Macon County, Missouri - Biographical sketches, 1910 (part 6 of 20)

In politics he is an ardent and active working Republican, prominent in the councils of his party and zealous in advancing its interests. For a number of years he has been a member of its county central and executive committees. Yet, although his loyalty to his party never wanes and his efforts in its service never cease, he has never consented to accept a political office for himself, and has resolutely put aside all appeals to him to become a candidate for one. Several times he has been requested urgently to accept a nomination for representative in the lower house of the state legislature, but has always declined positively and promptly.

Before he began the study of medicine Dr. Foster taught in the publie schools several years. This experience gave him intimate knowledge of the people and of himself, and has been valuable to him in all his subsequent career, professional and in other lines of action. He is prominently connected with the fraternal life of the community as a member of the Masonic Order, the Modern Woodmen of America, and the American Mutual Benevolent Association, and in his professional work and studies is ably and extensively assisted by active membership in the National, State and County Medical Associations. He was married on October 1, 1896, to Miss Claribel Gilleland, a native of this county, and one of the cultured and popular ladies of this portion of the state. She presides over his home with grace and dignity and gives great animation and brillianey to the social life of which it is a hospitable and refined center. Like the Doctor, Mrs. Foster stands high in the estimation of the public, and like him, too, she richly deserves all the regard that is bestowed upon her.

Joshua Caleb Bradley

The pen of the biographer has seldom a more engaging theme than the life story of a good man who has advanced to middle life in prosperity for himself and usefulness to his fellow men, and who is still vigorous and energetic for further service and has the disposition to render it. In his view the state of prosperity to which he has helped to bring the region in which he lives is but the means to greater development and progress, and the noble institutions and agencies for the publie good which he sees flourishing around him, and whieh he has helped to ereate and foster, are but incentives to other and greater undertakings of the same character, or closely allied with what is, for the purpose of bringing about what should be. Such a theme is presented in the business eareer, elevated citizenship and ennobling publie spirit of Joshua Caleb Bradley of Goldsberry, whose name is a household word for esteem and admiration throughout White township in this county, and a large extent of the surrounding country.

Mr. Bradley is a Kentuckian by birth, his life having begun in Barren county of that state on March 9, 1854. But as he was brought to Missouri and Macon county in 1855, when he was but one year old, and has passed the whole of his subsequent life here, he may properly be called, for all practical purposes a Missourian and a product of that portion of the state in which he has made his career and rendered his service to the publie. His parents, Beverly W. and Malinda Jane (Dale) Bradley, were born and reared in Kentueky and were descended from families long resident in the state. "They were married in January, 1841, and had six children, one of whom has died, John C. "Those living are: Thompson W., Robert, George W., Joshua C. and Mollie, the wife of J. P. Greenstreet of Gifford.

During the Civil war the father's sympathies were with the Southern side of the controversy, but there were obstacles in the way of his engaging actively in the strife. He believed in the prineiples and governmental theories of the old Demoeratie party, and to that organization he still gives his devoted allegiance and whatever service he is still able to render. He was energetie in its behalf during all the years of his activity in life, and was esteemed as one of its influential advisers and workers in the locality of his home. For many years he served well and wisely as a member of the local school board, and in connection with other beneficial agencies at work for the improvement of the county and the welfare of its people he contributed his full share of the inspiration necessary to start and the labor required to eontinue them in operation. He is still living at the ripe old age of ninety-four, one of the venerated patriarchs of the county and a shining link connecting its present state of development with its earlier period of struggle, peril and hopeful patience.

His son, Joshua C. Bradley, was reared in the manner and amid the surroundings almost universal with country boys in this region during his minority. He began his scholastic training in the district schools and completed it at the Kirksville Normal school. After leaving this institution he followed for eight years the liberalizing but exhausting vocation of a teacher, giving his services to the cause of publie education which formed the basis of his own preparation for ihe battles of life. In 1884 he turned his attention to merchandising in association with P. J. Burton, and at the same time began to look upon the law as the field for the exercise of his faculties through life. During his mercantile career he prepared himself for the profession, and in 1897 he was admitted to the bar. Since then he has been continuously engaged in an active general practice, although he held on to his mercantile interests until 1908. He has also, for a number of years, been active in the real estate, loan and insuranee business, and with the agricultural interests of the eounty as the owner of 1,000 acres of good land, the eultivation of whieh he superintends, and on which he raises large numbers of fine cattle every year.

Mr. Bradley's mind is energetie and comprehensive, and requires a great deal of business to keep all its faculties employed and satisfy its demands. His profession, his store and his farming and stock breeding enterprises gave him a great deal to do and to think about, but they did not meet all his requirements or absorb the whole of his attention. In 1897, in connection with his brother, Judge Bradley, he started a banking business at Ethel which is still flourishing and has grown to great proportions and won a high reputation for the excellent manner in which it is conducted.

Throughout his long and successful career this energetie man and progressive citizen has overcome every obstacle and been triumphant over nearly every force that opposed his advance in business or professional life. But when the little god of sentiment attacked him he soon surrendered and suffered himself to be bound with the flowery yoke of the conqueror. He was married in 1878 to Miss Nora Wright, a native of Macon county. They have five children: Zella, the wife of R. B. Turner; Jose H., who is married and living at Goldsberry ; Edith, the wife of Charles H. Lile; and Jennie Ruth and Ralph E., who are still members of the parental household.

The father is allied with the Democratic party in political relations, but he has never been a very active partisan. He has supported the principles and eandidates of his party loyally but not in an ostentatious or conspicious manner. His manifest capacity for administrative duties and his wide intelligence and high character have, however, made him partieularly desirable as a publie offieial and he has yielded to the pressure of publie opinion and consented to serve the people in numerous township offices. In 1875 he was elected clerk and assessor of Drake township and he filled the position with great acceptability for many years. In 1880 he was appointed county school commissioner, and he has been a justice of the peace in and for White township for more than twenty years. He has also been a member of the local school board during the last twelve years, and the unusual interest and activity he has shown in school work have resulted in decided benefit to the schools and brought him considerable popularity and publie approval He has also been a notary publie for more than twenty years and from 1881 to 1895 served as postmaster of Goldsberry.

In religious affiliation Mr. Bradley is a Seventh Day Adventist and one of the elders of the congregation to which he belongs. But he is free from all narrowness and bigotry in religious matters and contributes freely and generously to the church needs of all denominations. In the matter of private charity he is royal in his munificence and princely in his modesty and silence concerning it, with his right hand ever open to help the worthy who are in need and his left in total ignorance on the subject. In all the attributes of lofty and comprehensive manhood he is the peer of any man in the state, and none more than he enjoys in full measure the esteem and admiration of the people or more completely deserves their regard and good will.

"The scion of old Kentucky families, members of which were among the pioneers of that great commonwealth, and a grandson of heroic frontiersmen in Missouri, Christopher Hardin Jones has had all his life lofty family ideals of manly duty to live up to and the stimulus of stern endurance and unwavering fidelity in the examples furnished by his forefathers. He is a native of this state, born in Linn county in 1857, and was reared on its soil. He obtained his scholastie training in its distriet sehools and has expended all his efforts so far in life's journey to the work of improving it and augmenting its wealth and power. All that he is is Missouri's own and the product of her resources and institutions. And that he is creditable to her powers of production the united voice of the community in which he lives concedes without stint or hesitation.

Mr. Jones is practically a self-made man, in the better sense of the term. All his achievements are the fruits of his own capacity and industry, and the general esteem in whieh he stands is the logieal and due tribute to his worth as a man and his excellence as a citizen. He is the son of Hardin and Susan (Yates) Jones, the former a native of Boone county and the latter of Howard county, Missouri. They were married in 1848 and had five children. All of their offspring grew to maturity and are living. They are: Corinne F.; John M., who lives in Linn county; Christopher H., the subject of this brief review; Robert W., who is a resident of Sullivan eounty ; and Milton S., whose home is in Iowa. The father moved his family to Macon county in 1868, and here he and his wife passed the rest of their lives actively engaged infarming. The mother died in 1886 and the father in 1893.

Christopher H. Jones made his choice of an occupation early in life, and through all of his subsequent years he has adhered to it. He was born to it, in fact, and received his early training in its exacting but 'stimulating duties on the family homestead. As boy, youth and man he has followed farming and never felt any strong temptation to an easier life or more rapid advancement in any other. This has satisfied his desires and sufficiently rewarded his efforts, and he has made it elevating and worthy of commendation by the manner in which he has devoted himself to it and the skill and breadth of view with which he has conducted its operations. His education in the matter of seholastie training was limited to the facilities and range of instruction afforded by the district schools in the vicinity of his home. But the lessons of experience and the results of observation and intelligent reflection have done good work in broadening his mind, expanding his information and increasing his capacity for every duty.

