USA > Missouri > Bates County > History of Bates County, Missouri > Part 36
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Dr. William D. Vint .- During the fifteen years in which Dr. W. D. Vint, of Howard township, has practiced his profession in Bates county, he has won a name and place for himself as a kind, able, and learned medical practitioner who has achieved prominence among the leading professional men of the county. William D. Vint was born in Pendle- ton county, West Virginia, August 15, 1856, a son of John and Mary (McQuain) Vint, natives of West Virginia. John Vint was a son of Will- iam Vint, a native of Ireland who immigrated to America and settled in Virginia. Mary (McQuain) Vint was a daughter of Duncan McQuain, a native of Scotland. John Vint was a farmer by vocation and migrated to Illinois in the spring of 1876 and made settlement in Coles county. He resided there until his death in the fall of the same year. Nine children were left fatherless, namely: George Augustus, deceased ; John Marshall, deceased; William D., subject of this review; Mrs. Sonora Inez Hopper, Rose Hill, Illinois; Mrs. Margaret Elizabeth Stiver, Tus- cola, Illinois; Mrs. Catherine Wayne, living in Michigan; Mrs. Jemima Jane (Waters) Shmore, Illinois; Mrs. Della May Andrews, who died in Arkansas; Mrs. Verna Viola Kibler, Charleston, Illinois.
William D. Vint remained at home on his mother's farm until he attained the age of sixteen years. He received a good education, and being of an ambitious turn of mind, educated himself for the teaching profession which he followed very successfully for a number of years. or until 1884, when he began the practice of medicine. Doctor Vint taught in the public schools of Virginia, West Virginia and Illinois. His last position was at Hindsboro, Illinois, where for three years he was principal of the Hindsboro high school. During his residence there he took a very prominent part in the civic and governmental affairs of the city, serving as a member of the town board and as mayor of Hinds- boro for two years. In the meantime he had begun the study of medi- cine and completed his medical studies at the Hahnemann Medical Col- lege of Chicago, graduating from that institution in 1884. He practiced
DR. WILLIAM D. VINT.
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in Hindsboro for fourteen years or until 1898. He then moved to Vir- ginia, where he purchased a farm and practiced medicine until 1900. Doctor Vint's Virginia farm adjoined the old home place of President Madison in Virginia. In 1900 he sold his farm in Virginia and came to Bates county, Missouri, where he purchased a farm of three hundred twenty acres located northwest of Hume, Missouri. Eight years later he sold this farm in 1908 and purchased his present home farm of three hundred twenty acres located east of Hume and moved to the place in 1909. Doctor Vint's home is an attractive one, the residence being reached by a driveway from the road which is bordered by a large grove of trees. His medical practice in Howard township, Hume, and the surrounding country keeps him busily employed and his skill as a medical practitioner is exceeded by none in Bates county.
Dr. W. D. Vint was married July 5, 1880, to Miss Louisa Hall, who was born in Coles county, Illinois, February 12, 1860, a daughter of Edward and Sallie (Walkup) Hall, natives of Kentucky, who emigrated from their native state to Illinois in the early fifties. Edward Hall died in 1894, his wife preceding him in death in 1879. To Dr. William D. and Louisa Vint, there have been born two children: Mrs. Maude Eliza- beth Carter, of Bayard, Nebraska, mother of two sons, Robert Vint, and Max; and Teresa Lee, wife of Alex Wilson, who is managing the Vint farm. Mrs. Maude Carter, the eldest daughter, is a high-school graduate and taught school for several years prior to her marriage.
Dr. Vint is a Democrat in politics and is affiliated with the modern Woodmen of America. He is a member of the Chicago Medical Insti- tute and holds a diploma from that organization. He endeavors to keep abreast of the latest developments of medical science and has won a warm place in the hearts of the people of his section of Bates county by his kind ministrations and proven ability as a professional gentleman.
E. R. Hall, one of the leading farmers and stockmen of Bates county, is a native of Ohio. He was born in Champaign county in 1853, a son of Ansel C. and Alvira L. (Cushman) Hall, both natives of New York. The Hall family left the state of Ohio and went to Iowa in 1857, when E. R., the subject of this sketch was about four years old. They located near Marshalltown, Iowa, where they remained until 1861, when they went to Sangamon county, Illinois. Here they remained until October 20, 1869, when they came to Missouri, settling in Pleasant Gap township, Bates county. The father bought eighty acres of land
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in Pleasant Gap township and spent the remainder of his life here. In addition to following farming, he conducted a saw-mill for a number of years. Both parents are now deceased.
