Greene County Biographies


From the Pictorial and genealogical record of Greene County, Missouri : 
together with biographies of prominent men of other portions of the 
state, both living and dead. 
Chicago: Goodspeed Bros., 1893



Lewis Tutt is one of the leading colored men of Springfield, 
born in 1840, in Marion County, Ark., at Yellville, and is supposed to be the son of a white 
man by a colored woman. He was reared in servitude, but treated kindly by the family, 
where he was born a servant, the Tutt family of Arkansas, receiving his name from that 
family. He was not educated, but soon became proficient in agricultural pursuits and had 
charge of the farm. The war breaking out, he remained on the farm, taking no active part, 
and finally surrendered to Gen.. C. B. Holland who took possession of that section. The 
owner of the farm, H. Tutt, had died before the war, and Lewis would not leave the old 
mistress, but remained on the farm. After Gen. Holland abandoned the fort at Yellville, 
Lewis drove his mistress to Springfield where she remained until cessation of hostilities 
and then returned to her old home again. Our subject worked for Granes & Hornbeck, 
merchants, and for W. C. Hornbeck for about ten years after which he served on the 
police force one year. Later he engaged in the grocery business for himself, near where 
the Central Hotel now stands, and although he had no means he had good credit and met 
with success. He continued in the business until 1890, after which he invested his money in 
real estate and now owns houses and lots and a store on Boonville Street. He also owns a 
tasty residence on Boonville Street, where he resides. Mr. Tutt was married in Springfield, 
August 17, 1865, to Miss Emma McCullock, and they became the parents of one son, David, 
who died August 11, 1890, aged twenty-three years, nine months and twenty-six days. Both 
Mr. and Mrs. Tutt are members of the African Methodist Episcopal Church and were liberal 
contributors to the building of that church. They have assisted in the building of all the colored 
churches in Springfield and are highly esteemed in the city. Mr. Tutt is one of the trustees of 
his church. In politics he is a stanch Republican. He is a man of intelligence and has served 
several times on the grand jury. He was one of the organizers of the Eureka Lodge of Masons, 
No. 39, of Springfield, and has been master of the lodge two terms, treasurer several terms and 
district deputy. Mr. Tutt contributed toward the building of the Perkins Grand Opera House and is 
a public spirited man. Besides himself only one other colored man owns lots in Maple Park Cemetery. 
Our subject stands well among the people of Springfield. He is a tax payer and has earned his 
property by industry, perseverance and thrift. His faithful wife has been of great assistance to him 
in his efforts to prosper. Mr. Tutt has always been an honorable man, and is an excellent example 
of the prosperity that can be attained by the colored man who perseveres in his determination to 
succeed. He owes no man a dollar. His son, David F., attended Oberlin College over one year. He 
was born October 16, 1866, at Springfield, and died a sincere Christian. Our subject contributed 
$125 toward building the Springfield, Sedalia, Marshall & Northern R. R., and also contributed 
toward the building of the Gulf Shops. In the spring of 1865 occurred the famous shooting of 
David K. Tutt, a white man and the half brother of our subject, by the celebrated "Wild Bill," the 
scout. The two men had had several difficulties at different times at the gaming table, from which 
it is said that Tutt generally arose with a large portion of Wild Bill's money in his purse. The immediate 
cause of this encounter was the trouble growing out of the pawning of a watch to Tutt by Wild Bill for 
the sum of $35. About sundown as Tutt was crossing the public square in Springfield, starting from a 
point north of the present court house, where McElhaney's livery stable then stood, Wild Bill, who had 
been watching for Tutt, and was in his shirt sleeves, walked a few steps into the open space, halted him 
and said: "You can't come any farther and carry my watch." The men walked to within forty steps of each 
other, both drawing their pistols and firing simultaneously, the reports sounding so near together that 
bystanders could not tell which man shot first. Tutt was encumbered with a long linen duster and his 
pistol caught in his coat, it is believed he fired before he was ready, and he received Wild Bill's ball 
through the body near the heart. He retreated to the court house and fell dead near one of the pillars. 
Wild Bill was immediately arrested and tried before the civil authorities. He was defended by Gov. Phelps 
and acquitted on the grounds of self defense. Tutt's body now lies in the Maple Park Cemetery in the lot 
belonging to our subject.




THE TROY STEAM LAUNDRY of Springfield is known throughout the entire
southwest, and it is an undisputed fact that it is without a rival in its
line of work. Although there are numerous good laundries in and around
Springfield, the Troy has the largest and best patronage, which
satisfactory state of affairs has been brought about by the fine quality
of work done, and by the fair dealing of those in control. The building is
fitted up with all the latest improved machinery, and the water used
appears to possess peculiar qualities as a cleanser, facts that greatly
facilitate the work, and thus further renders the house popular. It is
located at 213 West Walnut Street, is a building 44xl00 feet, in which are
employed about eighteen people. Although the accommodations are spacious,
Mr. W. L. Hardy, the founder and manager, contemplates the erection of
another building double the size of his present one. He keeps three
delivery wagons constantly employed, which fact speaks in an eloquent
manner as to the amount of business done. Mr. Hardy first came to
Springfield in 1872, having been born in Bangor, Me., in 1840, a son of
William G. and J. P. Hardy, the former of whom was a graduate of medicine,
but gave his attention to the drug business in Boston, where he died some
years ago. His grand-father was one of the famous soldiers of the
Revolution. The early education of W. L. Hardy was obtained in the schools
of his native city, and upon starting out in life for himself it was as a
bookkeeper in Boston, where he continued to remain until 1866, when he
came west to St. Louis, and there for two years kept a gent's furnishing
establishment. He then became bookkeeper in a wholesale house of Lebanon,
but in 1872 came to Springfield and here followed the same occupation for
some time, and later became the manager for several business houses. In
1873 he returned to St. Louis, and after making his home there until 1886,
came back to Springfield and established the laundry, of which he is now
manager. He is also interested in the furniture business, and is the owner
of a plant for the manufacture of furniture on one of the business streets
of Springfield, but at the present time it is not in operation. Mr. Hardy
has taken an active part in the affairs of the city, was a member of the
Chamber of Commerce, and has used all his personal influence to establish
manufacturing plants and different industries in the city, and he
generously gave a large amount of money for the survey of the Gulf
Railroad south of Springfield. He is regarded as he finest and most
successful laundryman of the Southwest, and ranks high in business and
social circles. He was married in St Louis to Miss E. S. Woods, and has
one child, Georgia W. He and his wife are members of the Congregational
Church, in which he is trustee, and he also belongs to the Y. M. C. A., of
which he is one of the board of directors and corresponding secretary. He
is a Mason of some twenty-five years standing, being a member of United
Lodge No. 5. He has a comfortable and pleasant residence at 615 Cherry
Street, where he and his worthy wife dispense a cordial, yet refined
hospitality.




OLIVER HOMER TRAVERS. This wide-awake, successful and well-read attorney
of Springfield is a son of Jeremiah T. and Sarah B. Travers and was born
in Baltimore, Md., April 6, 1846, in which city he received his education,
also in St. Mary's County, that State. In the fall of 1866 he came to St.
Louis, Mo., where he followed the calling of a clerk for some time, and in
May, 1867, took up his residence in Springfield. After reaching this city
he secured employment in a drug store belonging to Murphy & Clements, but
after remaining with them for some time he decided to follow other lines
of labor and as a means to this end he began his legal studies in the
office of McAfee & Phelps, continuing his researches under their
instruction until be was admitted to the bar in 1869. In 1872 and 1873 be
was elected to the responsible position of city attorney on the Democrat
ticket, and in 1876 he was a popular nominee on that ticket for the State
Legislature, but declined to make the race. From 1879 to 1881 he was again
prosecuting attorney, this time for Greene County, and from 1881 for a
year or so afterward he was city attorney of North Springfield. In 1880 he
consented to make the race for the Legislature but was defeated by
forty-six votes. Since that time he, has applied himself diligently to the
practice of his profession and has a reputation of which be has every
reason to be proud. He has attained high rank in Masonry and is High
Priest of the Springfield Royal Arch Chapter, No. 15, and Senior Warden of
Saloma Lodge, No. 271, and Prelate of St. John Commandery, No. 20. He is
also a member of the I. O. O. F. He was married November 20, 1869, to Miss
Virginia M., daughter of Dr. William Parrish of Greene County, Mo., and of
three children born to them Fred P. is the only survivor. Mr. Travers'
mother died in 1859, but his father is still a resident of Maryland. Of
the five children born to this couple the subject of this sketch is the
oldest.




C. W. THRASHER. The bar of Springfield, Mo, contains among its members
many of the brightest, most learned and proficient lawyers in the country.
Some of them are prominent as citizens as well as in the professional
arena, and many of them are identified with the public institutions and
business corporations of the city. Such an one is C. W. Thrasher, who is a
product of the Granite State, born in Grantham, January 31, 1829. The
father, Ephraim Thrasher, was of English ancestry, and was a farmer by
occupation. He married Miss Alice Nutter, who was of Scotch descent, and
in 1886 emigrated to Vermont, where his death occurred in 1853. He was a
prominent man in politics and affiliated with the Democratic party. The
Thrasher family came to America at an early date and some members of this
family served in the early wars. Mr. and Mrs. Thrasher were the parents of
five children, as follows: Laura A., Mariette, Charles W., DeWitt C., who
is residing in Vermont, and Martin E., a physician, who died in 1858. The
mother of these children died in Vermont in 1865. C. W. Thrasher is one of
the successful legal practitioners of the county, and the substantial
traits of the Puritan forefathers of his father, inherited by him, are
strengthened by the instincts of frugality and careful consideration of
ways and means which he has inherited from his mother's side of the house.
Until seven years of age Mr. Thrasher resided in New Hampshire, but he
then moved with his parents to Vermont, where he remained until twenty-one
years of age. He secured a good practical education in the common schools
and academy and later entered Dartmouth College. In 1855 he began the
study of law and was admitted to the bar two years later. From that time
up to 1864 he practiced law in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, and then
came to Missouri, locating at Neosho. There he remained nine years and
then came to Springfield. This was in the spring of 1875 and he continued
the practice of law up to 1891, when, failing in health, he retired from
the practice, and is now living a retired life. When he first came to the
city he became a law partner with Henry C. Young, who was one of the early
pioneers of the county. Mr. Thrasher has ever been a Republican in his
political belief and during the war was a stanch Union man. In 1862 he
enlisted in the Eleventh Rhode Island Regiment, with which he served as
captain of Company B, during his term of enlistment. He has ever been
prominent in political affairs and was the Republican candidate for
Congress in the Thirteenth District of Missouri in 1874. In his private
life Mr. Thrasher has been as exemplary as in his public career he was
useful and influential. His law practice while embracing both criminal and
civil cases has in later years been confined mostly to land cases. He is a
member of the G. A. R., Springfield Post. He was married in the East to
Miss M. A. Grow, a native of Vermont, and the daughter of Silas Grow. This
worthy couple have a pleasant residence at 881 Benton Avenue, and are
highly esteemed by a host of friends. They have one child, Alice L., who
is attending Drury College.




THE THOMPSON FAMILY. In tracing the genealogy of the Thompson family we
find that its members have been residents of America for many generations,
and have ever been classed amongst the best citizens of any community.
Edward Thompson, an honored representative of this old Eastern family, was
born in Maryland, January 3, 1786, and there grew to mature years. He
selected his wife in the person of Miss Elizabeth Dollison, a native of
Logan County, Ky., born October 22, 1796, and in 1830 they made their way
to Missouri, locating on the spot where the Springfield foundry now
stands, and camped there for some time. This was before Springfield was
thought of. Later they settled on a farm seven miles east of that place,
took up Government land and he became one of the largest land owners in
that section, owning farms in different parts of the county. He was a
public spirited citizen and in politics affiliated with the Democratic
party. Although left an orphan at an early age he was reared by his
grandmother, whose maiden name was Miller, and was early taught the duties
of farm life. He was self-made man in all that the words imply, and what
he accumulated in the way of this world's goods was the result of energy
and perseverance on the part of himself and his estimable wife. She was
the daughter of Jacob and Mary Dollison. To Mr. and Mrs. Thompson were
born a large family of children, as follows: Sarah W., born January 24,
1816, married William Darnell, reared a family, and resided in Greene
County until her death in 1890; Alvira, born September 17, 1817, married
Young A. Anderson, became the mother of four children, and died about
1888; Mary, born September 7, 1819, married T. J. Hodges, and became the
mother of four children, her death occurring about 1883; Charles G.
(deceased), was born May 9, 1821, and was a farmer by occupation; A. C.,
born January 26, 1824, a resident of this county for many years, was
married and reared a family of children, and died soon after the way;
James M., born February 23, 1826, was a wealthy and prosperous
stock-trader and farmer, and was killed in 1864, during the war; John,
born June 16, 1828, resided in Greene County, never married, and was
accidentally killed by falling with a load of rails in the forties; Nancy
J., born December 17, 1829, became the wife of Henry Moore, of Cole
County, Mo., and the mother of a family of children, and died in 1865;
Andrew J., born July 6, 1832, was a stock trader and prominent business
man, never married, was a soldier in the Richard Campbell Company, being
wounded at Hartsville, Mo., during Gen. Price's raid, was captured, taken
to Johnson Island, and kept a prisoner for six months, and died in 1881 ;
Edward, born May 22, 1833, was a soldier in the Rebellion, was in
Campbell's Company, participated in the battles of Corinth and Pea Ridge,
and died at Corinth, Miss., in 1862; Elizabeth L., born December 28, 1834,
married F. M. Fullbright, of Greene County, Mo., and they now reside in
Boone County, where he is engaged in farming; Jacob R., born July 12,
1836; Rebecca L., born October 5, 1838, died when a child of five years;
and Marion M. C., born October 27, 1840, married George Lair, and died
about 1873, leaving a family. The father of these children died in 1850,
and he was followed to the grave by his widow in 1866. William Thompson,
the oldest now living of the above mentioned children, is now probably the
oldest citizen of Greene County, and fifth in order of birth of these
children. He was about eight years of age when he came with his parents to
this county, he being a native of Tennessee, and here he grew to sturdy
manhood, assisting on the farm and receiving such educational advantages
as were available. He married Miss E. P. Hogan, a native of Kentucky, and
the daughter of John Hogan, and five children were given to them, as
follows: Manzy, whose birth occurred February 27, 1852, married William
___________and they have three children: Mary A., born May 3, 1854,
married W. J. Larkins, and has two children; Raully E., a farmer of this
county; George A., married William N. Anderson, of this county, and Willie
D., married John Miller, and resides with her husband and one child in
this county. Mr. Thompson has ever affiliated with the __________party,
and held the office of justice of the peace for four years. He now finds a
comfortable home with D. Thompson, and is one of the old landmarks of the
county. Upright and honorable in every walk of life, may the sunset of his
days be happy and free from care. Jacob R. D. Thompson, the youngest but
one of the family reared by his parents, was born in Greene County, and
was reared on the farm where he now lives. His educational training was
received in the district schools and he assisted his father in tilling the
soil until twenty-five years of age when he started out to fight his own
way in life. He is now the owner of 220 acres of well-improved land
located about six miles southeast of Springfield, and this is one of the
oldest settled places in Greene County. It is well-improved with nice
house and barn and attests by its neat, thrifty appearance that an
experienced hand is at the helm. Mr. Thompson is engaged in general
farming and stock raising, and has made a success of his chosen
occupations. Like most of his relatives he is a stanch Democrat and is a
man deeply interested in all public affairs. He was married in 1866 to
Miss Eliza C. Campbell, daughter of J. T. and Mary (Blackwill) Campbell
and one of six children, as follows: Ophelia, John P., Eliza C., Hattie,
Matilda J., and E. M. Mrs. Thompson was born in Greene County, September
30, 1839. By her marriage she became the mother of three children: M. J.,
born October 2, 1867, is the wife of H. A. Plank and has one child named
Allen; James C., born January 23, 1869, is assisting on the home place,
and Anna Elizabeth, born February 12, 1873, is still at home. Mr. Thompson
and family hold a high place among the best people of Greene County and
are universally respected. Mr. Thompson takes great pains in cultivating
and improving his place and has one of the handsomest and pleasantest
rural homes to be found. Abner D. Thompson, son of James .M. Thompson and
grandson of Edward and Elizabeth (Dollison) Thompson, was born on the farm
where he now lives, received his education in that neighborhood, and there
grew to manhood. When a young man he engaged in general farming and stock
raising and this he has continued up to the present time, meeting with
unusual success in this occupation. He is now the owner of 310 acres, a
large portion of which is under cultivation, and like his ancestors before
him, thoroughly understands tilling the soil and raising stock, his broad
acres being covered with fine cattle and hogs. When twenty-four years of
age he married Miss Janie Galloway, daughter of Major Galloway, and they
have six children who are named in the order of their births as follows:
Jessie, born October 25, 1880; Susie E., born November 15, 1882; Charles
E., born March 15, 1885; Catherine I., born February 14, 1887; Janie D.,
born June 1, 1889, and an infant, born June 18, 1893. Mr. Thompson has one
of the best farms in the county, situated six and one-half miles from
Springfield, and is one of the wide-awake, progressive young
agriculturists. He is a public spirited and enterprising and is at all
times a most emphatic Democrat in his political views. James M. Thompson,
seventh child of Edward and Elizabeth (Dollison) Thompson, and for many
years one of the most successful and influential citizens of Greene
County, Mo., was originally from Tennessee but at an early date came to
Greene County, Mo., where he met and married Miss Elizabeth Dobbs, a
native also of Tennessee, and the daughter of Abner and Mary P. (Gunter)
Dobbs, both of whom were natives of the old North State. The Dobbs family
came to Greene County, in 1840, settled in Springfield, and were among the
early pioneers of that region. (See sketch of William P. Dobbs.) Mrs.
Thompson was killed by a cyclone in 1880, when about fifty years of age,
her birth having occurred March 27, 1831. She was the mother of five
children: Abner D., born July 28, 1855; William E., born February 3, 1858,
and died August 13, 1861; James Price, born May 16, 1860, is now a
merchant in the State of Washington; Mary L. born May 15, 1863, became the
wife of R. E. Fullbright, and resides on a farm in this county, and
Elizabeth C., born January 25, 1865, became the wife of W. F. Crocker, of
Tulare County, California. The mother of these children was a worthy and
consistent member of the Christian Church. In politics the father was a
stanch Democrat. He was killed in 1864, during the war. For many years he
had followed farming and was a substantial and well-to-do citizen, being
also extensively engaged in the live stock business in which he excelled.




