USA > Missouri > Dade County > History of Dade County and her people : from the date of the earliest settlements to the present time > Part 38
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Mr. King is a Republican in politics and has been active, but does not care for office, preferring to devote his time to liis large business interests and his fine family. He is one of our hustling young farmers, and is alive to all modern improvements, and can always be found ready and willing to assist in any enterprise that makes for the good of the county or its people. He is a booster for good roads and free public schools.
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REUEL KING.
One of the prominent farmers and business men of the younger generation of Morgan Township is Reuel King. He is a native of the county, born here February 13th, 1881, a son of John A. King and Nancy Lyon, his wife. (A complete sketch of John A. King and family will be found in another section of this volume.)
Reuel King received his education entirely in Dade County. He remained at home until he was 25 years of age. In 1907 he bought 160 acres of fine land one and one- half miles northeast of Dadeville. This was an improved place and known as the Thomas Courtney farm. Mr. King has one of the finest residences of the county, up-to-date in Every way, and can be seen from miles around. Indeed, it is one of the show places of the county. The residence is a two-story, seven-room house, with a large cement cellar constructed under the dwelling. Its outbuildings are large and commodious, including a fine garage. He has improved quite extensively himself. It is well fenced with wire and the place is watered by a living branch. Mr. King carries on general farming and stock raising and is quite an extensive feeder. He will feed from two to three cars of hogs yearly, and raises a number of mules for the market each year. He is a lover of fine stock, hav- ing one registered stallion named Louis Hatch, No. 57760,
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a standard-bred breeding horse, and also a very fine 8-year-old Jack, named Joe. Besides the mules he raises, he also buys and fits for the market.
Mr. King married first Hannah Rowe, a native of Dade County and a daughter of William Caton. She died in 1912, and Mr. King married for his second wife, on December 31, 1914, Miss Florence Mitchell, who was born February 29, 1880, three and one-half miles northeast of Greenfield, a daughter of M. L. Mitchell and wife. (A complete sketch of M. L. Mitchell and family may be found elsewhere.) To Mr. and Mrs. King has been born one daughter, Eleanor, on September 20, 1916.
In politics Mr. King is a Democrat. He can always be found ready and willing to assist in any undertaking that is for the betterment of the county. He is a staunch friend of free schools and a booster for good roads. Reuel King is truly one of our very finest young men. He comes from one of Dade County's foremost families, and we pre- dict that the future holds great things for him and his. Mrs. King died September 14th, 1917.
FRANK E. KING.
Was born in Benton County, Indiana, July 8th, 1868, son of David L. and Sophia (Veil) King, the former being a native of Kentucky, born October 6th, 1825, and died September 3rd, 1903, while the latter was a native of New Jersey, born June 21st, 1833, and died February 28th, 1910. The Veils moved to Peru, Ind., at an early date, while the Kings located at Logansport. Both families were farmers, and it was here that the young people met and were married. After their marriage they engaged in farming in Indiana, but in 1886 they came to Missouri, bringing with them a family of three boys and two girls. These children were all married excepting Frank:
(1) John, now living at 4133 Bell street, Kansas City, did not locate in Missouri at first, but went to Kan - sas, and after a short time settled in Kansas City, and is now occupied as superintendent of a car barn for the Metropolitan Street Railway.
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(2) Lavina, who was Mrs. James Watson, lived on a farın for some 14 years, when they moved to Aurora, where she died, leaving a family of four girls. Mr. Watson recently died in Montana.
(3) Olive, who was Mrs. A. B. Elmore, died in Greenfield in 1904, leaving one child. Mr. Elmore still resides near Aurora.
(4) Daniel, an engineer on the Missouri Pacific Rail- road, lived in Dade County about seven years, then went to Kansas, and later to Kansas City.
(5) Frank E., the subject of this sketch.
David L. King was a Republican in politics, and both he and his wife were members of the United Brethren church.
