Macon County, Missouri - Biographical sketches, 1910 (part 9 of 20)

Mr. Hastings was born in Lee County, Illinois, on March 2, 1844, and is a son of Willard and Lorinda (Ives) Hastings, the former born and reared in Vermont and the latter in Massachusetts. The father's life began in Caledonia eounty, Vermont, in 1800, and his forefathers lived there from early colonial times. Early in his manhood New England beeame too eramped and narrow for his enterprising and adventurous spirit, which longed and was fitted for amplitude of opportunity and effort, and he gave a willing ear to the persuasive voice of the great West, as it was then, whieh ealled for volunteers for its army of peaceful conquest and development, and promised rewards commensurate with the magnitude and danger of the struggle necessary to win them. In 1835 he migrated to Lee county, Illinois, and devoted himself to the task of wresting from the virgin soil of the prairie the bounty it held in store for patient industry, frugality and endurance. He was successful in his day, winning a competeney in worldly wealth for himself and rising to prominence and influence as a citizen. He served as eounty surveyor in the early days and aeceptably and ably filled many other county and township offices. He also became a mail route eontractor and, both personally and officially, beeame one of the leading men in that part of the state.

In about 1830 he was united in marriage with Miss Lorinda Ives, and through this union beeame the father of seven children, only two of whom are now living, George H. and his older brother, Sidney, whose residence is in Osage, Iowa. The father died in August, 1873, and the mother in about 1848. He was a Republiean from the start of the party and a great worker for its success; and being a man of wide general information, he became a very able and forcible advocate of its principles. He was also a member of the Masonie fraternity for many years, and recognized as a man of force in the order.

His son, George H. Hastings, grew to manhood in his native county and obtained his education in part at an excellent seminary in Paw Paw there, and in part in high grade subseription schools in Osage, Towa. But his scholastic training was eut short by the Civil war. For, in 1862, he enlisted in the Federal army at Osage, Iowa, joining Company H, Fourth Iowa Cavalry, under General Wilson. The regiment was soon at the front as a part of the army of the Mississippi, and from then to the close of the momentous and sanguinary conflict Mr. Hastings was almost continually on the march or in the field. He took part in the battles of Guntown and Tupelo, Mississippi, Selma, Alabama, Montgomery and Columbus, Georgia, and many engagements of minor importance. He was mustered out of the service at Atlanta, Georgia, and discharged at Davenport, Iowa, in 1865.

After leaving the army he dwelt for a short time at Osage, Iowa, then went to Earlville, Illinois, where he learned the blacksmith trade, remaining until 1870. In that year he came to Missouri and loeated in Macon county, where he has ever since resided. Since his arrival in this county he has been continuously and very energetically and suecessfully engaged in farming and raising live-stock, carrying on both lines of industry on a steadily enlarging scale and with steadily augmenting prosperity. His first purchase in this county was 209 acres of very promising land, and he now owns 1,900 acres, all of which he cultivates, but much of it is farmed by tenants under his supervision. He is one of the most extensive, as he is one of the most progressive, farmers in this part of the country, and his stock industry is commensurate with his farming operations.

Great and exacting as are Mr. Hastings' business operations, they have not been allowed to wholly absorb his time and faculties. He has taken a very active and helpful part in the affairs of the township and county in which he lives, as has been stated, and has rendered both excellent service in public and private life. Under the township organization he was township clerk and assessor, but he has never cared for publie office of any kind, and only consented to serve in those mentioned under the importunity of the people and for the good of the township. His political faith is firmly anehored to the Republican party, and he is an ardent believer in its principles and an energetic and effective worker in their behalf. Fraternally he is allied with the Grand Army of the Republic and the Masonic fraternity, and, while not a member of any ehurch, he is liberal in his support of all. He donated the ground for the Universalist church in the vicinity of his home and paid the whole eost of the church edifice that stands on it.

Mr. Hastings lives in what is now called La Crosse and owns the whole town. He was married on November 19, 1871, to Miss Phoebe J. Buck, a daughter of James and Catherine (Persons) Buck, natives of Ohio, but for many years esteemed residents of Macon county, Missouri. One child was born of this union, a son named George S., who died on November 10, 1889. Mr. Hastings has secured consequence and influence among the people by his extensive business and large landed estate, but these are not the only or the main elements of his popularity, or sources of his strength and standing in the county. His worth and uprightness as a man and his generous usefulness as a citizen have given him a hold on the regard and good will of the people, wholly independent of any considerations of business or property. He is an ornament to his community in every phase of its life and aetivity and a high credit to the citizenship of the state from all points of view.

Among the prosperous and progressive farmers of Macon county none is entitled to higher respect and more general esteem than Peter N. Decker, whose land is in section 56, Morrow township, and none stands better among all classes of the people. He has shown a spirit of enterprise in improving his property and cultivating it according to the most elevated standards that has brought him warm commendation and has given a stimulus to others which has resulted in good to them. He has also been zealous in his efforts to improve the live-stock of the township by exhibiting in his own breeding operations the advantages of giving attention to good strains and desirable qualities in the produet, and by this means has also been of service to the agricultural interests of the township.

Mr. Decker is a native of the state of New York, and was born at Nassau, Rensselaer county, that state, in 1859. He was reared and educated at Grand Rapids, Michigan. The experience he acquired in relation to the West while he was growing to manhood made him long for a more extended and specifie knowledge of the section in some locality still redolent of its wildness and raciness, and when he was but twenty years old he came to Missouri and located at Callao, or in that neighborhood, where he at once began the career as a farmer that has given him substance of a material kind and consequence as a citizen. He has steadfastly adhered to the oceupation of his first choice, general farming and eattle-breeding, and has found contentment and prosperity in it. His parents were Nicholas and Margaret ( Freidenburg) Decker, an account of whose lives appears on another page of this work.

From his youth Mr. Decker has been a Republiean in national affairs and, while never desirous of anything in the way of office for himself, has always rendered efficient aid toward the success of his party and the triumph of its eandidates. He has taken.a deep and intelligent interest also in the fraternal life of the community, holding active membership in the orders of Knights of Pythias, Modern Woodmen of Ameriea and Royal Neighbors. In the doing of these several fraternities he finds profitable enjoyment and substantial benefit, and his membership in each is a source of strength and influence to it. He has served as county committeeman of his political organization with advantage to the committee and eredit to himself, his services in that capacity being valued by his associates and the rank and file of the party as well, for they have been wise in kind and considerable in volume.

Mr. Decker was married in 1888 to Miss Lena R. Randall, a daughter of James and Martha (Pollard) Randall, and a native of Wisconsin, born in 1866. They have six children, their sons, Frank, Clinton and Charles, and their daughters, Edith, Ellen and Margerie. In all his operations he has been ably assisted by his wife, who has also brought social life and enjoyment to his home and aided in binding to him more firmly his hosts of friends. Their farm is well improved and furnished with modern conveniences. It is skillfully eultivated and has been brought to a high state of produetiveness. And all that it is in attractiveness, comfort and value, it is the result of their own industry and wise management.

Harley E. Trader

Beginning the struggle for advancement in a humble sphere of activity, and accepting with alaerity and a determination to make the most of it whatever fell to his lot, Harley E. Trader, of New Cambria, this eounty, has steadily worked his way upward to high standing in the business community and a well established position in the regard and good will of the people. While he has not had any partieularly burdensome experience in hardship and privation, he has always had to contend for his advancement, and has won it solely by his own efforts and on his own merits.

Mr. Trader was born on December 13, 1876, at Linneus, Linn county, Missouri, and is a son of Samuel P. and Anna (Kisiah) Trader, the former a native of Linn county, born in 1848. He was in early life a well-to-do farmer, but is now living in Kansas City. He and his wife were the parents of three children, two of whom are living, Harley E. and his brother, Robey D. Their mother died in 1881, and in 1899 the father took unto himself another wife, with whom he is still living.

Harley E. Trader was reared by his grandfather and grandmother nt Linneus, Missouri, and from early in life helped to make his own living. By so doing he learned self-reliance and gained resourcefulness in the use of his natural faculties. He obtained his education in the publie school of Linneus, and after completing its course, studied telegraphy. After mastering the art he secured employment at various points on the Burlington railroad, continuing in the service for a period of seven years.

In 1899 he turned his attention to the packing industry, accepting a position in the establishment of Swift Co., of Chicago, located at St. Joseph, Missouri, where he worked under the direction of the superintendent as assistant cashier and chief elerk for more than four years. In 1903 he was appointed cashier, and later beeame a director of the New Cambria State bank, a position he is still filling with great acceptability to all the persons concerned in the management of the bank and all who have dealings with it.

