Pettis County, Missouri - Biographical sketches, 1919 (part 11 of 14)

Mr. Powell is a member of the Masonic Lodge at Green Ridge, and also belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America. He is a stanch Demo¬ crat, and he and his family are members of the Methodist Church. He fs the present township assessor of Elk Fork township, having served in that capacity for the past three years. He is one of the substantial citizens of Pettis County who has succeeded in life through his own unaided efforts.

Everett E. Durand, the well-known cashier of the Farmers and Mer¬ chants Bank of Green Ridge, Missouri, has been prominently identified with the banking interests of Pettis County for over twenty-eight years and is recognized as one of the capable financiers of this section of the State. Mr. Durand is a native of Iowa, and was born in Adams County at the beginning of the Civil War. He is a son of L. B. Durand and Louisa (Whipple) Durand. The father was a native of Ohio and of French ancestry, and the mother was born in Connecticut and of English descent. L. B. Durand was a farmer by occupation and died when a young man, about twenty-eight years of age. The mother died in 1902, aged about sixty years. They were the parents of four children of whom Everett E., is the oldest. The others are Charles S., a mining engineer, of Yerington, Nevada; Herbert A., resides at St. Charles, Iowa, and Mrs. Carrie L. Houck lives in Colorado.

Everett E. Durand was reared on a farm in Iowa and had the ad¬ vantages of a good common-school education in that state, and after coming to Pettis County he entered the Sedalia Seminary and Business College and was graduated from that institution in 1893. He then taught school in Green Ridge for eight years, and was recognized as one of the successful educators of Pettis County. He served as postmaster of Green Ridge during the administration of President Benjamin Harrison.

In 1891, Mr. Durand became cashier of the Farmers and Merchants Bank of Green Ridge. This was shortly after the bank was organized, and he has held that position continuously since that time and has been the leading factor in shaping the policies of this successful banking in¬ stitution. The Farmers and Merchants Bank is recognized as one of the solid financial institutions of the State and has had a remarkable growth since Mr. Durand became its cashier, as evidenced by a comparison of its resources. In 1891 the total resources was about $30,000 and now at the beginning of the year 1919 the resources amount to about $300,000. As an evidence of the standing of Mr. Durand in his home county, he is now serving the second year as president of the Pettis County Bankers Asso¬ ciation. He has given the subject of banking and finance careful thought and study, and during his long experience, has solved many perplexing problems of banking.

Mr. Durand was married October 14, 1891, to Miss Mamie Flesher, a native of Taylorville, Christian County, Illinois. She is a daughter of Dr. W. H. and Katharine Flesher. Dr. Flesher came to Pettis County from Illinois, with his family in 1879 and practiced medicine in Green Ridge and surrounding country, until his death in 1898. His wfe de¬ parted this life in 1911.

To Everett E. Durand and wife have been bom two children, as fol¬ low: Paul, who died in 1901, aged nine years; and Estalyn. Estalyn was educated in the Green Ridge schools and after completing the high school course, entered Stephens College at Columbia, Missouri, where she was graduated. She has specialized in music and is highly accomplished in that art. She was united in marriage, January 1, 1918, with Jesse V. Buester. Mr. Buester enlisted in the United States Navy during the World War and served on the U. S. S. New Hampshire.

Mrs. Durand, wrife of Everett E., is a lady of many accomplishments, and has been active in the social affairs of Green Ridge and Pettis County. She is a member of the Ladies Musical Club of Sedalia and is active in every movement to advance the musical and social interests of the com¬ munity.

Mr. Durand is a Republican in politics and takes a keen interest in public affairs. He has been treasurer of the city of Green Ridge for the past twenty years, also a member of the school board and treasurer of the board during that period. He is a Knights Templar Mason and a member of the Shrine of that order, and is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias and the Modem Woodmen of America. He, together with his wife, are members of the Congregational Church, and he has been treasurer of the local congregation for the past twenty-five years. He is recognized as a progressive and public spirited citizen.

Edward S. Spickert, who is extensively engaged in farming and stock raising in Elk Fork township, is a native son of Pettis County. He was born in Elk Fork township, January 10, 1887, on the farm where he now resides and is a son of John N. and Mary Katherine (Quincy) Spick¬ ert. The father was a native of Kentucky and settled in Pettis County in 1882. He also lived in Benton County for a number of years. He died on the home place in Elk Fork township, August 9, 1907, and his wife departed this life January 29, 1904.

To John N. and Mary Katherine (Quincy) Spickert were born eleven children as follows: John Charles, Yellow Jacket, Colorado; Millie, mar¬ ried Ed Powell, Elk Fork township; James W., Mills, New Mexico; Mary K., married L. Home and they live in California; Minnie, married L. P.

Anderson and is now deceased; Lewis T., resides in Colorado; Ida, mar¬ ried S. L. Heath and they live in California; Anna, married Eli Williams; Edward, the subject of this sketch; Eugene F., lives in Colorado; and George, Benton County, Missouri.

Edward Spickert was reared on the farm and educated in the public schools of Benton and Pettis Counties, and was engaged in the mercan¬ tile business in early life. He has followed farming both in Benton and Pettis Counties. He went to Benton County and followed farming there until 1902 when he returned to the home place in Elk Fork township, Pettis County. Shortly after he returned to Benton County where he remained until 1906, when he returned to Pettis county and since that time has been engaged in farming and stock raisig. He operates 365 acres of land now. He is one of the progressive and enterprising farmers of Elk Fork township.

Mr. Spickert was married October 2, 1898, to Miss Anna Beaman who was born near Sedalia, Missouri. She is a daughter of Charles T. and Sallie Ann (Greer) Beaman, both natives of Virginia and early set¬ tlers in Pettis County. The father now resides at Warsaw, Missouri. To Mr. and Mrs. Spickert have been born six children as follows: George W., Mabel, Cecil L., Mary K., Lawrence E., and Lelia M., all residing at home with their parents.

Charles Dump, a well-known farmer and stockman of Green Ridge township, is a native of Pettis County. He was born in Flat Creek town¬ ship, February 17, 1892, and is a son of George and Mary A. (Crawford) Dump. George Dump was born in Hocking County, Ohio, in 1842, where he was reared to manhood and educated in the public schools. He was a farmer all his life. In 1873 George Dump came to Pettis County and settled twelve miles south of Sedalia. Later he moved to a place seven miles south of Sedalia where he spent the remainder of his life. He was a successful farmer and dairyman and kept Shorthorn cattle. At the time of his death he owned 420 acres of land. He died in 1916 and his wife departed this life in 1912. They were members of the Methodist Church and the father was a Republican.

Charles Dump is the youngest of a family of six born to his parents, one of whom is dead. He was reared in Pettis County and educated in the public schools. He spent his early boyhood days on the farm and

Mr. Dump was married February 16, 1913, to Miss Elizabeth Elliott, a native of Pettis County and a daughter of Herbert A. and Cordelia (Durill) Elliott, who now reside in Washington township on a farm. To Mr. and Mrs. Dump has been bom one child, Mary C. They are members of the Methodist Church and he is a Republican and holds membership in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Mr. Dump is one of the progressive Pettis County farmers of the younger generation. He is public-spirited and enterprising and is meeting with well merited suc¬ cess in his undertakings.

Robert H. Thompson, a well-known and successful farmer and stock raiser of LaMonte township, is a member of an old and prominent Pettis County family. Mr. Thompson was bom in Johnson County, Missouri, October 20, 1887, ad is a son of Elmer E. and Mary (Vanatta) Thompson.

Elmer Thompson was born in Clinton County, Indiana, September 19, 1854, and is a son of Robert and Sarah J. (Lewis) Thompson, both natives of Butler County, Ohio, where the former was bom June 9, 1833 and the latter was born June 8, 1834. They now reside in Sedalia. Robert Thompson was successfully engaged in farming in LaMonte town¬ ship for a number of years, after coming here in 1872 and is now living retired.

Elmer E. Thompson came to Missouri with his parents in 1872 and they settled on the farm in LaMonte township, which is now owned by Robert H. Thompson. Elmer E. Thompson was reared on this place and educated in the public schools and in early life engaged in farming for himself. His father gave him forty acres of land in Johnson County and he was successfully engaged in farming and the stock business for many years. A few years ago, when he divided his land among his chil¬ dren he had 1,820 acres. He is now engaged in farming and dealing in all kinds of live stock at Knob Noster, Missouri. Mary (Vanatta) Thompson, wife of Elmer E. Thompson, is a native of Pettis County and was born ten miles southeast of Sedalia. To Elmer E. and Mary (Van¬ atta) Thompson were born the following children: Robert H., the subject of this sketch; Florence D., married H. A. Wimer, Johnson County, Mis¬ souri; Joseph E., lives near Knob Noster, Missouri; Clifford E., was drafted into the army, October 5, 1917, was a member of Company E. 126th Infantry and after being wounded, was trasnferred to the field artillery and has been serving on the battle line in France since June 2, 1918; Roy L., attending school in Boonville, Missouri; Mary 0., at home ; Ruby, died at the age of four years.

Robert H. Thompson, the subject of this sketch, was born on a farm near Knob Noster and received his education in the district schools and the Knob Noster High School. After finishing school he remained at home with his father for a time and in 1915 he bought his present farm from his father. However, he had rented this place for some years previous to purchasing it. His farm consists of 280 acres of well-im¬ proved land and is located on section 30. Here he carries on general farming and stock raising and has met with success. In 1916 he began breeding Duroc Jersey hogs and is one of the successful breeders in this section.

December 29, 1910, Robert H. Thompson was united in marriage with Miss Florence Wampler, a native of Johnson County, Missouri, born August 24, 1892. She is a daughter of Jacob B. and Fannie Lee (Lang¬ ston) Wampler, natives of Johnson County, now residing four miles north of Knob Noster, where Mrs. Thompson was born and reared. To Mr. and Mrs. Thompson have been born three children as follow : Chester, Delmar and Earl.