He has made his farm of 460 acres a model of attractiveness and fertility, its improvements commodious, comfortable and pleasing to the eye, and its equipment for the most advanced methods of cultivation complete in all partieulars. The same excellent judgment, commendable enterprise and careful attention to details have characterized him in his allied industry of raising stock, and also in the matter of publie improvements and work for the general welfare of the township and * county in which he lives. To every worthy undertaking for the advancement of his locality he has given cordial and intelligent support, and his services in this behalf are highly appreciated wherever he is known. His own success in life, which has been considerable, has been followed, through his efforts and those of others like him, and reflected in the progress and improvement of the region all around him, and its present development stands forth a monument to the enterprise of an energetie, broad-minded and productive people of whom he is an acknowledged and worthy representative.

Mr. Jones has always refused all tenders of political office for himself, but he has taken an earnest and helpful interest in publie affairs and been devoted to the welfare of the Demoeratie party, the politieal organization of his choice. He has also, at all times, been zealous and active in practical services to it, helping to direet its course wisely by judicious counsel and help it to worthy and approved success by determined and fruitful exertion. His work for the party is all the more appreciated by both its leaders and the rest of their followers because it is based upon principle and has no taint of self-seeking or desire for personal advantage in it. His whole course in life has been straightforward and upright, looking to his own advancement, of eourse, but with the general welfare always in view and under studious consideration. He is connected with the financial interests of the region as a stockholder and director of the State Bank of New Boston, in Linn eounty. In 1881 he was joined in marriage with Miss Mary J. Ratliff, a native of Adair county, Missouri. They have one child, their son, Commodore H. Jones.

While neither a pioneer nor the son of a pioneer, J. Frank Lile, one of the prosperous and progressive farmers and stock men of White township, has been closely connected with and serviceably instrumental in the growth and development of Macon county during all his years since boyhood, and his family has been influential in the progress of the state of Missouri for at least two generations. He is himself a native of the county, born on April 16, 1866, and his father, John M. Lile, was born in 1836 and reared in Schuyler county. "The father obtained a limited edueation in the eountry schools of his boyhood and devoted his whole life to farming. He located in Macon county in his young manhood and in 1855 was united in marriage with Miss Mary J. Murray, a native of Illinois. They became the parents of seventeen children, eight of whom are living: Fanny, the wife of James Radliff of South Dakota; Millie, the wife of Daniel Turner of this county ; William H., who also lives in South Dakota; J. Frank, the subjeet of this sketeh ; Ira, a resident of Macon county; Mollie, the wife of W. L. Bailey of Kansas City, Missouri; Ura, the wife of James N. Lynch; and Vella, ihe wife of Walter Greenstreet of this county. The father died in 1887 and the mother is still living. Their record in the county is a good one and the general esteem of the people followed their upright living, useful industry and warm and helpful interest in every element of the progress and development of the region in which their excellent traits of citizenship were known and appreciated. The mother is now well advanced in years and is venerated as one of the true and faithful women who have aided in giving Macon eounty its high record in the publie estimation of other portions of the state. She numbers her

J. Frank Lile grew to manhood on his father's farm and performed his part in boyhood and youth as a farmer's son, interested in the welfare of his family and willing to do all he could to promote it. He assisted with the work on the homestead and attended the district sehool in the vieinity when he could be spared from more exaeting duties. His early years were not seriously disturbed with dreams about the great busy world that lay beyond his rural horizon, for he made his choice of an occupation before he reached his maturity and outside temptations never had poteney with him. It was his pleasure to follow in the footsteps of his forefathers, contributing to the general well-being of the county and state in the manner enforced by their example, and studious only to do it as well as he could, making the most of his opportunities and holding the family name up to the level at whieh they had placed it.

On leaving school he entered at once on his life work as a general farmer and breeder of good live-stock, and these pursuits he has followed with steadiness, industry and success ever since, He has prospered in his undertakings and accumulated a comfortable competence for life. He is a stockholder in the Farmers State Bank at New Boston and eonneeted with other interests of value to the locality in which he lives. On February 9, 1888, he was married to Miss Eliza Radliff, a native of this eounty. "They have one child, their daughter, Vera. In political faith and allegiance Mr. Lile is a Demoerat, with unvarying loyalty to his party and great activity in its service in every eampaign. He served well and with approval as a member of the school board for four years, and as a member of the Baptist church he has long contributed to the mora! and spiritual uplifting of the people all around him. In matters of publie improvement he has been energetie, sparing no effort in any good cause and stimulating others to activity by the force of his example. He is regarded as one of the county's best citizens.

James M. Wright

With a mind so active that it requires several lines of effort to satisfy its produetive energies, and possessing versatility of talent and capacity to conduet them all to suecessful results, James M. Wright, of the village of Goldsberry, in this county, keeps himself one of the busiest men in Drake township and has shown himself to be one of its most useful citizens. He is a merchant in two lines of trade, carries on some farming operations and deals in horses. He also takes a leading part in the public life of the township and gives appreciated attention to all the avenues of improvement and everything that makes for the substantial and enduring welfare of the people.

Mr. Wright is a native of this county and was born on April 7, 1856. His father, Dennis Dunham Wright, was born and reared in the state of New York and came to Missouri in 1845. He loeated in Macon county and here wrought diligently and profitably at his trade as a saddler and harness-maker, as he had done in his native state. In 1848 he was united in marriage with Miss Mary Riley, a native of Randolph county, this state. They had seven children and five of them are living: James M., the immediate subject of these paragraphs; Nora, the wife of J. C. Bradley, of Goldsberry; W. R., of Washington; Mary Florence, the wife of G. H. Newkirk, of Goldsberry; C. C., who lives at Goldsberry. The father died in 1866 and the mother in 1887. They lived acceptably during the whole of their residence in this county and passed away, leaving good names enshrined in the loving remembrance of all their friends and erowned with the esteem and good will of the whole community in which they lived and labored.

James M. Wright grew to manhood where his life began, and obtained all the education he had opportunity for in the distriet schools. His early inelinations were all to trade, and as soon as he left school he made his way into the department of human activity toward which his tastes and faculties led him. He became a merchant, and, although he has since engaged in other pursuits in connection with his merchandising, he has never abandoned that. His devotion to it and obedience to the voice of nature in the direction of his activities have won their reward in high standing for him in business circles and a successful and prosperous mereantile eareer. He now owns and manages a drug and groeery store and has a large and active trade. He also owns and operates an eighty-aere farm, which gives him opportunity for the gratification of another decided taste with him, that is the breeding and raising of horses.

It is not to be supposed, however, that Mr. Wright's extensive and varied private interests wholly absorb him and leave no time or energy for attention to the duties of citizenship and the needs of the community around him. With a good man's interest in the welfare of his fellow men, he realizes that the publie affairs which concern the whole people are by no means to be neglected, and he gives those of his locality close and serviceable attention in every way he can. He is one of the stockholders and directors of the Citizens Bank of Ethel and a director of the Macon County Insurance Company. He has been a justice of the peace continuously for more than a quarter of a century and a member of the local school board for over fifteen years, and it is universally conceded that no publie or private interest has suffered from any of his official aets or from want of intelligent, vigorous and helpful attention on his part.

In political faith and allegiance Mr. Wright is a firm and loyal Demoerat, and his party never has to appeal to him for aid in its campaigns. He is one of the first to tender his service, or give it freely and effectively without waiting for a hint from any source whatever. In fraternal relations he is allied with the Masonic order, and his lodge also has his eordial and zealous support. On August 8, 1886, he was married to Miss Jennie Hungerford, a native of Livingston county, New York. They have one child, their daughter, Myra, who is a graduate of the Richard Wagner Conservatory of Musie, Kirksville, Missouri, and one of the ornaments of social life in the locality of her home. Tn this respect, as in others, she is a worthy exemplar of the graces and popular characteristies for which her parents are so widely and so deservedly esteemed.

