USA > Missouri > Macon County > General history of Macon County, Missouri > Part 85
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After the close of the war the patriot returned to his Wisconsin home, and there resumed his farming operations and other industries. pursuing them in quiet and contentment until the more momentous and bloody war cloud of 1861 burst with all its fury over our unhappy country. He did not, however, join in the sectional strife, but kept on farming in Wisconsin until 1867. He then sold his property in that state and moved his family to Missouri, which, released by the result of the civil strife from the erstwhile disturbing factors of sec- tional feeling and predatory border warfare, gave promise of the power, wealth and consequence to which the state has since attained. On his arrival in this state Mr. Mapes bought land in Macon county which he ocenpied and improved, and on which he conducted a thriving indus- try in farming and raising stock until his death in 1879. He was mar- ried in 1854 to Miss Catherine Scott, a native of Pennsylvania, and by this union became the father of six children, Walter S. being the young- est of the four now living, who are: George E., a resident of this county: Nellie, the wife of William Jenkins; Elmer I., who also lives in Macon county, and Walter S. In polities the father was an ardent Democrat, firmly grounded in the principles of his party and devoted to
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its welfare. He was active in its service and esteemed by both its leaders and its rank and file, as he was by all classes of the people among whom he lived and labored.
Walter S. Mapes shared the destiny of other boys reared like him in this part of the country when he grew to manhood, working on his father's farm in Ten Mile township and, when he had opportunity. attending the district school most convenient to his home. He remained with his parents, assisting in the work on the farm and helping to increase their prosperity until 1885. He was then nineteen years of age, but had a man's spirit of determination and a True American's courage. He therefore decided to take up the burden of life for himself, and to this end bought forty acres of land on time, on which he at once began the career as a farmer and breeder of superior live-stock which has given him consequence in a material way and reputation and high standing in the community around him as a citizen. He started with nothing but his personal qualifications and the spirit of unyielding persisteney which he has always shown, and now owns and profitably cultivates 140 acres of land, which, with its improvements, constitutes one of the best farms in the township. On this farm, which responds readily to his skilful treatment, he also raises munbers of fine cattle and hogs, feeding for the Eastern markets about sixty head of cattle every year and a proportionate number of hogs.
Mr. Mapes was married on Christmas day, 1885, to Miss Margaret A. Sharp, a daughter of William P. and Mary A. (Grisham) Sharp, prominent residents of this county. One child has blessed the union, a daughter named Jemie, whose presence still helps to brighten and warm the family hearthstone. The father takes an active part in polit- ical affairs as a Democrat, rendering his party valued service in all its contests and seeking by all the means at his command to promote its enduring welfare. He is also prominent and energetic in the fra- ternal life of the community as a member of the Order of Modern Woodmen of America and the Order of Royal Neighbors. Ilis religious connection is with the Methodist Episcopal church, and his wife's with the Baptist organization. Both stand well in the regard of the people and richly deserve the general esteem bestowed upon them.
JOSEPHI ALBERT HIBLER.
While it cannot he said that the lines of life for Joseph Albert Hibler, of Ten Mile township, in this county, have been very severe, or that his discipline has been one of adversity and disaster, it cannot be denied that he has performed well his part in every relation with his
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fellow-men and employed his time and energies industriously and profit- ably. He is still on the sunny side of fifty and has risen by his merit and sterling traits of character to a position of influence among the people of his township, and by his skill and progressiveness in farming and raising good live-stock has reached the front rank among the agri- culturists and stock-breeders of the county which has been the seat of his operations.
Mr. Hibler was born at Tolona, Lewis county, Missouri, on Sep- tember 18, 1866. He is a grandson of Samuel Hihler, a native of Penn- sylvania, and a son of Allen and Susan E. (Weatherly) Hibler, natives of Missouri, the former born in St. Louis in 1839, and the latter in Lewis county. The father grew to manhood and was educated in his native city. On coming of age in 1860 he moved to Macon county and took up his residence in Ten Mile township. Here he bought land on which he lived and carried on a flourishing farming industry until the beginning of the Civil war. Warmly devoted to the Union and eager for its preservation, he enlisted early in the federal army under Captain Warner, of Maeon City, in whose command he served to the close of the momentous conflict. After the war he located in Lewis county, and there he was energetically and profitably engaged in farm- ing and raising stock until 1895, when he sold his possessions in that county and thereafter made his home with his son Joseph, living a retired life until his death on February 14, 1905.
