General history of Macon County, Missouri, Part 47

Author: White, Edgar comp; Taylor, Henry, & company, pub
Publication date: 1910
Publisher: Chicago, H. Taylor & company
Number of Pages: 1106

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CHRISTOPHER HARDIN JONES.

The scion of old Kentucky families, members of which were among the pioneers of that great commonwealth, and a grandson of heroic frontiersmen in Missouri, Christopher Hardin Jones has had all his life lofty family ideals of manly duty to live up to and the stimulus of stern endurance and unwavering fidelity in the examples furnished by his forefathers. He is a native of this state, born in Linn county in 1857, and was reared on its soil. He obtained his scholastic training in its district schools and has expended all his efforts so far in life's journey to the work of improving it and augmenting its wealth and power. All that he is is Missouri's own and the product of her resources and institutions. And that he is creditable to her powers of production the united voice of the community in which he lives concedes without stint or hesitation.

Mr. Jones is practically a self-made man, in the better sense of the term. All his achievements are the fruits of his own capacity and industry, and the general esteem in which he stands is the logical and due tribute to his worth as a man and his excellence as a citizen. He is the son of Hardin and Susan (Yates) Jones, the former a native of Boone county and the latter of Howard county, Missouri. They were married in 1848 and had five children. All of their offspring grew to

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maturity and are living. They are: Corinne F .; John M., who lives in Linn county; Christopher H., the subject of this brief review; Rob- ert W., who is a resident of Sullivan county ; and Milton S., whose home is in Iowa. The father moved his family to Macon county in 1868, and here he and his wife passed the rest of their lives actively engaged in farming. The mother died in 1886 and the father in 1893.

Christopher H. Jones made his choice of an occupation early in life, and through all of his subsequent years he has adhered to it. He was born to it, in fact, and received his early training in its exacting but 'stimulating duties on the family homestead. As boy, youth and man he has followed farming and never felt any strong temptation to an easier life or more rapid advancement in any other. This has satisfied his desires and sufficiently rewarded his efforts, and he has made it elevating and worthy of commendation by the manner in which he has devoted himself to it and the skill and breadth of view with which he has conducted its operations. His education in the matter of scholastic training was limited to the facilities and range of instruc- tion afforded by the district schools in the vicinity of his home. But the lessons of experience and the results of observation and intelligent reflection have done good work in broadening his mind, expanding his information and increasing his capacity for every duty.

He has made his farm of 460 acres a model of attractiveness and fertility, its improvements commodious, comfortable and pleasing to the eye, and its equipment for the most advanced methods of cultivation complete in all particulars. The same excellent judgment, commendable enterprise and careful attention to details have characterized him in his allied industry of raising stock, and also in the matter of public improvements and work for the general welfare of the township and · county in which he lives. To every worthy undertaking for the advance- ment of his locality he has given cordial and intelligent support, and his services in this behalf are highly appreciated wherever he is known. His own success in life, which has been considerable, has been followed, through his efforts and those of others like him, and reflected in the progress and improvement of the region all around him, and its present development stands forth a monument to the enterprise of an energetic, broad-minded and productive people of whom he is an acknowledged and worthy representative.

Mr. Jones has always refused all tenders of political office for him- self, but he has taken an earnest and helpful interest in public affairs and been devoted to the welfare of the Democratic party, the political organization of his choice. He has also, at all times, been zealous

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and active in practical services to it, helping to direct its course wisely by judicious counsel and help it to worthy and approved success by determined and fruitful exertion. His work for the party is all the more appreciated by both its leaders and the rest of their followers because it is based upon principle and has no taint of self-seeking or desire for personal advantage in it. Ilis whole course in life has been straightforward and upright, looking to his own advancement, of course, but with the general welfare always in view and under studious consideration. He is connected with the financial interests of the region as a stockholder and director of the State Bank of New Boston, in Linn county. In 1881 he was joined in marriage with Miss Mary J. Ratliff, a native of Adair county, Missouri. They have one child, their son, Commodore II. Jones.

