A history of northwest Missouri, Volume III, Part 106

Author: Williams, Walter, 1864-1935 editor
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Chicago, The Lewis publishing company
Number of Pages: 912

USA > Missouri > A history of northwest Missouri, Volume III > Part 106

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Judge Frank Duncan was reared on a farm, attended the common schools, and finished his education by two years in William Jewell Col- lege at Liberty. His early life was on a farm, and he had a thorough training in agricultural methods. In 1888 he removed to St. Joseph and for five years was in the livery business in that city. On October 15, 1893, he took possession of his present fine homestead near Dearborn. His farm contains 153 acres, and all its building improvements have been the result of Judge Duncan's management since he took possession. A capable farmer, he has always stood high in the esteem of his fellow citizens, and this brought about his election in 1911 as a county judge from the western district of Platte County. In November, 1914, he was reelected, this time as presiding judge of the County Court. Politically he is a democrat.

Judge Duncan was married February 9, 1889, to Margaret H. Meloan, who was born at Paynesville, in Pike County, Missouri, December 14, 1860. Her father, Joseph Meloan, was born at Mount Sterling, Ken- tucky, in 1819 and died in 1873. The maiden name of her mother was Margaret Patton, who was born at Cynthiana in Harrison County, Ken- tucky, in November, 1833, and died in 1911, having been brought by her parents to Pike County, Missouri, when five years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Duncan are the parents of three children: Richard M., of St. Joseph ; Margaret Helen and Etta Wells, both at home.

ADOLPH P. DOPPLER. There is no town in Northwest Missouri that has more intimate and interesting relations with early commercial his- tory along the Missouri River than Weston. A firm that has been iden- tified with commercial undertakings there since Weston was a metropolis and Kansas City was an insignificant village is that of Doppler. Adolph

2004

HISTORY OF NORTHWEST MISSOURI

P. Doppler is the second generation in Weston, and has himself been prominent in mercantile circles for thirty years or more.

Adolph P. Doppler was born at Weston, Missouri, January 6, 1857. His father was the late George M. Doppler, who was born in Wacheheim, Germany, October 11, 1830, and died July 20, 1900. In early manhood he came to the United States, and in 1854 was married at St. Louis to Salome Brandenburg, who was born in the same part of Germany and came to the United States on the same ship with her future husband. From St. Louis they came out to the Western Missouri frontier, locating at Weston, where George Doppler, being a tailor by trade, opened a shop. He continued working at his trade until his savings amounted to $500, and they were then invested in a small stock of dry goods. He used half of a small room for his stock, and displayed this merchandise to the public in the spring of 1865. From that humble beginning as a merchant his enterprise steadily grew until his was the largest dry goods and grocery house in Weston, drawing trade from a country miles around. In 1900 he retired, turning over his business to his two sons, Phillip and Frank, and died during the same year. His wife passed away in February, 1901, at the age of seventy. There were seven children : Adolph P .; Frank, deceased; Mrs. Emma Bacote of California; George of St. Joseph; Phillip of Weston; Laura, wife of C. W. Bowen, of Brunswick, Missouri; and Nellie, wife of John Brill of Weston. The father of these children had affiliations with the Masonic Order, the I. O. O. F. and the German Benevolent Association, and was one of the founders and charter members of the German Methodist Episcopal Church at Weston.

In his native town of Weston Adolph P. Doppler grew to manhood, attended the local schools about four months in each year until twelve years of age, and then entered upon his practical business career in his father's store, where he remained ten years. From the spring of 1879 until October, 1883, Mr. Doppler was cashier in the office of the United States Internal Revenue Collector at Kansas City. He then returned to Weston, and bought out the Chicago Lumber Company. In 1894 he bought the grocery business formerly conducted by T. A. Gilbert, and continued both enterprises until 1896. The lumber business was then sold, and his time has since been devoted to the grocery trade, with a success proportionate to the increasing years. In 1910 Mr. Doppler bought the site of his present business house, and erected a modern store 25x80 feet, a two-story building of brick. This store is built on the solid rock. Its thoroughness of construction is such that the build- ing may probably stand for generations as a landmark in Weston. On a concrete base 36 inches wide was laid the foundation of rock, giving a basement 7 feet in clear, with a 10-inch solid concrete floor. On top of that was erected the two-story brick building, the second floor being a seven room modern home. The basement he uses as an adjunct to his store for the keeping of vegetables and general storage. The building is fitted with a private water works, with hot and cold pressure tanks in the basement. While this is now one of the substantial busi- ness structures of the Weston commercial district, the site is of con- siderable interest as one of the landmarks of Weston. The old building torn down by Mr. Doppler preparatory to the erection of the present structure was one owned by an uncle of Buffalo Bill, and in that store the noted Buffalo Bill worked for a time as a clerk. Even Mr. Doppler can recall a time in the early days of Weston when the old counter in this building had a pile of gold dust on it that would fill a peck measure. In those days Weston was one of the first points of civilization between

.........

