USA > Missouri > Shelby County > General history of Shelby County, Missouri > Part 51
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In politics Mr. Lewis is found arrayed as a stalwart advocate of the principles and policies for which the Democratic party stands sponsor, and he continues to take a lively and intelligent interest in the questions and issues of the hour, the while exemplifying the highest standard of loyal and public-spirited citizenship. He is affiliated with the local lodge of Free & Accepted Masons, and attends and supports the Methodist Episcopal church, South, of which his wife is a zealous member.
On Angust 25, 1870, Mr. Lewis was united in marriage to Miss Rosa Con- radt, who was born in Germany, on July 25, 1848, and who was a resident of Shel- by county at the time of her marriage. Her father, the late Jacob Conradt, set- tled in this county many years ago and became one of its substantial farmers and honored citizens. To Mr. and Mrs. Lewis have been born six children, all of whom are living, namely: Minns H., who is engaged in banking in Clarence ; Katherine, who is the wife of Willis Cross, of Clarence; Della May, who re-
mains at the parental home; Mollie, who is the wife of Samuel Sanner, a pros- perous farmer of this county; John E., who is now a resident of the state of Wyoming; and Nora, who is the wife of Porter Robuck, of Shelby county.
WILLIAM L. JACOBS.
Bearing a name that has been long and prominently identified with the an- nals of Shelby county, where this well known and honored family was founded in the early pioneer days, William L. Jacobs has well upheld the prestige of the name and is now recognized as one of the representative business men and influential citizens of his native county, where he has a secure place in popular confidence and regard. He is now en- gaged in the general merchandise busi- ness in the thriving little city of Clar- ence, and he is one of the leading and most progressive merchants of the county, controlling a large and apprecia- tive trade, which is based on fair and honorable dealings and which extends throughout the fine agricultural territory normally tributary to Clarence as a dis- tributing center. Adequate review of the family history is given in the me- moir dedicated to his honored father, the late Jolin W. Jacobs, on other pages of this publication.
William L. Jacobs was born on the old homestead farm of his father, in Clay township, Shelby county, Missouri, and the date of his nativity was Sep- tember 6, 1858. He has naught to re- gret in connection with the sturdy dis- cipline which he received in connection with the work of the farm and under
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the direction of a father of marked en- ergy and excellent business judgment. He was afforded the advantages of the well conducted public schools of the vil- lage of Clarence, and this training was supplemented by an effective course in the Gem City Business College, at Quiney, Illinois. In 1877, soon after at- taining to his legal majority, Mr. Jacobs took up his residence in Lacygne, Kan- sas, where he was engaged in the gro- cery business for the ensuing five years, the venture proving successful and af- fording him excellent business experi- ence of a practical order. In 1882 he returned to his native county and for the ensuing two years he was identified with various business interests in the village of Clarence. At the expiration of this period, January 1, 1884, he en- gaged in the general merchandise busi- ness in this city, a line of enterprise with which he has here continned to be suc- cessfully identified since that time. The business was at the start conducted un- der the firm name of Whitby, Jacobs & Company, his father being a silent part- ner in the concern and the other active member having been Stephen M. Whitby. The father continued to be passively in- terested in the enterprise until his de- mise, and after the death of Mr. Whitby the subject of this sketch continned the business in partnership with his brother, Robert L. Jacobs, until 1898, when he purchased his brother's interest. Since that time he has individually conducted the business under his own name, and his large and well equipped establish- ment caters most effectively to its ex- tensive and representative patronage. Clothing, boots and shoes, and furnish-
ing goods are handled, and Mr. Jacobs has shown unqualified discrimination in the selection of goods and in meeting the demands of his ever increasing trade.
Mr. Jacobs has not hedged himself in with his personal affairs and the pro- motion of his business, but has mani- fested a broad-minded, liberal and loyal attitude as a citizen, giving his influ- ence and co-operation in the support of all measures and enterprises tending to advance the material and civic prosper- ity of the community. His political al- legiance is given to the Democratic party, and, while he has never been am- bitious for public office, he has been called upon to serve as a member of the board of city aldermen, of which posi- tion he was a valued incumbent for some years. He is an appreciative and popu- lar member of Clarence Lodge, No. 305, Free & Accepted Masons, of which he served as worshipful master for three terms.
