USA > Missouri > Linn County > Compendium of history and biography of Linn County, Missouri > Part 30
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"His transcendent ability and profound knowledge of the law, his wonderful sagacity and intuitive knowledge of human nature, pre- eminently fitted him for the most exalted station in private or public life, while his uniform kindness of heart to all, and especially to the younger and struggling members of the bar, and to the needy and oppressed everywhere, made him dear to the hearts of all who knew him.
"That in the death of Judge Brownlee the members of the bar have sustained an irreparable personal loss, and while we bow our heads in sorrowful submission to the mandate that must surely come to us all, yet we will ever cherish in affectionate and grateful remembrance the genial, grand, noble character of our departed friend.
"That we sympathize with his family in their great sorrow.
"That these resolutions be spread upon the records of this court, and that a copy be furnished the family of the deceased, and the press of Linn county for publication."
Judge Brownlee was born in Indiana and admitted to the bar at Princeton in that state, having been graduated from the law depart- ment of the university at Bloomington about 1855. He practiced his profession at Princeton for a short time, then came to Missouri in 1857, making the journey overland from Champaign, Illinois, where he conferred with Abraham Lincoln about the choice of a location. He was accompanied by George W. Thompson to Brunswick, Chariton county, and from there he traveled on foot to Milan in Sullivan county,
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where he located a Mexican war land grant given to his father, John Brownlee, for his services in an Indiana regiment in our short, sharp and decisive contest with our sister republic on the south of us. The father was born in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and served in the War of 1812 from that state. He died in Indiana in 1855.
Judge Brownlee began practicing law in this county at Linneus, where he was associated with George W. Thompson until about 1868. The next year he moved to Brookfield, and here he passed the remainder of his days. He had a broad and comprehensive mind, which was fully capable of dealing with several lines of activity at the same time. And he found an outlet for his surplus energy in the bank- ing business, becoming one of the early bankers of Brookfield as the successor to T. D. Price & Company, the firm name becoming later Price & Brownlee, and still later Price, Brownlee & DeGraw. The judge was the first president of the Linn County Bank, and held that position until 1893, when he founded the Brownlee Banking Company.
Judge Brownlee was a Democrat in politics and one of the wisest counselors and shrewdest leaders of his party. In 1860 he was elected judge of the probate court of Linn county, which office he held until 1864. Six years later, in 1870, he was elected judge of the court of common pleas, and this office he also filled with great credit to himself and benefit to the county for a period of four years. At the end of that time he declined a re-election, and devoted his attention to his profes- sion off the bench and his other extensive business operations.
In summing up his career as a professional man too much stress could scarcely be laid on his extensive, accurate and profound knowl- edge of law, his excellent judgment and his great ability, fairness and eminent qualities in all respects as a judge. He was often called upon to act as a special judge in prominent cases, and was very seldom reversed by a higher court. He made no pretentions to oratory, how- ever, and did not try many cases as an advocate in the courts, his greatest value to litigants being as a counselor. But he was as gen- erous as he was able and frequently made no charge for giving advice.
The judge has two sons and two daughters living in Brookfield, where his widow also resides. The two sons, Walter and Richard, are now carrying on the banking business founded by their father, and so long and wisely managed by him. They also are excellent business men, and have high rank in the business world and the social and public life of their community. They are worthy exemplars of the virtues that adorned their father in all the relations of life, and as highly esteemed in their way as he was in his.
