Vernon County, Missouri - The whole text, 1911 (part 12 of 14)

Of six sons and six daughters born to Mr. and Mrs. Sellers, there are now - 1911 - eight survivors. Of these, Martha A., who was born October 14, 1865, is married to Mr. S. D. Witt, and has one child. Charles E., was born September 11, 1867. James R., who was born December 12, 1869, is married and has six children. Alary A., born February 5, 1872, is married to Mr. Robert Pilgrem, has five children and lives in Oklahoma. Louie Frances, born August 5, 1876, is the wife of Mr. M. A. Earl, and has four children. George, who was born February 7, 1879, is married and has one child, and has charge of the home farm with his mother. Grade M., born September 17, 1881, is married to Mr. D. Goodwin, and has three children, and Clifford R., who was born October 11, 1884, is married and has a family of two children.

Phil. W. Shanholtzer was born in Hampshire county, West Virginia, October 3, 1847, and is the son of Peter Shanholtzer, also a Virginian by birth, and a farmer by calling and occupa¬ tion; his wife, formerly Miss Mary J. Williams, of the same state as himself, bore a large family of children. Phil, was the second child and eldest son. Ills life, up to 1869. was spent mostly in Tazewell, Knox and Macon counties, Illinois, to which locality he had removed from the Old Dominion, and during this time his attention was devoted almost exclusively to agricultural pur¬ suits. In 1869 he came to Vernon county, Missouri, and pur¬ chased six acres of land - the foundation of what was destined to be a large and valuable farm. Setting out an orchard on this small tract he went to work with a will, but soon disposed of this first purchase and bought forty acres, to which additions have from time to time been made until at the present time he is the owner of 58iy2 acres, 240 acres of which adjoin the town limits of Bronaugh. Personally he is held in high esteem, as is also his wife, Miss Sarah Cohenour, whom he married in 1870. She was born in Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Shanholtzer have three chil¬ dren: David M., Edward P., and Jesse. Mr. Shanholtzer is a member of the A. F. and A. M.

George W. Shaw, a native of Green county, Illinois, ranks among the prosperous farmers of Lake township, Vernon county, Missouri. He was born May 6, 1865, and is the fifth child of a family of seven children (of whom five are now living - 1911), born to Ruffin and Elizabeth (Cook) Shaw. The father went from Indiana, his native state, to Illinois, and thence, in 1867, moved with his wife and four children to Vernon county, and for two years lived on and cultivated a rented farm. He then bought a farm of 100 acres in section 28, in Lake township. Some years later he sold his farm and the remainder of his life cultivated leased land, passing away in 1902. His widow survived till 1908. Both were devout members of the Christian Church.

George AY. had few school privileges in early life, being those afforded by a short time spent in the district schools of Arernon county, but he made good use of such as he had, and received his training in the practical school of experience. He grew up on the home farm and lived with his parents till he was twentysix years of age. On starting out for himself he bought a farm of 120 acres, which he afterwards sold, and purchased a quarter section in section 22, Lake township, where he has since made his home with his family.

In religious faith, both Mr. and Mrs. Shaw are affiliated with the "Latter Day Saints." He is a Democrat in political princi¬ ples, and is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

Simeon Shearer. His paternal grandfather was a pioneer settler of the Old Dominion, his birth having occurred near Culpeper Court House, Va., in 1767. During life he took part in many of the wars of his time and finally died in 1851, leaving among other children a son, Samuel Shearer, the father of the subject of this sketch. Samuel Shearer was a Kentuckian bv birth, born in Madison county, May 22, 1800. His active, ener¬ getic life was devoted to agricultural pursuits. His wife was Mrs. Mary E. Arnold. She died in March, 1877, at the age of seventy-two years. Ten children blessed this union, and of these Simeon was the eighth child. His birth occurred in Madison county, Kentucky, July 18, 1841. He was married in 1862 to Miss Sarah E. Stagner, daughter of Albert and Zerelda (Bently) Stagner; they moved to Missouri in 1870. During the Civil War Mr. Shearer entered as a private the command of John Morgan and served under him in the engagements of Gallatin, Tenn., Green River, and numerous others of minor importance, receiv¬ ing an honorable discharge in 1864.

Walter C. Shoemaker, who comes of German lineage, was born in Lafayette county, Missouri, December 28, 1867, the next to the youngest of a family of six children born to Phillip W. and Susan E. (Johnston) Shoemaker, the former born in Ken¬ tucky in 1822, and the latter in Cedar county, Missouri, in 1832. They were married in Cooper county, Missouri, and had six children, those besides our subject being: Samuel, who lives in Oklahoma; James Henry, now deceased; Mrs. F. C. T. Brightwell, who died leaving two sons and three daughters ; Mrs. F. P. Claycomb, of Santa Ana, Cal., and Fannie F., who died without issue. The father was a farmer and after his marriage settled with his wife in Lafayette county, Missouri, and spent the remainder of his life there, passing away February 19, 1900, his decease being preceded by that of his wife, October 6, 1876. The first representative of this branch of the Shoemaker family in this country was the great-grandfather of our subject, who came from Germany and settled near Pittsburgh, Pa. He had three sons, of whom one settled in Ohio, one in Illinois and the other, who was the grandfather of Walter C.? settled in Kentucky, and besides Phillip C., our subject's father, he had three other sons, named, respectively, Jordan, Washington and Robert.

Walter C. lived at home and attended the common schools till he was twelve years old. Coming then to Moundville, Vernon county, he lived in the family of his sister, Mrs. Claycomb, whose husband was a physician, and for nine years worked in the drug store of Mr. R. M. Coulter. He next spent a year at Schell City, after which he was employed a short time as bookkeeper for Mr. W. H. Cooper, a railroad contractor at McAlester, Okla. Going thence to Joplin, Mo., he opened and conducted a drug store on his own account two years, then sold it and worked for Mr. II. C. May in the same line of trade till 1900. He spent the following two years in the office of the Missouri Pacific Rail¬ road Company at Sheldon, after which, in 1902, he accepted his present position as manager of the Burger-Bowman Lumber Company at Sheldon.

On September 26, 1893, Mr. Shoemaker was united in mar¬ riage with Miss Allie D. Chester, who was born in Barton county, Missouri, October 27, 1870, the daughter of John A. and Ophelia (Fitts) Chester, the former born in Pennsylvania, July 5, 1846, and the latter near Paris, Mo. Mrs. Shoemaker is their second child, the others being Mrs. J. D. Jones, who lives in Oklahoma, and John E. Chester, who died leaving a son, Marshall Chester, who lives in Joplin, Mo., where Mr. and Mrs. Chester now - 1911 - reside.

Mr. and Mrs. Shoemaker have one son, Arlington C., who was born December 21, 1898. Mr. Shoemaker adheres to Democratic principles in political affairs, but has held no political office. He is a member of Sheldon Lodge, No. 438, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, all of whose chairs he has filled, and is also con¬ nected with the Modern Woodmen of America, being elected clerk of the camp - Sheldon Camp, No. 3833 - in March, 1902, and serving eight consecutive terms, refusing to serve any longer on account of not having the time to look after the affairs as

York, and for many years a minister in the Presbyterian Church. He was united in marriage with Miss Alma C. Coe, a Virginian by birth. Mr. Sickels died in Indiana in 1864, but his wife survived until 1881. Isaac C. was the fourth of seven children. William and Edward C. were Presbyterian clergymen, and Thomas N. was the editor of the "Evening Reporter, " at Inde¬ pendence, Kan. Isaac was brought up in the city of his birth and was favored with exceptionally fine educational advantages, opportunities which he did not fail to improve. For quite a while he was a studelit at Miami University, Oxford, 0. In 1859 he came to Vernon county, Missouri, remained until Decem¬ ber, 1861, and then returned to Indiana, from whence he again moved to Missouri in the spring of 1866, settling at Balltown. where he embarked in the real estate business. In 1874 he changed his location to his farm, which embraced 320 acres of wTell improved land. August 13, 1860, he was married to Miss Mary McNeil, eldest daughter of Col. Robert McNeil, one of the earliest settlers of Vernon county.

James T. Smith* is an enterprising citizen and successful busi¬ ness man of Nevada, Mo. He was born in Northwestern Georgia May 10, 1863, and is the youngest of a family of nine children, five of whom survive, born to Hunly and Susan (Miller) Smith, who were natives of North Carolina and Virginia, respectively. The father, a farmer by occupation, removed to Tennessee and thence to Deerfield, Mo., where he died in 1899 ; the mother in 1896, at the age of seventy years. The other surviving chil¬ dren are: Sumner, Alice, who is married to Mr. John Price; Julia, the wife of Mr. Lee Boss ; Ollie, the wife of Mr. Charles Westbrook, and Elizabeth, who is married to Mr. Amos Petrie, and all of whom live in Oklahoma.

James T. acquired a common school education, and from early life until he settled in Nevada w^as engaged in farming. Here he learned the stone cutter's trade, and in 1899, as copart¬ ner with Mr. D. P. Bence, under the firm name of Bence & Smith, engaged in the marble and granite business. Six years later Mr. Bence withdrew from the business, and Mr. R. M. Tuttle coming in, it was carried on under the firm name of Smith & Tuttle until 1909, since which time Mr. Smith has conducted it in his own name. The works are located at No. 118 E. Walnut Street and are fully equipped with pneumatic tools and other improved and labor-saving devices and machinery, necessary to meet the demands of a large and constantly growing trade. Besides every style of granite and marble monuments, Mr. Smith manufactures building blocks, designs and executes all kinds of stone work and supplies and installs iron fencing, arch work, etc., employ¬ ing in his works a full force of skilled mechanics. Estimates for all work in this line, with drawings and designs, are furnished on request by Mr. Smith, who always has on hand a plentiful supply of attractive marbles and granites from which to make selections. By careful attention to the requirements of the trade, and fair business methods and dealings, Mr. Smith has achieved a degree of success of which he may justly be proud. He is interested in various fraternal and benevolent organizations, being identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias, "Woodmen of the World, and the Tribe of Ben Hur. On October 17, 1892, he married Miss Etta Drum¬ mond, daughter of Mr. Benjamin Drummond, of Garland, Kan. They have one child, Clarence T.

