A history of northwest Missouri, Volume III, Part 107

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

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Andrew J. Stagner was a boy when his parents located in Missouri, and in 1851, when about grown, was led in a spirit of adventure to make a visit to California, where he had many experiences, but returned in 1858 to Platte County and bought the land on which the Town of Dear- born now stands. After his death his wife platted and sold much of it in town lots. A. J. Stagner married Cynthia A. Davidson, who was born in Lewis County, Kentucky, May 15, 1832, and died April 4, 1910. She was the mother of five children: Thomas J., of Artesia, New Mex- ico; Mrs. James Watson; Mary E., wife of E. L. Wells, of St. Joseph ; Andrew N., of Dearborn; and Miss Julia A., of Dearborn. She was the daughter of Joseph and Nancy Davidson of Lewis County, Kentucky, who emigrated to Platte County in 1840, by river as far as Liberty, from which point a wagon conveyed him and his possessions to Platte County. Here he pre-empted 320 acres in timber.

The late James Watson had a brother and sister, Dr. Bruce Watson being a physician at Perry, Oklahoma, and Lena, the wife of A. C. Baker, of Des Moines, Iowa.

Mr. and Mrs. Watson were the parents of just one child, John M., who was born December 13, 1893. He was married June 7, 1911, to Mabel June Irene Spratt, who was born in Platte County August 28, 1895, a daughter of W. C. and Lewellyn (Bryan) Spratt, her father a druggist at Dearborn. John M. Watson and wife have one child, Maurine, born December 22, 1912.

Since the death of Mr. Watson, Mrs. Watson, with the help of her son, has continued the publication of the Dearborn Democrat, and has kept it up to the standard set by its former proprietor, as one of the best and cleanest country papers in this quarter of the state. Mrs. Watson is a good business woman, and also supervises her farm near Dearborn.

ISAIAH TWADELL. To enter somewhat into the details of the life of Isaiah Twadell is to describe a career which illustrates the successful farming enterprise of Northwest Missouri and a typical character among the successful men of this region. Years of residence, from before the war, experience of soldiering and hardship and roughing it on the west plains, the breaking up and conquest of wild lands, the growing scope of prosperity, and useful and helpful relations with a community- such are some of the more important incidents in the career of this well known citizen of the country adjoining Mount Moriah in Harrison County, with home on Rural Free Delivery Route No. 2 out of Ridgeway.

The Twadell family has lived in this section of Missouri since 1851. when Amos Twadell, the father of Isaiah, settled west of Goshen and entered 120 acres, developed it as a farm, and died when almost eighty- seven years of age. Amos Twadell was a brick and stone mason by trade, having learned it in Jennings County, Indiana, but most of his years were spent in the quiet and effective duties of farm and agricul- ture.

Amos Twadell was born just below Madison, Indiana, on the Ohio River, October 4, 1818. His father was James Twadell, who at the age

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of one year was brought from Ireland in 1775 by his father Daniel, who settled in Genesee County, New York. James moved from New York to the West and became one of the pioneers in Switzerland County, Indiana, and was a farmer there and in Jennings County, where he and his wife died. James Twadell married Annie Risley, of New Hamp- shire. Their children were: Hiram; Eber; Chauncey; Amos; Julia, who married Gideon Underwood and died in Jennings County ; Frances, who married Rufus Carpenter and died in Dickinson County, Kansas; and Martha, who married David Johnson and died at Red Bluffs, Cali- fornia. James Twadell was a soldier in the War of 1812 in the army of General Dearborn, and it is believed that Daniel, his father, was a Revo- lutionary patriot.

Amos Twadell grew up in Southern Indiana and had an education that was almost altogether practical, with a minimum of reading, writing and arithmetic. In 1832 his parents moved to Jennings County, and their home was on Sand Creek, eleven miles from Vernon, the county seat. Amos Twadell, though without special training, had a fine memory, and the events of his life and times were woven into his ready recollec- tion. It was by team and wagon that he came to Missouri in 1851. arriving at Cainsville May 9, 1851, and entered land in Mercer County the same year. He was a republican, but held no office except school director, and was a director of his home school for twenty-four years. During the war he was in the militia two years, in Major King's regi- ment and Captain Alley's company. He was out one summer with his company, but otherwise went to duty only when called. A Methodist, he assisted in building the Goshen Church, and in later times took con- siderable part in Sunday school activities.

