USA > Missouri > Jasper County > A history of Jasper County, Missouri, and its people, Vol. II > Part 52
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75
On July 1, 1882, Mr. Weymann was happily married to Matilda C., daughter of F. W. Meister, of St. Louis, a charter member of the Ger- man Saving Institution of St. Louis. This noted and substantial bank was chartered in 1854, and is the only bank in the city of St. Louis doing business under its original charter and without changing its name. Mr. Meister was president of this bank for twenty-two years, or until his death in 1898. Mr. Weymann and his wife visited Germany upon their wedding journey in 1882. During their visit at Berlin, through the courtesy of an old uncle of Mr. Weymann, Dr. August Flohr, who. next to the Emperor of Germany had the honor of holding the highest office of the Masonic Order at Berlin, and who for many years filled the chair of professor of Physics and Mathematics at the University of Berlin, were afforded the great pleasure of riding on the first street car ever run by electricity. This car was built for experi- mental purposes and at that time was run on a straight level track about one mile long. The car could run one way only with electric power and had to be hauled back with horses. His (Mr. Weymann's) first renewal of the former associations at his old home, Osnabrück, was in 1878, and
918
HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY
since then he with his wife have made a visit to Europe about every five years. Mr. Weymann's home at Joplin, on the southwest corner of Fifth and Sergeant avenue, was built in 1891, after Mrs. Weymann's own plan, and is one of the charming and hospitable homes of the city, and both the subject and his wife are very loyal to this section.
Mr. Gustavus Weymann, of Joplin, a brother of Henry Weymann, is also one of Joplin's well known, prominent and enterprising citi- zens, having a very nice home on the northwest corner of Sixth and Pearl streets. He has been attending to the office work of Henry Wey- mann for many years, and, like the former, is enjoying periodical visits to his old home in Germany, where he is visiting at present.
HARVEY A. CALE .- As a mine operator Harvey A. Cale, of Sarcoxie, is an important factor in promoting one of the leading industries of Jasper county, while as a dealer in real estate he is actively assisting in the material upbuilding and growth of the community in which he re- sides. He was born October 7, 1888, in Jasper county, on a farm lying two miles west of Sarcoxie, and which is still the home of his parents, Henry M. and Elizabeth Cale, natives of Ohio. Henry M. Cale came to Missouri with his family about 1870, locating in Sarcoxie township, where he has since been actively employed in farming.
The fourth child in a family of five children, Harvey A. Cale was well drilled in the various branches of agriculture in boyhood, in the meantime receiving his early education in the district schools and at the Sarcoxie high school. In 1904 he began work with the piek and shovel, and continued mining until 1907, when he commeneed operating on his own account. Mr. Cale has met with decided success in his ven- tures, and is now the owner of valuable silicate properties in the vicinity of Sarcoxie.
In 1910 Mr. Cale, wishing to still further equip himself for a busi- ness career, took a special course of study at Draughan's Business Col- lege, in Kansas City, and in March, 1911, engaged in the real estate business in Sarcoxie, forming a partnership with George H. Wyatt, a well-known citizen.
Mr. Cale is a stoekholder in the First National Bank of Sarcoxie, and owns a fine residential property in the city. Fraternally he is a member of Sarcoxie Lodge, No. 948, I. O. O. F .; and of Carthage Lodge, No. 529. B. P. O. E.
JAMES EASTRIDGE .- An able representative of one of the leading in- dustrial interests of Jasper county, James Eastridge has been actively engaged in the milling business for upwards of thirty years, being now proprietor of the American Roller Mills, which are located in Union township. A son of William Eastridge, he was born October 11, 1850, in Vincennes, Indiana, of honored pioneer stock.
Ilis grandfather, Isaac Eastridge, migrated, in the very early part of the nineteenth century, to the extreme western border of civiliza- tion, loeating near Vincennes, Indiana, ere the wild beasts of the forests had fled before the advancing steps of the white man, but, with the (lusky savages, habited the vast wilderness. He was there during the strenuous times of the various outrages committed by the Indians, the more important of which was the decisive battle of Tippecanoe, com- manded by that gallant hero, General William H. Harrison.
