USA > Missouri > Jasper County > A history of Jasper County, Missouri, and its people, Vol. II > Part 20
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active management and supervision of its important interests in Jasper county, where operations are conducted under the title of the Empire Zine Company, as has already been noted. As an expert mineralogist Mr. Dwyer's reputation has far transcended local limitations, and he has been a valued and influential counselor and practical operator in con- nection with his company's development of mining interest in various states in the Union. Mr. Dwyer is a stockholder in the Joplin Trust Company and is secretary and treasurer of the Paomo Mining Company, operating successfully in Jasper county.
Mr. Dwyer is intensely loyal and public-spirited as a citizen and while he has neither sought or desired the honors or emoluments of public of- fice he has ever been ready to give his support to all measures and en- terprises projected for the general good of the community. In a generic sense he gives allegiance to the Democratic party, but in local affairs he maintains an attitude independent of partisan lines. He is affiliated with the Joplin lodge of Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and both he and his wife are zealous communicants of the Catholic church, in which they hold membership in the parish of St. Peter's church in their home city, where their circle of friends is coincident with that of their acquaintances.
On the 19th of May, 1870, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Dwyer to Miss Annie Mullen, who was born in county Wicklow, Ireland, and who was a child at the time of her father's immigration to America, shortly after the death of her mother. She is a daughter of Patrick and Mary Mullen and her father passed the closing years of his life in the state of Maryland. Concerning the children of Mr. and Mrs. Dwyer the following data are given : Patrick, who was born at Friends- ville, Pennsylvania, May 12, 1873, died on the 25th of the following August ; Edward, who was born at Friendsville, on the 24th of July, 1875, married Miss Alvina Zellepen and they reside in Joplin, where he is engaged with the Prime Western Spelter Company; Mary, who was born at Friendsville, Pennsylvania, December 16, 1878, is the wife of S. J. O'Donnell, of Joplin; Elizabeth, who was born at Friendsville, January 6, 1879, is the wife of John W. Maher, of Joplin; and James F., who was born in the same Pennsylvania town, on the 18th of Novem- ber, 1881, married Miss Nettie Brigham, of Iola, Kansas, where they now maintain their home.
FRANK NICHOLSON .- Prominently identified with the great mining industry, through the medium of which has been compassed much of the development and upbuilding of the thriving city of Joplin as well as of Jasper county in its entirety, Mr. Nicholson is one of the valued and representative business men of the county metropolis. He has shown marked initiative and construetive ability in connection with the exploiting of large and important industrial interests and as a promoter along these lines he well exemplified the best type of American pro- gressiveness, the while his course has at all times been dominated by up- rightness and strict observance of the best eode of business ethics.
Frank Nicholson is a scion of staneh old southern stock and is him- self a native of the Lone Star state. He was born in the city of Dallas, Texas, on the 15th of January, 1860, and is a son of Colonel Edmund Pendleton Nicholson and Elizabeth (Savage) Nicholson, the former of whom was born in Mississippi and the latter in the city of New Orleans, Louisiana. Colonel Edmund P. Nicholson received excellent educational advantages in his youth, including thorough training for the legal pro- fession. As a young man he removed to Texas and engaged in the prac- tice of his profession in the city of Dallas, where he soon gained dis-
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tinetive precedence as an attorney and counselor of exceptional ability. When the Civil war was precipitated upon the nation he was loyal to the cause of the south and forthwith tendered his services in defense of the cause of the Confederacy. He became a colonel in Hood's Texas brigade and continued in active service during virtually the entire period of the great fratracidal conflict. After the elose of the war Colonel Nicholson eame to Missouri and established his home in Kansas City, where he was engaged in the successful practice of his profession until 1876, when he returned to Texas and located at Weatherford, the judicial center of Parker county. There he continued in the work of his pro- fession for many years and not only did he gain prestige as one of the ablest and most distinguished members of the Texas bar but he also was an influential factor in public affairs. He was a man of most grae- ious personality, courtly in bearing and of fine physique. Endowed with a strong constitution, he retained the utmost physical and mental vitality in his advanced years and continued in the active work of his profession until his death, in 1902, at the venerable age of eighty-two years. He served on the bench of the circuit court and held other offices of public trust, and he was an influential figure in the eouneils of the Demoeratie party in his state. The Nicholson family has been one of distinction in the south and it should be noted that Colonel Nicholson's father, Judge Isaae Nicholson, was one of the foremost legists and jurists of the state of Mississippi, upon the beneh of whose supreme court he served with distinction as chief justice. The cherished and devoted wife of Colonel Nicholson was a woman of gentle refinement and she was about sixty-five years of age at the time of her death. Of the chiil- dren four sons and three daughters are now living.
