USA > Missouri > Macon County > General history of Macon County, Missouri > Part 52
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Mr. Goodding is a native of Macon county and was born in Lyda township on March 10, 1875. He is a son of John B. and Malissa J. Goodding, long residents and prominent citizens of this county. The son was reared in La Plata and began in its public schools the academic education which he completed at Missouri Valley College, a leading scholastic institution located at Marshall in Saline county. Upon the completion of his education he at once entered upon a semi- public career by becoming deputy county clerk in the office of his father, who was then county clerk. After a period of acceptable service in this posi- tion he was appointed assistant cashier of the Bank of La Plata, a position he held until 1903, when he was made cashier. In this capacity
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he is still serving the bank, its patrons and the general public with great credit to himself and pronounced advantage to the institution and the community. As a stockholder and director of the bank he has a voice in all details of its management, and as cashier and the chief executive officer he directs its policy and applies its activities to the needs of the people and its own expansion and profit.
The work of a bank cashier is ordinarily rather a tame and monot- onous one and offers but little chance for the display of great qualities or the achievement of striking results. It goes on from day to day within a fixed and somewhat limited sphere, with very little variety of feature or spectacular display. But there are men who can put into the tamest monotony of daily toil a spirit of life and energy that creates event and incident and makes the progress of the work a march of triumph. Mr. Goodding is one of these. Without aiming to do any- thing startling or spectacular, he sees unsuspected possibilities around him and puts his forces in motion to make the most of them. He has originality in initiative and method and makes it serviceable to the bank in increasing the volume of its business and the measure of its usefulness. Under his vigorous and enterprising management it has grown rapidly in the extent of its operations and the spread and eleva- tion of its reputation and influence in the financial world. It is now considered one of the best directed and most progressive, as well as one of the soundest financial institutions of its kind in the state, and is on the way to still greater achievements and higher standing.
On August 14, 1906, Mr. Goodding was married to Miss Bessie Williams, a native of La Plata. In politics he is a Democrat, always active and resourceful in the service of his party, but never desirous of a political office. His fraternal relations are with the Masonic order and the Knights of Pythias, and his religious alliance is with the Pres- byterian church. In his church and his lodges he is energetic and serviceable, as he is in every other relation in life. He has been emi- nently successful and well deserves his strong hold on the regard and good will of the people.
JOHN T. FARMER.
Active and prominent in mercantile circles in Atlanta during the last seventeen years, and for nearly ton the postmaster of the town, John T. Farmer has had ample opportunity to demonstrate the metal he is made of and the characteristic qualities of his citizenship. He has used his opportunity to good advantage, showing that he is ster- ling in material and make-up and that the village, township and county
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of his residence have no more judicious friend or more enterprising, progressive and helpful citizen.
Mr. Farmer is a native of this county, born in Lyda township on November 15, 1864. He grew to manhood here and was educated for the greater part in the public schools of the locality. And he has passed the whole of his subsequent life among the people of Atlanta and vicinity. His record is therefore well known in the community of his home, and is admitted to be altogether to his credit. He is a son of Henry T. and Biddie Ann (Kelly) Farmer, natives of Kentucky, who were married in 1861 and had six children, four of whom are living and contributing in their several ways to the growth and improvement of Atlanta and the surrounding country. all being residents of this locality. They are: James W., of Atlanta; John T., the postmaster and imme- diate subject of this brief review; Frances, the wife of Henry Bunch ; and H. Edgar.
Their father was born in 1842 and came to Missouri with his par- ents when he was but three years old. He grew to manhood amid the rugged life of the frontier, for Lyda township was at the time of his arrival scarcely more than awakened from the sleep of ages and begin- ning to break the shackles of barbaric dominion which had so long held the region in thrall. After he reached years of maturity he followed the prevailing occupation of the neighborhood, farming and raising live stock, which engaged his attention all the rest of his life. He was a man of prominence and influence in the earlier history of the township and aided greatly in bringing its public affairs to vigorous life and steady, systematic action, serving many years as school director and in various other useful and responsible capacities. In politics he adhered steadfastly to the Republican party and was potent and appreciated as one of its most active workers in this section. During the Civil war he belonged to the Macon county militia, whose services were as much required at home to protect the country and its people from the depre- dations of irresponsible bands of roving marauders as that of the great armies were in the field to fight the mighty issues at stake to their final and permanent settlement. After the war and until his death in December, 1897, he was a deeply interested member of the Grand Army of the Republic. His widow is still living. She is a daughter of William and Frances (Lea) Kelly, who were early arrivals in this part of the state from Kentucky, where they were born and reared.
