Macon County, Missouri - Biographical sketches, 1910 (part 2 of 20)

Y Charles Morgan

While living in a very different environment and section of country from that of his nativity, childhood and youth, Charles Morgan, of Lyda township, in this eounty, is not far from the latter. He was born and reared about 100 miles from where he now lives, his life beginning in Cass county, Illinois, in April, 1858.. His parents, George W. and Louisa J. (Deerheart) Morgan, were prosperously engaged in farming in Illinois until the death of the latter there in 1861. The father was born in North Carolina and in early life became a resident on the prairie of the great inland empire state, where he remained until 1877, when he moved his family to Missouri and loeated in Macon county. By his first marriage he became the father of eight children, four of whom are living, John P., Martha, George W. and Charles. The second marriage of the father was with Miss Wolf, of Illinois. No children were born of this union. His life ended in 1895, and he left a good name as a priceless heritage to his children, and the knowledge on their part that he well deserved the high place he filled in the regard of all who knew him.

Charles Morgan lost his mother by death when he was but three years old, and, although he remained with his father until he attained his majority, he began the battle of life for himself as soon as he finished the limited course of academie training furnished him by the distriet schools in the neighborhood of his home. His years have been devoted to farming and raising live-stock, and he has been very successful in both. He is a progressive man and whatever he undertakes gets the best care and efforts he ean give it. His farming is conducted according to the most approved modern methods and his stock industry with all the intelligence and skill aequired from judieious reading and observant and long-continued practice. Both reward his attention and intelligenee with excellent returns, and in each he is in the first rank in this part of the country. His farm comprises 300 acres of good land, and what is not required for pasturage for his herds and flocks is cultivated with the utmost vigor, care and progressiveness.

In reference to the general interests of the township and county he is one of the most helpful, intelligent and enterprising citizens of the locality in which he lives. Every worthy undertaking for the improvement of the region or the advancement or greater comfort of its people, receive his active aid and has the benefit of his serviceable influence and stimulating example. He has served on the school board for three years and been highly beneficial in promoting the interests it has in charge. Politically he is a Democrat, and, as he believes firmly in the principles of his party, he is always zealous and very effective in working for their supremacy in the government of the county, state and nation. His fraternal relations are with the Modern Woodmen, the Maccabees and the Royal Neighbors, and his religious connection is with the Presbyterian church. He is an ardent church worker and a valuable aid in every work for good which the congregation to which he belongs engages in. In 1877 he was married to Miss Sarah Jane MeDuffee, a daughter of Alexander and Rebecca (Callette) MeDuffee, and a native of Macon county. Eight children have been born of this union. Those living are Charles W., Sarah Mabel, Everett F., Hugh H., Carl H. and Alpha Grace. All the members of the family are highly respected and each of them has a host of friends. The home is a popular social center and to those who frequent it, and they are many, it furnishes a fine example of graceful and unostentatious Macon county hospitality. 'The charaeter of that is above eritieism, and it is high praise to aseribe it to any household, but well merited in the case of the Morgan home.

The great state of Missouri, with its 70,000 square miles of area and its more than 3,000,000 inhabitants, its enormous industrial production, agricultural output, mineral wealth and commercial power, challenges the attention and admiration of the world. And the wonder it excites is all the greater, in view of the fact that within the memory of men now living it was an expanse of almost trackless wilderness, with its immense stores of bounty for the children of men practically unknown, and all its great possibilities undeveloped. It basked in the sun with its lap full of treasure, as it had done for countless ages, waiting, and, in due time, calling for its lord and master, the commanding might of mind, to take possession and make the most of what it had to offer for the service of mankind.

Among the men of this generation who obeyed the eall and have never regretted it is John Louis Norfolk of La Plata township, one of the leading farmers of Macon county and one of the influential and representative men of the locality in which he has his home. He was born in Pennsylvania in 1850 and is a son of John F. and Lucina (Morrison) Norfolk, also natives of Pennsylvania and long residents of that state. They came to Missouri in 1879, one year after their son, John

L. had blazed the way for them, and here they continued to the end of their days the occupation of progressive farming which they had followed in their native state. The father died in Macon county, on a farm which he had greatly improved, in 1891, and the mother passed away in 1895. They had six children, all of whom are living, and are John Louis, Frederick C., Ellen, Emma, Florence and Frank.

John Louis Norfolk, their first born child, obtained his education in the Union schools of Monongahela, in his native state, and, after its completion, engaged in boating on the Monongahela, Allegheny and Ohio rivers for a period of eight years. In 1878 he came to Missouri, and, locating in Macon county, began the enterprise in farming, which he is still conducting with great profit to himself and decided benefit to the region around him.

The life story of this progressive and self-reliant man has its lights and shades of tragedy, comedy and sentiment, but it is not striking in aught except in the faith which he has kept with himself in pursuing with persistent and determined industry the path he marked out for himself in early life and the great success he has achieved by his steadfast adherence to it. He nows owns and farms in Macon county a fine tract of 160 acres of land, which he has improved with good buildings, provided with every applianee of the most approved pattern for conducting its operations, and brought to a high state of development and productiveness. He also owns and directs the farming of 1,600 acres of land in Cheyenne county, Kansas. While his operations are extensive, they are carried on with vigor and intelligence and the returns are commensurate with the outlay of effort and skill, and these are considerable.

Mr. Norfolk has also taken a deep and very serviceable interest in the publie affairs of his township and county, contributing in every way available to him to the general welfare and advancement of the region and discharging all the duties of citizenship with high ideals and unwavering fidelity to duty. He was one of the organizers of the Farmers Fire and Lightning Mutual Insurance Company, of which he has served as director, treasurer and, for six years, president. He as also one of the organizers of the Farmers Tornado, Cyclone and Windstorm Mutual Insurance Company of the First Congressional Distriet of Missouri, of which he has served as director, treasurer and, for the past six years, as president. He has served as a member of the school board for more than thirty years in succession, this being the longest eontinuous service to the people rendered by any man in Macon county. He has been president of the board a number of times and its clerk for twenty years or longer. The schools have prospered and progressed under his direction, and they now stand, in their present high development and excellent condition, an enduring monument to his foresight, energy and sagacity, and everything else he has put his hand to shows the quiekening influence of his progressive spirit. In fraternal relation he is allied with the Masonie Order, the Woodmen and the Maceabees, and in church affiliation he is a Presbyterian.

In 1871 Mr. Norfolk was united in marriage with Miss Barbara L. Cowan, a native of Steubenville, Ohio. They have had eight children and four of them are living, Harry A., Frank L, Eletha B. and Flossie. In polities the father is an ardent Republiean and always takes a leading part in the campaigns of his party. He is a zealous and effective worker for its success and his services in its behalf are highly appreciated by its leaders and all who are interested in its welfare. Being strietly a self-made man, and having made his own way in the world without extraneous aid or the benefit of any of Fortune's favors, he might well be proud of the suecess he has achieved and the prominence he has won among his fellow citizens. But he is only thankful for his opportunities and the ability to make the most of them. With reference to his personal worth and what he has accomplished, he is as modest as he has been industrious and successful. But the people around him give him his proper rank and standing as a farmer and a man, and they esteem him accordingly, and that is very highly in every relation of life.

M Dr. Francis W. Allen

years a resident and during more than forty-two one of the active, serviceable and progressive physicians and surgeons of Missouri, the late Dr. F. W. Allen, of this county, whose death at the advanced age of seventy-four years and seven months crowned a lfe of unusual activity and usefulness, was one of the most eminent and universally esteemed men in the whole northeastern seetion of the state. He lived and labored for the good of his fellow-men, and in return for his devotion to their welfare they bestowed upon him a full measure of their regard and good will, and Fortune smiled upon him with a fair share of her bounty in worldly possessions and material wealth. He rose to well-merited prominence in his profession, gained elevation and influence as a citizen, and attained the highest rank in social life.

ginia and early settlers in Howard county, Missouri. The father was born in Alleghany eounty, in the Old Dominion, in 1802, and passed his younger days on the plantation of his father, employing also a few years of his early manhood there in the same occupation on his own account. He eame to this state as a young man, when Howard county, where he located, was on the frontier and still largely in its state of primeval wilderness. After a residence of two years in that county, he moved to Monroe eounty, and there he passed all his subsequent years actively engaged in farming, dying in 1852 on the farm he had redeemed from the wilds and rendered fruitful and comfortable as a home for his family. His marriage with Miss Mary Withers resulted in the birth of eight children in his household, and of these four are yet living: George M.; Elizabeth, the wife of Thomas MeManama; Charles L, and James S., all residents of Monroe county. The father was an active and devout member of the Christian ehurch, and a determined advocate of every form of publie improvement that he thought would benefit his community and advanee the interests of the rest of the county in which he lived.

