USA > Missouri > Dade County > History of Dade County and her people : from the date of the earliest settlements to the present time > Part 23
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In October, 1847 the organization of the lodge under charter was perfected with Win. H. Lathim, W. M., Valen- tine Penzer, Sr., W. and Archibold M. Long, J. W.
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The early meetings of the lodge developed that the organization was to be a pioneer in education as well as in Freemasonry for when its first hall was constructed, a frame structure which stood just north of the present grade school building on the same lot, it was constructed two stories in height, the ground floor being used for an academy. It was several years prior to the civil war that this building became inadequate both for the use of the lodge and for an academy and a larger and more pre- tentious brick building was erected on the site of the pres- ent grades school building. For its day and time this lat- ter was a great credit to the little hamlet of Greenfield. In fact there was doubtless none other so good owned by the Masonic order in all of Southwest Missouri, not except- ing the larger towns. In this building the lodge and the academy flourished until the disturbances of the civil war made the maintenance of the school impracticable and forced the lodge to seek more central and less conspicuous quarters.
At the close of the war, Washington was the only chartered lodge in all Southwest Missouri. The inability to continne their meetings and preserve their records, caused the forfeiture of the charters of all others, but a valliant little band of heroic Masters, among whom were Dr. S. B. Bowles, W. K. Lathim, Arch M. Long, Nelson McDowell, Columbus Talbutt, John C. Wetzel, R. S. Jacobs and John Howard, held their meetings sometimes on "high hills" or on "low vales" but generally in the old court house which was burned by Shelby's brigade in 1863, after which the meetings were held in the Lathim building on the southwest corner of the square (when they were held in doors), until the close of the war, and their own building on the hill could be repaired and made use of. It is said by the older Masons that Dr. Bowles carried the charter of Washington Lodge in his pocket during most of the war period.
The Academy building, as it was most generally termed, suffered in turn with most everything else in this troublous war period, but very early after the war closed
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it was repaired not only as a Masonic Hall but fitted also for an academy. This was the place of meeting thence- forth up to the building of the R. S. JJacobs block on the northeast corner of the square when a third story was added for the Masonic orders. A chapter, Greenfield No. 28, having been organized in the interim. This later hall was used by the Masonic bodies a Commandery, Constan- tine No. 27, K. T. having been subsequently chartered in the same hall, and all bodies occupied it up to the time the building burned, December 29, 1914.
After removing to the Jacobs building, the lodge sold their property on the hill to the school district. With the proceeds of this sale and some other resources, the lodge built the Washington Hotel building which is still occu- pied as a hotel and under the original name of the Wash- ington. The property was sold some years ago and a portion of the proceeds invested in a splendid building site on the west side of the square where the construction of a strictly modern building is contemplated.
On the occasion of both the fires mentioned all her records were burned, and all lodge paraphanalia but un- dismayed her communications are held now in the I. O. O. F. lodge rooms and should she never accomplish anything more it is a proud record to look back upon-the achieve- ments of Washington Lodge.
She gave to Missouri her greatest Grand Masonic lec- turer, the late L. Allan McDowell, who received his first three degrees in Greenfield.
BIOGRAPHIES - OF - Prominent Persons and Families
O- MATHIAS W. ALLISON.
Was born in North Missouri, February 18th, 1859, son of C. C. and Mary ( Williams) Allison. His father was a native of Tennessee and his mother a native of Missouri. His grandfather, Joseph Allison, settled in Dade County in the early 30's in Center Township. Both his parents and grandparents died in Ray County, Missouri, and are buried there.
Mathias W. Allison remained at home until 21 years of age. He received a common school and High School education and entered the teachers' profession, which he followed for 23 years, mostly in Dade County. He also did some farming in the meantime. In 1890 he bought a lot and erected a residence thereon in Greenfield, where he lived for 11 years. In 1901 he moved to a 120-acre farm belonging to his wife some four miles northwest of Green- field.
He was married on the 24th day of December, 1884, to Mary V. Hampton, who was born February 16th, 1865, daughter of JJames and Emily (Kirkwood) Hampton. Emily Kirkwood came to Dade County at the age of 15 years with her parents. Her mother died, and was the first person buried in the Wetzel cemetery near Greenfield. AAfter the death of her mother, her father returned to Kon- tucky, but Emily remained with her uncle, John Wetzel, and here she married James Hampton. Mrs. Allison was the eighth in the order of birth of a family of 11 children. Five of these were boys and six girls. Two died in infancy and two danghters and one son died after they were grown. Their mother, Emily ( Kirkwood) Hampton, died April 24th, 1913, at the age of 84 years, 8 months and 17 days. She was born in Hopkins County, Kentucky, August 31st. 1829, and was married to James Hampton July 25th,
DADE COUNTY BANK. R. S. JACOBS BANKING CO.