JOHN N. TATUM. One of the old and honored settlers of Greene County, Mo.,
is John N. Tatum, who springs from an old American Colonial family, of
English descent. His remote ancestors settled in Virginia and his great
grandfather was a native of that State, his name being John Tatum. His
son, Thomas, the grandfather of John N. Tatum, was a North Carolinian. He
was married to Miss Nancy Britton, and between 1813 and 1818 he removed to
Logan County, western Kentucky, where he cleared up a farm on which he
resided the remainder of his days. He lived to be seventy-five years old,
and for many years was a prominent member of the Baptist Church. He and
his wife became the parents of nine children: Alfred, Seth, William,
Frederick, Mary, Sarah, Martha and two whose names are not remembered.
Their son Alfred Tatum was born in North Carolina but at the age of
eighteen went to Kentucky with his parents and there turned his attention
to farming. When twenty-two or twenty-three years of age he was married to
Nancy Barrow, a daughter of William and Susan (Mischal) Barrow, the former
of whom was a Revolutionary solder and was in the battles of Bunker Hill
and Cowpens. He was taken prisoner and entertained his British captors by
singing rebel songs. Alfred Tatum was the father of fourteen children,
twelve of whom lived to mature years: Susan who died at the age of
fifteen, Rebecca., Thomas J., William B., Amanda F., John N., Silas W.,
Sarah B., Frederick N., James M., and Joseph W. and Morgan H. (twins).
After his marriage Mr. Tatum resided for some time on wild land in
Kentucky, but by energy and industry soon cleared it and converted it into
a fine farm, on which the rest of his days were spent. He was honest,
industrious and patriotic and instilled into the minds of his children
principles of honor, justice and right. John N. Tatum, his son, was born
on the old home farm in Logan County, Ky., December 18, 1829, and in his
youthful days attended the old pioneer log school-house but obtained only
a limited education. By attending school after he had attained his
twenty-first year he fitted himself for teaching in the common schools,
and first "wielded the ferule" in his old home district at the age of
twenty-four, continuing there two terms with good success. July 13, 1856,
he left Kentucky; he went to Green County, Mo., July 23, on a visit, but
liking the .country never returned to his old home and in the fall of that
year began teaching in East Center Township, at what is now known as the
Edgewood school, and for five years continued his labors, with the
exception of one term which he taught at Rock Prairie in Dade County.
December 23, 1860, he married Sarah M. Robinson, daughter of James and
Eliza (Swagerty) Robinson and granddaughter of Charles Robinson, who came
of an old Colonial family and became one of the early Pioneers of
Kentucky. James Robinson was married at Clarksville, Ark., where he drove
a stage for some time but about 1842 moved to Greene County, Mo., and
settled on Leeper Prairie, where he became the owner of 300 acres and an
extensive stock raiser. He died at the age of sixty-five years. His union
resulted in the birth of the following. children: John S., Sarah M.,
August, I., Prudence E., Jale E., Mary S., Emily F., James B., Lorenzo L.,
(a daughter), and two children who died in infancy. After his marriage Mr.
and Mrs. Tatum resided on the old Robinson homestead for five years. When
the war came up he naturally sympathized with the South but did not
believe in warfare and refused to enlist in the service. For this reason
be was arrested by the Federal authorities, imprisoned three months at
Springfield and was forced to work on the fortifications. He finally
enrolled in the militia and served about five days. In February, 1866, he
bought 120 acres of wild land on Grand Prairie and by thrift and industry
he has added to it until he is now the owner of about 200 acres, well
cultivated and well improved and very favorably divided as to prairie and
woodland. He has always been a Democrat politically, and while often
solicited to do so, he has never given up his private business to enter
the political arena, although thoroughly competent to fill any office. He
and his wife are devout members of the Missionary Baptist Church, in which
he has held the office of clerk and deacon for many years. He has been a
member of the Executive Board of the Missionary Baptist Association for
many years and has held the office of chairman for three years. He has
contributed largely of his means to build churches in the county and has
liberally assisted toward their support. He has also been interested in
school work. To Mr. and Mrs. Tatum eight children have been born:
Sophronia O., Ophelia A., Francis M., Minnie A. who died at the age of
nineteen (a married woman), Hattie E., Beverly A., James A., and William
A. Mr. Tatum is a man of sound good sense, is finely educated (mainly by
studying at home by the light of the hickory bark fire in the old
fashioned fire place after the day's work was done), has a retentive
memory, is a clear thinker and is a vigorous and convincing speaker. He
has lived for the benefit of his community, being interested in all
matters for the benefit of the people of his section, and he fully
deserves the high respect and regard in which he is held.




W. D. TATLOW. This gentleman has attained more than local renown as a
legal practitioner, which fact may in a measure be attributed to his love
for his profession. He has been a resident of Springfield since September
24, 1883, but was born in Palmyra, Marion County, Mo., June 29, 1865, his
parents being J. B. and Irene (Pittman) Tatlow, the former of whom came to
this State in an early day, the name being a familiar one in the northeast
part of the State. J. B. Tatlow is now a resident of Springfield, and here
he and his wife have a comfortable home. Six children were given to this
worthy couple: William D.; Alfred P., an attorney of Springfield; J. B.,
who is a minister of the Christian Church at Ash Grove, Mo.; Ida and
Julia. One child died in infancy. J. B. Tatlow is now living retired from
the active duties of life and is in the enjoyment of a competency which
his early industry earned. The family is of French descent and for many
years after the first emigrant of that name came to this country, the
family resided in Delaware. The early education of W. P. Tatlow, the
immediate subject of this sketch, was obtained in the public schools of
Springfield, and in 1888 he began the study of law in the county clerk's
office where he remained for one year. In March, 1892, he was admitted to
the bar of Missouri, and the same year entered upon the practice of his
profession with Mr. Sebreem, the most of their attention being given to
commercial law, in which they have met with remarkable success, and have
acquired an enviable reputation. Mr. Tatlow has a promising future before
him, and will without doubt become eminent in his profession. He is a
young man of great public spirit, is a Democrat like his father, with whom
he still makes his home, on Lincoln Street, and is unmarried.





THOMAS YEAKLEY. The subject of this sketch is one of the largest farmers
and landholders in Greene County, and as he has passed his entire life
here he is well-known but naught has ever been said derogatory to his
honor. His father, John Yeakley, one of the original settlers of this
section, was born in Greene County, Tenn., November 15, 1809, his father
being Henry Yeakley, of Pennsylvania Dutch stock. He was married to
Susannah McNeece, daughter of Isaac McNeece, a Scotchman by birth and a
weaver by trade. About 1804, the Yeakleys moved to Greene County, Tenn.,
and there a family of fourteen children were born to them: Samuel, who was
a soldier in the War of 1812, and was at the battle of Horse Shoe, fought
by Jackson; Mary, Henry, Isaiah, Elizabeth, Lydia, Ann, George, John,
Joseph, Malachi, Jacob and Betsey, all of whom lived to grow up. Henry
Yeakley was a gunsmith by trade but owned and worked a farm. He had
obtained a practical education in the German tongue, but spoke
intelligible English and was well-posted on the current affairs of his
day. He was buried in the graveyard at the old Quaker church in Greene
County, Tenn. His wife was a little girl when the battle of Brandywine was
fought, in Revolutionary times, was near the field and saw the battle,
about which she often told her children. Mr. Yeakley was a member of the
Lutheran Church while his wife a most excellent woman and deeply
religious, was a Quaker. John Yeakley was reared a farmer and learned the
blacksmith's trade which he has followed more or less all his life. He
owns an old anvil which his father took with him from Pennsylvania to
Tennessee and which is over one hundred years old. He quite well remembers
of talking with Azariah Doty, who lived to be over one hundred and four
years old and who was one of Gen. Marion's men during the war of the
Revolution. At the age of twenty years Mr. Yeakley married Matilda Grills,
of Greene County, Tenn., (in 1829) by whom he became the father of six
children: Thomas, Henry, Rhoda, Betsey A., Jane and Benjamin, who died
when a child. In the fall of 1839, he came with his family to Missouri and
after passing the winter in Polk County, came to Greene County in the
spring and settled on the eighty acres on which he now lives, upon which
he erected a log cabin which is still standing. He made the journey from
Tennessee in a small two-horse wagon and found Missouri to be in a wild
and unsettled state, a great portion of which was covered with large
forest trees in which deer and other wild game abounded. He entered a
large body of land eighty acres deep and one mile in length on the Big Sac
River. Of this he made a valuable farm, through much industry, and gave
each of his sons a good start in life. His first wife died and he
afterward married Eliza Allen, who also died, and he took for his third
wife Margaret L. Cochran, their union occurring on November 4,1880, with
whom he is now living and who is now postmistress of Yeakley. Mr. Yeakley
has always been a Methodist in his religious views and assisted to build
the first Methodist Church in West Center Township, called Yeakley Chapel,
and when it burned down he gave the land for a new church which he
assisted to build and which also took the name of Yeakley Chapel. He is a
steward in this church and attends services every Sunday. His wife is a
member of the old Presbyterian Church of Lawrence County, but attends the
Methodist Church and is one of the principal teachers in the
Sunday-school. For many years Mr. Yeakley voted the old Whig ticket, cast
his first vote for Gen. Jackson and his last one for Peter Cooper. During
the great evil strife he remained neutral, and contrary to usual custom
was left unmolested, having only two stands of bees stolen, one by the
Federal and one by the Confederate soldiers. He and his wife are residing
in comfort on a fine farm of 100 acres and are surrounded by many friends
whom they have gathered about them by a correct mode of living. His
children are established in life as follows: Thomas, is a prosperous
farmer and large landowner in West Center Township, one mile south of the
old homestead. He is married to Lizzie or Elizabeth Young, and has four
children; Henry, resides on a part of the old homestead in West Center
Township, is well-to-do, is married and has three children; Rhoda, married
Aaron Helton, is a widow with eight children, lives two miles south of the
old homestead and is in good circumstances; Betsy A., married David
Likins, by whom she has four children; Janie, married Lewis Whinrey, of
West Center Township, is well supplied with worldly goods and has one
child; and Thomas, whose name heads this sketch, and who was born November
25, 1829, in Greene County, Tenn. He has been a resident of Greene County,
Mo., ever since he was ten years of age, and well remembers the journey
thither, which occupied seven weeks. In the wagon was his father, mother
and brothers Henry and Benjamin and sister Rhoda, besides himself. In the
party were Henry, Nathan, Ann and Bettie Paulsell, also Daniel Delaney and
family, Jonathan Pickering and family. Young Yeakley had but few
opportunities of acquiring an education as he was brought up in a pioneer
country, but he learned to labor and was naturally intelligent and
investigating. July 17, 1851, he married Elizabeth M, daughter of George
B. and Margaret (Leeper) Young, and to them four children were born:
James, George, Margaret M., and Rebecca J. In 1854, Mr. Yeakley settled on
the land where be now lives, then consisting of forty acres on the edge of
Grand Prairie, and by industry and thrift he added to it until be now owns
about 1,200 acres, half of which is on Grand Prairie and constitutes one
of the most magnificent farms in Greene County, being well-watered by Pond
Creek and Big Sac River. All the improvements on this place have been made
by himself and planned by his own fertile and original brain, and do
credit to his intelligence. He and his wife are members of the Methodist
Church South and politically he is a Democrat. He has always been
interested in the cause of education and assisted to build up fully
one-half of the first school houses in his district. He is one of the most
successful farmers in Greene County , and has prospered through energy and
good management. George Yeakley, the son of Thomas, married Celesta J.
Redfearn, December 27,1877, by whom he has three children: Minnie H.,
Georgia L., and Bessie M. His daughter, Margaret M., was married at her
home, March 22, 1887, to Dr. Edwin D. Robinson, of Bois D'Arc, who died
seven months after their marriage, October 31, 1887. He was a graduate of
the Missouri Medical College of St. Louis, in 1879, and in 1882 graduated
from Bellevue Hospital, New York, after which he practiced in that
institution for three months and then at Bois D'Arc, where he met with
good success and built up a large practice. His widow is now the wife of
W. E. Drum, a successful merchant and prominent citizen of Bois D'Arc,
their marriage occurring May 13, 1891. During the Civil War Thomas Yeakley
had several narrow escapes from death. He remained at home and did some
work for the United States government, being supplied with arms for his
defense by the Federal officers. He was several times attacked at night
and in one encounter was slightly wounded by a bullet which first passed
through the side of the house. On another occasion, being called to the
door at night and commanded to strike a light he replied with a well-aimed
shot and the intruders retreated, bearing away a badly wounded companion,
their trail being freely marked with blood. On the day of the battle of
Wilson's Creek, he, visited the battlefield with some of his neighbors,
mixed with the soldiers and saw the dead and wounded the next day, and
describes the scene as terrible for many of the bodies were stripped of
their clothing by vandals.




