USA > Missouri > Jasper County > A history of Jasper County, Missouri, and its people, Vol. II > Part 44
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On October 14. 1886, Mr. Jackson was united in marriage with Miss Nora V. Langor, a native of Illinois, and a daughter of G. W. Langor. They are the parents of three sons and two daughters, all natives of Carthage, Missouri, except the eldest, who was born in Wichita, Kansas, and all the sons are in business with their father. Their names in order of birth are as follows: Orlo, born January 3, 1888, married Miss Mabel Tanner, a native of Carthage and a daughter of Charles Tanner; Earl, born September 14, 1889: Harry A., October 4, 1891; Gladys, July 31, 1893. and Sylvia, February 10, 1896.
Mr. Jackson is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and the Knights and Ladies of Security. Politically he is a Republican, though not active. As a business man he has always been straightfor- ward and honorable, and these qualities, together with his energy and enterprise, have placed him in the front ranks of the leading merchants of Webb City.
MARTIN BECKMAN, who is identified with the business activities of Webb City. Missouri, as one of its leading retail merchants, began his career here as a clerk and from that position worked his way up to the place he now occupies.
Mr. Beekman was born at George City, Missouri, August 25, 1870. a son of John and Hanna Beckman, natives of Sweden. John Beckman came to America in 1868, and first settled at Galesburg, Illinois, where he was married and where he made his home for two years. From there he came to Jasper county, Missouri. Here he maintained his residence for a number of years, until 1890, when he removed to Cherokee county, Kansas, his present home. He has been engaged in farming all his life. Of his three children, Martin, whose name heads this sketch, was the second in order of birth. Martin Beckman received his early education in the country schools of Jasper county. Later he attended Fort Seott Normal School at Ft. Scott, Kansas, where he took a business course and graduated. Up to the time he was twenty-four he worked on his father's farm when not attending school. Then he came to Webb City and en- tered the employ of S. Nilson, as grocery clerk, which position he filled steadily for a period of eight years, during that time familiarizing him- self with every phase of the retail grocery business and laying the foundation for a succesful business of his own. He had worked his way through school, and as a clerk had saved a portion of his earnings, and when he resigned his place in Mr. Nilson's store it was to engage in busi- ness for himself. On March 7, 1903, he opened a retail grocery at 924 West Daugherty street, beginning with a small but select stock and grad- ually increasing it as his trade extended. He takes pride in keeping a clean, choice stock and in catering to the best class of people in the city, and in this way he has established a large and satisfactory business. All this he has accomplished by his own energy and perseverance, and with- out financial assistance. In addition to his grocery business, Mr. Beck- man has mining interests. He is vice president of the Culpepper Min- ing Company. While, politically a Democrat and always performing his duty at the polls, he has never been active in politics, as his business has occupied the whole of his time and attention. He is a member of the Merchants Association and of the Knights and Ladies of Security.
On April 25. 1895, Mr. Beckman was united in marriage to Miss Emela Carlson. a native of Sweden, and they have had five children, all born in Webb City and all living except the youngest. Their names in order of birth are: May, born August 25, 1896; Carl M., October 8,
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1898 ; Glen, September 16, 1900; Lloyd Q., December 20, 1903, and Curtis Lee, November 25, 1907. Curtis Lee died December 16, 1910.
Mr. Beekman and his family are identified with the Methodist Epis- copal church, South, in which he is a steward. In 1910 he and his wife made a trip to Sweden to visit her people and spent three months and a half abroad.
JOHN R. THOMAS, Joplin, Missouri, has been identified with the build- ing interests of Jasper county for a number of years, and here and else- where are many substantial structures, publie buildings and residences that stand as monuments to his constructive ability.
Mr. Thomas is a native of Carmarthen, Wales. He was born January 10, 1841, a son of John and Anna (Richards) Thomas, and in his native land spent the first twenty-seven years of his life. At an early age he entered upon an apprenticeship to the builder's trade, an apprentice- ship that covered a period of seven years, and which only did not bring a money consideration to him but which required of him a bonus of eight pounds English money. To enter upon a trade apprenticeship in Wales and then to desert was regarded the same as desertion from the army.
