USA > Missouri > Dade County > History of Dade County and her people : from the date of the earliest settlements to the present time > Part 27
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SOUTH GREENFIELD VIEWS.
W. L. FERGUSON.
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of the public has justly earned for him his high standing as a physician and business man.
COLONEL JOSEPH W. CARMACK.
The subject of this sketch is one of the unique, strik- ing and distinguished characters in Dade County history. Perhaps no man ever lived in the county who is better known, and few developed a more picturesque personality.
Joseph W. Carmack was born May 26th, 1838, in Livingstone County, Tennessee, son of John and Elizabeth (Chapin) Carmack. Paul Chapin, his grandfather, was the famous drummer boy for General George Washington in the Revolutionary war. He had two sons who served with him in the war of 1812, at which time he was major.
John and Elizabeth Carmack were both natives of Tennessee. They came to Dade County in June, 1853, and settled three miles northwest of Dadeville, and took up 80 acres of unimproved land, upon which there was a small log cabin. John Carmack died in 1856, leaving a family of eight children, three of whom are still living:
(1) Mrs. Dr. N. H. Hampton, No. 2124 Lafayette Avenue, Saint Louis Mo. Dr. Hampton was one of the prominent men of Dade County in an early day. He prac- ticed medicine in Dadeville and was Surveyor by pro- profession also. He surveyed the public state road from Springfield to Stockton. When the town was located, the citizens drew lots for the honor of naming the little vil- lage, which honor fell upon Dr. Hampton, and he named it "Melville," which has since been changed to Dadeville.
(2) James G. Carmack lives in Canada.
(3) J. W. Carmack of Dadeville, Mo.
After the death of John Carmack, his widow, Eliza- beth, took up 120 acres more land, which her family had cleared out at the time of the war. In 1862 she moved to Dadeville.
Joseph W. Carmack enlisted in the Union army July 5th, 1861, in Company A. Sixth Missouri Cavalry, having
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previously been in the Secret Service of the United States. Company A was commanded by Captain T. A. Switzler, and the regiment was commanded by Col. Clark Wright. He served in this company until September 30tl, 1862, when he was commissioned First Lieutenant in Co. L, same regiment, under Capt. J. C. Kirby. He was dis- charged February 18th, 1864, at Pilot Knob, Mo., as first lieutenant, then, in September, 1864, he was commissioned first lieutenant in the Seventy-sixth E. M. M., under Capt. James M. Kirby. Discharged in November, 1864, and in March, 1865, was commissioned as first lieutenant in Com- pany E, Fourteenth Missouri Cavalry, Veterans. Dis- charged October 26th, 1865, at Ft. Leavenworth, Kas.
During his military service he was actively engaged in the following battles: Wilson Creek, Sugar Creek, Pea Ridge, Prairie Grove, Wet Glaze, Linn Creek, Horse Creek, Greenfield, and many others.
In the spring of 1866 he was commissioned as en- rolling and mustering officer of the southwest as first lieu- tenant, and was ordered to enroll and organize companies in Dade County. Three companies were organized. One was placed under Capt. James M. Travis of Arcola, one under Capt. Thomas Hopper of Penn Prairie, and one un- der Capt. E. V. Lafoon of Dadeville. During the war he also served as Quartermaster, Commissary, Provost Mar- shal, Adjutant, Mustering Officer, Company Commander, Drill Master, and doing every duty known to a cavalry soldier.
He was never married. Elizabeth Carmack, his mother, lived to the extreme old age of 93 years 11 months and 19 days. She lies buried beside her husband in the Rice cemetery, near Dadeville.
After the war, Joseph W. Carmack lived in Dadeville 24 years. During that time he bought and sold many farms, especially in the territory between Dadeville and Corry. At present he is the owner of a splendid farm of 200 acres with the finest water system in the county. He has erected a nice frame residence. Farm is well
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fenced and 140 acres in cultivation. He is engaged in general farming.
While Mr. Carmack has never been married, he has raised several boys, and given them a splendid start in life. In politics Mr. Carmack has been one of the most active Republicans, covering a period commencing with the birth of the party. He was elected Sheriff and Col- lector of the county in 1864, but, preferring military service in time of war, never qualified, having been com- missioned for the army. He served as Justice of the Peace for 18 years in Morgan Township, and has frequently been before the people as a candidate, both in the con- ventions, primaries and general elections. He has the distinction of being captain of the "Mollie Dozier," a mythical gunboat, which navigates Salt River at the close of each political campaign.