At the age of 16 years Frank E. King not only sup- ported himself, but became the mainstay and support of his father and mother. In the year 1893, by selling almost every vestige of personal property owned by him, he suc- ceeded in making the first payment on an 80-acre farm near Pilgrim. The land was only partly improved, and was a poor farm, but he stuck to it for a year and a half, when he sold out, and for the next few years engaged in buying, improving, selling and trading farms, until the year 1905, when he was elected superintendent of the Dade County Poor Farm, which position he held five years. In 1909 he bought 106 acres of land lying four miles south- west of Greenfield. At that time the place was in a bad state of improvement, the house being unfinished, the fences down and fence rows grown up. In a short time Mr. King had finished up the house, erected new outbuild- ings, feneed and cross-fenced, much with hog-tight wire, and improved the lawn, so that he had one of the most attractive and desirable farms in the county. The entire farm was in cultivation excepting 14 acres, including some fine clover pasture. For a number of years Mr. King engaged in general farming and stock raising, making a specialty of Percheron horses and Shropshire sheep and of feeding hogs for the market. In the matter of hogs, he was partial to the Duroc-Jerseys. In 1916 Mr. King sold
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this farm for a handsome price, and moved to Greenfield, where he bought the old Bailey homestead, consisting of a two-story brick residence and several acres of land. Since buying this place he has remodeled the liouse, re- painted, and constructed new porches, until it is now one of the best liomes in the city.
In 1895, on the 3rd day of September, he was married to Lula Bender, a native of Dade County, born April 4tlı, 1874, daughter of Henry Clay and Katharine T. (Begley) Bender. Her father and mother were natives of Tennes- see, but came to Missouri a number of years ago.
Mr. and Mrs Bender raised a family of eight children: residing for the most part in Jasper County, Missouri:
(1) Mrs. Alva L. White of South Greenfield.
(2) O. Carl, now deceased.
(3) Rella M., now Mrs. R. M. Girton.
(4) Bicknell.
(5) Harold.
(6) Lulu, now Mrs. Frank E. King.
(7) Lillian T., now Mrs. Lillian T. Whitlock, a teacher in Carthage, Mo.
(S) Gale L., now Mrs. George Cowherd of Kansas.
Frank E. King is one of the active Republicans of Dade County, and has been one of the most enthusiastic good-roads boosters in Southwest Missouri. Both himself and wife are active members of the Cumberland Presbyte- rian church and devote much of their time and means to the varied enterprises of that organization.
Mr. King is now living the life of a retired farmer, but this retirement is only temporary. He is still young and active, drives a Ford car, and is one of the substantial citizens of the community.
JONATHAN LEANDER KING.
Was born in Morgan Township, Dade County, Mis- souri, April 7th, 1859, son of William N. and Sarah (Mc- Connell) King. His father was born November 7th, 1820, in Tennessee, and died November 12th, 1890, at the age
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of 70 years. He was a son of William Harvey King, of English ancestry, pioneers of Tennessee. William N. King was raised on a farm and lived in a community where school opportunities were poor, consequently his education was meager. He came to Dade County in 1850 and purchased 320 acres of land in Morgan Township. At that time it was mostly timber land and unimproved. He built a log house, in which he installed his wife, two daughters and three sons. He was an industrious man and a successful farmer, as well as a stock raiser. Before his death all but 40 acres of the land had been put in cultivation. About the year 1870 he replaced the log cabin with a modern farm residence. He was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church, and during the Civil war his sympathies were with the South, but owing to physical disability he was unable to enlist in the army. He was a life-long Democrat and for years justice of the peace for Morgan Township.
Ilis wife, Sarah Melissa McConnell, daughter of Thomas McConnell, was born in Tennessee February 9th, 1522, and died in November, 1876. She was of English ancestry and attended the country schools. Her parents, and also those of her husband, died in Tennessee. They were members of the Cumberland Presbyterian church.
Mr. and Mrs. William N. King were the parents of 10 children, five of whom are living:
(1) John 1, born in Tennessee in 1849, now resides in Greenfield, a retired farmer.
(2) Robert C., born in Dade County in 1854, and is now living on the old homestead in Morgan Township.
(3) Mary D., born in Dade County April 28th, 1852, married Dr. William Lightner. She is now a widow and lives with her daughter in Tulsa, Okla.
(4) Jonathan Leander, the subjet of this sketch.
(5) David T., born in Dade County March 6th, 1864, lives on part of the old homestead, but owns other land.
J. L. King was raised on the old homestead in Mor- gan Township, attended the common schools of the com- munity, and on the 16th day of October, 1879, was married
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to Mary A. Lyman, born in Morgan Township October 5th, 1859, daughter of John and Permelia (Pyland) Lyman. Her father came to Greene County, Missouri, when 8 years of age with his parents, and in 1854 located in Mor- gan Township, where he met his wife, and while still a resident of Green County was married. Soon thereafter he took up his residence in Morgan Township, on the county line, part of the farm being in Polk County. Per- melia Pyland was a daughter of Bennett and Elizabeth (Pyland) Pyland (both of same name.) They came to Dade County from Tennessee in an early day, and both died on the old Pyland homestead. They were the parents of eleven children.