Robert T. Wright

The scion of old Kentucky families long domesticated in that state and important faetors in its settlement, development and steady progress toward its present state of industrial, agrieultural and commercial greatness, Robert T. Wright of near Colleze Mound in Morrow township, has well sustained in the life and activities of Macon county, Missouri, the family reputations achieved by acknowledged merit and commanding prowess in those of Kentucky. He was born in Adair county, this state, in 1843, and is a son of Johnson and Eliza J. (Trimble) Wright, natives of the Blue Grass state. His paternal grandfather, Evans Wright, and great-grandfather, Richard Wright, were leading persons in their localities in their day, as were also his maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Temple, in theirs.

The father eame to Missouri when he was a young man and gave all his industrial energies to farming, which he followed extensively to the end of his days. He was also a preacher of the gospel and a very active politician, serving in the legislature of this state prior to the Civil war. He died in 1865 and his widow in 1888. "They had nine children and six of them are living: Robert T., George P., James A., Non E., Italy A. and Samuel W. Those dead are Mary E., Ann and Malta. All are, in their several locations and stations in life, exempli- fying the traits for which their ancestors were distinguished and the lessons given them by precept and example around the parental fireside.

Robert T. Wright obtained his education in the distriet schools of the neighborhood of his home, and on leaving school enlisted in the army in defense of his convictions. He saw considerable active service in his military life, participating in many of the early skirmishes of the Civil war and some of its more important engagements. After the close of the war he returned to Missouri and located in Morrow township, this eounty, where he has ever since been prosperously and progressively engaged in farming. His farm comprises 200 acres and is a model in its high estate of cultivation, valuable improvements and complete equipment with the most approved implements required for advanced farming at the present day. He is a judieious and enterprising farmer and makes every day of his time tell to his advantage in the improvement and increasing fruitfulness of his land. He is also a very enterprising and useful man in promoting the welfare of the township and county of his home, and is accounted by the people among whom he lives and labors one of their most energetie, far-seeing and representative citizens, both in private life and with reference to the affairs of the region which has the benefit of his wisdom and zealous activity.

Mr. Wright is a Republican in polities, but while he is always energetic and effective in the service of his party, he has at all times declined to aecept politieal office of every kind. His religious affiliation is with the Baptist ehurch, and in its works of benevolence he also takes a leading part. He has been very successful in his business, beginning with practically nothing and now owning a fine farm and much in other interests. On February 20, 1868, he was married to Miss Eliza J. Farris, and they beeame the parents of five ehildren, of whom the living are Leonard M., Minnie A., Elizabeth and William R. The mother of these children died May 31, 1883, and sometime afterward the father was united in marriage with Miss Alice Buster, a native of Macon county. They have three children, their son Clarenee S. and their,daughters Ida and Ina, twins, all of whom still brighten and eheer the parental home and enliven the family circle, assisting in the labors of the farm and adding to the attractiveness of its social life.

John Jefferson Helton

Sixty-one years ago, that is, in 1848, this prosperous farmer and stockman and excellent eitizen of Walnut township, was born in the state of Kentucky, where his ancestors were pioneers and among the men and women of mold and hardihood who redeemed the wild domain of that great commonwealth from its long subjection to barbarous force and predatory beasts of prey and laid the solid foundations of its present greatness and power. He came to Missouri in 1868 and located in Macon county in 1870. Here he has ever since lived and flourished, taking his place and doing well his part in the productive activities of this region, and adding to the reputation and high standard of its citizenship by the excellence of his- own.

Mr. Helton is a son of William and Elizabeth (Ingle) Helton, both born and reared in Kentucky, and married there in 1836. The father was a farmer and blacksmith, and in arduous labor at both occupations managed to provide comfortably for his family of twelve children, all but one of whom the parents reared to maturity. All of these are still living, and in various localities and pursuits are multiplying the blessings of industry and thrift and exemplifying in their daily lives the lessons given them by precept and example at the family hearthstone. The children living are: George; Mary, the wife of Louis Baker, of Kentucky; Aberry; John J., to whom these paragraphs are speeially devoted; Jacob; Jesse; Parks; Joseph; Rachel, the wife of Seth Thomas of Kentucky; William, and Melinda, now Mrs. Thomas, who also lives in Kentucky. The father died in 1862 and the mother in 1899,

Their son, John J. Helton, grew to manhood in his native state and obtained his education in its publie schools. On leaving school he entered the line of produetive industry, to whieh he has ever since adhered and in which he is still engaged. He became a farmer and stock-breeder, carrying on his operations with inereasing magnitude and prosperity as the years passed and his resources expanded, until now he owns over 400 acres of excellent farming and grazing land, and raises every year large numbers of cattle and other live-stock. His specialty in eattle for some years has been shorthorns of good degree, and in handling them he hàs made money and won a high and widespread reputation as a successful and reliable breeder.

Mr. Helton has pushed his own affairs with enterprise and vigor and his efforts have brought him large returns. He has also taken an active and serviceable interest in the affairs of the township and county of his residence, and they, also, have responded to his efforts, combined with those of other leading citizens, in greatly increased progress and development and an elevated standard of living, physical, intellectual and moral, for the aggressive and enterprising people who live in them. Mr. Helton is a stockholder in the Elmer Creamery

He has always declined all overtures made to him to become a candidate for political office, but he has never wavered in his loyalty to the Democratic party or withheld his utmost service in behalf of its welfare. The only political, or semi-politieal, position he has ever consented to take is that of membership on the local school board, and this he has filled for a number of years as a means of promoting the interests of the community in the proper guidance and government of one of its most cherished institutions, the system of publie education. He belongs to the Order of Odd Fellows and the Christian church, and his membership in them is no formal matter. He is a firm believer in their teachings and earnestly devoted to their highest and best development, and he gives his time, energy and material assistance in every desirable way to bring about that development and the increased usefulness that it involves.

In 1872 Mr. Helton was united in marriage with Miss Georgiana Windle, a native of this county. They have four children; Addie Belle, the wife of Manfred D. Lynch, of Ethel; Effie May, the wife of Charles Bailey, of Elmer; Myrtle L, the wife of Robert Sauders, who lives in the state of Kansas; and Guy Roy, who is still a member of the parental household. Mr. and Mrs. Helton are known all over the township and in many other localities, and wherever they have aequaintances they are held in the highest esteem. They stand well in the social life of their own community and are warmly welcomed in the best social circles of others whenever they enter them. In all the relations of life they meet the full requirements of their responsibilities, giving both example and stimulus to others and exemplifying in a gratifying way the lofty attributes of the best American citizenship.

William Lynch

The son of one of Macon eounty's honored pioneers, and himself helping to. complete the conquest of civilization over the barbarous forces of the wilderness in this portion of the state, William Lynch, of Walnut township, has justified in his own career the name and traditions of his forefathers and proven himself to be a citizen of the highest usefulness and a man of sterling worth and commanding enterprise.

Mr. Lynch was born in Macon county in 1845 and is a son of Martin and Linna (Johnson) Lyneh, who eame to this state in early life and passed many years in skillfully eultivating its soil and helping to push forward its growth and development toward its present advanced conv dition of fertility, commercial power and intelleetual and moral excellence. The father was a native of Tennessee and the mother of North Carolina, and their ancestors were pioneers in those states. They were married in 1832, one year after the arrival of the father in Missouri, and his location in this county, The ten children who blessed their union all grew to maturity and six of them are still living: William, who lives in Walnut township, this county; Matilda, the wife of Frank Burgeman, of Elmer; Elizabeth; Susan, the wife of John Atterbury, also of Elmer, and Mary, the wife of Stephen Walker. The father died in 1884 and the mother in 1886. Each labored more than sixty years in improving the eounty and their names and records are embalmed in the respectful remembrance of all the people of it.

Their son, William, passed his boyhood and youth on the parental homestead, assisting in the arduous work of eultivating it and attending the distriet sehool near by when he had opportunity. He began the battle of life for himself as a farmer, and in the agricultural branch of the industrial army he has marched and conquered ever since, In connection with his farming operations he carries on an extensive industry in raising stock, and in both departments of his business he has been very successful. He has shown commendable enterprise and progressiveness, studying everything pertaining to his undertakings and assimilating in careful reflection the lessons given by observation and daily praetieal experience. In this way he has mastered all the details of his work and is able to carry it on with a steady view to securing the best results in every way.

