Pettis County, Missouri - Biographical sketches, 1919 (part 3 of 14)

Winston McClure was born near Lexington, Rockbridge County, Virginia, June 16, 1818. He resided in his native county until he was seventeen years old and then went to Ross County, Ohio, locating near Chillicothe. From there he went to New Orleans, Louisiana, and thence to Oldham County, Kentucky, where he was married, in 1840, to Miss Lucinda Bohanan, a daughter of Rev. Abraham Bohanan, a minister of Oldham County. In 1841 he came to Missouri, first locating in St. Louis County. A few years later he located in Montgomery County, and was largely engaged in farming and stock raising in that county for several years. While a resident of Montgomery County he was the largest stock dealer in that section of Missouri. The ravages of the Civil War caused him severe losses. After the war he transferred his farming and stockraising operations to Saline and Cooper counties, and in 1876 he came to Pettis County. With his three sons - John Wesley, Das and Ben F. - he engaged in stock raising and feeding on a very extensive scale. The busi¬ ness of McClure & Sons ranked among the most extensive in western Missouri. They fed from 500 to 700 head of cattle annually, and dealt heavily in mules and horses. Hundreds of acres of corn were cultivated each year, and all of their operations were on an immense scale. Winston McClure died a highly respected citizen of Pettis County.

John Wesley McClure was reared in Montgomery County, and he came to Pettis County not long after the close of the Civil War. He and his two brothers leased land for several years and fed hundreds of cattle and hogs for the markets, buying corn in Iowa for their feeding. For a number of years he was associated with his father and brothers, and all worked together for their common good and profit. Eventually, the partnership was dissolved and each invested in land for his own use and farmed on his own account. Prior to his marriage, Mr. McClure purchased part of his home farm in Hughesville township. This farm of 640 acres was but the nucleus around which he built up an immense estate of nearly 2,000 acres. His first home was burned to the ground in 1892, and in 1893 he erected a beautiful residence, which is all modern in every respect and which is one of the most imposing and handsome farm residences in this section of Missouri.

In 1879 John W. McClure and Miss Erna Glasscock, a native of Pettis County, were united in marriage. Mrs. Erna (Glasscock) McClure is a daughter of Charles and Rosa (Smith) Glasscock, both of whom were born and reared in old Virginia. Charles Glasscock was the son of Aldia Glasscock, a pioneer attorney of Pettis County, who was associated with Judge Reese Hughes in the practice of law at Georgetown. He brought a retinue of slaves with him when he came to Pettis County, and entered a large tract of land, which he developed into a splendid farm. Charles Glasscock was born in 1831, and accompanied his parents to Pettis County in 1841. He now resides in Kansas City, Missouri. Rosa, his wife, was bom in 1838. Mr. Glasscock farmed extensively in Pettis County until his removal to Kansas City, in 1886. Twelve children were born to Charles and Rosa Glasscock, as follow: Two children died in infancy; Lawrence Lee, lives in Los Angeles; Mrs. Erna McClure, of this review.; Charles L., county clerk of Lafayette County, Lexington, Mis¬ souri; Ferdinand S., Kansas City, Missouri; A. A., lives near Liberty, Clay County; Lee, a commission merchant, Kansas City, Missouri; Mrs. Emma Welch, Mrs. Charles Decker and Shirley, living in Kansas City; William, lives in Lafayette County.

The children born to John Wesley and Erna McClure are as follow: Walter V., on the home farm; John W., Charles L. and Lucille. Walter V. McClure married Bessie Aldridge, a daughter of James Aldridge, of Pettis County, and has one child, Erna Annie, born April 21, 1918. Walter V. is managing the home farm of 600 acres. He is owner of 300 acres, which he received as his share of the estate. He is following in his father's footsteps, and is carrying on stock raising on an exten¬ sive scale. Two hundred acres of the farm were in wheat during the past season, and averaged twenty-two bushels to the acre when har¬ vested and threshed. One hundred and sixty acres of corn have been harvested, which yields twenty-five to twenty-seven bushels to the acre - a splendid yield, considering the almost total destruction of the corn crop in Missouri during the past hot, dry summer. Mr. McClure feeds Horn 100 to 120 head of cattle for the markets each year. For the past two years he has been paying particular attention to the pure-bred Herefords, and has sixty cows with calves at the present time. This department is proving to be a most profitable one, inasmuch as the calves raised by him bring from $95 to $100 per head at private sale. All feed raised on the place is fed to livestock on the farm. During 1917 he sold 350 head of fat hogs, raised on the farm, and at the present time is feeding a large drove of 425 hogs. Three men are always employed in caring for the livestock and conducting the farming operations, and one tenant remains permanently on the farm. For the next harvest season Mr. McClure has sown 200 acres to wheat. Fifteen head of horses and four mules are kept to perform the farm work. Mr. McClui'e is also specializ¬ ing in the breeding of jacks, and he had three thoroughbreds sold at the L. M. Monsees sale. In 1912 he purchased three thoroughbred jennies of L. M. Monsees, and in 1915 purchased three more, at an average cost of $80 per head. From this venture in thoroughbred stock he has real¬ ized $2,000 from sales of the progeny of the Monsees stock. Mr. McClure is a well-educated, enterprising citizen. After - attending the public schools he pursued a course at Central College, Fayette, Missouri.

John W. McClure is a farmer, residing at Hughesville, married Iva Shelton, and has three children: John W., Lucille and James Clinton. Charles L., is deceased, married Florence Bruce. Lucille McClure is the wife of Ernest W. Jones, and has one child, Ernest Walker. A sketch of Mr. Jones appears in this volume. Mrs. McClure is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. All of her sons are Free Masons.

The Democratic party always had the steadfast allegiance of John Wesley McClure, and he was ever ready to expend both time and money in assisting his friends to political preferment. He was an influential member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was largely instrumental in the building of the Methodist Episcopal Church South at Hughesville, being one of the heaviest contributors to the building fund. He was loyal to his church, and lived according to his belief. He was long a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, being first affiliated with the Longwood Masonic Lodge and later becoming a member of the Sedalia Masonic Lodge.

H. H. Kroencke. - The career of H. H. Kroencke is so closely inter¬ twined with the organization and history of the leading Military Band of Sedalia, that an account of one leads to the story of the other. Mr. Kroencke has not only made a distinct and pronounced business success since his advent in Sedalia in 1887, being the proprietor of the H. H. Kroencke Department Stores, but he has achieved a State-wide reputation as a band leader and musician. Since 1892, Mr. Kroencke has been identi¬ fied with local musical organizations. He was first a member of the Sedalia Military Band, then was director of the Independent Band, the leadership of which he turned over to L. E. Friemel, and for a time the band was known as Friemel's Military Band. Upon Mr. Friemel's death Mr. Kroencke took charge and the name of the organization was changed to Sedalia Military Band. In 1913 he organized the Kroencke Concert Band with sixteen members. In one year the membership was increased to thirty-eight musicians. The great World War has taken its toll from the membership and the following members of this great band are now in the United States Military service: two Trueblood brothers, Jack and James Matthews, Leonard Peyers, Wilbur and Otto Fischer, Ed Meeks, H. E. Schwenck, Otto Buehler, Fred Brink, E. Bunner, Glenn Hatton, Gilbert Worm, Howard Brown, Ed Franklin, S. A. Wood, S. J. Pritchard, Hiram Henry and Irvin Hobrecht. This band meets on Mondays and Fridays and is one of which the citizens of Sedalia are very proud. It has played at the State fairs held in Sedalia and during the fair held in 1917, Mr. Kroencke had charge of two bands, besides an orchestra. When the sacred concert was given at the Fair grounds, the leader of the Thavins Band not being present to conduct the concert, Mr. Kroencke took his place and without even a rehearsal conducted the concert suc¬ cessfully.

H. H. Kroencke was bora at Cole Camp, Missouri, February 23, 1866, the son of Herman H. and Anna (Buchholtz) Kroencke, the former of whom still lives at Cole Camp and is aged eighty-two years. Mrs. Kroencke died in 1914. The Kroencke family located at Cole Camp in 1860, on a farm in the neighborhood, and Kroencke, Sr., followed farming until his retirement. The Kroencke children are as follows: Mary, wife of Fred Brauer, Cole Camp, Missouri ; George, formerly a well known citizen of Sedalia, died in 1916; H. H., subject of this review; Sina, wife of Henry Luber, Cole Camp, Missouri; John, a farmer and cattle buyer, Cole Camp, Missouri; Maggie, wife of A. G. Eickhoff, a lumberman of Cole Camp; Sophia, wife of W. H. Holsten, Cole Camp; Herman H., Cole Camp, Missouri.

Mr. Kroencke received his education in the public schools of his native town and began his musical education when but a youth, under John Busch, and later joined John Busch's Band. He located in Sedalia in 1887 and in 1895, he purchased the general store, formerly owned by William Beck. He took John C. Cordes in as partner and the partnership continued successfully until 1909. The Kroencke stores carry complete stocks of dry goods, shoes and groceries.

In 1915 Mr. Kroencke became the agent for the Dort Automobiles and has done an excellent business with this splendid motor car. Three rooms are occupied by his extensive business departments and an im¬ mense trade is handled by a large force of salesmen.

Mr. Kroencke was married in 1888 to Miss Emma Michaelis of Cole Camp. Two children have blessed this union, each of whom is a musi¬ cian: Leonard H., Sedalia, married Louise Amborn and has a daughter, Dorothy Jane ; Genevieve, wife of W. P. Stanley of the Sedalia Democrat.

Charles M. Solon. - The grocery establishment owned and operated by Charles M. Solon is one of the neatest and best kept high grade gro¬ ceries in Sedalia. This store is located at 116 East Third Street and was founded by its proprietor on July 3, 1911.

Charles M. Solon was born in Springfield, Illinois, November 17, 1884, the son of T. J. and Mary (Reed) Solon. Thomas J. Solon, the father, is a native of County Mayo, Ireland, and came to America when a young man. While a resident of Springfield, Illinois, he married Mary Reed, a native of that city. Mr. Solon is a shoemaker by trade and ope¬ rates a shop at 1131 East Third Street. T. J. and Mary Solon are parents of the following children: John J., San Francisco, California; Charles

M., subject of this sketch; Thomas J., lost his eyesight by accident, at¬ tended a school for the blind, learned piano tuning and is now following his profession in St. Louis, Missouri; Catherine, wife of J. L. Williams, Sedalia; Mary, wife of B. F. Whalen, Sedalia, Missouri.

