrieulturist, and also his eourse of usefulness as a publie school teacher, having engaged in this work from the dawn of his manhood, in connection with his farming and stock-raising for more than twenty-five years. He was married in 1858 to Miss Susan F. Green, also a native of Missouri. They became the parents of ten children, eight of whom are living. They are scattered far and wide at this time, but in their several localities they are all useful citizens and doing their full share to help in building up the country and magnifying its industrial, commercial and intellectual, moral and political power. The children living are: John F., the immediate subject of this writing; Ada, the wife of Allen Burnett, of Los Angeles, California; William E., who lives in Bozeman, Montana; Emily, the wife of James Wolsey, of Pasadena, California; Elizabeth, who is living at home; Sarah A., the wife of George A. Perry, of Callao; Susan, the wife of Charles Allen, of Callao, and Jethro J., who also lives at Callao. The father and mother are both living also, and, although well advanced in years, are still vigorous and active, and have an abiding interest in all the affairs of the township in which they live and the county, state and nation, besides.

John F. Leffler grew to the age of sixteen in his native county, attending the district schools in the vicinity of his home, and preparing himself for usefulness in life by every means at his command. He completed his seholastie training at St. James Academy in Macon and at once began teaching in the publie schools of this county. He taught about ten years and then turned his attention to farming, in which he has been diligently and extensively engaged ever since. In addition to this industry he raises considerable numbers of fine cattle for the market and earries on a flourishing business of large proportions in dairying. He is one of the most extensive breeders of registered Jersey cattle in this part of the state, in which he takes great pride.

Mr. Leffler was married in 1888 to Miss Mallie Cooper, of New Cambria. They beeame the parents of two children, their sons, Lawrence and Leonard, both of whom are still living with their father. Their mother died in 1893, while they were yet of tender ages, and they were reared under the direct supervision of their father and his sister. Elizabeth. In political faith he is a Democrat, but he has never been an active partisan, and aets independently in reference to local affairs. preferring to do what he thinks best for the welfare of the township and county without regard to partisan claims or any other consideration. He has never sought or wished for publie office of any kind, but, in obedience to publie demands and for the general good, he waived his aversion to offieial life and served on the sehool board for many years, looking nfter the interests of the sehools with zealous attention and an insight into their needs aequired in his experience as a teacher. Fraternally he is prominently connected with the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen of Ameriea. In the affairs of these orders he takes an active interest and bears his full share of the labor and care of pro- moting their welfare in every way. In reference to all other interests which require general attention in the township he is one of the foremost eitizens in encouragement and assistance for what is good and in opposition to what is hurtful or of doubtful propriety. The people of the eounty esteem him highly as one of their wisest, most useful and most representative citizens.

Robert Karl Sheetz

Contributing to the comfort and convenience of the publie of Redman and the surrounding country as a general merchant in that town and its postmaster, Robert Karl Sheetz is servieeably ministering to the wants of the people among whom he was reared and has passed almost the whole of his life to this time. He knows their habits, tastes and needs, and is, therefore, able to provide for them with judgment, and, as his interests are identical with theirs, he renders his services in a way that is benefieial to the community and all its wants in general.

Mr. Sheetz is a native of Ten Mile township, where he was born on June 24, 1877. He began his education in the distriet schools of that township and completed it at Centenary College, which is located at Palmyra, in Marion eounty. When he finished his college course of instruetion he gratified a longing he had felt for years, making a tour through parts of the farther West and passing a year at Billings, Montana. The regions he visited and the city in which he passed the greater part of his time while absent from his native state interested him greatly, but they did not win him from his allegiance to Missouri, In 1900 he returned to his native heath and soon afterward entered the business world as a general merchant at Redman, first in association with his father and later as a partner of O. Meader. During the last four years he has conducted the business alone, and in the management of it has been very successful, building up a large trade and laying a considerable extent of the surrounding country under tribute to his enterprise and making himself popular throughout the territory in which his patrons live.

Mr. Sheetz carries in stock about $5,000 worth of goods, comprising everything required for his trade, which he both supplies and leads to higher development. His store is a central rallying place for all the country around it, all classes of persons visiting it to get the news of the day, local and general, and in behalf of all the multiform interests which eoneern the dwellers in the country who have no other faeilities for sueh purposes. In addition to its interest and importance in this respect, the postoflice of the town is located in it, and Mr. Sheetz is the postmaster. He was appointed on June 24, 1901, and has been the incumbent of the office ever since, rendering satisfactory service to the patrons of the office and retaining a firm hold on their regard and good will.

Mr. Sheetz has prospered in his business and is still prospering. He owns business property in the town and desirable building lots, besides his commodions and attractive residence. He was married on Oetober 8, 1905, to Miss Lena M. Fetter, a daughter of John and Berkley (Yutz) Fetter, long established and popular residents of this county. He and his wife have one child, their son, Richard Latrelle, who is living at home. Always an adherent and advocate of the Democratie principles and theories of government, the father has been effectively serviceable to his political party in many campaigns, conducting his partisan operations in a manner to make them useful but without offensive activity or bitterness in speech or deeds. In fraternal life he is an Odd Fellow and a Modern Woodman of America. To the local organization of both orders he gives a fair share of his time and attention, making his membership in them valuable and useful. In business, in publie affairs, and in social and fraternal life he stands in the front rank in the community and well deserves his eminence.

All of the sixty years of the earthly life so far vouchsafed to Henry C. Sheetz, one of the prominent and successful farmers of Ten Mile township, in this county, have been passed in Northeastern Missouri, and all of them from his youth have been fruitful in good to this section of the state. For he has lost no time, and all his occupations have involved direet benefits for the people around him. It is pleasing to note, also, that his services and career have been appreciated, and that he is universally regarded as one of the most worthy and estimable citizens of Macon county.

Mr. Sheetz was born in Shelby county, this state, on May 4, 1849, and is a son of Henry Thomas and Rebecca (Vandiver) Sheetz, natives of Virginia and early settlers in Shelby county. The father was born on April 2, 1813, in Hampshire county, which is now a part of the Old Dominion that was torn from the mother state in the violence of the Civil war and is known as West Virginia. He remained at home with his parents until he eame of age and married, then set out for the distant West, as it was at that time, willing to do all and dare all in the effort to found a home for his family and a name for himself in the fast growing empire beyond the Mississippi from his ancestral home.

