USA > Missouri > Jasper County > A history of Jasper County, Missouri, and its people, Vol. II > Part 10
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Miss Della Anna Sharp had the moulding of her own career, and well did she fashion the clay. Not only has she made her own life successful, beautiful and filled with noble deeds, but she has brought out the noble and beautiful in others. While the dew of the morning is yet bright upon her life, she can look back upon a career of use- fulness and happiness, while the promise of the future is filled with joyous hope and calm contemplation. The people of Jasper county are proud of Miss Sharp and of her achievements.
J. E. MALLORY .- A well-known and highly esteemed citizen of Jas- per county, J. E. Mallory holds an assured position among the leading business men of Carthage, where he is prosperously engaged in the man- ufacture of carriages, surreys, buggies, sulkies, road carts, driving carts, farm wagons and pleasure vehicles and work vehicles of all descriptions. being at the head of the enterprising firm of Mallory & Murray, carriage manufacturers, repairers and dealers, his co-partner being Robert Mur- ray. of whom a brief sketch appears on succeeding pages. A son of L. C. Mallory, he was born September 2. 1880, in Wichita, Kansas, his birth occurring there at the time of the grand boom given that town, when lots lying five miles out on the prairie were considered the very best property in which money could be invested, their value doubling within a week at that time.
L. C. Mallory was born, reared and educated in Illinois, but began his
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active career in IIenry county, Indiana, where he carried on mixed hus- bandry for some time. Selling his farm in 1879, he moved with his fam- ily to Wichita, Kansas, and, imbued with all the enthusiasm of a modern "booster," bought land and erected several cottages to rent. The boom, however, collapsed, and his cottages stood vacant, no one caring to give even a dollar a month for one to live in. Coming to Missouri, he located in Jasper county, and has since lived in the vicinity of Carthage, where he is kept busily employed at his trade of a stone mason and brick ma- son. Ile married, in Henry county, Indiana, Ellen Lambertson, and into their household five children have been born, as follows: Florence ; O. L., a well-known contractor of Carthage; J. E., the special subject of this brief sketch; Mary, living with her parents, and Willard, also at home.
But an infant when brought by his parents to Jasper county, J. E. Mallory was here brought up and educated. As a youth he made good use of his natural mechanical talents, and served an apprenticeship at the carriage maker's trade under F. H. Brownsill, of Carthage. For sev- eral years Mr. Mallory was here engaged in business alone, but for a year or two has been in partnership with Robert Murray, under the firm name of Mallory & Murray, and has carried on a thriving and constantly increasing business in his special line of industry, his shops being among the leading ones of the kind in Jasper county.
Mr. Mallory married, at the age of nineteen years, Cora Forney, who was born in Lawrence county, Missouri, a daughter of Samuel Forney, and they are the parents of two children, namely : Louie T., aged eight years ; and J. E., Jr., three years old. Politically Mr. Mallory affiliates with the Democratic party. Fraternally he belongs to lodge No. 197, Ancient Free and Accepted Order of Masons; to lodge No. 171, Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows; and to lodge No. 14, Knights of Pythias.
ROBERT MURRAY .- An active and prosperous business man of Carthage, Robert Murray, junior member of the firm of Mallory & Mur- ray, is identified with the manufacturing interests of this section of Jas- per county, making, repairing and dealing in vehicles of all descriptions, including single and double carriages, road carts, driving carts, sulkies and wagons. He was born, April 13, 1871, in Ashley, Washington county, Illinois, the year made memorable, especially to the Illinois people, by the disastrous conflagration that so nearly destroyed Chicago.
His father, M. F. Murray, was born in Pennsylvania, of thrifty Scotch ancestry, and as a young man migrated to the Prairie state, lo- cating in Ashley. His wife, whose maiden name was Margaret Casner, died several years ago, her death occurring at Ashley.