Charles M. Solon attended the parochial and high schools of Sedalia and for eight years prior to engaging in business for himself he was in the employ of the Sedalia Hardware Company.

Mr. Solon was married April 22, 1914, to Miss Irene Kilgore, of Se¬ dalia, a daughter of William and Nancy (Mooney) Kilgore, residents of Sedalia, who also have a son, Leo Kilgore, an employe in the Missouri, Pacific railway shops. Mr. and Mrs. Solon have a son, William Thomas, seventeen months old. The Solon family residence is located at 1100 West Third Street.

Charles H. Raiffeisen. - For a long period of seventy years the Raif¬ feisen family have been identified with the business and farming inter¬ ests of this section of Missouri, and its members are universally re¬ spected as honest and industrious citizens. A worthy member of this excellent family is Charles H. Raiffeisen, for many years a business man of Sedalia, and popular with many citizens of Pettis County. His genial demeanor and kindly nature have made him many warm friends who esteem him for his many good qualities of heart and mind. Mr. Raif¬ feisen, was born in Morgan County, Missouri, the son of Carl C. Reiffeisen, one of the pioneers of that county.

Carl C. Reiffeisen was born across the waters in Germany near Coblenz, on the Rhine, and when a young man, in 1849, he set sail for America from Antwerp, Holland. Arriving at New Orleans after a long voyage in a sailing vessel he came up the Mississippi River to St. Louis and on the Missouri River by boat to Jefferson City, and thence overland to Haw Creek, near Florence in Morgan County. Here he took advantage of the fact that vast areas of free government awaited the homeseeker, and he entered farming land and created a farm from the wilderness. Here he followed agricultural pursuits and reared a considerable family of sons and daughters. He departed this life in 1907 at the great age of eighty-seven years, and his remains were interred in the cemetery at Sedalia. Early in life he married Charlotte Schupp who proved to be a worthy and faithful helpmeet to him in the task of carving a home and rearing an excellent family.

children are: William, C. Julius, Chalres H., Charlotte, Albrecht, Amelia, Marie and Sophia. William Reiffeisen resides in Sedalia and is a car¬ penter in the employe of the car-building and repair department of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas railway. He married Bessie Homan and has two children, Carl and Edna. C. Julius Raiifeisen resided on the home farm until twenty-two years of age, then clerked in a general store for ten years and in the fall of 1888 became connected with the J. A. Lamey Manufacturing Company. Mr. Raiifeisen is a partner in the business and is vice-president of the company. He is also president of the Arkansas Rice Land Development Company which owns and is develop¬ ing a large tract of 1,040 acres of land in Arkansas. C. Julius Raiffeisen was married in 1882 to Miss Elizabeth Wolff, of California, Missouri, and for the past two years they have resided at Long Beach, California.

Carl C. Raiffeisen was a veteran of the Civil War. He enlisted in the Union Army at Florence, Missouri, and after one year's service in the field he was honorably discharged from the service on account of defective eyesight. He then enlisted in the Missouri Home Guards and served until the close of the war. William F. Raiffeisen, an uncle of Charles H. Raiffeisen, who remained in Germany, is known to fame as the originator of the Rural Credit System, which did much to amelliorate the financial condition of small European farmers and was extended to this continent in later years. For a number of years Charles H. Raif¬ feisen was a member of the Southern Commercial Congress, an organiza¬ tion which was instrumental in building up a Rural Credits System in this country, although the direct aim of this Congress was not accom¬ plished in entirety, a nation-wide interest in the question was brought about. The United States Government eventually became interested and the present plan of loaning money to farmers through farm loan asso¬ ciations was recently inaugurated. Mrs. William Raiffeisen has a brother, Corporal Raymond Homan who enlisted at Fort Scott, Kansas, and was sent to Camp Funston for training and is now in France serving as a brave soldier in defeating the Huns and making the world safe for free democratic government.

Charles H. Reiffeisen was reared to young manhood on his father's farm and followed farming until twenty-two years of age. He came to Sedalia in the fall of 1880 and for the ensuing six years was employed as salesman until he engaged in retail and mail order business on his own account. Mr. Raiffeisen's place of business is located at 115 West Main Street.

near Cole Camp, Missouri. To this marriage was bom a son, Otto J., a graduate of the Missouri State University, Engineering Department in 1910, who is now employed as chief draughtsman and assistant chief en¬ gineer for the Arizona Copper Company at Clifton, Arizona.

The other children of Carl C. and Charlotte Raiffeisen are: Char¬ lotte, wife of W. P. Siegel, Syracuse, Missouri; Albrecht, died in 1889 at Sedalia; Miss Amalia Raiffeisen, Long Beach, California; Mary, wife of Lewis Mothersbaugh, Syracuse, Missouri; Cophia Raiffeisen, Long Beach, California.

A. L. Dickman, jeweler and optometrist, 113 Ohio Street, Sedalia, Missouri, was born in Fulton, Callaway County, Missouri, March 7, 1870. He is a son of C. H. and Flora (Thomas) Dickman, the former a native of Germany. C. H. Dickman came to America from his native land when sixteen years of age and located at Fulton, where he remained until 1875. He then located in Sedalia where he died in 1903. His widow makes her home in Sedalia with her daughter, Mrs. Herman Ludemann. The chil¬ dren born to C. H. and Flora Dickman are as follows: Anna, wife of J. R. Major, Chicago, Illinois; Minnie, wife of C. F. Walch, Sedalia, Mis¬ souri; Clara, wife of H. C. Ludemann, Sedalia; Bertha, wife of Harry Wolf, Grand Rapids, Michigan.

A. L. Dickman was educated in the public schools and the Robbins Business College. His first employment was with the J. West Goodwin Company as news carrier of the Sedalia "Bazoo." His next position was a clerkship in the drug store of Q. C. Slack and later with Dr. R. T. Miller. The Miller store kept a stock of drugs and jewelry and maintained a re¬ pair department. While employed in this store, Mr. Dickman learned the trade of jeweler and in 1891, he embarked in business for himself at Pilot Grove, Missouri. Three years later he located in Sedalia, in a room to the rear of the Sedalia National Bank, where he remained in business for six years. Being ambitious to perfect himself in the various depart¬ ments adjunct to the jeweler's business he went east in 1893 and studied optometry and graduated from the Philadelphia Optical College in 1894. Upon his return to Sedalia he added an optical department to his store and moved to 113 South Ohio street, to his present location, in 1903. The Dickman establishment carries a splendid line of watches, clocks, jew¬ elry, and specializes in fitting optical goods and Mr. Dickman is one of the most successful optometrists in the State of Missouri. A first-class watch and clock repair department is maintained in the Dickman estab¬ lishment which is one of the best equipped in its various lines in the State.

A. L. Dickman was married in 1898 to Miss Stella Meredith of BlackwaL-er, Cooper County, Missouri, a daughter of George and Lou (Burney) Meredith, the former of whom is deceased and the latter lives at Miami, Oklahoma. Mr. and Mrs, Dickman have an attractive and pleasant home at 1607 West Third Street. Mr. Dickman is a member of the American Optical Association, the Missouri State Optical Association and the Jewelers Association of Missouri.

Nicholas Hocker Gentry. - It is not given to many men to achieve a fame and renown which is world-wide in their particular professions, or to receive the highest honors from their fellows which can possibly be bestowed upon them. Pettis County is famous the world over for the fine livestock which is produced and bred within the confines of the county. In this county reside citizens who have had much to do with making Pettis County famous as a livestock breeding center. Among them, and one of the foremost, is Nicholas Hocker Gentry, owner of "Wood Dale Farm," a splendid country estate of 520 acres in Cedar township. Mr. Gentry has lived upon his land since the date of his birth, March 16, 1850. During the sixty-eight years of his residence in this county he has won fame and honors for himself which are unsurpassed in the fraternity of breeders of livestock. Mr. Gentry's reputation as a breeder of Berkshire swine is worldwide, and he has been acclaimed the greatest Berkshire hog breeder in the United States and the the entire world by the leaders in the livestock industry.

Mr. Gentry began breeding Shorthorn cattle when he was eighteen years of age, and achieved a considerable reputation in this field, dispos¬ ing of the products of his herd at private sales to buyers in all parts of the United States. His success as a breeder of Berkshires has far over¬ shadowed his accomplishments in other fields, however. His "Wood- Dale" herd of Berkshires is the finest in the world without exception. At the World's Fair held at St. Louis in 1904, where the greatest exhibit of Berkshires ever held in the world was shown, he was awarded twentsix prizes out of thirty-one offered, for having exhibited the greatest Berkshires ever shown - every one of which was bred and raised on "Wood Dale Farm" in Pettis County. Prior to this fair Mr. Gentry was awarded more prizes and more prize money than any other exhibitor of swine of any breed at the World's Fair in Chicago, in 1893. "Wood Dale" herd competed with the best herds of America, as well as the most noted prize winners from the leading shows in England, both in 1892 and 1893.

Nicholas H. Gentry

On March 10, 1917, at a meeting of the Eastern Berkshire Breeders' Association, held at Boston, a toast was proposed and drunk to N. H. Gentry, as the "greatest constructive Berkshire breeder the world has ever known.''

At the Louisiana Exposition, held in St. Louis in 3904, out of eighty head of prize-winning Berkshires exhibited, seventy-nine came from the Gentry herd. There are no Berkshires in Amreica not descended from "Wood Dale" herd.

At the Saddle and Sirloin Club in Chicago, a famous institution which numbers among its membership the greatest stockmen in the country, they have what is called a "Hall of Fame," a collection of paint¬ ings or portraits of the men who have achieved renown as stockmen and breeders, in the old world as well as the new. This is an institution peculiar to the livestock fraternity, and only those selected by unanimous consent are given such a place of honor.