Mr. Carmack has always been a booster for good roads, and exemplified his faith by many good works, building graded roads on his own account long before the movement became state-wide.
Since the war Mr. Carmack has been a prominent member of the G. A. R., attending all the reunions, both district, state and National, and has held many offices of honor and trust in that organization, including being made Colonel of the Sixth Cavalry, Missouri Volunteers, com- plimentary. As its Commander, since the war he has called this regiment together and held thirty reunions. He is now in his 80th year and has offered the service of himself and this regiment (about 40 available men) to join the Volunteer army to go to France to defend the Stars and Stripes for world peace.
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C. P. COLLINS.
Was born in Lawrence County, Missouri, December 9th, 1872, son of William and Jane (West) Collins. His father lives at Gaither, In Lawrence county where he is engaged in business. His mother is dead.
Mr. Collins remained at home until 21 years of age. He learned the blacksmith trade which he followed suc-
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cessfully in Lawrence and Dade counties for twenty years. He also farmed a little in the meantime.
In the year 1913 he entered the mercantile business, buying out the general merchandise store of A. O. Gragg & Co., at Pennsboro. He was appointed postmaster Jan- uary 26th, 1915 which position he still holds. His stock of goods is valued at $4,000 and consists of dry-goods, shoes, furnishing goods and general merchandise.
Mr. Collins was married on the 25th day of June, 1894 to Minnie L. Stewart, a native of Missouri. Her father lives in Lawrence County. Her mother is dead. They are the parents of five children-Charles, Laura, Ruth, Lydia and James Francis, all at home.
Mr. Collins is a Republican in politics and his frater- nal relations consist of membership in the A. F. & A. M. at Halltown and an I. O. O. F. and M. W. A. at Pennsboro.
By strict attention to business and an honest effort to supply the needs of his customers Mr. Collins has attained enviable success in merchandising. He is a valuable and useful man in the community, being public spirited, ag- gressive and dependable.
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EX-JUDGE FRANK CHATHAM.
One of the most prominent men of all northern Dade County is Frank Chatham of north Sac Township. He was born in Shelby county, Illinois, April 15, 1867, a son of Thomas D. and Mary ( Wakefield) Chatham, both nat- ives of Illinois, where they married and passed their lives, his father dying there about 1875 and the mother about 1895. Thomas D. Chatham was a Union soldier in the re- bellion serving as Sergeant in Co. C 3rd Illinois Vol. Cav- alry for over three years. He was a republican. In the Chatham family there were five children in which Frank Chatham, the subject of this sketch was second in order of birth. Of this family three are now living, besides Frank ; Robert is a resident of Roundstown, Illinois and Anna, now Mrs. Calvin Kirkpatrick of Christian County, Ill. Frank Chatham was only eight years of age when his father died and continued to live with his mother until
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she again married, when he struck out for himself work- ing at farm labor from place to place and in 1887, he visited his uncle James A. Wakefield, who was a farmer of Dade County, Missouri. He liked it so well here that he stayed working out and farming on the share the first year, the second year he worked for Daniel Blakemore. On November 28, 1889, he married Cora A. Kirby, who was born in Dade County June 19, 1867, a daughter of James M. Kirby and Mary Grisham, his wife. For two years after their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Chatham farmed on her father's farm and it was not long before Mr. Kirby gave his daughter 120 acres of land in North Morgan Township. This was partly improved, had a small one-room house and here they settled and went to work in dead earnest. In two years they bought a good 40 adjoining remaining on this place for four years, when they moved back to the Kirby homestead and Mr. Chatham went into the stock business with his father-in-law, James Kirby. The Kirby homestead was sold out in some two or three years and Mr. Chatham rented 225 acres in north Sac. Township of Dee White. This was for the year 1904 and 1905, and when his lease was up, he bought the entire tract of 255 acres. This was a well improved farm and well adapted to stock rais- ing, has a good residence and here Mr. Chatham has since resided and carried on stock raising and farming to a large extent. He has, however, sold 40 acres of his original purchase and now owns 215 acres in north Sac. Township, also 160 acres in north Morgan Township and two and one-half acres located in the town of Dadeville.
