USA > Missouri > Jasper County > A history of Jasper County, Missouri, and its people, Vol. II > Part 6
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At Springfield, this state, on the 6th of June, 1865, was solemnized the marriage of Judge Elliott to Miss Maria D. Holbrook, who was born and reared in Missouri and who is a foster daughter of the late Samuel M. Moodey, who was for many years prominently identified with bank- ing interests in the city of St. Louis. She was reared by Mrs. Moodey. Judge and Mrs. Elliott have had no children of their own, but they have opened their hearts and home to a foster daughter, Lily, whom they reared and educated with all of loving solicitude and who has repaid them in her filial affection and devotion. She is the widow of James Moore. or Oronogo, who was a representative mine operator of this dis- trict at the time of his death, in 1910. Judge and Mrs. Elliott have also given a home to several other children who have been left dependent, and they have done all in their power to aid and comfort "all those in any way afflicted in mind, body or estate." Generous and kindly, toler- ant and charitable in judgment, this worthy couple have exerted benig- nant influence upon all who have come within their sphere of activity. and they have the affectionate regard of all who know them, so that, as
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the shadows of life lengthen from the west, where the sunset gates are open wide, they find that their lines are indeed "east in pleasant places," for their circle of friends is coincident with that of their acquaintances.
Judge Elliott has gained financial independence through his well directed endeavors and the appreciation in value of his various invest- ments, including valuable mining lands in his home county, and thus he is now quietly enjoying the well earned rewards of former years of ear- nest toil and endeavor. In 1901, in company with his cherished and de- voted wife, he made a visit to his boyhood's home in England, where he found much of pleasure and a modicum of sorrow in renewing the asso- ciations of the past. and where he secured treasured souvenirs and heir- loms from the old home, including a number of articles that have been in the family's possession for many generations. His attractive home, giving evidence of refinement and culture and set in the midst of grounds adorned with fine flowers and shrubbery. is one in which he and his wife delight to entertain their many friends, and its hospitality is constant, genuine and unostentatious.
E. S. CASNER .- On first arriving in Carterville a traveler is apt to be met by one of the employes of E. S. Casner, who owns a flourishing livery stable. He is one of the most successful business men in Jasper county. His career has been varied so far, but he has finally found the business which suits him and to which he is suited. His abilities are of such a high order that he could not fail to make a success of any enter- prise. He is known in Carterville as a business man of prominence whose career has been unsullied, and as a politician of influence who has not abused his opportunities.
E. S. Casner was born September 17, 1846, in Juinata county, Penn- sylvania. His father, Thomas B., was born in the same county, of Scotch-Irish descent. His family had come to this country and settled in Pennsylvania, in the Dutch settlement. There he met Miss Steace, who afterward became his wife. She belonged to a German family who had located in Pennsylvania.
E. S. Casner attended the country school in Crawford county, whither his father and mother had gone when they were first married. After he left school he clerked in a general store for five years and then came west to Jasper county, Missouri, with his parents in the spring of 1871. The first two years he was in Missouri he worked on a farm, but he did not care for the life of a farmer and went back to work in a gen- eral store. In 1876 he came to Carterville and, having saved some money, he bought ont a dry goods and general store and started in business for himself. At the close of a year he sold his store and went into the min- ing business. During the next ten years, from 1877 to 1887, he was engaged in mining and was very successful in his operations. In 1891 he saw an opportunity to conduct a livery stable successfully and ac- cordingly opened a stable. He is still conducting this business and has made money during the twenty years.
On January 1, 1873, while he was on the farm, he was married to Miss Nellie Gray, daughter of Rev. Ira Gray. Their family consists of four children .- Harry S., who is married to Miss Bessie Phillips, of Aurora, Missouri, and Lena Lee, Fred B. and Clarence Ray, the three younger children.
Mr. Casner is a stanch Republican and does not hesitate to tell his political preference. He is proud of his party and his party has rea- son to be proud of him. IIe was twice elected alderman and served the two terms. That second election speaks for himself. During his first term he made himself known as an alderman who was incorruptible
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and yet was aggressive. His second term confirmed the party in their faith in him.
