USA > Missouri > A history of northeast Missouri, Vol. 2 pt 2 > Part 57
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He has several times been honored by election to the presidency of the Marion County Medical Society. He was appointed by Govenor Dockery, January 18, 1904, a member of the state board of health, and on April 18, 1905, Governor Folk reappointed him. He was presi- dent of the board two years out of the more than five that he served. He was appointed by Governor Dockery state medical delegate to the
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National Tuberculosis Congress at New York City, 1902; a delegate to the same congress held during the World's Fair, at St. Louis in 1904, and also appointed delegate, by Governor Folk, to the Interna- tional Congress on Tuberculosis at Washington, D. C., 1908. He was twice state medical delegate to the National Council on Medical Edu- cation at Chicago, 1907 and 1908. He was elected by the State Medical Association to deliver the state oration on medicine in 1909, and elected president of the State Medical Association 1911-1912.
Dr. Robert H. Goodier was married October 16, 1884, to Miss Lulu M. Dooley, a daughter of the late Judge Henry Dooley, whose life achievements are briefly told elsewhere in this work. This union was blessed with four children, only one of whom is now living, Elsie M., the wife of Ray F. Rucker of Mitchell, Indiana, and two children, Elsie Julia and Amy Clarissa, sanctify and bless this union. Dr. Goodier is a member of the Methodist church and his wife and daughter are Presbyterians.
HON. PORTER DAVID MYERS. From the ranks of Randolph county's agrieulturists have been chosen men of worth, ability and sterling traits of character to fill high official position, it having been found that those who have made a success of their personal enterprises are not usually laeking in the requirements that go to make up a competent publie official. In this connection it will not be inappropriate to sketch the career of the Hon. Porter David Myers, of Moberly, Missouri, pre- siding judge of Randolph county, who for many years was engaged in agricultural pursuits. Judge Myers has the added distinction of being a native-born son of Randolph county, his birth having occurred in Union township, September 3, 1845, and his parents being David and Eliza (Shrader) Myers, natives of Kentucky. His paternal grand- father, William Myers, came to Howard county, Missouri, at an early date, while on the maternal side he is descended from natives of the Blue Grass State, who on coming to Missouri at once located in Ran- dolph county. Judge Myers' father was an agriculturist throughout his life, and died in Randolph county on his farm, in 1893, Mrs. Myers having passed away in 1884. They were the parents of eleven chil- dren : George T. and James W., who are deceased; Porter David; Christine, who is deceased ; John C., living in Randolph county; Han- nah J., who is deceased; Henry C., deceased: Mary E., wife of I. W. Gee, of Randolph: Susan A., wife of F. J. Nichols, of Moberly ; Lydia, who is deceased; and one child who died in infancy.
Porter David Myers spent his boyhood on the home farm, and at the age of twenty years commenced farming on his own account. This he continued throughout his active career, although for fourteen years he also conducted a sawmill. but in 1904 disposed of his business in- terests, and since that time has lived retired, outside of attending to his official duties. He owns a handsome modern residence at No. 208 Wisdom street, and is interested in other real estate. A Democrat in his political belief, as early as 1897 he was elected judge of the eastern district of Randolph county, and in 1910 was the success- ful candidate for the office of presiding judge of the county. His ability is unquestioned, and the manner in which he is discharging the duties of his high office has proved entirely satisfactory to all parties concerned. During the Civil war, he enlisted in Company A, Capt. F. Davis' company of the First Brigade of Missouri Volunteers, with which he served gallantly for one year. He is a consistent mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church at Moberly, and holds mem- bership in the local lodge of the Masonic fraternity.
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On February 3, 1870, Judge Myers was married to Miss Nancy Jane Ornburn, daughter of James P. and Sarah Ann (Mobley) Orn- burn, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Missouri. Mr. Ornburn, who was a farmer by vocation, came to Randolph county when he was eighteen years of age, and here spent the remainder of his life, his death occurring April 18, 1895, not long after the demise of his wife, who had passed away February 9, 1894. They had a family of five children, namely : Amanda Elizabeth and William But- ler, residents of Randolph county; Nancy Jane, wife of Judge Myers; a son who died in infancy ; and Louisa Kansas, who died also when a babe. Judge and Mrs. Myers have had five children: Effie May, born Feb- ruary 13, 1872, who died November 30, 1892; Lewis A., born Feb- ruary 28, 1875, and now living in Kansas City, Missouri; Annie Eliza, born March 18, 1878, and now the wife of F. P. Myers of Randolph county ; Obe Jewett, born May 26, 1881, a railroad conductor on the Wabash, residing in Moberly ; and Roy Clifton, born February 3, 1888, and also an engineer in the service of that line.
