USA > Missouri > Buchanan County > St Joseph > History of Buchanan County and St. Joseph, Mo. : from the time of the Platte purchase to the end of the year 1915 biographical sketches of noted citizens, living and dead > Part 44
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50
WILLIAM J. KLEPPER, cashier of he Farmers' State Bank, 6211 King
this has been due largely to the busi- ness ability and enterprise of the cashier.
Mr. Klepper was married to Miss Ida Belle Dunlap of Sabetha, Kans., May 22, 1888. They have one daugh- ter. Mr. Klepper is a Mason and an Odd Fellow.
FREDERICK C. KLICK, pastor of Zion's Evangelical Church, Ninth and Jule Streets, was born Dec. 29, 1879, in Pinckneyville, Ill., the oldest son
1
470
BUCHANAN COUNTY AND ST. JOSEPH
of Rev. J. F. Klick. and Magdalene Buechle. He spent his childhood days in St. Louis, where he received his education in the parochial and public schools. He is a graduate of Walther College, St. Louis; of Elmhurst Col- lefe, Elmhurst, Ill .; of Eden Theologi- cal Seminary, St. Louis, and took post- graduate work at Washington Univer- sity, St. Louis. In 1903 he was or- dained to the ministry and took up
¿ DR. AMEDEE DeCOUAGNE, de tist, at 2518 Frederick Avenue, is native of Canada. He was born Montreal, March 11, 1859. He w
educated in his native country. ] was graduated from the St. Lawrer College in 1879. He studied dentista in Montreal. In 1885 he entered ti Harvard School and attended the de tal clinics. In 1887 he located in F River, Mass., where he first practico
DR. AMEDEE DeCOUAGNE
active work near Chicago. In 1908 , his profession. He came to St. he was called to St. Joseph to become seph in 1897, and has been success pastor of Zion's Evangelical Church .. in building up a lucrative . practi In 1915 he was elected president of He was married to Miss Jeni Sweet of St. Joseph in October, .19 They have one child, a son. the West Missouri district of his de- nomination, which comprises thirty- .. seven congregations, being the young- est man who has ever been elected to this position.
In June, 1906, he married Etta Hunnig, of St. Louis, and has one son, Wilfred H., and two daughters, Elsie M: and Audrey.
REV. W. D. BOLTON, a Bapt minister, was born near. Jeffers City, Mo., Oct. 6, 1865. He taught the country schools four years, beg ning when 19 years old. He graduat from the business college at Sedal Mo., then entered William Jewell C
BUCHANAN COUNTY AND ST. JOSEPH
471
ge as a student for the ministry. At is college he was for four years one the editors of the College Maga- he, and won the medals in the ora- rical and debate contests.
ren tist
d F tio
In 1896 he graduated and entered e Southern Baptist Theological Sem- ary at Louisville, Ky., from which graduated in 1899. The same year was married to Miss Margaret ean of Mt. Sterling, Ky., and came
years. Located in St. Joseph, Novem- ber, 1913, connecting with Ehrlich Mfg. Co. and later establishing the Boyer Sales Co., which firm is en- gaged in the selling of household goods, advertising novelties, advertis- ing service and office supplies.
ELDER WALTER CASH, pastor of the Krug Park Primitive Baptist Church, was born near Bucklin, Linn County, Missouri, Sept. 2, 1856. After
CLIFFORD F. BOYER .
St. Louis as pastor of the Baptist urch there. He was pastor at Bowl- Green six years, and came to St. seph 'as pastor of the Savannah enue Baptist Church eight years o. In this city he was president of Baptist Ministers' Alliance for two ars and president of the General nisters' Alliance one year.
CLIFFORD F. BOYER, born in Chi- go, Ill. Came to St. Joseph from St. uis where he resided for seven
attending the common schools and the Kirksville State Normal he began teaching school and taught for ter years.
He was married to Miss Ellen P. Hardin, August 19, 1875, who died Feb 8, 1876. March 4, 1877, he was mar. ried to Miss Emma Bentley, and to them have been born ten children, of whom there are five daughters and four sons living.