Dr. Allen began his scholastie training in the distriet schools of Monroe county, continued it at the State University at Columbia, Missouri, and completed it at Bethany college in Virginia, from which he was graduated in the literary course. After his return home he taught school at Middle Grove Academy in Monroe county and the academy in Maeon City, where former Governor Dockery, of this state, was one of his pupils. When the Civil war broke out, although he did not share the extreme views of some of the Southern people, his sympathies were with them in their contest for the salvation of the political tenets they held. But he did not join in the sectional and fraternal strife as a soldier. Instead of going into the army as a possible subject for a violent death, he determined to prepare himself to save human life and minister to its comfort. He entered the St. Louis Medical College and pursued a full medical course of instruction, obtaining his degree of M. D. at its completion. In 1864 he returned to Macon county and began the practice of his profession, continuing his work with great industry and success until his death on November 23, 1906.

For many years the Doctor was an aetive working member of the county, the state and the national medical societies, contributing liberally from the storehouse of his medical learning and professional experience to the interest and value of their proceedings, and deriving great benefit from them in return. His practice was extensive, general and exaeting, but he never faltered in the performance of his duty or grew impatient of its requirements. It was his life work and engaged all his faculties, and he gave it the most devoted attention at all times. No personal desire, no pecuniary interest, no publie occasion or display ever caused him to neglect his patients, and because of his fidelity, as well as his ability and skill, he was esteemed as few men of his time in this locality were. All classes of the people revered him, and many depended on him as their chief reliance in times of trouble. His first patient was also his last one, Uncle Johnnie Clarkson, whom he visited on Friday morning before taking sick.

On December 6, 1864, he was united in marriage with Miss Mollie Pearl, a native of Macon county and a daughter of W. E. and Elizabeth Pearl, early settlers in the county. Four children were born of the union, all of whom grew to maturity and are still living. In addition, the Doctor and his wife reared an adopted daughter, whose name is Elizabeth Brimmer. Their own children ar Robert William and Charles M.; Francis W., whose home is at Kaseyville, and John P., a resident of Cairo, in Randolph county. In polities Dr. Allen was a life-long and consistent Democrat, and, although he never sought or desired a political office, he was constant and effective in his service to his party. His fraternal connection was with the Masonic order, in the work of which he took a great interest, and his religious faith was expressed in an active membership in the Christian church, of which his widow is also a member and in which she is an energetic and appreciated worker. Dr. Allen was a very useful citizen. The trumpet of world-wide fame never sounded his name abroad, but the people among whom he lived and labored revered his character, appreciated his services and honor his memory. They regard him as one of the best and most worthy citizens Macon county ever had.

John M. Ketcham

John M. Keteham of Lyda township, Macon county, who is the owner of the celebrated Lakeview farm of 620 acres, which overlooks Love lake in that township, is a native of Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, where he was born on December 28, 1833. His parents, and Elizabeth (Manon) Ketcham, were also born and reared in that state, the paternal grandparents moving into it from New Jersey. The father was a farmer and surveyor and a man of consequence where he lived, his work in surveying land being of great service to the people and highly appreciated by them. He died in 1874 and his widow in 1882. "They had nine children of whom those now living are: Benv

John M. Ketcham secured his education in the distriet schools of his native county, and. after leaving school, farmed there until 1866, when he came to Missouri. On his arrival in this state he took up his residence in Macon county, loeating in Lyda township, where he now lives. He continued in this county the oceupation he had begun in Pennsylvania, and prospered from the beginning of his undertaking here. He is now possessed of one of the most valuable and desirable farms in Lyda township, which has many advantages in the nature and produetiveness of the soil, the range of its fertility and its beautiful location. It is on the border of the picturesque Love lake, and presents a commanding view of the beauties of that inviting inland mirror, which refleets from its elear and sparkling surface all the changes of the sky above it and the varied attractions of its shores. The farm comprises 620 aeres and is known far and wide as Lakeview farm, as has been stated. It is highly improved, well cultivated and kept in the most attractive condition at all times. Here Mr. Ketcham farms entensively and profitably and also carries on a flourishing industry in raising stock. His stock industry is general, but he makes a specialty of Chester white hogs, raising them in large numbers and giving every possible eare to the work at every stage, thus preparing for the market the best produet attainable to skill and favorable circumstances. His output is well known in all the markets of trade in live stoek, and stands in the front rank everywhere.

It is inevitable that a man of Mr. Ketcham's enterprise and progressiveness should be deeply and intelligently interested in publie affairs and should do all in his power to aid in promoting the improvement of the region in which he lives. He has shown this spirit and activity in many effective ways, and has been of great service,to the township and county in doing it. He served as a member of the school board four years and in 1884 was his party's candidate for the office of eounty judge. But being a Republican, he made a hopeless race from the beginning of the campaign, as it was impossible for any man, under ordinary eireumstanees, to overcome the large Democratic preponderance in the county. He is devoted to the welfare of his party and one of its most energetie and effective workers at all times. In chureh relations he is a Methodist.

In 1869 Mr. Keteham was united in marriage with Miss Belle Dunnington, whose parents eame from Tennessee to Macon county and located in Lyda township, where she was born. Of the five children all are living, Ula F., Wilmer H., Clarence, Rolla Benjamin and Ora, the wife of P. Thompson, a merchant in Kirksville. The various members of the family stand well in the communities in which they live, and are recognized, wherever they are known as most estimable and worthy citizens.

Frederick William Dohring

To no elass of our foreign population, whether by birth or parentage, is the Uuited States more indebted than those of German origin. They bring to our shores the native thrift, industry and hopeful persisteney of their race, and while they employ those qualities for their own advancement, they at the same time, use them for the general welfare and the advancement of the community around them. Wherever they loeate they make the wilderness blossom and fruetify like a garden, and often, in an incredibly short time, industries spring into aetive life, land rises in value, schools and other institutions of value multiply, and every element of a rapid and forceful progress is awakened and set in motion.

Frederick W. Dohring, one of the progressive and prosperous farmers of Liberty township in this county, furnishes in his record of usefulness, in his residenee of more than fifty years in the United States, a fine illustration of what the Germans have done in developing and building up the country. He was born in Prussia, Germany, in October, 1841, and is a son of Carl and Christina (Berner) Dohring, also natives of the Fatherland, where their forefathers dwelt for many generations. He came with his parents to the United States in 1857, and found a new home with them in Niagara county, New York. They were prosperous farmers in their new location, as they had been in their native land, and passed the remainder of their days in peace and plenty, finding the land of their adoption freer and more fruitful in the opportunities it offered for industry and frugality than that of their birth had been. The mother died in 1867 and the father in 1877. Of their six children only two are living, their daughter Minnie, who is the wife of F. Berner of New York, and their son Frederick W.

The last named obtained his education in the schools of Germany, and after his arrival in this country at the age of between fifteen and sixteen, worked on farms in Niagara county, New York, until the beginning of the Civil war. He then enlisted in Company B, Twentyeighth New York infantry, and his regiment was soon at the front and aetively engaged in the hostilities, which were energetie from the start. Mr. Dohring took part in the battle of Winchester, the battle of Cedar Mountain, where he was wounded, the terrible engagements at Fredericksburg and Gettysburg, and numerous contests of minor significance, continuing in the service until June 1863 when his regiment was discharged. He then returned to the pursuits of peaceful industry, Mr. Dohring sought again his New York home, where he remained until 1868. In that year he came to Missouri and located in Liberty township, Macon county, where he now lives.

On his arrival in this county he resumed his farming operations up to 1890 when he became afflicted with rheumatism and was totally disabled. In that year he disposed of his farm and is now retired from active business. He applied to his work all that reading, observation and refleetion have taught him, and was highly successful in his operations. He was more-over, one of the leading spirits in his township in the matter of publie improvements and close and intelligent attention to the duties of citizenship. His political faith is pinned to the principles of the Republican party and he was incessant in his activity in behalf of its success. He served for many years as a school direetor and his work in furthering the interests of the sehools was earnest and effective, and was cordially appreciated by the people in whose behalf it was done.