William Eastridge spent his seventy-six years of earthly life in In- diana, his death occurring in Knox county. He was a man of versatile talents, following not only the trades of a tanner and shoemaker, but being a good blacksmith. In his earlier years he was a member of the
919
HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY
United Brethren church, but later joined the Methodist Episcopal church. He married Millie Parks, who died at the age of seventy-two years. She, too, belonged first to the United Brethren church, but later she united with the Baptist church. Of the twelve children born into their household, eight sons and two daughters grew to years of ma- turity. Two of the sons fought in defence of their country during the Civil war. Andrew J., who enlisted first in the Forty-ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and afterwards veteranized, died at Vincennes, Indiana, in April, 1911. William enlisted when but sixteen years old in the Fifty-third Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and was with Sherman in his glorious march to the sea.
Reared and educated in Indiana, James Eastridge acquired a prac- tical common-school education, and began work as a youth in a saw mill. He was afterwards employed in a grist mill for several seasons, becoming familiar with milling in all its branches. The mill with which he is now so actively associated was erected by a Mr. Norris about a quarter of a century ago, and was subsequently owned by Mr. Mc Anders. The building, which is forty feet by fifty feet, and three stories high, was entirely remodelled and equipped in 1895, the latest approved modern machinery being then installed. The roller process is used in making flour, fifty barrels a day being frequently turned out, while a special set of rollers is used in grinding eorn meal, the output of flour and meal both being of a superior quality and commanding the highest market prices wherever sold. The plant has a magnificent water power, fully capable of doubling its present output, it being widely known as one of the very best mills of the kind in southwestern Mis- souri.
Mr. Eastridge married, September 7, 1871, Parthenia A. Bledsoe, who was born and reared in Indiana, a daughter of Jonathan and Susan (Tilery) Bledsoe. Mr. and Mrs. Eastridge have two children, namely : Laura, wife of W. M. Riley, of Arkansas; and Eddie, who is in the employ of the 'Frisco Railroad Company, at Knights Station. Politically Mr. Eastridge is a staneh Democrat, and he is a Baptist in his religious belief.
WALDO H. HARPER, engaged in agricultural and stoek-raising enter- prises in MeDonald township, Jasper county, Missouri, is one of the most energetic, enterprising and successful business men of this section of the state. He has been identified with the great land and farming interests of Missouri since early manhood and it seems that he has al- ways possessed an "open sesame" to unlock the doors of success in the various enterprises in which he has been involved. In addition to his farming, dairy, and fruit-growing interests in this state, he is also the owner of extensive tracts of farming and coal property in Lawrenee and Jasper counties, Missouri, and Cherokee county, Kansas. Diligent in business affairs, Mr. Harper has carved out a fine success for himself, and in public life he has ever manifested a deep and sincere interest in all matters affecting the general welfare.
A native of Missouri, Waldo II. Harper was born on the 25th of No- vember, 1868, and is a son of Joseph and Matilda (Barrett) Harper, both of whom are now deceased. The father was a prominent farmer and stoek-raiser and distiller in this state during his aetive career and he was also a gallant and faithful soldier in the Confederate army of the Civil war. He was born in Lawrence county, Missouri, November 11, 1843, a son of Wiley J. IIarper, a native of North Carolina, a pioneer settler in this state and a captain in the Confederate army. In 1862 Joseph Harper enlisted as a soldier under the command of General
920
HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY
Shelby and during his military career he participated in forty-three important engagements, the same including the battles of Lexington, Newtonia, Cane Hill, Prairie Grove, Springfield, Hartsville, Cape Gir- ardeau, Chalk Bluff, Helena, Little Rock, Marshfield, Marks Hill and a number of others. He was under General Price in the latter's raid through Missouri and during his term of service was wounded three times. His regiment disbanded at Dallas, Texas, in May, 1865, and one year later was solemnized his marriage to Mrs. Matilda (Barrett) Cald- well, widow of Captain John C. Caldwell, of the Confederate army. Mrs. Joseph Harper was a native of Tennessee and her mother was a Brice, granddaughter of Castleton Kilcannon, the famous pioneer and Indian fighter of eastern Tennessee. After his marriage Joseph Harper returned to Missouri, where he turned his attention to farming and stock-raising, in addition to which he also conducted a distillery in Jasper county, in which section he owned the first clearing and the first orchard ever planted. He was summoned to eternal rest in the year 1902, at the age of fifty-nine years, his wife having passed into the great beyond in the year 1900. They were the parents of but one child.