J. FRANK LILE.

While neither a pioneer nor the son of a pioneer, J. Frank Lile, one of the prosperous and progressive farmers and stock men of White township, has been closely connected with and serviceably instru- mental in the growth and development of Macon county during all his years since boyhood, and his family has been influential in the progress of the state of Missouri for at least two generations. He is himself a native of the county, born on April 16, 1866, and his father, John M. Lile, was born in 1836 and reared in Schuyler county. The father obtained a limited education in the country schools of his boyhood and devoted his whole life to farming. He located in Macon county in his young manhood and in 1855 was united in marriage with Miss Mary J. Murray, a native of Illinois. They became the parents of seventeen children, eight of whom are living: Fanny. the wife of James Radliff of South Dakota ; Millie, the wife of Daniel Turner of this county; William H., who also lives in South Dakota ; J. Frank, the subject of this sketeli ; Ira, a resident of Macon county; Mollie, the wife of W. L. Bailey of Kansas City, Missouri; Ura, the wife of James N. Lynch; and Vella, the wife of Walter Greenstreet of this county. The father died in 1887 and the mother is still living. Their record in the county is a good one and the general esteem of the people followed their upright living, useful industry and warm and helpful interest in every element of the progress and development of the region in which their excellent traits of citizenship were known and appreciated. The mother is now well advanced in years and is venerated as one of the true and faithful women who have aided in giving Macon county its high record in the public estimation of other portions of the state. She numbers her

HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY

friends by the host and there is not one among them that does not call her worthy of the highest confidence and regard.

J. Frank Lile grew to manhood on his father's farm and performed his part in boyhood and youth as a farmer's son, interested in the welfare of his family and willing to do all he could to promote it. He assisted with the work on the homestead and attended the district school in the vieinity when he could be spared from more exacting duties. His early years were not seriously disturbed with dreams about the great busy world that lay beyond his rural horizon, for he made his choice of an occupation before he reached his maturity and outside temptations never had potency with him. It was his pleasure to follow in the footsteps of his forefathers, contributing to the gen- eral well-being of the county and state in the manner enforced by their example, and studious only to do it as well as he could, making the most of his opportunities and holding the family name up to the level at which they had placed it.

On leaving school he entered at onee on his life work as a general farmer and breeder of good live-stock, and these pursuits he has fol- lowed with steadiness, industry and success ever since. He lias pros- pered in his undertakings and accumulated a comfortable competence for life. He is a stockholder in the Farmers State Bank at New Boston and connected with other interests of value to the locality in which he lives. On February 9, 1888, he was married to Miss Eliza Radliff, a native of this county. They have one child, their daughter, Vera. In political faith and allegiance Mr. Lile is a Democrat, with unvarying loyalty to his party and great activity in its service in every campaign. He served well and with approval as a member of the school board for four years, and as a member of the Baptist church he has long con- tributed to the moral and spiritual uplifting of the people all around him. In matters of publie improvement he has been energetie, sparing no effort in any good cause and stimulating others to activity by the force of liis example. He is regarded as one of the county's best citizens.

JAMES M. WRIGHT.

With a mind so active that it requires several lines of effort to satisfy its prodnetive energies, and possessing versatility of talent and capacity to conduet them all to successful results, James M. Wright, of the village of Goldsberry, in this county, keeps himself one of the busiest men in Drake township and has shown himself to be one of its most useful citizens. He is a merchant in two lines of trade, carries

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on some farming operations and deals in horses. He also takes a lead- ing part in the public life of the township and gives appreciated atten- tion to all the avenues of improvement and everything that makes for the substantial and enduring welfare of the people.

Mr. Wright is a native of this county and was born on April 7, 1856. His father, Dennis Dunham Wright, was born and reared in the state of New York and came to Missouri in 1845. He located in Macon county and here wrought diligently and profitably at his trade as a saddler and harness-maker, as he had done in his native state. In 1848 he was united in marriage with Miss Mary Riley, a native of Randolph county, this state. They had seven children and five of them are living: James M., the immediate subject of these paragraphs; Nora, the wife of J. C. Bradley, of Goldsberry; W. R., of Washington; Mary Florence, the wife of G. H. Newkirk, of Goldsberry; C. C., who lives at Goldsberry. The father died in 1866 and the mother in 1887. They lived acceptably during the whole of their residence in this county and passed away, leav- ing good names enshrined in the loving remembrance of all their friends and crowned with the esteem and good will of the whole community in which they lived and labored.