J. Ed. Hall, of Blackwater township, is perhaps better known to the progressive, scientific and up-to-date agriculturists of this section of Missouri than any other man in Pettis County. He conducts the United States Demonstration Farm, of which he is the owner, in Blackwater township. This place is situated four miles northwest of LaMonte and contains 222 acres. It became a demonstration farm in 1910 when the first agricultural experiments were worked out here. J. Robert Hall, who at that time was a student in the State University in the Agricultural Department, began, with his father's help, experimenting on the fai'm with clover, soy beans, cow peas, etc., and analyzing the soil. Since then the place has been developed into a complete demonstration farm and meetings are held here annually for the benefit of farmers and others who are interested in the scientific application of the principles of agri¬ culture.

application of lacking elements of the soil that the production of this farm has been increased three-fold. He keeps an accurate record of the business of the place, crop production and expenses, and can tell in an instant the profits of each particular department. The place is divided off into sections or blocks and an accurate record kept of each. The work on this place is under the direction of D. H. Doane, head farm adviser of the State and professor of agriculture in the State University. In addi¬ tion to general farming and his connection with the agricultural experi¬ mental work, Mr. Hall is interested in the breeding of pure bred White Rock chickens, Duroc Jersey hogs and Holstein cattle, Morse soy beans, Fultz wheat and Ried's yellow dent corn.

J. Ed. Hall was born in Clay County, Missouri, October 17, 1869. He is a son of John T. and Mary A. (Craven) Hall, the former a native of Kentucky, and the latter of Tennessee. John T. Hall was born in 1834 and when four years of age his parents removed to Clay County, Missouri. He was a son of John R. Hall. John T. Hall was a farmer all his life and died in Clay County in 1898. Mary A. (Craven) Hall was born August 17, 1844, and died in January, 1909. The members of the Hall family have been farmers for generations and many of them have been pro¬ gressive students of scientific farming. J. Ed. Hall was reared in Clay County and was educated in the public schools and the Karney High School, at Karney, Missouri. He followed farming on the old home place in Clay County for twenty-five years and also owned land there himself. In 1907 he came to Pettis County and bought his present place, which was known as the old Dorsey farm. He has made many improvements, and it is one of the model farms of Pettis County.

Mr. Hall was married March 11, 1891, to Miss Allie M. Pence, a native of Clay County, Missouri. She died in 1904. Five children were born to them, as follow: J. Robert, who graduated at the University of Missouri in 1917 and is now county farm agent of Cass County, Mis¬ souri, located at Harrisonville ; Arthur R., a student in the University of Missouri; Ralph W., residing at home with his father; Herbert E., also at home with his father, and Thelma, who died in infancy. Mr. Hall was married the second time, April 29, 1906, to Miss Georgia A. Dorsey, a native of Pettis County, born in Dresden township. She is a daughter of Thomas E. and Lucinda J. (O'Bannon) Dorsey, the former of Vir¬ ginia, the latter a native of Missouri. Thomas Dorsey was eight years old when he came to Cooper County and settled at Boonville with his parents. He died October 9, 1909. The O'Bannon family was one of the first four families to settle in Pettis County. A history of that family appears elsewhere in this volume. Mrs. Dorsey now resides with Mr. and Mrs. Hall. To Mr. and Mrs. Hall has been born one child, Mary Lucinda, who died in infancy.

Mr. Hall is independent in his political views and is a member of the Baptist Church. He holds membership in the Modern Woodmen of America at LaMonte. He is a progressive and public spirited citizen and one of Pettis County's most successful men.

John F. Schmidt, who is prominently identified with the agricultural interests of Pettis County, is a well-known farmer and stockman of Elk Fork township. Mr. Schmidt is a native Missourian, having been born in Lafayette County, November 18, 1850. He is a son of Henry Schmidt. His mother bore the maiden name of Ducholtz. Both parents were na¬ tives of Hanover, Germany, and their two eldest children were born in that country. To Henry Schmidt and wife were born the following chil¬ dren: two oldest were daughters and died in infancy; Sarah W., married M. F. Kern and lives in Allen County, Kansas; John F., the subject of this sketch; and Henry who resides in Allen County, Kansas.

Henry Schmidt and his wife left their native land in 1847, and im¬ migrated to America. They first settled in Lafayette County, Missouri, where they remained from 1847 until 1857. They then removed to Allen County, Kansas. The mother died the same year that the family re¬ moved to Kansas and the father married for his second wife, Bridget Moore, a native of Ireland. No children were born to this union. Henry Schmidt died in Allen County, Kansas, in 1896, aged seventy-nine years. His second wife preceded him in death, she having departed this life in 1885.

' John F. Schmidt received his start in life by honest toil. He was reared on a farm and remained with his father until he was twenty-one years of age. He then began working out as a farm hand, receiving for his labor only thirteen dollars per month. This was in Kansas. In 1874, when Mr. Schmidt was about twenty-four years of age, he returned to Lafayette County, Missouri, and farmed rented land until 1883. He then went to what is now known as Ramsey County, North Dakota, and took up government land. He acquired 320 acres of government land and later bought eighty acres more. He improved this 400 acres with good buildings, fencing, and brought it up to a high state of cultivation. He sold this place in 1901 and came to Pettis County and purchased the place where he now resides in Elk Fork township. His place consists of 218 acres, and since buying this place, Mr. Schmidt has made valuable and substantial improvements and has one of the fine farms of the com¬ munity.

During the first four years of life on his North Dakota claim, Mr. Schmidt was unmarried, and like many others who were proving up on their claims in the west in those days, "batched." On April 14, 1888, he was united in marriage with Miss Viola Casady, a native of Wash¬ ington County, Ohio, born December 14, 1861. She is a daughter of William Casady. To Mr. and Mrs. Schmidt have been born three chil¬ dren as follows: Perly H., deceased; Grant J., born April 24, 1894, in North Dakota, educated in the public schools of Pettis County, and in October, 1917, was inducted into the United States Army and is now serving in Europe, a member of Company L, 354th Infantry, Eightyninth Division. This is one of the divisions of the United States Army that immortalized itself in the final great battles of the World War and is now a part of the army of occupation in Germany. The youngest child, Florence S., born to Mr. and Mrs. Schmidt, was born in North Dakota, March 11, 1898, married Dell Wagner, of Kansas, and they have one child, Ada Dell. Mr. Wagner is also now serving with the United States Army in Europe.

Mr. Schmidt is a Republican and has served six years on the local school board. He is enterprising, progressive and public spirited and one of Pettis County's leading citizens. The Schmidt family stands high in the community where they live.

Stephen C. Connor, a progressive farmer and stockman, of LaMonte township, is a native son of Pettis County. He was bom in Dresden township, May 25, 1879, a son of John and Mary (Shay) Connor. The mother now resides in Dresden township at the age of seventy-six years. The father, a prominent pioneer of Pettis County, departed this life, September 5, 1918, at the advanced age of eighty-three years. A more complete review of his career appears elsewhere in this volume.

Stephen C. Connor was educated in the district schools of Dresden township and remained on the home farm with his parents until he was twenty-one years old. He was then engaged as a teamster about three years in the West and in 1903 returned to Missouri and was employed by the Midland Manufacturing Company at Kansas City, Missouri. In 1904 he entered the employ of the Missouri Pacific and the Missouri, Kansas & Texas railroads at Sedalia. In 1906 he returned to the home place and was engaged in farming for about a year. He then went to Saline County and farmed there one year when he bought his present place in LaMonte township. He owns 149 acres here and is engaged in general farming and stock raisiing.

1879. She is a daughter of William and Mary (McIntyre) O'Keefe, the former a native of Ireland and the latter of Quincy, Illinois. William O'Keefe settled in Illinois when he first came to this country and at one time owned the farm where the famous Braidwood mines were discovered, later. He came to Missouri in 1858 and settled in Saline County where he was engaged in farming and stock raising. He died in 1891, aged sixty years. His wife died in 1909 at the age of eighty years. They were the parents of seven children, six of whom grew to maturity. To Stephen C. Connor and wife have been bom four children as follow: John William, Louisa A., Mary A., and Stephen F.

Mr. Connor is a Democrat and belongs to the Knights of Columbus and the Modern Woodmen of America. He and his family are members of the Catholic Church.

Riley Landes, who is successfully engaged in farming and stock raising in LaMonte township, is a native of Virginia. He wTas born in Augusta County, Virginia, April 1, 1859, and is a son of Abraham Landes, who was also a native of Virginia. The mother of Riley Landes was a Virginian. Both parents died when Riley Landes was about five years old, and he was reared in his native State by G. H. Saufley. He received his education in the schools of Virginia and remained in that State until

1880. He then came to Missouri and settled in Pettis County. Here he worked for a while as a farm laborer but soon rented a farm northeast of LaMonte. He succeeded to a satisfactory degree and in 1892 pur¬ chased his present place. He owns 120 acres of good land upon which he has made extensive improvements. He has a good residence, large modern barn and also a cattle barn and a brick silo. The place is con¬ veniently located, less than three miles from LaMonte. Mr. Landes and son George W. own seventy-five acres in that vicinity. Mr. Landes is a successful grain farmer and is also engaged in cattle and hog raising, making a specialty of Shorthorn cattle.

On January 29, 1882, Riley Landes was united in marriage with Miss Alice C. Drummond, who was born in Rockingham County, Virginia, May 21, 1863. Her parents were Virginians and descendants of old Virginia stock. To Mr. and Mrs. Landes have been born five children, as follow: Anna V., married Charles Wolfe, LaMonte, Missouri; Lena B., married E. S. Rodgers and they live in Blackwater township; George W., resides at home with his pai'ents; Bessie F., married H. Perkins and they live in Blackwater township, and Goldie, married A. Perkins and they reside at Bradford, Illinois.

Mr. Landes is a Democrat and a member of the Christian Church. He is affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America. Mr. Landes had met with success since coming to Pettis County, and the splendid appear¬ ance of his place testifies to the thrift and industry of its owner. He is one of Pettis County's substantial citizens.

Samuel E. Oglesby, a prominent farmer and stockman of Blackwater township, is a native of Missouri and a descendant of pioneer Missouri families on both the maternal and paternal sides. Mr. Oglesby is the owner and proprietor of the "Spring View Farm," which consists of 160 acres of well improved land under a high state of cultivation. This is one of the valuable farms of Blackwater township.