Isaiah Twadell was about four years of age when brought to Mis- souri. He was born in Jennings County, Indiana, February 15, 1847. His education came from the schools of Mercer County. Youth kept him out of the ranks of soldiers in the first part of the war, but during the winter of 1864-65 he was accepted in Company D of the Fifty-first Missouri Infantry, under Capt. George W. Herrick and Colonel Moore. An older brother was serving in Company F of the Thirty-fifth Regi- ment. He was kept in St. Joseph until May, and then ordered with his company to Pilot Knob, and did guard duty at the fort and along the Iron Mountain Railway and other property. He returned to St. Louis for muster out on August 31, 1865, and the only enemy he saw were the rebels and bushwhackers captured by his command and turned into the stockade at Pilot Knob.

Then followed several years of comparative quiet and monotony, passed on the farm in Mercer County. When past his majority Mr. Twadell and his brother joined a party for the West. They started on foot without means, and at Omaha joined an outfit engaged in construc- tion work along the Union Pacific Railroad. The brothers worked three months on this road west of Cheyenne and Laramie, spent the fall chop- ping wood on Elk Mountain, and in the winter returned to Cheyenne, and a few weeks later reached Pine Bluff, Colorado. There they worked on a ranch, cutting and hauling wood to the railroad, and the following summer and fall were spent employed in Government contract work about Julesburg. The Government was engaged in building, during the summer of 1869, Fort Sedgewick, and when that was finished the brothers drove a six-mule and a four-mule team back to Fort Leavenworth, reach- ing home in the spring of 1870.

Having returned to civilization, Mr. Twadell was again content with the plain life of farmer in Mercer County until the spring of 1873, when he once more went out on the plains, to Nevada, and remained in

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the West for another year. For much of the time he was located at White Pines, engaged in chopping and hauling cordwood and other duties about a mining camp. Returning to Missouri, he resumed his station on the farm in 1874, and remained near Goshen until he came to Harrison County in 1900. He bought the old Sam Ross farm, near Mount Moriah, one of the early settled places of the prairie, and also is owner of a farm of 160 acres on Grand River. His prosperity is the result of solid accomplishment, and his career, while outwardly quiet and unassuming, has been one of real achievement. He has never cared for the honors of politics, though usually found aligned with the republican cause, and has never filled an office, nor been delegate to a convention. He is a member of no church, nor social organization, though his wife is a Baptist.

Mr. Twadell was first married in Mercer County, March 11, 1890, to Sarah J. Kilbourn, a daughter of Calvin Lloyd. She died September 27, 1894, leaving a daughter, Miss May, who is a graduate of the Kirks- ville Normal School and a teacher in the Harrison County public schools. On March 26, 1902, Mr. Twadell married Miss Mollie Fletcher, a daugh- ter of Hiram and Mary Ann (Bruce) Fletcher. Her father, who was born in Harrison County, Kentucky, in 1816, early went to Indiana, and about 1840 came to Missouri, where he was married in 1845 in Mercer County. He was a cooper by trade, but farming was his occupation for many years, and he died in Mercer County March 19, 1886, on land he had entered. He was a democrat and a member of the Christian Church. His first wife died February 23, 1853, leaving two children: Sarah A., who married Bert Sullivan, of Cass County, Iowa; and Mrs. Twadell. In 1854 Mr. Fletcher married Mary A. Clark, who was the mother of the following: Nancy, wife of Tillman Stanley, of Mercer County ; Phoebe, deceased, wife of Ben Baker; Miss Jennie, of Mercer County ; Andrew, deceased, who first married a Miss Hammock and later Miss Sarah Moore; Kate, who married her sister Phoebe's husband, Ben Baker; Alta, who married George Owens, of Mercer County ; Estella, wife of John Black, of Mercer County ; and Dona, who married Thomas Cain, of Mercer County. Mr. and Mrs. Twadell have had no children.

JUDGE SHELBY FRY THURMAN. A former county judge of Clinton County, Judge Thurman is a member of the prominent firm of Thurman Brothers, farmers and stock raisers in Hardin Township. Judge Thur- man represents a family that has been identified usefully and prominently with Clinton County for more than half a century.