In polities he is an active working Demoerat, yielding his due tribute of loyalty and labor to the needs of his party, and doing this merely as a matter of principle and duty, and without any desire for its honors or the emoluments of political office. Yet, while he is averse to publie life and the responsibilities of offieial duty, he has been willing to forego his own preference for the publie good, and has served on the local school board continuously for more than twenty years. When the Civil war was raging in our unhappy country, he enlisted in 1865, when he was but twenty years of age. In defense of the Union, in Captain Bob Davis' company of volunteers he was part of its aggressive and defensive force until the close of the war. Thus ever he has shown his abiding interest in the welfare of the country and its people, and done his part toward promoting it. Fraternally he is a member of the Order of Odd Fellows, and in religious affairs he is allied with the Baptist church. In 1867 he was married to Miss Mary Ellen Campbell, a native of Macon county. The five children born to them are all living and are: Manfred, Leander, Erskine, William E. and Beatrice, the last named being the wife of Samuel Still, of. Kirksville, in this state. His wife died February 11, 1901.

Adhering, from boyhood, to the occupation of his forefathers for generations and pushing his industry with all the power of attention and intelligence at his command, Simeon Harrison Epperson, of Walnut township, in this county, has made a pronounced success of his career and is now enjoying the reward of his steadfastness of purpose and persistency of diligence in a comfortable worldly estate and an excellent reputation in the township and county of his home. He has done well the things he has known well how to do, and not been enticed from his chosen vocation by any temptations in other lines of endeavor, however alluring or gilded they might have appeared to be. With excellent judgment he measured his own tastes and inclinations, and with manly self-reliance he has followed them greatly to his own advantage and considerably to the benefit of the community.

Mr. Epperson is a native of this county, and was born on January 16, 1875. He is a son of Simeon G. and Mary (Mayfield) Epperson, the former born and resident for a few years in Iowa, and the latter a Kentuckian by nativity. They came to Missouri when young and located in Macon county. Here they were married and engaged in farming industriously and profitably until death ended their labors, when they were well advanced in years. They had four children, two of whom have died. The two living are Docia, the wife of R. O. Lovern, of Montana, and Simeon H., the subject of this brief review. The father died in 1899 and the mother in 1903.

Simeon H. Epperson grew to manhood on his father's farm and obtained his limited scholastic training in the publie schools located in the neighborhood. He realized early in life that almost his only dependence for success and advancement in life was himself - that on his own capacities and efforts rested his only hope for a name and respectable standing among his fellow men, and also his only chance for worldly acquisitions. He accepted his destiny with cheerfulness and entered with alaerity on the task of working it out. As soon as.he left school he began farming and he has ever since been actively engaged in the same occupation, raising live stock in increasing numbers in connection with his agricultural work. The scale on which he started was a small one, for he was careful to keep within the boundaries of his means and facilities, and rely on his profits for the enlargement of his operations.

The course he adopted was a wise one and has resulted as he intended it should. He steadily inereased the body of his land and enriched its improvements until he now owns a farm of 157 aeres, well equipped with good buildings and all the other needs of a first rate modern farm, owning, in fact, one of the most valuable and desirable country homes in the township. His land is skillfnlly and vigorously cultivated and yields abundant returns for the faith and industry he bestows upon it. His stock industry has also expanded as his fortunes have improved, and is now a considerable one.

Mr. Epperson's political faith and fidelity are pledged to the Democratie party and he works for its welfare with devoted energy and capacity because he believes in its principles and not for distinction; for he has never yet been induced to accept an office of any kind. Fraternally he is connected with the order of Modern Woodmen of America. On February 10, 1894, he was married to Miss Dilla Wright, a native of this county. They have three children, S. Marie, Leslie and Ruby. The family stands well in the township and all its members are held in the highest esteem.

Farming and raising live-stock became staple industries in Northeastern Missouri with the dawn of civilization in the region, and for a long time were almost the only occupations of the great bulk of the population. The other great industries that now engage so much attention and employ such vast numbers of men and aggregates of eapital in the state had not yet come into being, and the materials and forces that form the base of their operations were lying dormant, waiting for the voice of their master, the commanding might of mind, to eall them forth to enrieh and bless mankind. But even with their advent and growth to mammoth proportions, the earlier avocations of this seetion of the state did not lose their importance, and they are today, as they have always been since the history of civilization began here, among the leading pursuits of the people.

One of the men who has given them distinetive power and magnitude in the present day in Macon county is William TT. Bailey, of Walnut township, who lives near the village of Elmer and carries on extensive operations in both farming, of a progressive character, and raising stock of superior quality. Mr. Bailey was born at Elmer on November 12, 1864, and represents at least the seeond generation of his family native to the soil of Missouri. His father, Joseph Bailey, was born in Pike eounty and passed the greater part of his life there.

The son, William T. Bailey, was reared in the family household and obtained his education in the schools near his boyhood home. When he left school and began the struggle for advancement among men for himself he first tried his hand at merchandising, which he followed for two years in the town of Marceline, in Linn county. At the end of the period mentioned he sold his store and turned his attention to photography. This occupied him for one year, during which he was feeling his way to the vocation for which nature had destined him, and was not long in determining what it was. At the end of the year's experience which he had as a photographer he located near Elmer and started the enterprise in farming and raising stock, which he is still conducting. He began on a scale of safe magnitude and has enlarged his operations as success has brought him prosperity until he is now one cf the leaders in these two interesting and profitable lines of effort in the township in which his business is carried on.

Early in his eareer as a stockman, Mr. Bailey began specializing in western horses for the eastern markets, and this is still one of the leading elements of his business. He has built up a considerable trade in this line and his output has a very high standing among the jobbers and retailers in horses in the east and well deserves the reputation he has won for it. For he is studious and careful in every step of his work and omits no effort necessary on his part to seeure the best results in every particular. He also handles cattle extensively and has the land necessary for a vigorous and successful prosecution of his undertakings. He owns over 400 acres of land, all of which is under advanced eultivation except what is required for grazing purposes.

To the publie affairs of the township and county of his residence Mr. Bailey has given eareful attention and the most helpful support at all times. He applies to them the same excellent judgment and clearness of vision that distinguish him in his private affairs, and the people know and acknowledge the weight and worth of his opinion in reference to all that concerns their welfare, and they value his advice as they do his more material assistance in connection with all their projeets of publie improvement and the elevation of the standard of living.

Mr. Bailey is an active working Democrat in political relations, but his service to his party springs from his conviction that it embodies in its prineiples the best theories of government and strongest safeguards of the rights and interests of the people, and not from any ambition for official distinetion for himself. Except membership on the school board, on which he has served for over sixteen eonseeutive years for the good of the community, he has steadfastly refused to accept any office and to allow the use of his name as a candidate for any political position of any kind, whether elective or appointive.

His interest in the fraternal life of the community has been longcontinued, energetic and productive. He belongs to the Masonic order, its adjunct, the Order of the Eastern Star, and the Modern Woodmen of America, and is constant and zealous in the service of them all, helping to guide them to the best results by his counsel and to the highest development by personal and material aid of the most practical kind. In 1889 he was married to Miss Maggie Sivaton, a native of this county. They have two children, their daughters, Buella and Edna, who are the light and life of their home and give it a special feature of attraction for their hosts of friends who make it a popular resort and find it a center of refined and genuine hospitality, always beaming with social sunshine and bountiful in resources for high-toned and elevating enjoyment - a characteristic and representative Macon county home of the best class.

Henry Miller, of Elmer, is one of the progressive men who have caught the spirit of the great West, absorbed it into their being, or found it native within them, and fixed its expression in enduring form in substantial improvements and contributions to the welfare of the people who inhabit it. Their works are monuments to their own enterprise and foresight and they contribute vastly to the enjoyment, substantial comfort and lasting welfare of the communities in which they stand. Mr. Miller has placed the fruits of his capacity and progressiveness at the serviee of the people of Elmer, doing more, perhaps, than any one other man in building up and improving the town and giving it its fair name among the municipalities in the county.

Mr. Miller was born on March 2, 1844, in Lafayette, Indiana, and eame to Missouri with his parents when he was eleven years of age. His father, T. S. Miller, was a native of Pennsylvania, and Henry's mother, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Isely, was also born and reared in that state. They were married in 1816 and had eight children. Five of the eight are livinz: James L. a resident of the state of Oklahoma; John E., who also lives in that state; Susanne, the wife of D. Gunnels, of this county; Henry, the subject of this sketch, and Ellen, the wife of Herman Westfall, of California. Their mother died in March, 1885, and their father on July 4, 1891.

opportunities for even this were limited and subjeet to frequent interruptions. He was obliged, while growing from boyhood to manhood, to help his father with the work of the farm, and under the conditions of this part of the countr they were then, this was exaeting and took precedence over everything else. Schooling was considered an excellent thing, and to be had if it could, but the farm work was necessary to the support of the family and it could not be neglected, no matter what else had to suffer. Mr. Miller went to school when he eould and made the most of the advantages available to him. In the glimpses into the great domain of intelligence and book-learning which he then got he laid the foundation of the fund of general information which he has since aequired by his own studious habits and industry in reading, observation and refleetion. >

He has adhered during nearly all of his subsequent years to the pursuit he mastered under the direction of his father, farming suecessfully and profitably until 1901, when he retired and turned his attention to the real estate business. He now owns a number of brick blocks and residence properties in Elmer, and also owns and manages the opera house, through which he contributes largely and essentially to the enjoyment of the community and the elevation and improvement of its people. They hold him in the highest esteem for what he has done in the way of building up the town, and also for the elevated and progressive character of his citizenship in every respect. He is not only one of the most substantial but one of the most popular and influential men in the township.