James M. Wright grew to manhood where his life began, and obtained all the education he had opportunity for in the district schools. His early inclinations were all to trade, and as soon as he left school he made his way into the department of human activity toward which his tastes and faculties led him. He became a merchant, and, although he has since engaged in other pursuits in connection with his merchan- dising, he has never abandoned that. His devotion to it and obedience to the voice of nature in the direction of his activities have won their reward in high standing for him in business circles and a successful and prosperous mercantile career. He now owns and manages a drug and grocery store and has a large and active trade. He also owns and operates an eighty-acre farm, which gives him opportunity for the gratification of another decided taste with him, that is the breeding and raising of horses.

It is not to be supposed, however, that Mr. Wright's extensive and varied private interests wholly absorb him and leave no time or energy for attention to the duties of citizenship and the needs of the community around him. With a good man's interest in the welfare of his fellow men, he realizes that the public affairs which concern the whole people are by no means to be neglected, and he gives those of his locality close and serviceable attention in every way he can. He is one of the stockholders and directors of the Citizens Bank of Ethel and

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a director of the Macon County Insurance Company. He has been a justice of the peace continuously for more than a quarter of a century and a member of the local school board for over fifteen years, and it is universally conceded that no public or private interest has suf- fered from any of his official acts or from want of intelligent, vigorous and helpful attention on his part.

In political faith and allegiance Mr. Wright is a firm and loyal Democrat, and his party never has to appeal to him for aid in its campaigns. He is one of the first to tender his service, or give it freely and effectively without waiting for a hint from any source whatever. In fraternal relations he is allied with the Masonie order, and his lodge also has his cordial and zealous support. On August 8, 1886, lie was married to Miss Jennie Hungerford, a native of Livingston county, New York. They have one child, their daughter, Myra, who is a gradu- ate of the Richard Wagner Conservatory of Music, Kirksville, Mis- souri, and one of the ornaments of social life in the locality of her home. In this respect, as in others, she is a worthy exemplar of the graces and popular characteristics for which her parents are so widely and so deservedly esteemed.

ROBERT T. WRIGHT.

The seion of old Kentucky families long domesticated in that state and important factors in its settlement, development and steady pro- gress toward its present state of industrial, agricultural and com- mercial greatness, Robert T. Wright of near College Mound in Morrow township, has well sustained in the life and activities of Macon county, Missouri, the family reputations achieved by acknowledged merit and commanding prowess in those of Kentucky. He was born in Adair county, this state, in 1843, and is a son of Johnson and Eliza J. (Trimble) Wright, natives of the Blue Grass state. His paternal grandfather, Evans Wright, and great-grandfather, Richard Wright, were leading persons in their localities in their day, as were also his maternal grand- parents, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Temple, in theirs.

The father came to Missouri when he was a young man and gave all his industrial energies to farming, which he followed extensively to the end of his days. He was also a preacher of the gospel and a very active politician, serving in the legislature of this state prior to the Civil war. He died in 1865 and his widow in 18SS. They had nine children and six of them are living: Robert T., George P., James A., Non E., Italy A. and Samnel W. Those dead are Mary E., Ann and Malta. All are, in their several locations and stations in life, exempli-

ROBERT T. WRIGHT

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fying the traits for which their ancestors were distinguished and the lessons given them by precept and example around the parental fireside.

Robert T. Wright obtained his education in the district schools of the neighborhood of his home, and on leaving school enlisted in the army in defense of his convictions. He saw considerable active service in his military life, participating in many of the early skirmishes of the Civil war and some of its more important engagements. After the close of the war he returned to Missouri and located in Morrow town- ship, this county. where he has ever since been prosperously and pro- gressively engaged in farming. His farm comprises 200 acres and is a model in its high estate of cultivation, valuable improvements and complete equipment with the most approved implements required for advanced farming at the present day. He is a judicious and enter- prising farmer and makes every day of his time tell to his advantage in the improvement and increasing fruitfulness of his land. He is also a very enterprising and useful man in promoting the welfare of the township and county of his home, and is accounted by the people among whom he lives and labors one of their most energetic, far-seeing and representative citizens, both in private life and with reference to the affairs of the region which has the benefit of his wisdom and zealous activity.

