USA > Missouri > Shelby County > General history of Shelby County, Missouri > Part 26
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WADE HAMPTON JONES.
This prominent and successful eitizen and business man of Shelbina is a native of Missouri. and in several towns in the state has exemplified the lofty attributes of citizenship for which its people are noted. He was born at Humphreys, in Sullivan county, on November 7, 1879. and is a son of Augustin and Rachel T. (Haley) Jones, both born and reared in this state. His grandfather, Gabriel Jones, was born in Virginia, and in 1831 came to Monroe county, Missouri, se- enring a farm near Clinton, where he was extensively engaged in farming and to- bacco growing. During the war he re- eruited a company in Sullivan county, where he moved in 1840, for the Union army, but did not enter the service him- self. He died in 1883 in Sullivan county.
The father of Wade H. Jones was for three years a merchant at Humphreys, and later gave his attention to farming and raising live stock on a large scale. He is now retired from active pursuits and living in peace and the enjoyment
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of a high and wide spread reputation for all that is worthy and commendable in manhood and citizenship at Shelbina. He no longer works as he did with vigor and unceasing industry for many years, but still retains his interest in his farm and live stock industry.
In 1869 he was united in marriage with Miss Rachel T. Haley, who was, like him- self, a native of Missouri. They had six children, five of whom are living: Gabriel, a resident of Denver, Colorado ; Charles A., who lives in Humphreys; William T., one of the prominent citi- zens of St. Louis: Susan A., the wife of J. H. Wood, of Shelbina. a sketch of whose life will be found in this work, and Wade H. Although he is known to the people of the present day mainly as a inan of peace and productive industry, he did not shirk what he conceived to be his duty when the political principles in which he believed were assailed with force and arms. When the Civil war be- gan to drench this unhappy country in fraternal blood he gave practical illus- tration to his faith by enlisting in the Union army in 1861, in Company C, 18th Missouri Volunteer Infantry and prepar- ing to offer up his life, if necessary, on the altar of his convictions. His service in the field of carnage was, however, soon ended. In the first year of the war he was so seriously injured that he was com- pelled to retire from the service and he was never thereafter able to resume his military post. He therenpon returned to his farm and stock breeding enterprise, and to them he devoted all the remaining years of his activity. He has been a life- long Democrat in politics, a Freemason of many years standing in fraternal life
and a zealous member of the Christian church in religions affiliation. He was a gentleman of great energy and activity during his years of business enterprise and very successful in everything he un- dertook.
His son, Wade Hampton Jones, who was named in honor of the distinguished South Carolina cavalry leader in the Civil war who conducted, at Gettysburg, one of the most daring charges in all military history, was reared on the pa- ternal homestead and obtained his edu- cation in the public schools, at the college at Humphreys and at the University of Missouri located at Columbia. After leaving the university he entered the banking business at Humphreys, where he remained a few years in successful use of his faculties according to his bent. In 1906 he moved to Galt, in Grundy county, and became cashier of the Galt State Bank in which he had acquired an interest. A few years later he sold his interests in the bank of Galt and bought one in the Shelhina National Bank, of Shelbina, Missouri. He became at once a director of this bank and accepted the position of cashier, which he filled with great credit to himself and satisfaction to the other officers and the patrons of the bank until the spring of 1910. He is also treasurer of the Jones Farming Company of Humphreys, which belongs to his father.
In political faith Mr. Jones is an ardent and active Democrat. He has never yet sought office for himself, but has always taken a deep and helpful in- terest in the affairs of his party. In re- ligious connection he is a member of the Christian church and in fraternal life
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a Freemason and a member of the Order of Elks. In business he is very prom- inent and has been very successful.
