USA > Missouri > Macon County > General history of Macon County, Missouri > Part 80
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Mr. Pierce's first marriage was with Miss Nancy L. Summers, a daughter of Joseph and Martha Summers, esteemed residents of Macon county, in which she was born. They had four children and all of them are living: Rosa J., the wife of W. A. Hart, of Macon county ; Lulu M., the wife of C. A. Dunkard, of Lewiston, Montana; Mittie, the wife of John Miller, of Macon connty, Missouri, and Charles A., who also resides at Lewiston. Montana. The father is a Democrat and at all times zealons and effective in the service of his party.
E. C. FEATHERSTON.
In the history of this country the family to which E. C. Featherston, of Callao in this county, belongs has been active in many places and various lines of endeavor. Its name sparkles in the annals of four great states of the American union and dignifies and adorns almost every form of industrial energy, and social, civil, military and official life. It had its American origin in Virginia, employed its faculties in the development of Kentucky, helped to bring a portion of Missomi from primitive conditions to a state of advanced improvement and striding progressiveness, and aided in giving the mining industries of California a lift at the very beginning of their wonderful career. In all the relations of life and in every department of human energy the members of the family have borne themselves in a manner greatly to their own credit and the advantage of the communities in which they lived.
E. C. Featherston was born in Monroe county, Missouri, on May 31, 1858, and is a son of Green and Anna (Broaddus) Featherston, natives of Kentucky and early arrivals in Missouri. The father was born in Jessamine county of the Blue Grass state in 1828 and remained there until 1846. Ilis father. Burrell Featherston, was a native of Vir- ginia and belonged to families resident in that state from colonial times.
HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY
Ilis son Green obtained his education in the county of his nativity and aided in carrying on the extensive farming operations conducted by his father until he reached the age of eighteen. At that time he was a youth in years but a man in stature and spirit, and he determined to begin the battle of life for himself, and, as his father had done, in a region remote from family influence and in which there was opportunity yet to begin at the foundation of affairs and work from that to the desired results wholly by his own efforts. He therefore came to Missouri in 1846 and took up his residence in Randolph county, where he remained until 1849. The golden harp of California was then fairly ringing out its seductive music to the ravished ear of the world, and Mr. Feather- ston was enchanted by the inspiring strain. He joined the "Forty- niners" in their dramatic and spectacular argonautic expedition across the trackless plains and forbidding rugged mountains to try his luck in the gold mines. He was one of the successful adventurers, mining profitably until 1852. He then returned to this state and again located in Monroe county to continue the farming industry he had abandoned three years before.
This one experience satisfied his longings for adventures in dis- tant regions, and he devoted himself wholly to his farming and stock- raising enterprise until 1870. In that year he moved to Moberly, which was in need of builders to meet the demands of its then rapid develop- ment, and during the next nineteen years he worked at the carpenter trade in that city, doing some teaming in connection with his industry at his trade. In 1889 he gave up active work and moved to Monroe county, where he made his home with his son until 1892, when he died. At the dawn of his manhood came the call to arms to defend the coun- try against the aggressions of Mexico, and he was one of the first to respond. In that short but decisive contest, the Mexican war, he justi- fied his family name and history by his valor, taking part in nearly all the principal engagements and sharing in the glory that came to the arms of our citizen soldiery in consequence of their entire subjugation of our haughty neighbor of the southwestern border.
The elder Mr. Featherston was a Democrat in political allegiance and energetic in the service of his party. He was allied fraternally with the Masonic order, and in religions relations with the Christian church. ITe was married in 1853 to Miss Anna Broaddus, of Kentucky, and they became the parents of three children, all of whom are living: Imnella, the wife of R. L. Broaddus, of Madison, Missouri ; and Allen G., a resident of Randolph county, and Eliza C., of this county.
