USA > Missouri > Linn County > Compendium of history and biography of Linn County, Missouri > Part 46
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Mr. Cramer is a stockholder in the Brownlee Bank, and has been at all times active in the service of the city and county of his home. He gave intensified vitality and force to one of the great public insti- tutions of the city as a member of the school board, on which he served six years, and in connection with every other public interest he has been zealous, energetic and effective in his advocacy and support of the best that is known in designs and the methods of working them out.
On February 22, 1883, he was united in marriage with Miss Alice McKinzie, a daughter of John and Catherine McKinzie. Her father died in 1863, while serving in the Union army, and the mother makes her home with our subject. Four children, all living, have been born of the union: Edward E., who resides in the state of Montana; Loring T., also a citizen of that great and promising state; and Rosetta and Walter E., who are still living at home with their parents, and adding life and light to the parental family circle.
The father is a Freemason of the Knights Templar degree, and he and all the members of his family are members of the Presbyterian church. In the congregation to which he belongs he has been one of the trustees for many years, and one of its most faithful workers from the beginning of his membership in it, and his services have been highly valued by the other members.
Mr. Cramer is now one of the oldest merchants in Brookfield. He began his mercantile career in the city when it and the surrounding country were just beginning to show renewed vitality after the devasta- tion and stagnation of business incident to the Civil War, and he has been a potent factor in all their subsequent progress and development. Whatever Brookfield and Linn county are today they owe in consider- able measure to his enterprise, which has harmoniously coalesced with that of others for the common good and general advancement of the region. The people of the city and county know this, and they appre- ciate him and his services accordingly.
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WILLIAM M. BUNCH
Popular as a man and citizen, standing high in business circles and in the first rank of his profession as a pharmacist, William M. Bunch, one of the leading druggists of Brookfield, has commended himself to the esteem and good will of the people of the city and county of his home by his character, usefulness and extensive attainments, and also by his mastery of his art and conscientious care and skill in the practice of it. The accuracy and excellence of his prescription work is well known throughout the city and a large extent of the surrounding country, and has given him a very enviable reputation among the people.
Mr. Bunch is a native of Macon county, Missouri, and was born near Atlanta on October 17, 1867. He is a son of David and Binda (Cook) Bunch, both natives of Missouri and for a number of years residents of this county. The father is a farmer living north of Brook- field, where he cultivates a fine farm with skill and the intelligent application of modern methods of agriculture. The family located in Linn county in 1874, and have had their home in it from that time to the present, and been valued elements of its industrial and social life, and appreciated aids in all its moral and intellectual agencies.
There are eight children belonging to the household, one son and seven daughters, and six of the eight live in this county. Their paternal grandfather, James Bunch, was born and reared in Kentucky. He moved to Missouri and located in Macon county in about 1840, and some time afterward changed his residence to Linn county, where he died at a good old age. His forefathers were pioneers in Kentucky, and he became a resident of Missouri while much of the state was still undeveloped and but sparsely settled.
William M. Bunch reached his maturity in this county and obtained his education in its schools. He was engaged in farming until 1891, then came to Brookfield to clerk in the drug store of C. M. Easton and later performed the same service in that of Charles Green. While acting as clerk in these stores he studied the science of pharmacy and acquired a thorough knowledge of it with a view to going into the business on his own account, and this he did as soon as he was prepared for the undertaking.
He opened a store of his own in 1906, and since that time he has been closely attentive to its requirements and built up a considerable trade for it. He is careful in the selection and preservation of his supplies, buying only the best and purest drugs, uses great diligence
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in keeping them from deterioration, and applies the widest knowledge and utmost skill in compounding them in prescription work. By these means he holds and enlarges his patronage in the community and main- tains his rank in the business and his elevated place in the confidence and regard of the people.
In matters outside of his business also he deserves and enjoys the approval and esteem of the public. He is a man of public spirit and enterprise in connection with all projects designed to push forward the progress and work out the development and improvement of his city and county, and his services in this respect have given him high standing as a man and citizen. There are many forceful factors in harness to make Brookfield and Linn county all that Nature designed they should be and the energy of man can make them, and he is one of the foremost.
Mr. Bunch was married in Brookfield on March 30, 1893, to Miss Cora E. Theobald, a daughter of Lewis and Sarah (Ditto) Theobald, prominent residents of Brookfield for many years. Two children have been born of the union and brightened the home circle, of which they are still members, Gladys I. and Sadie. They are ornaments to the social life of the city and popular wherever they are known, following modestly and gracefully in the footsteps of their parents in this respect.
The father has never taken an active part in partisan politics, but he has always been attentive to the claims of good citizenship and met all their requirements faithfully and intelligently. He has, however, shown a cordial interest in the fraternal life of the community as a member of the Woodmen of the World and the Modern Woodmen of America, and in religious affairs as a devoted and zealous member of the Baptist church, to which his wife and daughters also belong, and in which they are working members.