In his earlier life Robert Murray spent a number of years in Prince- ton, Indiana, and likewise in Princeton, Illinois, being employed as a mechanic in different railroad shops. Coming from Illinois to Carthage, Missouri, Mr. Murray was for fourteen years employed as a blacksmith in the stone quarries, keeping the tools used in quarrying in perfect order, work which he was fully competent to execute, being an expert in the use of iron and steel. In 1911 Mr. Murray formed a copartnership with Mr. J. E. Mallory, and has since carried on an extensive and thriv- ing business as a manufacturer of vehicles, as mentioned in a previous paragraph, his mechanical ability and thorough knowledge of the black- smith's trade winning him marked success in his operations.
Mr. Murray married, at the age of twenty-two years, in Illinois, Dolly Fox, and to them three children have been born, namely : Jewett, Saint Elmo, and Bluebell. Politically Mr. Murray is a consistent member of the Republican party. and fraternally he belongs to the Knights and Ladies of Security.
Vol. II .- 5.
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CHARLEY G. HENDERSON .- The history of Charley G. Henderson shows how potent an element is persistent purpose in the active affairs of life. Largely through his own well-directed endeavors he has hewn out an important place for himself in the business world of Joplin, Mis- souri, where he has succeeded his father as owner and manager of the important concern known as the S. C. Henderson Grocery Company, this being one of the oldest and most extensive establishments of its kind in the southwest.
A native of the fine old Hoosier state of the Union, Charley G. IIen- derson was born at Vevay, Indiana, on the 8th of December. 1865. and he is a son of Samuel C. and Harriet Elizabeth (Stivers) Henderson. both of whom are now deceased. The father was a native of the state of Indiana and the mother claimed Ohio as the place of her birth. Mr. and Mrs. Henderson became the parents of one son, G. G. Henderson, of this review. The elder gentleman was a prominent business man of this city at the time of his death, in 1903, and he was universally mourned as a citizen of sterling worth and unquestioned integrity. For twenty years before going into the grocery business he was a pilot on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers.
The mother died in 1870. in Vevay, Indiana. Mr. Henderson of this notice was a child of but five years of age at the time of her death. The father removed to Fairburg, Illinois, and from there to Baxter Springs. Kansas, and in 1876 he came to Joplin, and during these changes he re- mained in the grocery business. After his mother's death he went to live with his grandmother in Edinburgh, Indiana, and there he received his preliminary educational training. In 1896, at the age of thirty-one years, he went to Franklin, Indiana, where he engaged in the bakery business. He was thus engaged for a period of three and a half years, at the expiration of which, in 1899, he came to Joplin, where he became associated with his father in the grocery business. At the time of the latter's death Mr. Henderson became sole owner of the extensive busi- ness built up by the father and through his able direction the same has reached gigantic proportions.
At Edinburgh, Indiana. on the 31st of December, 1885, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Henderson to Miss Emma Downs, daugh- ter of Anson Downs, long a representative citizen of that place. Mr. and Mrs. Henderson are the parents of six children. whose names are here entered in respective order of birth-Charlie. Ralph, Frank, Mark, Ethel and Clara. Two other children are deceased. Walter having died at the age of two years and another in early infancy. In their religious affilia- tions Mr. and Mrs. Henderson are devout members of the Christian church and they are popular factors in the best social activities of Joplin. where their attractive home is recognized as a center of refinement and hospitality.
While Mr. Henderson is not actively interested in politics, he exer- rises his franchise in favor of the Republican party and is ever ready to do all in his power to advance the best interests of the city and of the county at large. He is prominent in Masonic circles, being a member of Joplin Consistory and having attained to the thirty-second degree. He is also connected with the Joplin Club and with the local lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Mr. Henderson is a man of fine mentality and broad human sympathy. He thoroughly enjoys home life and takes great pleasure in the society of his family and friends. He is always courteous, kindly and affable, and those who know him personally accord him the highest esteem. His life has been exemplary in all re- speets and he has ever supported those interests which are caleulated to
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uplift and benefit humanity, while his own splendid moral worth is de- serving of the highest commendation.