The father was married in 1860 to Miss Susan E. Weatherly, of Lewis county, and they became the parents of six children, three of whom are living, Joseph Albert and his brothers, Henry L., of Macon county, and George A., of Minneapolis. In polities their father was an active working Demoerat and in religious allegiance a member of the Baptist church. His beliefs on all vital subjects were based on exten- sive reading, observation and reflection, and he held to them as with the tug of gravitation. His life was busy, useful and upright. and he had the high respect of everybody who knew him or his record.
Joseph A. Hibler obtained his education in the public schools of his native place and the high school at Maywood, in Lewis county. being graduated from that institution in 1887. After his graduation his father gave him eighty acres of land in Ten Mile township, this county, and he at once took up his residence here, giving his whole energy to cultivating and improving his farm and increasing his trade in cattle and other live-stock. To these industries he has steadily adhered with augmenting profits over since, adding to his domain as the years passed and he flourished. He now has 22212 acres of good
JESSE M. MILLER
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land, the greater part of which is under cultivation. In association with William White he is also interested in breeding high class jacks, in which their operations are extensive and profitable. Four years ago they bought the prize jaek at the St. Joseph fair, which enabled them to keep up and even raise the high standard of their product.
Mr. Hibler was married on August 29, 1899, to Miss Oro N. MeNess, a daughter of Samuel P. and Lydia L. (Cox) MeNess, prominent resi- dents of this county. Of the two children born of this marriage only one, a dangliter named Grace, is living. Her father is active in the public, social and fraternal life of the community, and one of its most popular and influential men. He is a Democrat in politics. hold- ing firm faith in the principles of his party and serving it loyally and effectively in all its campaigns, local, state and national. He served as secretary of the county Democratic committee under Hon. Benjamin Franklin, who was for many years a leading member of the United State House of Representatives. Fraternally he belongs to the Order of Elks, the Odd Fellows, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Order of Royal Neighbors. His wife is a devoted and serviceable member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Successful in business, prominent in social circles, influential in public affairs, and meeting the requirements of every relation in a manly, straightforward and accept- able manner, it is no wonder that Mr. Hibler is taken as a representative man of the county and has the universal regard and good will of its citizens of all classes.
JESSE MARION MILLER.
Although a native of Randolph county, in this state, Jesse M. Mil- ler, of Bevier township, has passed almost the whole of his life to this time in Macon county and been connected with its industrial, mercan- tile, social and publie life for many years. He was born on February 16, 1835, and the next year came with his parents to this county, in which he has had his home ever since. Ilis parents were born in Wayne county, Kentucky, the father in 1812, and the mother a year or two later. They came to Missouri in the early day with their parents, and as they grew to maturity became parts of the conquering and civilizing force that was redeeming the wilderness from the waste and making it fragrant with the flowers and rich in the fruits of systematic cultivation.
Mr. Miller is a son of Jolm and Malinda (Mundle) Miller, and a grandson of Jesse Miller, all Kentuckians by birth and inherited traits of character. The father was brought to Missouri by his parents a lit- tle before reaching manhood, and at once took his place in the arduous
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struggle for existence incident to frontier life. The family located in Randolph county, near Huntsville. where the father took up land and devoted all the energies available to hin to farming and raising live- stoek. In 1836 he moved to Macon county, and, securing a good tract of land here, he passed the remainder of his life on it, pursuing the same industries that had engaged his attention from his boyhood, dying on August 18, 1874, universally esteemed and leaving a comfort- able estate as the result of his enterprise and business capacity. He was prominent in the early life of the county, bearing his full share of the burden of founding and establishing its political institutions and occupying a leading place in social eireles and the regard of the people.