Mr. Cash united with the Primitive
ti
de İş
472
BUCHANAN COUNTY AND ST. JOSEPH
Baptist Church when in his seven- teenth year and was ordained to the ministry in May, 1880, having then been preaching as a licensed preacher for four years. Ever since his ordina- tion he has had the pastoral care of churches and has held the pastorate of the church he first united with for thirty-five years continuously. He served as moderator of the associa- tion of which his church was a mem-
While in Marceline he owned and published the "Marceline Mirror," ; weekly newspaper, and was twic elected mayor of that city, resignin; the office when he came to St. Joseph to live. He is the author of several books on religious subjects.
-
FREDERICK J. WENZ, JR., sho merchant at 423 Edmond Street claims St. Joseph as the town of hi nativity. He was born here Januar,
FREDERICK J. WENZ
-Photo by Mulvane.
ber for fifteen years.
In 1890 he began editorial work on the "Messenger of Peace," a semi- monthly religious paper which is pub- lished for the Primitive Baptists of Missouri and the West, and one year later bought the paper and moved it to Marceline, Mo. For the last ten years he has published the paper in St. Joseph, Elder Cash having made his home here since 1903.
21, 1872. He attended the schools the city, and after receiving his ed cation, engaged in business with b father, Fred Wenz, the veteran sh dealer of St. Joseph. He has be thus engaged since 1890. He takes live interest in the public affairs the city and may always be depend. upon to help any worthy cause.
Mr. Wenz was married to Miss Lei Duve of St. Joseph in 1897. Frater
BUCHANAN COUNTY AND ST. JOSEPH
473
an ally he holds memberships in the Odd Fellows, Red Men and Sons of Vet- erans.
PAUL KREUGER is a native of Germany, having been born in that country December 12, 1868. He re- ceived his education in his native country and came to America in 1884. ee St. Joseph was the first city in which She settled, and he has been here ever arsince. He first opened a saloon at
New Albany, Ind., November 15, 1882. He was educated in the University of Cincinnati and also in the Hebrew Union College of the same city. He spent most of his life before coming to St. Joseph, in Omaha, Neb., where his parents still reside. He came here August 15, 1906, and has been wonderfully successful in his work with his congregation. The consum- mation of the plans for the building
D'AUL KREUGER
lighth and Messanie streets, and re- Is ained there for six years. In 1890 ed b e moved to 1508 St. Joseph avenue, here he opened the place of busi- bee es S ess he is now conducting. He is one f the liberal and potential business len of the northern part of the city. Ir. Kreuger was married to Miss nde
inna Semtner, of Germany, in 1910. RABBI LOUIS BERNSTEIN, of emple Adath Joseph, was born in
-Photo by Mulvane.
of the handsome new church edifice at Seventeenth and Felix Streets was due in large measure to his efforts. Rabbi Bernstein takes great interest in charitable work and is an advanced thinker in this field. He was ap- pointed a member of the State Board of Charities and Corrections by Gov- ernor Hadley, but later resigned. He is a member of the executive commit- tee of the National Conference of
Le ter
vic hin ep en
sho
474
BUCHANAN COUNTY AND ST. JOSEPH
Charities and Corrections and is con- nected with many other organizations of similar character, both local and national. Fraternally he has member- ships in the various Masonic bodies, including the Shrine and the Indepen- dent Order B'nai B'rith.
JUDGE THOMAS J. HILL, presid- ing judge of the county court, is a prominent farmer of Bloomington township. He was born in this town-
in its prosperity. He has always been interested in the improvements of the highways of the county, having served five years as road overseer.