Frank Nicholson, the immediate subject of this review, was about six years of age at the time of the family removal to Kansas City, where he gained his earlier educational discipline in the public schools. In formulating plans for his future career he determined to prepare him- self for the profession of mining engineer, and with this end in view he entered Washington University, at St. Louis, Missouri, in which in- stitution he completed the preseribed technical course and was graduated as a member of the class of 1880, with the degree of Engineer of Mines. In the year 1883 his alma mater conferred upon him the degree of Master of Science. Shortly after his graduation Mr. Nicholson entered the government service, as a member of a corps in the division of mining geology, under Rafael Pumpelly, and after being thus engaged for a period of about six months he resigned his position to accept that of superintendent of the Ste. Genevieve eopper works, in Ste. Genevieve county, Missouri. In 1882 he assumed the position of superintendent of the Long Island copper works, at Globe, Arizona, an ineumbeney which he retained until 1884, when he gained still further recognition by being made general manager of the Victoria Mining & Smelting Com- pany, at Gage, New Mexico, and in the following year he was appointed general manager of the St. Louis & Sonora Gold & Silver Mining Com- pany, at Sonora, Mexico. ITis fine technical ability and excellent exeeu- tive powers continued to gain to him advancement in his profession, and in 1888 he assumed the office of general manager of the Yuma Copper Company, of Arizona. He accomplished a splendid work in the de- velopment of the properties of this corporation, with which he remained until 1892, when he became general manager of the Winnifred Gold Mining Company, of Phoenix, Arizona. Two years later he accepted a similar position with the Gold Hill Mining Company, in the same territory.
In 1896 Mr. Nicholson went to London, England, where he passed a
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year, engaged in expert and consulting work along the line of his pro- fession. In 1897 he was appointed general manager of the Consolidated Gold Fields of Mexico, which position he resigned in 1899 and came to Joplin, Missouri, as expert representative of eastern capitalists con- trolling important mining properties in this district. He was made consulting engineer for fourteen of the largest mining corporations oper- ating here, and at one time he thus had direct supervision of twenty- nine mills. He is at the present time president and general manager of seven mining corporations. A man of fine technical training and wide and varied experience, Mr. Nicholson stands at the head of his pro- fession, and his success has been gained by vigorous and effective ap- plieation to the work of his chosen calling. He is essentially a business man and has had no predilection for the turbulence of practical politics, but as a citizen he is liberal, loyal and progressive,-ever ready to do all in his power to further those interests that conserve the general well being of the community. He gives his allegiance to the Democratic party, is a valued member of the American Institute of Mining Engi- neers, is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and holds membership in the University Club of New York city. His church relations are with the Episcopalians.
In the city of St. Louis, this state, on the 25th of June, 1884, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Nicholson to Miss Katherine Arner, who was born and reared in that city and who is a niece of the late Governor Norman J. Coleman, of Missouri. Mr. and Mrs. Nicholson have one daughter, Helen, who was united in marriage, in 1907, to Baron Paul Von Zglinitzki, a scion of a noble German house. His father was one of the corps commanders of the German army, and he himself served with distinction in the army of his fatherland. The Baron and his wife now reside in New York city, where he is identified with the firm of Charles R. Flint & Company. engaged in the banking business.