JAMES W. CATLETT. One of the venerable citizens of Moberly, Mis- souri, who is now living retired after many years spent in agricultural pursuits, is James W. Catlett, who illustrates in his career the success that results from persevering industry directed along the proper chan- nels. Mr. Catlett was born in Hardin county, Kentucky, May 10, 1827, and is a son of Isaac and Mary (Walters) Catlett. The father, a native of Virginia (now West Virginia), left that state in 1850 and settled in Fremont county, Iowa, where he was engaged in agricul- tural pursuits for the remainder of his life, his death occurring in 1884. He married Miss Mary Walters, a native of Kentucky, and they had fifteen children, of whom there are now three daughters and two sons living.
James W. Catlett left home at the age of twenty years and went to Tennessee, where he attended Franklin College for two years, and while there cast his first presidential vote for Zachary Taylor. Sub- sequently he returned to Kentucky, and later accompanied his parents to Iowa, where he followed farming until his removal to St. Joseph, Missouri, where for one year he was engaged in the photographic business. He then returned to Kentucky and was married, and two years later came to Monroe county, Missouri, there being engaged in farming for fifty-four years and accumulating a tract of six hundred and twenty acres of land. In 1908, he disposed of this property, with the exception of one hundred and fifty acres, at that time moving to Moberly, where he has since lived a retired life. In addition to his Monroe county property, he owns three thousand five hundred acres of land in the Pan-Handle district of Texas and one hundred and sixty acres in Logan county, Kansas, and has various investments in Moberly, including his comfortable modern home.
Mr. Catlett was married in Kentucky to Miss Winnifred Thomas, and to this union there were born five children: Mary, the wife of J. M. Furntsh, of Moberly, Missouri; Joseph W., who lives in South Dakota; Lucy G., wife of B. G. Pope, living in Miles City, Montana ; Alta, wife of J. P. Furnish, of Bunceton, Missouri; and one child who died in infancy.
In his political views Mr. Catlett is a Democrat, but outside of tak- ing a good citizen's interest in matters pertaining to the welfare of his community, has paid little attention to public affairs. Just prior to the close of the Civil war, Mr. Catlett joined the state militia, being commissioned first lieutenant by the governor of the state, but at the
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close of hostilities resigned his commission. With Mrs. Catlett, he attends the Christian church at Moberly. In the life of such a man as Mr. Catlett there is something to be found of a nature encouraging to the youths of today who are struggling without friends or financial support to find a footing on the ladder of success. His career demon- strates most forcibly that the straight road to true achievement lies along the lines of strict sobriety, honest effort and persevering industry, and that in this manner also may be won the esteem and respect of one's fellow men.
RICHARD E. LEWIS. A promising career cut short at a time when a full measure of success was assured was that of the late Richard E. Lewis, of Moberly, who died May 29, 1896, when in the prime of life. A man of diversified talents and abilities, he had engaged in various occupations, making a success of all enterprises to which he devoted himself, and winning the respect of his business associates and the pub- lic at large. Although he did not care for public preferment and did not interest himself in political matters to the extent of holding office, he advanced the interests of his community in various ways, and added to its industrial, commercial and agricultural importance through his public-spirited activities. Richard E. Lewis was born at Glasgow, Howard county, Missouri, November 30, 1858, and was a son of Ben- jamin W. and Eleanor (Turner) Lewis, natives of Kentucky, whence have come some of Northeastern Missouri's best families. They came to this state when the father was still a young man and settled in Glas- gow, Benjamin W. Lewis being a prominent tobacco shipper during the remainder of his life, and he and his wife both dying in that city.
The early education of Richard E. Lewis was secured in the public schools of Glasgow, and he was subsequently sent to Princeton Univer- sity, where he was graduated. Returning to St. Louis, he became secre- tary of a coal company, and in 1880 was married in that city, but one year later removed to Huntsville. There he operated a farm of 1,000 acres, living thereon for twelve years, but then came to Moberly and purchased an interest in a flouring mill, with which he was connected at the time of his death. In addition to 240 acres of well-cultivated land in Randolph county, Mr. Lewis owned a fine dwelling in Moberly, and had various business investments. In political matters he voted with the Democratic party, was fraternally connected with the Masons and Odd Fellows, and his religious belief was that of the Methodist Church South.
