USA > Missouri > Jasper County > A history of Jasper County, Missouri, and its people, Vol. II > Part 21
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On June 1. 1898, at Guthrie, Oklahoma, was recorded the marriage
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of Mr. Abernethy to Miss Bella Richardson, who is a daughter of Byron H. and Jennie (Huston) Richardson. prominent residents of Guthrie, where Mr. Richardson is engaged in the lumber business. This marriage has been prolific of three children,-Byron, born at Joplin on the 13th of June, 1900. is now attending the Jackson school as is also Marion, whose birth occurred on the 20th of October. 1902: and Helen, born April 1. 1906, is enrolled as a pupil in a local kind- dergarten. Mr. and Mrs. Abernethy are devout members of the First Church of Christ. Scientists, at JJoplin, and they are popular factors in connection with the best social activities of this city.
Mr. Abernethy is a business man of unusual ability and his success in life has been largely the outcome of his own well directed endeavors. He is a Democrat in his political affiliations but has never had time nor ambition for public office of any description. Fraternally he is a valued and appreciative member of the Woodmen of the World and of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Mr. Abernethy is a well read. broad-minded man, one who is deeply and sincerely interested in all matters affecting the general welfare of Joplin and of the county at large. His affable disposition makes him popular among all classes of people, and no citizen at Joplin commands a higher degree of confidence and esteem than does he.
CHARLES S. WALDEN .- Numbered among the essentially representa- tive members of the legal profession in JJasper county is Charles S. Walden, senior member of the strong and popular law firm of Walden & Andrews, in which his coadjutor is William N. Andrews, who is at the present time prosecuting attorney of the county and who is individ- ually mentioned on other pages of this work. The practice of the firm is of a general order, implying interposition in important cases in both the criminal and civil branches of the law, and Mr. Walden, though still a young man, has matured his professional talents in no equivocal way, thus placing himself well to the front both as an advocate and counselor.
Charles S. Walden finds a due mede of satisfaction in reverting to the historic old Bay state as the place of his nativity, and within the borders of that commonwealth the family of which he is a representa- tive was founded in the colonial era. He was born in the city of Wor- cester, Massachusetts, on the 26th of March, 1873, and is a son of Charles H. and Sylvia J. (Marsh) Walden, both of whom were born and reared in Massachusetts, where the father eventually became identified with the manufacturing of shoes, at Worcester. In 1888 he removed with his family to Missouri and established his residence in the city of St. Louis, where he engaged in the same line of industrial enterprise and sue- ceeded in building up a large and prosperous business. To his manu- facturing interests he there continued to devote the major part of his time and attention until his death, in 1908, at the age of sixty-four years. He was one of the representative business men of the Missouri metropolis and as a man of probity and honor in all the relations of life he ever commanded the confidence and high regard of those with whom he came in contact. He was a staunch Republican in his political pro- elivities but never sought the honors or emoluments of public office. He was a consistent member of the Methodist church, as is also his wife, who now maintains her home in Flora, Illinois. Of their children two sons and two daughters are now living.
Charles S. Walden gained his rudimentary education in the public schools of his native city and was about fifteen years of age at the time of the family removal to St. Louis, where he continued his studies in
John Reinmiller
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the city schools, after which he entered Smith Academy, at St. Louis, Missouri, in which institution he was graduated in 1893. In prepara- tion for the work of his chosen profession he then entered the law de- partment of Washington University, at St. Louis, Missouri, and in the same he was graduated as a member of the class of 1896, duly receiving his degree of Bachelor of Laws. He served his professional novitiate in St. Louis, but did not long permit himself to remain in the ranks of the neophytes, as he had admirably fortified himself in the minutiæ of the science of jurisprudence and showed the power of applying this knowledge effectively along practical lines. In 1898 he removed to Jop- lin and here entered into a professional partnership with John W. McIntire, with whom he was associated until 1899, when he formed a similar alliance with O. D. Royse, under the firm name of Royse & Wal- den, which obtained for four years at the expiration of which the partnership was dissolved by mutual consent. In 1903 Mr. Walden formed his present effective professional alliance, with William N. Andrews, and they have since retained a practice that in both seope and character is of distinctively representative order. For two years Mr. Walden served as police judge, 1901-3. and in this office he showed , such acumen as to mark him as eligible for higher judicial honors. He served as assistant prosecuting attorney under administration of his professional confrere, Mr. Andrews, in 1905-6, and when Mr. Andrews was again elected prosecuting attorney in November, 1910, Mr. Wal- den was chosen his first assistant, a position which he holds at the pres- ent time. . He is unwavering in his allegiance to the Republican party and is an influential factor in its councils in Jasper county. His pri- vate and profession life is clean and marked by the highest integrity and honor, so that the metewand of popular approbation has not found him laeking. He is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Modern Woodmen of America, and the A. H. T. A., and is also a member of the Joplin Club, one of the leading civic organizations of his home city.
