A history of northwest Missouri, Volume III, Part 115

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

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attendance of 700 pupils. Mr. Taylor has charge of the Springfield and Joplin schools. The young men, Allen and Ralph LeRoy Moore, are numbered among the leading educators of the state, and like their father, have been identified with this profession since early manhood.

JAMES B. MCVEIGH. The prominent position of James B. Mc Veigh in the business community of Ray County is indicated by his presidency of the First National Bank of Polo and his successful activities as a farmer and stock raiser on a fine estate of 380 acres in Knoxville Township.

Mr. Mcveigh's father was Alexander McVeigh, who died in Ray County more than forty years ago. His mother was the late Mrs. Harriet (Brody) MeVeigh, one of Ray County's most venerable women and whose life came to a close on March 29, 1913, when she was past eighty- four years of age. Alexander McVeigh was born in Belfast, Ireland, and became an early resident of Ray County in 1852. He was of Scotch- Irish ancestry, and of Episcopalian family. Many of his family had served as soldiers and officers in the English army, and both his maternal and paternal grandfathers were colonels in the English army and re- ceived medals for conspicuous bravery on the field of battle. Alexander's brother, James, for whom the Polo banker was named, was an officer in the English army and was in the famous charge of the Six Hundred at Balaklava, and went through the Crimean war and was honored by promotion and by a medal betokening gallantry in active service. Alex- ander McVeigh was born in 1836, was reared and educated in Belfast, and after coming to America was engaged in the mercantile business for a time in New York. He then came to Ray County, and lived here as a farmer until his death in 1873.

Alexander McVeigh was married April 3, 1860, to Mrs. Harriet (Brody) Creason. She was born in Ohio, January 21, 1829, the second daughter of Jesse and Eleanor Brody. Her death occurred at the family home, 51/2 miles southeast of Polo, March 29, 1913, at the age of eighty-four years, two months and eight days. The Brodys were among the pioneer families of Ray County, having moved to the vicinity of Morton in 1838 and afterwards settling in the neighborhood of Knoxville. Mrs. McVeigh's mother died at the advanced age of ninety- two years on May 29, 1898. Mrs. McVeigh left surviving her four sisters and one brother. She was first married on February 12, 1852, to Oliver Perry Creason, who by a previous marriage had three children. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Creason was born one daughter, Miss Emma. Oliver P. Creason died August 5, 1853. Mrs. McVeigh had the companionship of her second husband, Alexander McVeigh, thirteen years, and she was then left with one daughter, Mary Eleanor, and two sons, Perry Alexander and James B. After the death of her second husband Mrs. McVeigh courageously assumed the task of widowhood again and set about to support, train and educate her children. For forty years she led an active and purposeful life. She took the active management of the farm, and did much to direct and assist her two boys when they were still too young to be independently trusted with the farm work. In her community she will be long remembered as a good mother, a kind and loving wife, and a very thoughtful and helpful neighbor. In early life she had been converted at a camp meeting near Knoxville, conducted by a Presbyterian minister, but she joined the Knoxville Methodist Church, and afterwards, in 1874, transferred her membership to the Polo church, and for the last thirty-nine years of her life had been a member of that society. Her Christian example and influence meant much in her own home, and she trained her children

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and grandchildren in her piety and faith, and carried her Christian virtues into practice in relation to all her friends and neighbors. Her daughter, Mary Eleanor, now deceased, was a young woman of educa- tion and refinement and for a number of years a popular teacher in Ray County. The daughter, Emma Creason, by her first marriage, now lives with James B. Mcveigh on the old homestead.

James B. McVeigh was reared in Ray County, had an education in the local schools, and for several years was a teacher and made an excellent record in that department of work. Since reaching his majority he and his half-sister, Miss Creason, have looked after the old home- stead and maintained its character for hospitality and the best Christian virtues as exemplified by their mother. His material success has come from general farming and stock raising, and he feeds cattle, hogs and horses, and for several years has concentrated his business interests in the First National Bank of Polo and has helped to make that a sound and successful institution.

C. J. WINGER. An honored resident of Caldwell County, C. J. Winger has now retired from his activities as a farmer and stock raiser, and has his home in section 21 of Grant Township near Polo. When in the prime of his business activities Mr. Winger did an important service to this community as a breeder and raiser of fine shorthorn cattle. He kept a herd of about thirty-four head, containing some of the finest shorthorns to be found anywhere in Northwest Missouri. He also dealt extensively in cattle and made a very successful record in the line of business for which he showed special proficiency.