A. H. Saunders, editor of the "Breeders' Gazette," and a recognized authority on livestock breeding, in one of his books, wrote in regard to Mr. Gentry: "There is one more American portrait should be in the book and the Hall of Fame," and, without Mr. Gentry's knowledge, an effort was forthwith made to place Mr. Gentry's portrait in the place to which he was entitled. The secretary of the club sent out calls for con¬ tributions. The response was rapid and over $400 was subscribed by 300 or more contributors, from all over the United States. One hundred and forty letters were written, from thirty-six States, in praise of Mr. Gentry. Frank S. Springer, secretary of the Berkshire Breeders' Asso¬ ciation, had charge of the movement which had its culmination in Mr. Gentry's going to Chicago and sitting for his portrait, which now hangs in the "Hall of Fame" at the Saddle and Sirloin Club. It is meet that mention be made here of the names of some of the prominent men who contributed to the fund and who wrote heartfelt words of praise of Mr. Gentry at the same time. Among the contributions were: R. B. Ogilvie, of the "American Breeders' Gazette"; Prof. C. S. Plumb, of Ohio Uni¬ versity; J. H. Skinner of Purdue University, Indiana; Ruohns Pyron, of Carterville, Georgia, a son-in-law of Rev. Sam Jones ; Dr. H. J. Waters, former president of the Kansas State Agricultural College, Manhattan, Kansas, and now editor of the "Weekly Kansas City Star"; H. W. Gossard, famous corset manufacturer of Chicago, who is also a well-known livestock breeder; Prof. T. C. Minkle, of Rutgers College, Brunswick, New

Jersey; William M. Ladd, the great banker and breeder, Portland, Oregon; Prof. W. H. Pew, of the Iowa Agricultural College, Ames, Iowa; Dr. C. I. Hood, of "Hood Farm," Lowell, Massachusetts, the second largest prize winner at the St. Louis World's Fair; Prof. John T. Caine, Utah Agricultural College; E. A. Trowbridge, Missouri State University, and many others who are famous in agricultural and livestock circles.

Nicholas Hocker Gentry is the son of Joel W. and Jael W. (Hocker) Gentry, the former of whom was born in Howard County, Missouri, in 1815, and departed this life in October, 1851. Joel W. Gentry was the son of Reuben E. Gentry, who was born June 6, 1785, in Albemarle County, Virginia, and was a son of Richard Gentry, also a native of Virginia. The Gentrys are of Germanic extraction, and sprung from English families who were prominent among the early families of Vir¬ ginia in colonial times. Richard Gentry, great-grandfather of N. H. Gentry, was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. After the close of the war Richard Gentry located in Madison County, Kentucky. Here Reuben E. Gentry married Miss Elizabeth White, and migrated to Missouri in 1809, locating at Boone's Lick, Howard County, Missouri, in 1811. He assisted in the building of Forts Hempstead and Kincaide, during the War of 1812 and took a brave and active part in defending the struggling colony of hardy settlers from the attacks of the Indians, who had been incited to resent the coming of the white men into what had hitherto been their untrammeled domain. Reuben E. Gentry improved a splendid farm in Howard County, and in 1819 he removed to Pettis County, settling on the farm now owned and occupied by the subject of this review. The family of Reuben E. Gentry consisted of four sons and a daughter: Richard, Joel W., Jane H. and Major William. It is a matter of record that Reuben E. Gentry was carried in his mother's arms from Virginia to Kentucky, the mother riding horseback the entire distance. Richard Gentry, a brother of Reuben E. Gentry, was killed in battle during the Seminole Indian War. He visited his brother, Reuben E., in Howard County, and the two brothers laid out the town plat of Columbia.

Joel W. Gentry resided on the Gentry estate and continued the development of the farm until his death, from typhoid fever, in October, 1851. By his marriage with Jael W. Hocker, he was father of two chil¬ dren: Nicholas H. Gentry, and Mrs. Ella Morrison, of Denver, Colorado. Mrs. Jael W. (Hocker) Gentry was born near Richmond, Kentucky, the daughter of Col. Nicholas Hocker, who was a prominent citizen of

Kentucky. It is related that when Colonel Hocker was a member of the Kentucky State Legislature he was invited, in company with Squire Reif, another Kentuckian who figures prominently in Pettis County early day history, to take a ride on the first steam railroad ever built in Kentucky. Colonel Hocker, like many others of his day, had no faith in the new innovation and considered the trip a hazardous and dangerous under¬ taking. He at first refused to accompany his friend Reif, but after coaxing and persuasion on Reif's part, he at last consented to forget his scruples and agreed to risk his life on the train. When the gentlemen got the first sight of a locomotive at close range, and heard the steam exhaust, the noise seemed so dreadful and as presaging sure death that both refused to climb aboard the train. After much discussion and sum¬ ming up of all their latent bravery they were at last prevailed upon to go aboard and take the ride, agreeing, however, that they would, if it got to going too fast, or at the first sign of danger, jump off the train.

On March 5, 1855, the widow of Joel W. Gentry was married to Richard Gentry, eldest son of Reuben E. Gentry. This union was blessed with four children: Richard W., deceased; Mary V.; Mattie, deceased, and Mrs. Nannie Estill, Sedalia, Missouri. Richard Gentry died at his home in Pettis County January 17, 1865. Mrs. Jael Gentry is also deceased. Further details concerning the Gentry family history will be found in the sketch of Reuben J. Gentry elsewhere in this volume.

Nicholas H. Gentry was reared in the home of his uncle and step¬ father, Richard Gentry. He was educated in the public schools of Pettis County and in Forest Grove Seminary, a private school conducted at Georgetown, Missouri, by Professors Neill and Newton and Deardoff. At the age of eighteen years, conditions made it mandatory upon him to leave school and take charge of his father's estate and manage the farm for his mother. Mr. Gentry's career as a farmer and stockman has been one of well-merited and ever-increasing success. His work has been that of a man not content with mediocre performances, but rather the outcome of an intelligent ambition to excel along well-defined lines. His ambition and energy have been the means of placing him not only in the front ranks of livestock breeders in America, but as a recognized and respected leader in his vocation. The Gentry farm, "Wood Dale," is one of the finest estates in Missouri. Few buildings are visible from the rock highway which runs past the place, north from Sedalia, but as one travels down and up the winding driveway over the undulating ground, it seems that the fringes of a forest come into view. Great oaks and walnut trees cover many acres of the pasture land, making the view more attractive. Topping the last rise of ground, the farm plant comes into view, a veritable village of buildings, arranged in such a manner as to render the farm independent of any outside assistance in its care and management. The Gentry farm is improved with a com¬ fortable bungalow of large, rambling proportions, which has been erected with a view to solid comfort. The barns are large and well built and, with many sheds grouped around the common center, afford ample shelter for the livestock. The farm is equipped with its own mill, where sawing, grinding, etc., is done by the farm employes. One hundred head of pure¬ bred, registered Shorthorn cattle are kept on the farm. Over 200 head of the famous "Wood Dale" Berkshires are kept on the place, and sold to buyers from all parts of the United States and other countries. The fine stock produced by Mr. Gentry is sold at private sale.

On December 29, 1875, Nicholas Hocker Gentry was united in mar¬ riage with Miss Minnie D. Carter, who was born in Dover, Lafayette County, Missouri, and departed this life in April, 1916. Mrs. Minnie D. (Carter) Gentry was a daughter of Prof. Jesse W. Carter, a native of Richmond, Virginia, a graduate of Bethany College, Virginia, and a pupil of Alexander Campbell, founder of the Church of Christ, and famous teacher. Her mother was Margaret Campbell, prior to her marriage, and she was a first cousin of Alexander Campbell. To N. H. and Minnie D. Gentry were born children as follow: Maggie, died at the age of two years and two months; Pael, wife of Dr. William Fuller, a practicing physician, Chicago, Illinois; Ella, wife of Charles Pattison, resides on the Gentry home place, she having been twice married, her first husband being Robert Smith, who died of typhoid fever; Nannie, wife of Maj. P. Kidd, of Macon, Mississippi; Lucy, wife of E. C. Stuart, vice-president of the Third National Bank of St. Louis, and residing at Webster Grove, Missouri; Lee M., a successful farmer living east of Sedalia, a sketch of whom appears in this work; Joel W., died at the age of six and a half years.

Politically, Mr. Gentry has always been allied with the Democratic party. He is a member of the Sedalia Christian Church. His fraternal affiliation is with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Lodge No. 236, Sedalia. Mr. Gentry is a director of the American Shorthorn Breeders' Association, and is a member of the directorate of the American Berk¬ shire Breeders' Association. He was a member of the Board of Seven

Missouri Commissioners at the World's Fair, held in Chicago in 1893, and was also a member of the Commissioners of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, held at St. Louis in 1904. He has been further honored by having been appointed a member of the Agricultural Advisory Committee of twenty-four members in the United States, as assistants and advisers of National Food Administrator Herbert Hoover. The duties of this position require that he attend a meeting of the committee, held at Washington each month. His advice has been frequently sought on matters affecting the conservation of food during the World War in order that America might feed the suffering people of our Allies. When the ratio of 13 to 1 was adopted, in 1917, providing a fixed price for hogs or pork, in proportion according to the price of corn as affecting the market price of hogs, thus regulating the profits of the hog producers, Mr. Gentry was a member of the committee of seven men appointed by Herbert Hoover, in the fall of 1917, whose duty it wras to establish this ratio. Mr. Gentry received his appointment as a member of the Agri¬ cultural Advisory Committee from Secretary Houston and Mr. Hoover on March 11, 1918.

Mr. Gentry's ability as a judge of livestock has made a demand for his services on numerous occasions at livestock shows in all parts of the United States. At the time the Missouri State Fair Grounds was located at Sedalia, he was a member of the State Board of Agriculture. Assisted by Mr. J. H. Bothwell, he located the first building to be erected on the grounds south of Sedalia. In every capacity in which Mr. Gentry has been called upon to serve the public he has faithfully done his duty with regard to the public good, and without motive except to unselfishly serve the people. Nicholas H. Gentry is a Pettis county citizen whose career and successes have reflected honor and credit upon the community where he was born and reared.

