A history of northeast Missouri, Vol. 2 pt 2, Part 74

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

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In 1870 Mr. Burns eame to Marion county, Missouri, later moving to Ralls and Pike counties, and finally to New Franklin, iu Howard county, where he was the local representative of the nursery company so many years. He has stocked hundreds of the orchards in this eounty, and it speaks well for the character of the company and for his own square dealings that in all the years there seldom arose a case of dis- satisfaction. About three years ago he located on the farm where he now resides, a place of sixty aeres, and there enjoys the quiet pursuits of its eultivation and a delightful home for his declining years.

Mr. Burns was married in Illinois in 1866 to Miss Carrie LaRue,

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a daughter of William LaRue. They are the parents of two children : William, a resident of Kansas City; anl Jessie, who married Austin Kinney, of Wheeling, West Virginia.

JUDGE HENRY C. SHIELDS. A prominent and highly respected citizen of Fayette, Judge Henry C. Shields is widely and favorably known throughout Howard county, which he has served in the official capacity of county judge for ten years, and in other responsible public positions for as many more years. A son of the late Egbert O. Shields, he was born, July 20, 1840, near Bowling Green, Pike county, Missouri, com- ing from Scotch-Irish stock, his immigrant ancestor having migrated from the North of Ireland to America, settling in Virginia.

Egbert O. Shields was born in Nelson county, Virginia, which was likewise the birthplace of his father, James Shields. Soon after his mar- riage he moved with his family to Kentucky, being accompanied, also, by two of his own brothers, and his father's family, all locating in Ken- tucky in 1839. In 1850 Egbert O. Shields again trekked westward, coming from Kentucky to Missouri, locating first in Pike county, just south of Bowling Green, and later, in 1871, settling in Howard county, where he resided until his death, at the age of sixty-five years. In his earlier life he was a Whig in politics, ardently supporting Henry Clay for the presidency in 1844, but later was identified with the Demo- cratic party. In religion he was liberal, believing in the Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of Man. He was a man of strict integrity and honesty, and well deserving of the high regard in which he was so universally held by the entire community. He was twice married. He married, in Virginia, Ellen Brent, a daughter of James Brent, who lived and died in Nelson county, Virginia. She died at the early age of twenty-one years, in Kentucky, leaving three children, Henry C. Shields, the subject of this brief sketch; Alvina Francis, deceased; and Eugenia Ellen, deceased. Egbert O. Shields married for his second wife Ann E. Bibb, in Virginia, and to them eight children were born, as follows : Benjamin O., deceased ; James F .; Mary ; William M .; Martha ; Charles C., who died in Fayette, Missouri; and two children that died in infancy.

Obtaining the rudiments of his education in the common schools of Virginia, Henry C. Shields later continued his studies in Missouri, at- tending school in Pike and Howard counties, and studying at home under his father's tutorship. Beginning his career as an educator, he taught several years, having among his pupils several boys that have subse- quently become well known in public life, one of them having been W. D. Settle, now serving as county clerk of Howard county. In 1871 Judge Shields purchased his present large estate, which, prior to the Civil war, was one of the best plantations in this part of the county. It is ad- vantageously located two and one-half miles east of Fayette, and is well improved, the large, roomy house occupied by the family being finely situated on a beautiful hill, and having a grand outlook over the sur- rounding country. The land has a fine vein of coal, from which Mr Shields has reaped good returns. Here he and his son are carrying on general farming with excellent results, making a specialty of raising fine graded stock, including Black Polled-Angus cattle, and Poland China swine.

During the war, Mr. Shields served for a time in the Confederate army, serving under Colonels Dorsey and Poindexter, and later being with General Price in some of his daring raids.

Politically the judge is a stanch Democrat, and has served wisely and well in various public offices, having been deputy county surveyor

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many terms; county surveyor for eleven years; and for the past ten years has served ably and satisfactorily as county judge.