Reared under the sturdy influences of the old homestead farm in Jasper county, Waldo H. Harper, of this notice, early became associated with his father in the work and management of the home estate. His preliminary educational training consisted of such advantages as were afforded in the schools of the locality and period and as a young man he also worked for a time in his father's distillery. In 1890 Mr. Harper removed to Kansas, where in the following year he was married, and where he continued to maintain the family home until 1894. In that year he returned to Jasper county and resided on the old home farm until 1906, when he purchased a farm in southwest Texas, below San Antonio. In 1908, however, he disposed of his Texas farm and returned to Jasper county. At the present time, in 1911, he is the owner of two hundred and fifty-one acres of most arable land in one traet and ninety- six acres in another, on the latter of which is a fine peach orchard, cov- ing ten acres of land. This land is all located in MeDonald township and in addition thereto Mr. Harper is the owner of property in Lawrence county and of coal interests in Cherokee county, Kansas. His coal pos- sessions extend over a traet of three hundred and twenty acres. Since his permanent settlement in Jasper county, Mr. Harper is interested in diversified agriculture and is a breeder of registered Hereford cattle. He is the owner of a large dairy barn, of the most modern equipment in every possible connection, and he has a large herd of thoroughbred Jer- sey cows, which have been his pride for some time. The dairy barn, built of concrete, is perfect in its appointments. He is also the owner of a large herd of registered Hereford cattle, the same having taken two first prizes at the Carthage Fair, besides a number of other premiums and blue ribons. On Mr. Harper's finely improved farm is a large, new barn, thirty by seventy-five feet in lateral dimensions, it having a capacity of forty tons of hay. His land is some of the very finest in the entire county, being well watered and wooded in sections. As farmer and stock-raiser, Mr. Harper has gained distinctive prestige as one of the ablest men in this community; he is straightforward and honorable in all his business dealings and in the various relations of life has so conducted himself as to command the unqualified confidence and esteem of all with whom he has come in contact. He is universally ad- mired and respected in McDonald township, where he has so long main- tained his home and where his every effort has been exerted to advance those projects affecting the material welfare of the state.
In Kansas, on the 10th of May, 1891, was celebrated the marriage of
921
HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY
Mr. Harper to Miss Mary Copper, whose birth occurred in Cherokee county, Kansas, and who was a daughter of Nathaniel and Sybil Copper. Her father was long a representative citizen and business man in Cher- okee county. This union was prolific of three children, namely,-Min- nie Maud, born on the 5th of March, 1892; May, born April 6, 1893; and Matilda, born on the 15th of February, 1899. Mrs. Harper died on the 11th of October, 1899, and on the 3d of September, 1901, Mr. Harper was united in marriage to Miss Maude Briggs, a daughter of Andrew J. and Helen (White) Briggs, natives of Illinois, who came to Missouri when Mrs. Harper was a child of but seven years of age. Mrs. A. J. Briggs died in 1895 but Mr. Briggs is still living and he maintains his home on a farm two miles south of La Russell. Mr. and Mrs. Harper have two children,-Dixie Tom, whose birth occurred on the 18th of June, 1902; and Hugh Barrett, born on the 28th of August, 1904. Mr. and Mrs. Harper are popular factors in connection with the best social affairs of their home community and their beautiful residence is widely renowned for its gracious entertainments and generous hospitality. Mr. Harper is a Methodist in religious affiliation. While never an
active participant in politics, Mr. Harper exercises his franchise in support of the Democratic party. He is a man of extensive and def- inite information, a man of quick intuition and shrewd discern- ment; and it is the combination of those qualities that has enabled him to achieve such splendid success in his varied business enterprises. He has ever been loyal and public-spirited in his civic attitude and as a friend he is everywhere esteemed on account of his sterling integrity and worth.
GEORGE K. ROPER .- Jasper county is a rich agricultural region, and among the enterprising and self-reliant men who conduct its farming interests G. K. Roper occupies no unimportant place, Center Creek Stock Farm. of which he is the proprietor, being one of the best in its improvements and appointments of any in the vicinity. A son of Captain William F. Roper, he was born October 11, 1866, in Law- rence, Kansas.
Born in Tennessee, the descendant of a family of note, Captain W. F. Roper moved to Lyons county, Missouri, in early life, and subse- quently had the honor of serving as the first captain of the Lyons County Home Guards Militia. Enlisting for service during the Civil war, he served as captain of a company in the Union army. At the close of the conflict he resumed his independent occupation, and con- tinued a prosperous farmer until his death, at the venerable age of eighty-three years. Captain Roper married Ruth J. Snow, who was born in Tennessee, a daughter of Martin Snow, who moved from Ten- nessee to Lawrence. Kansas, and there spent his remaining days. She survived her husband. and now. an active woman of seventy-two years, is living on the home farm in Mt. Pleasant township. Lawrence county, Missouri.
