Saline County, Missouri - Biographical sketches, 1910 (part 6 of 17)

Mr. Robertson was married in 1849 to Mary Black, who was born in Perry county, Ohio, the daughter of Randall and Dorothy Black, a prominent family there and pioneer settlers of Ohio. Mrs. Robertson was reared and educated in the Buckeye state and was a woman of gracious personality, refined and kindly disposed toward all. She was called to her reward on March 22, 1893, after 1)Ccoming the mother of eight children, named as follows: Josiah J., an extensive farmer and stockman, who lives in Elmwood township, married Margaret Wiseman; the subject's second child, George M., is deceased; John, living in Grand Pass township, is a farmer and married Belle Harrison; Daniel B. lives in Marshall ; Thomas Stonewall Jackson lives in Marshall ; Adelaide died in infancy; Minnie, who was a Sister of Charity, is also deceased; Dorothy L., widow of William Baker, lives at home with her father and keeps house for him.

Mr. Robertson is a Democrat politically and he has taken more or less interest in political afi^airs. However, he is no politician, merely desiring to aid in what way he can the best policies of the body politic, being deeply interested in whatever tends toward the development of his locality in any way. The Robertson family are loyal supporters of the Catholic church.

No family in Saline county is more influential or prominent than the Robertsons and they are held in the highest esteem by all classes. Mr. Robertson is known as a man of unblemished reputation, possessing not only a strict integrity, but an intelligent appreciation of his responsibilities and the faculty of accomplishments, fully realizing that these traits of character have descended through the blood of his ancestry and in whatever stations in life he has attained, his most valued possessions, his greatest pride shall ever be that priceless heritage of his progenitors - an honored name.

Capt. Calvin J. Miller

In the death of the honored subject of this memoir, which occurred in 1899, at his home in Sweet Springs, Missouri, there passed awav another member of that group of business men who were the leaders in inaugurating and building up the commercial interests of Saline county. He was identified with the growth of the county for many years and contributed in a large degree to its material progress and prosperity. He early had the sagacity to discern the eminence which the future had in store for this great and growing section of the commonwealth, and, acting in accordance with the dictates of faith and jndi^mcnt, he reaped, in the fulhiess of time, the jyenerous l^enefits which are the just recompense of indomita1)le industry, spotless integrity and marvelous enterprise.

Calvin j. Miller was a native of old Virg-inia, that state which has so ap])ropriately heen called "the mother of Presidents," his natal day having been Inly i6, 1822. He was the son of Thomas Miller, who also was a native of that state. He brought his family to Saline county, Missouri, in 1838, traveling with four-horse teams, and they spent their first winter at Riser's Bridge. The following fall they settled on wild land in Salt Pond, now Liberty township, which they proceeded to clear up and which they developed into a good farm. Thomas Miller died here in 1871, at the age (^f sixty-nine years. He was a son of Valentine and Eva Miller, natives respectively of PennsyKania and Germany, both families being of German stock. Valentine Miller died in Ohio, while on a prospecting trip in a very early day. The mother came to Missouri with the other members of the family in 1838, and is now deceased. Thomas jMiller married Anna Spotts, a native of Virginia and a daughter of Daniel Spotts, who w^as born in Pennsylvania. Mrs. Anna Miller died in 1885. She and her husband were faithful members of the P>aptist church, to which they gave a warm and earnest support. They were the parents of five children, namely: Calvin J., the subject of this sketch; Mary C., deceased; Margaret, deceased ; Frances and Thomas F., the tw^o last named being at the present time the only surviving members of this family.

Calvin J. Miller was reared on the home farm and was educated in a pioneer school. He devoted his energies to the cultivation of the home farm until 1849, when he made an overland trip to California, attracted there by the wonderful stories of quickly-acquired wealth. He had charge of the expedition with which he went, consisting of about twenty-five men and twenty yokes of oxen. He remained in California awhile, and then returned East by way of the isthmus of Panama. He then engaged in the mercantile Inisiness in Sweet Springs, which he successfully conducted up to the time of his death, which occurred in 1899, at the age of seventy-seven years. He was a shrewd and careful business man, enterprising yet wisely conservative, and his business dealings w'cre marked by a spirit of integrity and honesty which gained for him a high standing in the community in which so many of his years were s])ent. He was a faithful husband and a loving father, as well as a helpful friend to all in need. In his death, the community felt that it had sufTered a distinct loss.

In politics the sul)ject w^as a staunch Republican and in an early day he served as deputy sheriff of Saline county. During the Civil war Governor

Reynolds cc^mmissionecl him captain and he was placed in command of the Second Company, First Battalion, Twentieth Regiment, Fifth Division, Missouri State Militia. He also rendered valiant service during the Mexican war, in which lie held the rank of first lieutenant. His family now possess a large army coat which he took from the body of a dead Mexican soldier in the battle of Showa, Mexico.

Captain Miller married Elizabeth Carmack. who was a distant relative of the late Senator Carmack, of Tennessee. She was herself a native of Tennessee and from that state she came with her parents to Missouri in 1842. She is still living at Sweet Springs, at the advanced age of eighty-one years. To Calvin and Elizabeth Miller were born five children, namely: Charles, who died in 1870; Thomas, who died in childhood; Robert ^^^, living in Sweet Springs, Missouri; James was killed in 1882 in a terrible cyclone which swept over Sweet Springs ; ]\Iary is deceased.

A man of sterling character and the strictest integrity, Capt. Calvin Miller will always be remembered with the kindest of feelings by those who knew him. His was a long and busy life, but at no time did he forget his duty to his country, his family or his fellow citizens and he enjoys the high esteem of all.

Joseph M. Fulkesox

"Man is the noblest work of God" and a truly noble man but fulfills the plan of the Creator. To some are given a cjuarter of a century wherein to complete the appointed work, while the span of others varies to the allotted three score and ten. But how true and comforting that life is measured, not by years alone, but rather by a purpose achieved and by worthy deeds. How often when a loved one answers the final summons, are we confronted with the question, "Why must he go when he can be so illy spared?" But the grim messenger heeds not and we are left to mourn and to accept submissively. Mr. Fulkeson's death removed from the community one who had endeared himself to all who knew him - a man who stood "four square to every wind that blows," and who had by a life of right living and lofty purpose attained to an enviable standing in the communitv where he lived.

Joseph M. Fulkeson was born in 1827 in Tennessee and died in Saline county, Missouri, in 1896. He was the son of Frederick and ]\Iary hTilkeson. These parents were natives of Tennessee, who came to Missouri in a very early day, locating in Cooper county on a farm, to the operation of which they de- voted their remaining years. On that farm the subject of this sketch was reared, l)eing early accustomed to the strenuous toil incident to agriculture in those early davs. He received his education in the common schools, which in those days were comparatively primitive in equipment and methods. In 1850 Mr. Fulkeson made a trip to California in a search for the precious metal which at that time was turning so many faces westward. He remained in the West for awhile, and then returned to Saline county and bought a farm in Elmwood township. He made many permanent and substantial improvements on this farm, which he afterwards sold. He subsequently owned and operated several different farms, all his operations being attended with a gratifying degree of success. He was practical and methodical in his operations and was progressive in his ideas, not being backward about adopting new ways of doing things when their practicability had been demonstrated. In 1881 Mr. Fulkeson retired from active work and came to Sweet Springs to reside, making that his home until his death. He bought a pleasant and attractive home on Locust street, and there his widow now lives. She is a lady of many splendid fjualities of character and is well liked by all who know her.

In 1857 Joseph Fulkeson was united in marriage with Frances Miller, who was born in Virginia in 1831. (For a sketch of her parents. Thomas and Anna Miller, and family, see elsewhere in this work under the caption of Capt. Calvin Miller.) Mr. Fulkeson was an ardent Democrat in his political tendencies and his religious belief was that of the Baptist church, t(^ which his widow also belongs. In every relation of life Mr. Fulkeson was faithful to every trust, and he not only enjoyed the love and confidence of those nearest and dearest to him, but the unbounded respect of all who had acquaintance with him. He easilv made friends and once made he alwavs retained them.

One of the respected citizens of Saline county is Aljraham W'idder, who has for many years devoted his attention to agricultural and kindred jnu-suits and is now living at Sweet Springs, where he is successfully engaged in the gardening and florist's business. Of eastern nativity, he has combined the conservatism of that section of the country with the progressive spirit of the West, and in him it has proven a happy combination. Though well advanced in years, he takes a keen interest in the affairs of the community and enjoys the unbounded confidence of all who know him.

Abraham \\'idcler was born June 5, 1836, in Cumberland county. Penn sylvania, and is a son of George and Mary (Engle) W'idder, the former a native of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and the latter of Maryland. George W'idder was reared and educated in his native state and early applied his energies to agricultural pursuits. Eventually he moved to Cumberland county, in that state, where he followed farming until his death, which occurred in 1854. Pie was survived several years by his widow, who died in 1861. They were both faithful and earnest members of the Dunkard church. In politics he was first a Whig, but on the formation of the Republican party he became identified with it and ever afterward voted that ticket. He was twice married, first to a Miss Royer, a native of Pennsylvania, who bore him five children, namely: Allen, John, Mary, Elizabeth and Catharine. To his union with Mary Engle were born seven children, as follows : Mary. Elizabeth, Samuel. Daniel. David. Joseph and Abraham, the immediate subject of this sketch.