John T. Farmer had other views in life than that of being a farmer, and from his youth he bent all his energies to the task of realizing them. After completing the course of instruction furnished by the public
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schools he attended the Kirksville Normal School to prepare himself for usefulness as a teacher. He was graduated from that institution with the necessary legal qualification to teach, and during the next six years he devoted himself faithfully to the work he had chosen, teaching in a number of different public schools and with admitted success in all. But teaching became monotonous and other avenues of effort prof- fered better opportunities for rapid advancement. He felt that it was his duty to make the most he could of himself, and he therefore took his place in the business world as a lumber merchant in 1892. During the succeeding seven years he adhered to this line of trade, prospering in his undertaking and building up a considerable business. In 1899 he sold his interests and retired from the trade. While deliberating over what he should do next and looking around for new connections he was appointed postmaster of Atlanta, and ever since then he has continued to serve the people faithfully and acceptably in this position, which comes home to the hearts and convenience of them all.
Mr. Farmer is a Republican in politics, and, being a man of clear and firm convictions, he does all he can to secure the supremacy of his party in the councils of the county, state and nation. His services to his party are those of no laggard, and as they are energetie and fruit- ful in character, and guided by intelligence and good judgment, they are highly appreciated by both the leaders and the rank and file of the party. In fraternal life he belongs to the Odd Fellows, has been three times elected representative to the Grand Lodge from the Twenty-sixth district, which was formerly the Seventy-sixth, and the Modern Wood- men of America. His religious affiliation is with the Christian church. On January 1, 1895, he was joined in marriage with Miss Jeannette Foster, a daughter of Hiram B. and Martha ( Fergerson) Foster, long residents of this county. Five children were born of the union and of these Birdie Garnet, Ruby Eugene, Arlo John and Richard Odell are living, and all still members of the family household. The family stands well in the township and its members are universally and deservedly esteemed. Was nominated for circuit elerk in 1890 by the Republican party.
WILLIAM J. DEARING.
Although not born in this county, William J. Dearing, of Atlanta, is by birth, education and all the associations of his life to this time a Missourian, loyally devoted to the state and its people and thoroughly imbued with the principles, filled with the aspirations and true to the ideals of citizenship which guide and govern them. His life began in
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Schuyler county in 1862 and he is a son of William M. and Nancy (Young) Dearing, the former a native of that part of old Virginia which is now West Virginia, born in 1810, many years before the fury of sec- tional strife tore the fair and fruitful region from the mother state. Hle became a resident of Missouri in 1845, locating at Alton in Marion county, where he kept a general store for a number of years. He next moved to Schuyler county and there renewed his mercantile enterprise, carrying on extensively as a farmer and stock breeder in connection with his other business. He continued farming until his death, which occurred in 1885, but some years before that event sold his store and retired from merchandising. He was first married in 1837 and his first wife died in 1847. In 1853 he was married a second time, being united on this occasion with Miss Nancy Young, a daughter of William Young, who was born and reared in Tennessee and became a resident of Mis- souri in the early days. The one child born of the first marriage died at the age of seven years, and three sons and three daughters are the only living fruit of the second. His mother also has passed away, her life having ended in 1873. The father was a life-long Democrat of the old school, and with the loyalty of his class he gave his party continuous, determined and effective support.
William J. Dearing was reared in his native county and educated in its public schools. After leaving school he farmed and taught school until 1891. His work as a teacher was interesting and stimulating to him, and he gave it his whole and best attention. He found it increas- ing his knowledge of himself and of others and broadening his views of life for a time. But it offered little opportunity for advancement, and after a time began to grow monotonous. Besides, he felt within him unemployed powers for a more active and promising career, and they called him as with the voice of duty to put them in action.
The banking industry seemed a suitable field for his faculties, and in 1891 he became connected with it in Selmyler county-Bank of Lan- caster, Missouri. He found the business to his liking. but his position in it not exactly what he wished. Accordingly he moved to Atlanta in 1892 and organized the Atlanta State Bank, being one of the organizing stockholders and directors and at once being elected cashier of the insti- tution. This position he still holds with great acceptability to the officers and patrons of the bank and the general public. The institution has grown and flourished under his careful and enterprising manage- ment, steadily rising in public esteem and grounding itself firmly in the confidence and regard of the people. It has an excellent reputation
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in the business world, and in exclusive financial circles is listed as one of the soundest and best managed banks in the state.
Mr. Dearing studies his business and keeps in touch with all its late advances and developments. He is a valued member of the Mis- souri State Bank Association and takes a leading part and a great interest in its proceedings. He also is in line with other sources of information and stimulus, leaving no means of advantage to him in his pursuit unemployed. He performs a good citizen's duty with reference to public affairs, local and general, taking an active part in politics as a Democrat of firm convictions, loyally devoted to the best interests of his country, and a leading place in fraternal life as a member of the Masonie order, with sincere and cordial admiration for its principles and zealous attention to the exemplification of its moral teachings in his daily life.
