A history of northeast Missouri, Vol. 2 pt 2, Part 67

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

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The wife of John Gillam was Joanna Hilton, an orphaned girl, and both still survive. Their children were: John C .; Luella, the wife of George Street, of Florida, Missouri ; and Abraham B., of Orwood, Missouri. The elder Gillam has acted with the Republican party prac- tically all his life since he reached his majority, and has been a man of considerable prominence in his community.

On the 23rd day of December, 1890, John C. Gillam married in Ralls county, Missouri, Miss Fannie M. Smith, the daughter of John B. and Emma (Koontz) Smith. She was one of eight children, the others being: Mollie, the wife of Samuel L. Weaver; Rena, who mar- ried Wilk. Gregory; Katie, the wife of John Barger; Bertha, now Mrs. Nat Phillips; Amy, the wife of Clyde Leake and Eula, who married Albert Rubinson.

The children of Mr. and Mrs. Gillam are Emma Leta; Fielder E., Zaner B., J. C., Jr., and Marjorie.

Mr. Gillam is a Mason of the chapter and blue lodge, and is also a member of the Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias. He is a member of the board of stewards of the Methodist Episcopal church and has served on the Ralls County Republican Central committee in an important capacity.

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GEORGE G. SMITH. Six years of continuous service in the office of collector of Howard county have made the name of George G. Smith well known to the people of this part of Northeastern Missouri, where his popularity is firmly established among members of all political parties. Mr. Smith has a wide and varied experience in the field of business and in public office, and his secure position in the estimation of his fellow-citizens has been gained by a career which stands with- out stain or blemish. George G. Smith was born in Howard county, Missouri, June 21, 1871, a. member of an old and honored family that was established in this section of the state in 1844, when the progenitor of the family came here from West Virginia.

Nathaniel Smith, the father of George G., was born in Kanawha county, Virginia (now W. Va.), in 1832, and was twelve years of age when he came to Missouri. Here he grew to manhood on a farm and married May B. Gibson, the daughter of David Gibson, a pioneer set- tler and slave owner of Howard county who came from Mississippi. During the Civil war, Nathaniel Smith served as a member of the Seventh Texas Infantry in the Confederate army, under Generals Price and Joseph Johnston, eventually surrendering at Shreveport, Louisiana, in 1865. Returning to Missouri, Mr. Smith again took up the pursuits of peace, and continued to be a highly esteemed citizen of his locality until his death in 1871. His wife passed away at the age of forty years, having been the mother of eight children, of whom four are living: A. M., of Montana; Mrs. W. O. Settle, of Murphysboro, Illi- nois : Mrs. J. T. Watkins, of New Franklin, Missouri: and George G.

George G. Smith was brought up on the Howard county farm, and was reared to habits of industry, thrift and integrity. His education was secured in the public schools and Central College. He learned the printer's trade in the offices of the Howard County News, at New Franklin ; he then went to St. Louis, where he began clerking, and was in that city at the time of the disastrous cyclone which struck that city and its vicinity in 1896. On leaving St. Louis, Mr. Smith became student of the Parsons Horological School at Peoria, Illinois, but gave up the occupation of educator to enter the employ of A. J. Furr, with whom he continued for three years. In March, 1907, Mr. Smith was elected county collector of Howard county, and settled in Fayette, where he has since resided. His signal services during his first term of office, caused him to be elected to succeed himself and he is now serving his second term. He is a man of much more than ordinary executive ability, and has discharged the duties of his office in a faithful and conscientious manner, fairly earning the regard and esteem of his constituents.

On November 29, 1901, Mr. Smith was married (first) to Burchie L. Fugate, daughter of Judge Frederick Fugate, and she died Feb- ruary 2, 1911, having been the mother of one child: Fugate Nathaniel. On March 10, 1912, Mr. Smith was married (second) to Edna E. Fugate, a cousin of his first wife and daughter of S. B. Fugate, of Howard county. Mr. and Mrs. Fugate are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and are widely and favorably known in religious and social circles of the city. He holds G. G. S. membership in the local lodge of Odd Fellows, and has numerous friends in public and fraternal centers.