Abraham W'idder was reared on the home farm and secured his education in the pioneer schools of his home neighborhood. In i860 he went to Springfield. Illinois, where he learned the carpenter's trade. During the time he resided in Springfield he was employed in repairs on the residence of Abraham Lincoln. He remained in Springfield five years and then moved to Xapierville, near Chicago, where he followed carpentering until 1869. In that year ]\Ir. Widder came to Saline county, Missouri, and bought a farm in Salt Pond township. The farm had some improvements on it, but Mr. W'idder made many further improvements of a permanent and substantial nature and continued the operation of the farm until 1882 when he sold that place and bought a small farm in the suburbs of Sweet Springs. He was for about three years employed as a clerk in a grocery store at Sweet Springs, but at the end of that time he took up the work of gardening and raising flowers. He has erected a modern steam-heated greenhouse in which he raises winter vegetables of all kinds and also many flowers. He has been very successful in this work and finds a ready market for his entire product, both in vegetables and flow'ers. On his farm he is also devoting considerable attention to the raising of small fruits, which he markets in season. Now he is the main source of supply for Sweet Springs and vicinity. His place is considered a model of its kind and one of the most noticeable features of the place is the attractive residence, which is generally conceded to be the best in vSweet Springs. It is of two stories, built of brick, and the beauty of the building is greatly enhanced by the well kept lawn and grounds which surround it.

On December 16, 1856. Mr. Widder was married, in Pennsylvania, to Martha Seits, a native of that state and a daughter of Jacob and Susan { Bow- man) Seits. als(i natives of the Keystone state. To this union have been 1:)orn eight children, namely : Mary Jane is the wife of Joseph Graves, of Marshall, this county, and the^- are the parents of two children ; Anna Dilia is the wife of J. C. Hibbs, who is in the grocery business at Kansas City, and they have two children: (ieorge A. is a traveling- salesman and resides at Sedalia, Missouri; William L., who is in the dry goods business at Madison, Kansas, married Dollie Achamire and they have one child ; Jacob S. is in the commission business at Madison, Kansas, married Effie Achamire and they have two children; Edwin E. is in Old Mexico; Addie is the wife of W. W. George; Frank S. resides in California.

In politics Mr. W'idder gives an ardent support to the Republican ticket, though he has never sought the honors of public 'office himself. On the 8th of July, 1862, Mr. Widder enlisted in the Union army and served until the 23d of October following. He was mainly assigned to the duty of guarding Confederate prisoners at Alton, Illinois. Since locating in Missouri, Mr. Widder has enjoyed the unbounded confidence of those with whom he has become acquainted and his friends are in number as his acquaintances. He is enterprising and progressixe in his methods and has made a distinctive success of his operation. His enterprise is an important one in the community and Mr. \\'idder is numbered among the representative men of the county.

Pallis L. Scruggs

Practical!}- all his life the subject of this sketch has been a resident of Missouri, and that lie is a representative of one of its pioneer families is evident when we revert to the fact that he has now attained to the age of nearly four score years. His life has been one of signal usefulness and honor, and his memory links the early pioneer epoch, with its primitive surroundings and equipments, inseparably with this latter era of prosperity and achievement and conditions which have marked the advent of the glorious twentieth centur}-. As a representative farmer of the county and one of its pioneer citizens, it is incumbent that we enter this rcA'iew of the life history of Mr. Scruggs.

Pallis L. Scruggs, formerly one of the active farmers of Saline county, but now retired and living in Sweet Springs, was born in Cole county, Missouri, No\ember 20. 1832. and is the son of James and Mary (Herndon) Scruggs, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Virginia, in which stale they were married. The subject's paternal grandfather, Henry Scruggs,

Avas also a native of Kentucky, and a farmer by vocation. He emigrated to Cole county, ATissoiiri. in a very early day, and there spent the remainder of his davs. James and Man- Scruggs came to Missouri in 1832 and bought government land in Cole county. This they improved into a good farm and the\- li\'ed there until their deaths. They were members of the Baptist church and t(iok much interest in the advancement of the church in its early days here. James Scruggs was a soldier during the Black Hawk war. He and his wife were the parents of thirteen children, namely: John William, Susan, James and Thomas, twins: Henry, George, Lucretia, Virginia. Amanda, Mary Jane. Marshall, Pallis L. and Napoleon.

Pallis L. Scruggs was reared on the home farm and in the pioneer schools he secured a fair education. Educational facilities in those early days were somewhat primitive, the school house being built of logs and the floors and seats of puncheons, while the teaching methods would scarcely pass muster in comparison with the present day methods. 'Idie subject remained at home until he had attained his majority, assisting his father in the work of the farm. In 1853 he made a trip across the plains, by ox team, to California, during the course of which trip he passed through many strange and ofttimes thrilling experiences. He engaged in mining in the Golden state and met with fair success. After laboring there two years he returned home by way of the Isthmus of Panama. In 1865 he came to Saline county and purchased one hundred and twenty-eight acres of land in Salt Pond township. This was new land and a prodigious amount of labor was required to clear it and put it in shape for cultivation. The early pioneers were accustomed to such experiences, however, and in due time Mr. Scruggs developed his land into one of the best farms in the communit}'. In the early days here niany \arieties of wild game were to be found, the woods abounding in bear, wolves, wild turkeys, deer and much smaller game, and the table was always well supplied with meat.

i\[r. Scruggs continued to operate this farm with very gratifying success until IQ08, and during all these years he constantly maintained the place at the highest standard of excellence. He was progressive and systematic in his methods and hesitated not to adopt new ideas and methods when their iiractical)ility had been demonstrated. In connection with the tilling of the soil he also gave some attention to the raising of live stock, in which also he was successful. In 1908 Mr. Scruggs bought a nice residence property in Sweet Springs, where he is now living and enjoying that rest which he has so richly earned. He still owns the old home farm, which is being- operated by his son-in-law.

In 1856 Mr. SciTig-gs married Nancy Jane Lobbin, a native of Virginia, and a daughter of James and Diana (Martin) Lobbin, who were natives of Virginia and early settlers in Missouri. Mrs. Scruggs died in February, 1904. Thev were the i)arents of six children, who are briefly mentioned as follows: James A., who was killed in the big cyclone which swept over Sweet Springs in 1882; ]\Iary E., now deceased, was the wife of Riley Johnson; Missouri IL, deceased; Luthera, who is single, remains at home and is her father's housekeeper and companion; Minnie is the wife of George W. Hagan. and thev have two children, Mona Arline and Nellie A.; Margaret N. is the wife of Jesse Dame.

I'he subject's religious belief is that of the Presbyterian church, of which he is a member and to which he gives an earnest and liberal support. His political affiliation is with the Democratic party and he has always taken an active interest in local political affairs. Fraternally, he is a member of the time-honored order of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. In 1863 Mr. Scruggs became a member of Company D, Nineteenth Regiment Missouri Confederate Infantry, which was assigned to General Marmaduke's division, and he saw considerable service, mostly in Missouri and Arkansas. A man of sterling- qualities of character, Mr. Scruggs has throughout his long life been guided by the highest ideals and he has enjoyed at all times the highest regard of his fellow citizens.

Henry C. Stolberg

W'lien a man wins success in life by reason of close and persistent application to Avhate\'er he makes his vocation and not owing- to any caprice of fortune or inherited wealth or assistance of influential friends, he is deserving of a place in history and to be held up as an example to the young. Such a man is Henry C. Stolberg, an extensive farmer of Elmwood township. Saline county. He was born in St. Clair county, Illinois, February 13, 1855, the son of John Michael and Elizabeth (Kramer) Stolberg, both natives of Germany. The paternal grandfather was John Martin Stolberg, who came to the United States in 1844 with his family and they settled in St. Clair countv, Illinois, on a farm. Elizabeth Kramer was born May 2^, 1828, the daughter of Peter Kramer. She and John INIichael Stolberg married in St. Clair county, Illinois, March 26, 185 1. He was first a cooper and later in life a farmer. He and his family were members of the Evangelical Lutheran church. He was first a Republican and later a Democrat.

He and his wife were the parents of ten chilch'en, named as foHows : Martin h\es in Belleville, St. Clair county, Illinois; Lena is the wife of George Heinrich ; Henry C, of this review; Lizzie, who married George Knntz, is deceased ; John Lives in Elmwood township. Saline county, where he is farming; Andrew li\es in Belleville, Illinois; (reorge also lives in Illinois; Edward, deceased; Dorothea and Michael are deceased. Seven children were born to John Martin Stolberg and wife: Henry. John. Andrew, Martha E., Elizabeth, Martha Eva and John George.

Henry C. Stolberg- remained at home until lie was twenty-eight A-ears of age. He was reared on a farm and educated in the parochial schools, also attended the public schools. He was confirmed in the E^-angelical Lutheran church at Ereeburg, Illinois. In 1884 he married and came to his present farm of two hundred acres in Saline county. It was an old place then, but Mr. Stolberg has greatly improved it, remodeling the large house, modernizing it in every respect, and he has built a large and substantial barn and other necessary buildings. He has drained the low land and fenced it and he has set out a large number of fruit trees of excellent varietv anci quality; he is well up on all horticultural ((uestions. taking a delight in this phase of his general farming. The grounds al)out the place are symmetrically laid out and tastily kept, through them running cement walks - in short, Mr. Stolberg" has one of the most attractive and inviting- country homes in Saline county and here the many friends of the family frequently gather, always finding a hospitable welcome. He handles all the live stock the farm will support and he rotates his crops and was one of the first to begin the culture of clover in this section of the state.