Mr. and Mrs. J. L. King are the parents of four chil- dren:
(1) Lora, born on the old family homestead in Morgan township, November 5th, 1881, graduated from the William Wood college (for girls) at Fulton, Mo., in 1902, making a specialty of music. She was married in September, 1907 to R. P. Murphy of Greenfield. They have two children, King and Lora Lee.
(2) Jewell, born in Morgan township on the King homestead, August 14th, 1889, graduated from the Green- field high school in class of 1910, married John O. Howard in 1911. He is a machinist and resides at Clovis, N. M. They have one child, Mary Emma.
(3) Theo, born on the King homestead in Morgan township, January 1st, 1897, graduated from the Green- field high school in the class of 1915 and is now engaged in teaching.
J. L. King remained on his farm in Morgan Town- ship where he was engaged in general farming, stock rais- ing, making a specialty of young mules, until the year 1903, when he moved to Greenfield, having been elected Presiding Judge of the County Court.
He served his first term from 1903 till 1907 and was re-elected to the same office in 1910 and served another four-year term. After moving to Greenfield Mr. King pur- hased a farm of 160 acres lying 4 miles northeast of the
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city and a fine city home on King's Highway at the eastern limits of the city and commanding a fine view of Turnback valley. He personally managed his farming and stock raising enterprises while Judge of the County Court.
Mr. King in politics, is an active Republican hav- ing participated in numerous campaigns both primary and general. He is a zealous fighter and a good loser. He be- Jieves in putting ginger, "pep" and enthusiasm into everything which he undertakes, whether politically, re- ligiously or financially. During his last administration as Presiding Judge of the County Court the good-roads move- ment reached its zenith in Dade county. More bridges were erected, more concrete culverts built and more miles of road graveled in those four years than in the pre- ceeding forty years. It might also be mentioned that the crowning feature of his first administration was the pay- ment of the old railroad bonded debt which had been a ghost and a nightmare to the tax-payers of the county for almost half a century.
Fraternally, Mr. King is a member of the M. W. A. and the I. O. O. F. He has always been a republican al- though the King family have been democrats from "who laid the chunk." Mr. King and his entire family are act- ive members of the Christian church, Mr. King having been an officer, and superintendent of the Sunday School for many years.
W. A. KING.
Was born in Sullivan county, Tenn., October 19th, 1861, son of James H. and Elizabeth C. (McConnell) King, the former being a native of Tennessee while the latter was born in Washington County, Va. They were married in Virginia and died there.
In early manhood James H. King came to Dade county and lived with his uncle, William King for two years. During this time he was severely crippled with a corn-knife after which he returned to Tennessee where he married, engaged in farming until the date of his
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death. From the family record we glean the following data:
James Harvey King was born February 15th, 1834, was married to Elizabeth McConnell, April 22nd, 1858.
Elizabeth (McConnell) King was born December 15th, 1836, and died March 14th, 1869.
James H. King was the father of eight children, viz:
William Andrew (the subject of this sketch) born October 19th, 1861.
Thomas Johnathan, born August 25th, 1864, died De- cember 5th, 1881.
James Harvey, Jr., born June 6th, 1867, now lives in Portland, Ore.
Moses L., born May 6th, 1870, now lives in Tennessee.
Elizabeth J., was born October 18th, 1872, lives in Tennesee.
Eliza E., born July 20th, 1878, now lives in Tenn.
Mary Haworth, born January 5th, 1881, and now re- sides at Ashville, N. C.
William A. King remained at home in Tennessee until he was 20 years of age when he came to Missouri and entered school, graduating from the Sedalia Business Col- lege, making a specialty of telegraphing and came to South Greenfield in 1882 as a substitute agent for the Frisco railroad, which position he held for four months when he received the appointment as agent at Everton. He remained at Everton two and one-half years when he was transferred to South Greenfield where he remained until 1890. His next position was agent at Mt. Vernon where he remained ten years and was finally transferred to the office at Greenfield where he remained three years. About 1888 he had purchased a farm of 124 acres on Sons Creek. In 1901 he sold his Sons Creek farm and bought a farm of 87 ares adjoining Greenfield on the west. There were no improvements on this place, but in 1903 he erected a fine frame dwelling, built commodious out- buildings, planted a large family orchard and moved onto the place where he has since resided. In addition to his
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home farm, Mr. King owns an 80-acre farm on the Arcola road 3 miles north of Greenfield.