His father, Jefferson S. Thurman, came to Clinton County in 1856. He was born in Lincoln County, Kentucky, March 19, 1834, and repre- sented old Kentucky and Colonial stock. His father was Willis G. Thurman, who was born in the same county of Kentucky, and was the son of a Georgian, who had seen active service as a soldier in the Revo- lutionary war and was of English stock. Willis G. Thurman married Louisa Peyton, who was born in Kentucky. Both were members of the Christian Church. They became parents of seven children, four sons and three daughters. Jefferson S. Thurman was reared in Kentucky on the old plantation, was taught the value of industry and honesty, and came to Missouri in 1856 and took up farming. He was married in Clinton County to Miss Anna Fry, whose name suggests one of the oldest pioneer families in Northwest Missouri. She was a daughter of Solo- mon Fry, who was born in Kentucky about 1794, came to Clay County, Missouri, in early manhood, and among his varied activities in this pioneer section he built the first jail at Liberty and also the first jail at Plattsburg. He made the first cash entry of land in Clinton County,

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and at one time owned about three thousand acres in that. section. Jef- ferson S. Thurman and wife were the parents of seven sons, as follows: Eugene. Lee, Hill, Paul, Emmett, James, and Judge Shelby F. Mrs. Anna (Fry) Thurman died in 1871, on the 14th of July, at the age of thirty-four. Mr. Thurman married for his second wife Sarah Arnold, and by that union there is one son, James, a partner in the firm of Thur- man Brothers. Jefferson S. Thurman and wife are still among the respected and honored citizens of Clinton County, active workers in the Christian Church, and he has served as a church officer and has always been ready to identify himself with those movements which give strength and wholesomeness to community life.

Judge Shelby F. Thurman was born on the old homestead of his father June 12, 1869. He grew up as a farm boy, was educated in the public schools and by study at home, and being of a scholarly disposi- tion, qualified himself for teaching higher mathematics. He taught in public schools and colleges for seven years in Ohio and Illinois, but eventually left that vocation in favor of farming and stock raising. He and his brother, James Thurman, now have a splendid industry as farmers and stockmen, and own and operate 500 acres of the rich land of Hardin Township. They keep about a hundred head of cattle and three hundred hogs. It is an admirably equipped farm for stock pur- poses, has a large extent of blue grass meadows, plenty of shade and water, and for a number of years the fields have been made to produce a high average of crops yield.

Judge Thurman was married October 4, 1894, to Miss Alice B. Cook, a woman of education and refinement who has done much to give char- acter to their home life. Her father was the late George Cook, who married Elizabeth Fry, who is still living and occupied the old Cook homestead in Clinton County. Mrs. Thurman finished her education in the Fulton Female College. They are the parents of three children : E. Burke, aged nineteen; Helen F., aged thirteen ; and Hill C., Jr., aged four.

It was through an appointment from Governor Dockery that Mr. Thurman was appointed to fill out the unexpired term of Judge George Hall in the office of county judge of Clinton county, and he performed his duties with a capacity and fairness which commended him as a useful and able citizen. Judge Thurman is an active democrat, has long been identified with the Christian Church, and fraternally is affiliated with the Masonic lodge, the Knights Templar Commandery No. 162 at Plattsburg. He and his family reside in a fine home of ten rooms, sur- rounded with lawn and shade trees, large barns, and all the improve- ments of an up-to-date twentieth century Missouri home.

JAMES THURMAN. Associated with his brother, Judge Thurman. under the firm name of Thurman Brothers, James Thurman is one of the proprietors of the splendid farm and stock ranch operated under the partnership in Hardin Township. As a farmer of judgment and ability he has shown himself one of the most capable in the county and has a successful record both in business and as a home maker and citizen.

James Thurman was born on the old homestead December 21, 1872, a son of Jefferson S. Thurman, whose sketch with other particulars of family history are found in preceding paragraphs. James Thurman was reared on the farm, attended the local schools, and has concen- trated practically all his time and energies on farming since reaching manhood.

In 1891 Mr. Thurman married Georgia Cook, a daughter of the late George W. Cook. Mr. and Mrs. Thurman are the parents of four chil- Vol. III-46

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dren : Hazel, aged twelve; Keyron, aged eleven; Howard S., and Geraldine.