On August 28 he was joined in mar- riage with Miss Fay Hanly, a native of Missouri, who presides over their beau- tiful home in Shelbina with a grace and dignity which makes it one of the fav- orite social resorts of the town and gives it a wide renown and excellent reputa- tion for refined and gracious hospitality. Mr. Jones is at this time (1911) but thirty-two years of age, and he has al- ready risen to the first rank in the busi- ness life of the community. He is en- ergetie, healthy, and wideawake. His alertness of vision and quickness of re- sponse leaves no opportunity unused for his advancement, and if a judgment ean be predicated on his past with reference to his future, he is destined to become one of the leading and most substantial citizens of the county. All who know him look forward to a bright and useful career for him in the years to come, and all wish him success in every undertak- ing, for he is universally esteemed. He is at present engaged in wheat grow- ing near Milford, Canada, having a see- tion of land all under cultivation.
WILLIAM A. REID.
Coming to Shelbina when it was only a country railroad station on the prairie, and spending thirty-two years of his use- ful life in helping to develop its latent resources, which his penetrating eve en- abled him to see and his business ca- pacity enahled him to use for his own advantage and that of the people who followed his lead into this locality, the late William A. Reid was a potent factor
in pushing forward the progress and im- provement of this portion of the state of Missouri, and through his worth, enter- prise and public services became one of its leading and most respected citizens. He has left behind him a memory that everybody reveres and a record of fruit- ful work that all classes of the people are justly proud of.
The Old Dominion claims him as one of her native sons, he having been born in Rappahannock county, Virginia, on January 24, 1829, the son of Alfred and Patsy (Rector) Reid, prosperous plant- ers of that county, and held in the high- est esteem by its people. His father was a farmer and passed his life in Virginia. He was the only son in a family of twenty-five children and he and his wife died in Fauquier county, Virginia.
The educational facilities surrounding Mr. Reid in his boyhood and youth were neither extensive nor advanced. His education in books was therefore limited and confined to the rudiments of seholas- tie acquirements. At the age of fifteen years he began the battle of life for him- self as a clerk in a general store at Ree- tortown, in his native county, and there he remained until 1858, when he came to this county and located at what is now the city of Shelbina. Everything in the neighborhood in the way of development was but begun, but to his prophetic vision the region possessed great possi- bilities, and to bringing them into notice and service he sedulously devoted all his energies. He opened a general store in a small frame building on the north side of the railroad track, on a capital of $1,200. His beginning in business was on a small scale, and his progress for a time was slow and hy short advances.
WILLIAM A. REID
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He had all the inconveniences and diffi- eulties of a new country remote from business centers and sources of supply to contend with, and these were often magnified by climatic conditions and other elements of obstruction.
But the man with whom Fortune seemed to be toying. and at times trifling, was of a heroic mold and had great ten- acity of purpose. He was also prudent and frugal, and knew how to manage his affairs so as to make every dollar of his capital and every day of his labor count to his advantage, until the time of his death, which occurred on April 29, 1890. Within three years after he opened his store and began his business career in this county, the Civil war broke out and placed the whole of this part of the country in a condition of great dis- turbance and uncertainty. Mr. Reid, however, continued his business opera- tions, in spite of the difficulties and dan- gers of the situation, and kept on tri- umphing in the very face of a fate that seemed adverse to his welfare.
Many times he was obliged to remove his stock and other valuables from place to place, and on one occasion took all lie had to Quincy, Illinois. When Anderson raided the town in one of his forays Mr. Reid's store was one of the first to be phindered by the raiders, and he suf- fered heavily by their depredations. The disaster did not daunt him. He at once restocked his store and went on with his business. At various times dur- ing his mercantile operations in Shel- bina he had his brother, Osear Reid, George T. Hill and P. H. List associated with him, but during the greater part of the time he was alone in business.
Throughout his residence in the city
he always manifested the deepest and most serviceable interest in its welfare and the comfort and benefit of its people. He secured for the community its first postoffice and acted as postmaster from the opening of the office until the in- auguration of President Lincoln in 1861. In 1866 his store, along with the greater part of the town, was destroyed by fire. He immediately rebuilt his store, put- ting up a modern brick building, which was about the first erected in the place, and is still one of its most substantial brick business structures.
