USA > Missouri > Macon County > General history of Macon County, Missouri > Part 70
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98
668
HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY
influential factor in public affairs of a local order and is one of the leaders in the county contingent of the Democratic party.
Mr. Pool was born at Higland, Kansas, on the 6th of March, 1868, and is a son of Rev. Thomas G. and Louise (Lowry) Pool, the former of whom was born in 1837, at Huntsville, Randolph county, Missouri. and the latter of whom was born in Fayette, Howard county, this state, on the 7th of May, 1838. Their marriage was solemnized on the 18th of January, 1866, and both now maintain their home in Macon. The father was afforded the advantages of McGee College, at College Mound, Macon county, and after leaving this institution completed a theological course and was ordained to the ministry of the Presbyterian church, in which he has labored with all of zeal and consecration for nearly fifty years-principally in Missouri and Kansas-and he has also devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits, in connection with which he is the owner of a well improved farm in Macon county. In politics he has ever given a staunch support to the principles and policies for which the Democratic party stands sponsor, and he has held a position of no little influence in its councils. In 1907 he was elected and served as chaplain of the state senate of Missouri, and he is held in high esteem by the leading publie men of this commonwealth. He and his wife became the parents of four children, of whom one daughter died at the age of eighteen months. Of the three surviving, the subject of this review is the eldest ; Birdie is the wife of James Y. Bradley, of Moberly, Missouri, and Anna is the wife of John H. Heather, of Huntsville, this state.
Claude L. Pool was about three years of age at the time of his parents' return from Kansas to Missouri, and his early educational discipline was secured in the public schools, after leaving which he was matriculated in his father's alma mater, McGee College, in which he completed the literary course and was graduated as a member of the class of 1888, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. After that he passed about four years on the home farm, assisting in its work and manage- ment, and thereafter he was employed for seven years as salesman in a general store at Ardmore, Macon county. In 1896 he became a travel- ing salesman for a wholesale shoe house in Chicago, which he repre- sented in Missouri and adjoining states for a period of two years, at the expiration of which, in 1898, he became candidate on the Demo- cratic ticket for the office of clerk of the circuit court of Macon county. but met defeat with the rest of the party ticket. In 1902 he was elected recorder of deeds for Macon county, in which office, as already stated. he served four years, giving a most able administration and doing
WILLIAM A. WELCH, M. D. -
669
HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY
much to systematize the work of the office. In his election to this posi- tion he had the distinction of leading the ticket, receiving a most gratify- ing majority at the polls. He has been a. most active and effective worker in behalf of the cause of the Democratic party, and has served as delegate to many of its conventions in Macon county, as well as to congressional and state conventions.
In 1905 Mr. Pool engaged in the general merchandise business in Macon, and his store controls a large and representative trade, based upon the fair and honorable methods upon which the enterprise is con- ducted and upon the ample equipment of the various departments thereof.
In a fraternal way Mr. Pool is identified with the local organiza- tions of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Knights of Pythias, the Woodmen of the World, and the Fraternal Order of Eagles. He has long been a devotee of the great national game of base ball. and at one time held a distinct prestige as a performer on the diamond. He was also the chief promoter and the principal supporter of the ball team which has so ably represented the city of Macon in various con- tests of late years. As a eitizen he is most liberal and public-spirited and he takes a deep interest in all that tends to conserve the progress and material and civic prosperity of his home city, where his circle of friends is limited only by that of his acquaintances.
Mr. Pool has been twice married. In 1893 was solemnized his mar- riage to Miss Ida Coleman, who died in 1894, leaving no ehildren. On the 8th of October, 1895, he wedded Miss Mollie Lyle, a daughter of Alfred T., of Macon county, and they have three children, whose names, with respective ages (1909) are here entered: Clande L., Jr., eleven years ; Anna Marie, eight years, and William L., three years. Mr. and Mrs. Pool are prominent in connection with the social activities of the eity of Macon and their home is a center of gracious hospitality.
WILLIAM ALEXANDER WELCH, M. D.