The eldest child in a family of eleven children, six sons and five daughters, George K. Roper received his first knowledge of books in the common schools, and obtained while yet a hoy a good idea of the methods of farming. After his marriage he located on a farm lying three miles east of Sarcoxie, and in its management was quite suecess- ful. In 1906, in the month of August, Mr. Roper bought the old Mc- Ginnis farm, which he has since owned and occupied. It is pleasantly situated in sections 30 and 31, Union township, about seven and one- half miles southeast of Carthage. and contains one hundred and ninety acres of rich and fertile land. It is well improved, the larger part of Vol. 11-23
922
HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY
it being under cultivation and well watered, the greater part of it being bottom and valley land, while the seven-room dwelling house is located on a fine building site, near a spring of pure and sparkling water. There are two substantial barns on the place, one being thirty- one feet by fifty-four feet, and the other thirty feet by forty-two feet, with other buildings necessary for carrying on his work satisfactorily. In addition to carrying on general farming profitably, Mr. Roper makes a specialty of stock-raising. breeding fine road horses, Tony Wilkes, which heads his fine herd. being one of the best show roadsters and saddle horses of southwestern Missouri.
Mr. Roper married, at the age of twenty-three years, Mary L. Bra- den, who was born in Missouri, a daughter of James M. and Susan (Deriek) Braden, and their home is brightened and enlivened by the presence of Miss Katie Robinson, who has lived with them since she was twenty months old. In his political affiliations Mr. Roper is a steadfast Republican, and fraternally he belongs to Sarcoxie Lodge, No. 248, I. O. O. F., of Sarcoxie.
WILLIAM HENRY ROYER .- Standing second to none among the well- to-do agriculturists of Jasper county is W. H. Royer, whose finely cultivated estate, known as "Fairlands," is advantageously located on section 6, Union township, eight and one-half miles southeast of Carth- age. A son of John Royer, he was born July 4, 1861, in Clinton county, Pennsylvania.
John Royer was born, bred and educated in the Keystone state, liv- ing there during the earlier part of his life. During the sixties, realizing the vast possibilities for an industrious farmer in the West, he came with his family to Missouri, locating in Jasper county. Buying a traet of wild land in Union township, he devoted his time and attention to its redemption, in due course of time clearing and improving a home- stead of two hundred and forty acres, it being the farm now owned and occupied by Thomas Royer. On retiring from agricultural pursuits, he moved to Carthage, where for two years he was engaged in the shoe business. His death occurred in 1901, when he was well advanced in years. His wife, whose maiden name was Fanny Custard, preceded him to the better world, at her death leaving him with five children, four of them being sons and one a daughter, Mrs. William Spencer, of Union township.
A small child when he came with his parents to Union township, W. H. Royer was educated in the district schools, while on the home farm he was well trained in the various branches of agriculture and well drilled in regard to habits of diligence and thrift. He subsequently began his agricultural operations on a small scale, but has continually increased and extended his labors, and has improved his farm, "Fair- lands," to such an extent that it is now one of the most valuable in the vicinity, being easily worth upwards of one hundred dollars an acre. He makes a specialty of dairying, having regular customers for butter, and he also raises thoroughbred Duroc-Jersey hogs. Mr. Royer's im- provements are of an excellent character, his house being large and conveniently arranged. while he has ample barn space for housing his stock and storing his hay. He pays considerable attention to the grow- ing of fruit, having a good orchard, which is well kept and productive.
Mr. Royer married on the 1st of December, 1889, Georgia Stoner, of Seneca, Missouri, a daughter of Joseph and Sidney (Bush) Stoner, and they have six children, Minferd, Ernest, Earl, Gladys, John and Arlo. Politically Mr. Rover supports the principles of the Democratic party by voice and vote. Mr. and Mrs. Royer are both members of the
923
HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY
Missionary Baptist church, and Mrs. Royer has been a teacher in the Sunday-school. Mr. Royer is a member of Parshley Lodge, No. 8981, M. W. A., and Mrs. Royer is a member of Union Camp, No. 3036. Royal Neighbors, of which she is recorder.
ISAAC E. COPLEN .- Jasper county is fortunate in the possession of such progressive and enterprising farmer-citizens as Isaac E. Coplen, who owns three hundred and twenty-three acres in Lincoln township and who has been identified with this section for the past decade. his previous career having been in other states of the Union. He is inter- ested in current issues and contributes to the extent of his ability in the general advancement and progress of the prosperous and splendid country in which his interests are centered.
