USA > Missouri > A history of northeast Missouri, Vol. 2 pt 2 > Part 55
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Judge Williams was married May 5, 1868, to Miss Margaret Rags- dale, and they have had a family of seven children: Hirshel, general manager of the Underwood Typewriter Company, of England, Scot- land, Ireland and Wales, now having headquarters in the city of Lon- don ; Carrie, residing at home; Daisy, wife of M. Harrison, of Moberly; Lee, who is deceased; James A., of Moberly ; one who died in infancy ; and Margaret, wife of Kirkley Harrison of Moberly.
HON. LOUIS RATLIFF. Of the galaxy of legists for which Northeastern Missouri has gained no little fame is to be found in the front rank, if not in the very van, the Hon. Louis Ratliff, judge of the probate court at Moberly, Missouri. In order that the traditions of the bench and bar be maintained, it is necessary that only men of the highest integrity, ability and probity be selected to fill the judgeships, and the manner in which Judge Ratliff has discharged the duties of his office distinguishes him as a man eminently worthy of whatever honor may be accorded him. Louis Ratliff was born in Moberly, Missouri, April 21, 1876, a son of George N. and Julia Josephine (Terrell) Ratliff.
George N. Ratliff was born in Macon county, Missouri, in February, 1843, and as a young man chose the profession of educator as his life work. After teaching school for a number of years, he became the Democratic party's candidate for the office of county school commis- sioner, and was subsequently elected thereto for two terms. Following this, he was elected sheriff of his county, a position which he held for two years, but after leaving this office retired from public life, and since that time has devoted his attention to overseeing the operations on the home farm in Randolph county, where he and his wife now reside. Mrs. Ratliff was born on this farm, and she and her husband have had eleven children, of whom nine survive.
The early education of Louis Ratliff was obtained in the common schools of Randolph county, and after graduating from Terrell College, Decherd, Tennessee, he began the study of law. Shortly thereafter, however, the Spanish-American war broke out, and he enlisted in the Fourth Missouri Regiment, being sent to camp at Camp Meade, Falls Church, Virginia, and later Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. In February, 1898, he was mustered out of the service at Greenville, South Carolina, and returned home and resumed reading law in the law offices of Martin & Terrell, at Moberly. In 1900 he was admitted to the bar, and for a short time carried on a general law practice, but in 1903 was appointed clerk of the probate court, in which capacity he served four years. He then became the Democratic candidate for the position of judge of the probate court, to which he was elected by a good majority, and he has since continued to act in the same capacity. Judge Ratliff's high ability, his regard for the responsibilities of his office, his conscientious dis- charge of the duties of a jurist and his deep knowledge of human
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nature, have all combined to make his service one that reflects credit upon himself and upon the bench, and the citizens of his community are to be congratulated upon their choice. With his family, he is con- nected with the Baptist church, and his fraternal affiliation is with the A. F. & A. M., and Lodge No. 936, B. P. O. E.
On October 18, 1905, Judge Ratliff was married to Miss Sadie P. Hardcastle, who was born in Monroe county, Missouri, daughter of Thomas J. and Lovina J. (Caplinger) Hardcastle, and one daughter, Elizabeth, has been born to this union. Mr. Ratliff's father saw four years of service as a soldier in the Confederate army, during the war between the states, acting with the forces just east of the Mississippi river, and participating in the battles of Atlanta, Vicksburg, where he was wounded in the right arm, and Franklin, Tennessee, where he was taken prisoner. He remained as a prisoner of war until the close of hostilities, when he was given his liberty.
F. EMMETT MURRELL. A man who is well versed in the laws of his state and country is always a recognized power. As a class these men are relied upon to conserve the best interests of the people, and without them and their practical judgment the work done by the busi- less man and the mechanic, the financier and the statesman, would be decidedly incomplete. The professional lawyer is not the creature of circumstance, as the profession is open to talent, and no definite prestige or success can be attained save by indomitable energy, perse- verance and patience and strong mentality. At the same time the lawyer is well fitted to hold positions of public trust, as his legal train- ing, his ability to concentrate his purpose, and his wide knowledge of men, fit him to discharge his duties faithfully and well, and so it is that men of this position are so often chosen to represent the people. F. Emmett Murrell, prosecuting attorney of Moberly, Missouri, fur- nishes in his career a notable example of this fact. Mr. Murrell was born on a farm near Lancaster, in Schuyler county, Missouri, February 10, 1877, and is a son of Samuel and Alice (Lamb) Murrell, and a grandson of George Murrell, who served as a soldier during the Mexi- can war. Samuel Murrell was born in Kentucky in 1849, and his wife in the same state in 1850, and they are now living quietly on a farm in Schuyler county. They have had five children, as follows: Ollie B., the wife of Dr. E. E. Heaton, of Centerville, Iowa; Charles E., living at Kirksville, Missouri; F. Emmett; Della, wife of Elbert Bowling, residing on a farm in Davis county, Iowa; and Dr. Junior E., a prac- ticing dentist at Mystic, Iowa.
