Macon County, Missouri - Biographical sketches, 1910 (part 19 of 20)

John W. McGhee obtained his education in the district schools of Macon county and worked on the home place until the death of his father. He then continued to carry on the farm on his own aceount, engaging extensively in its operations and raising live stock in considerable numbers, until 1901. In that year he moved to Hannibal, where he remained four years working in the railroad shops, having sold his interest in tlie farm and its produets.

Returning to Macon county in 1905, he again turned his attention to agrieultural pursuits and the live stoek industry, and they have oceupied him extensively ever since. He was married on February 28, 1900, to Miss Emma L. Overstreet, whose father, H. Overstreet, is one of the leading farmers and prominent men of this county, where she was born and reared. Mr. and Mrs. MeGhee have had three children and two of them are living, their daughter Martha May and their son John Wesley, both of whom are still with their parents and attending school. The father always takes an active part in political campaigns and does what he can to enforee his convictions by the triumph of his party. He is a firm and zealous Democrat of the working kind, and is regarded as a wheelhorse in the organization and one of the reliable forces in its every emergeney. In religious affiliation he and his wife are conneeted with the Christian ehurch,'in which both are earnest workers and highly appreciated as such in the congregation to which they belong. They stand well in the township, being regarded as among its most worthy and estimable citizens.

Philip C. Gansz

Among the forces that are most potential and serviceable in building up. developing and improving a community, direeting its mental, moral, social and political agencies along wholesome lines of progress, and leading publie sentiment through right channels to large results, a good live, clean and well conducted newspaper holds a position of commanding importance. Its influence is strong and healthful, it is at all times alive to the best interests of the region in which it is published, and it is alert and forceful in pointing out what is wrong and commending what is right in the aetive or projected enterprises in its community, and generally contributing to the publie weal in many ways of great moment.

Such a paper is the Macon Republican, the leading Republican newspaper in Northeastern Missouri, which is published in the eity of Macon. It is owned and edited by Philip C. Gansz, and its high tone as a newspaper, excellence as a family journal and force and influence as a political party organ, indicate in an impressive way the character and attainments of the gentleman who is at the head of it. We have the sanetion of Holy Writ for the assurance that men are known by their works, and all human experience confirms the dietum of the sacred writer. Applying this test, with the Macon Republican as our source of information, the conclusion must be inevitable that Mr. Gansz is a first rate citizen and a man of great usefulness in the city and county of his home.

Mr. Gansz was born at Palmyra, Marion county, Missouri, on November 1, 1857, and is a son of Carl and Mary (Koehler) Gansz, the former a native of Bavaria and the latter of the little province of Waldeck farther north, but both in the German empire. The father came to the United States in his early manhood, arriving in 1851. He came West and loeated at Palmyra, after having visited Chieago, St. Paul and other cities, finding this part of the country agreeable to his desires and promising to his hopes. At Palmyra, also, he learned his trade as a stonemason, and there he worked at it industriously until his death on September 7, 1882. His marriage with Mary Koehler occurred at Palmyra in 1856. His widow is still living at the age of seventytwo years, residing in Macon. "They were the parents of four sons and four daughters, six of the eight being still alive and actively engaged in useful industries. During the Civil war, or the earlier portion of it, the father was a member of the Home Guards on the Union side of the great conflict,

Philip C. Gansz was the first born child in the family of his parents. He was renred at Palmyra and obtained his education in its publie schools and at St. Paul's College, attending school until he reached the age of thirteen. He then learned the stonemason trade under the direction and instruetion of his father, and for ten years worked at it with diligence. But there was a genius within him for something more intelleetual than mechanical pursuits, and he found its commanding voice irresistible. On January 1, 1883, in association with M. P. Drummond, he founded the Marion County Herald, with which he was connected until 1890,

In the year last named he bought the Macon Republican, and he is still its owner, editor and manager. He has enlarged the paper, greatly increased its circulation and elevated its tone and standing.

It is now the leading and most influential Republiean newspaper in Northeastern Missouri, as has been noted, and is esteemed as one of the most creditable productions of this portion of the state, being bright, newsy, up-to-date and edited with ability and good judgment in general and very forcible and uncompromising in its political character.

Mr. Gansz was married on November 27, 1891, to Miss Jessie Wilson, a daughter of Major and Mrs. Samuel J. Wilson of Macon. Mr. and Mrs. Gansz have no children of their own, but have an adopted daughter, Miss Jessie Collett, whom they are rearing and educating with every consideration for her lasting welfare. Mr. Gansz belongs to the Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias and the Order of Elks fraternally, and he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church. He is an elder in the congregation to which they belong and a teacher in its Sunday-school.

It should be stated that Mr. Gansz has other interests in the business life of Macon besides his newspaper. He is a stoekholder in the MeCall Manufacturing company of the city and one of its directors, and connected with other institutions of value to the community, among them the Macon Building and Loan Association, of which he has been a direetor for fifteen years. He is a gentleman of great enterprise and progressiveness and has been a leading spirit in all that has made Macon the advaneing, prominent and influential eity it is, doing all in his power for its growth and improvement, and the development and strengthening of its moral, intelleetual and social institutions. He served as mayor in 1896 and 1897, and is now serving his second term as a member of the school board. His services to the eity have been great and of a high order, and that they are appreciated is shown by the universal esteem in which he is held by the people here and the popularity he enjoys wherever he is known.

T James H. Montgomery

As a farmer and dealer in live stock of extensive operations in both fields of enterprise, as a lumber merchant and leading hardware and farming implement dispenser, and as a high-toned and progressive citizen, James H. Montgomery of Gifford in Easeley township has for many years been known and universally acknowledged as a leading and representative man in Macon county, worthy of the highest regard from the people and enjoying it in full measure. Almost the whole of his life to the present time (1900) has been passed among

Mr. Montgomery is not a native of Macon county or the state of. Missouri, but he has lived in the state from the time when he was two years old and is therefore, in feelings, aspirations and local patriotism, to all intents and purposes, a Missourian. He was reared in the state, edueated in its publie sehools, married into two of its prominent and influential families, and has conducted all his undertakings as parts of its productive activities. He was born at Fincastle, Indiana, in 1855, and eame with his parents to this state in 1857. His parents, George and Catherine (Fosher) Montgomery, were also aliens to the state by nativity, the father having been born in Kentucky and the mother in Indiana. But the former became a resident of Missouri and passed the remainder of his days in active and appreciated service to its people, and the latter is still living in Linn eounty, where she has long had her home.

On his arrival in this state the father located at Brookfield in Linn eounty, and there engaged in farming and feeding and raising stock. He was successful in his business, and as he always took an earnest interest and active part in publie affairs, he rose to consequence in the official life in every locality in which he lived. He was county tax colleetor of Linn county for four years, and was on the school boards of that county and Macon county at different times for many years. In 1884 he moved to this county, and here repeated the admirable features of his activity in Linn county. He served as county judge for eight years or longer, and was universally esteemed by the people, without regard to class or station in life or to party or church connections. He was himself a Democrat of strong convictions and great energy and influence in the councils and contests of his party, and as a man and citizen stood everywhere in the very first rank. His death oceurred in March, 1893. His widow and his mother are still living in Linn county. He and his wife were the parents of five children. Four of them grew to maturity and three are now living, James, Jacob and George. 1

James H. Montgomery grew to manhood on his father's Linn county farm and obtained his education in the country schools in the neighborhood. He began life for himself as a farmer and stock man and he is still engaged in these fruitful and important industries, although he has also made an admirable record and career as a merchant. His landed estate embraces over 2,000 acres of first rate land, and except what is given up to grazing purposes, the greater part of the whole tract is under advanced cultivation. In his cattle industry he specializes in shorthorn cattle of superior strains and has a high reputation in the markets for the excellence of his output.

In 1905, in association with his son-in-law, Willis A. McNeal, a sketch of whom will be found in this work, he started an enterprise in the lumber trade under the firm name of Montgomery and Company, and before the year was out the firm became also dealers in hardware and farm implements. It is still in active operation and carrying on a steadily inereasing business with each suecession of the seasons. Mr. Montgomery is also a stoekholder and direetor of the Winigan State Bank and the Farmers' Exchange Bank of Gifford, in addition he conduets a flourishing and profitable concrete plant of good proportions and with a large and active trade.