HON. DAVID BAGBY. Many of Northeastern Missouri's most distin- guished public officials are products of the farm, men reared to agri- cultural pursuits, whose success in the handling of their personal affairs has caused them to be chosen to fill public office and who have

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proven the fact that an agricultural training is a good preparation for a life of official usefulness. In this class stands the Hon. David Bagby, probate judge of Howard county, who for many years has been engaged in tilling the soil and who is now the owner of four hundred acres of well-cultivated land located three and one-half miles north of Fayette. Judge Bagby was born near Trenton, in Grundy county, Missouri, October 2, 1858, and belongs to one of the old and honored families of Randolph and Howard counties, members of which have distinguished themselves in civil and military life, in the professions and in business.

The Missouri founder of the Bagby family came to this state from Kentucky, and here Capt. John W. Bagby, father of Judge Bagby, was born. The captain was a wagon-maker in early life, and at the out- break of the Mexican war enlisted in the American army and par- ticipated in that struggle. At its close he returned to the pursuits of peace, but again left his home during the Civil war, and held a cap- tain's commission under Generals Price and Joseph Johnson, fighting gallantly throughout the war between the states and being wounded on three occasions in action. When hostilities had closed, he returned to Roanoke, Missouri, and there took up the study of law, and after his admission to the bar rose to a prominent place in his profession. He was widely known in Northeastern Missouri in his day, and was a man of distinguished military appearance, being over six feet tall and weighing in the neighborhood of two hundred pounds. Captain Bagby married Elizabeth Terrill, daughter of James Terrill, a native of Ken- tucky, and an early pioneer of Northeastern Missouri, and to this union there were born children as follows: David; Lewis C., a rail- road man living in Springfield, Missouri; R. M., of Fayette; and Eliza- beth, living in Illinois. The family affiliated with the Christian church, in which Captain Bagby was a deacon for many years, and his political belief was that of the Democratic party.

David Bagby received his education in the public schools of his native vicinity, was reared to habits of industry and sobriety, and brought up to be a farmer. When a young man he secured employ- ment on the farm of James Denny, near Armstrong, in Howard county, where he worked for twelve years, then embarking in agricultural work on his own account. He has been successful in his farming and stock raising operations, and is now the owner of one of the best prop- erties in Howard county, a tract of four hundred acres located three and one-half miles north of Fayette. This he has brought to a high state of cultivation, his flowing grain fields and wide stretches of meadow land reflecting the care that has been expended upon them, while his residence, barns and outbuildings are modern in architecture and substantial in construction. A Democrat in his political views, in 1910, he became the candidate for probate judge of his district, and was elected by a satisfactory majority. He has proven an efficient and popular public official, and no citizen stands higher in the regard and esteem of his fellow men. Fraternally, Judge Bagby is connected with the Knights of Pythias, the Masons and I. O. O. F., and holds membership in the Knights Templar No. 48, at Fayette. He is a deacon in the Christian church and a man of many excellent traits of char- acter, and a pleasant personality has gained for him a number of sincere friends.

In 1880, Judge Bagby was married to Miss Narcissa Denny, who died after the birth of her child, J. H. Bagby, now a resident of Cen- tralia, Missouri. The judge's second marriage was to Cora Lee Under- wood, daughter of Hugh Underwood, of Johnson county, Missouri,

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and a woman of intelligence and Christian character. Two children have been born to this union: David C., a student in the public schools; and Narcissa Lee.