Samuel E. Oglesby was born in Grover township, Johnson County, Missouri, April 1, 1868, a son of John T. and Martha A. (Brock) Oglesby. They were the parents of three children, as follows: Alpha; Samuel E., the subject of this sketch, and Mollie H., who married H. Elder and resides in Kansas City, Missouri. Alpha is deceased.

John T. Oglesby was born in Johnson County, Missouri, in 1840. He was a farmer and stockman all his life and thus engaged in Johnson County until 1881, when he removed to Pettis County, and purchased a place in Blackwater township which he improved. Here he was success¬ fully engaged in farming and stock raising until 1904, when he retired and removed to Knob Noster, where he spent the remainder of his life. He died April 11, 1907.

John T. Oglesby was a son of Charles M. and Mary (Gilbert) Oglesby, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Kentucky. They settled in Cooper County, Missouri, at a very early day. Later they removed to_ Johnson County, where they both spent the remainder of their lives.

26, 1912. She was a daughter of Alfred Brock, who was a very early settler of Johnson County and located at Knob Noster, where he was the first to engage in the general mercantile business.

Samuel E. Oglesby was educated in the district schools and the State Normal School at Warrensburg. In 1888 he engaged in farming on his present place and since that time he has been successfully engaged in breeding, stock raising and general farming. He has been engaged in breeding Duroc Jersey hogs for a number of years. He has made his home in Missouri since boyhood, with the exception of two years spent in Wyoming, where he was engaged in the well drilling business.

On December 18, 1894, Samuel E. Oglesby was united in marriage with Miss Lena T. Patrick, a native of Pettis County, born in Blackwater township, May 18, 1872. She is a daughter of Wallace and Willie (Feagan) Patrick, the former a native of Lafayette County, Missouri, and the latter of Tennessee. They settled in Pettis County about fifty years ago, and now reside in Blackwater township. Mr. and Mrs. Oglesby have no children.

Mr. Oglesby is a charter member of the Masonic Lodge at LaMonte. He is a member of the Bethel Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and Mrs. Oglesby holds membership in the Methodist Church. Mr. and Mrs. Oglesby have an extensive acquaintance and are numbered among the prominent and representative people of Pettis County.

John Weedin, who for many years was prominently identified with the development of Pettis County, is now deceased. He was a native of this State, having been born in Clay County September 11, 1831. He was the son of Rev. Henry J. and Eda (Taylor) Weedin, the former a native of South Carolina and the latter of Howard County, Missouri. His parents belonged to the Rhode Island family of Weedins, who were of English descent and settled in America prior to the Revolution. Will¬ iam Taylor came to Missouri when a young man and the settlement of the Taylor family in Missouri dates back to 1800.

John Weedin was the tenth in order of birth of a family of seven¬ teen children born to his parents. He was reared principally in Saline County, Missouri, and later went to Cooper County. In 1869 he settled in Blackwater township, Pettis County, and here he was successfully engaged in general farming and stock raising until his death. When he bought his farm here, it was open unbroken prairie. He made exten¬ sive improvements and developed his place until it was one of the well- kept and productive farms of Pettis County. Mr. Weedin was a man who took a deep interest in the welfare of the community and was one of the progressive and public spirited citizens of Pettis County. He took a deep interest in educational matters and for a number of years was a member of the local school board. He died January 11, 1892.

December 12, 1860, John Weedin was united in marriage with Miss Matilda F. Wade, who was born in Highland County, Virginia, August 21, 1841. The Wade family is of old Virginia stock, further mention of whom is made in this volume.

To John and Matilda F. (Wade) Weedin were born the following children: L. Everett, born April 8, 1862, in Cooper County, Missouri, and died in Blackwater township June 19, 1915 ; Robert E. L., born in Pettis County February 27, 1867, and is now employed in Texas by the Govern¬ ment as a traveling auditor; Ranna C., born March 8, 1871, and died November 20, 1873; Ethel B., born March 9, 1875, is unmarried and con¬ ducts the home place in Blackwater township in connection with her mother, and Lottie M., born February 14, 1882, and died August 7, 1917.

James M. Carpenter is prominently identified with the agricultural interests of Blackwater township, where he resides, and owns 180 acres of land in sections 27 and 34. He also owns forty acres in LaMonte town¬ ship. In addition to his general farming and stock raising, Mr. Carpenter also raises Poland China hogs. His farm is well improved and highly cultivated and is one of the valuable farms of Pettis County.

James M. Carpenter was born in Jefferson County, Missouri, Sep¬ tember 27, 1867, a son of George G. and Mannie (Hudson) Carpenter, both natives of Kentucky. George G. Carpenter was born in Boyle County, Kentucky, in 1827. He came to Missouri and settled in Jefferson County in 1867. Two years later he came to Pettis County and settled in Black¬ water township. Here he was engaged in farming and stock raising until the time of his death, February 1, 1901. He was prominent in the easy affairs of Blackwater township, and was a member of the Masonic Lodge. His wife was born in Kentucky in 1829 and died in Blackwater township, Pettis County, in 1904. George G. and Mannie (Hudson) Car¬ penter were the parents of the following children : John, deceased ; Ida, married Moses Ray and they reside in Pawnee County, Oklahoma; Julia, married M. D. Swope, LaMonte township; D. H., Blackwater township;

Deborah, resides with her brother, George, in Blackwater township ; Mary, married W. Shaw, LaMonte township, Missouri; G. M., resides in Blackwater township, on the old homestead- and Lena, married William Settles and is now deceased.

James M. Carpenter was reared on the home farm and attended the district school. He has made farming and stock raising his life's busi¬ ness. He first bought forty acres of land in Blackwater township and added to this from time to time, as opportunities offered and his means permitted, until he now owns 220 acres of some of Pettis County's best land.

On March 10, 1889, James M. Carpenter was united in marriage with Miss Mannie (Lee) Means, a native of Pettis County, Missouri. She is a daughter of James J. and Elizabeth (Anderson) Means, natives of Kentucky, and early settlers in Pettis County, further mention of whom is made in this volume. Mr. and Mrs. Carpenter have no children.

Mr. Carpenter is a Democrat and takes an active interest in political affairs of his township and county. He has held the office of constable for eight years. He has an extensive acquaintance in western Pettis County and in Johnson County, and is one of the progressive citizens of Blackwater township.

William O. Means, a leading farmer and stockman of Blackwater township, has spent over a half of a century of his life in Pettis County. He is the owner of a well improved farm of 300 acres where he carries on general farming and stock raising, and is an extensive breeder of Duroc Jersey hogs. Mr. Means was bom in Montgomery County, Ken¬ tucky, November 28. 1844, a son of James J. and Elizabeth (Anderson) Means, both natives of Montgomery County, Kentucky. The father died in Pettis County in 1884, aged sixty-two years, and the mother died in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, August 11, 1899, aged seventy-two years. They were the parents of the following children: N. A., lives in Okla¬ homa; William 0., the subject of this sketch; Mrs. Sarah Plummer, de¬ ceased; James H. died in Colorado in 1875; Mrs. Amanda Howard, de¬ ceased ; Dr. Shelton, who was named after the Means family physician in Kentucky ; Joseph, Nevada, Missouri ; Nicholas lives in Oklahoma ; Mrs. Elizabeth Fisher, Oklahoma, and Mrs. Mannie Carpenter, Blackwater township.

William O. Means was reared to manhood in Kentucky and when the Civil War closed in 1865, he came to Pettis County and settled in Black¬ water township. In 1866 he returned to Kentucky and brought his pa- rents to the county. He drove the entire distance from Kentucky to Blackwater township with a team and wagon. He settled upon the place where he now resides when he came to this county.

October 12, 1876, William 0. Means was united in marriage with Miss Alice Woodward, a native of Montgomery county, Kentucky. She was born March 13, 1860, a daughter of Richard M. Woodward. For a more extensive history of the Woodward family see sketch of J. D. Woodward which appears in this volume. To Mr. and Mrs. Means have been born the following children: Berton E., who is managing the home place in Blackw'ater township ; Minnie, married John W. Scott and is now deceased ; William A., Blackwater township ; Maude married A. L. Whit¬ field, Maricopa, California ; Lulu, deceased ; John B., deceased ; Nellie, deceased; Cleo, married F. Freed and lives in Pennsylvania; Sallie mar¬ ried V. Fisher, Blackwater township and Reva, deceased.

Mr. Means is a Democrat, and a member of the Methodist Church. He is one of the substantial citizens of Pettis County, and the Means family are prominent in the community.

Rush M. Scott, who has been prominently identified in Pettis County for many years, is a leading farmer and stockman of Blackwater town¬ ship, where he owns and operates 240 acres of highly improved and valuable land. Rush M. Scott is a native son of Pettis County. He was born in Hughesville township January 31, 1864, and is the son of Joseph J. Scott, an early settler in Pettis County.

Rush M. Scott was reared in this county. He saw much of the pioneer life of this section of the State and, when a boy, frequently broke prairie with ox teams. He continued to reside in Hughesville towmship until 1910, when he removed to Blackwater township and settled on the farm where he now resides. He ranks among the successful fanners and stockmen of the county. Politically he is identified with the Demo¬ cratic party, and is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America.

September 9, 1885, Rush M. Scott was united in marriage with Miss Nancy Todd, a native of Martin County, Indiana, born April 19, 1865. She is the daughter of John A. and Isophene (Bobbitt) Todd, the former a native of Ohio, and the latter of Kentucky. To Rush M. Scott and wife has been bom the following children: Isophene, married R. Viets, LaMonte, Missouri ; Henrietta, deceased ; Mary E., married G. Hayworth, LaMonte township; Allie, married J. J. Finch, Dresden township; Alma, married E. W. Miller, who is now deceased; Gillman H., born May 28, 1894, married Willa Wiley, a native of Pettis County, in 1915, and they have one child, Alma L. Gillman H. is engaged in farming and stock raising in Blackwater township, and now operates the Ratcliffe place. He is one of the progressive and enterprising young farmers and stockmen of Pettis County. The other children born to Rush M. Scott and wife are: Joseph M., married Mary E. Smith, of Benton County, Mis¬ souri, and now resides in Houstonia township, Pettis County; Wilford C., resides at home with his parents; Clay, deceased, and two died in infancy.