John E. Smith, a resident of Washington township, Vernon county, Missouri, is widely known as a leading man of affairs and a substantial citizen. He is a native of Missouri and was born in Lewis county, August 17, 1844, to Jeptha S. and Eliza¬ beth (Francis) Smith. The father, who was a Missionary Baptist preacher from early manhood and in later life practiced medicine in connection with his ministerial work, and died in Blue Mound township, Vernon county, on January 15, 1880, and was buried in Deep Wood cemetery, Nevada, Mo. John E. grew up in the family home and until his seventeenth year attended the common schools and then studied one year at Memphis College, Memphis, Mo. He began farming on his own account when he was twentyfive years old and for ten years cultivated rented land. In 1879 he bought a farm of eighty acres in section 24, Osage township, which he afterwards sold and then purchased eighty acres in section 10, Washington township, where he makes his home and carries on general farming. He takes a lively interest in all that relates to modern progress, keeps himself abreast of the times and is well posted in matters of public concern.

the affairs and success of his party. He was for four years town¬ ship collector, served four years as justice of the peace and for several years was a member of the school hoard. Mr. Smith was at one time identified with the Farmers' Alliance, and with his wife is affiliated with the Christian Church.

On January 26, 1870, Mr. Smith married Miss Nancy C., a daughter of Mr. William Forester, of Scotland county, Missouri. Of seven children born to them five are living, viz., Narcissa Francis, born July 5, 1871; Minnie S., born February 22, 1873; Jeptha S., born December 5, 1874; William E., born October 12, 1876, and Hattie, born September 16, 1884.

Thomas J. Smith is a native of Washington, D. C., and was born January 9, 1830, his father, John Smith, originally of Eng¬ land origin, having emigrated to the United States when young, his death occurring in that city in 1837. His wife preceded him to the grave some five years, dying in 1832. Thomas J., the youngest of five children, removed to St. Louis, Mo., when four¬ teen years old, and there learned the trade of bricklaying, also engaging in contracting. Subsequently in 1870 he settled in Nevada and soon became intimately connected with the affairs of that city, serving for two terms as its mayor. Three years later, or in 1873, he returned to St. Louis, and subsequently in 1878 entered the employ of J. W. Cleland, at Schell City, in the lumber business. Upon the organization of the Home Lumber Co., he took charge of the business at Schell City. For years Mr. Smith had charge of the town company and in this capacity also gained wide acquaintance. As has been intimated his connection with the interests of Schell City has proven of inestimable value to her. The present school building, the pride of the place, is due largely to the efforts of Mr. Smith, and in many other ways he worked and labored personally for the town's advancement. He served as a member of the town board, and always took great interest in educational matters, having served seven years as treasurer of the board, and president two years. In 1862 he married Miss Laura J. Wilson, of St. Louis. Their only sur¬ viving daughter, Addie M., became the wife of J. R. Cunning. Mr. Smith belongs to the A. F. and A. M.

Albert M. Smock, a prominent citizen of Richland township, Vernon county, Missouri, was born in Madison, Ind., March 9, 1861, the son of David R. and Isabella (Millican) Smock. His grandfather, John Smock, moved from Kentucky, his native state, to Jefferson county, Indiana, in the early days. He was a promi¬ nent man, a Democrat in politics, and served several terms in the Indiana state legislature. Possessed of considerable wealth, he presented a library to Hanover College, Indiana. The trustees of the college accepted the gift but declined to call it "The Jesse D. Bright Library," as requested by the donor. He was one of the original promoters and several years president of the Indiana State Fair Association.

Our subject's father, David R. Smock, vcas born in Jefferson county, Indiana, December 18, 1830, and grew to manhood on his father's farm. Our subject's mother was born in Northum¬ berland county, England, February 8, 1832, and soon after her birth her parents came to this country, settling first in New York state and removing thence to Jefferson county, Indiana, where she and David R. were married on November 6, 1855. Soon after their marriage they settled in Madison, Ind., where he conducted a general store some six years. In the fall of 1861 he enlisted as a private in the Third regiment, Indiana Volunteer cavalry, and rose to the rank of first corporal. He was stricken with typhoid fever and died in the army hospital at Fredericksburg, Va., August 18, 1862.

Four children besides our subject were born to David R. and Isabella, three of whom died in infancy. The other, Clara, is married to Mr. George Currie and lives in Richland township. The mother and daughter came to Vernon county in 1881, and Mrs. Smock made her home with her son till her decease, Feb¬ ruary 17, 1900.

Albert M. acquired his early education in the common schools of his native place, and when fourteen years old entered the office of the "Madison Courier" and learned the printers' trade, which he followed six years. In 1880 he came to Vernon county, where his father had bought as an investment some years prior to his decease a quarter section of land in section 16, Richland township. He worked as a farm laborer until his mother and sister arrived in 1881 and then they took up their abode on the quarter section in a log house that was on it. In 1890 Mr. Smock, who inherited a half interest in this land, sold to the town of Richards thirty-five acres of his eighty acres. He has since bought other land in section 17, so that his present farm com¬ prises 185 acres in the two sections. In 1890 Mr. Smock opened a hardware store in Richards. The same year he was appointed postmaster there and served in that capacity three years, and on leaving the office also sold his hardware store. Mr. Smock is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, and he and his family are identified with the Presbyterian Church at Richards, and he is a Republican in politics.

On February 11, 1891, he was united in marriage with Miss Amanda Mann, who was born in Cooper county, Missouri, Feb¬ ruary 27, 1865, to Morris and Nancy (McKinney) Mann, natives of Kentucky and Illinois, respectively. They now reside in Walker township, Yernon county.

Mr. and Mrs. Smock have two children, viz., Isabel, born De¬ cember 30, 1891, and Carl M., who was born March 29, 1895, who reside with their parents.

Richard Berry Speed, who has been prominent in the affairs of Nevada, Mo., for nearly thirty years, was born in St. Louis, December 10, 1849, and is the youngest of four children born to Joseph R. and Nancy (Pitman) Speed, both of whom are deceased, his mother passing away during his infancy and his father when he was about twelve years of age. Prior to 1882 Mr. Speed was connected with the "Warrenton (Mo.) Banner' ' as editor and publisher, on which paper he was awarded two prizes b}^ the Missouri Press Association as the best printed paper in the state, and in August of that year settled at Nevada and formed a co-partnership with the late William J. Knott in the publication of the " Southwest Mail." Purchasing Mr. Knott 's interest in the paper in June, 1883, he at once began the publication of the " Daily Mail" in connection with the weekly publication, and as editor and publisher continued this con¬ nection with the paper continuously till 1906, when he sold his interest to Mr. E. E. Bean, who had become a partner in the enterprise. The "Mail" was at all times, as it now is, distinct¬ ively Democratic, and its remarkable success during Mr. Speed's connection with it is a part of the history of Yernon county.

1897, Mr. Speed was appointed by Governor Stephens inspector of oils at St. Louis, which office he filled four years, it being the only public office he ever held. Since severing his connection with the "Mail" Mr. Speed has been variously employed, and at the present date - 1911 - is associated with Mr. Pat. B. Rafter in the ownership and management of Hotel Mitchell, one of the most popular public houses of Nevada. Mr. Speed is eminently fitted for this work by reason of his pleasing personality, his fine social qualities and his obliging and courteous manner; so that it is not surprising that he is widely known as one of the hospitable landlords in Missouri in his endeavors to make the Mitchell the popular "House for the Man Behind the Grip."

Mr. Speed has been a member of the Missouri Press Asso¬ ciation since his earliest connection with newspaper work, and during the years 1883-4 served as its president and later as corresponding secretary, and since retiring from that line of work it has been his pleasure to keep up his membership in the organization. Mr. Speed is identified with several fraternal orders, being a member of Osage Lodge, No. 303, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Nevada Royal Arch Chapter, No. 56, O'Sullivan Commandery, No. 15, Knights Templar of Nevada, and also of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.

On October 17, 1882, Mr. Speed was united in marriage with Miss Maggie B. Carstarphen, a daughter of James E. and Belina (Jackson) Carstarphen, of Louisiana, Pike county, Missouri. This union was marked by unsullied happiness and continued till the passing to the higher life of the loved and loving wife on the afternoon of April 10, 1904. Her body was laid to rest under the shade of a large ' oak tree in the Jackson family burial lot near her childhood home at Louisiana, Mo.

Conrad Stahler was born in Germany, December 25, 1834, his parents also having been born there ; his father, Philip Stahler, was a farmer by calling, who when a young man married Miss Catharine Lindensmith. The latter became the mother of six children, of whom Conrad was the third. After growing up in his native country upon a farm he emigrated to the United States in 1852, soon after moving to Illinois and locating not far from St. Louis. For about fifteen years he made his home in either that state or Missouri, in its eastern part, until choosing a home in this county in 1868. Now lie owns a well improved and nicely cultivated farm of 192 acres, and in its management he shows himself possessed of knowledge gained by long experience at the business. Mr. Stahler has been twice married; first in 1857 to Miss Margaret E. Smith, of Illinois, who died in October, 1877, leaving two children : Sarah and Belle. His second marriage was to Miss Nancy E. Jones, of Kentucky originally. Mr. Stahler is one of the popular men of this vicinity.