Mr. Wright is a Republican in politics, but while he is always energetic and effective in the service of his party, he has at all times declined to accept political office of every kind. His religious affiliation is with the Baptist church, and in its works of benevolence he also takes a leading part. He has been very successful in his business, beginning with practically nothing and now owning a fine farm and much in other interests. On February 20, 1868, he was married to Miss Eliza J. Far- ris, and they became the parents of five children. of whom the living are Leonard M., Minnie A., Elizabeth and William R. The mother of these children died May 31, 1883, and sometime afterward the father was united in marriage with Miss Alice Buster, a native of Macon county. They have three children, their son Clarence S. and their.daughters Ida and Ina, twins, all of whom still brighten and cheer the parental home and enliven the family circle, assisting in the labors of the farm and adding to the attractiveness of its social life.

JOHN JEFFERSON HELTON.

Sixty-one years ago, that is, in 1848, this prosperous farmer and stockman and excellent citizen of Walnut township, was born in the state of Kentucky, where his ancestors were pioneers and among the

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men and women of mold and hardihood who redeemed the wild domain of that great commonwealth from its long subjection to barbarous force and predatory beasts of prey and laid the solid foundations of its present greatness and power. He came to Missouri in 1868 and located in Macon county in 1870. Here he has ever since lived and flourished, taking his place and doing well his part in the productive activities of this region, and adding to the reputation and high standard of its citizenship by the excellence of his own.

Mr. Helton is a son of William and Elizabeth (Ingle) Helton, both born and reared in Kentucky, and married there in 1836. The father was a farmer and blacksmith, and in arduous labor at both occupations managed to provide comfortably for his family of twelve children, all but one of whom the parents reared to maturity. All of these are still living, and in various localities and pursuits are multiplying the bless- ings of industry and thrift and exemplifying in their daily lives the lessons given them by precept and example at the family hearthstone. The children living are: George; Mary, the wife of Louis Baker, of Kentucky; Aberry; John J., to whom these paragraphs are specially devoted; Jacob; Jesse ; Parks ; Joseph ; Rachel, the wife of Seth Thomas of Kentucky; William, and Melinda, now Mrs. Thomas, who also lives in Kentucky. The father died in 1862 and the mother in 1899.

Their son, John J. Helton, grew to manhood in his native state and obtained his education in its public schools. On leaving school he entered the line of productive industry, to which he has ever since adhered and in which he is still engaged. He became a farmer and stock-breeder, carrying on his operations with increasing magnitude and prosperity as the years passed and his resources expanded, until now he owns over 400 acres of excellent farming and grazing land, and raises every year large numbers of cattle and other live-stock. ITis spe- cialty in cattle for some years has been shorthorns of good degree, and in handling them he has made money and won a high and widespread reputation as a successful and reliable breeder.

Mr. Helton has pushed his own affairs with enterprise and vigor and his efforts have brought him large returns. He has also taken an active and serviceable interest in the affairs of the township and county of his residence, and they, also, have responded to his efforts. combined with those of other leading citizens, in greatly increased progress and development and an elevated standard of living, physical, intellectual and moral, for the aggressive and enterprising people who live in them. Mr. Helton is a stockholder in the Elmer Creamery

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Company and owns extensive tracts of land outside of the state of Missouri.

Ile has always declined all overtures made to him to become a can- didate for political office, but he has never wavered in his loyalty to the Democratic party or withheld his utmost service in behalf of its wel- fare. The only political, or semi-political, position he has ever con- sented to take is that of membership on the local school board, and this he has filled for a number of years as a means of promoting the inter- ests of the community in the proper guidance and government of one of its most cherished institutions, the system of public education. Hc belongs to the Order of Odd Fellows and the Christian ehureh, and his membership in them is no formal matter. He is a firm believer in their teachings and earnestly devoted to their highest and best develop- ment, and he gives his time, energy and material assistance in every desirable way to bring about that development and the increased usefulness that it involves.