EDGAR A. BOURNE .- For a number of years Edgar A. Bourne has been a resident of Jasper county, and he has been one of the active factors in its upbuilding, progress and advancement. He has maintained his home at Carterville, Missouri, since 1880 and owns and conducts one of the finest grocery stores in this city, where he has won marked pres- tige as a successful business man.
Edgar A. Bourne was born in Lewis county, Missouri, on the 11th of November. 1851, and is a son of Edwin B. Bourne, who was born in Shelby county, Kentucky, on the 24th of July, 1818. Edwin B. Bourne married Miss Mary Ann Mayberry, who claimed the state of Virginia as the place of her nativity and who came to Missouri with her parents about the year 1838. The father was identified with farming during the major portion of his active business career and he was summoned to the life eternal on the 28th of December, 1884. Mr. and Mrs. Bourne were the parents of four children and of the number the subject of this re- view was the second in order of birth. Edgar A. Bourne grew up and received his common-school education in Lewis county. Subsequently he was matriculated as a student in La Grange College, at La Grange, Missouri, and for one term he was also a student in the Methodist In- stitute at Shelbyville, Missouri.
On the 28th of May, 1872, Edgar A. Bourne established his home at Joplin, Missouri, and for the ensuing eight years he was interested in mining projects at Joplin and at Galena. In 1880, however, he severed his connections in those places and came to Carterville, where he imme- diately engaged in the drug business. He continued to be identified with that enterprise for only two years, disposing of his concern in 1884 in order to turn his undivided attention to the grocery business. His first grocery store was one of modest proportions, but with the passage of time he has extended his trade to almost gigantic proportions so that he now owns one of the largest and best equipped establishments of its kind in the city. In his political proclivities Mr. Bourne accords a stanch support to the principles and policies promulgated by the Dem- ocratic party, in the local councils of which he has long been an active and zealous factor. In 1906 he was appointed by Governor Dockery, to fill an unexpired term as judge of the county court of Jasper county. He was president of the school board of Carterville for a period of three vears and was a school director for six years. He is now secretary of the special road district and in this connection has been an influential factor in advancing the interests of good roads in Jasper county. In 1901 he was a member of the Democratic county committee.
On the 16th of December, 1885, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Bourne to Miss Clara B. Fountain, who was born at Oronogo, Missouri, and who is the daughter of Joseph Fountain, a prominent attorney and at one time postmaster of Carterville for some two terms. Joseph Fountain represented Jasper county in the state legislature during the sessions of 1885 and 1886 and during the strenuous period of the Civil war he was a faithful and gallant soldier in the Union army, serving as such for a period of four years, from 1861 to 1865. Mr. Fountain was summoned to eternal rest in the year 1895 and his wife, whose maiden name was Mary E. Laxton, is a resident of Carterville. Mr. and Mrs. Bourne have three children-Edith, who is the wife of E. E. McClary, a prominent merchant at Carterville, and Alba F. and Edgar J. Bourne.
In his fraternal affiliations Mr. Bourne is a valued and appreciative member of the local lodge of the Woodmen of the World. Mr. and Mrs.
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Bourne stand very high in the regard and esteem of their fellow citizens and they own a beautiful home in Carterville, the hospitality of which is enjoyed by their many friends and acquaintances.
WILLIAM C. BURCH has for nearly a score of years been closely iden- tified with the business interests of Carterville, Jasper county, Missouri, where he is one of the best known and most enterprising and progressive citizens. Anyone acquainted with the business interests or the material improvements of Carterville within the last few years could point out numerous instances where Mr. Burch's individuality and energy have left a permanent impress for welfare and upbuilding. In addition to being assistant cashier of the First National Bank of Carterville, he is also interested in a number of important mining projects and in the real-estate and insurance business.
A native of Carterville, Missouri, W. C. Burch was born on the 6th of January, 1872, and he is a son of Edward M. and Lonise J. (Daugh- erty) Burch, the former of whom was born in the old commonwealth of Virginia and the latter of whom was a native of the state of Tennessee. Edward M. Burch came to Jasper county, Missouri, in the early pioneer days and was here interested in farming and mining during the major portion of his active career. He traced his ancestry back to stanch Eng- lish stock and his wife was of Irish extraction. They became the parents of four children, of whom the subject of this review was the first in order of birth. The father was summoned to the life eternal in November, 1880, and the mother is a resident of Carterville.
