Cantrell, Thomas and Dora Ann (Pumphrey)
Chapman, Matthew and Rachel A. (Horn)
Pg.
495
Chapman, Stanford and Drucilla (Horn)
Pg.
479
Collier, John P. and Louanna H (Neville)
Pg.
137
Collins, John D. and Pardella J. (Alexander)
Pg.
542
Cook, John L. and Mary J. (Clemons)
Pg.
283
Pg.
604
Pg.
546
Pg. 81
Pg. 61
A man’s lifework is the measure of his
success, and he is truly the most successful man who, turning his powers into
the channel of an honorable purpose, accomplishes the object of his
endeavor. He who weds himself to a
great principle lays the foundation of a successful life. In the study of every man’s life we find
some mainspring of action – something that he lives for. In Judge Matthew Chapman it seems to have
been an ambition to make the best use of his native and acquired powers, and to
develop in himself a true manhood. In
all the walks of public life he served his county with zealous fidelity, and
expects to pass his declining days with those among whom he has grown gray in
honorable usefulness. The Judge was
born in Henry County, Tenn., March 7, 1822, to the union of Benjamin and Mary
(Cavett) Chapman, natives of Tennessee.
In 1830 the parents came to Missouri, and although they first settled in
St. Louis, they remained there but a short time, and 1831 found them located
near Ozark, Christian County. There
they passed the remainder of their days, the mother dying in 1870 and the
father two years later, when seventy-two years of age. The father was a successful farmer and
stockraiser and was a well-known and influential man in his day, serving as
judge of the county court of Greene County for twelve years. In politics he was a warm supporter of
Democratic principles, and in religion he was a Baptist nearly all his life. Honorable and upright in every walk of life,
no better man ever found his home in this county. Early in life he was considerable of a hunter and as the woods
abounded in game he had no trouble in supplying the table with meat. In those days he made shoes for the family
out of hides tanned by himself and his wife spun flax and wove the clothing for
the family. The latter lived to be over
eighty years of age. Four children were
born to his marriage, our subject being the eldest. The others were: J. G., who resides at Harrison, Ark.; Stanford,
who makes his home at Billings; and C. E., who died about five years ago. By a previous marriage to a Mr. Smart, Mrs.
Chapman became the mother of five children, as follows: S., E., William C.,
Harry G., and one whose name is unknown.
The Chapman family came to this country at a period antedating the
Revolution, in which some of the members fought for independence. Later others were soldiers in the War of
1812.
Judge Matthew Chapman was about ten
years of age when he made the trip by wagon from Tennessee to Missouri, and he
received his education in the schools of Greene County. Like his ancestors he chose agricultural
pursuits as his calling in life, and on the 16th of August, 1844, he
married Miss Rachel A. Horn, who was born January 1, 1827, and who was the daughter
of Thomas Horn, an early sheriff of Greene County. This union resulted in the birth of nine children, as follows:
Mary J., who is living; William B., a farmer of this county; Thomas H.,
deceased; Mary E., wife of George Wills; Alice, wife of Chas. Wills; Douglas
J., who is living in this county; Benjamin M., who is living in this county;
James died in California; and Emma, the wife of A. Madding. The mother of these children died on the 24th
of October, 1870, and Judge Chapman selected his second wife in the person of
Mrs. Mary A. Horn, a native of Tennessee, born December 30, 1831, and the
daughter of William S. Wilkes, of the Big Bend State. To this union one daughter, Hattie, has been born. Agricultural pursuits have been our
subject’s principal occupation through life, and he has made a success at
it. In connection with farming he is
also raising considerable stock. Like
his father he advocates the principles of the Democrats, and was appointed to
office by that party, in 1872. Ten
years later, or in 1882, he was elected to the office of probate and county
judge, and served in that capacity with zealous fidelity. His judicial qualifications were of the
first order, enabling him with comparative ease to follow the thread of law
through all the subtleties of complicated legal questions. He located on the farm where he now lives in
1845, and is a man well and favorably known all over this and Greene County,
being one of the oldest pioneers of this section. Although he had but a limited education in youth he was always of
an inquiring turn of mind and a great reader, and possessing a clear, logical
mind, capable of broad generalization, his grasp of any subject was thoroughly
comprehensive and exhaustive. He is one
of the most prominent men of the county.
William S. Wilkes, father of Mrs. Chapman, was born in Virginia in 1807,
and was married to Miss Hannah B. Moore, a native of Kentucky, born in
1810. Shortly after their marriage they
settled in Tennessee, but later, in 1841, came to Greene County and settled
near Ozark. There they passed the
remainder of their days. Ten children
were born to their marriage, but only three are now living: Sarah, now Mrs.