The affairs of this bank have greatly prospered under the management of Mr. Trader, and it now stands firmly anchored among the strong and reliable fiscal institutions of the state. It has not, however, taken up the whole of his time and attention. His mind is active and could never rest contented upon a single line of enterprise, and he has given considerable of its activity to advancing his fortunes in other directions. He owns considerable farm land in Oklahoma and other property, and is treasurer and director of the New Cambria Fair Association. He is also an active member of the State and American Banking Associations, and takes a zealous interest in their proceedings, occupying a rank of influence among their members and justifying the regard in which they hold him by valuable contributions to their deliberations and the discussions in which their views are expressed. He is a close and thoughtful student of financial matters, always bringing to their examination a mind alert and active and a determined purpose to learn the truth concerning them without regard to any previous opinions on the subject. The results of his studies are frequently published in contributions to fiscal and mercantile journals, and they often bring him high praise as a master of the subject, comprehensive in his knowledge and clear and strong in the statement of it. One essay in particular on banking, his favorite theme, secured him national recognition. This was entitled **A Plan for a Sound, Uniform and Elastie Currency in the United States," and was highly commended by letters from United States Senators Stone, of Missouri, Burton, of Ohio, and Representative Burgess, of Texas, and other members of Congress, and other prominent men and published in the Senate proceedings of the Congressional Record on July 8, 1909.

hide-bound partisan. While averse to official life, he at one time served three years as a member of the town board of trustees. His progressiveness is shown by the fact that he was the first citizen of New Cambria, a very old town, to have a granitoid sidewalk laid in front of his premises, and was largely instrumental in having cement sidewalks generally used in the town. This is only one instance of his public spirit and breadth of view. In every way he has shown an earnest interest in the improvement of the town and in promoting the enduring welfare of its people. He was married in 1901 to Miss Agnes B. Parrott, who also was born and reared in Missouri, and with whom he still lives.

Horace R. Southwick

Horace R. Southwiek, of New Cambria, who is one of the most substantial and influential citizens of Macon county, came to his present estate and rank in publie esteem through a variety of vieissitudes, over all of which he triumphed by his industry, capacity, frugality and great force of character.

To begin with, Mr. Sonthwick was left an orphan at the age of ten by the sudden and tragic death of his father while that gentleman was still in the full vigor of his manhood and at the age of but fifty-nine years. This eut off a large part of the boy's opportunities and left him to make his own way in the world largely through his own endeavors. It was, however, a heroic age in the portion of the country in which he was living, and all his surroundings were of a character to develop and cultivate the virtues of self-reliance and independence and give him resources and readiness for any emergency.

Mr. Southwick was born at Shullsburg, Wisconsin, on August 16, 1849, and is a son of David and Angeline E. (Kneeland) Southwick, the former born in Pennsylvania in 1800, and the latter in the state of New York in 1810. The father moved to Wisconsin in early days, while the eountry was still wild and unpeopled, and the savage denizens of the forest were still unsubdued. He was a young man when he loeated in what was then the far Northwest, and soon afterward the Blaek Hawk Indian war broke out and terrorized the whole section of the eountry. The elder Southwick, father of Horace, promptly joined the forces sent into the contest, bearing a major's commission. He took an aetive part in the war, participating in most of its important engagements, ful industry. He was married in Wisconsin, after the Black Hawk war, to Miss Angeline E. Kneeland, a native of New York state, as has been noted, and they became the parents of six children. Two of these are living: Horace R., and Mary C., the wife of Jonathan Lane, of Milton, Iowa. The father was killed in 1859 by a cave-in at a stone quarry near Shullsburg. He had, however, been successful in his undertakings and owned at the time of his death a traet of more than 400 aeres of land, but a great part of it was still undeveloped. His wife survived him twenty-nine years, dying on April 2, 1888. On the breaking out of the rebellion, two of his sons and three of his step-sons enlisted in Wisconsin regiments. One was killed at Dallas, Georgia, and two wounded. This left our subject and his mother to operate the farm.

Their son, Horace, obtained a limited education in the publie schools in the neighborhood of his home, and after completing the course of instruction they afforded, studied telegraphy at Warren, Illinois. As soon as he became proficient in the art he was given a position as operator at New Boston, in the same state, where he remained until 1869. He then became connected with the telegraph service on the Hannibal & St. Joseph railroad, and worked at Callao, Clarence, Bevier and other points along the line until March, 1871. In that year he became agent for the company at New Cambria, a position in which he served faithfully for a period of fifteen years.

In 1872 he formed a partnership with George Goodale in the lumber business, the name and style of the firm being Southwick & Co. This partnership lasted until 1873. Mr. Southwick continued the lumber business alone and in 1882 he turned his attention to the ereamery industry, associating himself in it with Lee Lingo, of whom he was a partner for five years. In 1893 he took as a partner in the lumber business T. B. Wright, who was associated with him ten years. At the end of that period Mr. Wright sold his interest in the business to John Bevan, who then became Mr. Sonthwick's partner, and the firm name was changed to Southwick & Bevan, which it still is.

These gentlemen deal extensively in lumber of all kinds suited to the market they have to supply, and carry on a very active trade. "They also handle a complete line of first-elass agrieultural implements, and do an active business with them. But their operations are not limited to the commodities named or to mercantile life. They own and "operate the Macon & Chariton County Telephone Company, of which Mr. Southwick is the secretary. He is also vice-president of the New

A mind so energetie and comprehensive as Mr. Southwick's could not at any time be indifferent to publie affairs, local and general. His interests have for years been so extensive and so various that the welfare of the communities in which they are located has been a matter of prime importance to him, and the poliey of the state and national government has necessarily had an important bearing on his personal prosperity. But aside from all this he is eminently patriotic and earnestly devoted to the state and country in which he lives and has found his opportunities, He has therefore taken a deep and helpful interest in all matters pertaining to the development and improvement of the county and in all subjects connected with national affairs. He is a zealous Republican in political faith, and, while never desiring publie office, gives his party cordial and loyal support at all times. At one time, overbearing his aversion to official life, his friends made him township collector, and he filled the office with great acceptability to the people for six years. Fraternally he is connected with the Masonie order, and has the rank of a Knight Templar. He was married in 1900 to Miss May Davidson, who was born in Virginia, but grew to womanhood in Missouri, where she has ever since resided. She came to Missouri with her parents as a child.

Willard M. England

Owning and farming vigorously and skillfully 165 acres of excellent land in Callao township, which he has transformed from a state of semi-wildness into one of the best, most productive and most valuable farms in the county, and with fine herds of registered cattle and other live-stock and high grade poultry, in which he takes great delight, Willard M. England would seem to be one of the most fortunately situated of men and beyond the reach of adversity. And his safety in this respéct is fortified and given additional assurance by the sterling qualities of head and heart which enabled him to win his estate and his exalted place in the esteem of all the people among whom he has lived and labored.

Mr. England was born at Callao on April 27, 1868, and is an older brother of John M. England, whose sketch in this work contains a more extended account of the family and a brief narrative of its history. He began his education in the district schools near his home and finished it, so far as mere book learning is concerned, at the Kirksville State Normal School. His schooling, however, has been supplemented and enlarged by the severe but thorough lessons of experience, and he has laid all the admonitions of this stern instruetor and taskmaster to heart in the most praetieal way.

After leaving sehool he began the work in which he has ever since been engaged by assisting his father on the farm for about three years. At the end of that period he started farming for himself, and he has ever since held on to that line of productive usefulness. He keeps abreast with the latest thought and discovery in his business, reading attentively all the worthy publieations on the subjeet that come to his hand and applying with good sense and excellent judgment the hints he gathers from them and the teachings of his own observation and experiments.

In addition to his regular farming operations, which he never on any account negleets, he is extensively engaged in raising fine registered Angus cattle, Poland-China hogs and Plymouth Rock and Buff Orpington chickens. He has been very successful in this line of his enterprise, his stock and poultry having the highest rank in the markets and his farm being known far and wide as the home of live-stock whose grade and pedigrees ean be absolutely relied on. His sales are periodieal and his offerings always bring high prices. But he does not sell his stock as fast as he raises it. He keeps for his own use and eare an average of sixty head all the year round.