The parents of Jesse M. Miller were married in 1834 and had eight children, all of whom are living but two. Those living are : JJesse M., the first born: Lucinda, the widow of John Gates, who lives in Macon City; and Martin, James P., John W., and David A., all resi- dents of this county. The father was a Democrat in politics and a mem- ber of the Christian church in religious affiliation. He was zealous in the service of both his party and his church, and attentive to every duty in life. In business he showed a strong combination of industry, thrift and ability, and the inevitable results of such a combination under ordinary circumstances, beginning his struggle with almost nothing and accumulating a good estate. And as a citizen he had all the pro- gressiveness and energy the times required, and used his faculties to their limit for the good of all the people.
Jesse M. Miller obtained his education in the country schools of his boyhood and youth, with their log houses, slab benches, limited curricu- lum and other primitive conditions. While attending school he was obliged, as soon as he was old and strong enough, to take his place among the workmen on the farm, and after he reached the end of his course of study he still remained at home and assisted the family until 1856. He was then of age and desired to set up in a productive industry for himself. His father gave him eighty acres of land, and on that he founded a home and made it a nuelens of his present holdings of 260 acres. His farm is now well improved and has long responded liber- ally to the persuasive hand of systematie husbandry, and he has used his profits to advantage, becoming one of the substantial and leading farmers in the township. At one time he owned and cultivated 500 acres, but he has recently divided a portion of his land among his children. He also. for many years, engaged extensively in raising stock, being one of the leading shippers in the township, and command- ing high prices for his output because of the excellent condition in which
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it was delivered to the dealers, owing to the care and good judgment with which it was tended on his farm. During this period his principal interest centered in cattle, but at this time he deals only in mules.
Mr. Miller's marriage occurred on May 28, 1856, when he was united with Cassendany Summers, a daughter of Nineveh and Jane (Gilstrop) Summers, natives of Wayne county, Kentucky, and early settlers in Missouri and Macon county. Three of the five children born of this union are living and all are residents of this county. They are Rufus B .. an enterprising and prosperous farmer; Minnie, the wife of A. S. Neal, of College Mound, and Irving, whose home is at Callao.
In political affairs Mr. Miller trains with the Democratic party and is no laggard in his devotion to its welfare or his work in its behalf. He is always to be counted on for all he can do to bring suc- cess to its candidates, although he has never sought any of the honors or emoluments of political office for himself. He belongs to the Chris- tian church and is now one of the elders of the congregation in which he holds his membership. His wife has been a member of this sect and an active worker in its service for more than fifty years. Both have passed the limit of human life as fixed by the sacred writer, yet they are hale and vigorous, and enjoying the sunset of their long day of toil and trial, secure against adversity and resting firmly on the respect and regard of all the people among whom they have passed nearly all their years, by whom their good works are highly appreciated.
JAMES E. WARNER.
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The live-stock industry of this country, which employs an immense number of persons, and ministers to a universal want at home and abroad, secured a firm foothold in northeastern Missouri at an early day and has never lost its importance there. All the farmers in that section of the state are engaged in it, according to their resources and facilities, and it has been a great element in the industrial, mer- cantile and commerical life of the people. Among the farmers of Macon county who are largely and successfully engaged in this industry. none is more renowned for the quality of his productions or carries on his business on a loftier plane than James E. Warner, of Round Grove township.
Mr. Warner was born in Ten Mile township, this county, on Novem- ber 21, 1866. He is a son of Nicholas B. and a grandson of Henry Warner, the former a native of Montgomery county, Ohio, and the lat- ter of Pennsylvania. The grandfather transplanted in the wilder- ness of Ohio the habits of industry and thrift he had acquired in his
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native state, where every craft known among men is in operation. and they grew and flourished there in rich returns for their every exer- cise. While he was yet a young man he moved into St. Joseph county, Indiana, and there he passed the residue of his life actively and profit- ably engaged in farming.