F. Emmett Murrell was educated in the common schools of Lan- caster and Schuyler county, and after graduating from the State Normal School at Kirksville, Missouri, started to teach in the country schools. He so continued for five years, but then gave up the profes- sion of educator for that of the law, and entered the law department of the University of Missouri, where he was graduated in June, 1905. He immediately engaged in the general practice of his profession at Higbee, but in July, 1908, changed his field of operation to Moberly, and has since built up a large and steadily growing professional busi- ness. Always an active and stalwart adherent of the principles of the Democratic party, Mr. Murrell in 1910 was elected prosecuting attorney of Moberly, and in 1912 was the candidate of his party for re-election. His administration of the office has won for him a reputation as a man of far more than ordinary ability. As a prosecutor he has been relent- less and fearless, but at all times just, and no one can say of him that he has ever been influenced by prejudice, nor can anyone point to a
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single instance where he has shown personal favor. In fulfilling the duties of his office he has been pre-eminently fair to all parties with whom he has had to deal, and no shadow of dishonesty or weakness rests upon him. Fraternally he is connected with the Elks.
On January 8, 1902, Mr. Murrell was united in marriage with Miss Eva M. Martin, who was born in Schuyler county, Missouri, daughter of J. J. and Eliza (Mclaughlin) Martin, and to this union there have been born two children: Samuel J. and Howard E.
EDWARD KAUFMAN. When an ever-busy man, from the feverish turmoil of trade and the harassing cares of business, is retired to a peaceful, happy and quiet life, such an individual naturally excites the friendly envy of his less-favored fellow men, but when this retire- ment has been won only through long years of hard, earnest endeavor he is entitled to his reward and to the respect due every successful man. In this class stands Edward Kaufman, of Moberly, who, without ostentation or apparent conscious superiority, mingles in the society of his neighbors and enjoys with them the affairs of the present, and a pleasant retrospect of a life well spent. Mr. Kaufman was born in Freeburg, Illinois, December 13, 1864, and is a son of John and Eliza- beth (Stark) Kaufman, natives of Germany. Both were about nine years of age when they came to the United States, and they were married in Illinois, where Mr. Kaufman was engaged first in the hotel business and later as the proprietor of a sawmill. He died September 21, 1895, and his wife passed away September 25, 1882. They had a family of eight children : Elizabeth, who resides in Illinois; Mary, the wife of August Merck, of Moberly; a daughter died in infancy ; George W., living in Moberly; Henry and William, living in Illinois; Emma, the wife of William Dippell, of Pinckneyville, Illinois; and Edward.
Edward Kaufman was educated in the public schools of Illinois, and at the age of thirteen years came to Moberly, Missouri, and until 1889 was engaged as a clerk in a mercantile establishment. In the year mentioned he opened a grocery store and bakery, which he con- ducted until 1904, then identifying himself with a butcher business, which he carried on until 1908. Selling his interest in this business, he again entered the bakery trade in partnership with a Mr. Kline, but after one year sold out and retired from business activity. He is the owner of a beautiful home in Moberly, in addition to a store building on Coats street, two buildings on Reed street, a lot on Clark street and eighty acres of land in Perry county, Illinois, and also has a half interest in 120 acres of farming land in Randolph county.