After sixteen years of great activity and zeal in merchandising he grew tired of that line of business and sold his store in 1874. He then turned his attention to banking in partnership with Daniel Taylor under the firm name of Reid & Taylor. They were very successful and a few years after opening their banking house merged the institution into a state bank. This also flourished and enjoyed the confidence of the whole county. This bank is now known as "The Old Bank of Shelbina", Mr. Reid being president of it at the time of his death. Mr. Reid was a careful and judicious investor as well as a wide-awake and progressive business man.
He was one of the few men who in making money never acquired a love for it for its mere possession. Nothing es- caped him in the way of a business op- portunity, but he was as free in opening his hand for benevolent and other worthy purposes as he was alert and firm in closing it on a profitable business deal. He was at all times throughout his life warmly, sincerely and practically inter- ested in church work, and never with- held his help from any commendable un-
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dertaking in this line of endeavor. The city and county, and promoters of every first religious services ever held in Shel- good work in the service of their resi- dents. bina were conducted in his store, and he also originated the first Sunday school ALBERT F. HUGGINS. in the town and for many years served as its superintendent. The First South-
A valiant soldier during the Civil war, ern Methodist Episcopal church in the ' the marks of whose ernelty he still bears, community was indebted almost wholly to him for its existence and the edifice in which the congregation worshiped. But he was far from being sectarian in his devotion to religious institutions. He aided generously all church organi- zations in the city and county, no matter what denomination they belonged to. an industrious potter for many years in Illinois and this state, and an active and successful politician, Albert F. Hng- gins, of Shelbina, has borne a faithful and serviceable part in many lines of endeavor and has won high and well de- served credit for himself in all. Yet, not- withstanding the adventures he has had, the suffering's he has undergone and the success he has won, he bears his excellent reputation modestly and claims no credit for himself beyond that of having per- formed with fidelity every duty that has been assigned to him.
On April 22, 1862, he was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Minter, a daughter of Dr. Antony and Jane (Bybe) Minter. Eight children were horn of the union, five of whom are liv- ing: Jessie, now Mrs. A. R. Wherritt, of Pleasant Hill, Missouri; Lena, now Mrs. George H. Mansfield, of New Jer- sey; Margaret, still at home; Victor M., a leading business man of Shelbina; Clifford L., engaged in business at Shel- bina.
Mrs. Reid, the mother of these chil- dren, is still living in Shelbina, where she continues, as far as possible, the church and charitable work begun by her husband, and where she enjoys the confidence, esteem and admiring regard of all the people. Her husband had the happy faculty of making his business highly successful without exciting the envy or ill will of his fellow men. And she has the equally valuable gift of doing good without ostentation or having the loftiness of her motives called in question. Husband and wife are firmly enshrined in the regard and good will of the people as leading citizens of the
Mr. Huggins was born in Parke county, Indiana, on February 3, 1843, and is a son of David F. and Nancy J. (Clenden- ing) Huggins, the former a native of In- diana and the latter of North Carolina. The father obtained a district school edu- cation and worked at his trade as a pot- ter to the end of his life. In 1852 he moved from Indiana to Illinois, where he remained and kept his family until 1869. In that year he came to Missouri and located in Shelby county, taking up his residence at Lakenan. In that village he built a pottery which he conducted until he was killed in 1902. He was married to Miss Nancy J. Clendening, who was born and reared in North Carolina. They had six children, three of whom are living : A. F. Huggins, of Shelbina, the immediate subject of this brief memoir; Elizabeth. the wife of C. HI. Avers, of Lakenan ; and H. D. Huggins, a prominent resident of
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Shelbina. In polities the father was a Republican and in fraternal life a Free- mason.
His son, Albert F. Huggins, was reared by the parental fireside and se- enred his education in the public schools, attending them in Winchester, Illinois. Immediately upon leaving school he en- listed in the Union army as a member of Company H, One Hundred and Twenty- ninth Illinois Infantry, and was soon afterward at the front battling for the salvation of his country from dismem- berment. He remained in the army three years, taking part in the spectacular march of General Sherman's command from Atlanta to the sea. At the battle of Resaca, Georgia, he received a severe wound and was taken from the battle- field to the field hospital at Chattanooga. From there he was transferred soon af- terward to Nashville, and then to Louis- ville, and a little later to Jefferson Bar- raeks, near St. Louis, Missouri. But wounded and suffering though he was, he was not allowed to remain at this fourth halting place. He was taken to Camp Butler at Springfield, Illinois, from there to Quiney in the same state, and then to Chicago, where he was soon afterward transferred to the invalid corps, which was the Second battalion of the Veteran Reserve corps. He remained in Chicago many months, and was there when the remains of President Lincoln were brought to the city in 1865, a short time before his honorable discharge from military service, and his return to the pursuits of peaceful industry.