While Rush M. Scott has made the tilling of the soil his chief occu¬ pation, he is a natural mechanical genius, and is able to turn his hand to almost any kind of mechanical work with unusual ability. The machin¬ ists' trade comes easily and naturally to him. This is also true of the carpenter trade and its various branches. He possesses those mechan¬ ical talents, which are so rarely found in an individual. The Scott family are well known and highly respected in Pettis County.

Monterville McGruder, deceased, was born September 29, 1846, at Winchester, Frederick County, Virginia. During the early part of the Civil War, when he was sixteen years of age, he enlisted in Company K, Fifth Regiment, Virginia Volunteer Infantry, Confederate Army. He participated in the battles of Winchester, Manassas, Bull Run, Seven Days' Fight of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania and numerous other lesser engagements and skirmishes. He was captured by the Federals at New¬ town, Virginia, and conveyed to Camp Chase, Ohio, where he was kept a prisoner of war until the spring of 1865.

After the close of the war, Mr. McGruder settled at Black Lick, Franklin County, Ohio, where he was married with Miss Louisa Shaffar, a native of Ohio, and a daughter of Jacob Shaffar. She died in 1874, leaving one child, Addie, who is now Mrs. Stephen Ganes, who, with her husband, resides at Columbus, Ohio. Monterville McGruder's second marriage took place in Ohio in 1875, to Miss Amy Harris, who was born in Hebron, Licking County, Ohio, a daughter of John A. Harris. To this union were born three children, as follow: David, who died in infancy at Austin, Texas; Mark Austin, a sketch of whom will be found in this volume; and Mayme Belle, married A. N. Gilbert, and resides on the old homestead at Hughesville, Missouri. A sketch of A. N. Gilbert also ap¬ pears in this volume.

In the spring of 1877, Monterville McGruder moved to Austin, Texas, and in November, 1878, he came to Pettis County, Missouri, locating on a farm, two miles north and east of Hughesville. One year later he

Monterville McGruder died from the effect of a stroke of apoplexy at his home in Hughesville, November 20, 1904. His wife, Amy Harris McGruder, died at her home in Hughesville, November 24, 1911, follow¬ ing an illness of three years as a result of a stroke of paralysis. Their remains rest side by side in Crown Hill Cemetery, Sedalia, Missouri.

Mark Austin McGruder, attorney, Sedalia, Mo., was born on a farm near Hughesville Pettis County, September 16, 1879. He is a son of Monterville and Amy (Harris) McGruder. A sketch of Monterville McGruder appears in this volume.

Mark A. McGruder received his education in the Hughesville district School; Westminster College, Fulton, Mo.; Missouri State Military School, Columbia, Mo., and was graduated from the law department of Missouri University with a degree of Bachelor of Laws in 1901. He was admitted to the bar in Sedalia, July 7, 1901, and since that time has been engaged in the practice of his profession.

Mr. McGruder was united in marriage October 9, 1906, with Miss Leonore Cutter, a native of Pettis County. To this union has been born one child, Aurelia Harris McGruder, who is now ten years of age.

Mr. McGruder is a Democrat, and served as city attorney and city counselor of Sedalia, from 1906 to 1907. In 1916, he was elected to the State Senate, serving as chairman of the Committees on New Capital, Constitutional Amendments and Permanent Seat of Government, Wills and Probate Law. He also served as a member of the committees on Judiciary; Private Corporations; Fire, Tornado and Marine Iusurance; Education, Textbooks and Public Schools; University, Normal Schools, Agricultural College and School of Mines; Clerical Force; Criminal Juris¬ prudence; Insurance and Workman's Compensation; Labor, Commerce, Manufactories and Immigration; Fish and Game; Accounts and Miscel¬ laneous Laws ; and Engrossed Bills. In the Fiftieth General Assembly, he was elected and served the Senate as majority (Democratic) floor leader.

Mr. McGruder and his family are members of the Broadway Pres¬ byterian Church in Sedalia. He is a member of the Masonic Lodge, Granite Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Sedalia, Scottish Rite bodies, St. Joseph, Mo., and the Mystic Shrine, Ararat Temple, Kan¬ sas City, Mo. He is also a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and the Knights of Pythias. For eight years he served as Grand Fore- man of the Ancient Order of United Workmen of Missouri. Mr. McGruder is the author of McGruder on the Law of Commerce and also of this history of Pettis County, but he is not the writer of this sketch. - M. J. Flannery.

James Crawford, a prominent farmer and stockman of Blackwater township, who for over twenty years has been a successful breeder of Pole Angus cattle. Mr. Crawford was bom in Flat Creek township, Pettis County, Missouri, July 6, 1871. He is a son of A. J. and Catherine E. (Turley) Crawford, both natives of Ohio. A. J. Crawford, who was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, in 1823. In early life he learned the potter's trade, and for a number of years followed that line of work in Ohio. He came to Missouri in 1865 and settled in Smithton township, Pettis County, where he was engaged in farming and stock raising for a time, when he removed to Flat Creek township. In 1903 he removed to Dresden, where he died in 1909 . His wife died in 1892, aged sixty-eight years.

James Crawford was the youngest of the family of seven children born to his parents. He received his education in the public schools of Pettis County, and remained on the home farm, and during the latter years of his father's life he operated the farm, which he later bought. In 1917 Mr. Crawford traded for his present place, which consists of 380 acres of well-improved and valuable land.

On November 28, 1894, James Crawford was united in marriage with Miss Lucy E. Painter, a native of Pettis county, Missouri, and a daughter of Nelson Painter, whose wife was a Miss Ewers, both natives of Ohio, and early settlers of Pettis County. To Mr. and Mrs. Crawford have been born the following children: Ralph, Earl, Florence and Edna, all of whom reside at home with their parents.

Mr. Crawford is a mmeber of the Masonic Lodge, at LaMonte, Mis¬ souri. Politically he is a Republican, and a member of the Methodist Church. He is one of the directors of the Fanners Bank at LaMonte. He is one of the progressive public-spirited and enterprising citizens of Pettis County.

Leslie A. Coats. - The Coats family are entitled to recognition as one of the pioneer families of Missouri. They came here over eighty years ago, and have been identified with the development of this State ever since that time.

a number of years has also been extensively engaged in feeding stock for the market. He has a well-improved stock farm of 240 acres, and is recognized as one of the successful farmers of Pettis County. Mr. Coats is a native of this county, having been bom in Houstonia township Octo¬ ber 11, 1875. He is the son of James and Eva Ann (Strole) Coats.

James Coats was born in Kentucky in 1832, and in 1838, when he was six years of age, he was brought to Missouri by his parents, who settled in Houstonia township, Pettis County. In addition to general farm¬ ing and stock raising, he also bought and sold mules and cattle, and was very successful in his business career. At the time of his death, Sep¬ tember 7. 1918, he was the owner of 180 acres of land. He took a promi¬ nent part in the welfare of his township and county, and wras an enter¬ prising citizen. He was a lifelong Democrat, and a member of the Chris¬ tian Church. Eva Ann (Strole) Coats is a native of Virginia. She came to Pettis County with her parents over fifty years ago, wKen she was a child. They made the trip from Virginia, partly overland by wragon and partly by steamboat. Mrs. Coats now resides on the home place.

Leslie Albert Coats is one of four - children born to his parents, as follow: Sue Bell, w7ho resides writh her mother, in Houstonia; James R., wTho resides on the home place; Leslie Albert, the subject of this sketch, and Albert C., who is now in the United States aviation service in France. He enlisted in December, 1917, and is serving in the capacity of machinist.

Leslie Albert Coats was reared in Pettis County and received his education in the public schools. He began life for himself in 1898, farm¬ ing land wdiich he rented from his father. In 1906 he bought a farm, three miles southwest of LaMonte. Two years later he sold that place and bought his present farm, wdiich was known as the Joe Berry place. Since buying this place Mr. Coats has made a great many improvements, including a splendid residence.

On December 18, 1901, Mr. Coats was united in marriage with Miss Minnie Maude McGruder, a daughter of Gilespie and Anna (Janney) McGruder, the former a native of Virginia, and the latter of Pettis County. A history of the McGruder family appears elsewdiere in this volume. To Mr. and Mrs. Coats has been born the following children: Beatrice, born November, 22, 1902 ; Leslie G., born November 18, 1913, and died January 18, 1914.

Walter Jackson Wheeler, of Blackwater township, has spent over a half century of his life in Pettis County, and during his active career was actively identified with farming and stock raising in Blackwater township. Mr. Wheeler was born in Loudoun County, Virginia, September 16, 1863. He is the son of Jackson and Jane (Triplett) Wheeler, both natives of Virginia. The Wheeler family came to Pettis County and settled in Black¬ water township, March 10, 1867. Jackson Wheeler was born in Virginia in June, 1826, and died in Pettis County in 1910. He was the son of Charles Wheeler, a native of Ireland, who settled in Virginia at an early day. Jane (Triplett) Wheeler, mother of Walter Jackson Wheeler, was born in Virginia and died in Pettis County in 1902. Jackson and Jane (Triplett) Wheeler were the parents of seven children, four of whom are living.

Walter Jackson Wheeler was united in marriage October 15, 1885, to Miss Ida Lee, a native of Blackwater township, born September 9, 1867. She is the daughter of George William and Elizabeth G. (Bobbitt) Lee, very early settlers of Pettis County. To Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler have been born the following children: Charles J., born August 23, 1886, in Black¬ water township, and is now assistant manager of the home farm ; Albert, born in 1889 and died May 30, 1906 ; Mary, born March 7, 1891 ; Lawson G., born August 27, 1895, married Miss Esther Westbrook, of Houstonia, April 20, 1918, and is now serving in the United States army in a battery of field artillery in France; Lula, born July 13, 1898, now a student in the State Normal School at Warrensburg, Missouri, and Leona, bom November 22, 1910.

