Macon County, Missouri - Biographical sketches, 1910 (part 8 of 20)

Mr. Gordon was born in Newark, Wayne county, New York, on December 12, 1848, and is the son of James B. and Martha (Vaughn) Gordon, also natives of the state of New York. The father grew to manhood in Wayne county. He was a wagon manufacturer and developed a considerable industry in that line of production in his native state, where he remained until 1857. The West held out a persuasive hand to him and her voice of promise filled his heart with hope. In the year last mentioned he left the scenes and associations of his boyhood, and came on a prospecting tour to Missouri. Macon county looked good to him, and he determined to locate here and grow into consequence with the country. In 1859, when he was returning to his former home with a view to closing up his affairs there and leaving the region forever, he was fatally stricken at Sturgis, Michigan, and died within a few days after the illness began. His young wife, who was a daughter of Stephen and Mahitable Vaughn, and to whom he was married in 1847, had preceded him to the other world by two years, dying in 1855.

Thus doubly orphaned in his boyhood, the interesting subject of this brief review was thrown practically on his own resources, and had nothing to depend on but himself in the wide and busy world before him. He aecepted his destiny with eheerfulness and entered upon the performance of its requirements with the alacrity and fortitude which have ever since distinguished him. He began his edueation in the publie schools and completed it at a collegiate institute at Marion in his native eounty, earning a large part of his livelihood while attending school, and working his way through the institute by his own industry and frugality. Of the three children in the family he is the only one now living.

When he was obliged to leave school and give his whole attention to the serious work of life, he began operations by working on a farm, which he continued to do until 1872. The work was hard, but he did not object to that. The requirements were exacting, especially during the summers, but he met them with a manly and resolute spirit. The returns for his labor, however, were small and the accumulation of a fund for some other line of work was necessarily very slow. He therefore decided to take a more rapid route to the goal he had fixed for himself, and learned the trade of molder. After completing his apprenticeship he wrought diligently at the trade for a number of years, adhering to it with patience and fidelity until 1882.

In that year he, too, was attacked by the Western fever, and it brought him over the trail of his father, made thirty-five years earlier, to Missouri and Macon county. Locating in Atlanta, he engaged in general merchandising in that town until 1893. He then turned his attention to the real estate, loan and insurance business, and that has oceupied his time and faeulties ever since. Good judgment has distinguished him in all his business undertakings, and he has been quick to see and alert to seize every opportunity that has been available for his advancement. Cireumstanees have not ministered to his success except as he has compelled them to, making of them wings and weapons for his progress, and this he has known how to do in an eminent degree. In addition to the business mentioned above as enlisting his energies, he has also been extensively engaged in chicken farming, holding a high rank and enjoying a wide and favorable reputation as a successful breeder of buff Plymouth Rock fowls of a superior strain, which he produces in large numbers.

The interests of the community in which he lives have also been of imperative moment to him and he has done all he could to aid in caring for them with wisdom and promoting them with zeal. He has served eapably and with cordial approval from the people, as village clerk since 1903, and is still doing good and appreciated work in that capacity. For many years he has also held a commission as a notary publie and made it effective in usefulness to the residents of the village and the township. His fraternal feelings have found expression in membership in the Masonie order, and the activities engendered by them have all been expended in its behalf. In polities he is a pronounced Republican, and at all times one of the busiest and most effective workers for the success of his party. In 1872 he was united in marriage with Miss Mattie E. Cochrane, a daughter of William and Jane Cochrane, of Waterpord, New York. One child was born of this union, a son named John B., who is now a resident of Spokane in the state of Washington. His mother died in February, 1893, and in November, 1903, the father married again, being united in the second marriage with Miss lla V. Elsea, a daughter of John G. and Mary B. (Patton) Elsea.

As a citizen Mr. Gordon stands in the front rank in Macon county and is favorably known and highly esteemed throughout the state. As a business man he is recognized everywhere as wise, progressive and strictly upright. And as a potency working for the advancement and development of the eounty and state of his residence, he is regarded as one of the most effective agencies for good in this part of the commonwealth, wise in counsel, energetie and effective in action, valuable both in what he achieves himself and in the forces he stimulates to exertion and judiciously directs to good results in others.

This prominent merchant and highly esteemed citizen of Macon county is now verging close upon three score years of age, and necessarily moving toward the evening of life. But his day has been full of opportunity and the results of his efforts show that he has been alive to that faet and has had ample ability and energy to make the most of its heat and burden, which he has faithfully and cheerfully borne, to the end that he might acquire substance for himself and those dependent upon him, and at the same time contribute the force of a fruitful influence and produetive capacity to the advancement and improvement of the community of his home and the enduring welfare of its people.

Mr. MacRae was born in 1840, near Hannibal in this state. His parents were Joel and Agnes (Payne) MacRae, the former of Kentucky and the latter of Virginia nativity and aneestry. The father eame to Missouri at an early age and passed the whole of his mature life in this state engaged in farming. He was wise in his day and generation and made all his efforts and opportunities eount to his advantage in the battle of life, winning material consequence and high esteem from the people among whom he lived and labored. "Three ehildren were born in the household, of whom only two are living, William L. and his sister Sarah, who is the wife of Robert Kerrick, of Hannibal.

The parents have answered the final call, the father and mother having died. Their remains were laid peacefully to rest amid the scenes hallowed by their long and useful lives, and their names are warmly cherished by a large circle of admiring friends and aequaintances who knew their worth and the record of their upright and servieeable daily walk and conversation among this people. They rest from their labors and their good works live after them, multiplying in benefits to those they left behind.

Their son, William L., passed from childhood to manhood at College Mound, where he is now living, and obtained his education in the great "university of the people," the publie schools, and McGee College, of College Mound, Macon county. As a young man, with the enthusiasm and aspirations of youth stirring within him, and looking out over the expansive world, with its wealth of alluring prospeets and boundless store of opportunities, all golden in the rosy light of his dreams, life on the farm seemed far too tame to him, and he longed for adventure in the broad field of more stirring endeavor. As a means to the end he sought, and also as a discipline in self-culture, whether he was aware of it or not, he taught school for a period of three years. He then worked for a time in a tobacco faetory in Hannibal, and afterward elerked for about three years in the postoflice in

By this time he felt capable of undertaking a mercantile enterprise on his own account, and as he had been frugal with his earnings, he had some capital for the venture. He therefore began his mercantile career at Hannibal in 1867, and remained there three years engaged in merchandising. In 1870 he moved his enterprise to College Mound, and there he has ever since been conducting it with increasing suecess and an active trade that has expanded year by year in volume and value. He is now in the first rank of business men in the township, and is universally respected as a good and useful citizen throughout the county.

Mr. MacRae was married in 1870 to Mary C. Dameron, of College Mound. They have had seven children, but only four of them are living. These are: W. A., a resident of Macon; Robert H., who lives at Ardmore; Lula, the wife of W. D. Powell, of Excello; and Edward, who also lives at College Mound. All are living upright and useful lives, and exemplifying, in the faithful performance of their daily duties, the lessons that were given them and the example they found so impressive at the family hearthstone.

Mr. MacRae is a Democrat in political faith and ardently devoted to the basie principles of his party. He is at all times active in its service, giving its cause the best work he is capable of, both as an adviser in council and as a soldier in the field. He served as township treasurer three years and city councilman two years, the offices coming to him without solicitation on his part, for he is not enamored of official station and has plenty to occupy his mind and engage his faculties in his business and other private affairs. But he is devoted to the advancement and improvement of his locality and always willing to undergo any exertion and make any sacrifice of his personal preferences, within reasonable limits, for the general welfare and the good of the publie. He has long been a member of the Masonie order and found great enjoyment in its social features and profit in its beautiful symbolism and elevated moral teachings. All other good agencies in his community find in him a cordial friend and ready and liberal helper. Neither sectarian nor other considerations of a narrowing tendency stay his hand when he is convinced the undertaking is worthy and will result in advantage to the people, or any appreciable part of them. "The township has made extensive progress during his residence in it, and he has borne his full share of the labor and cost incident to bringing this about. None of its eitizens is more worthy of high

Coming into being on the border land between the eontending sections just prior to the Civil war in this country, George W. Butler, of Excello, was literally born in the midst of alarms, and his childhood was darkened by the storm clouds of the momentous struggle, which eulminated for him and the other members of his father's ho hold in one of the terrible tragedies which made the loeation of his home a veritable land of sorrow toward the close of the conflict. He was orphaned at the age of six years by the violent death of his father, who was shot on October 14, 1864, by the Knox and Putnam eounty militia. This cruel injustice and the fatal persecution of his father did not sour the boy's disposition, but it intensified his determination to win consequence and standing for himself, and by his own life he has shown the world around him that the family is loyal to the country, according to its views and the light it has, and is worthy of esteem for high-minded, patriotie and progressive American citizenship.