At the time of his father's death William C. Burch was a child of but nine years of age. His preliminary educational training consisted of such advantages as were afforded in the public schools of Carterville, which he attended up to the age of seventeen years. For two years he was connected with a mining company as bookkeeper and also for two years traveled in the west and south. He then entered the First Nat- ional Bank in the capacity of clerk, continuing in the employ of that substantial monetary institution to the present time. Through succes- sive promotions he finally became assistant cashier, of which office he is still incumbent. He is deeply interested in mining operations in Jasper county and is a partner in the Burch & Harrington real-estate and in- surance company, which is doing an extensive business at Carterville. This firm represents a number of important insurance companies in the United States and in addition to real-estate transactions for outside par- ties owns considerable valuable property in Carterville and its imme- diate vicinity. Mr. Burch is a man of unusual executive ability and one whose success in life is entirely the outcome of his own well directed endeavors.
On the 4th of December, 1907, was recorded the marriage of Mr. Burch to Miss Jessie Ethel Litteral, who was born in Arkansas, on the 9th of September, 1881, and who is a daughter of JJacob Litteral, a retired mining operator and farmer of Jasper county, Missouri. Mr. Litteral now resides at Carterville. Mrs. Burch is an exceedingly well educated and accomplished woman. After being graduated in the Carterville high school she attended Central College, at Lexington, for a time and later spent three years as a student in Forest Park University, at St. Louis. To this union has been born one daughter, Halcyon Anne, whose birth occurred on the 20th of November, 1908. Mrs. Burch is a devout mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church, South, in her religions faith, and they are popular and prominent factors in connection with the best social activities of Carterville, where their spacious and attractive home is rec- ognized as a center of refinement and most generous hospitality.
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In his political convictions Mr. Burch is aligned as a stalwart sup- porter of the principles and policies for which the Democratic party stands sponsor and while he has never manifested aught of ambition for politieal preferment of any description he is ever on the alert and enthu- siastieally in sympathy with all measures advaneed for the well being of this section of the state. In fraternal eireles Mr. Burch is affiliated with the time-honored Masonie order, being a member of Joplin eonsis- tory, of the Scottish Rite branch, having attained to the fourteenth de- gree. He is also connected with the local lodge of the Knights of Pythias.
RILEY WILLEY .- Numbered among the highly esteemed and respected residents of Jasper county is Riley Willey, of Carthage, who fought bravely in defense of the Union during the Civil war and is now vice commander of Stanton Post, No. 16, G. A. R. A son of James Willey, he was born March 10, 1842, in Stark county, Ohio, not far from Canton, coming from English ancestry, his grandfather Willey having been born and bred in England.
James Willey was born in Virginia, near Richmond, where his parents located on coming to the United States from their English home. Emigrating to Ohio when young, he bought land in Stark county, and was there engaged in tilling the soil until his death, while yet in man- hood's prime. He married Nancy Cuppage, who was born in Virginia, of Irish parents, and to them eight children were born, four sons and four daughters. His widow survived him, and married for her second husband John Walker, by whom she had two children. She was a woman of strong convictions, and was a member of the Methodist church.
Spending his early life on the home farm in Ohio, Riley Willey was educated in the district schools. Prior to the Civil war he removed to Wayne county, Illinois, and in July, 1861, at Mount Erie, enlisted in Company E, Fortieth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, under command of Colonel Hicks. The regiment was first encamped at Camp Butler, Illi- nois, from there going to Benton Barracks, Saint Louis, Missouri, and later to Bird's Point, Missouri, thence to Paducah, Kentucky. Taking an active part in the first battle at Shiloh, Mr. Willey was there wounded in the arm and lost his left leg by grape shot wounds. He was taken immediately to the Court House Hospital in Paducah, Kentucky, and was there confined until August 2, 1862, when he was honorably dis- charged from the service. Returning home, he remained there quietly until December, 1863, when he enlisted in the Ninety-seventh Illinois In- valid's Corps, and was sent to Rock Island, Illinois, to assist in guarding prisoners.
After the close of the war Mr. Willey was for a while engaged in the notion business at Mount Erie, Illinois, from there going, in 1872, to Wa- bash county, Illinois. He subsequently came to Missouri, and for a time lived in Barry county, but since 1899 has been a resident of Carthage, his present home town, and has performed his part in advancing the material interests of the place.