Judge Shields has been twice married. He married first, in 1866, Mary Johnson, who was born in Howard county, a daughter of Talton and Amanda Johnson. She died in 1876, at the age of thirty-three years, leaving two children, namely : Mrs. Minne V. Dillon, of Montgomery county, Missouri; and Edward E., who died at the age of fifteen years. The judge married second, in 1878, Parlee Shields, who was born, reared and educated in Howard county, and is of Scotch-Irish descent, her im- migrant ancestor having been one of three brothers of the name of Shields that emigrated from the North of Ireland to America, locating first in Kentucky. Her father was Thomas Shields, whose parents, Thomas Shields and wife, were from Ireland, lived and died in Howard county, and are buried in Mount Gilead cemetery, a most beautiful spot. Judge and Mrs. Shields are the parents of two children, namely: Romeo B. and Bernard L. Romeo B. Shields was educated at Central College, and was afterwards graduated from the dental department of Washing- ton University, in Saint Louis, Missouri, where he is now prosperously engaged in dentistry, he and his wife having a pleasant home in that city. Bernard L. Shields, who is engaged in farming with his father, married Mary Besgrove, a daughter of the late Alfred Besgrove, who was born in England, now living in Howard county, Missouri, near Fayette.

JOHN DENNENY. One of the attractive and valuable farms of Rich- mond township in Howard county is the John Denneny farm. Its pro- prietor, Mr. Denneny, bought the land in 1895 at a time when it was almost entirely a landscape of trees and stumps. He had long been successfully identified with farming in this county, and he brought a thorough experience and ability to the improvement of his new place according to his standards of what he wanted this farm to be. It is therefore a farm which has been largely shaped out by his own labors and plans and represents both comfortable home and also a gratifying success.

John Denneny was born March 20, 1842, in County Kildare, Ire- land, a son of James and Bridget (Baines) Denneny, who were people of intelligence and thrift and spent all their lives in Ireland. As a boy and while attending the schools of his native land he was taught also to work. At the age of twenty-four he prepared for an independent home-making by his marriage to Miss Mary Burke, who was born in County Dublin, Ireland, in 1844, a young woman of his own country who not only became the mother of his children but aided him in many other ways to the winning of material prosperity. Soon after their mar- riage they emigrated to America, and after spending three years near Cincinnati, Ohio, moved to the Missouri valley and in Howard county rented what is known as the Thomas J. Payne farm, a place on which he lived for the long period of thirty-six years. It was there that the good wife and mother passed away, November 1, 1876, and there the chil- dren were reared. Meanwhile Mr. Denneny had bought the farm on which he now lives. He built a comfortable five-room cottage and a good barn and other shelters for stock and machinery. Meadows and grain fields now divide the land formerly covered with trees and stumps, and the place has become a source of sure annual profit.

The six children born to Mr. Denneny and wife were as follows: Mary (Mrs. J. O. Fitzgerald, Farmersville, Illinois), born February 20, 1867; James R., born May 4, 1868 (Payne & Denneny Drug Company, Fayette, Missouri) ; Joseph B., born January 22, 1871, with Fayette Bank, Fayette, Missouri; Laura E., born September 26, 1873, at home

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HISTORY OF NORTHEAST MISSOURI

with her father; Katherine, born January 23, 1875, at home with her father; John L., born November 1, 1876, of Kansas City, Missouri.

When the mother died in 1876, the children were all young, and their care devolved largely on Mr. Denneny, who thus carried the double burden of farm management and the direction of the household.

The sons and daughters are now honored and useful men and women of the world, and the family is one of the most worthy in Howard county.

A. B. BLAKELY. A man of good business intelligence and capacity, A. B. Blakely, head of the firm of Blakely & Markland, dealers in poul- try, eggs, hides and fur, is identified with one of the leading industries of Armstrong, his firm being one of the largest and most successful of the kind in Northeastern Missouri. A son of T. M. Blakely, he was born May 19, 1884, in Lincoln county, where his childhood was spent. His father assists in the management of the business established by his son and partner, while his mother, Mrs. Imogene Blakely, is one of the leading milliners of Howard county, her millinary parlors in Armstrong being well patronized during the busy season.

Having obtained a practical education in the public schools, A. B. Blakely began business for himself in a small way. As business de- manded, he enlarged his operations, and, with his partner, Colonel Mark- land, became one of the most extensive dealers in poultry, eggs, hides and furs to be found in this part of the state, his trade being large and highly remunerative.

On October 29, 1908, Mr. Blakely was united in marriage with Miss Emma P. Tindall, daughter of W. F. Tindall, a prominent citizen of Fayette, and a representative of one of the oldest and most respected families of Howard county. Politically Mr. Blakely is a stanch sup- porter of the principles of the Democratic party, and fraternally he be- longs to the Knights of Pythias and the Masonic Order.