In 1868 Mr. Thomas came to America. He spent one year in Mary- land, then came west to Cincinnati, Ohio, and a few months later took up his residence at Ironton, that state, which was his home for fourteen years and six months. From Ironton he went to Topeka in 1884, and from there went to St. Louis and lived there till 1898, when he came to Jasper county, which has since been his home. All these years he has devoted to his one line of work, and as the result of his energy and enter- prise there stand today numerous substantial structures, too numerous to mention. It is sufficient to state that he has superintendent of eon- struetion of the Phelps home at Carthage, Missouri, said to be the best built residence in this state outside of St. Louis; and he built the Y. M. C. A. building at Joplin, the hospital at Webb City, and a church at Eureka Springs.
Fraternally Mr. Thomas is associated with various organizations. He was made an Odd Fellow about the time he attained his majority and for half a century has maintained membership in good standing in the I. O. O. F. He belongs to the Royal Arcanum, and he is a Scottish Rite Mason. He was reared in the Congregational church, but for years has been a Presbyterian and is now a trustee of the church at Joplin.
Mr. Thomas has been twiee married. His first wife, Amelia (Samuel) Thomas, whom he wedded in Wales, died three months after reaching Maryland. He was married at Ironton, Ohio, in July, 1871, to Ann Davies, his present wife. Three children were born of this union. Their daughter Anna Mary is the widow of Edward Arnold, and resides with her parents; Elizabeth, the second daughter, died at the age of fifteen years; and John Price, the only son, died at the age of five and one-half years.
JOHN GMEINER, ore buyer for the Matthiessen & Hegeler Zine Com- pany, of LaSalle, Illinois, is a man who has been actively interested in zine-mining operations throughout practically his entire business career, and is a representative eitizen and a business man who not only has achieved his individual success but who has also publie-spiritedly de- voted himself to the general welfare of his fellow citizens and been fore- most in advancing enterprises and improvements which will prove of lasting benefit to the city, county and state. He is, furthermore, a self- made man, having himself built the ladder by which he has risen to a place of prominence and affluence in the business world of Joplin. From
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the first he was possessed of ambition and determination, and his energy, courage and business judgment have brought him to a position of es- teem and influence among the citizens of this state, where he is a man of mark in all the relations of life.
Born at LaSalle, Illinois, on the 3d of January, 1857, John Gmeiner is a son of John and Margaret (Fischbauch) Gmeiner, both of whom were natives of the fine old Fatherland, their respective births having occurred in Germany, whence they immigrated to America in an early day. The father was a carpenter by trade, and after his arrival in Amer- ica he was engaged for some time in that line of enterprise in Pennsyl- vania, subsequently removing to Illinois, where he passed the remainder of his life, his demise having occurred in the year 1880. The mother is still a resident of LaSalle, Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. John Gmeiner were the parents of seven children, and of the number five are living.
John Gmeiner was reared to adult age in his native state, to whose public schools he is indebted for his preliminary educational training. He attended school until he had attained to the age of fifteen years, at which time he assumed the active responsibilities of life by entering the employ of the Matthiessen & Hegeler Zinc Company at LaSalle. With the passage of time he learned the zinc business in all its details, and one of the finest indications of his sterling integrity and unquestioned ability is that he has continued as a trusted employe of this concern dur- ing the long intervening years to the present time-a period of thirty- nine years. The 22d of October, 1887, marks Mr. Gmeiner's advent in Joplin, whither he came at that time in order to assume charge of the Matthiessen & Hegeler Zine Company's affairs in this place. Since that time he has been one of the best known ore buyers in the Joplin field- one whose judgment is relied upon and whose business probity is un- questioned. He came here when mining methods were of a very crude order, and during his residence in this city he has witnessed the intro- duction of many improvements which have resulted in marked advance- ment in the zinc business. Mr. Gmeiner has been connected with the Conqueror Trust Company since the organization of that substantial in- stitution. The officers of this company are as follows: William Houk, president ; Jesse G. Starr, vice president; J. A. Becker, treasurer; and John Gmeiner, secretary.
On the 17th of February, 1881, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Gmeiner to Miss Victoria Six, who was born and reared in Germany and who came to America in company with her parents when she was a mere child. To Mr. and Mrs. Gmeiner have been born seven children, con- cerning whom the following brief data are here incorporated: Lillian Matilda is the wife of John B. Ball, a well known jeweler at Joplin and a sketch of whose career appears elsewhere in this volume; Mabel is now Mrs. John A. Cotton, of Joplin; Elmer is a student in the University of Missouri, at Columbia; Ruth Gladys is attending high school at Joplin ; and Leon D. is a pupil in the graded school. Two children died in infancy.