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The virtues of the father were aptly enumerated and described in the press of his home city at the time of his death. In a tribute to him, full of cordiality and warmth of feeling, the Brookfield Argus said: "Those who were familiar with the life and character of William H. Brownlee, who have known him as husband, father, neighbor, counselor and friend, attest best to the gentleness of his being, the kindness of his heart. For years, for three or four decades, he has been to legions in this community, adviser and benefactor. It was a part of his life to be doing little acts of kindness which he was not prone to herald. A thorough optimist, his presence was a sort of bene- diction to those with whom he came in contact. Ever of an even tem- perament, he was never disposed to retaliate for real or imaginary ills. The democracy of heart of Judge Brownlee was as broad as his charity for the unfortunate. In manner he was a cavalier, a veritable 'gentle- man of the old school,' having acquired the charm of gentility in that epoch when men could take time from business to do so. This pioneer loved companionship; the association with friends, but, first and fore- most, he loved his home. There was his haven, his solace, his restful retreat; there was his chiefest interest. He belonged to no fraternal orders save that of homecraft, to no club save that where wife and children dwell. There it was that his influence, his gentleness, his kind indulgence, showed forth in a character that will make his memory cherished by those who knew him best and loved him most.
"While this departed pioneer, this distinguished citizen who has been gathered in the harvest, applied himself to banking for the past thirty years, his ideals were far above those simply of money-getting. He looked upon money only as a means to an end, for the comforts, the culture, the pleasures it would bring."
The Brookfield Gazette, commenting on his exact and comprehen- sive knowledge of the law and the principles which underlie it, paid him this high but just tribute:
"We once heard one of the ablest lawyers who ever practiced at the Linn county bar say that no man who has been engaged in the practice of that profession in Linn county had a more thorough and broader knowledge of the law, from its basis and elementary principles upward, than Judge William H. Brownlee. That he possessed a thorough and complete knowledge of the law was fully demonstrated while he was judge of the Linn county court of common pleas, as no decision made by him was ever reversed by the supreme court."
These comments of the press admirably epitomize the whole case.
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GEORGE L. JOYCE
A prominent and influential attorney and counselor at law, and an enterprising and wide-awake real estate dealer, and taking an active and helpful part in local public affairs, George L. Joyce, of Bucklin, this county, is one of the leading citizens and most energetic business and professional men in that portion of the county in which he lives, and which has the benefit of the principal part of his intelligence and legal knowledge in zealous endeavors for his own advancement and that of the locality of his home in the promotion of the general welfare.
Mr. Joyce is a native of Linn county and received a large portion of his academic training in its schools. He was born on his father's farm four miles east of Linneus on December 6, 1867, and was reared to manhood there. After completing the curriculum of the public schools in the neighborhood of his home he attended the State Normal School at Kirksville for special instruction that would prepare him to teach school, and he subsequently pursued a thorough course in training for business at the Gem City Business College in Quincy, Illinois.
After completing his scholastic training in these several lines he taught school for a number of years and while doing this also studied law. He was admitted to the bar in 1898 and at once began the prac- tice of his profession at Bucklin, where he had been superintendent of schools for two years. He has since added dealing in real estate and loans as a side line to his business, and has prospered in all three departments of his work, standing well at the bar and in the estima- tion of his professional brethren, and being one of the most enter- prising and successful real estate and loan men in his part of the county.
Mr. Joyce is a son of Edward and Lowvicy (Burton) Joyce, the former a native of County Cork, Ireland, and the latter of the state of Kentucky. The father came to the United States as a young man, and on landing in the city of New York soon found employment in railroad construction work in New York state. This was in the forties, and he made his way westward by gradual stages, working from place to place, and finally arriving in Linn county in 1844. Here he took up a tract of government land which he improved into a good farm, on which he died in 1888. The mother is still living. They were married in Illinois and became the parents of fourteen children, thirteen of whom, seven sons and six daughters, grew to maturity. Of these ten are living, and all but one of them are residents of Linn county, where the mother also has her home.