At Joplin, on the 19th of December, 1901, were spoken the words that united the life destinies of Mr. Walden and Miss Maude Neeley. who was born in Kentucky and is a step-daughter of Dr. M. B. Kin- cheloe, a prominent physician of Joplin, Missouri. Mr. and Mrs. Wal- den have two children .- Charles K., who was born November 27, 1904; and Dorothy, who was born June 21, 1907.
JOHN REINMILLER, farmer, stock raiser and real estate dealer of Thurman, Misouri, was born October 17, 1838, and is a son of John and Barbara Elizabeth (Deisroht) Reinmiller, who were born in Hesse. Germany. The mother died when John was quite young, and the family became seattered. John came from his native state to Texas when only a boy, and grew to manhood in that state. He was em- ployed for several years in hack driving and frequently had as pas- senger Governor S. B. Maxey, the present senator from Texas. Here he remained until the alarm of war was sounded. when he enlisted in the Second Texas Cavalry, which was largely composed of men favor- able to the Union cause. and when an effort was made to have the regiment mustered into the Confederate service for three years they refused, and the regiment was mostly disbanded. Mr. Reinmiller then went to Springfield, Missouri, and from that time until the close of the war was employed as a seout by the different commands. After the elose of hostilities he settled first in Johnson county, Missouri, but at the end of one year went to Jasper county, where he gave his attention to mining, with satisfactory suecess. In 1881 he came to
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Newton county and located in section 28, township 27, range 32, where he owns two hundred aeres of land and is giving his attention to stock raising and the real estate business. He gives special attention to raising English Red Polled cattle, and was the first man to introduce this breed in the county. Mr. Reinmiller aids and supports the prin- ciples of the Republican party, and in 1884 was nominated on his ticket for county judge, receiving a flattering mmmber of votes. He has been thrice married, the first time, October 2, 1859, to Henrietta A. Six, of Independence county, Arkansas, who died in 1870, leaving three children, James W., Martha J. and John L. His second mar- riage was with Mrs. Mary J. Lowry, whose maiden name was Patter- son, a native of Mississippi and a daughter of Dr. B. Patterson. Her death occurred in 1872, leaving one son by her first marriage, James Lowry. His marriage with Sarah C. Parmly took place July 5. 1874. She is a Kentnekian but was reared in St. Clair county, Missouri. They are the parents of three children, George, Willett and Henrietta. Mr. Reinmiller is one of the progressing and enterprising men of the county, and he and his wife are noted for their generosity and hos- pitality.
The above biography is taken from a "History of Newton County, Missouri," published in 1888. Two more children were added to the family, Robert Reinmiller, now cashier of the Sante Fe Railroad at Bartlesville, Oklahoma, and Homer Reinmiller, who has just com. pleted three years in the army, twenty-six months of his enlistment being on duty in the Philippine Islands.
In March, 1891, Mr. Reinmiller negotiated a sale of the tract of land now North Heights Addition to Joplin between the Granby Min- ing & Smelting Company and Messrs. Hatfield & Lawrence, of Wichita, Kansas, at a consideration of forty thousand dollars, which he had platted for the new purchasers and put on the market. In 1893 he accepted a position with the Saginaw Lead & Zinc Company, now the Saginaw Investment Company, which owns nine hundred acres of mining land five miles southeast of Joplin in Newton county. In 1900 Mr. Reinmiller had the town of Saginaw platted on the com- pany's land, and it is now a station on the Kansas City Southern Rail- road. He lived twenty-five years on his farm in that neighborhood and during that period served as justice of the peace four years and held two commisions as notary publie, one issued by Governor Marmaduke and the second by Governor W. J. Stone.