Mr. Wheeler is a Democrat, and a member of the Methodist Church. He belongs to the Knights of the Maccabees. He is one of the substantial citizens of Pettis County, and has practically spent his life in this county.

Ernest Winston, a progressive farmer and stockman of Blackwater township, who is the owner of 320 acres of well-improved and productive land, was born in Blackwater township, Pettis County, December 24, 1878. He is a son of William and Maggie E. (Wade) Winston. A sketch of William Winston appears elsewhere in this volume.

Ernest Winston grew to manhood in Blackwater township, and after receiving a good common school education, attended the Central Business College at Sedalia, Missouri. He has made farming his chief occupation, and is recognized as one of Pettis County's most successful farmers and stockmen. His place is well improved with a good residence and other

Mr. Winston was married October 12, 1902, to Miss Anna E. Choplin, a native of Pettis County, born in Blackwater township in 1883. She is a daughter of William and Eliza (Ramey) Choplin, the former a native of North Carolina and the latter of Missouri, and early settlers in Pettis County, Missouri. The mother makes her home with her youngest son, James Choplin, in Blackwater township. To Mr. and Mrs. Winston have been born the following children: William D., Ernest W., Walden C., Kenton, Corinne, Sydney C., and Bruce.

Mr. Winston is a Democrat, and Mrs. Winston is a member of the County Line Baptist Church. The Winston family are numbered among Pettis County's best citizens.

Forrest W. Winston, one of the live, progressive farmers and stockmen of Pettis County, is a native son of this county. He was born in Blackwater township May 26, 1881, and is a son of William and Maggie E. (Wade) Winston. William Winston was an early settler of Pettis County, and a sketch of him appears in this volume.

Forrest W. Winston was reared in Blackwater township, and received a good common school education. He began life for himself at the age of twenty-one. He inherited eighty acres of land from his father, upon which he has made extensive improvements. It is one of the fertile and productive farms of Pettis County. Mr. Winston carries on general farm¬ ing and stock raising, but his special field of endeavor has been dealing in young calves. He engaged in this business when he was twenty-one years of age. His first venture was the purchase of two calves from his father. He buys young calves ranging from the weaning age to yearlings. After getting together a bunch of young calves he markets them. They usually are purchased by some feeder. Mr. Winston has had as many as 150 head of calves on his place in one year, and generally has on hand from twenty-five to forty head. He has built up an extensive business in this particular line of endeavor, and is known over a large scope of country as a dealer in young cattle. His long experience and intimate knowledge of this business, coupled with his integrity and straightforward methods of dealing, have been the essential elements to which his success is attributed.

1884. She is a daughter of Dr. Henry and Susan (Swope) Park of Knob Noster, Missouri. Doctor Park is a prominent physician, and he and his wife are. members of pioneer Missouri families. To Mr. and Mrs. Winston have been born two children, Gladys P. and Ruth L.

Mr. Winston is a Democrat, and a member of the Modern Woodmen of American and Royal Neighbors, and he and Mrs. Winston have a wide acquaintance in Pettis and Johnson counties, where they have many friends.

Noah E. DeHaven, now living practically retired in Dresden town¬ ship, belongs to one of the early pioneer families of Pettis County. He has been a resident of this county since he was three years old and has seen Pettis County pass through all the stages of development from the primitive state to its present place of leadership among the counties of Missouri. Mr. DeHaven is a native of Virginia and was born September 14, 1854. He is a son of Reuben and Margaret (Gill) DeHaven, who were the parents of the following children: Charles W., Hughesville town¬ ship; Noah H., the subject of this sketch; Mrs. Tobitha Drake, of Dres¬ den township; Mary F., married Robert Wilburn and they reside on the Pacific coast ; George Washington, deceased ; Reuben E., lives in LaMonte township ; Mrs. Emma Baldwin, lives in Sedalia ; Rena, deceased ; Elsworth DeHaven, living in LaMonte township, and Maggie, who married George H. Fletcher, of Sedalia.

Reuben DeHaven, the father, and his wife' were both natives of Virginia. He was born in 1818 and died in 1878. The family came to Pettis County in 1857, when Noah E. DeHaven was three years of age. This was an early day in the settlement of this section of Missouri. The family lived in a log cabin for a few years and later they hauled lumber from Syracuse, Missouri, with which to build a house. They did their early farming and broke prairie with oxen and, in fact, endured all the hardships and privations of pioneer life.

Noah E. DeHaven received his education in such schools as were available to the early settlers and when a young man bought his first land in Green Ridge township. In 1878, when his father died, he sold his Green Ridge property and bought the interests of the other heirs in his father's estate, which has since been his home. The place is well improved and a valuable farm.

a daughter of James Comfort, a native of Kentucky who came to Pettis County about 1869. Mrs. DeHaven died January 27, 1917. She was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and a devout Christian woman. To Noah E. DeHaven and Sarah Jane (Comfort) DeHaven were born four children, as follow: James 0., a farmer and stockman, Dresden township ; Leslie, resides at Lamed, Kansas ; Ora E., deceased, and Maggie Ann, married Wilson B. Moore.

leading farmers and stockmen of Dresden township, have operated in partnership for twenty-five years. They were both born in Moniteau County, Missouri. William Edward was born September 8, 1872, and Ambrose J. was born January 20, 1877. Their parents were John B. and Mary Ellen (Bowman) Thompson, natives of Kentucky. They were the parents of nine children, seven of whom are living. John B. Thompson was born in Kentucky August 1, 1828, and died July 8, 1912, and his wife, Mary Ellen (Bowman) Thompson, was born in Kentucky April 20, 1838. They moved to Springfield, Missouri, in 1898.

William E. and Ambrose J. Thompson were reared on their father's farm and were educated in the public and parochial schools, after which they engaged in the general mercantile business for a number of years and met with success. They first engaged in business in Springfield, Missouri, and from there went to Oklahoma and took a Government claim, and after proving up on that returned to Springfield in 1902. A year later they came to Pettis County and purchased their farm in Dresden township, which they improved and in 1918 sold it and bought their present farm of 330 acres. This place is located in sections 19 and 20 Dresden township, and is known as the old Clinton W. Keller farm. Here they carry on general farming and stock raising and are among the successful men in this line of business in Pettis County.

William E. Thompson served as postmaster at Roseville, Missouri, for a number of years. He is unmarried. He is a Democrat, a member of the Knights of Columbus and belongs to the Catholic Church.

Ambrose J. Thompson was married January 28, 1908, to Miss Ella J. Sullivan, a daughter of Eugene and Anna (Clifford) Sullivan, natives of Ireland. To Mr. and Mrs, Thompson have been bom two children, Ella Regina and Mary Lucille.

Ambrose J. Thompson supports the policies and principles of the Democratic party. His lodge affiliations are with the Knights of Co¬ lumbus and he is a member of the Catholic Church.

The Thompson Brothers are public spirited and enterprising and rank among the leading citizens of Pettis County. They have had a broad and varied experience in the business world and are men of in¬ tegrity and high standing.

George Funk is one of the well known and successful farmers and stockmen of Blackwater township, where he is the owner of a valuable farm of 165 acres of land which is located on section 24. He was born in Hessen, Germany, December 4, 1877, a son of Edward and Elizabeth (Prensel) Funk, both natives of Germany, and for a number of years the father was foreman in a woolen mill at Hessen, where he now re¬ sides. The mother died in 1918.

George Funk was reared and educated in his native land, and in 1893 came to the United States and settled in Pettis County, Missouri. During the first seven years that he was here he worked as a farm laborer. Later he operated rented land and in 1903 he bought his first farm in Johnson County. After making improvements and living on the place for seven years, he sold it and bought a tract of land in south¬ ern Arkansas. He sold this in 1911 and returned to Pettis County and bought a farm in Blackwater township. This was his home until 1916, when he sold it and purchased his present place.

Mr. Funk was married March 4, 1900, to Miss Roxie Viola Bobbitt, who was born in Blackwater township. She is a daughter of Jesse W. and Elizabeth (Lantz) Bobbitt, natives of Virginia and early day settlers in Pettis County. To Mr. and Mrs. Funk have been born seven children, as follow: Maud, Elizabeth, Oliver, Eunice and Jessie B. Clarence and Mary Helen died in infancy.

John Andrew Henry Whaley, a well known contractor and builder of modern grain elevators and warehouses, is one of the progressive men of Pettis County and a descendant of a pioneer family. Mr. Whaley was born near Bigelow, Holt County, Missouri, June 5, 1864. He is a son of Hiram H. and Elizabeth (Miller) Whaley, who were the parents of five children, as follow: Tina, died in infancy; John A. H., the subject of this sketch; Irene E., married Thomas Gleason, and lives in Nebraska; Mrs. Mary Curry, deceased, and James W., Maitland, Missouri.

Hiram H. Whaley was born in Harrison County, Kentucky, in 1831 and died in 1890. During the epidemic of cholera, when Hiram Whaley was about three years old, his father, two brothers and a sister died of that disease. His mother, a brother and two sisters survived. After the death of his father, Hiram H. was adopted by a family who came to Missouri about 1834 and settled in the eastern part of the State. Hiram H. Whaley remained with his foster parents until he grew to manhood, when he went to Johnson County, Missouri. Here he worked as a farm laborer until he was about twenty-two years of age. During his boyhood days he had been deprived of the advantages of an education and now set out to obtain an education for himself. He attended school in Warrensburg and by self study and hard work soon acquired a very good education and later taught school in Lafayette and Holt Counties. Dur¬ ing the Civil War he made three trips across the plains as a freighter. On these trips he drove oxen, owing to the scarcity of horses at that time. After the war he engaged in farming and also followed teaching. In 1878 he homesteaded 160 acres of Government land in Smith County, Kansas, and proved up on the claim. In 1881 he returned to Holt County, Missouri, where he died February 11, 1890. Elizabeth (Miller) Whaley was born in Franklin County, Missouri, January 30, 1843, and now resides at Bigelow, Missouri.