Mr. Dohring's religious connection is with the Evangelical church (of which he was up to the time of his affliction) an active and zealous working member and had been for many years. He has given the congregation to which he belongs excellent service as a stewart, the superintendent of its Sunday school, and in various other official capacities, and has always been among the foremost in support of all its worthy undertakings. In 1864 he was united in marriage with Miss Frederica Berner, like himself, a native of Germany. They had five children of whom two are living, their son George, who is a resident of Kansas city, Missouri, and their other son Frederick F., at whose home he is living now. The mother died on April 26, 1898. She was universally regarded as a good woman, a credit to her native land and a benefaetion to that of her adoption. Her husband is held in the same esteem, and the sons also stand high in publie estimation wherever they are known.

By his versatility in turning from one occupation to another and back again to the first, when circumstances justified the change, Alexander M. Ross, the leading blacksmith of Bloomington, and for some years one of the suecessful and progressive farmers of Liberty township, has given a good illustration of the readiness of American manhood to adapt itself to whatever is required of it by its enviroment. Mr. Ross is a native of Macon county and was born in 1855. His father, Craven P. Ross, was born in Kentucky and eame to Missouri with his parents in his boyhood. He became a resident of Macon county in 1847, and here, to the end of his life, he followed farming with good success. His wife, whose maiden name was Margaret E. Posey, was of Kentucky parentage, but was born in Howard eounty, Missouri. Of the five children born to them only two are living, their sons George W. and Alexander M. The father died in 1899 and the mother in 1902. Alexander M. Ross secured his education in the district schools and, when he finished their course of instruction, learned the trade of blaeksmith. He worked at the trade a short time, then taught school for a time. In 1892 he became a farmer and during the next thirteen years eultivated eighty aeres of land with energy and profit. In 1905 again became a blaeksmith, and since then he has steadily adhered to this occupation. He has prospered in it, as he did in farming, and is regarded as one of the substantial men of the town in which he has his home. Mr. Ross is a good and progressive citizen in every relation of life. He does well his part in his private character and conduct, and in reference to publie affairs he is always upright, enterprising and patriotic. No undertaking which he deems of advantage to the community goes without his active and helpful support, and no ageney at work for the good of the people ever lacks his cordial assistance and his energetie and intelligent efforts in its behalf. His political allegiance is given heartily to the Democratie party and his services for its success are at all times effective and highly appreciated. But they are based on convietion and involve no material advantage for himself except what springs from the general elevation and good government of the eounty and state. For he has always refused every overture made to him to become a candidate for publie office. His fraternal connection is with the Modern Woodmen of America and his religious affiliation with the Southern Methodist church. He is zealous in his devotion to both and does his part to advance their interests in every proper way. In 1873 Mr. Ross was united in marriage with Miss Anna E. Weakley, who came with her parents to this state from Virginia, where she was born. Five ehildren were born to the union and four of them are living: Margaret, the wife of W. R. Burton of Callao; John F., an engineer on the Illinois Central railroad; Omer C. and Myrtle.

James Weldon Posey

The department of labor known as farming, which has engaged a large part of the human family from the birth of the race, has ceased to be a mere vocation affording only a living to those who engage in it, and not always that, and, under the genius of modern discovery, progress and improvement, has been developed into a science of high rank and an industry of eolossal proportions and importanee. According to the readiness with whieh communities, counties, states and nations have realized this and applied it, their agricultural interests have been magnified in volume and value, and all their other interests have increased in extent and power proportionally. Macon county, Missouri, is one of the portions of this country in which the appreciation of these facts has been practical and almost universal, and has wrought wonderful results. In this county farming is generally conducted on a scientific basis and its allied industry of raising live stock has received similar progressive and intelligent attention, and both have advanced* and prospered in an eminent degree.

James Weldon Posey of Liberty township is one of the many farmers and stock men in the county who have profited by the new view of their business, and have followed it in an intensive manner with great advantage to themselves and corresponding benefits to the region and all its people. He is a native of the county, born on March 17, 1865, and the son of Green Harrison and Deborah (Russell) Posey, natives of Kentucky. The father came to Missouri in 1855 and located at Bloomington, where he farmed extensively and with steadily increasing prosperity. He became influential in the township and held a number of the offices in the gift of its people, working always for their benefit and the general improvement of the locality. He was a Demoerat politically but always had the best interests of the township at heart and held them, in all his career, above partisanship or any personal consideration. .He died on April 12, 1893, and his wife on March 29 of the same year. They were the parents of eight children of whom the living are: Mary, the wife of Vincent Sullivan of Macon; Nanny, the wife of George Morford of Kansas; Green R., James W. and Anna E., the wife of D. W. Mayhew of Callao, all worthy and esteemed citizens of the communities in which they live. He was twice married and had the following children by his first wife, Sarah A. Simpson of Brevier, Mrs. Levina J. Brown, of Brevier, Wm. H. of Kansas City and Mrs. Permelia E. Wilkes of Callao. Her maiden name was Emily J. Vandiver and she died in 1850.

Judge Nathaniel M. Shelton

James W. Posey received only a district school education and a limited one at that. The struggle for advancement among men began early with him, and as soon as he left school he started on the rugged ascent toward success and consequence by beginning at once the work he had laid out for himself. He became a farmer and has been one ever since. But he did not find progress easy or rapid at first, nor did he have the knowledge of the business he has acquired through study of its possibilities and the requirements for developing them, and consequently he was obliged to feel his wa ; it were, and fight for his advancement. His subsequent gains and his present prosperity and standing are therefore all the more gratifying in that he has won them for himself by learning how to use all his resources to the best advantage, applying for the purpose everything he acquired in reading, observation and close reflection. He now owns a fine farm of 200 acres, which is well improved and which he farms in a scientific manner. He also earries on an extensive business in live stock and a flourishing dairy industry.

Mr. Posey has always exhibited a hearty and serviceable interest in the welfare and progress of his township and county, manifesting it by his aetivity in behalf of all projeets in which their good is involved, and also by his freedom from partisanship and his support of the party and the men for publie office whom he believes to be most likely to promote the general weal and the best interests of all the people. His religious allegiance is given to the doctrines and tenets of the Christian church and he is an active church supporter and an important and valued member of the congregation to which he belongs. He was married on September 26, 1887, to Miss Mittie A. Harrison, whose parents eame to Missouri from Kentucky, but who was born and reared in this county. They have three children: Clarence O., Hazel M. and Walter E.

Hon. Nathaniel Meacon Shelton

Eminent as a jurist, oceupying an exalted place in the confidence and esteem of the people as a citizen, and an ornament to any social circle of which he is a part, Hon. Nathaniel Meacon Shelton, of Macon, circuit judge of the Second Judicial District of Missouri, is an honor to the state in which he lives, the profession to which he belongs, and high-toned American manhood, of which he is so shining an example.

The Judge was born near Troy, Lincoln county, this state, on March 17, 1851. His parents were Meacon A. and Anna (Berger) Shelton, natives of Pittsylvania county, Virginia, where the father was an extensive planter and owner of large tracts of land and numerous slaves. They were married in 1828, in their native state, and when they determined to migrate to the then far distant and uncivilized region beyond the Mississippi from their ancestral home, they came to Missouri, in 1833, making the trip overland with teams and bringing with them a good herd of cattle and a number of their negroes. The father entered government land in what is now Lincoln county, which the family lived on, eultivated and improved until 1870, when the parents sold their property and thereafter made their home with their daughters until death called them from their earthly labors. The father died in 1873, aged 76, and the mother in 1887, aged 80 years. They were the parents of three sons and six daughters. Of these two sons and one daughter are living, and all are residents of Missouri. The family, like uncounted others, paid its toll to the awful slaughter of the Civil war, one son dying in the military service of the Confederacy, being a surgeon in the Southern army.

The father was a Whig until the party of that name died through the sectional strife in polities which preceded the war, and after that became a Democrat. For more than twenty years he was the presiding judge of the Lincoln County Court, and his name is revered by the-people of all Missouri as that of a capable and upright jurist and a citizen whose life was above reproach. He was twice married, his first wife, whose maiden name was Ann Evans, dying in her native state of Virginia.

The Shelton family is of English origin, the American progenitors having emigrated from Great Britain to this country early in the seyenteenth century. Abraham Shelton, great-grandfather of the present Judge Shelton, was long a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses, in which he served with Patrick Henry and other distinguished men of his day who gave the political history of the world a new direction and wrote their names in illuminated letters on its heroie pages. He also served in the House of Delegates after they gained their independence. He was active in the agitation leading up to the Revolution, and was widely and favorably known throughout his own and the other American colonies as a wise counselor, a pure patriot and a fearless defender of his faith.

