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

After the war lie purchased land in Center township until his entire holding amounted to 2321/2 acres, which he has apportioned among his children, leaving him the modest holding of ten acres. Mr. Woods is a practical up-to-date farmer and well known as an excellent judge of stock, and for a number of years was in the employ of Mr. A. G. Andrews, of Nevada, selecting, herding and driving cattle. Mr. Woods has alwavs been an earnest advocate of good schools, and has devoted much time and energy in securing them, and organized the first school and built the first school house in his school district. Although he was deprived of educational privileges in his early life he has supplied that lack by close observation of men and affairs by reading and study and, keeping himself in touch with the trend of current events, is thoroughly posted on what is transpiring in the world about him.

Mr. Woods has been twice married. His first wife, Miss Martha E. Boland, whom he married April 1, 1860, passed away November 2, 1873. Four children were born to them, of whom Frank I., born June 10, 1864, James L., born February 6, 1866, and Warren B., born September 24, 1870, are now living (1911).

His second wife was Miss Minerva J. Brown, whom he married February 22, 1877. They have had five children, two of whom are deceased. Those living are Charles H., born March 4, 1877, Ledora E., born November 15, 1879, and Curtis J., born June 16. 1885.

John W. Wright, who was born in Metz township, Vernon county, Missouri, December 15, 1837, is a son of Hardin and Elizabeth (Johnson) Wright. The father was born in Virginia in 1801 and when he was a young lad his parents, who were wealthy planters, owning many slaves, moved from Virginia, their native state, to Kentucky, where the husband died. His widow afterward married a Mr. Merchant, and they, with her four chil¬ dren, of whom our subject's father was the eldest, moved to Warren county, Missouri, where Hardin Wright married Eliza¬ beth Johnson, who was born in that county in 1811. They moved to Vernon county about 1831 and settled on a claim southwest from Balltown in Metz township. Some years before the Civil War he entered eighty acres of this claim, which was all the land he actually owned, and here they made their home till their decease, he passing away January 3, 1856, and she January 6,

1865. They were worthy members of the Christian Church. They had a family of nine children, of whom our subject is the only survivor, six of the others dying at ages ranging from 16 to 25 years.

John W. attended a school in his native place supported by subscriptions and grew to manhood on the home farm, remaining there with his mother after his father's death till 1863. Going then to Leavenworth, Kan., he found employment in the govern¬ ment service as a freighter, driving six yokes of oxen from that city to Salt Lake, Utah, and thence to Denver, Colo. Near Denver he found employment on a farm on the Platte river, and after two months leased the farm and carried it on about a year. Returning' home in 1866 Mr. Wright bought the interests of the other heirs in the home farm, then sold it and purchased eighty acres in Osage township, which, in turn, he sold in March, 1868, and bought 120 acres in Metz township, where he has since made his home. Mr. Wright has prospered in liis farming operations find has added to his landed possessions from time to time, and now, 1911, owns 250 acres in section 8 and eight}7- acres in section 5, all adjoining his original purchase. Mr. Wright is a thorough and practical farmer and, taking these lands in a wild state* has improved and transformed them into one of the model farms of Vernon county, erecting a fine class of buildings and supplying everything in the way of modern machinery and equipment required in conducting an up-to-date farm. Mr. Wright has devoted his attention closely to his farming operations and has lived on his farm continuously, except during the year 1910, when, with his wife, he went to Hot Springs, Ark., and lived there and at Rich Hill, Mo., till February, 1911, when they returned home.

On May 9, 1867, Mr. Wright was united in marriage with Miss Rachael Fickle, who was born August 16, 1847, the daughter of Jacob and Barbara (Bryant) Fickle, who, in 1848, moved to Lafayette county, Missouri, and thence, ten years later, to Bates county near Rich Hill, where they passed the remainder of their lives. They had a family of eleven children, of whom Mrs. Wright is the eighth in order of births. Mr. and Mrs. Wright had one child, Joseph H. Wright, who was born July 15, 1868. He was a physician by profession and died April 3, 1895, leaving a widow, Laura (Dinwitty) Wright, and one child, Sarah R, Wright, born March 2, 1894, who reside in Columbia, Mo.