Mr. Gmeiner's interest in local questions is deep and sincere, and he gives an earnest support to Republican principles, believing that the platform of that party contains the best elements of good government. He has never manifested aught of ambition for political preferment of any description, although in 1911 he was called upon and elected a coun- cilman from the Third ward, and he has always contributed in generous measure to all enterprises advanced for the good of the general welfare. He is prominent in fraternal circles at Joplin, being a Mason and a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. In Scottish Rite Masonry he has attained to the thirty-second degree and in the York Rite branch
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he is a member of Fellowship Lodge, No. 345, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. In their religious adherency the Gineiner family are devout members of the Presbyterian church, in the different department of whose work they are deeply interested. Mr. Gmeiner is a pioneer citizen of Joplin, and he has witnessed the city grow from a mere hamlet to be one of the thriving metropolitan centers of the state. His contribution to progress and development has ever been of the most insistent order, and as a man he has so conducted himself that his entire life record will bear the searchlight of closest investigation. He is broad minded and liberal in thought and action-a man whose charities know only the bounds of his opportunities.
JOHN H. INMAN .- Occupying a representative position among the leading business men of Webb City, Missouri, is John HI. Inman, of the firm of Inman & Charles, dealers in dry goods and gents' furnishings.
Mr. Inman is a native of Barry county, Missouri. He was born De- cember 10, 1856, a son of John H. and Virginia (Clark) Inman, both natives of Arkansas, the former of German and the latter of Irish des- cent. The father was a farmer by occupation. During the Civil war he was in the Confederate service, under General Price, and died in the army, at Pine Bluff, Arkansas, in 1862. His widow is still living, now making her home with her son in Oklahoma. Of her four children, John II., the subject of this sketch, is the second in order of birth.
John H. Inman received his early training in the rural schools of his native county. The death of his father and the vicissitudes of war left him a poor boy dependent upon his own resources. Leaving school at the age of seventeen, he went to Joplin and began work in the mines, which he continued five years. In the meantime he prospected and struck a good lead mine, which he operated with fair profit for a period of three years. Then he sold his mining interests and entered the em- ploy of Mr. John F. Wise, who was engaged in the wholesale feed busi- ness, and as office man remained with Mr. Wise about two years. At the end of this time, returning to Barry county, he accepted a position in the general merchandise store of Northeutt & Smith, in whose employ he remained one year. Then, in 1882, he married. The first six months of his married life were spent at Washburn, Missouri, where he was en- gaged in the produce and grocery business. Selling his business there, he moved to Purdy, Barry county, where he was soon afterward appointed postmaster, a position he filled four years under President Cleveland's administration. Next we find him going out as a traveling representative with a shoe line. For over eight years he covered a ter- ritory and sold shoes, at first representing a Springfield, Missouri, house, and the past two years being connected with a Jefferson City firm. On his retirement from the road he took up his residence at Prosperity, Jas- per county, where he engaged in mercantile business under the firm name of Inman & Pittman. This partnership continued about five years, at the end of which time Mr. Inman sold out and eame to Webb City, where he engaged in business at 905 West Dangherty street, in partnership with S. H. Charles, under the firm name of Inman & Charles. This busi- ness was established in 1897, in a small way, and by its enterprising own- ers has been gradually extended and enlarged until it has reached its present proportions. It ranks to-day as one of the best dry goods and gents' furnishing goods stores in Webb City. In addition to the store, Mr. Inman and his partner own and control a number of valuable min- ing leases in the Webb City district.
On June 8, 1882, Mr. Inman married Miss Louise Northentt, a na- tive of Missouri, and a daughter of the Rev. J. K. Northcutt, one of the
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pioneer settlers of Barry county. They are the parents of four children, all born in Purdy, namely: Orland K., Edith, John J. and Louise.