Dr. Ethan Freeman Staats. - The life story of Dr. E. F. Staats, phsician, 104| West Main Street, is one of sheer self effort and pro¬ nounced ambitious energy to succeed in his chosen profession, educating himself thoroughly, in spite of the handicap of poverty. Dr. Staats was born in Jackson county, West Virginia, in 1857, the scion of an old Amer¬ ican family of English Jewish extraction. He is the son of Lewis and Catherine (Fisher) Staats, who located at Sumner, Lawrence County, Illinois, in 1864, and there spent the remainder of their lives. The chil¬ dren born to Lewis and Catherine Staats are: Mrs. Emma Johnson, who died at the age of forty-five years; Mrs. Carrie Schick, Lebanon, Illinois;

Ethan Freeman, subject of this sketch; Mrs. Isabella Schick, Sumner, Illinois; Newton, an attorney at Trenton, Illinois; Ida May, died at the age of twenty-one years; Elijah, Lawrence County, Illinois.

Lewis Staats was the son of Elijah Staats, who was also born in Jackson County, Virginia, and was the son of Abraham Staats, born on the same farm where Elijah lived and died. The father of Abraham Staats was Isaac Staats who likewise lived and died on the Staats home¬ stead. Abraham, Isaac and Elijah Staats, are all buried on the Staats homestead near Evans, West Virginia, on the line of the Southern rail¬ way. This old farm is still owned by a member of the family, George Staats, an uncle of the subject of this review. Elias Staats, a son of Elijah Staats, also resides on the farm.

Dr. Ethan F. Staats was educated in the public schools, and McKendree College, Lebanon, Illinois, graduating from this institution in 1885. He then spent one year at Depauw University, Indiana, and studied for one year in Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts. When thirty-six years of age, he began the study of medicine, after being engaged for ten years in the teaching profession. He held the position of principal of the McCray-Dewey Academy for three years and was for three years principal of the public schools of O'Fallon, Illinois. Doctor Staats studied for one year at the Marion Simms College of Medicine at St. Louis in 1897. He varied his teaching experience with study at various colleges and in this manner prepared himself for his profession. While studying medicine, he purchased a newspaper route and delivered 400 copies of the St. Louis "Post Dispatch" daily to his patrons. Mrs. Staats assisted him in making ends meet by keeping boarders. When Doctor Staats came to Pettis County, at the age of forty-two years he had $25 in cash, borrowed money, and used his first few months' earnings to send for his faithful wife. He purchased his first outfit of furniture of McLaughlin Brothers on monthly payments. Success has come to him, his practice has grown and he has managed to give each of his children a high school and busi¬ ness college education.

Doctor Staats began the practice of his profession in St. Louis in 1897 and in 1899 came to Pettis County, first locating at Beaman. In 1905 he came to Sedalia. Doctor Staats was married on December 28, 1887 to Miss Effie Bell of Sumner, Illinois, a daughter of Philo and Erneline Bell, the latter of whom is now residing with her daughter at the age of eighty-eight years. Dr. and Mrs. Staats have five children: Rex, a bookkeeper and accountant, Chicago, Illinois; Carrie, married Edwin

Burns, Pittsburg, Kansas, died December 9, 1918; Ethan F., now in the National Service, in camp at Atlanta, Georgia; Ray D., now an officer in the United States Medical Corps, formerly stationed at Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, and is now at Fort Sam Houston, Texas; Emeline, wife of Joseph Riley, Sedalia, Missouri. Dr. and Mrs. Staats reside at 1020 East Fifth Street, Sedalia.

Doctor Staats is local medical examiner for the Woodmen of the World, the Knights and Ladies of Security, the Homesteaders, and the Fraternal Order of Eagles. He served as State president of the Eagles for one year.

Edward M. Shields, clerk of Sedalia Camp No. 16, Woodmen of the World, was elected to the position he now holds two years after its or¬ ganization on May 6, 1891. The order had but sixteen members when the local lodge was instituted. When Mr. Shields became clerk in 1893, eighty members were upon the roster. During the twenty-five years in which Mr. Shields has served as clerk of this important fraternal organ¬ ization, the membership has grown to 1,100 members and is the strong¬ est fraternal society in membership in Sedalia. Thomas J. Robb is the present Consul Commander of the lodge and its great growth during the past twenty-five years has been due, in large measure, to the faithful¬ ness and energy of the officers of the order. Three hundred members nave been added to the roster since January 1, 1918. The Woodmen of the World meets at 508 South Ohio Street every Wednesday night.

Edward M. Shields was born in a log house (the old Orr schoolhouse) in Benton county, Missouri, December 19, 1861. He is a son of Edward and Sallie (Hobby) Shields, both of whom were natives of Ohio. Edward Shields was the son of Edward Shields, who was a native of Ire¬ land and crossed the Atlantic Ocean to America when seventeen years of age, settling in Ohio. Edward Shields, father of the subject of this sketch, settled in Benton county during the fifties, and died in that county in 1866. His wife died in 1889. They were parents of the following children: Elgie R., Tonopah, Nevada; Edward M., subject of this review; Martin H., Santa Ana, California; Delmond D., Balti¬ more, Maryland. After the death of Edward Shields, the elder, his widow married John W. Dick, and a daughter was born to this mar¬ riage - Mrs. Sadie Miller, Kansas City, Missouri.

Edward M. Shields was educated in the schools of Benton County, and studied for two years at the Warrensburg Normal School. For a period of three years he taught school and followed farming. In

February, 1888, he came to Sedalia and engaged in the mercantile busi¬ ness. His first venture was a second-hand store, but later he engaged in the grocery business and located in the City Market building, in 1892.

Mr. Shields was married in 1884 to Laura B. Kennedy, of Lincoln, Benton County, Missouri, a daughter of Woodford and Cordelia Kennedy, both of whom are deceased. Edward and Laura B. Shields have chil¬ dren as follow: Delond A., manager of the Shields grocery, stalls Nos. 11 and 12, City Market House; Bessie, wife of Leslie Wittenmeyer, an employe of the Rock Island Railway Company, Kansas City, Missouri; Delond Shields, married Adeline Morcott, and has one child, Adele May Shields.

For the past six years Mr. Shields has filled the office of city treasurer, and is now also serving as city collector. He is prominent in Sedalia and has a large circle of friends and acquaintances.

Mrs. Edward M. Shields is the efficient clerk of the Woodmen Circle, the auxiliary lodge to the Woodmen of the World, Queen City Grove No. 1, organized in 1894. This was the first circle organized in the State of Missouri, and has a membership of over six hundred at the present time. Mr. Shields is assistant clerk of the Auxiliary lodge, and Mrs. Shields was first elected to the position in 1900.

Reuben Joel Gentry. - The Gentry family is one of the oldest pioneer families of Missouri, and their advent in Missouri dates back 110 years. It is nearly 100 years since the first Gentry settled in Pettis County.

in Pettis County at this day. Its members have always been prominent in Pettis County affairs, and influential in its social and economic life. They are noted for their integrity, honesty, and honorable demeanor. The late Reuben J. Gentry, who was a member of this family, was born in Pettis County January 2, 1839, and died October 5, 1881. He was a son of Richard and Alzira (Miller) Gentry, the former of whom was a son of Reuben E. Gentry, who came from Kentucky to Missouri in 1809, and settled in Pettis County in 1819.

Richard Gentry, a soldier of the Revolutionary War, and a scion of an old Virginia family of English descent. After the close of the Revo¬ lutionary War Richard Gentry located in Madison County, Kentucky. Reuben E. Gentry, an infant in arms, was carried by his mother, who rode horseback from Virginia to the new home in Kentucky, where Richard Gentry had received a grant of land from the federal govern¬ ment. Reuben E. Gentry was reared to young manhood in Madison County, Kentucky, and there married Elizabeth White. Not long after his marriage he set out, in 1809, to the new territory of Missouri, and became one of the vanguard of brave and hardy pioneers who opened up this vast rich country for settlement. Not long after his arrival at Boone's Lick, on the shore of the Missouri River, in Howard County, trouble with the Indians broke out, and he assisted in the building of Fort Boone, and later, during the War of 1812, he took an active part in the defense of the little settlement and helped to build Ft. Hempstead and Ft. Kincaide. The Indian troubles being over, he improved a farm in Howard County and remained there until 1819, when he came to Pettis County and settled on the large farm now owned by Nicholas H. Gentry, in Cedar township. Richard Gentry, a brother of Reuben E., was killed in battle during the Seminole Indian Wai's. Reuben E. and his two brothers laid out the townsite of the city of Columbia, Missouri. Four sons and a daughter were born to Reuben E. and Elizabeth (White) Gentry, as follow: Richard, father of the subject of this review; Joel W., a sketch of whom appears in this volume in connection with the biography of Nicholas H. Gentry; Jane H., and Maj. William Gentry.

Richard Gentry, father of Reuben Joel Gentry, was born in Madison County, Kentucky, September 9, 1807, and died in Pettis County, Mis¬ souri, January 7, 1865. In youth, Richard Gentry was an apt student and endowed with an excellent mind and a robust body. He was chosen to teach in the pioneer schools of his day, and at all elections served as clerk. In 1828, when a young man, he went to Fever River, Wisconsin, and worked for nine months in the lead mines. He then returned to Missouri and, with the money saved from his mining experience, he bought his first eighty acres of land, the old Richard W. Gentry home¬ stead. After improving this place he went to Kentucky and lived for five years with his uncle, Valentine M. White, who was in poor health. He remained in Kentucky until after the death of his uncle. In 1836 he was married to Miss Alzira Miller, daughter of William Miller, of Rich¬ mond, Kentucky, who for a long time was one of the three magistrates of his county. Soon after his marriage Mr. Gentry returned to Pettis County and commenced the development and stocking of his farm. He rose rapidly in his vocation as farmer and stockman, and in time became one of the leading stockmen of the State. He possessed the premium farm of the State, it being the largest, best fenced, best arranged and best tilled of any in Missouri. He was an enterprising man and citizen in every sense the words imply, liberal in his support of all charitable and religious enterprises, and possessed of broad views and generous impulses. By his first marriage he was father of a family of four chil¬ dren: William M., Reuben J. of this review, Henry C. and Laura, all of whom are deceased. His first wife died in 1854, and he was married on March 5, 1855, to Mrs. Jael W. (Hocker) Gentry, widow of Joel W. Gentry and daughter of Col. Nicholas Hocker, a prominent citizen of Richmond, Kentucky. This union was blessed with four children: Rich¬ ard W., Mary V., Mattie (deceased), and Mrs. Nanie Estill, Sedalia.