Mr. Stolberg was married in 1884 to Emma E. Trautmann, a native of St. Clair county, Illinois, having been born and reared at Caseyville. She is the daughter of Ered and Dorothea (Deck) Trautmann, natives of Germany, who came to America when young. Ered was the son of Philip Trautmann, who spent his life in the Fatherland.

Fred and Dorothea Trautman were married in St. Clair county, Illinois, in 1850, wdiere they farmed the remainder of their lives. Eight children were born to them, named as follows: Ered W., deceased; Emma E., wife of Henry C. Stolberg, of this review; Louisa M. ; Philip; William died in infancy, as did also Edw^ard ; Caroline and William E. Their parents were members of the Evangelical Lutheran church.

Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Stolberg, namely : Hugo is living at home, as is also Wanda A. ; Adela H. is in school; Emma E. died when two years of age.

Mr. and Mrs. Stolljerg- are menil^ers of the Evanoelical Lutheran church at Belleville. Illinois. Mr. Stolherg" is a Democrat and he has served as school director. He has always heen interested in educational affairs and has given his children liberal educations. This family is one of the best known and most highly honored in the township or. in fact, the western part of the countv.

Warrex Hedges

The gentleman whose name heads this sketch has for several years been prominently identified with the commercial interests of Sweet Springs. Saline county. Missouri. His well directed efforts in the practical affairs of life, his capable management of his business interests and his sound judgment have brought to him prosperity and his life demonstrates what may be accomplished by any man of energy and ambition who is not afraid to work and has the perseverance to continue liis labors in the face of discouragements which may arise. In all the relations of life he has commanded the respect and confidence of those with whom he has been bnnight in contact and a history of the county would not be complete without specific reference to his life record.

AVarren Hedges was born near Lima. Ohio. Septemlier 12. 1855. and is a son of William H. and Harriett ( P^ranklin) Hedges, the latter being a direct descendant of America's eminent citizen and scientist. Benjamin Eranklin. The mother was a nati\'e of New York and the father of Vermont. William H. Hedges was reared a farmer, but when a young man he did some boating" on the Ohio river, which was at that time one of the main avenues (^f transportation through the Middle states and to the South. He emigrated from the Empire state to Clark county, Ohio, where he was married, and shortiv afterwards he moved to Allen county, the same state, at a time when the country thereabouts had been but sparsely settled. He took up land, which he cleared and developed into a good farm. There he remained until 1875. when he sold his farm and went to Iowa, where he located on a farm and there spent the remainder of his days. He was a stanch Republican in politics and in religion he was a faithful member of the Disciples church. He and his wife were the parents of eight children, namely: Eliza, John. Asa. Marv. Sarah Ann, Willie (who died in infancy). Corwin and ^^^'lrren. the immediate subject of this sketch.

Warren Hedges secured his education in the common schools of Ohio and his youthful days were spent in assisting his father in the multitudinous duties of the pioneer farm. In 1875 ^^ accompanied the family on their removal to Iowa, where, witli his father, he farmed and run a dairy until 1902, when he moved to Mexico, Missouri. There for two years he was engaged in the operation of a dairy, and at the end of that time he came to Sweet Springs, Saline county, and entered the mercantile business, in w^hich he has since remained, meeting with most gratifying success. He handles a number of kindred lines of merchandise, including soft and hard coal. wood, feed, Portland cement, brick, tile, Joplin flint paving- material, bee supplies, wagons, etc., and he keeps a full and varied stock in each of these lines. His dealings are characterized by the strictest integrity and he has from the beginning enjoyed a large and constantly increasing patronage, his trade coming from a large scope of the surrounding country. He commands the absolute confidence of the people and aims at all times to give thorough satisfaction to every customer, by whom his efforts to accommodate are appreciated.

On the 226. day of February, 1880, Mr. Hedges was united in marriage with Mary Faith, who is a native of Iowa, and the daughter of Thomas and Nancy (Frashier) Faith, early settlers of that state. To the subject and his wife have been born the following children: Hester; Roy, deceased; Ora. at home; Lulu is the wife of Oscar Lewis and they have two children, Alary Louise and Helen; Lillie; Clay, who was drowned in the summer of 1909 in the river near Sweet Springs. The untimely death of Clay was a sad event and cast a gloom over the entire community, he having been a verv lovable and popular boy among all who knew him.

Mr. and Mrs. Hedges are members of the Christian church, to which they give a liberal support. Politically he is allied with the Republican party and his fraternal membership is with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. He is a man of fine personal qualities and readily makes friends, who appreciate his genuine worth.

James E. Hocker

It is always pleasant and profitable to contemplate the career of a man who has made a success of life and Avon the honor and respect of his fellow citizens. Such is the record of the well know^n gentleman whose name heads this sketcli. than whom a more whole-souled or popular man it would be difficult to find within the limits of the community where he has his home.

James E. Hocker, justice of the peace and town clerk at Sweet Springs. Missouri, is a native son of the old Blue Grass state, where he was born on the 1 2th day of October, 1845. He is a son of Tilman and Sarah W. (Morrison) Hocker, both of whom were also natives of Kentucky. Tilman Hocker was a son of Joseph Hocker, a native of Maryland, who moved to Kentucky in a \er\- early day, and who was descended from sterling' German ancestry. Sarah Morrison was the daughter of John and Sarah (Logan) Morrison, also born in Kentucky. Tilman and Sarah Hocker met and married in their native state and in 1869 they came to Missouri, settling in Cass county, where they operated a farm until their deaths, the father dying in 1883. and tlie mother in 1885. They were good Christian people and were earnest members of the Disciples church. During the war Tilman Hocker gave his support to the Union, and in politics he voted in favor of the Democratic ticket. He and his wife were the parents of nine children, as follows: William A., Belle M., Samuel. Laura, Leslie, Sophia, Julia, James E. and one that died in infancy, unnamed.

James E. Hocker was reared on the home farm and was early accustomed to hard work incident to the pursuit of agriculture in those early days. He secured his preliminary education in the common schools, supplementing this by attendance at a school at Harrodsburg, Kentucky. He then took a position as clerk in a store belonging to an uncle at Hustonville, Kentucky, and in 1867 he came to Harrisonville, Cass county, Missouri, where he engaged in farming. He had bought the place and was engaged in its operation about four years, when lie sold out and was again engaged as a clerk, this time in a store at Harrisonville. In 1880 he came to Sweet Springs, Missouri, and opened a hardware store, which business he conducted about a year, when he sold out and went on the road as a traveling salesman for a large wholesale grocer}' house, contitiuing in this line for several years. He then moved to Marshall, Missouri, and started a hardware and furniture store in partnership with a Mr. Hurt, under the firm name of Hurt & Hocker, but at the end of two years he sold his interest to his partner and moved to St. Louis. He again was employed as a traveling salesman until 1899, when he moved back to Sweet Springs. Immediately after his arrival here he was appointed town clerk, and so efficient and satisfactory has been his service in this position that he has been retained in the office continuously since, being the present incumbent. In 1900 Mr. Hocker was elected justice of the peace and still holds this office. In the discharge of the duties of this position his acts have been characterized by a sense of fairness and justice and his administration has been eminently satisfactory to his fellow citizens. In politics Mr. Hocker is a Re])ublican and he takes a deep interest in the success of his party. Up to 1896 he had given his support to the Democratic party, but on the free- silver question he took sides for "sound money," and has since remained alhed with the Repubhcan party. He is a faithful member of the Disciples church, to which he gives a generous support.

In 1872 Mr. Hocker was married to Kittie Railey, who is a native of Kentucky, and a daughter of Tarleton Railey. To this union have been born the following children: Leonidas O., a lawyer at St. Louis, married Mary Berry, a native of Waterville, Kansas, and they have one child, Edward Berry; Mary, Arthur, Belle and one other died in infancy. In every relation of life Mr. Hocker has endeavored to be true to every trust reposed in him and because of this fact and the splendid personal qualities possessed by him he has enjoyed at all times the unbounded confidence and regard of all with whom he has been brought in contact. He gives his unreserved support to every movement which has for its object the advancement of the best interests of the community, and is popular with all.

George Washington Smith

The record of the representative citizens of Saline county, Missouri, would be incomplete were there failure to make specific mention of George \V. Smith, who has given fifteen years of efiicient service as postmaster of the thriving town of Sweet Springs. A man of marked business ability and possessing personal qualities of the highest order, he has won and retains the unbounded confidence of the entire community in which he resides.

Mr. Smith is a native son of the old Keystone state, having been born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, on the 2d day of December, 1833. He is a son of \\'illiam B. and Mary A. (Shaefer) Smith, the former of whom was a native of Maryland and the latter of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. AMlliam B. Smith was a shoemaker by vocation and followed this line of work all the active 3^ears of his life, his death occurring in Pennsylvania, when he bar] reached the age of seventy-eight years. To him and his wife were born the following children : William S., Elizabeth, Mariah, Jacob, John, Emily, Mary, Louisa, Leah and one that died in infancy unnamed.