John A. H. Whaley was educated in the public schools of Holt County, Missouri, and at the early age of eleven years began working out by the month and was the mainstay of the family until he was twenty-eight years of age. He learned the carpenter trade and also worked at farm¬ ing. In 1892 he began millwright work in Holt County. In 1896 he went to Morgan County, Missouri, on account of his wife's failing health. However, the change did not prove beneficial to her and two years later they returned to Holt County. In 1897 Mr. Whaley came to Sedalia and since that time has continued his work as a contractor and builder, specializing in building elevators and warehouses over a broad scope of country. He built an elevator at Hughesville, Missouri, and has con¬ structed elevators in Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, Iowa, the Dakotas, as well as Missouri. The largest contract which he ever undertook was at Lumas, Nebraska, of which he was manager and overseer and completed the work with great credit to himself. It required eight months to com¬ plete this work. v this union, as follow: Claud, who is serving in the United States Navy, and is now in the trans-Atlantic transport service; Mrs. Maud Campbell, deceased, and Myrtle, who married Alonzo Hawkins and resides in Polk County, Missouri. The mother of these children died in 1904. June 1, 1908, Mr. Whaley was married to Miss Rose H. Dey, a native of Herman, Missouri. She is a daughter of Wendle and Regina Dey, early settlers of Pettis County, Missouri, where the father was engaged in farming and stock raising until the time of his death. The mother now resides with Mr. and Mrs. Whaley. To Mr. and Mrs. Whaley have been born two children: John W. and Thomas H.

Mr. Whaley is a Democrat, a member of the Masonic Lodge, the Woodmen of the World and the Brotherhood of American Yeomen. He is a public spirited and progressive man, and one of Pettis County's sub¬ stantial citizens.

John S. McGaw, the well-known and popular mailing clerk of the United States postoffice at Sedalia, has served the Government in various capacities in the postal service for twenty-four years. Mr. McGaw is a descendant of a pioneer Missouri family. He was born near Boonville, Cooper County, Missouri, March 30, 1870, and is a son of the late Felix and Elizabeth (Garvey) McGaw, both natives of Ireland.

Felix McGaw was born in County Down, Ireland, June 11, 1829, and died in Sedalia, Pettis County, December 2, 1912. He was a moulder by trade and in 1854 he came to America and settled at Boonville, Missouri. He worked at his trade there for several years and during the Civil War was engaged in moulding cannon for the Government at that place. After the war he engaged in farming in Cooper County, becoming quite an extensive farmer and stockman. In 1890 he came to Pettis County and bought a small farm south of Sedalia which he improved and brought it under a high state of cultivation and erected a fine modern cottage. About 1900 he removed to Sedalia where he spent the balance of his life, practically in retirement. He was a member of the Catholic Church and politically was a Democrat. His wife was born in Ireland in 1830 and died October 4, 1886. They were the parents of the following children: Mrs. Agnes Carville, who now resides at 620 West Fifth street, Sedalia; Sister M. Patricia, a member of the Ursuline Order of Nuns of the Ursuline Academy, St. Louis, Missouri ; Mrs. Rosa I. Martin, deceased ; Georgia, married Patrick Sullivan, Sedalia township, and John S., the subject of this sketch.

John S. McGaw received an academic education in the public and private schools of Cooper County, Missouri, and in early life taught school three years. He came to Sedalia with his parents in 1890 and read law in this city and was admitted to the bar in 1893. After practicing law one year in Sedalia he took the civil service examination and in 1905 was inducted into the postal service.

Mr. McGaw was united in marriage June 15, 1904, to Miss Margaret C. Creagan, a native of Cooper County, born near Clifton City. She is a daughter of P. F. and Fannie (Keenan) Creagan, both natives of New York and early settlers in Cooper County, Missouri. To Mr. and Mrs. McGaw have been born four children, as follow: Mary F., Margaret E., Catherine V. and Martha E. Mr. McGaw is a member of the Catholic Church and belongs to the Knights of Columbus, having attained the fourth degree in that order, and he is also a member of the Knights of the Maccabees. Mr. McGaw has written a great deal for the local news¬ papers and has contributed a great many articles to the various maga¬ zines, and has won the reputation of being an able writer. Many of his contributions are of an unusual high literary character. He possesses a keen analytical mind and presents his theme in a cleancut logical manner with a pleasing style. Mr. McGaw has evinced talent as a writer since his student days. When he was a student at Pilot Grove College, Professor Nelson offered a house and lot in Boonville, Missouri, to the one writing the best essay. Mr. McGaw won the prize and also a twenty dollar gold medal in this contest. He also won a number of contests in oratory, during his college days. He graduated from Pilot Grove College at the age of eighteen with the degree of Master of Letters. Mr. McGaw is a genial gentleman and by his courteous manner has made many friends.

James E. Bagby, president of the Farmers and Merchants Bank of Green Ridge, Missouri, is one of the well known bankers and financiers of Pettis County. Mr. Bagby was born near Beaman, Pettis County, Mis¬ souri, December 4, 1862. He is a son of David A. and Susan (Bourne) Bagby, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Lewis County, Missouri. They settled in Pettis County in an early day. They were the parents of the following children: The eldest died in infancy; Alice M., died at the age of eight years; James E., the subject of this sketch; and George H., a farmer and stockman of Prairie township, Pettis County.

employed in the abstract office of R. C. Sneed, of Sedalia. Later he en¬ tered the employ of the Missouri Pacific Railroad Company as bookkeeper, and was assistant timekeeper for that company about three years. In 1886 he returned to the home farm in Prairie township and was engaged in farming until 1902. In 1905 he went to Green Ridge, Missouri, and engaged in the banking business. He became president of the Farmers and Merchants Bank in 1908 and since that time has been actively identi¬ fied with the bank in that capacity. Mr. Bagby is a thorough master of accounting and has given much thought and study to the various and perplexing problems of banking, which coupled with his long experience well qualifies him for the important position which he holds.

Mr. Bagby was married February 24, 1891, to Miss Ida S. Wilson, a native of Kentucky and a daughter of Brooks and Margaret (Wright) Wilson, also natives of Kentucky. The Wilson family were early settlers in Pettis County. One child has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Bagby, Emmett Bagby, assistant cashier of the Farmers and Merchants Bank, Green Ridge, Missouri. He married Miss Cassie Mayfield, a daughter of W. G. Mayfield, a sketch of whom appears in this volume. To Emmett Bagby and wife has been born one child, Emmett, Jr.

James E. Bagby is one of the substantial men of Pettis County, and during the course of his career has by his courteous manner made many friends. The Bagby family are well known and stand high in Pettis County.

Thomas Jefferson Pace, a well known stock buyer and fanner who is now residing in Green Ridge, is the owner of a valuable farm of 300 acres located in Elk Fork and Green Ridge townships. Mr. Pace is a native son of Pettis County and was born in Elk Fork township April 1, 1870. He is a son of William I. and Sallie B. (Walker) Pace, who were the parents of two children: Thomas Jefferson Pace, the subject of this sketch, and Walker Pace, who now resides at Green Ridge, Missouri.

William I. Pace was born near Arrow Rock, Saline County. Missouri, July 16, 1843, the same year his parents moved to Johnson County, Mis¬ souri, where he was reared on a farm near Warrensburg, and receive^ his education in the public schools. When the Civil War broke out, he organized a company which was mustered into the Union Army, becom¬ ing a unit of the 12th Regiment, Missouri Volunteer Cavalry. Mr. Pace went out with his company as first lieutenant and later became captain. At the close of the war he came to Pettis County and bought land in Elk Fork township, and was here successfully engaged in farming and stock raising when he retired and removed to Green Ridge, where he now resides. He has served two terms as county surveyor of Pettis County and has been prominently identified with the affairs of this county since coming here. He is a member of the Masonic Lodge No. 425, Green Ridge, Missouri, and is a Republican. He was married in 1868 to Miss Sallie B. Walker, a native of Missouri, who was born and reared in Elk Fork township, Pettis County. She is a daughter of Jeffer¬ son and Nellie (Pemberton) Walker. Jefferson Walker was born in How¬ ard County, Missouri, and came to Pettis County when a young man, where he was engaged in farming.

Thomas Jefferson Pace was reared on a farm in Elk Fork township and received a good common school education and was successfully en¬ gaged in farming and stock raising on the farm which he still owns until 1916, when he moved to Green Ridge in order that his children might be given the advantages of the excellent school system of that town. Mr. Pace has bought cattle, hogs, horses and mules for the market all his life, but since coming to Green Ridge he has devoted himself more ex¬ clusively to that line of business than he did while on his farm and does an extensive business.

Mr. Pace was married March 11, 1900, to Miss Anna Edmundson, a native of Pettis County, Missouri, born in Elk Fork township December 22, 1875. She and Mr. Pace were schoolmates. Mrs. Pace is a daughter of James H. and Nancy (Calvert) Edmundson, both natives of Missouri, the former of Cass County and the latter of Cooper County and descen¬ dants of early pioneers of this State. They are both now deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Pace have been born three children: Nadine, Estaleen and Anna Lulu, all residing at home with their parents and attending school in Green Ridge. Mr. Pace is a Republican and a member of the Masonic Lodge No. 425, Green Ridge, Missouri. He is a progressive and public spirited citizen and has been successful in his business undertakings.

Judge Gabe Albers, former judge of the County Court of Pettis County for the eastern district, Smithton, Missouri, has a well improved farm just east of Smithton upon which he has resided for the past thirty years. Mr. Albers was born in Morgan County, Missouri, in 1849 and is a son of Henry Albers (born 1824, died 1907), a native of Hanover, Germany. Henry Albers came to America from his native land when a young man and followed the trade of blacksmith in Morgan County, where he settled in the early days. In 1862 he located near Smithton and built a home just on the eastern edge of the town, becoming a large land owner. Later he engaged in the cattle and live stock business in St. Louis, but through the direlections of others he became financially involved, closed out the business and returned to Smithton, where he again engaged in the live stock business. He mended his fortunes again and became widely known as a man of integrity and influence in the com¬ munity. He was father of five children, four of whom were reared: John, living in St. Louis; Gabe, subject of this review; Charley, living in Seattle, Washington; Mrs. Sophia Gronemyer, St. Louis.