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George L. Joyce was married on November 21, 1907, to Miss Blanche Pancost, a daughter of Lester E. and Serena Pancost, esteemed residents of Chariton county, Missouri, for many years, but now living in Marceline. Mr. and Mrs. Joyce have one child, their son Maureece. His father has been active in local politics and attained considerable influence in public affairs in his township and throughout the county. He is a member of the Democrat party, and in all campaigns renders it effective service in helping to uphold its principles and aid its candi- dates to success in the elections. He is connected in religious ties with the Christian church. He is universally regarded as an excellent citi- zen, with high ideals of duty and a cordial and serviceable interest in the progress and improvement of his township and county, and at all times ready to aid in promoting their welfare and that of their whole people. He is a representative man in his community and is accorded high rank among its residents.
CLARENCE M. KENDRICK
One of the most esteemed and influential citizens of Marceline in Linn county is Clarence M. Kendrick, a leading lawyer there, and a man of great public spirit in reference to the substantial and enduring welfare of his city, county and state in every way. He has shown his interest in the progress and improvement of his locality by practical service in behalf of its residents, and they appreciate his efforts to add to their comfort and enjoyment, as is well known by the high standing he has among them and the honors they have bestowed upon him.
Mr. Kendrick was born in Carroll county, Missouri, on January 29, 1865. His parents, Morton G. and Sarah E. (Wilson) Kendrick, were natives of Kentucky. The father was a stone cutter and worked at his trade many years in this state. His parents brought him to Missouri in 1839, while he was yet in his childhood, and located in Clinton county. He attained his manhood in Carroll county, and moved to Linn county in 1891, locating at Marceline, where he still resides, retired from active pursuits. During the Civil War he was a soldier in the Union army, serving four years in the Seventh Missouri Volun- teer Cavalry. His regiment took part in the battle of West Point, Virginia, in May, 1862, and aided greatly in winning a decisive victory for the Union cause. It was also in many other engagements, in all of which Mr. Kendrick participated. In the peace and comfort of his present life his wife shares fully, as she is still living. Two of their
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children are also living, their son Clarence M. and their daughter, Mrs. H. C. Webster, who has her home at Braymer in Caldwell county, this state.
The great-grandfather of Clarence M. Kendrick was John S. Kendrick, who was born in Virginia, moved from there to Kentucky, and came to Missouri in 1839, locating in Clinton county, where he died well advanced in years. When the gold excitement over Cali- fornia was at its height in 1850, he crossed the plains to that state accompanied by his grandson, the father of the interesting subject of this brief review. They remained in the gold fields one year, then re- turned to Missouri. William Kendrick, the grandfather of Clarence, also came to Missouri in 1839. For many years he operated a stone quarry in Carroll county, where he died.
Clarence M. Kendrick grew to the age of sixteen in Carroll county and secured his academic education in the public schools. He learned the printing trade, and after serving his apprenticeship worked at the craft eight years, setting type in the leading newspapers of Kansas City, St. Joseph and St. Louis. He studied law in Kansas City under the direction of John Burgin, and on the suggestion of Judge Clarke of that city decided to locate at Marceline. He did this in 1891 and was admitted to the bar by Judge Brownlee in 1892. He began prac- ticing the same year in Marceline, and that city has been his home ever since.
From 1893 to 1902 Mr. Kendrick was editor of The Mirror in Marceline, and he has also served fourteen years as city attorney. He was elected to the state legislature in 1900, and there he served one term with credit to himself and benefit to Linn county and the state of Missouri. Fraternally he is a Knight Templar and a Scottish Rite Freemason of the thirty-second degree, and also belongs to the Order of Knights of Pythias. He has a large practice in his profession, is an orator of note on the hustings and at the bar, and is held in high regard for his pronounced and effective public spirit, which has helped to bring about many valuable improvements in the city and township of Marceline. In this line of activity he has been conspicuous in his enterprise in helping to push forward the paving of the city streets, providing the community with an abundant supply of good water and establishing the City park, which is a source of great pride and pleas- ure to everybody living in the township. In fact, there is no manner in which the interests of the people of his locality can be advanced as to which he is not far-seeing and energetic, doing great work himself and stimulating others to action by his influence and the force of his
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impressive example. He is essentially a builder of progress, and every commendation bestowed upon him as such and as a citizen has been justly and fully deserved.