Mr. Butler was born on May 21, 1858, in Randolph county, Missouri, and is a son of John T. and Susan E. (Darby) Butler, the former a native of Macon county, this state, and the latter of Kentucky ancestry. The father's people came to Missouri from Virginia. He was an industrious and prosperous farmer, with an earnest desire to advance his own fortunes and an abiding interest in the welfare and development of the county and state in which his lot had been east. He was married in 1857, his wife being a daughter of John S. and Lueella (Crutcher) Darby, who were descended from pioneers in Kentucky and themselves beeame pioneers in Missouri. T. Butler's offspring numbered five, four of whom are living: George W., of Excello; James M., also a resident of Excello; Nannie E. and Lillie J., the last named being the wife of L. G. King, a respected eitizen of the state of New Mexico.

The father was an ardent State Rights Democrat and made no secret of his views. He lived in troublous times, and if he had been less honest, less fearless and less determined to stand upon his right to freedom of speech, he might be living yet. But his convictions were strong, his courage was high and his freedom he regarded as an inalienable and priceless possession. He therefore gave utterance to his thoughts without regard to consequences, and as a result fell a victim to the intolerance of the war spirit that was rampant and relentless on the border at the time. After his death his stricken widow removed her young family to her former home in Randolph county. She is living yet and has her home with her son, George W., on her farm near Excello.

The son grew to manhood in Randolph and Macon counties and obtained his education in the publie schools. After leaving school he worked variously at farming and the carpenter trade for a few years, and then settled down for life as a farmer. He has prospered in all his undertakings and grown strong in the esteem and good will of all the people of the township, in whose behalf a great part of his energy has been expended with excellent results. He inherited the political faith of his father, and in this he has since been confirmed by his own study, observation and refleetion. He is a wheelhorse in the Demoeratic cause on all occasions, and his wisdom as an adviser and courage and resourcefulness as a worker have given him high rank in the eouneils of his party. He has been chairman of the township Demoeratie committee, served on the sehool board nine years, and is now à justice of the peace, an office to which he was elected in 1898, and which he has held continuously since that time. He has also been active and prominent in the fraternal life of the community for many years. He holds membership in the Masonie order and its adjunet, the Order of the Eastern Star, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Court of Honor, and he gives a due proportion of his time and energy to the service of each of these orders, in all of which his membership is highly valued. He is also secretary and one of the directors of the Jacksonville Fair Association. In religious affiliation he is conneeted with the Baptist ehureh. He is deeply interested in the success of the church organization and an able and devoted assistant in all branches of ehureh work.

On January 20, 1889, he was united in marriage with Miss Isadora Brock, a daughter of C. K. and Mary C. (MeCanne) Brock, residents of Randolph county in this state. They have four children, Iva Zenella, Estelle May, Lucy Irene and Auda Marie. Their father has redeemed the vows of his boyhood and, by steady applieation to his business and fine capability for conducting it wisely and skillfully, has made a pronounced success of his career, seeuring a competeney for himself and his family and aiding materially in promoting the enduring welfare and substantial progress of his locality. He is universally recognized as one of the leading citizens of the county, and worthy of all respect, both on aceount of his acquisitions, because they are the products of his industry and ability, and on account of his publie serv- ices and the stimulating example he has given to others in this line of general utility, for he has been helpful to every publie interest not only in what he has done himself, but also in the forees he has put and kept in action among the people generally by his influence and determined efforts for the general good and the comfort and convenience of the whole community.

Hugh P. Gilbreath

Industrious, enterprising and knowing, with considerable natura! ability to start with and powers of assimilation, whieh have enabled him to take in and profit by the lessons of experienee and praetieal training in his business, Hugh P. Gilbreath, of La Plata township, in this county, has won his success by his own efforts and achieved by sheer merit and fidelity the high rank he holds as a farmer and stock man in this part of the state, and the universal esteem bestowed upon him as a citizen. The start his father gave him in the struggle for advancement only planted him firmly on his feet and gave him a good point of view. "Thereafter, all his progress and achievement were to be his own acquisitions, and he has not, by any means, or in any degree, disappointed the expectations his earlier life had awakened.

Mr. Gilbreath was born on the farm which is now his home on November 19, 1852, and has passed the whole of his life on it to this time (1910.) His paternal grandfather, who was also named Hugh, was born and reared in North Carolina, and became a resident of what it now the state of Missouri, at an early period of its history, while it was still almost a virgin wilderness, and all the forms of life within its borders were those of barbarism, exeept here and there, where the oncoming host of civilization had established its outposts and begun to plan the reduetion of the region to the useful purposes of eultivated and produetive existenee. Here he loeated and took his place in the ranks of the civilizing force, and here, in 1823, his son, James C. Gilbreath, was born, the family living at the time in Cooper eounty. The latter remained in that county until 1844, then, following the example of his father, he struck out into the wilderness, or near wilderness, : for himself, and, coming to Macon county, began to take part in the work of its development and improvement.

He located in La Plata township on eighty acres of land, which his father gave him as a start in life, and with that as a base of operations he conducted a flourishing and profitable industry in general farming and raising stock until his death, which oceurred on October 28,1864. At that time he owned and cultivated 470 acres of land, and his rank in the live-stock trade was high and widely acknowledged. In polities he was a firm and faithful Democrat, taking great interest and a leading part in the campaigns of his party and doing all in his power to bring success to its cause. Fraternally he belonged to the Masonic fraternity and was one of the most energetic and helpful memof his lodge in the order. In religious connection he was allied with the Cumberland Presbyterian church and served many years as an elder in the congregation in which he worshiped. On Mareh 5, 1845, he was married to Miss Frances Burrus of Cooper County, Missouri. They had seven children, five of whom are living: Thomas F., William J., Hugh P., Sarah F., the wife of J. A. Ayers, and Laura A., the wife of J. E. Dodson, all residents of Macon county and highly esteemed among its people.

Hugh P. Gilbreath received a common school education in what is known as White School in La Plata, and, after leaving school, remained on the home place, assisting in its labors and helping the family for a number of years. He then determined to make that place his permanent home and in 1881 bought 240 acres of it to farm on his own account. 'lhree years later he purchased the other eighty aeres. He has, therefore, lived on this place all the years of his life, from his birth to the present time. He found it well improved and highly productive when he became possessed of it, but he has carried both improvements and produetiveness far beyond what they were when he took charge of the place. He has been very successful in all his undertakings, making progress steadily and holding on with tenacity to every foot of ground he has gained in his advance, both in material acquisitions and in prominenee and influence among the people of his township and county.

To the welfare and progress of the region in which he lives Mr. Gilbreath has given as close and careful attention as he has to his own affairs. He has been eonstant in his efforts to build up and improve his township and county, but has used good judgment and broad intelligenee in his efforts, ardently supporting all worthy undertakings for the purpose and as firmly opposing those which have not seemed to him judicious or wholesome. He has served as district road commissioner and in many other ways has been of benefit to this part of the state in the matter of publie improvements. He is a stockholder in the Bank of La Plata, and, in helping to advance its interests, has been of service in promoting those of the territory throughout which its patrons are located.

party and he is one of its most reliable and serviceable members in this locality. Fraternally he is a Knight of Pythias and a Knight of the Maceabees, and in religion he and his wife are zealous working members of the Presbyterian church, in which he has served as one of the deacons of his congregation. On February 17, 1881, he was united in marriage with Miss Nora L. Dodson, a daughter of George R. and Louise (Dameron) Dodson, prominent citizens of Macon county, this state, until their deaths. In the Gilbreath household two children have been born, but only one is living, Lura F., the wife of William O. Daniel, of Clarenee, Missouri. She, like her parents, is looked upon as among the most estimable and worthy residents of the community in whieh she lives.

John J. Crysta

Of sturdy Scotch ancestry on his father's side, John J. Crysta, of Macon, has shown in his career in this county that he possesses many of the sterling and resourceful characteristics of that alert and hardy race, and that in the undeveloped state of this part of the country when he began the battle of life he found a suitable field for their employment. Using them to the best advantage for himself and those around him, he has won a substantial estate of his own and helped in the most material way to build up and improve the community in which he has passed the whole of his life up to the present time.