COL. A. P. MARKLAND. A prominent business man of Armstrong, Howard county, Col. A. P. Markland is an important factor in develop- ing and advancing its industrial and mercantile interests, and as junior member of the enterprising firm of Blakely & Markland is identified with one of the more prosperous firms of Howard county. A son of the late Matthew Markland, he was born in Howard county, May 19, 1872. Further parental and ancestral history may be found on another page of this volume, in connection with the sketch of Levi P. Markland, the colonel's brother.

Brought up on a farm, A. P. Markland was educated in the district schools, and early trained to habits of industry and honesty. He started life for himself by learning the details of mercantile trade, acquiring both knowledge and experience while young. In 1903 he embarked in the poultry and coal business in Armstrong, and conducted it success- fully until burned out in 1911. Immediately forming a partnership with Mr. A. B. Blakely, Colonel Markland continued the poultry dealing, and also added to his interests by dealing in eggs, hides and furs, building up a trade that is far-reaching and extremely lucrative, the firm of Blakely & Markland being favorably known throughout this section of the state as one of the foremost of its kind.

Colonel Markland married November 28, 1893, Maggie Hackley, who was born and educated in Howard county, a daughter of F. H. Hackley, and they have one son, David L. Markland. Fraternally the colonel is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is a very genial, companionable man, both he and his partner being popular in social circles.

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JOHN A. DENNY, SR. Having accomplished a satisfactory work as an agriculturist, John A. Denny, Sr., is now living retired from active pursuits on his homestead farm, which is located in Howard county, three miles west of Armstrong, and is there enjoying to the utmost the well-merited reward of his many years of long-continued, unremitting toil. The representative of a prominent pioneer family of this county, he was born, November 11, 1838, near Armstrong, on the plantation of his father, James Denny, and comes of honored Revolutionary ancestry, his grandfather, Alexander Denny, having served as a soldier in the Revolutionary war.

Born in Garrard county, Kentucky, James Denny was there brought up and educated. From his father he acquired a practical knowledge of the art of farming, and in 1818 made his way westward to Missouri. Locating in Howard county, he bought a large tract of land which was still in its primitive wildness, and with the help of his slaves, of which he had a large number prior to the Civil war, he cleared and improved a valuable homestead in the vicinity of Armstrong. He raised large crops of both tobacco and hemp, as a general farmer being quite pros- perous, before his death, at the age of sixty-nine years, accumulating a good property. Both he and his good wife were members of the Metho- dist Episcopal church South. He married Elizabeth Best, who was born in Kentucky, a daughter of Humphrey Best, an old and honored resident of Kentucky, and to them twelve children were born, all of whom, with the exception of the subject of this sketch, have passed to the higher life, although all of these children grew to years of maturity before the family circle was broken by death. The names of the chil- dren of the parental household were as follows: Catherine; Amanda; Charity ; Alexander, who served as captain in the Civil war and also in the Mexican war, and was afterwards a prominent banker of Saline county, Missouri; Humphrey; James; Rachel; Celia; David; John A .; Clifton and Mary Frances.

Brought up on the home plantation, John A. Denny, Sr., completed his early education in the Roanoke high school, afterwards becoming familiar with the various branches of agriculture while assisting his father in plantation work. At the breaking out of the Civil war he enlisted in the Confederate army, and while serving under General Price was wounded in the left arm at the battle of Pea Ridge, Ar- kansas. After his marriage he began farming in earnest, and by dint of persevering energy and wise management has met with unquestioned success, his large estate of four hundred and ninety acres, lying but three miles from the village of Armstrong, being one of the finest in its appointments of any in this part of Howard county. The house is large and conveniently arranged, containing thirteen rooms, and is pleasantly situated in the midst of a beautiful lawn, dotted with shade trees, the beautiful homestead, with its substantial buildings, giving ample evidence to the passer-by of his skill and good taste as a rural house- holder.