E. R. Hall was one of a family of seven children, born to his parents. as follow: Julia, married Sanford Thorp and they live near Sioux City, Iowa; Frank, deceased; Charles, died in childhood; Adelaide, deceased ; Lewis, lives in Pleasant Gap township; E. R., the subject of this sketch : and Dora L., married O. M. Burkhart, Pleasant Gap township.
Mr. Hall was educated in the public schools, attending school in Iowa, Illinois, and Missouri. Like his father, he was engaged in the saw-mill business for a number of years as well as in farming. In 1881, he purchased fifty-one acres where his present residence is located. He has added to his original purchase. from time to time, and now owns one of the best-improved farms in Bates county, which consists of five hundred forty acres of productive land. A few years ago he purchased the Requa farm just west of his old homestead, where his son now resides. This place is known as the "Seven Oaks" farm, so named from the fact that there were seven large oak trees in the vicin- ity of the residence. This is a very attractive place, but not more so than Mr. Hall's home place, which is well-improved with large barns and a comfortable, modern farm residence. Both the "Seven Oaks" and Mr. Hall's home place are two of the attractive farm properties in Bates county.
Mr. Hall was united in marriage December 21, 1876 with Miss Louisa Eckles, a daughter of James and Rebecca (White) Eckles, and a native of Adams county. Illinois. Her father was born in Pennsyl- vania and her mother in Illinois. The Eckles family came to Missouri and settled in Bates county in 1866. The parents are both now deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Hall have been born the following children: Ivan Elmer, who resides on the old Requa place, above mentioned; Addie B., married Robert Lyle of Lone Oak township : and Ethel May, who died at the age of nineteen years.
Mr. Hall is one of the successful high-grade stockmen of Bates county. He raises registered Poland China hogs and Durham and Short- horn cattle, and has some very valuable animals on his place.
Mr. Hall is a Democrat, although inclined to be independent in his political notions and has never aspired to hold political office. He is one of Bates county's substantial citizens.
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William A. Baker, of Pleasant Gap township, is perhaps the best- known man in Bates county, a successful stockdealer. So extensive and successful has he been in his chosen field of endeavor that he is fre- quently referred to as "The Hog King."
Mr. Baker is a native son of Bates county. He was born two miles . north of Pleasant Gap, December 9, 1867, a son of Zephaniah and Martha E. (Hale) Baker, natives of Indiana. The father went to Iowa with his widowed mother at a very early day. He came here prior to the Civil War. During that conflict, he returned to Iowa, where he remained until peace was declared. He then returned to Missouri, settling in Pleasant Gap township, Bates county, and here spent the remainder of his life, with the exception of one year in Oklahoma. He died in 1907 and the mother departed this life three years later.
William A. Baker is one of a family of twelve children born to his parents, all of whom are living, as follow: Joseph, the present sheriff of Bates county ; Mrs. Lillie Ferl, resides on the old home place in Pleas- ant Gap township; John T., Rich Hill, Missouri; Mrs. Mary Griffin, Pleasant Gap township; Mrs. Anna Olen, lives in Oregon; William A., the subject of this sketch ; J. H., lives near Spruce, Missouri; Mrs. Thena Beard, Parsons, Kansas; Mrs. Ella Olen, Parsons, Kansas; Mrs. Ida Davis, Enid, Oklahoma: C. Z .. Pleasant Gap township; and G. W., Sum- mit township.
Mr. Baker was reared in Pleasant Gap township and he there attended the public schools. He engaged in farming and stock raising in early life, and has since made such his occupation. About ten years ago, he began raising registered Poland China hogs and he has been unusually successful in this line of endeavor. He raises about two hun- dred head annually, which he sells in various parts of the country. The high standard of his registered stock is well known to breeders and the demand is generally more than he can supply. He is also engaged in breeding registered Aberdeen Angus cattle. He engaged in this branch of business about seven years ago and at this writing has seventy-eight head of these cattle, which compose one of the finest herds to be found in western Missouri. Mr. Baker has a farm consisting of three hundred sixty acres, well adapted to stock raising and general farming.
May 15, 1881, Mr. Baker was united in marriage with Miss Maggie Griffin, of Harwood, Vernon county, Missouri. Six children have been born to this union, as follow: Claude A., Pleasant Gap township ; Clar-
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HISTORY OF BATES COUNTY
ence H., Pleasant Gap township; Alice, married Verni Geheere, Pleas- ant Gap township; Marie, a student in the Butler High School; Frederick H. and Lydia, at home.