His son, Crispin Shelton, the Judge's grandfather, was also an extensive planter in the Old Dominion, and died on his plantation there after many years of usefulness and elevated manhood. His widow came to Missouri and died some years later at the home of her son, the Judge's father. In two of the great commonwealths of this eountry members of this family have lived and labored for the general welfare, dignifying and adorning the eitizenship of the nation and giving examples worthy of imitation everywhere by their readiness to take their places in every erisis, and their fidelity to every duty, whether in private or in publie life.

Hon. Nathaniel M. Shelton grew to the age of eighteen on the paternal homestead in Lineoln county. He obtained his scholastie training in private schools, Parker Seminary in Troy, this state, and at William Jewell College, located at Liberty, Missouri, whieh he attended two years. He then taught school one year, and at the end of his service as a teacher was appointed deputy elerk and recorder of Montgomery county, Missouri. During his two years of wise and faithful service in that capacity he studied law under the direction of Judge Elliott M. Hughes. In 1874 he entered the law department of the Missouri State University. After passing one year of laborious study in that institution, he was admitted to the bar in 1875 in Montgomery county, before Judge Gilehrist Porter, at Danville, Missouri.

Judge Shelton began the practice of his profession in the same year in Sehuyler county, and continued to practice in that county until his elevation to the beneh in 1898. He was re-eleeted judge at the end of his first term, with a steady growth in popularity and strength before the people, whose confidence he has won and retained by his course on the bench, his demeanor as a man and his breadth of view and progressiveness as a citizen. Prior to his election as judge he served as attorney for the Wabash railroad for a number of years in Schuyler county, rendering the company good and faithful service without contravening the rights or interests of the people. In 1884 he was eleeted to the lower house of the state legislature, and was re-eleeted in 1886. In that body he was ehairman of the committees on education and criminal jurisprudence, and rendered such excellent serviee and showed himself so well equipped for the administration of publie affairs that in 1888 he was elected to the state senate. In the senate he served capably and with high credit to himself as chairman of the judieiary committee.

In 1902 the Judge moved to Macon county, where he has ever since resided. In polities he has been a life-long Democrat, and before his election to the bench was very active in council and on the hustings in the service of his party, holding firmly to the belief that its political principles and theory of government are the correct ones, and that in their ascendency in state and nation rests the enduring welfare of the American people, collectively and individually. He has always been one of the progressive men in the judicial district, looking with favor on every worthy enterprise for its improvement and the strengthening of its mental, moral and material forces, and lending all the full measure of aid circumstances allowed him to advance. Fraternally he is a Free Mason of the third degree and a member of the order of Modern Woodmen of America; and socially he is a gentleman of the old school, preserving against all innovations the high character and courtly manners of our earlier and, perhaps, better days, not as assumptions or from force of habit, but because they are inherent with him and as much parts of his nature as the organs of his body and the faculties of his mind. Professionally he is in the front rank of Missouri jurists, strietly upright, fair and just, learned in the law, wise in applying and interpreting it, and fearless in enforcing it.

The marriage of Judge Shelton occurred on November 21, 1878, and united him with Miss Belle T. Garges, a native and life-long resident of this state. Of the four children born to them three are living: Mabel, the wife of Wilbur M. Freneh, M. D., of Chicago, Illinois ; Charles W., who is preparing for admission to the bar, and Anna E., both of whom are living at home. All the members of the family belong to the Christian church.

This diligent and faithful employe of the federal government and energetie church and Sunday school worker, who is one of the most highly esteemed young men in the city of Macon, is a son of George and Barbara (Shudy) Pohlman of Middle Fork township in this county, a brief account of whose lives will be found in this volume, and the first born of their three living children. He was born on January 31, 1887, on the present farm of his parents in Middle Fork township, and there grew to the age of eighteen, receiving his scholastie training in the district schools of that locality and the high school in Macon, from which he was graduated in 1904.

After leaving school Mr. Pohlman taught for about one year, and in August, 1905, entered the employ of the government as a mail carrier in Macon city. He has continued to this time (1910) to render faithful and satisfaetory serviee in that eapacity and place, rising steadily in the esteem of the people, and showing decided merit as a basis for their good will and regard. They have confidence in him because he has proven to their satisfaction that he deserves it, and they hold him in cordial regard because of the moral character and engaging social qualities which he possesses.

He ranks high and enjoys great popularity among his associates in the service, having served as chairman of the State Letter Carriers association and being at present the vice-president of the organization. His superiors in official cireles also accord him great eredit for faithful and inteligent service and a general demeanor that is altogether aeceptable and aids in giving the service a high reputation for its efficiency and the elevated character of its employes.

In his church relations Mr. Pohlman is a very active and zealous member of the Southern Methodist church. He is assistant superintendent of the Sunday school attached to the congregation to which he belongs and the President of one of its large and studious classes. He is also a member of the official board of the church and president of the Epworth League branch in the church. No good element of ehureh, Sunday school or League work escapes his attention or lacks his earnest, energetie and serviceable support in both counsel and active assistance.

In the general duties of citizenship he is zealous and upright, allying himself unalterably with no faetion in polities, no clique in society, no exclusive organization in fraternal life and no limited circle in any relation among men, but finding congenial associates in all, an atmosphere of health and improvement wherever good men congregate and opportunity for usefulness and service to his fellowmen everywhere. He is broad in his views and progressive in all his tendencies. For all measures designed to improve the community around him and add to the comfort, convenience and general welfare of its people he is always ready to speak forcibly and act with intelligence and energy, and in behalf of all moral and educational agencies at work among the people he is at all times ready to expend whatever influence he can exert and help to awaken all the activities available to him through his own force or the powers he can put in motion in others by his persuasion or example. At the age of twenty-three he is accounted worthy of general esteem and those who know him best look forward to eminence for him in any locality that may have the benefit of his services and the credit of his citizenship.

Over the childhood of this now enterprising and highly successful farmer and stock man of Middle Fork township, Macon county, the terrible shadow of our Civil war hung darkly and deeply, and that shadow rested heavily over all the early years of his struggle to make headway in the world and obtain a competeney for himself. It did not, however, suffice to arrest his industry and frugality or stay his progress toward the goal he had set for himself. He found it necessary at an early age to make provision for his own advancement, for he had no other dependence than his stout heart, strong arm and determined spirit. He grappled with the difficulties in his way and one by one subdued them, and even made many of them assistants in his progress and servants to his will.

Mr. Pohlman was born in St. Louis, Missouri, on January 1, 1860, and is the only child of John and Catherine (Weigel) Pohlman, the former born in Berlin, Germany, in 1827, and the latter a native of Germania in Bavaria. The father came to this country in 1849 and loeated in Wiseonsin where he remained three years profitably engaged in rafting timber under contract. At the end of the period named he moved to St. Louis. Here he obtained large contracts to furnish cord wood for use on the steamboats, loading it on barges for convenience in transferring it to the steam giants which then formed the only means of transportation along the Mississippi river. He prospered at this business also, but the Civil war came on and soon ended his labors with his life. In 1862 he enlisted in the Federal army in the Third Missouri regiment, and after a service of three months was killed by another Union soldier by mistake near Albany, Missouri. He was married in Oetober, 1859, and by this union became the father of one child, his son George, who is the subject of this sketch. | He was a Republiean in polities and a Lutheran in religious connection.

Thus widowed after three years of married life, and by a terrible tragedy whieh no one eould foresee or prevent, the mother took upon herself the difficult task of rearing her young son and preparing him for usefulness in life. But the times were hard, her means were slender, and the disturbed condition of the country, particularly in the region in whieh she lived, added to the troubles she was obliged to bear, and made the burden of her duty almost too much for her to bear. She managed, however, to give her son a limited distriet school education in Ray eounty, where they were then living, and as soon as he was able he sought by every means in his power to reciprocate her devotion and return his assistance to her for hers to him. He sought employment wherever it was to be found. working diligently on farms and in saw mills, and contributing all he could of his meager earnings to aid in her support.

By great industry and frugality he aceumulated some money and in 1881 established a home for both on a farm of 100 aeres in Ray county, which he bought and improved, and on which he raised good erops of grain and hay. Mother and son lived on this farm until 1885 and made substantial progress against the sea of troubles that opposed them. In the year last named the son sold the farm and moved to Macon county, locating on the land on which he now has his home in Middle Fork township, six miles southeast of Macon. Here he has continued his farming operations and been extensively engaged in 'raising stock ever since, making his stock industry a specialty and conducting it on a large scale. He has been very successful, and now owns 360 acres of good land in Macon county and 140 in Ray county, whieh he has purehased since he left that county, and which he has rented to a tenant.