Reuben Joel Gentry, of this review, was reared in Pettis County, and after attending the common schools of this county, he studied at Kemper Military Academy, Boonville, Missouri. He also attended West¬ minster College at Fulton, Missouri. He was brought up in the vocation of his father and ancestors, and became a farmer and breeder of fine livestock. After his marriage, in 1871, he engaged in farming and stock raising and was soon operating on the same large scale which has charac¬ terized the work of the different members of the Gentry family in Pettis County for the past century. He became owner of about 1,000 acres of land, north of Sedalia. In the center of this tract, on a high point of ground, is a large brick mansion of many rooms, where his children still reside. This family residence of fourteen rooms was erected in 1869 and 1870 at a cost of $12,000, and has many pleasing features not found in dwellings of a later type. The newel post and railing of the main stairway in the Gentry house was taken from the First Presbyterian Church in St. Louis, at the time of the dismantling of the church. This church was the first of its kind erected at Old Frenchtown.

On August 5, 1871, Reuben J. Gentry was married to Miss Bettie Hughes, who was born in Pettis County, December 13, 1853, and was a daughter of Reese and Sarah A. (Burch) Hughes.

Reese Hughes was prominent in the affairs of Pettis County during the early days, and was an early pioneer and attorney of Georgetown, the old county seat. He was born in Tennessee, and was a son of Reese Hughes, who married Cecilia Johnson, a cousin of President Andrew Johnson. The Hughes family moved from Tennessee to Cooper County, Missouri, in 1826 and settled on land whereon is now located Harris'

Station. There were twenty children born to Reese Hughes, the elder. Reese Hughes, father of Mrs. Bettie Gentry, was educated in Tennessee and graduated as a law practitioner. He was married in Georgetown, Pettis County, to Miss Sarah Ann Burch, and soon afterwards located at Calhoun, Henry County, Missouri. After a residence there of some months, they returned to Georgetown. Mr. Hughes served as county treasurer of Pettis County from 1848 to 1860. He was a large land owner, and kept many slaves on his large farm. Reese and Sarah Ann Hughes were parents of six children: John B. Hughes, whose daughter, Mrs. Howard Wood, lives in Sedalia; Abijah, married Mary (Puss) Gentry, a daughter of Maj. William Gentry, and his son, Will Cloney, of the Dorn-Cloney Company, lives in Sedalia; Edward Hughes, was the father of Ed. Hughes, living east of Sedalia ; Mrs. Bettie Gentry, of this review ; Mollie, deceased wife of I. M. Sprecher, Sedalia; Charles Hughes, died when a young man.

Six children were born to the marriage of Reuben J. and Bettie Gentry: Ruby, Sallie, a child died in infancy, William H., Charles R., Reuben J.

Sallie, born August 12, 1873, is the wife of T. J. Sturges, whom she married February 7, 1894. Mr. and Mrs. Sturges have one child, Eliza¬ beth, born June 14, 1896, and is now the wife of William Searcy Ridge, of Columbia, Missouri, whom she married on August 8, 1917. An infant son was born and died on March 15, 1876.

William H. Gentry was born March 15, 1876, and was educated in the Sedalia public schools. He is residing on the home place, and is owner of a farm which he is cultivating.

Charles Richard Gentry was born February 8, 1878; has a farm of 195 acres. He was educated in the Sedalia schools and Missouri State University. On January 20, 1915, he married Kate Thurston, and has one child, Bettie Gentry, born November 7, 1915.

Reuben J. Gentry, youngest son of the family and present deputy clerk of the Circuit Court of Pettis County, was born December 19, 1880. He was educated in the public and high schools of Sedalia and the Missouri State University, graduating from the latter institution with the degree of Bachelor of Law, in 1906. Returning to the old home¬ stead, he and his brothers operated the large Gentry farm in partner- ship until the division of the estate, in 1915. The sons carried on the breeding of Shorthorn cattle and Berkshire hogs, an enterprise for which the farm had become famous. One of the highly-prized souvenirs in young Mr. Gentry's possession is the bell which formerly hung in the old court house at Georgetown. It is altogether probable that this old bell, which years and years ago summoned the people of the neighbor¬ hood to meetings in the old court house, will hang in the county building at Sedalia, inasmuch as an effort is being made by the Daughters of the American Revolution to obtain this bell for that purpose. When the Georgetown court house was dismantled, at the time of the removal of the county seat to Sedalia, Reuben Joel Gentry, the elder, purchased the old bell, and prized it highly as a relic of the old days.

William Miller Gentry was born September 19, 1837, and died May 1, 1889. He was educated in the common schools and attended the Kemper Military Academy at Boonville, Missouri. He was owner of several hun¬ dred acres of land and was a practical and energetic farmer, who culti¬ vated his land with great profit. He used the latest modern machinery in his farming operations. Like his brother, Reuben Joel Gentry, he farmed on a large scale, and bred and raised pure-bred livestock. He and Reuben Joel Gentry each had large herds of pure-bred Shorthorn cattle and Berkshire hogs, and won quite a number of premiums and awards and silver trophies at the St. Louis Fair and other fairs. These trophies are still held in the Gentry family, and are prized very highly. William M. and Reuben Joel were large sheep raisers, and also raised thorough¬ bred horses. Their farms were the best kept and the best stocked in Pettis County and western Missouri. William M., like his brother, Reuben Joel, was a member of the Masonic fraternity, and was greatly honored and respected for the upright manner in which he lived. At his death he left all of his estate to his widow and her children.

The late Mrs. Bettie Hughes Gentry was born at Georgetown, Mis¬ souri, December 13, 1853, and died June 11, 1914. She was educated in the common schools and later attended Forest Grove Institute, at that time one of the foremost schools of Pettis County. After the death of her first husband, Reuben Joel Gentry, she remained on the farm where they lived, and managed it until December 2, 1885, when she married William Miller Gentry, a brother of her former husband. At his death, on May 1, 1889, William Miller Gentry left his property to his wddow and her children. The rest of her days were spent on the Gentry place, known as "Cedar Vale Farm." Together with her sons she managed this place, and the farm left by William Miller Gentry. Besides managing these two large estates, she also managed a large farm of 800 acres, owned by Mrs. A. W. Walbum, her sister-in-law. She was a woman of rare business ability, and always used the best methods of agriculture and raised pure-bred Shorthorn cattle, Berkshire hogs, Merino and Shropshire sheep. At one time Mrs. Gentry owned the largest flock of sheep in the State. Her herd of sheep numbered into the thousands, and she exhibited her fine stock at the fairs and took many prizes, including first prize on wool at the World's Fair in Chicago, in 1893. Mrs. Gentry employed a great deal of labor, sometimes having as many as thirty farm hands working on her lands at one time. Her advice on business matters was sought by many who knew and admired her capabilities. In a social way Mrs. Gentry was a member of the Sorosis Club, the United Daugh¬ ters of the Confederacy, Ladies' Musical Club, Pettis County Home Makers Club, and others. She was a member of the First Christian Church of Sedalia, and was an ardent worker in the activities of the church. She taught a class of young men in the Sunday school for a number of years. All of her children belong to the same congregation.

Mrs Gentry had a pleasing personality and was a prime favorite in the community with both old and young. She was noted for her charity and gave a great deal of her time and means toward assisting needy and worthy projects for the alleviation of poverty and suffering. Whenever she heard of a poor family in need of assistance, she always was the first to assist them. No call upon her purse or time in the cause of charity went unheeded. She has been known to arise and go, in the middle of the night, to the home of some poor person in the neighborhood where sickness and poverty prevailed and render them aid with both money and her personal services as nurse until health and contentment once more came to the home.

Mrs. Gentry was a famous cook and took many prizes for examples of her culinary art at the county and state fairs. She also acted as judge of the Department of Home Economics at the County Fair for a number of years, and when the State Fair was inaugurated at Sedalia in 1900, she was selected to judge the Home Economics Department, during the first year. During the third year of the fair she was chosen as superintendent of this department and served in this position until her death in 1914. Her daughter, Mrs. T. J. Sturges, acted as assistant

Mrs. Gentry's ability was of a high order. She was a natural artist, and a number of beautiful oil paintings, now in the homes of her children, bear living testimony to her inherited artistic talent. Mrs. Gentry did considerable wood carving and many handsome and valuable specimens of her artistic genius and skill in this art are owned by her descendants. She was awarded many prizes for her oil paintings and wood carvings at the Missouri State Fair and the leading fairs of the country, including the Texas State Fair, Oklahoma State Fair and the State fairs of Iowa, Illinois and Louisiana. She also did a great deal of textile work, upon which many premiums were awarded at various State fairs.

At one time Mrs. Gentry was requested and urged by many leading Democrats of Pettis County to allow her name to be placed upon the ticket for the office of treasurer of Pettis County, but she refused the honor, saying that she did not care to enter politics. In spite of her various exacting business affairs and responsibilities, she was motherly and carefully looked after the welfare and upbringing of her children. The needs and comfort of her children were always foremost in her mind and ambitions.

Several years before her death she disposed of the William Miller Gentry estate and devoted her time to the management of Cedar Vale Farm. Later she took into partnership her three sons, William H., Charles R., and Reuben J., in the management of the place under the firm name of Gentry Brothers. Mrs. Gentry was a silent partner in the firm and this arrangement continued successfully for a number of years. They, like their ancestors, raised pure bred live stock, such as Shorthorn cattle and Berkshire hogs. A division of the land was made after Mrs. Gentry's death on June 11, 1914. Some years prior to this division, Mrs. T. J. Sturges had been given her share of the estate. At present the three sons, William H., Charles R., wife and baby, and Reuben J. are living on the old home place and each is operating his individual holdings.

Mrs. Bettie Gentry was a lovable and capable character whose whole life was so lived that she was a decided benefit to the citizenship of Pettis county. She was an exceptional woman gifted beyond ordinary who had the respect, esteem and high regard of all who had the good for¬ tune to know her. Pettis county was bettered for having her as one of its leading citizens for so many years. The imprint of her personality and accomplishments was so indelibly impressed upon the narrative his¬ torical annals of the county that she will be remembered for many gen¬ erations, as one who left the world better for her sojourn here on earth.