The subject of this sketch was reared in the paternal home and received his education in the common schools of the neighborhood. He learned the trade of shoemaker under the direction of his father and followed that vocation for twelve years in his native state. In 1865 he removed to Sterling. Illinois, where he was engaged in farming until 1878, when he came to Mary-

\-ille. Missouri, where he operated a creamery, which he had buih there. In connection, he also engaged to some extent in agricultural pursuits. Subsequently he removed to Lincoln, Nebraska, where he remained but a short time, and in 1883 he came to Sweet Springs, Saline county, and engaged in contracting and building. He also built and operated the first creamery in this place, in which he was fairly successful. He was to some extent employed at the trade of carpenter, which trade he had picked up and. being a natural mechanic, he developed into a good workman along this line. During two years he was employed by the Sweet Springs Company. In 1888. under the administration of President Benjamin Harrison, Mr. Smith received the appointment as postmaster of Sweet Springs, and held the office during the following four years. At the expiration of his official term ]\Ir. Smith and his son erected a creamery and operated the same until 1896, when again he was appointed to the position of postmaster by President ]\IcKinley, and he has held the office continuously until the present time. His administration of the duties of the office has been thoroughly satisfactory to the patrons. Mr. Smith's courteous manner and evident desire to please all the patrons of the office being recognized and appreciated by them. He is a good business man and has given to the affairs of his official position the same careful and painstaking attention that he gave to his own private aft'airs, the result being that as postmaster he has been a pronounced success. He is a man of sterling qualities of character and has at all times enjoyed the fullest confidence of all who know him.

In January. 1854, Mr. Smith was married to ]\Iary A. Tyson, a native of Pennsylvania, in which state the ceremony occurred. She was a faithful wife and loving mother, and in her death, which occurred on the 3d day of July, 1900, her children not only lost a loving mother, but the community suft'ered a distinct loss as well. To the subject and his wife were born the following children: William F.. who is a successful farmer in North Dakota, married Mary A. Burch. and they are the parents of two children, Vernon and ^lerle ; John J. lives at Sweet Springs : Amos, who is a farmer in New Mexico, married Louisa Kunze, and they have three children, Hazel, Harold and Raymond ; Augustus A. is married and lives iji Kansas City, Missouri, where he is a cai-penter, paper hanger and painter; Ida, who is single and remains at home, is her father's assistant in the postoffice ; Mary Ellen, unmarried, lives in New Mexico; Laura Jane is the wife of J. Harvey Dooly, and lives in New Mexico.

In politics Mr. Smith is a stanch and uncompromising Republican and takes an active part in advancing the interests of the party, though his ad- vancing years now preclude his doing" as much active work as fonnerly. While a resident of Pennsylvania during the Civil war, he was a member of the state militia and stood ready to be called into active sen-ice. He is a man whr» always gives an unquaHfied support to ever\- movement having for its object the advancement of the best interests of the community and he has long enjoyed a splendid standing in the community where so many of the useful A-ears of his life have been passed. Of unblemished character and high standing, he exerts a large influence and is rightly numbered amc>ng the leading citizens oi his section of the countA*.

Among all branches of histor\-. there is none more instructive or more eagerly sought after tlian that which trutlifully delineates the rise and progress of the state, county or communit}- in which the reader lives. There is pleasure as well as profit to ever\- intelligent mind in contemplating tlie struggles of the early settlers in ever\- portion of the great ^^'est : how they encountered and successfully overcome ever\- species of trial, hardship and danger to which men in that stirring period were subjected. But these things strike us more forcibly and fill our minds with more immediate interest when confined to our own localit}- where we can yet occasionally meet with some of the silver-haired actors in tliose early scenes, men whose braverx* in encountering the manifold troubles and misfortunes incident to frontier times has borne an important part towards making Missouri what it now is and whose acts, in coimection with thousands of otliers in the first settling of our vast domain, have compelled the world to acknowledge the Americans an invincible people. The great majority of these veterans of the early da}- long since finished their work, and to meet and converse with the few living representatives of the pioneer period, those who came here as children ^ir as ver^- young men and women, is one of the peculiar experiences and pleasing tasks which falls to the lot of the writers of these pages. To gather up tlie raA-eled and noAv mostly broken tlireads of the strange but simple stor\- of their lives, to catch the fleeting facts of tlieir histories and hand them on to posterity, might well be the ambitious labor of any man's life. Among tlie pioneer workers in the de^-elopment of the state of Missouri is he whose name appears at the head of this sketch, who is now. at the advanced age of eight}--two years, living in peaceful retirement in the attractive town of Sweet Springs.

Mr. Berry was born in Bcione county, Missouri, on the 19th day of December, 1827. and is a son of Tyre H. and Hettie B. (Cofer) Berry. Tyre Berrv was a nati\c of Kentucky, born in January, 1800, and a son of John Berry. The latter was also a native of the Blue Grass state and emigrated to Missouri in 1806. being, it is supposed, the first white man to grow corn west of St. Charles. He first settled in Boone county and cleared up a farm (now known as the John Harris farm), on which he lived the remainder of his life. His was the first body interred in the Sweet Springs cemetery. At the time he made the journey from Kentucky to Missouri the route was infested with wild animals and still wilder red men and the long and wearisome journey was accompanied by many hardships and undesirable experiences. Tyre Berrv was but six vears of age when the family came to this state. He was reared on the Boone county farm and his education was secured in the primitive schools of that period, the ecjuipment of which was very crude, the seats and floors being made of puncheons. Upon attaining maturity Mr. Berry took up the pursuit of farming and later became a local preacher of the oldline Baptist church. He was a good man, in the truest sense of the word, and was well liked as a preacher and popular with those who knew him. He suffered the loss of much property at the hands of the Kansas raiders, at one time his home being burned over the heads of the family. Yet. despite these things, he never wavered, either in his faith in God or his faith in the ultimate prosperity of this section of the country, his belief being amply justified. He was three times married. His first wife bore the maiden name of Hettie B. Cofer and she bore him eleven children, namely : Mary, John, William, Thomas. Elizabeth, Caroline, James, David, Nancy, Benjamin J. and Jesse. Mrs. Hetty Berry died in 1841, and for his second wife Mr. Berry chose Nancy Earhart, a widow, who bore him one child, Andrew. She died in 1863 and subsequently he married Nancy Adams, also a widow.

Thomas C. Berry was reared on the paternal farmstead in Boone county and, owing to the lack of educational facilities, his school days were very limited in number, nevertheless, by much reading and close obsei^vation, Mr. Berry became a well informed man and one conversing with him would not detect the lack of education. He remained at home until 1849, when he went by ox-team to California, the trip requiring exactly four months. He and a brother and a man named Hays were in partnership and engaged in mining, in which they met with fair success. They remained in the Golden state over a vear and tlien returned t(^ Missouri by wav of the water route and the Isthmus of Panama. On his return home Mr. Berry wisely invested his money, buxing a farm in Pettis county, which he improved and developed into one of the best farms in that section of the country. He continued its operation with success until 1891, when he retired from active labor and came to Sweet Spring-s to spend his remaining years. During his active operations he was also extensively engaged in the buying, feeding and shipping of live stock, in which also he met with marked success. He is now living in a pleasant and comfortable home on South Locust street, Sweet Springs.

In 1852 Mr. Berry was united in marriage to Mary Jane Prigmore, the daughter of Col. Isaiah and Rebecca (Pinnell) Prigmore. She was born in Pettis county, Missouri, in 1835, and her death occurred in 1896. The subject and his wife became the parents of ten children, namely: Alma, deceased; Katie, the widow of Rev. J. B. Wright ; Angle, who remains unmarried ; Edward, a successful farmer and stockman of Saline -county, married Mary Walker ; Odie and Ossie are twins ; the former is unmarried and remains at home, while the latter is the wife of Dr. T. A. Smith ; Maiy T. is the wife of Clarence Galoway, of Independence, Missouri ; Rebecca is the wife of W. O. Mclntire, and she and her husband are Presbyterian missionaries and teachers in the Philippine Islands ; Delora, who was the wife of W. L. Smith, a farmer in Pettis county, this state, died in October, 1909: Richard P. lives in Charleston, this state.

In politics the subject of this sketch has always been a stanch supporter of the Democratic party and has ever taken a commendable interest in public affairs, though he has never been an aspirant for public office. His religious membership is with the Christian church. A man of quiet and unostentatious life, though of positive character, Mr. Berry has always enjoyed to a marked degree the high regard of his fellow men and he is numbered among the grand old men of Saline countv.

It is proper to judge of the success of a man's life by the estimation in which he is held by his fellow citizens. They see him in all the relations of life, in business, church and society, and are therefore competent to judge of his merits and demerits. After a long course of years of such observation, it would be out of the question for his neighbors not to know of his worth, and in this connection it is not too much to say that, among those who knew the subject of this sketch during his lifetime, the consensus of opinion is that he passed a life of unusual honor, that he was industrious and had the confidence of all who had the pleasure of his friendship.