While Mr. England is sedulously attentive to his own interests and the work he has marked out for himself, he is by no means indifferent to the welfare of the community. On the contrary, he shows himself, both in sentiment and action, to be deeply interested in everything that pertains to its enduring good and the development and improvement of the township and county. He is a Republican in political faith and is loyal and firm in the support of his party, and zealous and industrious in its service in every campaign. But he is not hide-bound or narrow, in reference to local affairs, and gives himself to the care of them without regard to party requirements or any other consideration except the publie good. He has been a member of the local sehool board for ten years, and in the performance of the duties of the office has so borne himself that he has won only approva! and commendation, and the people have rejoiced in the results of his fidelity to their interests and his zeal in behalf of a publie institution in which they are all deeply and even vitally interested.

In January, 1892, he married with Miss Mary E. Williams, who was born and grew to maturity in Illinois. In fraternal relations he is allied with the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen of Amer- ien. He gives both orders a fair share of his time and attention, and in each his membership is valued because of the wisdom it brings in counsel and the energy it inspires in aetion in behalf of all that is worthy in the aspirations of the fraternity. Mr. England is one of the most progressive and broad-minded farmers in the county and one of its most esteemed and influential citizens. His adviee is widely sought and his opinion is highly valued in reference to all matters of public import and many lines of private business. For he is a gentleman of fine intelligence and excellent judgment.

John M. England

Although himself a man of peace and altogether averse to war, John M. England, of Callao, has inherited from his father a martial strain and shows it in the management of his affairs. His contests, however, are for supremaey in business and all his vietories are won in that field of endeavor. In it he has proven himself a valiant soldier, resourceful in strategy and courageous in conflict, and his triumphs have been signal and continuous.

John M. England was born in Callao township, this county. on June 12, 1870. His father, James G. England, was born in Randolph county, Missouri, on Angust 14, 1836, and eame to Macon eounty to live when he was but two years old. Here he grew to manhood and made his preparation for the battle of life, obtaining his edueation in the publie schools and serving a long apprenticeship in farm work, which, with raising live-stoek, became his lifelong occupation. In 1866 he was united in marriage with Miss Sarah C. Patrick, also a native of Missouri. Of their three children one died in infaney and two are living, their sons, Willard M. and the subjeet of these paragraphs.

The father served three years in the Union army during the Civil war, suffering all the hardships and privations of military life in camp and on the march, and facing death on many a well fought field. He was a member of Company F, Second Missouri Cavalry. In polities he was an aetive and zealous Republiean, serving his party in the ranks and in posts of honor and responsibility, among them membership on the school board for many years. In the discharge of his official duties, however, only the publie good was considered and partisanship was ignored. Throughout his manhood he was a devout and consistent member of the Christian church. His life ended on March 25, 1907. His widow died December 8, 1909. The father was very

John M. England, like his father, grew to manhood in this county and was educated in its publie schools. He also attended a business college and took a course of special training at the Kirksville State Normal Sehool. After returning from that institution he assisted his father in the work of the farm for a period of two years, and then assumed the management of the farm, and until 1905 he conducted it with great suecess and profit, winning high commendation for his skill and energy as a farmer and his breadth of view and progressiveness as an advanced breeder of choice live-stock and poultry. He is the pioneer dairyman of Macon county, having shipped the first eream ever sent out of the county commercially. He also owned the first eream separator and the second herd of Jersey cattle in the county.

The dairying industry and the lines of business activity allied with it have interested him for many years. He has been the president of the Maeon Creamery Company from the time it was founded. In 1905 he was appointed traveling representative of the Colonial Creamery Company of St. Louis, his duties being to promote the establishment of the ageney system throughout Northern Missouri. During the same year he began breeding registered cattle, and from his large and growing herd he has annual sales whieh are largely attended and well patronized, for his cattle stand at the head of the market and always command great and widespread attention. He is also a direetor of the Callao. Fair Association, owning a liberal share of the eapital stock of this institution. In polities he has been very active as a Republican, zealous for the success of his party and the supremacy of its prineiples. At the same time he is earnestly alive to the enduring good of the community around him without regard to partisan considerations or interests, and as a member of the local school board during the past three years, he has-rendered excellent service to the whole people and one of their most cherished institutions.

On January 7, 1895, Mr. England was united in marriage with Miss Etta H. Davis, all her life a resident of Macon county. They have three children living, their son, John Kenton, aged eleven, their daughter, Margaret S., aged nine, and their daughter, Mabel Lillian, aged two. The father is a member of the Christian church and belongs to the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen of America. He owns and farms 255 acres of land of which he has made a model farm in its cultivation and improvements, and which, as his home, is a rallying

Mr. England has neglected no opportunity that has presented itself to him to aid in the development and improvement of the county. He has always been foremost in all commendable undertakings for the good of the people and in helping to promote them he has shown excellent judgment, fine enterprise and an energy that has accomplished much by its own foree and more by the potencies it has stimulated into activity in others. He is universally regarded as one of the most useful and representative citizens of the eounty - one who, while advancing his personal fortunes, has never been unmindful of the general weal or indifferent to the comfort and convenience of the publie. His life and achievements in the county are an inspiring example to others, and their recital should be of great benefit to poor but ambitions young men wherever they read it.

Mr. England was the Republican candidate for Recorder of Deeds in Macon county in 1906; although defeated, he ran ahead of the Republican ticket. He was also the vice-president of the Missouri Dairy Association for many years.

James W. Lindley

James W. Lindley, of Callao, is one of the successful and progressive men of Macon county, by hard work, perseverance and good business capacity making every line of effort to which he puts his hand yield its tribute to his industry and zeal, and by his own suceess.helping to improve the cóunty and enlarge its mereantile and commercial aetivity and power. As a farmer he was one of the best and most progressive in the eounty; and as a merchant he ranks high in the business world, earrying on extensive operations and always to his own advantage and that of the community in which he operates.

Mr. Lindley is a native of Macon county and was born in 1856. His father, Pitman Lindley, was a native of Kentueky, and so was his mother, whose maiden name was Amanda Waddell The father was born in 1808 and became a resident of Missouri in 1840. He passed the remainder of his days in this state, comfortably employed in the vocation of the old patriarchs, tilling the soil. He was married twice, his first wife being Miss Williams, who was, like himself, born and reared in Kentucky. They were the parents of six children, of whom four are living: Polly, the wife of Thomas Rodley, of Arkansas; Margaret, the wife of William P. Waddell, of Moberly; Nancy, the wife of W. J. Cooly, of Macon county, and Benjamin, also a resident of this county.

By the second marriage Mr. Lindley became the father of three children, all sons, and all living. They are James W., John W. and Pitman S. In politics the father was a Republican, but he was never an aetive partisan. He died in Mareh, 1897, and his wife on April 29, 1907.

'T'heir son, James W., grew to manhood in this county and obtained his education in its publie schools. After leaving school he farmed with suecess until he reached the age of thirty-five. In 1901 he turned his attention to the general produce business in which he is still extensively engaged. In company with his sons, he carries on his establishment at Callao in this business and four other agencies, one at La Plata, in Macon county, one at Bucklin, in Linn county, one at Ethel, in Macon eounty, and one at Mendon, in Chariton county. In addition to his mercantile operations he is interested in other ventures of a financial and produetive character. He is a director and the president of the Callao bank and connected with other enterprises which minister to the good of the community and the benefit of its people. In all of these he takes an earnest and helpful interest, aiding in their management and helping to make them the best the circumstances will allow, and they are all of high rank in their lines.

His politieal affiliation is with the Republiean party, to whieh he is ardently attached and in whose service he is at all times active and effective, helping to bear its burdens of work and responsibility, both as a member of the rank and file and in publie office. He served on the school board five years and as one of the trustees of the town four, winning golden opinions in boin offices by the upright, far-seeing and progressive manner in which he administered their affairs.

He was married in 1876 to Miss Josephine Varner, whose life from her birth has been passed in Macon county. They have five children: Orla F. and Drew M., who are associated with their father in the produce business; Carrie M., who is living at home; Della, the wife of Charles Dunham, of Kern, in Callao township, and Annis, who also is living at home. The family stands well in the community, every member of it aetive in efforts to promote the welfare of the people and all held in the highest esteem.

Ives B. Jones, as his name indicates, is of Welsh ancestry on his father's side, and in his character and career he exemplifies all the sterling traits of that hardy, resourceful and all-enduring race. He has been very succesfull in many lines of endeavor, and in all has shown an elevated and upright manhood and a commendable and highly appreciated citizenship. As a merchant, a banker, a real estate dealer and broker, and in various other capacities, he has dignified and adorned the realm of business,-and in all the relations of private life he has borne himself above reproaeh.