John A. Gibson; Mary A., who first married James K. Horn, by whom she had four
children, as follows: William T., Martha E., Emma E. and Addie, all
living. The third child born to Mr. and
Mrs. Horn, Samuel A., is living in Cooper County. The parents were members of the Christian Church, and the father
was a Democrat in politics. Mrs. Chapman
was born in Marshall County, Tenn., and was young when she came to this
county. Two of her brothers, Thomas and
Jonathan, were soldiers in the Civil War, and the former died from wounds
received at the battle of Pea Ridge.
Those of her brothers and sisters who are deceased are Mary, Joseph,
Jonathan, Elizabeth, Emma, Martha and Thomas.
Few men have lived more quietly and
unostentatiously than Mr. Stanford Chapman, and yet few have exerted a more
salutary influence upon the immediate society in which they move, or impressed
a community with a more profound reliance on their honor, ability and sterling
worth. His life has not been marked by
startling or striking contrasts, but it has shown how a laudable ambition may
be gratified when accompanied by pure motives, perseverance, industry and
steadfastness of purpose. Mr. Chapman
came originally from Tennessee, his birth occurring June 3, 1825. He is the son of Benjamin and Mary (Cavett)
Chapman, natives of Tennessee. About
1830 or 1831 the parents came to Missouri, and located on Little Riley, where
they remained but a short time, when they came to Christian County and settled
near Ozark. There the father followed
farming and stockraising successfully until his death in 1872, when seventy-two
years of age. He was a well-known and
prominent man in his day, serving as judge of Greene County for twelve years
and justice of the peace many years. In
politics he was a lifelong Democrat, and in religion a Baptist. When making the trip from Tennessee to
Missouri, Mr. Chapman came in a large six-horse wagon, and although his early
life in this new country was one of privation and hardship, he persevered, and
at the time of his death owned a tract of 320 acres of land. He was one of the progressive pioneers, and
did much to improve and advance the county.
The towns of Springfield and Ozark had not been heard of in those days,
game was plentiful, and although pioneer life is considered anything but a pleasant
experience, they had good times, and people were much more sociable than at the
present day. Mrs. Chapman, who was a
lifelong member of the Baptist Church and a most estimable lady, died in 1870,
when eighty years of age. Previous to
her union with Mr. Chapman she had married a Mr. Peter Smart, by whom she had
five children: Sandy, Elitia, Harry, William and Martha. To her second union four children were born:
Matthew, who resides near Ozark; Geneva, who married Joseph Gibson and lives in
Boone County, Ark.; Stanford, our subject; and Critendon, who died in
1887. The latter was married and lived
about five miles south of Billings, where he followed farming.
Stanford
Chapman was five years of age when his parents came to this county, and he
attended the subscription schools of his day.
When twenty-one years of age he started out to hoe his own road in life
as a farmer, and located on a tract of about 230 acres one-half mile west of
Ozark. There he resided for about
fifteen years, and then sold out and moved to Cooper County, on the Missouri
River. This was in 1865, and he framed
for one year, after which he returned to Christian County and bought a tract of
land five miles north of Ozark, on the Springfield road. There were 210 acres in this farm, on which
he made his home until 1892, when he sold out and moved to Billings, where he
has a very pleasant home. In the year
1848 he was married to Miss Drucilla A. Horn, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth
(Knox) Horn, pioneer settlers of this county, the Horn family locating here as
early as 1831. Her parents were born in
Giles County, Tenn., and both died in this county, the father in 1843. They were the parents of six children:
Rachel, D. A., Elizabeth, Judith, James K. and Martha. All these children are deceased, with the
exception of Mrs. Chapman, and Elizabeth, who is Mrs. Cox, of Ozark. Mrs. Chapman was born in Tennessee in 1828,
and was quite young when her parents moved to this county. Her father was sheriff of Greene County two
or three terms, and was an influential citizen, being well known all over the
county. To our subject and wife a
family of eight children have been given, six of whom are living: Thomas J. was
killed by his team in 1872, when twenty-three years of age; Mary E., who is the
wife of M. Canard, of this county, has four children – Macie T., John S.,
Franklin and Martha; Emmon C. died when two years of age; Janiva, the wife of
L. P. Wells, of Billings; Ella, wife of H. V. Reed, of Billings; William S., a
resident of Greene County, where he follows farming; Missouri, the wife of L.
P. Gibson, of Ozark; and Jude, at home.
In politics Mr. Chapman is a Democrat.