Mr. Reinmiller's political views are for the greatest good to the greatest number. His first vote was cast in Paris, Texas, for Douglas and Johnson and Houston for governor. The next election he voted at Warrensburg, Missouri, for Abraham Lincoln, and voted for Gen- eral U. S. Grant four years later. After the "Special Interests" cap- tured the party in power in the national government and changed the former maxim to "The Greatest Good to the Fewest Number," he supported James Weaver twice and has three times voted for the "Noblest Roman of them All," William J. Bryan.
WILLIAM A. SANDERS .- Hearty and smcere appreciation of personal worth, offered voluntarily during the life time of the man who has earned it, is perhaps the largest dividend that can fall to one. William A. Sanders, whose name forms the caption for this article, has been a prom- inent and influential business man in the city of Joplin since 1898, in which year he came to this place in order to recuperate his health. He is now president and general manager of the Sanders Trunk Manufac- turing and Mercantile Company, which was incorporated under the laws
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of the state in 1908, with a capital stock of ten thousand dollars and which is engaged in the manufacture of trunks and travelers' necessities. In 1910 it was incorporated for twenty thousand dollars.
Mr. Sanders was born on the 12th of June, 1860, the place of his nativity being in Brooks county, Georgia. He is a son of F. M. C. San- ders, who was likewise a native of Georgia, where he was born in the year 1820. The father was a farmer by occupation and he continued to devote the major portion of his time and attention to agricultural pur- suits and the raising of high-grade stoek until a few years prior to his death, which occurred in December. 1909, at the venerable age of eighty-nine years. The mother of him to whom this sketch is dedicated was Georgia (Crane) Sanders, born at Edgefield. South Carolina. on the 1st of January, 1830. She was married to Mr. Sanders in August. 1857, and they were the parents of ten children, seven of whom are liv- ing in 1911. The mother was summoned to the life eternal on the 15th of August, 1909. Mr. Sanders' grandparents on his father's side were John and Rebecca Sanders, pioneer settlers in Brooks county, Georgia, whither they migrated from North Carolina.
After availing himself of the advantages offered in the country schools of his native place William A. Sanders directed his attention to work on the old homestead farm, remaining at home until 1890, in which year he established his home at Thomasville, Georgia, where he secured a position as a clerk in J. M. McDonald's grocery store. In 1898, however, he had to resign his position on account of the impaired condition of his health and he then decided to seek a more salubrious climate. He wandered around from one large city to another, finally coming to Joplin, where he remained for a period of six months. Dur- ing this time he had become very much impressed with the business op- portunities of this place but his financial resources having about be- come exhausted he lacked the wherewithal with which to launch out in any profitable enterprise. His friends, however, came to his reseue and offered him the funds required. In June, 1899, he engaged in the trunk business with a capital of forty-five hundred dollars, and from that small beginning he gradually increased the scope of his operations, clearing off his indebtedness and incorporating his business, at the end of eighteen months, with a capital stock of ten thousand dollars. The business con- tinned to grow under his careful and shrewd guidance and he was en- abled to pay large dividends to the interested stockholders. On the 30th of June, 1910, the enterprise was re-incorporated, this time with a capital stock of twenty thousand dollars and with an official corps as follows: Mr. William A. Sanders, president ; Ray Ledgewood, vice presi- dent ; and M. E. Sanders, secretary and treasurer.
On the 10th of January, 1889, in Brooks county, Georgia, was eele- brated the marriage of Mr. Sanders to Miss Mary E. Roache, who was born in Brooks county, on the 21st of December, 1864, and who is a daughter of Dr. Thomas and Josephine Roache. The father held pres- tige as one of the leading physicians and surgeons in Brooks county. Georgia. In their religions faith Mr. and Mrs. Sanders are zealous members of the Methodist Episcopal church, South, in the various de- partments of whose work they are most active factors.