After the war he was engaged in the pottery business with his father at Whitehall, Illinois, until 1869, when the
whole family moved to Missouri. For twenty years after that he was occupied in the manufacture of pottery at Lake- nan, this county, in association with his father. In 1890 he was appointed post- master of Shelbina by President Har- rison, a position to which he was again appointed by President Mckinley, and which he lost during the first term of President Roosevelt because of faetional difficulties in the party. But he was once more appointed in President Roosevelt's second term, and is still filling the office.
Throughout the whole of his manhood Mr. Huggins has been a Republican in political faith and very active in the service of his party. He has at all times been a wheelhorse in the local party eam- paigns and has held many offices in county and state conventions. In fra- ternal life he is a Freemason of the Knights Templar and 32nd degree, an Odd Fellow and a Knight of Pythias. He was married on February 2, 1870, to Miss Mary A. Ayers, of Whitehall, Illi- nois. They became the parents of four children, three of whom are living, as fol- lows: Richard, a resident of Shelbina : Allie, who lives in St. Louis ; and Eva M .. who is now Mrs. Shell D. Erwin, of Le Grande, Oregon.
Mr. Huggins has the esteem and good will of all who know him. He is re- garded as an excellent citizen, a useful factor in the development and improve- ment of the community in which he lives, and a valuable addition to any social cir- ele with which he mingles. No resident of Shelbina has a better reputation or a wider circle of admiring friends: and none is more deserving of the esteem of the people.
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DR. JACOB D. SMITH.
Doubly orphaned by the death of both his parents when he was but four years of age, Dr. Jacob D. Smith, of Shelbina, has largely been the architect of his own fortunes. His success in his profession proves that he has builded well and the universal esteem in which he is held establishes the fact that his life has been useful to others as well as profitable to himself.
Dr. Smith was born at Hannibal, Mis- souri, on January 25, 1849. His parents, Colombus and Mary Smith, were natives of Kentucky but removed to Marion county, Missouri, in about 1838 or 1839. He was reared in the home of his uncle, Daniel Harris, of Quincy, Illinois, and was given every care and attention it was possible for a child to receive. He obtained his academie training by at- tending Soule's Academy and passing one year at the Quincy College. He be- gan the study of medicine by private reading under the direction of a good physician and then attended Rush Medi- cal College in Chicago, from which he was graduated with the degree of M. D. in 1870.
The doctor began his practice in Shel- byville in September, 1871, and remained there two years. In 1873 he moved to Shelbina and formed a partnership with Dr. E. N. Gerard, which continued about three years. Since its dissolution in 1876 he has been constantly in active general practice for himself, rising steadily in the confidence and esteem of the people and his professional brethren, and build- ing up an excellent reputation as a physi-
cian and as a citizen of worth and great usefulness.
The life of a country physician in a new territory is necessarily one of priva- tion and self-sacrifice. He belongs wholly to the public, and his services are in con- tinual demand. The population is scat- tered and the calls cover many miles of travel every day, often continuing into or even through the night. Leisure for rest, for recreation, for enjoyment, even for more advanced study in his work, is often totally denied him, or can be snatched only in fragments from more immediate and exacting claims upon his time and energies. Thus his life be- comes a continual round of toil and self- immolation on the altar of the publie need and the general good of the com- munity in which he lives and operates.