In 1876 he was elected to the office of judge of the county court, but
resigned the position. He is now
retired from active business life, and resides at Billings. He is a stockholder in the Christian County
Bank at Ozark, owns some nice town property and a handsome residence. Socially he is a Mason, a member of Ozark
Lodge.
The
philosophy of success in life is an interesting study, and affords a lesson
from which others can profit. In
choosing a pursuit in life, taste, mental gifts, opportunity and disposition to
labor, should be considered, as many a young man who has a disposition to become
a respectable and useful citizen desires to succeed therein. On the 15th of July, 1842, a boy
was born in Warren County, Ky., who grew up to sturdy manhood, ambitious to
excel and possessing much energy and determination, attributes which are
essential to success in any calling.
This boy was John P. Collier, now judge of the Probate Court of
Christian County, Mo. He is the
youngest but one of a family of twelve children, born to Bartley and Elizabeth
(Eaton) Collier. This family came
originally from England and settled in some of the New England States at an
early day. Bartley Collier was a native
of one of the Southern States, and a lifelong farmer. He and his wife both died in Kentucky, the father in 1852, and
the mother in 1875. They were
Methodists in religious belief, and some members of this family were
Republicans and others Democrats in politics.
Of their children, our subject was the only one to come to this
section. His brother, P. P. Collier,
was a lieutenant in the Federal Army during the war. He now resides in Audrain County, Mo. Judge John P. Collier remained in his native county until the
age of nineteen, attending the district school, and when the war was over he
finished his education in the high school.
In 1861, when but nineteen years of age, the threatening attitude of
political affairs occupied his attention, and he became an ardent supporter of
the Union cause. Enlisting in Company
A, Eleventh Kentucky Volunteer Infantry, he served thirteen months and twenty
days and was in the Shiloh battle. At
that time he was sick and had been in the hospital, and after that day he was
obliged to return to the hospital, where he remained until discharged, October
31, 1862. Returning to his native
county, he entered the high school and after leaving that became a teacher, following
that profession for a number of years.
His sickness while in the army told upon him, and he has never fully
recovered his health.
Judge
Collier was married in Kentucky to Miss Louanna H. Neville, a native of Barren
County, Ky., and the daughter of William Neville. After marriage they located on a farm in Kentucky, and our
subject tilled the soil until coming to Missouri in October, 1871. They then settled in Moniteau County, Mo.,
and made their home there until October, 1872, when they moved to Ozark, where
they have since made their home.
Shortly afterward, our subject was made deputy sheriff and collector of
the county and has since served as deputy circuit and county clerk, as well as
in other positions of trust. From 1877
to 1887 he held the office of school commissioner of this county, in 1886 was
elected county treasurer, serving two years, and in 1888 was made justice of
the peace, holding that position up to 1890.
At that date he was elected probate judge of the county, and holds that position
at the present time. In politics he has
always affiliated with the Republican party, has been a delegate to conventions
and has served on many committees. The
entire organization of his brain, and the discipline of his mind, place him in
a leading position in society. Gifted
and accomplished, shrewd and sagacious, he is undoubtedly destined to further
prominence and distinction in the political arena. As a judge, he comprehends the law and facts of the case at once,
and his analytical powers enable him to develop the points with such clearness
and force that his decisions commend themselves alike to the bar and to the
people, being always fortified by the law and the facts. He is one of the most prominent men of the
county. Judge Collier is a member of
the M. E. Church South and has held office in the church for many years. Socially he is a member of Capt. J. W.
Robertson Post No. 377, G.A.R., at Ozark, and for a time held the office of
senior vice-commander. Being a teacher
in early life, he has always taken an active interest in education, and while
in office, as school commissioner of the county, worked hard to build up the
schools of the county. To the Judge and
wife have been born three children: Leanora R., William N. and Mabel. The former is the wife of R. N. Gray, the
druggist, and has two children; William N. is on a ferry boat at Chester, Ill.,
and Mabel is still in school.
The professional career of a skilled
and devoted physician ever furnishes material of great interest to all readers,
and the life narrative of Dr. Collins is no exception to this general
statement. He is a practicing physician
and surgeon and druggist of Highlandville, Mo., and although still in the dawn
of the success which has attended his efforts in a professional way, he has
already given abundant evidence of the ability which qualifies him for a high
place in the medical profession. Dr.
Collins was born in this county, Finley Township, near Ozark, on the old
Collins homestead in 1854, to the union of John and Mary C. (Cowden) Collins,
natives of what is now Marshall County, Tenn., the father born March 13, 1819,
and the mother July 13 of the same year.