Judge Hill was united in marriage to Florence B. Garton in 1878. They have no children. Religiously, they are members of the Missionary Bap- tist Church. They have a fine resi- dence on a hill commanding a fine view of the surrounding country. The
JUDGE THOMAS. J. HILL
.
ship May 23, 1858, and is a son of Thomas and Margaret (Norris) Hill. Judge Hill was educated in the dis- trict schools and the DeKalb school. Generally he has devoted himself ex- clusively to farming. He was elected judge of the county court in 1898, and served until 1902. He was elected presiding judge of that tribunal in 1912, and is still serving.
He has an excellent farm of 207 acres, and takes commendable pride
judge is a stanch Democrat in poli- tics, and was a delegate to the state convention in 1896, and served as county central committeeman for four years. Fraternally he is a member of! DeKalb Lodge, No. 191, I. O. O. F., and Missouri Camp, No. 1893, M. W. A., of! St. Joseph.
MIDLAND PRINTING COMPANY, printers and publishers, Board of Trade building, is one of the older printing establishments in St. Joseph.
BUCHANAN COUNTY AND ST. JOSEPH
475
It was started nearly a quarter of a century ago by Charles E. Thornton, who had associated with him H. W. Beard and Herman Rose. Mr. Rose retired after a few years, but Beard and Thornton continued the business until 1911, when they sold to E. L. McDonald and W. J. Jones. This part- nership continued until June, 1915, when Mr. Jones retired and the busi- ness was incorporated, the stockhold- ers being E. L. McDonald, Frank Frey-
New York City, and graduated in 1905. In 1910 he matriculated in the Ameri- can School of Osteopathy at Kirks- ville, Mo., and graduated in 1913. He then went back to New York and practiced one year under Dr. Fechtig. He opened his office in St. Joseph in 1914.
REV. DUNCAN BROWN, was born in Hannibal, Mo., June 6, 1844. At the age of 12 years he moved with his parents to a farm in Shelby coun-
DR. IBER WEBSTER MERVINE
tag and Glen Stevenson. The com- pany specializes on publication work and is the home of the St. Joseph Ob- server, the St. Joseph Union and sev- eral other publications.
DR. IBER WEBSTER MERVINE, room 35, Ballinger Building, was born at Gordon, Penna., April 22, 1885. He Y. was educated in the common schools of his In
town. 1903 he native entered the Mills Training School in
-Photo by Mulvane.
ty, where his early education was re- ceived. He enlisted in the Union army, first in St. Joseph in 1861 and later at Palmyra, Mo., in 1862. At that time and place he attached him- self to Glover's Third Missouri Cav- alry Volunteers and served until the end of the war. Rev. Brown received his college education at Pardee Col- lege and graduated with the degree of A. B. in 1868. He was educated for
li- te as
6
n
e y y p-
d
Le le
of
er h
476
BUCHANAN COUNTY AND ST. JOSEPH
the ministry in Princeton Theological Seminary, graduating in 1871. He has been at work in the gospel ministry ever since. He has held charges in St. Joseph, Mound City, Craig and Tarkio. He was president of the Highland (Kansas) College and the Brookfield (Missouri) College from 1885 to 1891. He received the degree of D. D. from the first mentioned col- lege in 1884. On account of failing health he went to Arizona several
dent of the Missouri State Sunday School Association. He has held vari ous other minor offices in connection with the religious work of the state in which nearly all of his life has beer spent. Rev. Brown was married
August 25, 1874, to Miss Mattie Tl Lewis. Their family consists of five children. His fraternal connections are confined to Custer Post, G. A. R. of which organization he is the chap lain.
RALPH M. STAFFORD
-Photo by Mulvane.
years ago and preached there for a year and a half. For nearly four years he preached in Mexico City. Rev. Brown returned to St. Joseph in 1913 and is now living at 1810 North Twen- ty-second Street. Most of his activi- ties have been in the Presbyterian . Church, but he is now supplying the pulpit of the Plymouth Congregational Church. He has held the important office of moderator of the Presbyter- ian Synod of Missouri and was presi-
RALPH M. STAFFORD, real estat dealer . at the northeast corner ( Eighth and Edmond Streets, is Missouri stock, Buchanan County b ing his birthplace and the date Jur 3, 1874. After receiving his educatic in the county schools, he engaged i the grocery business in St. Joseph 1896, which field of activity claime his attention for eleven years, durir which time he was active in the R tail Grocers', Butchers' and Baker
477
BUCHANAN COUNTY AND ST. JOSEPH
Association and served as its presi- dent. In 1911 he embarked in the real estate business, and his success has been such that he does not be- lieve he will make any more changes.