Mr. Montgomery is a Republican in his political convictions and allegiance and, although he is not what is called an active partisan, he gives his party loyal support and seeks its advantage in all proper ways that are quiet and unobtrusive. He has been a member of the school board for more than twenty years, and has shown great zeal and progressiveness in behalf of the schools, contributing both breadth of view and enterprise to their management, and leading them steadily to higher standards of excellence. He is conneeted with the fraternal life of the community by membership in the Order of Modern Woodmen of America, and with its religious forces by his activity and energy in behalf of the Methodist church, to which he has belonged for many years.

In 1879 Mr. Montgomery was united in marriage with Miss Clara S. Dean, whose father and grandfather were prominent in the public and soeial life of Canada and who was born in that country herself. They had four children: Rosa, the wife of Willis A. McNeal; Homer; Harry, the eashier of the Farmers' Exchange Bank of Gifford; and Mabel. - The mother of these children died on July 1, 1897, and in 1901, the father chose a second wife, Miss May Rice, a native of Macon county, whose parents were also native Missourians. Macon county has no better citizens than the members of the Montgomery family, and none for whom the people of the county have a higher regard or a more universal and well-founded admiration.

Born and reared in the township which bears his name, and which was given to it in honor of his grandfather, one of the revered pioneers of the county, Harvey E. Easeley has eause to be warmly attached to the locality of his home, and to feel an abiding interest in its progress, improvement and substantial welfare in every way. That he has this feeling he has shown by his services in its behalf and the credit he has reflected on it by his upright, manly and serviceable citizenship, and by the fine example he has given of the enterprise, capacity and progressiveness of its people.

Mr. Easeley's life began in November, 1877, and he is a son of Henry C. and Rebecea (Grigsby) Easeley, natives also of Macon county, and for many years numbered among its most useful and progressive residents. They were married in 1874 and had two children, their son Harvey S. and their daughter Rosa May, who is now the wife of Alonzo Gash of this county. The father wasa farmer during the whole of his mature life and one of prominence and influence. He took a leading part in local publie affairs, as his father had done before him, and gave loyal and very effective support to the principles and candidates of the Democratic party. He served the township well as school director for many years, and in reference to all other publie interests was a man of great force, activity and energy. He died on December 10,1905. The mother is still living and is now the wife of Alexander Robinson.

Harvey S. Easeley grew to manhood on his father's farm, which, like that of his grandfather, was a kind of rallying place for the whole countryside when anything involving the welfare of the township was to be considered. By this means he became well acquainted with the people of the region early in life and aequired a good knowledge of their aspirations, tendencies and the springs of action which impelled them. He also gained an intimate knowledge of the township and clear views of its needs with some insight into its possibilities in the way of development. "This knowledge was a large part of his early education, and the most important part. The scholastie training he got was begun in the publie schools and completed at a good college, which he attended several terms.

When he left sehool the wide world opened before him with its multitudinous avenues to success and consequences, around him were the scenes and associations of his boyhood and youth, with their inviting pleasures, and upon him was the responsibility created by the examples and records of his forefathers, two generations of whom had done well and reached distinetion where he was born. The wide open world, as he regarded it, and the tame and eventful life around him, as it seemed to him to be, both had their allurement, and his inherited responsibility was the same in both. It was diffieult for him to ehoose his course, and for a few years he worked at different oceupations while still undetermined on his choice. But.at length he decided in favor of the home life to which he was accustomed, and settled down in the locality of his nativity as a farmer and breeder of stock. Subsequent results have proven his wisdom. His suecess has been great and he is well established in the community of his home as one of its progressive, prominent and prosperous farmers and leading men. He owns 307 acres of fine land, with the most of it yielding tribute to his enterprise and intelligence in cultivating it, a suitable portion being reserved as pasturage for his extensive holdings in live stock.

When Mr. Easeley once became well settled as a permanent citizen of the region in which he gained his stature and his strength, every interest connected with it had additional value in his eyes, and the promotion of its welfare became a labor of love with him as it was already a willingly acknowledged duty. He has ever been active in connection with all worthy projects involving its improvement and the comfort and convenience of its people. His political activity has been expended in behalf of the Democratic party, to which he has always been firmly attached, and his services to it are highly appreciated by both its leaders and their followers throughout the county. In fraternal life he trains with the Modern Woodmen of America, and in religious connection he is allied with the Universalist church. Both his lodge and his church have his earnest and energetic support, and in both his membership is valued highly. On November 2, 1904, he was united in marriage with Miss Susan Slaughter, whose parents and grandparents came to Missouri from New York state, but who is herself a native of Macon county. Mr. Haseley is one of the principal stockholders in the Bank of Gifford, and to this institution he gives a proper share of his time and careful attention.

Adversity is a great schoolmistress, as many a poor fellow knows, who has held out his hand to her ferule and whimpered over his lesson before her awful chair. Yet, although her discipline is severe it is thorough, and the instruction she gives is impressive and lasting. The business career and life of useful citizenship of John Aaron Grigsby of Easeley township in this county, where he is actively and successfully engaged in farming and raising live stock for the Eastern markets, furnish a striking illustration of this fact, and show, also that behind the unrelenting frown of the stern schoolmistress there beats a really warm

Mr. Grigsby is a native of Putnam county in this state, and was born in 1861. He lost his father at an early age, and when he was but eight years old was given by his mother to N. W. Michaels of La Plata. His parents were William and Elizabeth (Gates) Grigsby, both born and reared in Missouri, and married in 1857. They became the parents of four ehildren, two pairs of twins. Of the four only two are living, John Aaron and his older sister, Rebecca, the wife of Z. Robinson. The early death of the father left the mother with the small children to rear and educate and with almost nothing in the way of provision for the great task that was upon her. She was obliged to do what she considered best for her offspring, and so gave her son to a family she esteemed to be cared for, thus enlarging her power to provide for the rest and seeuring for him a better outlook in life than she could give him through her efforts.

The son grew to manhood under the care and supervision of his foster parents and obtained a limited education at the publie sehools. As soon as he left school he started in on the life work he had chosen for himself by turning his attention to farming and conducting his operations in a way that was sure to make them successful. From that time to the present he has diligently followed the dual vocation of an agrieulturist and stock-breeder with steadily inereasing profits and expanding interests, until he now owns and farms more than 430 aeres of land and has a stock industry of considerable magnitude. His farm is vigorously and skillfully eultivated, improved with good buildings and other necessary struetures, and provided with approved modern appliances for all that is required of it. His home is one of the valuable and attractive country residences of the township and shows in its every feature the wisdom and capacity of its owner.

Mr. Grigsby is aetive in the political affairs of his locality as a Republican of pronounced convietions, and gives attention in a praetical and serviceable way, not only to the aspirations and desires of his party, but to every commendable project for the improvement and advancement of the region in which he lives. He has been a member of the local school board for upwards of twenty years, and very energetic in his attention to the needs and progress of the schools. His fraternal attributes find food for exercise in his membership in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, to whieh he has belonged for many years. He was married in 1880 to Miss Mary Clem. Of the two ehildren born to them their daughter Buella is living. Her mother died in 1896, and in 1898 the father married a second wife, being united this time with Miss Elizabeth Gunnels. They have two children, their son J. A. and their daughter Theta H., both now attending school. The parents rank among the most worthy and estimable citizens of the township.

James H. Ford

James H. Ford, who is one of the progressive, successful and representative farmers of Liberty township in this county is not a native of the state, but he has lived in Macon eounty almost fifty years and during the whole of that long period has mingled freely with its people and taken an important and helpful part in their industries and their politieal, eivil and social life. He is therefore fully imbued with their feelings and aspirations and is impelled by the same springs of action that inspire them and may fitly be taken as representative of them in all that is worthy and enterprising. In his career he displays the qualities that govern them and typifies the energy that has made them so progressive and their seetion of the state so well advanced in development and improvement.

Mr. Ford was born in Benton county, Arkansas, on September 4, 1838, and is a son of William and Rebecea (Tipett) Ford, natives of Tennessee, where their ancestors were domesticated for generations. They moved from their native state to Arkansas in early life, and there they passed the remainder of their days, the mother dying in September, 1879, and the father in March, 1885. They had eleven children, all of whom have died but four, James H., Andrew Jackson, Sarah, the wife of Thomas Markum of Oklahoma, and Elizabeth, the wife of J. W. Taylor of Arkansas. The parents were farmers and labored industriously at their ealling, winning success and comfort through many trials and difficulties, and making the most of their opportunities in spite of numerous diseouraging adversities. The father partieipated in the Civil war, fighting for his convietions on many a bloody field of that momentous conflict, and suffered the fate of many of its best and bravest soldiers - the ruim of his industries and the impoverishment that always follows that. At the close of the war he was obliged to begin over again, but he had the spirit necessary to succeed, and he went to work to repair his fortunes as bravely as he marched to the battlefield in defense of his political faith.