During the last six years Dr. William A. Welch has been actively engaged in practicing medicine in this county, allowing nothing to divert him from the course he has marked ont for himself. His con- stancy and devotion to his profession have brought him a large reward in the general esteem of the people and a practice considerable in mag- nitude and representative in character. He has risen to the first rank among the physicians and surgeons in this part of the State by demon- strating his right to it, although his primary purpose is to serve the people well in his line of effort and make the most of his capaeity and
HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY
opportunities for the general welfare of the community, personal considerations being always secondary.
Dr. Welch is a native of Tennessee and was born in 1872. He is the son of Jonathan S. and Rebecca (Voiles) Weleh, also natives of Tennessee. The Welch family are of an Irish decent. The forebearers having emigrated to America in 1770. Four of the sons settled in Illinois as early as 1835, while the grandfather of our subjeet settled in Tennessee and died in that state in his seventy-second year. His wife died at the same age.
Jonathan S. Weleli was the youngest of a family of fourteen, including ten sons and four daughters, who located in Tennessee, Ken- tueky, Illinois & Missouri. He was born in 1847, and was united in marriage in 1871 on May 2 to Rebecca Voiles, who was born in 1851. His wife's parents were of English descent and were among the early settlers of Virginia.
Jonathan Welch displayed his patriotism during the rebellion by becoming a member of the second Kentucky Cavalry under the command of General Kilpatrick, having enlisted at Atlanta, Georgia on March 16. 1864. The regiment became a part of General Sherman's army, and took part in all the engagements incident to that historical campaign through Georgia, and thence through the Carolinas.
Mr. Welch was one of the party that first carried the terms of surrender to General Johnson at Raleigh, North Carolina, and was at Lexington. North Carolina when peace was declared. After receiving his honorable discharge at Lonisville, Kentucky, he returned to his home in Tennessee, and shortly after moved to Rugby, Morgan county of that state, where he continued to reside until 1887. In that year he emigrated to Missouri and settled on a farm in Macon county, near the town of Callao, Missouri, where he and his wife still reside.
Dr. William A. Welch was seventeen years of age when the family moved to Missouri, he received a common school education in his native place and supplemented this with a course of special instruction at the Kirksville Normal School in this state. After leaving that institution he taught school seven years. In 1899 he began the study of medicine at the State University, completing his eonrse at Washington Univer- sity, from which he was gradnated with the degree of M. D. in 1903. He began the practice of his profession at Ardmore but only remained there a short time. He then removed to Callao, where he has been actively engaged in an increasing general practice ever since. He attracted attention by his skill and ability early in his praetice, and while living at Ardmore was chief surgeon for the Central Coal and
6:1
HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY
Coke Company. Since his location at Callao his rise in the profession has been steady and continuous, and so exacting and varied has been his practice that he has felt the necessity of more extensive preparation to meet its requirements. So in 1908 he took a post-graduate course at the Post-graduate Medical School in New York City, the valne of which has been manifest to him many times since he completed it.
The doctor is a diligent and reflective student of the literature of his profession and mingles freely with his professional brethren in the societies organized for the purpose of promoting its progress and power. He is a member of the State and County Medical and American Medical Associations, an earnest participant in the proceedings of each and a valued contributor to the researches of both. He is local examiner for the Bankers', the John Hancock and the Minnesota Mutual Life Insurance companies and the International of St. Louis. In fraternal life he is allied with the Masonie Order and the Knights of Pythias. On November 4, 1903, he was united in marriage with Miss Myrtle Randall, who was born and reared near Callao. They have two chil- dren, their son, Eldred E., aged five, and their son, Martin D., one year old. Mrs. Welch attended school at Englewood, Illinois, seven years, graduating from High School of that place. Mrs. Welch is a daughter of Captain Randall of Callao, further mention of whom appears elsewhere in this volume.
JOHN W. GELLHAUS.
Among the native sons of Macon county who have here attained to prominence and distinctive influence in connection with civic affairs is Mr. Gellhaus, who is the able and honored head of the Gellhaus Gro- cery Company, of the city of Macon, an important industrial concern that is doing both a wholesale and retail business, and who is also a valued member of the city council. He is a progressive and public- spirited citizen and to every worthy enterprise and measure tending to conserve the best interests of the community he gives a loyal support. He is one of the popular young business men of his native city and is well entitled to representation in this historical compilation.
