A history of northeast Missouri, Vol. 2 pt 2, Part 47

Author: Williams, Walter, 1864- , ed
Publication date: 1913
Publisher: Chicago, New York, The Lewis publishing company
Number of Pages: 912

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George A. Mayo attended the common schools of Randolph county, following which he became a student of Central College, Howard county. He then returned home and engaged in farming, in which he continued until his marriage, at that time leaving the parental roof to settle upon a property of his own. He was engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1902, by which time he was the owner of his farm, but gave up tilling the soil to devote his attention to work in the postal service. He first became connected with the United States Mail as a rural free delivery carrier, a position which he held until 1912, in which year he secured the appoint- ment to the postmastership, his term being for four years. He is . a thoroughly capable, courteous and obliging official, and has already become popular with the citizens of Huntsville, who have recognized and appreciated his efforts in discharging the onerous duties of his position in a faithful and conscientious manner. In political matters he is a Repub- lican, and has always actively supported its principles and candidates, fairly earning the confidence and appreciation of his party's leaders in this section. With Mrs. Mayo he attends the Methodist church.

On March 17, 1881, Mr. Mayo was united in marriage with Miss Addie Fray, born in Randolph county, Missouri, daughter of John E. and Martha (Barnes) Fray, both of whom are deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Mayo have had four children, as follows: Sidney C., assistant postmaster at Huntsville, who married Kate Sutliff and lives in this city; Marvin, who is employed as a clerk in a mercantile establishment; George Fray, a barber by trade who owns his own establishment at Huntsville, married Opal Sutliff and they have one child, George Sutliff; and Willard T., who is still attending school at this place. Members of this old and honored family have held high positions in business and the professions, and the

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military prestige of the family has been kept up by Mr. Mayo's father, who enlisted in a local militia company at the outbreak of the Civil war, through which struggle he served as a Union man, his duties keeping him stationed near Huntsville during the greater part of the war.

GEORGE DORSEY BURCKHARTT. The record of successful business men needs no introductory preface among the citizens of their native county, and the gentleman who is the subject of this brief review is undoubtedly one of the class just referred to. By his strict personal integrity and honorable dealings, combined with brilliant business qualifications, he has become not only one of the leading hotel men, but also one of the most highly respected citizens of Huntsville. He was born December 14, 1854, at Huntsville, Randolph county, Missouri, and is a son of George H. Burckhartt.

The Burckhartt family is one of the old and honored ones of this section, Mr. Burckhartt's father having been born in Randolph county, September 11, 1822. He was reared to the life of an agriculturist, but gave up that vocation in young manhood to engage in school teaching, with which he was identified until the age of twenty-one years. He had decided upon a professional career, however, and spent his vacations and all of his spare time in reading law, being finally admitted to the bar of Missouri. He rose to an eminent place in his profession and in 1864 was appointed county judge, an office in which he was still serving at the time of his death which occurred at Huntsville, April 21, 1890. George Burckhartt married Amanda McCampbell, who was born in Kentucky and came to this county when she was four years of age, and here she spent the remainder of her life. She and her husband had a family of seven children of whom three are now living: George Dorsey; W. C., living in Huntsville; and Ellen, wife of E. D. Jackson, of Huntsville.

George Dorsey Burckhartt received his early education in the Hunts- ville public schools, following which he took a course in Mount Pleasant College. He then devoted himself to the cultivation of the soil, and for twenty years was one of Randolph county's leading farmers and stock raisers, developing a handsome property on which he made improvements from year to year, finally disposing of his farming interests to engage in the hotel business. At this time he is the proprietor of the Radium Springs hotel, a new structure with all modern equipment in which have been installed all the latest appliances for the comfort of its guests. It enjoys distinct popularity with the traveling public, and as a result has a large and constantly growing trade. A typical, hardworking, self- made man, Mr. Burckhartt well merits the success that has come to him, and his ready willingness to help others has made him well liked and respected by those who have come in contact with him, either in business or social life. In addition to his hotel property Mr. Burckhartt owns several other valuable pieces of real estate in Huntsville.