To Mr. and Mrs. Chatham have been born four child- ren as follows: The two eldest died in infancy; Those liv- ing are James Leslie, born January 28, 1898, is a finely educated young man having had the advantages of Dade County schools and attended one year at Marionville Col- lege and one year at Bolivar, Polk County. He is at present farming in North Morgan township-he married Mabel Willett of Cedar County; Thomas Roy, born Novem- ber 4, 1902 is at home attending school. On his fine farm Mr. Chatham will average handling a car-load each of
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hogs and cattle and also raising some fine mules for the market and he has a fine flock of some 80 head of sheep and goats. On this place are two large silos and the farm is finely watered with good springs and spring branch, in fact, it is an ideal stock farm. Mr. and Mrs. Chatham are fine Christian people belonging to the Baptist Church at Cave Springs. Mr. Chatham is a red hot republican and has been very active in the council of his party. He has served on the school board for a number of years and is now road over-seer in his district. He was elected on the republican ticket as judge of the county court, served two years and was one of our most popular judges. Mr. Chat- ham is a wide-awake progressive business man and can always be counted upon for his assistance in any enter- prise that is for the good of the county or its people. He is a booster for good roads and a firm friend of free public schools. Too muchi cannot be said of what Mr. Chatham has accomplished and all in Dade County too. He had little chance for education, but today he is a well read, finely posted man. He is certainly a self-made man in every respect. He has lived a clean life in every respect and deserves the high esteem in which he is held by his multitude of friends. Dade county could well stand a few more men of the calibre of Frank Chatham.
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BERNIECE M. COINER.
An ideal, womanly woman, with all the grace and characteristics of feminity, and yet withal, possessing a spirit of indomitable courage and filled with the "never- say-die" temperament of the Hibernian race, she has won for herself that position which easily proclaims her the "first woman" in Dade County from a business and literary standpoint.
Berniece M. Coiner was born in Lockwood, Dade County, Missouri, September 24th, 1885.
Her father, George W. Coiner, was born in Virginia March 5th, 1857, and died in the west in the year 1910. He was of the Scotch-Irish ancestry, who settled in Vir-
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ginia (now West Virginia) in an early day. They were farmers by occupation. George came to Dade County with his wife, young son and parents in 1883. In early manhood he learned the painter's trade, which he followed during life.
George's mother was born in Virginia of Irish parent- age, who were farmers by occupation. She was a mem- ber of the Christian church. George had one sister, Mary, who married Mahlon Eller, a ranchman, residing at Rock Lake, N. D. They have three children.
George W. Coiner and Jessie Sullivan were married in Peru, Ind., March 11, 1881, she being a native of Peru, born July 3rd, 1862, a daughter of Henry and Priscilla (Parnell) Sullivan, of Irish parentage, he being a shoe- maker and came from Indiana to Greenfield, and both are buried in the Greenfield cemetery.
Henry and Priscilla Sullivan were the parents of two children, viz: Jessie, intermarried with George W. Coiner, and mother of Berniece, and Fannie, now the wife of Harry Carlock, residing at Dadeville, Mo. She was educated in the schools of Peru, Ind. She was a member of the Christian church and Eastern Star fra- ternity of Lockwood. She was Worthy Matron of the chapter at Lockwood at various times for thirteen years, and for some time was District Deputy of this district, organizing a number of chapters. She died August 26, 1916, while undergoing a surgical operation in the Ex- celsior Springs Sanatorium, she having been at Excelsior Springs five weeks, visiting a son. Five children sur- vive. They are:
(1) Dennis, a farmer, Excelsior Springs.
(2) Berniece M. Coiner.
(3) Stella, married Harry G. Dee, formerly freight agent of the Frisco railroad at Ft. Scott, Kas., now with the same railroad at Wichita, Kas. They have one child, Robert L.
(4) Goldie married Halsey Jewell, agent for the Frisco railroad at Garland, Kas.
(5) Ray, a tailor, at Lockwood, Mo.
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Berniece M. Coiner has lived in Lockwood all her life. When a girl she attended the grade schools of that place and later spent two years in the High School. She entered the office of the "Missourian," a local paper, owned by A. J. Young, and learned the "art preserva- tive," and by reason of her industry, sagacity and special fitness for the work, she was made manager of that pub- lication, which position she occupied for three years. In March, 1912, in company with John H. Harris, they pur- chased the "Lockwood Luminary," which she has since managed and edited, and in March, 1916, became the sole owner.
Berniece is a member of the Christian church, a Re- bekah and an Eastern Star, and, while a lady is supposed to have no politics, the "Luminary" is a power in Re- publican circles.
She is also a member of the "Missouri Woman's Press Association" and formerly a Trustee in that organi- zation.