Mr. Willey married first, at the age of nineteen years, Mary J. Vandever, who was born in Louisiana, a daughter of Charles Vandever, and of the five children that brightened their union, three are now living, namely : Charles, Laura and Emma. She was a woman of ability and superior character, and her death, at the age of fifty-eight years, was a loss not only to her immediate family, but to the community, and to the Christian church, of which she was an active and valued member. Mr. Willey married for his second wife, Mrs. M. J. (Palmley) Ingraham, widow of W. D. Ingraham, who died in early life, leaving her with three children, namely : Minnie, Pearl and Jennitt. Mrs. Willey was born in
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Saint Clair county, Missouri, a daughter of Reuben Palmley, who served as a soldier in the Confederate army. Mr. Palmley married Anna Baker, and they became the parents of four children. three sons and one daugh- ter-Mrs. Willey. Mr. and Mrs. Willey. true to the religious faith in which they were both reared, are members of the Christian church.
WILBUR F. HAUGHAWOUT .- Standing prominent among the leading citizens of Carthage, Missouri. is Wilbur F. Haughawout, a man of worth and stability, who has ever been among the foremost in the establishment of beneficial projects. He was born January 29, 1842, in Brown county, Ohio, near Winchester, and not far from the locality in which General U. S. Grant grew to manhood.
Joshua D. Haughawout his father, was born in Pennsylvania, being a direct deseendant of one of the French Huguenot families that, after the revocation of the Ediet of Nantes, migrated first to Holland, from there coming to the United States. After his marriage and the birth of three children in Pennsylvania, he lived for a while in Ohio. In 1844 he followed the emigrant's trail westward, going to Lafayette county, Wis- consin, in search of cheaper lands. Locating near Galena, he entered land, and while improving a farm lived first in a double log cabin, an Indian family occupying the other half of the rude log house. He carried on farming for several years in that county, at the same time being a preacher in the Methodist Episcopal church. His last days, however, were spent in Missouri, his death occurring at the age of seventy-six years. He married Amelia Stees, who belonged to a wealthy family of Union county, Pennsylvania, being a daughter of Frederick Stees, an officer in the Mexican war. She survived him, passing away at the age of eighty-six years, in Missouri. They were the parents of twelve chil- dren, eight sons and four daughters. The following sons served in the Civil war: Wilbur F .; Frederick S., who was sergeant in Company I, Sixteenth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and who was wounded at the battle of Shilo, is now a resident of California ; Henry, a member of the same company as Frederick S., after the war was for eight years post- master at Webb City, Missouri, and is now an attorney at Caney, Kan- sas ; Thomas Bond of the Second Wisconsin Cavalry, at the elose of the war located in Missouri, and until his death, in Carthage, was one of the more celebrated criminal lawyers of Jasper county, which he served for one or more terms as county attorney ; and John W., who belonged to the Twenty-third Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry.
Very soon after the outbreak of the Civil war Wilbur F. Haughawout enlisted in the Third Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and was subse- quently at the front in various engagements, including the battles of Antietam and Gettysburg. He took part in General Sherman's glorious campaign, participating at Atlanta, Savannah and the Carolinas under that great general, and was present at the grand review in Washington, D. C., after which he was honorably discharged as a first lieutenant. Since locating in Jasper county, Mr. Haughawout has been in- fluential in advancing its material interests. Coming here from Wis- consin, he made the trip overland, traversing the country with teams, camping and tenting by the roadside. Arriving at his point of destina- tion, he bought eighty acres of wild land in this part of the state, and met with such success in his agricultural labors that he was enabled from time to time to add to his original purchase, becoming owner of three hundred and forty acres of fine land, his estate, with its valuable im- provements, becoming one of the best in the entire county. Mr. Haugh- awont subsequently leased the Quaker Flour Mills, on Spring River, and
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after leaving the mills wisely invested his money in Carthage property and has here erected eleven dwelling houses.
He has been prominent in politics, as a campaign speaker upholding the principles of his party, and for six years was editor and proprietor of the Tribune, a Populist paper. He was active in securing the Car- thage Water Works, contracting for two hundred and twenty thousand bonds in Kansas City.