The elder Collins was a great student, a fine mathematician and a man of
more than ordinary ability. Previous to
his marriage to the mother of our subject he had married a Miss Willis who bore
him no children. Mrs. Collins, mother
of subject, was also married previous to her union with Mr. Collins, her first
husband being Saunderson Cook, by whom she had one son, Dr. W. C. Cook, a
prominent physician who held a chair in the Nashville Medical College at one
time, and was health officer for Davidson County at the time of his death. Mr. Collins removed to the Lone Star State
in 1851, but in 1853 came North and landed in Christian County, then Taney
County, and settled four miles south of Ozark, where he improved a good farm of
several hundred acres. There he passed
the remainder of his days, dying February 8, 1888, and was buried on the home
farm. His wife died April 10,
1891. She was a member of the Christian
Church and an excellent woman. All his
life Mr. Collins followed the occupation of a farmer, and being enterprising
and thrifty amassed a considerable fortune.
For two years during the war he was sheriff of the county, and later he
was twice elected to the office of surveyor and was appointed to that position
once. He was a Union man but did not
take sides during the war. Socially, he
was an Odd Fellow and a prominent man in many ways. His father, Henry Collins, was a native of North Carolina, and of
Scotch-Irish descent. The latter
followed the occupation of a farmer and removed to Tennessee at an early day
and there died. He was the father of
the following children: Willis, died on the Gulf and was buried on an island
during the war; Holland, of Tennessee; Henry; James, a stock dealer; Sidney,
wife of T. L. White, of this county; Maggie, now deceased, was the wife of
Alex. Glen, of this county; Edna, who was the wife of Frank Waddel, died in
Springfield; Nancy is the wife of a Mr. Cook, of Arkansas; and Mary, wife of
James Richardson, of Marshall County, Tenn.
Our subject’s maternal grandparents died many years ago and very little
is known about them. They had several
children, and a son, Hon. Humphrey Cowden, was a member of the Tennessee
Legislature from Marshall County in 1860 and voted for secession. One daughter removed to Texas and lived to
be eighty-five years of age. Another
daughter, Sallie, became the wife of Paine Davis, a lawyer of Lewisburg,
Tenn. Two of their children died young.
Dr. John D. Collins was fifth in order
of birth of nine children, as follows: Fannie, wife of J. T. Deeds; Henry Clay
was a soldier in the United States Army, and part of that time was on the
plains fighting the Indians; James W. is residing in the old neighborhood;
Susan J., wife of J. M. McLean; Thomas Holland died young; Alexander H. is a
farmer residing near Ozark; Lucy M., now deceased, was the wife of G. King, and
Joseph L., on the old place. Our
subject grew to manhood on the old homestead and attended the common
schools. Later he read medicine with
Dr. W. C. Cook, of Nashville, Tenn., and in 1878 and 1879 attended the medical
department of Vanderbilt University at Nashville. In 1880 he graduated from the Missouri Medical College of St.
Louis and began practicing at Highlandville, and has since practiced among the
people with whom he was reared. He has
an extensive practice in Taney, Stone, and Christian Counties, a radius of
twenty miles, and has the confidence and respect of all. He is a member of the Christian County
Medical Society. In connection with his
practice he also carries on the drug business and has followed the same since
1887. On the 28th of
September, 1873, he was married to Miss Pardella J. Alexander, a native of
Christian County and the daughter of George W. and Rebecca J. Alexander, and
step-daughter of John A. Williams of Ozark.
Mr. Alexander died while in the Confederate Army. To Dr. and Mrs. Collins have been born seven
children: Lulu Mellie, A. Gretz, Effie Lorena, Nora Gertrude, Belva Corla,
William Frank and Neal. The Doctor is a
member of Highlandville Lodge No. 331, I. O. O. F., and was its first N. G. Mrs. Collins is a member of the Christian Church.
In scanning the lives
and careers of the citizens of Swan Township, it is pleasant to note the
exercise of enterprise in every walk of life, and the achievement of success in
every department of business. Thus one is
enabled to discern in the career of Mr. Cook, who has for many years been a
successful farmer and stockraiser of Taney County. He was born one mile from where he now lives in 1841 and is a son
of James and Catherine (Steward) Cook, natives of Simpson County, Ky., the
former born about 1805 and the latter in 1803.
The elder Cook was reared in his native county, secured a fair education
for his day, and was there married to Miss Steward who accompanied him in 1838
to Taney County, Mo., the journey being made by wagon and occupying six
weeks. They located in the woods on
Swan Creek, when that region was sparsely settled, and improved a good farm on
which he lived half a century, the wife dying about 1879 and he in 1888. They were Methodists for many years and no
people were better respected in the community.
