USA > Missouri > Macon County > General history of Macon County, Missouri > Part 94
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Their son, Willis, grew to manhood on the parental homestead and obtained his education also in the public schools. Then, following in his father's course in another way, he began the farming operations which have been his chief occupation ever since. In connection with them, he has carried on an extensive and flourishing business in raising stock and shipping it to the eastern markets. He owns and cultivates something over 120 acres of land, and, in its state of advanced improve- ment, its manifest fertility and its generally clean and attractive appear- ance, his farm does him great credit and fully justifies his reputation as an excellent and very enterprising farmer who knows what to do to seenre the best results, and does it.
In 1904 Mr. MeNeal took on another engagement which has added greatly to his cares and labors, but which in return for the additional burden it laid upon him has brought him popularity and prominence as a merchant and given a considerable increase to his revenues and resources. In that year he entered the hardware trade as a retailer with J. H. Montgomery as a partner, and during the last five years they have together conducted one of the most complete and satisfactory hardware stores in this part of the state.
The fraternal life of the community has enlisted Mr. MeNeal's interest in an engrossing way and he has shown his devotion to it by active membership for many years in the orders of Woodmen and Yeo- men. In polities he is a pronounced Republican, and, while neither an office-seeker nor an active partisan, he is loyal to his party and renders it good service in a quiet but effective way. He was married in 1901 to Miss Rose Montgomery, of this county. They have one child, their daughter, Letha, who is the hope and promise of the house and
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a general favorite with the numerous friends of her parents who make their home a center of social life and enjoyment as the inmates have made it popular and locally distinguished as a center of genuine and generous hospitality.
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WILLIAM J. RICHARDSON.
The son of two of Macon county's venerated pioneers, and himself subjected to many of the privations and. dangers of a newly settled country, William J. Richardson, one of the prosperous and progressive farmers of Round Grove township, is well prepared to realize and rejoice in the improvement and progress of the county from the state in which he first knew it to its present advanced development. And if his modesty did not forbid he might also feel satisfaction over his own part in bringing about the great and gratifying change. As it is, he rejoices in having had the opportunity to contribute, even in a small way, as he may think, to what has been achieved.
Mr. Richardson was born in the township in which he now resides on September 21, 1852, and is a son of James and Jane (Grimes) Rich- ardson, natives of Virginia, who came to Missouri and settled in Macon county in 1834. They were reared and educated in their native state, where the father was born in 1805, and were married there in 1832. Buoyed up with high hopes, and of a disposition to dare anything in the discharge of duty, the young couple, after passing two years of their married life in the neighborhood of their parental homesteads, deter- mined to cast their lot in the distant West, where the boundless oppor- tunities of life were as yet almost untouched. Nor did they hesitate because the experiment they were about to try was full of peril, and embodied a surrender of nearly everything they had been accustomed to in the way of comfort and social enjoyment. They believed in them- selves, and in the end they found their faith fully justified. On arriv- ing in this county the husband entered 160 acres of government land in what is now Round Grove township, and on this he passed the remain- der of his days, gradually breaking it up and improving it until it became a very fruitful, well-improved and valuable farm, yielding good har- vests and other profitable returns for the labor bestowed upon it and providing all the comforts of a good country home. On this farm the father died in 1877, after rearing a family to enrich the county and spending forty-three years of faithful industry upon it. He and his wife were the parents of seven children, but three of whom are living at this time. They are Jack J., a resident of Macon county; M. D., who lives in Kansas City, Missouri; and the interesting subject of these
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paragraphs. The father was a Democrat in politics and took an active part in local and general political work. He died at the age of seventy- two, with general recognition of his worth and estimable qualities as a citizen from all who knew him attending him to his last earthly resting place.