Mr. Crysta was born on May 15, 1853, in the house in which he now lives at Exeello. His parents were Richard Stuart and Martha J. (Powell) Crysta, and he was the fourth of their thirteen children in the order of birth. The father was born in Wayne county, Kentucky, in 1815, and came to Missouri in 1837. He located in Macon county, Narrows township, and then and there began his long and successful career as a farmer and live stock breeder. The mother was a native of Caswell eounty, North. Carolina, and belonged to a family that settled in that state in early colonial times. They had thirteen children and all of them grew to maturity, though but five are living now. They are: James W., a resident of Winslow, Arizona; John J., of Macon; Peter R., of Bloomington, Illinois; Emmet P., who lives in New Mexico; and Willie, the wife of B. F. Stamper, of Macon.

In his early manhood the father was a Whig in polities, and on the demise of the Whig party he beeame a Democrat. To the end of his days he took great interest in political affairs and was a hard worker for the success of his party, although he would never consent to accept any office whatever for himself. As a communicant of the

Baptist ehureh for many years he became very active in church work in his early manhood and continued his zeal and industry in this respeet to the close of his life. He died in 1878 at Macon, and there also his widow departed this life, passing away in March, 1886. Their lives were upright and useful and their names are revered in all parts of the township in which they so long lived and labored. The father was prominent in the publie affairs of the county. He was a member of its first grand jury, and in many other ways aided in getting it well started on its way to general progress and high development.

John J. Crysta was reared on the family homestead in Narrows township and obtained his education in the distriet schools near his home. In his boyhood this part of the country had not passed far from its frontier stage and all the people in the country were kept busy in the effort to smooth this portion of **the New World's rough face" and lay the foundation for the comeliness it now exhibits and the greater beauty and development and power to which it is advaneing. The work was arduous and required the help of every hand that could hold a plow or wield a hoe. Mr. Crysta's educational advantages were therefore very limited in extent and character, and he was obliged to rely on the manifestations of nature all around him and the teachings of experience for his instruetion. These spoke to him in voiees of poteney, and by their aid and his own judicious private reading he became a well-informed, alert, ready and resourceful man. He seleeted farming as the pursuit of his life, and he has never been tempted successfully to veer from his first choice. He saw great possibilities in improving and eultivating the land, and to realize those possibilities became his leading desire, and the effort to reach the end he sought his chief occupation. He began practically with nothing. He now owns and farms more than 200 acres of excellent land, has an attractive, convenient and valuable collection of farm buildings and machinery, and earries on an extensive enterprise in raising superior strains of live stock. His acquisitions are all the result of his own industry, frugality and fine business capacity. He has studied his various departments of the farming industry, and has made every force applied to them tell to his advantage and substantial progress.

Throughout his residenee in the township he has steadfastly refused to accept a politieal office of any kind, or allow the use of his name as a candidate, although he is an ardent Democrat and a zealous and effective worker for the good of his party. But he has not been indifferent to publie affairs, either local or general, and has given his aid freely and extensively to all projects for the improvement of the township and county which have commended themselves to his judgment. His religious allegiance is given to the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he has long been a member, and his fraternal affiliation is with the order of Modern Woodmen of Ameriea. In 1883 he married with Miss Maria Stevens, who was born and reared in Macon county and is a daughter of Robert and Mary A. (Hoffman) Stevens. Six children have blessed their union and sanetified their family altar. Of the six, five are living: Lindlay C., Robert Stuart, Hallie F., Alpha R. and Harry.

Mr. Crysta is still in the prime of life, and all his faculties are in full vigor and activity. He belongs to the class of men who never halt in the way they mark out for themselves, and never dally on the highway that leads to the goal they desire to reach. His success has been considerable, but it has not satisfied his appetite. Rather has it only whetted that for greater conquests. He has seen the country around him reduced to systematie cultivation and grow rich in all the produets of civilized life, but he desires to see it still more elevated, with its material, intelleetual and moral forees expanded in magnitude, augmented in power and intensified in purpose, and he is eager to do his part toward raising it to that higher elevation. "There are many years of usefulness apparently before him, and that he will employ them for the good of the township and county, as well as for his own advancement, has abundant proof in his past record and present publie spirit. In all his endeavors he will have the ready and effective aid of his friends, his neighbors and the people in general. For he is essentially a representative man and wields great influence for good.

Philip R. Smith

Born, reared, educated and successful in the community in which he now has his home, highly respected by all the people of the township, among whom the whole of his life so far has been passed, owning and farming 540 aeres of valuable land which he has brought to a state of great improvement and advanced produetiveness, Philip R. Smith, of Excello, has an estate which, in all the ordinary contingencies of life, places him above the reach of adverse fortune and indicates a record of many years of arduous labor, faithful performance of duty and wise and skillful management.

Mr. Smith's life began at Excello on January 9, 1847. He is the son of Captain William C. and Elizabeth (Rowland) Smith, the former born in Clark county, Kentucky, on May 4, 1817, and the latter a native of Missouri. The father eame to Missouri in 1838 and located in

Narrows township, this eounty. He farmed industriously and profitably until 1878, then during the next ten years manufactured wagons extensively. At the end of the latter period he retired from active pursuits and lived in the eomfortable enjoyment of his acquisitions and the general esteem in which he was held until his death, on March 17, 1909. His wife died on September 21, 1902. They were married in 1844, Four children blessed their union and brightened their home. Three of them are living: John W., of Macon; Philip R., of Excello; and Jay Douglas, of Macon. "The father was a stockholder in the State Exehange Bank.

Philip R. Smith grew to manhood at Excello and obtained his education in the publie schools of that village. From the time of his leaving sehool he has been actively engaged in farming, and has made a pronounced success of his work. He has followed general farming, giving attention to every branch of the business suited to this climate, and in addition raising shorthorn eattle, whieh he has been doing extensively for more than twenty years. In this department of his business he is as eareful as possible, making every effort and taking every precaution to secure the best results and keep up the standard of his herd, which is deservedly very high. He cares for his cattle with the intelligence gleaned from close observation and extensive reading and reflection. On all subjects connected with breeding and caring for live stock he is an acknowledged authority, and as his judgment is known to be based on extensive knowledge and intelligent deduetions, his advice is widely sought and freely given. His zeal and enterprise in the matter have done a great deal to raise the standard of cattle in the county and inspire the farmers around him to efforts for still better and more profitable results.

In polities Mr. Smith has always been a Democrat, and an active, and servieeable one at all times. Wise in counsel and sedulous and effeetive in work, he is a strong man in his party and wields considerable influence in the management of its affairs. He has served the people well in official capacities, although he does not care for political office. But they know his ability and integrity, and have forced him into the party harness. He has been deputy county colleetor and served two years as township collector. He is a member of the Masonic order and of the Christian ehureh. In each his membership is serviceable to a high degree and appreciated at its full value.

Mr. Smith has been married three times, and twice has death invaded his home and taken away the partner of his domestie life. His first marriage oceurred on January 3, 1870, when he was united with Miss Amanda Walker. Of their two children, only Wilbur M., a citizen of Texas, is living. The first Mrs. Smith died in 1879, and in 1881 Mr. Smith was married to Miss Effie Powell, a native of Excello. This marriage also resulted in two children, both of whom are living. They are Hugh L., a resident of San Francisco, and Lena, who is living at home. Their mother died in 1898. Mr. Smith's third wife, whom he married in 1900 and who still abides with him, was Mrs. Cora E. Jones, of Ten Mile township.

For more than three score years this successful and representative farmer has lived among the people of Narrows township, and now there is not one that does not do him honor. His citizenship dignifies and adorns the township, his example has been potential for good to its people, his services have left their mark on its progress in quickening improvements and stimulating development, and all his undertakings have ministered to the general welfare in ways that are valuable and enduring. If a community is to be judged by its leading citizens, the residents of this section might well and safely rest on Philip R. Smith as the type and representative of their own standing and tendencies, and eite his record as an indication of their spirit, their aims and their aehievements. For he embodies all that is best in their eitizenship and is the author and developer of much of it. He has built up his own estate substantially and extensively, but at the same time he has been of great assistance in making the most of the community's resources and ing it to its present high standard of progressiveness and enterprise, and its real wealth of material, intelleetual and moral power.

