USA > Missouri > A history of northeast Missouri, Vol. 2 pt 2 > Part 110
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retained for three years. He then removed to Glasgow, Howard county, where he became pastor of the First Baptist church. This charge he retained three years, at the expiration of which, and immediately after the death of his wife, he removed, in 1892, to Palmyra, where he has since maintained his home. From 1892 until 1897 the major part of his time and attention was given to service in various rural parishes in Randolph, Boone and Pike counties, including those at Curryville and Sturgeon. Impaired health then rendered it expedient to abandon his exacting labors along this line, and he purchased an interest in the People's mills, the leading flouring mills of Marion county. He has since given his attention to the supervision of this business and the same has proved most successful. He has been rewarded with financial pros- perity which had not been given him during his long and effective service in the educational and ministerial fields, and he well merits this success, for he has labored long and assiduously and has made the best provision possible in educating his children and training them for lives of honor and usefulness. He is broad-minded and public-spirited in his civic attitude and his political allegiance is given to the Democratic party.
In 1876, at Greenville, South Carolina, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Dingle to Mrs. Kate McConnell Townsend, and she proved a devoted wife and mother. She passed to eternal rest at Glasgow, Howard county, on the 7th of January, 1892, and is survived by two children, Annie L., who is the wife of John W. Metcalf, of Palmyra, and William C., who is now a resident of the state of Washington. In 1899 Mr. Dingle contracted a second marriage, in his union with Miss Anna W. Thompson, daughter of William H. and Pauline Thompson, of Palmyra, and she proves a most gracious and popular chatelaine of their attractive home. They have one child, Pauline, who was born on the 11th of Sep- tember, 1903, and who is a winsome ruler in the family circle.
JAMES A. LANIUS. There is being accorded more and more with the advancing years, the honor that is justly due to the teaching pro- fession. For many years this noble profession was looked down upon as fit only for weaklings, for those who were not able to play a man's part in the world, but with the increase in education and the broad- ening of the national mind, so to speak, has come the recognition of the high place which the school master has to play in the destinies of the nation. It is the education of our children that is really the most important concern of the country today, and people have come to the realization that the man whom they select as the teacher of their chil- dren must not only be well educated and equipped for that duty in an intellectual way, but must also be a man of strong character and single- hearted purpose, who will give their children that which cannot be ob- tained from books. Such a man is James A. Lanius, the principal of Centenary College, at Palmyra, Missouri, who has given his whole life- time to the instruction of youth.
James A. Lanius was born in Louisiana, Missouri, on the 12th of July, 1846. His father, Jacob Lanius, was a native of Virginia, and was a noted Methodist minister in the state of Missouri. Not a town in the state but knew him well and universal respect and esteem was accorded him everywhere. The mother of James Lanius was born in Fredericktown, Missouri, her name being Nancy Long. She met her future husband here when they were both children, for his parents moved hither from Virginia, when he was but a child. Their mar- ried life was almost a nomadic existence, for her husband was called hither and yon by the work of his ministry, and they scarcely ever
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had a settled abode. Mr. Lanius died at Fayette, Missouri, in 1851, and left his widow with the care of seven children. Life was indeed a struggle after the father's death, but somehow she accomplished the feat of raising these children and educating them. Her death occurred in 1886, near Hannibal, Missouri.