Mr. Pohlman has been diligent and determined in advancing his own fortunes, and he has also been very active and serviceable in helping to promote the development and improvement of the township and county of his residence and the welfare of their people. He has served as school director continuously for a period of twenty-two years and as road commissioner for a period of nine. He is independent in political affairs and a member of the Christian church in religion, as is his wife, also, and both are very zealous and energetic in church work.

On August 12, 1885, Mr. Pohlman was united in marriage with Miss Barbara Shudy, a daughter of Franeis and Johanna Shudy, residents of Shelby county. Six children have blessed the union and brightened the household and three of them are living: George, who resides in Macon City, a brief sketch of whom will be found in this work, and Catherine and Mildred, who are still members of the parental home and ornaments of its fireside, aiding in dispensing its graceful hospitality and making it attractive to the hosts of friends of the family who frequent it, and find it a social center of refinement and a model domestie establishment.

William Pitts Jackson

v Although he bears names of high distinction in English and American history, William Pitts Jackson, one of the suecessful and progressive farmers and stock men of Morrow township in this county, with his residence and interests located near the town of College Mound, has done them no diseredit. He has not aspired to eminence in either publie or private life, but he has met in a commendable manner every requirement of elevated citizenship, and has given in his career a fine illustration of the commanding might of enterprise, industry and reso-

Mr. Jackson is a native of Randolph county, Missouri, where he was born in 1863. His father, James Robert Jackson, was a native of Virginia and came to this state in 1857, taking up his residence in Randolph county. Here he met with and married Miss Sallie W. Allin, a native of that county in which her parents were early settlers from Kentucky. William P. is the fourth of the ten of his parents twelve ehildren who are now living, the other eight being Mollie, Amanda, Elizabeth, Sallie, Anna, Vertah, Fred and Luey. The parents were prosperous and energetic farmers and accumulated a considerable estate by their continued and well-directed industry and frugality. They were also held in high esteem as worthy and useful citizens. The mother died on December 4, 1872, and the father on April 13, 1909, he having attained the ripe old age of eighty-two years before he passed away.

Their son William P. began his education in the local schools near his home, continued it in a graded school at Huntsville and completed it at William Jewell College, which is located at Liberty, Missouri. After leaving eollege he began the work of farming and raising live stock in which he has passed all his subsequent years. He has acquired by his own efforts a fine farm of 114 aeres and built up a considerable business in raising stock. He also has improved his farm with good buildings and cultivated it with great energy and success, making every acre of it that yields to the plow produce excellent results for the labor bestowed upon it.

In eonneetion with the development and advancement of his township and county he has been very active and serviceable. Every worthy enterprise in which the welfare of the people is involved commands his close attention and has the benefit of his intelligent and efficient aid. Political affairs also interest him greatly and he takes a leading part in giving them what he considers proper direction and control. He is a zealous member of the Democratie party and always gives it his earnest and effective support. He served as census enumerator in 1900 and has for some years been the clerk and one of the directors of the school board. He is also a deacon and the clerk in the congregation of the Baptist church to which he belongs. In connection with his other duties he is now looking after the interests of his father's estate, of which he is the administrator. He is a very busy man, but he has the faculty of doing his work easily and without worry, and so gets through with it without any waste of effort. In 1890 he was united in marriage with Miss Mallie Banta, a native of Macon county. They have had five children and have now three living, their daughters Berniee R., Lillian A. and Margery W. The people of the township esteem all the members of the family highly, and wherever they are known they are accounted as worthy of cordial regard and good will, and also as useful to their community and giving good examples of proper living in every respect.

John M. London

Faithful to every call to duty in peace and war, true to the claims of private life and those of publie service, successful in his own business and devoted to the interests of the county and state in which he lives, John M. London of Callao has proven himself a very worthy, useful and influential citizen of Macon county, and has won by well demonstrated merit the prominence and distinetion he enjoys. Asa valiant soldier in defense of the Union during the Civil war he rendered excellent service to his country and sealed his devotion with his blood in two of the terrible battles of the conflict. As a publie official he was capable and faithful in the discharge of his duties in every respect. As a journalist he gave voice to the sentiments of a large number of the people around him and direetion to their expression in two useful newspapers whieh he founded and conducted for a number of years. And as a promoter, farmer and stock man of extensive operations he has not only aequired worldly substance for himself, but helped to magnify the wealth, business activity and commercial power of his seetion of the state.

Mr. London was born in Sehuyler county, Missouri, on February 14, 1843. His father, William T. London, a native of Alabama and came to Missouri and Macon county in 1857. He was a prominent farmer and merchant and an important faetor in the publie life of this portion of the country. By his marriage with Miss Priscilla Bailey, who was born and reared in Kentucky, he became the'father of six children, all of whom are living. They are: Virginia, the wife of George Hieks of this county; John M.; Franklin S.; Emma, the wife of Professor Ridgeway, superintendent of the publie schools of Kansas City, Missouri; Susan F., the wife of Esquire Conrad of Sheridan eounty in this state, and William J. The father died in 1864 and the mother in 1894.

John M. London began his education in the distriet schools and completed it at-MeGee College at College Mound, from which he was graduated in 1867, his attendance at this institution being prior to the

Civil war. When that momentous and terrible confliet began he promptly enlisted in the Sixteenth Illinois infantry in defense of the Union, and some time later he helped to organize the Forty-Second Missouri regiment. His service throughout the contest was active and continuous, and he still bears on his person the marks of its ravages, having been seriously wounded at the battle of Shiloh and again in the siege of Vicksburg. He participated in every engagement fought by the Army of the Mississippi from the capture of Fort Donelson to the siege of Atlanta, and in many others of major or minor importance. He served as eaptain of Company E of the Tenth Missouri regiment and as adjutant of the Forty-Second. In the latter the position of lieutenant colonel was offered to him, but he declined to accept it out of deference to Colonel Forbes. After the close of the war he returned to Macon county.

In 1866 he was elected clerk and recorder for Macon county for a term of four years, which he filled with great eredit to himself and acceptability to the people. Im 1867, in association with John T. Clements, he founded the Macon Journal, which he conducted until 1876. He then founded The Greenback, an independent paper, and this he published until 1878, when he was nominated as the candidate of his party to represent the distriet in Congress. He was unsuccessful at the election owing to the large preponderanee of the opposing party, and after that for a time gave his attention wholly to the management of the Farmers? Alliance, of which he was chairman.

He then determined to give more attention to his private interests and in 1885 organized the Stean-London Trust Company of Macon, which he conducted alone until 1890, when he took Oswell Hicks, in as a partner, and during the next two years they managed the affairs of the company together. In 1892 he turned the company over to Mr. Hicks and began to give his whole energy to the cultivation of his farm of 640 aeres and the management of his extensive live stock interests, which he has owned since 1885. The farm is highly developed and well improved, and both its operations and the stock industry connected with it are conducted with skill and enterprise of the highest order.

Mr. London is still chairman of the Farmers' Union of Missouri, and in fraternal life he is connected with the Order of Odd Fellows and the Grand Army of the Republie, in all of which he takes a very active and serviceable interest. In 1867 he was married to Miss Mannie Fletcher, a native of Shelbyville, Tennessee. They have six children, Harold, Kate, Lee, Daisy, Ruth and Helen. In his private affairs and in connection with every public duty Mr. London has given to the world a fine example of the sweep and resourcefulness of American enterprise, and in all respects he is deservedly conspicuous as one of the best types of Missouri citizenship. Measuring his success by the ordinary standards it has been great and continued. Applying to it the test promulgated by Emerson, who said that the only real suecess was to work in the right direction, it has been eminent, commanding and without a variation from its proper course. And a very gratifying circumstance in connection with it is the fact that he is highly appreciated by the people of Missouri and enjoys in a marked degree their universal esteem and commendation. Mr. London was the projector of the Macon, Chariton drainage canal, and gave five years of labor and a large amount of money on it, and which has promise of great benefit to these counties.

Y F. Theodore Mayhew

Pure, constant and noble was the spiritual flame that burned and illumined the mortal tenement of the honored subjeet of this brief. memori. He was a man of the loftiest principles, of strong intellectual powers, and was not only a successful business man, but also rendered a service of zeal and consecration as a minister of the Christian church. He was long numbered among the most influential and honored citizens of Macon county and maintained his home in Bevier until the time of his death, which oceurred on the 27th of February, 1906. His memory is revered by all who remain to have remembrance of his gentle and noble life and who eame within the sphere of his gracious and helpful influence.