Mr. and Mrs. Inman are identified with the Baptist church, and po- litically Mr. Inman affiliates with the Democratic party, of recent years, however, taking no active part in politics. He has membership in num- erous fraternal organizations, including the Free and Accepted Masons, Knights of Pythias, Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Modern Woodmen of America. In the lodges of both the Knights of Pythias and the Odd Fellows he has passed all the chairs. His Masonie membership is in Purdy Lodge, No. 148.
FRANK MYERS .- Among the enterprising, energetic and successful business men of Joplin, Missouri, is numbered Frank Myers, proprietor of the Myers Carriage & Baggage Company, who belongs to that class of representative Americans who while promoting individual success also contribute to the general progress and advancement. He knows Missouri thoroughly and can look back over seven years spent in the romantic capacity of a stage driver when many hundreds of times he made the trip between Neosho and Joplin for the Southwestern Stage Company. In his present business he handles the government mails and his transfer work is quite the largest in the city.
Frank Myers was born in Dodge county, Minnesota, September 6, 1856. He is the son of Louis and Elizabeth (Cox) Myers, natives of Pennsylvania and Minnesota, respectively. He was left an orphan at an early age, his father passing to the Great Beyond in 1869, at the age of forty-five years. and the mother in 1859, when he was a lad but three years of age. His early days were passed amid the rural surroundings of his father's farm until the age of thirteen, when his father died and the household was broken up. His education, which terminated with that misfortune, was received in the district schools of the localities in which the family lived .- in Miami county, Indiana, and in Newton county, Missouri. Deprived of his natural protectors, it became neces- sary for the young lad to face for himself the serious issues of life and so he looked about him for employment. ITis first adventure as a wage- earner was in the livery barn of Jake Stewart, of Neosho, where he re- mained for about eighteen months. Although rather young to assume such a responsibility. upon giving up his position with Mr. Stewart he hecame stage driver between Neosho and Joplin, as before mentioned, ind spent seven years upon the road, meeting with many adventures, for the country was then in a condition in which adventure was a possibility. Being faithful in whatever he had to do, one position led to another of more important character and he next engaged with the Watson Bus Line of Joplin as general manager, and devoted his energies to their af- fairs for the next five years, or until 1890, at that date purchasing the business. IIe took with him as partner W. M. Foreman, and the firm. known as Myers & Foreman, continued as one of the well known con- cerns of the city for a period of twelve years. The business was then sold to the Joplin Transfer & Storage Company, but November 15, 1906, Mr. Myers bought it back and since that time has continued it under the present style of The Myers Carriage & Baggage Company. As previously mentioned. it is the largest concern of its kind in the city, and an im- portant part of its service is the handling of all the government mails. Mr. Myers is one of the best known of the citizens of Jasper county and his circle of acquaintances is almost co-incident with that of his friends and admirers.
Politically he whose name initiates this review is Republican, giving his heart and hand to the men and measures of "The Grand Old Party,"
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but he takes no active part in public affairs, except that of every intel- ligent voter and is not tempted from a strict attention to business by the lure of the honors and emoluments of office. He is one of the most prom- inent and popular of lodge men, belonging to the Knights of Pythias, the Modern Woodmen of America, the Pythian Sisters and the Benev- olent and Protectice Order of Elks. For five years he was master of finance of the Knights of Pythias.
Mr. Myers laid the foundation of a happy and congenial life com- panionship by his marriage, October 2, 1881, to Miss Millie Moats, a na- tive of the state of Ohio, and a daughter of Henry Moats. They have no offspring. their only child having died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Myers are zealous members of the Methodist Episcopal church, to whose good measures they give their generous sympathy and support.
The subject was a poor boy, never received any financial assistance and he has always been a hard, earnest and conscientious worker. This, combined with great business ability, makes his success and high stand- ing not at all difficult to understand and entitles him to representation among the self made men of our great nation. His paternal ancestors were Germans and settled in Pennsylvania, and his maternal ancestors were early Southern settlers.
WILLIAM H. BLACK is one of the essentially representative citizens of Carthage, Jasper county, Missouri, where he holds prestige as the oldest real-estate man in the city in point of continuous identification with that line of enterprise. Mr. Black has done much to advance the wheels of progress, aiding materially in the development of business activity and energy wherein the prosperity and growth of the state always depend. He has found in each transition stage opportunity for further effort and broader labor, and his enterprise has not only contributed to his individ- ual success but has also been of marked value to the community in which he makes his home.