C. J. Winger is a native of Virginia and was born on a farm near Roanoke in 1846. His father was David Winger, a native of Virginia and of German extraction, and the maiden name of his mother was Laura Peterman, also a native of Virginia. In 1852 the family left Virginia and found a home in the new country of Missouri, locating in Ray County, where the father built a log cabin as his first habitation, and in time developed a good farm and provided well for his children. David Winger died in 1866, and his wife passed away at the age of seventy-eight. They were the parents of six children : C. J., Elizabeth, Griffin, Jacob W., Letitia, and one that died in early childhood. The father was a whig in politics and afterwards a republican, and both parents were members of the Baptist faith.

C. J. Winger grew up in the Ray County homestead, and as a boy his school associations were with one of the early schoolhouses conducted in that vicinity. He learned the value of industry, and has always been a hard worker as well as a capable business executive. Mr. Winger was married September 12, 1871, in Clinton County, to Matilda Cooper. Mrs. Winger was well educated and was a successful teacher before her marriage. She comes of a family of educators, and both her parents and other members of her family were engaged in that vocation. Her father was John A. Cooper, a native of North Carolina, who was married in Tennessee to Miss Susan E. Law. Both parents taught some of the early schools of Clinton County, Missouri. Mrs. Winger was one of a family of ten children, the names of the others being: Lafayette, John A., Jane, W., Alice Hill, James, David, Ellen and Frances. The son, John A., was a soldier in the Union army. The father of these children died at the age of seventy-six and spent twenty years as a teacher. His wife died at the age of sixty-seven. Mr. and Mrs. Winger are the parents of two sons. The older, Morris Homer, is now a well known attorney in Kansas City. He married Nora Ridelin, and their three children are Morris, George and Robert. The second son is Mayor Herbert, now

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manager of the Polo Telephone Exchange, and an active young business man of that town. He married Ada Reed, and their two children are Euleva and Charles. Mr. and Mrs. Winger also lost three children by death.

Mr. Winger has paid much attention to stock of all kinds, and has the fondness of a Yankee for trading. He has owned some fine horses, and during his active career had business relations with practically all the leading stock men in this section of Missouri. Mr. Winger is a democrat in politics, is a deacon in the Baptist Church, and has accu- mulated in the course of his lifetime those things which constitute real success, ample material prosperity, the esteem of a community, and a character of honorable rectitude.

E. L. HUNT. One of the prosperous merchants of Orrick in Ray County is E. L. Hunt, who never had a failure yet, and between farm- ing, merchandising and other activities he has come a long distance on the road to success and is not yet ready to close his journey. One special reputation enjoyed by Mr. Hunt is due to his extensive operations as a potato grower, and he is almost entitled to the position of Potato King in the Orrick district.

E. L. Hunt was born in Warren County, Missouri, in February, 1863, the second of five children, the others being: Miss Lou, of Missouri City ; C. A. Hunt, of Clay County ; Minnie, wife of J. A. Courtney, of Mis- souri City ; and Laura, wife of G. E. Bell, of Liberty. Their parents were W. H. and Susan (Hayes) Hunt, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Missouri. The father died in Clay County in 1907 aged seventy, and the mother in 1898 aged sixty-eight. When six years old W. H. Hunt was brought by his parents from Kentucky to Warren County, Missouri, where he grew up and married. In 1869 he moved to Clay County and bought 160 acres of slightly improved land located east of Excelsior Springs Junction. A man who employed a great deal of energy in his endeavors, he succeeded as a farmer, and at one time owned 300 acres of Clay County soil. He was of southern family, a sympathizer with the struggles of the South during the war, and a democrat.

Mr. E. L. Hunt was just about old enough to remember the removal of the family to Clay County, where he grew to manhood, had the practical experiences of a farmer boy, and acquired his education in the common schools with one year in the State Normal at Warrensburg. He was for a time clerk for a clothing firm and then went back to the farm. After five years of active farm management Mr. Hunt traded, in 1898, for a hardware store in Missouri City, becoming a principal in the firm of Owens-Hunt Hardware Company. Four years later they bought a stock of hardware at Orrick, and Mr. Hunt took charge of the branch establishment, followed a year later by his purchasing it and dis- solving the partnership. Since then he has been a leading merchant of this town, and handles a large stock of general hardware, machinery, implements and buggies.