John Stevens Cromwell

Choosing at the dawn of his manhood an occupation for life and resolutely adhering to it in spite of all temptations to do otherwise; pushing his industry with all his powers, and turning a deaf ear to all the blandishments of persuasion, all the rosy prospects held out in different lines, all musie of every siren that has sought to divert him from his purpose, John S. Cromwell, of Excello, Narrows township, this county, has made a great success of his undertaking and is now ranked among the most substantial, enterprising and representative farmers and citizens of Macon county.

Mr. Cromwell came into the world in 1841, in Union county, Kentucky. His parents, Joseph W. and Martha (Finnie) Cromwell, were natives of Virginia and Kentucky, respectively, and became residents of Missouri in 1856. They located in Randolph county, where the father was engaged in merchandising; he sold his business and retired to a farm he had purchased, which he farmed until his death. This oceurred on the farm in 1894, he having survived for thirty-six years his wife, who died in 1858. All of their nine children grew to maturity and four of them are still alive. These are: John Stevens; Anna, the wife of Dr. Dobson, of Lakeland, Missouri; William Oliver; and Susan, the wife of John Croakin. All are prosperous and respected as upright and useful citizens.

John Stevens Cromwell was but two years old when his mother died, and fifteen when the family moved to Missouri. In the publie schools of this state he eompleted the education he had begun in those of Kentucky, and immediately after leaving school began farming with energy and a settled purpose to make that his life occupation and realize the utmost out of his opportunities. As has been noted above, he has adhered to his purpose and realized his desires. He has a large acreage of very valuable land, and this he has brought to a high state of produetiveness and greatly enriched with improvements which are substantial in structure, attractive in appearance, eonvenient in arrangement, complete in equipment and noteworthy in value. His wisdom and skill as a farmer and in the management of his affairs in general has made his name almost a synonym for progress and enterprise in the township and given his career the importance of an oftquoted example. He bears his prominence modestly, however, elaiming no eredit for anything but the faithful performance of his duty and an effort to make the most of his every resource and opportunity.

In polities Mr. Cromwell has always been a Democrat, devoted to ihe principles of his party and effective in service to its cause on all oceasions. His interest in the development and improvement of the township has been marked and fruitful in benefits to all the people. It is much to be a successful and a leading man in any community, but it is more to be this and at the same time help to make the community successful and a leader also. This has been Mr. Cromwell's aim, while building his own fortunes, and his aid has been potent and his example stimulating in bringing about the desired result. His services to the township and county cannot be measured alone by what he has done himself. A considerable part of the case is the result of the forces of enterprise he has awakened and set in motion in others by his influence and example. He has never sought office, but has served well as road supervisor during the last two years. He was married in 1863 to Miss Sarah Powell, a native of Excello. They have had three children. Two are living: Maud, the wife of F. R. Switzer,

Frederick H. Switzer

Born to a destiny of privation and toil in his childhood, youth and early manhood, facing the dangers and undergoing the hardships of bitter and relentless war while he was yet but little more than a boy, taking up the battle of life for himself soon after he passed the stile in life's pathway which admitted him to man's estate, and doing this far from home and friends, yet all the while making substantial progress toward his desired condition of comfort and consequence among men, Frederiek R. Switzer, of Excello, in Narrows township, furnishes in his eareer a fine example of what continued industry and thrift will do for a man in this country, and how even Fortune, with a manifest disposition to buffet him, ean be won to his support and made to minister to his plans.

Mr. Switzer was born in this county on April 11, 1844. At that time the whole of this part of the state was wild and unsettled; the population was sparse and the facilities for living comfortably were very meager, even for families well-to-do. His parents, Newton and Mary (Reid) Switzer, were natives of Virginia and scions of old families long established in that state. "The father was born in 1808 and they were married in 1835. They eame to Missouri and loented in this county in 1840. Here they engaged in farming and the father operated extensively for that day in raising horses and mules. Twelve children were born to them, and of their full dozen all but one grew to maturity, although only six are now living. They are: Sarah, the wife of Beverly Daniel, of Oregon; Frederick R., of Excello; Emma, the wife of A. T. Levick, of Illinois; Virginia C., the wife of H. T. Galbraith, of Denver, Colorado; Millard F., who lives at Jacksonville, Missouri; and John D., a resident of Houston, Texas.

Politieally the father was an ardent Demoerat and always active in the serviee of his party. He showed great interest in the welfare and development of the township and devoted himself to its promotion with zeal and energy at all times. For many years he served the people well and faithfully as a justice of the peace, and for a long time also as a member of the school board. He died on February 17, 1887, aged nearly eighty years. His wife survived him more than twenty years, dying at Houston, Texas, in September, 1907.

educated at the distriet schools near his home. At the age of sixteen he enlisted in the Confederate army, becoming a member of a company commanded by Captain Guthrie. He was young in years, but he felt a call to duty in defense of the principles he believed in, and when he had once entered on the path of obedience to the call, he followed it to the bitter end, remaining in the service to the elose of the war, following the flag of his choice in vietory and defeat until it was finally furled forever at Appomattox. He took part in the battles of Lexington, Dogwood, Carthage, Prairie Grove, Helena, Corinth, and many others of great or small degree. In many of these engagements death dealt with a free hand all around him, but he escaped unhurt. He was captured at Helena and confined eighteen months. He bore, however, his full share of hardship, privation and toil in eamp and on the march, as well as in the field, and was glad to bear it all in defense of what he conceived to be right, eheerfully offering ease, comfort, opportunity and even life itself on the altar of his faith, and in behalf of principle, as it appeared to him.

In June, 1865, the war being over, he returned to Woodville and went to work on his father's farm. He remained at home about two years, then took up his residenee in Colorado, where he engaged in raising live stock. His life in the Centennial state lasted sixteen years, and during it he was at times compelled to fight for his life with the wild men of the forest and plains, who were turbulent at all times and openly hostile and savage at many. In 1876 he took charge of the third herd of cattle that was ever driven in the Panhandle of Texas.

He wearied of the Colorado life at length, and in 1883 again took up his residence at Woodville in this county. Here he continued for five years the industry he had followed in the farther West, farming and raising stock with good results until 1888. In that year he moved into Narrows township, where he still lives, changing his location but not his line of effort. He is yet aetively engaged in farming and rearing live stock on a large scale and in a very progressive manner.

In March, 1886, he was married to Miss Maud Cromwell, a native of Macon county and daughter of John and Sarah (Powell) Cromwell. They have had seven children, and of these six are living: John Glen, Chester Lee, Frank Kellock, William Lloyd, Blanche and Floyd. The father of this family has been very successful. He owns and farms 390 acres of land in this county and 220 in the state of Colorado. He is also a stockholder in the State Exchange Bank, and connected in a leading way with other institutions high in character and profitable in operation. All his property shows the skillful management of a master, and all his undertakings work out as his foree and ability compel them to. He is one of Macon county's most eminent and representative farmers, and one of its most influential citizens.

A native of that great hive of multiform and all-conquering industry, Pennsylvania, where his parents were born and reared, and where their forefathers lived for generations, Charles S. Ayers, of Macon, has shown in his career in this state that he is a worthy son of the commonwealth of his nativity and a true representative of the genius of its people. Having lived in Pennsylvania until he reached the age of nine years, he had opportunity to absorb something of its spirit of enterprise, and the seed thus planted in him in his childhood has multiplied and produced good fruit in all his subsequent years and efforts for his own advaneement and that of those living around him and assoeiating with him.

His life began on November 25, 1876, and he is the son of Lewis J. and Margaret (Cummins) Ayers, who were married in 1867 in the Keystone state, where the father was born in 1842. "They came to Missouri in 1885, and settled down to industrious and profitable farming, the same pursuit they had followed in their former home. "Their offspring number four: Jessie, the wife of A. II. Carnahan, of Leavenworth, Washington; Jefferson, who is a resident of "Trinidad, Colorado; Charles S. of Macon; and Ernest C., of Cimarron, Kansas. Politieally the father was an ardent Democrat and a hard worker for the suceess of his party. During the Civil war he followed the lead of his native state in taking a stand in defense of the Union, and in 1863 enlisted in the federal army as a member of Company Fifth New York Heavy Artillery, in which he served until the elose of the sanguinary and memorable corflict. His service in the army was active and brought him face to face with death on many a hard-fought field, but he escaped uninjured. After the war he was a prominent member of the Grand Army of the Republie until his death, which oceurred in Pennsylvania in September, 1897. For many years he was a devout and faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal church. His widow still survives and has her home in Macon.

