USA > Missouri > Jasper County > A history of Jasper County, Missouri, and its people, Vol. II > Part 32
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Mr. McCune passed three years in this remote region among the Indians and had many very interesting experiences. He was highly successful as a trader, dealing in large quantities and conducting exten- sive operations. In one year he bought and sold seven thousand pounds of Navajo blankets, in addition to all the other articles of barter which he handled. Having accumulated a comfortable sum of money as a basis for a different line of work, he returned to civilization and re- entered the medical college in Kansas City, Missouri. He passed another year there in the study of medicine and again abandoned the profes- sion.
Ile spent his summer vacation at Ellsworth in central Kansas, and while there became acquainted with Miss Jennie A. Alstrum, a native of Clay Center in that state, and a daughter of Joseph and Johanna Alstrum, with whom he was united in marriage on December 5, 1901. Instead of returning to Kansas City to complete his medical education, he took charge of a hotel in Ellsworth, which he condueted for a short time. He then changed his residence to lola in Allen county of the same state, and became the manager of the Tremont, a commercial ho- tel in that city. Eighteen months later he sold his interests in Iola and entered the employ of Collier's Weekly as a solicitor and collector, traveling out of Kansas City. This work was not to his taste, however, and he soon quit it and removed to Baxter Springs, where he again took charge of a hotel, the Baxter, which he managed until September, 1905.
In that month he took up his residence in Joplin and formed a part- nership with L. E. Lindsay for the purpose of operating in real es- tate, lands, loans, insurance and as an immigration agency. The firm was known as the MeCune-Lindsay Realty Company, and had offices at 510 Main street. In the spring of 1906 the partnership was dissolved and Mr. MeCune continued the business alone until August of that year, when he founded the Joplin Distributing Agency. The work of this ageney consists of distributing advertising matter of all kinds from house to house, handling the business of cereal manufacturers, medi- cine manufacturers and other prodneers whose advertising is put out by contract. It is governed by two organizations, the "Exelusive Dis- tributing Association," by which the Joplin agency is bonded and guaranteed, and the "Will A. Molton Distributing Agency," whose headquarters are in Cleveland, Ohio.
Mr. MeCune has the only business of this kind in Joplin, or the southwestern part of the state, and has found his ageney very profit- able. He handles all the local advertising from the leading stores and business houses in this section in addition to his work for the big estab- lishments mentioned above. The agency places one hundred and twenty- five thousand pieces of advertising a month on an average, and keeps eight to ten persons regularly employed. The business world around it appreciates its value and patronizes it liberally, getting good re- turns from its enterprise and helping to swell the profits of both the ageney and its patrons.
Mr. and Mrs. McCune have no children, and Mrs. MeCune devotes the attention and time that would otherwise be required for domestic affairs to a very successful management of the McCune Buff Orpington Farm, on which she raises fancy poultry of the Buff Orpington single comb breed for display and breeding purposes only. She and her hus-
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band are members of the National Single Comb Buff Orpington Club and very warmly interested in its work. On their poultry farm at Villa Heights they have about two hundred of the finest specimens of the breed they fancy in the county, and their product is one of the most interesting in the domain of animated nature in this part of the country.
Politcally Mr. McCune is a member of the Democratic party, but he has never taken an active part in the work of the political campaigns. He is, however, an earnest supporter of all good projeets for the im- provement and development of this city, county and state. Fraternally he is allied with the Joplin lodge of the Order of Elks, and socially he is connected with the Joplin Commercial Club in active membership. His religious faith finds expression and employs his energies in that direction in the church of the Latter Day Saints. His paternal ances- tors were originally residents of Scotland. Many years ago some of them were driven out of that country on account of their radical relig- ious views and migrated to the north of Ireland. The first arrivals of the family in this country located just outside of the limits of the present city of Leavenworth, Kansas, where they were among the earl- iest of the pioneers. The maternal ancestry was supposedly of Eng- lish origin and was for several generations domesticated in Massachu- setts and other parts of New England.