Mr. Baker is a stanch supporter of the policies and principles of the Democratic party and takes a commendable interest in local political affairs. He has served as collector of Pleasant Gap township two terms. He is a member of the Christian church and of the Modern Woodmen of America. Mr. Baker is one of the Bates county's most progressive citizens.
Abner L. Wix, of Pleasant Gap township, is a native son of Bates county. He was born in Pleasant Gap township, June 18, 1855, a son of Joseph and Sarah ( Beatty ) Wix, the former a native of Overton county, Tennessee, and the latter, of Kentucky.
Joseph Wix, the father, was a very early settler in this section of Missouri. He was born June 15, 1820. He located in what is now Pleas- ant Gap township, in 1836, and spent the remainder of his life here, engaged in farming and stock raising. except during the period of the Civil War. He was a Union man and went to Kansas at that time and lived in Jefferson county. He served in the State Militia during the early part of the war and was severely injured at the Clear Creek fight by his horse falling, so that he was unfit for military service after that. One of his sons, John, was killed during the war. The Wix home was devas- tated during the war. At the close of the war. the family returned to Pleasant Gap township, rebuilt their home, and improved the place, and here the parents spent the remainder of their lives.
Joseph Wix was married three times. A. L. Wix, the subject of this sketch, was one of the children born of his father's first marriage. The others were, as follow: Sarah E., deceased; John, who was killed during the Civil War; Perry, deceased; Clark, who lives in Deepwater township: Thomas H., Yates Center, Kansas ; and Rev. Lewis L., Deep- water township. For further particulars regarding the life of Joseph Wix, the reader is referred to the biography of Clark Wix.
A. L. Wix spent his boyhood days in Pleasant Gap township and there attended the public schools. He has been engaged principally in farming and stock raising, with the exception of ten years, when he was engaged in the mercantile business in Appleton and Filley, Missouri.
Mr. Wix has traveled extensively and during the course of his trips has covered twenty-eight states. He was first married May 31, 1880, to Miss Elizabeth Ellis, a native of Indiana. Three children were born
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to this union, one of whom is living: John A., who resides in Bates county. A few years after the death of his first wife, Mr. Wix was united in marriage with Miss Clementine Wilems, a native of Texas, and to this union have been born six girls, as follow: Mary, married John W. Farrell, Pleasant Gap township; Annie; Rose Lee, married Claude Baker, Pleasant Gap township; Nellie, married Arthur Baker, Pleasant. Gap township; Lena and Sallie.
Mr. Wix has a valuable farm of eighty acres in Pleasant Gap town- ship, where he is successfully engaged in general farming and stock rais- ing. He raises registered Poland China hogs, and has the best strain of that breed in the country. He is also a breeder of registered Jersey · cattle.
Although Mr. Wix is comparatively a young man he has seen many changes in the course of a half century's development of Bates county. He remembers seeing deer by the herd in this vicinity and has killed game, such as wild turkeys and prairie chickens.
V. J. Cumpton, M. D., a well-known physician and surgeon of Bates county, is a native of Missouri, a member of a pioneer family of this state. He was born in Calhoun, Henry county, in 1864, a son of John M. and Angeline Elizabeth (Hedrick) Cumpton.
John M. Cumpton was a native of Howard county, Missouri, a descendant of an old Southern family. He was a son of Thomas Cump- ton, a native of Tennessee, whose parents were North Carolinans. John M. Cumpton settled in Bates county in 1853, locating in Deep- water township. His father, Thomas Cumpton also settled in Deep- water township and there spent the remainder of his life. Both the father and the son entered government land in Deepwater township and the Doctor's mother now resides on the old Cumpton homestead, which his grandfather entered from the government in 1853.
When the Civil War broke out, John M. Cumpton's sympathy was with the Union. He entered the Federal service and served as orderly sergeant in Captain Newberry's Company. At the close of the war he returned to Deepwater township, where he engaged in farming and stock raising, and he was considered one of the successful men of the community. Politically, he was a Democrat, but he was inclined to be progressive in his political ideas. He supported the "Greenback" party about the time that that party became a national factor, and he also was a Populist, when that wave of political sentiment spread over the country. It mattered not to him what name a party bore. If its
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principles were progressive, he supported it. When he believed that he was right, he was unfaltering in his political principles. His out- spoken political ideas made him a number of political enemies. He felt that he could afford to be fearless in expressing his political views, for he never aspired to hold political office. He died October 5, 1911, aged seventy-nine years. His widow now resides at the old homestead in Deepwater township. She is a native of Indiana, of Kentucky parentage.