Joseph H. Wright

William H. Yeates, a Kentuckian by birth, was born on the home farm, on the line dividing Anderson and Shelby counties, October 14, 1833. He is the eldest of three children born to Enoch and Mathilda (Watts) Yeates, the former* born in 1812, and the latter on July 3, 1811. The parents moved from their farm in Kentucky to Vernon county, Missouri, in 1866, and settled on a farm of 320 acres in sections 26, 27, 34 and 35, Metz township, and there passed the remainder of their lives, the father dying February 28, 1878, and the mother on July 4, 1881. They were worthy members of the Baptist Church, in which the father was an honored deacon many years. He was a Democrat in political opinions.

William H. accpiired his early education in the schools of Anderson county, Kentucky, supported by subscriptions, and remained on the home farm till 1853, when he came to Shelby county, Missouri, and settled on a farm owned by his wife. Four years later he moved onto a small farm he bought in Macon county, and lived there ten years.

In 1867 Mr. Yeates settled in Vernon county on a tract of 120 acres in Metz township and lived there till after the death of his parents, inheriting one-third of the family homestead, he moved onto it in 1883 and has since made his home there, engaged in farming operations with eminent success. He has added to his landed possessions from time to time and now owns in Metz township, in all, 810 acres.

He is a Democrat in political sentiment and action, but has never held any political office. In religious faith and fellow¬ ship, he is affiliated with the local Baptist Church and has been an honored deacon for some forty years. Mr. Yeates is a man of inventive genius and has invented and put into operation a road scraper and grader. It is built on wheels, and operated by one man and a span of horses and is of great practical utility.

Mr. Yeates is highly esteemed in the community and each suc¬ ceeding year the anniversary of his birth is celebrated by a family reunion at his home, which is looked forward to with high anticipation by those honored with invitations to partici¬ pate in it.

On November 15, 1853, Mr. Yeates was united in marriage with Miss Mildred Medley, who was born in Randolph county, Missouri, February 2, 1833, to Ambross and Malinda (Settles) Medley, the marriage being celebrated on the family homestead where Mrs. Yeates was born.

Of nine children born to Mr. and Mrs. Yeates, Enoch M., born December 28, 1854, died September 8, 1899; Susan Emma, born February 7, 1856, was married to Mr. Norman Falor, now deceased, and lives in Metz township ; Richard F., born February 6, 1858, lives in Metz township ; Mary E., born December 28, 1860, is the wife of Mr. N. S. Brown, of Metz township ; Harriet R., born October 15, 1862, is married to Mr. N. C. Brown, and lives in her parent's home; AYilliam L., born September 26, 1864, is a resident of Jerico Springs, Mo.; Ida M., born September 20, 1866, passed away July 31, 1887 ; Laura M., born December 19, 1868, is the wife of Mr. Marion A. Sheddrick, of Metz township, and John A., who was born September 13, 1871, lives at Wapiti, Wyo. There are now in the family thirty-nine grandchildren and twelve great¬ grandchildren living.

Mrs. Yeates died November 30, 1874. Mr. and Mrs. Yeates' daughter, Harriet R., was united in marriage with Mr. Nelson C. Brown February 14, 1888. Mr. Brown was born in Kentucky in 1853 ; his parents, Nelson and Nancy Brown moved to Monroe county, Missouri, and the father died there. He settled in Vernon county in 1884, and after his marriage with Harriet R. they lived three years with her parents, then went to Eureka Springs, and spent one year, after which they lived on a farm in Osage town¬ ship twelve years, then returned to the home farm, where they now reside. Mr. and Mrs. Brown have a family of five children, the names and dates of whose births are : Frank E., who was born November 21, 1888, and lives on the farm in Osage town¬ ship ; Bruce J., who was born November 24, 1889; Truda M., who was born September 11, 1893 ; Max B., born July 23, 1897, and Archie, born April 4, 1899, all of whom live at home.

Mr. and Mrs. Yeates' daughter, Laura M., was married July 5, 1884, and her husband, Marion A. Sheddrick, was born in Ken¬ tucky December 8, 1861, to Thomas D. and Mary A. (Hedden) Sheddrick, who settled on a farm in Metz township in 1866, where

Marion R., the eldest of two children, grew to manhood. He is a Democrat in politics, but has held no office except that of town¬ ship assessor.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Sheddriek are Baptists in religious faith. They have ten surviving children, viz. : Mildred A., the wife of Mr. Merrill Skillings, of Los Angeles, Cal. ; Hattie A., who is married to Mr. Ray Munson, of Goshen, Cal., and has one child, named Alice; Alice Mabel, the wife of Mr. Luther Porter, of Sprague, Bates county, who has one child named Elmer, and Lena May, Louis A., George A., Ray A. and Roy F., twins ; Doris I., and Paul Y., all of whom live with their parents; and James AY., who died in infancy.

