USA > Missouri > Macon County > General history of Macon County, Missouri > Part 36
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is enterprising and progressive, and the rank he holds as a farmer he duplicates as a citizen, because he is as enterprising and progressive with reference to the development and advancement of the township and county as he is in connection with his private affairs, and applies to their welfare the same spirit of inquiry and intelligence which governs him in everything else.
Mr. Powell was born in Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, on July 7, 1863, and is a son of Robert and Laura (Griffith) Powell, who were born in North Wales and grew to maturity and were educated in that country. The father was a miner there and followed the same line of endeavor after his arrival in this country, working for about twenty years in the mines of Pennsylvania. He came to the United States in 1842, and lived for the period named in the county in which his son, Robert, was born. There also he met and married his wife, who came to this country in 1850. The last few years of their residence in the East were passed in the state of New York. In 1868 they moved to Missouri and located at New Cambria, where they engaged in farming and raising live-stock. They had five children, all of whom are living: Samuel R., who lives in Montana; Humphrey, a resident of Macon county, Missouri; Elizabeth, the wife of John Gunner, and Robert and G. M. The father was a Republican in politics and a progressive and broad-minded man with reference to public affairs and the improve- ment and advancement of the county. The mother died in August, 1883, at the age of fifty-eight years, and the father in 1897 at the age of eighty-four.
Robert Powell was five years old when his parents brought him with the rest of the family to Macon county. He grew to manhood on his father's farm and took his place and did his part in the work of cultivating and improving it as soon as he was able. He secured his education at the district school in the neighborhood, and, as soon as he completed it, began farming on his own account. He has followed this industry steadily ever since and carried on a flourishing business in raising live-stock in connection with it. For a few years after lie started his progress was slow and his profits were small. But he had tenacity of purpose and persistency in effort, and he soon got a good start. After that his advance was more rapid, and it has continued with increasing speed ever since. He now owns 200 acres of fine land and has his farm well improved with good buildings. It is also fully equipped with all the appliances necessary for its vigorons, cultivation. and all that is not needed for grazing purposes is farmed with a skill and energy of management that brings good returns for the labor
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bestowed upon it. ITis stock industry receives careful and judicious attention, and this, too, rewards his efforts with gratifying results.
In politics Mr. Powell is a pronounced Republican and always takes an active part in the campaigns of his party, working with zeal and good judgment and making his efforts tell greatly to its advantage. So forcible and serviceable is he as a party worker that the organization named him as its candidate for public administrator at an important time, but, although lie made a good race, it was impossible for him to overcome the large majority in the county against his party. He has, however, served as a member of the school board for more than ten years and as road commissioner for three. In fraternal relations he is a Modern Woodman and in religions connection a member of the Congregational church.
Mr. Powell was married in December, 1891, to Miss Mary J. Roberts, a native of Macon county, Missouri, whose parents came to this country from Wales, where they were born and reared. Six children have been born of the union, Laura Mabel, Jennie E., Robert E., Clar- ence G., Leslie M., and Alene, all of whom are living at home. The parents are well esteemed, wherever they are known, as good citizens and valuable assistants in all worthy undertakings for the good of the township and county, and the children are regarded as fine exemplars of the sterling qualities for which their parents are so well known and so highly respected. The family is one of the most popular in Lingo township, and the family home is one of the favorite resorts of its people and those of a large extent of the surrounding country.
CITIZENS' BANK OF MACON.
Among the leading financial institutions of Macon county is that whose title initiates this article, and its operations are fortified by ample capital and experienced and conservative executive management. The Citizens' Bank was organized in October, 1899, and was incorpo- rated with a capital stock of $20,000. The original executive corps was as here designated : Paul J. Burton, president; Lon Hayner, cashier ; and these officers also members of the directorate, which comprises, in addition, John W. Hollyman, David B. Moore and Andrew J. Glenn. Mr. Burton retained the presidency for a period of four years and was then succeeded by Judge Richard S. Matthews, who has since been the able and honored head of the institution. At the same time Robert W. Barrow was chosen vice-president, and Josephus L. Martin, assist- ant cashier. Mr. Hayner, of whom individnal mention is made on other pages of this work, has retained the office of cashier from the time of the
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organization of the bank to the present. In 1904 the capital stock was increased to $40,000. The personnel of the present board of direc- tors is as follows : Richard S. Matthews, Lon Hayner, Charles G. Bus- ter, Ansel Milan and Robert W. Barrow.