On May 29, 1889, Mr. Jacobs was united in marriage to Miss Emma See- ley, who was born in this state, and who is a daughter of the late James Seeley, an honored citizen of Clarence at the time of his death. Mr. and Mrs. Jacobs became the parents of four children, of whom one, Mary A., died at the age of four years. The surviving children- Louis S., Aileen and Nellie E .- remain at the parental home, which is a recog- nized center of gracious hospitality.
JOHN W. JACOBS.
A strong, noble, forceful and benefi- cent influence was that exercised by the
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subject of this memoir in connection with the civic affairs and practical business activities of Shelby county, where he long lived and labored to goodly ends, and where his name is revered by all who came within the sphere of his gen- erous and kindly influence. As one who was thoroughly and essentially a rep- resentative citizen of the county, there is eminent propriety in according in this volume a tribute of respect and appre- ciation to his memory.
John Wright Jacobs was born in Greene county, in the eastern part of the state of Tennessee, August 5, 1824, and died at his home in the city of Clarence, Shelby county, Missouri, April 7, 1906, leaving the priceless heritage of a good name, as no spot or blemish rests on any part of his career, now that he has passed forward to the life eternal. His father, Lewis M. Jacobs, was a merchant tailor at Greenville, Tennessee, and among the first of the journeymen tail- ors employed by him was Andrew John- son, who eventually became president of the United States, and whose name and fame rest secure in the annals of our nation. Lewis M. Jacobs was a native of Virginia, where the family was founded in the colonial epoch, and the lineage is traced back to staunch Scotch- Irish origin. He was reared and edu- cated in the Old Dominion state, whence, as a young man, he removed to Green- ville, Tennessee, where he was engaged in business for a number of years. There was solemnized his marriage to Miss Anna Wright, and a number of years later he removed with his family to Missouri and located in Shelbyville, where he passed the residne of his long
and useful life, a successful business man and sterling citizen, and one whose name merits perpetuation as that of one of the worthy pioneers of Shelby county. His death occurred in 1868, and his cher- ished and devoted wife preceded him to eternal rest by about one year. They became the parents of six children, of whom the subject of this memoir was the eldest. The father secured a tract of land near Shelbyville, and there gave his attention to farming, in connection with other business enterprises. On this old homestead his children were reared to maturity.
John W. Jacobs was a boy at the time of the family removal to Missouri, and he contributed his quota to the develop- ment of the home farm near Shelbyville, in the meanwhile availing himself of such advantages as were offered by the common schools of the locality and pe- riod. He remained at home and assisted in the management of the farm until two years after his marriage, which was solemnized in 1855. In 1857 he pur- chased and established his home upon a farm in Clay township, this county, developing the same into one of the model places of the county, and there continuing to be actively identified with agricultural pursuits and stock-growing until 1873, when he disposed of his farm and removed to the village of Clarence, where he became a dealer in lumber, ag- ricultural implements and grain, in con- nection with which important lines of enterprise he built up a large and sub- stantial trade and gained precedence as one of the vigorous, far-sighted and pro- gressive business men of the county. In 1876 he disposed of this business, and
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thereafter he continued to be identified with other lines of enterprise of varied order until 1884, in January of which year he and his son, William L., secured a half interest in the general merchan- dise business which was thereafter con- ducted under the firm name of Whitby, Jacobs & Company, the son assuming the active management of the business, which he still continues, as will be noted by reference to the sketch of his career appearing on other pages of this work. In this connection John W. Jacobs gave the benefit of his keen business sagacity and mature experience, but, save for this advisory service in the business, he lived virtually retired from 1890 until his death. He was regarded as one of the best business men and most upright and honorable citizens of this part of the county, where his circle of friends was coincident with that of his acquaint- ances. Though never a seeker of public office or of notoriety of any order, Mr. Jacobs wielded a large and beneficent influence in local affairs, and his advice and counsel were frequently sought in connection with matters of public polity, the while he gave freely of his aid and influence in support of all that touched the best interests of the community.