JAY F. SUMMERVILLE .- An esentially representative and influential citizen of Joplin, Missouri, is Jay F. Summerville, who has maintained his home in this city since 1900 and who is cashier of the D. C. Wise Coal Company, one of the most important business concerns in Jasper county. Mr. Summerville was born at Chillicothe, Missouri, on the 26th of January, 1869, and he is a son of William and Jane (Dickey) Summerville, both of whom were born and reared in Pennsylvania, where was solemnized their marriage and whence they removed to Chillicothe, Missouri, in the year 1867. After his arrival in this state William Summerville turned his attention to the wholesale and retail grocery business, building up a gigantic concern, which is now con- dueted by his son William A. He was a business man of unusual abil- ity, was a Republican in his political proclivities, and served in the city council of Chillicothe for some three terms. He was summoned to the life eternal in 1904, at the venerable age of seventy-six years, and his wife, who preceded him into the great beyond, passed away in July, 1896, at the age of fifty-seven years. Of the six children born to Mr. and Mrs. William Summerville the subject of this review was the fourth born, the others being William A., of Chillicothe; Robert O., who died in 1907, was an attorney by profession and was a member of the well known law firm of Summerville & Williams, of Salida, Colo- rado; Anna H. became the wife of Rev. George MeNob; Cora B. became the wife of Henry Smith, of Denver, Colorado; and Sadie B., wife of Charles W. Smith.
Jay F. Summerville received his elementary educational training in the publie schools of Chillicothe, in the high school of which place he was graduated as a member of the elass of 1885. Thereafter he was associated with his father in business for a period of three years, at the expiration of which he pursued a course of study in the Atchison Business College, at Atchison, Missouri. In 1891 he engaged in the furniture business at Springfield, Missouri, becoming a member of the firm of Heitzmann & Summerville. In 1893, however, he disposed of his interests in the above concern in order to accept the position of cashier for the Springfield Gas & Light Company, continuing to be identified with that concern for the ensuing two years. He then be-
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came cashier of the Kansas & Texas Coal Company, with headquar- ters at Kansas City, Kansas. In 1900 he severed his connections at Kansas City and came to Joplin, Missouri, where he has since main- tained his home and where he is a stockholder in and the incumbent of the position of cashier of the D. C. Wise Coal Company. This concern is one of the most prosperous business enterprises at Joplin and is an important element in the financial world of this section.
At Springfield, Missouri, Mr. Summerville was united in marriage to Miss Maude R. White, who was born in West Virginia, and who is a daughter of J. M. White, a well known and highly respected busi- ness man of Springfield. Missouri, where he is engaged in the under- taking business. The maiden name of Mrs. Summerville's mother was Emily Price. She was likewise born and reared in West Virginia but. is now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Summerville are the parents of one son, Ward White Summerville, whose birth occurred on the 16th of Decem- ber, 1897, and who is now attending school at Joplin.
In his political convictions Mr. Summerville is aligned as a stalwart in the ranks of the Republican party. He is a modest. unassuming man, genial and inspiring-one who commands the whole-souled admiration and regard of his fellow citizens. He is broad-minded and liberal in thought and action, is charitable towards others' opinions and is ever mindful of their rights and sensibilities. In a fraternal way he is affiliated with the local lodge of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and his religions faith is in harmony with the tenets of the First Presbyterian church, of Joplin.
LYMAN M. COLEMAN .- Holding high rank among the thriving and more active business men of Joplin is Lyman M. Coleman, proprietor and manager of the Coleman Planing Mill, which he is conducting with marked ability and success. A son of Niek N. Coleman, he was born September 29, 1864, at Fort Wayne, Indiana, of Holland Dutch descent, his grandfather, John Coleman, having early settled in the Dutch colony of Pennsylvania.
Born in Pennsylvania, in 1835, Nick N. Coleman became an early settler of Fort Wayne. Indiana, and for many years was one of the prominent and influential business men of that part of the state, carry- ing on an extensive and profitable industry as a sash and door manu- facturer. A man of much enterprise, possessing good business taet and judgment, he accumulated considerable wealth, and after his removal to Indiana. Harbor, Indiana, lived retired from active Jabor, enjoying the fruits of his earlier years of toil. He married Sheril Grant, who was born at Fort Wayne, Indiana, in 1841, and is now living at Indiana Harbor. Iler father, JJames Grant, a native of Maryland, settled at Fort Wayne, Indiana, in pioneer days, and soon after his arrival erected the first steam mill in that part of the country. It proved a great at- traction, people living anywhere within a radins of one hundred miles coming to see it. He moved there in 1841, making the overland jour- ney with teams, there being no railroads at that early day. Mr. Grant married Elizabeth Beard, who was born in Maryland, one hundred and two years ago, and is still living. She belongs to a family noted for its longevity, her brother, Jacob Beard, who is still living, being one hun- dred and sixteen years of age. He reads without glasses, has sound teeth, and walks to town, two miles away, twice each week. The Grant family holds a reunion each year at Fostoria, Ohio, the ancestral home, where at the last family gathering four hundred and twenty descen- dants, representing six generations, assembled.