John W. Wilson was a nati\c of Washington county. Tennessee, where he was born on the 29th day of August, 1809. His father, who also was a native of Tennessee, was a farmer by occupation and died while on his way to Missouri. The subject was reared on the home farm in his natixe state and received a somewhat limited education in the district schools. In 1838 he came to MisscnuM and settled in Polk county. Soon afterwards he went to Bolivar, Missouri, and secured a position as clerk in the store of Caleb Jones. He was a faithful and efficient employee and it was not long- until he had accjuired a partnershij) interest in the business. Eventually he moved to Greenfield, Dade county, this state, but a few years later he returned to Polk county, wdiere he had formerly resided, and acquired an interest in a general store. He was so engaged until the breaking out of the Civil war, during the progress of which he lost much of his property which was destroyed by Federal troops. In 1870 Mr. W^ilson came to Sweet Springs, Saline county, and entered into a partnership with his son in the general merchandise business, in which he achieved a distinctive success. He devoted his entire attention to this business, which was constantly increased in scope and importance, becoming one of the most important houses of this kind in the county. Mr. Wilson remained engaged in this business up to the time of his death, which occurred June 3, 1891. He was a man of splendid business ability and possessed other qualifications wdiich gave him a deserved prominence in the community. Sterling integrity and uprightness of purpose characterized his daily life, which was an open book to those about him, and he possessed to an unusual degree the friendship of his acquaintances, who felt that in his death they had suffered a personal loss.

Religiously he was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. South, of which he was an earnest supporter, being a generous contributor to his church and all charitable objects. Fraternally he was a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, the tenets of which he heartilv endorsed and which he exemplified in his daily life.

In 1847 John W. Wilson was united in marriage to Nannie Cowan, who was a native of Sullivan county, Tennessee, a daughter of George R. and Mary C. (May) Cowan, both also natives of Tennessee. George Cowan was a descendant of Robert and Xancy ( Rutledge) Cowan, the latter being connected with the noted Rutledge family of South Carolina, one member of this family having served conspicuously as a member of the United States supreme court. Mary C. May was a daughter of Dr. Samuel May. of London. England, and who was closely related to the Cockburns, one of the best known families of England. Doctor May married a Miss Shelby, of Maryland, though a native of Wales. The Cowan family came to Missouri in 1838, the trip Ijeing made hx water. Thev were carried on a flatboat down the Ohio river to the IVIississippi, and then they took a steamer up the Mississippi and Missouri rivers to Boonville, Missouri. They first settled as pioneers on government land in Polk county, and remained there until 1849. when they removed to St. Clair Cfumty, this state, where they resided until the death of the mother. Sometime later the father moved to Jasper county, this state, where he spent his remaining- days. He was a strong and ardent Southern man in sympathy and political belief and voted the Democratic ticket. His religious belief was that of the Presbyterian church, of which he was an earnest member. To him and his wife were born six children, namely: Catherine, George, Nannie, Robert, Mary and Salina. Of these children, Robert is the only one now li\-- ing-. To George and Nannie Wilson the following children were born : James Taylor, a merchant at Sweet Springs, who has twice been married, first to Bettie Cockrel, by whom he had one child, John H., and second to Annie Beattie, his present wife; R. Shelby, a successful practicing physician at Gainesville, Texas, married Fannie Buckner, and they have one child. Perry W. ; Alfred Perry, who died in 1901, and who at the time of his death was cashier of the Bank of Sweet Springs, married Peachie Railey, of St. Louis, Missouri, who now lives at Sweet Springs ; Mrs. Nannie Wilson resided in the old homestead on Bridge street, Sweet Springs, until her death, November 3, 1909. She extended a warm and cordial hospitality to all her friends, who were numerous and who delighted to accept her hospitality. She was a lady of many sweet womanly cjualities and was esteemed highly in the community, where she had spent so many years. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. South, and took a deep interest in the various activities of the society.

Wade Hampton Reavis

In referring to the lives and deeds of those who initiated the onerous work of developing the virgin wilds of Saline county and thus laying the foundations for that prosperity and precedence which now characterize this favored section of the state, it is imperative that recognition be had of the Reavis family, who have been identified with the history of the state from the early pioneer epoch and whose members have invariably maintained the highest standard of integrity and honor, commanding unequivocal respect and esteem. The subject of this sketch has during his residence here of a lifetime so ordered his actions as to merit the unbounded confidence which is accorded

Wade H. Reavis, who has rendered efficient service as justice of the peace in Salt Pond township, maintaining his residence at Sweet Springs, was born in the township in which he now lives, on the i8th of February, 1846. He is a son of Overton and Xancy (Berr}') Reavis. both of whom were natives of N'irginia. The subject's paternal grandfather. ]\Iark Reavis. and the paternal great-grandfather. Isham Reavis, were also natives of Virginia. They came to Saline countv. Missouri, in 1818, where for several years Isham Reavis was engaged in the manufacture of salt, which he supplied to the settlers for manv miles amund. Hie long and wearisome trip from Virginia to was made in wagons, drawn by oxen, and the brave and hardy pioneers had many unenviable experiences on the journey, pushing their way through the trackless forests and through bridgeless streams, over hill and through valle} , the route being infested with many varieties of wild animals and unfriendly Indians. The members of the Reavis family all settled in Saline and adjoining counties and from the beginning they had a prominent part in the organization and development of the new country. After settling in Saline county these families were obliged to seek safety at forts in Howard and adjoining counties, owing to the hostility of the Indians, but later returned to their original locations in this county. It was while sojourning in Boone county that one of the important early trials of the court was held at Columbia. Mark Reavis. grandfather of the subject, had brought a negro from \'irginia and the fact became known that a residence of seven months had taken place in Illinois while the family was enroute to Missouri, owing to the activity and depredations of the Indians farther west. It was contended that the stop in Illinois had entitled the negro to his freedom. A trial was held and a jury so decided. Two sons of Air. Reavis bound the negro and spirited him away to a secluded place on the banks of the Missouri river, awaiting an opportunity to dispose of him to some buyer on a southern-bound boat. The meteoric shower or falling stars in 1833 occurred while the Reavis party was encamped on the river and so frig'htened them that they turned the negro loose and all ran for safety. Man\- years afterward it was learned that the negro went west to Xew Mexico, married a Mexican maiden and became wealthy. James Reavis. one of the sons, returned to Columbia, was arrested and committed to jail where he served three days, in November. 1833. for contempt of court, all of which is a part of the court records of Boone county. It was no doubt the first case e\-er tried in Missouri inxoKing the ownershij) of a negro in this state.

Overton Reavis and Nancy Berry were but children when their respecti\e parents brought them to Missouri, and hea^e they were reared and educated, their mental training being received in the old subscription schools which were then maintained. In due time Overton and Nancy married and became the parents of three children, namely : Thomas, who lives in Sweet Springs, this county; Mary L., the wife of Thomas E. Ray, and Wade Hampton, the subject of this review. Overton Reavis learned the art of making and burning brick, in which he was steadily engaged, and he erected a great many of the early chimneys in this locality. In 1850 he went to California in search of gold, making the long trip across the plains with an ox team. He died while in that state, and his wife passed away in 1864. They were faithful members of the Baptist church for many years, but after the death of her husband Mrs. Reavis became a member of the Christian church. In politics Overton Reavis was a stanch Democrat. ,

Wade H. Reavis was reared on the paternal farmstead and secured his education in the common and private schools of his neighborhood, supplementing this training by attendance at Yantas Academy at Sweet Springs. On the completion of his education he clerked in a store for a time and then engaged in business on his own account in Sweet Springs. In 1878 the town of Sweet Springs was incorporated and at the ensuing election the subject was chosen the first mayor, and so satisfactory was the service rendered bv liim in this capacity that he was several times re-elected to the position. He was subse- (juently elected a justice of the peace and served several years in that capacity. He has also served as constable. In the responsible position of justice of the peace his tenure of the office was characterized by a strong sense of justice, which led him at all times to act in an impartial and unprejudiced way in the disposal of cases coming before him. Of a naturally judicial cast of mind, he was able to perceive the merits of a case readily and to decide the same upon its true merits. During his service as a justice very few of his decisions have been questioned or reversed, his record in this sense having lieen a most enviable one. In partnership with Judge M. F. Prigmore, the subject is engaged in a general insurance, real estate and loan business, in which they are meeting with excellent success, and Judge Reavis is also a notary public.

On February 14, 1871, Wade H. Reavis was united in marriage to Lucy A. Smith, a native of Osage county, Missouri, and a daughter of Benjamin and Martha (Hoops) Smith, who were early settlers in this state. To the sul\iect and his wife have been bom seven children, namely: Malburn, who <lied in infancy; Edwin married Margaret Smith and lives at home; one that died in infancy; Martha is the wife of F. H. Tisdale, a druggist, and they

In 1864 the suhject enlisted in Company F, Forty-fifth Regiment Missouri Volunteer In.fantry. and served until he was mustered out on March 8, 1865. He performed much active service during- his enlistment, including the skirmishes incident to the Price raid and other duty in Tennessee. In politics he is a stanch Democrat and takes a keen interest in the success of his partv. His religious membership is in the Christian church, of which he is an earnest and generous supporter. His fraternal relations are with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, having been an appreciative member of the order for over forty years. Judge Reavis is a man of exceptional personal qualities which have won him friends among all classes, and he enjoys an enviable standing in the community where all the years of his life have been passed.