Honorable and upright in every walk of life, the father’s character was
above reproach. He was a Democrat in
politics and was in sympathy with the South during the war, but did not take an
active part. He was one of the first
settlers of Taney County and assisted materially in its improvement and
development. His father, James Cook,
was a North Carolinian, but was an early settler of Kentucky, where he remained
until 1838 and then came to Taney County; here he improved a good farm on Swan
Creek, now a part of Christian County.
There he lived until the Rebellion when he removed to near Ozark, where
he died about 1864, when nearly one hundred years old. He was a lifelong farmer. He was the father of nine children, five
sons and four daughters, only one of whom is now living, Polly Cunningham, of
Christian County. The maternal
grandfather, Daniel Steward, and his wife, Mary Steward, were natives of
Scotland but early settlers of Kentucky, where Mr. Steward died when about
sixty years of age. His widow then
moved to Taney County, Mo., with her daughter, Mrs. Cook, and there died a
number of years before the war.
Mr. and Mrs. Cook
became the parents of eight children, three sons and five daughters, as
follows: William A., died when sixteen years of age; Mary, wife of Geo. W.
Jackson, died about 1868; James D., a farmer of Taney County; Elvira, wife of
William B. Sims of Taney County; Missouri C., widow of William D. Casey; John
L., subject; Angeline, wife of William D. Hodges of Taney County, and
Elizabeth, wife of John J. Thomas of Taney County. Amid the rude surroundings of pioneer life our subject passed his
youthful days, and as might be supposed his educational advantages were rather
limited. In the year 1863 he was wedded
to Miss Mary J. Clemens a native of the Buckeye State and the daughter of
William and Margaret Clemens, who were born in Pennsylvania. About 1859 her parents left Ohio for Taney
County, Mo., and there Mr. Clemens died soon after. Our subject’s marriage resulted in the birth of seven sons:
Calvin L., Leander H., William L., John D., Elverton C., Thomas B., and D. J.,
who is known as “Doc” being the seventh son.
In the year 1864 Mr. Cook joined Company F., Seventy-second Missouri
Infantry, under Col. John S. Phelps, and was stationed at Springfield most of
the time or until a short time before the close of the war. Afterward he resumed farming, residing for
four years in Greene County, and then came to his present home on Swan Creek,
eight miles above Forsyth, where he has 172 acres with about 75 acres under
cultivation. In 1888 he was elected
sheriff of Taney County and so well and satisfactorily did he fill that
position that he was re-elected in 1890.
He has ever been a Democrat in his political views and is the second
Democrat who has held that office in Taney County since the war. Although not a politician he is a liberal
supporter of his party.
A. C. Crain, ex-sheriff of
Christian County and one of the representative men of the same, is now living a
retired life at Sparta, Mo. He is a
native of Tennessee, born in Franklin County October 2, 1833, and the son of
William B. and Alice (Ford) Crain, natives of Tennessee. The grandfather, William B. Crain, was a
native of North Carolina and came to Tennessee at an early day. Later he moved with his family to Stoddard
County, Mo., and in 1842 settled with his family in Greene County. Previous to this, in 1839, the father of our
subject died and the mother followed him to the grave the following year. Both died in Stoddard County. The grandfather reared the three children
born to this union. William Crain
resided in Taylor Township, Greene County, for three or four years and then
moved on the James River, near Galloway.
Two years later he moved to Newton County, Mo., before it was organized
and made his home there for three years.
There his death occurred and the family subsequently moved back to
Greene County, settling in the same neighborhood where they had formerly
lived. Some years later the grandmother
went back to Newton County and there received her final summons. She and her husband were the parents of
eleven children: Mahala, Lucinda, Hannah, Dollie, Mary, James, Hiram, William
B. (father of subject), Leroy, John and Samuel. Several of the sons took an active part in the Rebellion. John and Leroy were in the Union Army, while
James and Hiram were in Texas and soldiers in the Confederate Army. The Crain family held membership in the
Methodist Episcopal Church and the male members of the family were Democrats at
an early day. The original of this
notice was the eldest of three children.
The others were: Hiram H., who was a resident of this county until the
breaking out of the war, when he enlisted in the Union Army and was killed near
Booneville, Ark., in the last fight of his regiment. He enlisted in the Eighth Missouri Volunteer Cavalry, under Col.