On December 12, 1876, Mr. Burckhartt was married to Miss Mattie D. Pitts, who was born in Nashville, Tennessee, daughter of S. Y. and Anna (Winston) Pitts, the former of whom is still living and makes his home at Salisbury, Missouri. Mr. and Mrs. Burckhartt are the parents of three sons and one daughter as follows: George Samuel, who makes his home in Butte, Montana; Rhodes Birch, who is living on a farm near Huntsville, in Randolph county ; Salmon Dorsey, manager of Randolph Springs; and Louise, who lives at home with her parents. Mr. Burck- hartt has never been an office seeker but takes a lively interest in any enterprise for the welfare of his community and is recognized as a public spirited citizen in every way.

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WILLIAM HOLMAN, one of Randolph county's best citizens, now liv- ing retired after a long and useful career, has traveled extensively and passed an eventful life. Although he has devoted the greater part of his activities to tilling the soil, he has also found time to interest himself in behalf of his native county and its residents, and in consequence is looked upon as one of Northeastern Missouri's represen- tative men. Mr. Holman was born in Randolph county, Missouri, March 31, 1839, and is a son of John and Eliza (Murphy) Holman. His parents, natives of Kentucky, came to Missouri about the year 1817 as pioneers. settling in Howard county, and one year later removed to Randolph county and located on a farm near Roanoke. John Holman spent his life in agricultural pursuits and died in 1847, by which time he had accumulated 240 acres of well-cultivated land. He and his wife had a family of five children: Margaret M., the widow of N. J. Smothers, of Dallas, Texas; Jeannette, widow of D. S. Payne, of Huntsville, Missouri ; William Neal, living in Huntsville ; and Hannah R., widow of A. S. Sears, of Pasadena, California.

William Holman was eight years old at the time of his father's death, and his education was secured in the district schools of his native vicinity. When he was twenty years of age he joined a party bound for Pike's Peak, Colorado, but after nine months returned to Randolph county, Mis- souri, and went to school. In 1860 he engaged in farming, but during that same year the Civil war broke out and he enlisted in the cavalry service of the Confederate army, with which he continued to serve for eighteen months. He participated in all the movements of that army and in the battles of Lexington, Dry Wood and Pea Ridge, and was captured by the Union forces at Sedalia, being a prisoner from October, 1861, until February 1, 1862. He was subsequently exchanged and re-enlisted in the Confederate service under Gen. John B. Clark, but was again cap- tured and put under a bond of $2,000.00 not to again take up arms unless called for by Confederate forces. In 1863 he received a permit from the government to leave the county and went to California, where he spent three years in various occupations at different places. Returning to Huntsville he secured a farm near that city and also followed carpenter work, but in 1867 went back to California where he spent another nine months, then again returning to his native county where he has since lived. He now owns 124 acres of well cultivated farming land, but has retired from active labor, feeling that he is entitled to a well-earned rest after his long years of industrious work.

On August 8, 1867, Mr. Holman was married to Miss Eliza L. Craven, daughter of Owen and Jane Craven, natives respectively of Pennsylvania and Randolph county, Missouri, and she died June 15, 1898, they having been the parents of eleven childern as follows: Jennie M., the wife of J. Ritzenthaler, of Salisbury, Missouri: Carrie L., the wife of Louis Freeman, of Great Falls, Montana; Eva M., wife of John Stone, of Huntsville; a daughter who died in infancy ; William W., of Huntsville; Paul C. and John X., of Huntsville; Orville, living in this city; Nellie, wife of James C. Lay, of Huntsville; Lillian, the wife of James S. Rice, of New Franklin, Missouri; and Churchill C., of Huntsville.

Mr. Holman is a Democrat in his political views, but private interests have kept him so occupied as to preclude any idea of his entering the public arena as a candidate for public preferment. He is a member of the Christian church, of which he was an elder and deacon for some years. He has various business interests and at the time of the organiza- tion of the Farmers and Merchants Bank of Huntsville, he was one of the directors. With a spotless business record and a reputation for publie spirited activity in all things calculated to benefit Randolph

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county, Mr. Holman is justly considered one of Northeastern Missouri's foremost citizens, and as such well merits the esteem of his fellow citizens and the friendship of a wide circle of acquaintances.