In 1834 he eame to Missouri and located in Shelby eounty. That portion of the state was then a veritable wilderness of the far frontier, and those who braved its perils and hardships were ealled upon to display heroie qualities if they wished to remain. Mr. Sheetz and his young wife were made of the proper stuff for the ordeal and they endured its trials with fortitude and bore its burdens with fidelity and patience, serene in their self-confidence and consciousness of strength and capacity. The father took up a tract of government land whose stubborn glebe the all eonquering plow had never turned as yet. He broke up and improved this land, transforming it into a eomfortable home and winning inereasing prosperity from its returns for his industry and skill. He farmed it well and vigorously until 1862, and made it locally famous as a desirable stopping place for the farmers from other parts ol the state on their way to Hannibal with their cattle. All who came that way spent the night at his hospitable home and were eomfortably entertained, the arrangement being a great convenience to his guests and a source of considerable revenue to him.

In 1862 the father sold his farm and moved to the rising village of. Shelbina, where he devoted his time and energies to general merchandising until his death in 1868. He was married to Miss Rebecea Vandiver, a native of what is now West Virginia, and they beeame the parents of seven children, five of whom are living: Thomas Walter, whose home is in Montana; Susan, the wife of James Edelen, of Shelbyville, Missouri; Laura, the wife of Jacob Lauous, of Marion county, this state; Henry C., and Julia, the wife of Charles Chapman, of Brookfield, Linn eounty, Missouri. The father was a pronounced Demoerat in political affiliation and a member of the Presbyterian church in religious allegiance.

Henry C. Sheetz obtained a limited education in the country schools of Shelby county and the graded school in Shelbyville. He remained at home and worked on his father's farm near Shelbyville until 1868, when his father died. He then moved to another farm in the same eounty, which he managed with success and profit for two years. At the end of that period he gave up farming for a time and formed a partnership with James Edelen for the purpose of acquiring and carrying on a general merchandising enterprise. Together they boueht a store in Shelbyville, in the management of which they were associated three years. Mr. Sheetz then sold his interest in the concern to his partner and moved to this county, where he has ever since had his home. Here he returned to the voeation of the old patriarchs, tilling the soil and raising flocks and herds. His operations in this county have been extensive and profitable, and he is accounted one of the most substantial and suecessful men in his township. He now owns 194 aeres of excellent land and has nearly all of it under eultivation. His stock industry is also considerable and is managed with the same care and good judgment that he applies to everything else he puts his hands to.

In the publie life of the community Mr. Sheetz has long been prominent and influential. He has served as township collector and treasurer and in various other positions of importance and responsibility, giving the people good service and guarding their interests with jealous care. On December 8, 1872, he was married to Miss Lillie Huston, a daughter of Erastus and Mary Huston, old settlers and for a long time residents of Macon eounty. Five children have sprung from this union, four of whom are living: Robert Karl, of Redman, a brief sketch of whom will be found in this work; Leta Pearl, the wife of Orville Meador, who lives in Wyoming; Edith, the widow of Arthur Richardson, who is now living with her parents; and Ruby Grace, the wife of Allen MeOuray, whose home is in Canada. The father is a Demoerat in his political relations and an active worker in the interest of his party. In fraternal life he is an Odd Fellow and a Woodmen of the World, and in religious affiliation an active working member of the Methodist Episcopal church, South.

This valued and progressive citizen of Macon county, who is one of the lending farmers of Ten Mile township, has been serviceable to this portion of the state in many ways. He has given a good example of intelligent and progressive farming, and has also thrown much light on that subjeet and others with his keen, eritical and busy pen. For many years he has been a writer of luminous articles for the Macon Demoerat and Macon Republiean, and some also for the Herald and Independent, which are published at Callao. In addition, he was, for a short time, the local correspondent for the Associated Press, but, finding his literary labors interfering too much with his farming operations and other interests, he was obliged to eurtail the former, and dropped his work for the Associated Press.

Mr. Mapes was born in St. Croix eounty, Wisconsin, on May 22, 1856, and is a son of Walter B. and Catherine (Scott) Mapes, the story of whose lives is told in a sketeh of their other son, Walter S. Mapes, which will be found elsewhere in this volume. George came to Missouri with his parents in 1867, and completed in the publie sehools in the vieinity of his home and in Callao the education he had begun in those of his native county. He remained at home with his parents, working on the farm and cultivating his literary powers until 1877, then bought land and started an enterprise in farming on his own account, and raising live-stoek in connection with that. He has adhered to these interesting and profitable industries ever since and earried them on with success, now owning eighty aeres of good land, well improved and vigorously and scientifically cultivated.

Mr. Mapes has never married, but has devoted his energies to the care of his mother since the death of his father, and his sister, who is still living with him and has charge of his household affairs. Their mother died on March 16, 1906, and her remains were laid to rest with every demonstration of esteem and affection from the people among whom so many years of her upright and useful life were passed. Mr. Mapes has also taken an unusually active and helpful part in public affairs and all undertakings in which the substantial and enduring welfare of the community has been involved. He has aided every commendable enterprise with aetive work and material assistanee, and has also promoted and defended all in his highly appreciated articles in the papers, being for the good of the people both a ehampion in the field and an advocate of poteney in the press. He is a Demoerat in polities, a Modern Woodman of America in fraternal life and a member of the Methodist Episcopal ehureh, North, in religious affiliation, To his party, his lodge and his church he is faithful and serviceable, and his membership in each is highly valued and warmly appreciated,

In eommanding the favors of Fortune the stylus is for most men less imperative than the plow. Happily for the subjeet of this brief memoir, he has been able to assail her eitadel with both weapons, and she has capitulated to the combined assault with a considerable measure of bounty, bestowing upon her persistent besieger both the substantial

` favor of a worldly competence and the laurels of high repute. Mr. Mapes has been successful in his business undertakings and has won a wide and well deserved approval in the literary circles of this part of the eountry. He bears his honors modestly, however, and is in all respeets a high-toned gentleman and an upright, progressive and serviceable citizen, representing in his character and his achievements the best elements of the eounty's wide-awake and progressive population.

Walter S. Mapes

Brought by his parents to this county in his infancy, and having passed all his subsequent vears within its. borders, devoting those of his youth and manhood to the cultivation of its responsive and fruitful soil, Walter S. Mapes, of Ten Mile township, has been closely conneeted with the growth and development of this portion of the state and intimately associated with its people. He has served them faithfully in helping to build up and strengthen their politieal, edueational and industrial institutions and elevate the standard of living among them by his example and influence.