GEORGE A. GRAVES, who is most successfully engaged in the automo- bile business at Joplin, Missouri, where he is sole owner of the concern known under the firm name of the Joplin Automobile Company, is a pioneer citizen in Jasper county, where he has resided for nearly forty years. He was born and reared at Ottumwa, Iowa, the date of his na- tivity being the 22d of January, 1854, and he is a son of A. L. Graves, who settled in Iowa in the carly days when that state was inhabited principally by Indians. The father was a tanner by trade, but at the time of the gold excitement in California he joined a party of enter- prising forty-niners and made the venturesome trip across the plains to the new El Dorado. He remained in the Golden state for a number of years and after having successfully prospected and staked several valuable claims, he disposed of his interest and returned to Ottumwa, Iowa, where he engaged in the manufacture of leather goods. With the passage of time his new enterprise spread out and became one of large proportions. As a prominent and capable business man he was known throughout the state of Iowa and at the time of his death, which occurred about 1899. he was mourned by a wide circle of relatives and friends. The mother of him to whom this sketch is dedicated was Julia Moffit in her girlhood days and she was born and reared in Ohio. Her marriage was solemnized at Augusta, Iowa, and she was summoned to the life eternal before the death of her husband.
The four in order of birth in a family of seven children, George A. Graves passed his boyhood and youth at Ottumwa, to the public schools of which place he is indebted for his educational training, which was of rather meager order. His subsequent reading and experiences, how-
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ever, made up for the early deficiencies of his education and he is now recognized as a well read and brilliant man. In 1873 he came to Joplin and he was then so much impressed with the future possibilities of this place that he immediately determined to "stick," and accordingly pro- cured a position with Messrs. Moffet & Sergeant, as engineer. Later on he was given sole charge of the installation of the first White Lead ma- chinery in this district. From 1876 to 1890 he was a locomotive engi- neer, being employed in construction work in the building of the first railroad from Girard to Joplin. The work and the road were completed in 1877 and Mr. Graves had the honor of being the first locomotive engi- neer to pull a train into Joplin. This road was at that time controlled by private interest but it was later bought up by the Frisco system, be- coming a part of that great railroad. Mr. Graves continued in the serv- ice of the Frisco Company up to 1890, at which time he resigned in or- der to launch out into the business world for himself. He located at Joplin and was the first to engage in the bicycle business here, continu- ing to be identified with that line of enterprise until the automobile was put on the market for general use. He then, in 1903, opened up the Joplin Automobile Garage, this being the pioneer concern of its kind here. He has continued to be engaged in the auto business, and through fair dealings and honest policies he has developed one of the finest and most prosperous business enterprises in this city.
At Joplin, in November, 1880, was recorded the marriage of Mr. Graves to Miss Mariette T. McQuigg, whose birth occurred in Tyrone, Pennsylvania, where she was reared and educated. She is a daughter of J. B. McQuigg and is a woman of most gracious personality, being deeply beloved by all who have come within the sphere of her gentle influence. Mr. and Mrs. Graves have one child,-Mamie, who is now the wife of Frank Holden, manager of the Century Auto Company. Mr. and Mrs. Holden were married in September, 1909.
In his political proclivities Mr. Graves is aligned as a stalwart sup- porter of the principles and policies set forth by the Democratic party. While undoubtedly he has not been without that honorable ambition which is so powerful and useful as an incentive to activity in public affairs, he regards the pursuits of private life as being in themselves abundantly worthy of his best efforts. In community affairs he is active and influential and his support is readily and generously given to many measures tending to enhance the general progress and improve- ment. His life history is certainly worthy of commendation and of emulation, for along honorable and straightforward lines he has won the success which crowns his efforts and which makes him one of the substantial residents of Joplin.
JOSEPH R. PILE .- No young citizen of Joplin who has honored the community through productive activity and civic loyalty is more worthy of recognition in this volume than Joseph R. Pile, member of the real estate firm of Pile & Perry. Although young in years he stands as one of the most enterprising factors in the city's development. Mr. Pile is a native son of the state, his birth having occurred in Memphis, Mis- souri, July 2, 1880. Glancing over his ancestral history it is discovered that his forebears on both the paternal and maternal sides were Scotch, and the history of both families is alike in that both located in Ken- tueky in the pioneer days in the Blue Grass state. The subject's father, Thomas M., was a native of the state of Missouri, to which his father came from Kentucky. He was a farmer and is now living retired at Memphis, Missouri. The mother, Arabella Jenkins, was born in this state, and she and her husband were the parents of eight children, all
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of whom are living at the present day, Joseph R. being next to the eldest in order of birth.