Their son, Charles S., grew to manhood in Macon and was edueated in its publie schools. Their curriculum was all he had opportunity for in the way of schooling, for his services were needed at home to help in managing the farm. After the death of his father he took entire charge of the place, and he is still farming it with excellent results. He is a student of agriculture and a close observer and reasoner on the subject. To his work in cultivating his land and conducting the industries allied with that, he applies intelligence and good judgment, and his farm shows the advantage of his methods. He is recognized as one of the best and most progressive farmers in the township, and his allied enterprise of stock-breeding has given him high rank in that department of productiveness also.

His attention to publie affairs, both local and general, has been continuous and fruitful of good to the township and eounty. Nothing of value in the way of a project for publie improvement or the good of the people ever appeals for his aid in vain, or goes without the utmost he ean do to help it along. In political faith he is an unwavering Demoerat, true to his party and effeetive in its service. In 1906 he was elected a justice of the peace, the first Democrat elected to that office in his locality in twenty years. He still fills the office and performs its duties with general acceptability to the community and great eredit to himself. Fraternally he belongs to the order of Woodmen of the World, and in his camp of the order he is now serving his fifth term as the presiding officer. In religious affiliation he is connected with the First Methodist Episcopal church, of which he is a useful member, devoted to its articles of faith and zealous in all its benefieial efforts for the good of mankind. On June 2, 1903, he was married to Miss Anna Bannam, who was born and grew to maturity in this county, and is a daughter of George F. and Martha (Daily) Bannam, esteemed residents of Hudson township. Two children have blessed the union and brightened the home, George, who is five years old, and Margaret, who is three.

For nearly a quarter of a century Mr. Ayers has lived in this county and all of the time in the same locality. He is therefore well known to the people around him, almost the whole of his life having been passed in their midst. The highest tribute to his worth and the correctness of his daily walk is the universal esteem in which he is held and the good will of all who know him. This is freely bestowed on him by friends and aequaintanees everywhere, and by the general publie. For his life has been upright and acceptable, and his services to the community have been elevated in tone, extensive in volume and considerable in value. He is a representative man in the township and one with whom the people are well pleased.

Approaching near to the age of forty years, which is held by many reasoners to be the beginning of the best period of a live man's life, and living in a community which is rich in the record and recollection of his parents and has memorialized the family name in one of its towns, Dr. Charles Owen West is particularly fortunate in his surroundings, his stage of life and the opportunities and promise they give him for the future. He is more blessed than in aught else in the fact that he measures up to his opportunities and worthily sustains the traditions and exemplifies the sterling traits of his parentage and more remote ancestry.

Dr. West was born at Westville, in Chariton county, Missouri, on May 8, 1871. He is a son of Dr. W. S. and Mahulda Anne (Haigler) West, who were born and reared in Virginia and moved to Missouri in 1839. 'lhey located in a country region and started the nucleus of a thriving settlement, whieh was named in honor of the father because of what he did to develop and improve it and the influenee for good he exercised over its people. Among them he practiced medicine for a period of over thirty-eight years, until his death in 1885. He was married in his native state, in about 1856, to Miss Mahulda Anne Haigler, whose family, like his own, had lived in the Old Dominion for generations. They became the parents of nine children, six of whom are living: Silas W., a resident of Alameda, California; Elizabeth, the wife of Elisha Earl, of Blue Grass, Oklahoma; Jennie V., the wife of J. M. Wathem, of St. Charles, Missouri; Catherine M., the wife of R. Rowland, of Kansas City; Jessie H., the wife of G. W. Howard, of Lexington, Missouri; and Dr. Charles Owen, of New Cambria, the immediate subject of this brief memoir.

The father was frugal as well as industrious and careful in building up his own estate while laboring wisely and arduously to improve that of the community in which his talents and acquisitions were employed. While he was a busy physician and earnestly interested in the public affairs of the whole country around him, he also owned and operated a large farm successfully, and became one of the leading citizens of this part of the state. In political faith he was an ardent Democrat of the old school, and at all times ready to do anything and dare anything that was right in the service of his party. He was the first postmaster of Westville, and in many other ways gave character and standing to the municipal bantling that had been baptized in his name. In 1885, at the ripe age of seventy-three years, he laid down his trust at the behest of the great Disposer, leaving to his children and friends the priceless heritage of a good name and the record of a life well spent and highly productive.

His son, Dr. Charles O. West, grew to manhood in the locality of his birth and began his academie training in the distriet schools near his home. He finished at the Salisbury high school, and then studied his profession at the Kansas City Medical College, from which he was graduated with the degree of M. D. on March 25, 1895. He at once started his practice, loeating at Lingo, where he remained three years. At the end of that period he moved to Westville, and three years later to New Cambria. In that town he has ever since been established, building up a large practice and growing steadily in the esteem and good will of the people; ministering to their physical betterment and all the while giving close and intelligent attention as well to their political, social and industrial welfare. He is one of the most influential and representative men in the township.

Trained from his childhood in the tenets and principles of the old Democratie school, and confirmed in his faith by his own reading, observation and reflection, the doctor has been a lifelong Democrat in polities, and while he has neither sought nor desired any of the honors or emoluments of publie office, has at all times given his political views expression in earnest, intelligent and effective work for his party and its candidates. He has also long been connected with the fraternal life of the community in a leading way, being a member of the Masonic order, the Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America, and taking an aetive part in the work of each of these fraternities. - Professionally he is medical examiner for the Modern Woodmen of Ameriea, the Woodmen of the World, and the Equitable, New York, Travelers and Penn Mutual life insurance companies, and an active and zealous member of the North Missouri Medical Association. He was married on November 24, 1901, to Miss Daisy B. Bell, of Westville, who gives the charm of her presence to their comfortable home and aids greatly in making it a center of attraction to their hosts of friends.

John G. Hughes

Tt is a matter of satisfaetion to the editors and publishers of this historieal edition to be able to present within its pages reviews of the enreers of many representative citizens and business men who are native sons of Macon county and who have here found ample scope for sue- cessful effort along normal industrial and business lines. In this category Mr. Hughes eminently merits classification, as he is incumbent of the office of cashier of the State Bank of Bevier, which is his native plaee, and is otherwise prominent and influential as a business man of marked acumen and versatility. He has won sueeess through his own efforts and has so guided his course as to retain at all times the inviolable confidence and esteem of the people of his native eounty. John Gilbert Hughes was born in Bevier, Macon county, Missouri, on the 3d of December, 1877, and is a son of Joseph R. and Lenora S. (Davis) Hughes. His father was born at Pomeroy, Meigs county, Ohio, on the 28th of June, 1850, and was reared and educated in the state of Illinois, whither his parents removed when he was a ehild. He was still a youth at the time of his parents' removal from Illinois to Bevier, Missouri, and here he learned the trade of earpenter, to which he devoted his attention until the early seventies, when he engaged in the general merchandise business, in which he eontinued for a few years. Thereafter he resumed operations in the line of his ade, becoming one of the successful contractors and builders of Bevier, where he continued operations along this line until his death, on the 12th of

He was a staunch Republican in his political proclivities and was an active worker in the party cause. He had the distinction of serving as the first clerk of the village of Bevier, after its incorporation, and was a citizen who ever commanded the respect and high esteem of the community and was eminently worthy of the slight tribute which it is possible to pay his memory in a sketeh of the limitations necessarily preseribed for the one at hand. He was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and his religious faith was that of the Congregatjonal church. On the 7th of September, 1875, was solemnized the marriage of Joseph R. Hughes to Miss Lenora S. Davis, who, like himself, was born in the state of Ohio, and who is now the wife of Edward Elias, of Bevier, individually mentioned elsewhere in this volume. Joseph R. and Lenora S. Hughes became the parents of three children, of whom two are living - John G., subjeet of this sketeh, and Ruth L.

John Gilbert Hughes was about four years of age at the time of his father's death and he was reared to manhood in Bevier, to whose publie schools he is indebted for his early educational discipline, which was supplemented by a course in the Spaulding Business College, in Kansas City. In September, 1894, he became bookkeeper in the State Bank of Bevier, where he soon proved his ability and gained the implicit confidence of the interested principals. In April, 1898, he was advanced to the position of assistant cashier, in which he continued until May, 1901, when he was ehosen to fill the responsible office of cashier, of which he has since been incumbent. As a financier and executive officer he has shown much initiative power and marked diserimination, and it has been in large degree due to his well-directed poliey that the State Bank has become one of the substantial and popular financial institutions of this section of the state. It controls a large business and in eapitalistie reinforeement and administrative control leaves nothing to be desired in covering its field. Mr. Hughes is now one of the stockholders and directors of the bank and gives to the same the major portion of his time and attention. In April, 1898, he became seeretary of the Bevier Building & Loan Association and he gave effective service to this beneficent organization, retaining the office noted for a period of about five years. He is a valued member of the Missouri Bankers! Association, and during 1905-6 was seeretary of Group 1, of this organization; in 1906-7 he was chairman of the same body, and he continued to be actively identified with the affairs of the association. Mr. Hughes is a member of the directorate of the New Cambria Land Company, which is incorporated under the laws of Missouri, with a capital stock of $10,000. He is liberal and progressive as a citizen and his influence is ever given in support of all enterprises and measures tending to advance the civic and material welfare of his home city and county.