Mr. Miller was married in 1865 to Miss Rhoda Craig, a native of Iowa. They have three children, their daughters, Via Ward and Minnie, the latter the wife of T. L. Freed, and their son, J. H. In polities the father is a Republican with a loyal devotion to the interests of his party and great zeal and aetivity in promoting them. But he has never accepted a politieal office, either by election or appointment, having no taste for official life. He does his part for the welfare of the community in other ways of manifest value, and leaves publie affairs to ihe administration of those who have a taste for that sort of work.

It has been the subjective prerogative of this well known and popular citizen of the city of Macon to gain distinctive success and prestige as a member of the bar of his native county, and he is one of the representative attorneys and counselors at law in the attractive county-seat. He is a member of one of the old and honored families of Macon county, being a son of the late John R. Hughes, of Bevier, to whom a memoir is dedicated on other pages of this work, so that further review of the family history is not demanded in the present connection.

Daniel R. Hughes was born in the village of Bevier, Macon county, Missouri, on the 17th of November, 1868, and there was reared to maturity, in the meanwhile duly availing himself of the advantages offered by the publie schools. At the age of seventeen years he assumed the position of assistant postmaster of his native town, retaining this incumbency two and one-half years, under the regime of Thomas Williams. Within this time he devoted sufficient of his leisure time in the evenings to the study of telegraphy to become a competent operator, having gained the requisite discipline by studying under the direction of Lewis, Nowlan, Agent at the Bevier station of the Burlington Railroad. Through the kindly consideration and instruction of Mr. Nowlan the subjeet of this review familiarized himself with the practical work of a station operator, and at the age of twenty years he seeured the position of night operator in the Bevier station of the Chicago, Burlington Quincy Railroad, being thus'employed about nine months and then being promoted to the position of day operator. Thereafter he was engaged as operator and station agent at various points along the line of the railroad mentioned for a period of about five years, at the expiration of whieh, in the autumn of 1894, he resigned his position and made ready to carry out his well formulated plans of preparing himself for the legal profession. With this end in view he at that time was matriculated in the law department of the celebrated University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, in whieh he completed the preseribed curriculum and was graduated as a member of the Law class of 1896, on June 25th of which year he received his diploma and his well earned degree of Bachelor of Laws. In September 1896, at Macon, he was admitted to the bar of his native state, and in the ensuing December he initiated the active practive of his profession by entering the office of Hon. William H. Sears, of Macon, former state senator, with whom he was associated, under effective preceptorship, for the ensuing two years, since which time he has conducted an individual professional business in this city.

Mr. Hughes has proved an able and versatile trial lawyer and well fortified counselor and has appeared in connection with mueh important litigation in the courts of Macon and other counties, having a large and appreciative clientage and being unswerving in his devotion to the work of his profession. He has never sought nor consented to become a candidate for publie office, either elective or appointive, though he takes a loyal interest in publie affairs and keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the hour. His first vote was cast in support of Grover Cleveland for the presidency, in 1892, and he continued to give his suport to the Democratie party until its adoption of the free-silver doctrine, in 1896, when he found his convictions utterly at variance with the poliey of the party and consequently, with the eourage of his opinions, transferred his allegiance to the Republican party, of whose principles and policies he has since been a stalwart advocate, and in whose cause he has rendered effective service. He and his wife hold membership in the Presbyterian church of Macon. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, he is affiliated with Censer Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons; Macon Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, and Emanuat Commandery, Knights Templar. He is one of the most popular and influential members of Macon Lodge, No. 999, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, which he joined at the time of its organization at Macon, and of which he had the distinction of being chosen the first exalted ruler. He was also the first representative of the "local lodge in the national grand lodge, at the meeting held in the eity of Denver in 1906, and in the following year he was again its representative in the grand lodge at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is a member of Macon Camp, No. 27, Woodmen of the World, and was delegate of the same order at the meeting of the national organization of the fraternity, in the eity of Milwaukee, in 1903. He is well known throughout his native county and his circle of friends is limited only by that of his acquaintances.

On the 18th of October, 1899, Mr. Hughes was united in marriage to Miss Cora Alderman, who likewise was born and reared in Macon county, being a daughter of Wesley W. Alderman, a representative farmer of Hudsen township. Mr. and Mrs. Hughes have had two children, Daniel Shelton, who is now nine years of age, and Dorothy, who died in April, 1906, at the age of three years.

Y James Bailey

For more than threescore years this excellent citizen and industrious and progressive farmer has been a resident of Macon county, and during the whole period of his activity has been busily and produetively connected with the industries that formed the foundation and have aided materially in building the superstructure of the county's wealth, commercial greatness, and intelleetual and moral standing. His whole life to this time has been passed in the eounty and he may safely be taken as a representative of its people, for he is thoroughly imbued

Mr. Bailey was born in Macon county on February 26, 1849, and is a son of Joseph and Elvira (Lovern) Bailey, natives of Virginia and early residents of this state. The father came to Missouri in 1830, and located in Macon county in 1846. He was married on March 25, 1848, and by his marriage became the father of ten children, nine of whom reached maturity, and eight of these are still living: James, the subjeet of this memoir; Elizabeth, the wife of E. A. Fleteher, who lives in Iowa; Rebeeca, the wife of W. S. Hawkins, of Clarence, Missouri; Susan, the wife of D. W. Edwards, whose home is at Ethel, Missouri; Angeline, the wife of Henry Busher, who resides in Springfield, Illinois; J. M. and W. T., eitizens of Elmer, and Lula, the wife of Angus Teskey, of Boulder, Montana. The father died on January 28, 1895, and the mother on April 14, 1905.

James Bailey grew to manhood on his father's farm, and when he could be spared from its exacting claims and duties, attended the distriet school in the neighborhood. The eountry was yet somewhat in the condition of the frontier and its reduction to produetiveness and a systematie yield of the fruits of farming, which would contribute to the sustenance of the people and had a market value, required every foree that was available and left the boys and girls of the time very limited opportunities to attend even the common or local schools, to say nothing of those devoted to what is ealled higher education. After leaving school Mr. Bailey still continued to work on the farm with his father until he attained his majority. He then tried his hand in mercantile life by working as a clerk and salesman in a store for one year, devoting himself earnestly to the duties of his position and trying to get up sufficient enthusiasm over it to make it overcome his inclination to farming, which he still felt potentia! and urgent within him.

But Nature had fitted him well for one kind of a career and she stubbornly resisted his attempts to work himself up in another. The store experiences, full of variety and incident as they were, did not satisfy him, and after what he considered a fair trial of them he abandoned the effort to make them attraetive and again turned his attention to tilling the soil and the pursuits allied with that. He has adhered to them ever since, and they have rewarded his fidelity with a competence for life and high standing in the eounty as a farmer of capacity and progressiveness and a citizen worthy of general esteem and commendation.

Mr. Bailey is a Democrat in political faith and he makes his faith show in steady, effective and appreciated service for his party. He is always expected to take the field for its candidates when the toesin sounds, and he never disappoints the expectation. In party work and in his general demeanor he has shown capacity for publie affairs and this has led to his being called to the administration of several township offices of trust and responsibility. He was township collector and township clerk for several terms, and was also a member ot the school board for about three years. His services in these several positions were beneficial to the township and received the approval of the people. He based them on intelligence and breadth of view and conducted his work in rendering them with vigor, regularity, strict integrity and a considerate regard for the interests and feelings of all who were concerned in them.

In the fraternal life of the community Mr. Bailey has also taken an active and helpful interest. His religious connection is with the Christian church. On September 7, 1875, he was joined in marriage with Miss Honor Williams, who was born and reared in this state. All of the children born to them are living. They are: Amanda, the wife of J. D. Green, of Ethel; Allan, who resides at Elmer; Rebecea J., the wife of W. C. Sears, who lives in the same town; Stella, the wife of Otis Wright, of Elmer, and Paul, who is still at home with his parents. In January, 1910, Mr. Bailey became the owner of the only hardware stoek in Elmer, to which he is now giving his attention in conneetion with his farming.