The banking offices were first opened in the Doneghy building, where the business was conducted until February, 1909, when the bank was removed to its present commodious and eligible quarters, on the corner of Vine & Rowlins streets, where the facilities are of the best and where a general banking business is conducted. In solidity, popularity and effectiveness of management the Citizens' Bank takes rank with the best in this section of the state.
D. D. DOWELL.
Pursuing the even tenor of his way as a prosperous and progressive farmer, pushing his own advancement to the limit of his opportunities and powers, and, at the same time, giving to the affairs of the town- ship and county in which he lives all he ean of wise and serviceable impulse toward a higher development and state of improvement. D. D. Dowell, of Russell township, in this county, is meeting the requirements of his station and his daily duty in a manly, straightforward way, which is of decided advantage to him, financially and in popular esteeem, and is of great benefit to the region around him and the people who live in it.
Mr. Dowell is a native of Tennessee, where he was born in 1854, but he has been a resident of Macon county, Missouri, ever since he was two years old. His parents were Peter and Lucinda (Lovett) Dowell, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Tennessee. They came to Missouri in 1856, bringing their young children and all their worldly possessions with them, and erected a new rooftree in Macon county, near New Cambria, where they passed the remainder of their lives actively and successfully engaged in farming. The country was still somewhat wild and unsettled when they arrived, and they bore their part faithfully in helping to reduce it to cultivation and make it rich with the fruits of civilized life. In addition to its semi-frontier condition, this region was then in the throes of a border warfare con- ducted along lines of spoilation and guerrilla violence, the issue at stake being the sectional control of it and what are now the adjoining states. The hostility of the original inhabitants of the region, consisting of wild beasts and still more savage men, the uncertainties of an unknown climate and inadequate protection from its extremes and sud- den changes, and the predatory warfare carried on around the new-
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comers by the forerunners of the great Civil war, rendered their efforts to bring their land to a high state of productiveness and get ahead in the struggle for advancement very much less fruitful than they would otherwise have been and vastly increased the trials, hardships and difficulties of their situation. But they were of determined spirit and never yielded to obstacles in their work. They kept on with per- severing industry and rigid frugality, and in time they reaped a large reward for their persisteney and resolute endurance. The mother died in 1895 and the father on August 12, 1909. They were the parents of thirteen children, eight of whom are living: Franklin, William, George, D. D., Naney, Richard, James and Scott. All are well-to-do citizens of their respective communities and repeating in their day and generation the fidelity to duty their parents exhibited in theirs, and all are well esteemed.
D. D. Dowell obtained a limited education in the district schools, which he attended irregularly during the winter months of a few years. After he left school he continued to assist his parents on the home farm for a few years. He then started a farming enterprise of his own, and this he is still condueting, but on a much larger seale than when he began. His farm comprises 130 acres of good land and is well improved with comfortable buildings. It is supplied with all the appli- ances necessary for its progressive and vigorous cultivation, and all that is not required for pasturage for his live-stock is given up to a judicious rotation of crops and yields abundantly. The live-stoek industry which he carries on in connection with his farming is extensive and profitable, and is managed with the same sedulous diligence and judicious care that he devotes to his farming operations, and, like them, it yields good returns for the labor and care devoted to it. Mr. Dowell also owns stock in a promising copper mine in Old Mexico, and has other possessions and interests of value. He has been very successful in all his ventures, and he has deserved his success. For he has conducted all his affairs with judgment and enterprise, and applied to them a con- siderable natural ability developed and trained by experience, observa- tion and reflection.