Mr. Sanders' interest in political questions is deep and sincere and he accords a stanch allegiance to the principles and policies for which the Democratic party stands sponsor. He is broad-minded and public- spirited in his eivie attitude and during his residence in Joplin has con- tributed in generous measure to all movements projected for the good of the general welfare. He is possessed of a genial and generous disposi- tion, is square and straightforward in all his business dealings and as a
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man and citizen commands the unqualified confidence and regard of all with whom he has come in contact.
HENRY LEMUEL CHICKERING is a man of splendid reputation in the business world of Joplin, Missouri, where, by force of sheer industry, shrewd business ability and unexampled executive powers he has as- sumed a high position in the ranks of American self-made men. He has been a loyal and conscientious citizen of Joplin since 1876 and since 1899 he has been one of the most extensive dealers in general building supplies in this place.
The life of Mr. Chickering is one of the interesting and absorbing personal histories of which America is so proud. He was born in Ash- land, Massachusetts, on the 4th of February, 1854, a son of Francis H. Chickering and Charlotte T. (Jones) Chickering, both of whom were likewise born in Ashland, Massachusetts, the former on the 23d of De- cember, 1821, and the latter in 1828. The father is still living, at the patriarchal age of ninety years, his home being at Ashland, Massa- chusetts. He was engaged in the general merchandise business during the greater part of his active business career and during the Civil war was captain of Company E, Fifth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. He participated in a number of important engagements marking the progress of the war and for a time was stationed with his company at Newbern, North Carolina. He is a fine old man, full of interesting war recollections, and he still retains a deep interest in his old comrades in arms, signifying the same by membership in the Grand Army of the Republic. He married Miss Charlotte Temple Jones and to them were born two children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the first in order of birth. Mrs. Chickering was summoned to the life eternal in May, 1874, at which time she was forty-six years of age.
In the public schools of his native place Henry Lemuel Chickering received his preliminary educational training, the same including a course in the local high school. When seventeen years of age he en- tered upon an apprenticeship at the carpenter's trade, to which he de- voted considerable attention for the ensuing several years at Ashland. In September, 1876, believing in the future of the west, he came to Joplin, Missouri, where he immediately engaged in the work of his trade. After a short residence in this city he decided to expand the scope of his operations and he then began a contracting business, which he followed until 1880, in which year he entered into a partnership al- liance with A. P. Hoyt. This firm built up and controlled a large con- tracting and building enterprise and in 1887, requiring large quantities of building materials, they decided to handle a line of building supplies. With the passage of time they became dealers in all kinds of building materials, including brick, lime, cement, stone, etc. In 1899 Mr. Hoyt decided to withdraw from the firm and in that year Mr. Chickering pur- chased his interest. He has since conducted the business alone and the same now consists of a warehouse, with splendidly equipped yards and offices located at 515 Virginia avenue. Through his own individual ef- forts Mr. Chickering has built up the gigantic enterprise which he now owns and operates. He is one of the largest dealers in his particular line in the city and as a business man he is everywhere respected and admired on account of his fair and honorable methods.
At Joplin, Missouri, on the 22d of March, 1878, was recorded the mar- riage of Mr. Chickering to Miss Mary Lauderback, who was born and reared in the state of Illinois and who is a daughter of Theodore L. Lauderback, a native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Chickering are the parents of four children, concerning whom the fol-
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lowing brief data are here offered,-Chester L., born at Joplin on the 3d of November, 1884, married Miss Theresa Beller, of Joplin; Leah S., whose birth occurred in this city on the 28th of August, 1889, is un- married and remains at home, as do also Auriel C., born on the 12th of November, 1892, and Olive M., born September 23, 1897. The Chicker- ing family maintains their home in a beautiful residence at 514 Pearl street and the same is widely renowned as a center of refined and gen- erous hospitality and as a scene of many splendid social functions.