George W. Cook, father of Mrs. James Thurman, was for many years one of the leading citizens and farmers and stockmen of Clinton County. He was born in 1806 in Virginia, and died in Clinton County after a residence of many years at the age of sixty-four. He left a large and valuable farm, and it represented the many years of his industrious life. He was a child when he came to Missouri with his father, David Cook, who was one of the pioneers. George W. Cook married Elizabeth Fry, who was a daughter of Thomas Fry, a prominent early settler of Clay County, Missouri. Thomas Fry was a brother of Solomon Fry, and that family is sketched on other pages of this publication. Thomas Fry married Elizabeth McCulloch, who was born in North Carolina. Thomas Fry died at the age of eighty-three, and his wife at the advanced age of ninety-two. George W. Cook and wife had five children, one of whom died in infancy, while the others are: Nettie Pearson, of Hardin Town- ship; Alice B., wife of Judge Shelby F. Thurman ;. Georgia, wife of James Thurman; and W. M., a prominent farmer and stockman of Clin- ton County, who occupies the old homestead, and gives a home to his widowed mother.

JULIUS RUMPEL. Among the business men of Weston few are better known or more highly esteemed than is Julius Rumpel, owner of the Weston Telephone System, half owner of the R. & B. Grain Elevator, and for the past twenty-nine years proprietor of a retail liquor business that is one of Weston's oldest established enterprises. Mr. Rumpel has done much to aid and encourage the growth and development of the com- munity in both a commercial and civic way, and has done his full share in building up its varied interest.

Julius Rumpel was born at Leavenworth, Kansas, September 7, 1862, and is a son of William and Josephine (Emhart) Rumpel, natives of Wurttemburg, Germany. The father had served an apprenticeship to the blacksmith's trade in his native land, but never followed that vocation after coming to this country. In 1857 he came to the United States, landing at New York City after forty-five days on the ocean in a sailing vessel, and at once went to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he was mar- ried. In the following year he went to Leavenworth, Kansas, and there followed the trade of cooper, also experiencing some exciting adventures during the rough days of border warfare. He came to Weston in 1864, where he took charge of the cooper shop for Charles Perry, but later became the proprietor of an establishment of his own, which he conducted for a number of years. His declining years were passed in the hard- ware store of his son, at Weston. In politics Mr. Rumpel was a demo- crat, and both he and Mrs. Rumpel were devout members of the Catholic Church, in the faith of which they passed away.

Julius Rumpel was two years of age when brought by his parents to Weston, and here his education was secured in the public schools. He began business life as a lad in his father's cooper shop, and for a short time owned and conducted a shop of his own at Tracy, Missouri, but subsequently returned to Weston and established himself as pro- prietor of a tobacco store. In 1886 he disposed of this business to become owner of his present retail liquor business, which had been established in 1858 by the original owner. Mr. Rumpel owns his building, which is of brick, with a frontage of forty-five feet on the south side of West Thomas Street, the western part containing the main salesroom, two stories high, while the eastern part is three stories in height, the first floor being used for storage and office purposes. Across the alley west

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on Thomas Street, Mr. Rumpel owns another two-story brick building, the upper part of which is used by the German Benevolent Society as a hall for meeting purposes, this making a total frontage of seventy-five feet on Thomas Street. Mr. Rumpel believes in keeping strictly up-to- date, and in addition to his local retail trade, he makes a special feature of pure liquors for family and medicinal use, and has a large mail order trade that extends throughout the Middle West.

In 1900 Mr. Rumpel established the Weston Telephone System and built it from the ground up. From a comparatively small beginning it has developed until now it has 380 phones in operation in Weston, equipped with all metallic lines, besides long distance connection every- where, and many rural lines. The telephone central office is located in the third story of Mr. Rumpel's building on the south side of Thomas Street, two doors west of Main Street, where it is fully equipped with the latest improved apparatus. The business is ably looked after by a chief operator, four assistant operators, a repair man, a superintendent of construction and a general assistant, and in the hands of this force the system is kept in good shape, and first class, courteous service is given the patrons. The exchange is kept open all night, and to Platte City and other neighboring places free service is given at all times. On the whole, Weston has every reason to be proud of its telephone system, for it is one that is a credit to the community. A recent review, in commenting upon this system, said in part: "The telephone business in the United States has had a most astounding growth, and from being merely an interesting toy in the early '70s, it has developed until now it is absolutely essential in almost all the affairs of life. The telephone systems of the nation and its cities and towns can be likened to the nervous system of a living being, in that they are the means of instan- taneous communication from one part to another. A marvelous inven- tion it was, but it is now such an everyday affair with everybody that little thought is given to it, and it is hard to imagine what the conditions would be without it, yet middle-aged and older people can remember the days before it came, when the methods of local communication were solely by messenger or in person, and when more distant places could be reached only by mail or telegraph. A stranger in Weston would nat- urally expect a town of this size and importance to have first-class tele- phone service, and he would not be disappointed in this expectation if he should investigate the matter, for it can truthfully be said that it is in the top rank when it comes to telephones."