HENRY YEAKLEY. This well-known and successful farmer is the second son of
John Yeakley, the pioneer, and was born on the 22d of June, 1832, in
Greene County, Tenn., being seven years of age at the time of his parent's
removal to Greene County, Mo. He was a bright and intelligent lad at that
time and the journey by wagon to this section left such an impression on
his mind that he recalls many of the incidents connected with the journey
with great vividness. He say; at that time the country was beautiful in
its wildness, but that there was little or no underbrush and grass was
very luxuriant, growing to the hight of a man's hips. The year of their
arrival his father raised a crop of corn on seven acres of rented land, as
his own land was as yet unbroken, but was taken sick with fever in August
and for eight months could do no work, with the exception of a little
hunting, and the labor of caring for, gathering and storing the crop
devolved upon Henry and his brothers. For two years they were very short
of provisions, being obliged to practice the closest economy, but after
that they raised excellent crops and had all they desired. The school
houses at that time were few and far between, and even those not the best
conducted, but be managed to secure six months' schooling after which his
studies were pursued by the home fireside, by which means he learned to
read, write and spell as well as considerable of arithmetic. In 1862 he
enlisted in the Missouri State Militia and was then in a provisional
regiment a few months, in Company A., Sixteenth Regiment, Missouri
Volunteer Cavalry, in which he served eighteen months, his entire service
amounting to three years. He was in the battle of Boonville, Westport, one
on the Blue River and another about sixteen miles north of Ft. Scott. Mr.
Yeakley was not wounded during his service, but had his horse shot and
killed while he was holding its bridle at the battle of Boonville. He was
on active duty all the time and was a faithful soldier. After the war he
returned to farming and was married August 30, 1865, to Ann, daughter of
Paul and Margaret (McGhee) Brame, of German stock, and to their union
three children have been given: William H., Malinda E. and John. Mr.
Yeakley began farming with 200 acres of land and by thrift and energy has
cleared up a good farm, and added forty acres to the original tract and
has made good improvements in the way of buildings upon it. He and his
wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and he is a member of
the G. A. R. at Republic, Mo. Mrs. Yeakley's parents, Paul and Margaret
(McGhee) Brame, were born in Kentucky, May 12, 1812, and April 10, 1815,
respectively, their marriage taking place on the 3d of April, 1832. They
left Kentucky in 1833, lived a few months in Illinois, and in 1834 came to
Greene County, Mo., and entered land near Walnut Grove, being one of the
pioneers of that part of the county. In 1848 he went to California as one
of the early gold seekers, and finally died in that country. He and his
wife were the parents of nine children: Elizabeth, born April 10, 1833;
Martha J., born December 28, 1834; Malinda, born January 21, 1837;
Josephus, born July 11, 1838; David S., born February 23, 1840; John H.,
born December 10, 1841; James T., born December 4, 1843; Celia A., born
September 13, 1845; and Thursey, born December 3, 1847. Both Mr. and Mrs.
Brame are members of the Christian Church and are worthy and respected
people and upright and public-spirited citizens. Mrs. Yeakley was born in
Greene County, Mo., September 13, 1845. Her maternal grandparents were
William and Sally McGhee, the former of whom was of Irish birth and an
early pioneer of Kentucky.




E. L. YANCY, who is endowed by nature with such gifts as characterize true
manhood in all that the word implies, is the genial, courteous and capable
clerk of the criminal court of Greene County, Mo. In his ability the
people's confidence has not been misplaced, for under his capable
management every thing moves along with clock work precision. He has made
his home in Springfield since 1885, and by his honesty in all business
transactions, as well as by his correct mode of living, he has made
numerous warm and faithful friends. Mr. Yancy is a native of Shelbyville,
Tenn., born September 15, 1861, and the son of James and Martha (Wifhoite)
Yancy, the father a native of the grand old State of Virginia, and the
mother of Mississippi. Both are old and prominent families, the members
having settled in this country in Colonial days, and both took a deep
interest in all enterprises for the advancement and improvement of the
country. Our subject was left fatherless when a small boy, and he was
reared by his mother, who is still living and residing in Shelbyville,
Tenn. Her family consisted of two sons and three daughters, E. L. Yancy
being her youugest child. The other son, Willis P., is general manager for
William Deering & Co., of Kansas City, Mo. The daughters are living in
Shelbyville with the mother, who is now seventy years old, but quite
active for her years. The Yancy fainilv has ever been highly respected,
and the members well-to-do. The original of this notice passed his boyhood
and youth in Shelbyville, Tenn., and at an early age became convinced that
he wanted a good education. "Money," he reasoned, "might take to itself
wings and fly away, but a good education would last through life." He
entered the high school, applied himself, but was obliged to start out
while still quite young, to hoe his own way in life. He has held many
positions, and discharged the duties of all in a creditable and
satisfactory manner. He became an expert bookkeeper, and has followed that
business for years. For a year he was in the employ of the Gulf Railroad,
and in 1891 was appointed by Mr. Samuel Wood, treasurer of Greene County,
as assistant county treasurer, which position he held for a year and a
half. On June 21, 1893, he was appointed by Gov. Stone, of Missouri, to
the position he now holds, clerk of the criminal court of Greene County.
He entered upon his duties, and has proved himself a beau ideal public
officer, being accurate, punctual, intelligent and obliging. Mr. Yancy is
a Democrat of long standing. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal
Church South, and one of the county's most intelligent and well posted
young men. He was married in Springfield to Miss Jessie, daughter of L. H.
Murray, editor of the Democratic paper. Mr. and Mrs. Yancy have two
children, Lolita and Lillard, and have a pleasant home on South Grant
Street. Mrs. Yancy was reared in this city, is a lady of literary
attainments, and is a leader in society.




HON. G. G. VEST. One of the leaders in the ranks of brilliant men who, a
quarter of a century since, sought their fortunes in this State, and have
stamped their impress upon its-history and legislation, is G. G. Vest, who
was born in Frankfort, Ky., December 6, 1830; graduated at Center College,
Danville, in 1848, and graduated from the law department of Transylvania
University four years later as valedictorian of his class, in which were
such men as Gen. John M. Harlan, Vice Chancellor James Harlan, and Hon.
Isaac Simpson, of San Antonio, Tex. The same year in which he graduated he
came to Missouri and hung out a shingle in Georgetown, Pettis County, as a
token that be was ready to look after the interests of those who entrusted
their affairs in his hands, and his undoubted ability and genius had soon
gathered about him a large and profitable clientele. At that time be was
very boyish in appearance, in which respect he contrasted strongly with
his quiet self-possession, brilliant powers of conversation and ease of
manner. Although he came to the State a stranger, without money and
without friends, and began practicing at a bar which was noted for the
brilliancy of its members, many of whom notable then, are illustrious now,
in an incredibly short time he won his way to distinction and carried off
the honors in many a bitterly contested legal fight. In 1856 he took up
his residence at Boonville, Cooper County, and he became very prominent in
his opposition to the Know-Nothing party, his withering sarcasm, witty
rejoinders, his magnetic eloquence and masterly illustrations of the
shortsightedness of its policy, doing more to drive the party out of the
State, than the efforts of any other one man. The interest he took in all
matters of public moment, and his talents and popularity, naturally led
him into the arena of politics, and being a Kentuckian by birth and
education, his sympathies were distinctly Southern. In the Douglas
convention of 1860 he was appointed one of the Democratic electors for
Missouri, the upper portion of which State he canvassed for Douglas, and
the same year be was elected to represent Cooper County in the General
Assembly of the State, in which body he served as chairman of the
Committee on Federal Relations during the exciting session of 1860-61. He
was the author of a bill calling a constitutional convention; of the "Vest
Resolutions," denouncing coercion of the Southern States by the
Government; and finally of the "Ordinance of Secession" passed by the
Southern wing of the Missouri Legislature at Neosho, November 22, 1861.
Before the adjournment of this body he was elected a member of the
Confederate Provisional Congress at Richmond, Va., and in 1864 was
appointed to a seat in its Senate. He did not return to Missouri until
1867, when he took up his residence in Sedalia. In 1872 he became a
delegate at large of the Democratic party to Baltimore, and was an active
worker for the nomination of Horace Greeley for the Presidency. He was
defeated by Phelps for the nomination for governor in 1876, although he
was undoubtedly the choice of his party in the State, and had he been
nominated would have undoubtedly been elected. Col. Vest is a man of
medium height, of fine physique, and is undoubtedly prepossessing in
personal appearance. His distinctive quality is great personal magnetism,
wonderful powers of oratory, and he sways his audience as he wills, moving
men to laughter or tears. He is fertile in resources, is apt in
illustration, and in manners is courteous to all, genial and kindly, and
is in every way worthy of his position as one of the most brilliant legal
lights and politicians of the country. He is probably the most talented
and influential member of the United States Senate since Benton's time,
and is an honor to the State of his adoption as well as to his country.




JUDGE JAMES R. VAUGHAN. The subject of this sketch was born in
Murfreesboro, Tenn., on January 6, 1845. As a lawyer and faithful advocate
he has few equals, as he has a logical and analytical mind, well trained
and full of resources. He was systematically trained for his profession,
first as student and subsequently in the law department of the University
of Michigan, the best law school in the United States. He is energetic and
patient, indefatigably industrious, and of absolute honor and integrity.
As a citizen he is quiet and unassuming, but public spirited and ever
alive to progress at home and in the community. He is a man who never
gushes nor overflows; he is never elated by small victories nor seeks
small glories; he never praises himself nor seeks for praise from others.
His character and intellect are solid, strong and practical, and for these
reasons he has succeeded so well under great difficulties and without any
special advantage. He is the eldest and only living son of Thomas and
Susan B. Vaughan. His father moved to the section now embraced in
Christian County in 1849 and became a farmer. His father was a man who
always took much interest in political affairs, and was always well read
upon the current affairs of the times. He was originally a Whig, was a
stanch Union man during the war, and after the war a Democrat. His death,
which occurred August 18, 1880, was deeply deplored by his many friends.
His widow survives him and makes her home in Springfield with her two
surviving children. She was born in Tennessee, a daughter of Robert
Lawing, who was an early resident of that State from North Carolina. James
Vaughan Sr., the grandfather of James R., was originally from Virginia.
Thomas H. Vaughan took a part in the Seminole Indian War in Florida, and
during his lifetime he and his wife were members of the Presbyterian
Church, but she is now connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church. Of a
family of seven children born to this worthy couple, only three grew to
maturity: Samuel R., who died in 1889, a young man twenty-two years of
age; a daughter who became the wife of James R. Bell, of Springfield, and
James R. The youthful days of the latter were spent near Ozark, Mo., on a
farm and in attending the district school near his home. He obtained his
literary education in the schools of Ozark, in the Union University at
Murfreesboro, Tenn., entering the latter institution in 1860, where he
remained -until the bursting of the great war cloud upon this country,
when the school was closed. He then returned to Missouri with an uncle,
Dr. David A. Vaughan, and remained with his parents until March 19, 1862,
when he took "French leave" of his home, and attached himself to the Sixth
Missouri Volunteer Cavalry, under Gen. Samuel R. Curtis, enlisting at
Cassville, Mo., as a private. Young Vaughan was quite patriotic, as upon
his first effort to join the Federal army he was followed by his father
and taken back, then being only in the beginning of his seventeenth year.
He was in several engagements in western Missouri, at Sarcoxie and other
points, going from thence to Vicksburg, after which he went up the
Arkansas River to Arkansas Post, after which he was on different
transports on the Mississippi River. He was at the siege of Vicksburg,
Jackson, Miss., and was in a number of cavalry raids in eastern Louisiana,
and was in the Banks expedition up the Red River, taking part in the
engagement at Sabine Cross Roads and Pleasant Hill, and again in an
expedition to southeast Mississippi, along Mississippi Sound. He was never
severely wounded while in the service, but was usually found ready for
duty, and, by faithfully performing everything required of him and by the
courage he displayed on several trying occasions, he rose to the rank of
sergeant-major, and as such was discharged after the battle of Baton
Rouge, March 22, 1865, and returned to his former home in Missouri. He
soon after engaged in teaching school, which he continued for a short
time, then entered the Illinois College at Jacksonville, which institution
he attended for one term. He then entered the law department of the
University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor (in 1866), and graduated therefrom in
March, 1868, after which he practiced his profession in Ozark, Christian
County, Mo., until his removal to Springfield in 1877. While in Christian
County he was a public school commissioner. He was married there to Miss
Barbara A. Weaver, May 10, 1871, a daughter of John R. Weaver, who was
formerly a Tennessean. The latter is one of the highly honored citizens of
Christian County, and on two different occasions he was elected to the
position of county treasurer. Mrs. Vaughan was born December 17, 1852,
being one of a family of seven children, and has borne Judge Vaughan six
children, two of whom are deceased. Those living are Lena E., who is at
home; Anne C., who is attending school at Auburn Park, Chicago; Charles,
who is attending the public schools at Springfield, and James, who is also
at school. Susie died at the age of fourteen years and Mary at the age of
four. In 1886, on the death of Judge W. F. Geiger, Mr. Vaughan was
appointed to the position of circuit judge, by Gov. Marmaduke, but only
held the position a few months. In this responsible position he
administered the law with justice and impartiality, knowing neither friend
nor foe, and while on the bench his record was clean and pure. He has
always been a live business man, was for several years vice-president of
the First National Bank of Springfield, and is the owner of considerable
valuable real estate and other property. He has been and now is attorney
for several railroads and other corporate enterprises, and is now engaged
in general practice, which fully occupies his time and attention.
Politically he is a Democrat. He has a pleasant and comfortable home at
427 East Walnut Street, and it is there that his character shows its most
admirable traits.