F. Theodore Mayhew was born in Jefferson county, Indiana, in the year 1841, and was a son of Benjamin and Eleuder Mayhew, who removed from the Hoosier state to Tennessee when he was a boy. His father was a native of New Jersey and a member of a family whose name has been identified with the annals of American history from the early eolonial era. In 1859 the family came to Missouri and located in Macon county, where the father engaged in agricultural pursuits and also became a teacher in the common schools. Both of the parents continued to maintain their home in this state until the close of their lives and both were earnest members of the Christian church, They became the parents of five children, of whom the subject of this memoir was the eldest, and of the number three are now living.

F. Theodore Mayhew attended school but a little in Tennessee and his naturally alert and receptive mind enabled him to effeetually supplement this discipline through well-directed reading and study in later years. He beeame a man of broad information and mo little erudiction, and he labored successfully as a teacher in the publie schools of Missouri for a quarter of a century, having been eighteen years of age at the time of his parents' removal to this state. Those who had the Benefit of his eareful and able instruetion during his years of devotion to the pedagogie profession feel a debt of gratitude for his faithful labors in their behalf, as well as for the kindly sympathy which he ever manifested. During a period of forty years he also was a minister of the Christian church, and he labored with much of zeal and intellectual foree for the uplifting and bettering of his fellow-men. His sermons gave evidence of his earnest convictions and thus carried weight and conviction to his hearer. He ministered in isolated communities in the early days and also did pastoral work in more important charges, ever showing a high sense of his stewardship and making his influence felt for good in all the relations of his daily life. Asa business man he was suecessful, and for a number of years prior to his demise he was associated with his only son in the general merchandise business in Bevier, where he established his home in the year 1902.

In polities Mr. Mayhew was aligned as a staunch and intelligent advocate of the principles and policies for which the Republican party stands sponsor, and he rendered effective service in the promotion of the party cause. He was twice the nominee of his party for representative in the state legislature, but was unable to overeome the normal Demoeratie majority in his county and thus met defeat. He was publie-spirited and liberal as a eitizen and business man, and ever showed a deep interest in all that tended to conserve the welfare and progress of his home eity and county, where his circle of friends was limited only by that of his acquaintances. His widow still maintains her home in Bevier and is loved by all who know her. She finds a due measure of solace in the hallowed associations and memories of the past and in the companionship and solieitude of friends who are tried and true.

Tn July, 1869, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Mayhew to Miss Kate W. Ballenger, who was born in Macon county, Missouri, and who is a daughter of John Ballenger, a substantial citizen of that county. Two children were born of this union - Julia A., who is now the wife of James F. Harrison, of Callao, Missouri, and Ivy G., who continues the mercantile business in which he was associated with his father and who is the subject of an individual sketch in this volume. An adopted daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Mayhew is Etta J., whose maiden name was Corbin, and who is now the wife of Willard Buster, of Bucklin, Missouri.

Although he is a native of Missouri and has lived in Macon county during all of his mature life, with an abiding and helpful interest in its welfare and the comfort and advancement of its people, John William Owen of Lingo township has seen life in other states and under very different circumstances from those which now surround him. The horse and cattle ranches of Montana engaged his attention and seeured his services in his youth and young manhood, and on them he learned what it is to depend on oneself and be ready for fast-coming emergencies. In the trying experiences of that engagement he also acquired endurance and a thorough mastery of his own faculties and capabilities, and the aequistions have been of great value to him in all his subsequent eareer.

Mr. Owen was born in Randolph county, this state, on June 4, 1877, and is a son of William Edward and Naney (Cluton) Owen, the former a native of Kentueky and the latter of Missouri but of Missouri parentage. The father, whose ancestors were pioneers in Kentucky and helped to eivilize and develop that state, was a farmer's son and has passed all the years of his activity in the paternal oceupation. He lived in California fifteen years, and freighted and raised live stock there, as he had done in his native state, and as he has done during the thirty-eight years of his residence in Missouri. He came to this state in 1872 and located in Randolph county on a large farm. There he carried on extensively, farming 800 to 1200 acres of land and conducting a stock industry of commensurate proportions. In 1899 he moved his family to Macon county, and here he continued his operations in farming and raising stock on the same scale. He and his wife are still living in this county. They are the parents of two children, their sons John William and Robert Lee.

The father is a Demoerat in politics and is at all times active in the serviee of his party. He has long been favorably known, also, for his energy, zeal and intelligence in helping to promote the advancement of the locality of his home and the substantial welfare of its people. He rendered excellent service as a member of the school board for a number of years, and from his early manhood has been a member of the Order of Odd Fellows. He is now one of the oldest members of the order in the state. For many years he has also been active and effective in the service of the Christian church, to which he has long given his useful and valued membership. He and his wife are among

Their son John W. began his education in the district schools of Randolph county and completed it at Hatton College. After leaving school he worked with his father on the home farm for a short time. At the age of eighteen he went to Montana and there passed three years in the difficult and exacting work on horse and cattle ranches. In 1898 he returned to Missouri and began farming and raising stock on his own account. He continued his operations in these lines of endeavor until 1907, wher he determined to devote his energies to buying and shipping stock, and he is now one of the most extensive dealers and shippers in the county, and the most extensive in Lingo township. His home is in the neighborhood of New Cambria.

He also is an active, working Democrat, but has always refused to accept a political office either by election or appointment. His fraternal relations are with the Order of Modern Woodmen and the Order of Odd Fellows, and in religious affiliation he is connected with the Christian church.

Mr. Owen's marriage oceurred in 1899 and was with Miss Victoria Streiff, a native of Huntsville, Randolph county, Missouri. They have two children, their daughter Thelma, who is now (1910) nine years old, and their son Perey, who is seven. While the father's interests are extensive and his business is exacting, he has not allowed them to wholly absorb his time or his energies. As every good citizen should, he takes an earnest interest and a leading part in helping to promote the development and improvement of his township and county and the welfare of their people. He is energetie in the service of every worthy enterprise in which these are involved, and his counsel is valued as much for its wisdom as his zeal is for its effectiveness. No citizen stands higher in the estimation of the peole, and none is more entitled to their regard and good will. He is loyal to state and nation and true to all the duties of upright and commendable citizenship, and he conduets his business in a way that has given him an excellent reputation and helped to win Macon county the confidence and esteem of the business world wherever the produets of her soil or the fruits of her industries are sold.

This esteemed citizen and successful and progressive farmer of Callao township represents the third generation of his family that has lived in Macon county and worked for its advancement and devel- opment to the highest standard of excellence, and he is also an acknowledged representative of its people in their industry, thrift, enterprise and elevated citizenship. He was born in this county in 1863 and is a son of Rhuben H. and Priscilla (Hegwood) Terrell, who were also born and reared in Macon county.

They were the parents of three children: Allie, the widow of the late Richard Teeters; John L., who is the immediate subject of these paragraphs, and Mary E. Their mother died in 1864, and the father married a second wife, being united on this occasion with Miss Elizabeth Vass, also a native of Macon county. Of the six children born of this union five are living: Wilbert F., Robert O., Clyde B., Thomas, and Maude A., who is the wife of Luther Roberts. The father is still living on his farm near Keota and is now seventy-five years of age. Highly esteemed as a citizen, successful in his business and revered for his zealous interest in the welfare of the county, he is regarded as one of the most useful and representative men among its people.

John L. Terrell obtained his education in the district schools and at a graded school in the city of Macon. He was obliged early in life to begin making his own way in the world, and after leaving school hired out as a farm hand in Illinois, his compensation at the start being only twenty-five cents a day. But he was frugal and thrifty, and knowing that his only dependence for success in life was himself, he applied all his energies to whatever his hands found to do, and gave strong indications of what was in him and what he was likely to make of himself. After working as a farm hand in Illinois for three years, he returned to Macon county and began farming for himself in Morrow township, where he lived until 1892.

Tn that year he moved to Callao township, and here he has ever since resided. He has become more and more extensively engaged in farming and raising live stock as the years have passed, and now owns 360 aeres of land, all of whieh is under vigorous and skillful eultivation except what is reserved for grazing purposes for his large herds and flocks. The farm is improved with good buildings and equipped with every applianee required to earry on its operations in the most approved and progressive manner. Mr. Terrell has been very successful in all his undertakings and all that he has and is he has wrung from opposing cireumstances by his own ability and energy. He is president of the Callao Fair association of which he was one of the founders and has been one of the most energetie promoters. The association is prosperous under his management and has a high rank among institutions of its character in this part of the country.