Mr. Dearing is still on the sunny side of fifty and in the enjoyment of good health, fine vigor and unconquerable enterprise. His standing in financial circles, the business world, social life and public esteem is high and firmly established. His opportunities for good work are plentiful and on the increase, and his desire for progress grows by what it feeds on, keeping pace with the chances for its gratification which time brings him. He is in the midst of a fruitful, creditable and expanding career, and it needs not the voice of prophecy to give assur- anee that if he lives he will continue his steady and graceful ascent toward wide distinction and become one of the most prominent and influential men in the state. And it is one of the most gratifying features of the case that he deserves his success, which is the work of his own capabilities, and has the genuine merit that always dignifies and adorns exalted stations among men.
JOHN MASSENGALE.
The life story of this fine old gentleman, who is one of the leading and most substantial citizens of Bevier, in this county, is one of very unusual interest because of the great variety of incident and adven- ture it chronicles, the wide range of territory over which it passes, the numerous phases it presents for contemplation and the sterling manhood it makes known. It emphasizes anew the worth of courage, self-reliance, industry, devotion to duty and firm and sturdy manliness, qualities which have made its subject's record and fixed his place in the regard of men. It might well be taken as the story of Man himself in his con- test with nature on a gigantic theater of action. Poetry sparkles, Hero-
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ism glows, and Tragedy darkens in its texture, while the golden thread of sentiment runs brightly through its woof.
Mr. Massengale was born at Nashville, Tennessee, on December 10, 1840, and is a son of John and Celia Massengale, natives of North Caro- lina. The ancestors of the father lived and labored many generations of human life in Germany before any of them came to this country, and yet they were not late arrivals here. In his young manhood the father moved from his native state to Tennessee, and there he passed the remainder of his days to the sudden and tragic close of his career. He and his wife were the parents of two children, their sons, John and William. The latter and his father were killed by the same stroke of lightning in 1849, and the former is now the only living member of lis family. Some time after the father's death the mother was married to Jesse Brewster, and by this union she became the mother of seven additional children. She died in 1866.
Iler son John's only means of scholastic training through agencies usually and everywhere provided for the purposes of education was a two months' attendance at a district school. He was nine years old when his father died and soon afterward began to fight the battle of life for himself. The contest was fierce and continuous, and he had no time or opportunity to seek mental training, except what he could gain from the teachings of Nature and the lessons of experience. He wrought faithfully at various occupations in his native state until he reached the age of twenty, when he came to Missouri and found a generous friend and a hospitable home in Macon county.
Being practically fully orphaned by the sad fate of his father and the second marriage of his mother, he came to this county as a stranger, but Jefferson Morrow, one of the prominent pioneers of the county. a sketch of whose life will be found in this volume, took him in and became a second father to him and enabled him to get a start in the world. In 1864, led thither by the excitement over the discovery of gold in its soil, he went to Montana with a party of friends, making the journey overland with ox teams and consuming four months and six- teen days in accomplishing it. The country through which the party traveled was then an untrodden expanse of plain, and all the wild life of primeval nature still pervaded it. The little band of adventurers encountered many obstacles to its progress, was forced to suffer count- Jess hardships and privations, and found almost every day of its advance through the trackless wilds fraught with peril. On one occa- sion it was compelled to literally hew its way through a tribe of hostile
JOHN MASSENGALE
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Indians, fighting with its savage and determined foes two days and two nights in succession.
In Montana Mr. Massengale worked in the mines in search of gold for a period of three years, with all the necessaries of life held at prices that would be declared fabulous were not the facts attested by thousands who had the same experience. Flour was $150 a barrel and other things in proportion, and what were then considered the lux- uries of life were wholly unattainable. In 1867 Mr. Massengale returned to this county and engaged in farming with Mr. Morrow, his former patron. In 1869 he took another jaunt in the wake of the setting sun, going to Wyoming, and during the next four years he was in the employ of the Union Pacific Railroad Company, having charge of its live-stock interests, and giving them first rate attention.
By the end of the period mentioned he was able to take up a ranch of his own, in Wyoming, and this he occupied and improved for nearly twenty years. In connection with his ranching he trailed cattle and other stock across the plains to Utah and Idaho. But he tired of his expatriation and wild life in time, and, after conducting his stock oper- ations in South Dakota for eight years, whither he moved them in 1889, he again returned to Missouri and Macon county in 1895, after selling all his possessions in the farther West. He then took up his residence in Bevier township, where he has ever since been energetically, exten- sively and profitably engaged in farming and raising stock, although he is now living in comparative retirement from active pursuits and enjoying a dignified but genial ease. He owns and cultivates more than 800 acres of land, is one of the principal stockholders in the State Exchange Bank of Macon, and has considerable other valuable property.