JAMES D. VAN BIBBER, Springfield, Mo., is one of the retired farmers of
Greene County and one of the first county officials. He springs from old
colonial stock of Holland Dutch ancestry--three brothers--sea captains-
coming from Holland in the early part of the seventeenth century, to New
York and Virginia, and were among the early founders of the country.
Joseph Van Bibber, grandfather of our subject, was born in Virginia and
moved to Missouri in 1800 with his family and settled in Callaway County,
in the wilderness. He married a Miss Irwin, of Irish stock. He owned a
large tract of land and passed all the remainder of his days in Callaway
County. He was the father of seven children: Lucinda, Minerva, Melissa,
Joseph, Irwin, Frank and Daniel. Joseph Van Bibber, son of above and
father of our subject, was born in Greenbrier County, Va., in 1797 and was
but three years of age when brought by his parents to Callaway County,
Mo., and was, therefore, reared in this State, received a common education
and was a gunsmith by trade and employed by the United States Government
at Liberty, Clay County, Mo., when there was an Indian agency. He married
in St. Charles County, Mo., Susan, daughter of Nathan and Olive (Van
Bibber) Boone. Nathan Boone was the son of the famous pioneer, hunter and
Indian fighter-Daniel Boone, of Kentucky-and who moved to Missouri in
1795-97 and settled in St. Charles County, having been preceded by his
son, Daniel. Morgan Boone came a few years previously. Nathan came in
1800, was born in Kentucky in 1781 and married there before be was
twenty-one years of age, and himself and wife became the parents of
thirteen children, twelve of whom lived to be married men and women:
James, Jeremiah, Delinda, Susan, Olive, Nancy, Benjamin H., John C.,
Levica, Melcena, Mary, Sarah and Mahala. Mr. Boone resided on his farm in
St. Charles County until 1834. He was a captain in the Dragoon service of
the United States Army and stationed at Ft. Leavenworth for many years. He
was engaged in the early Indian troubles, and resigned when he became an
aged man, being lieutenant colonel at the time. In 1834 he moved to Greene
County and settled on land near Ash Grove which he purchased of the
Government, several hundred acres, and here he passed the remainder of his
days, an honored citizen, and reached the age of seventy-five years. After
marriage Joseph Van Bibber lived at Liberty. until 1832, when he went to
Arkansas and settled in Randolph County, in the wilderness, and was one of
the first settlers in that county, and was one of the surveyors who laid
out the town of Pocahontas, the county seat of that county, and here he
died at the age of forty-two years, and his wife died a few years
previously. They were the parents of four children who lived to grow up:
Letitia, James D., Sarah and Emulus C. James D., son of above and our
subject, was born May 3rd, 1828, at Liberty, Clay County, Mo., and was
left an orphan at about thirteen years of age, after which he lived with
his grandfather, Col. Nathan Boone, at Ash Grove, until between fifteen
and sixteen years of age, when he began to work out for himself. He worked
and paid his tuition at a subscription school, and attended school at
Springfield two terms and thus gained a common education and began life as
a clerk at Cave Springs. He married in 1854, at twenty-six years of age.
He engaged in the mercantile business at Cave Springs, Mo., in which be
continued until the Civil War broke out. He then exchanged his stock of
goods for land near Cave Springs, and continued purchasing until he owned
about 700 acres, and lived on this land until 1862 when he came to
Springfield and engaged in the mercantile business and continued in this
business until the close of the war. In 1874 he was elected clerk of the
county court and held this office twelve years with general satisfaction,
being elected three times. Politically he is a Democrat. He owned a farm
north of Springfield adjoining the city limits and sold it in 1887 and
bought 243 acres upon which he built a commodious residence He married
Caroline Staley, daughter of Alfred and Lucinda (Brown) Staley. Alfred
Staley was from North Carolina and settled in Missouri in 1846 in Greene
County. In 1848 he went into the mercantile business at Cave Springs,
where he was a prominent merchant until his death in 1853. To Mr. And Mrs.
Van Bibber were born two children: Alfred H. and Laura B. Socially, Mr.
Van Bibber is a Mason, member of the O'Sullivan Lodge, No. 7, of Walnut
Grove, and held the office of secretary three years. He is a mail of high
Christian and moral character as his long services as a county official
attests his honesty of character and its general appreciation by the
people.




DR. WILLIAM C. WADLOW. There is probably not a physician and surgeon in
Greene County, Mo., who is known more widely or who enjoys a more extended
practice than that which is given to the subject of this sketch; and that
he deserves the good fortune that has attended his efforts is
indisputable, for he is not only honest, reliable and intelligent, but is
sympathetic, yet cheerful in the sick room and possesses the happy faculty
of winning the confidence and liking of his patients, which has much to do
with their restoration to health. He was born in what is now Murray
Township, Greene County, Mo. In 1842, 8 son of Charles and Margaret
(Brown) Wadlow who were born in Blount County, Tenn., in 1804 and Western
Virginia in 1808 respectively. Soon after their marriage they removed from
Tennessee to Illinois, where they lived about a year, then came to Greene
County, Mo., by ox team and located on a tract of wild land on Grand
Prairie near where the town of Willard now is. Later they removed to
Wittenburg Prairie where the father died February 25, 1863, his widow
surviving him until December 5, 1875, when she was called from life at Ash
Grove. They were for many years members of the Methodist Church. Mr.
Wadlow was a successful farmer and blacksmith, was a man of moderate
education, though possessed of excellent natural judgment, and was a
Democrat of the Jacksonian type. During the Civil War he was a stanch
Union man. His brothers were: William, who died in Reynolds County, Mo.;
Elijah, who died in Reynolds County; Wesley, who died in Greene County at
the age of ninety-three years, was in one of the early Indian wars of that
section, and was Assessor of Greene County when it covered nearly all of
southwest Missouri; David died in McDonald County, and like his brothers
was a farmer. Two of the sisters died in Tennessee and another went to
Texas. Their father lived and died in Tennessee, having been a soldier in
the War of 1812. His father was a Scotchman. The parents of Margaret
(Brown) Wadlow were of Irish descent, and it is supposed that they died in
Virginia. . She was the only one of the family to come to Greene County.
Dr. Wadlow is one of the following family: John W. was a farmer and died
in 1862, leaving a widow ; Gabriel died in infancy in 1841; Margaret died
in 1840; James M., died in December, 1889, having served in Company E.,
Forty-sixth Missouri Infantry, receiving his discharge March 25, 1865 (he
left a widow and three children); Mary A., wife of James Carson, of Texas,
and Elijah Gay, of Springfield. On his father's farm Dr. Wadlow spent his
youthful days, and owing to the newness of the country at that time and
the consequent scarcity of schools, his total amount of schooling only
amounted to about eight months. At the age of eighteen years he began
farming for himself, and on the 21st of October, 1860, he was united in
marriage to Susan E., the daughter of Ronny and Mary Julian, who came to
this section from Tennessee when it was new and unsettled. The father died
at Cave Springs in 1872, having previously lived a few years in Jasper
County, where Mrs. Julian died some years ago. After her death Mr. Julian
married Mrs. Lusina Staley. Mrs. Wadlow is one of the six children born to
her parents: John T., of Kansas; Sarah C., wife of Calvin J. Speen, of
Kansas; Susan E. (Mrs. Wadlow); Elizabeth, the wife of J. F.
Killingsworth, of Greene County; Caroline, wife of Clayton Smith of the
Indian Territory, and Wilson G., of the same place. Mrs. Wadlow is the
mother of six children: Charles E., a druggist of Anthony, Kan.; Margaret
E., wife of J. R. Vestal, of Walnut Grove; Mary S., wife of Richard
Whitlock, of Cass Township ; James G., of Cave Springs; Lillian, wife of
George C. Watson, and Nora. In April, 1861, Mr. Wadlow joined Capt.
McElhannons company and for three months was under Gen. Lyon and was in
the reserve during the Wilson's Creek fight. He then joined the
Seventy-second Missouri Militia and served about ten months in southwest
Missouri after which be was transferred to the Seventy-fourth Missouri
Cavalry. This service did not agree with his health and at the end of six
months he was honorably discharged from the service. His patriotic spirit
would not allow him to long remain inactive, however, and in 1864 he left
the business in which be had engaged and joined Company E, of the
Forty-sixth Missouri Infantry, with which be served until the war closed,
and was commissioned by Gov. Fletcher, of Company D, First Greene County
Regiment, September 12, 1865 (said Company D being never called into
service), receiving his final discharge March, 1865, from the United
States service. From that time until 1875 he followed the occupation of
farming in Greene County, except the year of 1873 when be was in Cedar
County. He had for some time given considerable study to the profession of
medicine, and in 1878 and 1879 he attended the Missouri Medical College
and has since practiced at Cave Springs where he has sufficient practice
to keep him constantly busy. In 1871-72 he was deputy sheriff of Greene
County, and from 1867 he served four years as public administrator of the
County. He is now a justice of the peace. He is commander of George Lang
Post No. 403 at Cave Springs, and is a prominent member of St. Nicholas
Lodge, No. 435 of the A. F. & A. M. His wife is a member of the Christian
Church.




JUDGE W. I. WALLACE. Biography should be written for the sake of its
lessons; that men everywhere may place themselves in contact with facts
and affairs, and build themselves up to and into a life of excellence,
where they may keep and augment their individuality. For this reason a
sketch of Judge W. I. Wallace is here given, his career having been both
honorable and useful. He was born in the Green Mountains, Franklin County,
Mass., December 25, 1840, his parents being Zebina and Lucinda (French)
Wallace, who were of Scotch-Irish lineage. The Wallaces traces their
genealogical ancestry back to the earliest colonists immigrating to
Massachusetts. The paternal grandfather, Seth Wallace, was born in that
State, but became an early settler of the Empire State, where-he followed
the occupation of farming, a calling which received the attention of most
of the members of his family. He had fought his country's battles as a
soldier of the Revolution, during which time he was -noted for his bravery
and faithfulness to the Colonial cause. Zebina Wallace resided in Vermont
until 1859, then moved to Dane County, Wis., where he became the owner and
resided on a farm near Madison until his death, which occured in 1881. He
learned the trade of tanning in his youth, but his last days were spent on
a farm. His mother died in 1883, having borne her husband nine sons,,
seven of whom are living: William, Christopher, Dewitt C., Jonathan C.,
Francis B., Washington I. and Joseph W. One remarkable fact in connection
with this family is that on the father's side the grandfather and father
died at the age of eighty-five years, and on the mother's side the
grandparents died at the age of eighty-five and eighty-four years
respectively. Judge Wallace spent the first fifteen years of his life in
his native county, then removed with his parents to Wisconsin, in which
State his literary education was acquired. Being desirous of fitting
himself for a professional life he choose the law course, for which he
seemed to have a natural aptitude and a decided inclination, and for the
purpose of fitting himself for this career he entered the Law Department
of the Univerity of Michigan at Ann Arbor, from which he graduated in
1866, having two years previously graduated from the University of
Wisconsin. After finishing his law course he came directly to Lebanon,
Mo., where he entered into partnership with A. D. Groesbeck, a leading
attorney and a very estimable gentleman, which firm continued as Groesbeck
& Wallace until Mr. Groesbeck's death, which occured in 1870. Since that
date Mr. Wallace has continued the practice alone and his unusual ability
has won for him a large practice and much prominence. He has always been a
man of quick perception, one of those who speak out boldly from
conviction, and while a practitioner he commanded the respect of the court
and his arguments carried convincing weight. In 1868 he was elected
prosecuting attorney, serving until 1870, and six years latter he was
elected a member of the State Senate, in which he served faithfully four
years. In 1884 he was elected to the position of circuit judge (his
circuit comprising seven counties) and to this position he was re-elected
two years later, and has since held it by re-election. He has held several
other offices; of trust, and has filled all in an honorable and
satisfactory manner. His long career on the bench has been marked by the
utmost judicial ability, the soundest of judgment, impartial fairness and
a correct judgment of men and motives, and to the honorable position which
he fills he has added lustre and honor. In 1863 he enlisted in Company D,
Fortieth Wisconsin Infantry, and served until the regiment was mustered
out, and although he was offered an officer's position he declined to
accept. He participated in many severe skirmishes, and was a brave and
gallant soldier. He was married in 1876 to Miss Louisa Groesbeck, by whom
he has one child, Clara. Judge Wallace and his wife are members of the
Congregational Church, and he is also a member of the Masonic Fraternity,
in which he has passed all the degrees.




MAJOR WILLIAM WARNER. This gentleman is one of the self-made men of this
country and is an attorney of distinguished ability before the Missouri
bar. He owes his nativity to Lafayette County, Wis., where he was born
June 11, 1839, the youngest of six children, whose parents died young,
leaving their little brood of children with no sustenance, and only an
honest name and that spirit of independence which has made the subject of
this sketch one of the most influential and honored citizens of the State.
Since the tender age of six years he has fought the battle of life for
himself, his struggles with poverty and adversity being constant and
bitter for many years, and with the pluck which has ever characterized his
career, he surmounted the difficulties over which so many have stumbled
and fallen. Until he was ten years old he worked at anything he could get
to do, but at that age he entered a country store as clerk, where he
remained five years. During this time be saved enough money to pay his
expenses for two years in college, where his bright intellect, great
energy and industry placed him at the bead of his classmates. Succeeding
this be taught school for two years, and at the same time read law and
prepared himself, by devoted application, for his, present profession.
When the Civil War opened, he offered his services to his country,
entering the service in 1862 as first lieutenant, after which be was
appointed adjutant of the Thirty-third Wisconsin Volunteers. In 1863 he
was promoted to captaincy, and in 1864 was made assistant
adjutant-general, receiving the rank of major in 1865. He was in active
service in the western department during the entire conflict, being on
staff duty the most of the time. He was no knight of the carpet, but a
soldier in heart as well as in uniform, was prompt to obey all orders and
courageous and undaunted in action. In October, 1865, he located in Kansas
City, Mo., where he at once opened a law office and in the spring of 1867
he was elected city attorney and the following year was chosen circuit
attorney, a position he resigned after holding it for two years. In 1871
he was elected mayor of Kansas City by a majority of nearly four hundred
votes, and that he was the only successful candidate spoke well for his
popularity and influence. He has since been offered this position again
and again but has always firmly declined to fill it, for his practice
occupied fully his time and attention and left no room for the discharge
of civic duties. He is one of the most influential members of the
Republican party in the State and as a stump speaker he has few superiors
in the West, for his commanding presence, his forcible and logical
eloquence and his well-rounded and thoughtful sentences hold the deep
attention of the masses. He has ever been strong in argument, rich in
humor and his sarcasm is keen and cutting. He is a politician of the
progressive school and is ever ready to vote for the man, irrespective of
party, when the good of his section demands it. In 1875-6 he supported a
Democrat for the office of mayor. To him much credit is due in the
prosperity of Kansas City, for he assisted in preparing its charter, his
care and legal foresight helping to frame the laws that now give to this
magnificent city the best government in the West. In his profession he has
a standing which any lawyer might covet, and as a pleader he has few
superiors, the thoroughness and intelligence with which he takes up a case
seeming to inspire confidence in all. His life has been a most interesting
one, but the dark days of his early trials were brightened by hopes of the
future, and his many trials forgotten in the determination to make a name
and fortune for himself. He has always been liberal in his religious
views, and believes that every one has the right to worship God according
to the dictates of conscience, and with unusual generosity he respects the
honest opinions of others and believes that every intelligent human being
has the right to think for himself He is of medium height, dark
complexioned and heavily built, showing vigor, life and resolution in
every movement. In 1866 he was; united in marriage with Mrs. Sophia A.
Bromley, a sister of T. B. Bullene, a lady whose many domestic and social
virtues have made his home an exceptionally happy one. They have three
children: John Bullene, born August 17, 1867; Cora Eva, born April 18,
1869, and Nellie Merrill, born October 14, 1871. Major Warner has been
Grand Commander of the Grand Army of the Republic.