WILLIAM SHAFROTH. One who holds a place of marked prominence among the substantial and influential business men of Howard county, Missouri, is William Shafroth, president of the Fayette Mill Mer- cantile Company, of Fayette, who has experienced over a half-century of business activity in this city and within a very short distance of where he was born. John Shafroth, his father, was a native of Switzer- land, who had emigrated to the United States in 1838 and very shortly afterward located in Howard county, Missouri, where he became one of the settlers and business men of Fayette. Here he continued in the mercantile business until his death in 1866. Six children came to him and his wife, the latter of whom was Annie Aull as a maiden, and to whom he was married at Boonville, Missouri; they are: Mrs. Sophia Hale, of Junction City, Missouri; Mrs. Laura Segar, of Lansing, Mich- igan; Mrs. John Bradley, of Fayette, Missouri; Caroline, who became the wife of Dr. U. S. Wright, of Fayette, and is now deceased; Wil- liam Shafroth, of this review; and John Shafroth, the present governor of Colorado. The mother, a firm and devout member of the Baptist church, passed away at the age of seventy-five. Governor John Shaf- roth was born in Fayette, Missouri, June 9, 1854. He grew to man- hood here and received a good literary education at Central College, later, or in 1875, graduating in law from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. For the practice of his profession he went to Denver, Colorado, where he advanced rapidly as a lawyer and soon became prominent in politics in that state, serving from 1895 to 1905 as a con- gressman from that state. He has strict opinions as to right and wrong, even in political affairs, and has become known all over Colo- rado and largely through the west as "Honest John." He resigned his seat in congress because he became convinced that there had been fraud practiced in securing his election and he was unwilling to serve under those conditions. In 1911 he became governor of Colorado and his administration as executive head of that state has been progressive and in consistent keeping with his own firm character. His wife, also a native of Howard county, Missouri, is remembered here by her maiden name of Virginia Morrison, and her grandfather was one of the early state treasurers of Missouri. Governor and Mrs. Shafroth have three sons, of whom one is in the United States navy, another is a lawyer, and the youngest is now a student in the alma mater of his father, the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

William Shafroth, second child, was born December 31, 1844, in a home that stood on the ground now occupied by the Commercial Bank of Fayette. He received his education in the public schools of Fayette and at the age of fourteen began to acquire business experience as a clerk in his father's store. He continued with the mercantile line of business until 1889, when he entered the milling business. In that year he, with J. H. Armstrong and M. A. Boyd, built the Fayette Flouring Mills. Along in the '90s Mr. Armstrong sold his interest to the other two partners and in 1902 Mr. Shafroth purchased the interest of Mr. Boyd and at that time organized the Fayette Mill Mer- cantile Company, with William Shafroth as president, M. L. McQuitly as vice president and A. B. Cloud as secretary. The mill was originally built for a capacity of one hundred barrels per day, but the increase of business demanded an increase in capacity, which has now been made two hundred barrels per day. The company has always done a large

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mercantile business, handling an immense amount of corn and home- grown clover seeds. In 1907 the mill company built an additional storage elevator for wheat which has a capacity for about 125,000 bushels. Their leading brands of flour are the Premium High Patent and the Missionary Extra Patent. Early in his business career Mr. Shafroth was extensively engaged in the tobacco business and was one of the leading manufacturers of tobacco at Fayette, buying on an aver- age of 500,000 pounds of leaf tobacco annually. Thus for nearly half a century he has been of the active, energetic, enterprising and efficient business men of Fayette, a citizen of the progressive order and in every relation of life one of the most worthy of men. Certainly no review of the men who have made Northeastern Missouri would be complete with- out mention of William Shafroth. He has traveled extensively in the west, but has found his old Missouri home the fairest spot of all to him.

JASPER THOMPSON. The profession of law is one that demands un- divided attention, rather than ordinary ability, and careful training. The legist of today, if he is engaged in active practice in all the courts, is kept busy in keeping abreast of the various decisions that may estab- lish a precedent and so change jurisprudence, but in spite of the exact- ing demands of their profession, many members thereof have found time to interest themselves in other lines of endeavor and to add to their communities' prosperity and advancement by their connection with commercial and financial projects. In this connection, it will not be inappropriate to briefly sketch the career of Jasper Thompson, one of the ablest members of the Howard county bar, a directing factor in the affairs of the Howard County Fair Asociation, and a man who has for years identified himself with matters of a business nature, in connection with his large general law practice. Mr. Thompson was born near Jackmon's Mills, Howard county, Missouri, January 26, 1870, and is a son of George W. Thompson. The family is an old and honored one in Howard county, and was founded here at an early day by the paternal grandparents of Jasper Thompson, who came from Virginia. George W. Thompson married Eliza Ferbis, who was born in Missouri, and was a great-grandniece of the famous Daniel Boone. They had a family of four sons and three daughters, as follows: Jasper, who resides in Fayette; Elias, conducting the old farm on which he was born; R. W., a railroad fireman, who met his death in an accident, in 1910, when thirty-three years of age, leaving a widow and one child ; Eddie ; one daughter who died in childhood; another, who passed away in infancy ; and Sidney, of Fayette, with Carl Jayger.