George W. Smith

There is little to interest one more than to observe how different men begin and continue the duties of life. Some commence in hesitation and seem to hesitate at every obstacle they encounter. Others begin boldly, but after a time show bv some defect in execution that they have not properly mastered their tasks. Still others commence with steady grasp of the situation, and show bv their subsequent accomplishments that they have compassed the problem of life: to the last class success always comes and they are the men to leave behind them good names and large properties honorably won in life's struggle. Their children are left to reap the harvest of good actions. Among the leading citizens of Saline county is George \\'. Smith, who, after a course of vears honorablv and successfully spent in commercial enterprises, is now living in retirement in his beautiful home in Sweet Springs, having turned his business interests over to other hands.

Mr. Smith was born in Belmont county, Ohio, on January 22. 1835, and is a son of Adaniram and Emily T. (Strong) Smith, the former a native of Vermont and the latter of Erie county. Pennsylvania. The subject's paternal grandfather was a native of Vermont and was a soldier in the war of the Revolution. He came to Ohio in a very early day, spending his remaining years in Belmont county. Emily Strong was from a well known and prominent Pennsylvania family and early in life went to Ohio with her family, who lived on a farm. The subject's parents met and were married in Erie county. Penn- sylvania, later moving to Belmont county, Ohio. Adaniram Smith was engaged in the lumber business in that state, but in 1842 came to Ralls county. Missom^i, where he engaged in farming, which he continued successfully up to 1890, when he retired from active labor and thereafter made his home with his son, the subject of this sketch, in Sweet Springs, until his death, which occurred in IQ05, at which time he had attained the remarkable age of one hundred years, lacking four months. His wife cUed in 1889. These parents were faithful and esteemed members of the Baptist church. In politics Mr. Smith was a Republican. They were the parents of the following children : Sarah, deceased; George \V., the subject; Brigham, living in Denver. Colorado; Mary, of Phoenix, Arizona; John K., deceased; Hannah Ann, deceased; Allie B.. of Monroe City, Missouri.

George W. Smith was six years old when the family removed from Ohio to Missouri, but he retains a distinct remembrance of many incidents connected with the journey. The family traveled from Ohio to Hannibal. Missouri, by river boat, thence to Ralls county, by w^agon. The boat on which they took passage was the "Gloster." Mr. Smith received his education in the common schools of Ralls county, supplementing this by attendance at the Van Rensselaer Academy. He was reared on the home farm and was earlv inured to the hard labor incident to a frontier farm. Before he had attained his majority he made an extensive trip through the West, including Montana and Salt Lake City, his arrival at the latter place being during what is known as the Mormon war. Mr. Smith accompanied a wagon train in the capacity of assistant wagonmaster, and after his return from this trip he took a wagon train of goods to Denver, Colorado, and Virginia City, Montana. He was engaged in this business a number of years and made several trips across the plains. During this period he passed through a number of thrilling and sometimes extremely dangerous experiences, and he possesses the ability to recount these events in a most interesting manner. Returning home. Mr. Smith married, and in 1867 he located in Sweet Springs and engaged in the drug business, which he conducted for two years. At the end of that period he sold the drug business and went into the general lumber business in the same town. In this his success exceeded his expectations and for many years he was in command of the major part of the lumber trade of this section of the county. He at all times carried a large and complete stock of everything in the building line and he was accommodating in all his business dealings, so that his business was prospered to an unusual degree. In 1908. realizing that he had a sufficiency of this world's goods to provide for his remaining vears and feeling that he had earned a rest, he retired from the active management of the business, which he turned over to his sons, Charles K. and George M., who are now operating the business. Mr. Smith resides on Locust street, in one of the UKtst attractive homes in Sweet Springs, everything about the place being kept in the best of shape, and here he extends a hospitable welcome to all of his friends who call. He is rich in his friendships and knows how to value them.

In 1867 George W. Smith married Henrietta Brown, a native of Pettis county, Missouri, and a daughter of Judge John and Mary (Beckham) Brown. This union has been a most happy and congenial one and has been blessed in the birth of seven children, namel\- : Daisy is unmarried and remains at home ; Clyde died in 1908; Harry G. died in infancy; Edith is the wife of Arthur Bush, of Hannibal. Missouri: they have one daughter. Frances; Charles K. married Xellie Owens and they have one child, Sarah Owens ; George is single and remains at home; Nellie, at home.

In matters political Mr. Smith has given his support to the Democratic party, while in religion he is a member of the Presbyterian church, in which he is an elder. In every relation of life he has performed his full part and now. in the golden sunset of life, he can rest in the enjoyment of the fruits of his years of conscientious effort. Because of his many excellent personal qualities, he is highly regarded throughout the community.

Dr. John H. Owens, who occupies the front rank among the leading physicians of Saline county, having his residence at Sweet Springs, was born in this place on the loth day of October, 1858, and is a son of William and Sarah E. (Bright) Owens. William Owens was born in Lafayette county, ^lissouri. Januarv' 11, 1828, and his death occurred at Sweet Springs, October 26, 1 89 1. He was a son of Robert and ^lartha ( Herin) Owens, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Tennessee. Robert Owens was a pioneer settler in this part of Missouri, and lived at the fort at Old Franklin for some time, owing to the hostility of the Indians. In 1818 he settled at McAllister. Saline county, in what is now Liberty township. He entered government land and remained there about one year, but, owing to Indian troubles, which arose about that time, he went to Lafayette county, this state, where he remained awhile, later returning to Saline county and settling in Elmwood township. There he took up the pursuit of farming, to which he devoted him- self until his death, which occurred when he was seventy-five years old. He acquired considerable note as a successful breeder and raiser of horses and mules. He was public spirited and enterprising and was counted a good citizen. In politics he was a ^^^^ig and a strong supporter of the Union. His wife. Martha, was a grand good woman, the impress of whose forceful and consistent Christian character was felt throughout the community.

William Owens received a meager education in the pioneer schools of Missouri, which in his boyhood days were primitive in equipment and methods. He was reared on the Saline county farm and when old enough he entered the employ of the government transporting goods across the western plains. In 1849 he made a trip to California in the hope of finding gold, and remained there for a time. \Miile there he did some mining and for about three years he ran a pack train, which at that time was a profitable business. He then returned to Saline county, Missouri, and for a while attended school, feeling that he was to some extent deficient in that line. A\'hile there he met Sarah Bright, who also was a student, and their marriage occurred in 1854 He then went into the mercantile business at Sweet Springs, in which he continued until 1870, meeting with very gratifying success. In the year named he sold that business and started a brokerage and loan business. His experience in this line was valuable to him, as it demonstrated to him the practicability of a local bank. He then was instrumental in the organization of the Bank of Sweet Springs, of which he became the president, and this position he retained until his death. He was a shrewd and successful business man and enjoyed the unbounded confidence of the entire community. He was a member of the Christian church for thirty-five years and rendered the church efiicient service as deacon and treasurer of the society. He took a deep interest in the work of the church and was himself largely responsible for the growth and prosperity of the local church. He was a public-spirited man, lending his support and influence to every movement that promised to benefit the community. His widow is still living in the homestead on Bridge street, Sweet Springs, and is one of the grand and noble women of the community. Her life has been characterized by the highest standard of womanly virtues and she is beloved by all who know her. She is a daughter of Jacob and Hannah (Wilson) Bright, who came from Kentucky to Missouri in a very early day and engaged in farming in Saline county. He was a member of the Christian church and helped to organize the church of that denomination at Sweet Springs. He died in 1869 and was survived many years by his widow, whose death occurred in 1903. William and Sarah Owens were the parents of twelve children, three of whom died in infancy unnamed, those

John H. Owens was reared in the home at Sweet Springs and received a good common school education. This he supplemented by attendance at Missouri University and a course in the Spalding Business College, at Kansas Citv, Missouri. Having decided to make the practice of medicine his life work, he entered, in 1895, the Medical College of Louisville. Kentucky, where he graduated in 1897, receiving his degree of Doctor of Medicine. He immediatelv came to Sweet Springs and entered upon the active practice of his profession, in which he has since been engaged. The Doctor has remained unmarried and resides with his mother. The family owns several thousand acres of land in Saline and Pettis counties, which requires some attention, and in other wavs the Doctor is interested in the material advancement of this section of the state.

In politics Doctor Owens gives his support to the Republican party, in the success of which he manifests a deep interest, though he is not in any sense an aspirant for public office himself. His religious sympathies are with the Christian church, of which he is a member and to which he gives an earnest and generous support.

Masox George Brown

It is with marked satisfaction that the biographer adverts to the life of one who has attained success in any vocation requiring definiteness of purpose and determined action. Such a life, whether it be one of calm, consecutive endeavor or of sudden meteoric accomplishment, must abound in both lesson and incentive and prove a guide to young men whose fortunes and destinies are still matters for the future to determine. The subject of this sketch is distinctively one of the representative men of Saline county, Missouri, his enterprise and progressive methods having contributed in a definite measure to the growth and development of the county, and a work of this nature would be incomplete without specific mention of him.

Mason G. Brown, president of the Bank of Sweet Springs, is a native son of Missouri, having been born in Pettis county on the 21st day of December, 1842. He is the son of John S. and Mary (Beckham) Brown, the latter l)eing a distant relative of ex-Governor Beckham, of Kentucky. John S. Brown was born and reared in Frankf<^rt. Kentucky, where he secured his education in the jniblic schools. In 1838 he came to Pettis county. Missouri.

where he bought land, which he cleared and improved and developed into a good farm. He continued the operation of this farm up to the time of his death. He was a member of the Presbyterian church, while his wife's religious faith was that of the Baptist church. In politics he was an old-line Whig. They were the parents of seven children: James H., who died in Birmingham, Alabama; Sarah J., wife of W. G. Buckner, of Fulton, Missouri; Mary C, who died in 1865; John T, who is president of the Home Savings Bank at Fulton, Missouri; Mason G., the subject; Henrietta, wife of G. W. Smith, of Sweet Springs ; Mary Belle died in infancy.