Mr. Mapes was born in St. Croix eounty, Wisconsin, on December 30, 1866. He is a grandson of Barnabas Mapes, a native of New York state, and a son of Walter B. and Catherine (Scott) Mapes, the former born in New York in 1824, and the latter a native of Pennsylvania. The father remained on the home farm in the state of New York, assisting his parents until he attained his majority, then followed the course of empire westward, locating in St. Croix eounty, Wisconsin, where he farmed and operated a threshing outfit until the beginning of the Mexican war. He volunteered for service in that short, sharp and decisive confliet which vastly inereased our publie domain and the luster of our arms, being engaged in some of its most sanguinary battles, but eseaped from the deluge of death unharmed, He was with General Scott when that hero of three wars unfurled the United States flag over the ancient capital of the Montezumas, and remained throughout the subsequent occupation of the eity of Mexico until the terms of peace were settled and the army marched out again.

After the close of the war the patriot returned to his Wisconsin home, and there resumed his farming operations and other industries, pursuing them in quiet and contentment until the more momentous and bloody war cloud of 1861 burst with all its fury over our unhappy country. He did not, however, join in the sectional strife, but kept on farming in Wisconsin until 1867. He then sold his property in that state and moved his family to Missouri, which, released by the result of the civil strife from the erstwhile disturbing factors of seetional feeling and predatory border warfare, gave promise of the power, wealth and consequence to which the state has since attained. On his arrival in this state Mr. Mapes bought land in Macon county which he occupied and improved, and on which he conducted a thriving industry in farming and raising stock until his death in 1879. He was married in 1854 to Miss Catherine Scott, a native of Pennsylvania, and by this union became the father of six children, Walter S. being the youngest of the four now living, who are: George E., a resident of this county; Nellie, the wife of William Jenkins; Elmer IL, who also lives in Macon county. and Walter S. In polities the father was an ardent Democrat, firmly grounded in the principles of his party and devoted to its welfare. He was active in its service and esteemed by both its leaders and its rank and file, as he was by all classes of the people among whom he lived and labored.

Walter S. Mapes shared the destiny of other boys reared like him in this part of the country when he grew to manhood, working on his father's farm in Ten Mile township and, when he had opportunity, attending the district school most convenient to his home. He remained with his parents, assisting in the work on the farm and helping to inerease their prosperity until 1885. He was then nineteen years of age, but had a man's spirit of determination and a true American's courage. He therefore decided to take up the burden of life for himself, and to this end bought forty acres of land on time, on which he at once began the eareer as a farmer and breeder of superior live-stoek which has given him consequence in a material way and reputation and high standing in the community around him as a citizen. He started with nothing but his personal qualifieations and the spirit of unyielding persisteney whieh he has always shown, and now owns and profitably eultivates 140 aeres of land, which, with its improvements, eonstitutes one of the best farms in the township. On this farm, which responds readily to his skilful treatment, he also raises numbers of fine cattle and hogs, feeding for the Eastern markets about sixty head of eattle every year and a proportionate number of hogs.

Mr. Mapes was married on Christmas day, 1885, to Miss Margaret A. Sharp, a daughter of William P. and Mary A. (Grisham) Sharp, prominent residents of this county. One child has blessed the union, a daughter named Jennie, whose presence still helps to brighten and warm the family hearthstone. "The father takes an active part in political affairs as a Democrat, rendering his party valued service in all its contests and seeking by all the means at his command to promote its enduring welfare. He is also prominent and energetie in the fraternal life of the community as a member of the Order of Modern Woodmen of America and the Order of Royal Neighbors. His religious connection is with the Methodist Episcopal church, and his wife's with the Baptist organization. Both stand well in the regard of the people and richly deserve the general esteem bestowed upon them.

Joseph Albert Hibler

While it cannot be said that the lines of life for Joseph Albert Hibler, of Ten Mile township, in this eounty, have been very severe, or that his discipline has been one of adversity and disaster, it cannot be denied that he has performed well his part in every relation with his fellow-men and employed his time and energies industriously and profitably. He is still on the sunny side of fifty and has risen by his merit and sterling traits of character to a position of influence among the people of his township, and by his skill and. progressiveness in farming and raising good live-stock has reached the front rank among the agrieulturists and stock-breeders of the county which has been the seat of his operations.

Mr. Hibler was born at Tolona, Lewis county, Missouri, on September 18, 1866. He is a grandson of Samuel Hibler, a native of Pennsylvania, and a son of Allen and Susan E. (Weatherly) Hibler, natives souri, the former born in St. Louis in 1839, and the latter in : county. The father grew to manhood and was educated in his native city. On coming of age in 1860 he moved to Macon county and took up his residence in Ten Mile township. * Here he bought land on which he lived and carried on a flourishing farming industry until the beginning of the Civil war. Warmly devoted to the Union and eager for its preservation, he enlisted early in the federal army under Captain Warner, of Macon City, in whose command he served to the close of the momentous confliet. After the war he located in Lewis county, and there he was energetically and profitably engaged in farming and raising stoek until 1895, when he sold his possessions in that county and thereafter made his home with his son Joseph, living a retired life until his death on February 14, 1905.

The father was married in 1860 to Miss Susan E. Weatherly, of Lewis county, and they became the parents of six children, three of whom are living, Joseph Albert and his brothers, Henry L., of Macon county, and George A., of Minneapolis. In polities their father was an active working Democrat and in religious allegiance a member of the Baptist church. His beliefs on all vital subjeets were based on extensive reading, observation and refleetion, and he held to them as with the tug of gravitation. His life was busy, useful and upright. and he had the high respect of everybody who knew him or his record.

Joseph A. Hibler obtained his education in the publie schools of his native place and the high school at Maywood, in Lewis county, being graduated from that institution in 1887. After his graduation his father gave him eighty aeres of land in Ten Mile township, this county, and he at once took up his residence here, giving his whole energy to eultivating and improving his farm and inereasing his trade in cattle and other live-stoek. To these industries he has steadily adhered with augmenting profits ever since, adding to his domain as the years passed and he flourished. He now has 22215 aeres of good land, the greater part of which is under cultivation. In association with William White he is also interested in breeding high elass jacks, in which their operations are extensive and profitable. Four years ago they bought the prize jack at the St. Joseph fair, which enabled them to keep up and even raise the high standard of their product.