Mr. Hunt owns the old homestead, comprising 159 acres, at Excelsior Springs Junction, and has specialized in the growing of potatoes. In five seasons he sold from ninety-five acres potatoes to the value of $39,000, and in 1914 had 120 acres in that crop. In political affairs Mr. Hunt is a democrat, and a citizen who does his proper part toward supporting movements of public benefit. For twelve years he has been a member of the school board. Fraternally he belongs to the Masonic and Odd Fellows fraternities, and with his wife is a member of the Christian Church.

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March 14, 1893, Mr. Hunt married Miss Lois Ralph, of a well known and prominent old family in this section of Missouri. She was born in Missouri City, November 23, 1869. Their five children are: William Ralph, born December 15, 1896; Edward Paul, born July 18, 1898, both these sons being students in the Kemper Military Academy at Boonville ; Arthur B., born February 5, 1902; Eleanor Lee, born February 23, 1907; and Evelyn Lois, born August 11, 1909.

Mrs. Hunt is a daughter of the late Dr. Arthur B. Ralph, who was born near Orrick, February 29, 1836, and died there February 17, 1911. He was a son of Dr. A. B. and Mary E. (Brasher) Ralph, both natives of North Carolina, the former born December 25, 1800, and died June 9, 1888, and the latter born in 1809 and died June 8, 1870. Doctor Ralph, the younger, was one of three sons and four daughters, and of this family the only two now living are Lucy, widow of Dr. William Campbell of Kansas City, and Belle, wife of J. B. Gant of Kansas City. The late Doctor Ralph was liberally educated, and after graduating from the St. Louis Medical College in 1865 located at Camden, Missouri, and in 1870 transferred his practice to Missouri City, where he devoted himself actively to his profession until five years before his death. His last years were spent with his daughter at Orrick. He was a Mason, for many years connected with the Christian Church, and a strong and loyal demo- crat. Several times he was honored with the office of mayor in Missouri City.

Doctor Ralph was married October 7, 1867, to Ellen Hardwick, whose family, like her husband's, was among the first in Clay County. She was born near what is now Excelsior Springs, April 9, 1844, a daughter of Lewis and Elizabeth (Smith) Hardwick. Her father was born in Virginia, June 20, 1807, and died November 7, 1863. He was married in St. Charles County, Missouri, where his wife was born October 15, 1805, and she died June 29, 1888. Mrs. Ralph was one of ten children, and the two still living are Mrs. Margaret Moffett and Mrs. Caroline Sublette, both widows, living at Kansas City. The Hardwicks moved to Clay County in 1829, were among the pioneers, and Lewis Hardwick was a substantial farmer, an occupation he followed until 1860, after which his home was in Missouri City. Dr. and Mrs. Ralph had two daughters: Mrs. E. L. Hunt and Edna S., the wife of Claude M. Donovan of Orrick.

B. J. BLESS. No enterprising community worthy the name has gained any position of recognized importance without the stimulative aid and encouraging assistance of the press. It is within the province and power of the fourth estate to so mold public opinion and direct public effort that the community is led to accomplish great achievements, and thus it is that the newspaper is one of a city's chief institutions. Such power, however, placed in unscrupulous or incapable hands becomes at once dangerous-a menace, and for this reason the people of Weston and Platte County are to be congratulated that so strong and influential a paper as the Weston Chronicle is under the management and direction of such an able journalist, public-spirited citizen and honorable man as B. J. Bless has shown himself to be during the twenty-nine years that he has had charge of this journal's destinies.