Hon. Jasper N. Staten, who ranks with the leading men of Vernon county, Missouri, is a native of Trimble county, Ken¬ tucky, and was born March 2, 1851. He was the third child and is one of four survivors of a family of seven sons and four daughters born to James M. and Mary (Shannon) Staten, the former born February 8, 1815, the first white child born in 5Vashington county, Indiana, and the latter born April 17, 1825, in Shelby county, Kentucky. They were married in Shelby county, February 1, 1846, and settled in Trimble county and lived there till 1870. After that they lived two years in Carroll county, Missouri, then two years in Woodsen county, Kansas. After that they returned to Carroll county, where the mother passed away February 19, 1879, the father surviving till February 18, 1899. Their eldest son, Shannon, now, 1911, lives on the old homestead in Carroll county. There are also two sisters, Mrs. Amanda Cassingham, of Boswortli, Mo., and Mrs. Victoria B. Browning, of Iowa City, Iowa.

Jasper N. was educated at Antioch, Ky., leaving home when a boy, in 1873. He worked some three years as a farm hand and then, from October, 1875, to February, 1883, traveled through the entire Mississippi valley and Texas as agent for Dr. J. H. McLean. Mr. Staten covered some 135 counties in Texas, and it is interesting to note that he was required to pay a state license of $200 as a traveling salesman.

February 1, 1883, he was united in marriage with Miss Laura B. Allen, who was born in Lincoln county, Missouri, May 28, 1858, to Robert C. and Rebecca (Cannon) Allen. Settling at once on a farm near Fair Haven Springs, in Blue Mound township, Vernon county, Mr. Staten lived there twenty years, developing, improving and cultivating his land, and in 1903 moved to his present home in Harwood, still retaining the farm. Since first coming to Vernon county Mr. Staten has taken an active part in political matters, and in 1887 was elected township clerk and exofficio assessor of Blue Mound township. In 1894 he was made treasurer of the Democratic county central committee, and was elected chairman of that body in 1896. His earnest advocacy of the proposition favoring a new courthouse when the matter was before the people in 1905, together with his well-known public spiritedness, led to his appointment on the building committee, and in 1906 to his nomination and election as presiding .judge of the county court of Vernon county, to which office he was re¬ elected in 1910.

On the organization of the Bank of Harwood, in 1895, he was elected to its board of directors, became vice-president of the bank in 1898 and in 1899 was elected cashier, which office he still fills.

Judge Staten is a worthy member of Schell City Lodge, No. 355, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, having united with the order at DeWitt, Mo., in October, 1877. He also belongs to the Nevada Encampment. In religious faith and fellowship Judge Staten is affiliated with the Christian Church at Schell City.

John M. Stayton,* a well-to-do farmer of Metz township, Ver¬ non county, Missouri, is a native of Marion county, Kentucky. He was born October 10, 1843, and is the second of three children born to George and Rebecca (Shehan) Stayton, both of whom were natives of Marion county, Kentucky. The father was born June 29, 1819, to Mathias and Mary (Murcer) Stayton, natives of Maryland and Kentucky, respectively. Our subject's mother was born in 1818 to John and Rebecca (Beals) Shehan, the former a native of Ireland and the latter of Marion county, Kentucky.

When a lad of thirteen years John Shehan ran away from his home, and without any money, boarded a vessel and came to this county, making his way to Marion county, Kentucky. He was there " bound out" to Mr. Beals, whose daughter he married on attaining his majority. He was a farmer by occupation.

After the death of our subject's mother, which occurred in January, 1855, his father, in 1858, married a second wife and survived till April, 1896, when he passed away.

and remained on his father's farm till he attained his majority. He then spent eight years, working as a farm hand in Kentucky, and in 1872 came to Vernon county, reaching Nevada on March 13. He worked as a farm laborer that year, then leased and worked a farm in 1873, and the following year leased sixty acres for five years. At the expiration of that lease he rented for another year, and in the spring of 1880 bought eighty acres in section 4, Metz township, to which he added another eighty-acre tract in the following fall. Here Mr. Stayton has made his home for the past thirty or more years, giving his time and attention to farming operations with most gratifying success. Besides the home farm he also owns a fifteen-acre timber tract in section 8, Metz township.

On March 7, 1884, Mr. Stayton was united in marriage with Miss Susan E. Messer, who was born September 6, 1863, to Isaac and E. J. (Hackney) Messer, natives of Illinois, and Ohio, respectively. In 1876 they settled in Metz township, Vernon county, whence they moved in 1883 to Wilson county, Kansas, where Mr. Messer died in 1886. His widow returned to Illinois in 1898 and has since made her home there. They had a family of seven children, of whom Mrs. Stayton is the eldest. Of three children born to Mr. and Mrs. Stayton, the eldest, Mary P., born January 4, 1885, is married to Mr. Courtney Kelso, of Ft. Mor¬ gan. Col. Dovie May, born in April, 1888, is the wife of Mr. Benjamin Brooks, of Metz, and James L., who was born in May, 1895, lives with his parents.

August C. Sterett* is one of the well-known and substantial citizens of Nevada, Mo. He is of Irish-German lineage; a native of Benton county, Missouri, and was born December 7, 1841. He is the fourth son of a family of ten children born to Nathan M. D. and Maria (Bruner) Sterett, the other surviving children being: Henry J., of St. Francis county, Missouri; William B., who lives on the family homestead in Benton county, Missouri, and Juliette, who is married to Mr. Thomas Jones and lives in Pettis county, Missouri. Those deceased were named respectively, Smith Agnew, Jeffrey B., Preston N., Franklin, Alonzo L. and Emma, who was married to Mr. R. C. Vaughn. The parents were both natives of

Pennsylvania, and settled in Howard county, Missouri, in 1835, but a little later removed to Benton county and established the family home, where they spent their lives, his death occurring in 1866, when he was sixty-five years of age, and she surviving till 1888 and passing away at the age of seventy-six years. Our subject's paternal 'grandparents, John and Matilda Sterett, were natives of Pennsylvania and it was in that commonwealth and in Virginia that the first representatives of the family in this country settled, being four brothers who immigrated from Ireland. Little is known of this branch of the Bruner familv, except that it is of German origin and settled in Pennsylvania. August C. was reared on the family homestead in Benton county and acquired his education in the public schools there. At the opening of the Civil War he entered the Confederate Army as a member of Company A, Ninth Regiment Missouri Infantry, and was in the trans-Mississippi Department. He served till the close of the war and was mustered out in June, 1865. Returning to Missouri, Mr. Sterett, in 1866, established himself in mercan¬ tile business at Sedalia, whence he moved in 1869 to Nevada, and there continued in mercantile trade, dealing in dry goods, clothing, etc. Later he closed out this line and dealt in hard¬ ware, continuing till 1890, when he retired from active business with an ample competence. Mr. Sterett has been somewhat active in public and civic affairs, and has served several terms as County Collector. He is prominently identified with the Masonic fraternity, being a member of the Blue Lodge, the Royal Arch Chapter and the Commandery of Knights Templar.

On May 31, 1874, Mr. Sterett married Miss Adaline, a daughter of W. S. and Bernettie (Wells) Divers, of Nevada. There have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Sterrett ten children, of whom W. B. is a druggist at Jacksonville, Tex. ; William F. is assistant cashier of the First National Bank of Nevada: Lucy M. is a teacher in the Benton School, Nevada ; Neelie is married to Mr. 0. F. Munson, of Brokenarrow, Okla. ; Harry C. is engaged in newspaper work in Montana ; Helen B. is a teacher in the Bryan School, Nevada, and Charles and Lester live at home ; and two, viz. : Hallie May and Mary Eliza are deceased.

Mrs. V. A. C. Stockard

Some one lias said, nothing is difficult when yon put your heart in it. Mrs. Virginia Alice Cottey Stockard put her heart into a school twenty years ago and the school grew and the woman waxed in wisdom and usefulness. She once said: "I no longer look for easy tasks ; I try to accomplish the hard tasks well and I soon find they become easy." To those who love her the truth is revealed. God walks in hand with her.

Cottey College cannot be detached from its founder, even in a brief history of its origin and growth. Long after she shall have passed through the invisible door it will proclaim her high mission. The school is the evolution of an idea which took form in the mind of a young woman thirty years ago. On March 27, 1848, a rich argosy was launched on the high sea of life - Vir¬ ginia Alice Cottey. Her father, Ira D. Cottey, came of cavalier stock and was born and reared in Kentucky. Her mother, also reared in Kentucky, was a daughter of Rev. Martin L. Eads, a pioneer Methodist minister. Clear fountain; clear stream.

The effectual man or woman are those born to rugged con¬ ditions, unbolstered and with ambition made keen by the depriva¬ tion of the things they most desire. Lincoln split rails by day and studied by the torchlight at night. Benjamin Franklin sprung from a generation of blacksmiths, spent an apprentice¬ ship in soap-boiling and at last, by his native talent, harnessed the lightning. American soil is rich and fruitful; the possi¬ bilities of a young republic immeasurable. These were the con¬ ditions which brought forth a Virginia Alice Cottey. A harmo¬ nious home dominated by love and pious frugality ; a Christian mother and father ; earliest impressions, those of earth and sky ; a dearth of books ; a great longing for them. The root of a rose tree set in the desert, if it may taste of moisture, will spring up and blossom. So it was with this human plant. The meager advantages, such as the public schools of a rural district afforded, were hers in childhood and later on she was permitted to attend a school of higher grade for one and one-half years. To one of her invincibility this was equipment. She began to teach. Prob¬ ably it was in the first year of active work that the thought, vague and unformed, of a school of her own day took shape in her mind. A thought is a thing. This thought was a seed des¬ tined to be watered and tended by God. Years of patient toil must intervene between the conception of the thought and its fulfillment; but years are but moments to a spirit bucklered with determination.

First, money must be earned. The work began in the public school, then followed a position in Richmond College, which lasted for two years. She was elected for the third year and resigned to teach at home that she might have the privilege of aiding her younger brothers and sisters. In 1876 she was elected to a posi¬ tion in Central College, Lexington, Mo., which she held for eight years, resigning only to take up her life work, the long-cherished plan of establishing a school of her own for young ladies.