James H. Ford obtained his edueation in the country schools near his Arkansas home. This was necessarily limited, for he had no time to seek higher walks of learning than those country schools afforded, and his attendance at even them was irregular and of short duration. - On leaving school he turned his attention to the voeation his fathers had followed for generations, becoming a farmer in his native county. In 1565 he came to Missouri and took up his residence in Macon county. He at once began farming here and has adhered to that industry with profitable fidelity ever sinee. He now owns and farms 200 acres of good land, cultivating the soil with skill and intelligence, . keeping abreast with the most advanced thought in agrieultural pursuits, and applying the labor of his hands under the vigorous and careful direction of his far-seeing and well trained mind. In connection with his farming operations he carries on an extensive and flourishing enterprise in general stock raising. To this also he gives intelligent and thoughtful attention, omitting no effort on his part required to secure the best results. He has been very successful in both branches of his industry, and is recognized as one of the most progressive and resourceful stock men and farmers in the county.

To the affairs of the township and eounty he has applied the same thoughtful and rational attention that he has used in his own business, and has thus risen through usefulness to prominence among the people and been for many years one of their chosen and appreciated publie officials. For more than twenty years he has served them faithfully and acceptably as a justice of the peace, and for an equal period as a member of the school board. He was also road overseer for nearly four years. In all these positions he has had an eye single to the good of the people and the substantial and enduring welfare of the township of his home. In political faith and allegiance he is a member of the Democratic party, but where the local publie interests are concerned party ties are subordinated to the publie good, which, with him, is always a matter of the first consideration. His religious connection is with the Baptist church, in which he takes an active and very serviceable interest.

On August 12, 1860, Mr. Ford was joined in marriage with Miss Margaret Murley, a native of Macon county. They had five children four of whom are living: William, who is a resident of the new state of Oklahoma; John M., Oscar and Ollie, the last named being the wife of Charles Darenger of Kansas City, Missouri. Their mother died on August 13, 1879, and on June 29, 1880, the father contracted a second marriage, being united on this occasion with Miss Ada Hayner, also a native of this county. They have three children, Susan, the wife of Isham King, Victor and Grover, who are living at home with their parents.

D. J. Reed

The capacity to develop great enterprises and successfully finance and conduet extensive operations is rare, and those who possess it are always very useful to the communities in which they operate and esteemed as persons of great ability. D. J. Reed, one of the enterprising and progressive citizens of New Cambria, in this county, is a man of such measure, and is well known, not only throughout Macon county, but the entire West, as one of the best informed and most resourceful mining men in Missouri.

Mr. Reed is a native of this state, having been born at Kirksville, Adair eounty, on March 28, 1848. He is a son of David S. and Elizabeth (Wilson) Reed, natives of Kentucky, who moved to Missouri in 1843. They first located in Randolph county, and after a short residence there removed to Adair county. In 1849 they became residents of Macon county, making their home at what was then known as Hammack's Mills, and was located about seven miles south of New Cambria. There the father engaged in farming, following this line of useful endeavor until his death. Both he and his wife died in Macon county. Of the eleven children born to them only two are living, D. J. Reed and one of his sisters.

D. J. Reed grew to manhood in Macon county and obtained a limited education in the primitive country schools of his boyhood and youth. As soon as he was able he secured employment as a coal miner in the mines of this county. He worked in the mines here until 1891, when he moved to Colorado, and within the same year was appointed state mine inspector of that state. He filled this position with great ability and with high approval for two years, and during his tenure of the office brought about many needed reforms for the benefit of the miners of the state. Following his service as mine inspector he engaged in prospeeting and mining in various parts of Colorado, Arizona, Nevada and other Western states, and he still owns valuable interests in that part of the country.

In 1908 Mr. Reed returned to Macon county, and, in association with Gustave Yager, bought eighty aeres of mineral land near New Cambria. "Their expeetations concerning this land were well founded and are being realized in a very gratifying manner. They found the land under- Jaid with rich veins of ore carrying gold, silver, tin, and zine, and for the purpose of developing the property they organized the Pioneer Gold Mining company of New Cambria, of which Mr. Reed is the president and general manager. The property gives promise of developing into one of the richest fields ever opened in the West, and the people of Macon eounty are deeply indebted to the gentlemen named for their efforts to bring to the notice of the world one of the extensive resources of Missouri that was before unknown.

That they have met with opposition and obstruction in their work has to be admitted with regret, but it is a part of the usual experience of farseeing and enterprising men. Persons who, it would seem, would welcome every development that promises to enrich the county and state, have not only failed to give what encouragement they could to this undertaking, but have gone out of their way to discourage prospective investors and prevent the consummation of the enterprise. But in spite of all opposition the gentlemen at the head of the concern have feet by disposing of a large amount of the capital stock. Its progress is now only a matter of effort and ability well applied, and there can be no question that the company will show the ability and make the necessary efforts for a complete and triumphant success.

Mr. Reed was married in 1877 to Miss Dista Reed, who is, like himself a native of Missouri and cordially interested in the welfare of the state. "They have had eight ehildren, seven of whom are living. The

` father is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and in fraternal life belongs to the Order of Knights of Pythias. In polities he is a Democrat and as such has served as county mine inspector. He and his family stand high in the social life of the community and are universally esteemed as among the best and most useful people in the county.

Y William W. Lloyd

The hardihood and endurance, the self-reliance and resourcefulness, and the general adaptability of the Welsh race, which are due in large measure to the hard conditions that soil, climate and civie conditions force upon it in its own land, enable it to grow and flourish like a green bay tree in a country like ours, where all the conditions are favorable and there is scope for the exercise of every faculty in aggressive enterprise, none being required, in the main, for defensive operations. In our responsive soil every seed deposited will come forth to multiplied vitality, some thirty, some sixty and some a hundred fold; and every activity expended in our eivil, social and political life, is similarly fruitful and prolifie.

William W. Lloyd, one of the far-seeing, enterprising and progressive farmers of Lingo township in this county, owes his success and prominence to his race characteristics of industry, thrift and shrewd- ness, and to the opportunities the land of his adoption has given for their employment to his advantage. He is a native of North Wales, where he was born in 1839, and a son of William and Ann (Robert) Lloyd, also natives of that eountry, where they passed the whole of their lives in diligent attention to their duties as farmers and worthy eitizens, dying after long years of usefulness on the soil they had hallowed by their labors and being laid to rest in its hospitable bosom. They were the parents of seven children, five of whom are living: Griffith, whose home is still in Wales; Hugh G., a resident of New Cambria in this state; William W., who is the subjeet of the paragraphs; Margaret, the wife of John L. Jones, and Mary, the wife of Thomas O. Jones, both of whom are yet residents of Wales, the land of their forefather for many generations.

The opportunities for schooling that were available to William W. Lloyd were limited and irregular. He attended the common schools in the neighborhood of his ancestral home when he could be spared from more exacting duties, and, while he made good use of his time in them, he was obliged by the circumstances of the family and his own needs to leave them at an early age. Esau must have pottage, even if he barter away his birthright to get it. Mr. Lloyd had to make his living and he eould not do this while going to school. He remained in his native land until 1869, hearing for many years, with increasing force in it and attention from him, the persuasive voice of America calling for volunteers to swell her great army of eonquest and development. At length he was unable to longer withstand its importunity, and when he was thirty years old he erossed the heaving ocean to find a more comfortable home and better prospeets in the New World, Guided by fate or his own good judgment to where abundance and success awaited him, he located in Macon county, Missouri, and went to work as a farmer. Soon afterward he bought forty acres of good land, which he made the nucleus of the estate he was bending his energies to win. Taking up his residence on this land, he began developing and improving it, dre ging good harvests from it by persistent and well applied industry and steadily inereasing its value and adding to his possessions until he now owns 200 acres and has the whole tract under advanced cultivation and yielding rich tribute to his industry and skill as a farmer. His present dwelling stands on the original forty aeres and the remainder of the farm is conveniently located around that.

In his farming operations Mr. Lloyd has given the people a good example of what continued and intelligent labor ean accomplish on the responsive soil of this great state; and in his wise and energetic attention to local affairs of importanee to the township he has pointed and emphasized the debt America owes to her foreign-born population. He has served acceptably as tax collector under the township organization and also as road overseer, doing good work for the township and its people in both positions and winning almost universal approval for the excellence of his service. He has, in addition, been aetively and helpfully conneeted with various enterprises of value in the development and improvement of the county, and has given them all careful and fruitful attention.