W. A. POE AND WIFE.
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1847. The children who were present at her funeral were Mrs. Cerilla Anderson, Mrs. M. W. Allison and her four sons, Albert, Hugh, Charley and Frank.
Mr. and Mrs. Allison are each members of the M. E. church, and are the parents of seven children, all living:
(1) Nora, born March 17th, 1886, married August 3d, 1916, to Prof. W. S. Smith of Lebanon, Mo.
(2) Bert, born January 14th, 1888, at home farming with his father.
(3) Maud, born December 20th, 1890, is now a ste- nographer in a prominent law office in Oklahoma City.
(4) Lenore, born January 31st, 1896, engaged in teaching.
(5) Finis, born July 15th, 1899, is at home.
(6) Ada Bell, born December 30th, 1901.
(7) Virginia, born March 17th, 1908.
Mr. Allison is an active Republican and is the present County Surveyor of Dade County. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. of Greenfield. His father was a member of the Missouri State Militia during the war. Mr. Allison was the seventh in order of birth of a family of 12 children, all but two of which grew to maturity. Mr. Allison is a man of culture and refinement and has raised a splendid family. He has always been deeply interested in school work, hav- ing attended Ozark College in its palmy days, and has suc- ceeded in giving his children, when they arrived at the proper age, the advantage of a higher education.
C. R. ALLISON.
Born in the State of Ohio on the 23rd day of June, 1867. He is a younger brother of Wesley N. Allison, and, by reference to the sketch under that caption, a history of his parentage may be found. At the age of 14 years he came to Missouri with his father, lived on a farm, attended the common schools of the county and spent one year in Ozark College in Greenfield. After this limited college career, he entered the profession of teaching, and for five years "handled the hickory" in the district schools of Dade County. At the mature age of 25 years he met, ad- mired and married Fannie Moore on the 9th day of March, 1892. Fannie was the only daughter of Frank Moore and
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Mary (Caldwell) Moore, the former being a native of Ken- tucky, while the latter hailed from Tennessee. They were, however, married in Dade County, and were farmers and prosperous people. Mr. Moore died March 5th, 1896, and Mrs. Moore survived him but four years, departing this life in 1900. Mrs. Moore had been previously married to Thomas Davis (deceased), who at his death left surviving him one daughter, who is now Mrs. George Finley, of Greenfield, Mo.
Mr. Allison entered upon his agricultural career as a tenant-farmer, renting the Moore homestead, which em- braced 200 acres of choice Dade County dirt, and con- tinued to cultivate the same up to the time of Mr. Moore's death, at which time he had accumulated enough of this world's goods to purchase an interest therein, subject to the widow's dower, and as the years went by his pros- perity continued to such an extent that by judicious buy- ing and selling, planning and purchasing, he is now the proud possessor of 640 acres of fertile soil in South and adjoining Townships. In keeping with the splendid quality of his farm, Mr. Allison is also the keeper of regis- tered Shorthorn cattle, and annually feeds for the market a car-load or more of hogs, while sheep are kept in suffi- cient numbers to discourage the growth of weeds and bnek- brush about the premises.
Seven children have come to bring sunshine into the home of Mr. Allison and his good wife:
David F., born September 21st, 1893.
John Ernest, born November 16th, 1898.
Mary, born May 25th, 1901.
Hoyt Ross, born April 18th, 1905.
William Ralph, born October 13th, 1907.
James Wesley, born April 3rd, 1911.
Harry Watts, born July 22, 1914.
David F., the elder son, has been given a good educa- tion, being a student first at Morrisville Academy and later graduating from Marionville College.
Religiously, Mr. Allison and his wife are members of the M. E. Church, but broad enongh denominationally to worship with God's people by whatever name.
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Aside from his farming enterprises, Mr. Allison was one of the original organizers of the Bank of Pennsboro, and is now its Assistant Cashier.
The most generous impulse in the heart of Mr. Allison is a desire to be a home builder He has remodeled the old Moore homestead so that it is now one of the most attractive farm homes to be found in the country. In addition to the residence, he has erected a mammoth barn and many convenient outhouses. His farm has the general appearance of thrift, industry and prosperity.