Mr. Hibler was married on August 29, 1899, to Miss Oro N. MeNes a daughter of Samuel P. and Ly L. (Cox) MeNess, prominent r dents of this eounty. Of the two children born of this marriage only one, a daughter named Grace, is living. Her father is active in the publie, social and fraternal life of the eommunity, and one of its most popular and influential men. He is a Demoerat in polities, holding firm faith in the principles of his party and serving it loyally and effectively in all its campaigns, local, state and national. He served as secretary of the county Democratie committee under Hon. Benjamin Franklin, who was for many years a leading member of the United State House of Representatives. Fraternally he belongs to the Order of Elks, the Odd Fellows, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Order of Royal Neighbors. His wife is a devoted and serviceable member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Successful in business, prominent in social circles, influential in publie affairs, and meeting the requirements of every relation in a manly, straightforward and aeceptable manner, it is no wonder that Mr. Hibler is taken as a representative man of the county and has the universal regard and good will of its -citizens of all classes.

Although a native of Randolph county, in this state, Jesse M. Miller, of Bevier township, has passed almost the whole of his life to this time in Macon county and been connected with its industrial, mereantile, social and publie life for many years. He was born on February 16, 1835, and the next year came with his parents to this county, in which he has had his home ever since. His parents were born in Wayne county, Kentueky, the father in 1812, and the mother a year or two later. They eame to Missouri in the early day with their parents, and as they grew to maturity became parts of the eonquering and civilizing force that was redeeming the wilderness from the waste and making it fragrant with the flowers and rich in the fruits of systematie cultivation.

Mr. Miller is a son of John and Malinda (Mundle) Miller, and a grandson of Jesse Miller, all Kentuckians by birth and inherited traits of character. The father was brought to Missouri by his parents a little before reaching manhood, and at once took his place in the arduous struggle for existence incident to frontier life. The family located in Randolph county, near Huntsville, where the father took up land and devoted all the energies available to him to farming and raising livestock. In 1836 he moved to Macon county, and, securing a good tract of land here, he passed the remainder of his life on it, pursuing the same industries that had engaged his attention from his. boyhood, dying on August 18, 1874, universally esteemed and leaving a comfortable estate as the result of his enterprise and business capacity. He was prominent in the early life of the county, bearing his full share of the burden of founding and establishing its political institutions and oceupying a leading place in social circles and the regard of the people.

The parents of Jesse M. Miller were married in 1834 and had eight children, all of whom are living but two. Those living are: Jesse M., the first born; Lucinda, the widow of John Gates, who lives in Maeon City; and Martin, James P., John W., and David A., all residents of this county. The father was a Democrat in polities and a member of the Christian church in religious affiliation. He was zealous in the service of both his party and his church, and attentive to every duty in life. In business he showed a strong combination of industry, thrift and ability, and the inevitable results of such a combination under ordinary circumstances, beginning his struggle with almost nothing and accumulating a good estate. And as a citizen he had all the progressiveness and energy the times: required, and used his faculties to their limit for the good of all the people. y

M. Miller obtained his education in the eountry schools of his boyhood and youth, with their log houses, slab benches, limited eurrieulum and other primitive eonditions. While attending school he was obliged, as soon as he was old and strong enough, to take his place among the workmen on the farm, and after he reached the end of his course of study he still remained at home and assisted the family until 1856. He was then of age and desired to set up in a productive industry for himself. His father gave him eighty aeres of land, and on that he founded a home and made it a nucleus of his present holdings of 260 acres. His farm is now well improved and has long responded liberally to the persuasive hand of systematie husbandry, and he has used his profits to advantage, becoming one of the substantial and leading - farmers in the township. At one time he owned and eultivated 500 acres, but he has recently divided a portion of his land among his children. He also, for many years, engaged extensively in raising stock, being one of the lending shippers in the township, and commanding high prices for his output because of the excellent condition in which it was delivered to the dealers, owing to the eare and good judgment with which it was tended on his farm. During this period his prineipal interest eentered in cattle, but at this time he deals only in mules.

Mr. Miller's marriage occurred on May 28, 1856, when he was united with Cassendany Summers, a daughter of Nineveh and Jane (Gilstrop) Summers, natives of Wayne county, Kentucky, and early settlers in Missouri and Macon county. Three of the five children born of this union are living and all are residents of this county. They are Rufus B. an enterprising and prosperous farmer; Minnie, the wife of A. S. Neal, of College Mound, and Irving, whose home is at Callao. In politieal affairs Mr. Miller trains with the Demoeratie party and is no laggard in his devotion to its welfare or his work in its behalf. He is always to be counted on for all he ean do to bring suecess to its eandidates, although he has never sought any of the honors or emoluments of political office for himself. He belongs to the Christian church and is now one of the elders of the congregation in which he holds his membership. His wife has been a member of this seet and an netive worker in its service for more than fifty years. Both have passed the limit of human life as fixed by the saered writer, yet they are hale and vigorous, and enjoying the sunset of their long day of toil and trial, secure against adversity and resting firmly on the respect and regard of all the people among whom they have passed nearly all their years, by whom their good works are highly appreciated.

The live-stock industry of this country, which employs an immense number of persons, and ministers to a universal want at home and abroad, secured a firm foothold in northeastern Missouri at an early day and has never lost its importance there. All the farmers in that section of the state are engaged in it, according to their resources and facilities, and it has been a great element in the industrial, mercantile and commerical life of the people. Among the farmers of Macon county who are largely and successfully engaged in this industry, none is more renowned for the quality of his productions or carries on his business on a loftier plane than James E. Warner, of Round Grove township.

Mr. Warner was born in Ten Mile township, this county, on November 21, 1866. He is a son of Nicholas B. and a grandson of Henry Warner, the former a native of Montgomery county, Ohio, and the latter of Pennsylvania. The grandfather transplanted in the wilderness of Ohio the habits of industry and thrift he had acquired in his native state, where every eraft known among men is in operation, and they grew and flourished there in rieh returns for their every exercise. While he was yet a young man he moved into St. Joseph county, Indiana, and there he passed the residue of his life actively and profitably engaged in farming.

Nieholas B. Warner, the father of James E., came into being on October 14, 1826, and, while he was yet a boy, took part in one move of the family in the wake of the setting sun. He attended the country sehools near his Indiana home, remaining with his parents until he eame of age, when he, too, took a flight westward with the course of empire, locating in Missouri in 1847, and taking up his residence in Macon county. He secured a tract of government land, and, breaking up this basis of his prosperity and developing it into a comfortable home as the years passed, he dwelt on it energetically occupied in tilling the soil and raising cattle until 1902, when the weight of years induced him to retire from active work and sell his farm. He had increased it to 320 acres, and brought the whole tract to an advanced state of development and high improvement. When he retired as a farmer he moved to Macon City, where he has ever since maintained his home.

