USA > Missouri > Dade County > History of Dade County and her people : from the date of the earliest settlements to the present time > Part 39
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Landers leases the property, taking a royalty which yields a nice income. Mr. and Mrs. Landers are living now practically retired, having moved to the town of Dadeville in 1900, where he bought and remodeled a home in the heart of the town, and since coming to Dadeville has been more or less active in the affairs of the place. He is a Republican and has been elected as mayor of Dadeville, serving for several years.
To Mr. and Mrs. Lenders have been born two chil- dren, Clifford, born September 30th, 1886, and married to Miss Cora McConnell, and they have three children, Wil- liam Hollis, Dennis and John Dalton; Dorris, born October 7th, 1890, married Charles T. Maze, a farmer of Dade County, and they have three children, Leon, Marion Violet and Mary Elizabeth.
Mr. and Mrs. Landers are supporters of the Presbyte- rian church, while he is a member of the Masonic order and also the I. O. O. F. Both Mr. and Mrs. Landers are members of the Eastern Star and Rebeccas.
To much cannot be said of the good that Mr. Landers has done in this, his native county. He has always been a progressive thinker and active in any movement for the public good, always ready with his time and money for any worthy cause. When they leave us on the long journey, they will leave behind them the influence of lives well spent, filled with kind deeds to others, and their works shall never die. We delight to honor such grand, good men and women as the subjects of this sketch, Mr. and Mrs. William J. Landers.
OTTO R. LEE.
Was born in Calloway County, Missouri, December 22nd, 1884, son of James Lee, who was born in Kentucky September 21st, 1838, of English-Scotch-Irish parentage, a third cousin of Robert E. Lee of Confederate fame. James Lee was a son of James and Martha (Davis) Lee, the mother being a first cousin of Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederacy.
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James Lee came to Indiana with his parents and settled near Indianapolis about 1858. He was a farmer, as also were his parents before him, in Kentucky, where they were slave owners. James Lee Sr. died before the breaking out of the Civil war, and his widow re-married. He was the father of four children, two of whom are living, John living in Wichita, Kas., and he has a sister living in Indiana.
James Lee was married to Flora Ottinger, born in Tennessee, and died September 7th, 1913, lacking two months of being 69 years of age. Her parents came to Tennessee from Virginia, and were of the German F. F. V.'s. The Ottingers moved to Indiana about 1856 and settled near Whitestown and died there. Mrs. Lee had a common school education, and was a member of the M. E. church, as also was her husband. He was a Mason and Mrs. Lee a member of the Order of Eastern Star. James Lee was always a Democrat.
Mr. and Mrs. Lee were the parents of eleven children:
(1) Washington S., resides at Omaha, Neb., and is engaged in the grocery business.
(2) Ida, married George A. Holt, a farmer of Callo- way County, now deceased. Her second husband is Fred L. Henley of Los Angeles, Calif.
(3) Etta L., married Ross Rebman, a Pullman con- ductor. They reside in St. Louis.
(4) Robert E. Lee, assistant superintendent of the United Street Railway Service, St. Louis.
(5) William J., a manufacturer of ladies' notions at Chicago.
(6) Rosa May, married Frank F. Rebman, salesman for the International Harvester Company, and lives in St. Louis.
(7) Marvin C., a dentist, at Windsor, Mo.
(8) John R., a dentist, at Versailes, Mo.
(9) Otto R., the subject of this sketch.
(10) Lillian, head milliner in a large department store, Seattle, Wash.
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The third child of this family was Lenora, who fell from a horse, breaking her spine, and dying at the age of 3 years.
Otto R. Lee was raised on a Calloway County farm, attended the country schools, and later entered the dental department of the St. Louis University in 1904, and re- ceived his diploma in Dental Surgery May 20th, 1907. Was examined by the State Board of Dental Surgery the following June and given his certificate to practice June 19th, 1907.