In recounting the struggles and successes of this Dade County girl, it might not be out of order to state that she has supported herself and earned every dollar's worth of property which she now possesses. At present she is the owner of a well-furnished, comfortable home in Lockwood, and the "Luminary" Office is known far and wide as one of the best-equipped offices in the state for a town the size of Lockwood. Its interior appoint- ments are new and up-to-date, while an atmosphere of neatness, good taste and prosperity pervades every inch of the room.
The "Luminary" job office has long since gained a well-merited reputation for artistic work, but the real success of the enterprise has come from the brilliant, sparkling bits of philosophy which has eminated fron the editorial chair.
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JOHN M. COTTER.
Of the highly respected and appreciated farmers of Dade County, none stands higher than John Cotter, the
GEO. W. DAIGH AND WIFE.
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subject of this sketch. He was born February 22nd, 1858, in Jefferson County, Tennessee, a son of William and Nancy Jane (White) Cotter, both natives of Tennessee, where they were married and came to Greene County, Mis- souri, in 1882, and carried on farming until their demise. John was the oldest of five children, the second dying in infancy, while James, the third in order of birth, is also deceased; George H. is a resident of Everton, and Thula married John Baxter, and they live at Bois d'Arc, Greene County.
For many years Mr. Cotter was a business man of Greene County. When about 21 years of age he entered into the drug business at Bois d'Arc, which he sold out in one year, and then spent two years in Colorado and Texas. He returned and put in a new stock of drugs at Bois d'Arc, but after two years he moved to Ash Grove, where he was employed by Swinney Brothers, Druggists, for some five years, at which time he bought out the C. H. Van Pelt Drug Store, which he successfully run for 17 years, finally selling out to A. R. Mason, and moved to a fine 300-acre farm that he had bought while in business. This place is located two miles west of Everton, and was only partly improved. Mr. Cotter has greatly im- proved this farm with good fences and outbuildings, and now has one of the very best stock farms in the county. Here he raises and feeds some 200 head of hogs a year, besides cattle. In 1881 Mr. Cotter married Miss Alice Wilson, a daughter of Nathaniel and Jane (Baker) Wilson. Mr. Wilson is deceased and was a brother of Solomon H. Wilson, and a sketch of the Wilson family may be found elsewhere in these volumes. Mr. Cotter lost his wife September 30th, 1889, and by her he had two children, as follows: Harry Arthur, who married Josie B. Meyers, who died leaving three children, John M. William B. and Elms B. Clyde Everett died February 6, 1910, age 27 years.
Mr. Cotter is certainly a public-spirited citizen. He is a red-hot Republican, but does not desire office of any kind. Fraternally, he is a Mason, belonging to the Blue
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Lodge at Everton, the Chapter at Ash Grove, the Com- mandery at Greenfield and the Shrine at Springfield. He is a good booster for good roads and a staunch friend of our free public school system. Truly, Mr. Cotter is a wide-awake business man, and such men as he are the making of any community.
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SAMUEL WILLIAM COX. Deceased.
Born in Dade County, Missouri, April 28th, 1848, died at his home, near South Greenfield, January 3rd, 1917, son of Jacob and Louisa (Johnson) Cox, both natives of Filmore County, Tennessee, where they were married. Came to Dade County by ox team, overland, 1837, being six weeks on the road, coming via St. Louis. They had two children at the time, bringing both with them, Nancy, afterward Mrs. William Moore of Kansas, died September 28th, 1910, aged 74 years; Mary, afterward Mrs. James H. Morgan, died January 18th, 1906, aged 86 years 11 months and 28 days.
Jacob Cox and wife settled on land a half mile south of South Greenfield, and lived there one year in a rail pen, three sides inclosed, the fourth being a quilt. Later on he took up land adjoining where South Greenfield now stands, which became his permanent abode until the time of his death. First he erected a little log cabin 12x14 feet, and in this they lived for a few years, when a second cabin 16 feet square was built, and in these cabins the last of their six children were born. One died in infancy, one in adult age, and two still survive. Sarah A Myers, widow of Charles B. Myers, now lives in Everton; Charles M. Cox, a farmer, living near Golden City. Those de- ceased are Samuel W. Cox, Mrs. Elmira English, Leah M. Cox and Granville G. Cox.
Jacob Cox and wife are buried on the home farm, about 150 yards southeast of the frame honse which he built in 1-53. Jacob Cox was a Republican, and both him- self and wife were members of the M. E. Church (South).
In 1848, 30 acres of land was bought and entered
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for the South Methodist Camp Meeting Association, 10 acres of which is still retained by the Cumberland Pres- byterians and used by them for camp meeting purposes.