****

2005

HISTORY OF NORTHWEST MISSOURI

the Missouri River and the extreme western gold fields, and much of the currency of financial circulation was the unminted gold dust.

As a merchant Mr. Doppler is an unqualified success and carries a splendid stock of groceries and queensware. He has also served the community as treasurer of the school board thirteen years. Fraternally he is affiliated with the Masonic order and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and he and his wife are Methodists. In April, 1879, Mr. Doppler married Anna Ilkenhaus, who was born at Weston, a daughter of Emanuel Ilkenhaus, who was born in Germany and was an old time jeweler in Weston. Mr. and Mrs. Doppler have two children : Adella, wife of R. D. How, of Weston; and Adolph, living at home.

MORRIS ADELBERT REED. With a conspicuous place in the legal pro- fession of Northwest Missouri, and prominent both by his professional attainments and his services in public affairs, Morris A. Reed has been practicing as a member of the St. Joseph bar for the past forty-five years, and is one of the oldest attorneys in this quarter of the state. As a lieutenant he made a brilliant record on the Union side during the Civil war, and was admitted to the bar in New York State, a few years after the war closed.

Morris Adelbert Reed was born at Watertown, New York, in 1838, a son of Lewis and Angeline (Spinning) Reed. Through his father's mother Mr. Reed is a descendant from the Ball family, who saw conspic- nous service in the Revolutionary war. Mr. Reed was educated at the Jefferson County Institute in Watertown, New York, and in the Belle- ville Academy at Belleville, New York, graduating from the latter in 1861. After a year at home, he enlisted in September, 1862, in Company A of the Tenth New York Heavy Artillery, receiving his commission as second lieutenant and was afterward promoted to first lieutenant. Soon afterwards came his appointment on the staff of General Piper, who at that time was division commander in the defences of Washington, as acting assistant inspector general of said division. During the last year of the war he served in the Shenandoah Valley, under General Sheridan and under General Grant at the siege of Petersburg. With a record as a faithful and efficient soldier, Lieutenant Reed returned to his old home town of Watertown, studied law in the office of Brown & Beach, and on his admission to the bar in 1867 located at St. Joseph, Missouri, where forty-five years of his active professional work and his residence have been.

Mr. Reed up to 1888 was associated in partnership with Colonel John Doniphan, under the firm name of Doniphan & Reed. That was one of the foremost law firms in St. Joseph, during its existence. After 1888 Mr. Reed became associated with Mr. W. K. James, under the firm name of Reed & James. That firm, which lasted until 1898, was also one of special ability and with a large clientage among the most important interests. Mr. James in 1898 was elected circuit judge, and since that time Mr. Reed has devoted himself alone to the practice of law. At the present time all his work is office counsel practice, and his time is taken up by several large private interests, among which may be mentioned the Burnes National Bank of St. Joseph.

In 1873 Mr. Reed was appointed register in bankruptcy, which posi- tion he held until the repeal of the Bankruptcy Act. In 1882 he entered politics on the republican ticket as candidate for Congress against Colonel James Burnes, and gave the latter the closest race he had through his congressional career. Mayor Englehart in 1888 appointed Mr. Reed city counselor of St. Joseph, and his service in that capacity lasted two years. In January, 1892, Mr. Reed was appointed general

2006

HISTORY OF NORTHWEST MISSOURI

attorney for the St. Joseph and Grand Island Railway Company, and represented that corporation until 1904.

During the recent general election in 1912, Mr. Reed was republican candidate for Congress in his district. Ilis social relations are with the Sons of the American Revolution, to which his membership was granted by his connection with Revolutionary sires already mentioned. His church is the Christ Episcopal church of St. Joseph.