Mr. Jones was born in October, 1872, at Callao, in this county. He is a son of George M. and Elsie A. (Williams) Jones, the former born in Wales in 1829, and the latter in the state of Ohio. The father came to the United States in 1853 and located in Portage county, Ohio. There he seeured employment in a rolling mill for a number of years, and there, also, he met and married with the lady who was to share his trials and triumphs for more than a fifth of a century, the marriage occurring in 1862. They moved to Missouri in 1863, and, taking up their residenee in this county, devoted their energies to farming. "The father was also a Congregational minister, with pastorates at Callao, New Cambria and Bevier. He founded the first Sunday-school in Callao, and, in addition to his local work in the ministry, did a considerable amount of missionary work in many places, among them Coalereek, in what is now the state of Colorado. He was a great advocate of the temperanee movement and gave it strong impulses to greater aetivity wherever he talked on the subject. He died in July, 1882. His widow is still living and makes her home at Callao. They had five children, all of whom are living. They are: David R. and George S., residents of Macon; and Edwin T., Emlyn J. and Ives B., who lives at Callao.

Ives B. Jones was reared and educated in Macon county, receiving his aeademie training in the publie schools. For some years after leaving school he was employed in various capacities, being only a youth and not as yet definitely interpreting the forces within him, which were calling him to better things in settled lines of action, especially adapted to his gifts and the bent of his mind. In 1890 he entered into a partnership with C. A. Poole and started a hardware business under the firm name of Jones & Poole. The enterprise flourished and made steady headway, but at the end of eighteen months Mr. Jones sold his interest in it and became assistant cashier of the Bank of Callao. In 1905 he was elected cashier and also became a stockholder and director of the bank. He served the institution faithfully in this triple capacity until June 12, 1909, when he disposed of his holdings in the bank and turned his attention to the real estate, loan and brokerage business. For this purpose he formed a partnership with E. E. Cramer, conducting the operations of the firm under the name of Jones & Cramer. The firm is still in active operation and doing a large and profitable business.

Ives B Jones

In polities Mr. Jones is a Democrat, and, although he has never filled or desired a publie office of any kind, he takes an aetive and helpful interest in the affairs of his party and does his part to keep up its organization and win its victories. He has an earnest and abiding devotion to its principles and sees in the proper application of them the best hope for the perpetuity of Ameriean institutions and the lasting good of the country. His fraternal relations are with the order of the Knights of Pythias and his religious affiliation is with the Christian ehureh. He is one of Macon county's most substantial and respeeted citizens.

N Emlyn G. Jones

This gentleman is a son of Rev. George M. and Elsie A. (Williams) Jones and a brother of Ives B. Jones, of Callao, an account of whose life is to be found elsewhere in this volume. The reader is referred to that sketeh for the history of the family. The father was a native of Wales and the mother of the state of Ohio, where their marriage took place.

Emlyn G. Jones was born at Callao, this county, in 1870, and grew to manhood and obtained his education in that town. The publie schools furnished the full measure of his opportunities for scholastie training, but he employed them wisely to his advantage and entered upon the active duties of life as well prepared for their performance as these schools and his own reading and refleetion eould make him.

After leaving school Mr. Jones worked on a farm and in the mines for about two years, then entered into partnership with his brother, Edwin T. Jones, in the hardware; furniture and undertaking business. Some time afterward his brother sold his interests in the business to A. B. English, and from that time on the firm has been trading under the name and style of Jones & English. Its business is extensive and its trade aetive, inereasing in magnitude from year to year and growing in popular favor all the time. It has won a high place in business circles and laid under tribute to its coffers an extended patronage throughout the town and all the surrounding eountry. The reputation the house enjoys is that of handling the best goods that ean be had for the money at which they are sold, and of meeting the delicate and exacting duties of directing funerals with all the skill known to the art and every consideration for the wishes and feelings of those most interested in the work.

county, state and country, he takes an earnest interest in publie affairs, and does what he can to advance the best interests of all elasses of the people, loeally and generally. In polities he is independent, looking always to the general welfare without regard to partisan considerations. He believes in having the best men available to administer the affairs of the people and, according to the light he has, he always aids to the limit of his power in the selection of such men for official trusts.

In the fraternal life of the community he has taken an active part as a member of the order of the Knights of Pythias, helping to give that energetic and progressive organization the highest standing it can attain and guidance to the largest and most wholesome development and usefulness. Socially Mr. Jones is everywhere admired as a genial and resourceful gentleman, whose presence in any gathering is an addition to its forces for enjoyment and improvement. In business, in social and civic affairs and in fraternal relations he is a busy man, and in all he exemplifies with general approval and esteem the elevated iraits of the best Ameriean citizenship, although his modesty will not npprove of its being said so conspieuously in print. For he is unostentatious in all his bearing, finding his greatest pleasure in the complete and prompt discharge of every duty to the full extent of his powers.

Victor Grove

With his hand in several lines of mercantile business and giving each such attention that he is succeeding in all, Vietor Grove, of Callao, is fully entitled to the high place he holds in the regard and good will of the business circles of the town and all other classes of the people. He is yet young in years, but his reputation as a business man and citizen is firmly fixed and its standard is deservedly high.

Mr. Grove's life began in this eounty at Bloomington, where he was born on December 23, 1875. He grew to manhood in his native place and began his edueation in its publie schools. After leaving school he gave his attention for a short time to the occupation of the old patriarchs, tilling the soil. But the genius within him cried out for business opportunities and he sought and found a way to gratify it. For a time he oceupied himself in conducting a flourishing trade in timber, then turned his energies to the hardware trade, with furniture and farming implements ineluded, beginning this venture in 1903 at Callao with Jethro Leffler as a partner. Some time afterward he bought Mr. Leffler's interest in the business and for a year thereafter condueted it alone. In 1905 he took in a new partner in the person of J. W. Ayers. One year later they sold the hardware and furniture departments and devoted themselves exclusively to handling vehieles and farming implements. Then, in connection with this line of trade, they became the purchasing agents for the Central Coal & Coke Company of Bevier for timber at Callao, Kern, New Cambria & Lingo all in Macon county, and also handled railroad timbers. They are actively engaged in all these lines of trade at the present time and they push their business with an enterprise and energy that is worthy of and receives the highest commendation. In addition to his other undertakings, Mr. Grove owns and operates a handle faetory at Kern, in this state, in which he manufactures extensively all kinds of handles for tools and implements of husbandry

Mr. Grove has a good eitizen's interest in the publie affairs of his community, his state and the country at large, and does a good citizen's part toward promoting the welfare of all. But he is non-partisan in politics, holding himself free at all times to vote according to his judgment of men and measures, and without any regard whatever to partisan considerations. He also takes an interest in fraternal affairs as a Woodman, a Knight of Pythias and a member of the Pythian Sisters, giving to each order a fair share of his time and attention and doing what he ean in his modest way to help them all along in all their worthy aspirations.

Through close application and hard work he has been very successful in business, but his suecess is the result of his own capacity and efforts. For he has had no special favors from fortune or adventitious circumstances. He has been quick to see and alert to seize and turn to his advantage every opportunity that presented itself, and so has built up his large trade, his excellent reputation and his prosperous business solely through his own energy, zeal and upright and useful life. The people who know him best esteem him most, and it is manifest that he is worthy of the regard all elasses bestow upon him. Moreover, his star is still ascending and his capacity appears to grow by use. He is eonstantly on the lookout for larger opportunities and greater undertakings, and it is more than probable that he will yet write his name still higher on the business records of the community, and prove himself still more useful to its people.

Performing well his part in all relations, whether as publie official or private eitizen, as business man or social light, around his domestie hearth or with reference to the affairs of the whole community, Aubert B. English has won a high place in the regard of the people among whom he has lived and labored and well deserves the esteem in which he is held. He is one of the enterprising and progressive merchants of Callao and one of its most promising and representative citizens.

Mr. English was born at Callao on February 15, 1879, and is the son of Samuel A. and Lucinda M. (Hinds) English, the father born in South Carolina on January 13, 1829, and the mother in Indiana on November 9, 1840. They were married on January 1, 1861, the father having come to this section of the country with a hope of finding better opportunities to advance his fortunes than his own state seemed to afford. Soon after their marriage they moved into Missouri, but a little while afterward returned to Indiana, where they continued to reside until 1865. In that year they again took up their residence in this state and it proved to be a permanent one. The father was a carpenter and worked at his trade until near the time of his death, which oceurred on September 26, 1889. His widow is still living. They were the parents of seven children, of whom six are living: James P.. a resident of Kansas; Alonzo, one of the esteemed citizens of Macon; William M., who lives in Oklahoma; Carrie L., wife of H. B. Clifton, of Twin Falls, Idaho; Estella W., wife of Zell Dice, of Lafayette, Colorado, and Aubert B., the immediate subject of this brief review.