Mason G. Brown remained on the parental homestead until he was nineteen years of age and in the meanwhile he received a good education in the public and private schools. In 1865 he came to Sweet Springs, Saline county, and went into business for himself, running a general store with marked success for several years. In 1871 he assisted in the organization of the Bank of Sweet Springs, of which he was a stockholder, though he did not become a member of the executive force of the bank until 1875, when he entered the bank as cashier and assumed the position of president in 1890. This institution, which has enjoyed a remarkably prosperous career, was first capitalized at fifty thousand dollars, but in 1887 the capital stock was increased to one hundred thousand dollars, this being rendered necessary by the rapid increase of business which was coming to it. The present officers of the Bank of Sweet Springs are as follows : President, Mason G. Brown ; cashier, Lewis King ; vice-president, J. T. Wilson ; assistant cashier, George Weber. As the head of the Bank of Sweet Springs, Mr. Brown has evinced business qualities of the highest order and much of the present prosperity of the institution is undoubtedly due to his efforts and methods. He gives the closest attention to the details of the bank and is liberal, though at the same time wisely conservative, in his treatment of patrons of the bank. As a bank naturally stands in a large degree as the consei-vator of the financial prosperity of a community, so it is that in Sweet Springs the bank of which the subject is the head has to a very great extent had a hand in the material advancement which has characterized this section of the county. Besides his banking interests, Mr. Brown is also the owner of much valuable real estate in this county, which also requires his attention. His home, on Bridge street. Sweet Springs, is g"eiierally considered one of the finest residences in Saline county, being well built, conveniently arranged and furnished with the best of taste throughout. Mr. Brown is a close reader of the best literature and is a keen observer of men and events, being considered an unusually well informed man.

sinins Hurt, and they have become the parents of one child, Ernest M., who is married and hves in Kansas City, Missouri. In poHtics the subject is a Democrat and takes a lively interest in local public affairs, though he has never held public office of any nature. His genial disposition and worthy cjualities of character have combined to \vin for him the unbounded respect and friendship of all whom he meets.

Rev. Coxrad Bernthal

Xo people that go to make up our cosmopolitan population have better habits of life than those who came originally from the great (ierman empire, and the descendants of these people are distinguished for their thrift, honesty and mental acumen. Of these excellent people came the subject of this brief review. He was born in Saginaw county, Michigan, on July 7, 1867, and is a son of Leonard and Margaret ( Veitengrulier) Bernthal. These parents were both born in Bavaria, Germany, and came to the United States in 1845, settling in Saginaw county. Michigan, where they took up government land, being numbered among the first settlers of that count}'. 1"hey were faithful members of the Lutheran church and were highly esteemed in the community. They were the parents of six children, Leonard, Michael, George. Conrad, Barbara and Mary.

The subject remained with his parents on the farm until he was thirteen years of age, receiving his education the meanwhile in the parochial school. At the age of thirteen years he became a student in Concordia College, at h^ort Wayne. Indiana, where he was graduated in 1887. He then went to St. Louis and entered Concordia College, the theological seminary connected with the Missouri synod of the Lutheran church, and was there graduated in 1890. His first ministerial labors w^ere as missionary at Shiner and Serbin, Texas, where he remained until 1905, when he came to Sweet Springs, Saline county, and became pastor of the Lutheran church, in which relation he has continued to the present time. The Evangelical Lutheran church of Sweet Springs embraces a membership of about five hundred and fifty souls, and in connection with the church there is a parochial school, with an enrollment of about sixtyfive students. This church was organized in 1878 by the Reverend W'ille with seven members, the charter members including H. Streunng, N. Hofi^mann, W. Ehlers, C. Ahlf, C. Wolers, L. Grother and J. Kuntz, who, with their respective families, comprised a strong and active nucleus around which the people of tlieir religious faith (|uickly rallied and for a number of years this church has enjoyed a high degree of prosperity, both materially and spiritually. The second minister in charg-e of the church was Rev. Arnold Kuntz, who was followed by Rev. AI. Holls, Reverend Hamm, Rev. I. Gihring. Rev. W. C. Brink and then Rev. Conrad Bernthal, the subject of this sketch. The first church edifice was a small building, which was soon outgrown, and the present edifice was then built. It is a neat and substantial structure, and is supplemented by a two-story school building, comprising" three class rooms, which are heated by a furnace and well lighted and conveniently arranged. There is also the neat and attractive parsonage property, the whole comprising an ecjuipment of which the parish may justly feel proud. The congregation is an active and aggressive one and is a potential and recognized power for good throughout the community. The pastor. Reverend Bernthal, has proved the right man for the place he now occupies and under his wise leadership the church is moving forward steadily in the work of the Master. Air. Bernthal possesses a pleasing personality and in the pulpit is a forceful and convincing speaker, his sermons being noteworthy because of their breadth and richness of thought. He is of a genial disposition and readily makes friends everywhere. Because of his excellent personal qualities he is highly regarded by everyone in the community.

In 1891 the subject was united in marriage with Anna Schluckebier. who was born in Saginaw county, Michigan, in 1870. the daughter of Peter and Sophia Schluckebier. To this union have been born the following children : Bertha, Otto, Amelia, Herbert, Arnold and Hildegard.

One of the most popular merchants of Marshall is O. ^^ '. Johnston, who handles a large line of hardware, furniture, house furnishings, - in fact, almost everything usually kept in a modern firstclass store. He was born in ^^'ayne county, Tennessee, April 4, 1857, spending his boyhood days in much the same manner as other boys about town, assisting his father in his business when he became old enough, attending school in the meantime. He is the son of John C. and Dorcas (Smith) Johnston, both natives of Tennessee and descendants of prominent and honored old families of Mauiw county, that state. John C. was the son of Alexander Johnston, a prominent farmer of Maury county and a veteran of the Revolutionary war, having been a commissioned ofificer, serving through the war as such. This family is of Scotch ancestry. .Vlexandcr Jolinstoii's wife \\as the daughter of John Craig, who was also a commissioned otYicer in the Revolutionary war, and who became a prominent farmer. Both he and Alexander Johnston were prominent and leading citizens of Maury county, Tennessee, and became widely known and were highly respected. John C. Johnston w^as born and reared in Tennessee, where he married and began life as a merchant in Maury county, doing an excellent business until the breaking out of the Civil war, when he closed his store and during the conflict remained on a farm, owning a few slaves. He w^as not amenable to army service and therefore took no part. He lost heavily by foraging parties of both armies. His sympathies were with the South. After the close of the war he resumed merchandising which he continued until he moved to Mississippi, where he opened a store in Rienzi and lived there until 1878, when he moved to^ Texas, locating at Roanoke where he engaged in merchandising, finally closing out and moving to Bartlett where he lived with his son, O. W ., of this review, and died at Caldwell, Texas, at the age of seventy-six years. He was an active worker in the Cumberland Presbyterian church and a devoted Christian gentleman. He had no aspirations for office, preferring- to lead the c[uiet life of a plain, honest citizen. He was three times married. Two children resulted from his first marriage with Miss Knott, namely: \\\ A., who became a physician, was captain of his company in the Confederate army under General Wheeler ; Pattie, the daughter. The mother of these children died and Mr. Johnston married Dorcas Smith, daughter of a prominent family. This union resulted in the birth of the following children: E. B.. Suella, J. M., a farmer; Virginia and O. W. of this review. Dr. E. B. was a physician and died at Columbia, Tennessee. This second wife and mother having also been called to rest when comparatively young in years, Mr. Johnston later married Mary Boone, a widow, whose maiden name was Patton. This last union resulted in the birth of three children, Jennie, Lilly and Annie.

O. W. Johnston moved with his father from Mississippi to Texas. His first employment was with a railroad company as station agent and operator, at which he was engaged for a period of six years, then he took a partner and launched in the hardware business, also handled furniture at Bartlett, Texas, continuing successfully in this until 1889. when he closed out his interest and opened, by himself, a store at Caldwell, Texas, continuing an excellent business until 1898 w^hen he sold out and moved to Marshall, Missouri, and purchased the hardware and furniture stock of W. H. Hurt, then occupying one room with a stock worth about five thousand dollars, and annual sales aggregating al)out twenty-five thousand dollars. His continued success warranted an increase and he now occupies four large rooms and extensive warehouses, with a forty thousand dollars' investment and sales amountingto seventy-five thousand dollars annually, and he now easily takes first rank in his line of business in Saline county. He gives his affairs, every detail, the closest scrutinv ; however, he looks after many other things, hut he is a natural organizer and can manage successfully and with comparative ease a business that would crush an ordinary man. He is a self-made man and the sole builder of his handsome competency and business, by hard work and honest dealing having placed himself at the head of large and growing interests.

Mr. Johnston is president of the Missouri State Hardware Association, in which he takes considerable interest. He was a worthy member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church and for many years an elder. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and high in the sublime degrees. He is also a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. A Democrat, but not an aspirant for political honors.