Bronght . up in his native city. Lyman M. Coleman attended the
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graded and high schools, and as a young man there learned the trade of a sash and door maker, at which he worked until 1888. Going then to Baxter Springs. Kansas, he became half owner of the Baxter Sash and Door Works. and was there successfully employed in business for seventeen years. Locating in Joplin, Missouri, in 1906. Mr. Coleman worked in the planing mill of Tillard & Helm for three years, acquir- ing a thorough knowledge of the business. Buying out the business of the firm in 1911. he has since conducted it most successfully, in the management of his plant keeping six skilled workmen constantly em- ployed. Energetic and progressive, Mr. Coleman has met with good success in his various undertakings, and is held in high respect as a man and a citizen. He is fond of both hunting and fishing, enjoying both when he has leisure.
Mr. Coleman married, March 17, 1889. at Baxter Springs, Kansas. Emma Clark. a daughter of C. M. and Margaret (McLain) Clark, well- known and prosperous farmers. Four children have born to Mr. and Mrs. Coleman, namely: Mabel, born May 2, 1891, at Baxter Springs, is a graduate of the Joplin High School ; James, born at Baxter Springs October 13, 1893, and a graduate of the Joplin High School, is now in business with his father; Genevieve, born JJuly 4, 1895, is a pupil in the high school; and JJoy, born in October, 1900, attends the Jackson School. Politically Mr. Coleman is identified with the Democratic party, and religiously he is a member of the Christian church. Both Mr. and Mrs. Coleman are members of the Knights and Ladies of Security.
SAMUEL W. COGLIZER .- The son of a soldier in the war between the states from 1861 to 1865, who was disabled in his first term of service and after recovering his health and strength enlisted for a second time and remained in the army, helping to battle for the preservation of the Union, until the close of the momentous and sanguinary con- flict, Samuel W. Coglizer, of Joplin, had his boyhood darkened by the terrible shadow of eivil strife, which rested heavily over his home.
His father, Z. S. Coglizer, was born in Pennsylvania and became a resident of Hardin county, Ohio, at an early age. When the Civil war began he enlisted in Company G, Fourth Ohio Infantry, and was soon attached to the Army of the Potomac. His command also did duty farther south, participating in the military operations around Vicksburg. After passing two years and five months in the service. he became disabled and was discharged. He returned home and re- cruited his health, and as the war was still raging and the Federal government was in imperative need of more troops he re-enlisted in Company F, One Hundred and Seventy-sixth Ohio Infantry, with which he served to the end of the war.
His son Samuel was born in Hardin county, Ohio, on December 18, 1855. He attended the district schools in his native county until he reached the age of fifteen, then, in 1870, moved with his parents to Cass county, Nebraska, locating with them on a farm near the town of Weeping Water, which he helped them to cultivate until he became twenty-one. On this farm his mother, whose maiden name was Mar- garet Wart, and who was a native of Pennsylvania, died on February 22, 1893. The father lived until February 28, 1904, when he died in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he was visiting one of his daughters. He was then seventy-three years old. During his residence in Nebraska he followed blacksmithing and work as a machinist in addition to his farming operations.
When Samuel left the farm he turned his attention to plumbing and
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manufacturing wind mills, having learned the trade of plumber after his arrival in Nebraska. Ile opened a shop in Weeping Water, and a few years later became official plumber for the town, the first city plumber it ever had. He remained there sixteen years and flourished in his business. In 1891 he sold his outfit and all his interests in Weep- ing Water and moved to Pittsburg, Kansas, where he was engaged ex- tensively and profitably in manufacturing tents and awnings for twelve years.