John William Gellhaus was born in Macon on the 11th of Decem- ber, 1873, and is a son of John Thomas and Dora (Sonererip) Gellhaus, both of whom were born in Germany, whence they came with their respective parents to America when they were children. John T. Gell- haus received his elementary education in his fatherland and was twelve years of age at the time of the family immigration to the United States. His parents took up their residence in Kentucky, where he was
HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY
reared to maturity and where he completed his education. There he continued to maintain his home until 1865, when he came to Macon, Missouri, where he established himself in the grocery business, begin- ning operations on a modest scale and eventually building up one of the largest and most substantial enterprises of the kind in this county. With this line of business he continued to be actively identified until his death, which occurred in January of 1903, at which time he was fifty- six years of age. The three surviving children are Dora, who is the wife of Fred W. Gieselman, of Macon; John W., who is the immediate subject of this sketch; and Gertrude, who is the wife of Albert Birdsell, of St. Louis, this state. In politics the father was a staunch advocate of the principles and policies of the Democratic party, and he was a citizen who wielded large and beneficent influence in connection with public affairs of a local order, while he ever held a secure place in the confi- dence and esteem of the community which so long represented his home and to whose progress and prosperity he contributed in liberal measure. In 1901 he was elected mayor of Macon, having the distinction of being the first Democrat ever chosen for this office and thus showing his impregnable hold upon the regard of the citizens of Macon. He gave a most able and businesslike administration and continued incum- bent of the mayoralty until his death. He was a communicant of the Catholic church, as is also his wife, and was affiliated with the Catholic Knights of America and the Woodmen of the World. In his death the city of Macon lost one of its best and most honored citizens. and his name merits an enduring place on the roll of those who have figured as its upbuilders.
John William Gellhaus, whose name initiates this article, was reared to maturity in Macon, to whose parochial and public schools he is indebted for his early educational discipline, which was supplemented by a three years' course of study in the Christian Brothers College in the city of St. Louis. After leaving college he became associated with the work and management of his father's retail grocery business, in connection with which he received a most valuable training, familiariz- ing himself with all details of this line of enterprise, in which he has attained marked snecess and precedence. After the death of his hon- ored father he assumed sole control of the retail grocery business estab- lished by the latter so many years ago, and he continued the business under the same conditions until May 4, 1909, when he amplified its scope and importance by the organization of the Gellhaus Grocery Company, which, with the best of facilities, now controls both a whole-
673
HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY
sale and retail trade and which represents one of the leading commer- cial concerns of the city.
Mr. Gellhaus has ever taken a lively interest in all that has tended to advance the civic and material progress of his native city, and in this connection he has ably carried forward the work of his father. In 1905 he was selected to represent the third ward in the city council, in which his influence has been exerted in a most helpful and loyal way and of which he was president for a period of two years. In 1906 he was elected a member of the road commission of Hudson township, of which office he continued in tenure for tlirce years. No citizen com- mands more unqualified popular confidence and esteem and no one has shown a more vital interest in all that touches the welfare of the com- munity which has been his home from the time of his nativity. In politics Mr. Gellhaus accords an unswerving allegiance to the Demo- cratie party and he has rendered marked service in the promotion of its cause. He was reared in the faith of the Catholic church, in which both he and his wife are communicants, and he is affiliated with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Woodmen of the World and the Fraternal Order of Eagles, besides which he is an enthusiastic member of the Macon Gun Club.
On the 3rd of February, 1898, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Gellhaus to Miss Anna E. Jurgensen, who was born and reared in Macon and who is a daughter of Ferdinand and Elizabeth (Brüll) Jurgensen, of this city. They have no children.
LOGAN M. THOMPSON, M. D.