In politics Mr. Dowell is a Republican and active in the service of his party. He has served on the school board over five years, and in many other ways has shown his deep and helpful interest in the welfare of the locality in which he lives. On October 14, 1877, he was united in marriage with Miss Mary F. Modrel, a native of this county. Eight of the ten children born to them are living: Lily, Albert L., Arthur, Goldie, Myrtle, Blanche, Leona and Lenora. The family is a
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leading one in the township and enjoys in a marked degree the esteem of all who know its members.
ISAAC SAMUELS.
Among the progressive, enterprising and successful farmers and stockmen of Russell township, Macon county, Isaac Samuels occupies a high rank which he has won by his own manly course in pursuing with steady industry. close and careful attention to his business and continuous ability and skill in the management of it, the one occupation to which he has devoted his energies. He has also met all the require- ment of high-minded and useful citizenship, and given a full share of his time and energy to furthering the interests of the community and promoting the welfare of its people by aiding in the accomplishment of every worthy undertaking in which those interests and that welfare have been involved.
Mr. Samuels is a native of Ohio, where he was born in 1862. He is a son of Samuel Samuels, a native of Wales, who came to this country when he was nineteen years old. They came to Macon county and located in Russell township in 1865, and here they passed the remainder of their lives actively engaged in farming. The mother, whose maiden name was Jane Jones, was also a native of Wales and came to Ohio with her parents when she was but thirteen years old. They were married in Ohio. She and her husband were the parents of eight chil- dren, but only three of them are now living: William, who resides in Columbus, Ohio; Mary, whose home is at Huntsville in this state, and Isaac, the immediate subject of this brief review. The father died in 1874 and the mother in 1884.
Isaae Samuels grew to manhood in this county and seeured his education in its public schools. Soon after leaving school he entered npon his life work by becoming a farmer, a pursuit to which he has ever since faithfully adhered, and in which he has been very success- ful. In his work he has taken no chances and left nothing to fate. He has laboriously and faithfully done his part to secure the best results, applying to his efforts all the information he could gather from read- ing, observation and reflection, and this method has brought him great success and established him among the best and most progressive farmers in the county. He began life with practically nothing but his ability and his own determined spirit, and he now owns 265 acres of good land, which is well improved with good buildings, and all that is not required for grazing purposes is under advanced cultivation and yield- ing excellent returns for the labor and skill bestowed upon it. The
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farm is one of the attractive and valuable country homes in the town- ship, all of which Mr. Samuels has made it by his assiduous and intelli- gent attention to its development and improvement.
In connection with his farming operations he also carries on an extensive and flourishing industry in raising and feeding stock for the markets. This industry he manages with the same care and intelligence that he devotes to his farming, and his ontput, because of the care bestowed upon it, stands high in the marts of trade, and his enterprise in this connection has been helpful in bringing Macon county into general notice throughout the country as a producer of superior breeds and grades of live-stock of all kinds. In this respect his activity has been very serviceable to the county and resulted in a vast increase of its trade in the stock markets.
In politics Mr. Samuels is allied with the Republican party, and while he is loyal to his organization in national affairs, and always supports it actively, in local matters he looks first to the welfare of the community and casts his vote in accordance with his views on that phase of the case. He has not, however, sought public office of any kind, but for the general good he did consent to act as a member of the school board for a number of years, and in this position his services were highly appreciated.
In 1891 Mr. Samuels was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Thaxton, a native of Macon county. They have one child, their daugh- ter, Beatrice. The parents are recognized as leading citizens and stand well in social circles. They also take an important part in stimulating and helping to higher development and larger usefulness all the moral and mental agencies at work in the community, feeling at all times an earnest interest in the welfare of the people in all the relations of life, and sparing no effort possible to them in aiding in pro- viding for it. All who know them hold them in cordial esteem and by the whole community they are regarded as most worthy, estimable and useful citizens.
THOMAS O. EVANS.
Wales has given to the United States a large number of thrifty and productive citizens who are law-abiding, industrious and very help- ful in the development of the country and building up its interests in every line of useful activity. Among those of them who live in Macon county none is entitled to a higher regard than Thomas O. Evans, one of the progressive and prosperous farmers and stockmen of Lingo
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township, whose home is near New Cambria, where he has lived and labored for more than forty years.