He was married to Miss Mary K. Bailey of St. Joseph, March 19, 1893. They have two children, both boys.
WILLIAM H. OSWALD, justice of the peace, is a native of St. Joseph. He was born here September 8, 1882,
years, until the fall of 1914, when he was elected justice of the peace for Washington township. He is a Demo- crat in politics.
HARRY L. GRAHAM, solicitor for the Combe Printing Company, is a na- tive of St. Joseph, where he was born June 10, 1861, and where he has lived ever since. He was educated in the public schools and has been actively
WILLIAM H. OSWALD
and was educated in the schools of the city and graduated from the St. Joseph Business University in 1899. The following year he was made chief signal operator at Central Police Sta- tion. This position he held for fifteen
engaged in business since boyhood, mostly as a salesman and solicitor. He was married October 1, 1884, to Miss Hannah J. Hayward, daughter of Joseph and Mary Hayward of St. Jo- seph. They have two children.
478
BUCHANAN COUNTY AND ST. JOSEPH
MR. R. T. FORBES, president of the First National Bank and the First Trust Company of St. Joseph, was born at Port Lavaca, Texas, on March 4, 1868. Having been deprived of schooling facilities he entered the em- ploy of the Galveston City Railway Company at a very early age as office boy, one of his duties being to "rob" the street car boxes of the fares, it being in the days when passengers were required to deposit their nickels
serving that institution in the capac- ity of a mail teller. The line of work not affording any particular experí- ence or education, he decided to enter a country institution and accepted a position with Ritter & Doubleday, pri- vate bankers, at Columbus, Kansas, where he was permitted to serve in a general capacity, remaining until 1889, when the First National Bank of Las Vegas, New Mexico, tendered him a position as teller, which he accepted,
ist-shults
R. T. FORBES
in the cash boxes instead of having conductors. This was the beginning of his taste for financial matters and which led him into the banking busi- ness.
After leaving Galveston, his parents settled at Dallas, where he entered the service of the American National Bank in 1884 as messenger at a sal- ary of $2.50 per week. After remain- ing with the Dallas banks until 1887 he was called by Dr. W. S. Woods to the Bank of Commerce, Kansas City,
remaining there until the summer of 1891, when he purchased an interest in the Stephens Lithographing and Engraving Company of St. Louis, Mo., and as president of that company, he piloted it most successfully through the panic of 1893. The effect of this panic was most severe and in a meas- ure impaired his health, so in 1896 he determined to relieve himself of the strenuous task of managing a man- ufacturing business and to return to his first love, which was that of bank-
479
BUCHANAN COUNTY AND ST. JOSEPH
ing, and in 1896 sold his holdings in the lithographing company and estab- lished the American Trust and Sav- ings Bank at Cedar Rapids, Iowa, which bank in a very short time grew to large proportions, and in 1904 he was chosen cashier of the Citizens National Bank of Cedar Rapids in con- junction with the management of the savings bank. Both banks under his management trebled in the space of three years' time.
The rapid growth of these banks attracted the attention of bankers throughout the country, and on Jan- uary 1, 1907, he was invited to ac- cept the position of vice-president of the Drovers' Deposit National Bank of Chicago, which position he ac- cepted, taking up the duties on Jan- uary 8, just in time to become familiar with the customers and business of this great institution, which permitted him to successfully cope with the panic of that year. The progress made by the Drovers' Deposit Nation- al Bank was of such a character that in June, 1908, he was elected to the position of president. On May 16, 1910, he was chosen president of the First National Bank of St. Joseph, and May 17 took up his residence in St. Joseph.