On account of the death of his father when he was but a child, the early education of James Lanius was only had in snatches. He attended various public schools, and through his natural cleverness and gift for study, he acquired a very good preparatory education in spite of the obstacles in his way. He was thus ready at an early age for college and matriculated at Central College at Fayette, Missouri. After one year spent in college he immediately took up teaching. This was in 1863, and he has been continuously engaged ever since. He first taught in Ralls county and then in the state of Illinois in 1865. Upon his return to Missouri he taught in a Methodist high school, at Macon, Missouri. During the year 1868-69 he was teaching in the Macon high school. He then took his first work in a private institution, being engaged as a teacher in Pritchett Institute at Glasgow, Missouri, for a period of one year. For the next three years he was superintendent of the public schools of Plattsburg, in Clinton county, Missouri. He was next honored by the position of professor in Smith Academy, in St. Louis. He was also vice-principal of this institution which has since become Washing- ton University. After remaining here for ten years he became prin- cipal of the Centenary high school at Palmyra, Missouri, for a period of seven years. His success as an administrator and executive officer had been so marked in these latter positions that the trustees of St. Charles College, at St. Charles, Missouri, offered him the position of president of the college. This honor he accepted and for four years he managed the affairs of this institution with great success. He then became professor of Latin and Greek at Pritchett College, Glasgow, Missouri, but preferring work that had some executive aspects to it, he resigned this post in 1898, after three years stay, to accept the prin- cipalship of Centenary Academy at Palmyra, Missouri, where he has remained up to the present day. This academy which is the successor of the Centenary high school, ranks among the best academies in the state of Missouri. Its curriculum includes all grades from those of the primary department up to and through the first year of college work. It is an accredited school to many of the large universities, and has gained a reputation for sending forth from its doors, students thoroughly prepared and equipped not only for continuing their work in higher institutions of learning, but also for their battle with the world. The school not only maintains a literary department but also a musical department, which has a deservedly wide reputation for good work. The instructors have been increased in number since Mr. Lanius took charge and their ability is unquestioned. The school has grown rapidly of recent years, the enrollment at the present day being about one hundred. It is a highly successfuly institution, one of which Mis- souri has a right to be proud, and its high place among educational institutions is due to the untiring energy and self `sacrificing work of its principal, who has devoted himself heart and soul to this work.
Mr. Lanius was married in 1872, at Plattsburg, Missouri, to Miss Ella Bird, of Plattsburg, the daughter of Rev. Jesse Bird. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Lanius, all of whom have received a good education and are living examples of the wisdom of their father's methods of handling children and young people. Annie, who married Rev. S. A. Stewart, has been a missionary to Japan, since 1898. Bond is the wife of Prof. Carl Trowbridge, who is the principal of Brevard
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Institute in North Carolina. Rosella married Charles M. Hay, who is a prominent attorney in Fulton, Missouri. Carol V. is a minister of the Methodist church, a member of the Missouri Conference and stationed at Memphis, Missouri. Tudor, who was educated at Central College and at the University of Wisconsin, is now a teacher of physics and English in his father's school at Palmyra.
JOHN J. CRUIKSHANK, now living in virtual retirement in Hannibal, Missouri, has for many years been a leading and influential citizen of this place and his activity in business affairs, his co-operation in public interests and his zealous support of all objects that he believes will con- tribute to the material, social or moral improvement of the community, keeps him in the foremost rank of those to whom the city owes its development and present position as one of the leading metropolitan centers of Missouri. His life has been characterized by upright, honor- able principles and it also exemplifies the truth of the Emersonian phil- osophy that "the way to win a friend is to be one." His genial, kindly manner wins him the high regard and good will of all with whom he comes in contact and he is everywhere esteemed for his ster- ling integrity of character and exemplary life.
The father of the subject of this review, likewise named John J. Cruikshank, was born in Dublin, Ireland, June 5, 1812, and he was a son of John and Mary Cruikshank, the former a native of Scotland and the latter of Ireland. He came to America with an elder brother, George L., in 1826, and they settled in the city of Pittsburgh, Pennsyl- vania, where John J. began to work in a carpenter's shop. Later he clerked in a store and for some years prior to 1839 operated a factory at Cannonsburg, being associated in the latter enterprise with his brother. For the following two years he was on a flatboat in the Mississippi river and eventually he became the owner of a lumber yard in Galena, Illinois. In 1851 he opened a branch yard at Alton, Illinois, and operated it until 1856, which year marks his advent in Hannibal. He came hither with half a million feet of lumber and started the busi- ness now known as the Cruikshank Lumber & Coal Company. His suc- cess in Hannibal was assured from the start and with the passage of time he succeeded in building up a tremendous business. In 1864 he disposed of his lumber interests to his son, John J., whose name forms the caption of this review. Mr. Cruikshank, Sr., was summoned to the life eternal December 18, 1890, and his cherished and devoted wife, whose maiden name was Martha Ledle, passed away January 13, 1899. Of the eight children born to Mr. and Mrs. Cruikshank but three are living, in 1912.