Mr. Hanghawout has been three times married. He married first, in Wisconsin, Sarah Mansell, a native of England. She died June 22, 1889, at the age of forty-two years, her death being a loss not only to her im- mediate family, but to the community in which she had so long lived, and to the Methodist Episcopal church, of which she was devout mem- ber. Eight children were born of their union, four of whom are now living, namely : Frank C., a mail carrier of a rural route; Harry, of Kan- sas City ; Mrs. Lilly E. Porter ; and Mrs. Bessie Carlson. Mr. Haugh- awont married for his second wife Laura Sexton, who lived but a short time afterward, her death occurring in 1891. He married on October 25, 1899, Miss Theo Mansell, a sister of his first wife, a woman of culture and refinement.
H. A. WIGGINS .- A public-spirited and highly esteemed eitizen of Carthage, HI. A. Wiggins is a well-known government employe, being a rural mail carrier on Route No. 3, going from Carthage. He is a veteran in the service, with which he has been connected sinee April 15, 1900, when he assumed charge of his present route, which extends southeastward about twelve miles, through Union township, a rich agricultural country, and embraces about one hundred families, to which he delivers mail each week day, with the exception of holidays. Mr. Wiggins is a genial, approachable man, prompt in his service, and aeeommodating, and is especially adapted for his work, and is deservedly popular with his patrons.
He was born, January 12, 1850, in Fulton county, Illinois, near Canton, and was there brought up and edneated. His father, Thomas Wiggins, a native of Pickaway county, Ohio, lived for a number of years on Piekaway Plains, near Circleville. He removed from there to Fulton county, Illinois, where he carried on general farming through- out the remainder of his active career. Retiring then from agricul- tural pursuits, he came to Jasper county, Missouri, and spent his clos- ing days in Carthage, passing away at the age of four score years. He was twice married and reared a large family of sons and daughters. His second wife, mother of H. A. Wiggins, survived him, and is now living in Carthage, being ninety-one years old, and active for one of her age.
Coming with the family to Jasper county in 1869, Mr. Wiggins has since been a resident of Carthage, and the greater part of the time has been interested in agriculture. He has a fine farm of fifty acres, and is devoting his leisure time to the raising of fowls, keeping pure White Leghorns, which he considers the best all round fowls grown, being especially good egg produeers, and paying him richly for the care and money he expends upon them.
Mr. Wiggins was appointed mail carrier, as before stated, in April, 1900. and has been very successful in the work, one of his rivals for popu- larity and good service being his son. In his political affiliations he is a stanch Republican, and fraternally he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America.
Mr. Wiggins married, at the age of thirty-six years, Ida Milnes, of Carthage, a daughter of James Milnes, who fought bravely in the Civil
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war as a Union soldier. He spent his last years in Carthage, Missouri, as did his wife, Esther Milnes. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Wiggins, namely : John C., Jennie May. Henry Ward, George Dewey and William Clyde.
John C. Wiggins, the oldest child, was born on the home farm, and there grew to a sturdy manhood. He was educated in the public schools of Carthage, and when applying for a position as rural mail earrier passed the civil service examination with a fine record for scholarship, standing ninety-eight and three-fourths in his examinations. Securing the desired position, he is now delivering the mail on Route No. 6, from Carthage, going in a northeasterly direction through Marion and Madi- son townships, covering each day twenty-seven and one-half miles in delivering mail to the one hundred or more families along his way.
John C. Wiggins married, in March, 1909. Gertrude Lanc, a daugh- ter of Henry D. Lane, and they have one child, William Henry Wiggins. Mr. Wiggins is a Republican in politics, and an earnest supporter of the principles of his party.
F. H. PIERCY .- A thoroughly upright man, of tried and trusted in- tegrity, F. H. Pierey, of Carthage, mail carrier on Rural Route No. 5, is a fine representative of the native-born citizens of Jasper county, in the growth and prosperity of which he takes an intelligent interest, none being more willing than he to contribute, according to his means, towards its material advancement. His birth occurred thirty years ago, on September 26, 1880, in Marion township, where he spent his earlier life, and where he has still interests of value, being owner of a well-cultivated and productive farm in that locality.
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