In polities Mr. Hughes gives an unfaltering allegiance to the Republican party and, while he shows a loyal interest in its eause, he has invariably refused to permit the consideration of his name in conneetion with publie office, save those of a purely local order. In April, 1899, he was appointed eity elerk of Bevier, of which office he continued in tenure for two years, having been reappointed in 1900. In 1903 he filled out an unexpired term as eity treasurer. He is affiliated with the Masonie fraternity, in which he is identified with the local lodge, and he is also identified with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Knights of Pythias. Mrs. Hughes belongs to the First Baptist church of Bevier. A

On the 12th of June, 1907, Mr. Hughes was united in marriage to Miss Mary Emma Walker, who was born in Clinton county, Missouri, in which state she was reared and educated, being a daughter of Judge T. W. Walker, who is now a resident of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. Mr. and Mrs. Hughes have one child, Ruth Lindsay.

Samuel R. Morris

From the time when he was a boy of six years old, a period of forty-four years, Samuel R. Morris, of New Cambria, has been a resident of this county, and during all of his mature life has been an active and fruitful contributor to the advancement of the county and the improvement of all its material, mental and moral agencies for the good of the people. Until five years ago he was an industrious and progressive farmer; then, believing he had earned a quieter and less active life, he sold his farm and took up his residence in the town of New Cambria, where he has sinee been living retired from all active pursuits.

Mr. Morris is a native of Utiea, New York, where he was born on June 12, 1859. His father, John Morris, was born and reared in Wales and came to the United States in 1840, when he was thirteen years of age. He found a home in Utiea, New York, where he grew to manhood and finished the education he had begun in his native land. He passed his youth on a farm, and when he attained his maturity he began farming on his own account, an oceupation he adhered to until the end of his life. In April, 1865, he brought his family to Missouri and located at New Cambria. Here he continued farming and also conducted a cheese factory.

In 1855 he was married to Miss Jane Evans, a native of North Wales and a daughter of John and Mary Evans. They became the parents of seven children, five of whom are living: Samuel R.; Margaret, the wife of John Reese, of New Cambria; Mary, the wife of John Davis, also of New Cambria; Catherine, the wife of Harry Rowland, who is a citizen of New Cambria; Henry J., who also lives there and is the proprietor of **Shadyside," a well known Jersey farm. In politics the father was a staunch Republican. He died in 1901, and his widow in 1905.

Their son, Samuel R., zrew to manhood and was edueated at New Cambria. He assisted his father on the farm while attending school, and when he reached man's estate began farming on his own account. He continued his operations in this line of produetive effort until 1904, when he sold his farm and gave up all aetive business. That year he also went to Europe and visited all the places of leading interest in that part of the world. The tour was an extended one, and was then and still is a source of great pleasure and profit to him, giving him a clear view of foreign peoples in their own land, amid their customary surroundings and engaged in their usual voeations. He learned much of their condition, customs and tendencies, and the economie views which animate and govern them. This gave him a clearer and better basis of comparison with affairs in his own country than he had ever had, and he returned home a truer and more loyal American citizen, a more devoted lover of his country and a more determined promoter of its welfare than he had been before, if that were possible.

In polities Mr. Morris has always been a Republican. He served two terms as township clerk and two as township assessor, and was distriet elerk for many years. He belongs to the First Congregational church, is one of its elders, and has been its clerk for fourteen years. He is also superintendent of the Sunday school and has been the leader of the church choir for a long time. In addition, he is a charter member of the Ameriean Bible Society and treasurer of the township Sunday School Association. His zealous and untiring work in church relations has eovered a long period beginning with the dawn of his manhood and extending to the present time.

It has been said in this review that Mr. Morris is living retired from all active pursuits, but the statement needs qualifieation. As has been shown, he is very active in church work, and he is also intimately eonneeted with several finaneial and industrial institutions. He is a stockholder in the Merchants and Farmers Bank, the Live Stock Improvement Company, of New Cambria, and the Pioneer Gold Mining Company, being a direetor of the latter, and he gives the affairs of each a fair share of his attention.

In 1890 he was married to Miss Jennie Evans, a daughter of David and Jane (Jones) Evans, all natives of Wales. He and his wife were the parents of one child, which is deceased. In all the relations of life Mr. Morris has proven himself to be a straightforward, upright and manly man. His life has been consistently elean and commendable, and by reason of it he has the esteem of all the people and is ranked among their best and most influential citizens. His industry has been great, but it has not been exerted solely in his own behalf." His efforts have been produetive, and while they have been profitable to him, they have also multiplied in benefits to the people around him. He has turned his back upon no publie duty and no proper claim of the community on his time, energy or resources. Its good has been an object of the greatest moment to him, and he has wisely aided in advancing it by every means in his power, as he is still doing. His record furnishes a fine illustration of what is possible to capacity, industry and frugality in this land of opportunities, and his example is well worthy of imitation by the young and the more mature, for it contains the elements of eertain suecess - wise conduct, good judgment and steady perseverance in the right eourse, over all obstacles and against all insidious persuasions to quixotic or speculative diversions.

John William Ayers

John William Ayers, the present postmaster of Callao (1909), is a native of Macon county and has passed the whole of his life so far among its people, showing a deep and serviceable interest in their welfare and doing all in his power to promote it. He is recognized as one of the leading and most useful citizens of the town, and is held in the highest esteem by all classes of its residents. As a farmer in their vicinity and a merchant in their midst, he has dignified and adorned the walks of life he has followed, and as a man of affairs and progressiveness he has contributed measurably to their comfort and benefit in many ways.

Mr. Ayers was born on November 5, 1874, the son of Silvester D. and Naney Franees (Gooding) Ayers, the father a native of Pennsylvania, where his life began in 1840, and the mother born and reared in this county. They were married in 1866 and have had ten children, eight of whom are living: Flora, the wife of John B. McDuffie, of Atlanta, this county ; George J.; Walter E.; John William, the subjeet of these paragraphs; Clinton Lewis, a resident of Nebraska; and Harry E., Edith and Joseph, who still reside under the shelter of the family rooftree. The father has been a member of the Republiean party from the dawn of his manhood and always a zealous worker for its sueeess and supremaey. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and live near Atlanta. The father came to Missouri and beeame a farmer when he was twenty-three years old. He is still farming.

Their son, John William, grew to manhood at Atlanta and obtained his education there, attending the publie schools when he could be spared from work on his father's farm. After leaving school he passed a number of years assisting his father in the management of the farm. Then, in 1902, went to Bucklin, in Linn county, and for something over a year earried on a livery business of considerable extent and activity. His tendency was, however, to mercantile pursuits, and in 1905 he found a satisfactory opportunity to gratify his desires in this respeet. In that year he formed a partnership with Vietor Grove, under the firm name of Grove & Ayers, for the purpose of earrying on an enterprise in the hardware trade in Callao, and handling farming implements in conneetion with it. Two years later the firm sold out the hardware branch of the business and it has since devoted its energies entirely to the implement trade, including all kinds of road vehicles for use and pleasure. The house has been very enterprising in this line of traffic, and has won a gratifying and welldeserved success, occupying now a leading position in the trade in this part of the state and operating very extensively, its patronage coming from a wide scope of territory in this and adjoining counties, and some from other states.

Mr. Ayers has been an indefatigable worker in his business, paying the full price in application and a study of requirements for the success he has achieved. But he has been more than a business man or merchant, He has taken an active part in publie affairs, local and general, and has shown first rate capacity for participation in them to the advantage of the public. While he trains with the Republican party in political matters, he is above all partisan considerations in local affairs and looks first in all cases to the substantial good of the community. He aids his party in all respects to the full extent of his power where the interests are purely political, but he holds himself free to do the best he can for the people around him where only loeal interests are concerned. He served on the town board for three years, and in December, 1908, was appointed postmaster of Callao, a post of duty he is now filling with great satisfaction to the patrons of the office and pronounced eredit to himself.