In politics Mr. Jacobs was aligned as a loyal supporter of the principles and policies for which the Democratic party stands sponsor, he was affiliated with Clarence Lodge, No. 305, Free & Ac- cepted Masons, and he was a most zeal- ous and devoted member of the Metli- odist Episcopal church, South, having been one of the charter members of the church of this denomination in Clar- ence, as is also his wife. Upon him de-
volved the privilege of turning the first spade of earth for the erection of the church edifice. She survives her hon- ored husband and finds a measure of consolation and compensation in the gra- cious memories of their long years of loving companionship. She was born in Delaware, near Laurel, February 15, 1836, and thus has passed the psalmist's span of three score years and ten. She is held in affectionate regard by all who know her, and still maintains her home in Clarence, where she is surrounded by a wide circle of devoted friends.
On February 15, 1855, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Jacobs to Miss Mary A. Drain, daughter of the late Stanford Drain, one of the honored pioneers of Shelby county. Of the six children of this union, four are living, namely : Will- iam L., of whom specific mention is made elsewhere in this volume; Anna E., who remains with her widowed mother; Rob- ert L., who is a representative business man of Clarence; and Cassie L., who is the wife of Albert Marley, of Kansas City, Missouri.
DR. HENRY M. POLLARD.
A practicing physician and surgeon among them during the last twenty-two years, and throughout the whole period performing his professional duties and those of elevated citizenship to their en- tire satisfaction, Dr. Henry M. Pollard, of Shelbina, won the regard of the peo- ple of Shelby county on his merits by proving himself to be a very useful man and deeply and intelligently interested in the welfare of the region in which he lived and labored. He was active and
HENRY M. POLLARD, M. D.
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zealous in connection with all undertak- ings for the improvement of the county and betterment of its people, and gave all observers an excellent example of upright and serviceable living.
Dr. Pollard was born on February 4, 1861, in this county and was a grandson of Thomas Pollard, a native of Ken- tueky, and a son of James M. Pollard, who was also born in that state, his life beginning on October 17, 1826, in Owen county. In 1847, although he had at- tained his majority. he accompanied the family to Missouri, and with the rest, took up his residence in Monroe county. Soon after his arrival he moved to Flor- ida and learned carriage and wagon making. He worked at the trade eight years, and during most of the time after completing his apprenticeship, was en- gaged in making wagons for parties who wished to travel overland to the farther west, and also government wagons for Fort Leavenworth, the seat of his opera- tions being at Platte City in this state. In 1855 he returned to Monroe county, where he remained two years, then moved to Shelby county and engaged in general merchandising at Hunnewell, conducting a successful enterprise in that line there until 1863.
In the year last named, owing to the unsettled and dangerous condition of the country around him brought on by the Civil war, he moved his family and effects to Illinios, where he dwelt until the restoration of peace. When the dread war cloud had passed away, and a rea- sonable degree of quiet had been brought back to the region of his former home, he returned to Monroe county, and there followed general farming until his death,
which occurred in 1900. At the time of his demise he owned 300 acres of land and nearly all of it under advanced culti- vation and developed to a highi state of prodnetiveness.
He took an active and very service- able interest in the public affairs of the county, and was elected presiding justice of the county court in 1878 for a term of four years. Prior to that time he filled other offices of trust and responsi- bility for a period of five years. In polities he was an ardent and determined working Democrat, always giving his party the full benefit of his influence, intelligence and energy. His religious connection was with the Baptist seet, and fraternally he was allied with the Masonie order from his early manhood. On October 11, 1853, he was united in marriage with Miss Mary J. Blackburn, a native of Shelby connty and danghter of Samuel Blackburn, a long esteemed resident of this part of the state. Three of the five children born of the union are living: Samuel Thomas, whose home is at Monroe City, Missouri; Viola, the wife of O. A. Marr, who resides in Mon- roe county, and William Lee, who lives at Lamar, Colorado.