E. C. Featherston was educated in the district schools of his native
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county, and after leaving school worked as hired hand on farms in the neighborhood of his home until 1878. In that year he started learning the trade of carpenter, and to this line of activity lie adhered until 1888. Agricultural pursuits at that time seemed to offer better advan- tages than mechanical industry, and they were more in the line of his tastes. He therefore turned his attention to farming and raising stock, which he followed with marked success until 1896, when he sold his farm of sixty-five acres and all its equipment and moved to Bynumville in Chariton county. There he passed three years in the milling busi- ness, and in 1899 took advantage of a better opportunity that presented itself for an extensive trade in grain and mill products at Callao in this county, moving then to that town, where he has ever since had his home and the seat of his mercantile and commercial undertakings.
In all the communities of his residence Mr. Featherston has taken an earnest and helpful interest, showing good qualities of leadership in enterprises for public improvement and of persisteney in carrying them to snecessful issues. In April, 1906, he was elected mayor of Callao, and he filled this important and responsible office with great credit to himself and benefit to the town until April, 1909, when he was elected vice-president of the school board and made superintendent of the construction work in building new school houses. In politics Mr. Featherston is independent, holding himself free to support any policy or candidate he deems in line with his convictions and likely to prove of benefit to the people and their best interests. He is a Freemason in fraternal life and a member of the Christian church in religious allegiance, taking great interest in the welfare of and being an active and effective worker in both his lodge and his church. On December 27, 1888, he was united in marriage with Miss Mattie Cunningham, a daugh- ter of A. J. and Sallie (Duncan) Cunningham, long residents and highly esteemed citizens of Monroe county, Missouri. All of the six children resulting from the union are living. They are: Ressie, Harry M., Rus- sell, Glenn, Chester and Incille, all still at home with their parents and contributing to the brightness and warmth of the family fireside. The family stands well in the community, its members are leaders in social, educational and elmreh work, and they are all held in the highest regard throughiont the county, and wherever else they are known.
WILLIAM ALEXANDER MATHIS.
It is the conviction of many persons of keen discrimination and searching powers of analysis that the crown of distinction among men, which has been sullied with infamy by so many rulers, smirched with
HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY
dishonor by so many statesmen and stained with blood by so many warriors, should be placed where infamy has never sullied it, dishonor has never smirched it and blood has never stained it, on the brow of the successful teacher in our public schools, whose triumphs are won for and not over his fellow men, and whose empire is built in the realms of intellect and genius and not of the crushed and bleeding fragments of dismembered kingdoms, subjugated states or enslaved peoples. If this were done that crown would find a fit resting place on the venerable brow of William Alexander Mathis, of Callao, now four score years of age, and revered as one of the patriarchs of the community and one of the most estimable citizens the county has ever had.
Mr. Mathis was born in the state of Tennessee on January 23, 1829, and is a son of John and Elizabeth (Jackson) Mathis, natives of Vir- ginia and residents of both North Carolina and Tennessee before they came to Missouri in 1831. The paternal grandfather, Charles Mathis. was born and reared in England and came to this country as a young man, locating and passing the remainder of his days in Virginia. His son Jolin, on arriving in this state with his young family, took up his residence in Randolph county, where he remained ten years. In 1841 he moved the family to Macon county, and here he was actively and successfully engaged in raising corn and tobacco until his death, being eighty-four years of age. He and his wife were married in about 1824, and became the parents of seven children, but three of whom are living now: Robert, William A. and John H., all residents of Callao. The parents were zealous and energetic working members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.
