USA > Missouri > Macon County > General history of Macon County, Missouri > Part 57
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After leaving school he wasted no time in looking around to find a soft snap or easy opportunity. He took hold of the first thing that presented itself, and the manner in which he handled it proved that circumstanees were his obedient ministrants and willing, when he made them so, to contribute to his advancement. He was able to turn even adversities to his advantage and make them wings and weapons for his progress. He studied telegraphy, and, having mastered the art, entered the employ of one of the railroad companies with a station in
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his home town. He worked as an operator for the Wabash and the Hannibal & St. Joseph roads until he quit the business, and this was not until he found something more congenial to his taste and better suited to his faculties.
In 1888 he entered the employment of J. H. Wright & Co., general merchants, and was soon afterward given charge of the clothing department of the establishment. He managed this until the business changed, when he formed a partnership for a similar enterprise with T. C. Wright and William Pillers, under the firm name of T. C. Wright & Co. One year and a half later Mr. Wright sold his interest in the business to Johnson Morrow, and the firm name was changed to Morrow, Pillers & Goodrich. On February 1, 1909, another change came through the retirement of Mr. Morrow from the firm, his partners having bought his interest. Since then the house has been doing business as Pillers & Goodrich. · Its trade is extensive and its name is high in mercantile circles. For it meets every requirement of the community in its department of public utility in the most complete and satisfactory manner, cultivating and developing the taste of the people while catering to their needs and desires.
Mr. Goodrich was married in 1889 to Miss Lena Stolp, a native of this state and daughter of Orlando and Betsey (Graves) Stolp. They have two children, their twin sons, Rene S. and Roland N. The father takes an active part in all that concerns the welfare of the com- munity, and is ever among the foremost of its people in promoting any good enterprise for its improvement and the benefit of its resi- dents. He studies how he may minister to their comfort and enjoy- ment in his business, and in every other way has their enduring good constantly in his mind. He is a stockholder in the Bank of Callao and connected with other institutions of value to the town. In fraternal life he is a Knight of Pythias and a Modern Woodman of America. In the fraternal societies to which he belongs he mingles freely and pleasantly with their members, looks with favor and serviceable aid on all their proper aspirations, and helps to give them character and standing in the community. In polities he is nominally a Republican, but he has never sought or been willing to accept a political office or been an active partisan, although he has never neglected a good citi- zen's duty in reference to public affairs, whether local, state or national in their bearing. He is a gentleman of high character, strong person- ality. broad publie spirit and commanding influence. In his daily walk he exemplifies at all times the attributes of the best American citizenship.
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JOHN O. JONES.
This venerated pioneer and patriarch of New Cambria, who has had his abiding place at that town for 44 years and is now one of the six inhabitants of it still living who were there when he became one, has passed by a number of years the limit of human life as fixed by the psalmist, but is still hale, hearty and vigorous, with all his faculties unimpaired. His own experience and that of his pioneer friends in the town have taught him that there is, even on this side of the grave a haven where the storms of life break not, where the water is unruffled, and where the air is all balm. That haven is a quiet, a serene, a peaceful old age, following a useful and well-spent youth and manhood, in which all the activities were employed in productive industry and the service of the community.
Mr. Jones is a native of Northern Wales, where he was born in 1831. His parents, Owen W. and Margaret (Evans) Jones, were also natives of Northern Wales, and were reared, educated and married in that portion of the British empire. The father was born in 1790 and the family came to the United States in 1831, their son JJolin being an infant at the time and crossing the heaving Atlantic as such. Steam had not then depoetized commerce and ocean travel, and they made their passage to this country in a sailing vessel. The voyage was long and somewhat stormy, and the adventurous emigrants from the scenes and associations of their early years were pleased when it came to an end and they found themselves once more on solid ground, even though it was in a strange country and among an alien people. They landed in the city of New York and soon afterward took up their residence in Oneida county in the same state, where their family of eight chil- dren grew to maturity and obtained their education. All of the children grew to good old ages but only three of them are now living. These are John O. and his brothers Owen W. and Watkin C. The father died in 1866 and the mother in 1889.