Joseph R. Pile shares the fortune of so many successful Americans in that he was born upon the farm and devoted a large part of his youth to its strenuous occupations. One of the older members of a large family, he was under the necessity of becoming the architect of his own fortunes at an early age and received little assistance up the ladder of life. He received his elementary education in the public schools of Scotland county and subsequently attended the Memphis high school, from which institution he was graduated with the class of 1899. He then taught for two years, his salary as a pedagogue being devoted to his subsequent education, and at the termination of this pedagogical career he matriculated in the Missouri Valley College and in course of time finished in its academie department with the well-earned degree of Bachelor of Arts. He finished his education at the age of twenty-two years and then spent another year as a teacher in Lafayette county.
In 1903 Mr. Pile made a radical change by removing to Sedalia, Mis- souri, and there embarking in the life insurance business, being agent for the Prudential Life and other important companies. In 1904 he came to Joplin and became identified with the real estate business, en- tering into partnership with E. Jenkins, and the firm being known as Jenkins & Pile. This association continued successfully for a time, when the partnership was dissolved and Mr. Pile engaged in the real estate business independently, his offices being located at 516 Main street, where he remained until June 20, 1908, on which date he entered into partnership with J. W. Perry, under the firm name of Pile & Perry. They first located at 114 West Fourth street, but are situated at the present time at 315 Main street, in commodious quarters. They handle town properties principally and do a great deal of building, having constructed no less than sixteen very modern houses during the past year. Mr. Pile has proved extremely successful and he and Mr. Perry are among the most prominent of the real estate men in the thriving city of Joplin. Mr. Pile has other interests of large scope and import- ance, being director and stockholder in the Western Sign Works, of Joplin, and a stockholder and the secretary of the B. W. Realty Com- pany. Politieally Mr. Pile is Republican, having since his maiden vote given hand and heart to the "Grand Old Party," and having ever taken an active interest in local issues. He is a valued member of several organizations of local note, among them being the Commercial Club and the Merchants Retail Association. In the matter of religious convic- tion he is Presbyterian, being a member of the First church.
Mr. Pile laid the foundation of a particularly happy life compan- ionship when on November 25, 1906, he was united in marriage to Miss Pearl Luckett. Mrs. Pile was born in Pettis eounty, Missouri, and her parents, L. J. and Maria Luekett, were natives of Kentucky and Mis- souri respectively, the father being now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Pile have one daughter, Catherine, born in Joplin September 5, 1910. Their. home is one of the hospitable and cultured abodes of the city and both are recognized as excellent young eitizens.
WASHINGTON A. SANDFORD .- One of the most straightforward, ener- getie and successful business men of Joplin is Washington A. Sand- ford, president of two of the prosperous concerns of the city,-the Sandford Mereantile Company and the Sandford Brothers Lumber Company, while he is likewise president of the Sandford-Robinson Lum- ber Company of Pittsburg. Few men are more prominent or more widely known in this enterprising city than he. Since he came to Jop-
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lin in 1899 he has been recognized as an important factor in business circles and his popularity is well deserved, for in him are embraced the characteristics of unbending integrity, unabating energy, progres- siveness and keen alertness in regard to the phases changing conditions in his particular field. He is publie-spirited and is a supporter of all measures for the public good.
Mr. Sandford was born in Paris, Illinois, September 11, 1864, and is the son of Daniel R. and Martha M. (Howard) Sandford. The father was a native of Paris, Illinois, and died in 1897, at the age of sixty- nine years. His vocation was that of a merchant and he was a resident of Minden, Missouri, at the time of his death. The mother, who was a native of Indiana, died in 1888, at the age of fifty-five years. They were the parents of nine children. Washington A. being the sixth in order of birth.
The subject removed with his parents to Missouri when a young boy and his education was secured in the schools of Barton county, that state. He attended school until the age of seventeen years and for several years after finishing in its higher department was an employe in his father's store. He began an independent career in business in 1887, at the comparatively early age of twenty-three years, opening a lumber concern at Minden, Missouri, which he still operates, although engaged in various other affairs. As previously mentioned his identi- fication with Joplin dates from the year 1899, when he came to the city and brought into existence the Sandford Mercantile Company, the Sandford Brothers Lumber Company, and Sandford-Robinson Lumber Company of Pittsburg. Kansas, all of which are in active operation at the present time, and in relation to all three of which Mr. Sandford stands as presiding officer. The Sandfords are, in fact, regarded as among the leading lumber dealers in the state of Missouri. He is also a stockholder and vice-president of the Joplin Trust Company, and he was for two years president of the Commercial Club of Joplin.