The years she had passed in the school room had been fruitful years, not only in the accumulation of money but in self-improve¬ ment. French, German, Latin and higher mathematics were compassed. He who essays to progress in darkness will find it the ditch of his own undoing. The president of Cottey College loved the light and grew toward it. At this time she found herself the proud possessor of $3,000; another sister, also a teacher, had accumulated $2,000, and a third $500. They took counsel ; they said we will have a school. Nevada, Mo., was fixed upon for a location. A large territory lay tributary to this point - Kansas, Indian Territory and Arkansas - a territory in those days for the most part unblessed with college advantages. On September 8, 1884, the idea had taken material form. It opened with an enrollment of twenty-eight boarding and day pupils the first day ; total enrollment for the year seventy-two. The next year there were forty-three pupils at the opening ; the third year eighty-six. The institution was getting on its feet. Soon it was found necessary to enlarge the building. This was made pos¬ sible by the sale of scholarships and the loan of some money by Dr. W. G. Miller, a devoted friend of Miss Cottey.

The first building was a brick structure, fronting east, 42x40, two stories above basement. By most economic management it was made to accommodate eighteen boarding pupils, besides reci¬ tation and music rooms.

In 1899 a new wing was added on the south and other improvements made in the interior of the building, but the rapid growth and development of the college soon demanded another building, which was erected in 1903.

During the years 1905-6 $5,000 was spent in reconstructing the interior of the east building so as to make it conform to the highly popular " grouping" plan of the west building.

New hardwood floors were laid in the halls and handsome new stairways replaced the old ones. An addition was also made to the boiler room, and a new Ideal boiler added to the steam plant.

In 1909 an extension was made to the south (conservatory) wing, by which provision was made for sixteen additional piano rooms and the capacity of the dining room almost doubled.

During these twenty-seven years the college has had but one president, and several of her co-laborers have been associated with her almost from the beginning.

The two sisters who entered on the work with the president married and retired to other homes, and Mrs. Y. A. C. Stockard absorbed their interest. She herself was married March 6, 1890, to S. M. Stockard, and at once assumed the responsibility of wife and mother to the three children by a former marriage of her husband's. The children, two sons and a daughter, grew up and graduated in the school, the sons afterward receiving pro¬ fessional education in the University of Arkansas and Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tenn. The daughter completed her mus¬ ical studies in Belgium.

The hope of the founder of the school goes deeper than mere educational culture. Early in life she set her face toward a high achievement and lias followed it unfalteringly. She is building for eternity. The seed field of her life has been sown with high purposes. Very quietly went the tenor of this life, but attended always with the results of steadfast endeavor ; gently invincible, softly resolute ; a Dorcas of her generation. She has by her excellent economies put within reach of the many at surprisingly low rates the finest educational advantages. Her chief thought is to attain a symmetrical development of the mental, moral, aesthetic, social and physical natures; to strengthen the pure and noble qualities and to weaken and destroy evil and unholy ten¬ dencies. Solid, practical knowledge and thorough training must supersede display, affectation and pretense. Realizing the great fact that God has called woman to a high and holy destiny in that He has commissioned her to be a co-laborer with Himself in the great work of enlightening and saving the world, the prime object of her school is the adjustment of woman and her natural and God-given relation. But while it is the aim of Cottey Col¬ lege to maintain the highest intellectual culture, the moral, religious and domestic training are thoroughly emphasized as necessary to complete education.

The course of study is equal if not superior to that of any college for young ladies in the middle West. It embraces thor¬ ough courses in English, mathematics, Latin, sciences, ancient and modern languages. A strong faculty trained in the best colleges and universities is always employed. Carlyle said: "Literature is the wine of life." The ambition of the president of the school has been to lay the foundation of pure English and to engender in the minds of youth a love for the beautiful and chaste in literature.

The conservatory proper was organized in 1895, under the direction of Dr. and Madame Blitz. The reputation of this school of music has extended far and wide, and with justice, for it is now fully directed upon the plan of the Royal Conservatory of Brussels, one of the first schools of music in the world. The program of study is identical with that approved by the state conservatories of France and Belgium, and it becomes possible to enter any of those foreign institutions in their advanced classes after leaving Cottey College. The conservatory boasts of being the only one where the musical education is founded on the science of sight reading and sustained by theoretical as well as practical instruction. It is the only one having a large string orchestra, capable of rendering the most difficult mnsic, such as Grieg's suite and melodies and the accompaniments to Saint - Saen's concerti.

Cottey College was chartered by the state of Missouri in 1887. On March 18, 1907, the college property was transferred to a board of trustees and made an interdenominational college for the higher education of young women. A new charter was pro¬ vided at this time. By provision of the constitution Mrs. Y. A. C. Stockard is to remain president of the institution so long as life and health will permit.

The crying need of the school is an endowment fund. The alumnae have begun this and are investing their funds with the proviso that the interest accruing therefrom shall become a part of the principal until the sum of $50,000 shall have been reached. Five thousand dollars will endow a scholarship in Cottey .College, the beneficiary to be selected by the donor, with the consent of the president.

The sight of a great soul is inspiring. To follow a leader - whom God has seemed to bless as He blessed Moses is strengthen¬ ing. The daily life of Mrs. Y. A. C. Stockard is a beatitude. Order and quiet attend on her coming. Assailed by a multitude of great and petty problems daily, her poise is never impaired. She walks her life orbit clothed with the majesty of a jubilant soul. Simple and unpretending of demeanor, she is ever armed with an invisible scepter. In the bringing up of youth she is unexcelled, "that our daughters may be as cornerstones, pol¬ ished after the similitude of a palace." She considereth her field and buyeth it ; with the fruit of her hand she planteth a vine¬ yard. She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengthenetli her arms. She perceiveth that her merchandise is good ; her candle goeth not out by night. She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; vea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.

Hon. William J. Stone. The senior United States Senator of Missouri is Hon. William J. Stone, one of Y ernon county s former citizens. The family from which he is descended came originally from England to the ancient colony of Yirginia, at Jamestown, in an early day. Three generations of them have been born and reared in the old commonwealth. The great¬ grandfather of Y illiam J. Stone was a soldier in the He's olu- tionary War from that state, and his son, John Stone, who was also born there, subsequently moved to Madison county, Ken¬ tucky, early in the nineteenth century, where he died at the age of ninety-four, in 1863. The father of the subject of this sketch, William Stone, was born in Culpeper county, Virginia, in 1813, and went with his father to Kentucky, where he married Miss Mildred Phelps. In 1863 he went to Daviess county, Ind., and from there moved to Waco, Tex. He was twice married; his second wife being Miss Dora Johnson. His first wife (William J. 's mother), died in 1852, the second wife dying in 1880. After the death of the latter the father moved to Nevada, Mo., where he died in 1881. William J. Stone was born May 7, 1848. in Madison county, Kentucky, and was the youngest of four chil¬ dren by his father's first marriage. He worked on his father's farm and attended school until 1863, when, going to live with his sister at Columbia, Boone county, Mo., he enjoyed the priv¬ ileges of a three years' course at the State LTniversity, to which was added a thorough commercial education at Stewart's Com¬ mercial College at St. Louis. On his return to Columbia he entered the law office of his brother-in-law, Hon. Squire Turner, and two years later, or in 1867, was admitted to the bar. A partnership was then established with Judge A. B. Carleton, at Bedford, Lawrence county, Indiana, but only continued about two years, when Mr. Stone came to Nevada, Mo., and engaged in the practice of his profession. In 1872-74 he served as prose¬ cuting attorney of the county, and in the latter year became con¬ nected in practice with C. R. Scott, which firm was succeeded by Stratton & Stone. In 1877 and for some time afterward he was one of the editors of the Vernon county "Democrat." The Democratic party elected him to the state conventions of 1872-74- 76; he was their delegate to the congressional convention in 1872, and in 1876 he was elected presidential elector on the Demo¬ cratic ticket. In 1884 Mr. Stone received the nomination and secured the election as representative to the Forty-ninth Congress from the Twelfth District of Missouri. During this session he placed himself securely on the list of Missouri's statesmen, and the brilliant record which he made assured him future promo¬ tion by his fellow citizens, and in 1886 he was reelected bv a handsome majority. On April 2, 1874, Mr. Stone married Miss Louise Winston, of Cole county, Missouri, daughter of Col. W. K.

Winston. Senator Stone belongs to the Masonic, Odd Fellow and Knights of Pythias orders, and is now serving his second term as United States Senator,

Howard C. Storrs, an enterprising citizen of Sheldon, Vernon county, Missouri, is a native of Lew Stone Canyon, Col., and was born October 8, 1874. When he was seven years old he came Avith his parents to Missouri, and here acquired a good English education in the common schools. Later he Avent to AA'estern Florida and there learned the printer's trade.

Mr. Storrs is a man of fine mental attainments, fond of study and research, and early developed more than ordinary ability as a Avriter. Some of his published Akerses show a high order of poetic taste and talent, and haA^e been much admired for their naturalness, beauty of sentiment and clearness of diction.

In 1896 Mr. Storrs purchased the Sheldon "Enterprise," to the publication of which he has since deAToted his chief attention, and Avhich, under his careful management, has AAron its Avay to popular faAmr, and come to be recognized by all classes as among the Avide-aAvake, bright, worthy and valuable channels of infor¬ mation and neAvs of the county.

In 1907 Mr. Storrs Avas united in marriage with the eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. M. A. Hatch, of Sheldon, and they haAre one son and one daughter.

Jajnes W. Storms, who is knoAAm as one of the ablest educators in Missouri, his native state, AAras born in Cass county, June 14. 1868. He is a son of James T. and Margaret (Briscoe) Storms. James T. moved from Kentucky, his native state, and settled in Cass county, Missouri, about 1840. They AA^ere people of good standing in their community, and Avere both killed in a collision at a crossing of the Missouri Pacific railway at Strasburg on their Avay home from church, their daughter Georgia, aaTlo is noAAr the Avife of Mr. Earl Parker, of Pleasant Hill, Mo., being the only one of the party aaTlo escaped alive. Mr. Storms' ancestors Avere among the early settlers of Missouri, the earlier paternal repre¬ sentatives of the family coming from England to Virginia, thence going to Kentucky and from there moving to southern Missouri.