John J. Cruikshank, of this notice, was born in the city of Vincennes, Indiana. He was reared to maturity in his home place, Galena, Illinois, and in 1856 came with the family to Hannibal, where he has since resided. In 1860 he was admitted to partnership in his father's busi- ness, which then became known as the firm of J. J. Cruikshank & Son. In 1864, when his father retired from active business life, after having. secured a competency, he became active head of this large lumber con- cern. He conducted the same until 1897, when he, in turn, was suc- ceeded by his sons. s. In the early days the sale of one million feet of lumber was considered enormous for a year's work but in the nineties forty million feet was sold annually. John J. Cruikshank has long been one of Hannibal's progressive citizens, ever alive to all movements to advance its growth and general prosperity.
The Cruikshank residence, "Rock Cliffe," standing on a natural eminence and commanding a fine view of the city and river, is one of
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Missouri's most pretentious and elaborate homes. It is one of the show places of Hannibal and is known as widely for its generosity and refinement as for its great beauty.
ROBERT BUCHANAN was long an honored citizen and representative business man of Hannibal, who left an indelible impress upon the civic and industrial annals of the city and upon whose record there rests no shadow or blemish. His strength was as the number of his days and not only did he accomplish much in connection with the practical affairs of life, but his nature, strong and kindly in tolerance, was every- where a potent influence for good.
The birth of Robert Buchanan was unique in that it occurred on a flatboat on the Ohio river while the family were en route from Pitts- burgh to Missouri. He was born in 1802 and was a son of Robert Bu- chanan, who was born and reared in Pennsylvania. The Buchanans came from the same county in the old Keystone state as did President Buchanan and of the same family. The young Robert was reared in Saint Louis county, Missouri, and his educational discipline consisted of such advantages as were offered in that locality and period. In 1833, at the age of thirty years, he came to Hannibal and settled in what is now the south side of the city, there building and operating a tanning and brick yard. He was tremendously successful in his various business enterprises and in time became interested in real estate operations, laying out Buchanan's addition, which is now one of the most popular sections of the city. His home was located on Union street and there he passed the closing years of his life-a long and honored one. He was summoned to the life eternal in the year 1875 and at the time of his demise was reputed as one of the wealthiest men in Hannibal. He had extensive property holdings on Broadway and was likewise the owner of extensive plots in the residential section. In religious matters he was a leader in the Congregational church. He was twice married, his first union having been to Miss Eliza Ann Church, who died shortly after the birth of her daughter Frances, who became the wife of Alex- ander Velie, concerning whom further data appear in the sketch fol- lowing. For his second wife Mr. Buchanan married Mrs. Rebecca M. Raymond, who reared the little Frances. Both marriages were pro- lific of large families but Frances was the only child to reach years of maturity.
ALEXANDER VELIE, who was a scion of a fine old Revolutionary fam -. ily, was born in Schenectady, New York. His grandfather, Philip Velie, was a valiant and faithful soldier during the entire period of the War of the Revolution and he was a member of one of the old Knickerbocker families of New York. The family was originally French-Huguenot but during the days of the French revolution various representatives of the name fled to Holland, whence their descendants later came to New York. Mr. Velie, of this notice, was born in the year 1823 and was a son of Jacob and Katherine (Boyd) Velie. He was reared and educated in New York City and as a young man came west, locating in Keokuk, Iowa, where he became interested in business as a contractor. In the spring of 1858 he came to Hannibal and here continued in work as a contractor until death called him from the scene of his mortal endeav- ors. He and his family resided on Park avenue, in the Buchanan addi- tion. After settling in Hannibal he responded to Lincoln's call for volunteers in the defense of the flag and served for four years as an engineer in a Missouri regiment. After the close of the war he received a government pension until death, which occurred in September, 1909, at the age of eighty-six years.