Dr. Thompson, an able physician and surgeon, engaged in prac- tice in the city of Macon, is one of the distinguished and honored repre- sentatives of his profession in his native state and is a scion of one of the sterling pioneer families of Macon county. He was born at Sioux City, this county, on the 31st of March, 1858, and is a son of Logan and Angelina (Sweeney) Thompson, both natives of Pulaski county, Kentucky, where the former was born on the 11th of September, 1811, and the latter on the 16th of August, 1816. Their marriage was sol- emnized on the 24th of December, 1836, and in 1839 they came to Macon county, Missouri, where the father purchased a tract of land, near Sioux City. He developed one of the valuable farms of the county and here he continued to devote his attention to agricultural pursuits during the residue of his long and useful life, which came to a close in the year 1886. He was a man of strong individuality and impregnable integrity and commanded the high regard of the community which so
6:1
HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY
long represented his home and to whose upbuilding and civic advance- ment he contributed his quota. He had the privilege of casting his ballot in support of General Andrew Jackson for the presidency of the United States and ever afterward continued a loyal supporter of the cause of the Democratic party. He took an intelligent interest in the questions and issues of the day and was well fortified in his convictions as to matters of public polity. Both he and his wife were zealous mem- bers of the Baptist church. They became the parents of nine children, of whom six are living, namely: Joseph, a resident of Macon county ; John W., of Macon county; Zelphia, wife of Louis Lyda, of Macon county ; Elizabeth, wife of Benjamin F. Taylor, of St. Louis, Missouri ; Robenia, wife of William Costello, a retired farmer of Kirksville, this state, and Dr. Logan M., subject of this review. The mother died in 1885.
Dr. Logan Madison Thompson gained his early education in the schools of his native county, after which he continued his studies in the State Normal School at Kirksville, after leaving which institution he began reading medicine. Within a short period he entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Keokuk, Iowa, in which he was gradu- ated on the 2d of March, 1880, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. In 1898 he took an effective post-graduate course in the Chicago Post- Graduate Medical College and Hospital. After his graduation Dr. Thompson established himself in the active practice of his profession in his native county, maintaining his headquarters at Economy for some time and later at Atlanta, where he remained until 1901, when he was appointed physician to the state hospital for the insane, at Nevada, Missouri. This incumbeney he retained until 1903, in which year he was appointed superintendent for the colony of epileptic and feeble-minded children, at Marshall, this state-a comparatively new institution at that time. During his administration he there organized a school and vari- ous industrial departments, and to him is due in large measure the effective system now utilized in the institution. He resigned his office at the expiration of two years, and in June, 1905, located in the city of Macon, where he has since been engaged in the private practice of his profession and where he has a large and representative elien- tele. The Doctor is a member of the American Medical Association and the Missouri State Medical Society.
In politics Dr. Thompson is a stalwart supporter of the principles and policies of the Democratic party, and he is a recognized leader in its ranks in Missouri. He has been chairman of the county central committee of his party since 1905 and, while he has ever been a zealous
675
HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY
worker in the party canse, he has invariably refused to become a candi- date for political office. He is a stockholder and director in the Gary Investment Company and vice-president of the Times-Democrat Print- ing Company, of Macon. He has attained to the chivalrie degrees in the Masonic fraternity, being identified with Emanual Commandery, No. 7, Knights Templar, of Macon, and also holding membership in Aradth Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, in Kansas City. He is a member also of the Knights of the Maccabees and the Modern Woodmen of America, and both he and his wife hold membership in the Baptist church.
On the 21st of October, 1878, was solemnized the marriage of Dr. Thompson to Miss Alice Nickell, who was born and reared in Macon county, and who is a daughter of Alexander Nickell, who followed the vocation of stock-raiser during the major portion of his active career. Dr. and Mrs. Thompson became the parents of three children, Maud, who is now the wife of M. A. Romjue, of Macon; Rodney E., who died in 1905, at the age of twenty-two years, and Ruby, who died in 1884, at the age of nine months.
JOIIN J. CHOPE.
An honored citizen and enterprising business man of Macon, which has represented his home from his childhood days, is Mr. Chope, who is here engaged in the harness and saddlery business.