Left an orphan when tAvelve years of age, James W. was thus early throAvn upon his OAvn resources, and spent his summers in farm work and attended school through the Avinter months. After finishing liis preliminary studies, with a view to fitting himself for teaching, he attended the Warrensburg Normal School in 1886-7-8, and later, in 1892, studied at the Oregon Agricultural College, teaching and working in the meantime to get money necessary to carry on and finish his studies. Mr. Storms was for two years principal of Buena Vista (Oregon) public schools; taught in the science department in the Ashland (Oregon) State Normal two years; was principal of public schools at Sisson, Cal., and then, returning to Missouri, spent five years as principal -of the high school at Webb City, and one year as superintendent of schools there, and resigned that position to become superin¬ tendent of schools at Nevada, Mo., which place he has filled since 1905.

Mr. Storms is a close student, not only of books but also of men and affairs, and by constant observation, reading and study keeps in close touch with the trend of modern advances in edu¬ cational ideas and methods. His varied experiences have given him a broadened vision of his work in all its phases, and bringing to it the full force of his cultured mind he easily holds the high place in his profession to which he has attained.

In recent years he has studied at the University of Chicago, at Omaha, and at the Missouri State University, and is 'thoroughly up-to-date. Mr. Storms was president of the Southwest Teachers ' Association and also a member of the State Teachers' Association of Missouri. He takes a lively interest in fraternal organizations, being a prominent Mason and a member of the chapter, and of the Knights of Pythias, a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Modern Woodmen of America.

In 1897 Mr. Storms, at San Francisco, Cal., was united in marriage with Miss Blanche Barron, a native of Cass county, Missouri, and a daughter of Mr. William Barron, of Raymore.

Mrs. Mary E. Strain, whose maiden name was Godfrey, was born in Mercer county, Kentucky, and came to this county with her brother, Leaven Godfrey, as early as 1839. Some three years later, or in 1842, she was married to Mr. James Logan, a native of Montgomery county, Missouri, and son of Hugh and Sarah (Massey) Logan; he was born May 9, 1819, and in 1837 settled

Milton P. Stroud was born in Tazewell county, Illinois, July 20, 1832, the youngest of two boys and seven girls in the family of his parents, Thomas and Sallie (Thompson) Stroud; the former was born in North Carolina, August 27, 1790, and the latter in Virginia, September 22, 1789, their marriage occurring in David¬ son countv, Tennessee, from whence thev moved to Dickson county, where eight of their children were born. Of these Cassie R., born in 1812, became the wife of Gen. Moses K. Anderson, of Sangamon county, Illinois, and subsequently died, leaving nine children; her husband afterwards married Mourning T. Stroud, who bore him five children: Fanetta, born in 1814, who married James Atterburv, died in 1854; Sinia S., born in 1816, died in 1850; Obedience L., born in 1817, Mrs. E. P. Sullivan, of Monroe county, Iowa, and the mother of eight children; Mourn¬ ing T., born January 17, 1820, married first James M. Hall, who died leaving one child, after which she married Parker Hall, by whom she also had one child: her last husband was Gen. M. K. Anderson. She died November 24, 1880. Laban M., another son in the family, born September 27, 1822, married Elva Adams (whose father, Captain Adams, was killed in the Black Hawk VTar.) Hon. Laban M. Stroud served from Tazewell county, Illi¬ nois, as a member of the Twenty-eighth General Assembly. Artimicia, born December 25, 1823, the wife of Dr. IV. W. Higgs; they have seven children. Julia Ann, born in 1827, died in 1857. Thomas Stroud, the father, who had participated in the Florida "War, died in 1858. One brother, Jesse, was in the War of 1812, serving at New Orleans under General Jackson. Mrs. Stroud had one brother who lived to be almost 100 years old ; another brother,

Col. S. M. Thompson, secured a colonelcy in the Black Hawk War over Abraham Lincoln, and also served as captain in the Mexican War. Milton Petiller Stroud, our subject, was reared on a farm, receiving a common school education, and September 18, 1856, married Sarah L. Johnson, daughter of N. P. Johnson, of New York; she was born December 29, 1836, in Logan county, Illinois, and died in June, 1860, leaving a daughter, Priscilla, born August 29, 1857, who married February 3, 1881, Robert W. McGovney, and at her death, March 17, 1886, left one daughter, Katie. In 1862 Mr. S. was married to Miss Mary J. Stringfield, daughter of R. B. (of Kentucky) and Mary (Keagle) Stringfield (of Illinois). Their three children were Emma, born January 16, 1863, married John Ephland in 1884, and they have one son, Willie M., born September 11, 1 885, and a daughter, born Februarj^ 12, 1887; Henry G., born November 29, 1866, now deceased, and John M., born August 3, 1869, died March 8, 1870. After his second wife's death, February 21, 1872, Mr. S. married, in 1874. Mrs. Mary A. Joyner, nee Hunt. Her three children were Miller L., born July 1, 1863; John W., born December 12, 1864, died August 19. 1875, and Minnie P., born April 17, 1866.

William A. Summers is a son of Moses M. Summers, deceased, whose biography appears elsewhere in this work, and Mary Candace (Welch) Summers, and was born in Metz township, Vernon county, Missouri, February 10, 1856. He acquired his education in the district schools of his native place and grew to manhood on the family homestead, his experiences being those common to the farmer boy. He worked the home place with his father till he was twenty-five years of age and then leased a part of the farm and cultivated it on his own account. Since his father's decease in 1904 he has leased about 100 acres from his mother, who moved off the place in 1904, and has carried on general farming with good results. He devotes himself closely to his farming operations and finds little time for other things. Mr. Summers adheres to the principles of the Democratic party, but has never sought or held political office. He is an honored member of the Christian Church at Rinehart.

On September 2, 1894, Mr. Summers married Miss Allie E. Boling, who was born in Montevalo, Vernon county, November 26, 1874, and is a daughter of Charles T. and Martha J. (William- son) Boling, the former born in Virginia in 1825 and the latter in Sangamon county, Illinois, August 23, 1833. After their mar¬ riage in Illinois they, the Bolings, settled on a farm near Montevalo, on March 18, 1874, the father buying and selling several different farms in Vernon county. Since his decease his widow has made her home with their son, Mr. Frank S. V". Boling, in Nevada.

Mr. and Mrs. Summers have five surviving children, whose names and dates of birth are: Paul T., born June 21, 1895; Emmett A., born September 14, 1896 ; Edward C., born April 23, 1899 ; Edna May, born August 14, 1903, and Cecil, born April 27, 1906. One child died in infancy.

Moses M. Summers5" was born in Arkansas, November 18, 1827, and was a son of Allen and Elizabeth (Wright) Summers, both natives of Kentucky. The parents were married in Osage county, Missouri, and removed thence to Arkansas. In 1830 they returned to Missouri and, settling on a farm of one hundred and ninety-five acres in Metz township, Vernon county, passed the remainder of their days there, the father dying in 1849 at the age of about fifty years and the mother passing away in 1857. They had a family of eleven children, Moses M. being their first born. He received his schooling in a log school house in Metz township and lived with his parents till their deaths, then bought the homestead of the other heirs and lived there till his decease in 1904. He was a suc¬ cessful farmer and an upright citizen, and a kind husband and father. He was a Democrat in politics, and in religious fellowship was affiliated with the Christian Church, in which he served as an elder some fortv vears.

On October 24, 1852, he was united in marriage with Miss Mary C. Welch, who Avas born May 21, 1831, in White county, Tennessee, the daughter of William and Mary A. AVelch, who Avere natives of the Carolinas. Mrs. Summers' father died in Ten¬ nessee. and her mother, with her tAVO children - Mrs. Summers being the younger - settled in Metz toAvnship, Vernon county, in 1849, and the mother passed her life there.

Of eight children born to Mr. and Mrs. Summers, Sarah E., the eldest, is married to Joseph Rvnard, of Metz tOAAmship; William A. lives on the family homestead ; Mary A. is the Avife of Samuel C. Foraker, of Bronson, Kansas ; Marion M. lUes in Amos, Mis- souri; John is deceased; Tabitha is deceased; Mary C. is married to Isaac N. White and lives on the home farm in Metz township ; Garrett H. lives in Metz, and M. M. passed away November 30, 1905.

Mrs. Summers moved from the family homestead in 1906 and since then has made her home with her son, Garrett H. Summers. He is the youngest of the family and was born October 31, 1875. He was educated in the Whitefield district school, in Metz town¬ ship, and lived on the home farm till March 9, 1906, since which time he has been engaged in buying and shipping grain at Metz. On September 19, 1895, he was united in marriage with Miss Pearl Harts, who was born in Metz township, in 1877, to Barn¬ hart and Elizabeth (Foraker) Harts, both natives of Vernon county. Mrs. Summers passed away February 15, 1906, and left surviving three children, viz., Carinne E., born July 11. 1896; Frances M., born September 10, 1898, and Alta L., born March 9, 1901.

Mr. Summers is a Democrat and is now (1911) serving his sec¬ ond term as township collector. He is active in fraternal orders, being a member of Metz Lodge, No. 694, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which he has been secretary since 1906 ; a mem¬ ber of Lodge No. 3387, Modern Woodmen of America, and a member of M. B. of A.

Mr. Summers has served four years as clerk of the Metz Christian Church and for ten years has been one of its board of deacons, and since January, 1910, has served as superintendent of its Sunday school.

Dennis S. Swart, * one of the substantial farmers of Harrison township, Vernon county, Missouri, was born in Pennsylvania, January 31, 1836, his parents both being natives of that state.