On October 15, 1872, Mr. Reed married Miss Margie R. Kimball, a daughter of Lotus Kimball, a banker of Bath, Maine, and representing one of the old families of shipbuilders in Bath during the period when sailing ships were much in vogue. Mrs. Reed died July 1, 1904, leaving two children. Clara A., wife of Owen B. Knight of St. Joseph, and Morris H. Reed, who with his brother-in-law, comprised the firm of Knight-Reed Millinery Company at St. Joseph. Mr. Reed and family reside at 547 North Sixth street, and his offices are at 4141/2 Francis Street.

JAMES W. Cox. One of Platte County's oldest institutions, and which stands second to none as to reputation for solidity and straightforward dealing, is the Railey & Brother Banking Company, at Weston. Much of the prestige held by this institution may be credited to the able and energetic activities of its vice president, James W. Cox, a resident of Weston since 1891, from which time to the present he has been connected with various prominent enterprises, all connected with the growing financial and industrial interests of the town.

Mr. Cox was born in Platte County, Missouri, February 5, 1860, and is a son of W. G. and Sallie A. (Stone) Cox. His father was born at Georgetown, Kentucky, in November, 1820, and was there married, the mother having been born at Paris, Bourbon County, Kentucky, in June, 1837. In 1855 they left their southern home and came to Platte County, Missouri, settling seven miles north of Weston, bringing with them four negro slaves and a small outfit of house furnishings. While W. G. Cox began his life in this state in a modest way, through inherent ability, enterprise and perseverance he became one of his community's substantial men, and through his natural capacity as a trader succeeded in the accumulation of 1,500 acres of land. Both he and Mrs. Cox were faithful members of the Baptist Church, in the belief of which the father died in 1877. The mother, who still survives him, makes her home at Kansas City, Missouri. They were the parents of eight children, of whom six are living, namely : D. K., a resident of Platte County, Mis- souri ; James W., of this review; Lizzie J., who is the wife of Charles Markle, of Galveston, Texas; Mattie, who is the wife of D. G. Main, of Kansas City, Missouri; Edwin G., of Craig, Missouri; and Minnie, the wife of S. B. Hall, of Colorado.

James W. Cox was reared on his father's farm, and after attending the country schools entered William Jewell College, at Liberty, Missouri, which he attended during 1878 and 1879. During the years 1880, 1881 and 1882 he was a student at the State University, Columbia, then returning home to take charge of the farm, in order that his mother might move to Plattsburg that the younger children might be given better educational advantages. Mr. Cox continued to operate the home- stead until 1887, when he moved to a property of his own, east of Weston, and remained there until 1891. In that year he became identified with the business interests of Weston, buying the two lumber yards here and consolidating them, and remained at the head of that industry until February, 1911, when he sold out to the Lambert Lumber Company.

2007

HISTORY OF NORTHWEST MISSOURI

In the meantime, in 1906, Mr. Cox had become vice president of Railey & Brother Banking Company, a business to which he has given his best energies since 1907. This bank was founded in 1867 by J. M. and E. W. Railey, the latter being president. In 1897 the bank was incorporated and the name was changed to Railey & Brother Banking Company, a style which it has since retained. In the capacity of vice president of this institution Mr. Cox has shown himself a man of marked financial capacity, shrewd, far-seeing and of excellent judgment. His own well- known integrity has done much to inspire confidence in the depositors, without which no monetary enterprise may survive. Mr. Cox is a demo- crat, but has confined his activities in politics to casting his vote for good men and measures. He is a Knight Templar Mason and has been treasurer of his lodge for twelve years, and he and Mrs. Cox are members of the Baptist Church and interested actively in its work.

Mr. Cox was married September 3, 1885, to Miss Lizzie Noble, who was born at Weston, Missouri, a daughter of W. G. Noble, a native of Boone County, Missouri, and one of the early merchants of Weston, where he died in 1904. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Cox: Forrestine, who is the wife of J. S. Sitlington, of Kansas City, Missouri; and Neva, the wife of Ed Thorn, of Weston, Missouri.

M. H. GABBERT. One of the oldest native sons of Platte County is M. H. Gabbert, whose life of nearly seventy years has been spent in this county, and whose boyhood recollections associate themselves with the heavy forests and the wilderness surroundings of pioneer times. As a farmer, like other members of the family, his career has been one of substantial and prosperous industry, and in a quiet way he has been an effective influence for the advancement of the community.