Politieally Mr. Lloyd is allied with the Republiean party, and in religious relations he and his wife are connected with the Presbyterian church, of which they are zealous and appreciated members and in the good works of which they are active partieipants. "The wife's maiden name was Catherine Roberts, and she is a daughter of John and Ellen Roberts, who were born and reared in Wales. Mr.and Mrs. Lloyd were married in 1869, and have had five children. Four of the five are living, William J., Kate and Ella, who still abide with their parents, and Annie, who is the oldest and the wife of E. H. Bevan, and who is also a resident of this county. The family is prominent in the county, having a competency in worldly wealth and being firmly fixed in the regard and good will of the whole people wherever its members are known.

Born and reared in Northeastern Missouri, educated at Smileyville, Marion county, which is now a thriving village and was founded by and named in honor of his father, and for many years engaged in business in Macon county, and with a good record also for his parents in the mercantile and industrial life of this portion of the state, the personal achievements and family history of Clement F. Smiley of Axtell are well worthy of honorable mention in any work that purports to give an account of the rise and progress of Macon county and its people.

Mr. Smiley is a native of West Hartford, Ralls county, Missouri, where his life began on December 11, 1868. His grandfather, William Smiley, was born and reared in Ireland, where his son Benjamin, the father of Clement F., also eame into being. The latter, however, did not remain long in his native land. He was born on March 28, 1838, and came to the United States an infant in his mother's arms. The family located in Pike county, Illinois, and there Benjamin Smiley grew to manhood and obtained a limited common school education. On leaving school he learned the blacksmith trade and for twelve years worked at it diligently-and profitably. In 1865 he moved to Marion county, this state, and during the next four years was engaged in farming and raising live stock in that county. At the end of the period mentioned he returned to Illinois, and there he continued his farming operations until 1882. He then eame back to Missouri and again loeated in Marion county. There he followed blacksmithing and merchandising until 1905, when he moved to the city of Macon, retiring from active pursuits and leading a quiet but still serviceable life until his death, which occurred on January 31, 1906, when he was sixty-eight years of age. b

Benjamin Smiley was first married in 1865 to Miss Sarah Mallory, a native of Virginia. They had four children, all of whom are living: William E., whose home is in Macon city; Mary Allie, the wife of C. A. Jobson of St. Louis, Missouri; Clement F., a resident and merchant of Axtell in this county; and Hattie L., the wife of T. A. Craig, who also dwells in Macon. The mother of these children died on July 22, 1881, and in 1889 the father married a second wife, his choice on this oceasion being Miss Fannie MeCall, a daughter of Dr. R. S. and Fannie McCall, long well known and esteemed residents of this county. Mr. Smiley's second marriage resulted in two children, Leta Vietor and Martha Ena, both of whom are living at home with their mother. The father was a Republican in polities and an enterprising and publie spirited man. His memory is cherished with cordial and lasting regard wherever he was known.

Clement F. Smiley attended a distriet sehool at Smileyville and after the completion of his education clerked for a few years in a general store condueted by a painstaking and thriving merchant. He then went to work in the same capaeity for his father, and so had excellent training for the business in which the greater part of his life to this time has been passed. He remained with his father until 1895, when he moved to Plainville, Illinois, and there for three years was associated with J. T. Havenor and G. M. Nichols in general merchandising under the firm name of Havenor, Nichols & Smiley. The business was successful and profitable, but Mr. Smiley saw better opportunity for himself in another venture. In 1898 he moved to the city of Macon and became a salesman for Albert Jobson, an extensive dealer in farming implements and their accessories,

In 1901 another change **eame o'er the spirit of his dreams," and he once more became a merchant on his own account. In that year he located at Axtell in this county, and there started a general store which he is still conducting. His enterprise is flourishing and pro- gressive, and the suecess he has won and is winning in it proves the wisdom of his choice when he started it. On July 8, 1902, he was appointed postmaster of that town, an office he has held continnously ever since. He is also ticket agent for the Wabash railroad at Axtell. His store building and stock of merchandise are wholly his own and he also has valuable residence property in the town.

On June 21, 1903, Mr. Smiley was united in marriage with Miss Mattie Havenor, a daughter of J. T. and Sabra Havenor, of Plainville, Illinois, his father-in-law being his former partner in business in that eity. Both Mr. and Mrs. Smiley belong to the Southern Methodist church and they are zealous and energetic church workers. He is one of the stewards of the congregation to which they are attached and the superintendent of its Sunday sehool. His wife is a teacher in the Sunday school and the organist of the church. In polities the husband is a pronounced Republican of the most loyal and unwavering kind, and in fraternal relations he is a Modern Woodman of America. He and his wife are among the most esteemed citizens of the community in which they now live, and also stand high in the regard of the people in other places where they have had their homes.

Orphaned by the death of his father when the son was but eleven years of age, and the first born of the living children of his parents, John Manhart of Lingo township in this county, assumed the burden of life for himself at a very early age, and has borne it with commendable eheerfulness and with profit to himself and the rest of the family ever since. Through life so far he has leaned on his mother for advice and direction, and during the last sixteen years she has leaned on him as her main dependence in the management of the farm and the support and education of the rest of the children, a trust to which he has been faithful in full measure and has won the reward of his fidelity in his own gains in a material way and the esteem and admiration of the people all around him.

Mr. Manhart was born in the township and on the farm of his present residence on February 27, 1882, and is a son of Frank F. and Regina (Miteh) Manhart, the former born in Germany in 1846 and the latter a native of this county. The father was brought from his native land to this country and to Lingo township, Macon county, when he was but six months old. His father located on a farm in the township and devoted his energies to breaking up the land and redueing it to systematic productiveness. As the son grew into years and vigor he took more and more of the work of the farm on himself, remaining at home until he eame of age and attending the Manhart distriet sehool near the homestead, which was so named in honor of his father. During the Civil war the father was in the army and the care of the farm devolved almost wholly on the son, young as he was. In this particular his experience was similar to that of his son John, as noted above, and like the latter, he also met his obligation with fidelity to every duty. By the time he reached his majority his father was back from the war and he was at liberty to start in life for himself, which he did by vecuring a small tract of land and giving his attention to farming and raising stock. His operations were successful from the start, and he was moving steadily forward toward wealth and consequence, when death eut short his career and ended his labors at the age of forty-seven, on December 16, 1893. He had acquired the ownership of 120 acres of excellent land and had brought it to a high state of productiveness and improved it with good buildings and other structures. In addition he had it well equipped with all the necessary appliances for progressive and up-to-date farming. He had also risen to consequence and influence in the community, and was regarded by the people as one of their most promising citizens, whose activity would be fruitful in good for them and the township.

In 1879 this prominent citizen, whose untimely death was a source of general regret and sorrow throughout the township, was married to Miss Regina Mitch, a resident at the time of Macon county, but a native of Indiana. Of the seven children born to them five are living, one daughter, Mary, who is the second of the five in the order of birth, and is now the wife of Charles Mossbarger of this county; and four sons, John, Joseph, Albert and August, all of whom are living at home with their mother. In political affairs the father was a very active and influential Demoerat. He was always ready to stand or go in the service of his party and eounted no saerifiee he could make too great if it helped to promote the welfare of the organization and bring success to its cause. His son John is also a Democrat and renders effective service to his party. The home farm of 160 aeres has thriven under his management, and is a model of skillful and scientific husbandry.

Robert E. Powell

Of good old North Carolina stock, his grandfather, Henry A. Powell, and his father, William R. Powell, having been born in the Old North state, and their forefathers having lived in it for generations before them, Robert E. Powell, one of the progressive and prosperous farmers and stock men of Eagle township in this county, has inspiring iraditions and fine examples of enterprise and worth in the history of his ancestors, and he has well borne up and dignified the family name himself. He is active and knowing in the management of his own affairs and energetie and broad-minded with reference to those of his community, always ready to aid in any good project for its advancement, and true to lofty ideals of citizenship in every way.