In politics, Mr. Allison is a Republican. He has given many years of service on the school board, and is now president of the Pennsboro Consolidated school district.
Just a word here concerning the Moore family might not be out of order. Mrs. Allison's grandparents came to Dade County from Kentucky about the year 1837. This was David Moore and Nancy (Thompson) Moore. They entered and improved 400 acres of land, living in a double log house, and reared a family of six children, four boys and two girls, all of whom are dead except Miss Moore of Pennsboro.
Mr. Moore, the father-in-law of Mr. Allison, was a forty-niner, and made four trips to the Golden State in the quest of the precious metal, in which adventure he was most successful, and on one of the return trips enjoyed the unusual pleasure of a trip around Cape Horn and home via New York.
A union between scions of parent pioneer stock which possessed the hardihood to brave the threatened death of the desert and the dangers of the deep, a heart to subdue the forest and conquer the wights of the wilderness, will bear its fruit in the commoner walks of life, where a heritage of courage and conviction is bequeathed to a family of cherished children.
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WESLEY N. ALLISON.
Entered upon the activities of this life in the State of Ohio on the 3rd day of April, 1863. His father, David J. Allison, was born in the State of Ohio August 7th, 1828,
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was a farmer by occupation, settled in Jasper County, Missouri, in 1881, but in the year 1883 concluded that Dade County offered better opportunities, and, in keeping with that conviction, purchased 92 acres of land in South Township, about five miles from the present site of Penns- boro. He was a good man, a member of the M. E. church, and died during the year 1900, and was buried at Penns- boro.
David J. Allison was married to Mary Jane Williams, a native of Ohio, about the year 1848. She was born in 1831, and after her marriage she shared the joys and sor- rows of her life with her husband until the year 1875, when she was called home. They raised a family of ten children, all of whom are now living but four, the subject of this sketch being eighth in order of birth. David J. Allison remarried, his second wife being Lucinda Weed, also a native of Ohio, this event taking place in 1876. To this union were born two children. Lucinda ( Weed) Allison still resides in Pennsboro, and her two children, Virgil D. and Lawson Stapp, both live in Dade County.
Wesley N. Allison in boyhood was a good student, and early graduated from the common schools of his neigh- borhood in Ohio, after which he attended Rio Grande Col- lege in Gallia County, Ohio, and some years later attended Ozark College in Greenfield for two years. He remained at home until the year 1892, when, on the 27th day of July of that year, he married Louann Speer, a native of Dade County and a daughter of Mathias Speer, one of the early settlers of the county. Her mother was formerly Mary Hudspeth, a member of another of the pioneer families of the county.
Mrs. Louann Allison died September 9th, 1900, leav- ing surviving her three children, two of whom are now living, viz .: Myrtle V., born November 4th, 1893, now Mrs. Homer Batten of Carthage. She graduated from Marion- ville College in 1915. Truman S. Allison was born March 5th, 1898, and graduated from Marionville College in 1915, and is now at home, engaged in farming. Both he and his sister are promising young people, Myrtle being an accom-
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plished musician, while her brother bears the distinction of being a college-bred young man without the snobbish- ness which usually accompanies that attainment. Each member of this family have membership in the M. E. Church, while Mr. Allison also has fraternal instincts, being an Odd Fellow, a W. O. W. and a Mason, and a prominent member in each of the three lodges.
After his marriage, Mr. Allison taught school for 17 years, two years having been spent in Jasper County and the remaining 15 years in the schools of Dade County. Mr. Allison also found time during those years to do a little farming, but on January 5th, 1915, helped to organize the Bank of Pennsboro, with a capital stock of $10,000, and a modern bank home of brick was built, equipped with up-to-date appliances in the way of vault, safe and furniture. Notwithstanding the fact that this bank was organized largely for the accommodation of local farmers and business men, its deposits have steadily increased and are now well above the $15,000 mark.
The officers of this bank are as follows:
President, James N. Snaden.
Vice President, G. W. Snaden.
Cashier, W. N. Allison. Assistant Cashier, C. R. Allison.
Director, C. P. Collins.
Director, J. L. Stapp.
Director, James Copeland.
All of whom constitute the board of directors.