N. V. W. DAVIS. The life of a pofessional or literary man seldom exhibits any of those striking incidents that fix upon public feeling and attract attention to himself. His character is generally made up of the aggregate of the qualities and qualifications he may possess, as these may be elicited by the duties of his vocation, or the particular profession to which he may belong. The subject of this brief review may not be an exception to this rule, but it is certain that since young manhood his life has been one of laborious professional duty, and the high distinction that he has gained as a journalist is evidence enough that these qualities have not been planted upon barren soil. Mr. Davis, who is editor and proprietor of the Times, a wide-awake, spicy twice-a-week newspaper published at Huntsville, Missouri, was born at Clifton, Wayne county, Tennessee, January 4, 1881, and is a son of Benjamin Franklin and Patience A. (Miller) Davis, the former a native of Tennessee and the latter of Arkansas. Both parents are now living in southeastern Missouri where the elder Davis follows the profession of educator. They had four children : Joseph R., a druggist of East Prairie, Missouri; N. V. W .; Teddie, the wife of William Moore, of Holland, Missouri; and Hugh M., a railroad man, at present in the employ of the San Francisco system.

N. V. W. Davis was given good educational advantages in his youth, his father being a school teacher, and as a young man apprenticed himself to the printer's trade, thoroughly mastering it in every branch. When he was twenty-two years of age he joined the printing department of the United States army, which he continued for three years, two years of which were spent in the Philippines. On completing his army service he returned to Missouri and, locating in Huntsville, became foreman of the Herald, but after four years formed a stock company and started a new paper, the Times. Subsequently he became sole owner and is now pub- lishing it twice a week, support being given to the candidates and prin- ciples of the Democratic party. It is the purpose of Mr. Davis to furnish a paper which shall give all the news all the time, and give it promptly and reliably. The Times is ably edited in every department and is a credit alike to its enterprising editor and proprietor and to the thriving .prosperous city where it now "sings its song." Its editor dedicates the influence of the paper to the advancing of all interests of the community of his adoption. by all proper means and is receiving gratifying support from his fellow townsmen.

Mr. Davis was married to Mrs. C. P. Fahlbusch, nee Margaret Miller, daughter of J. Horace and Martha (Carter) Miller, natives, respectively of Kentucky and Virginia, Mr. Miller being county treasurer of Randolph county at the time of his death. Mrs. Miller now makes her home in Huntsville. There were seven children in their family: Anna. the wife of John Ruthven, of Chicago; Margaret; Thomas W., who is deceased ; Nellie, the wife of Fred Chancy of Carrolton, Missouri; and Effie, Ollie and Mary, all deceased. By her first husband Mrs. Davis had one daughter, Martha Marie, who lives with her mother and stepfather. Mr. and Mrs. Davis have no children. They are faithful members of the Baptist church, and are well and favorably known in church and social circles of Huntsville.

JOSEPH W. TAYLOR, M. D. Having attained an enviable position among those who have expended their energies in the field of medical and surgical science, Dr. Joseph W. Taylor, of Huntsville, Missouri, is en-

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titled to prominent mention among the eminent professional men of Northeastern Missouri. It often occurs that the men in a family will follow the same line of endeavor, especially if it be in a profession, and Dr. Taylor is no exception to this rule, his father having been a physician of more than forty years of practice. However, the doctor of today faces a different task than that which confronted the physician of fifty years ago, and generally enters upon the practice of his profession better equipped than the old-time practitioner was after years of practice. In this connection it is not inappropriate to say that Dr. Taylor is fitted by both training and natural inclination to engage in the work of alleviat- ing the ills of mankind. He is a native born Missourian, and was born in Randolph county, October 21, 1854, a son of Dr. William H. and Margaret (Murphy) Taylor, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Randolph county, Missouri.

Dr. William H. Taylor studied medicine at Louisville, Kentucky, and after his graduation came to Randolph county, being at first a country physician and later locating in Huntsville, where he was engaged in practice for more than forty years. He died November 20, 1896, his wife having passed away in October, 1870, and to them there were born three children : John James, who died in infancy ; Dr. Joseph W .; and Ernest, who is a druggist of St. Louis, Missouri.

Dr. Joseph W. Taylor received his preliminary education in the public schools, subsequently attending Mt. Pleasant College, Huntsville. On completing his college course he went to the state of Montana, where for one and one-half years he worked as a cowboy, and then went to Louisville, Kentucky, and took a course in medicine. Later he became a student in Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, and when he had received his degree from that institution returned to Huntsville, where he has since been engaged in practice. Dr. Taylor has built up a large and representative practice, his brilliant success in a number of com- plicated cases having earned for him the esteem and confidence of the people of his community. He is the owner of 130 acres of fine farming fand on the outskirts of Huntsville, and owns a handsome brick residence. There may be found a number of oil paintings executed by the Doctor, who, had he desired, might have derived a handsome income working as an artist. In political matters he is a Democrat and his fraternal con- nection is with the Masons in which organization he has attained to the Royal Arch degree. With Mrs. Taylor he attends the Christian church . at Huntsville.