Nicholas B. Warner, the father of James E., came into being on October 14, 1826, and, while he was vet a boy, took part in one move of the family in the wake of the setting sun. He attended the coun- try schools near his Indiana home, remaining with his parents until he came of age, when he, too, took a flight westward with the course of empire, locating in Missouri in 1847, and taking up his residence in Macon county. He secured a tract of government land, and, breaking up this basis of his prosperity and developing it into a comfortable home as the years passed, he dwelt on it energetically occupied in till- ing the soil and raising cattle until 1902, when the weight of years induced him to retire from active work and sell his farm. He had increased it to 320 aeres, and brought the whole tract to an advanced state of development and high improvement. When he retired as a farmer he moved to Macon City, where he has ever since maintained his home.
The elder Mr. Warner was married to Miss Eliza Jane Garwood, of Indiana, and they became the parents of ten children, seven of whom are living; Mary A., the wife of Jolm Grissom, of Macon City; Charles W., a resident of this county; Ella May, the wife of E. I. Hagan, of Macon City; Elmer E., who lives in California ; Frank W., a prosperous citizen of the new state of Oklahoma ; James E., of Round Grove town- ship, this county; and Alvah N., whose home is in New Mexico. The Republican party meets all the father's requirements in political affairs and he supports it warmly. In religious affiliation he is connected with the Methodist Episcopal church and one of the zealous working mem- bers of the congregation to which he belongs. His wife died in Feb- ruary, 1902.
James E. Warner's experience as a boy and youth was like that of thousands of others in the great West. He grew to manhood on his father's farm, attended the country schools in the neighborhood of his home, and when he quit going to school, gave his whole attention to the farm work, as he had previously done between the terms of his teach- ing. He has passed the whole of his life so far in this county and has never veered from the pursuits of his ancestors. Starting in life as a farmer, when he took up its burdens for himself, he has adhered to the vocation of his first choice and has found it profitable. For he
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has followed it with industry, skill and excellent judgment, keeping himself in touch with its progress and conducting his operations accord- ing to the spirit of the times. He farms extensively and also raises superior breeds of driving horses and high grade mules, which are his special delight. He is also famous for the fine quality of Poland- China hogs which he produces in large numbers.
Mr. Warner was married on March 4, 1891, to Miss Alice C. Cross- ing, a daughter of John and Margaret (Dillon) Crossing, well known residents of this county for many years. They were natives of Scotland and Ireland, respectively. He is a Republican in politics, and, as his convictions are based on study and reflection, he holds to them firmly and seeks to enforce them in the government of the state and nation by aiding in every way he can the cause of his party. Fraternally he belongs to the Order of Modern Woodmen of America, and in church relations he is an Episcopal Methodist. Mr. Warner and his wife stand high in the township and county and are worthy of the general esteem in which they are held.
GEORGE A. WENDT.
The interesting subject of this brief memoir, George A. Wendt, of Keota, has been so faithful in the performance of every duty. and has shown such superior intelligence and business capacity, that, although he is but twenty-five years of age, he has risen to a position of great responsibility and importance in the employ of one of the leading industrial institutions in this part of the state. He has filled this position during the last three years, and his record in it is altogether to his eredit, showing that he has met its requirements in a masterly way and greatly to the advantage of the interests he has in charge.
Mr. Wendt is of German ancestry, his grandfather, Adolph Wendt, having been born and reared in the Fatherland, whence he came to this country in his early manhood. He found a home in the New World at Bunker Hill, Illinois, and there his son Otto was born in 1858. The son grew to manhood in the place of his birth, obtaining a slender edneation in the public schools and beginning operations for himself at an early age in the mines of the neighborhood. In 1880 he was joined in marriage with Miss Frederica Klein, who lived near Bunker Ilill, and they became the parents of three children, George A., his brother Walter and his sister Cordelia, all living now in this county. In 1891 the family moved to Missouri and located at Keota. The father continued to work in the mines at that place and Ardmore until 1907, when he retired from active pursuits. In politics he is a Republican,
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firmly grounded in the principles of his party and loyal in his support of it at all times.