As might well be expected, the parent stock being firmly grounded in the soil of Ohio, the offspring would of necessity be Republican, but contrary to the traditions and practices of his party, Mr. Allison was never an office- seeker. Besides being a banker, Mr. Allison is a farmer. He is the owner of one of the splendid farms of Pennsyl- vania Prairie, consisting of 480 broad acres, practically in one body, near Pennsboro. His residence is a modern structure of eight well-furnished rooms, and pleasant sur- roundings. It was built in 1904 and is just such a home as any Dade County farmer might well be proud.
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The community in general, in the neighborhood of Pennsboro, when speaking of their prominent citizens and of the men who have contributed most to the general wel- fare of the public, always include Mr. Allison in that list. He has achieved success, both socially, intellectually and financially, and richly merits the good-will of his neigh- bors and the admiration of his friends.
JOSEPH M. ALEXANDER.
Deceased.
Among the old soldier records of the Civil war from Dade County, none deserves more extended mention than Uncle Joe Alexander, late of Dadeville. He was born in Henry County, Iowa, June 11th, 1843, a son of Daniel and Lettie (Rogers) Alexander, both natives of Tennessee, where they were married, and emigrated to Iowa as young people, and where they remained and farmed up to the vear 1-56, when they moved to Dade County and settled about one mile from Greenfield. Here they stayed until the Civil war broke out, and, being favorable to the South in this trouble, they moved to Texas, and he served in the Confederate army as a lieutenant. After the war they both remained in Texas, where they passed away. Joseph was for the Union and remained in Dade. He was mar- ried Sept. 20th, 1860, to Miss Adaline Morris, who was born July 3rd 1843, a daughter of George and Patsey Morris. In 1861 Joseph Alexander enlisted in Company (. Sixth Missouri Volunteer Cavalry, under Capt. Mont- gomery, and served in all, three years and twenty days. He saw much active service, but was never wounded or taken prisoner. At Little Rock, Ark., he was transferred to the Third Hinois Cavalry, and marched with Gen. Sher- man to the sea. He was in active service before Vicks- burg, and at the battle of Chicamauga. Discharged at Baton Rouge, La., returning home he rented land for one voar north of Dadeville, then moved to Petis County, Missouri, where he farmed for four years But he could not stay away from good old Dade County, so he returned
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and took up 40 acres of government land in Morgan Town- ship, subsequently selling this to a mining company, when he bought 40 acres just south of Dadeville, improved it, prospered, and added to his holdings until he had 160 acres in a body of the best land to be had in the county. In 1900 he decided to take life more easy, and bought a nice little place containing two acres right in Dadeville and only a short distance from his fine farm, which he turned over to his son, Ulysses, who now resides on the home place and has made a decided success as a farmer and stockman. To Uncle Joe and his wife were born three children, who grew to maturity. They are, Mordica, a farmer of Texas; Corry, now Mrs. Ad Wrightman of Springfield, Mo., and Ulysses of Dade. There are fifteen grandchildren. Uncle Joe passed to "the great beyond" Dec. 15th, 1916, mourned by a host of warm friends and relatives. He was of the grand old stock that the true pioneer is made of, and has left a memory behind him of duty well and faithfully performed; he was a kindly, love- able gentleman, and we of the younger generation are proud to honor his memory.
JOHN E. ADAMSON.
Among the highly successful bankers and business men, we could not fail to mention J. E. Adamson of Ever- ton. Mr. Adamson was born in Lawrence County, Mis- souri, a son of Edward J. and Elender (Smith) Adamson, natives of Tennessee and Missouri, respectively. He was of Irish ancestry and settled in Lawrence County Missouri, in the early days, where he became a successful farmer. He owned some 800 acres of fine land located on Turn- back. He moved to Everton in 1889, where he passed away in 1901. He was a veteran of the Mexican war and served in the Home Guards during the Civil war. He was a fine citizen and a Christian gentleman, and died in the faith of the M. E. Church, South.
John E. Adamson was raised on the farm and received a good education, attending the country schools and col- Jege, both at Marionville and Morrisville. For some years
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Mr. Adamson was in the mercantile business at Lawrence- burg, in Lawrence County, and also ran a flouring mill at Miller, Mo. In 1898 he was elected as County Clerk of Lawrence County, where he served four years. In 1903 he organized the Bank of Miller, serving as president and as cashier for one year, and, selling out the bank in 1907, he moved to Springfield for the benefit of the schools for his children. In 1910 he organized the Citizens' Bank of Everton, and has served as its cashier ever since.