He located at Dadeville and opened an office for the practice of his profession, and remained there till 1909. He still continues to make professional calls at Dadeville, but has his principal office at Greenfield, and is recognized as the leading dentist of Southwest Missouri. He still remains unmarried. Fraternally Dr. Lee is a member of the Masonic Lodge No. 558 at Dadeville, Mo., and be- longs to the Springfield District, State and National Dental Associations. He is a Democrat in politics. He takes great pride in his profession, and strives to excel by pro- viding himself with the very latest appliances belonging to the art of dental surgery, and to these he adds a skill and technical knowledge which is little less than mar- velous.
His father is still living and makes his home with a daughter in St. Louis. He is 78 years of age.
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JOHN CYRUS LINDLEY. (Deceased.)
Was born September 11th, 1852, on the old home- stead in Dade County, two miles north of Bona, in North Morgan Township, son of John Lindley, one of the pioneer settlers of the county. His father was born August 9th, 1806, and was killed during the war. His mother, Mary Lindley, was born February 25th, 1811.
On the 25th day of January, 1877, John C. Lindley was married to Florence Hailey, who was born in Dade County November 23rd, 1854.
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John Cyrus Lindley departed this life in Dade County October 10th, 1902, leaving a family of seven children, all now living in Dade County except Elmer, who lives in New Mexico:
(1) James Walter, born September 6th, 1877.
(2) John Elmer, born February 21st, 1879.
(3) Mary Eva, born February 8th, 1881, married Landon Holman, a farmer, and lives north of Arcola.
(4) Laura Jane, born February 1st, 1883, married Bert Davis, lives north of Arcola.
(5) Alvin Rollo, born February 7th, 1885.
(6) Frank Lee, born August 11th, 1887.
(7) Riley Joe, born August 31st, 1892.
Mr. Lindley in his lifetime, was a staunch democrat, a member of the Christian church, and a successful farmer and business man. At the time of his death he owned 2,000 acres of land in Dade and Cedar counties. In 1891 he built a fine residence on his farm in Dade County.
Mrs. Lindley is a member of the Christian church at Bona.
ALBERT O. LITCHFIELD.
Born in Virginia, August 22nd, 1848, son of William and Catherine (Upson) Litchfield, both natives of Vir- ginia and married there. William Litchfield was a carpen- ter by trade and moved to Kentucky in 1850, settled upon a farm which he bought in Lewis county, where he farmed and worked at his trade until the time of his death in 1856. After his death his widow married Benjamin Flanders, a farmer.
Albert O. Litchfield has one sister living, Mary Ellen, now Mrs. William Ruark of Portsmouth, Ohio, three half sisters and one half brother living in Ohio and Ken- tucky.
Mr. Litchfield received his schooling in Kentucky. He left home at the age of 17 years, worked out farming and in the lumber business and finally entered the lumber business on his own account, making shingles, lumber, op- erating saw mills and conducting lumber yards and also raising tobacco.
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HISTORY OF DADE COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE
On the 25th day of December, 1872 he was married to Margaret A. Hampton, who was born in Kentucky July 19th, 1843, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Pool) Hamp- ton, both natives of Kentucky, were farmers and lived and died there.
Mr. Litchfield farmed in Kentucky until 1890 when he came to Dade County through the influence of D. T. Wilkins, a brother-in-law, who had settled in Greenfield. On his arrival in Dade County, he rented the Wilkins farm and cultivated it for six years then bought a 40-acre tract in Center Township where they lived for a year or two then rented the Bob West farm near his 40 acres where they lived and farmed for 10 years. In 1904 he sold his 40 acre tract and bought the Kit McMillen farm of 121 acres adjoining South Greenfield.
Since purchasing this farm Mr. Litchfield has made many improvements and has fenced a considerable portion of it with hog-tight wire. He also purchased and addi- tional 5-acre tract adjoining the two of South Greenfield. He has improved and enlarged the dwelling and con- structed a cement outside cellar.
Mr. and Mrs. Litchfield are the parents of two child- ren :
(1) William, died in infancy.
(2) Bettie Florence, born July 3rd, 1877, married January 26th, 1902 to Claude H. Ayres, a native of Kansas who was born January 16th, 1877. Four children have been born of this marriage:
(1) Baby died in infancy.