Jasper Thompson was reared on the old home farm in Howard county, and received a public school education. It was his father's intention that he should follow in his foot-steps and engage upon an agricultural career, but the youth had other views as to his subsequent life, and spent much of his spare time in home study. For nine and one-half years he worked for L. S. Prosser Dry Goods Company, and after spending some time in studying law under the preceptorship of O. S. Barton, entered Central College. In 1899 he was admitted to the bar at Fayette, and here he has since remained in general practice. Perhaps the highest type of character is displayed by the judicial mind, and to maintain the judicial poise and retain friendships is one of the best evidences of worth and integrity. In this Mr. Thompson has shown himself an able and astute legist, for, in spite of the numer- ous cases in which he has been engaged, he still retains the friendships of former years, and no citizen holds the respect and esteem of his fellow-men in a greater degree.

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In 1907, Mr. Thompson was married to Miss Jennie Barton, a sister of O. S. Barton. Mr. Thompson has not devoted all of his time to his profession, as he is interested in the Howard County Fair Association, in which he is the owner of one-tenth of the stock. He serves in the capacity of secretary of this organization, of which he is an enthusiastic "booster," and much of its success are due to his efforts. He holds a directorship in the Commercial Bank of Fayette, and has identified himself with various movements calculated to be of benefit to the city. Fraternally, he is connected with the local lodge of the I. O. O. F. A self-made man and self-educated, Mr. Thompson takes a pardonable degree of pride in what he has been able to accomplish, not only in a material way, but in the matter of friendships, while his rise in public esteem has been continuous as a lawyer, as a business man and as a citizen.

PROF. A. H. MONSEES. The enterprise and progressive spirit of the people of Fayette, Missouri, are reflected in the advantages that are being given their children in an educational way, for no city of its size in Northeastern Missouri can boast of more thoroughly equipped in- stitutions of learning. Erected in the years 1911 and 1912, the Fayette public school building, costing $60,000, is a structure of modern archi- tecture, containing sixteen rooms, with 520 pupils and 13 teachers. Included in this handsome building are an auditorium, capable of seat- ing five hundred people, with orchestra chairs, full stage and equip- ment, and a laboratory where operations and experiments in chemistry, pharmacy and pyrotechny may be performed. At the head of this excel- lent system is Prof. A. H. Monsees, and here also the people of the city may be congratulated upon their good judgment and foresight, for this gentleman has proven himself the right man for the right place, an educator who possesses the rare ability of imparting his knowledge to others, and an executive whose administration of the duties of his office have made him popular alike with pupils and teachers.

Professor A. H. Monsees, superintendent of schools, was born. Feb- ruary 19, 1880, in Pettis county, Missouri, and is a son of John H. and Margaret (Kahrs) Monsees. His father, a native of Germany, was brought to the United States at the age of four years by his parents, who settled in Missouri, and there he was educated, grew to manhood, and engaged in farming. At the outbreak of the Civil war, John H. Monsees enlisted in a Missouri regiment of volunteer infantry, in the Federal army, and served therewith until his capture by the Confeder- ates. On being paroled, he received his honorable discharge and re- turned to the peaceful pursuits of farming and stock raising, in which he was engaged during the active years of his life. He was married to Margaret Kahrs, who was born in Pettis county, and whose parents, natives of Germany, came to Missouri via New Orleans. Mr .. and Mrs. Monsees were the parents of three sons and three daughters.

A. H. Monsees received his early education in the public schools, and his boyhood was spent on the home farm, where he built up a hearty and robust physique. He began teaching in the rural schools of Pettis county at the age of twenty-one years, and since that time has been connected with the graded schools in one or another capacity ; he was principal of the Malta Bend schools for two years, where he had charge of five teachers and was superintendent of the Tipton schools for three years where there were nine teachers. Feeling the need of further preparation for his profession, he entered Central Wesleyan College, Warrenton, Missouri, where he received the degree of A. B., in 1911, and in 1912 received the degree of B. S. from the University of Mis-

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souri, graduating with high honors. Coming to Fayette, he was elected to the office of superintendent of schools in April, 1911, and in Sep- tember entered upon the duties of his office, which he has discharged to the satisfaction of all parties concerned.