In the fraternal and religious life of the community Mr. Ayers has taken considerable interest. He belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America in his fraternal relations, and the Methodist Episcopal chureh in his religious allegianee. Both organizations are enriched by his membership and each has the benefit of his judicious eounsel and his zealous assistance in all of its undertakings of worth and moment. And he is also helpful to all other agencies for the advancement of the community and the benefit of its people, allowing no sectarian or other arbitrary considerations to interfere with his usefulness or withhold his hand where he ean aid good work. On April 1, 1896, he was joined in marriage with Miss Jessie F. Grove, a native of Macon county. They have one child, their son, Roscoe G., who is now twelve years old. The parents are among the progressive elements of the town, conneeted in helpful ways with every educational and moral ageney at work in it, warmly weleomed and held in eordial regard in the best social eireles, and numbering their friends and admirers among every class of its inhabitants. Closely in touch with all that is good and

William Dewitt Roberts, of New Cambria, has the double distinetion of having built the first house in that progressive town and of now being its oldest and most venerated inhabitant. And he is looked upon by the people with the esteem and affection whieh naturally belong to him on account of these two facts in his record, but also with that which springs from the knowledge of his long service to the community and his uniformly upright and commendable life among its people.

Mr. Roberts was born in Wales on December 31, 1824. When he was but five years old his parents, David W. and Miriam (Williams) Roberts, emigrated to the United States and loeated in Oneida county, New York. A voyage aeross the Atlantie in this day of steam navigation, floating palaces and electric speed, is a matter of little moment; - but it was not so when the elder Roberts, with his household Gods about him, his young wife and little family, turned their baeks upon the scenes and associations amid which their forefathers had dwelt for generations, and embarked their hopes and all in a quest for a new home in a distant and unknown land. In their vision of hopefulness and youthful aspiration the land across the sea wore a winning smile, and the accounts which they had heard of its boundless opportunities, political freedom and equality for all before the law, gilded every prospect that might otherwise have been forbidding. It held out to them a warm and open hand to weleome them to better fortunes than their own country could promise, and they rejoiced in the invitation. But the angry waters rolled between it and them, and before they could reach it they would have to undergo all the inconvenience and face all the hazards of a long voyage in a sailing vessel. If their hearts quailed before the outlook it is not to be wondered at.

But their nerve was good, their fiber was firm, and high hope sustained them. "They made the voyage and arrived in safety, even though the trip was trying and the time consumed in it long. On reaching their new home in the interior of New York, which was then in a very undeveloped condition, they engaged in farming, which they followed in that part of the country for fifteen years. By the end of that period the farther West had risen somewhat from its sleep of ages, and, with siren voice, was indueing thousands to enlist in its great army of industrial conquest and hasten to subdue its still untrodden wilds. In 1844, the twenty-first year of their married life, the hardy emigrants who had braved the stormy ocean before, determined to brave the wilderness also, and moved to Wisconsin. There they rested and passed the remainder of their days, the father dying in 1854 and the mother about 1866.

They had five ehildren, two daughters and three sons. Of this number William D. is the only one now living. He grew to manhood and obtained his limited edueation in New York and Wisconsin. His opportunities for schooling were few and primitive. The exigeney of the times and the necessities of the family in their frontier life made it requisite that every hand should be busy in supplying the primary wants of the household, and the son, even at an early age, was obliged to work on the farm whenever there was anything to do there. He did his part faithfully and found his reward in the vigor of his body and elearness and force of his mind when he reached man's estate. After attaining his maturity he eontinued to do farm work and also labored as a carpenter for many years in the state of Wisconsin.

On June 5, 1864, he arrived in Missouri and located at what is now New Cambria, where, as has been stated, he built the first house in what was destined to become a very progressive and desirable center of population, business enterprise and social life. He again engaged in farming and continued his operations in this independent and profitable oeeupation for thirty-five years, meanwhile seeing the country, grow in grace and productiveness around him and helping with might and main to aid the progress.

Being a man of more than ordinary information and force of character, he rose early to prominence and influence in the community. In 1866 he was elected county judge for a term of four years. At the end of his term he retired to private life and dwelt in comfort and eontentment on his farm for a period of twelve years. In 1882 he was ngain ealled to the service of the people as a justice of the peace, an office to which he has been chosen at every election since that time He also served on the school board for a number of years.

In 1854 Mr. Roberts was married to Miss Catherine Williams, who was born and grew to womanhood in New York state. "They beenme the parents of four ehildren, three of whom are living and all residents of New Cambria. They are David A.; Minnie, the wife of William Bundren; and Maggie C., the wife of David M. Jones. Exemplifying in their daily lives the domestie and social virtues ineuleated by the teachings and example of their parents, and serviceably interested in the welfare of the town and its people, they are among the most respected and influential eitizens of the township. Their father, as has been said, is the oldest resident of New Cambria, and he is esteemed in full accordance with his years, his character and his long and faithful service to the community. "There is none so high as not to do him reverence.

Nat. L. Goodrich

"Every man to his trade" is a trite and well-worn saying whose very triteness and general acceptance proves its force. The mind is best oceupied when it finds pleasure in its duties and all its faculties are devoted to reaching the end it has in view. Nat. L. Goodrich found his proper place among the activities of life at an early age, and he has stuek to it and made a pre-eminent suecess of his eareer by doing so. He was manifestly fashioned by Nature for mereantile pursuits, and she did not leave him in ignorance of the fact. He is now accounted one of the shrewdest and most enterprising merchants and business men in Macon county, the estimation in which he is held being based on what he has achieved in his line and the eomplete mastery of it which he exhibits on all occasions.

Mr. Goodrich became a resident of Missouri in 1867, when he was but two years old. He was born in Madison, Indiana, in 1865, the son of Rene S. and Martha (Woodfill) Goodrich, the former a native of Frankfort, Kentucky, and the latter of Pennsylvania. Before coming to Missouri the father was a manufacturer of tobaeco in partnership with N. Hunt. In this state he followed farming with enterprise and profit, becoming one of the leading farmers of this county. Two children were born in the family, Nat. L. and his sister, Alice R., who is now the wife of T. W. MeCully, of Callao, The father died in 1871. The mother is living and has her home with her daughter in Callao.

Nat. L. Goodrich grew to manhood in Callao and obtained his edueation in its sehools. In that town also he began the luminous and successful business career for which he is distinguished, and in that town he has worked out all its subsequent developments. All that he is, he is Callao's own, and its people esteem him accordingly.

After leaving school he wasted no time in looking around to find a soft snap or easy opportunity. He took hold of the first thing that presented itself, and the manner in which he handled it proved that circumstances were his obedient ministrants and willing, when he made them so, to eontribute to his advancement. He was able to turn even adversities to his advantage and make them wings and weapons for his progress. He studied telegraphy, and, having mastered the art, entered the employ of one of the railroad companies with a station in his home town. He worked as an operator for the Wabash and the Hannibal & St. Joseph roads until he quit the business, and this was not until he found something more congenial to his taste and better suited to his faculties. |

In 1888 he entered the employment of J. H. Wright & Co., general merchants, and was soon afterward given charge of the clothing department of the establishment. He managed this until the business changed, when he formed a partnership for a similar enterprise with T. C. Wright and William Pillers, under the firm name of T. C. Wright & Co. One year and a half later Mr. Wright sold his interest in the business to Johnson Morrow, and the firm name was changed to Morrow, Pillers & Goodrieh. On February 1, 1909, another ehange came through the retirement of Mr. Morrow from the firm, his partners having bought his interest. Since then the house has been doing business as Pillers & Goodrich. - Its trade is extensive and its name is high in mereantile circles. For it meets every requirement of the community in its department of public utility in the most complete and satisfaetory manner, eultivating and developing the taste of the people while eatering to their needs and desires.

Mr. Goodrich was married in 1889 to Miss Lena Stolp, a native of this state and daughter of Orlando and Betsey (Graves) Stolp. They have two children, their twin sons, Rene S. and Roland N. The father takes an active part in all that concerns the welfare of the community, and is ever among the foremost of its people in promoting any good enterprise for its improvement and the benefit of its residents. He studies how he may minister to their comfort and enjoyment in his business, and in every other way has their enduring good constantly in his mind. He is a stockholder in the Bank of Callao and connected with other institutions of value to the town. In fraternal life he is a Knight of Pythias and a Modern Woodman of America. In the fraternal societies to which he belongs he mingles freely and pleasantly with their members, looks with favor and serviceable aid on all their proper aspirations, and helps to give them character and standing in the community. In polities he is nominally a Republican, but he has never sought or been willing to accept a political office or been an active partisan, although he has never neglected a good citizen's duty in reference to publie affairs, whether local, state or national in their bearing. He is a gentleman of high character, strong personality, broad publie spirit and commanding influence. In his daily walk he exemplifies at all times the attributes of the best Ameriean citizenship.