Aubert B. English was reared at Callao and obtained his education at the publie schools of that town and Macon in part, completing it at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. He used his educational advantages to good purpose and entered upon the course of active life as his own pilot and steersman, well equipped for the voyage of trial and triumph that lay before him. In 1900 he was appointed postmaster of Callao, and was at the time the youngest postmaster in the United States. His service to the government in that capacity lasted over eight years and was wholly to his eredit and the advantage of the people of the town by whom his administration of the offiee was highly commended.

In 1908, with a view to making a permanent business arrangement for himself outside of the uncertain domain of polities, he entered into a partnership with E. G. Jones for the purpose of carrying on a mercantile enterprise in the furniture and hardware trade and the undertaking industry. The firm is still in active operation and its business has been steadily inereasing from the start. Both members are enterprising and progressive. They make a study of their trade and its requirements and do all in their power to meet the demands in every partieular. They are everywhere acknowledged to be good business men who handle first-rate merchandise and sell it at fair prices. And

In polities Mr. English has been a staunch Republican from the dawn of his manhood and active in the service of his party. He has been trustee of Callao during the past five years. He belongs to the Christian ehureh, the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen of Ameriea. On June 18, 1902, he was married to Miss Addie V. Fansler, who was born and reared at Texas county, in this state.

Harvey G. Riggs

With gifts of special value in the line of banking, bookkeeping and accounts, and having received special training in the development and use of those natural endowments, Harvey G. Riggs, cashier of the Mercantile Trust Savings Bank, of Quiney, Illinois, which he founded, entered upon the battle of life for himself well prepared for the contest, and every stage of his career since then has proven his judgment and good sense in choosing his occupation and sticking to it with steadfast devotion.

Mr. Riggs is a native of Missouri and was born in Carroll county in 1867. His father died while the son was yet but a small boy, and he was left largely to shift for himself soon afterward, He obtained his academic training in the public schools of his birthplace, and after completing their course of instruction pursued a special course of business training at the Gem City Business College, of Quiney, Illinois. As soon as he had completed this he accepted a position as bookkeeper in the employ of the Totle-Lemon Company, of St. Joseph, Missouri. Later he represented R. G. Dun & Co. for a time with credit to himself and advantage to the company.

But he had a genius for the banking business and longed for the opportunity to give it expression. After waiting for the chance to come until he wearied of the delay, he determined to force cireumstances to his service and challenged Fate into the lis In 1892 he organized the New Cambria State Bank and became its eashier. He managed its affairs with success and profit to its promoters for a period of two years, then went to Macon and was made eashier of the Bank of Macon. Two years later he abandoned banking temporarily and carried on a successful real estate business for four years.

His taste was still, however, decidedly in the banking line, and in 1900 he returned to that field of endeavor, starting a banking business at Callao, which he conducted as cashier for about four years. By this time a larger field of operation was white with the harvest and ready for his sickle. In 1904 he moved to Quincy, Illinois, and founded the Mereantile Trust & Savings Bank, of which he became then and is yet the eashier. The bank has a capital stock of $200,000 and does a very extensive general banking business, including all features of such an enterprise. Mr. Riggs has been very successful in the management of its business and shown that he is well up in every department of banking, according to the most approved modern methods. It will be seen that Mr. Riggs has lived in a number of places and been in business in all of them. Wherever he has lived he has won the respect and good will of the community, and when he has gone elsewhere has left an exeellent reputation behind him. He is energetie, capable and ambitious in business, and uses all his powers to make his advance rapid and continued. At the same time, he has a warm and intelligent interest in the community around him, and omits no effort to promote its welfare and the comfort and convenience of its people. Moreover, he is a high-minded and upright gentleman and has lofty ideals of citizenship toward which he steadily strives to work his way. In all the relations of life he has proven himself worthy of esteem by the faithful performance of every duty, and has thereby given to those who know him an example which they might well imitate. In Quincy, as in other places, he has risen to the rank of a leading and representative citizen and an ornament to any social circle that may have the favor of association with him. It is of men like him that the most serviceable classes of the American people are composed.

Physician, druggist and agricultural promoter, Dr. Mark L. Underwood, of Callao, has shown himself to be skillful in several lines of action and has been successful in all. No physician stands higher in the profession in Macon county, no druggist is held in higher regard or has a better trade for the range of territory that is tributary to activity, and no one in this part of the country has accomplished more in any particular line of agricultural development than he has in his.

Dr. Underwood is a native of Missouri, born at Perry, Rolls county, on February 10, 1876. He is a son of John and Martha A. (Biggers) Underwood, both, like himself, born and reared in this state. The father was born in Rolls county in 1834 and they were married in that county. They became the parents of ten children, five of whom are living, John W., a resident of Fort Smith, Arkansas; Anna, the wife of Dr. H. L. Morphew, of Arkansas; Benjamin J., who is living at Stuttgart, Arkansas; Dr. Mark L., of Callao; and Ray, who also lives at Stuttgart, Arkansas, where the father of the family now has his home, but has retired from all aetive pursuits.

Dr. Underwood was reared at Stuttgart, Arkansas, and began his academie training in the schools of that town. He afterward attended the Kentueky University, and when he left that institution entered the Marion Simms College of Medicine at St. Louis, Mo., from which he was graduated in 1898. Some years later, and after he had been practieing for a time, he pursued a post-graduate course at the New York Polyelinie School, being graduated from that in 1906. After receiving his degree in 1898 he began the practice of his profession in Arkansas, where he remained about one year. He then located at Callao and praetieed there three years. At the end of that period he moved to Fort Smith, Arkansas, where he purchased a drug store. This he conducted for four years, practicing medicine in that city at the same time. In 1906 he sold the drug store in Fort Smith and returned to Callao, and here he has been living and practicing ever since.

In Callao he is interested in a drug store which he helps to earry on in connection with his large and active practice, being the senior partner in the firm of Underwood & Tainter. He also has holdings in the Cook's Lake rice plantation, a productive and profitable enterprise which he has had a potential influence in developing, and which is located in the state of Arkansas. His principal oceupation, however, is attending to his large and varied general practice of medieine and surgery, and to this he devotes himself with ardor and unflagging industry. He has attained eminence in the profession in Macon county and is accounted one of its most skillful and intelligent physicians. He also takes a zealous and effective interest in all matters pertaining to the welfare of the people, bringing to the councils of those who have the interests of the community in charge breadth of view, clearness of perception and untiring energy.

Tn the fraternal life of the city and county he has long been prominent and influential. He is a member of the Masonie order and has ascended the mystie ladder of its sublime symbolism and morality through all its gradations to the very top. Im political faith he is a firm and faithful Demoerat, but he has never sought or been willing to accept a political office, finding plenty to occupy his mind and engage his faculties in the demands of his professional, mercantile and social duties. Young yet in years, with all his faeulties in full vigor, and wise and energetie beyond his age, the Doctor is one of the most useful citizens of the county.

William T. Jones

Gradually winning his way over obstacles and through difficulties, wholly dependent on his own ability and exertions, and never losing an opportunity to advanee his interests or augment his fortunes, William T. Jones, of Callao, furnishes in his career a fine illustration of what industry and thrift can accomplish in this land of boundless chances and gives a very encouraging lesson to all aspiring poor young men. For his achievements are all the work of his own hands and brain and the result of his untiring industry and frugality.

Mr. Jones was born at Bevier, this county, on February 10, 1866, and is a son of William and Jane (Reece) Jones, natives of Wales, but long residents of the United States. "The father was born in 1820, and a few years after reaching his maturity left his native land in search of better opportunities and larger rewards for his labor. Australia opened her arms to him as a land of promise and he accepted the invitation. But after prospecting for gold three years in that country, he eame to America and located at Johnstown, Pennsylvania, where he worked in the mines for a year.

'The life in the eoal mines of the great Keystone state was not to his liking, and in 1858 he moved to this eounty and located at Eureka, between Macon and Bevier. There he wrought diligently in the mines two years until the Bevier mines were opened, when he moved to Bevier, where he remained until his death on December 25, 1885. In 1876 he left the mines and turned his attention to farming, and this occupation he continued throughout the remainder of his life, He was married in his native land to Miss Jane Reece. They had nine children, seven of whom are living: David W., a resident of New Cambria; Elizabeth, wife of D. T. Evans, of the same place; Thomas R., who lives at Bevier; Jennie, wife of F. D. Jones, editor and publisher of the Bevier Appeal; Susan, wife of D. W. Davis, of Edmond, Oklahoma; Evan, of Bevier, and the subject of this brief sketch, William T. In polities the father was a Republican with an earnest interest in the welfare of his county, state and adopted country. His widow died in 1900, having survived him fifteen years.