D. S. WATTS, M. D., has been a close student of his profession, and in his
mission of "healing the sick" his generous treatment of his patients, his
liberality and kindness of heart, have won for him not the respect alone,
but the earnest regard of the large clientele which he has gathered around
him, and like many other family physicians he has become, in many cases,
the family adviser in matters of business and affairs other than of a
professional nature. He is a product of the county in which he now lives,
his birth occurring on March 21, 1846, his father, James Watts, having
been born in Tennessee. He came to Greene County, Mo., in 1835, and became
the owner of a farm near the James River, and on this place be resided
until his death, which occurred in 1876. He did not take part in the Civil
War, owing to the fact that he was too advanced in years. His father, John
Watts, was of Irish descent, and his great-grandfather was an active
soldier of the Revolution. James Watts was united in marriage to Miss
Delilah Taber, a native of Kentucky, a member of an old, and prominent
family of that State. She survives her husband and resides in Webster
County. She bore her husband fourteen children, whose names are as
follows: William H., who was killed in a battle near Salem, Ark., at the
age of thirty years, at which time he was a member of the Sixth Missouri
Cavalry, Company A, under Col. Wright; John J. is living in Webster
County, was a member of the Sixth Missouri Cavalry, and is now a man of
family; Thomas J. has been a practicing physician of Greene County since
1861, and is a man of family; James M. is a farmer in Webster County, is
married and has a family, and during the Civil War served in the Sixth
Missouri Cavalry until the close of hostilities; Isaac N., who died at the
age of about twenty-one years a short time after receiving an honorable
discharge from the Sixth Missouri Cavalry during the Civil War; Rebecca is
the wife of James M. Smith, a farmer of Greene County; Mollie T. died in
early girlhood; David S.; Delilah E., who married L. C. Sams, now of
Clinton, Henry County, Mo.; Robert S. is a farmer of Webster County and a
man of family; George W. is a farmer of that county also, and is a man of
family; Andrew J. has been a practicing physician of Webster County since
1876, is married and has a family; Mattie A. is the wife of Dr. W. J.
Rabenaw, of Everton, Dade County, Mo., and Rachel A., who is the wife of
Hiram Jennings, a merchant and farmer of Webster County. The father and
mother were members of the Presbyterian Church, and politically the father
was a Republican and took an active part in all matters of public
interest. He was very highly regarded in the community in which he lived
and had numerous warm personal friends, whom his kindness of heart and
numerous noble traits of character gathered about him. His widow survives
him and lives in Webster County. In that county Dr. D. S. Watts spent his
early life, his initiatory training being received in the district schools
near home. In 1868, with T. J. Watts, he entered the study of medicine,
after which time he entered the Missouri Medical College, from which
institution he was graduated in 1870, from which time until 1884 he
successfully practiced his profession in Webster County, at the last
mentioned date moving to Ash Grove, where his time is fully occupied with
the large clientage which his undoubted knowledge of his profession and
his kind and sympathetic manner has gathered about him. He is a
well-posted man on the current events of the day and is exceptionally well
up in medical lore, making a point of keeping in constant touch with the
advance made in all branches of the profession. He is a member of the
southwest Missouri Medical Association, the State Medical Society, and
belongs to Ash Grove Lodge, No. 422, of the I. O. O. F. He has ever
supported the principles of the Republican party and has attended many
county conventions. He has aided by influence and means any enterprise for
the improvement of Ash Grove, and all enterprises that have for their
object the good of the human race receive his utmost sympathy and hearty
support. In addition to looking after his large practice be is engaged in
the drug business on Main Street, which is conducted in first-class style
and is thriving. In a business way, as well as professionally, the Doctor
has been successful, and be is the owner of a considerable amount of real
estate in Ash Grove. He was united in marriage to Miss Lovisa E. Lamb, of
Greene County, daughter of James Lamb, and by her has two living children
and two that are deceased: Nellie M., who graduated from a college of
Columbia in 1892; Minnie M., who is now fifteen years of age and is still
in school, and Lillie D. and Sadie E. deceased. The Doctor and his family
have a handsome home on Main Street and move in the highest social circles
of the place, regularly attending the Baptist Church, of which Mrs. Watts
is a conscientious member.




EDWARD L. WEAVER is one of the honored and respected business men of
Springfield and the son of one of Greene County's most prominent
pioneers-Maj. Joseph Weaver. The Weaver family is of French stock and is
believed to be an old American Colonial family. Joseph Weaver, father of
our subject, was a soldier from Georgia in the War of 1812 and held the
office of major. He married in Tennessee, near Nashville, February 22,
1821, Judith May. They became the parents of ____ children. Louisana (born
June 25, 1823, and married Charles A. Hayden), Martha A. (born March 15,
1824), Joseph J. (born March 1, 1828), Ripley (born October 9, 1829), all
the above born in Tennessee. Emmalet, born April 23, 1831, in Greene
County, Mo., where the following children were born: Thomas J. (born,
February 1, 1833), Felix B. (born February 10, 1836), Edward L. (born
February 21, 1837), Mary (born July 12, 1838), Josephine (born March
19,1840), Ann Eliza (born March 12, 1842), Napoleana (born March 2, 1849),
Judith (born May 31, 1851). Maj. Joseph Weaver was a man of property and a
slave owner, the record of the birth of his slaves dating back to 1806.
His old family Bible, still in the possession of our subject, and
published in Massachusetts in 1830, and purchased by Maj. Weaver the same
year, has written on its fly leaf, in Maj. Weaver's own handwriting, the
following inscription: "Joseph Weaver came to Greene County, Mo., in
March, 1830." He brought with him his family and his slaves. He first
stopped at Delaware, Indian town, on the James River, and soon settled
southwest of Springfield, two miles. He became the owner of a large tract
of land, over 500 acres, and twenty-four slaves. He was one of the
commissioners appointed by the Government to remove the Delaware Indians
from Greene County to the Indian Territory. He was the first
representative to the State Legislature from Greene County. This was the
winter of 1833. He was afterward a member of the State Senate. He was one
of the organizers of Greene County and a prominent citizen. He was a stock
raiser and farmer and at one time a merchant. In politics Democratic. He
was a member of the Christian Church and a leader in its affairs. He died
September 2, 1852, leaving a handsome property to his children. His
homestead was three miles northwest of Springfield, where he lived many
years. Maj. Weaver was a man of great force of, character, well known in
Greene County for his integrity and ability. His son, Joseph John, was
Mayor of Springfield two terms. Ripley, now of Boone County, Ark., has
been a member of the Legislature and Senate of that State, and acted as
Lieutenant Governor of the State, and is now a World's Fair commissioner.
Maj. Weaver was a kind hearted and indulgent master to his servants. An
instance is related of his buying, a negro slave who had run away and was
hiding in the brush. His name was Irving, and after the purchase he came
to Maj. Weaver and said: "Marsa Joe! I understand you have bought me."
"Yes;! Irving," replied Maj. Weaver. "All right, marsa! what do you want
me to do?" he said, cheerfully, and went readily to work and gave no
trouble to his new master, who well understood bow to treat his servants
so that they were happy and contented. The following is Maj. Weaver's
record from his family Bible of his favorite household servants, which we
copy as a matter of historical interest: "Sitty was borned the 26th Sep.,
1806. The following are her children: Tempy, borned 27th Sep., 1823;
Ruthie. borned 17th July, 1825; Peter, borned July 14tb, 1827; Simon,
borned Dec. 28tb, 1831; George, borned Dec. 25th, 1838; John, borned June
22d, 1836; Andy, borned 1838." Aunt Sitty was the favorite housekeeper for
many years. She was a woman of excellent character and held in high esteem
by Maj. Weaver and his family. On the division of the estate she fell to
Edward L. Weaver, our subject, who relieved her from work as she was old,
and saw that she was kindly cared for until her death. Aunt Sitty's
daughters-Tempy and Ruthie-were the housemaids after they were large
enough, while Aunt Sitty, in the good old days, was the boss of the
kitchen, where she reigned supreme. Her son, Peter, became a preacher of
prominence to the colored race. Edward L. Weaver, son of above and our
subject, was born in Greene County, February 21, 1837, on his father's
farm, one and one-half miles west of Springfield, on Wilson's Creek. He
had the common education of his day in the old subscription school. At the
age of sixteen years he became a clerk for Farrier & Weaver, general
merchants, they being members of his family. He clerked for them three
years while attending school, then clerked for Shepard & Kimbro, general
merchants, until 1858, when he crossed the plains to California with his
brothers, Thomas and Felix, driving 500 head of cattle. The trip was made
safely and the cattle disposed of and the return trip made in December,
1859. He then went into partnership with Shepard & Kimbro in 1860. They
carried a large stock of goods in Springfield and erected a large store at
Ash Grove, now known as "Bentley Store House." They also built the hotel
facing the depot and a blacksmith shop and other buildings. They bought
forty acres of land, laid out Ash Grove and founded the town; this was
long before the railroad was surveyed through. The firm sold off town lots
and soon had a prosperous village founded. When the war broke out the firm
was doing a large trade and they were prosperous merchants. When the Union
troops, under Gen. Lyon, came to Springfield, they took large amounts of
goods and gave vouchers on the United States, and as Mr. Shepard was a
Union man he afterward collected it. After the battle of Wilson's Creek,
the Confederates came into Springfield. They were destitute and took
everything in the store, for which the firm received Confederate money,
which became worthless. The store at Ash Grove was maintained until the
redoubtable Jim Lane came with his celebrated band of Kansas "Jay Hawkers"
to Springfield, and on his return to Kansas he passed Ash Grove, sacked
the store and took away a large stock of dry goods, groceries, and every
thing they could carry. Not being contented with what they could carry
away, they found a heavy stock of feathers on the second floor, and out of
pure mischief they brought them to the lower floor, cut open the sacks and
strew them counter deep throughout the large store which was 6Ox2O feet.
They could only carry away a part of the large stock of molasses on hand
and they poured the remainder over the feathers, making a horrible mess.
They took along with them, also, all the negroes from the neighboring
farms, as they rode along, whom they could induce to accompany them. Jim
Lane was a sharp, shrewd man, and had plenty of information about the
people from the turncoat Missourians who accompanied him and who were well
posted. W. B. Farmer was accused either justly or unjustly (the historian
has no vouchers) of being "on the fence," or siding, as it might be to his
advantage, with either Federals or Confederates. Of this, Lane was well.
informed, and as the grim leader rode along at the head of his hardy
partisans and came opposite the house, which was near the road, he halted,
saluted Mr. Farmer politely, and with much affability inquired about his
family and slaves. After a short talk, seeing some slaves about, he told
them to hitch up one of the teams and come along, and took Mr. Farmer's
negroes away before his very face. The war closing, found our subject
ruined financially and he was obliged to begin life again with nothing to
aid him except his hands, a stanch purpose and his faithful wife, who was
unaccustomed to labor in any form, her father being a wealthy Southern
man. Mr. Weaver engaged in the stock business in which he prospered, and
then in the mercantile business, in which he continued until 1879, since
which time he has been engaged in stock dealing. In politics he has always
been a stanch Democrat, but has taken no interest in holding office,
although frequently solicited to do so. On February 21, 1861, he married
Eliza E., daughter of Nicholas B. and Harriet (Goodwin) Smith, and to Mr.
and Mrs. Weaver were born two children: Edward S. and Clara M., both of
whom were well educated in the Springfield schools. Edward S. is a clerk
in a mercantile establishment in Springfield and is a young man of
business ability. Clara M. is a young lady at home. She possesses artistic
talent of a high order and has many beautiful and well executed paintings,
the result of her skill with the brush. Mrs. Weaver is a devout member of
the Christian Church and believes in the practical work of a Christian.
There are many instances which illustrate her benevolence of character and
charitable disposition. She has never refused efficient aid to the needy,
and in many cases she has bountifully assisted the suffering poor. She
descends, on her mother's side, from the Goodwins, a Colonial Virginia
family of wealth and distinction, settled near Petersburg, Va. It is said
that her grandfather Goodwin, owning 500 negro slaves, and finding he had
no use for half of them, and not wishing to sell them, set 250 of them
free, and they soon after returned to their kind master, tired of freedom.
Gen. Nicholas Smith, her father, was born in Virginia and married there,
and came to Greene County. He was a man of wealth and one of the largest
slave holders in Springfield. He was extensively engaged in farming and
was one of the early hotel keepers. He was receiver in the United States
land office at an early day when there was a great deal of business
transacted. He was a general in the old Missouri State Militia and was at
one time United States Commissioner of swamp lands in Missouri. In
religious opinion he was a Methodist. Politically Democratic, he lived to
the age of fifty-five years and died in 1858. Gen. Smith was one of the
early citizens of Springfield. He was highly respected and beloved by all
who know him. He was prominent in the first Masonic Lodge of Springfield.
He left an estate of over $100,000. Genial and pleasant in his address, he
was a man of large and full habits. Mrs. Weaver has her mother's piano,
which must be now, probably, over seventy-five years old. It was among the
first pianos made in the United States. The inscription is, "New Patent S.
& A. W. Geib, N. Y." It was brought by Gen. Smith in a wagon all the way
from Virginia, and is the first piano ever brought to southwest Missouri.
It was given to Mrs. Smith when she was Miss Harriet Virginia Goodwin,
when she was sixteen years of age, by Gen. Winfield Scott, who was a
relative, on her graduation from a young ladies seminary in North
Carolina. Mrs. Smith used to play on the piano to the Delaware Indians in
this county, much to their astonishment and delight. Mr. Edward L. Weaver
is one of those citizens of Springfield who bears an untarnished name. He
has always been a man well known for his integrity of character and as one
of our substantial men who is well known for his acts of kindness.