J. B. OWENS .- Standing high among the keen and progressive busi- ness men of Carthage is J. B. Owens, who is widely and favorably known throughout this vicinity as proprietor of Owens' Livery. Sale and Board- ing Stables, which are conveniently located. being two blocks east and one block south of the Public Square. In his stables he has accommoda- tions for one hundred horses, the stalls being roomy, the water supply ample and pure, while the sanitary conditions are satisfactory to his numerous patrons, being carefully looked after by the owner. Mr. Owens keeps a fine line of driving horses, perfectly safe for either ladies or gentlemen to handle, and has vehicles of all kinds and for every possible occasion. A native of Kentucky, he was born October 22, 1860. in Adair county, a son of Rev. Joel G. Owens, who was a preacher by pro- fession and a cooper by trade.
Rev. Joel G. Owens followed both his trade and his profession in Kentucky for many years, being a skilful mechanic and an earnest and zealous worker in the Master's vineyard. He married Elizabeth West. a native of South Carolina, and of the eleven children born of their union but two survive, as follows: J. B., the special subject of this brief bio- graphical record, and Mrs. Phobe Barger, of Fayetteville, Arkansas.
Growing to manhood in his Kentucky home. J. B. Owens attended the district schools in his youthful days as opportunity occurred, and while in his early teens began working in the tobacco fields and tobacco facto- ries. Searching for more remunerative employment. he crossed not only the Mississippi river, but the state of Missouri, locating in Lawrence county, where he remained a short time. Coming then to Jasper county Mr. Owens has here been a resident for twenty years, during which time he has lived principally in Carthage, where he has built up an excellent reputation as a man of honor and integrity, and established a substantial and lucrative business as a liveryman.
Mr. Owens married, in Lawrence county, Missouri, in 1889, Martha Cook, a native of that county, and they have three children, namely : Ola B., who is employed as a clerk with the Rose Mercantile Company ; Opal B .; and Helen M. Politically Mr. Owens uniformly supports the principles of the Republican party, both by voice and by vote. Frater- nally he is a member of lodge No. 172, Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows; and of the Modern Woodmen of America, lodge No. 3340. Relig- iously he and his family are valued members and active workers of the Methodist Episcopal church.
ARTHUR B. MCCONNELL .- Few of the citizens of Joplin have done more to further its material and civic advancement and well being than has this well known, influential and popular business man, whose benig- nant activities have extended in many and varied directions and who stands exemplar of the most loyal and public-spirited citizenship. He has been a prominent factor in connection with real-estate operations in Joplin and Jasper county, as well as in other sections of the country, and in his local enterprise, involving both the handling of his own proper- ties and those of representative clients, he has signally aided in the sub- stantial upbuilding and progress of his home city and county, where he holds peculiarly strong vantage ground in popular confidence and esteem. It is largely due to his efforts that the permanence of the Joplin Young Men's Christian Association was secured and its affairs placed in prosperous condition. His work in this connection alone would mark him as specially worthy of representation in this publication.
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Arthur Bradford MeConnell reverts with due satisfaction to the fine old Keystone state as the place of his nativity, and he is a seion of a family founded in that commonwealth in the pioneer days. He was born on a farm in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, on the 29th of August, 1846. and is a son of Samuel and Letitia (Mitchell) MeConnell, both of whom passed their entire lives in that county. Samuel MeConnell was a man of sterling character and ever held the confidence and good will of his fellowmen. He was born in Beaver county, in the year 1815, and there his death occurred in November, 1865, his loved and devoted wife having been summoned to the life eternal in February, 1855. Both were earnest and devout members of the Presbyterian church and were instant in good works and kindly deeds. They became the parents of six children. of whom five attained to years of maturity, and of the number two sons and two daughters are now living. The oldest son, John Mitchell McConnell. a member of the One Hundredth (Round- heads) Pennsylvania Volunteers in the late Civil war, died on the battle- field, near Petersburg, Virginia, on August 19, 1864, at the age of twenty- four, after a continuous, active service of more than three years. The genealogy of the McConnell family is traced baek to staunch Scotch- Irish origin. The original representatives of the Mitchell family in America, also of Scotch-Irish lineage, came from the north of Ireland.