Mr. Denny married, April 3, 1873, Miss Anna Walden, who was born in Randolph county, Missouri, and was educated at Mount Pleasant Seminary in Huntsville. Her father, the late Judge W. E. Walden, was born in Madison county, Kentucky, and after coming to Missouri be- came one of the active and influential citizens of Randolph county, being prominent in legal and business circles, and serving as an elder in the Presbyterian church. Judge Walden married Emily Hurt, a daughter of Joshua Hurt, a prominent pioneer of Howard county, Mis- souri and to them two children were born, namely : Mrs. C. W. Shores and Mrs. Denny. Mrs. Walden survived the judge a number of years,

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attaining the good old age of eighty-six years. Mr. and Mrs. Denny have four children, namely : Emily, wife of E. T. Long, of Fayette ; Lucretia, wife of George W. Lenoir, of Armstrong; William, who was appointed county surveyor by Governor Hadley, and is filling the office ably and faithfully ; and John A. Denny, Jr., who has the management of the home farm, which he devotes to general farming and stock-raising. Both Mr. and Mrs. Denny are valued members of the Presbyterian church, in which he has served as elder for many years.

FRED H. TEDFORD. A man of ideas, pre-eminently of the twentieth century, always seeking for a new method that would be an improve- ment on the old, never stubbornly set in his own way of thinking but capable of seeing the other man's viewpoint, Fred H. Tedford, editor and publisher of the Macon Times-Democrat of Macon, Missouri, is a man to be considered in the affairs of his city. Although he has only been a resident of Macon since 1908 he is already considered one of the town's most influential citizens.

Mr. Tedford's grandfather, John Tedford, was a native of Virginia, who after a short residence in Alabama and Tennessee came to Missouri in 1851 with his brothers, separating from the rest of his family who settled in Iowa. His son, J. F. Tedford, was born in Missouri in 1843 and now lives in Moberly, Missouri, serving as the police judge of the city. He was a soldier during the whole of the Civil war enlisting in the Confederate army under General Price with Captain Guthrie of Macon as his local commander for a short time. His wife was Virginia Baird, daughter of John Baird, a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1850, who came to Missouri when she was ten years old. Mr. and Mrs. Tedford had three children, May J. in Moberly; Allie (Figley) Salida of Colo- rado; and Fred H.

Fred H. Tedford was born July 5, 1873, on a farm in Randolph county near Moberly, and received his education in the public schools of Moberly. When he was twelve years old he entered the employ of the Wabash railroad as an office boy, and before he left the company rose to the position of timekeeper and later to that of shipping clerk. In 1898 he was appointed deputy chief grain inspector of the state with headquarters at Kansas City. In 1902 he was appointed chief grain inspector with headquarters at St. Louis. He held this office for four years, or until 1906, when he became a traveling salesman for the Kan- sas City Portland Cement Company. This work only held him until 1908 when he came to Macon and purchased the controlling interest in the Times-Democrat, established in 1865, the oldest paper not only in Macon county, but also in Northeast Missouri. It was first called merely the Times, but after consolidation with the Democrat assumed its present name. It is an eight-page, seven-column paper with a circulation of twenty-five hundred copies, and is an influential and progressive pub- lication. Mr. Tedford is much interested in church work, and has served as a deacon in the Presbyterian church for twenty years, assum- ing the duties in each new city in which he took up his residence. He is a Royal Arch Mason, and belongs to the A. F. and A. M., and to the B. P. O. E. of Macon. He was married in 1897 to Gertrude McCully of Macon, a daughter of William E. McCully, a prominent citizen of Mis- souri and of Macon, and a former state railroad and warehouse com- missioner. They have had two children, Frances Marion and Howard William.

CHRIS R. MAFFRY, JR., cashier of the State Exchange Bank of Macon, Macon county, Missouri, has risen steadily in the business world since Vol. III-32

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he began working in 1902. The first two years he spent in the office of the Bevier Coal & Mining Company. From January 1, 1903, to the close of the World's Fair at St. Louis, he was one of the Jefferson Guards. He then entered the State Exchange Bank as collector and was soon after promoted to the position of bookkeeper. In September, 1907, he entered the First National Bank as assistant cashier and when the State Exchange and the First National consolidated in January, 1908, he became assistant cashier of the new institution. In August, 1911, he was made cashier. Such a rapid rise has not been due to chance, but to ability and perseverance, and to an energy which is not afraid of working half an hour overtime. The State Exchange Bank, which is now one of the most substantial in Northeast Missouri, has a capital of $100,000.00 with total resources of $650,000.00. The officers are John Scovern, president; Thomas E. Wardell, vice-president; Chris R. Maf- fry, Jr., cashier ; and John Scovern, Thomas E. Wardell, Dr. E. B. Clem- ents, John T. Doneghy, Dr. W. H. Miller, Ben Eli Guthrie, Dr. T. S. Watson, Herman E. Miller, and T. W. Robinson, directors.