He is engaged in general farming, stock raising and feeding both hogs and cattle for the market. For a num- ber of years Mr. King was interested in breeding standard- bred trotting horses and during that time owned many splendid specimens of the breed.
In 1887, on the 10th day of May, William A. King was married to Almer E. Hulston, daughter of Christo- pher and Nancy C. Hulston, her mother being a Kirby, one of the pioneer families of the county.
Mr. and Mrs. King are the parents of eight children, all living but one:
(1) Jennie Blanche, born April 7th, 1889, married to J. Leslie Horton October 1st, 1914, a native of Dade county. They have one child, John King Horton.
(2) Nellie Cecil, born July 28th, 1890, graduate of Springfield Business College. Is a stenographer by pro- fession and lives in Greenfield.
(3) James W., born March 24th, 1893, died October 10, 1897.
(4) Harold L., born April 5th, 1895, a graduate of tlie Greenfield high school, has spent two years at the state university taking an Agricultural course and is now a member of the Hospital Corps of the U. S. Navy.
(5) Elizabeth C., born January 14th, 1898, a grad- uate of the Greenfield High School.
(6) Lora Irene, born December 28th, 1901, is now at- tending school.
(7) William Andrew, born July 8th, 1904, is now in school.
Mr. and Mrs. King are industrious, home-loving, Christian people, with an intelligent, interesting family of children and much to be thankful for. Mr. King is a mem- ber of the W. O. W. being a charter member of the Mt. Vernon Lodge.
محير
٠٫١٤
W. Y. MCLEMORE AND WIFE.
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DR. BENJ. A. KIRBY.
Among the younger professional men of Dade County, Dr. B. B. Kirby stands among the first rank, a native of Polk County, Mo., he was born September 10th, 1866, a son of Sharp S. Kirby and Minerva Hayter, his wife, natives of Kentuckey and Tennessee, respectively. Sharp Kirby died in early life when Dr. Kirby was only three years of age and his wife married again to Robt. R. King. Dr. B. B. Kirby received a good education in the public schools of Polk County and the old Baptist College at Boliver, Mo. from which he graduated in 1889. He was early interested in medicine and entered the Missouri School of medicine at St. Louis, now known as the Wash- ington University, and received his degree in 1894. He located at once at Dadeville beginning what has since proved, a large and lucrative practice. Mr. Kirby was married Aug. 14th 1895 to Miss Lillie Carr a native of Dade County born Dec. 12th 1876, a daughter of Abe and Amanda (Stanley) Carr, extended mention of whom will be found under the name of James Carr, their son. To this union of Dr. Kirby and Miss Lillie Carr were born seven children; namely: Ruth, now attending the Spring- field Normal where she is taking music; George, Lillian, Virginia, Conrad, all at home and receiving the best of educational advantages; Paul, now deceased. and the youngest died in infancy, unnamed. Dr. Kirby has al- ways lived in Missouri with the exception of one year spent in southwest Kansas, where he proved up on :60 acres of land under the Old Soldiers' leirs act. This tract of land he still owns, as well as a larger acreage in Dade and Polk Counties. As a diversion from the strenu- ous practice of medicine, Dr. Kirby finds great pleasure in managing his large farming interests, which comprise the tract known as the old Carlock farm in Polk Township, containing 570 acres, and also 200 acres located in South Morgan Township of Dade County and Jackson Township of Polk County. Dr. Kirby is a large stock man, being interested in cattle, hogs and sheep. He fits for market from four to six carloads of hogs and cattle yearly. His
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fine fllock of Shropshire sheep, numbering about 75 head, is one of the largest and best in the county. Dr. Kirby does not hesitate to state that he considers sheep a de- sirable addition to the stock farm, and he rates them among his sure money-makers. It is his experience that there is little if any danger from wolves and dogs. He is a believer in the silo, also, having two large silos on his places, with a capacity of about 280 tons. He has been successful with alfalfa, now having an acreage of 12 acres, and is intending to expand along this line, and lie strongly advises others in Dade County to try this valu- able crop.