Mr. Powell was born on August 7, 1857, in the township of his present and life-long residence to the present day. He is a son of William R. and Sarah (Pinnick) Powell, the former born in North Carolina on April 2, 1830, and the latter a native of Macon county, Missouri. The father came to this state and county in 1839 with his parents, who were very early settlers in this region. The family located near Callao, and there William R. Powell obtained a district school education, or rather the best the locality eould furnish at the time, for it was new and unsettled, and all its facilities for mental training were necessarily primitive and very limited in seope. He remained with his parents until he reached the age of twenty-four, then moved to Eagle township, in whieh he bought land and was engaged in farming and raising stock to the end of his life. He was successful in his efforts for advancement and became the owner of 240 acres of good land, which he transformed from a state of virgin wilderness into a well-improved and highly productive farm. His marriage with Miss Pinnick occurred in 1854 and two children were born of the union, John H., who lives in Nebraska, and the immediate subject of this brief review. 'The father was an unwavering Democrat in his political faith and party allegiance, and was active and effective in the support of his convictions. He was a devoted member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church and energetic in his service to the congregation to which he was attached, taking an earnest interest and leading part in its work.

His son, Robert E. Powell, obtained his education at Hiekory Grove distriet. sehool, working on the home farm while attending its sessions and assisting the family in the same way after leaving school until 1878. In that year he took charge of a farm belonging to his fatherin-law, on which he conducted flourishing industries in farming and raising live stock for a continuous period of seven years. At the end of that period he bought the farm on which he now lives, and which has ever since been his home. It comprises 140 acres, is well improved and skillfully cultivated and has grown into considerable value through his eontinuous industry and judieious management, being now one of

On December 19, 1878, Mr. Powell was married to Miss Sarah S. Griffith, who was born in Eagle township on December 22, 1858, and is a daughter of Obed and Melissa Griffith, who were born and reared in Kentucky. Of the four children born in the Powell household three are living: Myrtie May, who is still a member of the parental family circle; William J., who lives in South Dakota; and Theodore J., who is also living at home. The parents are members of the Southern Methodist church and ardent workers in its benevolent activities. The father's political allegiance has always been given to the Democratic party and he has made his faith in it good by energetie and efficient work at all times for its welfare.

Gustave A. Yager

With an experience in human life covering two continents, including five states of the American Union, and three or four different oceupations, Gustave A. Yager, secretary and treasurer of the Pioneer Gold Mining Company of New Cambria, Macon county, Missouri, has had excellent preparation for the great work in which he is now engaged - the development of the first gold mine in this state. He has been observant and studious, looking always to the real gist and meaning of human activity as it developed around him, and has therefore aequired a knowledge of men and affairs that is extensive, substantial and full of practical utility.

Mr. Yager was born in Asch, Bohemia, on April 11, 1857, where his parents, John C. and Eva M. (Zerold) Yager, also were born, and where they were reared and married. For some years the father was a student at the military school in Prague, and later served seven years as an officer in the Austrian army. After retiring from the army he engaged in the manufacture of stockingnet and a general mercantile business. While he was suecessful in his undertakings, and expanded his trade to considerable proportions, he longed for greater opportunities for advancement, and believed he eould find them in the United States, even though it might be in different lines of endeavor from those to which he was accustomed.

Accordingly, in 1868 he brought his family to this country and settled on a farm in Dane county, Wisconsin, and there reared his four children, three sons and one daughter, to maturity and won a competeney by his industry, thrift and good management. He died on the Wisconsin farm in 1883 and his widow at the same place in 1894. Their residence of fifteen years in that locality gave the people around them full knowledge of their worth and won them the esteem of all who knew them. They cultivated their farm with skill and diligence; they were true to all the better instincts of humanity in social life, and they performed with fidelity all the duties of American citizenship on an elevated plane of manhood and womanhood.

Their son Gustave passed his boyhood days on the farm, in school and the ordinary occupations of farmers' children in this country. After completing his education he clerked in a store until 1881. In the autumn of that year he left home to spend a winter in Florida, and when the spring of 1882 came went to Thompsonville, Connecticut, to engage in mercantile life. He remained seven years, and during that period was married in 1886 to Miss Jessie Bissland, a native of Gourock, Seotland. In 1889 they moved to Trinidad, Colorado, where he engaged in the grocery trade and mining until 1900, when the state of his wife's health made it necessary for them to return to Thompsonville, Conneetieut, where their three sons and one daughter are now being edueated, and which they still eall their home, although at present living in this county because of the work in which Mr. Yager is engaged.

He has followed mining more or less in Colorado and Nevada during the past twenty years, and the last two has been associated with David J. Reed, a sketeh of whom will be found in this work, developing the promising gold mining property of the Pioneer Gold Mining Company in this county, which, as has been noted, is the first of that kind to be worked in the state. In this engagement Mr. Yager has a field suited to his taste and capacity, and that he is well fitted for the work he has already demonstrated by the results he has achieved. The field is a fruitful one, too, for the mine has unusual promise and seems sure to be one of the richest ever laid open in the country.

"This prominent, prosperous and progressive farmer and stock man of Johnston township, Macon county, Missouri, began his operations in the industries in which he is now engaged with sixty calves bought with money borrowed from his father, and on land he rented for the purpose of farming and building up a business in the live stock trade. He now owns 320 aeres of land and feeds thirty to eighty head of cattle on an average every year. He also has his farm well improved, all under eultivation and brought to a high state of productiveness. His progress from practically nothing in the way of property to his

Mr. Easeley was born in the township of his present home on June 1, 1872. His grandfather, Jesse Easeley, and his father, Thomas M. Haseley, were natives of Kentucky, the latter born in Cumberland county of that state in 1820. When he was seven years old the family moved to Brown county, Illinois, where he grew to manhood and obtained his edueation, and then farmed until 1855. In that year he came to Missouri and located in Adair county near the village of Gibbs, but two years later moved to Macon county. Here he passed the rest of his life extensively and successfully engaged in farming, making all his time and efforts tell to his advantage, and at one time owning and cultivating 760 acres of land. He divided a considerable portion of this among his children, but still had 320 aeres at the time of his death, which oceurred in 1904, when he was eighty-four years of age.

He was a Republiean in polities, belonged to the Masonie fraternity and was a very zealous working member of the Christian church. He was also one of the hardy and heroie band of adventurers known to history as **'The Forty-Niners,'' who crossed the plains to the Pacific coast during the excitment over the discovery of gold in California just before the middle of the nineteenth century. This exploit was in keeping with his eharaeter, for he was resolute in his purpose and never driven from it by any prospeet of hardship or danger.

His son, Arley E. Easeley, obtained his edueation in the distriet schools of his native township and those of Sue City and Brashear in this state. On leaving school he started in business as a stockman and farmer, as stated in the first paragraph, and in 1892 bought 156 acres of land, a part of his present farm of 320 acres, whieh is one of the model farms of the county. He has also dealt considerably in real estate in connection with his farming and live stock operations and his other interests.

In the publie affairs of his township and county he has always taken an earnest interest and a leading part, his aim being at all times to do what he could to advance the interests of the region of his home and promote the welfare of its people, and with these ends in view he has given his time, serviee and material aid to every worthy enterprise in whieh they were involved. In polities he is a Republiean of the most pronounced type and one of his party's most energetic and effective workers, although he neither seeks nor desires any of its honors or official favors for himself. His religious connection is with the

On April 14, 1895, Mr. Easeley was united in marriage with Miss Jessie Malone, a daughter of Charles and Sarah Malone, esteemed residents of Adair county, Missouri, where Mrs. Easeley was born and reared, Two children have blessed the union, Alma and Marvin, both of whom are still members of the parental family circle.

Henry Marshall Campbell

Owning a fine farm of 160 aeres in White township, and eultivating it to the highest degree of productiveness, and also conducting in connection with his farming operations an extensive and profitable stock-raising industry, Henry Marshall Campbell is one of the most prosperous and progressive farmers and most substantial and respected citizens of Macon county. He was born in the county in 1850, and is a son of John and Emily (Ford) Campbell, natives of Virginia. The father left his ancestral home and came to Missouri in 1820, striding boldly into what was then a wilderness on the far western frontier, and daring Fate into the lists in ordér that through his own struggles and capabilities he might found a name and a family for himself away from the assistance of ancestral influence and traditions.

He was a valiant and heroic man even for that time and this locality as it was then, and in pursuing his dual vocation of farmer and carpenter here gave new proofs of his courage and endurance, which had already been much in evidence on the battlefields of the Revolutionary war, in which he served as a mere youth. He succeeded and prospered here, as by the force of his character and his resolute determination against odds, he showed that he would have succeeded and prospered almost anywhere and under any cireumstances. He met the difficulties in his path without fear and conquered them. He took the hardships and privations of his frontier life as a part of his destiny and grappled with them in a spirit that was bound to win suecess. And he aided in the development and improvement of the country with the same energy that he devoted to the building of his own fortunes.