The elder Mr. Warner was married to Miss Eliza Jane Garwood, of Indiana, and they became the parents of ten children, seven of whom are living; Mary A., the wife of John Grissom, of Macon City; Charles W., a resident of this county; Ella May, the wife of E. I. Hagan, of Macon City; Elmer E., who lives in California; Frank W., a prosperous citizen of the new state of Oklahoma; James E., of Round Grove township, this county; and Alvah N., whose home is in New Mexico. The Republican party meets all the father's requirements in political affairs and he supports it warmly. In religious affiliation he is conneeted with. the Methodist Episcopal church and one of the zealous working members of the congregation to which he belongs. His wife died in February, 1902,

James E. Warner's experience as a boy and youth was like that of thousands of others in the great West. He grew to manhood on his father's farm, attended the eountry schools in the neighborhood of his home, and when he quit going to school, gave his whole attention to the farm work, as he had previously done between the terms of his teaching. He has passed the whole of his life so far in this county and has never veered from the pursuits of his ancestors. Starting in life as a farmer, when he took up its burdens for himself, he has adhered to the voeation of his first choice and has found it profitable. For he has followed it with indust ill and excellent judgment, keeping himself in touch with its progress and conducting his operations according to the spirit of the times. He farms extensively and also raises superior breeds of driving horses and h grade mules, which are his special delight. He is also famous for the fine quality of Poland- China hogs which he produces in large numbers.

Mr. Warner was married on March 4, 1891, to Miss Alice C. Crossing, a daughter of John and Margaret (Dillon) Crossing, well known residents of this county for many years. They were natives of Scotland and Ireland, respectively. He is a Republican in polities, and, as his convictions are based on study and reflection, he holds to them firmly and seeks to enforce them in the government of the state and nation by aiding in every way he can the cause of his pa Fraternally he belongs to the Order of Modern Woodmen of America, and in church relations he is an Episcopal Methodist. Mr. Warner and his wife stand high in the township and county and are worthy of the general esteem in which they are held.

George A. Wendt

The interesting subject of this brief memoir, George A. Wendt, of Keota, has been so faithful in the performance of every duty. and has shown such superior intelligence and business capacity, that, although he is but twenty-five years of age, he has risen to a position of great responsibility and importance in the employ of one of the leading industrial institutions in this part of the state. -He has filled this position during the last three years, and his record in it is altogether to his credit, showing that he has met its requirements in a masterly way and greatly to the advantage of the interests he has in charge.

Mr. Wendt is of German ancestry, his grandfather, Adolph Wendt, having been born and reared in the Fatherland, whence he came to this country in his early manhood. He found a home in the New World at Bunker Hill, Minois, and there his son Otto was born in 1858. The son grew to manhood in the place of his birth, obtaining a slender education in the publie schools and beginning operations for himself at an early age in the mines of the neighborhood. In 1880 he was joined in marriage with Miss Frederiea Klein, who lived near Bunker Hill, and they became the parents of three children, George A., his brother Walter and his sister Cordelia, all living now in this county. In 1891 the family moved to Missouri and located at Keota. The father continued to work in the mines at that place and Ardmore until 1907, when he retired from active pursuits. In polities he is a Republican,

George A. Wendt is also a native of Bunker Hill, Illinois, where he was born on April 17, 1884. He came with his parents to this county when he was a lad of seven years. He attended the publie schools in Bevier when he had opportunity and made good use of his time and facilities, mastering all that was taught in the schools he went to and aequiring a good fund of general information from reading and reflection besides. When he left school he secured a position as clerk in the office of the Murlon Coal Company of Bevier, which he filled acceptably until 1906. In that year he was appointed agent at Keota for the Central Coal and Coke Company, being selected for this important position on account of the ability and fidelity he had exhibited in his other place.

During his occupancy of the latter position, which is one of great exaetions and responsibility, he has done everything in his power to justify the confidence which led to his appointment to it, and it is needless to say that in this effort he has fully sueceeded. The interests of the company in this part of the state have been carefully looked after and promoted by him, nothing being overlooked or neglected that could minister to its advantage or increase its prosperity and reputation. The business world all around him esteems him highly and the people generally hold him in the greatest respect. He is a young man of fine progressiveness and considerable breadth of view, and feeling an abiding interest in the welfare of the community in whieh he lives, he has been potential in helping to build up and further its development and improvement. On September 8, 1908, he was married to Miss Jennie Davis, a daughter of John J. Davis, one of the leading citizens of Bevier. In politieal affairs Mr. Wendt renders allegianee to the Republiean party and takes an active interest in its campaigns. Fraternally he is allied with the Order of Elks and the Modern Woodmen of America.

In all the multitude of occupations open to men in this land of great opportunity and boundless variety of industry, Charles White of. Keota ehose wisely in his youth by selecting one of construction, and he has been wise, also, in sticking to it and making the most of the chances it has brought him. His occupation has been in the line of his taste and his special capacity, and he has been very successful in it, rising

Mr. White was born in Oswego eounty, New York, on June 30, 1861. He is a son of Daniel and Betsy Ann (Corkins) White, the former a native of England and the latter of Oneida county, New York. The father eame to this country a young man, and after tarrying for a short time in Ontario, Canada, located in Oswego county, New York. There he met with and married Miss Betsy Ann Corkins, and they became the parents of eleven children, three of whom have died. "Those living are: Harriet, the wife of Julius Cottel of Oswego county, New York; C. H., who lives in Seheneetady, New York; Loring, a resident of Rome, New York; Charles, the principal subject of this review; Cora, the wife of Henry Rheil of New York e; Isabelle, the wife of Miles Bryant of Syracuse, New York; George, who is a citizen of Schenectady, like his brother C. H.; and Herbert, whose home is in Rome, New York. Charles White obtained his education in the distriet schools of his native county, attending only until he reached the age of eleven years. For the circumstances of the family were such as to necessitate his doing something for himself as soon as he was able to work. His father was a farmer all his life, which ended in 1899, but adversities. eame his way and forced his children to forego the advantages of extensive schooling and go to work at the earliest possible age. Charles, boy though he was, worked on farms in the summer and at lumbering in the winter until 1883. He then came west and located in Mitchell county, Kansas, where one of his mother's brothers was living and the senior member of the firm of Corkins and Morris, eontraetors and builders. Under the direetion of this firm Charles learned the trade of a carpenter and builder, remaining with the firm four years. By that time he had mastered every branch of the trade its members could teach him, and in 1887 he moved to Marceline, Linn county, just when it was beginning to develop into a town and required a great deal of enterprise and faeility in the way of building. There Mr. White found abundant opportunity for the employment of his mechanieal judgment and ability, and he remained in the budding little munieipal aspirant for enlarged power and quickened activities two years, putting up most of the new buildings required and aiding considerably in the development and growth of the place. In 1889 he moved to Brookfield i in the same county, where he remained about one year.