William T. Jones grew to manhood in this county and obtained his education in the publie schools of Bevier and Callao in part, and in part at the college in Brookfield, Linn county. After leaving school he worked in the mines at Bevier four years, then elerked in a store at Edmond, Oklahoma, for one year. In 1898 he returned to Bevier and began a career as a successful farmer. He was married in 1891 to Miss Catherine Jones, a native of Wales. They have six children, their sons Robert W., Andrew, Lawrence, Harold and Rowland and their daughter Elizabeth.

Politically Mr. Jones is a Democrat. He has rendered good service to his party as an active worker, and good service to the people without regard to party considerations. He served six years on the school board in Bevier township, and in 1908 was elected a member of the school board of Callao for a term of three years. During the past year he has been vice-president of the board. Fraternally he has been a member of the order of Knights of Pythias for twenty-two years. In church connection he is a Baptist. For many years he has been a zealous and effective worker in Sunday-school and church affairs, and been recognized as one of the most efficient men in the community in such work. He is universally esteemed.

This firm, which is one of the leading business combinations of Callao, and has a high rank in the business world throughout this part of the eountry, was organized in September, 1908, for the purpose of operating on a large scale in real estate, loans and brokerage. The men at the head of it were well known as gentlemen of capacity, character and resources, and it started business with every assurance of commanding suecess because it contained in its make-up the elements of such success. During its existence, short as that has been, it has fully justified the faith on which it was founded and the expectations of the publie concerning it at its birth.

The firm buys and sells farms and town property, loans money and conduets a general brokerage business in all its features. Its operations have been large and are always active; and as they are based on excellent judgment and a wide range of information, they are always profitable to the firm, as well as of advantage to its patrons and the locality in which they are carried on. The members of the firm make it their business to learn all there is to be known about any piece of property they buy or have for sale, and also to keep themselves informed as to what purchasers need or desire and where to find it.

They also deal extensively in insurance, representing the Prudential Life Insuranee Company, the Fidelity and Casualty Health and Accident Company, the National Surety Company of New York, the Conneetient Fire Insurance Company, the Continental Fire Insurance Company, the Iowa State Fire Insurance Company, the Phoenix Fire Insurance Company of Hartford, Conneetieut, and the Home Fire

James M. Bricker

A man who devotes himself to but one thing in life and has ordinarily good judgment and ability is very likely to achieve a considerable measure of what he sets out to accomplish, and so well established is this truth that application and perseverance are looked upon in most cases as the most essential elements of success in any undertaking. James M. Bricker is not an ordinary man and he has not given the whole of his time and energy to one purpose or pursuit. But he has devoted himself so industriously and intelligently to his chief undertaking that he has made an eminent success of that, and he has also won worthy triumphs in other lines.

Mr. Brieker was born in Callao, this eounty, on September 20, 1882, and was reared and educated there. It became manifest to him early in life that he would have no other dependence for advancement than his own resources, and he went to work with a will to make the most of these. Fortune did not smile with any particular favor on his birth, and cireumstances are seldom kind to the most of men. Mr. Bricker's best endowment was his self-reliant spirit and his power of intense and continued application; and he has invested this capital so judiciously that it has returned him large revenues of success in business and high standing in publie esteem.

After obtaining the limited schooling for which he had opportunity, he entered the store of his father as a clerk and salesman, and in that capacity he worked for him until 1902. He then became a partner in the business, and he has ever since been connected with it in this way, gradually assuming the management of it, as that was left to him by his associate. Under his direction it has grown to larger and larger proportions until it is one of the leaders in its line in this part of the state. The firm deals extensively in lumber and furniture and carries on a considerable business in undertaking. Its operations are condueted on a large scale, but every detail of the business is known to him and every transaetion passes under his direct personal supervision. He has proven himself to be a business man of first-rate capacity, a man of uprightness and character in every relation of life and a stimulating and directing force in the matter of developing and improving the city and county in which he lives. He is accordingly held in high esteem

His political faith is fixed in the principles and polieies of the Demoeratic party, but he is in no sense an oflice-seeker, although he gives his time and energy freely in aid of the aspirations of his party friends and the desires of the organization to which they and he belong. His work is, however, that of a layman and he has no desire to give it any other charaeter. Fraternally he is connected with the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen of America. In the proceedings and undertakings of these orders he takes an earnest interest and to their purposes he gives the benefit of his counsel and his aetive assistance.

In May, 1906, he was married to Miss Bernice Henderson, a native of Callao, in this county. "They have one child, their daughter, Juanita, now (1909) two years of age. The parents have a pleasant home in Callao at which their numerous friends gather for soeial enjoyment and at which they always find a full measure of generous and considerate hospitality. Mr. and Mrs. Bricker are themselves prime favorites in the best social circles and always to be found zealous in support of all good work for the elevation of the community or the comfort and convenience of its people.

John L. Williams

lf the man who makes two blades of grass grow where one grew before is to be aceounted a publie benefaetor, who shall deny the same title to the man who introduces a new material product and makes it of substantial and lasting service to mankind? John L. Williams, of Bevier, this county, and his father are entitled to the rank and distinetion named if any of the eitizens of this eounty are. For they were the first to introduce and make serviceable in that community and the whole of northern Missouri the material known as granitoid, which is now recognized as one of our most valuable building substances, as it is one of the most obedient to the skilful hand of art in use.

Mr. Williams was born at Kewanee, Illinois, on July 14, 1868, but was reared and edueated in Pennsylvania. His opportunities for scholastie training embraced nothing beyond the curriculum of the publie schools, but he made good use of them and acquired a considerable fund of elementary seholarship, which his subsequent experience has expanded into an intelleetual capital of extensive general information. After leaving school he eame to Bevier and engaged in mining for a period of eight years. During the next thirteen years he was employed in railroading on the Burlington system. But his eyes were always open and his mind was ever hospitable, so that when a new opportunity eame to him in the way of usefulness to the world and advantage to himself he was ready to seize and utilize it. Perhaps he did not see in it all that was involved, so often does fate play hide and seek with us. But, at any rate, he took advantage of it, and the result is to be found in all his subsequent achievements.

In 1892 he beeame a partner of his father in the use of granitoid as a choice substance for works of construction, and two years later began operations in the same line on his own account. Since then he has been the builder of 90 per cent of the cement houses, sidewalks and other structures in Bevier township, and of many in other places. The most notable of the buildings ereeted by him of this material are the ehapel of the Latter Day Saints, the Thomas Nisbeth block, the Jones building, the State Bank building and the Sulphur Creek bridge, and they all stand to his eredit as lasting monuments to the value of the material he employed in eonstrueting them and his skill and ability in the use of it.

He is still carrying on extensively in this line of activity, and, in addition, he conduets a book and musie store which meets a want in the community that is widespread and insistent. 'The store is managed with the same enterprise and good judgment that characterizes him in all his other operations and is strietly up to date in every partieular. For Mr. Williams is a man who compels everything he puts his hand to to yield up the utmost of what it contains for the furtherance of the purposes he has in mind.

In polities he is independent, but always energetie and serviceable to the great good of the community. He served as a member of the board of edueation for three years, and while doing so was instrumental in securing the erection of the new schoolhouse. In 1907 he was elected police judge of Bevier, and so acceptable were his services in this capacity that he was re-elected in 1909. He was also the first city assessor of Bevier. In the fraternal life of his section he has taken an active and serviceable part as a member of the Masonic order, the Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America.

William S. Thomas

Although still in the advaneing stage of his manhood, not yet having reached the age of forty years, William S. Thomas, of Bevier, has already won a decided triumph and an enviable place for himself in the business world, as he is now recognized as one of the leading and

Mr. Thomas was born in Bevier in 1872, and was reared and educated there. At the age of sixteen he took up the burden of life for himself by entering the mining industry and submitting eheerfully to its hardships and exaetions. He continued mining for a period of six years, then farmed two years. At the age of twenty-four he entered his father's mereantile establishment as an employe and with the view of learning the business. He devoted himself to its duties and the study of its requirements with assiduous industry and soon became master of the business in all its pha and details.