Being strongly impressed with the fact that Joplin was a more favorable location for his business, he sold his plant in Pittsburg and moved to Joplin on March 15, 1903. He immediately arranged to start again in the same business on a larger scale, and began his pres- ent enterprise at the earliest practicable date. He manufactures tents, awnings and all other kinds of canvas goods, and has the only factory of this character in the city. His trade is large, covering all of the surrounding towns and a widely extended territory throughout the Southwest. It necessitates the regular employment of about twenty- five persons, and in the busy seasons the number often reaches sixty.
Mr. Coglizer has been as prudent in the management of his affairs as he has been extensive and enterprising in his industrial opera- tions. He owns farm lands and valuable city properties, and has other possessions of considerable volume and value. In national political affairs he is a Republican and loyally supports the candidates of his party. In local elections he is independent of partisan considerations, and gives his vote to the cause and candidates which seem to him most likely to promote the best interests of the community.
His connection with the fraternal, social and religious elements of the life around him is close, cordial and helpful. He belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Fraternal Order of Eagles, the Improved Order of Redmen, the Sons of Veterans, the Commercial Club and the Retail Merchants' Association of Joplin. He has been an Odd Fellow sinee December, 1880, and has filled all the offices in his lodge in the order. In religion his adherenee is given to the Con- gregational church, and the congregation to which he belongs has faith- ful and fruitful service from him.
On November 18, 1881, Mr. Coglizer was married at Weeping Water, Nebraska, to Miss Harriet L. Hunter, who was born in that city on May 16, 1863. IIer parents located there in 1858, and were among the early pioneers of that portion of the state. The father was a farmer, and for seventeen years faithfully served the government and contributed vastly to the advantage and enjoyment of the people by carrying the mails over a route of fifty-eight miles, which he covered by stage, the only means of public conveyance in the region before the railroads were built.
Mr. and Mrs. Coglizer have five children: Mabel. who was born at Weeping Water, Nebraska, on April 2, 1883, and is now the wife of Roy A. Fallis, of Joplin; Jennie, also a native of Weeping Water, born on November 22, 1887; Grace, whose life began at Weeping Water on December 27, 1890; and Samuel W., Jr., and Harriet, who were born at Pittsburg, Kansas, the former on January 29, 1899, and the latter on April 13, 1903. All are creditable to their parents and the communities of their residence, and are products of the public schools in their scholastic training. the two last named being now regular at- tendants of those in Joplin.
It has been shown that Mr. Coglizer was a poor boy and began life for himself under difficulties, and also that he has made his way to consequence in business and standing among men by his own efforts
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and ability. But it should be stated that his wife has been a most valuable and appreciated assistant to him in his business and all other affairs. He regards her as one of the most potential elements in winning the success he has achieved. Both are very courteous, cor- dial and sincere socially, and the circle of their friends is coextensive with the list of their acquaintances.
WILLARD P. TAYLOR .- Prominent among the rising young busi- ness men of Joplin, Missouri, is Willard P. Taylor, an expert chemist and assayer, who is identified with one of the leading industries of this section of the state, his accurate knowledge of the chemical ele- ments of minerals and their proportions rendering him especially skil- ful and successful in his vocation. A son of Harry L. Taylor, he was born February 5, 1883, in Cleveland, Ohio, coming on both sides of the house of excellent lineage.
During the earlier part of his active career Harry L. Taylor was engaged in the manufacture of furniture in Cleveland, Ohio. Selling his plant, he was afterwards for a time secretary of the Cleveland Electrie and Gas Fixture Company. Migrating several years ago to Missouri, he became interested in mining and developed valuable properties, which he turned to good account, making considerable money. He is now actively identified with the real estate business, as manager of the Castle Rock Realty Company being widely and favorably known. He married, in Cleveland, Ohio, Nellie Smith, who was born in Prescott, Ontario, and died in 1896. Two children were born of their union, as follows: Miss Bessie Willard, who was born in August, 1879, and died 1896; and Williard P., the special subject of this brief biographical sketeh.
Laying a substantial foundation for his future education in the public schools of Cleveland, Willard P. Taylor continued his studies at the Culver Military Academy, and later completed the course in mining engineering and chemistry at the Missouri School of Mines. The ensuing four years he was employed at the Hamilton Steel & Iron Works, at Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Coming then to Missouri, Mr. Taylor worked for a short time for the Spring River Power Company, and in 1905 entered the employ of the American Mining Engineering Company, of which he was manager and chemist for eighteen months. He then opened an assay office of his own at Joplin. He is now reeog- nized as one of the foremost chemists and assayers of Jasper county, and is very frequently consulted by the leading mine owners of this vicinity.