Judge Albers was married in 1871 to Elizabeth Knox, born in Ohio May 13, 1854, a daughter of George Knox, a native of Germany who moved from Ohio to Smithtown township, Pettis County and improved a farm in this vicinity. Mrs. Albers died January 18, 1916. To this marriage were born four children: Dr. Edward Albers, of Kansas City, married Grace Ringen and has two children, Virginia and Mary Eliza¬ beth; Mrs. Laura Somerville, lives in Denver, Colorado; Earl, married Edith Boucher, and lives on the home place; Elmer, married Lydia Plass and resides in Denver, Colorado.

Judge Albers has been a life long Republican. He served one term as judge of the County Court and was re-elected to serve a second term, but resigned to look after some land interests in Alabama and remained there for one year. He made a good record as judge and performed his duties efficiently and conscientiously.

J. W. Hoehns. - The Hoehns Hardware Store in Smithton is an attrac¬ tive and well-stocked store with a neatly arranged and well-displayed stock of merchantable goods, valued at over $12,000 in a room 80x40 feet in dimension. A stock of hardware, paints, oils and fencing is carried to supply a large trade. Mr. Hoehns began business in Smithton, Decem¬ ber 1, 1914, and two years later entered into partnership with S. C. Kahrs. This partnership continued until October 1, 1918, when he purchased Mr. Kahrs interest in the business.

J. W. Hoehns was born August 24, 1874, in Morgan County, Mis¬ souri, the son of J. H. and Mary (Ratjie) Hoehns, natives of Germany and Morgan County, respectively. J. H. Hoehns immigrated to America in the winter of 1867-1868 and began work as a farm hand in Morgan County. After a few years he engaged in farming on his own account and moved to Benton County in 1898. He then moved to Pettis County and in 1906 purchased a farm in Lake Creek township, Pettis County, where he now resides. Nine children were born to J. H. and Mary Hoehns, five of whom are living: J. W., subject of this sketch; Mrs. Sophia Kinkead, Benton County; A. H., living in Morgan County; Mrs. Martha Meyer, Benton County; Fred, at home with his parents.

J. W. Hoehns attended the Blackjack district school and assisted his father on the home farm until twenty-one years of age. He then worked out and assisted the neighboring farmers until he was twentyfive years of age, while still making his home with his parents. He then married and began farming on his own account. He became owner of a tract of 105 acres and followed farming until 1914, becoming the owner of 260 acres within five and a half miles of Smithton. He traded off 179 acres of this land and now owns eighty acres in addition to his business.

Mr. Hoehns was married November 19, 1899, to Mrs. Lydia Mahnken, nee Gieschen, a daughter of John Geischen. To this marriage has been born a son, Victor Hoehns, born July 3, 1903, now in high school.

Merton David Norton, farmer and stockman and justice of the peace for Smithton township, has a well improved farm of 100 acres on the Sedalia-Smithton rock road. Mr. Norton has resided on his place for the past eleven years and has erected a handsome eight room residence, modern in every respect, besides other improvements. The place is devoted to general farming and stock raising. Mr. Norton was born on a nearby farm in 1869, the son of William David Norton, deceased.

The late William David Norton was born in Medina County, Ohio, in 1830, and was the son of Miles Ebenezer Norton, who was born in Connecticut in 1799, a member of an old American family. Miles E. Norton settled upon a revolutionary land grant in the western reserve of Ohio and there reared his family. William D. Norton was reared in Medina County, and when a young man went with his brother to Three Rivers, Michigan, where he remained for three years. He came to Pettis County in 1866 and bought a large tract of land at prices ranging from $12 to $15 an acre. In partnership with his brothers, E. Newton Norton and Isaac McNeil Norton, they purchased 740 acres, which was later divided between them. Mr. Norton made splendid improvements on his land and took a prominent part in the affairs of the county. While in Michigan he and a brother operated a sawmill and cleared a large timber tract. Mr. Norton was a charter member of the Smithton Methodist

Episcopal Church and was a liberal contributor to religious and worthy benefactions. While in Michigan he was married to Cynthia C. Hunt, born in 1839 in Michigan. She was a school teacher and taught for some years before her marriage to Mr. Norton. Six children were born to William David and Cynthia Norton, as follow: Emma Susan, at home with her mother; Merton David, subject of this sketch; Alida Eloise, wife of Doctor Page, Greeley, Colorado ; Effie May, a teacher in the Sedalia schools; Charles William, at home; Tinnie C., wife of C. E. Hikes, Denver, Colorado. William David Norton died in 1909.

M. D. Norton was educated in the public schools, Sedalia High School and the Sedalia Business College. He attended the business college man¬ aged by the late C. W. Robbins of Sedalia, and graduated in 1890. For the next three years he was employed as bookkeeper and collector for a firm in Chicago, returning to the farm in 1893. He managed his father's farm until 1907 and then bought his present place.

Mr. Norton was married in 1897 to Miss Ada L. Palmer, who died in 1907, leaving a son, Maurice, born October 17, 1898. Mr. Norton's sec¬ ond marriage took place in 1910 with Miss Grace Schutte, a daughter of William Schutte of Chicago. One child has blessed this marriage, May Ruth, born September 10, 1916.

Mr. Norton has been a Republican. He is a member and a steward of the Smithton Methodist Episcopal Church and belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America, and is secretary of the local Grange. For the past twenty years, Mr. Norton has been justice of the peace for Smithton township and has tried many cases in that time, settling them in such an eminently fair manner that his popularity as "squire" has grown with his length of service. Most of Justice Norton's cases have been settled out of court with fairness to all the parties concerned.

He is president of the Pettis County Bureau of Agriculture and of the Pettis Federal Farm Loan Association. The latter is a corporation just starting in Pettis County and promises much for the farmers of this community, in securing money at reasonable rate for long or short periods, amortized so as to be fully paid at expiration of contract.

Charles M. Monsees, farmer and live stock shipper, Smithton, Mis¬ souri, is a native of Pettis County and a son of one of the pioneers of this section of Pettis County. He was born September 9, 1864, on a farm one and a half miles south of Smithton, the son of J. H. M., known as Martin Monsees, who was born in 1849, and who has resided on his farm south of Smithton for the past fifty-five years.

J. H. M. Monsees was born February 26, 1839, in Hanover, Germany, a son of Martin and Catherine Monsees, who immigrated to America in 1843 and first settled in Morgan County, Missouri. In 1858 they came to Pettis County and Mr. Monsees purchased 440 acres. After a resi¬ dence on his place for several years he removed to Smithton, where he died. Martin Monsees was father of five children: Gavert, died in 1918; Herman, deceased; J. H. M. Monsees; John, lives in Smithton, and Henry, deceased. Mr. Monsees served in the Missouri State troops for a period of six months during the Civil War and fought at the battle of Booneville. He then served as teamster for Mulligan's army and was taken prisoner at Lexington, held at Quincy, Illinois, for a while and sent home.

J. H. M. Monsees was married in 1863 to Marguerite Kahrs, who was born in 1843 in Lake Creek township, a daughter of John Kahrs, a pioneer. Six children were born to this marriage: Charles M., subject of this sketch; Mrs. Gesina Leutjin, Smithton township; Mrs. Lydia Lindemann, Smithton township ; Mrs. Ida Erforth, Kansas City, Kansas ; Joseph, on the home place; Albert, a school teacher in Kansas City, Missouri.

Charles M. Monsees began on his own account to earn a living when twenty-one years of age. In 1888 he purchased a tract of 120 acres, partly improved, and which he cultivated for two years. He then moved to another farm which he bought and remained on the farm until Febru¬ ary 25, 1916, at which time he moved to Smithton. Mr. Monsees owns 180 acres of land two miles south of Smithton in two different tracts. Since 1898, he has been engaged in the buying and shipping of live stock and formerly bought and shipped sixty carloads of stock yearly. During the past year he has been local salesman for Moore Brothers, dealers in lightning rods, and has placed rods on eighty buildings during the past year.

Mr. Monsees was first married in 1888 to Amelia Schlusing, a daugh¬ ter of Henry Schlusing of Smithton. She was born January 2, 1867, and died April 7, 1912, leaving four children: Vernon, born July 4, 1895, en¬ listed in the National Army service August 15, 1918, in the Auto Mechanics and Traffic Department, attended the Rahe Auto School at Kansas City for training and is now in France; Mrs. Leota Mountjoy, Smithton town¬ ship, on the home place, has one child, Graydon; Tina and Logan, at home.

Mr. Monsees is an independent Republican voter with prohibition tendencies and sympathies, being a firm believer in prohibition and the stamping out of the liquor traffic. He is a member of the Methodist

John J. Lamm. - The late John J. Lamm, of Smithton township, was a citizen who left his impress on the community in which he made his home for many years. He was born in Edinburg, Pennsylvania, July 23, 1832, and departed this life in Pettis County, July 17, 1909. He was the son of William and Catherine Lamm, natives of Pennsylvania, who removed to Wayne County, Ohio, in 1846.

John J. Lamm enlisted in the Union Army from Wayne County in 1861, and was commissioned captain of Company K, 16th Ohio Regiment of Volunteers, and served for three years in the Civil War. His health fail¬ ing, he resigned from the service before the close of the war. In 1857 he removed to Linn county, Iowa, and married Elizabeth 0. Weaver, who died in 1861. One child was born of this marriage, Mrs. Elizabeth 0. Barrett, who lives near Sheridan, Wyoming. In 1867, Mr. Lamm came to Pettis County, purchased prairie land and created a large farm of 300 acres, which he improved and beautified. He became owner of 1,100 acres of good land, and was widely and favorably known as a stockman.

Mr. Lamm was married on February 12, 1874, to Miss Cora M. Elliot, who was born on November 3, 1849, in Jackson County, Missouri, near Independence. She was the daughter of Andrew Jackson and Patsy (Briscoe) Elliot, both of whom were natives of Kentucky. Mrs. Patsy Elliot was related to the Cavanaughs, members of which family fought in the Revolutionary War.