Professor Monsees was married at Malta Bend, Saline county, Mis- souri, to Miss Blanche Fulton, daughter of Everett Fulton, of that place, and to this union there has been born one son: Everett Fulton Monsees, born in January, 1911.

WINCHESTER DAVIS. Most intimately associated with the welfare of any live, growing community are its real estate interests, and a city's growth and development depends largely upon the character and abilities of the men whose activities are devoted to promoting its importance along this line. Theirs is a vocation which directly affects their community, for without their ability to instill confidence in the minds of prospective investors, the capital necessary to finance muni- cipal growth could not be obtained, realty values would languish and general business depression would be the natural result. The city of Fayette, Missouri, has been fortunate in having among its business men, individuals whose activities in the real estate line have conduced to the general welfare, and whose high reputation and business integ- rity have served to gain and maintain general confidence, and to them must be given the credit for the city's importance as a commercial and industrial center of Northeastern Missouri. Among those who have gained prominence in the real estate field, Winchester Davis holds a foremost position. He was born June 30, 1844, and is a son of Col. Joe Davis.

Colonel Joe Davis was born in Kentucky, a member of an old and honored family of the Blue Grass State, was reared in the vicinity of Hopkinsville, and as a lad of fourteen years, in 1818, accompanied his father, Edward Davis, to Howard county, Missouri. He grew to manhood on the land which had been entered by his father from the government, and became a surveyor, assisting in the survey of the old trail through Missouri. Subsequently, he turned his attention to the law, studied at St. Louis, and was admitted to the bar, and eventually rose to a high position in his profession. He also was successful in agricultural pursuits, amassing a tract of two thousand acres, which he worked with 75 negro slaves, and was known as a typical southern planter, dispensing hospitality to all who visited his estate. Colonel Davis was a man of fine physique and military bearing, was noted for his integrity and courage, and was an expert marksman, being able to hit a 25-cent piece at 40 rods. He died, respected by his entire community, when 67 years of age. Colonel Davis was married to Sarah E. Greene, also a member of an old Kentucky family, and she died at the age of seventy years, having been the mother of these children: Mrs. R. H. Ober, of St. Louis; Winchester; Ida, wife of W. T. Wil- liams; and Smith.

Winchester Davis was reared on the old plantation home where he was born, and was given excellent educational advantages. As a young man he entered the real estate business, and has been a promoter on an extensive scale, handling thousands of acres in Missouri and Texas, and traveling through the North, East, West and South in the prosecu- tion of his business. He has put through some of the largest land deals that have ever been recorded in the state, and his operations have served in material manner to advance the interests of his native locality. A man of shrewdness, foresight and good judgment, he has been able to recognize opportunities, to grasp them and to carry them through to

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a successful conclusion, but his enterprises have always been of a strictly legitimate nature and he has thus firmly established himself in the con- fidence of his associates and the public at large. His long career in the business arena has gained him a wide acquaintance, and a frank and genial personality has been the medium through which he has made many friends.

On November 10, 1865, Mr. Davis was married to Miss Estelle Prewitt, eldest daughter of R. T. Prewitt, deceased, a prominent lawyer. She is a graduate of Howard Payne College and also attended Univer- sity at Monticello, Illinois. She is a member of one of Howard county's pioneer families. To this union there have been born children as fol- lows: R. Prewitt Davis, the oldest child, who died in Kansas, leaving a wife and six children; Martha, the wife of W. B. Cully, a prominent stockman of Chariton county, Missouri; Wendell P., connected with the Cloquet Lumber Company, of Minnesota; Trimble P., connected with the same concern; Leonard, a salesman in a shoe store; and Lionel, a lawyer at 602 Commercial building, St. Louis, Missouri.

WILLIAM J. MEGRAW. A fine representative of the business men of Howard county, William J. Megraw is prominently identified with the industrial interests of Fayette, being one of its leading contractors and builders. He was born and reared in Fayette, where his father, Joseph Megraw, who is now living retired from active pursuits, was for up- wards of half a century successfully employed in business as a lumber manufacturer and dealer, and as a builder and contractor.

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A history of northeast Missouri, Vol. 2 pt 2, Part 67

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