Mr. Sandford is sufficiently social in nature to find pleasure and profit in his fraternal relations, which extend to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America. In his political faith he is a Republican, but the large demands of business ren- der it impossible for him to take an active part in political affairs. He is a valued member of the Commercial Club and he and his family are members of the Congregational church, in whose affairs they play a use- ful part, the head of the household being chairman of the board of directors.
Mr. Sandford laid the foundations of a happy married life when on October 3, 1888, he was united to Miss Mary Smither, daughter of Richard Smither and a native of the state of Missouri. Their union has been further cemented by the birth of six promising young citizens, namely: Daniel, Howard W., Clare S., Walter W., George O. and Robert M., all of whom are single and residing beneath the home roof. All but the two youngest, who were born in Joplin, elaim Minden as their birthplace.
The subject's ancestors on the paternal side were English, and the first American Sandford, shortly after his emigration from "the right little, tight little island," located in the state of New York. The mater- nal ancestors for many generations have resided in North Carolina. and in both lines are to be discovered a full quota of patriots and good citizens. Mr. Sandford is a fine representative of that typically Ameri- can product. the self-made man, and it has been due to his own tire- less and intelligent efforts and good judgment that the comparatively poor boy of other days has become the successful and respected busi-
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ness man, holding a place of honor and consideration in a thoroughly up-to-date community.
ELBERT C. ABERNETHY .- The E. C. Abernethy Lumber Company is one of the most prominent and progressive concerns of its kind in the city of Joplin, Missouri. This industry was started in a small way in the latter part of January. 1899, but with the passage of time it has spread out until now it is an enterprise of gigantic proportions. In addition to operating the Inmber yard at Joplin Mr. Abernethy, of this review, has a branch yard located at Salpulpa. Oklahoma. Mr. Aber- nethy's prominence as a business man is the direct result of his own well applied endeavors and his citizenship at Joplin has ever been characterized by loyalty and publie spirit of the most insistent order.
A native of the state of Mississippi, Elbert C. Abernethy was born in Pontotoe county, on the 12th of May. 1866. He is a son of Marion E. Abernethy, who was born in Mississippi and who was a representative of one of the old and prominent families in that commonwealth. Marion E. Abernethy, whose birth occurred in 1834, was a gallant soldier in the army of the Confederacy in the war between the states. He served with distinction throughout that sanguinary conflict, participating in many of the most important battles marking the progress of the war, and he continued to think the southern canse a just one throughout the remainder of his life. After the close of the rebellion he became a plantation owner in the northeastern portion of Mississippi, where he resided until his demise, in the year 1902. He married Miss Martha Wilson, who was born in Pontotoc county, Mississippi and who was a first-cousin of General MeClellan. Born in 1836, she was summoned to the life eternal in 1904. Mr. and Mrs. Marion E. Abernethy were the parents of eight children, and of the number the subject of this sketch was the fourth in order of birth.
Mr. Abernethy was reared to the invigorating influences of his father's plantation in Mississippi and he secured his early education in the country schools of the locality and period. Subsequently he was matriculated in the Chickasaw Normal School. After thus complet- ing his education he returned home and was associated for a time with his father in the work and management of the home farm. In 1886 he operated a cotton plantation in Delta. Mississippi, operating the same with marked success for a period of two years. during which time his health became impaired. For the foregoing reason he disposed of his interests and engaged in the lumber, pipe and stave business. He «ut only the very finest oak timber, which he converted into special staves and which gave flavor to the fancy wines of France. He shipped the product of his labors to the market at New Orleans and he continued to be identified with this line of enterprise for one and a half years, during which time he met with decided sie- cess. After a prolonged prospecting trip through Texas, Mr. Abernethy again entered into the stave business, this time at Texarkana, whence his manufactured article was shipped down the Red River to New Orleans. in which city he had become very well known by reason of his former undertakings. From there he went to Guthrie, Oklahoma. where he remained some years. Eventually, however, on the 28th of January, 1899, he came to Joplin, where he engaged in the lumber busi- ness on a small scale. From time to time he has increased the scope of his operations and he now controls a very extensive trade, having in addition to his vards at Joplin a branch department at Sapulpa, Okla- homa.
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