Arthur B. MeConnell was reared to the sturdy discipline of the home farm and his early educational advantages were those afforded in the common and select schools of his native county. At the age of twenty, he entered Duff's Business College in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and took the full course in preparation for an active business life. He then en- gaged in farming and stock raising on his own account in Lawrence county, Pennsylvania, where he continued to reside until 1873, when he removed to Youngstown, Mahoning county, Ohio, to engage in the real estate business, in which he continued with marked success until August, 1884. "The Real Estate Reporter" published continuously by him, made his name and business familiar in eastern Ohio and west- ern Pennsylvania. In the fall of 1884 Mr. McConnell removed to een- tral Kansas and established his home at Salina, Saline county, where he engaged in the same line of enterprise, in which his transactions reached large scope, involving the handling of large tracts of farm land in that section of the state. In the years 1886 and 1887 central Kan- sas experienced an exceptional "boom" and in this connection Mr. Me- Connell found it expedient to confine his business principally to the handling of eity and town properties and sub-divisions, in which his operations were extensive and profitable.
He had however the pre- science to discern the extravagance to which speculation would certainly lead in connection with this unprecedented boom, and he clearly antiei- pated the reaction that eventually ensued. In 1889, therefore, having disposed of his principal holdings in Kansas, he with marked sagacity chose Jasper county, Missouri, as his new field of endeavor. In the vear mentioned he established his office in Joplin, where he has since continued to be actively and successfully identified with real-estate operations as one of the leading representatives of this important line of enterprise in this section of the state. Within late years he has handled many of the most important and valuable properties in Joplin and vicinity. He has made a specialty of sub-divisions, and in the plat- ting and improving of the same has effected the development of some of the most beautiful residence sections of the city. His success has been based not less upon excellent business judgment and progressive methods than upon his unassailable reputation for integrity and honor in all his dealings. He has permitted no misrepresentations, has not
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essayed the inflation of values, and has held steadily to the course defined by the highest business and economic ethics. He has also become financially interested in mining operations and mining lands, and he is the owner of valuable city and farm realty in Jasper county.
Standing exponent of the utmost civic loyalty, Mr. McConnell has exerted his influence in behalf of industrial, commercial and civic prog- ress, and has done all in his power to further the moral and social well being of the community. Though never desirous of entering the arena of practical politics, he is found arrayed as a staunch supporter of the principles of the Republican party, and is well fortified in his opinions as to public economies. He has long been a zealous and devout member of the Presbyterian church, as was also his gracious and noble wife, and is at the present time and has been for many years an elder of the First Presbyterian church in his home city,-a liberal supporter of its various activities.
Mr. McConnell was one of the foremost in securing to Joplin its present and thoroughly modern Young Men's Christian Association building, and in the promoting of this beneficent enterprise he con- tributed most generously of his time, effort and capital. He is a charter member of the local association, was a member of its first board of direc- tors, and it is largely due to his earnest efforts in ordering its affairs and defining its policies that so great success has been gained by this noble institution. In urging the necessity for a new building and planning to effect this improvement the original promoters had the courage of their convictions and steadily pressed forward in the worthy undertaking. They pledged their personal securities in providing for the initiation of the building operations, and at the same time adopted and carried out a plan by which the property is placed perpetually in the hands of a board of trustees under restrictions, which secures the building of the association from all danger of ever being lost by the accumulation of debts against it. The new building was completed in 1901 and is an en- during monument to the enterprise and earnest devotion of those who fostered the work. In December, 1905, the association found itself under a heavy load of debt, the accumulation of several years deficit in current expenses and for furnishing the new building. Mr. McConnell was pre- vailed upon to accept the presidency of the board of directors at that time, which he did with the understanding that the board would under- take to rid the association of this debt during the year 1906. A plan for the Y. M. C. A. Addition to Joplin was carefully laid and carried out, by which ten thousand dollars was provided during that year in cash, with which the floating debt was all paid and an equal sum in val- uable securities provided for the further work of the association.
Mr. McConnell's business offices in the First National Bank building have been occupied by him continuously from the beginning of his busi- ness in Joplin. His residence is at 115 Moffet avenue, a comfortable and commodious dwelling which he built in 1899.