Of the eight children born to him and his wife two are living: Cynthia, the wife of W. A. Atterberry of Elmer; and Henry M., the immediate subject of this writing. The mother died in 1860 and the father in 1875. "They both stood high in the regard of the community of their home, and were held in cordial esteem by everybody who knew them. In their daily lives they exhibited a strong and uncompromising sense of duty and devoted themselves to the requirements of their situation with unwavering fidelity. They were ereditable to American eitizenship, and their names are venerated as those of leaders in the publie and social life of this portion of the state in one of the most troublous periods of its history.

Henry M. Campbell grew to near maturity on his father's farm and was edueated in the primitive eountry sehools of his boyhood in this section. Although he lacked the care and direction of his parents during a portion of his minority, his mother dying when he was but ten years old, he met the requirements of life as a man even before he was of age, and has ever since shown the same spirit of mastery over circumstances and reliance on his own capacity and endeavors. As soon as he left school he began the work in which the rest of his life has been passed, that of farming and raising live stock. His progress at first was slow and painful, but he was knowing and persevering, and soon success began to come to him with increasing rapidity and volume. He now owns 160 acres of excellent land all of which he has under advanced cultivation except what he finds necessary to reserve for pasturage for his stock. He is also a stockholder in the Bank of Goldsberry, and interested in other institutions in which the good of the community is involved and fostered. In polities he adheres to the principles and governmental policies of the Democratic party, and he always takes an active part in its campaigns, working sedulously and intelligently for its success, although himself never seeking any of the honor or emoluments it has to bestow on its faithful members. His religious connection is with the Baptist church and he is very zealous in the work of the congregation to which he belongs, and in which his membership is highly appreciated.

1872 Mr. Campbell was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Prudence Moore, a native of Macon county. They had three children: Charles Owen, who now lives in South Dakota; Maude B., who is the wife of John A. Biler, and Arie. The mother of these children died on May 5, 1897, and in 1900 the father was married a second time, , being united on this occasion with Miss Daisy E. Pritchard, also a native of this county. Of the three children born of this union but two are living, a daughter named Cynthia and a son named William M., both of whom are at home and attending school. Mr. Campbell is universally recognized as one of the best, most useful and most representative citizens of Macon county, and whether viewed in his private life or his services to the region in which he resides, he is altogether worthy of the exalted position he occupies in the public regard.

Thomas J. Manning

This progressive and successful farmer and stock man of Chariton township in Macon county was born on March 10, 1857, in that part of the Old Dominion which is now known as West Virginia, and in the city of Charlestown. He came to Missouri with his parents when he was a boy and completed his education at MeGee College, College Mound, Macon county, the family having located in that neighborhood. After leaving school he entered upon the work which has oceupied his time and energies ever since, that of farming and raising stock for the markets.

Mr. Manning has a fine farm of 160 acres which he inherited, and which he has greatly improved and brought to a very advanced state of eultivation and produetiveness. He is attentive to every detail of his work and applies to all departments of it the intelligence gained from reading, studious observation and analytical reflection. The same course governs him in his stock industry also, and as a result both are highly profitable and have given him a wide reputation as one of the most progressive men in the business in this part of the county.

In the publie affairs of the township and county Mr. Manning takes an active and helpful part, giving his energetie aid to all worthy projeets for the improvement of the region and the benefit of its people. He has rendered excellent service as a member of the school board and in many other ways, and his devotion to the publie welfare is appreciated by the people who have the benefit of it. In polities he is a Democrat and is always zealous in behalf of the good of his party, contributing all he ean in service and influence for the suecess of its eandidates and striving with loyal and manly devotion to aid in giving it proper guidance and keep it up to a high standard of correctness in spirit and methods of operation.

On Mareh 20, 1879, Mr. Manning was joined in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Gipson, a daughter of Stephen and Lucinda Gipson, esteemed residents of Macon county. Six children have been born in the Manning household and five of them are living: Virginia, who still resides at home; Francis D., who is a rising young man in this county, and Mary F., Richard J. and John A., all of whom are also abiding with their parents and helping to brighten and cheer the family cirele.

Mr. Manning is highly respected throughout the county and wherever else the people have knowledge of him. He and his wife are devout and earnest members of the Presbyterian Church of the United

George Gwinner

Among the sturdy, industrious and productive eitizens of Macon county, Missouri, of German origin, who have applied to the development and improvement of the land of their adoption the qualities of patient and far-seeing industry, hardy endurance, resourcefulness in effort and frugality in life which have made the land of their nativity so great and prosperous, the late George Gwinner, of Eagle township, was one of the most useful and esteemed. He beeame warmly attached to his adopted country and devoted his energies to its welfare and the support of its publie institutions with the same ardor and effect as if it were his native country, and his services in their behalf were both extensive and appreciated, in accordance with his opportunities.

Mr. Gwinner was born in Bavaria, Germany, on June 24, 1827, and died in Eagle township, this county, on October 18, 1901. He was educated in the schools of his locality in Germany, and after leaving them drove a mail and express coach there for seven years. In 1865, when he was thirty-eight years of age, he eame to the United States and made his home for three years on a farm belonging to his sister in Jefferson county, Wisconsin, not far from the city of Milwaukee. In 1868 he became a resident of Macon county, locating first on forty acres of land which he bought on Burch ereek. This he soon afterward traded for a similar aereage that was a part of the farm on which he passed the remainder of his life and on which his widow now lives.

While residing with his sister he was energetie and able in assisting in the eultivation of her farm, and after he came to this county his industry and close application to the same industry was continuous and fruitful. At the time of his death he owned and cultivated in the most vigorous and successful manner a farm of 160 acres, which is highly improved and well provided with everything necessary for its operation and very productive, and which, in its present state of advanced development, represents the assiduity and skill of his labor and the wisdom of his management, as it does those of his widow. who has carried the farming on ever since his decease. He was married on November 20, 1870, to Miss Anna Dorothy Winnig, a native of

Macon county and daughter of John and Eva Winnig, who were born and reared in Germany, but were for many years among the most estimable and respected citizens of this county. They were generally esteemed by all classes of the people to whom they were known, as is their daughter, Mrs. Gwinner. She and her husband were the parents of six ehildren, five of whom are living: Henry, whose home is in Kansas City, Missouri; Elizabeth, the wife of H. Carey, a prosperous resident of Macon county; Adam, who also lives in this county; Mortin, who resides in Livingston, Kansas, and Andrew, who is still at home with his mother.

Mr. Gwinner adhered to the Republiean party in politieal affairs, and gave it zealous and effective support. Although averse to official life and greatly preferring the relief and comfort of private citizenship, he served well and wisely as a member of the school board for a period of ten years, giving his time and efforts freely for the cause of public edueation and the general welfare of the people. In church faith and membership he was a Lutheran and faithful in attention to his church duties. His widow has for many years been actively connected with the Christian church and one of the most zealous and active members of the congregation to whieh she belongs in all the worthy undertakings in whieh it engages. She is a pattern of industry and thrift in her domestie and farm work, and gives the community an example worthy of all imitation in all the relations of life.

Dr. James Wesley Abbott

This esteemed physician and suregon of Goldsberry, in this county, represents at least the second generation of his family born on the soil of Missouri and drawing from it stature and strength of body, material aequisitions in the way of wordly wealth and opportunity for the exercise of the mental faeulties given by nature and developed and trained in the edueational institutions of the state. He was born in Linn eounty on January 4, 1877, and is a son of Joseph K. and Julia (Nester) Abbott, also Missourians by nativity, the former born in Randolph county and the latter in Linn county. They were married in Deeember, 1867, and passed the remainder of their lives as worthy and prosperous farmers, the mother dying in 1887 and the father in 1888. Of the seven ehildren born of their union, four grew to maturity and three are now living: George William; Ellen A., the wife of Hermit H. Clark, of Wyoming, and Dr. James W., whose life story is briefly recorded in this sketch.

he was less than twelve years of age. He grew to manhood thereafter without parental assistance or guidance, and the experience taught him at an early age that in the battle of life before him, and all too soon upon him, his main reliance for suecess must be on his own capacities and efforts. The lessons of adversity were salutary in his case. They did not indurate or sour him, but gave him stimulus to exertion and training in self-reliance. Fortune favored him in the matter of acquiring a good edueation, which he began in the district schools and completed at excellent high schools in Brookfield and Chillicothe. His technical professional training was secured at Barnes' Medical College, in St. Louis, from which he was graduated with the degree of M. D. in 1907. :

The young Doctor, with the whole wide world before him and no special claims to attach him to any particular spot, chose the village of Goldsberry, in this county as the center of his field of operations and at once located there and began his professional career. The time he has passed in it is necessarily short, but it has been sufficient to demonstrate his worth as a citizen and his ability as a physician, and the people have accorded him the high rank in both respeets that he has shown he deserves. His practice has grown rapidly and is now extensive and exaeting. It lays him and his resources under tribute in all kinds of weather and at all hours of the day and night. But his profession is the goddess of his devotions and his worship at her shrine is constant, sincere, faithful and self-sacrificing. No claim of personal comfort or enjoyment and no consideration of personal interest or advantage can swerve him from the path of duty in this respect, and the people know that when they require his services they ean depend on getting them. This fidelity to his ehosen line of work has given him a hold on publie confidence and esteem which is strengthened and intensified by the ability with which he meets the requirements of the most eritieal eases and the suecess whieh rewards his efforts in caring for them.