Y E James C. Patterson

Although an eastern man by birth, training, association and activity during the early years of his manhood, James C. Patterson, of Elmer, has lived in Missouri thirty-one years and throughout the whole of that period has taken an active part in the industries and been a foree of value in the publie affairs of the state. He is, therefore, thoroughly imbued with the spirit and aspirations of its people and in full sympathy with all their proper wishes and undertakings. They acknowledge with pleasure his worth as a man and his usefulness as a citizen, and freely accord him the esteem these high qualities of merit deserve.

Mr. Patterson was born in Butler county, Pennsylvania, on February 19, 1835, and is a son of Uriah and Katharine (Groover) Patterson, the former a native of New Jersey and the latter of Pennsylvania. The father was born in 1799, and early in his manhood moved to the neighboring state of Pennsylvania, where every industry was thriving, and there worked diligently at his trade as a tinner until his death, which oceurred in 1885. "The mother died eight years earlier, passing away in 1877. They had thirteen children and eleven of them grew to maturity. Those living now are only James C. and his sister, Adeline, who is the wife of L. M. Coovert, of Harmony, Pennsylvania. Both have lived useful lives and are comfortable in their advanced age in a worldly way, and cheered by the universal regard and courteous attention of all who know them.

James C. Patterson was reared in his native city and obtaimed his education in the distriet schools that flourished in its midst. After leaving school he was apprenticed to a wheelwright and learned the trade in several years of faithful and industrious attention to the instructions of his preceptor. After completing his apprenticeship he worked at his trade until the beginning of the Civil war. He was cordially attached to the Union of the states and deemed it his duty to aid in preventing its dismemberment. He therefore enlisted for the war in the Eighteenth Ohio Battery of Artillery and was soon at the front. His command was a busy one during the whole period of the momentous confliet. It was constantly on the march or in the field, and in numerous bloody battles paid its full tribute to the cause it was defending in the blood and lives of its valiant members. Mr. Patterson took part in the battles of Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, and many others of varying degrees of importance. He escaped the fate of many of his comrades and returned from the deluge of death unharmed.

After the war he again took up his residence in Ohio, having moved to that state before he enlisted, and resumed work at his trade. He remained in Ohio until 1878, and during his residence there served as postmaster at Garden, in Athens county, four years, then resigned the office. He also served as a justice of the peace there for a period of five years. He came to this state in 1878 and located in Macon county. Here he determined to follow a new line of enterprise and devoted himself to contracting and building until 1905, when the weight of years induced him to retire from active pursuits and enjoy for the remainder of his days a much-needed and well-earned rest. He has since dwelt at Elmer in peace and comfort, and is entitled to the pleasure which springs from the retrospect of a well-spent life and fidelity in the performance of every duty.

His political faith is given to the Republican party and he has at all times rendered it loyal support and effective service. In 1884 he was elected a justice of the peace and has been re-elected at the end of his every term since then. In 1906 he was also commissioned a notary publie and he is still available for service in that capacity. He was also a member of the school board of Elmer for four years. It is manitest that wherever he has lived he has been deeply interested in the welfare of the people around him and willing to do whatever he could to promoteit. He sprang to the defense of his country when war spread terror and devastation through the land, and in times of peaceful industry he has helped to build up and develop with the same sturdy sense of duty and persistent industry that characterized his course in the army. Tn the latter, it should be stated, he rose to the rank of lieutenant in his company, reaching the distinetion through merit and as a reward for conspicuous gallantry.

Tn 1861 Mr. Patterson was united in marriage with Miss Orphea J. Buck, a native of Ohio. They had six children, five of whom are living: James E. who resides in Elmer; Cora M., the wife of L. L. Shoemaker, of Adair eounty, Missouri; Herbert B., and Elmer U., whose homes are in Washington, and Myrtle, the wife of W. F. Buneh, of Elmer. Their mother died in 1901. The father is a leading member of the Universalist church and always active in the promotion of the best interests of the congregation to whieh he belongs. In his ease the sands of life are necessarily running low - the plow is nearing the end of the furrow. But the current of the sands has been a elean and bright one and the furrow is straight. Mr. Patterson has rendered his full service to his kind in his day and generation, and now there is none among those who know him that does not call him worthy and revere him as an excellent eitizen and highly estimable man.

For more than fifty years this highly respected and influential business man and citizen has experienced the ups and downs of life in Macon county, Missouri, where he was born on December 15, 1858, and through all his varied experienees he has kept up a brave front and encountered fate with a resolute spirit and unconquerable determination. But fate has never had much the best of him, for his qualities of head and heart, of mind and character are such that he has always commanded the situation and been able to bid defiance to circumstances.

Mr. Dale is a son of William JJ. and Sarah (Adams) Dale, also natives of this county, the father being long one of the best known merchants in the county. The paternal grandfather, Abraham Dale, was born and reared in Kentucky. He came to Missouri in 1831 or 1832, making the journey overland by team, the only means of transportation into the wilds of this region in those days, and located on a traet of government land five miles east of the present town of Elmer. He was one of the first settlers in that portion of the county, and his training as a woodsman and frontiersman in Kentucky stood him in good stead in his new home, for he had to encounter all the dangers and endure all the hardships and privations of frontier life there for many years. He converted his wild land into a good and fruitful farm and made of it a comfortable and valuable rural home, passed all his remaining years on it and finally died there at a good old age. He was the father of three sons and nine daughters. Two of the sons and three of the daughters are still living, and are among the most respected citizens of the communities in which they have their homes.

William J. Dale, the father of Hemmit, was reared to manhood in this county and secured a limited education at the country schools of his boyhood and youth. They were primitive and their scope was wholly elementary, and his opportunities for attending them were meager and irregular. But he made what use he could of his chances and obtained a fair degree of preparation for the battle of life, on whieh he entered for himself at an early age. After leaving school he learned the earpenter trade and for some years worked at that and farming with some degree of profit and prosperity. He then engaged in business at Old Bloomington for a number of years, and it was at this period that his son, Hemmit, was born in that historie old town. From Old Bloomington the family moved to Macon, where the father resumed work at his trade for a time. In 1884 he again engaged in business, locating his enterprise at Barnesville, where he conducted it for a period of two years. At the end of that period he moved it to Mercyville, and for a number of years was one of the leading merchants of that place. He is now living retired from active pursuits at Elmer. His wife died in 1862. At that time he was a soldier in the Confederate army under General Price, with whose command he served two years. The religious connection of the family has long been with the Baptist church, and succeeding generations of it have been active and zealous members of that religious organization.

Hemmit Dale grew to manhood in Macon county and was educated in its schools. After leaving school he clerked in a store some years, then moved to Springfield, Greene county. Later he was employed as a traveling salesman for three years, and in 1887 located at Mereyville and joined his father in business, the firm name being W. J. Dale & Son. They were associated in the enterprise twenty years, but in 1889 moved their stock to Elmer, where Hemmit is still conducting the business in company with Mr. Patterson and under the firm name of

Dale & Patterson. Their store is large, well stocked and vigorously managed, and their trade is very active. They have one of the leading mercantile marts in this part of the state.

Mr. Dale was one of the founders of the Exchange Bank of Elmer andis now its vice-president. He owns farms in Adair county and near Chandler in Clay county, his holdings of farm property being very extensive. All he has in worldly wealth he has aequired by his own industry, thrift and ability, and he has no special favors of Fortune or adventitious eireumstanees to thank for any of it. He has made his own way in the world and every step of his progress has been through or over difficulties, but he has shown the qualities that win and that would have brought him success under almost any eireumstanees. In polities he is a Democrat, with an abiding and serviceable interest in the welfare of his party, but he has never sought or desired a political office of any kind. Fraternally he is connected with the Masonic order and the Order of Odd Fellows, and in religion is a member of Missionary Baptist ehureh. He is now among the oldest merchants in the county and has a reputation for uprightness and progressiveness in business that places him in the first rank of the business men in Northeastern Missouri. In 1887 he was united in marriage with Miss Mary Boyd, a native of Ralls eounty, Missouri. They have four children, Alma C., William Donald, Edgar L. and Abraham C. The whole family is held in high esteem by the people of Macon county and throughout a large portion of the surrounding eountry, and the regard and good will bestowed upon its members is well deserved, for they meet all the requirements of eitizenship with a faithful sense of duty.