Their son John, after completing his schooling, became a car- penter and for many years worked at his trade and as a contractor. and builder. He came to Missouri in 1866, soon after the death of his father, and engaged in mercantile pursuits. After passing three years in this line of endeavor, he sold his business to a younger brother and turned his attention to the real estate, loan and insurance business. which he has followed steadily ever since. For a period of twenty years he was land agent of the Hannibal & St. Joseph railroad, and he is still actively engaged in the land business in addition to practicing
·
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law and carrying on his other operations. He is a very extensive land owner.
He has taken broad views of life in all respects, and in none more than with reference to public affairs. While nominally a Republican in politics, he is in fact thoroughly independent and always exercises his suffrage and political activity in behalf of the candidate he believes best qualified for the office sought and most likely to prove service- able to the people, making partisan considerations secondary to the good of the community, or the enduring welfare of the country. He has borne his own part well in the matter of official service to his fellow men, having held the office of justice of the peace for many years and that of notary public for more than forty. Long years he has been a member of the Masonie order and enjoyed the privilege of its social festivities and the benefit of its moral teachings. He has also been long connected with the Congregational church and zealous in all its benevolent undertaking's. But he has not confined his benevolence to this sect. He has helped all worthy church and other enterprises with an earger desire for the advancement of every useful agency in the community and an untiring industry in helping to promote it.
Mr. Jones was married in 1862 to Miss Clara Potter, a daughter of William and Melinda Potter or Oneida county, New York, where she was born, educated and grew to maturity. They have four children : Jerome W., who is postmaster of Brookfield, Missouri; Fred P., who is engaged in farming near New Cambria; Melinda, who is the wife of John E. Gilleland, postmaster of New Cambria, a sketch of whom will be found elsewhere in this vohunne; and Freda, who is living at home with her father.
How interesting is the story of this man's life, even when told briefly as it is here. He is far from the land of his birth and the home of his ancestors for many generations. Their work passed into the history of that land and his is a part of the history of this country, the particular section of it in which he has lived so many years having been largely developed and built up through the aid of his efforts and inspiring example. His infant eyes looked out over the broad Atlantic. on which an eventful period of his life's morning was passed. His vision in the evening of his days is rewarded by a prospect of growth and improvement in a new world which is, in considerable measure, the work of his mind and hands. As a young man he saw New Cambria a straggling country hamlet in the midst of what was largely yet a wilderness of unopened possibilities. He looks upon it and the region around it now and sees them rich in material and intellectual develop-
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ment, smiling with plenty, strident in progress and pouring their streams of production out toward the mighty enrrents of industrial and commercial wealth with which this bountiful land is brightening and blessing the world. He is a connecting link between the Old World and the New, between our pioneer period and the radiant advancement we enjoy in this twentieth century dawn.
JOHN E. GILLELAND.
John E. Gilleland, who has been the postmaster of New Cambria continuously during the last twelve years, and has long been very active and serviceable in behalf of the political party to which he belongs, is not only a leading light in the counsels of that party, but one of the most prominent and influential citizens of the township in which he lives. He is also engaged in merchandising and holds a high rank in business circles.
Mr. Gilleland was born in Macon county, in December, 1863, being a native of Lingo township. He is a son of John W. and Margaret (Jobson) Gilleland, who were born in St. Catherine's in the province of Ontario, Canada, the father's life having begun there in 1828. Ile came to Missouri and located in Macon county in 1850, and for a while after his arrival in this section followed farming with success. He then turned his attention to merchandising at New Cambria. In 1856 he was united in marriage with Miss Margaret Jobson. a daughter of Robert and Judith Jobson. Her father. Robert Jobson, was one of the contractors for the construction of the Hannibal and St. Joseph railroad, and was connected with other works of improvement in this portion of the country, to which he moved with his family from St. Catherines, Ontario, Canada.