Mr. Evans was born in Wales in 1839 and obtained his education in the schools of that country. He was also married there in August, 1861, to Miss Maria Young, a native of the same country. He is a son of William and Elizabeth Evans and one of the two survivors of their eleven children, he and his brother, Griffin, being all who are left of this large household. The parents were born and reared in Wales, and passed their lives there earnestly engaged in the hard work of making a living for their large family. They followed the pursuits of their forefathers for many generations, and at length were laid to rest, when their labors were ended, amid the scenes that were hallowed by their faithful and cheerful toil. The mother died in 1853, when her son, Thomas, was but fourteen years old, and the father in 1869. They never left their native land.
Thomas O. Evans brought his bride of a year to this country in 1862 and they found a new home in the Lehigh valley in Pennsylvania, where he worked in the extensive iron industries of that locality, remaining six years and laboring zealously and living frugally to get a start for a higher destiny in this land of abundant opportunity. In 1868 he moved his family to Missouri and took up his residence in Macon county. Here he turned his energies to the prevailing industry of the country and became a farmer and stock-raiser. He has adhered to these pursuits ever since and has made a very gratifying success of them. He now owns 500 acres of land which he has brought to rich productiveness and improved with good buildings. He also carries on extensively in raising and feeding live-stock for the markets and has a high rank in the county as a successful and enterprising stock man. His career in this county furnishes a fine illustration of what industry and frugality can accomplish in a contest with fortune when directed by ability. For all his progress has been the result of his own efforts and capacity, and it has been steady, increasing and accumulative. He is one of the substantial men of the township in which he lives, and is esteemed throughout the county as an excellent citizen. He has shown a deep and serviceable interest in the welfare of the region in which he lives and been sedulous in his activity in helping to promote the welfare of its people and augmenting its industrial and commercial greatness.
He and his wife have had nine children. Seven of them are living: Elizabeth, the wife of Lewis Jones; of Iowa; Thomas J., who lives in Montana; Mary A., who is living at home; Martha, the wife of Will-
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iam James, of Brookfield, Missouri, and Helen, William J. and David L. The father has never taken any great interest in partisan polities in this country and has never sought or desired a political office of any kind, local or general, appointive or elective. He has, however, per- formed with fidelity and conscientiousness the duties of citizenship and been a credit to the county and state of his residence. He and his wife are members of the Baptist church and the other members of the family are also of the same faith. All are highly respected and deserve well the regard in which they are held.
THEODORE GARY.
V
In the career of Mr. Gary, whose name has been most prominently identified with the development of the telephone industry in Missouri and Kansas, is shown that definite ambition and persistence that are the mind's inspiration in the surmounting of obstacles-the vitalizing ideal that transforms imagination into deeds. He has made an admir- able record of accomplishment as one of the veritable "captains of industry," and his fine administrative powers have been enlisted in the promotion of various enterprises of wide scope and importance. He has won success through his own efforts and stands today as one of the influential citizens and leading business men of the city of Macon, where he is held in unqualified popular confidence and esteem.
Mr. Gary is a native of Wayne county, Ohio, where he was born on the 13th of May, 1854, being a son of George and Katherine (Pet- tit) Gary, both natives of France. The father was born in the prov- ince of Lorraine, now a part of the German empire, in September, 1822, and was a child at the time of his parents' immigration to Amer- ica. The family settled in Ohio, in which state he was reared to man- hood, and there he was identified with agricultural pursuits and also engaged in the house-moving business. There was solemnized his mar- riage to Katherine Pettit, in the year 1852, and they became the parents of ten children, of whom seven are living, the subject of this review being the eldest of the number; George E., a traveling salesman by vocation, is a resident of Macon; Mary is the wife of Theodore F. Kerr, a trav- eling salesman, and they reside in Kansas City, Missouri; Matilda is the wife of Obediah MeCabe, who is identified with the street-railway service in Sedalia, this state; John F. is superintendent of construction of the Home Telephone Company, of Joplin, Missouri; Laura is the wife of Theodore Krug, who is engaged in the jewelry business at Wichita, Kansas; and Anna is the wife of John Taylor, cashier for the United States Express Company in Wichita.