Mr. Bless is a native son of Platte County, Missouri, and was born February 21, 1863, his parents being Bartholomew and Gertrude (Gie- bels) Bless, natives of Germany, the former born in 1825, and the latter March 5, 1824, at Dusseldorf. The parents left Germany in 1857, and after a stormy trip of seven weeks in a sailing vessel made port at New Orleans, from whence they made their way up the Mississippi and Mis-

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souri rivers to the little Town of Weston. There they settled on a piece of bottom land, which was soon swallowed up by the river, and the father moved his little home farther back. He soon saw that the river would again destroy his property and he tore his home down, intending to move elsewhere. His plans were put to naught, however, by a scratch which he received from a dog, and which developed into blood poisoning, from which Mr. Bless died in September, 1862, five months before the birth of his son, B. J. He had one other child, Mary, who is now the wife of Peter Seeger, of Weston. Mrs. Bless subsequently married again, her husband being Matt Derks, but they had no children.

B. J. Bless spent his boyhood and youth in the Town of Weston, where his stepfather operated a truck garden. He was given a good educational training, attending Kemper Military Academy, at Boonville, Missouri, and the Catholic schools of Jefferson City, and in 1876 received his introduction to the vocation which he has made his life work, when he was employed on a German paper at Jefferson City, the Volksfreund. Succeeding this he passed three years as a clerk in a Weston grocery store, but, while this training undoubtedly was of much value as a busi- ness experience, he could not resist the call of the craft and once more became associated with newspaper work. He was connected with various dailies and weeklies from New Orleans to the Dakotas, and held positions on such well-known papers as the Kansas City Times and the Omaha Bee. Eventually he returned to Weston, and here became identified with the Weston Chronicle, which had been established in July, 1872, by H. Howard, as the Missouri Commercial. In August, 1883, this was superseded by the Chronicle, Mr. J. B. Mundy buying Mr. Howard's interest, and Mr. Mundy continued to publish the paper until April 17. 1886, when he sold out to Mr. Bless, who has continued uninterruptedly as its editor and publisher to the present time.

The Weston Chronicle is an eight-column folio in size, strongly demo- cratic in politics, and the plant occupies its own building on the south- . west corner of Main and Market streets, a large two-story brick structure. The mechanical equipment of the office includes a Taylor cylinder book press, two Peerless jobbers, a Sanborn paper cutter, a fine lot of type for all classes of high-grade news and job work, and everything else neces- sary in a first-class printing establishment. In addition to its editor the paper has a full corps of assistants, who enthusiastically labor in an effort to produce the best newspaper in Platte County. The plant has its own waterworks system, is heated by its own steam plant and lighted by gas, and power is furnished by a 21/2-horsepower gas engine. It is without a doubt the best-equipped enterprise at Weston. It has always been the editor's effort and ambition to give his readers all the news, and while the policy of the paper is democratic, he endeavors to present to the reading public an impartial and unbiased opinion upon the important political topics of the day. That his efforts have been appreciated is made evident by a circulation which, by reason of its size and class, makes the Chronicle one of the best advertising mediums in Platte County.

First and foremost. Mr. Bless has been for Weston. He has encour- aged its progressive civic movements, opening the columns of his paper to discussions of the best ways and means of securing better legislation, and giving freely of his own time, ability and influence in supporting beneficial enterprises. In business circles he has played no inconspicuous part, and at the present time is half-owner, with Julius Rumpel, of the R. & B. Grain Elevator, which was opened for business in July, 1914, and has already become one of Weston's leading enterprises. This is a modern business in every way, the elevator having a capacity of 24,000

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bushels, while the business includes the buying and shipping of wheat, corn, oats and hay, and the retailing of hard and soft coal. Mr. Bless is also the owner of a valuable farm in Southern Missouri, one-half sec- tion of land in Michigan's famous fruit belt and various real estate properties in the Town of Weston, and is the heaviest taxpayer in Weston.

On October 4, 1886, Mr. Bless was united in marriage with Miss Lizzie How, who was born in Platte County, Missouri, and to this union there was born one son, B. J. Bless, Jr., who is associated with his father in business as junior editor of the Chronicle, a capacity in which he has also charge of the job printing department. Mr. Bless is a capable and energetic young business man and very popular among the people of Weston. He married Miss Bertha Iseman, and they have one child, C. A., a bright and interesting lad now in his third year.

B. W. SPRY. One of the well known attorneys of Caldwell County, B. W. Spry, has practiced at Braymer since 1908. He is a widely experienced lawyer, and for a number of years was identified with the law and with educational work before coming to Braymer. It was through the avenue of school teaching that he finally acquired the means to prepare himself for his profession and to enter upon his active prac- tice, and since his admission to the bar he has enjoyed many of the successes of the able lawyer.