Jacob Cox died January 7th, 1883. Louisa Cox died January 2nd, 1895.
Samuel W. Cox stayed at home until he was 21 years of age, at which time he went to work for himself on rented land two miles west of the old Ragsdale homestead. He remained here for two years, and then purchased his present homestead, then consisting of 75 acres, where he has lived and farmed ever since, building houses, barns, fences, etc., and adding land thereto, until he acquired 235 acres, and at the death of his father he received 200 acres more, making him a fine farm of 435 acres, all in one body.
On the 21st day of March, 1871, he was first married, to Harriet A. Ragsdale, who died January 12th, 1881, leav- ing three children:
(1) Harriet Adaline, born March 15th, 1872, died February 9th, 1894. She married John A. Adams, now deceased, and left two children, Christopher C., now of San Francisco, and Harriet Ida., now of Kansas City. Both are married.
(2) Thomas Albert, of South Greenfield, lives on part of the original land grant to his grandfather. Mar- ried Lizzie Bird, and they now have five children, May Elizabeth, Grace, Thomas Albert, William Walter and Walter Jacob. William Walter died May 20th, 1893.
The second wife of Samuel W. Cox was Fannie L. Mitchell, born July 19th, 1862, on a farm near Chicago, Ill. The were married June 10th, 1883. She was a daugh- ter of Gohra.a Smith and Louisa J. (Babb) Mitchell, both natives of the State of Maine, the father being born about 1832, while the mother is still living on a farm with two daughters.
Mrs. Cox was the oldest of three children, all living. Of this second marriage, three children were born:
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(1) Edith A., born January 29th, 1886, married John A. Babb of Dixfield, Me. The have one child, Richard Edward.
(2) Samuel Jacob, born June 27th, 1894, died August 12, 1910.
(3) Noel Ernest Gohram, born December 25th, 1900. Is at home.
Samuel W. Cox was a life-long Republican and active in the counsels of his party. He was also an Odd Fellow, a Mason, belonging to all the lodges, a Shriner at Spring- field, and to the Commandery at Greenfield. The entire family are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
Samuel W. Cox was one of the original organizers of the Farmers' State Bank at South Greenfield, and in 1915 was elected its President, succeeding B. J. J. Marsh (de- ceased). Mr. Cox was also a stockholder in the Dade Count Bank at Greenfield.
Being an admirer of blooded stock, Mr. Cox was among the first to introduce Shorthorn cattle and Poland- China hogs into Dade County. His herd of Shorthorns was established in 1875, and became famous all over the State of Missouri. He exhibited both hogs and cattle at the various fairs and was richly rewarded in the granting of premiums.
Besides being a heavy feeder and shipper of both cattle and hogs, Mr. Cox engaged in another enterprise, which was largely in the nature of an experiment, but one which proved to be a glowing success. On the 18th day of August, 1914, he began the construction of a fish pond on his farm, which would cover about two acres. It required a concrete retaining wall 170 feet long, 18 inches wide at the base, 8 inches at the top and 18 feet high above bedrock. This created a pond which was supplied with an everlasting spring of clear, cool, spar- kling water, having a flow of 50 gallons per minute in the dryest time. This pond he stocked with both large and small-mouthed bass and crappie, obtaining some from the state and the remainder from the government fish hatch-
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ery. At the greatest depth this pond is 9 feet 11 inches deep. It answers two purposes-first, it is an ornament to the farm, adding much to its intrinsic beauty, and sec- ond, it furnishes fish and fishing to the occupants, thereby becoming a source of profit as well as of pleasure.
CHARLES M. COX.
Was born in Dade County, Missouri, December 8th, 1854, son of Jacob and Louisa (Johnson) Cox, pioneers of Dade County, who resided in the vicinity of South Green- field.
Charles M. Cox received all his education in the common schools of Dade County and remained at home on the farm till 23 years of age, at which time, March 6th, 1878, he was married to Emma B. Teagarden, who was born in Henry County, Illinois, October 9th, 1854, a daughter of John M. and Mary (Brown) Teagarden, who came to Dade County in 1871. They were farmers and settled in Grant Township. Both are now deceased. After his marriage, Mr. Cox went onto a farm of 160 acres of partly improved land in Grant Township, which he had bought in 1874 at $12.50 per acre. The improvements at the time of his purchase consisted of a small house and some fencing. They went to work and improved it from time to time until now it is one of the finest farms in western Dade County. In 1892 he built a large seven- room dwelling, surrounded by a fine lawn, elegant shade trees, large barn and substantial outbuildings.
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