In political alliance Mr. Terrell is connected with the Democratie party and is one of its most constant and effective workers in Macon county. He served on the school board for a period of over six years and gave the people excellent service in connection with one of their most valued publie institutions, being always a warm friend of the cause of publie education. Fraternally he is affiliated with the Modern Woodman and the Royal Neighbors. In 1888 he was married to Miss Ethel C. Morrow, a native of Morrow township in this county. "They have three ehildren, their son Grover C. and their daughters Neva I. and Nellie I. "The parents are regarded as among the most worthy and estimable residents of Macon county.

Benjamin E. Williams

The life-story of Benjamin E. Williams, one of the progressive and successful farmers, stock men and merchants of Macon county, whose base of operations is in White township and whose mercantile enterprise is located in the town of Ethel, is the many times repeated tale of a man transplanted in his childhood to a new country, then largely undeveloped and presenting many obstacles to progress. The rest of it, in outline, at least, is easily inferred from his present prosperity and standing. He accepted the opportunities which came to him and made the most of them. His own ready brain, strong arm and confidence in himself were his main dependencies, and from early manhood he has used them to his own advantage and for the general welfare in promoting the interests of the community of his home.

Mr. Williams was born in the state of Ohio in 1859 and was brought to Missouri by his parents when he was but three years old. This state was then suffering all the evil effects of the Civil war, and all its industries were prostrate and inert. He obtained what education he could in the district schools of the day, which owing to the disturbed condition of the locality, because of the irregular and predatory war which ravaged it, was necessarily limited and very incomplete. As soon as he was able he turned his attention to farming on his own account, and in this industry, coupled with general stock-raising, he was almost exclusively engaged until 1882. In that year he became a merchant, and ever since he has been actively and profitably connected with mercantile life. He owns 500 acres of superior land, which he has brought to a high state of produetiveness and improved with good buildings, making it one of the most valuable and attractive farms in White township. His interests as a merchant are also extensive and productive, and his stock industry is conducted with a vigor and care- ful attention to details that assures success in all it aims at. He is also one of the direetors and the vice-president of the Bank of Ethel, and takes a decided interest in everything that contributes to the general improvement and progress of the township and eounty in which he lives and carries on his fruitful operations.

While he has often been solicited to accept publie office and always resisted importunities on the subject, he has at all times been aetively and intelligently interested in publie affairs and done his part towards giving them proper direetion and seeking to lead them to the best results for the good of all the people. His fraternal relations are with the Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of Ameriea, and in religious connection is a member of the Presbyterian church. In his lodges and his church he is cordially interested and his membership in all the organizations to which he belongs is valued highly. In business he stands well as a representative of the most approved modern business methods. As a farmer he holds a leading rank in his township, as a stock man he has a wide-spread and excellent reputation, and as a citizen no man in the township in which he has his home is more generally or more highly esteemed. In reference to his eareer and his standing he has the modesty of real merit, and does not care to have his praises sounded abroad. But diseriminating observers rank him as one of the best, most useful and most representative men in Maeon county, and the truthful biographer has no right and no wish to withhold from him anything that belongs to him in the way of commendation. His life furnishes an excellent example to young men and ean be imitated by them with great advantage to themselves.

Francis Marion Sears, one of the veteran merchants of Macon eounty and high on the list of the leading citizens of Ethel and White townships, is the son of very early pioneers in this part of the state, and lived himself, in his boyhood and youth, amid the scenes, dangers, hardships and arduous struggles of frontier life. He was born in Easely township, Macon county, on July 25, 1845, and is a son of John Joseph and Elizabeth (Kirby) Sears, the former a native of Kentucky ; born in 1800, and the latter of the same state. The father eame to Missouri and Macon county in 1821. He took up a traet of wild land and did well his part in redeeming the region from the wilderness, ridding it of its savage denizens of forest and plain, man and beast, reducing it to produetiveness, and founding upon it the forms, governing powers and restraining influences of civilization. He helped to sow in it the seeds of progress, improvement and development, and start it in the career which has resulted in its present high state of cultivation and mercantile and commercial greatness.

John Joseph Sears and his wife were the parents of ten children, only two of whom are now living, James M., of La Plata, and Francis M.,of Ethel. The father died in 1866 and the mother in 1888. But in their long eareer of usefulness in this region they put forces in motion which have resulted in great good to it and proven to be forceful factors in all that has occurred in it since they laid down their trust. Here is one instance, at least, in which the good done by faithful workers lives after them and not ''interred with their bones."

Their son, Francis, enjoyed very meager and irregular opportunities for scholastie training. The schools of his boyhood and youth in this loeality were few and it was far between them. And those which were in operation lasted only during the winter months and were primitive and limited in the scope of their instructions. But such as they were, Mr. Sears attended them as much and as regularly as he could, and made the most of the advantages they gave him. After leaving school he remained at home and assisted his father in the work on the farm for a number of years, and then began farming on his own account. He continued his connection with this occupation until 1899, when he engaged in the furniture trade, with which he has ever since been aetively and extensively connected.

At the beginning of the Civil war he enlisted in the army and followed his convictions to the field of carnage, participating in the battle of Lexington and other engagements of greater or less importance. In polities he is a Democrat and always has been. He has served his party faithfully and it has recognized the value of his services, holding him in high esteem as a worker and finding in him capacity for the administration of official duties of delicacy and importance. He has been a justice of the peace for more than seven years and a member of the school board for more than three. In 1901 he was elected mayor of Ethel, and in that capacity he served the town well and wisely until 1906. He is a gentleman of lofty ideals and very progressive views, and he has applied his methods of thought and action to all his official duties and all his efforts for the improvement and progress of the community in which he lives. In fraternal life he is connected with the Order of Odd Fellows, and his lodge in the order highly appreciates his energetic and stimulating membership. The township and county have had the benefit of his breadth of view and his comprehensive enterprise in the promotion of all their designs for the advancement of the region and the enduring welfare of its people.

On April 2, 1865, Mr. Sears was united in marriage with Miss Catherine Riley, a native of Macon county (who departed this life September 7, 1908), but a daughter of parents-who came to this state from Kentucky, where their forefathers helped to redeem the wilds and lay the foundation of civilized and cultivated life. Of the eight children born to Mr. and Mrs. Sears only three are living: Luetta, the wife of J. W. Ratliff, residing near Goldsberry, this county; James A., who lives at New Boston, Linn county, and William C., who is a resident of Ethel. During the last eleven years the father has been one of the leading merchants of Ethel, and throughout that period he has held the business name of the community up to a high standard of integrity and progressiveness, and has met all the requirements of his position as one of the prominent and representative merchants of the town in a masterly and commendable manner. Macon county has no better or more enterprising citizen, none whose influence and example have done it more good in general and spécial ways, and none whom the people more universally approve and esteem.

Lon Hayner

Mr. Hayner, who is cashier of the Citizens' Bank of Macon, has been an important factor in conneetion with the industrial and business affairs of Macon county, which has represented his home from his boyhood days, and he stands today as one of the honored and influential citizens of the county in which he has attained to success and prestige through well-directed efforts along normal lines of productive enterprise. Asa banker he has long been prominent and influential and as a eitizen and man of affairs he stands exponent of the utmost loyalty and publie spirit.

Mr. Hayner is a native of Scott county, Kentucky, where he was born on the 25th of October, 1846. In the fine old Bluegrass state also were born his parents, James M. and Margaret (Branhan) Hayner, who were reared and educated and there married. James M. Hayner was engaged in agrieultural pursuits in his native state until. 1855, when he removed with his family to Macon county, Missouri, where he developed a fine farm of 200 acres, in Independence township, and where he continued to reside until his death, which oceurred in 1884. He was a man of superior intelligence and impregnable integrity, and he ever commanded the unqualified confidence and esteem of the com- munity in which he so long maintained his home. He was originally a Whig, a great admirer of Henry Clay. Though never consenting to become a candidate for publie office, he was a staunch advocate of the principles of the Democratie party, and his aid and influence were ever given in support of measures and enterprises which tended to conserve the welfare of the eommunity. He and his wife were members of the Baptist ehureh and their lives counted for good in all relations. Mrs. Hayner survived her honored husband by more than twenty years, and she was summoned to the life eternal in 1906, at a venerable age. They became the parents of two sons and one daughter, of whom the subject of this sketch was the first in order of birth. Thomas E. likewise remains a resident of Macon county, where he is engaged in farming, and Addie is the wife of James H. Ford, of Macon county.

Lon Hayner, to whom this sketch is dedicated, passed his boyhood and youth on the old homestead farm, in connection with whose work he gained his initial experience in the practical responsibilities of life. His educational training was secured in the schools of Macon county, and that he made good use of his opportunities is evident when we revert to the fact that when eighteen years of age he became eligible for pedagogie honors. For nine years he was a successful and popular teacher in the schools of the eounty, devoting his attention to this vocation during the winter terms and assisting in the work and management of the home farm during the summer seasons.