Doctor Cumpton was one of a family of ten children born to his parents, five of whom grew to maturity: O. W., Spruce, Missouri; Dr. V. J., the subject of this sketch; W. E., Deepwater township; Mary E., married Joe Borland, Deepwater township; and C. S., who resides at the old homestead in Deepwater township.
Doctor Cumpton was reared in Deepwater township. He received his preliminary education in the public schools, after which he entered the University Medical College of Kansas City, where he was graduated March 23, 1897, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. He had prac- ticed his profession before receiving his degree.
After completing the course, he practiced for one year at Mayesburg, Missouri. In 1898, he engaged in the practice at Pleasant Gap, and it was not long until he built up a large practice. He is a capable physi- cian and has met with uniform success in his chosen profession. He has also been successful in surgery.
While Doctor Cumpton attends to a large practice, he has various interests outside of his profession. He is particularly interested in stock raising. He has a fine herd of Aberdeen Angus cattle and he owns considerable farm property in Pleasant Gap township. He has a fine farm of two hundred forty acres, besides his property in Pleasant Gap.
Doctor Cumpton was united in marriage in 1900 with Miss Mary Elizabeth Nafus, daughter of Jacob P. and Mary (Davis) Nafus, very early settlers in Bates county. Jacob P. Nafus was born in Kentucky in 1809 and came to Pleasant Gap township in 1844. He was a success- ful farmer and stockman. He died January 23, 1897. His widow, who bore the maiden name of Mary Davis, was born near Spruce, Henry county, March 4. 1838, a daughter of James and Sarah (Beaty) Davis, the former, a native of Tennessee and the latter, of Kentucky. They settled in Henry county, about 1830. Mrs. Nafus now resides on the old home place in Pleasant Gap township. She is a woman of remarkable mental and physical capabilities for one her age.
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To Doctor and Mrs. Cumpton have been born four children, three of whom are living, as follow: Ola May, Homer Hedrick, and Paul Henry.
Doctor Cumpton is a member of the County, State, and American Medical Associations, of the Masonic Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons No. 140, Butler, Missouri, and he is a Democrat. He is a mem- ber of the Christian church at Double Branches.
Clifford J. Lane, of Pleasant Gap township, is one of the extensive stockmen and farmers of Bates county. He was born October 20, 1874, on the place where he now resides. He is a son of James C. and Mary (Fagan) Lane, natives of Ohio. James C. Lane was born near Cincin- nati. When the war broke out, he enlisted in the Union army, serving three years and four months in the Fifty-fourth Ohio Infantry. He par- ticipated in many important engagements, but was never wounded nor taken prisoner.
In 1867, James C. Lane came to Missouri and located in Bates county and followed farming in partnership with a brother about a year. He then bought land and engaged in farming and the stock business and met with more than ordinary success. During the course of his career in this county, he accumulated about thirteen hundred acres of land. He divided a great deal of this between his children sometime before his death. He died January 14, 1916, aged eighty-four years. For several years prior to his death, he had lived in Rich Hill and was retired from active participation in business affairs. He was a Republican and took an active part in politics. At one time he was a candidate on his party ticket for representative from Bates county. His widow now resides at Rich Hill.
To James C. and Mary (Fagan) Lane were born the following children: Samuel, who lives in Oregon; John, Arkansas; Clifford J., the subject of this sketch; and George, a physician and surgeon at Rich Hill, Missouri.
Clifford J. Lane received his education in the public schools and Butler Academy. At an early age, he began farming in partnership with his father. He has followed that line of industry to the present time and is regarded as one of the successful farmers and stockmen of Bates county. He owns a splendid farm of five hundred eighty-seven acres. While his business is principally feeding cattle for the market, he raises large quantities of grain. During the year of 1917, he raised about four thousand bushels of corn. The year of 1916, he and his partner handled
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and prepared for the market over five hundred head of cattle and, at this writing, December, 1917, he is feeding four hundred fifty head. His farm is well equipped with numerous barns and sheds for the stock business. The Lane residence is one of the most complete farm homes to be found in Bates county. It was built in 1911 and is complete in all details.
Mr. Lane was married March 5, 1897, to Miss Delta Gilliard, a native of Nebraska. She is a daughter of John Gilliard, who died in Nebraska in 1915. Her mother now resides in Nebraska.
To Mr. and Mrs. Lane have been born four children, three of whom are living: Vera, a student in the Rich Hill High School; Mary, also a student in the Rich Hill High School; and Aileen, attending the pub- lic schools, at home. William died at the age of two years.