Jacob W. Yokley is a son of John and Elizabeth (Mulcey) Yokley, and was born in Lafayette county, Missouri, November 2, 1858. His parents moved from North Carolina, their native state, to Lafayette county, Indiana, in 1854, and lived there eighteen years. In 1872 they moved to Arernon county, Missouri, where the father bought 280 acres of land in section 33 and 34, Harrison township, where he made his home, and where he died in 1890, his death being followed by that of his wife in 1893. They were both Baptists in religious belief. He was a member of the Masonic Order and in politics a Democrat. He served in the Confederate Army under Generals Price and Shelby through the Civil AVar. Lie fought in the battles of Pea Ridge, Newtonia and AYilson Creek ; at Hartsville, Ark., was severely wounded and left on the battlefield for dead. On his return home, he brought with him his cavalry horse, known as "Old Bally," who lived to the age of thirty-three years, and in whose body, after his death, were found a number of bullets. A photograph, preserved in the family, representing the horse and a store, bears this legend, "Old Bally, rode by John Yokley through the war."

Air. Yokley was a man of wide experience, and who had traveled extensively and accpiired a large fund of information. AYhile visiting Spain he purchased and imported forty-five jacks and ten thorough-bred stallions. He was widely known as a thorough and systematic farmer, and at the time of his decease owned 280 acres of land. Jacob AY. grew up on his father's farm and attended the common schools till he was twenty years old and also studied one year at the State Normal School and three years at the University of Missouri. On September 11, 1891, he was united in marriage with Miss Laura Cline, at Bronaugh, Mo., and five children have been born to them. Of these, one is deceased, and the others are: John, who was born April 20, 1898; Roy E., born April 2, 1893; Georgia, October 9, 1895 ; Boyd L., born April 20, 1898, and Clarence, who was born September 25, 1900 - all at home.

Mr. Yokley's farm is in section 14, Harrison township, is thor¬ oughly equipped, well-stocked with a fine grade of horses, cattle and hogs, and splendidly improved and ranks with the model farms of the district.

Mr. Yokley is a wide-awake man, energetic and enterprising, and alive to the best interests of the community in which he lives. In politics he is a Democrat.

Henry Yoos is a native of Crawford county, Kansas, and was born September 3, 1875, to Jacob and Caroline (Phyfer) Yoos. His parents immigrated from Germany, their native land, in 1866, with a family of three children, settling in Wisconsin, where they lived eighteen months, and removing thence to Craw¬ ford county, Kansas, where they now live.

Henry attended school in his native place till he was eighteen years old, and remained with his parents till he was twentythree. He then, on May 3, 1898, married Miss Lena Trautwein, of Crawford county, and soon afterward settled on a tract of 365 acres, in section 31, Harrison township, Vernon county. He was obliged to go in debt for the land, but set to work with a will and in seven years paid the indebtedness and besides made perma¬ nent and valuable improvements, comprising a handsome farm house, substantial barn and other convenient and commodious buildings for the sheltering of stock, etc., and transformed the place into a productive model farm, well stocked with cattle and fine horses, to which he gives special attention. Mr. Yoos is a hard worker and has faced and overcome many obstacles, and in a comparatively few years, by persistent effort, achieved marked success, and placed himself in comfortable circumstances. He is thoroughly up-to-date in his ideas and methods, and systematic, and practical in all his operations. He takes a lively interest in what is going on in the world of affairs, and in matters relating to the welfare of his community takes a eomendable interest. Both

Mr. and Mrs. Yoos have had five children, of whom the four now living are : May, who was born February 19, 1899 ; Ralph, born September 4, 1905 ; Charles, born August 19, 1907, and Elbert, who was born June 10, 1910. Carl, the second child, born Feb¬ ruary 23, 1902, died January 23, 1904.

James H. Zilliox is a well-to-do farmer of Vernon county, Mis¬ souri, where he has lived since he was five years of age. He was born in Pennsylvania June 25, 1866, and is a son of John J. and Charlotte (Marshall) Zilliox. The parents moved from Pennsyl¬ vania, their native state, to Vernon county, Missouri, in 1871, settling with their family of six children, on eighty acres of land, which the father bought in Harrison township and where he established the family homestead and now resides.