Mr. Hayner continued to devote his attention largely to farming until 1889, when he was elected to the office of county collector, of which he continued incumbent for a period of four years. After his retirement he was elected vice-president of the First National Bank of Macon, and he served in this capacity for six years. Upon the organization of the Citizens' Bank, in 1899, he became one of its chief stockholders and was elected its cashier. He has since held this executive office, and it is in large measure due to his diserimination and able management of the affairs of the bank that the institution has been so successful in its operations and has gained place as one of the solid and popular banking houses of this section of the state. He is also a member of its directorate. On other pages of this publication is given a brief review of the history of the Citizens' Bank.

Liberal, broad-minded and public-spirited as a citizen, Mr. Hayner has ever shown a deep and helpful interest in all that concerns the welfare of his home city and county, and his aid and influence are ever to be counted upon in support of measures tending to advance the best interest of the community, civic, political and industrial. He has served six years as a member of the board of education of Macon, as director and treasurer. From the time of attaining to his legal majority until the present he has given an unfaltering allegiance to the Democratie party, and both he and his wife hold membership in the Baptist church. He is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity arid the Knights of Pythias. Mr. Hayner is the owner of the old homestead farm, which is endeared to him by the memories and associations of the past, and he gives to the same a general supervision.

Mr. Hayner has been twiee married. In 1879 he wedded Miss Susan Jackson, who was born and reared in Macon eounty and who was a daughter of James R. Jackson, a representative farmer of Monroe township. Three daughters represent the offspring of this marriage, and all survive their mother, who was summoned to the life eternalin 1885. Gertrude, the eldest daughter, was graduated in Hardin college, at Mexico, Missouri, and is now the widow of William G. English, of Roswell, New Mexico; Annie E., a graduate of the college at Liberty, Missouri, is the wife of Charles Goodson, of Macon; and Sue E. likewise a graduate of Liberty college, remains at the paternal home, a popular figure in connection with the social activities of Macon. In 1891 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Hayner to Miss Emma Hockensmith, who likewise was born and reared in Macon county and who is a daughter of Mat Hockensmith. No children have been born of this union. She was edueated at Stephens college at Columbia, Missouri.

John R. Menefee

One of the most enterprising, resourceful and successful real estate and loan men in Macon county, carrying on his business on a large seale and in a manner to command universal approval and commendation, and making even adverse circumstances minister to his advantage by the mastery of his spirit, John R. Menefee, of New Cambria, furnishes a fine example of American manhood at its best and determined to make everything tributary to its advancement. His success in his present undertaking is all the more creditable from the fact that he was not specially trained to the business in which he is engaged, but eame to it, as it were, through the force of eireumstances, and has proved, in his management of it, that he has the qualities that command Success in any enterprise and under any conditions.

Mr. Menefee was born in Livingston county, Missouri, on February 25, 1871, and is a son of Robert M. and Iberiah S. (Shirley) Menefee, the former a native of Marietta, Ohio, born on April 30, 1834, and the latter a daughter of James A. and Martha Shirley, and born in Fayette, Howard county, Missouri. The father came to this state in 1839 and with them located at the village which is now called Woodville, but was then known as Centerville in Macon county. He was but five years old when the family came to this region, and here he grew to manhood and obtained his education, attending the distriet schools during the winter months for a few years. He was obliged to begin making his own way in the world at an early age, and soon after leaving school became eonneeted with mercantile life at Woodville and later at Chillicothe. He also engaged in the tobacco trade at College Mound. In 1862 he gave up mercantile pursuits and turned his attention to farming, in which he was occupied until September, 1879, in his native county of Livingston. At that time he returned to Macon county and continued his enterprise as a farmer and stock man, keeping these industries as his chief occupation until his death on April 14, 1894.

His marriage with Miss Shirley oceurred in 1859, and by it became the father of ten children, of whom the following six are living: Albert S., who lives at Clarence, Missouri; John R., a resident of New Cambria; Orlena, the wife of H. W. Owens, of Moberly; Morris R., who is also a resident of Moberly; Mattie B., who is the wife of I. M. Cole, of New Cambria ; and Lillian G., who lives in Kansas City, Missouri. The father was a Democrat in polities and took a very active interest in the success of his party. He served as a member of the school board for many years, giving the interests he had in charge close and intelligent nttention and bringing about highly commendable results in the management and improvement of the schools. Im religious affiliation he belonged to the Southern Methodist church. His wife survived him ten years, dying on March 29, 1904.

John R. Menefee was reared and educated in Macon county. He grew to manhood on his father's farm and attended the distriet school in the neighborhood of its location. After leaving school he clerked for H. R. Southwick in the lumber business for a period of three years. He then became a telegraph operator in the employ of the Burlington railroad and remained in its service two years, working at various places along the line. In 1897 he entered the employ of Hon. Albert D. Nortoni, a sketeh of whom will be found in this volume, and who is now one of the judges of the Court of Appeals of St. Louis. Judge Nortoni's business then was in real estate and insurance lines and his headquarters were at New Cambria. Mr. Menefee was associated with him in this business five years. In 1902 he started a real estate, loan and insurance business of his own, and in that he has been very actively and successfully engaged ever since. He has made many large deals and numberless smaller ones during his career on his own account, and has proven himself to be one of Macon county's most successful and enterprising real estate men. He makes a study of his business and the needs of his patrons, and if at any time he doesn't have just what a customer wants, he knows where to find it and how to make the deal satisfactory to both buyer and seller. No man in this part of the county has a more comprehensive or aceurate knowledge of the trade in all its bearings.

In political affairs Mr. Menefee is a Republican and an active worker for the good of his party. At this time (1910) he is secretary of the Republican county central committee and his work in this position redounds greatly to the benefit of his party and is highly appreciated by both its leaders and its rank and file. In fraternal life he is connected with the Odd Fellows, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Masonie order. In the order last named he belongs to the lodge at Bucklin, in Linn county, and to the Royal Arch ehapter and the Knights Templar commandery at Macon. He was married in October, 1895, to Miss Clara E. Nortoni, a daughter of Edward W. and Hannah T. Nortoni, and a native of New Cambria. Six children have been born of the union and all of them are living. They are: Herbert R.,

` now (1910) thirteen years old; Merrill F., eleven; Shirley M., eight; Bert D., six; Eugene, three; and Virginia J., an infant, aged one year. "The father has been eminently suecessful in business and has helped very materially to promote the advancement and improvement of the township and county in which his operations have been carried on. He and his wife are regarded as among the best citizens of this part of the state.

Robert R. Beal

Like nearly all other parts of Macon county, Missouri, Lingo township has attraeted considerable attention throughout the country by the extent and character of its live-stoek industry, and its name and the names of its eitizens who are engaged in that industry in a leading way are known in all the prominent stock markets in the land. In the list of those who are devoted to this interesting and profitable line of endeavor in the township, that of Robert R. Beal, whose residence is in the neighborhood of New Cambria, is prominent and well deserves its place.

Mr. Beal was born in 1855 in Virginia. His parents, William and Elizabeth (Thompson) Beal, were born and reared in England, and were married in that country in 1846. They came to the United States in 1853 and located in Pennsylvania, where the father engaged in mining coal. In 1869 he moved his family to Missouri and took up his residence in Macon county. Here he turned his attention to farming and raising stock and passed the rest of his life in the pursuit of those industries, dying on March 5, 1902. His widow is still living and has her home with her son, Robert. They were the parents of thirteen children, seven of whom are living: George; John T.; William; Mary, the wife of D. H. Babbitt; Robert R.; Elizabeth J., the wife of E. B. Thomas, of Colorado, and Thomas E. L. "Their mother is now (1910) eighty-six years old.

Robert R. Beal, who was but fourteen years of age when he came to this state and county with his parents, obtained his education in the distriet sehool in the neighborhood of his home in this and his native state. He acquired a thorough practieal knowledge of farming on his father's place, in the labors of whieh he took an aetive part from his boyhood. When the time came for him to choose an oceupation in life for himself, he seleeted the one he had been reared to and became a farmer. He has never varied from this industry and its allied business of raising live-stock, and his determined and skillful pursuit of it has brought him success in a worldly way and excellent standing among the people of his township as a citizen. For he has shown himself to be publie-spirited and progressive, with reference to the affairs of the community of his home as he has in connection with his private business, and has taken his place among the helpful faetors engaged in pushing forward the development and improvement of his county and promoting the enduring welfare of its people.