Destiny had marked out for Mr. White a different career from that of a mere strolling builder and earpenter. Nature had fitted him for definite and specifie work of a higher order, and she steered him into the channel that led to his appointed task. In 1890 he located at Bevier in this county and began working for the Kansas and Texas Coal Company, whieh is now the Central Coal and Coke Company, and in the service of that enterprising corporation he has passed all his subsequent years, meeting all requirements with ability and rising on merit to the position of general foreman of construction for the company. In this capacity he is obliged to superintend the construction of all kinds of work needed in the equipment of mines, building pits, shafts, scales, machinery, and all other struetures that ean be made of wood. He has shown great skill and ingenuity in his work and gained the reputation of being one of the most competent men engaged in it in this part of the country. When a new piece of construction work is required, he studies the problem with intelligent insight into all its details and finds a way to provide for the need, however complex and intrieate the requirements may be. And as the operations of the company are very extensive, employing a great many men and providing for the wants of hosts of people, his services to the industrial and domestic life of this and other states are considerable and of an elevated character. It is pleasing to note that they are appreciated, too, by all classes of the people who have benefit from them.

On April 24, 1887, Mr. White was united in marriage with Miss Fannie M. Johnson, a. daughter of William P. and Alice Johnson, natives of Ohio, but for years residents of Macon county. Ten children have been born to Mr, and Mrs. White, and all of them are living and still abide with their parents. They are Elmer, Bonnie, Edna, Frances, Ivis, Otto, Fern, Fay, Harold and Helena. In polities the father is affiliated firmly with the Demoeratie party, and is an earnest and effective worker for its success. - Fraternally he is allied with the Masonie Order, of which he is an itelligent, zealous and valued member. In religious thought and action he favors the Baptist church, to which his wife has long belonged and in which she is an active worker. Wherever Mr. White has lived or is known he is esteemed as a first-class mechanic, a worthy man and an excellent citizen. In his present home he has the regard and good will of everybody and hosts of friends who admire him cordially and stand by him firmly.

P John B. Richardson

"This well known and highly respected farmer, live stock dealer and general merchant of Macon county, who, although he is but thirty-one years of age, is a leader in the business, social and publie life of the county, was born in Ten Mile township, where he now resides, and has devoted all his years and energies to the productive industries of that township, whieh he has greatly assisted in pushing forward to its present high state of development. His life began on November 4, 1878, and he is a son of the late John B. and Mary E. (White) Richardson, pioneer residents of the county and numbered among its best and most useful citizens. A sketch of their lives will be found elsewhere in this volume. Ñ

Their son John B. was reared on the parental homestead and remained at home until 1900. He attended the district schools when he had opportunity, and completed his preparation for his life work by a special course of training at the Gem City Business College in Quincy, Illinois, from which he was graduated in 1898. Two years later he was married and set up a home of his own, buying eighty acres of land as a basis of operations, and devoting himself to its improvement and eultivation with the spirit of industry he had inherited from his parents and developed in his own experience. In connection with his farming industry he became an extensive buyer and shipper of mules, sending for years large numbers to Maryland and Deleware, and many to other parts of the country. He is still engaged in this traffie and has at the time of this writing (1909) seventy-five good mules ready for the trade. He is not, however, farming as extensively as he did formerly. On November 20, 1908, he exchanged a farm for the general store which he eondueted for some time at Ten Mile.

In polities Mr. Richardson is a pronounced Democrat, firm in his eonvietions and loyal to his party. He is not offensive in his partisanship, and finds no fault with those who have opinions different from his own. But as his views are based on reading and refleetion, he adheres to them and does what he can in a quiet way to bring about their supremacy in the goverment of the county, state and nation. His fraternal connections are with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Modern Woodmen of America, and the sociability of his nature finds expression in the hospitality of his home and his free and agreeable intereourse with all elasses of the people. He is a man of enterprise and progressiveness, both as to his own affairs and those of publie concern, giving his voluntary and effective support to every commendable move for the advancement of the township and the enlargement of every power for good to its people at work in their midst.

On September 26, 1900, Mr. Riehardson married Miss Esther Tovey, a daughter of William B. and Emily (Ladd) Tovey, natives of England but for many years residents of Macon county. Two children have blessed the union and still brighten the family fireside, a son named Barrett and a daughter named Grace. No citizen of the county is more highly esteemed than Mr. Richardson, and none is more deserving of good will and regard.

Having been brought to Macon county in 1841, when he was seven year old, by his parents, and dying here in 1897, the late John B. Richardson of Ten Mile township, one of the most enterprising and successful farmers in the county, passed fifty-six years of his useful life among our people, contributing to the development of this section of the state and helping to build up and fructify all its forces for. good. His trials were numerous and heavy in early life, but in the long run were far overborne by the triumphs he won, and his memory is revered by the people who knew him because 'of the services he rendered, the example he gave and the upright life he lived, whieh was as an open book, read and known by all observers.

Mr. Richardson was born on December 29, 1834, in Pulaski county, Kentucky, and was a son of English and Sarah (Griffin) Richardson, also natives of Kentucky. They came with their young family to Missouri in 1836 and located in Ralls county, where they remained until 1841, when they moved to Macon county. Here the father engaged in farmingandalsooperatedoneof the first stage lines in the county. While he was successful in providing for the immediate wants of his family and making some progress toward independence and a competency, his opportunities were not such as to enable him to accumulate a great deal of this world's goods, for everything was costly and hard to get on the frontier. His offspring had, therefore to look out for themselves, each one taking up the battle of life and fighting it for himself, as he was obliged to do in his day and generation.