He takes an active interest in the publie affairs of the township and does his whole duty toward promoting its welfare. In politieal faith and adherence he is a firm and consistent member of the Demoeratie party, but never an active partisan or offensive in his loyalty in either speeeh or other party service. His fraternal affiliation is with the order of Modern Woodmen of Ameriea, and he is the medieal examiner for the camp in whieh he holds his membership. In his profession he is studious and attentive to every means available to him for improvement. His daily practice gives him hints which his reflection converts into added power, and his reading of the best medical journals and other literature bearing on his life work keeps him in touch with the progress and enlargement of the science to which he is devoted. He is gifted with rare intelleetual hospitality which receives as a welcome guest and entertains as a desired friend every new suggestion that seems of value until he has proved its worth or want of it, and so he goes on broadening and deepening his professional knowledge and practical skill, knowing that the science of medicine is a very progressive one and allows no laggards in its courts if suecess and distinetion in the application of its teachings are the objeets sought. His profession holds before him its golden eup of full fruition of his hopes, and with commendable zeal he is: moving toward it. All who witness his efforts commend him, and he is, therefore, held in the highest regard by the whole population of the township and much of the surrounding country. In November, 1906, he was united in marriage with Miss Nellie A. Bradley, of Macon county.

William Winfield Bricker

Three of the great states of the American Union have had the benefit of the impulse to progress and development springing from the active spirit and intelligent industry of William Winfield Bricker, one of the leading farmers and stockmen and prominent and influential citizens of Callao township, in this county. He was born in Pennsylvania, lived in Illinois a time and has since been a resident of the portion of Macon county, Missouri, in which he now has his home. In all he has been zealous and energetic, although he was but fifteen when he left his native state, and in each he has made his mark on the industrial life and gained the favor of the people of his locality.

Mr. Bricker was born in Armstrong county, Pennsylvania, on September 10, 1847, and became a resident of Illinois in 1862, His education was obtained in the district schools of his native county and ended | there. For even as a youth he was full of action and beeame a producer at an early age. In Illinois he farmed and raised stock on a small scale, but in this county he has carried on both industries on a wider - range and with more commanding success and larger profits. He has confined himself to raising cattle and hogs principally in his stock operations, and by wise management and strict attention to every detail of his business, has not only escaped disaster in raising his product and shipping it to the markets, but has been unusually successful in both, making a reputation for himself and his output that is high and widespread and stands greatly to his credit.

Mr. Bricker has also dealt extensively in mules, which form one of the world-renowned products of Missouri, and in this branch of the live-stock industry he has also been very successful. His success is, however, neither accidental nor due to fortunate circumstances. It is the logical result of his ability, his attention to his pursuits, his business acumen and the care and intelligence which he bestows on every detail of his operations. From start to finish, every season's work is carefully planned and systematically conducted, and the results are always commensurate with the outlay of time, effort and intelligence in preparing for them.

In 1880 Mr. Bricker moved to Callao and started an enterprise in undertaking and the lumber and furniture trade, which he is still conducting with a steady increase in the volume of his business. In this enterprise, also, he has wrung prosperity from conditions by his persistent industry and close attention to business, leaving nothing to chance, but seeing to every detail and making every day of effort tell to his advantage. He has a large trade and keeps it active and responsive by his own energy and far-seeing intelligence in connection with it. He stands as high as a merchant as he ever did as a stockman, his establishment being one of the most extensive and satisfactory within a radious of many miles, and holding a high rank in the commercial world around him.

In connection with the affairs of the community of his home he is an active and energetic promoter of progress and development, showing his devotion to the town and county in which he lives by his zeal for their welfare and his regard for the people around him by seeking in every way he can to advance their best interests. Public affairs have his attention and he does his part to see that they are properly conducted, although he is not himself either desirous of official station or willing to accept it. In 1875 he was united in marriage with Miss Luella Harp.

W. A. Mingus, who ranks among the most prosperous and suecessful farmers of Drake township, in this county, is not a native of Missouri, but has lived in the state nearly forty years. He came to this region a youth of eighteen and, therefore, had seen something of the world in other parts of the country. And his arrival on this side of the Mississippi was not in the early days of the wild life and unsettled conditions of this locality, but after civilization had gained a considerable foothold and made substantial advances, when all the machinery of local government was working smoothly after many years of use, and when the country was reasonably well populated. Yet, although he is neither a native of the soil nor a pioneer in its cultivation, neither a founder of the civil polity under which he lives nor one of those who helped to give it form and substance in development from its first crude and unsystematized state, and although all his knowledge and views of life in the great American republie were not drawn from his present surroundings, he is still thoroughly Missourian in his tastes, habits and local patriotism. His best efforts have been put forth in behalf of the progress of his present location, and he is in full accord with the feelings, aspirations and enterprise of its people. It is, therefore, as a representative citizen of Missouri and Macon county, that he finds a place in this work, for he has been active and influential in making the history of this region during a long time, and all the elements of its twentieth century development up to this period are due in some measure to his devotion to its welfare, and his services in promoting it.

Mr. Mingus was born on July 30, 1852, in the state of Ohio and became a resident of Missouri in 1870, coming to the state and this county with his parents, Peter and Elizabeth (Barr) Mingus, that year. The parents were natives of Pennsylvania and were married in 1844. Soon afterward they moved to Ohio, which was then more undeveloped than Missouri was when they came here nearly twenty years later. They had ten children, six of whom are living: Mary, the wife of Martin Heiser, of La Plata; W. A., the immediate subject of this brief memoir; Martha; Sarah, the wife of Burch Lee, of La Plata; and George and Charles. The mother died in 1889 and the father in 1903, leaving their children the priceless heritage of a good name and a record of upright living and usefulness that is enshrined in the reverential memory of all who knew them.

Their son, W. A. Mingus, grew to the age of eighteen in Ohio and was educated in its publie schools. He was trained to the vocation of farming in his early life, and he has followed it without interruption to the present time. As soon as he left school he began his successful career in agricultural pursuits, and to this he has devoted all his subsequent years and the greater part of his energy, industry and intelligence. In connection with his farming operations he has also been extensively engaged in raising live-stock, and he has made both branches . of his industry profitable to himself and beneficial to his township and county. By thrift, diligence and first-rate management he has made himself comfortable for life, and by energetic and serviceable atten- tion to all the duties of citizenship he has won the high regard of the people all around him. For more than twenty years he has given the people of Drake county excellent service as a eonstable. He has also been exceptionally useful as a member of the school board for eight years, and during the last two years he has been a deputy sheriff, in addition,

In political connection he belongs to the Demoeratie party and in all of its campaigns he is one of its effective workers. Fraternally he is a member of the Masonie order and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. His lodges interest him, as does everything else that appeals to the higher attributes of his manhood, and he gives them zealous and helpful attention. He was married in 1874 to Miss Maggie Boydston, a native of Georgia. She has been a helpmeet for him in the proper acceptance of the term, and an important aid in working out the suecess of all his undertakings. They stand well in the social life of the community and are aecounted on all sides as among the most worthy and estimable of its eitizens.

This prominent business man and publie-spirited citizen of Macon is one of the most esteemed men in the eity, and, although he is, and has been for some years, engaged in the liquor traffie, he enjoys universal respect and is very popular with all classes of the people. He takes great interest in the community and is one of the most energetie and effeetive workers for its advancement and the promotion of its welfare. He is a man of decided convictions and holds to what he believes in firmly, but does not thrust his opinions on others and never finds fault with theirs. He performs all the duties of citizenship with fidelity and breadth of view, giving a good example to others by the manner in which he does it.