On April 30, 1857, Mr. Swart was united in marriage with Miss Lida Huffman, and the same year moved to Clark county, Missouri, where he lived thirteen years. In 1870 he moved with his family to Vernon county and settled on three hundred and twenty acres, which he bought in section six, Harrison township, and there established the family home, where he now resides, engaging in farming, giving particular attention to raising corn and hay. He is a practical and up-to-date farmer and a progressive man of affairs, and is the founder of the town of Swart, in Vernon

Mrs. Swart passed away in 1911. There were born to Mr. and Mrs. Swart twelve children, named, respectively, James, Eliza¬ beth, now deceased ; Ellsworth, Franklin, Annie, Sherman, Sarah, George, "William, Henry, now deceased, Alice and Lida.

John W. Taylor, a resident of Montevallo township, Vernon county, is a native of Pettis county, Missouri, and was born August 27, 1859, the younger of two children born to Louis and Mischa (Hill) Taylor, the father a native of Henderson county, Kentucky, and the mother born, in 1840, in Pettis county, Mis¬ souri. The father came to Pettis county with his parents when young, and grew to manhood and married there. He entered the Confederate Army after the opening of the Civil "War, and was killed at the Battle of Jenkins Ferry, Arkansas. After his death, his widow, with her two children, Ida, now the wife of Mr. Buidine Shelton, of Nodaway county, Missouri, and our subject, returned to Warren county, Illinois, her and her parent's native state, and lived there till about 1867. Returning thence, to Vernon county, she settled near Sandstone, in Badger town¬ ship, and in 1872. was married to Mr. J. S. Baker, a pioneer resident of Barton county, where the family lived till 1875. The mother died in Vernon county in 1877, leaving one child by her second marriage, viz. : Elmeda, now the wife of Mr. F. M. Kerr, of Le Veta, Colo. After his mother's decease, John W. lived with his step-father, who now resides at Minden City, Mo., till his marriage in 1882. He then bought forty acres of land in Dover township, but sold it in 1884, and bought eighty acres, which he cultivated till the spring of 1886 when he disposed of it and settled on his present farm in Montevallo township, wdiere he has given his attention to general farming operations with gratifying success. Mr. Taylor is a Democrat in political opinion, but has never cared for official position. He is identified with the Masonic Lodge, No. 490, at Montevallo, also belongs to the Inde¬ pendent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Modern Woodmen of America; and in religious faith and fellowship is affiliated with the Montevallo Baptist Church.

the daughter of Charles and Eveline (Hathaway) Nippert. The father, who was born in Germany, in 1829, was brought to this country when he was six months old, by his parents, who settled first in Ohio, thence moved to Illinois, and later to Wisconsin. He was raised on a farm and also learned the blacksmith's trade of his father. His wife - Evaline - whose parents were natives of Ohio, was born at Freeport, Illinois, in 1835. Mr. and Mrs. Nippert moved with their family to Vernon county, Missouri, in 1870, and until they could build and settle in their own home, lived with Mrs. Nippert 's father, Thomas Hathaway, who owned 800 acres of land in Montevallo township. Mr. Nippert bought and settled with his family on a quarter section of land in sec¬ tion 3, and there made his home till his decease, October 21, 1878. He was a Republican in politics, and a member of the Methodist Church. His widow, who still survives, makes her home with Mr. and Mrs. Taylor, and her other children. Mr. and Mrs. Nippert had, besides Mrs. Taylor, four children, viz. : Lizzie, the wife of Mr. W. B. Burr, of Selby, S. D. ; Nellie, who is married to Mr. Albert Duemeke, of Oklahoma City; Louis Nippert, who lives at Long Branch, Calif., and Harriet, the wife of Mr. D. L. Balderson, of Santa Barbara, Calif.

Mr. Taylor leased the Nippert homestead for several years after 1886, after which he purchased, from time to time, the in¬ terests of the several heirs of the estate, except that of Mrs. Nippert, and now, with her, owns the entire farm.

Mr. and Mrs. Taylor have nine children, viz. : Nellie E., the wife of Mr. Wesley Hanson, of Palo Alto, Calif; Ida Beatrice, the wife of Mr. 0. B. Owens, of Oklahoma City; Neil W. Taylor, of Palo Alto, Calif. ; Louis IT. Taylor, of Topeka, Kan. ; Frank K. Taylor, of Palo Alto, Calif., and Quimby W., Albert W, Harriet Zoe, and Esley Taylor, all of whom live at home with their parents.

William H. Taylor was one of the bravest soldiers who en¬ listed for service during the late war, on the side of the Confeder¬ acy. Entering the Southern army at the first call for troops to suppress invasion, he was subsequently commissioned captain, and in 1862 was taken prisoner near Montevallo, on the old Bangs' farm. He was removed to Fort Scott, and then sent to then Bates county - tiling south of >V ada. - h- .m- f his family a home. A la fan was psTthared from X: £ Gant-aer tie land having -reu 'urere: tv tt- G * -m .-nt Hr - Do ; Teel died in 1 b>0. hd widow surviving aim out;. lb- - i-n - too. passed away. In March. lb-do Peter T-- " -nt * Km- - - on account of war troubles, and ~mie there enhsrrd. a* a stanei Union man in the three months7 service in the 2d Kansas, hnt afterwards " -tame a member of Company A- 'to Knr->a- ~er - ing for seven months. A third time he mint nil becoming associated tir _o 71 - Inn* - mo r .2 - - r : * ri 1 __ of four years learning the saddle and harness maker's trade, and then spending four years hi business for himself. He next car¬ ried on a successful business at Middleton, Ind., some eight years until about the time of the opening of the Civil War, when he entered the Union Army, leaving his business in charge of his wife, who closed out the business. He entered the service as a first lieutenant in the Eighty-fifth Regiment, Indiana Volunteers, Infantry, at the beginning of the war, and was made adjutant, and served in that capacity three years. At the Battle of Thomp¬ son's Station, he was taken prisoner and confined two months in Libby Prison. After being exchanged, he rejoined his regiment, and was on guard duty on the Nashville Railroad during 1863, but in the spring of 1864 joined the army at Chattanooga under command of the famous general " Fighting Joe Hooker," and was under him till his discharge at the close of the war. In 1866, Mr. Tillotson settled at Nevada, and opened a saddle and harness shop in a small frame building on the site now occupied by the Thornton Bank. This building was also occupied by the postoffice, the first post master after the war being Mr. F. P. An¬ derson, who was succeeded a little later by Mr. A. A. Pitcher, under whom Mr. Tillotson served one year as deputy. He was then appointed post master by President Johnson, and disposing of his saddle and harness business, he opened a book and station¬ ery store, which he carried on in connection with his official duties. Mr. Tillotson served as post master under successive ministrations for a period of eighteen years to the entire satis¬ faction of the community and with credit to himself. His high standing as an honored citizen and successful business man, was aptly shown by his election to the state legislature for the term of 1886-7, by a handsome majority, in an overwhelmingly Demo¬ cratic county, which was the only county in the state to honor a Republican by electing him to that body. After his retirement from the postoffice, Mr. Tillotson, having gained a competency, abstained from active business till 1890, when he was elected president of the First National Bank of Nevada, an office which he continued to fill to the time of his decease, June 7, 1902. Mr. Tillotson was a worthy member of the First Baptist Church, of Nevada. He had been connected with the Masonic Order ever since he attained his majority, and was also a member of Gen'l Joe Bailey, No. 15, Post, Grand Army of the Republic.

On June 12, 1859, he was united in marriage with Miss Mil¬ dred J. Tichenor, daughter of Byron and Eunice (Kester) Tiehenor, who moved from Kentucky, their native state, in 1816, and settled on a farm in Yigo county, Indiana, where they passed their lives. They had a family of nine children, of whom Mrs. Tillotson is the only survivor, and the seventh in order of birth. She was born in Yigo county, February 1, 1833. She was a de¬ voted wife, aucl a worthy companion and helpmeet of her worthy husband, and is universally loved and honored for her noble, womanly qualities of mind and heart. She is a woman of deep religious instincts, and the only surviving charter member of the First Baptist Church of Nevada, into whose history and growth her very life is wrought. Not only has she always been generous and liberal in its financial support, but also in its spiritual growth has she contributed her best in unstinted measure. For thirty- . three years she has had charge of the primary class in the Sun¬ day school, and the influence of her devoted and consecrated ser¬ vice in that work abides to bless the lives of scores of men and women whose early religious training was gained under her teaching.

Charles Thom, a leading banker and influential citizen of Nevada, Mo., is in the best sense of the term a self-made man, who has risen from comparative obscurity to his present position of trust, by conscientious and persistently following a fixed and determined purpose to make the most and best of himself. He is a native of Scotland, and was born in Aberdeenshire, April 5, 1859. He acquired his early education in the parochial schools of his native place, and began his career as a penniless boy, so that whatever he has achieved is the result of his own persevering work. He came to this country in 1872 and settled at Indian¬ apolis, Ind., equipped himself for business by pursuing a course of study in a commercial college there. In 1878, he took up his residence in Nevada, and found employment as bookkeeper in the hardware establishment of Mr. John A. Tyler, with whom he remained till September 1, 1887. He then accepted a similar position with the Thornton National Bank of Nevada, a time honored institution that was established in 1869, and that has grown to be one of the strong financial institutions of southwest- him as evidenced by the masterly manner in which he has con¬ ducted its affairs. Mr. Thom is a thorough man of affairs, and interested in all that relates to the welfare of his city, and ready to do his part for the betterment of the community. He stands high in Masonic circles, and holds membership in both the chap¬ ter and commanderv.

Martin L. Thompkins, for many years a prosperous farmer of Richland township, Vernon county, Missouri, was born in Bureau county, Illinois. April 4, 1859, and is a son of John C. and Laura E. (Heathman) Thompkins, the former born in Ten¬ nessee in 1838, and the latter, in Summit county, Ohio, April 7, 1839. Their respective families moved to Bureau county, Illinois, the former's, when he was a young lad, and the latter's, about 1855; and they married there in 1856 and settled on a farm.