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In the fall of 1858 Mr. Velie was united in marriage to Miss Fran- ces Buchanan, who was born in Hannibal in 1837 and who still sur- vives him. He was a devout Universalist during his lifetime while she is an active worker in behalf of all that affects the good of the Congre- gational church. Mr. and Mrs. Velie became the parents of nine chil- dren, of whom seven grew to maturity, as follows: Mattie K. is the wife of Theron B. Parks, who is engaged in the livery business in Hannibal; they have three children, Frances, Clarence and Edwina. Charles, who was a contractor in Denver for a number of years, died in Missouri in 1906; he is survived by a widow and three children, Roy, Julius and Nettie. Joseph is engaged in the contracting business in Hannibal; he has two children, Edgar and Louis. Maurice lives in Hannibal ; his chil- dren are Hall, Robert and Byron. Clarence is engaged in business as a builder ; he has one child, Ferrin. Frank is a contractor in San Fran- cisco, and Lena is the wife of F. G. Howard, of Hannibal; they have two sons, Grant and Theron.
JOHN B. HELM .* The life story of Judge John B. Helm is one which is inseparably connected with the history of Hannibal and interwoven with all the important events in its development. As a young man he was strong, vigorous and self-reliant. He trusted in his own ability and did things single-handed and alone. His intelleet was keen, his personality was strong and forceful, he stood by his friends with all his might and to the last extremity. He was an infallible judge of human nature and the deserving always received help from him. He was descended from fine old Revolutionary stock, Capt. Thomas L. Helm of Faulkner county, Virginia, and was the last of four generations of judges. His demise occurred June 1, 1872, at the age of seventy-four years, seven months and three days.
A native of the fine old Bluegrass State of the Union, Judge John B. Helm was born in Marion county, Kentucky, the date of his nativity being the 28th of October, 1797. He was a son of John Helm, a noted Indian fighter in the pioneer days of Kentucky. His Revolutionary ancestor was Capt. Thomas Helm, who settled in Kentucky in 1780. The great-grandfather of Judge Helm was a judge in Fairfax county, Virginia ; his grandfather was judge of Hardin county, Kentucky, and his father served as judge of Washington county, Kentucky. Judge Helm was educated in Kentucky, receiving much of his early training under Gen. Duff Green, once editor of the Telegraph, General Jack- son's paper in Washington. Subsequently he read law under his kins- man, Hon. John Pope, of Frankfort, Kentucky, and he initiated the active practice of his profession in Alabama, where, however, he so- journed but a short time. Returning to Kentucky, he located in Eliza- bethtown, which place represented his home until 1833, that year mark- ing his advent in Bowling Green, Kentucky. In 1835 he settled in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana, but eventually returned to Bowling Green, where he was postmaster for a number of years and where he also served as state commissioner of internal improvements. At one time he was candidate for the office of lieutenant governor of Ken- tucky as a conservative Jeffersonian Democrat. He was recognized as a strong and influential attorney in Bowling Green and won the com- mendation of the state bar association for his erudition and great legal talent.
In 1852 Judge Helm came to Hannibal and in that year was elected
*This sketch was taken from Commonwealth of Missouri courtesy of John L. RoBards.
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judge of the common pleas court. His career as a jurist was marked by stanch and conscientious devotion to duty and by decisions that were but rarely appealed or reversed. He was a director in the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad Company and was deeply and sincerely interested in all that tended to advance the welfare of his adopted city and state. He had extensive real estate holdings in Hannibal and owned a number of slaves who were skilled carpenters. With their help he constructed many substantial business buildings and residences in the city, one of which was the present home for the friendless, which was formerly his own private residence. In 1864 he laid out the J. B. Helin addition to the city of Brookfield and there erected a number of large buildings. He was very devoted to the building business and prior to his demise had erected some eighty substantial structures. He died while super- intending the erection of one of his buildings. His death, which occurred June 1, 1872, at the age of over seventy-four years, was uniformly mourned throughout Hannibal and the surrounding country. The fu- neral services were conducted by Excalaber Commandery, Knights Temp- lars and his remains are interred in Mt. Olivet cemetery. At the time of his death the city council and state bar adopted and published many enlogistic tributes to his memory. He was a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal church, South, and was a very consistent Christian.