William A. Mathis began his education in the district schools of this county and completed it, so far as immediate scholastic training was concerned, at McGee College at College Mound. He taught in the district schools of Macon county, five years before entering college, and after leaving college he became a teacher in the public schools of the state, and he adhiered to this beneficent but exacting occupation with but little interruption until 1897, making an excellent record as a teacher and helping along the rugged highway to scholarship many a boy who has since become distinguished in the chronicles of this and other states. From 1866 to 1874 he was also engaged in merchandising, conducting at C'allao a general store, which had an extensive trade and which he dis- posed of in the year last named. In 1872 he was elected county super- intendent of the public schools, serving a term of two years, at the end of which the office was abolished and that of county commissioner of schools created. Some years later he was elected to this office and filled
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it acceptably, as he did that of teacher and superintendent. His service to the county as teacher and official in connection with the cause of public education forms one of the bright pages in the history of this portion of the state, and its benefits are plainly shown in the present efficiency of the schools, for which he helped materially to lay the foundation, and to the attainment of which he contributed by his industry, capacity and breadth of view.
Mr. Mathis was made a Freemason in 1853 and has ever since taken a deep and serviceable interest in the welfare of the order. He has mounted its mystic ladder through the degrees of the Royal Arch chapter and the commandery to that of Knight Templar, adorning every step of his advancement by the activity of his membership and the daily exemplification he has given of the morality and uprightness embodied in the symbolic teachings of the fraternity. His political allegiance has always been freely given to the Democratic party, and is based on read- ing, observation and reflection that have brought him strong convic- tions on publie questions and theories of government. He has been constant and effective in the service of his party and in his days of activity was accounted one of its wheelhorses in all local campaigns. In church membership and energetic church work he is allied with the Southern Methodists and has been from his boyhood.
It is shown in these brief paragraphs that the life story of this good man is full of inspiration for the youth and of stimulus for the man of mature age. It is a recital of fidelity and usefulness in all the relations of earthly existence, erowned with the comforts, enjoyments and public esteem which are the legitimate results of industry, capacity and upright living. It shows that for singleness of purpose and watchful vigilance there is always opportunity for advancement in this country of bound- less possibilities, and that for well spent years during the period of energetic endeavor old age is sure to bring a benign and peaceful evening to the day of toil and tinge the twilight of life with all the glories of a serene and cloudless sunset.
JAMES P. MASON.
One of the prosperous and progressive farmers and stock breeders of Callao township, James P. Mason has reaped from the soil of Macon county an abundant harvest from the seed of skill and industry he has sown in it and good returns for the services he has rendered the people and the elevated citizenship he has exemplified among them in their lasting regard and general good will. He was born in Rappahannock county, Virginia, on February 19, 1851, and is a son of Daniel and Ann
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(Heaton) Mason, who also were born in that state and grew to maturity amid its historic scenes and richly laden traditions. The father's life began there in 1814, and he remained on his native heath until 1867. He was a son of David Mason, a native of Germany, who came to the United States soon after the Revolutionary war.
During the Civil war the family estate was wasted by the successive foraging expeditions from both armies, and the members of the house- hold felt the keen edge of the sectional strife in many ways. The low ebb of industrial conditions and impoverished prospects in the region which had given them life and sustenance for so many years made them long for better opportunities and brighter hopes in a newer section of the country, where they might retrieve their fortunes, win a new estate and escape political persecution while doing it. In 1867 they moved to Missouri and settled in this county, where the father followed farming in a general way and with considerable success until his death in 1903. His marriage occurred in 1835 and brought him eight children, of whom but two are living. James P. and his older brother, William D., who is still a resident of Virginia.
James P. Mason received but a limited education. He was but ten years old when the great Civil war began, and the country around him was seriously unsettled and disturbed for some years before the actual beginning of hostilities, and almost everything else was ignored by the people but the momentous struggle that all saw was inevitable. During the war the schools were almost wholly suspended, the state of the country and the daily shock of battle claiming everybody's attention at and around the center of the conflict. Mr. Mason therefore grew to the age of sixteen without much opportunity to attend school, and at that age accompanied his parents to this state, where the exactions of the farm in a new and sparsely settled country absorbed every energy and took up all the time. He remained at home and assisted the family until 1878, when he bought 100 acres of land and began farming on his own account. From then until the present time (1910) he has been actively and successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits, including raising live stock. He now owns 122 acres of good land, which he has rendered highly productive and improved into a comfortable and sub- stantial country home, equipped with all that is necessary for its full cultivation and the rational enjoyment of life.