John O. Jones

This venerated pioneer and patriarch of New Cambria, who has had his abiding place at that town for 44 years and is now one of the six inhabitants of it still living who were there when he became one, has passed by a number of years the limit of human life as fixed by the psalmist, but is still hale, hearty and vigorous, with all his faculties unimpaired. His own experience and that of his pioneer friends in the town have taught him that there is, even on this side of the grave a haven where the storms of life break not, where the water is unruflled, and where the air is all balm. That haven is a quiet, a serene, a peaceful old age, following a useful and well-spent youth and manhood, in which all the activities were employed in productive industry and the service of the community.

Mr. Jones is a native of Northern Wales, where he was born in 1831. His parents, Owen W. and Margaret (Evans) Jones, were also natives of Northern Wales, and were reared, edueated and married in that portion of the British empire. The father was born in 1790 and the family eame to the United States in 1831, their son John being an infant at the time and erossing the heaving Atlantie as such. Steam had not then depoetized commerce and ocean travel, and they made their passage to this eountry in a sailing vessel. The voyage was long and somewhat stormy, and the adventurous emigrants from the scenes and associations of their early years were pleased when it came to an end and they found themselves onee more on solid ground, even though grew to good old ages but only three of them are now living. These are John O. and his brothers Owen W. and Watkin C. The father died in 1866 and the mother in 1889.

Their son John, after completing his schooling, became a earpenter and for many years worked at his trade and as a contractor and builder. He came to Missouri in 1866, soon after the death of his father, and engaged in mereantile pursuits. After passing three years in this line of endeavor, he sold his business to a younger brother and turned his attention to the real estate, loan and insurance business, which he has followed steadily ever since. For a period of twenty years he was land agent of the Hannibal & St. Joseph railroad, and he is still actively engaged in the land business in addition to practicing

He has taken broad views of life in all respects, and in none more than with reference to publie affairs. While nominally a Republican in polities, he is in fact thoroughly independent and always exercises his suffrage and politieal activity in behalf of the candidate he believes best qualified for the office sought and most likely to prove serviceable to the people, making partisan considerations secondary to the good of the community, or the enduring welfare of the country. He has borne his own part well in the matter of official service to his fellow men, having held the office of justice of the peace for many years and that of notary publie for more than forty. Long years he has been a member of the Masonie order and enjoyed the privilege of its social festivities and the benefit of its moral teachings. He has also been long connected with the Congregational church and zealous in all its benevolent undertakings. But he has not confined his benevolence to this sect. He has helped all worthy church and other enterprises with an earger desire for the advancement of every useful agency in the community and an untiring industry in helping to promote it.

Mr. Jones was married in 1862 to Miss Clara Potter, a daughter of William and Melinda Potter or Oneida county, New York, where she was born, educated and grew to maturity. They have four children: Jerome W., who is postmaster of Brookfield, Missouri; Fred P., who is engaged in farming near New Cambria; Melinda, who is the wife of John E. Gilleland, postmaster of New Cambria, a sketeh of whom will he found elsewhere in this volume; and Freda, who is living at home with her father.

How interesting is the story of this man's life, even when told briefly as it is here. He is far from the land of his birth and the home of his ancestors for many generations. Their work passed into the history of that land and his is a part of the history of this country, the partieular seetion of it in which he has lived so many years having been largely developed and built up through the aid of his efforts and inspiring example. His infant eyes looked out over the broad Atlantie, on whieh an eventful period of his life's morning was passed. His vision in the evening of his days is rewarded by a prospeet of growth and improvement in a new world which is, in considerable measure, the work of his mind and hands. As a young man he saw New Cambria a straggling country hamlet in the midst of what was largely yet a wilderness of unopened possibilities. He looks upon it and the region around it now and sees them rieh in material and intelleetual develop- ment, smiling with plenty, strident in progress and pouring their streams of production out toward the mighty eurrents of industrial and eommereial wealth with whieh this bountiful land is brightening and blessing the world. He is a connecting link between the Old World and the New, between our pioneer period and the radiant advancement we enjoy in this twentieth century dawn.

John E. Gilleland

John E. Gilleland, who has been the postmaster of New Cambria eontinuously during the last twelve years, and has long been very active and serviceable in behalf of the political party to which he belongs, is not only a leading light in the counsels of that party, but one of the most prominent and influential citizens of the township in which he lives. He is also engaged in merchandising and holds a high rank in business circles.

Mr. Gilleland was born in Macon county, in December, 1863, being a native of Lingo township. He is a son of John W. and Margaret (Jobson) Gilleland, who were born in St. Catherine's in the province of Ontario, Canada, the father's life having begun there in 1828. He came to Missouri and located in Macon county in 1850, and for a while after his arrival in this seetion followed farming with success. He then turned liis attention to merehandising at New Cambria. In 1856 he was united in marriage with Miss Margaret Jobson, a daughter of Robert and Judith Jobson. Her father, Robert Jobson, was one of the contractors for the construction of the Hannibal and St. Joseph railroad, and was eonneeted with other works of improvement in this portion of the eountry, to which he moved with his family from St. Catherines, Ontario, Canada.

Mr. and Mrs. John W. Gilleland had five children, all of whom are living. They are: Melta, the wife of Albert Mervin, of Brookfield, Missouri; John E., of New Cambria ; Belle, the wife of Dr. J. P. Foster, of Laerosse, Missouri; Harvey, who is employed in the rairoad service in Colorado; and George, who is living at Taylorville, Arkansas. The mother died in 1876 and the father in 1908, both leaving as memorials to their children what is more precious than gold or lands, good names and the stimulus of excellent examples in upright living and the faithful performance of every duty.

Their son, John E. Gilleland, was reared in his native place and began his education in the publie schools near his home. He supplemented and enlarged the instruetion they gave him by a course at the Kirksville Normal school, and when he had eompleted that, at once entered upon the active duties of life as an optician and jeweler, condueting his undertaking on a small scale and in a modest way. This was in 1882. Some little time afterward he added to his lines of merchandise a complete stock of house furnishings, and he has ever since carried on an inereasing business in all.

Publie affairs have deeply interested him from his boyhood, and ever since he reached man's estate he has taken an earnest and aetive part in political contests as a Republican. He early won confidence and esteem in his party, both among the leaders and the rank and filé, and by steady progress and efficient service has risen to a position of leadership himself. He is at present chairman of the Republican county central committee and has a potential voice in the councils of the party, helping to direet all its movements and seleet all its eandidates. In 1897 he was appointed postmaster of New Cambria, and so satisfactory have his services been in connection with the office that he still holds it and almost without opposition. He also served as a member of the town board for many years, and much of the improvement made in the town during his tenure of this offiee is attributable to his enterprise and progressiveness, His fraternal affiliation is with the Masonic order, in which he takes great interest, In 1891 he was married to Miss Linnie Jones, a native of New Cambria and a daughter of John O. and Clara (Potter) Jones. They have one child, their son, Howard J., aged seven years, a very bright and promising boy.

Inheriting a martial spirit from his ancestors, and impelled by strong loyalty to the Union and the best interests of his country in every way, George H. Hastings of Riehland township, who is one of the most extensive and successful farmers of this part of Missouri, and whose live-stoek industry is one of the most considerable in the state, enlisted in the Federal army at the age of eighteen, and during the sueceeding years of our terrible civil war fought valiantly to save from dismemberment the mighty nation, which his grandfather, Ambrose Hastings, aided in founding after he had helped to wrest the earlier portion of its fair domain from the tyranny of Great Britain on the battlefields of the Revolution.

Since the war, in which he took a part, he has been energetically and profitably engaged in the pursuits of peaceful industry, and, while his efforts have redounded greatly to his own advantage, they have also been of substantial and enduring benefit to the portion of the country in which they have been expended. He has been of great and lasting service in helping to build up and develop Macon county and all of Northeastern Missouri, adding by his operations to the wealth and commereial importance of the section and fostering a zealous spirit of progress and improvement among its people by his energy, influence and example in all undertakings to make the most that has been possible of its resources and elevate its intelleetual and moral status.