On October 3, 1889, Mr. Kaufman was united in marriage with Miss Anna Elizabeth Held, daughter of John and Margaret (Ruhl) Held, natives of Germany, the latter of whom came to the United States at the age of eight years and settled in Haverstraw, New York, while her husband came to America after drawing his papers that exempted him from military service. He was engaged in mercantile lines through- out his life and died April 15, 1896, his widow surviving him some years and passing away January 25, 1904. They had a family of six children : Elizabeth, the wife of Mr. Kaufman; Katherine, the wife of Gust Freysleben, of Moberly; Margaret, the wife of Oliver Krite, of East St. Louis; John, also living in East St. Louis; Nellie, the wife of Gust. Matchiuska, of San Diego, California; and Lillian, living in East St. Louis. By a former marriage, with Louis R. Wunsch, Mrs. Held had one son: Louis Robert, now living in Des Moines, Iowa.
Mr. and Mrs. Kaufman have been the parents of one child: Edna
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Leori, who was born November 30, 1894. In political matters Mr. Kaufman is a Democrat, but his energies have been devoted to his business enterprises and he has found no time to enter the public arena. He and Mrs. Kaufman are members of the Presbyterian church, while his fraternal connections are with the Masons and the Elks, in the local lodges of which he is very popular.
ARTHUR BERGER CHAMIER, who enjoys an honorable and lucrative practice in his chosen profession, and has long held, in the opinion of those competent to judge, an enviable place among the legal fraternity of Northeastern Missouri, is at present junior member of the well-known law firm of Hunter & Chamier, and city attorney of the city of Moberly, Missouri. In addition to gaining precedence among the legists of his section of the state, he has acted efficiently in various offices of trust and responsibility and the benefits derived from his long and thorough training have enabled him to be of signal service to his native city and state. Mr. Chamier was born July 19, 1875, in Moberly, and is a son of Leo Alfonso and Mary (Berger) Chamier, the former born at Conitz, Germany, and the latter at Dolton, Cook county, Illinois. Both are now living in Moberly, where Mr. Chamier's father follows the occupation of a machinist. They have had three children: Jennie, the widow of Stronach W. Dolton, of Riverdale, Cook county, Illinois ; Arthur Berger; and Olive, the wife of Richard C. Dalton, of Jackson, Mississippi.
Arthur Berger Chamier was educated in the common schools of Moberly and the Moberly high school, and after his graduation from the latter, in 1892, entered William Jewell College, at Liberty, Missouri, and finished his course of study there in 1895. On receiving his degrée of A. B., he entered Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri, and was graduated in 1902, with the degree of LL. B. He taught a country school at Mill Springs, Missouri, during the years 1896 and 1897, and in 1895 and 1896 was also teacher of German, French and psychology in Wayne Academy, at Piedmont, Missouri. From 1897 to 1900 he was professor of history and civics in Moberly high school, but in 1902 decided to enter the profession of law, and during that and the following year was in the office of Peters & Powell, Seattle, Wash- ington. He spent the latter part of 1903 and the early part of 1904 in the law office of Paul F. Coste, at St. Louis; and during 1904 and 1905 acted in the capacity of private secretary to the Hon. Amos M. Thayer, then judge of the United States circuit court of appeals for the Eighth circuit, with offices at St. Louis, Missouri. From 1905 to 1910 he was official court reporter of the Ninth Judicial circuit of Missouri, and during this time also engaged in a general practice of his profession, in addition to which he has worked as a United States customs inspector at St. Louis and has been a reporter for the R. G. Dun Company, at St. Louis. Since January 1, 1911, he has been a member of the law firm of Hunter & Chamier, doing a general law practice with offices in the Moberly Trust building. In politics a Democrat, Mr. Chamier is the present city attorney of Moberly, while his religious connection is with the Baptist church. He is prominent fraternally as a member of Moberly Blue Lodge No. 344, A. F. & A. M., of the chapter, commandery and Mystic Shrine, Moolah Temple, St. Louis; and also belongs to the Knights of Pythias, the Modern Wood- men of America, the Elks, the Eastern Star and the Sigma Nu college fraternity.
On September 15, 1906, Mr. Chamier was united in marriage with Miss Lulu May Jeffries, who was born in Kentucky, daughter of
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Wesley and Ella (Reynolds) Jeffries, both of whom are still living, Mr. Jeffries being a traveling salesman. Mr. and Mrs. Chamier have one child, Richard, who was born June 22, 1910.