Mr. Johnston remained single until he was twenty-eight years of age, when, in 1885, he married Carrie I. Ponce, who was born in Independence, Texas, the daughter of Dimas Ponce, a native of Georgia and of Spanish nationality, an early settler in Texas and a prominent merchant of Caldwell. He rendered valiant service as captain in Hood's Texas brigade in the Confederate army, and although he saw hard service he was never wounded or taken prisoner. He was always a Democrat, but never very active in party affairs. He was a member of the Baptist church and a man whom everybody honored. His death occurred at Independence. He and his wife were the parents of five children, named as follows: Carrie J., wife of Mr. Johnston: Frank. Hurston, Ellen and Sexton.

Fourteen children, twelve of whom are living at this writing, have been born to Mr. and Mrs. O. W. Johnston, named as follows: Florence is the wife of A. L. Ritter. who has charge of Majestic Manufacturing Company's interests, of St. Louis, in Missouri and Arkansas, and she is a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution: Charles B. is assisting his father in the store and is head of the carpet department : Frankie. John, a student at Missouri Vallev College : Jane, Harry : above named chiUlren were born in Texas. Willie, Ruth, O. \\'., Jr., James, Joseph E., Dorcas, Irwin and Elvin. the two younger boys being twins, the eight last named being born in Missouri. Frankie died at the age of eleven years and James died at the age of foin^ months.

It is but in justice due that in this volume should be accorded a tribute to the memory of one who was identified with the commercial life of Saline county in so prominent a way as was Mr. Wood, whose abilities and unswerving integrity in all the relations of life gained to him unlimited esteem from all with whom he came in contact. Super-added to this, the memoir is the more consistent from the fact that he was a native son of the county and here passed practically his entire life, attaining marked success and becoming one of the representative and influential men of this section of the state.

AMlliam H. Wood was born in Arrow Rock township, Saline county, Missouri, on September 25, 183 1, and died in New York City on the 8th day of July, 1890, having gone to that city for medical treatment. He was the son of Charles W. and Sarah (Vest) Wood. Charles Wood was born in Albemarle countv. Virginia, where he married, and in alxnit 1830 he came to Missouri and entered government land in Arrow Rock township. Saline county. This he cleared and developed into a good farm, and he continued its operation to the time of his death, which occurred in 1871. He and his wife were members of the Christian church and were highly respected in the community where they lived. They were the parents of six children, namely: \\' illiam Henry, the subject of this review ; James, Reuben, David, Charles and a daughter that died in infancy. Charles Wood was married a second time, his wife's maiden name having been Brown, and to this union were born three children, Strother, John and Clifton.

William H. Wood was reared on the parental farmstead and secured his education in the common schools of the neighborhood. On completing his education he entered Dover's general store at Arrow Rock as a clerk, but after a few years" service in this capacity he started into business on his own account, opening a grocery store at Arrow Rock. During the Civil war, conditions were such that his business was greatly decreased, and in 1862 he went to St. Louis and engaged in the river freighting business, the business at Arrow Rock being continued in the meanwhile by his partner, Joseph Huston, Sr., whom he had taken into the business as a partner in 1859. At the close of the war the firm of Wood & Huston enlarged the scope of their business by adding a commission department. This move was but an indication of the shiewd and far-sighted judgment which characterized all of Mr. Wood's business operations, and it was not long before the firm controlled all the warehouses at Arrow Rock, making all the shipments of produce from that town, which at that time was the most important commercial center in this part of the state. In 1869 the firm was dissolved, but four years later Messrs. Wood and Huston ag^ain united their interests for the purpose of engaging in the banking business at Marshall. They were very successful in this enterprise, the bank being located on the northeast corner of the public square in Marshall, and being capitalized at twenty thousand dollars. Mr. Wood had previously had an insight into the banking business through connection with the old Bank of Missouri at Arrow Rock, where he was associated with George A. Murrell, \\\ B. Sappington and Henry S. Mills, and in his present capacity he gave evidence of business abilities of the highest order, gaining the confidence of the business world. The Wood & Huston Bank was conducted as a private bank with great success until 1882, when it was organized under the state banking law and the capital stock increased to one hundred thousand dollars. Joseph Huston was elected president of the institution, retaining the office up to the time of his death, in 1884, when he was succeeded by Mr. Wood, who continued at the head of the bank until his death, in 1890.

Mr. Wood not only attained prominence because of the able business qualities he possessed, by means of which he was enabled to acquire a competence, but his personal qualities were of so high an order as to at once win for him the personal friendship of all who had dealings with him. He was public spirited and broad minded and did much for the city of his residence. His acts of kindness and benevolence were many and in his charity he was unostentatious, not caring for the public to hear of his acts.. He was one of the most popular men in Marshall and on the hour of his funeral all the business houses in the city were closed as a mark of esteem.

Mr. \\^ood was twice married, first to Jennie Fields, the daughter of Judge Robert Fields. To this union was born a son, James, who died in childhood. Mrs. Jennie Wood died in 1856 and subsequently Mr. Wood married Mrs. Wilhelmina Durrett Potter, the daughter of David Richardson Durrett and the widow of Jay M. Potter, by whom she was the mother of a daughter, Daisy. The latter is now the wife of Charles M. Buckner, of Marshall. To William H. and Wilhelmina Wood was born a daughter, Frances, who is now residing in the beautiful family homestead on East North street, Marshall. Her mother died on January 11, 1909, while traveling in France. She was a woman of many lovable qualities and was a faithful and consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church. South, to which she gave a liberal support.

David R. Durrett. the father of Mrs. Wood, was a native of Virginia, born March 21, 1816, and came to Missouri in early life. He married Frances Piper and they located on a farm in Rock Creek township. Saline coiintN'. near Orearville. With his father he there engaj^ed in nierchanchsingin 1855, and was snccessfnl. He took a deep interest in local |)ul)lic affairs and at the time of his deatii he was serving- as sheriff of Saline cnnnty.

William 11. Wood possessed a kind disposition, holding none hut the most friendly feeling for all. and he gave valuable assistance and advice to others freely wdien sought. His business ability and sound judgment were widelv recognized and in his transactions he was the soul of integrity. Standing "four square to everv wind that blows," he was a loving husljand, kind father and faithful friend.

Richard Pindell Shelby

.\ descendant of an honored and prominent ancestr}- of Revolutionary fame is Richard Pindell Shelby, an influential citizen of Saline county wdio was born in Eayette county, Kentucky, September 2, 181 1, reared in the lap of luxury and received a liberal education in the schools of Lexington, Kentucky. \^'hen seventeen years of age he was admitted to \Vest Point Military Academy, where he remained tw^o terms and made a splendid record. He w'as the son of Brig.-Gen. James Shelby, wdio participated in the war of 1812 with distinction, and he gained military prominence in other ways, being one of the government's most trusted generals. The latter was the son of Gen. Isaac Shelby, a native of the Old Dominion, who w^ent from Virginia into the Revolutionary war as colonel and served with credit throughout the same, being one of the leading commanders at the battle of King's Mountain ; he was later promoied to major-general and served under Gen. William Henry Harrison during the war of 181 2 in subduing the hostile Indians of the lake region, and he was leader in command at the noted and hotly contested battle of the Thames, gaining a great victory, the battle being fought on Canadian soil, and wdiere the noted Indian chief Tecumseh, was killed. General Shelby was then in his seventy-sixth year. He was also the first governor of Kentucky and a man of great distinction and prominence in advancing pure American ideas and in building up good government. He was the son of Evan Shelby, of Virginia, who was a general in the war for American independence, and he had four sons with him who participated in the great and i)erhai)s the bloodiest of Indian battles, that of Point Pleasant, Virginia.

Gen. James Shelby married Mary Pindell, a daughter of Dr. Richard Pindell, one of the state's most prominent families, the Doctor also being of

Revolutionary fame, he being a surgeon in the army, and he dressed General LaFayette's -wounds at the battle of Brandywine. The Doctor settled in Kentucky, where he spent the last years of his life.

Richard Pindell Shelby, of this review, first married in his native state Lydia Hickman, daughter of John L. Hickman, of Bourbon county, Kentucky ; she died. leaving- one son, James Shelby, who came to Saline county, Missouri, and died here in February, 1857. Richard P. Shelby came to Saline county, Missouri, about 1835 in company with John Clay, the son of the great statesman, Henry Clay, of Kentucky, they being cousins, and he lived on a farm belonging to his infant son, James Shelby, the place being located three and onehalf miles west of Marshall. John Clay subsequently returned to his home at Lexington, Kentucky.

Richard P. Shelby married his second wife on June 6, 1841 ; she was Rebecca L. (Williams) Mitchell, of Saline county, Missouri. She died at the country place, known as Richland, the home of Gen. James Shelbv, of Favette county, Kentucky, in June, 1849, leaving only one child, Mary Pindell Shelby, who became the wife of W. B. Napton, Jr., of Marshall, Saline county, Missouri, on September 9, 1862, and by this union these children survive, Frances, John R. and Roberta.

The grandfather, Richard P. Shelby, taught school in Saline county during the latter years of his life, and some of his pupils are yet living to testify to his worth as a teacher and his excellence as a man. The death of this splendid character was sudden, occurring near Marshall in September, 1862. His only surviving child is Mary Pindell Napton.