Mr. Forbes has a personal acquaint- ance among the bankers of the Unit- ed States extending from coast to coast and from Canada to Mexico, who have been loyal to him and assisted him in building up the various insti- tutions with which he has been con- nected. Strange as it may seem, every change he has ever made has been a promotion unsolicited and never has he been compelled to seek a place or advancement.
Aside from his business career, he served through the period of the Span- ish-American war as first lieutenant of the Fifth Iowa Volunteer Light Ar- tillery. He was mustered in the Unit- ed States service at Camp Mckinley, Iowa, on July 5, 1898. The board of directors of his bank, of which he was then cashier, passed a unanimous res- olution granting him a leave of ab- sence extending through the Spanish- American war.
He is a prominent Mason, having served that fraternity as master of the lodge, high priest of the chapter, commander of the Commandery
Knights Templar, grand captain gen- eral of the Grand Commandery of the State of Iowa, most wise master of the Rose Croix Chapter Scottish Rite, being a 32° Mason. He is also a life member of the Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks.
He is a member of the Sons of the Revolution, holding his membership as a descendant of General Wm. Dav- idson of North Carolina, and has served as president of the Iowa society; is a member of the Protes- tant Episcopal church, which he has served as vestryman and treasurer for many years. He is a member of the following clubs: Union League Club, South Shore Country Club, of Chi- cago; the St. Joseph Country Club, Benton Club and Commerce Club of St. Joseph.
On June 28, 1910, he married Miss Coudrey Palmer at Algona, Iowa, which union has been blessed with three sons, Richard Tasker Forbes, Jr., Robert Palmer Forbes, and Randolph Mitchell Forbes.
SMITH-STULL TYPESETTING CO. -With the perfecting of typesetting machines, doing away with the old method of setting books, magazines, newspapers and advertising matter by hand, a new industry was born which has proven a success from its inception-the trade composition of- fice. One well equipped typesetting plant can supply the demands of every printing office in Buchanan county, and still have time to set up and deliver the type for several news- papers in Kansas, Iowa and Nebraska and well as the adjacent counties in Missouri. Such an institution is the Smith-Stull Typesetting Company of St. Joseph, which was started by Mar- shall W. Smith in 1911, under the name of the Smith Typesetting Com- pany. In April, 1914, W. R. H. Stull, superintendent of the mechanical de- partment of the Gazette, entered into a partnership with Mr. Smith, form- ing the Smith-Stull Typesetting Com- pany. In July, 1914, Mr. Smith died, and his interests were taken over by C. L. Smith. The firm is well known throughout Missouri, Kansas, Iowa and Nebraska, and is the only inde- pendent typesetting company in this part of Missouri.
480
BUCHANAN COUNTY AND ST. JOSEPH
B. RALEIGH MARTIN was born at Macomb, McDonough County, Illi- nois, July 6, 1872. His paternal an- cestry were among the early settlers of Marion County, Kentucky, and his maternal ancestry resided in Ran- dolph County, Virginia.
The subject of this sketch removed with his parents in early boyhood to Maryville, Nodaway County, Missouri, where he grew to manhood, receiving his education in the Maryville public
practice of his profession in Maryville until January, 1910, when, seeking a wider field of labor, he removed to the metropolis of Northwest Missouri and became a citizen of St. Joseph where he now resides.
In 1912 Mr. Martin became a candi- date for the Democratic nomination for congress against Congressman Charles F. Booher and was defeated by a small majority. He has been very active in Democratic politics for
Shirts
B. RALEIGH MARTIN
schools and the Maryville Seminary, from which he graduated in 1892, and during which time he pursued the study of the classical languages under private instructors. Mr. Martin is widely read in the classics, a' finished scholar and a master of English. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1893, and in 1897 was elected prosecuting attorney of Nodaway County, Missouri, serving four con- secutive years. At the expiration of his term of office he continued the
twenty years. He is an able lawyer enjoying a large practice, and is recognized as one of the most brilliant orators in the state. Before a jury he has few equals and he has been engaged "in some of the most cele- brated cases in Northwest · Missouri, and in many noted cases in the cen- tral western states. "While being en- gaged in the general practice of law, Mr. Martin has made a specialty of will cases, 'and has appeared as coun- sel in many memorable will contests
il.