MRS. JANE E. WEAVER. It is thirty-two years since the tocsin of the great
Civil War sounded over the States of the American Union, and it now
requires the reminiscences of persons in middle life to give a realistic
view of the good old pioneer days before the Civil Way, when the Southern
land holder, an aristocrat by nature and frequently by birth, ruled in his
easy way, his indolent and good natured colored servants or, as we plainly
call them today, his slaves. In those good old times Springfield was but a
small village, but there were several families of wealth mostly from
Tennessee. They lived a comfortable and happy life, free from the
restraints of modern society, but still enjoying a society not
uncultivated and with the flavor of old-fashioned hospitality, a
reminiscence of which extends to our day. Among those southern gentlemen,
lived on his landed estates, surrounded by his family and slaves, the
father of the subject of this sketch, Dr. Gabriel P. Shackelford, one of
the pioneer physicians of Springfield. Dr. Shackelford was born in
northern Virginia February, 1807. His grandfather war, an Irish nobleman
who fled from Ireland in troublesome times, and sought shelter with his
family in North Carolina, afterward removing to northern Virginia. James
Shackelford, father of the Doctor, was also born in Ireland and came with
his parents to America. He fought his hated enemy, the English, in our
second war with that nation --1812. He married Elizabeth Noble, of Scotch
descent, and they were the parents of five children, who lived to be
married men and women: Lucy, Elizabeth, Mary, Gabriel and William. Mr.
Shackelford and wife moved to Wayne County, Ky., where they both died. He
was a wealthy landowner and farmer, and a man of prominence in his day.
Dr. Shackelford, son of above and father of our subject, left the paternal
roof at the early age of fourteen years on account of his repugnance to
the study of divinity which his father earnestly wished him to pursue. He
went to Kentucky and worked in Frankfort and Richmond in that State as a
drug clerk. He resolutely made his own way, and wishing to improve his
education he attended school at Frankfort and afterward entered a medical
college at Nashville, Tenn., from which he graduated with honors when
quite young, and attended to hospital practice in Nashville. Ho then
settled at Knoxville, Tenn., where he practiced his profession several
years. Here he married Eliza Cloud and they became the parents of two
sons, William and Benjamin. Here his wife died and in May, 1838, Dr.
Shackelford came to Springfield. Dr. Shackelford was followed to
Springfield the same fall by his brother, Dr. William P., who brought his
wife, nee Martha A. Taylor, and four children, all daughters. He was born
in Wayne County, Ky., and received his medical education at Lexington,
that State. He practiced his profession in Springfield until 1844, when he
died. His daughters married prominent men of Springfield except one who
married and settled in Denver. His widow married Major Joseph Weaver, and
after his death she married John Wood. She is yet living at the age of
seventy years. She is a woman of intelligence and accurate memory, and to
her we are entitled for the correctness of the early part of this sketch.
When Dr. Shackelford came to Springfield he brought his two sons and some
slaves and settled down to the practice of medicine. He invested money in
land. In May, 1841, be married Jane Younger, daughter of Judge Alexander
Younger, a prominent pioneer of Greene County. To Dr. and Mrs. Shackelford
were born seven children: Mary, Jane, Gabriella, Lucy and Elizabeth and
two who died young. Dr. Shackelford practiced medicine among the pioneers,
among whom he was highly respected until an aged man, many of them
clinging to him as a physician for years after he had retired from active
practice. From his practice as a physician and his business enterprises
and farm he became a wealthy man, owning over 1,000 acres in Greene County
and increasing his slaves to thirty. He owned and carried on a large, farm
which is now covered by the eastern part of Springfield, and prospered in
this undertaking. He engaged in the, general mercantile business which he
conducted successfully for many years, and on retiring turned over this
business to his son, William. Besides these varied enterprises the Doctor
was an extensive stock raiser, trader and shipper, and interested in
banking and financial enterprises, and was well known as Springfield's
prominent business man. He was one of the charter members of the first
Masonic lodge in Springfield, in which he held important offices. In
politics he was all old line Whig, but his own affairs occupying his
entire time and attention he would accept no office, although frequently
urged to do so. The Doctor being a slave owner and southern man by birth
and education naturally sympathized with the South, and as the war clouds
thickened was outspoken in his advocacy of southern rights and principles.
He believed it unsafe for him to remain in Springfield with his slaves
during the war and like many others in this part of the country, after the
battle of Wilson's Creek he sought an asylum in the Southwest. Directly
after the battle he converted his residence into a hospital for the
wounded soldiers, and himself, family and servants cared, for and nursed
the wounded. In October of the same year he went to Arkansas, taking his
two daughters, Mary and Gabriella, and all the servants except two who
were left behind to wait upon his wife and three daughters, Jane, Lucy and
Elizabeth, who were under the protection of his son Benjamin, and who were
to follow under his escort, he then being a young man of twenty-two years
of age who had seen service in the Confederate army. The Doctor arrived
safely and settled temporarily at Fort Smith, Ark. Mrs. Shackelford and
her daughters remained quietly at their home in Springfield until Gen.
Price evacuated the city in February, being hotly pressed by Gen. S. R.
Curtis, who by successive skirmishes drove them as far as Cave Creek on
February 25. Mrs. Shackelford, being alarmed at the approach of the Union
troops the night after one of the maneuvers against Springfield, under the
escort of her stepson, Benjamin, hastily gathering a few necessary
effects, left the city in a close carriage drawn by two large horses and
under an armed guard in the advance of Price's army. She was accompanied
in her flight by her three daughters and two colored servants, a woman and
a man, and was under the protection of Gen. Price who was a personal
friend of Dr. Shackelford. The second night after leaving Springfield,
Mrs. Shackelford was, taken with a severe chill which rapidly developed
into typhoid pneumonia. The party had stopped for supper near the Elk Horn
Ark., battlefield and anticipated a short rest, when Col. George Jones,
now of the First National Bank of Springfield, and then with Price's army,
galloped up on his horse and calling Benjamin Shackelford aside said:
"Ben, they are fighting right behind us; you will have no time to rest.
You must hitch up and go on." And rather than face the danger of falling
in the rear, the sick woman and her children were driven all through the
night and far into the next afternoon before stopping. The weather was
severely cold, being midwinter and the streams were partly frozen. The
crossings of the streams were difficult to make and the hardy soldiers
would sieze the carriage and carry it bodily across. These southern
patriots were scantily clothed in homespun, much the worse for wear and
many of them had no shoes to protect their half-frozen feet. Still they
made no complaint but bravely marched on their way, many of them to a
sudden death on the battlefield of Pea Ridge, which was their destination
and was fought a few days later. These men were inspired with the same
sort of courage and devotion which hardened the bodies of Washington's
soldiers who, with frozen feet, left bloodstains on the snow, the famous
winter at Valley Forge. They were doubtless mistaken but sincere. The
rattle of musketry and the roar of artillery sounded ominously in the rear
throughout nearly the entire distance of the march, and neither Mrs.
Shackelford's traveling party nor the army halted for much rest for four
days. From constant exposure and rapid traveling over terribly rough
roads, she became rapidly worse and finding themselves not able to keep up
with the army they were obliged to halt at a small place in Arkansas at
the foot of the Boston Mountains. Here they were not able to obtain
medical attendance and only the rude shelter of a settler's cabin made
hardly comfortable by the effects which they had brought with them. Amid
these dismal surroundings Mrs. Shackelford died, surrounded by her three
daughters, her stepson and negro nurse, and these familiar faces were the
only solace in those dark hours. Dr. Shackelford arrived from Fort Smith
the day after the death of his wife, having been informed by Col. Jones
who had obtained a leave of absence for the purpose. John M. Wood, of this
county, the father of the Springfield merchant of the same name, was
present, and being a skillful merchant made the plain coffin which
contained the remains. He also read a simple burial service, well chosen
from the Bible, and soon after the sorrowful party took up its line of
march for Fort Smith where they arrived in safety. Our subject was then -a
young lady only eighteen years of age, but endured the intense excitement,
hardships and sorrow with fortitude. Dr. Shackelford was afterward present
after the battle of Pea Ridge as a volunteer surgeon and here exposed
himself and contracted a lung trouble which finally caused his death. Dr.
Shackelford settled on lands in Navarro County, Tex., which the Doctor had
inherited from his wife. Her father, Judge Younger, owning 5,000 acres in
that county, and fifty negroes. In 1862 he sent his family to Texas, and
remained himself at the headquarters of Price's army until March, 1863,
when he joined his family and died April 1, the same year, aged
fifty-seven. His son, Benjamin, badly wounded in one of his legs in the
battle of Iuka, rode a horse that long distance and arrived home just
before the death of his father. 'He was a cripple for life. The family
remained in Texas seven years, some of them married and settled there
permanently and are among the prominent people of that State. Here our
subject married October 8, 1867, Thomas J. Weaver (born in Springfield
February 1, 1832), and was the son of Maj. Joseph Weaver, a soldier in the
War of 1812, who was born in Kentucky and married Judith May, and to them
were born ____children: Joseph, Edward L., Felix, Louisana, Jane, Mary,
Josie Emma and others. Maj. Weaver was a man of wealth and a slave owner.
He came to Greene County in 1830 and settled west of Springfield, two
miles. He was a merchant of Springfield at one time. He was a member of
the State Legislature, a member of the Christian Church and a prominent
man in Greene County. The Weavers were a prominent pioneer family of
Greene County. His sister Emelette, -next older, was the first white child
born in Greene County, She married Daniel Fullbright. Thomas J. Weaver
received a good common education, and was a stock buyer and shipper and a
prosperous business man. In 1861 be enlisted in Capt. Dick Campbell's
company which was enrolled in Springfield for the Confederate service. He
was in the battles of Wilson's Creek, Pea Ridge, Iuka, and all the battles
and raids of Gen. Sterling Price, and surrendered with that army at
Shreveport, La. He was promoted to Major when Capt. Campbell was promoted
to colonel, and was his personal friend. He endured all the hardships and
vicissitudes of the life of a Confederate soldier in Price's raids, as he
served with that army throughout the war. After the war he married in
Texas and returned to Springfield with his family in 1870 and engaged in
the stock-raising business, in which he prospered. In politics he was a
stanch Democrat. He was a member of the Texas lodge of Masons. To Mr. and
Mrs. Weaver were born five children: Ida M., Shackelford, Joseph B.,
Campbell and Thomas R. Mr. Weaver died in 1880, aged forty-six years. He
had accumulated, by economy and thrift, a comfortable property. He was a
member of the Christian Church and a prominent business man of Springfield
of well known integrity of character. Mrs. Weaver is a member of the same
church. She well remembers the olden days before the war, when a young
girl in her father's house, she saw the prominent men of those days and
heard their discussions pro and con as to the coming of the great conflict
and to observe the manners and customs of those days and to take part in
the festivities. The night before the retreat of Price's army she attended
a ball given by the Confederate officers and danced with Gen. Sterling
Price, and afterward married an officer of his command. Mrs. Weaver is a
woman of high character and has brought up a respected family of children
to whom she has devoted all a mother's love and care. She now occupies an
honored place in the affections and respect of our old and best families.




MRS. M. G. WEAVER. The story of the pioneer families of Greene County
would be incomplete without the history of Ezekiel Madison Campbell and
Joseph John Weaver, the father and husband of Mrs. M. G. Weaver, the
subject of this sketch. They were honored and respected citizens of Greene
County. The Campbell family springs from sterling Scotch stock of the
famous highland clan of that name, celebrated in song and story and who
marched to the tune "The Campbells are coming" in all the noted border
frays of Scotland. Members of the family were among the very oldest
colonial settlers of Pennsylvania. They were sturdy Scotch Presbyterians
and were pioneers in the beautiful Wyoming Valley in Pennsylvania. At the
time of the fearful massacre of the settlers of this peaceful valley by
the Indians two young sons of a Campbell family were carried into
captivity by the Indians. One of them either escaped or was recaptured by
his friends. The other was held a captive until he was twenty-one years of
age, when he returned to his family. He proved to possess a very roving
disposition and finally settled in South Carolina. From him this branch of
the Campbell family descends. Traces of the family are still to be found
in the history of both the Carolinas as pioneers, soldiers and prominent
men, and it is known that they took a gallant part in their struggle for
independence in 1776. John Campbell, the Grandfather of the subject of
this sketch, is supposed to have been born in North Carolina. He married
in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, Matilda Polk. He was a soldier in
the War of 1812 and, it is believed, fell fighting the British with
Jackson, at the battle of New Orleans. The Polk family from whom Mrs.
Weaver descends through Matilda Polk, an aunt of James K. Polk, former
president of the United States, by her marriage with John Campbell, were
one of the oldest colonial families of the South, and distinguished as
gallant soldiers in the Revolutionary War, and have always been a family
of prominence and importance in Tennessee and other Southern States.
Ezekiel Polk and his brother William-who was the grandfather of Ezekiel M.
Campbell, when soldiers in the Revolutionary War, were captured by the
British, probably at the battle of Eutaw Springs, and confined on a prison
ship in Charleston Harbor. They were treated with great cruelty and
suffered extremely, William being so greatly reduced that his death was
imminent. The brothers were offered their liberty if thev would take an
oath of allegiance to the British crown--to save the life of William they
did so. William repudiated his oath and became a distinguished officer in
the Continental army and received a large grant of land in Maury County,
Tennessee. He was the ancestor of Bishop Leonidas Polk, of Tennessee, who
was killed at the battle of Chicamauga. Ezekiel became a British subject
and held his oath inviolate. He was the grandfather of James K. Polk and
the father of Matilda Polk who married John Campbell and who came a widow
to Greene County with her sons. She was a well-known pioneer. She was the
mother of E. M., John P., William, Junius, Samuel, Campbell and Mrs
Matilda (Campbell) Blackman- all of whom came to Greene County about the
same time. Ezekiel M. Campbell, son of John, the soldier of 1812, and
father of our subject, was born in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, and
went to Tennessee, when a young man and married there, Rebecca Adkins, and
they became the parents of ten children: William, John, Elijah, Orphelia,
Margaret, Matilda, Rebecca, James, Mary and Robert. This is the order of
their birth. In October, 1832, Mr. Campbell moved to Greene County, where
his brother, John P. Campbell, had settled the year before. Mrs. Weaver
was an infant of but three months old when her parents brought her to this
county, and thus nearly all of her life has been passed here. Mr. Campbell
first settled where Springfield now stands and after a few years he moved
to Polk County, M, where he settled on land and where he passed the
remainder of his days. Mr. Campbell was a man of property and a
slave-owner. He was a typical representative of our best Missouri
pioneers, of stalwart frame, and with a noble and dignified appearance.
His likeness, preserved to this day, shows him to have been a man of more
than ordinary brain power and intelligence. Mr. Campbell was a very devout
and prominent member of the Baptist Church, and was one of its main
supporters in southwest Missouri, and was always liberal with his means to
aid the preaching of the gospel. He was a man of high character and a
stanch adherent to honest principles. By birth and training he was a
strong southern man, and his sons, William, James and Robert, were all
Confederate soldiers. The latter died from exposure, during the war, and
was buried at Camden, Ark. Mrs. M. G. Weaver, our subject, was born in
Maury County, Tenn., July 9, 1832, and, as before related, was brought by
her parents to Greene County, when an infant of but three months old. She
received her education in Mrs. Peck's private school in Springfield. Her
parents recognizing the discipline of work, brought her up to be
industrious and she learned when young to be a skillful.housekeeper.
Throughout her life shehas found these lessons to be most valuable, as
they have enabled her to become on efficient and self reliant woman. On
November 18, 1852, at the home of her parents, in Polk County, she was
married to Joseph John Weaver-born March 1, 1828, in Maury County, Tenn.
He was the eldest son of Maj. Joseph Weaver, a soldier of the War of 1812,
and one of Greene Counties' best-known pioneers. Joseph J. Weaver had
received a good common-school education for his day and became a stock
dealer and farmer in which business he prospered. At the breaking out of
the war he was a clerk in the Greene County Bank of Springfield and was at
one time a prominent merchant. He was, in political opinions, a stanch
Democrat and was mayor of Springfield at one time, and was one of the
early members of the Masonic Fraternity in this city. He was a man of
prominence and was well known throughout Greene County for his integrity
of character and possessed the confidence and respect of the people. He
was prosperous in his undertakings and left a goodly property to his wife
and child. Mr. and Mrs. Weaver were the parents of one child, a daughter,
Judith Rebecca. She was well educated at_______ Seminary, of St. Louis,
Mo., and married Samuel Young, of Springfield. She died in December, 1885,
leaving, one daughter, Matilda. She was much lamented by her relatives and
friends. Mr. Weaver was a member of the Christian Church and was always
ready with his assistance. He died December, 1880. Mrs. Weaver has been a
resident of Springfield since her marriage and is well known as a liberal
contributor to her church. She gave the money, $10,000 with which to build
the pleasant and commodious Christian Church in North Springfield and was
one of the largest assistants in erecting the South Street Christian
Church and has throughout her life devoted much of her means to assist in
the support and spread of the Gospel. She is one of those Christians who
believe in practical works, and that the salvation of mankind depends upon
the increase of the churches and spread of the Gospel, and with generous
and unstinted hand has erected a monument to her memory which will remain
for many years. The benefactions have not only added to the religious
growth of Springfield but have increased its material prosperity, for
wherever the church stands and finds firm supporters, there will be found
a virtuous and thrifty people. Mrs. Weaver is a woman of great force of
character. Having learned when young the value of work and industry, she
has, since the death of her husband, become a practical business woman and
attends to all matters of business personally, including the collections
of her rents and the improvement of her properties. Mrs. Weaver's name in
Springfield is a synonym of honor, virtue and Christian effort.