Mr. Taylor married, June 19, 1907, Georgia De Long, of Kings- ville, Ontario, where her parents, W. E. and Alfaretta De Long, are highly esteemed residents, her father being one of the prominent mer- chants of the place. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor have one child, Nora Eliza- beth, born in Joplin, Missouri. December 20. 1909. In his political views Mr. Taylor is an independent Democrat. Fraternally he belongs to the Blue Lodge, No. 335, A. F. & A. M., and to the Chapter. Re- ligiously both he and his wife are members of the Episcopal church. He is highly esteemed among his large circle of friends and associates, and finds great enjoyment in out-door pursuits of all kinds, his pref- erence. however, being for boating and fishing.
ORSON W. DUNHAM .- Endowed by nature with mechanical ability and inventive talent. Orson W. Dunham, proprietor of the Dunham Manufacturing Company of Joplin, Missouri, has spent much time in devising and constructing machinery and appliances that would be of
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practical use in mining and industrial pursuits, and has met with emi- nent success, among the best known of his inventions being the "Dun- ham Separator," which is extensively used wherever there are mines. He was born March 6, 1871, at Battle Creek, Michigan, a son of Orson Dunham.
A native of the Empire state, Orson Dunham migrated to Michigan in early manhood, and was there engaged in general farming and stock raising until his death, at the age of sixty-four years. He married Lovina Andrews, who was born in Michigan and died in Kansas. They reared a large family of children, as follows: Walter C., a Colo- rado ranchman; William C., deceased; Wesley M., of Battle Creek. Michigan : Ernest W .. of Topeka, Kansas; Clayton C., an inventor and manufacturer at Marshalltown, Iowa; Orson W., the subject of this brief personal record: Mrs. Ella Hogan, of Ottawa. Kansas; Carrie. deceased ; and Mrs. Edith Miller, deceased.
Acquiring his early education in the public schools, Orson W. Dun- ham went into the lumber regions of Arkansas, and for seven years was engaged in the manufacture of hunber, owning and operating a saw mill. Locating then in Aurora, Missouri, he worked in various mines. The necessities of mining stimulated Mr. Dunham's inventive and constructive talents, and he began experimenting on the ways of separating the ore from the dirt and gravel; going from Aurora to Carterville, he mined there for four years. in the meantime continuing his experiments until the perfection and completion of the "Dunham Separator," which is now known wherever mining is carried on to any extent. He has since perfected the Dunham Triplex Ore Concentrator, which is destined to revolutionize the industry. Coming to Joplin in 1909, Mr. Dunham, who had previously taken out patent papers, had a separator built at the Joplin Sash and Door Factory. It proved so successful that Mr. Bracket, proprietor of the factory in which it was made, bought if, paying Mr. Dunham the snug little sum of ten thou- sand dollars for the invention. Having disposed of his interests in the separator. Mr. Dunham began working on other inventions that should prove practical and useful, and having erected a large factory, is now carrying on an extensive and lucrative business as head of the Dun- ham Manufacturing Company. He is carrying out his ideas on a large scale, and has now nearly perfected another device which bids fair to be very useful, as well as ornamental, in the equipment of mercantile establishments.
Mr. Dunham married Arminta Amanda Stow, who was born in Brightwater, Arkansas, and to them six children have been born, namely : Clayton HI., of Brightwater, Arkansas; Ethel, living in Ben- tonville, Arkansas; Otto F., who died in Aurora, Arkansas; Nona, who died in Aurora, Missouri; Kenneth, of Carterville, Missouri; and Gor- don, a resident of Carterville, Missouri. Politically Mr. Dunham is identified with the Socialists, and religiously he is a member of the Christian church.
JOSEPH SCHNEIDER .- The Joseph Schneider Machinery Company is one of the most enterprising and progressive business concerns in the city of Joplin, Missouri. Mr. Schneider, whose name forms the cap- tion for this review, was born at Pern, Miami county, Indiana. on the 29th of August. 1862, and he is a son of John and Elizabeth (Speck) Schneider, both of whom were born and reared in the great Empire of Germany, whence they immigrated to the United States about the year 1855. After his arrival in this country John Schneider settled in Indiana, where he devoted the greater part of his active career to
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