Mr. and Mrs. John W. Gilleland had five children, all of whom are living. They are: Melta, the wife of Albert Mervin, of Brookfield, Missouri ; John E., of New Cambria ; Belle, the wife of Dr. J. P. Foster, of Lacrosse, Missouri ; Harvey, who is employed in the rairoad service in Colorado; and George, who is living at Taylorville, Arkansas. The mother died in 1876 and the father in 1908, both leaving as memorials to their children what is more precious than gold or lands, good names and the stimulus of excellent examples in upright living and the faithful performance of every duty.
Their son, John E. Gilleland, was reared in his native place and began his education in the public schools near his home. He supple- mented and enlarged the instruction they gave him by a course at the Kirksville Normal school, and when he had completed that, at once
HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY
entered upon the active duties of life as an optician and jeweler, con- ducting his undertaking on a small scale and in a modest way. This was in 1882. Some little time afterward he added to his lines of mer- chandise a complete stock of house furnishings, and he has ever since carried on an increasing business in all.
Public affairs have deeply interested him from his boyhood, and ever since he reached man's estate he has taken an earnest and active part in political contests as a Republican. He early won confidence and esteem in his party, both among the leaders and the rank and file, and by steady progress and efficient service has risen to a position of lead- ership himself. He is at present chairman of the Republican county central committee and has a potential voice in the councils of the party, helping to direct all its movements and select all its candidates. In 1897 he was appointed postmaster of New Cambria, and so satisfactory have his services been in connection with the office that he still holds it and almost without opposition. He also served as a member of the town board for many years, and much of the improvement made in the town during his tenure of this office is attributable to his enterprise and progressiveness. His fraternal affiliation is with the Masonic order, in which he takes great interest. In 1891 he was married to Miss Lin- nie Jones, a native of New Cambria and a daughter of John O. and Clara (Potter) Jones. They have one child, their son, Howard J., aged seven years, a very bright and promising boy.
GEORGE H. HASTINGS.
Inheriting a martial spirit from his ancestors, and impelled by strong loyalty to the Union and the best interests of his country in every way, George H. Hastings of Richland township, who is one of the most extensive and successful farmers of this part of Missouri, and whose live-stock industry is one of the most considerable in the state, enlisted in the Federal army at the age of eighteen, and during the succeeding years of our terrible civil war fought valiantly to save from dismemberment the mighty nation, which his grandfather, Ambrose Hastings, aided in founding after he had helped to wrest the earlier portion of its fair domain from the tyranny of Great Britain on the battlefields of the Revolution.
Since the war, in which he took a part, he has been energetically and profitably engaged in the pursuits of peaceful industry, and. while his efforts have redounded greatly to his own advantage, they have also been of substantial and enduring benefit to the portion of the country in which they have been expended. He has been of great and lasting
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service in helping to build up and develop Macon county and all of Northeastern Missouri, adding by his operations to the wealth and commercial importance of the section and fostering a zealous spirit of progress and improvement among its people by his energy, influence and example in all undertakings to make the most that has been pos- sible of its resources and elevate its intellectual and moral status.
Mr. Hastings was born in Lee County, Illinois, on March 2, 1844, and is a son of Willard and Lorinda (Ives) Hastings, the former born and reared in Vermont and the latter in Massachusetts. The father's life began in Caledonia county, Vermont, in 1800, and his forefathers lived there from early colonial times. Early in his manhood New Eng- land became too cramped and narrow for his enterprising and adven- turous spirit, which longed and was fitted for amplitude of opportunity and effort, and he gave a willing ear to the persuasive voice of the great West, as it was then, which called for volunteers for its army of peaceful conquest and development, and promised rewards commen- surate with the magnitude and danger of the struggle necessary to win them. In 1835 he migrated to Lee county, Illinois, and devoted himself to the task of wresting from the virgin soil of the prairie the bounty it held in store for patient industry, frugality and endurance. He was successful in his day, winning a competency in worldly wealth for him- self and rising to prominence and influence as a citizen. He served as county surveyor in the early days and acceptably and ably filled many other county and township offices. He also became a mail route contractor and, both personally and officially, became one of the leading men in that part of the state.