James H. spent his boyhood on the home farm, and attended school until he was sixteen years old in a common school held in McKill chapel. He began life for himself working as a farm laborer, by the month, and accumulated enough money to buy one tract of sixty and another of eighty acres in Harrison town¬ ship, the last named piece being in section 7, which he now owns and which he has improved and transformed into one of the model farms of the county. He has a beautiful residence, sur¬ rounded with massive shade trees, a large barn and other sub¬ stantial and commodious out-buildings, while the place is well stocked with cattle, horses and hogs, and in every way thor¬ oughly equipped with all the facilities required in conducting up-to-date farming operations.

On January 30, 1898, Mr. Zilliox was united in marriage with Miss Cora Dumas, of Harrison township, and they have two chil¬ dren, viz. : Arthur G., born January 22, 1900, and Marion Eugene, who was born May 11, 1910.

Mr. Zilliox is a member of Garland Lodge, No. 603, Inde¬ pendent Order of Odd Fellows, and in political opinions holds to the principles of the Democratic party as propounded by Wil¬ liam Jennings Bryan.

Will C. Davis, proprietor of one of the popular mercantile houses of Nevada, Missouri, is a native of Vernon county, and was born in Nevada August 17, 1871, and is the second child of a family of three children born to Colonel William F. and Julia A. (Emison) Davis, who settled in Nevada in 1870. The father was born in Louisville, Kentucky, and spent his boyhood there. The mother is a native of Callaway county, Missouri.

Will C. acquired his education in the public schools of Nevada and began his business career as a clerk in the shoe store of Mr. H. H. Brady, where he continued ten years, acquiring a thorough and practical knowledge of the shoe trade. He then spent five years as traveling salesman for the well known shoe house of the Roberts, Johnson & Rand Company of St. Louis, and in May, 1904, established the retail shoe business at Nevada to which he has since devoted his attention with eminent success.

Mr. Davis is a wide-awake and thorough tradesman who keeps abreast of the times, making a study of his business and sparing neither time nor expense to meet the needs and demands of his constantly growing trade, and to gratify the taste of his dis¬ criminating class of patrons. Aside from his business, he takes an active interest in affairs, and is especially active in fraternal and benevolent organizations, being identified with the Masonic order, the Modern Woodmen of America, the Fraternal Union and the Knights and Ladies of Security.

James S. Davis, who ranks among the leaders in his line of trade at Nevada, Missouri, is a native of Taylorstown, Pennsyl¬ vania, and was born December 13, 1868, to William P. and Lucy M. (Tapp) Davis. In 1881 the parents moved from West Virginia, their native state to Taylorstown, Pennsylvania, and thence to Clay Center, Kansas, where they lived to 1900. They then moved to Colorado, and the father, a carriage maker, followed his trade there and later in Kansas, where he died in 1909 at the age of sixtv-nine years, and the mother passed away in February of the same year while on a visit at her son's in Nevada. William Davis, paternal grandfather of our subject, also moved

James S. acquired a common school education in his native place, and after the family moved to Clay Center, Kansas, there learned the bakers' trade. In 1889 he went to Centralia. Wash¬ ington, and two years later moved to Carthage, Missouri, and worked two years at his trade.

Mr. Davis settled in Nevada in 1893, and after working some three years at his trade, in the employ of Mr. Frank Harris, became the proprietor of that business, then a small concern, and by hard work and good management has developed and extended it until it has become the leading business in its line in the city. The store which has been thoroughly remodeled, is located on the east side of the public square and is furnished and equipped with every facility and convenience required in an up-to-date establishment. Connected with this original store, Mr. Davis also conducts a branch store at No. 123 East Cherry street, which he opened in June 1910. Mr. Davis is a wide-awake, practical and thorough business man and his standing among the successful business men of Nevada well illustrates what may be accomplished by persistent effort and fair dealing along the lines of an honorable, well-chosen calling.

Mr. Davis is somewhat active in fraternal circles, being a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias, the Modern Woodmen of America and the M - B - A.

In October 1892 Mr. Davis was united in marriage with Miss Ida V. Bronson, of Deerfield, Missouri, and there have been born to them three children, named, respectively, William Kelley, Ethel May and Edna Eloise Davis.