IRVIN OGAN
(Deceased)
The mastery of Man over Nature, in all its phases, is an inspiring theme, which, because of its familiarity, often loses its force. Readily enough we perceive and acknowledge the grandeur of the great army which some chief or despot assembles and draws out to feed his vanity by display or his ambition by conquest; but the larger and nobler armies, whose weapons are the ax, the mattox and the spade, which overspread the hills and line the valleys, until through their rugged skill and persevering efforts a highway of commerce is opened where late the panther leaped, the deer disported-is not theirs the nobler spectacle-more worthy the orator's apostrophe, the poet's song? Consider the irregular but persistent advance of the pioneers of civil- ization in our country! Onward, still onward, they have swept, and still before them have bowed and vanished all obstructions to their progress! In the eye of a true discernment, what host of Xerxes or Cæsar, of Frederick or Napoleon, ever equaled this in majesty, in greatness of conquest, or in true glory? It opened up America to settlement and productiveness, and made our country what it has been, aptly called "The last great charity of God to the human race."
One of the advance guard, if not a division commander, in this mighty army of peaceful conquest was Irvin Ogan, the first per- manent settler in what is now Clay township, Linn county, Missouri. He and his wife, whose maiden name was Rebecca Jones, and who were both born in Mason county, Kentucky, came to Linn county from Boone county, this state, in 1835, and located on a tract of wild land in Parson Creek township. The next year, however, they moved to Clay township and the husband took up from the government a tract of land in Section 13, Township 58, Range 22, which is within the presents limits of Clay township, and is occupied and farmed by their daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. William W. Sidebottom, a sketch of whom is published in this history.
They cleared this land and brought it to a fair state of productive- ness during their lives, the remainder of which was passed on it as their home. The mother died on this farm on January 28, 1882, and the father in 1887. He was a man of considerable prominence and
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influence in the early history of Linn county, serving its people in a number of township and county offices and finally representing its residents in the state legislature in 1840. He declined a second nom- ination. On one occasion when he was a candidate for the office of justice of the peace in Parson Creek township he received every vote that was polled for this office in the township.
Mr. Ogan was one of the renowned hunters of his day in this locality, but while he had a large score of trophies of the chase to the credit of his steady hand and unerring eye, he was also very service- able in ridding his township of wolves which made it almost impossi- ble for any of the settlers to raise lambs or pigs, so numerous and vora- cious were these predatory beasts of prey. He and his brother James, who was also a Nimrod of the greatest repute, killed about one hun- dred of them and by this means gave the herds and flocks of the pioneers in the locality comparative safety. They also brought down deer and wild turkeys without number, and frequently carried home the carcass of a bear to replenish the larders of the settlement, while they added to the adornment and comfort of their cabins with the pelts. There is a tradition in the township, too, to the effect that no fox however old and wary, was too cunning for their skill.
The Ogan brothers aided very materially in founding the civil, educational and social institutions of Clay township, and had potential influence with reference to such things in all parts of the county. They were also of great service in starting the industrial activities of the region and making the required preparations for their further develop- ment and expansion. In every phase and form of the life of this part of the state they took an active part, and their wisdom and breadth of view were important factors in starting progress on right lines and toward the most wholesome improvement and desirable ends. The people of Linn county hold their names in sincere veneration, appreciate their services as of great value and point to the examples of elevated and progressive citizenship which their records furnish as worthy of all emulation.
JUDGE A. B. BOND
For more than fifty-three years this eminent citizen of Linn county has lived within its limits, taken part in its industries, helped to ad- minister its public affairs at different times and in various capacities, adorned its social and civil life, and in every way open to him helped to promote its progress and development. He came to the county as
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a boy of twelve, and has lived here ever since, and from the time when he left school has been industriously and profitably engaged in farm- ing. He has proven himself worthy of the highest esteem in public and private life, and the people of the county hold him in the estima- tion he has shown he deserves, and they do this in all parts of the county.