His first marriage occurred in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, where, in 1824, he wedded his cousin, Miss Jane Helm, who died in 1840. Two years later Judge Helm was united in marriage to Mrs. Mary A. Pol- lard, nee Crump, sister of Colonels B. N. and B. C. Crump, of Glasgow, Kentucky. She died January 1, 1889. Children: John C. Helm died a bachelor; Sara C. Helm is the wife of John L. RoBards, a prominent attorney in Hannibal, and they celebrated their fiftieth anniversary April 4, 1911; Mary N. is the wife of J. F. Davidson, of Hannibal; Beverly, deceased, was the widow of M. R. Platt, who died in Kansas City in 1911; and Cyrus T. was a clothing merchant in Hannibal during the greater part of his active career. Cyrus T. Helm married Kate Park, of Kentucky, and they became the parents of two sons, namely: John C., further mention of whose career appears in a following paragraph ; and Henry B., general manager Louisiana Railway and Navigation Company.
Shortly after his election to the office of president of the United States Abraham Lincoln was in Hannibal for a short period and while there called on Judge Helm to renew an old friendship. A number of friends accompanied him on this visit and while there President Lincoln turned to them and said: "This is the only man I really ever envied. As a boy my mother traded in a store in which Helm was clerk at Elizabethtown and he, seating me on a nail keg, gave me a lump of sugar. Eating it, I admired the man immensely-his tall stature and fine suit of broadcloth. I felt it the height of my ambition to grow to be such a fine man and to be able to dress in broadcloth as he did every day in the week." After a most pleasant visit the president and Judge Helm parted never to meet again.
John C. Helm, grandson of Judge John. B. Helm and son of Cyrus T. and Kate (Park) Helm, was born in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, in the year 1853. He was an infant of but one year of age when he accom- panied his parents on their removal to Hannibal. where he was reared and educated. In 1872 he was graduated in Hannibal College and thereafter, until 1891, he clerked . and was bookkeeper in a number of banks. In 1891 he was elected secretary and treasurer of the Hannibal Milling Company, which offices he retained until 1901. Prior to that time he was likewise a director in and treasurer of the Marion County
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Mutual Loan & Building Association. In 1901 he purchased the Han- nibal Paper & Cigar Box factory, a large local concern, that makes a specialty of manufacturing boxes of all kinds. The plant is located on North Third street and a force of from thirty-five to forty men are constantly employed. Mr. Helm is a business man of unusual execu- tive ability and one whose methods are of the fair and straightforward type.
In 1882 Mr. Helm married Miss Amy Metcalf, a daughter of John C. A. and Harriet (Hanly) Metcalf, of Palmyra, where Mr. Metcalf has been connected with the milling business for the past fifty years. Mr. and Mrs. Helm are the parents of two daughters, Katherine M. and Florence.
DAVID H. EBY. Among the distinctively prominent and brilliant lawyers of the state of Missouri none is more versatile, talented or well equipped for the work of his profession than Judge David H. Eby, who maintains his home and legal headquarters in the city of Hannibal, in Marion county. Throughout his career as an able attorney and well fortified judge he has, by reason of unimpeachable conduct and close observance of the unwritten code of professional ethics, gained the ad- miration and respect of his fellow members of the bar, in addition to which he commands a high place in the confidence and esteem of his fellow citizens.
Judge David H. Eby was born December 31, 1852, within the present city, of Hannibal and he is a son of David S. Eby and Mary C. (Williams) Eby, the former of whom was summoned to the life eternal in 1891 and the latter of whom passed away in 1859. The father was born in New York, from whence his father's family moved to Canada, and from there to Rock Island county, Illinois. Subsequently the father of David H., between 1840 and 1845, located in Hannibal, Missouri, where he became one of the prominent and influential pioneers. He was an active member of Judge Wardlow's debating club in 1858 and his vocation at that time was that of a merchant. He was one of the six men who contributed fifty dollars each to the purchase of the present Arch street church and with others he promoted the cemetery enter- prise. He and his wife, Mary C., became the parents of seven chil- dren, of whom but two survive, in 1912, namely: Mary Virginia, who is the widow of Warren E. Payne, and David H., to whom this sketch is dedicated.
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