In recent years Mr. Chickering's business enterprises have assumed such gigantic proportions that he has had no time for active participa- tion in local politics. In all affairs affecting the national well being he is a stanch advocate of Republican principles but in matters of a local nature he maintains an independent attitude. During the years 1895-6 he served the city as a member of the council and as an alderman was instrumental in securing a great deal of good legislation for the wel- fare of Joplin. In a fraternal way he is affiliated with the Masonic order, in which he is a valued and appreciative member of Joplin Con- sistory, No. 3, Scottish Rite branch, and Fellowship Lodge, No. 345, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, in addition to which he is also connected with the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He is likewise affiliated with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and with the Modern Woodmen of America. In their re- ligious faith the Chickering family are devoted and zealous members of the Presbyterian church, to whose charities and benevolences they are liberal contributors. With the competency acquired through his varied enterprises Mr. Chickering has been one of the most liberal men in Jasper county and many institutions and individual persons have rea- son to be grateful that such a noble and broad-minded captain of in- dustry exists, not only as one of the pillars upholding the financial and. industrial world of this locality, but as one who dispenses wisely the profits which his life of diligence and high ability have accumulated.
ORRIN E. FOSTER .- One of the important factors in the development of the mercantile interests and mining resources of Jasper county is Orrin E. Foster, a hardware merchant, who together with Messrs. Barbee and Malone has control of large mining properties and in this field has done much to contribute to the material prosperity of the section. He is a man of fine executive ability and initiative and in the twenty-one years elapsing since his first identification with the city he has played a praiseworthy part not only as a business man but as a loyal and public- spirited citizen, sufficiently broad-minded to rate the general prosperity above individual advantage.
Mr. Foster was born March 27, 1865, in Hardin county, Iowa, the son of Orrin and Almyra (Stickel) Foster. The father was a native of the state of Ohio and in 1842 migrated to the state in which the subject was born. He was one of the early pioneers and made the journey to the new location by wagon, there being no accommodations in the way of railroads in that section at the time. He secured a homestead in the new country and set about subduing the untamed acres. He must have been a man of remarkable energy, for together with the herculean tasks presented by the new farm, he met the duties of his profession, ---- that of a physician-and was useful and successful in both lines of en- deavor. Orrin Foster, the elder, remained in that section of Iowa for a number of years, but later in life removed to Kansas, where he died in 1879. The subject's mother was born in the year 1830, at Barnville, a suburb of Nashville, Tennessee. This admirable lady died in Joplin in 1906, at an advanced age.
Vol. II-10
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Orrin Foster was a lad of about eight years of age when his parents removed to Kansas in 1873. They located near Parsons, Labette county, which at that time was a wild part of the state, and the peculiar ex- periences of the pioneer were to young Orrin an interesting adventure, despite the fact that at an early age it became incumbent upon him to lend a helping hand. Such educational advantages as Parsons afforded he availed himself of, but in 1883 he concluded that he had had enough schooling and was ready to go to work to earn his own living. He found employment with the M. K. & T. Railroad Company, and worked for them in various capacities until 1890, when he concluded to make a hazard of new fortunes and, having looked about for a location in which to try out his abilities, found his choiee influenced by the attractions and ad- vantages of Joplin. Upon his arrival here he secured a position with the Whitman Hardware Company, remaining with them until they sold out. He then entered the employ of the Halyard Hardware Company and continued in their service for seven years, and at the end of that time, not being handicapped by the fear of making a change, he formed a partnership with W. A. Sheppard and remained associated with him in the hardware business for four years. He then sold out his interest to Mr. Sheppard and entered into a partnership with Mr. Murray in the hardware business, which interest he still holds. His mining interests have been previously mentioned and his association in this field with Messrs. Barbee and Malone. Mr. Foster has other large vested interests and has been peculiarly successful in all his ventures, building up a comfortable fortune and enjoying high prestige in commercial eireles.
In April, 1885, Mr. Foster established an independent household by his union with Miss Virginia Murray, of Hagerstown. Maryland, their marriage being celebrated at Neodesha, Kansas. Mrs. Foster is a daugh- ter of Andrew J. and Susan (Hurshburger) Murray. Their happy union has been further cemented by the birth of three children, namely : Al- bert J., born May 20, 1886, at Neodesha, Kansas, now a member of the city fire department; Elizabeth Lavisa, born August 20, 1890, at Par- sons, Kansas, a student in the Joplin high school; and Helen Fern, born March 23, 1896, and attending Jackson school at the present writing.
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