Mr. Massengale has amassed a large fortune through industry, frugality and good management, but it has not changed his nature. Through all chances and changes he has held his course straight for- ward, keeping time with the march of progress and in harmony with his surroundings. He has been serviceable to every community in which he has lived where development and improvement were possible, and even in the mining camps, where not mich could be done in this way, his influence was strong, his force of character was felt, his integrity was acknowledged and his example was emulated. In October, 1904, he was united in marriage with Mrs. Parrelee Massengale. They have no children. He and his wife are among the most highly esteemed resi- dents of Bevier township, where they live and dispense the sunshine of their genial and useful presence. He is a member of the Masonic
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fraternity of many years connection with the order, and of Macon Lodge No. 999 of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
The biography of this excellent citizen, even so short a one as this, would be incomplete without one of its most creditable chapters. Dur- ing his residence in Wyoming he was associated in the stock business with James Ross, who lived at Carbon, in that state, Mr. Massengale having the management of their joint interests. The business was very profitable, but the stock was removed to Jackson county, South Dakota, to secure a better range for it. They continued their joint operations until July 20, 1898, when they sold out to Corbin Morse, of South Dakota. They, however, kept the assets of the firm intact until the deatlı of Mr. Ross, which occurred on December 2, 1899, in the city of Phila- delphia. No books were kept during the partnership, each member of the firm relying on the integrity of the other. After the death of Mr. Ross Mr. Massengale carefully computed the assets of the firm, including the increase during administration, and paid over a full one- half to the executor of Mr. Ross, whom the latter had instructed to accept the statements and accounts rendered by his partner without question. The instruction was followed literally and the relations between Mr. Massengale and the executor and heirs of Mr. Ross remained entirely friendly and cordial; esteem on both sides lias marked all the subsequent intercourse between the parties.
Mr. Massengale has reached the age of three score years and ten, the usual limit of human life as fixed by the inspired writer, but he is still in active vigor and productive usefulness, reminding all who know him of some pleasant year, proceeding to its elose undoubtedly, but with its seasons of bloom, warmth and fruitfulness not yet wholly spent. Useful, consistent, upright and progressive from youth, and wearing with becoming modesty the laurels of a lofty manliood and ele- vated citizenship, he richly deserves the universal esteem in which he is heid. This is high praise, but it is only a just tribute to demonstrated worth.
JAMES WILLARD LYDA.
The salient characteristics of a people, the extent and tension of its enterprise and progressiveness, its attitude toward moral and men- tal agencies, and its social spirit, are often clearly portrayed in the range of vision of its business men and the manner in which they use the opportunities available to them for their own advantage and the benefit of the community in which their activities are employed. Tried by this standard the town of Atlanta in this county must rank high and
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be worthy of cordial commendation. Its business men are alert. wide- awake and knowing, and they use all their forces at high speed for the good of themselves and the people around them, looking well to the substantial and enduring welfare of the community in general and of each individual resident according to his station and requirements in life.
One of the leaders among these business men is James Willard Lyda, a prominent and successful hardware merchant, an appreciated publie official, and a broad-minded and progressive citizen. He was born in the town on March 15, 1871, and is a son of J. G. and Margaret (Anderson) Lyda, the father a native of this county, born in Lyda township, and a son of a Tennessee planter who settled in the county in early days and gave his name to the township in which his descend- ants have since lived and flourished. . J. G. Lyda devoted most of the years of his life, during its period of activity, to general farming, but also passed a number of years in merchandising. He was married to Miss Margaret Anderson, a native of Iowa. They had ten children and have six living: Edward E., of Bloomington. Illinois; James W., of Atlanta; Sarah, the wife of W. T. Evans, of the state of Idaho; Bertha, the wife of W. E. Miller, of Jefferson City, Missouri; Ora C., the wife of S. Wright, of Meridian, Idaho; and J. Winfield, of Bloom- ington, Illinois. The parents are still living and have their home in Atlanta. The father is an active Democrat in politics and a man of enterprise and energy in reference to all affairs in which the welfare of the town and county is involved, doing his part in every way to promote it and benefit their people practically and substantially.
James Willard Lyda was reared in his native township and obtained his education in its publie schools. He worked for the family on the parental homestead nutil 1891, then became a telegraph operator in the employ of the Western Union company, remaining in its service thirteen years. In February, 1904, he determined to seek a more ambitious field of labor and entered the hardware trade on a seale com- mensurate with his resources at the time. He has continued his connec- tion with this line of mereantile life to the present time, steadily enlarg- ing his operations, extending his reputation as a progressive and up-to- date merchant, gaining rank and standing in the business world, and augmenting his profits and prosperity. He is also a stockhokler in the Bank of Atlanta and connected with other institutions of value to the community. On the organization of the Bank of Atlanta he was chosen one of its directors and is still serving as such.
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