William J. Richardson obtained a limited education in the prim- itive country schools of his boyhood and youth, going to school in the winter and working on his father's farm during the rest of the year. After leaving school he continued to work on the farm and assist the family until 1876. During the next two years he farmed rented land on his own account in this county, and at the end of that period went to Kansas, where he remained one year. Returning to Macon county, he passed another summer on the homestead, and during the twelve succeeding years was located at Clarence and engaged in teaming and other occupations. In 1897 he came back once more to this county and bought eighty acres of land, on which he has ever since carried on a flourishing industry in farming and raising stock.
On June 9, 1876, Mr. Richardson was married to Miss Sarah C. Graves, a daughter of William R. and Permelia Graves, highly respected citizens of Macon county, and numbered among its most wor- thy and progressive people. Ten children were born to this marriage and five of them are living: Permelia, the wife of Ira Barton of this county ; Mamie, the wife of Geo. W. Bogart of Kansas City, Missouri; and New- ton, Nazo and Cuba, all of whom are still members of the parental household. Following the political principles in which he was trained at home, and with his convictions strengthened and established by his own reading, reflection and observation, Mr. Richardson is a staunch and zealous Democrat, working in all campaigns for the success of his party, and at all times helping to guide it forward in straight lines of integrity and fidelity to duty. In religious affiliation he and his wife are earnest and active working members of the Christian church, seek- ing by all means at their command to promote its welfare and enlarge its usefulness. In social life they stand high, and in a general way they are everywhere esteemed for their enterprise, usefulness and elevated citizenship, which has been helpful both in its own activity and in the forces for good it has awakened and set in motion in others.
JOHN W. MeGHEE.
With good blood of old Virginia coursing through his veins, and with immediate ancestors, in the persons of his parents and grand- parents, who dared the dangers of the wilderness and endured the hard
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conditions of frontier life, as high examples for imitation in heroic undertaking and achievement, John W. McGhee, one of the leading citi- zens of Middlefork township, Macon county, when he entered upon the stage of action, had every incentive to diligence and daring that the - historic renown of his ancestral state and family records could give him, and he has not contemplated their suggestions in vain, or in a superficial manner.
Mr. MeGhee was born in the township of his present home on Jan- uary 20, 1861, and is a son of Joseph A. and Martha (Harris) MeGhee, natives of Smith county, Virginia, where, also, his grandfather, Wyatt McGhee, was born and reared, and where the families from which he is descended lived and flourished for many generations. The father was born in 1812 and was brought to Missouri by his parents when he was but a boy. The family located in Boone county and lived there until 1833. In that year Joseph A. McGhee attained his majority and moved to Pettis county to make his own way in the world. He became a farmer, following the occupation to which he had been trained on the parental homestead, and continued his operations in Pettis county until 1850. In that year the gold fever struck him hard, and he went with others across the trackless waste to California, making the trip with ox teams and meeting with many interesting and some thrilling adven- tures on the way. During the next three years he mined and teamed in California with success and profit, then returned to Missouri and bought a farm in Macon county on which he passed the remainder of his life.
For nearly thirty years he carried on a prosperous industry in farming his land, raising live stock, and doing the other things which pertained to what he had in hand, making steady progress in sub- stantial acquisitions and maintaining himself well in the regard and good will of the people all around him. He died in 1882, leaving a comfortable estate of 200 acres of land, well improved and highly culti- vated, and as the better heritage for his heirs, an excellent reputation and a stimulating example of duties well performed and long years of usefulness wisely and profitably employed.
In politics he was a pronounced and active Democrat, and in church relations he and his wife were zealous working members of the Southern Methodist Episcopal sect. They were prominent in the congregation to which they belonged and could always be relied on to do their full share in the promotion of any worthy enterprise undertaken by it. The mother's maiden name was Martha Harris. She was of the same nativity as her husband. They became the parents of nine children.
PHILIP GANSZ
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Five of these are living: Sarah Elizabeth, the wife of H. C. Wine of this county; John W., of whom these paragraphs are written prin- cipally; Amie J., the wife of Finis Tedford of Clarence, Missouri; and Austin H. and Walter G., both residents of Macon county.