His son, John B. Richardson, obtained a very limited education in a brief and irregular atendance at the country school near his home. His services were always required on the farm and in aid of the family, when there was anything to do at home, and his chances of attending school eame only in the intervals between the exacting calls of duty in other directions. He remained at home until 1859. By that time the voice of Pike's Peak had grown with him from persuasion to command, and he joined one of the 11,000 wagon trains that erossed the plains to that historie elevation in one summer, filled with high hopes of coming fortune and ready to dare any danger and undergo any hardship to secure it. He passed one year in pursuit of his golden dream, then returned home to face a trial of a different kind in which the gage of battle was the preservation of the American Union. At the very beginning of the Civil war he enlisted in the Southern army under the eall of Governor Jackson for volunteers, and spent six months intheserviee. Atthe expiration of his term of enlistment he abandoned the sectional conflict and once more turned his attention to mining, going to Montana, Idaho and the territory of Washington, as it was then. In that far northwestern locality he remained seven years, packing his goods and chattels from place to place and prospeeting and mining with success.

Before leaving Missouri Mr. Richardson had aequired the ownership of a tract of land, and in 1869 he returned to this and settled down for the remainder of his days, devoting his energies and his earnings to the development and improvement of his farm. He farmed extensively and raised and fed large numbers of cattle and horses for the market, and was sueeessful in every feature of his business. At his death he owned 440 acres of first rate land, the greater part of which was under eultivation, with good buildings and other improvements suitable to an attractive and comfortable home in this part of the country.

On June 22, 1870, Mr. Richardson was united in marriage with Miss Mary E. White, a daughter of Mark and Serilda (Wright) White, pioneers and leading citizens of this county. Nine children resulted from the union and all but one of them are living and residents of Macon county. They are: George W., the first born, who lives in St. Louis; Mattie, the wife of R. A. Wright; John B.; Grace, the wife of James Huntsberry; Earnest; Decima, the wife of Lee Norton; and Cleo, Carlisle and Serilda, who are still at home with their mother. She is residing on the homestead and the children at home manage its operations under her direction. She was born in this county on June 10, 1852, and has passed the whole of her life so far within its borders, always engaged in useful labor and doing well her part in every relation of life. When death struck down their natural guardian and provider she beeame at once the sole reliance of the ehildren who were still living with her, and to their welfare and the service of the community around her she gave herself with entire devotion and exeellent resul The township looks upon her as one of its best types of women and respeets her accordingly. In political relations her husband was an ardent and hard working Demoerat, and in fraternal life he was a devoted member of the Masonie Order.

One of the able and essentially representative physicians and surgeons of Macon county, which has been his home from the time of his nativity, is Dr. Lee Otho Mason, who is engaged in the successful practice of his profession in the thriving little city of Bevier, where he is held in high regard, both as a physician and as a progressive and loyal citizen.

Dr. Mason was born on the homestead farm of his parents, in Callao township, Macon county, Missouri, on the 13th of December, 1878, and is a son of James P. and Alice (Wright) Mason, the former of whom is a native of Virginia and the latter of whom was born and reared in Macon county, being a representative of one of its old and honored families. The marriage of the parents was solemnized in the year 1876, and of their four children two are living, the doctor being the elder, and the daughter, Jennie, being now the wife of Joseph Summers, of Callao, Macon county, Missouri.

James P. Mason was reared and educated in the Old Dominion commonwealth, and there he continued to be identified with agricultural pursuits until 1866, when he came to Missouri, being a young man at the time. He took up his residence in Macon county, and here he has risen to prominence and influence as a substantial farmer and stock-grower and as a citizen of substantial worth of character. He and his wife reside in the village of Callao and he gives his attention to the supervision of his fine landed interests and general farming operations. He also does a very considerable business in the extending of financial loan on approved real estate security. In polities he is a staunch adherent of the Democratic party, and for the past several years he has served as road overseer of his township. He and his wife hold membership in the Christian church, and are active in its work and support.

Dr. Lee O. Mason reverts to the old home farm in the matter of childhood experiences and early training, and his preliminary educational discipline was secured in the district schools, after which he attended the high school in the city of Macon. In 1897 he entered the Missouri State Normal School at Kirksville, where he continued his studies for nearly two years. In the same city he finally entered the American School of Osteopathy, in which parent institution of this school of practice he completed the prescribed course and was graduated as a member of the class of 1901, duly receiving his degree of Doctor of Osteopathy. He had a desire, however, to prepare himself for professional work somewhat outside the circumscribed field of osteop- athy, and in 1902 he was matrieulated in the Birmingham Medical College, at Birmingham, Alabama, in which well ordered institution he was graduated in 1904, with the well-earned degree of Doctor of Medicine.

Upon his return to his native state he passed a thorough and satisfactory examination before the state board of medieal examiners and upon receiving his license he established himself in the praetic of his profession in Bevier, where his sue has been of unequivocal order and where he has built up a substantial and representative professional business. His knowledge of osteopathy proves an effeetive supplement to his thorough training as a physician and surgeon, and he has recourse to the same in such c: his judgment dietates, The doctor continues a close and appreciative student of the best standard and periodieal literature of his profession, and is identified with the American Medical Association, the Missouri State Medical Society and the Macon County Medical Society. He is local medical examiner of the National Life Insurance Company of St. Louis, Missouri, and also for the National Life Insurance Company of Montpelier, Vermont.

In polities Dr. Mason is found arrayed as a loyal and zealous supporter of the cause of the Republican party, but the only office of which he has been incumbent is that of county coroner, to which he was elected in 1904, and in which he served two years. He is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Woodmen of the World, the Modern Woodmen of America, and the Independent Order of Foresters.

On the 21st of August, 1904, Dr. Mason was united in marriage to Miss Anna Elizabeth Williams, who was born in Canton, Illinois, a daughter of John T. Williams, now deceased. Dr. and Mrs. Mason occupy a prominent place in connection with the social activities of their home city and their popularity is of the most unequivocal order.

M George Wells

Until recently one of the successful and prosperous farmers of Round Grove township, and in his oceupation making every day count to his advantage, George Wells came to his present state of worldly comfort and consequence through a variety of experiences, all of which have been valuable to him in the self-knowledge and knowledge of others they gave him, but many of whieh were sometimes unpleasant when he went through them. He is a native of this state, born in Lincoln county on March 29, 1833, and the son of Hayden and Courtney (Briscoe) Wells, who were born and reared in Nelson county, Kentucky. They were married there in 1828 and eame to Missouri in 1832, locating in

Lincoln county, where they passed all their remaining years of earthly life. They were farmers in Kentucky and continued in the same pursuit in this state, making a suecess of the business here as they had done in their native state, Seven children were born to them, but two of whom are living now, George and his brother John C., who is still

Wells was educated in the district and subseription schools of Lineoln eounty, where he passed his early days working on his father's farm and assisting the family. He remained at home until 1859, then became a traveling daguerreotypist and photographer, going from place to place all over Southeastern Missouri. In 1863 he opened a photograph gallery in Macon City, the first one there, and during the next eleven years earried on a flourishing business in the art preservative, which photography has come to be, usurping to some extent the place so long held by the printing trade, yet not displaeing it or taking away its title to the same distinetion.