CHARLES GREEN
(Deceased)
The late Charles Green, one of the pioneer druggists of Brookfield. whose death on August 20, 1910, cast a deep shadow of grief and gloom over the whole community, was a fine specimen of the mastery given a man for his business by long study and thorough training. He began the study of pharmacy when he was a boy and continued it to the end
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of his life. It had ever opening vistas for him and he always found something in the science to learn for his own improvement and the advantage of his patrons, and he gave them the benefit of all his acquisitions.
Mr. Green was born in London, England, on March 20, 1847. His father died while the son was in his childhood, and the mother married a second husband. The son was apprenticed to a London apothecary in his boyhood, and worked for his employer and tutor seven years as an apprentice. By the end of that period he was thoroughly trained in the business and he was then licensed as a pharmacist, with full privilege to practice under the English law. He did not, however, remain long in his native country after receiving his license. The United States seemed to beckon him with a welcoming hand and a voice full of promise of enlarged opportunity.
Accordingly in 1867 he came to this country and located for a time at Henderson, Kentucky, intending to make his home there. But at the end of one year he moved to St. Louis, where he remained a year and a half. In 1870 he came to Brookfield, and here he passed the rest of his life. For a short time after his arrival in Brookfield he worked for W. T. Snow. But working for another man was not in accordance with his spirit or desires, and he therefore soon opened a drug store of his own, and this he conducted continuously until his death.
The people soon learned that he was more than ordinarily capable and careful in his work, and his trade grew to large proportions. His reputation spread throughout this county and those which adjoin it on all sides, and he became an authority on all intricate questions connected with his calling. So accurate was he in his knowledge and so careful in his investigations that his judgment was universally accepted as the last word in any case of uncertainty or controversy.
On August 21, 1882, Mr. Green was married to Miss Laura Smith, a daughter of Hiram and Mary (Curry) Smith, natives of Franklin county, New York. Four children were born of the union, two of whom died in infancy. The other two are living and are a daughter named Beatrice and a son named Charles O. The latter is now conducting the business founded by his father and keeping the reputation of the store up to the high standard it has so long maintained. His mother died in 1893, and on December 25, 1895, the father married a second wife, his choice on this occasion being Miss Sarah Smith, a sister of his first wife. They had one child, their son Arthur. The second Mrs. Green died in 1901.
In his political faith and allegiance Mr. Green was a Republican,
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but he was never an active partisan and never sought or desired a pub- lic office, either by election or appointment. His business, which at one time included a wholesale drug trade and extensive dealings in ice, coal and real estate, met all his desires in the way of occupation, and he gave his whole attention to it, except what was required for the duties of citi- zenship, which he never neglected. He found satisfaction for his religious aspirations in the Episcopal church, of which he was a regular attendant from his boyhood. He was a most estimable man and univer- sally esteemed as such.
CHARLES W. CLEMENTS
This prominent and successful business man of Brookfield, head of the milling firm of Clements Milling Co. and influential citizen of Linn county, is a son of the late Richard W. Clements, a sketch of whose life will be found in this volume. He was born in the state of Delaware, city of Wilmington, on August 29, 1868, and in his social life and business career in this county has exhibited all the admirable traits of character and graces of manner which distinguish the people of his native state, wherever they are found and whatever they are engaged in.
Mr. Clements remained in his native state until he reached the age of nine years and began his scholastic training there. He came to Brookfield with his parents in 1877, and finished his education here. After leaving school he farmed for a time, then engaged in railroad work for a number of years. Eleven years ago, in association with his brother Carroll L. Clements, he started the milling business which now occupies him and in which he has been continuously engaged ever since he began it. In the management of his enterprise he has shown fine business capacity, highly commendable energy and a full knowledge of trade conditions and requirements. These qualifications have enabled him to make his plant profitable and win for it a high rank in the esti- mation of the business world and the general public, and have also given him high standing in business circles.
Mr. Clements has given his business close and exhaustive attention, but he has not allowed it to absorb the whole of his time and energy. He has been assiduous in the performance of the duties of good citizen- ship, and particularly energetic and serviceable in his aid of every com- mendable project for the progress and improvement of the county and city in which he lives, and in which he feels as strong and genuine an interest as he could if he had been born within their confines.
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He was married on February 16, 1891, to Miss Lena Perry, a daugh- ter of John and Susan (Wadsworth) Perry, of the state of Oregon. Nine children have been born of the union, two of whom, Charles and Max, have died. Those who are living are Milton W., Fay S., Richard W., Keith, Mary O., Byron H. W. and Adelbert E., all of whom are still living at home with their parents. The father is a stockholder in the Western Hinge Manufacturing Company, and interested in other busi- ness enterprises of value to the community. In politics he is a Demo- crat, and in fraternal relations a member of the Order of Odd Fellows, the Order of Elks and the Woodmen of the World, and is serviceable to them all in his membership.