W. F. Gregor, and served three years, his death occurring October 24,
1864. To his marriage have been born
two children, both of whom are residing in Webster County. The subject of this sketch was reared in
this part of the county and in September, 1862, he enlisted in Company L,
Eighth Regiment Volunteer Cavalry, and served until the close of the war. He and brother, Hiram, were in all the
battles of the regiment and saw much hard service, but our subject was never
wounded or made a prisoner of war.
Receiving his discharge in July, 1865, Mr. Crain, who had worked his way
from a private to the rank of first lieutenant, returned to his home. Previous to the war, in 1859, he was married
to Miss Martha Kershner and two children were born before the war, one just the
day before he left to enter the army.
Mrs. Crain was a native of Greene County, born in 1842, and the daughter
of John and Martha (Amous) Kershner, who came to Greene County, Mo., about
1849. Mr. and Mrs. Kershner were the
parents of ten children, as follows: William, Thomas, John H., Delvitt C., James,
Elizabeth, Francis, Sarah, Harriet and Martha.
This family came from Tennessee and became well known in Greene County.
After the war Mr. Crain began
farming on his present property and continued to till the soil until 1872, when
he was elected sheriff and collector of Christian County. This position he filled in a very
satisfactory manner for seven years. He
has always affiliated with the Republican party and is a most worthy
citizen. He was deputy sheriff of Greene
County before the war and was elected mayor of Sparta when the town was incorporated. He is now retired from active business and
resides with his family in Sparta. He
has reared four daughters and four sons, all of whom are living: Luzanna is the
wife of William Robertson, of Ozark; Harriett is the widow of James Bench (she
has five children and is now making her home with our subject); Martha, wife of
James Adams, who is the county clerk; Inez, at home; William H., who is married
and a farmer; John H. resides at Ozark and is deputy county clerk; Thomas is in
the machine shops of the Frisco Railroad at Springfield and James, the
youngest, is still in school. Mr. and
Mrs. Crain attend the Christian Church, of which the latter is a member. Mr. Crain is a member of the
I. O. O. F. lodge at Sparta, is an old member and
has held all the offices in the order.
He is also a member of the G. A. R. post at Sparta. Aside from a good farm adjoining Sparta, Mr.
Crain owns property in that town. He is
a self-made man, for he started out for himself without a dollar in his pocket,
educated himself and made a success of his life. He attended the district school three months each year for a
number of years, and being studious and persevering became a well-informed
man. He is well known to the people of
this and other counties and during the time he was sheriff he had the
Hart-Davis case to handle and took the first prisoner from this county to the
penitentiary. He has always been
interested in church and schoolwork and helped organize this township when it
had no free schools. He assisted in
building five schoolhouses. For six
years Mr. Crain was a merchant of Sparta.
Christian County has long had the
reputation of being one of the best agricultural and stockraising counties in
the State. Not only do the farmers here
give much of their attention to stockraising, but they are generally men of
enterprise and information, who take pride in agricultural affairs also. Prominent among those who have done their
full share in advancing every interest in this county is Mr. Deeds, who owes
his nativity to Greene County, Mo., born October 4, 1845. He is a son of Dr. John and Melissa (Davis)
Deeds, and the grandson of John Deeds, Sr., who was one of the pioneers of
Greene County, Mo. The latter came from
Tennessee to the last named county and located just north of Springfield, where
he improved a good farm and passed the closing scenes of his life. He was of Dutch extraction, as was also his
wife, and both were worthy members of the Baptist Church. Our subject’s maternal grandfather, Joshua
Davis, was also an early settler of Greene County and settled in the same
neighborhood about 1836. There he
developed a good farm from the woods and there he and his wife passed away. He was a very prominent character, and
although a cripple and something of an invalid, he had a very brilliant
mind. An eloquent orator and an able,
active politician, he wielded no small influence in the State of Missouri. For twelve years he was clerk of the court
of Greene County and he edited and published The Lancet as well as The Mirror
in Springfield for many years. His
death occurred in 1856 and his son, William P., succeeded him in journalistic
work.
The original
of this notice was reared by an aunt, Mrs. Muessida A. McGaugh, north of
Springfield, until about twelve years of age, and then she came to Christian
County and she now makes her home with our subject. As the latter grew up he became familiar with farming in all its
details and secured a liberal education in the common schools. When twenty-two years of age he began
farming for himself and agricultural pursuits have continued to be his chosen
occupation. Early in 1863 he enlisted
in Company H, Sixteenth Missouri Cavalry, and operated in Kansas and North
Missouri for about twenty months, or until the close of the war. He participated in a number of prominent
engagements and was discharged at Springfield.