Judge Bond was born in Harrison county, Virginia, now West Virginia, in 1847, and in 1859 accompanied his parents to Missouri and Linn county in their long, wearying and oftentimes dangerous journey across the country with wagon teams. He is a son of Peter and Elizabeth (Peyton) Bond, also natives of Virginia, as it was when they were born, undismembered as yet by the keen edge of the sword of civil war. The father was a planter in the "Old Dominion," and a farmer after his arrival in Missouri. He located on a tract of un- broken wild land north of Brookfield, which he broke up and trans- formed into a fine farm. He sold this in 1864 and moved to where the town of Purdin now stands. There the mother died in 1889 and he in 1891. They had two sons, both of whom are living.
The father was a Democrat of pronounced convictions and firm faith in the principles of his party. He was prominent in its councils in his native state and rose to a position of leadership in it in this county. He was also one of the most prominent and zealous members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South in this part of the country. His father, Levi Bond, grandfather of the judge, was also a native of Virginia and a planter in that state, and died there at a good old age. He was of Scotch ancestry, and in his life and achievements manifested many of the salient characteristics of the remarkable race from which he sprang.
Judge A. B. Bond grew to manhood in this county and obtained his education in the primitive schools of his boyhood, which were conducted in houses rudely constructed of logs and furnished with slab benches. They lacked scope and equipment, and their methods of teaching were far behind those of the present day. But they were veritable temples, and in them Liberty received her purest worship, and through them, also, though in humble and lowly guise, she secretly breathed her strength into the heart and sinews of the nation.
While attending school and after completing his education accord- ing to the facilities he could command, the judge worked on his father's farm until he attained his majority. He then began farming on his own account, and he followed this occupation steadfastly and with increasing prosperity until a few years ago, when he retired to
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some extent from all active pursuits, although he is still connected with the management of his fine farm of 350 acres. This was wild land, virgin to the plow, when he took possession of it. He cleared it, broke it up and reduced it to systematic productiveness, and he also improved it with good buildings, making it one of the choice country homes of the township in which it lies.
On December 6, 1871, Judge Bond was united in marriage with Miss Hester Schrock, a daughter of Isaac and Charlott Elizabeth (Burns) Schrock, long highly respected residents of Sullivan county, where the marriage was solemnized. Mrs. Bond is still living, but no children have been born in the household. She is a lady of force and breadth of view, and held in high esteem as one of the most service- able and influential matrons of the community in which she lives, although altogether modest and unassuming in her demeanor, and shrinking from prominence of any kind.
The judge has served in various local offices, and in 1908 was elected to the one that gave him his title. In that year he was chosen county judge, but at the end of his term he retired from further public service. He is president of the Citizens Bank of Linneus, and director of the Bank of Purdin, of which he was one of the founders. He is also one of the directors of the Purdin Mercantile Company. He and his wife are valued members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South and active in all its good works. No citizen of Linn county is more highly esteemed, and none deserves to be.
WILLIAM W. SIDEBOTTOM
The patronymic of this enterprising, progressive and successful farmer of Clay township, Linn county, runs like a veritable thread of gold through the early chronicles of this part of Missouri, and wher- ever it appears speaks credit for itself and benefit for the region. It is connected in a leading way with every phase of the life of this sec- tion, religious, civil, social and industrial, and dignifies and adorns them all. The founder and patriarch of the family in this part of the country was Rev. Robinson E. Sidebottom, the history of whose life is given in a sketch of his son Eugene Sidebottom to be found else- where in this work.
William W. Sidebottom was born in Madison county, Kentucky, on January 1, 1849, and brought to Missouri by his parents in 1857, when he was but six years old. From that time to the present (1912) he has been continuously a resident of Linn county, where his brothers,
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