LEWIS B. WHINREY, Bois D'Arc, Mo., is one of the best known and respected
citizens of West Centre Township, springing from an old Colonial American
family of Irish descent. Patrick Whinrey, first of the race in America, so
tradition runs, was kidnapped and brought to America. Thomas Whinrey,
grandfather of our subject, was born in Randolph County, N. C., and was
reared and married in that State. Of his children, John, Joseph, Margaret,
Sarah and Nancy are remembered. He moved to Tennessee a few years after
marriage, settled on a farm in Greene County, and passed all the remainder
of his days there. He lived to be over ninety years of age, his wife
having died many years before, and he did not remarry. He was a soldier in
the War of 1812, and an honorable, industrious farmer. Joseph Whinrey, his
son and father of our subject, was born in 1796, and was one year of age
when brought to Tennessee. He learned the batters' trade, and also became
a farmer. He married Jane Likens, daughter of William Likens, of Greene
County, Tenn., and to Mr. and Mrs. Whinrey were born eight children:
Hannah, Nancy A., Lewis B., William C., Alexandria, Mary J., Benjamin F.
and John, all born on the farm in Greene County, Tenn., and all now living
except John. Mr. Whinrey was an old line Whig in politics, was in
comfortable circumstances, an industrious, honorable citizen, and died at
the age of about seventy years. Lewis B., son of above and our subject,
was born November 10, 1825, in Greene County, Tenn., on his father's farm.
He received the common education of his day, and learned the hatters'
trade of his father. In 1848, at the age of twenty-two years, he came to
Greene County, and followed his trade. In 1853 he, with William and
Charles H. Likens, organized the firm of Whinrey & Likens, built the mill
which he now runs, and engaged in the milling business. The firm continued
about twelve years, and then Charles H. Likens, son of William, bought out
his father in company with Mr. Whinrey, and since that time they have
continued the business. The mill has the now roller process, and does a
good business manufacturing good flour. This mill was the first in West
Centre Township, and the flour was at first bolted by hand. It was the
only mill for miles around, there was none at Springfield, and the
citizens came from as far west as Kansas before 1856 and afterward. It is
one of the oldest mills in Greene County, was rebuilt in 1867, and moved
to its present location. Mr. Whinrey is well known to the old settlers far
and wide. He was a member of the State Militia, Company A., Seventy-second
Regiment, Enrolled Militia, and was called out several times, and was in
several skirmishes. The mill prospered, the firm bought land, and now own
819 acres, largely timber land in good condition. Mr. Whinrey married July
28, 1855, Elvina Likens, daughter of William and Sarah (Squibb) Likens.
The Likens are of German stock, and old Tennesseans who settled in Greene
County in 1843. To Mr. and Mrs. Whinrey were born seven children: Hannah
J., Amanda, William A., Joseph H., John Charles, George F. and Thomas C.
Mrs. Whinrey died March 6, 1875, and Mr. Whinrey married in October, 1884,
Rebecca J. Carter, nee Yeakley, the daughter of John Yeakley the pioneer.
(See sketch.) To Mr. and Mrs. Whinrey has been born one child, Fred. In
politics Mr. Whinrey is a Republican, and Mrs. Whinrey is a member of the
Methodist Church. Mr. Whinrey is one of the substantial citizens of Greene
County, and has passed most of his life here.




JESSE FRANK WHITE. Nowhere within the limits of Campbell Township, Greene
County, Mo., can there be found a man who takes greater interest in its
agricultural affairs than Jesse Frank White, or who strives more
continually to promote and advance these interests. Every life has a
history of its own, and although in appearance it may possess little to
distinguish it from others, yet the connection of Mr. White with the
agricultural interests of this region has contributed to give him a wide
and popular acquaintance with nearly every citizen of the county, if not
personally, then by name. Mr. White springs from an old American family of
English origin, the members of which were among the pioneer families of
Tennessee. Elisha White, the grandfather of our subject, was a wealthy
planter and large slave-owner of Lynnville, Giles County, Tenn. He was the
father of nineteen children, twelve sons and seven daughters, as follows:
John, Allen, Harrison, William, Henderson, Thomas, Elisha, James, Coleman,
and others whose names are not remembered. Two of the daughters, Mary and
Catherine, lived to mature years. Elisha White was a good business man,
accumulated a handsome property and lived in a large brick mansion on a
hill overlooked the town of Lynnville. William White, his son and the
father of our subject, was born October 12, 1816, and gained a fair
education for his day. While his father was a slave-owner he taught his
sons to work and earn their own living and by this training the most of
them became prosperous and wealthy men. William White learned the trade of
a tanner. On January 23, 1839, he was married to Miss Margaret Fry, who
was born July 5, 1819, and who was the daughter of John and Margaret
(Evans) Fry. After marriage William White and wife settled in Lawrence
County, Tenn., and to them were born seven children: William H., Jesse F.,
Margaret J., Albert S. (died at the age of twenty-two), Mary O., John T.
and Sallie M. In the fall of 1852 Mr. White moved with three ox teams and
a buggy, to Missouri and settled on the land now occupied by his
son-in-law, Campbell. He bought 440 acres in Campbell Township, and by
industry and close attention to business, prospered and became a wealthy
citizen. He owned slaves and carried on farming operations quite
extensively. For many years he was a member of the Christian Church and
assisted in building the first Christian Church in Campbell Township. This
was called Antioch and also the old Brick church, on Grand Prairie. Mr.
White was an elder in the church and is yet remembered as a prominent
member and a very devout man. In politics he was a strong advocate of
Democracy. He was one of the jury who convicted Washam, the first and only
man ever hung by law in Greene County, and whose wife on her death bed
twenty years after, confessed that he was innocent, and that she herself,
had committed the murder of her own child, a son. Mr. White was a dealer
in cattle. He died at the age of forty-two years and is remembered to this
day as an excellent citizen and a kind friend and neighbor. His children
all married and settled in Greene County, except Mary G., who married W.
F._____, and settled in Oklahoma. William C., was a soldier in the
Confederate Army, in Dick Campbell's Company of "Partisan Rangers," of
Prices' Army. He died of sickness resulting from exposure, at the
residence of E. R. Fullbright, of Carroll County, Ark., July 17, 1862.
Margaret J., married Col. John E. Phelps, of Springfield, (see sketch);
John T., married Miss Mary Jones, of Springfield, where he is now a
practicing lawyer. Sallie M., married E. M. Campbell, the only living son
of the first settler of Springfield, they reside on the White homestead.
Jesse Frank White, son of the above, and our subject, was born December
16, 1843, on his father's farm in Giles County, Tenn. When about nine
years of age he came with his parents to Greene County, Mo., and can well
remember the journey. He received the rudiments of an education in the
district schools, and later attended the college of Charles Carlton,
Springfield. Early in life he was taught to work on the farm and in the
fall of 1861, when nineteen years of age, he enlisted in Col. Dick
Campbell's Company, holding the rank of corporal. Later he was promoted to
sergeant. His company, originally mounted, was dismounted after about nine
month's service. It was again mounted after the battle of Vicksburg and
served under the famous Gen. Shelby, in his mounted brigade, to the close
of the war. He was in the battles of Pea Ridge, Iuka, Corinth, Grand Gulf,
Baker's Creek, near Vicksburg, Big Black, Jackson, Boonville and a battle
near Kansas City and one near Ft. Scott where Gen. Marmaduke was captured.
He was also in the battle near Carthage, also in the East raid that Gen.
Price made and in many skirmishes. Mr. White saw a great deal of fighting
during the war and endured many hardships from exposure, etc. He was
wounded at the battle of Corinth, near the left eye, and of the thirty-six
men of his company three-fourths of them were either killed or wounded in
that disastrous engagement. He was promoted to the rank of sergeant just
before the last raid made by Gen. Price, and for some time was dispatch
bearer. After the war he again attended Carlton's college, which had been
moved to Kentucky Town, Tex. After leaving school he was married at
Bentonville, Ark., to Miss Margaret L. Roper, a native of Tennessee, born
June 13, 1847, and the daughter of Wiley D. and Minerva (Fry) Roper. Mr.
Roper is a retired farmer residing at Bentonville, Ark., and is now over
seventy years of age. To himself and wife have been born ten children as
follows: Margaret L., David R., John W., William F., George W., Wiley B.,
Lulu and two who died in early youth. Mr. Roper is a member of the
Christian Church and socially he is a Mason. He is a man of integrity and
uprightness and is universally respected. His ancestors were from old
Colonial stock and came originally from Germany. After marriage Mr. White
settled on the farm where he now lives and to the forty acres inherited
from his fathers estate he added sufficient to make 340 acres in one body.
This fine farm, principally the result of his own industry and
perseverance, is about four miles from the city of Springfield. He also
owns twenty-four lots in "Massey's Addition " to Springfield. Both Mr. and
Mrs. White are members of the Antioch church and Mr. White has been elder
of the same for ten years. They assist liberally with their means to its
support and to all other worthy enterprises. Four children have been born
to Mr. and Mrs. White: William E., born March 8, 1871, and died when two
and one-half years of age; Albert B., born February 8, 1875; Grace B.,
born March 30, 1877, and Frances B., born April 23, 1884. Albert B. is
attending the preparatory department of Drury college and the other
children are attending a select school. Mr. White is yet a comparatively
young man and is one of the most substanitial citizens of Greene County. A
gallant and fearless soldier, who fought for his convictions, and who met
with many stirring adventures, his record will be preserved with pride by
his descendents. During the battle of Corinth Mr. White was taken
prisoner, was well-treated and given his liberty within the Federal lines
until he was paroled.




THOMAS S. WILSON is a popular and efficient county official. He springs
from an old American Colonial family of Irish stock, members of the family
having intermarried with English, Scotch and Welsh. The grandfather of our
subject was a native of North Carolina, and a captain in the American
Revolution. At an early day he settled near Murfreesboro, Tenn., and here
passed the remainder of his days. William Wilson, father of our subject,
was born in North Carolina, and became a prosperous Tennessee farmer. He
married Cynthia Wasson, and they were the parents of eight children. Mr.
Wilson moved to Greene County, Mo., in 1855, and settled five miles north
of Springfield. In religious belief he was a Methodist, and his wife was a
Presbyterian. In political belief he was a Democrat. He was a prominent
farmer and an honorable, much respected citizen. Thomas S. Wilson, son of
above and the subject of this sketch, was born June 21, 1837, in
Tennessee, near Murfreesboro. He received an excellent education,
attending the Union University of that city. In 1857 he was appointed
second-lieutenant of the United States Marine Corps, and received military
training in Washington, and served until the breaking out of the Civil
War, when he resigned his commission on account of his sympathies with the
South, and he was arrested on this account and imprisoned three months at
Fort La Fayette, New York Harbor, and two months at Fort Warren, Boston
Harbor, where he was exchanged as a prisoner of war. In 1858 Mr. Wilson
was second-lieutenant of marines on the United States frigate, Sabine,
flagship of the expedition to Paraguay, South America, in which there were
twelve ships. The squadron settled important differences with that country
without resorting to war or severe measures, the expedition being away one
year. Mr. Wilson went 800 miles up the Paraguay River and visited the
cities of Montevideo, Buenos Ayres, Corientes, and other prominent places.
Returning home in 1869 he was second-lieutenant on another United States
frigate and made a voyage to the United States Naval Station on the east
coast of South America, and was over two years on this voyage, during
which he visited Bahia, Rio de Janeiro and other places, returning home in
1861. During the war he assisted in the capture of the United States
gunboat, "Underwriter," at Newbern, N. C., which was taken by a boating
party after a severe engagement. Upon arriving at Richmond, Va., he was
commissioned captain in the Confederate Marine Corps early in the year of
1862. His service was mostly ordnance duty. He was present at the battle
of Drury Bluff, or Fort Darling, near Richmond, in which he took part. He
served as captain until the close of the war. This excellent military
training coupled with his natural ability and his experience in the art of
modern warfare made him specially expert in all his military duties and
made him prominent and his services specially valuable to the Confederate
government. He became a brilliant soldier, prompt, skillful and rapid in
the execution of every difficult duty entrusted to his care. After this he
settled in Greene County, Mo., where he taught school and became a farmer.
In 1872 he married Mary A., daughter of Hardy White, of this county, and
to Mr. and Mrs. Wilson have been born eight children. In political
opinions Mr. Wilson is a stanch Democrat, and is true to his political
friends. In 1890 he was elected recorder of Greene County, a position
which he still fills to the general satisfaction of the people. Mr. Wilson
is a man of independent character, and his record shows that he is a firm
supporter of what he believes to be right He is well known among the
citizens of Greene County as a man able to hold any office in the gift of
the people, and his integrity is unimpeached.




JAMES G. WOOD. A large class of the farmers of Greene County, Mo., lead
such modest and retiring lives as to be seldom heard of outside their own
township. They are doing fine work in their own community, but do not care
to mingle in the more public matters of political life, and devote all
their time and energies to the cultivation of their farms and the
development of the resources of their vicinity. Such men deserve more
mention than they ordinarily receive, and it is a pleasure to here present
one of them in the person of James G. Wood, who has been a resident of
Greene County since 1852. He was born in Huntsville, Ala., February 24,
1832, the eldest son of John Wood, whose sketch appears herein. His early
days were passed in assisting his father about the cotton mills and upon
the farm, and also learned the occupation of tanning, of which branch of
his father's business he had the management. He attended such schools as
were in vogue in his youth in Tennessee, and possessing a bright and
active mind his opportunities were improved, and he obtained sufficient
knowledge to fit him for the active duties of life,. At the age of twenty
years he came to Greene County, Mo., and in 1852 began farming on Grand
Prairie, in which business he prospered until the opening of the Civil
War. He then went with his father to Madison County, Ark., and while there
be started a tannery, which he managed up to 1864 when he returned to
Greene County, and a few years later located on the farm where he now
resides, which was presented to him by his father. It is without question
one of the finest farms in the county, located only four miles southeast
of Springfield, and every nook and cranny of it is kept with the utmost
neatness, no one portion of it being neglected for another. The estate
comprises 187 acres and is well improved with good buildings, and
substantial and neat fences. He is engaged in general farming, and he has
inherited many of his father's fine mental and physical qualities, he has
been successful above the average, but, unlike many who are possessed of
wealth, he is extremely liberal in the use of his means and does not
hesitate to aid generously causes which meet his approval. He is generous
to those who are unfortunate in the great battle of life, and is ever
ready to extend a helping hand to those less fortunate than himself. In
1857 he was united in marriage to Miss Susan Dishongh, daughter of
Henderson and Sarah (Hail) Dishongh, the former of whom was born in North
Carolina in 1812, a son of Augustin Dishongh, who came from France and
took up his home in North Carolina, prior to the opening of the
Revolutionary War. During the progress of this struggle he ferried
Washington's army across the river where he lived. He died in 1847 at the
age of eighty-two years in Giles County, Tenn., where he had moved at a
very early day. Henderson Dishongh was the youngest of his sons, and he
was killed in 1847 by lightning in Giles County. He was a mechanic by
trade, and for a long time was engaged in the manufacture of cotton cloth,
but at the same time followed the calling of a mill-wright; in fact, he
was an exceedingly shrewd and successful business man. He was a useful,
law-abiding and public-spirited citizen, and in politics was a Whig. He
was the inventor of one of the first improved cotton spinning machines
ever made, and as a mechanic possessed more than ordinary genius. He
married his wife in Tennessee, she being a daughter of Butler and
Elizabeth Hail, who were early pioneers of Tennessee, and was related to
Dr. William Hail, a surgeon in the Mexican War. The wife of Henderson
Dishongh died in 1850 in Giles County, Tenn., having become the mother of
six children: George B., who resides in Lawrence County, Tenn., is engaged
in the manufacture of cotton goods, is married and is a well-to-do man;
Augustin, who died at the age of forty-three years, was the owner of a
mill at Pulaski, Tenn.; Elizabeth is the wife of J. K. Speer, of
Indianapolis, Ind.; Susan is the wife of Mr. Wood, the subject of this
sketch; Sarah A. is the wife of James R. Gilmore, of Alabama, and Martha
J., who became the wife of Mr. Foster, of Greene County, Mo., is deceased.
Mrs. Wood was born in Giles County, Tenn., June 5, 1839, and from the time
she was eight until she attained her seventeenth year, she attended the
common schools of her native county. She was then taken to Lawrence
County, and upon reaching womanhood was married to Mr. Wood, by whom she
has two children: Sarah E. born June 11, 1859, and died April 15, 1862,
and Susan J., who was born August 15, 1861. The latter was educated in the
Springfield High School, and is now the wife of B. L. Routt, the most
prominent groceryman of Springfield, and by him is the mother of three
children. Mr. and Mrs. Wood have long been connected with the Christian
Church and have a wide circle of acquaintances and friends with whom they
are very popular. Politically Mr. Wood is a Democrat, but be has never
desired to figure in the political affairs of his section, being content
to exercise his right of franchise. He is a very useful citizen, and will
without doubt long remain a resident of the section where so many years of
his life have been spent.