Mr. Mason farms all his land and carries on in connection with his husbandry an extensive industry in raising stock. This has been his favorite pursuit for years and he has made a pronounced success of it. He has been energetic and prominent in pushing the development of the
WILLARD H. GOOCH, M. D.
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township and securing for its people every convenience available under the circumstances. In politics he is a Democrat and in religion a mem- ber of the Christian church. On December 2, 1877, he was married to Miss Margaret Alice Wright, whose parents, Claiborne and Martha (Trimble) Wright, have long been residents of this county. Four chil- dren came of the union, two of whom are living: Dr. L. O. Mason, of Bevier, and Jennie O., the wife of Joseph Summers, of Callao. No family is more highly respected throughout the county, and none has a higher claim on the esteem of the whole people.
WILLARD HENRY GOOCH, M. D.
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In spite of all the advances made by the medical profession through the countless minds and other searching agencies constantly turned upon its requirements, developments and manifestations, the human race is still subject to sickness, disease and death, and this is the univer- sal condition throughout the world. The need of good physicians is therefore always and everywhere felt, and, be it said to the credit of the profession, their services are always and everywhere appreciated by those who have the benefit of them. The life of the country doctor is one of self-sacrifice and privation. He is and has to be at the call of everybody when needed, and no conditions of weather or temptations to personal comfort can be allowed to have weight against the stern and unrelenting demands of duty. It is meet and proper, therefore, that the man who is everybody's helper and friend should have everybody's esteem and be universally appreciated.
Dr. William H. Gooch, of Elmer, in this county, is one of the pro- fessional men in this part of the state who enjoys this universal esteem and appreciation, and he has won it by his capacity as a physician and surgeon and the fidelity with which he devotes his time and attain- ments to the service of the people. He made thorough preparation for his professional work and entered upon it well qualified for all its probable exactions. Then he has been studious, observant and reflective during his practice, always alert for the reception and assimilation of any hint given him by reading, experience or conference with others. His natural aptitude for the work he has chosen has, therefore, been developed and trained in the best school, the one which a mind eager and inquiring keeps for itself.
Dr. Gooch was born at Browning, Linn county, Missouri, in 1871. His father, Henry Gooch, was born and reared in Kentucky and came to Missouri to live in 1856. He took up his residence on a farm he bought near the present town of Browning, and on that he passed the
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remainder of his days, energetically and profitably engaged in farm- ing and raising stock. In 1866 he was united in marriage with Miss Helen Robinson, who was also a native of Kentucky, where her fore- fathers, like those of her husband, lived for several generations. The union resulted in three children, all of whom are living: Loga, the wife of Sherman Hale, of Purdin, Missouri; May, the wife of Joseph Gibson, of Hillsdale, Uinta county, Wyoming, and Dr. Willard H. The mother died in 1896 and the father in 1905.
The Doctor grew to manhood in his native place, assisting his father on the farm and obtaining his education in the public schools and at Prairie Seminary. At the age of sixteen he became a school teacher. and after following that exacting but self-developing occupation for two years, turned his attention to mercantile pursuits, in which he passed three profitable years. While he sojourned in the realm of merchan- dising, in which he never intended to pass his life, he began the study of medicine, and when he was ready to give it his whole attention in tech- nical study, he quit trade and entered Barnes Medical University with his life work well in view and all his energies harnessed to the task of preparing for it. He was graduated with the degree of M. D. in 1898, then pursued a post-graduate course at the National College of Electro-Therapeutics in Indianapolis, Indiana, and another at Barnes University. During the latter he had valuable practical experience as an interne at the St. Louis City hospital.