A native of Indiana, Mr. William H. Black was born in Cass county, that state, on the 18th of April, 1846, and he is a son of Samuel and Margaret (Foas) Black, both of whom were born in Ohio, the former in Fairfield county, in 1808, and the latter in Muskingum county, in 1816. The parents were descended from staunch old German stock, the paternal ancestors having been early settlers in the old commonwealth of Vir- ginia and the maternal ancestors having been pioneers in Ohio. Samuel Black was engaged in agricultural pursuits during the major portion of his active career, but he passed the last five years of his life in retire- ment, in the home of his son William II., at Carthage, where he was sum- moned to the life eternal on the 20th of December, 1891, at the venerable age of eighty-two years. The mother died at Cass county, Indiana, in 1878. They were the parents of eight children, of whom six are living at the present time, in 1911.
After completing the curriculum of the district schools in Cass county, Indiana, William H. Black became a student in the high school at Logansport, Indiana, which he attended for a period of three years. He left school at the age of eighteen and for the ensuing six years he passed the winters in teaching school and during the summer seasons he engaged in farming. In 1874 he accepted a position in the county auditor's office at Logansport, doing clerical work for a period of two years, at the expiration of which he removed to Carthage, Missouri, where he secured a position in the postoffice as assistant postmaster. He continued in the government service until the spring of 1879, when he returned to Indiana and resided on the old homestead farm until Sep- tember, 1884. He then returned to Carthage, which beautiful little city
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has represented his home to the present time. He has long been en- gaged in the real-estate collections and insurance business and is recog- nized to-day as the oldest real -- estate and insurance man in Carthage. He has achieved marked success in the business world and in addition to his various interests has also had time for active participation in political affairs. A stanch advocate of the principles and policies promul- gated by the Republican party, he has served as an efficient member of the city council of Carthage on five different occasions, and he is now a member of the board of public works in Carthage. In a fraternal way he is affiliated with the local lodge of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and in his religious faith he is a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
On the 10th of December, 1861, at Carthage, was celebrated the mar- riage of Mr. Black to Miss America Brown, who was born in the state of Minnesota and who is a daughter of William Brown, one of the earliest settlers in Carthage. William Brown was a farmer by vocation and he came to Carthage in 1869, living retired from then until his death, which occurred in 1899. Mrs. Brown now makes her home with Mr. and Mrs. Black, and she has attained to the age of eighty-four years. Mr. and Mrs. Black are the parents of four children, two sons and two daughters, concerning whom the following data are here offered,-William H. Black, born at Carthage, married Miss Ola Watson and they reside in Kansas City, Missouri; Samuel Black, who was born in Cass county, Indiana, married Miss Bertha Carrick and is a farmer in Jasper county ; Olive, who was born in Jasper county, Missouri, is the wife of Dr. A. B. Mc- Keehan, of Carthage; and Edith, whose birth occurred at Carthage, is now the wife of James E. Scott, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The beautiful and attractive residence of the Black family is located on west Central avenue and Mr. Black's business headquarters are in the Bank of Carthage building.
EDWARD KNELL .- In Carthage, Jasper county, Missouri, in the past thirty years there has been, it is safe to say, no more forceful and val- uable citizen than the late Edward Knell, whose demise on December 24, 1910, removed from the community one who worked valiantly and suc- cessfully for its welfare and advancement. The memory of that splendid man will not soon be lost and his influence will long be impressed upon the institutions of the town and county which he held in such deep af- fection. Among the many tributes which have been paid to him, he has been mentioned as one "who did much for the making of a better Car- thage" and the field of the activities of this virile, original man em- braced almost every department of life and interest-business, philan- thropic, fraternal, social, civic. During the time of his residence here he had been engaged in the furniture and undertaking business and in this as in everything to which he put his hand, excellence was his watch- word. He introduced embalming here and maintained a most admirable and modern establishment, far above the standard of a city of this size. He was a man of great initiative and a fine capacity of making realities out of big ideas and the Jasper County Fair, known as the Knell Fair, is an institution directly due to his efforts. He was also the first to bring standard bred horses to the county and he has owned many horses whose fame has been of national proportions. The ensuing is taken from the account of the Carthage Evening Press, with but little paraphrase.
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