BUCHANAN COUNTY AND ST. JOSEPH
481
in this and other states.
In politics Mr. Martin is a Demo- crat and has been a hard worker for his friends and party during his pub- lic career. He has delivered speeches in many parts of the country under the direction of the National Demo- cratic Committee, and is always found ready to lend a helping hand in his home and surrounding counties to the local tickets in every campaign. He has legion of friends who predict that
clerk, and, later, worked in the same capacity for the S. S. Allen Grocery Company. At the end of three years he went with the News-Press as solici- tor and followed this position with one on the Gazette as circulation man- ager, in which capacity he spent sev- eral years. He left the Gazette to go to the St. Joseph Star, but re- mained only a short time, returning to the Gazette as advertising manager. - Eight years ago he founded the Com-
CLARENCE C. PIERCE
as a reward for his faithful services to his party he would receive what- ever honors he might ask -should he become an aspirant for political pre- ferment. Mr. Martin is a · Shriner, Elk, Eagle, Moose, Knight of Pythias, Woodman, K. & L. of S., Yeoman and a member of other orders. In relig- ion he is a Presbyterian. He resides with his family consisting of his wife, daughter, Pauline, and son, Marion, at his residence, 1202 Ashland avenue, St. Joseph, Mo.
CLARENCE C. PIERCE was born ' in Remington, Indiana, in 1873. He came to St. Joseph in 1892 and went into the employ of the Rainalter Groc- ery Company at 712 Felix Street, as
mercial Journal, a trade paper devoted to the interests of manufacturer, wholesaler and retailer. This publica- tion, of which he is the publisher and owner, recently absorbed the Retailer, a trade paper of Kansas City; became the official organ of the Free Service Bureau of St. Joseph, and has started on a career of uncommon usefulness to the middle west territory.
Mr. Pierce is quite a lodge man, being a 32° Mason and a Shriner. He is a charter member of the Scot- tish Rite Masons; a charter member of the Elks; a member of the United Commercial Travelers; has been sec- retary of the Humane Society for six years; is a director in the Union Gos-
482
BUCHANAN COUNTY AND ST. JOSEPH
pel Mission, in which he takes a great interest; and is a member of the White Temple (M. E.) church. He is deeply interested in sociological work for the alleviation of the condition of the poor and for their general uplift.
THOMAS BUFORD ALLEN, judge of the circuit court, was born in Fred- ericktown, Mo., March 26, 1868. He is
county for twenty years. His mother, whose maiden name was Sarah Bol- linger, was born in Bollinger County, Missouri. Mr. Allen was educated in the public schools of Fredericktown and at the state university at Colum- bia. After teaching school in Madison county and reading law with Hon. B. B. Cahoon of Fredericktown, he en-
Gist-shultz
THOMAS BUFORD ALLEN
the son of Judge N. B. Allen, a native of Madison County, Missouri, who was judge of the probate court of that
tered the Georgetown University Law School at Washington, D. C., graduat- ing in the class of 1891 and the post-
BUCHANAN COUNTY AND ST. JOSEPH
483
graduate class of 1892. From October, 1892, to August, 1893, he was a law clerk in the office of the judge advo- cate general, war department, at Washington, appointed after competi- tive examination under the civil serv- ice law. This position he resigned to begin the active practice of his pro- fession in St. Joseph. He was a mem- ber of the firm of Sherwood & Allen from August, 1893, to July, 1898. He has achieved both fame and a lucra-
Division No. 1, in the fall of 1914, and is dean of the Y. M. C. A. law school.
Mr. Allen was married at New Madrid, Mo., November 10, 1892, to. Miss Emma Hunter, daughter of Jo- seph Hunter.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.