JOSEPH CAMPBELL LILLY, superintendent of schools in Moberly since 1903, and engaged in the teaching profession in this city for the past seventeen years, is a native of the state, born in Randolph county, Missouri, on June 5, 1868. He is the son of James Madison and. Mar- garet (Orr) Lilly. The father was born and reared in Oldham county, Kentucky, came to Missouri in 1836, locating first in Marion county and later in Randolph county. He engaged in farming in the north- eastern part of the county and remained thus occupied for the rest of his life. He died in 1900, August 8th. He was a Democrat. The family was one well known in Kentucky for several generations. In 1860 Mr. Lilly married Margaret Orr in Randolph county. She was born in Virginia in 1835 and died on September 15, 1903. They became the parents of six children: C. W .; Henry L .; Joseph Campbell, of this review; Emma; M. J. and Nora. Emma died in infancy, but all the others are now living in Randolph county with the exception of Nora, who married Omer Hendricks and is a resident of Monroe county.
Joseph Campbell Lilly was educated in the country schools of Ran- dolph county, Moberly high school, Kirksville Normal and finished in the state university. He began his teaching in the country schools, advancing from there to the village schools, then to the principalship of a ward school of Moberly, then of the high school, and he is now superintendent of the Moberly schools. His pedagogic record is repre- sented by two years of work in the home district in Randolph county ; six years as principal of Cairo school, also in Randolph county; two years as principal of East Park school in Moberly; seven years as principal of Moberly high school; eight years superintendent of the Moberly schools; and he was recently elected for another two-year term in that position.
Mr. Lilly is an educator of advanced and progressive ideas, and he is recognized as a man of exceptional ability in Randolph county, his work being of a high order which has won him the confidence of the public and established him securely in the front ranks of the edu- cators of the day. He is a Mason and a Pythian Knight, fraternally speaking, and in his churchly relations is a member of the Christian church, in which he is active and prominent, and in which he was superintendent of the Sunday-school for one year. He is unmarried.
WADE HAMPTON ROTHWELL. Holding prominent position among those whose knowledge of law and jurisprudence have given them prestige in the professional life of Northeastern Missouri, Wade Hamp- ton Rothwell, of Moberly, better known as "Hamp, " "' is one of his section's well-known legists. Although a resident of Moberly only since 1911, he has so impressed the people of this vicinity with his ability that he has already become recognized as a leader in Demo- cratic politics. Mr. Rothwell is a native Missourian, having been born in Callaway county, July 20, 1877, a son of Alexander and Sallie (Price) Rothwell. His father, who was born in Garrard county, Ken- tucky, in March, 1842, came to Missouri in young manhood and settled in Callaway county, there spending the rest of his life in agricultural pursuits. He is now retired from active labor and makes his home in Ashland, Missouri. His wife was a native of Callaway county, and they had a family of seven children, of whom three survive at this time.
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Wade Hampton Rothwell received his early education in the com- mon schools of Boone county, and graduated from the Ashland high school in the class of 1895. He subsequently taught school for four years, following which he entered the University of Missouri, as a law student, and was graduated from that institution in 1902, then entering upon a general practice at Columbia. He served as city attorney of Columbia for seven years, and was chairman of the city Democratic committee and secretary of the Boone county Democratic central committee, but in October, 1911, left Columbia and settled in Moberly, where he has since carried on a general practice, specializing in criminal cases. He maintains well-appointed offices in the Jefferson building and has a large and representative professional business. Mr. Roth- well has been connected with a number of important cases of litiga- tion, which have brought out his legal talents and his profound knowl- edge of law and jurisprudence, and the ability which he has shown has gained for him the confidence of the public and the respect of his pro- fessional confreres. He has continued to interest himself in political matters, and in 1912 was the Democratic candidate for representative to the Missouri state legislature.
Mr. Rothwell was married May 24, 1897, to Miss Margaret Austine, who was born at Hallsville, Missouri, daughter of Dr. Benjamin and Sue (Stubblefield) Austine, the former of whom is deceased. Dr. Austine served throughout the Civil war as a surgeon in the Con- federate army, and after the war engaged in the practice of his pro- fession at Hallsville. Mr. and Mrs. Rothwell have had two sons: Frank and Fount. Mr. Rothwell has interested himself in fraternal work and at this time belongs to the local lodges of the Odd Fellows, Elks, Maccabees, F. O. E. and Moose. He is popular throughout this part of the state and has numerous friends in professional, public and private life.