Mr. Maffry was born in Macon, March 10, 1884, the son of Chris R. and Lisette (Rutger) Maffry. Mr. Maffry was born in Germany in 1845 and came to America when he was fourteen years old. He first settled in southeast Missouri but shortly afterwards came to Macon county. He has followed farming and merchandising and has always been very successful in all his ventures. He is at present president of the I. C. Stephens Clothing Company, but is doing very little active work. Mrs. Maffry was born in Germany and came to America in 1848 when she was two years old. They raised four children, Anetta Archer of Macon; Gus, a clothing merchant; Edward, in the bakery and confectionery business; and Chris R., Jr.

Chris R., Jr., was educated in the Macon public schools and in the Gem City Business College of Quincy. He also spent one year in the Blees Military Academy. He has lodge affiliations with the A. F. and A. M. and B. P. O. E. of Macon and attends the Episcopal church. He was married in November, 1907, to Icy Wood, a daughter of Cyrus C. Wood, a leading merchant of Macon.

LEVI P. MARKLAND. Scholarly in his attainments, and possessing excellent executive ability, Levi P. Markland, of Armstrong, is widely and favorably known in educational circles as county superintendent of the Howard county public schools, an office which he is filling most efficiently and satisfactorily, his previous experience as a teacher amply qualifying him for the position. A native of Howard county, he was born April 30, 1862, a son of the late Matthew Markland.

His paternal grandfather, Levi Markland, was born and reared in Tennessee, but became a pioneer settler of Madison county, Kentucky, where he acquired prominence as a man of ability and worth. He reared several children, one of whom served as a soldier in the Confederate army, and was killed in battle.

Born, in 1820, in Kentucky, Matthew Markland was there reared and educated. Migrating as a young man to Missouri, he bought land in Howard county, and by dint of industry and good management cleared and improved a good farm, and became one of the leading stock raisers of his community. Six feet in height, and weighing two hundred and twenty-five pounds, he was a man of striking appearance, and ac- quired fame as an athlete. He took an active part in public affairs, and as justice of the peace during the Civil war dispensed justice in a manner similar to that of a judge of the Higher Court. His death, at the age of seventy-six years, was mourned as a public loss.

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Matthew Markland married first a Miss Harvey, by whom he had seven children, four of whom survive, as follows: William L .; John H .; Mrs. Frances Lindell; and Mrs. Sarah Neir. He married second Sarah Finnell, a daughter of A. K. Finnell, who was born in Virginia, and to them seven children were born, namely: Levi P., the special subject of this brief biographical notice; Mrs. Emma Stener; Matthew ; Mrs. Alice Snoddy ; J. E .; A. K .; and A. P. The mother is still liv- ing, being seventy years old.

Obtaining an excellent knowledge of the higher branches of learning while young, Levi P. Markland began his career as an educator at the age of nineteen years, for nine years being principal of the New Frank- lin schools. He subsequently taught in different places in Howard county. Very successful as an educator and a disciplinarian, and an especially good organizer and executor, Mr. Markland was elected superintendent of the Howard county schools in 1907, for a term of two years. Displaying unusual ability in the position, he was re-elected to the same office in 1909, and in 1911 was honored with a re-election for a term of four years. Under his wise administration the schools of the county have increased not only in numbers, but in efficiency, the sixty-three schools having an enrollment of three thousand, three hun- dred and eighty-seven pupils in 1912, under the instruction of one hun- dred and seven competent teachers, fourteen of whom are colored. These schools are ably supervised by Mr. Markland, who has introduced new methods of teaching, and brought each school up to a high standard of efficiency, no schools in this section of Missouri standing higher than those under his control.

Politically Mr. Markland is prominent in Democratic ranks, and has served as delegate to many state conventions, including the one in which Joseph Folk was chosen as governor of the state, and others of import- ance. Fraternally he is a member, and master, of Howard Lodge, No. 70, Ancient Free and Accepted Order of Masons, of Armstrong. Religiously he is a valued member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and superintendent of its Sunday school, a position which he held in the Methodist Episcopal church Sunday school at New Franklin for twenty years. Mrs. Markland is also a communicant at the same church.

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A history of northeast Missouri, Vol. 2 pt 2, Part 74

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