During the Civil War, Reuben Joel Gentry served in Colonel Phillips' Regiment of Union Cavalry as a sergeant, and saw much active and ardu¬ ous service with his command. He was a man of honor, industrious, liberal to a high degree, well educated, and a leader among the people of the community. The Gentry Farm, Cedar Vale, was noted for its cleanliness and freedom from brush and weeds, it being Mr. Gentry's custom to side over the farm frequently with a hoe over the pommel of his saddle and wherever he saw a weed growing, he would cut it out. Every day or so he would make the rounds of his large estate to see that everything was in ship-shape, and order repairs where necessary. Mr. Gentry was always interested in the cause of education and he gave the site for the erection of Sunnyside district school, besides serving for many years as director of this school. He was loyal to his friends and a man of strong convictions which he expressed freely on occasions. Being a witty conversationalist, it was always an occasion when Mr. Gentry visited Sedalia, as he would soon become the center of a crowd who enjoyed his conversation and his views in general upon the topics of the day. Reuben J. Gentry was a Pettis County citizen who kept true to the traditions of his family, and bequeathed a heritage of upright living and honesty and integrity of purpose to the members of his family.

A story of Mr. Gentry's experience in the Civil War while serving as a member of Colonel Phillips' Regiment typifies the code of honor which prevails among the members of the Gentry family: While cam¬ paigning in Saline County, Mr. Gentry's horse became lame and practi¬ cally worn out with much arduous traveling. He consulted with his col¬ onel upon the matter and Colonel Phillips advised him to requisition a horse from one of the neighboring fanners. Private Gentry demurred at this, and said that it would not be fair to give his poor horse for a good one. Colonel Phillips then practically ordered him to go and ex¬ change his steed at the nearest farm he could find and secure a good mount. Mr. Gentry did so and had quite an altercation with a farmer with whom he made the trade. This farmer was a secessionist and nat¬ urally seized the occasion to roundly abuse Mr. Gentiy for imposing upon him, knowing that he did not dare resist the transaction. Mr.

Gentry's spirit of fairness then asserted itself and he said to the farmer: "My name is Reuben J. Gentry; my father lives across country a few miles from here. You take this old horse down to his home, tell him the circumstances and he will be only too pleased to give you a good horse in return.'' The farmer did so. He visited Richard Gentry at his home, stayed all night with Mr. Gentry, and rode away the next day with a better animal than the one which had been requisitioned.

Norvel Commodore McFhrland. - At a bend in the rock road, leading northeast from Sedalia in the western part of Bowling Green township, is the beautiful farm residence of N. C. McFarland. The farm of 200 acres owned and operated by Mr. McFarland is one of the best improved in this section of Missouri. The McFarland home is visible from a con¬ siderable distance and consists of a modern nine-room residence, fitted with a water system, electric lighting plant, and heating system - all the conveniences of city life brought directly to the country. Mr. McFarland has achieved considerable fame as a breeder of Duroc Jersey Swine and has been engaged in this profitable branch of animal husbandry since 1883. The Pettis County herd of Durocs was established in 1883, and has been bred constantly since that time, using the best blood line that money could buy. Mr. McFarland has built up one of the best herds of Durocs in the world, and this fact has been demonstrated at the leading fairs and live stock shows in the United States. At the World's Fair in St. Louis in 1904 the Pettis County Herd of Durocs won more than double the prizes and more than twice the amount of prize money won by any herd of Durocs in the world. It is a fact that today more boars bred by N. C. McFarland are found at the head of good herds of Duroc-Jersey swine than can be found bred by any other breeding establishment in the world, breeding the same variety of hogs. The McFarland herd num¬ bers 150 head and the breeding stock is all registered in the National Duroc-Jersey Association at Peoria, Illinois, and all are eligible in both Record Associations.

Animals from this herd have been shown at the leading State fairs and national live stock shows of the world, including the Louisiana Pur¬ chase Exposition held at St. Louis in 1904. Sixteen head were exhibited at this show, winning twenty-eight prizes, thirteen first prizes, five sec¬ ond prizes, two third prizes, two fourth prizes, one fifth, two sevenths, two champions and one grand champion prize, representing over $2,100 in cash prizes. Mr. McFarland owns the champion and grand champion

Duroc sow of the world, "Dotie No. 37472." Mr. McFarland holds sales of his stock throughout the year. Buyers order from all parts of the United States. No auction sales are held but so great is the reputation ' of this herd and so strong is the confidence of hogmen in Mr. McFarland's integrity and honesty that all sales are made privately and are mostly made through mail orders. The McFarland farm is located six miles northeast of Sedalia and two miles northwest of Beaman, and is con¬ veniently located for shipping at all times of the year.

N. C. McFarland was born May 13, 1867, in Shelby County, Missouri, theNson of Commodore Peter McFarland who was born in Kentucky of Scotch-Irish ancestry. Commodore Peter McFarland was born March 22, 1816, in Kentucky and died May 19, 1884. He was a soldier in the Mexican War, and was an early settler in northeast Missouri where he resided until 1868. In March of that year he came to Pettis County and settled on the place now owned by the subject of this sketch. He resided here until his death. His wife was Mary Elizabeth Combes, born in Kentucky, October 28, 1823, and departed this life June 17, 1915, at the time of her death being probably the oldest pioneer woman in Pettis County. She was a daughter of William Fielding Combes, a soldier of the War of 1812. Five sons and four daughters were bom to Commodore Peter and Mary Elizabeth McFarland, as follow: Lucy, deceased; Zachary, a farmer in Bowling Green township; Mattie E. and Fannie E., deceased; William and John, deceased; Green, a farmer in Bowling Green township; Norvel C., of this review; Mollie, deceased.

For the past fifty years, N. C. McFarland has resided upon his farm and cared for his aged parents until they died. He became possessor of the farm through purchase of the interests of the other heirs and has won a name and place for himself as a farmer and breeder second to none in Pettis County or Missouri. The account of his accomplishments as a breeder is a history of the man himself.

On February 10, 1893, N. C. McFarland and Miss Ella Kemp were united in marriage. Mrs. Ella (Kemp) McFarland is a daughter of Padfield N. and Margaret Kemp, the latter of whom is deceased, and the former still resides on his farm in Heath's Creek township, one of the oldest of the native born pioneers in Pettis County. A sketch of P. N. Kemp appears elsewhere in this volume. To Norvel C. and Ella McFar¬ land have been born children as follow: Ruth C., bom June 6, 1894; Ruby May, born November 1, 1896, died October 6, 1912; Rosella, born August

Mr; McFarland is a Democrat. He is a membre of the Methodist Episcopal Church, his family worshipping at the Salem M. E. Church. He is fraternally affiliated with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, the Modern Woodmen of America, and the Woodmen of the world. He is a member of the Duroc Breeders Association.

John Forster Antes. - The name of Antes figures prominently in the early annals of Sedalia and Pettis County and is especially noted as being connected with the railroad building era which opened up ',this vast country to settlement and development. John Forster Antes, late of Sedalia, was one of the best known men of the city and for many years was prominent in affairs here. He was born at Harrisburg, Pennsyl¬ vania, September 24, 1830, and was a son of Henry P. and Catherine (Forster) Antes, both natives of Pennsylvania and members of old American families. Mrs. Catherine Forster was a daughter of General Forster, an officer of the American Revolution.

John Forster Antes attended the public schools of his native city and served for sometime as a soldier in the United States Army, attain¬ ing the rank of captain. For some years he was employed in the office of the superintendent of the Old Colony and Fall River railroad, now the Boston and Maine railroad. Having occasion to visit an uncle in St. Louis, during the early sixties, he decided to remain in Missouri and took a position in a St. Louis Bank. When the construction of the Pacific railroad began at St. Louis, he accepted a position with the company, and as the road was built westward, from St. Louis, he was placed in charge of the advance stations. The road reached Sedalia #in 1863 and here he decided to remain and for four years served as agent of the rail¬ road in this city. He then resigned and opened a dry goods store at the corner of Main and Osage Streets, Main Street at that time being the principal business street of the city. He operated this store successfully for several years and he then organized the Sedalia Gas Light Company of which he served as president, with J. C. Thompson as vice-president. In 1880, he disposed of his gas interests and bought the Holbrecht Flour¬ ing Mill. After becoming owner of this mill he remodeled it and installed the roller process and remained in the milling business until 1890. Mr. Antes remained in active business in Sedalia until his death, December 5, 1906.

John Forster Antes was married on May 25, 1863, to Miss Lucy Jane Dempsey of Otterville, Missouri, a daughter of William R. and Mahala (Barnett) Dempsey, both of whom were born and reared in Virginia. The Dempsey family came to Missouri in pioneer days, and Mrs. Antes was born near Otterville, August 14, 1841. Four children were born to John Forster and Lucy Jane Antes: Catherine, wife of R. E. Waddell, residing at 215 East Seventh Street, Sedalia, has two children, Richard Antes and John Marcius Waddell; John Heard Antes, a decorator, Sedalia; Marcius S., Sedalia, has been in the employ of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas railway for the past twenty-one years, married May 6, 1912, to Miss Louise Breig, of Clinton, Missouri, and has a son, Marcius Jr. ; Flor¬ ence E., at home, her mother's devoted companion.

John Forster Antes, during his long years of residence in Sedalia, was a public spirited citizen who held the best interests of his home city paramount. He took an active and influential interest in civic affairs and served as a member of the city council. When Mr. and Mrs. Antes made their home in Sedalia the place was but a growing town scattered over the prairie. She has witnessed its growth into a beautiful, progressive and wealthy city. A pass issued to Mrs. Antes by the railroad company in December 3, 1866, reads: "Pacific Railroad of Missouri, Pass Mrs. John F. Antes, at pleasure. - T. W. McKissick, Supt."