M Eugene Shoush

Having tried his hand at many lines of effort and sueceeded in all, Eugene Shoush, one of the most prominent and influential citizens of Macon has fully justified the regard in which he is held as one of the most resourceful, successful and capable men in the county. Farming, mining, merchandising, traveling as a salesman and the real estate business have all engaged his faculties at different times, and all paid liberal tribute to his shrewdness, industry and unusual ability. Moreover, he has dignified every field of endeavor in which he has labored by the high tone and breadth of view that have characterized all his operations.

Mr. Shoush was born in Macon county in 1863 and is a son and the only child of Richard and Martha (Rowland) Shoush, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of this state. They were married in 1858 and the father died when the son was but six weeks old. The mother married again and by the second marriage had one son and two daughters. She is still living, and bountifully blessed with good health and the esteem of all who know her. The Shoush family was long domestieated in Kentucky, and aided in the development of that great state from its condition of primeval wilderness to one of influential poteney in the industrial, commercial and political life of the country. When the father of Eugene was yet only a boy the family came to Missouri and settled in Macon county. Here he grew to manhood and took his place in the activities around him, beginning what promised to be a very suceessful career, when death ended his labors soon after the dawn of his manhood.

Eugene Shoush obtained his education and reached his maturity in this county. He began the battle of life for himself by working in the mines near Corbin in winter and farming in summer. "The work was hard and the returns from it were small. But the ambitious soul within the toiler looked upon the conditions only as stepping stones to higher pursuits and better results, and he patiently toiled on for a period of four years, continuing his dual occupation during that period and then devoting his time principally to farming until 1891. He then made an opening for himself in the mereantile world, and for a number of years flourished and gained financial strength and standing as a merchant.

At the end of a successful career in merchandising, which lasted eight years, he became general traveling representative for the Studebaker Brothers, of South Bend, Indiana, whose renown as manufaeturers of high grade wagons and other road vehicles is worldwide, his territory being the whole state of Iowa. He was connected with this firm in the capacity named from 1899 to 1902, By that time he felt that it would be better for him to be working wholly for himself and building up a trade of his own. He therefore turned his attention, in the year last mentioned, to the real estate trade, and during the next seven years he was one of its leaders in this part of the state. He was very attentive to his business and exhibited very unusual capacity in condueting it, becoming one of the best known and most successful real estate men in Northeastern Missouri and an acknowledged authority on all subjects connected with the purchase and sale of property.

His active mind and all-conquering energy were still on the search for other fields of enterprise, and in March, 1909, he once more looked with kindly eyes on his early oeeupation of mining. Not this time, however, as a mere delver under the ground, but as a prospector and mine owner. He became possessed of claims in Gilpin county, Colorado, and at once proceeded to put forces in motion to develop them. The results have justified his highest hopes, the mine turning out to be fruitful and one of the most satisfaetory yielders of the rich mining region in which it is located. This mining eompany, of which he is president and general manager, was incorporated December 1, 1909, for $1,000,000.

It is not to be supposed that Mr. Shoush's success in all his ventures is due to luck or propitious circumstances. It is the logical product of a close study of conditions, excellent judgment in making choice, and rare ability in the use of opportunities. He seems at times to have the hand of Midas, which turned everything it touched to gold. But he lacks that unhappy ereature's sordidness, and uses his acquisitions and the power and influence they have brought him for the substantial benefit of the people around him and the progress and improvement of the county and state in which he lives. He is as enterprising and elearsighted with reference to publie improvements as he is in his own business, and has, in a marked degree, a good citizen's cordial and productive interest in the welfare of the world immediately around him. In addition to his holdings in Colorado he is interested in the Sherman-Macon Mining Company and owns and operates extensive tracts of farm lands. The products of all his interests help to swell the volume of wealth and augment the industrial and commercial energies of Macon eounty and the state; and his publie spirit and progressiveness aid greatly in elevating the civic, moral and intellectual standard of the people and promoting the comfort, extending the conveniences and increasing the enjoyment of all who come in contact with them, or have a share in their benefits.

In political faith Mr. Shoush is a Republican, but he is by no means a narrow or hide-bound partisan. His first consideration in the exereise of his suffrage and in all his activity with reference to publie affairs is the welfare of the people and the advancement of their interests, all partisan claims coming afterward, if they come at all. His fraternal feelings find vent in his connection with the order of Woodmen of the World, and his religious affiliation is with the Presbyterian church. He was married in 1883 to Miss Hannah Gee, who was born and reared in this county. They have four children: Walter A., a prosperous real estate dealer at Clarence, Shelby county, Missouri; Ida May, the wife of F. M. Patton, who is engaged in railroading; Frank W., a member of the United States Marine Guards in the Philippine Islands; and Earl, who is still living at home with his parents and preparing himself for a business career. The family is highly respected throughout

Edward Seward Jones

Although he has been a member of the bar less than five years, the barque which bears the professional hopes of Edward Seward Jones, of Macon, is far enough from shore to have shown her sailing qualities and to attraet admiring attention from all observers by the grace, vigor and steadiness of her progress. But Mr. Jones' place in the esteem of those who know him and the confidence and good opinion of the general publie is not due wholly to his suecess and ability as a lawyer. His capacity for business, official duties and the requirements of elevated, enterprising and progressive eitizenship have been amply demonstrated in other lines of effort before he came to the bar, and his reputation as a man of parts and high promise was well established by his energy and success in other undertakings not connected with his profession. What he has gained in standing and publie esteem by his professional eareer has served mainly to confirm the judgment previously passed upon him and justify the faith in him already felt and expressed.

Mr. Jones is a native of Macon county and was born on October 8,1872. His father, Robert N. Jones, was born in North Wales in 1833, and was educated in his native land. In 1852, when he was but nineteen years old, he eame to the United States and located in the state of New York, where he engaged in farming for a few years. He felt the great West calling him to its service, however, and moved to Wisconsin. Soon afterwards the fever and excitement over the gold diseoveries in Idaho became epidemie in parts of the country, and Mr. Jones was one of its early vietims. He proceeded to the region of hope and promise, making a long and tedious journey across the plains to reach it, and found plenty of work for his hands, if not gold in his diggings, to fill them, and he helped to put up some of the first buildings ereeted in what is now the flourishing and progressive city of Boise and the eapital of the state.

In 1864 he turned his face eastward and came to Macon county, taking up his residence at Bevier, where he followed mining during the winters and farming in summer for many years. He is now living retired from aetive work and has his home in Bevier amid the scenes of his long years of profitable and produetive industry. He has always taken an active part in political contests as a Democrat, and to the improvement and substantial progress of the community of his home has contributed his full share of stimulus by his own active assistance and the spirit of emulation awakened in others by the force of his example. He was married in 1861 to Miss Sarah Elizabeth Owen, the marriage taking place at Dodgeville, Wisconsin, where she was living at the time, although she was born in the state of New York. All of the six children born to them are living. They are: William Owen; Minnie, the widow of the late D. M. Elias, state mining inspector of Wyoming, who was killed in 1908 by an explosion in a mine; Elizabeth, the wife of Benjamin R. Evans, of Bevier, who is engaged in mining; Anna, the wife of J. M. Thomas, a resident of Seattle, Washington; Edward S., the subjeet of this sketeh and present prosecuting attorney of Macon county; and Edith, the wife of Charles Peters, who is also a resident of Seattle.

Edward S. Jones grew to manhood in this eounty and obtained his academie training in the publie schools of Macon in part, and in part at the Kirksville Normal School and the State University at Columbia. In 1899 he was appointed principal of the publie sehool at Bevier, and in 1901 was chosen superintendent of the publie schools of that city for a term of two years. While in this position he began the study of law, and he continued his preparation for the profession at the Missouri University Law School. He was admitted to the bar in 1% After admission to the bar he opened an office at Bevier and praetieed there for three years. In 1907 he was elected city attorney of Bevier, filling the office until his removal to Macon in 1908. In the autumn of that year he was elected prosecuting attorney of the county, and he has since been discharging the duties of this important and responsible position with decided credit to himself and benefit to the county, and greatly to the satisfaction of the people.