In 1899 Dr. Gooch located at Elmer and began the practice of his profession. He has made his home at that town ever since and been one of the busiest men there. He has risen steadily in his profession, win- ning and holding the regard of his brethren in the same line of endeavor and the confidence and esteem of the whole people. His practice has grown to fine proportions and includes the best class of residents of the township and much of the surrounding country. He is active and pro- gressive in the affairs of the county, political, social and general, and takes a leading part in the fraternal life of the community. His political allegiance is given heartily to the Democratic party, which he serves faithfully and efficiently, and which has shown its appreciation of his services and its estimate of his worth and capacity by electing him coroner for four consecutive years, beginning in 1900, mayor of Elmer for three years, and a member of the board of village trustees, an office which he is still filling to the general satisfaction of the people of the town.
Fraternally the Doctor belongs to the Odd Fellows, the Woodmen of the World, the Modern Woodmen of America, the Yeomen and the
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Royal Neighbors. He is also an active and valned member of the Missouri, lowa and Illinois State Medical Associations. In 1892 he was married to Miss Lena Childress, who was born and reared in this state. They have two children, their danghters, Pearl and Bernice. Ten years of active practice have given Dr. Gooch prominence in his profession and an exalted place in the estimation of the people of Macon county. Yet it may properly be said that his career is only fairly begun. And as he is a progressive man, and keeps abreast with the most advanced thought in all departments of activity, and has high charac- ter and ability as the mainsprings of his aspirations, it is inevitable that his progress will steadily continue and that he is destined to be one of the most useful and eminent citizens of the state.
CHARLES A. MILLER.
The life of Charles A. Miller, one of the enterprising and successful farmers and stockmen of Morrow township, Macon county, is not an eventful one in the eyes of the world at large, but it has shown many lights and shades to him, and his career is wholly the work of his own energy, capacity and persistent industry. He was born on November 8. 1882, in Coshocton county, Ohio, and within the same year his father died at the early age of twenty-four, leaving his young wife with two infants to rear and provide for. The struggles of the family were ardnous and continued, but pluck was not lacking in the mother, and when the children grew to years of accountability they gave abundant evidence of the same spirit. They all worked their way forward and upward, holding all the ground they gained in the effort for advance- ment, and at length reached a position of comfort and independence in a worldly way and of consequence and importance in the esteem of the people around them.
The paternal grandfather, Levi Miller, was born and reared in Pennsylvania, and in his early manhood moved to Stark county, Ohio. There he took his place in the industries of the locality, devoting his life mainly to farming. There also his son Charles A., the father of the subject of these paragraphs, was born, reared and educated, his life beginning in 1858. After leaving school he learned the trade of a miller and the remainder of his short life was passed in zealous atten- tion to its demands. He was married in 1879 to Elizabeth Mizer, of Ohio, who is now living with her son Charles. They had two children. both of whom are living, their daughter Kate, who is now the wife of Dr. Allen, of Cairo, Missouri, and their son Charles A. The father died, as has been stated, in 1882.
HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY
Charles A. Miller was brought by his grandfather, William Mizer, to Missouri at the age of six years and grew to manhood in this county. He attended the district schools of Morrow township in his boyhood and youth, assisting in the work on his grandfather's farm while doing so and for some years after leaving school. When he reached his major- ity, or soon afterward, he set up for himself as a farmer, and in this line of action, coupled with raising live-stock, he has ever since been profit- ably engaged. He began practically with nothing and now owns 160 acres of excellent land, all of which is under cultivation and yielding abundantly in response to his faith as a husbandman and the energetic and skillful labor he bestows upon it. He is young in years, but the lessons of experience have ripened in him early and he is wise beyond his age. For he studies his business with a view to securing the best results from his efforts, and is enjoying the fruits of his enterprise in a substantial and increasing prosperity and the general regard and good will of the community around him, in which he is universally looked upon as a first rate farmer, an excellent citizen and a thoroughly representative man.
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