In 1862 John C. Thompkins enlisted and entered the Union Army, as a corporal, in the Ninety-third Regiment, Illinois Volun¬ teers. Infantry, and the following March died of swamp fever in the hospital at Memphis, and his body is interred in the National Cemetery of that city. Besides his widow and our subject, he left two other children, viz. : Andrew J. Thompkins, who was born May 22, 1857, and now lives in Richland township, and John G. Thompkins, who was born August 26, 1862. and resides in Naravica district, New Mexico. Accompanied by her brother. Stephen Heathman, her mother, and several other families, Mrs. Thompkins, with her children, in September, 1869, moved from Illinois, overland, to Vernon county, Missouri, where she bought and settled on fifty-five acres of land in Richland township. The journey was long and tedious, and our subject walked the whole distance, and drove the cattle. Mrs. Thompkins afterwards added other acres to her original purchase, and owned at the time of her decease, which occurred on February 7, 1905 a quarter section, finely improved. Martin L. grew up and acquired his education in Richland township, and made his home with his mother until he was thirty-six years of age, when he leased for eight years, and moved onto a farm of 320 acres, in section 13. In 1880 he bought sixty acres in section 24, eighty acres in section 23, in 1899, and in 1903, eighty acres in section 14, moving onto the tract last named, in 1903. In 1907 he bought a quarter section in section 23, and another eighty acres in the same section, in 1910; and thirty acres timber land in section 34, and now owns, all told, 490 acres.

He is a Republican in polities, but has been too much occupied with his farming operations to hold political positions, except some minor township offices.

On December 6, 1893, Mr. Thompkins was united in marriage with Miss Mary E. Myers, who was born in Clark county, Ohio, on June 29. 1859. Her parents, Joseph and Eliza Myers, settled in Lake township, Vernon county, in 1870, and soon afterward moved to Ft. Scott, Kan., where Mrs. Myers died in 1870.

Mrs. Thompkins lived in Richland township with relatives till 1890, and from that time till her marriage, resided with her brother, Mr. John Myers, at Kansas City, Mo.

D. C. Thompson* is a prosperous farmer and highly respected citizen of Harrison township, Vernon county, Missouri. He Avas born in eastern Tennessee, October 19, 1835, and is the second of a family of ten children born to Absolom and Susan (West) Thompson. The father in 1836 came with his parents from Ten¬ nessee and settled in Berry county, Missouri, where at the time of his decease he owned six hundred and forty acres of land.

Our subject grew to manhood on his father's farm in Berry countv, and there attended the district schools till he AAras tAArentv years of age. In 1862 he enlisted in the Confederate Army, in AA'hat was known as the "Nichols Regiment," under General Shelby, and participated in the Price and Shelby raid and among others Avas in the battles of NeA\dands, Arkansas, and Pine Grove; his regiment operated in Missouri, Arkansas and Texas. After the close of the Avar, in April, 1866, Mr. Thompson settled Avith his Avife and three children in Vernon county. He bought at first forty acres in section fhre, to which he added one hundred acres in the same section at a later date. The place is highly cultivated and improved with a fine farm house, barn and other buildings, with all the facilities required in conducting a modern, model farm.

They had three children born to them, viz., Doethula, born April 17, 1859; Francis C., born April 13, 1860, and Walter, Born January 10, 1863.

Joel Q. Thomson, who was born in Clark county, Kentucky. May 10, 1843, is one of two surviving children born to W. N. and Nancy (Quisenberrv) Thomson, both natives of Kentucky, whither the grandfather, Mathew Thomson, came from Virginia in the early days. The other surviving child is Dr. B. F. Thom¬ son, of Mt. Sterling, Ky. The mother died when our subject was but nine days old, and the father afterwards married Cathrine Hoff, who bore him two children, viz.-: Mathew G., now president of the Female College, at Paris, Ky., and Mrs. Thomas Shirley, of Ft. Scott, Kan.

The father passed away about 1890 in Kentucky. Joel Q. remained at home till he was twenty-four years old, and in 1867 went to Cass county, Missouri, whence, two years later, he moved to Vernon county, where he bought 240 acres of wild land in sections 7, 8 and 18, Walker township, which he subdued and has brought to a high state of cultivation, and improved it till it ranks with the best farms in the district. Mr. Thomson gives particular attention to breeding and raising high-grade cattle, sheep and hogs, and also is noted far and near as a raiser of fine jacks and jennies.

Mr. Thomson has given close attention to his farming opera¬ tions, never seeking or caring for political office. In national politics he has always supported the Democratic candidate, but in local elections is independent and supports the candidate whom he deems best qualified to fill the office sought, regardless of party affiliations. He is a member of the Christian Church, and served six years as superintendent of the Berea Sunday School.

On December 29, 1869, Mr. Thomson was united in marriage with Miss Docia Combs, a native of Cass county, Missouri, who died in 1887, leaving two children, viz. : Mrs. Susie Roach, of Sedalia, Mo., and Mrs. Horace Taul, of Needles, Calif.

In 1888 Mr. Thomson married Mrs. Sadie (Hall) Weatherby, a native of Franklin county, Missouri, and they have three children, viz.: Mrs. Opal Spendiff, of Nevada; Mrs. Josie Gordon, of Walker; and Benjamin F., who lives with his parents.

Paul F. Thornton is a man of recognized worth wherever known. His father, Dr. William T. Thornton, was a native of Caroline county, Virginia, but after growing up in Oldham county, Kentucky, he left there in 1832 and moved to Jackson¬ ville, Illinois, from whence he located in Henry county, Missouri, in 1839. In December, 1871, his death occurred. The wife of Dr. Thornton was formerly Miss Caroline Taylor, of Oldham county, Kentucky, and she died in 1847, leaving four children: AY i lli am T.. James J., Caroline, wife of William S. Stone, and Paul F., whose name appears above. The latter was born at Jacksonville, Illinois, March 16, 1839, and having been taken to Henry county, Missouri, when very young he grew to manhood in that locality, obtaining a thorough knowledge of farm life. In 1856 he went to New Mexico in the employ of Waddle, Russell & Majors, but on his return in 1857 he entered Miami University, of Ohio, and spent three years. Later on he entered upon a course of reading preparatory to following the legal profession as his calling, and during the session of 1860-61 he was a student at the law school in Louisville, Kentucky. The outburst of war which had so long threatened the country led him to forego everything of a private nature, and in May, 1861. he joined General Price as an escort, in which capacity he served two years, afterwards com¬ manding a company in Woods' battalion. He was with Price in each serious engagement participated in by that gallant com¬ mander, and finally surrendered with him at Shreveport, Louisiana, in 1865. Returning to Clinton, Missouri, Mr. Thorn¬ ton entered the law office of R. Allen and was associated with him until 1869. In June, 1869, he came to Vernon county and organ¬ ized what is now the Thornton National Bank. Since his settle¬ ment in this county various positions of responsibility and honor have been thrust upon him, for he has never been a political aspirant, though always willing to serve those whose interests have placed him in official life. For eight years he discharged the duties of county judge, and for six years he was chairman of the congressional committee of the Democratic party of this dis¬ trict, with which party he has always been identified. Judge Thornton was married in 1872, Miss Medora Rogers, daughter of the late Dr. John A. Rogers, of Clinton, becoming his wife. Six children have blessed their union: Fitzhugh, Katie, Harry. William, Lucy and John Rogers.

Ezra Madison Towner is one of the prosperous farmers of Moundville township, Vernon county, Missouri. A native of La Salle county, Illinois, he was born April 12, 1853, and is a son of Nathaniel H. and Angelina (Osborn) Towner, natives of Ohio and Illinois, respectively. His paternal grandparents moved from Ohio, with their family to La Salle county, Illinois, when Nathaniel H. was seven years old. and he grew up and married there, and lived there till 1876 when he moved to Vernon county, Missouri. He settled on a farm in Harrison township, and estab¬ lished the family home where he lived till his decease, July 4. 1898, the day the Spanish fleet was destroyed in Santiago Bay, Cuba.

Ezra M. acquired a good common school education and grew up on his father's farm, and lived on the family homestead till the time of his marriage. At the age of twenty-five, on June 5. 1878, he went to La Salle county, Illinois, and was there united in marriage with Miss Maggie Murray, daughter of Mrs. Ann Murray, a widow. Returning to Vernon county in the autumn of 1881, Mr. Towner bought a farm of 320 acres in section 36, Harrison township, which he afterwards sold, and bought the same number of acres in section 31, Moundville township, which he has cultivated and improved and transformed into one of the model farms of the township. His commodious farmhouse stands in the midst of numerous maple trees, and with the charming environment, presents a most pleasing picture of rural beauty. Mr. Towner has his place well stocked with a good grade of cattle, horses and hogs, and thoroughly equipped with every needed facility of an up-to-date farm. He is a wide-awake citizen, alive to what is going on about him, and keeps himself in touch with the trend of events. He is a firm believer in and is an advocate of Socialistic principles.

W. C. Thrasher is a native Missourian and a farmer by occu¬ pation. He was born in Lewis county, April 12, 1854, and is a son of Eli and Ann (Fretwell) Thrasher, the former a native of Ken¬ tucky, and the latter of Virginia. The father moved from Pendleton county, Kentucky, in 1821, and settled near Palmyra,- whence he moved to Pike county and lived some years, and then settled in Lewis county, where he died in 1900 ; his widow surviving and occupying the family homestead till 1909, when she passed away. They had a family of nine children, six of whom are now living, and our subject being the third in order of birth. The father was a mechanic and wheelwright, and followed his trade all his life. He was a kind-hearted, sympathetic man, generous and charitable, and gave liberally to worthy causes that appealed to him. He was active in religious work, and a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church (South), and for many years served as superintendent of the Sunday school, held in a log schoolhouse ; and was held in high esteem as an upright, honorable and devoted Christian man.