John W. MeGhee obtained his education in the district schools of Macon county and worked on the home place until the death of his father. He then continued to carry on the farm on his own account, engaging extensively in its operations and raising live stock in con- siderable numbers, until 1901. In that year he moved to Hannibal, where he remained four years working in the railroad shops, having sold his interest in the farm and its products.
Returning to Macon county in 1905, he again turned his attention to agricultural pursuits and the live stock industry, and they have ocenpied him extensively ever since. He was married on February 28, 1900, to Miss Emma L. Overstreet, whose father, H. Overstreet, is one of the leading farmers and prominent men of this county, where she was born and reared. Mr. and Mrs. McGhee have had three chil- dren and two of them are living, their daughter Martha May and their son John Wesley, both of whom are still with their parents and attending school. The father always takes an active part in political campaigns and does what he can to enforce his convictions by the triumph of his party. He is a firm and zealous Democrat of the work- ing kind, and is regarded as a wheelhorse in the organization and one of the reliable forces in its every emergency. In religions affiliation he and his wife are connected with the Christian church, in which both are earnest workers and highly appreciated as such in the congregation to which they belong. They stand well in the township, being regarded as among its most worthy and estimable citizens.
PHILIP C. GANSZ.
Among the forces that are most potential and serviceable in building up. developing and improving a community, directing its mental, moral, social and political agencies along wholesome lines of progress, and leading public sentiment through right channels to large results. a good live, clean and well conducted newspaper holds a position of com- manding importance. Its influence is strong and healthful, it is at all times alive to the best interests of the region in which it is published, and it is alert and forceful in pointing out what is wrong and com- mending what is right in the active or projected enterprises in its com- munity, and generally contributing to the publie weal in many ways of great moment.
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Such a paper is the Macon Republican, the leading Republican newspaper in Northeastern Missouri, which is published in the city of Macon. It is owned and edited by Philip C. Gansz, and its high tone as a newspaper, excellence as a family journal and force and influence as a political party organ, indicate in an impressive way the character and attainments of the gentleman who is at the head of it. We have the sanction of Holy Writ for the assurance that men are known by their works, and all human experience confirms the dictum of the sacred writer. Applying this test, with the Macon Republican as our source of information, the conclusion must be inevitable that Mr. Gansz is a first rate citizen and a man of great usefulness in the city and county of his home.
Mr. Gansz was born at Palmyra, Marion county, Missouri, on November 1, 1857, and is a son of Carl and Mary (Kochler) Gansz, the former a native of Bavaria and the latter of the little province of Waldeck farther north, but both in the German empire. The father came to the United States in his carly manhood, arriving in 1851. He came West and located at Palmyra, after having visited Chicago, St. Paul and other cities, finding this part of the country agreeable to his desires and promising to his hopes. At Palmyra, also, he learned his trade as a stonemason, and there he worked at it industriously until his death on September 7, 1882. His marriage with Mary Koehler occurred at Palmyra in 1856. His widow is still living at the age of seventy- two years, residing in Macon. They were the parents of four sons and four daughters, six of the eight being still alive and actively engaged in useful industries. During the Civil war, or the earlier portion of it, the father was a member of the Home Guards on the Union side of the great conflict.
Philip C. Gansz was the first born child in the family of his parents. He was reared at Palmyra and obtained his education in its public schools and at St. Paul's College, attending school until he reached the age of thirteen. He then learned the stonemason trade under the direction and instruction of his father, and for ten years worked at it with diligence. But there was a genius within him for something more intellectual than mechanical pursuits, and he found its commanding voice irresistible. On January 1, 1883, in association with M. P. Drummond, he founded the Marion County Herald, with which he was connected until 1890.
In the year last named he bought the Macon Republican, and he is still its owner, editor and manager. He has enlarged the paper, greatly increased its circulation and elevated its tone and standing.