In 1874 he wearied of his art and turned his attention to farming, taking eharge of his father-in-law's farm, and from that time until 1908 managing its large interests with vigor and skill, and making his operations profitable to all the parties concerned in them. In connection with his farming he raised live stock extensively and became a shipper of considerable importance in the magnitude and quality of his shipments. In 1908 he disposed of the farm of 500 acres, of which he had become the owner, and everything belonging to it, and since then has been living a retired life, passing the evening of his long day of exaction and toil, of trial and triumph, in peaceful rest and the enjoyment of the fruits of his industry and capacity.

Mr. Wells was married on December 27, 1866, to Miss Susan Smith, a daughter of J. D. and Ruth Smith, who were for many years prominent residents of Macon county, and regarded as among its leading eitizens. The offspring of this union numbered three, but only two are living: Lutie Mae, the wife of E. S. Williams of Marshall, Missouri, and Stephen. who lives in Macon county. In political faith and action the father has been a Democrat throughout his mature life, believing firmly in his party and sedulous in his efforts to help it to victory on all occasions. Fraternally he belongs to the Masonie Order, in which he also takes an aetive interest, and in religion he is allied with the Methodist Episeopal church South, whose commendable aetivities command his attention and enlist his energetic aid.

worker in Macon county. He is known throughout its extent and his record is everywhere accounted highly creditable to him and the county. All classes of the people respect him as a type of their best citizenship and one of their most representative men, worthy to be taken as an example and revered as a patriarch,

Alexander. S. Kale

With his youth darkened by the terrible shadow of the Civil war, in which his father laid his life on the altar of his country, and in which the son also partieipated, and from which he returned at the dawn of his manhood with almost nothing wherewith to begin life's endeavor for advancement in the fieree competition among men, Alexander. S. Kale, one of the now prosperous and prominent farmers of Round Grove township, Macon eounty, has made his own way in the world without the aid of fortune's favors or outside help of any kind.

Mr. Kale was born in Randolph county, Indiana, on May 14, 1843, and is a son and the only surviving ehild of James M. and Elizabeth (Stephens) Kale, the former born in Augusta county, Virginia, in 1804, and the latter a native of Ohio. The paternal grandfather, David Kale, was a soldier in the Revolution under Washington, being a member of the celebrated command of Virginia Riflemen on which the great commander relied for expert service in emergencies, and was present at the surrender of Cornwallis at Harpers Ferry, Virginia, which practically ended the war for our independence.

Mr. Kale's father moved with his parents to Indiana when he was a boy nine years old, the family locating in Randolph eounty of that state. That county is one of the state's eastern tier, bordering on Ohio, and is now a wealthy, well developed and highly progressive portion of the great Hoosier commonwealth. But when the Kale family took up its residence there it was still on the frontier and literally a howling wilderness. For the wild men of the forest still roamed over it and the beasts of prey often made night hideous with their terrifying outeries. It was amid such scenes that Mr. Kale's father's life began the family moved to similar scenes and experiences in a still farther western state, coming to Missouri and locating in Callaway county. The father became possessed of a tract of land which he broke up and improved, and on which he conducted a flourishing industry in farming and raising stock until the beginning of the Civil war. He was fiftyseven years of age, and therfore too old to be even forced into military service, but this did not restrain his patriotic love of the Union and determination to assist in saving it from dismemberment. He promptly enlisted as a lieutenant in the First Missouri cavalry, Company A, and his company was soon afterward assigned to the Army of the Cumberland under command of General Thomas. The campaigns of this army were exceedingly active and brought it into some of the most sanguinary and celebrated battles of the war. Mr. Kale was with his company through them all until he was killed at the battle of Bowling Green, Kentucky, in the spring of 1863.

The strieken widow who survived him, and whose maiden name was Elizabeth Stephens, bore him nine children, and, as has been stated, her son Alexander is the only one of the nine now living. In polities the father was a life-long Democrat, but he took the Northern side of the questions at issue during and leading up to the war. He was also a zealous member of the Methodist Episcopal church South. His wife died in spring of 1866.

Alexander S. Kale's only opportunity for scholastie training was furnished by the district schools of his native county and some little attendance at those of his locality in this state. His chief discipline in this respect came from subsequent reading and reflection, and his fund of general information, which is a considerable one, was derived from experience and observation. He wrought diligently and faithfully on his father's farms in Indiana and Missouri, standing devotedly by his mother while his father was in the field battling for his country. After the death of the father the slumbering fires of the son's patriotism broke into flame, and nothing could quench its ardor but a baptism in blood. He therefore enlisted in defense of the Union in Company B, Forty-second Missouri volunteer infantry, and was soon at the front. He faced death on many a well fought field, among them the battles of Paris, Missouri; Boonville, Glasgow, Cumberland Mountains, and others, and many minor engagements. His service continued to the end of the war, when he was mustered out at Nashville and honorably discharged at St. Louis. An ineident following his military service but allied with it is well worthy of special mention and preservation in an enduring record. It is this: In 1865 he earried the United States flag over Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama, making his way mostly on foot, and proclaiming Lee's surrender. This incident shows the courage of his nature, and also illustrates the rashness of youth. For, although the Confederaey had been overthrown, sectional feeling in the states he wandered over was still high, and it is somewhat remarkable that he did not pay for his boldness with his life.

residence in Macon county on the land he now owns, and there he has ever since been industriously engaged in raising eattle and eultivating his farm, which comprised 130 acres at the start and now embraces 230, or did until recently, when he divided a portion of it among his ehildren: Anna, the wife of D. P. Chambers of Schuyler county, Missouri; who died Mareh 8, 1910, Charles, who is living on the homestead ; and Bettie, the wife of William M. Soltman of this county. Their parents were married on November 15, 1865, and had five ehildren, these two being the only ones now living. The mother's name before her marriage to their father was Mrs. Martha Shouse, she having been previously married and being a widow when Mr. Kale wooed and won her. She is a daughter of John C. and Emily (Blancett) d long well known residents of this county.