On September 24, 1878, Dr. Taylor was married to Miss Jennie B. Rutherford, daughter of William T and Phoebe Jane (Dameron) Ruther- ford, natives of Kentucky, the latter being a member of the old North Carolina Huguenot family of Dameron. Mrs. Taylor died in December, 1902, having been the mother of three children: Reba, wife of Van G. Sutliff, of Huntsville, who has one child, John Taylor, born January 1, 1903; William H., who lives in Seattle, Washington; and Joseph S., of Huntsville, Missouri.

HAYDEN L. RUTHERFORD. Starting out in life on his own account at the age of twenty-two years, with an exceedingly limited capital, but with a large supply of determination, energy and ability, Hayden L. Rutherford, ex-mayor, financier and former business man of Huntsville, made such a success of his activities that he is now living a quiet, retired life, surrounded by all the comforts that come as a reward for a long and useful life well spent. Mr. Rutherford was born on his father's farm in Randolph county, Missouri, October 27, 1841, and is a son of William T. and Phoebe Jane (Deneen) Rutherford, natives, respectively of Kentucky

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and North Carolina. The family came as pioneers to Randolph county in 1821, the elder Rutherford being for a time engaged in farming. In 1845 he became overseer in a tobacco factory and three years later was admitted to partnership with his employer, whom he succeeded in the business in three years. Later he bought 340 acres of land in Randolph county and to this he added from time to time until at the time of his death he had 1,000 acres. He and his wife had a family of ten children, but all are now deceased with the exception of Hayden L. and Allie, the wife of J. D. Hammett, of Huntsville.

Hayden L. Rutherford attended the common schools of Randolph county for a short time, later graduated from Mt. Pleasant College and also attended Bethany College of Virginia. He remained under the parental roof until his marriage, January 8, 1863, to Miss Viccie R. Humphries, at that time taking up 320 acres of land. On this wild property he built a two-room log cabin and there resided for five years when he sold the land, now highly improved, making a profit of $3,600. With this capital he established himself in the mercantile business in Huntsville, but after three years entered into partnership with his father in the tobacco business. During the year 1874 Mr. Rutherford had remarkable success, and after paying $10,005 for a farm of 202 acres, still had one dollar left out of that year's profits. He then com- menced operations on the new property in addition to which he acted as superintendent of three mines for ten years, and at that time embarked in a banking business, organizing the Farmers and Merchants Bank of Huntsville, of which he acted as cashier and bookkeeper for four years, having in the meantime sold his farm and purchased a fine modern residence in Huntsville, on College street. Here he is now living a quiet retired life. Mr. Rutherford is noted far and wide for his executive ability and administrative powers. By indomitable perseverance and sound judgment, he has scaled the ladder of success and attained a worthy position among his fellow men.

Mr. and Mrs. Rutherford had a family of five children : Jane Mildred, who resides in St. Louis, Missouri; William T., an agriculturist of Ran- dolph county ; Laura B., wife of Neal Payne, of Huntsville; Lillian D., wife of Edward Isaacson, of Sioux City, Iowa, general manager of the branch office of the Underwood Typewriter Company at that place; and Lulu, twin of Lillian, died at the age of three years. Mr. Rutherford is a stanch and unwavering Democrat, and has acted in various official capacities, to all of which he gave the same undivided attention and con- scientious discharge of duty that characterized his business dealings. For twelve years he acted in the capacity of school director, during a part of which time he was treasurer of the board, was city treasurer for four years and for six years was mayor of the city. He is a Mason of fifty years standing, and a consistent member of the Christian church.