Dr. Pollard. obtained his education in academic lines in the public schools of Monroe county and at the Kirksville State Normal school. In 1885 he matric- ulated at Missouri Medical college in St. Louis, from which he was graduated with the degree of M. D. in 1888. He then pursued one post graduate course in New York and five in Chicago at the Polyclinic school. With the world be- fore him in which to choose a location for his life work, the young physician lo-
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cated at Mand in this county, where he began his practice in 1888. Seven years were passed in an active general prac- tice at that place, then, in 1895, the doc- tor moved to Shelbina, where he lived and gave diligent and faithful attention to the exactions of an ever increasing practice covering a steadily expanding range of country, rising to prominence in his profession and winning great and wide-spread popularity among the peo- ple until his death August 21, 1910.
The doctor's rank in his profession and his popularity with the people were based on substantial grounds and well deserved. ITe was a close student of all that pertained to his work, keeping abreast with the advance in medical science by reflective reading of its best literature, and in close touch with the teachings of practical experience by active membership in the county, state and national medical societies. He was president of the first named and one of its most active and useful members, and was esteemed by its other adherents as a skillful and judicions man in the ap- plication of the medical knowledge of which he was admitted to have in consid- erable volume and systematic accuracy.
In fraternal life Dr. Pollard was con- nected with the Masonic order and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and was loyal and appreciative in his devo- tion to both. His political affiliation was with the Democratic party, and to this, too, he was true and constant, zealous in its service and unwavering in his sup- port of its principles and candidates. At the time of his death he was a member of the Baptist church. On July 17, 1889, he was married to Miss Mollie Clay, the
daughter of Charles B. and Amanda (Hininger) Clay, of Monroe county, this state. Two children have been born of the union, Jessie V. and Eva C., both of whom are still members of the parental household.
JOSEPH LEONARD RIDINGS.
Prominent in the public life of the community in which he lives; active, en- terprising and successful in his business, in which he occupies a leading place in this whole section of the state; and standing well in the political, fraternal, social and religious circles of Clarence, the city of his home, Joseph Leonard Ridings is an ornament to Missouri man- hood, Shelby county citizenship and the business and industrial interests of a locality that has made rapid strides of progress under the influence of such men as he.
Mr. Ridings was born on November 23, 1864, and is a grandson of Peter F. Ridings, a native of Virginia, who be- came an early settler in Randolph county, Missouri. In that county his son, Peter F. Ridings, the father of Jo- seph Leonard, was born in 1826, Septem- ber 11th, and there he was reared and assisted the family by working on the home farm until 1849, when he joined the host of argonants who flocked to the newly discovered gold fields of Califor- nia. The next year, however, he re- turned to his old home near Levick Mill, in Randolph county, this state, and turned his attention to farming on 200 acres of land which his father gave him. He continued to farm this land until 1863, then went to Illinois and for one
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year worked on a farm in that state. In 1864 he came back to his Randolph county farm and soon afterward bought a general store and tannery, which he conducted until 1877. In that year he moved his mercantile enterprise to what was but a cross-roads and organized a town, which he named Maud in honor of his daughter. He continued to keep his store at that point, and also to farm. In a little while he was appointed post- master of Maud, and he served in that capacity until 1888, when he moved to Clarence, and during the next year fol- lowed the livery business. In 1869 lie sold this and retired from all active pur- suits, and is now enjoying a well earned rest and the fruits of his labor from good city properties and his farm land, which is being farmed by a tenant.
He was married in November, 1862, to Miss Mary Larrick, of Palmyra, a native of Virginia, who was born No- vember 24, 1843, and by this marriage became the father of seven children, five of whom are living: Joseph Leonard, of Clarence; Albert M., who lives in the same city ; Charles Franklin, also a resi- dent of Clarence; Maud, the wife of William Seliwada, of West Burlington, Iowa; and Jessie, the wife of Lester Herst, of Denver, Colorado. In politics the father is a Democrat, and his wife is a member of the Southern Methodist Episcopal church.