M. H. Gabbert was born in Weston Township of Platte County, April 30, 1846. His father, William Gabbert, was born in Kentucky, October 8, 1817, and died January 19, 1908, while his wife, whose maiden name was Frances Hamner, was born in the same state, September 3, 1819, and died January 14, 1914. Long lives have been characteristic of the Gabbert family, and it will be seen that both parents were more than ninety years of age when summoned by death. Of eight children four are still living : Benton, of Platte County ; M. H .; Ira T., of Caldwell, Kansas; and Elnora, wife of William Calvert, of Weston. The Gabbert and Hamner families removed from Kentucky to Bartholomew County, Indiana, in 1819, and there William Gabbert and Frances Hamner grew up in the same neighborhood and were married December 27, 1838. That section of Indiana was then well settled and lands were increasing in value on account of the numerous population they had to support. In consequence the Gabbert family during the early '40s began planning for a removal to the western frontier. Early in the '40s the grandfather of M. H. Gabbert set out on a prospecting tour to examine the lands in the new Platte Purchase of Missouri. He was accompanied by his oldest son, and in Platte County, near what is now known as Pleasant Ridge, bought a good sized tract of land, sufficient to give each of his sons eighty acres. Then in 1844 was accomplished the general removal of the family from Indiana to Missouri. The household goods and the children and women rode in wagons, and after many days of journeying they reached Platte County in October, 1844. William Gabbert's eighty acres had a small house and five acres were all cleared for cultivation, but the rest was in the midst of the heavy walnut and oak timber. In 1848 he removed to an adjoining place of fifty acres, improved with a substantial two-story frame house. He was one of the men of exceptional ability during the pioneer times of Platte County, and accumulated both

2008

HISTORY OF NORTHWEST MISSOURI

land and money, loaning the latter to advantage among his neighbors. One of the chief incentives to him in his work was to provide liberally for his children, in whom he always took a great interest, and much of his estate was distributed among them before his death. He and his wife in early life were Baptists, but later both joined the Christian Church. William Gabbert was well versed in Bible literature. Polit- ically he was identified with the republican party.

M. H. Gabbert grew up on the old homestead in Weston Township, attended country schools until they were suspended on account of the war, and then applied himself to the practical duties of the home farm. He lived at home until his marriage on March 25, 1868, to Henrietta Cox. Mrs. Gabbert was born in Platte County April 21, 1849, a daughter of Jacob and Susan (Pettigrew) Cox. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Gabbert have been born five children: Nannie, wife of James Risk, of Platte County ; Jessie, wife of A. E. McGlashan, of Trinidad, Colorado; Bessie L., wife of B. A. Gow, of Trinidad, Colorado; Jakie, wife of G. M. Hamm, of Waterloo, Iowa; and Elnora, wife of G. B. Park, of Platte City, Missouri.

Mr. Gabbert has worked out his destiny on prosperous proportions as a farmer, and has occupied his present fine farm near Weston since 1884. His place of 240 acres is well known in the community for its capable management, and its crops of grain, tobacco and stock. The Gabbert home is one of the attractive places in that community. Mr. Gabbert is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Weston, and he and his family are Baptists. Politically his support is given to the republican party.

EDWIN E. PUMPHREY. Any mention of pioneer families in Platte County must include reference to the Pumphreys, who have lived here usefully and actively practically since the Platte Purchase was opened for settlement. Edwin E. Pumphrey is a prosperous citizen of Dear- born, where he is cashier of the Bank of Wallace, was identified with the Bank of Dearborn from its organization until a few years ago, and in his earlier life was a teacher.

Edwin E. Pumphrey was born in Green Township of Platte County, Missouri, February 5, 1854, and his home has been within three miles of his birthplace all his life. His grandparents, Elijah and Olive (Wil- son) Pumphrey, came from Kentucky to Platte County in the very early days, making the journey by wagon and locating near the Town of Dear- born. There Elijah Pumphrey pre-empted a tract of land and subse- quently bought more. His death occurred in Platte County in 1875. William J. Pumphrey, father of the banker, was born in Kentucky and died near Camden Point, Missouri, in May, 1865, at the age of forty- five. He grew up on the old Platte County homestead, having been brought to Missouri when a boy, and after his marriage located on the farm where Edwin E. was born, and subsequently removed to another place six miles south, where his death occurred. He was a raiser of stock and also a hemp grower. In the early days the family were all democrats and Southern sympathizers, and members of the Baptist Church. William J. Pumphrey married Sarah A. (Malotte) Smith, who was born in Missouri and died in 1899 at the age of sixty-seven. Of the six children four are living: Edwin E .; Olive, widow of L. R. Carlton, of Idaho; Frank, of Idaho; and Margaret, widow of E. Smythe, of Dearborn. Galen B. and Louella are deceased.