B. W. Spry was born September 4, 1871. His father, Samuel Spry, a farmer and stockman, was born near Zanesville, in Muskingum County, Ohio. Two of Samuel's brothers saw service as soldiers during the Civil war. The paternal grandfather was William Spry. Samuel Spry was educated in Ohio, and married Miss C. Lamb, who was born and reared in Ohio.

B. W. Spry was reared on a farm, acquired a country school educa- tion, also enjoyed the advantages of the Methodist College at Mount Pleasant, Iowa, and of the State University at Columbia, Missouri. He studied law under Judge William E. Ellison, and since locating at Bray- mer has built up a good practice and a reputation as a successful lawyer. Mr. Spry was married in 1901 and has a fine family of children. He is a progressive in politics, and in every community where he has lived has identified himself with the more progressive element, and has been a factor in the community upbuilding and progress. He is a thorough student and devotes all his time and attention to his profession.

JAMES F. GORE. Now one of the ablest and most successful members of the Rockport bar, Mr. Gore may be said to have begun his practical career in Atchison County as a hard-working student and teacher. He was not sent to college as the son of a prosperous farmer, but his educa- tion, like everything else he has attained, was the result of his deter- mined purpose and industrious labor. Mr. Gore has gained distinction both at the bar and in public affairs, and it is only natural that such a man should interest himself in the political questions, and he is one of the recognized leaders in the democratic party of Atchison County.

James F. Gore was born in Fremont County, Iowa, November 15, 1873, and is the oldest in a family of six children born to William T. and Mary E. Gore. The other children in the family were: Ada, who married N. E. Showalter; Eva M., who married George W. Showalter; Retta, who married C. M. Kemerling; Bessie, wife of R. J. Hampson; and Eunice, who married Lloyd Rankin. The paternal grandfather, William Gore, was a southern man, settled among the pioneers in Iowa, but during the war took sides with the Southland and consequently

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left that state and finally located on a farm in Atchison County, Mis- souri.

James F. Gore remained at home with his father on the farm until 1891, and in the meantime had received an education in the country schools. In 1891 he began a course in Tarkio College, as an academic student, and paid part of his tuition by teaching in country schools for one year. He remained in Tarkio College until 1897, and during the last two years of his course there was an instructor. After graduating in Tarkio he accepted the principalship of the Westboro public schools, and held that position one year. In 1898 Mr. Gore was elected circuit clerk of Atchison County for a term of four years, and was re-elected to that office in 1902. He was first elected on the fusion ticket, as the repre- sentative of both the people's party and the democrats, and the second time was elected as a straight democrat. During his second term as circuit clerk, in January, 1905, at the regular term of Circuit Court, Mr. Gore was admitted to the bar, the Hon. W. C. Ellison being on the bench at the time. Mr. Gore began the active practice of law at Rock- port in 1907, after the expiration of his second term as circuit clerk, and has since enjoyed a large share of the legal business in this county.

Mr. Gore is the type of man who believes that his talents and abilities should be exerted to the full capacity, not only for the interests of him- self, but also in whatever way he can best serve the community in which he lives. Outside of his profession and public affairs he has been par- ticularly occupied with religious work. He is active in the Baptist Church at Rockport, has served as superintendent of the Sunday school since 1900, as secretary and treasurer of the Sunday School Association of Atchison County since 1905, and since 1903 has been secretary of the Rockport Lecture and Chautauqua Association. In politics he is a sterling democrat, but during the '90s, while the people's party was at the climax of its strength, he worked with that organization. In 1900 he was treasurer of the fusion committee representing both the people's party and democratic party. Regardless of party affiliations he has the complete confidence and respect of all the people of Atchison County.

Mr. Gore was married May 1, 1900, to Miss Flora B. Hughes, a daughter of George L. and Mary A. Hughes. She was born in Atchison County, October 8, 1874, was a student in the Rockport High School and also in Tarkio College, and was a teacher for several years in the Atchison County schools and for several years was connected with the Westboro public schools, where her husband was principal. Mr. and Mrs. Gore have four children, all of whom were born at Rockport: Genevieve, the oldest, who was born February 27, 1904; James F., Jr .; Clark; and George William.

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A history of northwest Missouri, Volume III, Part 115

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