John J. Chope was born in Lake connty, Illinois, not far distant from the city of Chicago, and the date of his nativity was March 7, 1862. He is a son of Thomas and Louise (Hoffman) Chope, the former of whom was likewise a native of Lake county, where he was born in 1839, a son of one of the sterling pioneers of that section of Illinois, where his father, of staunch English lineage, settled in a very early day. Louise (Hoffman) Chope was born in the kingdom of Hanover, Germany, and was a child at the time of the family removal to America. Thomas Chope removed with his family to Macon, Missouri, in 1867 and here he became a successful contractor and builder and a citizen to whom was accorded the fullest measure of popular confidence and esteem. Both he and his wife passed the remainder of their lives in Macon and both were consistent members of the Cumberland Presbyterian and Baptist churches. They became the parents of ten children, of whom four are living. Frederick Charles and John J. are twins, and the former is engaged in the mining business at Ardmore, Missouri ; Frank maintains his home in Macon, and Minnie is the wife of John Colwell. of Bantry, North Dakota.
610
HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY
John J. Chope was reared to manhood in Macon, to whose public schools he is indebted for his early educational discipline. At the age of eighteen years he entered the employ of Frank Dessert, of Macon, in whose establishment he learned the trade of harnessmaking, in con- nection with which he became a specially skilful workman. He con- tinued in the employ of Mr. Dessert about eight years, and, in May. 1894, he purchased the stock and business of William P. Dessert and engaged in the harness and saddlery business on his own account. In this line of enterprise he has since continued and he has built up a large and substantial trade, based upon fair and honorable dealings and effective service as well as upon his personal popularity, which is of the most unequivocal order.
In polities Mr. Chope is found arrayed as a stalwart in the local camp of the Republican party, and as a citizen he is loyal and public- spirited. In 1905 he was elected to represent the first ward in the city council, and he remained incumbent of this position until April, 1910, and in which he gave his aid and influence in the support of good munic- ipal government and the promotion of public enterprises tending to con- serve the general welfare and the civic and material advancement of his home city. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias, the Wood- men of the World and the Women's Circle. He and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church.
On the 27th of March, 1889, Mr. Chope was united in marriage to Miss Laura Z. Lyda, who was born and reared in Macon county, a daughter of John S. Lyda, a prosperous farmer of Lyda township. Of the three children of Mr. and Mrs. Chope, one, Frank, died in infancy, and the two surviving are Earl Chester and Gladys Louise.
V
SIDNEY G. BROCK, A. M., PH. D.
That man lives not to himself alone is an assurance that is amply verified in all the relations of life, but its pertinence is most patent in those instances where persons have so employed their inherent talents, so improved their opportunities and so marshaled their forces as to gain prestige which transeends mere local limitations and finds its angle of influence ever broadening in beneficence and human helpful- ness. There are thousands of men of fine character and ability ever looming up among us, and in even a cursory review of the lives of such there lies much of incentive and inspiration. He whose name initiates this paragraph is one of the venerable and distinguished members of the bar of the state of Missouri and is still engaged in the active prae- tice of his profession, in the city of Macon. He is a man of high intel-
HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY
lectual attainments, a scion of one of the old and distinguished fam- ilies of our American republic, a veteran of the Civil war, and a citizen who has not only exemplified the utmost civic loyalty but has also been called upon to serve in various offices of high public trust. In offering perpetual record concerning the lives of such citizens a publication of this order exercises its supreme function.
Sidney G. Brock was born in the city of Cleveland, Ohio, on the 10th of April, 1837, and is a son of Eleazer A. and Margaretta Maria (Platt) Brock, the former of whom was born at Danville, Vermont, in 1806, and the latter of whom was born at Plattsburg, New York, which place was named in honor of his paternal grandfather, who was the first district judge of Clinton county. Eleazer A. Brock gained his earlier educational training at Burlington, Vermont, and later con- tinned his studies in an academy conducted by his father in Plattsburg, New York, where his marriage was solemnized in the year 1832. His father, David Brock, was a successful educator and continued to fol- low the pedagogic profession in the state of New York for many years. He there continued to reside until his death. David Brock was a son of Major John Brock, who served for seven years in the war of the Revo- lution, in which he attained to the rank of major, and who was sent to France by the government after the close of the war as a member of the escort of General LaFayette. By virtue of the military service of this distinguished ancestor, the subject of this review is eligible for and holds membership in the Sons of the American Revolution.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.