On October 20, 1880, Mr. Lewis was married to Miss Libbie Hutchin- son, of Salisbury, Chariton county, Missouri, daughter of John H. and Sarah A. Hutchinson, natives of Vermont. Mr. Hutchinson acted in the capacity of postmaster at Salisbury, where he was the proprietor of a hardware store. He died in 1881, and his wife March 29, 1890, they having been the parents of two children: J. Herbert, who died May 5, 1884, and Mrs. Lewis. Mr. and Mrs. Lewis had a family of six children : Eleanor, wife of J. A. Hooke, lately appointed sewer commissioner of St. Louis, Missouri; Christine, the wife of Walter B. Waddell, a well- known banker of Lexington, Missouri; John H., who lives at home with his mother ; and Elizabeth, Richard E. and Rebecca D., who are students in the public schools of Moberly and live with their mother.
Mr. Lewis had a wide acquaintance in business circles of North- eastern Missouri, and his death was sincerely mourned by a large num- ber of friends, who had recognized and appreciated his many sterling traits of character.
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JOHN W. CURRY. Now living retired in his comfortable home at Moberly, after a long and useful career spent in agricultural pursuits and railroad construction work, John W. Curry, of No. 610 West Rollin street, is widely and favorably known throughout Randolph county, and has the added distinction of being a veteran of the great Civil war. Mr. Curry was born near Bowling Green, in Pike county, Missouri, May 11, 1837, and is a son of David and Clarissa (Stone) Curry, natives of Scott county, Kentucky. They came to Missouri in 1836, locating in Pike county, where Mr. Curry was engaged in farming until 1854, in that year removing to Monroe county, where the remainder of his life was spent. He was the father of ten children : M. Thompson, a Confederate soldier, who lost his life in battle; John W .; George M., residing at Billings, Montana ; James R., who resides at Mangum, Okla- homa ; Benjamin, who is deceased; Thomas T., of Denver, Colorado; two children who died in infancy ; Fannie, who is deceased ; and Mattie, the wife of John Wright, of Tucson, Arizona.
John W. Curry was educated in the schools of Pike county, and remained on the home farm until he was twenty-two years of age, at which time he purchased one hundred sixty acres of land in Monroe county. He was engaged in cultivating this property at the outbreak of the Civil war, when his sympathies caused him to enlist in Captain Crow's company of Missouri volunteers. He later entered the regular Confederate service, under Col. Joe Porter, and while serving in this command was captured by the Union soldiers and imprisoned at Alton, Illinois, where he was kept for more than a year. He was paroled and compelled to remain east of the Mississippi river, reporting monthly to the provost marshal at St. Louis, and weekly to the provost marshal at Quincy, Illinois, but secured his liberty after the surrender of Gen- eral Lee. Mr. Curry has never felt that he could conscientiously repudi- ate those principles for which he had fought so long and suffered so much, and accordingly has never taken the oath of allegiance. Return- ing to his home after his services in the army were completed, Mr. Curry remained for three years, and then went to Louisiana and was engaged in farming there for a period of one year. He then spent one year in Moberly, following which he purchased one hundred twenty acres of land in Monroe county, a part of the old homestead, which he continued to operate until 1884. He sold out in that year and returned to Moberly, where he embarked in bridge carpenter work for the Wabash Railroad, continuing to follow this line of work until 1908, when he retired from active labor, feeling that he merited a well-earned rest. At the time of his retirement he purchased his fine home at No. 610 West Rollin street.
In April, 1859, Mr. Curry was married to Miss Catherine E. MeCord, who died March 30, 1911. She was a daughter of Frank and Mary Mc- Cord, whose other children were: Lizzie, the wife of Beverly Hollander, of Moberly ; Mrs. Molly Baty, a widow of St. Louis; James, who is de- ceased ; and Annie, wife of A. J. Gansner, of Moberly. Mr. and Mrs. Curry had five children: Addie, the wife of Calvin C. Hartman, a con- ductor on the Wabash Railroad; Mattie, who is deceased ; Thomas, who died in infancy ; John F., a druggist, of Moberly ; and Molly Pearl, who lives at home with her father. In his political views Mr. Curry is a Democrat, and his fraternal affiliation is with the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He and his daughter belong to the Methodist Church South.