Our subject acquired a common school education in his na¬ tive county and lived with his parents until he attained his ma¬ jority. Starting on March 2, 1875, he went to California, but returned in January of the following year to Lewis county, and engaged in farming, working leased land, till 1883. In 1884 Mr. Thrasher settled in Vernon county on eighty acres of rich prairie land, in section 15, Drywood township, which he bought, and to which he afterwards added a forty-acre tract, and where he has since made his home with his family.

On first settling in Vernon county, he worked for a time for the railroad company, having charge of the pumping station ; but when the watering station was removed he resumed farming and has carried it on with good success since.

ing a piece of prairie land, it was necessary to make such im¬ provements as his limited means would permit, hauling part of the material for framing from a sawmill four miles northwest of Nevada, he built a small house, which was the beginning of the home-making on the then big open prairie, and as soon as the frost went out of the ground, breaking prairie sod was the order of the day, and killing snakes was part of his task, as they were everywhere. Sometimes they even came into the house and the good wife, scared if by accident she should step on one in attending to the poultry or while working in the garden, when she would call loudly for help, drop the hoe and run for shelter. We raised corn which we sold for fifteen to eighteen cents per bushel, and fat hogs sold for $2.60 per hundred, and fine big chickens sold for $1.50 per dozen at the market in trade. Not a cent in money could be coaxed out of any of the merchants for any farm produce, not even enough to buy a postage stamp with which to send a letter to the folks at home. Plenty of help was to be had at fifty cents per day from sun up to sun set, and good hands at that.

Mr. Thrasher is a Democrat in his political opinions, and takes an active part in the local affairs of his party. He is also a member of Sheldon Lodge, No. 438, Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

On March 27, 1878, Mr. Thrasher married Miss Susan Alexan¬ der Smith, of Lewis county, and they have two children, named, respectively, Earl and Elbert. They, both having attended the high school at Sheldon, and graduated with high honors. Earl has built, and is operating a garage and auto livery in Sheldon, with good and thorough training in his line, and has the confidence of all. Elbert has entered the same high school for a second term with bright prospects and stands high in his class with every hope of success.

Dr. James Lewis Truex, a native Missourian, is a public spirited citizen of Milo, Vernon county. He comes of French lineage on both the paternal and maternal sides, and was born in Benton county, January 15, 1862, to Jonathan and Aramenta A. (D 'Spain) Truex, natives of Ohio and Kentucky, respectively. They had two children, one of whom is deceased.

time in the fifties and settled in DeKalb county, Missouri, whence they moved to Benton county, in 1860, where the father made his home twenty-four years. In his early life, he learned the carpenter's trade and followed it in Benton county, at Sedalia, Mo., and in Denver, Colo., where he spent four years. On his return he lived for a time at Rich Hill, in Bates county, then settled at Milo, where he now resides, at the age of seventy-four years. He is a Democrat in politics, and in religious faith a Baptist.

James L. attended the common schools in Benton county till he was seventeen years old, and also attended the Warsaw High School, and lived with his parents until his twenty-seventh year. In 1886 he turned his attention to the study of pharmacy, and after a satisfactory examination was duly licensed to practice in Missouri, and for some time was in the drug business at Sedalia, and also at Kansas City. Disposing of his business, Mr. Truex took up the study of medicine with Dr. J. T. Craig, of Kansas City, and after three year's study entered the medical department of the LTniversity of Kansas, and was graduated with the degree of Doctor of Medicine with the class of 1891. During the next two years Dr. Truex practiced his profession at Denver, and returning in 1893, he served six months by appointment, as assistant surgeon of the University Hospital. He was afterwards appointed surgeon and physician of the Rich Hill Coal Company, and served in that capacity some ten years. In 1903 Dr. Truex opened a drug business at Milo, and carried it on in connection with his practice, some three years; then, in 1906, being elected coroner of Vernon county, he moved to Nevada; but after serv¬ ing in that office one year he resigned and returning to Milo, in 1907, he opened a general store for buying and selling every¬ thing in the line of merchandise. Too meet the needs of the large and growing trade, he erected a commodious brick building, which he now occupies with an immense stock of goods, compris¬ ing every variety of merchandise, agricultural implements, hard¬ ware, etc., and is doing an extensive and prosperous business. Dr. Truex is a thorough business man, energetic and progressive in his ideas and methods, and justly regarded as one of the lead¬ ing men of his town. He is identified with the Masonic Order and belongs to the Knights of Pythias. Dr. Truex also holds membership in the State Medical Association, the Vernon County

Lewis Hawkins Turpin, whose death occurred in September, 1906, was for many years a prominent business man and honored citizen of Nevada, Mo. He was of English lineage, and was born in Lewis county, Missouri, in 1858, to Hezekiah and Octavia (Hawkins) Turpin. The former moved from Kentucky, his na¬ tive state, and settled on a farm in Lewistown, Lewis county, Missouri, where he died; the mother was a daughter of the late Judge Hawkins, of Canton, Mo.

Our subject supplemented his preliminary education with a course of study at Canton University, after which he spent three and a half years teaching in Butte, Mont., whither he went to recuperate his health, and thence went to Ogden, Utah, where he was employed three years as a traveling express auditor. In 1886 Mr. Turpin took up his residence at Nevada, and for several years thereafter was engaged in the grocery trade. Selling this business, be next turned his attention to the furniture trade, buying one-half interest in the house of Messrs. Penn and Beag¬ les ; thereafter conducted under the firm name of Penn & Turpin until Mr. Penn withdrew, selling his interest to Mr. Frank H. Glenn, who came into the business which was carried on under the name of Turpin & Glenn, till the latter sold his interest to Mr. James D. Ingram, when the firm name changed to Turpin & Ingram. After Mr. Turpin's decease, Mr. Ingram retired, and the business was incorporated and has since been conducted as the Turpin Furniture Company, with Mrs. A. M. Turpin as president. Mrs. Loyd Turpin, vice-president, and Mr. Loyd H. Turpin, as secretary and treasurer ; the company being organized with a capital stock of $20,000.

Mr. Turpin was an active man of affairs and keenly alive to whatever related to the development and betterment of his city and community, and Avas always ready to do his part in fonvarding any worthy moATement ; he Avas for several years an active member of the school board of Nevada, and the Ward Schools Avere established largely through his efforts; he Avas kind-hearted and true, and Avitlial, modest, quiet and unassuming, never car¬ ing for political office or honors, but Avas chairman of the Demo- cratic County committee, and his influence was felt everywhere in shaping political affairs. He stood high in Woodmen of the World, and Knights of Pythias circles, and also was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Masons, Knights and Ladies of Security, Modern Woodmen of America, and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.

On June 17, 1882, Mr. Turpin was united in marriage with Miss Anna Mabel Wright, daughter of John W. and Emily (Crutcher) Wright, the former a native of northern Missouri, and the latter of Kentucky; their family lineage running back to Zachary Taylor and Robert E. Lee, respectively. She settled in Missouri while the Indians were yet numerous, her family being among the early pioneer settlers of Boone county.

Mr. and Mrs. Turpin's son, Loyd Hawkins Turpin, has the management of the Turpin Furniture Company, and their daugh¬ ter Mabel Lee Turpin, an alumnae of the Missouri State Univer¬ sity, is instructor in Latin at Nevada High School.

Mrs. Turpin, who is at the head of the Turpin Furniture Company, is a woman of superior qualities and fine attainments and admirably fitted and qualified for the responsible position she fills. Under the conservative and wise management of its officers the company's volume of business has shown a marked increase each succeeding year since it was incorporated, in 1909.

John A. Tyler was born at Worcester, AVorcester county, Massachusetts, October 24, 1832, and was the son of George AY. and Clara (Patch) Tyler, themselves natives of Massachusetts. The father died in 1842 at Natchez, Mississippi ; his wife, as intimated, had preceded him to the grave some years before. John A. remained in the state of his birth until 1850, growing up with a mercantile experience. In 1854 he came west as far as Chicago, and from there went to Bloomington, Illinois, thence to St. Louis for a short time and later to New Orleans. Afterwards, owing to ill health, he went to Bell county, Texas, where lie be¬ came interested in the horse and mule and cattle trade. He con¬ tinued this business some twelve years with good success, and upon the cessation of hostilities which had existed between the North and South he settled at Pleasant Hill, Cass countv, Alissouri. from whence he came to this county in 1869. He at once embarked in the hardware business, and from his first settlement here he took an active part in everything tending to the interest of Nevada and Vernon county; especially in educational matters he was quite prominent. In 1860 Mr. Tyler married Addie A. Smith, a native of New York City. She died in Texas in 1863, leaving one daughter, Nellie, who married Charles Thorn. In 1867 he was married to Miss Maggie Thomas, who was born and reared in Pleasant Hill, Missouri. Mr. Tyler was a Knights Templar in the Masonic Order.

John Ulch was born in Perry county, of the Keystone State, June 1, 1839, his parents being Jacob and Elizabeth (Charles) Ulch, both natives also of Pennsylvania. The father was a farmer bv occupation and naturally brought up his son to that calling, teaching him at first the rudiments of farm life and later the more advanced ideas of that occupation. In 1859 young Ulch removed to Illinois, where in 1862 he enlisted in the 93d Wisconsin Regi¬ ment, Volunteer Infantry, serving nearly three years. During this term of service he took part in the battles of Baker's Creek. Champion's Hill, seige of Vicksburg, Atlanta, Lookout Mountain. Mission Ridge, Altoona Pass and many others. After the close of the war Mr. Ulch returned to Illinois. In 1866 he came to Vernon county, Missouri, and entered at once upon the career destined to be both an honorable and successful one, and bv industry and good management met with more than ordinary returns. In March, 1871. Mr. Ulch was married to Miss Rebecca M. Rhea, a