Mr. Strode was born at Milan, Sullivan county, Missouri, on November 20, 1878. His father, J. C. Strode, was born on August 9, 1851, at Thompkinsville, Monroe county, Kentucky. He began life for himself as a farmer and is still pursuing that vocation, conducting his operations since 1871 in the vieinity of Milan, in this state. He is a son of William Strode, one of the leading men, in his day, of Monroe county, Kentucky. As has been noted, he became a resident of Sullivan county, Missouri, in 1871. and there he married Miss Minerva JJ. Payne, a native of that county and a daughter of Addison and Amanda (Braden) Payne, who originally lived in Kentueky.

in infaney. The six living are Addison P., the subject of this sketch; Elizabeth, the wife of L. Montgomery, of Milan; and William J., Belva, Ella and Jessie. The parents are both living and have their home in Milan, where they are prosperous as farmers and held in general good opinion as citizens, deserving the esteem they enjoy by the uprightness of their lives and the interest and activity they display in the advancement and improvement of the region in which they live. The father has always been a Democrat in politics, and, although an active worker for his party, has always declined to accept a political office of any kind, whether tendered through eleetion or appointment, preferring to diseharge his duty in the domain of publie affairs as an untrammeled private citizen.

Addison P. Strode was reared in Milan and obtained his education in the publie schools of that eity in the preparatory grades, completing his scholastie training at Green City College in the same eounty. After leaving college he worked for a while on the home farm with his father. He next entered the employ of Payne Bros., who conducted a mercantile house, remaining with them until they sold their business. In 1901 he went to California and in 1903 located in Macon, where he has ever since lived. He was variously occupied until 1908, when he started the business in which he is now engaged, and in which he has prospered ina gratifying manner. He, also, is a Democrat in his political faith, but has never been an active partisan.

In fraternal life Mr. Strode belongs to the Fraternal Order of Eagles and the Improved Order of Red Men, and has risen to high rank in both associations. He is a Past Worthy President of the Eagles and a Past Sachem of the Red Men. He is also secretary and treasurer of the Macon Retail Liquor Dealers' Association. In his make-up there is a large element of the sportive spirit, which makes him a great lover and patron of outdoor sports. On March 11, 1907, he was united in marriage with Miss Daisy L. Farris, a daughter of Mack H. and Eliza (Baine) Farris, natives of Kentucky and Iowa, respectively, but long residents of Missouri, and herself born and reared in Atlanta, Macon county, Missouri. She and her husband have had one child, their son, Denton Allison, who died on April 8, 1909.

An incident in the business eareer of Mr. Strode, which is almost unique in its character, and which excited great interest at the time of its occurrence, is worthy of special mention. On one occasion, when Rev. P. M. Fitzgerald, a traveling evangelist, was holding a series of meetings in the eity, Mr. Strode invited him to preaeh a sermon in his place of business on a Saturday morning, and requested all of his patrons who could do so to attend the service. The invitation was as promptly accepted as it was cordially tendered, and about 200 of the regular patrons of the saloon were present when the sermon was preached. Business was suspended during the services and those present gave the preacher close and very respectful attention. The proprietor and his assistants stood near the evangelist while he preached and joined heartily in the singing of the hymns that were led by à male choir that aecompanied the minister. In explanation of his course in this incident Mr. Strode stated that he had been reared by Christian parents and always had a kindly regard for the sort of people they associated with, and in justification of this Rev. Mr. Fitzgerald said that he was a plain-spoken man and was trying to reach the hearts of the people; also, that he believed the men who patronize saloons were as much in need of the message he had to deliver as anybody else, and the surest way to reach them was by meeting them in their resorts. The views of the people of the city concerning this incident differed widely, but all agreed that it was a strong proof of Mr. Strode's independence, courage and tolerance of mind.

This venerable and highly esteemed patriarch, who is now nearly fourscore years old, has passed seventy-two years of his useful life in Macon county, and all of them in Narrows township near the village of Excello, a **type of the wise, who soar but never roam, true to the kindred points of Heaven and home." He has soared in the sense of greatly improving his own condition and aiding materially and visibly in building up and developing the section all around him, but he has never wandered far from his own fireside, or sought opportunity for nught but the duties plainly before him from day to day, and these he has ever performed with fidelity and to the best of his ability. 'The results stand to his eredit as the produets of a long, elean life of personal suecess and general usefulness.

Mr. Brock was born on January 9, 1831, in Lineoln county, Kentucky, and is a son of Chester and Anna (King) Brock, also natives of Kentucky and scions of families long resident in that state, his more remote ancestors being among its pioneer settlers. When the son was but six years old the family moved to Missouri and loeated in Narrows township, in this county, where the parents passed the remainder of their days, profitably and progressively engaged in farming. Eleven ehildren were born in the household and ten of them grew to maturity. Six are living, and in their several walks in life are exem- plifying the best traits of sturdy American citizenship and resting safely on the general esteem of all who know them. They are: Fred M., Harvey T., Mattison, James H., Anna, the wife of Collin King, and Mary Jane. The father died in 1869 and the mother in 1846.

Their son, Frederiek M., reached his manhood in Macon county and obtained his education at the publie sehools near his home. In the early days of his boyhood and youth the country schools in this section were primitive and their seope was limited. "Their rough desks, slab benches and other appliances, and their imperfect protection against the weather, were characteristic of the frontier, and the course of study and method of teaching were in keeping with these. The schools aimed at little more than the rudiments of learning, and even to these the greater part of the pupils had access only when they could be spared from the exacting requirements incident to redeeming the wilderness from its savage state and bringing it to generous responsiveness under the persuasive hand of skillful cultivation.

Mr. Brock has such benefits in the way of education as these schools supplied, and for the rest nature and experience were his tutors. Their lessons, though often harsh and rugged in their inculcation, were, nevertheless, thorough in charaeter and enduring in value. They gave the pupils who mastered and heeded them self-reliance and resourcefulness, quickness of perception and readiness in action, breadth of view and capacity of endurance, and the stern discipline of the hardy life in which they were administered furnished as well firmness of fiber and flexibility of funetion. It was on these lessons that Mr. Brock depended mainly for advancement in the struggle for success, and he found them equal to his needs.

After leaving school he started at once on his life's work as a farmer, and to this he adhered until a few years ago, when advaneing age induced him to retire from all active pursuits to spend the remainder of his days in quiet enjoyment of the competence he had won by continuous and persevering hard work. The sunset of life finds him comfortable in a worldly way and standing high in the regard of the whole community in which his usefulness has been so conspicuously exhibited and employed to such good purpose.

In 1852 Mr. Brock was united in marriage with Miss Maria MeCann, a native of Randolph county, Missouri. They became the parents of six children, five of whom are living: William T., Irving C., Shepherd M., Louisa, the wife of R. C. Lamb, of Excello, and David. The father has always been a firm and faithful Democrat of the oldschool and throughout his mature life has given good serviee to the interests of his party. He gloried in its long supremaey and participated in some of its later triumphs before the Civil war. He has shared in its discipline of defeat and trial since that memorable struggle and helped it to vietory on the two occasions when it has elected its candidate to the presideney in recent years, And through all he has steadfastly stood by it and maintained his hope for its ultimate regeneration and continued domination again for long periods. In the local affairs of the township and county he has taken a zealous interest and a prominent part. It has been his great delight to see the eommunity expanding and growing around him, augmenting its wealth and power, enlarging and quickening its educational and moral forees, and elevating and refining its social agencies, and he has sedulously contributed to all this improvement. He served as a member of the school board for a number of years, and has belonged to the Baptist ehurch for a long time. His first wife died. And in 1878 he contracted a second marriage, on this oceasion being united with Miss Naney Darby, of Randolph county, this state.

Y John B. Edwards

The oft-told tale of the triumphs of American manhood in the use of the opportunities afforded to thrift and enterprise in this country, when directed by natural ability and without the aid of favoring circumstances, is forcibly illustrated by the record of John B. Edwards, one of the leading and most progressive farmers and stockmen of White township and ranked among the most substantial citizens of Macon eounty. His success in life ought to be very encouraging to young men who are struggling against adversities, if they have the chance to read and reflect over its elements, and is a credit alike to the family from which he sprang and the community in which he lives and labors with such gratifying results.