ALFRED BOWENS THOMPSON. The career of the Hon. Alfred Bowens Thompson, ex-mayor and retired business man of Moberly, Missouri, presents a striking example of enterprise, industry and integrity, con-
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ducting to eminent success, and of political consistencies based on en- lightened and moderate views-views at all times compatible with a generous toleration of the sentiments entertained by others, and com- manding general confidence and esteem. Mr. Thompson is a product of the Green Mountain State, having been born in the city of Berlin, Wash- ington county, Vermont, October 31, 1834, and is a son of Joseph War- ren and Fannie (Wheeler) Thompson, natives also of that state, where both spent their lives, Mrs. Thompson dying when Alfred B. was only . six months old, while her husband survived her a number of years and was engaged in farming. They had two children: Alfred Bowens and Charles Wheeler, the latter a former Presbyterian minister, now de- ceased. After the death of his wife, Mr. Thompson married Avilla Jane Ralph, now deceased, and they had two children: Edward Warren, man- ager of the Topeka, Kansas, office of the National Life Insurance Com- pany of Montpelier, Vermont; and Fanny Wheeler, who married Edwin Carleton, and is now deceased.
Alfred Bowens Thompson was given good educational advantages, attending the publie schools of his native locality and the University of Vermont, following which he became an educator, although the greater part of the money needed to put him through the college was secured in teaching school. He then had charge of several schools in Ohio and Kentucky, but during the Civil war enlisted as first sergeant of Company I, Thirteenth Regiment, Vermont Volunteer Infantry, and at the battle of Gettysburg served as first lieutenant of his company of Green Moun- tain boys. After one year he entered the commissary department, with which he was connected until the close of the war, following which he came to St. Charles, Missouri, and was paymaster under General Smith at the time of the building of the bridge across the Missouri river. Sub- sequently Mr. Thompson entered the clothing business at Moberly, and during the years that followed developed the largest establishment of its kind in this part of the state, but about twenty years ago retired on a well-earned competency, the greater part of his attention since that time having been devoted to looking after his real estate interests and to serving in various public offices. A Republican in politics, he has served as mayor of Moberly, as justice of the peace and as city treasurer, in all of these offices giving the citizens of his community clean, business- like administrations. He has attained the Knight Templar degree in Masonry and belongs also to the Knights of Pythias, at various times holding the highest offices in his lodge. He is a popular comrade of the local post of the Grand Army of the Republic. With his wife, he attends the Presbyterian church.
Mr. Thompson was married April 16, 1885, to Miss Sally Bryant, daughter of Silas and Ellen F. (Suter) Bryant, the former a farmer of Missouri who is now deceased, while the latter died in 1908. Mrs. Thompson was the only child of her parents.
J. K. MOORE. Among the prominent families of Pike county which have been located here for a long period is that bearing the name of Moore, members of which have been identified with the agricultural interests of this section for four score years. One of the representatives of this old and highly respected family, who has preserved the high standing of a long line of forebears, is J. K. Moore, the owner of valuable land in Pike county, on which he is engaged in grain growing and stock raising.
The paternal grandfather of J. K. Moore was a native of Virginia, whence he made his way to Kentucky at an early day, and in that state the father of J. K. Moore was born. In 1832 they removed from
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Kentucky to Pike county, Missouri, settling near Bowling Green, in a little log house. Reared to agricultural pursuits, the father of Mr. Moore took up farming as his life work, and in March, 1848, removed to Au- drain county, settling in the eastern part, near West Cuivre church. His death occurred in 1888 in Pike county, while his widow survived him until 1900 and died in Nebraska.