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It is now the leading and most influential Republican newspaper in Northeastern Missouri, as has been noted, and is esteemed as one of the most ereditable productions of this portion of the state, being bright, newsy, up-to-date and edited with ability and good judgment iu general, and very forcible and uncompromising in its political character.
Mr. Gansz was married on November 27, 1891, to Miss Jessie Wil- son, a daughter of Major and Mrs. Samuel J. Wilson of Macon. Mr. and Mrs. Gansz have no children of their own, but have an adopted daughter, Miss Jessie Collett, whom they are rearing and educating with every consideration for her lasting welfare. Mr. Gansz belongs to the Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias and the Order of Elks frater- nally, and he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church. He is an elder in the congregation to which they belong and a teacher in its Sunday-school.
It should be stated that Mr. Gansz has other interests in the busi- ness life of Macon besides his newspaper. He is a stockholder in the McCall Manufacturing company of the city and one of its directors, and connected with other institutions of valne to the community, among them the Macon Building and Loan Association, of which he has been a director for fifteen years. He is a gentleman of great enterprise and progressiveness and has been a leading spirit in all that has made Macon the advancing, prominent and influential city it is, doing all in his power for its growth and improvement, and the development and strengthening of its moral, intellectual and social institutions. He served as mayor in 1896 and 1897, and is now serving his second term as a member of the school board. His services to the city have been great and of a high order, and that they are appreciated is shown by the universal esteem in which he is held by the people here and the popularity he enjoys wherever he is known.
JAMES H. MONTGOMERY.
As a farmer and dealer in live stock of extensive operations in both fields of enterprise, as a Inmber merchant and leading hardware and farming implement dispenser, and as a high-toned and pro- gressive citizen, James H. Montgomery of Gifford in Easeley town- ship has for many years been known and universally acknowledged as a leading and representative man in Macon county, worthy of the highest regard from the people and enjoying it in full measure. Almost the whole of his life to the present time (1900) has been passed among
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them and his career is creditable alike to him and to them, and has been beneficial to both.
Mr. Montgomery is not a native of Maeon county or the state of Missouri, but he has lived in the state from the time when he was two years old and is therefore, in feelings, aspirations and local patriotism, to all intents and purposes, a Missourian. He was reared in the state, educated in its public schools, married into two of its prominent and influential families, and has condneted all his undertakings as parts of its productive activities. He was born at Fincastle, Indiana, in 1855, and came with his parents to this state in 1857. His parents, George and Catherine (Fosher) Montgomery, were also aliens to the state by nativity, the father having been born in Kentucky and the inother in Indiana. But the former became a resident of Missouri and passed the remainder of his days in active and appreciated service to its people, and the latter is still living in Linn county, where she has long had her home.
On his arrival in this state the father located at Brookfield in Linn county, and there engaged in farming and feeding and raising stock. He was successful in his business, and as he always took an earn- est interest and active part in public affairs, he rose to consequence in the official life in every locality in which he lived. He was county tax collector of Linn county for four years, and was on the school boards of that county and Macon county at different times for many years. In 1884 he moved to this county, and here repeated the admirable features of his activity in Linn county. He served as county judge for eight years or longer, and was universally esteemed by the people, without regard to class or station in life or to party or church con- nections. He was himself a Democrat of strong convictions and great energy and influence in the councils and contests of his party, and as a man and citizen stood everywhere in the very first rank. His death occurred in March, 1893. His widow and his mother are still living in Linn county. He and his wife were the parents of five children. Four of them grew to maturity and three are now living, James, Jacob and George.
James H. Montgomery grew to manhood on his father's Linn county farm and obtained his education in the country schools in the neighborhood. He began life for himself as a farmer and stock man and he is still engaged in these fruitful and important industries, although he has also made an admirable record and career as a mer- chant. His landed estate embraces over 2,000 acres of first rate land, and except what is given up to grazing purposes, the greater part of
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the whole tract is under advanced cultivation. In his cattle industry he specializes in shorthorn cattle of superior strains and has a high reputation in the markets for the excellence of his output.