In 1872 Mr. Helton was united in marriage with Miss Georgiana Windle, a native of this county. They have four children: Addie Belle, the wife of Manfred D. Lynch, of Ethel; Effie May, the wife of Charles Bailey, of Ehner; Myrtle I., the wife of Robert Sauders, who lives in the state of Kansas ; and Guy Roy, who is still a member of the parental household. Mr. and Mrs. Helton are known all over the town- ship and in many other localities, and wherever they have acquaintances they are held in the highest esteem. They stand well in the social life of their own community and are warmly welcomed in the best social circles of others whenever they enter them. In all the relations of life they meet the full requirements of their responsibilities, giving both example and stimulus to others and exemplifying in a gratifying way the lofty attributes of the best American citizenship.

WILLIAM LYNCH.

The son of one of Macon county's honored pioneers, and himself helping to complete the conquest of civilization over the barbarous forces of the wilderness in this portion of the state, William Lynch, of Walnut township, has justified in his own career the name and tradi- tions of his forefathers and proven himself to be a citizen of the highest usefulness and a man of sterling worth and commanding enterprise.

Mr. Lynch was born in Macon county in 1845 and is a son of Martin and Linna (Johnson) Lynch, who came to this state in early life and passed many years in skillfully enltivating its soil and helping to push forward its growth and development toward its present advanced con-

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dition of fertility, commercial power and intellectual and moral excel- lence. The father was a native of Tennessee and the mother of North Carolina, and their ancestors were pioneers in those states. They were married in 1832, one year after the arrival of the father in Missouri, and his location in this county, The ten children who blessed their union all grew to maturity and six of them are still living: William, who lives in Walnut township, this county; Matilda, the wife of Frank Burgeman, of Elmer ; Elizabeth; Susan, the wife of John Atterbury, also of Elmer, and Mary, the wife of Stephen Walker. The father died in 1884 and the mother in 1886. Each labored more than sixty years in improving the county and their names and records are embalmed in the respectful remembrance of all the people of it.

Their son, William, passed his boyhood and youth on the parental homestead, assisting in the arduous work of cultivating it and attend- ing the district school near by when he had opportunity. He began the battle of life for himself as a farmer, and in the agricultural branch of the industrial army he has marched and conquered ever since. In connection with his farming operations he carries on an extensive industry in raising stock, and in both departments of his business he has been very successful. He has shown commendable enterprise and progressiveness, studying everything pertaining to his undertakings , and assimilating in careful reflection the lessons given by observation and daily practical experience. In this way he has mastered all the details of his work and is able to carry it on with a steady view to securing the best results in every way.

In polities he is an active working Democrat, yielding liis due tribute of loyalty and labor to the needs of his party, and doing this merely as a matter of principle and duty, and without any desire for its honors or the emoluments of political office. Yet, while he is averse to public life and the responsibilities of official duty, he has been willing to forego his own preference for the public good, and has served on the local school board continuously for more than twenty years. When the Civil war was raging in our unhappy country, he enlisted in 1865, when he was but twenty years of age. In defense of the Union, in Captain Bob Davis' company of volunteers he was part of its aggres- sive and defensive force until the close of the war. Thus ever he has shown his abiding interest in the welfare of the country and its people, and done his part toward promoting it. Fraternally he is a member of the Order of Odd Fellows, and in religious affairs he is allied with the Baptist church. In 1867 he was married to Miss Mary Ellen Campbell, a native of Macon county. The five children born to them are all living

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General history of Macon County, Missouri, Part 47

Author: White, Edgar comp; Taylor, Henry, & company, pub Publication date: 1910 Publisher: Chicago, H. Taylor & company Number of Pages: 1106

Author: White, Edgar comp; Taylor, Henry, & company, pub
Publication date: 1910
Publisher: Chicago, H. Taylor & company
Number of Pages: 1106