Although past the age of seventy-six years, Mrs. Antes has an ex¬ cellent memory and recalls many historic incidents of the stirring days when Sedalia was young. She vividly recalls the time when Sedalia was captured by the Confederates during the Civil War. Her home was located but a few feet from the Federal Fort and a Union flag was kept flying from a pole at the fort. A force of eight hundred Confederates attacked the fort which was but poorly defended by an inadequate force of Union men. When the first shot was fired from the rebel cannon, the fort's defenders fled, leaving their flag flying in the breeze with no one to haul it down. A Mrs. Jackson who lived nearby, hoisted a sheet in token of surrender and the attacking forces took possession of the fort. Mrs. Antes and her colored maid fled down the street to the western part of the town. Her husband remained at his post during the fight and was not molested by the invaders. Mrs. Antes highly prizes a souvenir of this occasion which is a fragment of the cannon ball, fired by the Conferedates when the fort was attacked.

Shields R. Smith, manager of the Sedalia Home Telephone Company and district manager of the Kinloch Long Distance Telephone Company, was born in Cooper County, Missouri, December 23, 1881. He is a son of Nathan A. and Alice Virginia (Bane) Smith, the former of whom was born at Otterville, Cooper County, on September 8, 1858, and the latter was born at Canton, Missouri, February 25, 1862. Both parents now reside at Hayne, Kansas, where Mr. Smith is engaged in farming and stock raising. Their children are as follows: Shields Russell Smith, of this review; Walter Oran, born November 2, 1886, died December 15, 1889; Mattie E., wife of Thomas E. Ellis, Welch, Oklahoma, was born October 16, 1884; Ida M., born December 17, 1888, resides with her parents at Hayne, Kansas; Bane A. Smith, Dixon, New Mexico, born November 19, 1890; R. Berry Smith, born June 12, 1895, now a corporal in the United States Army, entered the service May 31, 1917, and was called to the colors November 5, 1917, trained at Camp Funston and lett for France on January 5, 1918. He is corporal of Company C, 107th Field Signal Battalion of the American Expeditionary Forces ; Dixie Smith, born July 15, 1899, died August 28, 1904.

Nathan A. Smith was the son of George Washington Smith who was born at Mint Springs, Virginia, May 10, 1810, and died April 10, 1894. He was a pioneer of the Otterville neighborhood and resided there during the Civil War, holding a quartermaster's commission for furnishing sup¬ plies for fourteen regiments of the Union Army. He was named in honor of George Washington and his mother was Nancy Neal, whose father came to America from Belfast, Ireland. George W. Smith was a son of John Smith, born in Pennsylvania in 1747 and served for seven years as a soldier in the Centinental Army under General Washington. He fought in the battles of the Brandywine, Saratoga, Germantown, Stillwater and was with Washington's Army at Valley Forge. He died in 1819 from disease contracted in the army. His home, in Albemarle County, Vir¬ ginia, adjoined Monticello, home of Thomas Jefferson.

Shields R. Smith was educated in the public and high schools of Otterville, Missouri, and the Hill's Business College in Sedalia, attend¬ ing the latter school when Mark A. McGruder had charge of the law de¬ partment. His first employment, after leaving school was with the New York Poultry and Egg Company, remaining with this company for one year, at their plant in Sedalia. He was then transferred to St. Louis in charge of the company's office in that city. In November of 1903 he went to Chicago in the employ of the Priebe-Swater Company as traffic manager. He returned to St. Louis on September 30, 1904, as traffic manager for the National Poultry and Egg Company. In October, 1906, he entered the employ of the Bell Telephone Company as division store¬ keeper, with headquarters at Sedalia. He was next appointed solicitor and adjuster of claims, and in September of 1907 he was appointed to the post of manager. In November, 1910, Mr. Smith was elected man¬ ager of the Sedalia Home Telephone Company, and in July, 1913, he ac¬ cepted the post of district manager of the.Kinloch Long Distance Tele¬ phone Company for central and southwest Missouri and southeast Kansas, positions which he is now capably and efficiently filling.

Mr. Smith was married on October 10, 1908, to Miss Elizabeth Geigel of Sedalia, Missouri, a daughter of William (b. September 28, 1854, d. May 7, 1916) and Susan (Roef) Geigel (b. May 11, 1854, d. July 3, 1889), who were parents of the following children: Mrs. Elizabeth Smasel, Cole Camp, Missouri; William, Tulsa, Oklahoma; Mrs. Susie Mergen, Sedalia. Mr. and Mrs. Smith reside at 404 West Fifth Street.

Mr. Smith is a Democrat and is a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church. He is affiliated with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and is past exalted ruler of the Sedalia Lodge and is a member of the Knights of Columbus and the Knights and Ladies of Security. He is vice-president of the Sedalia Chamber of Commerce.

Arthur C. Harter, manager of the Sedalia Milling Company, was born in Windsor, Missouri, October 16, 1874. He is a son of Morris (b. 1840, d. 1908) and Nancy Elizabeth (Bass) Harter. Morris Harter was born in Indiana, February 18, 1840, and came to Missouri in 1870, locating in Henry County where he operated a sawmill which he pur¬ chased of a Mr. Weaver. For some time after his arrival here he did commercial sawing of lumber and also operated a grist mill under the firm name of Weaver & Harter. Mr. Harter came from Windsor to Se¬ dalia in 1876 and engaged in the milling business in partnership with Samuel Zimmerman, under the firm name of Zimmerman & Harter. The business was incorporated in 1892 and the name of the firm was changed to the Sedalia Milling Company. In 1895 Mr. Harter became sole pro¬ prietor of the mill and it is still operated by members of his family.

Morris Harter served in Company K, Third Indiana Cavalry, throughout the Civil War. He was wounded at Missionary Ridge by a minnie ball through the right thigh and lay in the hospital for some time.

Returning to his home after his discharge he made a trip to Missouri, with a view to seeking a location. At no time during the war was the Third Indiana Cavalry Regiment entirely together. The regiment was split up into good detachments and took part in Sherman's March to the Sea. Mr. Harter saw a great deal of action and ardous services. He taught school in Indiana when a young man. He was attending school at Frankfort, Indiana when war broke out. He died August 28, 1908.

Three children were born to Morris and Nancy Elizabeth Harter, as follows: Mamie, wife of M. B. Thornburgh, Owatonna, Minnesota; Jewel, wife of W. I. Thomas, Sedalia; Arthur C. Harter, of this review. Mrs. Nancy Elizabeth Harter was born in Missouri in 1846 and now makes her home at 511 West Second Street.

Arthur C. Harter attended the Sedalia public schools and the Cen¬ tral Business College of Sedalia and was practically brought up in the milling business. When a boy he entered his father's mill and acquired a thorough knowledge of milling. Upon his father's death he succeeded him as the head of the business and now ranks as one of the leading millers of this section of Missouri.

The Sedalia Milling Company is one of the really important manu¬ facturing concerns of Sedalia. Upon Mr. Harter's death the company was re-incorporated by A. C. Harter, his mother, and sisters, with a capi¬ tal stock of $40,000. With the expansion of the business and consequent growth under A. C. Harter's management the capitalization ;was in¬ creased in 1918 to $150,000. The firm buys and sells grain and flour. The mill has a capacity of 200 barrels of flour daily, together with an output of 100 barrels of meal, and 1,000 sacks of feed. The special brand of flour manufactured by the Sedalia Milling Company is the popular "Blue Barrel Patent" which has been made by the firm for over thirtyeight years and is a prime favorite with housekeepers over a large sec¬ tion of territory.

A. C. Harter was married June 4, 1902, to Mrs. Josie Brimmer, nee Atkins, a daughter of Sloughter and Sarah Atkins of Pettis County. By her former marriage Mrs. Harter has two children: Raymond L. Brim¬ mer, born November, 1893, enlisted in the United States Navy, Sub¬ marine Service and is now serving as first-class electrician on U. S. Sub¬ marine L-8 ; Harvey Brimmer enlisted during the war in Company 10, Truck Service Division, U. S. A., having entered training at the Rahe Army Auto School, Kansas City. Mr. and Mrs. A. C. Harter reside at 223 South Stewart Street.

Mr. Arthur C. Harter is one of Sedalia's most progressive and en¬ terprising business men who has rapidly forged to the front rank in the commercial life of the city and is one of the leaders in the movement to place Sedalia in the front ranks of Missouri's manufacturing and com¬ mercial centers. He is not alone a leader in his line of business, but takes a keen and absorbing interest in promoting the general welfare and prog¬ ress of his home city in advanced lines.

Dr. George F. Townsend, veterinarian, Sedalia, Missouri, was born in Smith County, Kansas, May 24, 1881. He is the son of Isaac F. (born January 31, 1837, died February 26, 1912,) and Julia Frances (Hart) Townsend (born in 1841). Isaac F. Townsend was born near or at Henryville, Indiana, and was the son of George Harmon Townsend, a native of Clark County, Indiana, bom in 1811. George Townsend, the elder, was the son of Isaac Townsend, of New York, a soldier of the Revolution, whose father immigrated from Holland to America in pre-revolutionary days and made a settlement in New York. The Townsend family is probably one of the oldest of the American families. Isaac Townsend was reared to young manhood in Indiana, and enlisted at Jeffersonville, Indiana, for service in an Indiana regiment and served for three years in the Civil War. He homesteaded land in Smith County, Kansas, in 1876, and there reared his family. His wife, Julia Frances (Hart) Townsend was born in Knoxville, Tennessee, and now resides at Smith Center, Kansas. I. E. and Julia Frances Townsend were parents of five children. Those living are: William H. and Charles H., living at Smith Center, Kansas; Mrs. Lela May Shook, Greene, Iowa, and Dr. George F. Townsend, subject of this sketch.

After attending the public and high schools of Smith Center, Kansas, George F. Townsend studied for two years in the State Normal School at Emporia, Kansas, and one year at the Agricultural College, Manhattan, Kansas. He then studied for three years at the Kansas City Veterinarian College and graduated from this institution. He located in Sedalia on April 15, 1913, and practiced in partnership with Doctor Warren for one year. He then opened an office at 116 South Kentucky street, and has built up a splendid practice in Sedalia and the surrounding country. For the past three years Doctor Townsend has been Deputy State Veterinarian.