In about 1830 he was united in marriage with Miss Lorinda Ives, and through this union became the father of seven children, only two of whom are now living, George H. and his older brother, Sidney, whose residence is in Osage, Iowa. The father died in August, 1873, and the mother in about 1848. He was a Republican from the start of the party and a great worker for its success ; and being a man of wide general information, he became a very able and forcible advocate of its principles. He was also a member of the Masonie fraternity for many years, and recognized as a man of force in the order.
His son, George H. Hastings, grew to manhood in his native county and obtained his education in part at an excellent seminary in Paw Paw there, and in part in high grade subscription schools in Osage, Iowa. But his scholastic training was ent short by the Civil war. For, in 1862, he enlisted in the Federal army at Osage, Iowa, joining Com- pany H, Fourth Iowa Cavalry, under General Wilson. The regiment
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was soon at the front as a part of the army of the Mississippi, and from then to the close of the momentous and sanguinary conflict Mr. Hastings was almost continually on the march or in the field. He took part in the battles of Guntown and Tupelo, Mississippi, Selma, Alabama, Montgomery and Columbus, Georgia, and many engagements of minor importance. He was mustered out of the service at Atlanta, Georgia, and discharged at Davenport, Iowa, in 1865.
After leaving the army he dwelt for a short time at Osage, Iowa, then went to Earlville, Illinois, where he learned the blacksmith trade, remaining until 1870. In that year he came to Missouri and located in Macon county, where he has ever since resided. Since his arrival in this county he has been continuously and very energetically and success- fully engaged in farming and raising live-stock, carrying on both lines of industry on a steadily enlarging scale and with steadily augmenting prosperity. His first purchase in this county was 209 acres of very promising land, and he now owns 1,900 acres, all of which he cultivates, but much of it is farmed by tenants under his supervision. He is one of the most extensive, as he is one of the most progressive, farmers in this part of the country, and his stock industry is commensurate with his farming operations.
Great and exacting as are Mr. Hastings' business operations, they have not been allowed to wholly absorb his time and faculties. He has taken a very active and helpful part in the affairs of the township and county in which he lives, as has been stated, and has rendered both excellent service in public and private life. Under the township organi- zation he was township clerk and assessor, but he has never cared for public office of any kind, and only consented to serve in those mentioned under the importunity of the people and for the good of the township. His political faith is firmly anchored to the Republican party, and he is an ardent believer in its principles and an energetic and effective worker in their behalf. Fraternally he is allied with the Grand Army of the Republic and the Masonie fraternity, and, while not a member of any church, he is liberal in his support of all. He donated the ground for the Universalist church in the vicinity of his home and paid the whole cost of the church edifice that stands on it.
Mr. Hastings lives in what is now ealled La Crosse and owns the whole town. Ile was married on November 19, 1871, to Miss Phoebe J. Buck, a daughter of James and Catherine (Persons) Buck, natives of Ohio, but for many years esteemed residents of Macon county, Mis- souri. One child was born of this union, a son named George S .. who died on November 10, 1889. Mr. Hastings has secured consequence and
GEORGE H. HASTINGS
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influence among the people by his extensive business and large landed estate, but these are not the only or the main elements of his popularity, or sources of his strength and standing in the county. His worth and uprightness as a man and his generous usefulness as a citizen have given him a hold on the regard and good will of the people, wholly inde- pendent of any considerations of business or property. Ile is an orna- ment to his community in every phase of its life and activity and a high credit to the citizenship of the state from all points of view.
PETER N. DECKER.