In political relations Mr. Jones is connected with the Demoeratie party, in the service of which he is both a valiant soldier in the field and an excellent adviser in council. He is active and energetic, and his work for the organization, which is always effective, is highly appreciated by its leaders and all their followers throughout the county. Fraternally he belongs to the Masonie order in both blue lodge Masonry and its adjunct, the Order of the Eastern Star, the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen of America. He is attentive to the needs of all his lodges, interested in their progress and well being, and energetic in their service. Mr. Jones is now but thirty-seven years old. He has attained to high rank in his profession, influence in public affairs, an excellent social position and general publie esteem. He is alert, studious and progressive. All his gains are permanent and the means to further advancement. His ideals are lofty and his industry is systematic and productive. With his merit, which is manifest, his ambition, which is Jaudable, and his ability, which is everywhere acknowledged, he is destined to become one of the leading men of the state.

He was married June 16, 1908, to Harriet Ellen Johnson, of Warrensburg, daughter of T. J. Johnson and a niece of Judge Robert 3oyd, of Kentucky. She was born near London, Kentucky, and came with her parents to Missouri. When a child, the family settled at Warrensburg, Johnson county, where the father still resides, Mrs. Jones was educated at Warrensburg State Normal and Missouri State University.

This prominent and prosperous farmer of Macon county, whose home is in Round Grove township, is a native of Mercer county, Kentucky, where he was born on February 28, 1846, and eame to Missouri with his parents when he was but four years old. Practically the whole of his life to this time has been passed in this state, and he has no recolleetion of any other, or rather only an indistinet one, although many of the incidents of the long and trying journey aeross the country, from his home of his infancy to that of his boyhood, youth and mature life, are deeply impressed on his memory.

Mr. Brown is a son of George and Mary (Cole) Brown, both born and reared in Kentucky, where they were married also. The father was born in the same county as the son, and eame into being there in 1799. He was reared as other backwoods boys were, and like most of them, took his plaee in the rough scenes and trying labors of pioneer life at an early age. He learned the baker's trade, which he followed a short time, then served in the U. S. army about one year - 1814, and later worked on the river, boating, making one trip to Missouri in 1820, remaining one year in Howard county. In 1850, when he concluded to try his hand in a newer country, and became a resident of Missouri, locating in Macon county. He gathered his household goods together and embarked on the long, wearying and hazardous jaunt overland to the region beyond the Mis: »pi from his former home, ready to brave its perils and endure its privations and hardships, and stimulated to greater ardor in the undertaking by the hope of good results from his venture. The story of such trips from civilization to the semi-barbarous frontier has often been told, and the experience is now only a memory among our people. But it is well to recall such adventures to attention at times in order that the hardy manhood and heroie spirit that conquered our western wilds from their savage denizens and made them fragrant with the flowers and rich with the fruits of advancing civilization may be kept afresh in our minds and receive the meed of appreciation they so well deserve, both as examples for the present day and as evidences of the grit and determination of our forefathers.

After the arrival of the family in this county the father engaged in general farming, keeping up his industry and enlarging his operations until his death in 1876. His migration to the West was a fortunate one for him. He was successful in his undertakings in this county, and when he died owned 200 acres of productive and well improved land. It should be stated that he did not devote the whole of his time to farming before his marriage, but for a number of year prior to that event worked diligently and profitably on flat boats on the Ohio river, at that time one of the leading means of freight transportation on that great water highway, and a source of considerable revenue to hosts of persons.

When the insolence of Great Britian brought on the War of 1812, Mr. Brown was one of the first to volunteer in the contest in defense of our country, although at the time he was but a boy of thirteen years of age. He remained with the army until vietory crowned our efforts and gave us the same freedom and independence on the high seas that the successful results of the Revolution had given us on the land, and inereased the glory of our eitizen soldiery throughout the world.

Mr. Brown, the elder, was married twice. His first wife was Miss Sarah Cole before her marriage, and she ike her husband, a native of Kentucky. "They had nine children, four of whom are living: Almira, now the wife of Jackson Stratton, of Mercer eounty, Kentucky; Samuel P. and George W., residents of Macon county; Margaret, the wife of Isaac Mayo, of Arkansas, and Robert, who also lives in Macon county. The mother of these children died in 1841, and in 1843 Mr. Brown was married to her sister, Mary Cole. By this union he became the father of two children, Andrew J. being the only one of the two now living. In political allegiance the father was a life-long Democrat and on all oceasions rendered good service to his party, although he never sought office for himself.

Andrew J. Brown obtained his education in the publie schools of Macon county, and after leaving school worked on his father's farm, during the life of the father conducting it in connection with him, and, since his death, on his own aecount. He is still living on that farm and continuing the high grade of cultivation and spirit of improvement for which the father was noted. He has, however, added to the extent of the place and it now embraces 255 acres. In connection with his general farming industry he long carried on an extensive and flourishing business in raising live stock. He has recently retired somewhat from active pursuits and divided a portion of his land among his children.

Mr. Brown was married on February 27, 1868, to Miss Katharine Kreiter, a daughter of Frederick and Matilda Kreiter, well known citizens of this county. Of the four children born of this union all are living. They are Mary F.; George G., a resident of Wentzville, in this state; Bertha R., the wife of William Fetter, of Macon county, and Albert Sidney, who lives at Thoreau, New Mexico. Their mother died in 1886. In politics the father is a Democrat of firm convictions and active service, and in fraternal life an ardent and zealous member of the Masonie order. He is everywhere held in high esteem.

Joseph T. Casey

Trained to a mechanical pursuit in his youth and by energetic and produetive work in its field of endeavor for years after reaching his maturity, and during the last five years employed in a capacity requiring many faeulties and powers besides mechanical skill, Joseph T. Casey, one of the most prominent and progressive citizens of Laplata, has shown himself to be much more than a mere hand in the industrial life of the country and to possess ereative and exeeutive ability of a high order.

Mr. Casey was born in the city of Baltimore, Maryland, on August 26, 1869, and is a son of Abraham S. and Elizabeth (Plumer) Casey, the father also a native of Baltimore, Maryland, and the mother of the same state. . They had six children, four of whom are living: Robert P.; Jennie, the wife of David Barrett; Ella, the wife of Daniel Nightingale; and Joseph T. The father.was a blacksmith and when his son Joseph was a small boy moved the family to the western part of the state, locating at Mount Savage in Allegany eounty. "There he wrought industriously and profitably at his trade until his death, which oceurred in 1893. The mother died in 1891.

Joseph T. Casey grew to manhood and was educated in the publie schools of Mount Savage, Maryland. After leaving school he learned the trade of blacksmith under the direetion of his father and worked at it for a few years. He then entered the employ of the Southern Pipe Line Company of Pennsylvania, his trade being in frequent requisition in his work. With this company he remained about twelve years, rising steadily in rank among its employes and in the regard of his employers, making a good name for himself and aequiring business knowledge

In 1904 Mr. Casey became connected with the Prairie Oil and Gas Company of Laplata as chief engineer, and this brought him to this county to live. He has been a resident of Laplata ever since, and has proven himself a very useful citizen and a valuable addition to the intellectual and industrial forces of the community. He takes great interest in its affairs and is zealous in helping to promote the welfare of its people, both by energetic efforts in behalf of its material progress in every way and by striving to augment the power of all its moral, mental and social agencies. He is a Republican in polities, but has never been an active partisan, yet he is by no means wanting in deep and earnest solicitude for the well being of the country and the proper management of its affairs. But he prefers to serve it from the honorable post of private citizenship without close connection with its official life or active mingling in the political contentions which so often agitate and distress its people.

In the fraternal organizations so numerous among men Mr. Casey has favored two with his membership and appreciated personal service, the Masonic order and the Knights of Pythias. He is zealous in attention to the duties laid upon him by these two orders and does all he ean to advance their interests toward the best and highest development and most extensive usefulness. In 1895 he was married to Miss Margaret Hinckel, who was born and reared at Mount Savage, Maryland. She has shared freely in his aspirations and been of material assistance in the progress of his career. He has been very successful in life, so far, and is one of the men who never stop but use every triumph as a stepping stone to something higher. The present is full of prosperity and publie esteem for him and the future full of promise.

This venerable and universally esteemed citizen of LaPlata, who is now nearing the age of four-score years, and who has given the people of Macon county a full half-century of valuable service in professional life, efficient aid in conducting the publie affairs of the county, and elevated and inspiring citizenship, is not a native of Missouri, although nearly all the years of his life to this time have been passed within its borders and in this county. He was born in the state of Minois in 1832 and came with his parents to this state when he was but seven years old. He has ever since been a resident of Macon county, and from his youth has taken an active part in its industrial and social life. He may therefore be justly called a product of the county, and its people are well pleased to have him taken as a representative of its citizenship.