Their son, Joseph Leonard Ridings, was educated in the district schools of Randolph and Shelby counties, and after leaving school he assisted his father in the store at Maud until he reached the age of twenty years. In 1884, following
his father's example, he also organized a new town, which he called Enterprise, planting it at a cross-roads also, and opening and keeping the first store there. The place soon grew to the dignity of a postoffice and its founder was made post- master. IIe remained there seven years, operating a saw mill and blacksmith shop in connection with his store and the postoffice, and found all the eireum- stanees favorable to his prosperity. In 1891 Mr. Ridings sold out his interests at Enterprise and located in Clarence. There he has been continuously engaged in contracting for building, heating, elec- trical and plumbing work, and is con- sidered the most extensive and reliable contractor in those lines of construction in this part of the county. His business is very large and active, and he is now (1910) erecting a two-story brick build- ing to accommodate it and provide for necessary enlargements.
Mr. Ridings is also prominent and in- fluential in the affairs of the city. He is serving his fifth term as a member of the city council, and is considered one of the best, as he is certainly one of the most popular members of the body. He has given intelligent and energetic at- tention to the wants of the city, looked after its best interests with great zeal and enterprise, and taken broad and pro- gressive views of everything involving its improvement and further develop- ment, and the people highly appreciate his services in this behalf.
On January 12, 1888, Mr. Riding's was united in marriage with Miss Annie Dean Sidner, a daughter of William P. Sidner, of Monroe county, this state, and
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a cousin of Thomas Sidner, who was one of the men killed at the cruel and brutal Palmyra massacre of 1864. Mrs. Rid- ings was born in Monroe county on Sep- tember 17. 1867. She and her husband have had six children, four of whom are living, and all of them are still at home with their parents. They are : Leonard. Dollie, Clarence and Lucy, and add great life and light to the family circle. In polities the father is a hard working Democrat; in fraternal life he is con- nected with the Knights of the Macca- bees, and in religious affiliation he is a member of the Southern Methodist Epis- copal church, which his wife also attends.
HON. RUFUS FARRELL.
country in which he got his training and preparation for life's unending and ever exacting battle.
Judge Rufus Farrell was born on March 25, 1850, in Madison, Monroe county, Missouri, and is a grandson of William Farrell, a native of Kentucky, where the family lived for generations and held an honorable place in the his- tory of that state. The judge is a son of John and Mary Ann (Grove) Far- rell, also natives of Kentucky, the for- mer born in Madison county on July 14, 1826, and the latter in Oldham county only a little later. The father came to Missouri in 1839 with his parents, and the family located in Monroe county. There he grew to manhood and learned the blacksmith trade, and this he fol- lowed in connection with farming and raising live stock until 1885, when he re- tired from active pursuits and moved to Madison, where he remained until his death on July 15, 1905.
In the life story of this eminent eiti- zen of Shelby county and esteemed jurist and publicist of Missouri, will be found a most impressive illustration of the number and variety of claims that are likely to be made on almost any Ameri- At one time the Judge's father owned 800 acres of land in adjoining traets, al- though they were located in two coun- ties-Monroe and Shelby. His marriage with Miss Mary Ann Grove took place in 1845, and by it he became the father of thirteen children, six of whom are now living: W. M., a resident of Paris, Missouri; Judge Rufus, who lives in Clarence, this county; Thomas J., whose home is in St. Louis; John W., who re- sides in Madison; Mary Catherine, the wife of O. T. Hall, of Shelby county ; and Ira Stanberry, a prominent citizen of Billings, Montana. In polities the father was an ardent and steadfast Dem- ocrat, and in religious connection be- can citizen of parts and acquirements, and also of the great versatility and adaptability of the American mind, which is always found equal to all de- mands and ready to exercise its mastery over any circumstances, however unu- sual or trying. Farmer, commission mer- chant, hotel keeper, live stock man of active business, following other lines of trade, and finally judge of the highest court in the county, and turning his fac- ulties from one calling to another almost with the ease of a proteus, Judge Farrell has shown himself to be a man of great capacity and resourcefulness, and has done credit to the ancestry from which he sprang and also to the seetion of longed to the Christian church. Hle al-
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