JOHN WOOD (deceased). There is no power more effective than the silent
influence of a noble life. This truth is fully illustrated in the life of
every good man, and in this sketch is presented a man well worthy of
imitation by the young and rising generation. John Wood was a product of
Old England where he was born in 1805 and there reared and educated. He
was married in his native land to Elizabeth Morris, also a native of that
country, and prior to their immigration to America in 1824, they had one
child born to them. John Wood came to the United States and was followed
by two brothers and one sister, James, Samuel and Ann. During his
residence; in Philadelphia, Penn., he followed the trade of a mechanic
which he had learned when he was young. He possessed a natural aptitude
and liking for this calling and in course of time became an expert in that
line of work. Upon leaving the "City of Brotherly Love," he turned his
face toward the setting sun and in due course of time found himself in
Franklin, Middle Tennessee, where he at once began the erection of the
first power looms ever used in that State. Succeeding this he was engaged
in the manufacture of cotton goods and in his establishment was
manufactured the canvass that covered the wagons of many of the early
emigrants who left that country to come to Greene County, Mo., prominent
among whom were the Roundtrees. Mr. Wood spent some useful years in
Tennessee, then moved to Huntsville, Ala., where he erected a power loom
for the manufacture of cotton goods, and this also, was the first one
built in the State. While at this point he made frequent trips to
Philadelphia, Penn., for the purchase of machinery for his looms, and at
one time made the long journey on horseback. He was a man of fine
physique, was active and industrious and possessed great endurance,
qualities that stood him in good stead in his efforts to win a home for
himself and family. In 1834 he moved to Rockford, Ill., of which place he
was the third settler, and for a long time thereafter be could only obtain
his mail by going to Galena, and he was also often compelled to take trips
to Chicago, which was then a very small place. He became the owner of a
ferry-boat at Rockford, which was one of the very first across the river
at that point. In addition to looking after this interest, he did in an
expert and skillful manner all kinds of mechanical work and he became
widely known as a genius in his line. In 1836 he returned to Tennessee and
in Lawrence County he built a cotton mill and for a period of fifteen or
sixteen years be was engaged in the manufacture of cotton goods. During
this time he was also engaged in planting, and in this as in all his other
enterprises, he met with a degree of success which was flattering in the
extreme. In 1852 be came with his family to Greene County and settled on
Grand Prairie, northwest of Springfield, where he became the owner of a
fine tract, of land and settled down to tilling it, although his advanced.
years compelled him to desist from its active management, which fell to
the lot of his sons. In all the avocations of life in which be engaged, be
displayed energy, integrity and a just regard for the rights of his fellow
men, and he therefore enjoyed the confidence of a large circle of friends
and acquaintances throughout Greene County. While the great Civil War was
in progress he moved to Madison County, Ark., where he made his home until
about 1864, his time being spent in the manufacture of knives, etc. After
the termination of hostilities he returned to Greene County and lived a
retired life until his death at the age of eighty-two years. He was a man
of great intelligence, sound good sense, unbounded kindness of heart and a
correct, yet lenient judge of men and motives. He was thoroughly posted on
the topics of the day, was a thorough and profound Bible scholar, was well
up in the sciences, and was something of an astronomer. He made for
himself a fine telescope some six feet long for viewing the stars, which
instrument can still be seen on the lawn at the home of his son, James G.
Wood. By the exercise of his varied talents he accumulated a large
property, and this, with an untarnished name, which was rather to be
desired than great riches, he left as a heritage to his children. Whatever
he made up his mind to do he did well, and besides his other fields of
enterprise, he was a successful binder of books. He bought a printing
press on which he printed a Sunday School paper and cards for the
attendants of Sabbath School, in which he took a deep interest as well as
in church work. He was very liberal in his support of the cause of
Christianity and for many years held a membership in the Christian Church.
He was extremely observant and all things in nature possessed for him a
great charm which he wisely gratified who he was able to do so, making it
a point to visit the Natural Bridge of Virginia while on his way from
Huntsville, Ala., to Philadelphia, Penn. His cotton factory in Tennessee
had an overshot wheel thirty-five feet in diameter, and at the same time
intelligently conducting this establishment he also established a tannery
which he managed in connection with his other business. He made money
rapidly and was always very lenient with his debtors, never having been
known to sue any one that owed him. He had a great liking and an excellent
taste in music, his knowledge of which was acquired by his own efforts and
be afterward became an instructor of others. He made a number of musical
instruments, all of which he could play, and they were considered
excellent of their kind. He was never contented unless busied at something
and even up to his last days was always working. He was perhaps the best
known man in Greene County and upon her history left an impress that will
last as long as time endures. He was a Whig, always an active Democrat
politically but never aspired to political honors. His wife, a daughter of
James Morris, was born in 1804 and died in 1866, a lady of many noble
qualities and a true Christian in every sense of the word. To this worthy
couple an old fashioned family of thirteen children were born: Hannah,
born in England, was married to John Williams in Tennessee; he died in
1850 in Tennessee; she married Mr. Farrier in 1854, he being a hatter; he
died in 1865; her son, John W. Williams being a hardware merchant in
Springfield. She now makes her home with her son, John W. Williams. James
G. Wood was the next child; John M.; Martha E. is the wife of J. M. Powell
and lives in Springfield, and the other children died when young or in
infancy. After the death of the mother of these children John Wood took
for his second wife Mrs. M. E. Weaver, widow of Joseph Weaver, and prior
to her marriage with this gentleman the widow of a Mr. Shackelford. She is
living and is a resident of Springfield. The life of Mr. Wood was filled
with noble deeds and his memory will long remain green in the hearts of
those who knew and loved him in life and be an example for the emulation
of youth.




JOHN M. WOOD. This gentleman has been one of the successful merchants of
Springfield, Greene County, Mo., since 1857, and owes his nativity to the
city of Rockford, Ill., where be was born December 19, 1836. When but two
weeks old the family left the Sucker State and took up their residence in
Tennessee, and until he attained his seventeenth year that State continued
to be his home. He then came with the family to Greene County, Mo., and
for some time thereafter was an attendant of the public schools, his
initiatory training having been obtained in Tennessee. While in that State
he assisted his father in the cotton mill and tannery but after coming to
Greene County he began farming, on Grand Prairie about five miles from
Springfield, but after four years' experience as a tiller of the soil he
came to Springfield, and in 1857 began clerking in the store of Sheppard &
Kimbro, with whom he remained two years. He then opened an establishment
of his own on the west side of the public square and put in an excellent
stock of general merchandise, and there continued to do business until
1861, when he closed out his stock and did not again continue it until
1864, when he opened a store on the east side of the public square near
St. Louis Street. He dealt in groceries up to 1867, then added a general
line of goods, but in 1869 moved to the northeast corner of the square,
where he continued in the general mercantile business until 1880. Up to
1883 his stand was at the corner of College Street and the public square,
and since that time his establishment has been located at 305 South
Street, where he is doing an exclusive dry goods business. When he started
in business in Springfield he had a capital of small proportions, but the
city was then quite small and the business be did was larger than he
anticipated. He has been a very active and industrious man all his life,
the soul of honor in all his business transactions, and has prospered
accordingly. He has always taken an active interest in the affairs of his
section, has aided most liberally all worthy causes, and in politics has
always supported the Democratic party. He is a member of the A. O. U. W.
The residence in which he now resides at 706 College Street was built
before the war, and during that struggle between the North and South three
cannon balls passed through it when Gen. Marmaduke made his raid through
Springfield. At that time it was owned by Mrs. Eliza Weaver, who later
became his stepmother. She was living in the house at the time and was
caring for a wounded soldier when one of the balls passed through the
room, shattering the soldier's knapsack which was hanging on one of the
bed posts. Mr. Wood was married in 1860 to Miss Sarah A. Shackelford,
daughter of Dr. William and Eliza Shackelford. She was born in Greene
County in 1839, and has borne her husband six children: John S., who lives
on College Street, is a civil engineer; he was married to Miss Skinner, of
this city, and has two children, John S. and Kittie. James W. is a
traveling man for the Page-Baldwin Hardware Company , and makes his home
in Springfield; He married Miss Nettie Laphan and lives on East Elm
Street. Bessie is the wife of William Johnson, an attorney of Springfield,
lives on Elm Street, and has one child, William W. Lydia, Sallie and
Benjamin T. reside at home. Mr. Wood and his family attend the Christian
Church, in which he is an elder. He does an annual business of between
$25,000 and $30,000, which shows without further words that his patronage
is liberal. He started in business alone and is now conducting his own
establishment, but at different times he has been associated with J. J.
Weaver, E. L. Weaver, John W. Williams and a Mr. Griffith, Mr. Wood
purchasing the latter's interest in 1892. He is a man of unblemished
reputation and has many friends.




SAMUEL WOODS, Springfield, Mo., is one of the prominent ex-county
officials and farmers of Greene County. Edward Woods, father of our
subject, was of Irish stock, and a farmer, of Tennessee. He married Sarah
Trimble, daughter of John and Margaret Trimble, both of whom came from
Ireland. Mr. Trimble was a school teacher and owned a farm. Edward Woods
and wife were the parents of three sons: Joseph, Samuel and William. Mr.
Woods died when our subject was too young to remember his father. Samuel
Woods, our subject, was born on the line of Williamson and Maury Counties,
Tenn., Oct. 14, 1821. After the death of his father he was brought up by
his uncle, William Trimble, a prominent farmer, of Williamson County,
Tenn. Our subject received a good English education for those days, and at
the age of twenty-one, left his uncle's home and learned the trade of a
carpenter, of John L. McCracken, Maury County, Tenn.. He worked at
learning his trade two years, and then continued with Mr. McCracken as a
partner seven years. On April 10, 1844, he married Mary C. Ragsdale,
daughter of______ .On the 6th of July, 1844, Mr. Woods came to
Springfield, and Mr. McCracken and himself engaged in the house carpenter
business. There were no brick buildings in Springfield at that time. Mr.
Woods worked at his trade in this county until the war broke out, and in
1847 he bought his present farm, then consisting of forty acres, to which
he has added until he owns 380 acres. To Mr. and Mrs. Woods have been born
seven children, who have lived to grow up: William T., James K. (deceased
at eighteen); Talbot F., Dorsey F., Sarah E., Emily, and Lucinda A. In
politics Mr. Woods has always been a Democrat, but now affiliates with the
Labor party. In 1862 he was elected justice of the peace in Campbell
Township, holding this office one term, and be was deputy sheriff under
sheriff C. B. Owen two years, and was assistant adjutant quarter master in
1863, in the State militia. In 1890 he was elected county treasurer and
filled this office to the general satisfaction of the people. The bond
required is $400,000, showing how many substantial friends Mr. Woods has,
and he retired without a stain on his character. Both Mr. and Mrs. Woods
have been members of the Christian Church for years, since 1850, and Mr.
Woods was elder in his church six years, and was school director twenty
years. He has made his property by his own unaided efforts, and is a man
whose word is as good as his bond and has maintained a high character for
honesty and worth. When Mr. Woods was justice of the peace, and was
holding court in Springfield, in a case where Judge Baker was the
prosecuting attorney against an ex-county ________ for damages for
non-delivery of goods and John O'Day was defendant, it being his maiden
case, Judge Baker made an able plea, and O'Day made a vigorous defense.
Judge Wood decided the case for the defendant. Then Judge Baker took
occasion to score the Court in scathing language, saying that the decision
was an outrage and in his opinion the justice was prejudiced against him.
Judge Wood replied that "If the learned attorney had that opinion of the
Court and the justice was in his place, he would whip the Court, as it
would not cost him a cent to do it."




T. J. WRIGHT, Chief of Police of Springfield, Mo. Never has the city of
been under better control--more peaceable, orderly and quiet than it is at
present, and this is without doubt owing to the fact that a man of
intelligence, determination, energy and vigilance is at the head of the
police force. This man is T. J. Wright, who has been connected with the
force since 1888 and since 1892 has been at its head, owing to the fact
that his far-seeing shrewdness and numerous other qualifications made him
admirably fitted to fill the office in a most praiseworthy manner. He is a
product of Caldwell county, Mo., where be was born September 6, 1856, a
son of Windfield Wright, who for many years was a substantial farmer of
that county and who has now been dead for five years. His widow still
survives him and makes her home on the old farm, where their nine children
were born. and reared to honorable manhood and womanhood, the eldest son
having held office in his county. The youthful days of Chief T. J. Wright
were spent in attending school in his native county in the vicinity of
Breckinridge, and in assisting to wield the hoe on the home farm, where be
learned not only methodical habits, but lessons of industry and
perseverance which have since been of material use to him. He learned the
plasterer's trade in early manhood and followed this occupation
successfully up to the time of his appointment to the police department,
having at that time been a resident of Springfield four years. He was very
successful in his trade and was at one time the largest contractor of the
kind in the city. He has always manifested considerable interest in
political affairs always supported the Democratic party. He is very active
and wide-awake; in fact, the citizens of Springfield early came to
recognize that he was the right man in the right place in his capacity of
chief of police. He was appointed on the police force by Mayor Walker who
saw in him an able man for police duty and he at once grew in popular
favor with the citizens of the place. In 1892 they showed their
appreciation of his ability and the good he had accomplished by electing
him by a handsome majority to the office of chief. He is a member of the
I.O.O.F. Lodge, No. 218, the K. of P. Lodge, No. 86, and has represented
the Odd Follow lodges of his district (consisting of nine) in the Grand
Lodge of the State for the past four years. Chief Wright was married in
Springfield to Miss Lou Wilkerson, and they have a comfortable home at 510
West Division Street. The police department of Springfield consists of ten
men, four on the north side and six on the south, and the police
headquarters are at No. 1 fire station on College Street.










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