Edwin E. Pumphrey grew up on a farm, attended the common schools, and during 1874-75-76 was a student in the William Jewell College at Liberty. For the twelve years following his college career

2009

HISTORY OF NORTHWEST MISSOURI

Mr. Pumphrey was engaged in teaching, and had schools both in Platte and Buchanan counties. Many of his former pupils are now men and women in this section of Missouri with families of their own. In 1888, at the organization of the Bank of Dearborn by Benton Gabbert and W. C. Wells, Mr. Pumphrey became identified with the institution as cashier. He continued to hold that office and to a large degree handled the business until 1906. Failing health then compelled him to resign, and he spent several years in outdoor life and in recuperating. In 1910 Mr. Pumphrey took the position of cashier in the Bank of Wallace and has since handled its affairs.

Mr. Pumphrey has been a leader in public affairs, and is one of the stanch democrats of Platte County. He represented this county in the Forty-third and Forty-fourth general assemblies, and during the second term was chairman of the Committee on Banks and Banking and a member of the House Appropriation Committee and other com- mittees. He became a member of the town board of Dearborn when it was first organized, and served twelve years on the school board. Fraternally he is affiliated with the Masonic order, including the Mystic Shrine at St. Joseph. His wife is a member of the Christian Church.

On December 28, 1887, Mr. Pumphrey married Eva Gabbert, daugh- ter of Benton Gabbert, farmer, stockman and banker of Dearborn, whose prominent career is sketched on other pages. Mr. and Mrs. Pumphrey have had seven children : Max M., of Dearborn; Alice, deceased; Edwin G., Margaret, Benton, Smith and Eva Lucile, all at home.

JAMES WATSON. In the death of James Watson at Dearborn, Mis- souri, October 7, 1906, Platte County was bereaved of a citizen it could ill afford to lose. Mr. Watson was a valuable worker wherever his sphere of duty lay, and for a number of years was the able director and publisher of one of the influential newspapers of Northwest Mis- souri.

Born at Paris, Bourbon County, Kentucky, October 26, 1863, he was not quite forty-three years old when death summoned him. His parents were Dr. J. M. and Elizabeth (Taylor) Watson, both of Bourbon County, whence they moved to Missouri, spending 1867-68 in Halleck, then lived some years in Kansas City, and located at Dearborn in 1881. James Watson died just twenty-five years to the day from the arrival of the family in Dearborn. Doctor Watson was a well educated gentle- man and capable physician, and practiced until his death in November, 1909, at the age of seventy-eight. He was a man of literary tastes, and was a student all his life.

James Watson received most of his education in the public schools of Kansas City, and also spent a year in the University of Missouri. His first regular position was as station agent for the Great Western at Fau- cett, Missouri, to which he was appointed in 1886, but was soon trans- ferred to Dearborn. On November 1, 1896, he bought the Dearborn Democrat, and continued it as editor and publisher until his death, with the exception of four years spent as chief clerk in the insurance depart- ment in the state capitol during the administration of Governor Dock- ery. On returning to Dearborn he bought back the Democrat from the party he had previously sold to. The late Mr. Watson was a vigorous democrat in politics, belonged to the Christian Church, and was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

January 26, 1892, he married Miss Gene Stagner, of an old and prominent Platte County and Kentucky family. She was born at Dear- born, Missouri, February 1, 1865. Her father, Andrew J. Stagner, was born in Madison County, Kentucky, December 11, 1830, and died Jan-

2010

HISTORY OF NORTHWEST MISSOURI

uary 29, 1874. He was a son of Thomas J. and Nancy (Maupin) Stag- ner. Thomas J., who was a son of James Stagner, was born in Kentucky June 13, 1792, while his wife, who was a daughter of Thomas Maupin, a soldier of the Revolution, was born December 2, 1803. Thomas J. Stagner was a pioneer in Kentucky. He followed the business of cattle drover, buying stock and driving it to the southern markets. He died in 1860 possessed of an estate of $100,000, consisting of lands, stocks and slaves. While Madison County, Kentucky, was his birthplace, his parents came out of North Carolina and settled near old Boonesboro.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

A history of northwest Missouri, Volume III, Part 106

Author: Williams, Walter, 1864-1935 editor Publication date: 1915 Publisher: Chicago, The Lewis publishing company Number of Pages: 912

Author: Williams, Walter, 1864-1935 editor
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Chicago, The Lewis publishing company
Number of Pages: 912