J. K. Moore was born January 28, 1845, in Pike county, Missouri, near Spencerburg, and was three years of age when he moved to Audrain county with his parents. He remained on the home farm with his father until December, 1861, when he was sworn in for service in the Confeder- ate army. After a short skirmish near Mexico, however, the company was disbanded, and later, in 1862, Mr. Moore became a member of Por- ter's forces, serving therewith at Kirksville, Mooresville and other places. In October of the same year they were called together to cross the Mis- souri river at Portland, Callaway county. Only a part succeeded, and on the 22d of that month a number were taken prisoners, among them Mr. Moore. The Ashley militia, their captors, sent them to Gratiot street prison in St. Louis, and there they remained until March 4, 1863, when they were sent to Virginia to be exchanged, and on the 15th of April, twenty-eight of the prisoners started back for Little Rock, Arkan- sas. There Mr. Moore became a member of Company B, Tenth Regi- ment, Missouri Cavalry, commanded by Col. Robert Wood, attached to Marmaduke's brigade, with which he took part in Price's raid through Missouri and Arkansas. In 1864, after the battle of Iron Mountain, the regiment went up the Missouri river, passed near Jefferson City, and camped ten days in Saline county near Marmaduke's home, later partici- pating in the fights at Little and Big Blue creeks. Mr. Moore was wounded at Big Blue creek in April and rode his horse with the retreat- ing army to Louisiana, was paroled at Shreveport, Louisiana, June 7, 1864, and returned to Pike county.
Although he had fought long and faithfully for the cause that he thought was right, and had suffered wounds and imprisonment in support of its principles, on his return from his services Mr. Moore was penniless, and started to work as a farm laborer. After the death of the man for whom he started to work, he continued in the employ of his widow, and so continued for several years. On January 2, 1868, Mr. Moore was married to the only daughter of the family, Agnes Allman, who was born in Pike county, Missouri, November 10, 1850. He continued to remain on the same farm until 1879, when he removed to Ralls county, five miles northeast of Vandalia, and there continued to engage in farming until 1903. At that time he removed to his pres- ent property in Pike county, where he now owns eight hundred and forty acres, of which three hundred acres are in a high state of culti- vation and are devoted principally to grain, although he also engages in general farming and breeds some stock. He is recognized as one of the good, reliable agriculturists of his section, progressive in his ideas and his methods, and possessed of much more than ordinary business acumen. As a citizen he stands high in the esteem of his fellow men, his interest in all matters pertaining to the welfare of his community or its people having gained him the respect and esteem of all who know him. In political matters Mr. Moore is a Democrat, but he has never cared for public office, preferring to give his entire time and attention to the work of his farm. He has been a member of the Baptist church all of his life, and his children have been reared in that faith.
Mr. Moore's first wife died in January, 1875, leaving three children : Flora, who married J. K. Johnston and resides near Madisonville,
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Missouri; Willie R., born in June, 1872, who has a family and lives in Hopkins, Idaho; and Jessamine A., daughter, who died in 1896. In May, 1879, Mr. Moore was married (second) to Laura C. Gentle, of Pike county, and to this union there were born seven children as follows: Blanche, born in September, 1880, who is now engaged in teaching in Bozeman, Montana; James K., who is unmarried and is en- gaged in farming at Idaho Falls, Idaho; Nellie and Minnie, who are . residing at home with their parents; John, who is unmarried and resides in southern Texas; Margaret, whose marriage occurred in July, 1912, to L. B. Daniel and lives in Vandalia, Missouri, and Theodosia, born in 1893, who lives at home.
NATHAN P. KASTER, county collector of Lewis county, Missouri, dates his birth in Schuyler county, this state, January 8, 1865. In his infancy, however, he was brought to Lewis county, and herc he was reared and has since lived, his present home being on his farm three and a half miles west of Canton.
Mr. Kaster's father, James Kaster, was born in Hardin county, Ken- tucky, in 1824. In 1850 he came to Missouri and settled in Schuyler county, where he made his home until 1865. That year he removed to Lewis county, where he passed the rest of his life, and where his death occurred in 1892. His wife, Amanda (Hinton) Kaster, departed this life in 1877. They reared a family of nine children, as follows: Louisa, wife of J. W. Rogers of Lewis county, Missouri; Mary, wife of Thomas Davis, also of Lewis county; Walter, of California; Nathan P., the direct subject of this sketch; Minnie, wife of W. I. Bland; Cora, wife of Wade Marks; James, of California; Alexander and Elizabeth, both of Lewis county. The parents were worthy members of the Baptist church, in which faith they reared their family.
Nathan P. Kaster remained a member of the home circle until he attained to the age of twenty-two years. Then he married and began life for himself. For five years he resided on a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, three miles east of Monticello, which, at the end of that time, he sold. His next land purchase was one hundred and sixty acres of his present farm, to which he subsequently added two hundred and twenty acres, making in all a tract of three hundred and eighty acres, which he is operating in a way that places him among the progressive farmers of his county.
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