The birthplace of Mr. Coplen was Fulton county. Indiana, and the date of his nativity January 30, 1852. His parents, who were natives of Ohio, were Isaac and Catherine (Logsdon) Coplen, who were en- gaged, also, in the great basic industry. They removed from Ohio to Indiana and after residing in the latter state for a time, went to Iowa. where they remained for a few years. Both of these worthy people lived to a great age, the father's demise occurring April 10. 1905. at the age of eighty-four years, and the mother surviving to the present time and making her home in Kansas. This venerable lady is eighty- six years old. She and her husband were pioneer settlers in Iowa and in that state they reared their family of three sons and four daughters. Six of the seven children survive, two members making their home in Nebraska, two in Kansas, one in Missouri, and one in Oklahoma.
Isaac E. Coplen grew to young manhood upon his father's home- stead and there acquired those habits of industry and thrift which have insured his success in life. At the age of nineteen years he began life independently, and having come to the conclusion to follow in the paternal footsteps in the matter of a life work he rented a tract of land in Marion county, Iowa, and began farming. About a year later he decided upon a change of residence and removed to Scotland county, Missouri, where he rented a farm. He remained there for a short time and then returned to Marion county. Iowa. Those were years of many changes and from Iowa he went to Adams county, Nebraska, in 1879, and purchased one hundred and sixty acres. There he resided nine and one-half years and then he went to western Nebraska and settled on a half section of land in Perkins county. The stay in that county was of five and one-half years' duration and at the end of that time he traded his farm in that state for one in Appanoose county, Iowa. After eondueting operations in Iowa for a time he again disposed of his holdings and in 1902 came to Missouri and purchased two hundred and forty acres in Lincoln township, Jasper county. He has since added to the original tract some eighty-three acres, making three hun- dred and twenty-three acres in all. He is one of the prosperous men of the county and in himself constitutes a denial of the old adage that "a rolling stone gathers no moss."
Mr. Coplen was married November 13, 1870, to Frances E. Tener, daughter of Isaac and Nancy Tener, natives of Ohio. This union, which was celebrated in Iowa, has been blessed by the birth of six children, four of whom survive. The sons and daughters are as fol- lows: William, who died at the age of seven years; Floyd. who died in 1881, at the age of three years; Arta, born in 1873, now Mrs. Frank E. Ellis, of Lincoln township; Gertie, born in 1884, wife of Arthur Lafon, also of Lincoln township; Clarence, born in 1887, located at Dudenville, Dade county, Missouri ; and Roy, born in 1890, who recently
924
HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY
was graduated third in his class from the Carthage high school. The family are valued and consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church and the Coplen home is one of the popular and hospitable ones of the township.
EDWARD A. NORRIS .- Mr. Norris' ancestry have a far-reaching rec- ord as a temperate, sturdy, long-lived race of rigid Roundheads, among the Congregational Puritans of New England. His great-grandfather, Deacon John Norris, fought at Bunker Hill, and remained in the Con- tinental army until a sword-wound disabled him for further military service. He afterward became one of the pioneers of the Montezuma salt marshes in New York and lived to extreme old age, as did his brother, who was among the pioneers of the Ohio valley. His grand- father was John Norris, born in Livingston county New York, April 29, 1791, and died at Nankin, Wayne county, Michigan, May 5, 1871, aged eighty years. He married Azuba Phelps, who was born January 10, 1798, and died July 10, 1874, in her seventy-seventh year.
Of this union Philetus Walter Norris was born at Palmyra, New York, August 17, 1821, and died at Rocky Hill, Kentucky, January 14, 1885, in his sixty-fourth year. His father was a soldier of the war of 1812, and a pioneer by birth and choice. He inherited from his mother, who was of pure Welsh, or native British ancestry, his love of moun- tains and of song. His father's nomadic life as a pioneer mill-builder in the wild Alleghany region of New York and Pennsylvania, offered few opportunities for his son's school education, but much for moun- tain climbing. He earned his first dime, when less than eight years of age, as guide through the dense moss-draped pine and hemlock forests around the great falls of the Genesee river, near Portage, New York, and was engaged in kindred duties until the removal of the family to Michigan. Here the greeting was a call for minute-men for the short but bloody Black Hawk war, which was followed by the first and fierc- est of the cholera visitations. His father's health becoming impaired, it was then that the matchless nerve and energy of the Christian mother, who worked with loom and shuttle, and the ceaseless toil of the son kept starvation from the household. When the restored health of the father relieved him, his habits had been formed by the stern schooling of pioncer trapper life.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.