V
Among the prosperous and progressive farmers of Macon county none is entitled to higher respect and more general esteem than Peter N. Decker, whose land is in section 56, Morrow township, and none stands better among all classes of the people. He has shown a spirit of enter- prise in improving his property and cultivating it according to the most elevated standards that has brought him warm commendation and has given a stimulus to others which has resulted in good to them. He has also been zealous in his efforts to improve the live-stock of the township by exhibiting in his own breeding operations the advantages of giving attention to good strains and desirable qualities in the prod- uet, and by this means has also been of service to the agricultural interests of the township.
Mr. Decker is a native of the state of New York, and was born at Nassau, Rensselaer county, that state, in 1859. He was reared and educated at Grand Rapids, Michigan. The experience he acquired in relation to the West while he was growing to manhood made him long for a more extended and specific knowledge of the section in some locality still redolent of its wildness and raciness, and when he was but twenty years old he came to Missouri and located at Callao, or in that neighborhood, where he at once began the career as a farmer that has given him substance of a material kind and consequence as a citizen. He has steadfastly adhered to the occupation of his first choice, gen- eral farming and cattle-breeding, and has found contentment and pros- perity in it. His parents were Nicholas and Margaret ( Freidenburg) Decker, an account of whose lives appears on another page of this work.
From his youth Mr. Decker has been a Republican in national affairs and, while never desirous of anything in the way of office for himself, has always rendered efficient aid toward the snecess of his party and the triumph of its candidates. He has taken. a deep and intelligent interest also in the fraternal life of the community. holding
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active membership in the orders of Knights of Pythias, Modern Wood- men of America and Royal Neighbors. In the doing of these several fraternities he finds profitable enjoyment and substantial benefit, and his membership in each is a source of strength and influence to it. He has served as county committeeman of his political organization with advantage to the committee and credit to himself, his services in that capacity being valued by his associates and the rank and file of the party as well, for they have been wise in kind and considerable in volume.
Mr. Decker was married in 1888 to Miss Lena R. Randall, a daughter of James and Martha (Pollard) Randall, and a native of Wisconsin, born in 1866. They have six children, their sons, Frank, Clinton and Charles, and their daughters, Edith, Ellen and Margerie. In all his operations he has been ably assisted by his wife, who has also brought social life and enjoyment to his home and aided in binding to him more firmly his hosts of friends. Their farm is well improved and furnished with modern conveniences. It is skillfully cultivated and has been brought to a high state of productiveness. And all that it is in attractiveness, comfort and value, it is the result of their own industry and wise management.
HARLEY E. TRADER.
Beginning the struggle for advancement in a humble sphere of activity, and accepting with alaerity and a determination to make the most of it whatever fell to his lot, Harley E. Trader, of New Cam- bria, this county, has steadily worked his way upward to high stand- ing in the business community and a well established position in the regard and good will of the people. While he has not had any particu- larly burdensome experience in hardship and privation, he has always had to contend for his advancement, and has won it solely by his own efforts and on his own merits.
Mr. Trader was born on December 13, 1876, at Linneus. Linn county, Missouri, and is a son of Samuel P. and Anna (Kisiah) Trader, the former a native of Linn county, born in 1848. He was in early life a well-to-do farmer, but is now living in Kansas City. He and his wife were the parents of three children, two of whom are living, Harley E. and his brother, Robey D. Their mother died in 1881, and in 1899 the father took unto himself another wife, with whom he is still living.
Harley E. Trader was reared by his grandfather and grandmother at Linneus, Missouri, and from early in life helped to make his own living. By so doing he learned self-reliance and gained resourcefulness
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in the use of his natural faculties. He obtained his education in the public school of Linnens, and after completing its course, studied teleg- , raphy. After mastering the art he secured employment at various points on the Burlington railroad, continuing in the service for a period of seven years.
In 1899 he turned his attention to the packing industry, accepting a position in the establishment of Swift & Co., of Chicago, located at St. Joseph, Missouri, where he worked under the direction of the super- intendent as assistant cashier and chief clerk for more than four years. In 1903 he was appointed cashier, and later became a director of the New Cambria State bank, a position he is still filling with great accept- ability to all the persons concerned in the management of the bank and all who have dealings with it.
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