Mr. Lane is a Republican. He takes an active part in political matters. He is now serving his third term as trustee of Plesaant Gap township. He is public-spirited and progressive and always stands ready to do his part in the upbuilding and betterment of his county.
Horace Benton Owen, president of the Bank of Merwin, and the senior member of the milling and grain firm of Owen and Groves, Mer- win, Missouri, was born at Greencastle, Indiana, Putnam county, Decem- ber 7, 1859. He is a son of Reuben Smith and Eveline (Piercey) Owen, both of whom were born and reared in the Hoosier state. They removed to Independence, Missouri, in 1868 and after a residence there of a little over two years, they returned to Greencastle, where the father again took up farming in his native state. In 1885, the family again moved West, locating this time on a farm near Paoli, Kansas. One year later they located on an unimproved tract of land located north of Merwin in Bates county, Reuben Owen dying there in 1892. Reuben and Eveline Owen were parents of the following children: Edgar and Edwin, Kansas City, Missouri ; H. B., subject of this review; Mrs. Sallie Kain, Fulton, Missouri; Mrs. Flora Yingst, Merwin, Missouri; Mrs. N. O. Davis, living at Sugar Creek, near Kansas City.
H. B. Owen accompanied his parents to Bates county and resided with his father on the home place until the latter's death. He retained the home farm until the spring of 1902. He then sold it and locating in Merwin, he operated a creamery for one year, after which he leased the plant for a time and again took charge of it, establishing a milling and grain, hay and coal business. He operated the business"
HORACE BENTON OWEN.
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HISTORY OF BATES COUNTY
alone until March, 1917, when George Groves became a partner in the concern.
The Owen Milling Company manufactures corn meal, chop feed, and Graham flour for purely local consumption, and the enterprise is a decided convenience for the farmers in this section. Mr. Owen has been operating the mill since 1905, and the initial building was erected in 1902. In 1906 he established his grain-buying and shipping business which is in a flourishing condition.
On February 13, 1895, Mr. Owen was married to Annie Patterson, born in Ohio, a daughter of John and Elmira (McDonough) Patterson, who migrated to Anderson county, Kansas, in 1883, and after one year's residence in that county they settled in Cass county, Missouri, where both died, the former dying in 1894 and the latter departing this life in 1915. Mr. and Mrs. Owen have one adopted son, Russell, aged ten years.
Politically, Mr. Owen has always been allied with the Republican party and is an influential leader of his party in his section of the county. He served as tax collector, constable, and justice of the peace of West Boone township. He is affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America and has generally taken the lead in all enterprises which have been intended to advance the interests of his home town of Merwin, of which he is the leading citizen in many ways. He was one of the organizers of the Bank of Merwin and is president of this thriving financial con- cern. The Merwin Christian church is a living monument to his push and energy and devout interest in religious works. He was the leading spirit in the organization of this congregation and the chairman of the board of trustees which built the church, being probably the heaviest contributor to the building fund. He served as deacon of the church from its founding until he became elder of the congregation in 1911, and is also serving as chairman of the board of trustees. Mr. Owen enjoys the respect, esteem, and confidence of the people of his home town and vicinity and has built up a splendid reputation for business integrity and honor which places him in the front rank of Bates county's best citizens.
R. R. Hamilton, cashier of the Bank of Amoret, is a native son of Bates county. He was born, July 15, 1882, on a farm one and one- fourth miles northwest of Amoret. He is a son of J. B. and Emma G. (Gibson) Hamilton, well-known and substantial residents of Bates county.
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HISTORY OF BATES COUNTY
J. B. Hamilton, the father, was born in Iowa in 1858, a son of William and Dorothy (Paisley) Hamilton, natives of Ohio and early settlers of Iowa. Both came with their parents to the state of Iowa when it was in process of settlement and were practically reared on the frontiers of civilization. It is only natural to expect that William Hamilton pre- ferred the pioneer life and was ever in the vanguard of settlers who were opening the great West and paving the way for the establishment of government. He was married in 1858 and shortly afterward joined the hosts of "Free State" men who located in Kansas, where he resided until his death in 1913. William Hamilton was a stanch "Free State" man. He became well-to-do in his adopted state. Prior to locating in Kansas, he joined the rush of gold-seekers to California in 1849 and made the long trip overland with a party which left Sioux City. He and his brother, John, engaged in the saw-mill business in California. John preferred to remain on the coast and became wealthy.
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