The experience was altogether a new one for Dr. Smith. From his childhood he had not been obliged to forego his own wishes for the comfort or welfare of others. But he accordingly accepted his daily consecration to the requirements of his fellows as a part of his destiny, and concerned himself mainly in dis- charging with fidelity and all the skill he could command the duties which were be- fore him. This has been his habit and he has won the regard and good will of the whole county thereby. His practice is a large one and his patrons are repre- sentative in character and standing. He has also kept pace with the advance of his profession and is abreast with its latest thought and discovery. For even though a very busy man for many years, he has also been a studious one, and is well informed on all branches of his work, having taken post-graduate lec-
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tures in both Chicago and New York city. Socially he is agreeable and obliging, and this is an additional equipment for suc- eess in his practice and popularity among the people. He is a member of both county and state medical societies and holds membership in the National Medi- cal Association. The doctor is local sur- geon for the Burlington railroad and en- joys a wide acquaintance in Northern Missouri.
On February 20, 1873, he was married to Miss Ida M. Myers, of Palmyra, Mis- souri. The six children who have blessed and brightened their household are all living. They are: Mark H., a resident of Brookfield, Missouri; Madge G., the wife of B. T. Willis, of Clarence, this state; Julia C., the widow of Dr. J. C. Settles, of Arkadelphia, Arkansas; Bes- sie B., the wife of E. W. Jewett, of Shel- bina; Effie D. and Jo. The doctor is a Democrat in politics, a Baptist in reli- gious faith and a Knight of Pythias in fraternal life.
THOMAS W. LYELL, D. D. S.
Dr. Thomas W. Lyell, who is one of the leading dentists in Northern Mis- souri, is a scion of a distinguished fam- ily. He is a son of the late Thomas P. Lyell, a prominent citizen of this county, a brief account of whose useful and in- spiring life will be found in the bio- graphy of John R. Lyell, another son of the same household and a brother of him and make himself a complete and the doctor. In his professional work and private life the doctor worthily sustains Although he is wedded to his profes- sional work and makes it his chief con- cern, Dr. Lyell finds time to carefully consider and actively aid in promoting the reputation of the family for intel- lectual supremacy, moral excellence and high-toned citizenship, with a progres-
sive spirit that renders good service wherever the enduring welfare of the community is involved.
Dr. Lyell was born in Shelby county on October 18, 1871. When he was twelve years of age the family moved to Shel- bina, and here he has ever since resided except during his absence at school. He began his academic training in the public schools of the town and the locality of his earlier home, and completed it at Central College, in Fayette, Missouri. In 1893 he began the study of dentistry, finding in it agreeable occupation for his faculties at the start and pursuing it with a diligence and interest which have never flagged. He was graduated from the Western Dental College in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1896, and at once entered upon the practice of his profession at Shelbina, where he is still actively en- gaged in it.
The science of dentistry is a progres- sive one and requires close and continued study to keep pace with its rapid ad- vancement. Dr. Lyell has been all that the case requires in this respect and is well up in all departments of his work. He is master of the theories on which the science is based and has been de- veloped, and is also a skillful, ready and resourceful practitioner. All that is latest and best in dentistry he has liter- ally at his fingers' ends, his primary am- bitions being to give his patrons the best possible returns for the money they pay unquestioned master of his business.
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the general weal of the community. He is zealous in the support of every commend- able undertaking for the advancement and improvement of the city and county of his home, and deeply and intelligently interested in the public affairs of the state and the country. In political faith and allegiance he is a firm and faithful Democrat, giving his party and its candi- dates effective support although seeking none of the honors or emoluments of office for himself. Having interests in several farms in the county to the culti- vation of which he gives a share of his personal attention, he is also useful in helping the agricultural interests of this portion of the state to higher and better development. His social rank in the com- munity is among the highest, and his at- tention to social matters gives them tone and intensity of life, while his genial and captivating personality renders him a favorite in any circles of which he is a part. His religious affiliation is with the M. E. Church South and his fraternal connection with the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen of America.
On October 1, 1896, he united in mar- riage with Miss Mary Wilson, who was born and reared in this state. She pre- sides over their pleasant home with grace and dignity, making it a favorite resort for their hosts of friends, who find it a center of social and intellectual culture and a summer region of refined and gen- erous hospitality.
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