Andrew Jackson Elliot was born in Howard County, Missouri, a son of John Elliot, one of the earliest of the Missouri pioneers. Mrs. Patsy Elliot was born in Cooper County, Missouri, a daughter of pioneer parents. They were parents of eight children, all of whom were born in Cooper County, excepting Mrs. John J. Lamm. In 1849 the Elliot family, wife and children of Andrew J. Elliot, moved to Boonville, Missouri, and made their home with grandfather Briscoe, while Mr. Elliot made the long overland trip to California. After a year's stay in the gold fields he returned to Missouri and made a permanent settlement in Cooper County, where he became owner of a large farm. To Andrew Jackson and Patsy Elliot were born children as follow: Mrs. Ella B. Rearton, Sedalia; Mrs. Anna McCullough, Portland, Oregon; Rolla, Reed, Missouri; Mrs. Kate Royer, Moberly, Missouri, and Mrs. M. D. Hoffman, Fresno, California.

Missouri; Charles E., a farmer in Smithton township; Mrs. Patsy Kahrs, Wichita, Kansas; John J., Jr., a farmer in Smithton township; Mrs. Laura Kathryn Haynes, Wichita, Kansas; Cora B. Lamm, at home; Mrs. Howard Peabody, Smithton, and George Gordon.

George Gordon Lamm was born August 6, 1892, and was educated in the Sedalia public and high schools. He enlisted soon after the entrance of America in the World War, in May, 1917, with Capt. Scott's Company of Pettis County National Guardsmen, and has been in France for several months with the American Expeditionary Forces, as a private in Com¬ pany D, 140th Regiment, 35th Division, National Army. Private Lamm has taken part in some of the hardest fighting on the Western front, and upheld the traditions of his family as a soldier and an American.

Miss Cora B. Lamm is chairman of the Smithton Red Cross chapter, and has done a great amount of work in connection with the Red Cross activities, Smithton chapter of the Red Cross being one of the most active in Pettis County.

John J. Lamm was a Republican in politics, but had little time to devote to political affairs. He was affiliated with the Grand Army of the Republic post at Sedalia. He and his family were members of the Methodist Epis¬ copal Church of Smithton, and he was always a liberal supporter of religious and charitable enterprises, and worked faithfully in the ranks of the church workers.

Gevert Monsees, well-known resident of Smithton township, was born February 18, 1835, and died June 7, 1918, at his home, two miles south of Smithton, Missouri. He was born in Shipdorf, Germany, the son of Martin and Katherine Monsees, who emigrated to this country in 1843, and first settled near Richland, Morgan County, Missouri. Here it was where Gevert Monsees was reared and brought up to Christian manhood. On April 15, 1858, he was married to Mary Kahrs, of Pettis County, Missouri, who was born January 25, 1841, in New Orleans, Louisiana, a daughter of John and Gesche Kahrs, who were both from Germany. The mother died in 1853, leaving six children as follow: Martha, deceased, who mar¬ ried George Ficken, also deceased; Mrs. Tipke, wife of Rudolph Schlotzhauer, of Pilot Grove, Missouri ; Mrs. Mary Monsees, wife of Gevert Mon¬ sees; Mrs. Margarette Monsees, wife of Martin Monsees; Mrs. Katherine, wife of. Henry Scholtzhauer, and one son, dying in infancy. John Kahrs was married the second time, to Mary Hinken, who bore him the following children; Herman, Joseph, John and Cord, of Smithton, Missouri; George, of Versailles, Missouri; Amelia, wife of John Mahnken, of Morgan County, Missouri, and Mathilda, wife of William Mahnken, of Morgan County, Missouri; Rudolph and John, deceased.

Gevert Monsees and wife lived during the first summer of their mar¬ ried life on the farm of his father, and later purchased forty acres of land from his father, on which he built a small, one-room house. In this house they lived for quite a number of years, when later they built a larger and a more complete one in its stead. On account of his industry and good management Mr. Monsees accumulated a farm of 228 acres, which is today considered to be one of the best in this community. The following ten children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Monsees: Katherine, wife of Fred Wallace, of Morgan County, Missouri; John and Philip, of Smith ton, Mis¬ souri; Rudolph, deceased; Metha, wife of John Bolte, also of Smithton, Missouri; Edward, of Brownsville, Texas; Harry and Frank, of Smithton, Missouri; Mary, wife of John Schluesing, of Smithton township, and Laura, wife of Denis Bluhm, of Bazine, Kansas.

During the Civil War Gevert Monsees served for one year in the Missouri State militia. He was a Republican in politics, and was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, a devout Christian, and was also a liberal giver to all charitable and worthy causes, and was ever good and kind to his family. No citizen of Smithton township stood higher in the community than Gevert Monsees. His wife enjoys the distinction of being one of the oldest and best preserved pioneer women of the county. She has forty grandchildren, ten great grandchildren, has two grandsons serving in the National Army - Irvin Wallace, serving with the American forces in France, and Star Monsees, who is an electrician, serving with the army near San Diego, California. His memory ever remains fresh in the hearts of those that knew him and loved him.

William Stockton Cotton. - "Woodford Farm," consisting of 620 acres in one body, owned and managed by William Stockton Cotton, Cedar town¬ ship, is one of the splendid country estates of Pettis County. This farm is the old Maj. William Gentry place, and the fine brick house still stand¬ ing in an excellent state of preservation, was erected by Major Gentry in 1852. This house was made from brick burned on the place by Gentry, and woodwork of the interior and exterior is of native hardwoods and pine. The doors and paneling, carving, etc,, was all done by hand, and no better example of ante-bellum architecture is to be found anywhere in

Missouri. Walnut predominates in the interior finish of this fine old mansion, which consists of ten rooms, and has been modernized by the present proprietor. The house sets well back from the road, and the extensive lawn is shaded by great trees. Mr. Cotton maintains a herd of fifty pure-bred Angus cows, and usually produces 200 head of pure¬ bred Duroc Jersey hogs. He keeps pure-bred livestock from preference, but does not specialize as a breeder of registered stock.

W. S. Cotton was born in Versailles, Woodford County, Kentucky, March 12, 1871. He is the son of William Samuel and Mary (Stockton) Cotton, both of whom were natives of Kentucky. William Samuel Cotton was engaged in the insurance business in Kentucky, and after his death, in 1881, the family, three years later, removed to Sedalia. The children are as follow : Augusta, at home with her mother ; W. S., of this review ; Mrs. Louie Waddell, Sedalia; R. H. Cotton, judge of the County Court, Smithton, Missouri.

W. S. Cotton was thirteen years of age when his mother moved, with her children, to Sedalia. He attended the grade and high schools of Sedalia, following which he was engaged in the hardware business at Carthage, Missouri, for three years. He was employed for one year in St. Louis ; one year at Wichita Falls, Texas, following which service he was traveling salesman for the Majestic Range Manufacturing Company for eight years. He was engaged in developing new territory for the firm, and his assignments were in Pennsylvania and Texas and the intervening country. During the last three years of his salesmanship he had charge of the Missouri territory. In 1900 he resigned his position and purchased the old Powell farm. In 1908 he bought his present place in Cedar town¬ ship.

Mr. Cotton was married December 12, 1900, to Miss Opal Stewart, of Sedalia, a daughter of John R. and Mary Stewart, both of w7hom are deceased. John R. Stewart was a Canadian by birth, and for many years was engaged in the hardware business in Sedalia, dying in 1885. Mrs. Mary Stewart was a native of New York, and died in 1912. Mr. and Mrs. Stewart were parents of eleven children, four of whom are living: Mrs. J. M. Scott, Kansas City, Missouri; Arthur, Los Angeles, California; Ernest, Council Bluffs, Iowa, and Mrs. Opal Cotton.

Arthur W. Brown. - Just a little northwest of old Georgetown is the pretty country place of Arthur W. Brown, consisting of 128 acres. This farm was formerly devoted to the dairy business, but with advancing age Mr. Brown found that the work of caring for a herd of Holstein cows was becoming too arduous and he sold his cows, in 1917. A. W. Brown is a native of the old Western Reserve, of Ohio. He was born June 22, 1852, at Bainbridge, Geauga County, Ohio, a son of Peleg Brown and Adaline Barton Brown.

Peleg Brown located in Ohio in 1834, going there from Madison County, New York, where he was born and reared. He bought land in Bainbridge township for $3.00 an acre. This land was all heavily tim¬ bered with hardwood timber, and but ten acres were cleared. Mr. Brown became a successful dairyman. After the war he became owner of the Chester Palmer farm, three-quarters of a mile west of Mulberry Corners, and accumulated a total of 800 acres, much of which he lost through finan¬ cial reverses. Later Peleg Brown came to Pettis County, and made his home with his daughter, Mrs. C. P. Shepard, whose home was south of Sedalia, dying there in 1880. His wife was Adaline Barton, of Herkimer County, New York. They were parents of the following children : Abner, died in Los Angeles; William A., died in Pettis County; Mrs. C. P. Shep¬ herd, Pettis County, and Arthur W., of this review. Peleg Brown drove from his old home in New York to Ohio by ox team in 1833. After pur¬ chasing land he built a cabin, and returned for his wife. He farmed in Ohio until 1879.

Arthur W. Brown is a self-made man. Every dollar which he owns has been earned by the sweat of his brow. He attended the old Geauga Seminary, then taught by Prof. W. D. Moore, his uncle. This is the famous school attended by President Garfield, and later taught by him. Mr. Brown came to Pettis County in 1879, and first lived on the Herman Kahrs place, in Lake Creek township. In 1881 he moved to Henry County, and resided at LaDue for seven years, returning to Pettis County in 1888. For seventeen years Mr. Brown was in the employ of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas and Missouri Pacific railways, as inspector in the railroad yards. He purchased his farm in 1896.

Mr. Brown was married in 1875 to Miss Lydia Rogers, who was born at Kirtland, Lake County, Ohio, in 1857. Two daughters and a son have blessed this marriage : Mrs. W. J. Menefee, Sedalia ; Grace, wife of James