Doctor Townsend was married August 28, 1907, at Columbus, Indiana, to Bertha May Stuckey, a daughter of Joseph L. and Lydia (Everode) Stuckey, who now reside at Columbus, Indiana. Mrs. Townsend's grand- father, David Everode, was a veteran of the Civil War, and died in Sep¬ tember, 1918, aged eighty-four years. He and his wife celebrated their sixtieth wedding anniversary on January 28, 1918. Doctor and Mrs. Townsend have a daughter, Velma Fern, who was born at Smith Center, Kansas. The Townsend city residence is located at 602 West Sixteenth street.

Doctor Townsend is affiliated fraternally with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. He is a member of the Missouri Valley Veterinarian's Association, and the State Veterinarian's Association, the former society being the largest in mem¬ bership of its class in the world.

Judge Isaac Moseley Danforth. - Living quietly and 'contentedly upon "Brookton Farm," northeast of Sedalia, a beautiful country estate of 160 acres, is a well-read, useful and universally respected pioneer citi¬ zen of Pettis County. Since March 17, 1869 "Brookton Farm" has been his home and the half century of time which Mr. Danforth has spent in Pettis County has been a very useful period in his life, given in great measure to the assistance and well being of his fellow men. Isaac M. Danforth was born in the city of Lafayette, Indiana, August 8, 1854, the son of Samuel Danforth, whose ancestry was of the very earliest of the families of old New England. The progenitor of the Danforth family in America was Nicholas Danforth, a native of Framlingham, England, who settled in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1634. Nicholas Danforth had three sons, Samuel, Thomas and Jonathan. Samuel II was ordained a minister and graduated from the second class at Cambridge University in 1643. Anna, one of three daughters born to Nicholas Danforth was a direct ancestor of James A. Garfield. These three daughters were Eliza¬ beth, May and Anna. Samuel, direct ancestor of Judge Danforth, and son of Samuel, graduated from Cambridge in 1683, and had charge of a church at Taunton, Massachusetts. Thomas, son of Samuel (III) was born in Taunton, and established himself as an extensive brazier and pewter manufacturer at Norwich, Connecticut.

Thomas Danforth had four sons, among whom was Thomas (V), who had seven sons. His son Samuel (VI), grandfather of Judge I. M. Danforth, was bom at Middleton, Connecticut, and died at Hartford, Connecticut. He was father of eight daughters and one son, Samuel (VII), father of the subject of this review. Four daughters of Samuel Danforth (VI) conducted a select school for young ladies in New York City.

Samuel Danforth was bom June 8, 1816, and died on his farm near Sedalia, Missouri, April 4, 1879. He was first married to Eliza Bullock, a daughter of William and Eliza Bullock of Lafayette, Indiana, February 6, 1842. Mrs. Eliza Danforth died without issue and on September 8, 1852, Samuel Danforth was married to Jemima Robinson, a daughter of Joseph Robinson, a native of Lincolnshire, England. Mrs. Jemima Dan¬ forth died in 1864, leaving children as follow: Isaac Moseley, of this re¬ view; Charles Seymour, born March 4, 1856 and died July 10, 1871; Philura, died in Lafayette, Indiana; Anna Louisa is the wife of William P. Henderson, Sedalia, Missouri.

Samuel Danforth learned the trade of silversmith and jeweler at Hartford, Connecticut. After a stay of some years in New Orleans he located in Lafayette, Indiana, and conducted a jewelry store in that city for over thirty years. During the epidemic of cholera in 1848, he spent almost his entire time in assisting the sufferers and victims of the epi¬ demic. In 1869, he came to Pettis County, Missouri and purchased a farm where he resided until his death.

Many noted men have sprung from the first ancestor of the Danforths who settled in Cambridge, Massachusetts, nearly three centuries ago. Thomas Danforth, the oldest son of Nicholas, was vice-governor of Maine for a number of years. Charles Danforth was the founder of the Danforth Locomotive Manufacturing Company. Many members of the family have been teachers and ministers. A geneological history of the Danforth family issued in 1902 gives exhaustive information con¬ cerning this old family.

Isaac M. Danforth was educated in the public and high schools of Lafayette, Indiana, and was fifteen years of age when the family came to Missouri. For a period of fifteen years, Mr. Danforth represented the Home Insurance Company. In 1894 he removed to Sedalia and for five years was engaged in the insurance business with Landmann Brothers in the Missouri Trust Company's Building. In 1899 he returned to the farm where he is now making his home.

Mr. Danforth was married on October 25, 1882, to Miss Ella R. Murray, who was born in Pennsylvania, in 1855, a daughter of George Murray, a contractor and builder. Mr. Murray was one of the pioneer contractors and builders of Sedalia and he erected a woolen mill and many of the finest residences of the city. The following children have blessed this marriage: George Moseley Danforth, a successful farmer who is operating 363 acres in Bowling Green township; Charlotte, died February 17, 1916, was wife of R. Sterling, and left two children, Wilson, aged two years, and Deloris, aged ten years; Charles Samuel, at home; Susie Lee, wife of John Glinker, with the Sedalia Light and Traction Company; Edwin Virgil, born June 17, 1897, enlisted in the Auto Service of the Na¬ tional Army and studied at the Rahe Auto School, Kansas City, Missouri and was honorably discharged from the service December 9, 1918.

Judge Danforth is a member of Salem Methodist Church as is his son, Charles Samuel, superintendent of Salem Sunday schools, who is an ardent church and Sunday school worker and organizer, with a good address and ability to deliver a good speech. Judge Danforth is a Repub¬ lican and was once the candidate of his party for the position of represen¬ tative from Pettis County. He was elected judge of the County Court of Pettis County in November of 1904 and served from January 1, 1905 to January 1, 1909. His associates in the court were Judges Messerley and Rayburn during his first term. During the second term he was asso¬ ciated with Judges McAninch and Haggard. During his term of office much constructive work of a valuable and useful character was accom¬ plished or placed under way. The rock road district was extended to twelve miles and the $200,000 bond issue was voted after the district was formed. Judge Danforth was an active factor in promoting the good roads movement and at the Smithton meeting it was decided to extend ifhe twelve mile limit. The road districts of the county were all re¬ arranged and he, with Judge Haggard, arranged thirty-eight road dis¬ tricts in the county. Judge Danforth and his associates in his first term also laid out the Sixteenth Street road direct to the Johnson County line.

Through his influence and direction, a more rigid enforcement of the Sunday closing laws, affecting the saloons, was obtained and the Sedalia saloon men were induced to remove the curtains from the front windows and doors on Sundays so as to afford an unobstructed view of the interior. Several saloons, which were found guilty of disregarding and breaking the Sunday closing laws, were closed entirely, and the greater number in Sedalia were finally induced to obey the laws - the result being more quiet and less drunkenness on the Sabbath than heretofore.

James N. Wilkerson, merchant, contractor and man of affairs in Sedalia, is a member of one of the oldest pioneer families in Missouri of Virginia ancestry. His grandfather, William Wilkerson was bom in Bedford County, Virginia in 1810 and came from Adair County, Ken¬ tucky, in 1836 and located on a farm, one and a half miles southwest of

Higginsville, in Lafayette County, Missouri. William Wilkerson was born in Bedford County, Virginia, in 1810, his ancestors having come from Scotland to Virginia in pre-Revolutionary days. For over eighty years the members of this old family have been prominently identified with Missouri. He married Mehitable Kelly, born in Rowan County, North Carolina, in 1812 and died in 1904. Her mother was a Miss Malone, a native of Ireland, who died in Lafayette County, Missouri. John Wesley Wilkerson, father of James N. Wilkerson, was born in Lafayette County, Missouri in 1847, and died in 1875 at Fort Smith, Arkansas, where he had removed from Lafayette County, and had engaged in farming. He was married to Lydia Pelley of Adair County, Kentucky, a member of the Pelley family who were prominent in Fort Smith, Arkansas, and formerly owned the land whereon the Fort Smith Cemetery is located. The children born to John W. and Lydia Wilkerson are: James N., sub¬ ject of this sketch; John, Eldorado, Kansas; Emma Carter Wilkerson, deceased; George Irvin, deceased. After the death of John W. Wilkerson his widow married George Ridge, a native of Lafayette County, and two children were born of this marriage: Hugh, deceased; Alice, wife of Fred Havens, Fort Smith, Arkansas.

During the boyhood days of the subject of this review the family were making a trip from Fort Smith, Arkansas, to Warrensburg, Mis¬ souri, at a time when freshets had occurred and many streams were out of banks. Mr. Ridge, his stepfather, loaded the family and belongings in an ox-wagon and upon their arrival at Indian Creek, it was found that the stream was out of banks and several people were detained while wait¬ ing for the high waters to subside. One traveler offered $10 to any one who would get him and his buggy across the swollen stream. Mr. Ridge agreed to make the attempt and, taking the man's horse with the owner behind him, the horse swam across the stream with the double load in safety. He then returned and hitched the horse to the buggy, again making a successful crossing. Recrossing the river, he fastened the wagon bed of his outfit to the running gears with chains and compelled the oxen to swim the creek. Shortly afterward the family arrived at Joplin, then a hustling boom town. They stopped in Joplin for a short time and got acquainted with James Butcher, whose daughter some years later became the first wife of James N. Wilkerson.

learned the trade of stone mason at Carthage, Missouri, and in 1888 re¬ moved to Sedalia and followed contracting and building. For several years he served as a member of the city police force and then went on the road as deputy for the Select Knights and Ladies, and later served as Supreme Deputy for this fraternal order from 1900 to 1907. Mr. Wilkerson began the erection of houses in Sedalia in 1910 and during the past five years he has erected over fifty cottages in this city. He is owner of two farms, one of 200 acres and the other of 206 acres, on Spring Fork, and supervises the cultivation of his land. He is also proprietor of a grocery business, located at 103 West Main Street.

Mr. Wilkerson was first married in 1887 at Warsaw, Missouri, to Lusetta Butcher, who died on August 4, 1908, at Sedalia. Four children were born to this marriage: Jesse I., Sedalia; F. Claud, a leading attor¬ ney of Sedalia, a sketch of whom appears in this volume; Charles Otto, now serving in the United States Navy as coxswain with headquarters at D. Island, San Francisco; James N., died in infancy. Mr. Wilkerson's second marriage took place on August 21, 1909, with Mrs. Henry Rittman nee Laura Ridge. A daughter, Mary Virginia, was born to this marriage.