JAMES T. STEPHENS. The business interests of Moberly, Missouri, have grown to an amazing extent during the past few years, and the credit for this desirable state of affairs may be given to the enter- prising business men, whose energy and progressive methods have put the city on a sound financial basis, while they have co-operated with the city officials in looking after its municipal needs. It may be said of James T. Stephens that he belongs to this class, for he has been at the head of various business enterprises, has invested in city property to a considerable extent, and has at all times been ready to advance and develop the business, educational or moral interests of his locality. Mr. Stephens was born in Monroe county, Missouri, July 6, 1850, and is a son of Thomas Nelson and Mary J. (Swindell) Stephens.
Thomas Nelson Stephens, a native of Kentucky, came to Missouri in 1836 and settled in Monroe county, where he spent the remainder of his life engaged in agricultural pursuits. His wife, a native of Virginia, also died in Monroe county, and they were the parents of a large family of children, of whom eight are alive at this time, all being residents of Missouri except one married daughter, who makes her home in Kansas. Two of the sons of this family enlisted for service during the Civil war, in the Confederate army, and went out under General Price, but one was subsequently sent south, being wounded at the battle of Pea Ridge. The other participated in the siege of Vicksburg, during which he was wounded five times.
James T. Stephens was educated in the common schools of Monroe county, and remained on the home farm until he attained his majority, at which time he turned his attention to mercantile pursuits and
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embarked in business in Nebraska, where he remained two and one- half years. In 1873, returning to Missouri, he took up farming as a vocation, and during the next quarter of a century was engaged in tilling the soil in Monroe county, where he still owns a farm of 320 acres, this being rented at the present time. In 1899 Mr. Stephens came to Moberly and engaged in the milling business, in which he remained ten years, and then sold his interests in that enterprise and became the proprietor of a feed and roofing business, in which he has met with well-merited success. He is considered an all-around good business man, pleasant in manner and capable of making and retain- ing friends. Progressive in his methods, he never forgets to give the other man a fair deal, and as a result of this policy has the full con- fidence and esteem of the community. He resides in his own handsome home in Moberly, and with others owns 18 acres of land within the city limits. In political matters Mr. Stephens is a Democrat, but he has not cared for public office. With his family, he attends the Christian church.
In 1873, Mr. Stephens was married to Miss Martha J. Settle, who was born in Randolph county, Missouri, in 1855, daughter of G. A. and Virginia (Martin) Settle, of Randolph county, both of whom are deceased. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Stephens, as follows: Geanie Ethel, wife of Glen Rutledge, of Moberly, who has two children,-Stephen and Loraine; William Thomas, of Sedalia, Missouri, who married Bertha McCoy, and has one child,-Elizabeth ; Jessie, wife of J. W. Walker, of Kansas City, Missouri, who has one child,-James Nathan; Howard Patton, of Moberly, who married Zada Williamson, and has one child, Cathlene; and Audrey, wife of Mose Martin, Kansas City, Missouri.
B. R. WHITE. A popular business citizen of Moberly, Missouri, who is proprietor of a flourishing livery establishment, is B. R. White, one of his city's self-made men. Reared to the life of a farmer, he early turned his attention to business pursuits, to such good purpose that at this time he is rated among the substantial men of his community. Mr. White was born in Howard county, Missouri, March 1, 1839, and is a son of David and Nancy E. (Maupin) White, both of whom were born in Madison county, Kentucky. They came to Missouri in the 'twenties, locating on a farm in Howard county, Missouri, where both spent the remainder of their lives. They were the parents of ten chil- dren, of whom four are still living.
B. R. White received the advantages of a good education, attend- ing the public schools and preparing for college. Subsequently, how- ever, at the age of seventeen years, he started to teach school in Howard county, but later turned his attention to mule raising, in which he was very successful. He finally established himself in the livery business at Moberly, winning the confidence and patronage of the people of this city through his strict integrity and businesslike methods. He has a well-equipped establishment, modern in every particular, with handsome equipages and fine horses. He is at all times to be found at his business place, ready to courteously and obligingly attend to the wishes of his patrons. In addition Mr. White is the owner of a large . tract of land in the Texas Bottoms Union country, and a valuable property in the city of Moberly. In political matters a Democrat. Mr. White has served on the city board for a number of years, and has also acted in the capacity of school director. He and Mrs. White are consistent members of the Presbyterian church.
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