In the year 1866 he was married to Miss Frances E. Collins, daughter of
Dr. John D. Collins (see sketch), and a native of Marshall County, Tenn. Nine children have been born to our subject
and wife, viz.: Mary, an infant, Maude, Stella, Marshall, John, Pearl, William
and Edward, all deceased except the four last named. After his marriage our subject moved four miles south of Ozark,
but only remained there one year when he moved to his present farm, three miles
southwest of Ozark, where he has 270 acres with about 150 acres cleared. Aside from farming he is engaged quite
extensively in buying and feeding cattle, etc., and is one of the substantial
men of this section. He has put nearly
all the improvements on his farm and attends strictly to business. He and Mrs. Deeds are members of the Baptist
Church, in which they are active workers.
No better citizens have come to
Christian County, Mo., than those who emigrated from bonnie Scotland, and who
brought as their inheritance from Highland ancestry the traits of character and
life which has ever distinguished the race. Among these we find Judge William
Easson, who was born six miles from Sterling, Scotland, September 24, 1835, and
who has been a resident of Christian County since 1869. He is a son of Henry and Jane (Bryce)
Easson, both native of Scotland, who emigrated to this country in the year
1841. The parents located at Hamden, N. Y., after reaching the United States,
and there the father followed farming until his death March 8, 1892. After coming to this country he advocated
the principles of the Whig party, but later became a Republican. He became quite wealthy, and was a worthy
member of the Reformed Presbyterian Church.
The mother died in the Empire State in August 1893, and she, too, was a
life long member of the Reformed Presbyterian Church. Eight children were born
to them: William, our subject; James,
who died in Scotland when a babe; Belle, single, is living in New York State;
Henry, resides at Beaver Falls, Pa., and a preacher in the Reformed
Presbyterian Church, who for twenty years was missionary in Syria; Christina
died when six years of age; John also died young; Andrew J. is living on the
old home farm in New York; and Elizabeth J. is the wife of William Alexander
and resides in the
Empire State. Our subject and Henry took part in the Civil
War. Henry enlisted in the Third New
York Calvary Regiment, Company I., and served two years. He participated in a
number of prominent engagements, but was never wounded. Our subject’s boyhood days were passed in
attending the schools of York State during the winter months, and in building
stone fences during the summer seasons.
When the Civil War broke out he enlisted in the Eighth Indiana Battery,
of New York, under Capt. Butler Fitch, and was not attached to any regiment. Some of his battles were Williamsburg,
Yorktown, Seven Pines, and he was in the seven days’ fight across the
Peninsula. He was also in the Gen. Cox
raid through the South, cutting off railroads, etc., in South Carolina and
other places. He was discharged in
June, 1865, and although he had seven holes shot in his clothes at Seven Pines,
he was never seriously injured. At the
close of the war he located in the State of New York, and remained there until
1869, when he came to Christian County, Mo., buying a farm four miles northwest
of Ozark. On this he resided until 1890
when he retired from farming and came to Ozark, in order to educate his
children. He has a pleasant home in
that city and this is presided over by his excellent wife, who was formerly
Miss Sarah M. Morrison, daughter of James and Ellen Morrison, who came
originally from Scotland and settled in Delaware County, N. Y. Mrs. Easson was educated in York State, and
in early life was a teacher. To Mr. And
Mrs. Easson have been born three children, two of whom are living. The eldest died young, and Nellie J. and
Aggie B. are in school. Mr. Easson is
the owner of 165 acres of land, and is a well-to-do citizen of the county. He has always affiliated with the Republican
party, and is active in all matters of moment.
In 1886 he was elected to the office of presiding judge of Christian
County on the Republican ticket, and held that position for four years, being
in office during the Bald Knob trouble.
Fraternally, he is a member of the I.O.O.F., Finley Lodge No. 206, at
Ozark, and is the treasurer of the organization. He is a member of Capt. Robertson Post, G. A. R., at Ozark, and has been commander two or three
times. The Judge and family are members
of the Protestant Methodist Church, and no family in the county is better
respected. Mrs. Easson is a lady of
character and high literary taste.
The noble profession of medicine
affords to the student in that science a never-ending source of investigation
and experiment. New remedies are
constantly being discovered, steady progress is being made in surgery and new
diseases are presenting themselves under varying forms of civilization. In the noble army of workers in this great
field may be found the name of Dr. C. B. Elkins, who, since 1888, has resided
in Ozark, Christian County, Mo. He came
from Cannon County, Tenn., in 1870, and with his father settled in Christian
County about three miles from Ozark.