After an apprentieeship of eight years, in 1908 he bought his father out and started on a business eareer of his own, in connection with his brother, T. D. Thomas, Jr. "They have since been very suecessful, giving all their time and energies to the management of the interests they have in charge, and studying their trade with close and intelligent observation of all its needs and possibilities, Their store is now the largest of its kind in Bevier and does a very extensive business, But it has not yet reached its full development, for the gentlemen in charge of it are far-seeing and progressive, and are ever on the lookout for new opportunities and larger undertakings. They leave no stone unturned, no effort untried, to meet the wants of the community and keep their establishment up to date in every partieular. And their enterprise is rewarded by a steadily inereasing patronage for their business and a steady rise in rank for themselves as merchants.

Mr. Thomas is a Republican in polities, but he is not an active partisan and never follows his party where he deems it to be wrong. The welfare of the community and the good of the people are the first considerations with him in political affairs and the demands of party come afterward. He always prefers to vote for good men for publie office rather than to aid in upholding the banner of any organization, political orotherwise. Office for himself he has never sought or eared for, deeming it best and enough that he serve the state from the honorable post of private station. Yet his fitness to direct the affairs of the community was so manifest and his independence and integrity were so well known that in 1905 the people of his ward ignored his aversion to publie office and elected him alderman, and the manner in which he performed the duties of the office gave them abundant justifieation for their faith in him and the action to which it led them in electing him. His religious alliance is with the First Baptist church and his fraternal connection with the Knights of Pythias.

Mr. Thomas was united in marriage in 1896 with Miss Emma Taylor, of Callao, in this county. They have one child, their son, William Ray, who is now ten years old. A leading and representative citizen, a successful and progressive merchant, a potential faetor in the moral, intelleetual and social life of the city and county, the father is justly held in the highest esteem, and with his age and vigor in his favor and all his faeulties awake to every opportunity and alert to seize every chance for advancement, his future should be filled with great achievement and his life finally crowned with the guerdon of full and unblemished success.

William H. Sears

That the law is a jealous mistress is an aphorism that has both the sanetion of age and the testimony of human experience in evidence of its truth. The profession is one of the most extensive in its range and the variety of subjects with which it deals that is known among men. And it requires of its students and praetitioners who seek to reach its upper courts and dwell in its elevated places an assiduity of devotion and constancy of effort that scarcely admits a rival of any charneter whatever. But the divinity whieh presides over it is also a generous one. She rewards her worshipers with a liberality proportioned to their ability, zeal and devotion.

A striking illustration of this is to be found in the life story of the late William H. Sears, of Macon, whose death on April 5, 1908, at the age of sixty and in the full vigor of his intellectual powers, was universally regretted in the community which had for so long a period enjoyed the benefit of his professional services and his high example as a citizen. He worshiped at the shrine of Themis with the zeal of a devotee, and she poured out upon him with unstinted hand exalted rank in his profession, eminence in publie life and general esteem as an upright, able and most worthy man.

Mr. Sears was a native of this county, where he was born on August 8, 1848, near the village of Callao. He began his academic training at the old Bloomington school and completed it at the Kirksville Normal. After leaving the latter institution he elerked during a number of years for the firm of Goldsberger & Beleher, general merchants, and while elerking in this establishment studied law in his spare hours. He was not able to seeure for himself the benefit of systematie training for his profession at a law school, but was dependent on his own reading and refleetion for his preliminary preparation, and possibly it was all the more thorough on that aecount. At any rate, he was well prepared, and when the time came for his admission to the bar he went through the necessary ordeal in a manner that was alike ereditable to him and full of promise for his future career. This occurred in 1869, and in 1872 he was elected prosecuting attorney of the eounty. He performed the duties of the office with great ability during his whole tenure of it, and all the while was rising rapidly toward the summit of the profession in this part of the state. His progress was steady to the end of his eareer, and when he died he was generally acknowledged as the equal of any lawyer in the state and the superior of most of them.

From the very nature of his mind and manhood it was inevitable that he should take a deep and abiding interest in publie affairs. He was earnestly loyal to the genius of American institutions and a government of the people by the people, and he felt it his duty to do all in his power to defend what he believed in, from all assaults, and promote its welfare and augment its force by every capability at his command. He was an ardent Democrat in polities, and as a firm believer in the principles of his party he gave it his most earnest and effective support at all times. In doing this, as well as in his legal practice, he demonstrated a decided fitness for publie life and a commanding ability for and knowledge of publie affairs. The people of an American community are not slow, at most times, to recognize ability to serve them in a representative capacity or seek to avail themselves of it, in spite of all that has been said of the way in which election to office in this country goes by favor and the dispensation of politieal masters.

It was so in the ease of Mr. Sears. In 1886, not through the favor of political bosses or any kind of forced methods, but solely on account of his eminent ability, his ardent patriotism and his great knowledge of publie affairs, he was eleeted to fill the unexpired term of Hon. William Van Cleve as state senator, and at the expiration of this was re-eleeted for a full term of his own. In the upper house of the state legislature he proved himself altogether worthy of the confidence and popularity which had chosen him to the office he held. He was one of the leading members of the senate and took a prominent part in all its important proceedings, ranking as one of the most judicious advisers, one of the readiest and most resourceful debaters, and one of the firmest and best informed patriots in the body. After the close of his senatorial service he was again eleeted prosecuting attorney. For many years he was also attorney for the Wabash railroad company

On Oetober 12, 1876, he united in.marriage with Miss Jennie Thatcher, a native of Schuyler county, in this state, the nuptials being solemnized in Atehison, Kansas. They had two children, their sons, Charles T. and William C., sketches of whom appear elsewhere in this work. The father was a member of the Masonie order and filled the chair of Worshipful Master of his lodge several terms. He took a cordial interest in the welfare of the fraternity, and even in the times of his most exacting duties, publie or professional, never hesitated to mingle in its assemblies and give them the benefit of his counsel and the stimulus of his example. In all the relations of life he exemplified the attributes of the best American citizenship.

The school of medicine, or medical treatment, known as osteopathy, like everything else in science or discovery that has unsettled longestablished beliefs or given old traditions a jolt, has had to fight its way into popular confidence and favor over great and bitter opposition. But it has won its fight and is now firmly fixed in the esteem of the people as one of the beneficent agencies for the good of mankind, and legislators no longer sneer when it asks at their hands a legal existence and the right to exercise its helpful funetions.

The contest it has had to wage was continuous and relentless for a number of years, but the unyielding faith and spirit of its advocates and the skill and ability of its practitioners have given it triumph over all obstacles and lasting hold on the credence and respect of mankind. Among those advocates and practitioners Dr. Jesse Hyatt, of Macon, has been a shining light and a tower of strength. It is he, more than any other, who has given the sehool standing in Macon and it is his skill and success that have aided most materially in justifying all that is claimed for the theory.

Dr. Hyatt was born in December, 1862, in Adams county, Illinois. His father, Elisha Hyatt, is a native of Somerset eounty, Pennsylvania, where his life began in 1828. He and his good wife, who has shared nearly sixty years of wedded life with him, are now residing in peace and quiet, after their long struggle, in the state of Illinois, where both are among the venerated citizens of the community in whieh they live. 'The wife's maiden name was Miss Melinda Jennings, and she was born and reared in Missouri, where the father lived before the Civil war, the wedding occurring in 1850. Not long after their marriage they moved to Illinois, where they eontinued to reside until 1878, when they returned to Missouri to remain many years. They were farmers by oceupation and successful in the industry, attending to every duty with care and fidelity, and rearing their family of eight children with the best light they had on the subject. Six of the children are living: Mary, wife of John Byler, of Illinois; Dr. Jesse E., of Macon; Fannie, wife of Elmer James, of Oklahoma; Annie, wife of Jesse Perkins, of Missouri; John, who is attending a medical college, and Arthur, a resident of Illinois.

Dr. Jesse E. Hyatt was reared and began his education at Huntsville, Missouri. He attended school also at Liberty, and after leaving that town matrienlated at Kirksville Osteopathie Institute, from which he was graduated in 1901. He at once entered upon the practice of his profession at Macon, and here he has ever since lived and labored, building up a good practice and establishing himself firmly in the regard and good will of the community as an upright, progressive and publie-spirited citizen.

It should be stated as an element in his development and training for the successful professional career in which he is now engaged that, previous to studying medicine, he taught school in Macon seventeen years, This gave him a knowledge of himself and others not easily acquired in any other way, which has been a potent factor for good in his subsequent life and activity. It should also be said that he has made his way in the world wholly by his own unaided efforts, having been of very moderate means in early life, with no one but himself to depend on for his advancement.