In 1905, in association with his son-in-law, Willis A. MeNeal, a sketeh of whom will be found in this work, he started an enterprise in the lumber trade under the firm name of Montgomery and Company, and before the year was out the firm became also dealers in hardware and farm implements. It is still in active operation and carrying on a steadily increasing business with each snecession of the seasons. Mr. Montgomery is also a stockholder and director of the Winigan State Bank and the Farmers' Exchange Bank of Gifford, in addition he con- duets a flourishing and profitable concrete plant of good proportions and with a large and active trade.
Mr. Montgomery is a Republican in his political convictions and allegiance and, although he is not what is called an active partisan, he gives his party loyal support and seeks its advantage in all proper ways that are quiet and unobtrusive. He has been a member of the school board for more than twenty years, and has shown great zeal and progressiveness in behalf of the schools, contributing both breadth of view and enterprise to their management, and leading them steadily to higher standards of excellence. He is connected with the fraternal life of the community by membership in the Order of Modern Woodmen of America, and with its religious forces by his activity and energy in behalf of the Methodist church, to which he has belonged for many years.
In 1879 Mr. Montgomery was united in marriage with Miss Clara S. Dean, whose father and grandfather were prominent in the public and social life of Canada and who was born in that country herself. They had four children: Rosa, the wife of Willis A. MeNeal; Homer; Harry, the cashier of the Farmers' Exchange Bank of Gifford; and Mabel. . The mother of these children died on July 1, 1897, and in 1901, the father chose a second wife, Miss May Rice, a native of Macon county, whose parents were also native Missourians. Macon county has no better citizens than the members of the Montgomery family, and none for whom the people of the county have a higher regard or a more universal and well-founded admiration.
V
HARVEY S. EASELEY.
Born and reared in the township which bears his name, and which was given to it in honor of his grandfather, one of the revered pioneers of the county, Harvey E. Easeley has cause to be warmly attached to
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the locality of his home, and to feel an abiding interest in its progress. improvement and substantial welfare in every way. That he has this feeling he has shown by his services in its behalf and the credit he has reflected on it by his upright, manly and serviceable citizenship, and by the fine example he has given of the enterprise, capacity and progressiveness of its people.
Mr. Easeley's life began in November, 1877, and he is a son of Henry C. and Rebecca (Grigsby) Easeley, natives also of Macon county, and for many years numbered among its most useful and progressive residents. They were married in 1874 and had two children, their son Harvey S. and their daughter Rosa May, who is now the wife of Alonzo Gash of this county. The father was a farmer during the whole of his mature life and one of prominence and influence. He took a lead- ing part in local public affairs, as his father had done before him, and gave loyal and very effective support to the principles and candidates of the Democratic party. He served the township well as school director for many years, and in reference to all other public interests was a man of great force, activity and energy. He died on December 10, 1905. The mother is still living and is now the wife of Alexander Robinson.
Harvey S. Easeley grew to manhood on his father's farm, which, like that of his grandfather, was a kind of rallying place for the whole countryside when anything involving the welfare of the township was to be considered. By this means he became well acquainted with the people of the region early in life and acquired a good knowledge of their aspirations, tendencies and the springs of action which impelled them. He also gained an intimate knowledge of the township and clear views of its needs with some insight into its possibilities in the way of devel- opment. This knowledge was a large part of his early education, and the most important part. The scholastic training he got was begun in the public schools and completed at a good college, which he attended several terms.
When he left school the wide world opened before him with its multitudinous avenues to success and consequences, around him were the scenes and associations of his boyhood and youth, with their invit- ing pleasures, and upon him was the responsibility created by the examples and records of his forefathers, two generations of whom had done well and reached distinction where he was born. The wide open world, as he regarded it, and the tame and eventful life around him. as it seemed to him to be, both had their allurement, and his inherited responsibility was the same in both. It was difficult for him to choose
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