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The parents continued their residence in Ohio until 1867, when they removed to Missouri and located near Jefferson City, where the father engaged in farming and house-moving. Later he removed to the city of Sedalia, and in 1886 he took up his abode in Wichita, Kansas, in which city he and his second wife still maintain their home and where he is now living, virtually retired from active business. He has ever accorded a staunch allegiance to the Democratic party, but has never sought or held public office. He holds membership in the Catholic church.
Theodore Gary attended the public schools in a somewhat irregu- lar way during his boyhood and early youth, but his education, as a whole, has been mainly gained under the direction of that wisest of all head masters, experience. In fact, he himself has stated that he was educated in the "school of hard knocks," but, in view of what he has accomplished, none can doubt that this discipline was salutary, beget- ting resourcefulness, self-reliance and mastery of expedients. He assisted his father in the work of the home farm during his youth and also in the work of moving buildings, in which latter line of enterprise he engaged in an independent way when seventeen years of age. About one year later he purchased his father's house-moving business, and he thereafter continued operations in this line for four years. At the expi- ration of this time, when twenty-two years of age, he removed from Sedalia, Missouri, to Macon, where he engaged in the same kind of business and also became agent for the sale and installation of light- ning rods. In view of his marked success in the field of applied electric- ity it is interesting to note that his initial experience was in connection with the primitive methods of securing protection from this great element of nature.
In 1885 Mr. Gary turned his attention to the real estate and insur- ance business, in Macon, and about the same time he effected the organi- zation of the Macon Building & Loan Association, of which he contin- ued secretary and treasurer for a period of seven years and of which lie is still a large stockholder, as well as a director. This is one of the most successful organizations of its kind in the state and its operations have inured greatly to the progress and material upbuilding of the thriving little city of Macon. In 1890, while still actively identified with the general real estate business, Mr. Gary secured control of 11,000 acres of coal land, the principal owner of which was Thomas E. War- dell, and he handled the property with much discrimination and ability, finally selling the same to the Kansas & Texas Coal Company for a consideration of $400,000. His efforts in this important transaction
Theobon Tay
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brought him to the favorable attention of the Wabash Railroad Com- pany, who made him a flattering offer to become manager of its auxil- iary town site company, an overture which he accepted. In 1884 he temporarily removed to Ashley, Indiana, where he opened a private bank and where he continued to maintain his home until 1896, when he disposed of his banking and other interests in that section and returned to Macon, Missouri, where he resumed real estate operation upon an extensive scale, under the title of the Hudson-Gary Land Com- pany. In 1888 he compiled and published a valuable work. entitled "Handbook of Macon County, Missouri," the same containing detailed information in regard to the county and its resources, and the publica- tion was one of the first of the kind to be issued in this section, prov- ing potent in directing attention to the attractions of Macon county and thereby furthering its progress and prosperity in a definite way. In 1899 Mr. Gary was the prime factor in the organization of the Macon Telephone Company, which purchased the somewhat erude and primi- tive local exchange that had been established by John Wills. The gross earnings of the company for the first year were about $2,800, and these figures are significant in comparison with the gross earn- ings for the year 1909, which are in excess of $15,000. This wonderful transformation in the scope and importance of the enterprise repre- sents the tangible results of the fine administrative ability and well- directed initiative powers of Mr. Gary. Of this company, whose serv- ice is of the maximum modern type, Mr. Gary is president and manager, and operations are based on an investment of about $60,000. In 1902 he found it expedient to withdraw from the real estate business and devote his attention to the amplification of his operations in the field of telephone operation. In the year last mentioned he organized the Nevada Telephone Company, at Nevada, Missouri, which is capi- talized for $25,000, and which owns a finely equipped plant. Of this company, also, he is president and manager. In the autumn of 1902 Mr. Gary also effected the organization of the Home Telephone Com- pany of Joplin, Missouri, which was incorporated with a capital of $150,000 and which owns and operates one of the finest plants in the state. Its investment now represents fully $750,000, with the best of local and long-distance service, and its annual. business has reached the notable aggregate average of $150,000. Of this company Mr. Gary is president and manager.
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