In polities the Doctor is a Democrat, primarily, but he is not a hide-bound partisan. He always seeks to help the best man to a position in the service of the people, partieularly in local affairs. He has never sought or desired official station for himself, being wedded to his profession and finding in it enough to en age all his interest and employ all his faculties and time. He was married in 1889 to Miss Mattie L. Van Sickle, a native of Macon county. They have four children, Maud, Emory, Virgie and Gracie. The father's religious affiliation is with the Universalist church, and in fraternal relations he is conneeted with the Modern Woodmen of America. He has shown an intelligent interest in the enduring welfare of the community and at all times given his earnest and effective aid to every worthy undertaking designed to promote it. On every hand he-is esteemed as an excellent citizen and a wise and capable professional man.

William Carlson Sears

Among the younger business men of Macon none has a higher rank or is more entitled to respect and good will than William C. Sears, proprietor of the firm of W. C. Sears. Even in the short period of his activity in business circles in the city he has demonstrated that he is made of sterling stuff and imbued with the proper spirit of enterprise for a bustling and progressive community like that which his citizenship aids and adorns.

Mr. Sears is a native of Macon, where he was born on September 20, 1886, a son of the late William H. and Jennie (Thatcher) Sears, and a brother of Charles T. Sears, more extended mention of whom is made elsewhere in this volume. He obtained his edueation in the schools of his native city and immediately after leaving school began a promising business career as a member of the mercantile firm of Sears & Sears, entering into partnership with his brother, with whom he is associated also in the management of theatrical work in connection with Blees' Theatre in Macon. He is sedulous in his attention to business and, while aiding in the mereantile and Thespian activities of the community, is, at the same time, building up a good reputation for himself,

In polities he adheres to the principles and policies of the Demoeratie party, but he is not an active partisan, although zealous for the best interests of the country and its people. He does his part as a citizen with fidelity to his convictions, leaving to others the duty of steering the ship of state and caring for its cargo. On June 10, 1908, he was married to Miss Lillian English, who is, like himself, a native of the city of Macon and well known and highly esteemed by its residents.

This eminent banker and influential financial poteney of La Plata has been a resident of Missouri forty-three years, and during the whole of that period has been aetive in lines of endeavor which minister directly to the welfare of the people and help to build up the state in its industrial, mercantile and commercial power, some of them also bearing immediately and favorably on the mental and moral agencies at work inevery community. He became an orphan by the death of his parents while he was yet a youth, the father's life ending when the son was fifteen years old and the mother's when he was seventeen. His career is, therefore, almost wholly the work of his own faculties and persistent industry in the use of inherited traits of character. For he combined in his ancestry the sturdiness of England and the enterprise and resourcefulness of this country; and, in the American portion of it, the shrewdness, thrift and self-reliance of New England, with the courtliness and chivalric manhood of the South.

Mr. Biggs was born on January 24, 1846, at Alexandria, Ohio. His grandfather on the father's side came to this country from England and located in Maryland, where John Biggs, the father of William J., was born and reared. In his young manhood he followed his father's example and sought to broaden his prosp increase his opportunities and enhance his fortunes by starting a « for himself in a new country, and he moved to Ohio, then, in large measure, still a wild domain of undeveloped possibilities. He located in Licking county, where he passed the remainder of his days industriously oceupied with the development and improvement of his farm and the rearing of his children. In Ohio he met and married Miss Louise Atwood, a native of New Hampshire, and, like himself, a wanderer from her native heath, and in search of better opportunities for advancement in life. They became the parents of six children, all of whom grew to maturity and five of them are still living: Eli W., Maria L., Mary P., William J. and Delia. The father died in Ohio in 1861 and the mother in 1863, and their remains were laid to rest amid the seenes their labors had rendered more attraetive in a rapidly progressing section, to whose improvement they had essentially eontributed, and to which they had become warmly attached.

William J. Biggs reached man's estate in his native place and obtained his education in part in its distriet schools and in part at the Ohio. Wesleyan University. In 1866, when he was twenty years of age, he came to Missouri and found a new home in Macon county. He was a teacher in the publie sehools for a few years, then passed five as a clerk and salesman in a general store and as agent for an express company. In 1876 he was made assistant cashier in the La Plata Savings Bank, and four years later, having become a stockholder and direetor of that institution, he was elected its cashier, a position he has held with credit to himself and benefit to the bank and its patrons ever since. In the management of the bank his poliey has been enterprising and progressive, but also prudent and conservative of the interests of its stockholders, officers and depositors. Nothing in the way of approved modern banking features and methods has escaped his attention or waited long for his adoption. But no element of speculation, however promising, has entered his plans at any time, and all wildeat schemes and glittering ''get-rich-quick'' allurements have been turned down with relentless and immediate dismissal. His prudence and sedulous care in financial operations are proverbial, while his breadth of view and enterprise are just what the conditions and circumstances require for the best results in expanding the business of the bank and retaining the high place it has in publie confidence and esteem.

In the affairs of the town, township and county Mr. Biggs takes an active and helpful interest, applying to them the same qualities of foresight, energy and breadth of view that have made him so successful in his private business. He is a cordial friend and a valuable aid to every worthy undertaking for advancing the interests or promoting the welfare of the people, and never shirks his portion of the burden involved. He served as a member of the school board for fifteen conseeutive years, winning high praise for his intelligence, enterprise and discrimination in the discharge of his official dutes from the patrons and pupils of the schools and the publie in general. In polities he is a Republican, but, while always active in the service of his party, he never allows partisan considerations to overbear his sense of duty arid genuine concern for the welfare of the community in local campaigns. Fraternally he is connected with the Masonic order, in which he is a Knight Templar and Noble of the Mystic Shrine, and the Knights of Pythias. His religious affiliation is with the Protestant Episcopal church. In February, 1878, Mr. Biggs was married to Miss Rosa Miller, who was born and reared in this county. They have two children, their daughters, Anna L., who is the wife of Leo W. MeDavitt, and Bonnie B., who is now Mrs. Dr. Buckley of La Plata. Mr. Biggs has been eminently successful in all his undertakings and is regarded as one of the most substantial men in the township. He has also been faithful to every duty, publie and private, and holds the rank throughout the county of a very prominent, influential and estimable citizen. All the members of the family enjoy universal esteem wherever they are known.

Like many other successful and progressive men in American history, who have dignified and adorned the professional walks of life, or reached eminence in publie affairs, Dr. Frank Colfax Thornburgh, of the eity of Macon, was prepared in part for his career by taking what may be ealled a post-graduate course in the great **university of the people" in this country. That is, after having himself enjoyed the benefits of a publie school training, he brought them home to others by teaching sehool for a period of seven years, and thereby acquired a knowledge of human nature which has been of great sérv-

Dr. Thornburgh is a native of the state of Iowa and was born on December 4, 1868. His parents, Amos C. and Libby (Meeker) Thornburgh are natives, respectively, of Indiana and Vermont. They are still living and have their home at Unionville in this state. The father's life began at Salem, Indiana, in 1841. From that state he moved to Iowa and was occupied in farming until the beginning of the Civil war, when he joined the Union army and offered his life on the altar of his country for three years during that terrible conflict. He participated in seven great battles, facing death on every field, for his command was in the thick of the fight in each, but eseaped unharmed.

After the war he returned to Iowa and again engaged in farming. In 1871 he became a resident of this state, locating in Putnam county and there continuing to till the soil for his livelihood, while his love of his fellows found expression in valuable service to them as a minister of the gospel. He is now living retired from all aetive pursuits and passing the evening of his days in the retrospeet of a well spent life, during which he performed with fidelity and cheerfulness every duty whose call he heard and recognized. On December 26, 1867, he was married to Miss Libby Meeker, of Iowa, where he was then residing. They became the parents of six children, five of whom are living: Dr. Frank C.; William B., a resident of Sedalia, Missouri; Hattie L, wife of James G. Grimes, of Kansas City; Effie Luella and Harley V. The father was very successful in all his undertakings and won his suecess and the general esteem in whieh he has been held wherever he has lived by his own merits and capaeity.

Dr. Frank C. Thornburgh grew to manhood at Unionville, Missouri. He began his education in the publie schools of that town and completed it in a three-years' course at the Kirksville Normal School. After leaving the institution at Kirksville he taught school seven years. In 1899 he matrieulated at the Homeopathie College of Missouri, which is located in St. Louis, and from which he was graduated in 1904. Armed with his professional degree and his own self-reliance and readiness for any emergency, he at once began the practice of medicine at Unionville. But he deemed it advisable to seek a larger field of operation, and accordingly, in July of the same year, moved to Macon. In this city he has ever since been steadily engaged in general practice and by assiduous industry, close attention to business and skill in the application of his large and varied fund of professional knowledge, has built up a very extensive practice and won for himself a high place in the esteem and good will of the community.