There his father, H. R. Elkins, still resides. Dr. Elkins owes his nativity to Tennessee; in which Sate his
birth occurred in 1862. His mother,
Ruth Neely, was also born in that State and was a daughter of Alexander
Neely. The Elkins family have been
known in America ever since colonial days and have been residents of Tennessee
from the very early history of that State.
When Dr. Elkins was five years old he was left motherless with a brother
and sister. The former, Euclid Elkins,
became a man of family and died in Ozark County, Mo., in 1881, and the latter,
Melissa, became the wife of W. L. Phillips of Christian County. After death of the wife and mother, the
father married again and by his second wife became the father to two sons,
James T. and William B. James T. is
with the Johnson Witty Drug Company, and William B. is with J. L. Lee Tire and
Timber Company, Sparta, Mo. The Doctor
first attended the district schools of Christian County, and in 1880 began the
study of medicine under Dr. I. N. Rogers of Rogersville, Mo., with whom he
remained for some time, after which he entered the Missouri Medical College of
St. Louis, and graduated from the same in March, 1885. He began practicing his profession with Dr.
Rogers, but in 1886 moved to Sparta and two years later formed a partnership
with Dr. John H. Fulbright, at Ozark, Mo., with whom he has since been
connected in the practice of his profession, their patronage extending over a
large extend of territory, comprising several counties. The Doctor is a member of the Southwest
Missouri Medical Association, and socially he belongs to the Ozark Lodge No.
352 of the A. F. & A. M. and the A. O. U. W. The Doctor was married to Miss Alice Flag of Rogersville, a
daughter of Capt. S. A. Flag, who was soldier of the Civil War and died at
Marshfield, Mo., when Mrs. Elkins was but a child, his wife’s death occurring
in1882. To their union four children
were born. The Doctor and his wife have
one son, Ralph, who is a bright and promising lad. Dr. and Mrs. Elkins are worthy members of the Christian Church,
and politically he is a Democrat.
One of the famous lines of the great
play, “The Old Homestead”, is, “Young blood tells.” This expression applies not alone to a man’s social advancement,
but in business life particularly, where the old men are dropping out and the
younger generation stepping into their shoes.
In Lead Hill, Ark., the younger generation is in the lead in every
calling, especially in the mercantile business, a noted firm being Pumphrey
& Cantrell, of which Mr. Cantrell is the junior member. Thomas R. Cantrell was born in Warren
County, Tenn., in 1858, son of Paris and Rosanna (Frier) Cantrell, natives of Tennessee
and Missouri respectively. They were
married in Tennessee, and just after the war removed to McLeansboro, Hamilton
County, Ill., where they resided for a few years and then removed to Greene
County, Mo., thence to Christian County, and about 1878 settled in Harrison,
Ark. Since then they made their homes
in Boone and Marion Counties. For many
years the father was engaged in the boot and shoe trade, but he is now engaged
in agricultural pursuits. He was a
Southern man during the war but took no part.
Fraternally Mr. Cantrell is an Odd Fellow. He is a member of the Christian Church. Mrs. Cantrell was a lady of education and more than ordinary
ability. Her death occurred in Boone
County, Ark. Seven children were born
to this estimable couple, as follows: Merrill J., a farmer of Boone County;
Sabrina A., wife of William J. Patterson, of Greene County, Mo.; Thomas R.;
Milton C. of Springfield, Mo.; Addie, wife of George F. McCleary, of Lead Hill;
Jennie, widow of Calvin Coker, and Howard E., of Springfield, Mo. Thomas R. Cantrell attended school about two
months after he was seven years old, receiving most of his instruction at
home. When twenty years of age he went into
the sawmill business with his father for a short time, and then for a few years
followed stock trading in Marion County.
In 1880 he married Miss Dora Ann Pumphrey, a native of Marion County,
Ark., and the daughter of Lewis R. Pumphrey.
Since removing from Marion County, Mr. Cantrell has been engaged in
mercantile business at Lead Hill, and he is a thoroughgoing and live
businessman. Through his management the
present firm has become one of the most prosperous and responsible in the
county. They carry a large stock of
everything the people need and are doing an annual business of $35,000 at Lead
Hill. They also have a store at Western
Grove, Ark., under the firm name of Cantrell, Magness & Co., with David
Magness as manager, and this house did a business of $35,000 during the year 1893. Mr. Cantrell is certainly a self-made man,
for he started in life with no capital and by his superior business ability and
excellent judgment has become one of the substantial young men of the
county. He and his partner are
extensive feeders and shippers of livestock.
Mr. Cantrell is a member of Polar Star Lodge No. 224, Lead Hill, A. F.
& A.. M.