In Lawrence county, Pennsylvania, on the 1st of March, 1870, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. McConnell to Miss Nancy J. Patterson, who was born in that county, the daughter of Robert Patterson, a pros- perous farmer of that section of the old Keystone state. More deeply than ever before was Mr. McConnell given to drink from the chalice of sorrow when, on the 16th day of August, 1901, his faithful and de- voted wife, a woman of most gracious and gentle personality, whose memory is cherished by all who knew her, was summoned to eternal rest. Mr. and Mrs. McConnell became the parents of four children, of whom two died in infancy. Robert, the eldest, who was born May 11, 1871, was associated with his father in business from his youth until his death,
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which occurred on the 2d of February, 1909. He was a young man of noble character and most attractive personality, generous and kindly. sincere and earnest who won and retained to himself the staunchest of friends, for he was a friend to all, so that his untimely death was deeply deplored both in business and social circles in Joplin. The home at 115 Moffet avenue is presided over most efficiently in constant faithfulness by the youngest and only remaining child, Veda Estelle McConnell, whose loving devotion to her father is well known throughont the entire circle of her acquaintance.
WALTER R. FLETCHER .- Joplin is particularly fortunate in pos- sessing a man of the energy, enterprise and fine executive capacity of Walter R. Fletcher, one of the city's leading real estate merchants and a factor in local Democratie polities. Beginning the battle of life at the early age of nine years, his life has been a gratifying record of continual advancement due to his own efforts and he is edifying as a particularly brilliant example of that typically American product, the self-made man. By the circumstance of birth Mr. Fletcher belongs to Illinois, his birth having occurred in Pulaski county, near Mound City, April 1, 1865. His parents were Henry and Ellen ( Phillips) Fletcher. When the subject was a child of about five years his parents made a change of residence, removing to St. Louis, Missouri, which proved to be their permanent home. At the proper age the little lad was sent to the Benton school of that city and pursued his elementary studies with a great deal of native diligence. The family fortunes were not prosperous, however. and as there is no arguing with necessity, young Walter when but nine found it incumbent upon him to leave school in order to secure work and add to the family support. He became a cash boy with the B. Nugent Dry Goods Company in St. Louis, but relinquished this after several months and became identified with the Swallows Dry Goods Company. After a season there he went to work for the William Barr Dry Goods Company and remained with that firm for one year, only leaving to secure a more remunerative position with a dye works and cigar factory at Eleventh and Olive streets, where he remained for some months. He was then offered a position in a bakery situated on the south end of the old Lneas market, the proprietor being a Mr. Bishop, who had taken a good deal of interest in the boy. His service with him was destined to be of short duration, for a rival bakery conducted by a Mr. Mann, at the north end of the market employed him at an advanced salary. He stayed in this position for some time, but as usual was on the look out for better work and more pay. It came in due time in the shape of a position with the J. S. White Company, thread manufacturers. He again found more remunerative work with a large grocery concern at 5 Spruce street, with which he remained for about a year. It then happened that he saw opportunity to seeure a little more schooling and he again became a student at the Benton School. which he had attended so long before. After pursuing his studies there for a year and a half he tried an entirely new field of en- deavor, the matter coming about in this wise. His father had found himself financially able to purchase a large tract of land not far out- side the city limits and upon this had begun agricultural operations. Young Walter joined the family in the country and began work as an assistant in the manifold duties to be encountered upon the farm and he continued thus employed for two years. However, he had too much excitement in the past and farm life palled upon him to such an ex- tent that he went back to the city and seeured a position with the Lig- gett & Myers Tobacco Company. He worked very hard and, as was
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characteristic, was ever on the alert for promotion, the same coming to him on his sixteenth birthday. Unknown to him the superintendent had been watching his work and had decided to try him out and he was placed in charge of sixteen men, having sole supervision of their work. Later the number was increased to thirty-two, but the labor and re- sponsibility was such a strain on shoulders so young that his health gave way. Notwithstanding the head of the firm, not wishing to lose so valu- able a man, placed him in charge of the scales, which proved a less trying position. He remained in that capacity for two years longer and then resigned to accept a position with the Collier Publishing Company, in St. Louis, which position he held for nine years.
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