Mr. Rumpel is a half owner of the R. & B. Grain Elevator, at Weston, having, in partnership with B. J. Bless, erected a new and modern eleva- tor of 24,000 bushels capacity, and opened it for business July 12, 1914. This business has taken a leading place among the enterprises of Weston, and includes the buying and shipping of wheat, corn, oats and hay, and the handling of hard and soft coal in a retail way. Mr. Rumpel is also the owner of several business properties, has always stood for public improvements, and has been ready at all times to contribute of his means, influence, time or ability in securing the success of movements which promise to benefit Weston and its people. For ten years Mr. Rum- pel served in the capacity of chief of the Weston Fire Department, and its present efficiency is largely due to his efforts and executive ability. Mr. Rumpel has invented and patented recently the Rumpel cold lunch bag, a sanitary, waterproof and almost airtight lunch bag; a bag that will keep food and liquid cold for ten hours, which make all outings more enjoyable.

On December 10, 1907, Mr. Rumpel was married to Miss Blanche

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Sebus, who was born at Stewartville, Missouri, and to this union there has come one son : Julius E.

CHARLES H. HILLIX. There can be no better recommendation advanced of a community's solidity and real worth than the substan- tiality of its monetary institutions. The banking house always has been, and will continue to be, the directing center of business interests ; through its coffers must flow the moneys which keep alive the transac- tions of the marts of commerce and trade. It is the medium through which diversified activities are brought into contact, and, in large extent, with it these interests must stand or fall. To ably and conservatively play its destined part in the representation of the finances of county, state, corporation and individual has been the realized ambition of the men who have had under their direction the affairs of the Bank of Weston, and in this realization none has been more gratified than the able and popular cashier of the institution, Charles H. Hillix, by profes. sion an attorney, who gave up his work in that calling to devote his entire time to finance.

Charles H. Hillix was born in Leavenworth County, Kansas, July 15, 1863, and is a son of William Walker and Ellen R. (Whittington) Hillix. His father was born in Bourbon County, Kentucky, October 9, 1830, and in 1854 first came to Missouri, where he sought the oppor- tunity of supporting his widowed mother and his three sisters. He soon established himself well, and in 1856 was married to Ellen R. Whit- tington, who was born in Eastern Tennessee, November 10, 1840, and they began life together in Buchanan County, but soon moved to Leaven- worth County, Kansas, where they remained until the fall of 1863, then returning to Missouri and settling 21/2 miles northeast of Weston, on a tract of timber land. This place the father cleared and improved, and for forty years was engaged in general farming and the raising of cattle and hogs, from time to time adding to his land until he was the owner of 260 acres. In 1905 he retired from active participation in agricultural labors and located at Weston, where he passed away June 6, 1907, Mrs. Hillix having died November 13, 1893. Mr. Hillix was a democrat, and in religious belief a Christian, serving as elder in that church for some years. He and his wife were the parents of eight children, of whom two died in infancy, the others being: William, of St. Joseph, Missouri; Allen A., a resident of Platte County; Charles H., of this review; Frank, of Weston, Missouri; Minnie, who is the wife of W. C. Polk, of Weston; and Albert Sidney Johnston, of Weston.

Charles H. Hillix was reared amid agricultural surroundings, and after completing the course of study in the district schools entered William Jewell College at Liberty, remained one year and then entered La Grange College, from which he was graduated in 1885, then entering the law department of Washington University, St. Louis, where he received his degree in 1888. After one year of practice at St. Joseph, he came to Weston and opened an office, and in 1897 was made cashier of the Bank of Weston, and still holds that position. In 1899 he discon- tinued his law practice to give his entire and undivided attention to the affairs of the bank. Aside from his interests of a financial nature, Mr. Hillix has served Weston long and well. When he resigned, in 1914, he had been city attorney and clerk for twenty-one years, and as a mem- ber of the school board gave the city his best services for eighteen years. For thirty-one years a member of the Christian Church, he has for twenty years of that time held an official position, and at present is an elder. He is well known in Masonry, having passed through the chapter and council degrees. Mr. Hillix has a number of business connections, and

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A history of northwest Missouri, Volume III, Part 107

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