Carroll L. Clements, a younger brother and the business partner of Charles W., was born in the state of Maryland on February 13, 1871, and lived in that state until he was six years old, when he was brought to this county by his parents. He grew to manhood in Brookfield and obtained his education in its schools. When the time came for starting the milling business in which he and his brother are engaged, he was ready for his part of the undertaking, and he has been connected with it as a member of the firm throughout its history. In the management of the business he has been a valuable aid to his brother, and its con- tinued prosperity and steady expansion are due to their joint efforts, which have been conducted in perfect harmony, and greatly to their . mutual advantage, as well as to that of the city of Brookfield and the county of Linn.
Like his brother Charles, Mr. Clements is full of public spirit and gives it expression in service to the people of the county in ardently supporting whatever is undertaken for their substantial welfare and greater comfort and convenience. The genius of progress and improve- ment has no more intelligent, energetic or judicious assistant in the community and none whose efforts are more generally appreciated. He is discriminating in his work in this respect, and his judgment always has weight.
Mr. Clements was married on February 16, 1891, to Miss Mary A. Miles, a daughter of Levi and Mary B. (Hamilton) Miles, of Brookfield. The four children who have been born in this Clements household are all living and still under the parental roof-tree. They are Raymond L., Easter D., Vernon R. and Muriel A. The father is a member of the Order of Woodmen of the World, and takes a cordial interest in the camp in the fraternity to which he belongs, as he does in everything with which he is connected. Both he and his brother are accredited to the first rank in their community as men, as citizens and as forceful
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business factors, and they are fully deserving of the regard and good will so freely and universally bestowed upon them throughout the county of their home.
DR. CHARLES E. JENKINS
Born and reared to the age of eight years in Illinois, then beginning his education and attaining his manhood in Iowa, obtaining special training for the profession of teaching at the Lincoln Normal Univer- sity in the capital of Nebraska, and practicing that profession in the two states last named, Dr. Charles E. Jenkins, of Brookfield, had an extensive and varied acquaintance with men in different localities before he became a resident of Missouri. After his arrival in this state he soon showed that he was well qualified for the new profession he had entered, and his reputation in it has grown steadily as his practice has expanded ever since.
Dr. Jenkins was born in Marshall county, Illinois, on March 6, 1870, and is one of the eight children, seven sons and one daughter, of Jacob W. and Susie (McLaughlin) Jenkins, the former a native of Pennsyl- vania and the latter of Illinois. The paternal grandfather and pro- genitor of the family in this country, was Moses Jenkins, who was born and reared in Ireland and on his arrival in this country located near Philadelphia. Later he moved to Illinois, where his life ended after long years of uprightness in living and usefulness in the service of the people among whom he labored. He was a farmer, as was his son Jacob, the doctor's father. Of the eight children born in the family of the latter five are living, the doctor being the only one who resides in this state.
When Doctor Jenkins was eight years old the family moved to Iowa. His father is still living, having his residence in Arkansas City, Arkan- sas. In his new home the doctor grew to manhood and began his edu- cation in the public schools. After completing their course of instruction he passed two years at the Lincoln (Nebraska) Normal University, from which he was graduated in 1894. He then taught school in Iowa four years and afterward was assistant professor of mathematics and physi- cal culture in the Lincoln Normal University, from which he received his first degree.
In 1896 he began the study of medicine in the College of Physicians and Surgeons in Chicago, which he attended two years. By the end of that period the Spanish-American War was in progress, and the doctor promptly turned away from all academic and professional pursuits in
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his ardent desire to aid in vindicating the honor of our country and the claims of humanity on which the war was based. He enlisted in Com- pany B, Fifty-first Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and was made color ser- geant of his regiment before he was long in the service. The regiment was sent to Manila, and there the doctor was in the midst of hostilities for many months. He took part in fifteen engagements, and escaped unhurt, but had one close call, a bullet passing through his hat. He was discharged from the army in 1899.
After the close of his military service he returned to his home and resumed his medical studies, for this purpose matriculating at Rush Medical College in Chicago. He was graduated from that institution with the degree of M. D. in 1900. Including two years of study in theory and practice at the Cook County (Illinois) hospital. He began his prac- tice in Iowa and has pursued it in several other states, being now a registered physician and surgeon in Iowa, Illinois, Colorado and Mis- souri. From 1903 to 1908 he was connected with the Burlington Rail- road Relief Service, being sent to Brookfield, this county, in the year first named as medical examiner for the organization. He resigned this position in 1908, and since then has been engaged in an active and grow- ing general practice.