George A. Wendt is also a native of Bunker Hill, Illinois, where he was born on April 17, 1884. He came with his parents to this county when he was a lad of seven years. He attended the public schools in Bevier when he had opportunity and made good nse of his time and facilities, mastering all that was taught in the schools he went to and acquiring a good fund of general information from reading and reflec- tion besides. When he left school lie secured a position as clerk in the office of the Murlon Coal Company of Bevier, which he filled acceptably until 1906. In that year he was appointed agent at Keota for the Central Coal and Coke Company, being selected for this important position on account of the ability and fidelity he had exhibited in his other place.
During his oeenpaney of the latter position, which is one of great exactions and responsibility, he has done everything in his power to justify the confidence which led to his appointment to it, and it is need- less to say that in this effort he has fully sneceeded. The interests of the company in this part of the state have been carefully looked after and promoted by him, nothing being overlooked or neglected that could minister to its advantage or increase its prosperity and reputation. The business world all around him esteems him highly and the people gen- erally hold him in the greatest respect. He is a young man of fine progressiveness and considerable breadth of view, and feeling an abid- ing interest in the welfare of the community in which he lives, he has been potential in helping to build up and further its development and improvement. On September 8, 1908, he was married to Miss Jennie Davis, a daughter of Jolm J. Davis, one of the leading citizens of Bevier. In political affairs Mr. Wendt renders allegiance to the Republican party and takes an active interest in its campaigns. Fraternally he is allied with the Order of Elks and the Modern Woodmen of America.
CHARLES WIETE.
In all the multitude of occupations open to men in this land of great opportunity and boundless variety of industry, Charles White of Keota chose wisely in his youth by selecting one of construction, and he has been wise, also, in sticking to it and making the most of the chances it has brought him. His ocenpation has been in the line of his taste and his special capacity, and he has been very successful in it, rising
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to high rank among builders and acquiring a mastery of many kinds of work incident to his trade.
Mr. White was born in Oswego county, New York, on June 30, 1861. lfe is a son of Daniel and Betsy Ann (Corkins) White, the former a native of England and the latter of Oneida county, New York. The father came to this country a young man, and after tarrying for a short time in Ontario, Canada, located in Oswego county, New York. There he met with and married Miss Betsy Ann Corkins, and they became the parents of eleven children, three of whom have died. Those living are : Harriet, the wife of Julius Cottel of Oswego county, New York ; C. H., who lives in Schenectady, New York ; Loring, a resident of Rome, New York; Charles, the principal subject of this review; Cora, the wife of Henry Rheil of New York state; Isabelle, the wife of Miles Bryant of Syracuse, New York ; George, who is a citizen of Schenectady, like his brother C. H. ; and Herbert, whose home is in Rome, New York. Charles White obtained his education in the district schools of his native county, attending only until he reached the age of eleven years. For the circumstances of the family were such as to necessitate his doing something for himself as soon as he was able to work. His father was a farmer all his life, which ended in 1899, but adversities came his way and forced his children to forego the advantages of exten- sive schooling and go to work at the earliest possible age. Charles, boy though he was, worked on farms in the summer and at lumbering in the winter until 1883. He then came west and located in Mitchell county, Kansas, where one of his mother's brothers was living and the senior member of the firm of Corkins and Morris, contractors and builders. Under the direction of this firm Charles learned the trade of a carpenter and builder, remaining with the firm four years. By that time he had mastered every branch of the trade its members could teach him, and in 1887 he moved to Marceline, Linn county, just when it was beginning to develop into a town and required a great deal of enter- prise and facility in the way of building. There Mr. White found abundant opportunity for the employment of his mechanical judgment and ability, and he remained in the budding little municipal aspirant for enlarged power and quickened activities two years, putting up most of the new buildings required and aiding considerably in the development and growth of the place. In 1889 he moved to Brookfield in the same county, where he remained about one year.
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