Mr. Adamson married Margaret Burk in 1887, whc was born in Texas, a daughter of John and Sarah Burk, who came to Lawrence County about 1872. Mr. Burk is now deceased and his widow lives with a daughter in Green County. To Mr. and Mrs. Adamson have been born seven children, as follows: Luther W., who is a prominent attorney of Kansas City, Mo .; Don O. is assistant cashier of the Citizen's Bank of Everton; Hutton L. is a farmer and miner of Lawrence County; Harlan C., Annie Helen, Vineil T. and Robert T. are at home, and receiving the best of educational advantages. Mr. Adamson is a Demo- erat in politics and fraternally is a member of the A. F. A. M. and I. O. O. F. Mr. Adamson is considered one of our most progressive and best-educated business men. He has the natural instinet of the successful banker, he is kindly and courteous in all his business dealings, and this, with the deserved reputation as to honorale methods in all things, has earned for him his well-deserved business success.
JUDGE WALTER BUFFINGTON. Deceased.
The late Judge Walter Buffington was born in Ohio March 5th, 1550, the son of Elisha and Ruth (Smart) Buf- fington, both of whom were born in West Virginia and emigrated to Ohio in the early 40s. Elisha Buffington followed river boating, and followed this business until he came to Dade County, just prior to the Civil war. He bought land here and began farming on a half section of good land. He brought with him a family of six children,
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D. L. POE AND FAMILY.
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and had just begun to get along nicely when the war broke out, with all its dangers to settlers in this section, and he decided to return to Ohio, which he did, taking his family with him.
His sentiments were with the Union, and he enlisted in the Union army and served with credit to himself. He subsequently returned to Missouri and purchased a half section of land in Green County, near Lawrenceburg, where he passed away.
Judge Walter Buffington started in life for himself with little else than a stout heart and a determination to make his mark in the world. At the age of 16 years he started working out on farms, and continued until his marriage. He had purchased 40 acres of land in Dado County, near Lockwood, and here his widow now lives. On December 31st, 1874, he was married to Miss Josephine Gentry, who was born in Kentucky January 20th, 1855, a daughter of William E. and Maria (Miller) Gentry, both natives of Kentucky. William Gentry and his wife came to Dade County in 1872, and settled near Lockwood, to the west, but in later years lived just north of Lockwood, where they both passed away. Mr. Gentry died January 23rd, 1890, and his wife followed him very shortly, on May 18th, 1890.
When Judge Buffington first went to work on his little farm his nearest market was at Nevada, 30 miles to the north and west, and Lockwood was a little city of the future. This good man and his wife prospered and added to their earthly goods until they had 160 acres of good Dade County land, but, best of all, they raised a fine family of nine children, all of whom are decidedly worthy of mention. The oldest, Miller G., was born May 26th, 1876, married Miss Alpha Mitzell, and they live in Okla- homa City, where he is following the railroad business. They have one child, Dorothy. Lula R. was born Decem- ber 11th, 1878, and married Dee Pipkin, a successful farmer of Kansas, and they have a family of two children, Paul and Josephine. William E. was born June 8th, 1882, and is one of Dade County's prominent farmers, having charge
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of the home place, with his mother. Josephine was born July 20th, 1884, and married Dr. John R. Newman, who is a prominent professional man of Fort Scott, Kas., where he owns and operates a hospital. They have two children, John and Catherine. Maggie was born Oct. 29th, 1887, and married J. P. Mason, and she is a competent stenog- rapher and at present living in Oklahoma, while her little daughter, Elizabeth, is with her Grandmother Buffington. Montie Ruth was born April 27th, 1890, and married Jesse Douthart, who is a merchant of Cullison, Kas. Walter, born May 24th, 1892, is now teaching in Kansas. Clara, born June 24th, 1895, is clerking in Pratt, Kas. Frances, born February 24th, 1898, is clerking in Cullison, Kas. Of this fine family, all have received good educations, and it is a remarkable fact that six of them have been teachers.
Judge Buffington was a Democrat and prominent in his party councils, and was elected judge of the western district, in which position he served with entire satisfac- tion to all; he also took the census of 1890. He was a mem- ber of the I O. O. F. and the I. O. U. W. Mr. Buffington died Sept. 28th, 1891,and his demise was a distinct loss to the entire county. He was a remarkable man, thoughtful, earnest and honorable, loved by all; a great lover of home and family, and, it was said by the late Aaron D. States, that he was one of the very best-educated men in Dade County.
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