Dr. Kirby, aside from his extensive practice and his large farming stock interests, finds time to devote to the social affairs of his town. He is a member of the Wood- men of the World and he and his wife are members of the Christian church, in which they are active, and he has had the distinction of being an elder for the past three years. Dr. Kirby is an active Republican, and may always be found ready to do his duty in political affairs. To meet Dr. Kirby and not feel at case is impossible. His high ( ducation, good breeding and constant good nature and courteous, smiling personality is a tonic to any person, sick or well, and comes without price. Such men are indeed a blessing to any connuunity. He is a booster for good roads and fre; schools, and always ready to help in any worthy cause. He is liberal and broad-minded, a citizen of real value and an honor to his county and his state. May he live long and prosper.
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DR. THOMAS R. KYLE.
Was born in Hancock County, East Tennessee, on the 13th day of November, 1856, a son of William M. and Roxie Lana (Delph) Kyle. His father was a native of Illinois, but raised in Tennessee, while his mother was a native of Tennessee, in which state they were married and raised their family of 10 children, seven of whom are now living.
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The father was a farmer all his life, and moved to Ozark County, Missouri, where he retired, the mother dying about the year 1892.
Thomas R. Kyle remained at home until 23 years of age. Hle received a good common school education, and after teaching school for a period he entered the study of medicine at Baltimore Medical College in 1876, and afterward practiced medicine in his home county for 20 years.
He was married in Hancock County, Tennessee, No- vember 23rd, 1879, to Rebecca J. Robinett, a native of Tennessee, by whom he had one daughter, Minnie J., now Mrs. Dr. J. K. Baker of Tennessee. His wife died March 6th, 1881. For his second wife he married Mary Ann Roller on the 23rd day of March, 1882, a native of Scott County, Virginia, and to this union two children were born, one dying at the age of 2 months. The other, Maud E., is a well-educated and accomplished young woman, a teacher by profession, but living at home during vaca- tions.
Dr. Kyle came to Dade County, Missouri, in 1903, and located at Dadeville, where he remained for six years. after which he moved to Greenfield, where he now resides. After coming to Missouri he spent two years in the Kansas City Medical College, from which institution he graduated in 1903.
Since coming to Greenfield the doctor has built up a large and extensive practice. He owns one of the sub- stantial homes of the city, located on its principal resi- dence street.
In politics Dr. Kyle is a Republican, but has never been an office-seeker. Fraternally he is a Mason, belong- ing to Washington Lodge in Greenfield.
WILLIAM J. LANDERS.
A history of Dade County not containing a sketch of William J. Landers of the historic little town of Dadeville would be a disappointment to the great multitude of ad-
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miring friends of Mr. Landers. Mr. Landers stands in the foremost ranks of Dade County's prominent citizens. A native of Dade, born November 25, 1850, and the de- scendent of two of the very first pioneer families of the county. He is the son of William B. and Nancy (Hoover) Landers. His father came to Dade County in 1832 when a young man, after having spent a few years of his early life in and around St. Louis, Mo. The Landers family, as well as the Hoover family, were undoubtedly natives of Tennessee William Landers Sr. entered land in this county in the early 30's near Dadeville, and was a pros- perous farmer. He was a Whig and later a Republican, and served as justice of the peace in 1870. He was a Christian gentleman and belonged to the Cumberland Presbyterian church. He was of the best pioneer stock and has handed down to his descendents those sturdy and desirable qualities. William J. Landers remained at home, working for and with his father, until he was 30 years of age. He had bought 30 acres of Sac River bottom land, paying $12.50 an acre, just previous to his marriage in 1880, and this he started out to put in shape for a home for his bride. He built a three-room cabin. and, being then ready for life on his own account and having great faith in the future and in good old Dade County, he married November 18th, 1880, Miss Margaret C. Wheeler, a daughter of one of our oldest and most respected citizens, Uncle Sam Wheeler, a sketch of whom appears in another section of this work. Miss Wheeler came from the same class of pioneer stock as Mr. Lan- ders, and it is no wonder that this fine couple inade a success of life from the time of their union. From the first they prospered, doing general farming, and all the time getting ahead, until, at this writing, they have one farm of 260 acres, in a body, in Polk Township, also 240 acres of the old Tarrant homestead in South Morgan Township, as well as 80 acres of mining land in Polk Township, in the MeGee mining district, and also known as Bugle Ridge, or Pea Ridge. This mining property is being developed through different parties, to whom Mr.
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