Dr. Jenkins is zealous and energetic in keeping up with the prog- ress of his profession. He pursued a special course of instruction and study in the Post Graduate School in New York city in 1911, and he has long been connected actively with the Linn County, the Missouri State and the Grand River Medical societies. He takes a prominent part in the proceedings of these organizations, securing what benefit he can from them himself, and contributing to the benefit of the other members and the interest and value of their meetings by thoughtful theses on professional topics and profitable participation in the discussions which always form the most interesting and helpful exercises during the sessions.
In June, 1903, Dr. Jenkins was united in marriage with Miss Hattie M. Long, of Iowa. He is a member of the Presbyterian church and one of the trustees of the congregation to which he belongs. In the public affairs of the county and state he takes an earn- est interest and a serviceable part, doing whatever he can to aid in promoting the welfare of the people in all their moral, mental, social and civic relations. In politics he trains with the Republican party, but he is not an active partisan and has no desire for a political office of any kind. He is wedded to his profession, and that gives him enough to do to keep him busy and sufficient in the way of distinction to satisfy
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his ambition. The people of Linn county regard him as one of their most upright, progressive and useful citizens, and all classes of them esteem him according to this estimate.
DR. FRED PEERY
The science and art of dentistry-for the proper mastery and practice of what is known by the name of dentistry includes both science and art-must be recognized as comprehending one of the most progressive departments of human industry, especially in its practical work and the appliances and methods appertaining to it. At best its unwelcome but necessary operations have terror in the contemplation and real suffering of the most acute kind in the experience of them, and its practitioners are entitled to the highest commendation for the progress they have made, by exhaustive study and practical skill, in diminishing the terror and alleviating the suffering incident to them.
Dr. Fred Peery, of Brookfield, has won an enviable reputation for his enterprise and zeal in keeping up with the most advanced thought in the profession in mitigating pain, and the application of its latest discoveries in his work. He is also held in high regard as a practical and artistic workman in giving to his handicraft the finest finish and greatest adaptability known to the profession, which has been and is another line of its progress, its aim seeming to be to give its beneficiaries the most beautiful as well as most useful products, accord- ing to their requirements.
Dr. Perry's life began in Locust creek township, Linn county, Missouri, on February 8, 1874. He is a son of Thomas J. and Martha B. (Burnett) Peery, who are also natives of this county. The father was born in 1848, and has always followed farming, in which he is still actively engaged. He has taken an earnest interest and a service- able part in local public affairs, notwithstanding the quiet and retiring nature of his pursuit, having served as a justice of the peace during the last twenty-five years.
Joseph A. Peery, the doctor's grandfather, was born and reared in Parkersburg, in what is now West Virginia, and came to Missouri in 1845, and to Linn county in 1846. He built a flour mill on Locust creek, three miles from Linneus, which was the first mill in that part of the county, and drew patronage from all parts of the surrounding country for many miles in all directions. He operated this mill for many years, but gave up all active pursuits in the declining period of
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his life. The mill stood as a landmark until 1908, when it was dis- mantled, although it had become an object of veneration among the people. Its builder and first owner died in Linneus in 1866.
During the Civil War he served in the Union army, enlisting at Linneus, and two of his sons went with him to the field of carnage, James W. and Henry C. Here is the record of one generation in use- fulness to the country in peace and war. But the family is more deeply rooted in American soil and has been of service to the American people through many generations. Its first representatives in this country came over from England early in our colonial history, locating at Jamestown, Virginia. Those living at the time of the Revolution took part in that memorable struggle for the independence of the country, and in all subsequent times its members have been faithful to every call to public duty. The family from which the doctor is descended moved to Parkersburg many years ago and was established in the neighborhood of that city for a long time.
Dr. Fred Peery has passed the whole of his life to the present time (1912) in this county, except when he was completing his academic education at Chillicothe, in the adjoining county of Living- ston, and while preparing for his professional work in the dental department of Washington University, in St. Louis, from which he was graduated in 1904. Prior to going to the University he taught school for a number of years, and in 1896 was elected county surveyor for a term of four years.
After leaving this office he was variously occupied for a time, then made up his mind to become a dentist. Immediately after his gradu- ation he located in Brookfield, where he has ever since been actively and profitably engaged in the practice of his profession. He has for years been an active member of the Northeast Missouri Dental Society, and a valued contributor to its helpful proceedings, from which he has himself derived substantial benefits through the interchange of ideas with his professional brethren while giving them the advantages of his own knowledge.
In his political relations the doctor has always been a firm and consistent Democrat, and for some years has been one of the local leaders of his party, serving it as secretary of its county central com- mittee and in many other ways through the wisdom of his advice in its councils and the energy and effectiveness of his work in the field. Fraternally he is connected with the Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America. On March 7, 1897, he was united in
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