ALVER J. BRADSHER. It is not every man who is versatile enough to pursue two separate and distinct vocations and to make a success of both, but such is the accomplishment of Dr. Alver J. Bradsher, who after having been a successful practicing physician and surgeon for thirteen years turned his attention to the field of finance, and is now cashier of the People's Bank, of Clifton Hill, Missouri. Like many others who have won eminence in professional and business life, Dr. Bradsher is a product of the farm, having been born in Clifton Hill, June 22, 1864, a son of Augustine and Martha J. (Davis) Bradsher. His grandfather, Moses Bradsher, a North Carolinan, brought his family through to Missouri in covered wagons in 1821, and settled in Randolph county, where he spent the rest of his life in farming. Augustine Bradsher was born in North Carolina, and was one year old when brought to Randolph county. Fol-

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lowing in his father's footsteps he became a farmer and stock raiser, and during his latter years gave a great deal of attention to shipping stock. At the time of his death, which occurred November 15, 1899, he was the owner of 700 acres of land, all in Randolph county. His widow still sur- vives him and resides at Clifton Hill. They had a family of ten children : William and Samuel, who are deceased; Alver J .; Mary, the wife of Joel T. Morris, cashier of the Bank of Sparta, Missouri ; Lutie, the wife of T. R. Mayo, of Clifton Hill; Vinson D., of Clifton Hill; Ira, of Clifton ; Maud, wife of M. E. Mayo, of Clifton Hill; Earl L., instructor in Eng- lish at Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire; and Mattie, who died in infancy.

Alver J. Bradsher received his preliminary education in the public schools, and subsequently attended the Kirksville Normal school and Bryant & Stratton's Business College, at St. Louis, where he was gradu- ated in 1888. At that time he turned his attention to the study of medi- cine, and after some preparation entered the Missouri Medical College of St. Louis, where he received the degree of Doctor of Medicine in 1891. He at once entered upon the practice of his profession, choosing his native place as his field of operation, and for thirteen years had a large and lucrative professional business. During this time, under President Cleveland's administration, he served in the capacity of postmaster of Clifton Hill. In 1905 Dr. Bradsher assisted in the organization of the People's Bank of Clifton Hill, and from its inception served as cashier till August 1, 1912, and at this writing is one of the directors. A courteous and obliging official, he has added to the many friends made by him in his professional labors, while his well-known integrity and probity have served to stimulate public confidence, thus adding to the bank's prestige among the financial institutions of Northeastern Missouri,

On December 24, 1905, Dr. Bradsher was united in marriage with Miss Ethel Cox, of Los Angeles, California, daughter of John Cox, for- merly of Indiana and later of Chariton county, Missouri, where he died. Mrs. Bradsher's mother is still living and makes her home at Salisbury, Missouri. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Cox: one died in infancy ; Mrs. Ora Stamper of Oregon; Ethel, who married Dr. Brad- sher ; and John, who still lives in Los Angeles, California. Dr. and Mrs. Bradsher are the parents of two bright and interesting children: Alver A., born July 6, 1907 ; and Nevalee, born September 15, 1910.

Dr. Bradsher is a Democrat in his political views, but aside from the postmastership has not cared for public preferment. He and Mrs. Bradsher are well-known members of the Baptist church, while the Doctor is also prominent fraternally as a member of the Masons, the Knights of Pythias, the Order of the Eastern Star, the Tribe of Ben Hur, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Royal Neighbors.

He now has charge of his inother's farm and overseeing one of 344 acres which he owns, also a half owner of an eighty acre nursery at Dalton, Missouri, which occupies a portion of his time.

SEATON ELDRIDGE GRAVES. One of the live, progressive and enterpris- ing publications of Northeastern Missouri is the Clifton Hill Rustler, the editor and proprietor of which, Seaton Eldridge Graves, has had a wide experience as a newspaper man and is giving to the people of his locality a bright, newsy periodical, well edited and devoted to the best interests of the community. Mr. Graves was born at Huntsville, Ran- dolph county, Missouri, June 20, 1862, and is a son of Terry and Eliza- beth E. (Bibb) Graves. Terry Graves was born in Nelson county, Vir- ginia, November 2, 1821, and was there reared and educated, but in the fall of 1852 left home and came to Missouri, first locating in Howard

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A history of northeast Missouri, Vol. 2 pt 2, Part 47

Author: Williams, Walter, 1864- , ed Publication date: 1913 Publisher: Chicago, New York, The Lewis publishing company Number of Pages: 912

Author: Williams, Walter, 1864- , ed
Publication date: 1913
Publisher: Chicago, New York, The Lewis publishing company
Number of Pages: 912