(2) Audrey Alice, born March 19th, 1905.
(3) Oren Dale, born August 6th, 1907.
(4) Leota Kathryn, died at the age of nine months.
Mr. Ayres and Mr. Litchfield farm together on the home place. Mr. Litchfield is a democrat, and both him- self and wife are members of the Christian Church.
In addition to general farming, Mr. Litchfield has raised some short-horn cattle. He is a public spirited man, deeply interested in good roads and annually feeds a car load or more of hogs for the market.
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JOHN B. LORAH.
Was born in Defiance County, Ohio, February 13th, 1860, son of Daniel and Samantha (Morris) Lorah. His father was a native of Ohio while his mother hailed from Indiana. His father came to Carroll county, Mo., shortly after the war. He was a farmer and lived there 10 years then came to Bates County. He farmed there a few years and then moved to New Madrid Co. He died there about the year 1898, his wife having preceded him more than 20 years.
John B Lorah is the 2nd in point of birth of a family of five children. He received his education in Missouri, and came to Dade county in 1898. He is a saddler, harness and shoemaker by trade. He first run a shop in Bona for eight years, then moved to Aldrich in Polk county for five vears, then located in Dadeville where he lived until com- ing to Greenfield.
He is a democrat and was elected treasurer of Dade county upon that ticket at the election of 1916. His ma- jority was 83, a fine showing in a county with a normal Republican majority of approximately 400. He is now living in Greenfield attending to the duties of his office. He is a member of the Christian church, sober, industrious and well qualified to fill the office to which he has been elected.
ALBERT LUCAS.
As an inspiration to young men who start out in the world under adverse circumstances, the life and history of Albert Lucas may be helpful. He was born in Camden county, Mo., February 24th, 1875, a son of John Lucas and Elizabeth (Richardson) Lucas. His father was born in Pennsylvania, while his mother was a native of Camden county. John Lucas came to Missouri in an early day while yet a single man and married in Camden county. He was a farmer and raised his family in Camden county. Both he and his wife are dead and buried in that county.
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He was a man of little property and unable to give his children the benefit of an extended education.
Albert Lucas received his very meager education in the public schools in Camden county which were far be- low the standard of up-to-date efficiency. He left home at 17 years of age to carve out his own fortune in the world. In 1892 he landed in. Dade county where he had neither friends, relatives nor acquaintances and without a dollar in money. For five years he worked as a farm hand on the farm of Ewing Morris, then at other places in the neigh- borhood, when the wanderlust took possession of him, leading him to the state of California. After spending one year on the Pacific coast he returned to Dade county and worked for four years on the William Preston farm.
On the 17th of August, 1899 he reached the real turn- ing point of his career when he married Miss Kate Morris, a native of Dade county, daughter of J. Monroe Morris and Mary Jane (Maniece) Morris. At this time he rented 200 acres of the Morris farm and cultivated it for five years and then purchased 117 acres of the Morris estate. This land was well improved except a barn. Since his marriage Mr. Lucas has prospered exceedingly well, hay- ing purchased an additional 76 acres making him 193 acres of splendid farming land in Smith township.
In 1910 Mr. Lucas erected a commodious barn and added other out-buildings to his farm improvements.
Mr. and Mrs. Lucas have two children:
(1) Mary Opal, born July 21st, 1901.
(2) Clarence Albert, born September 6th, 1903. Both are attending school.
Mr. Lucas is a progressive farmer and cattle feeder. He feeds for the market one car of cattle and two car loads of hogs each year and raises many mules. His farm is well supplied with water from spring branch and wells. It is well fenced and highly improved. Mr. Lucas and wife are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian church. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity with membership at Greenfield, an Odd Fellow and W. O. W. with membership at Pennsboro.
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By reason of his prosperity Mr. Lucas is able to drive an Overland car, is a Democrat in politics, a booster for good roads and always votes "yes" on the proposition of increased taxation for good schools. He has been a mem- her of the school board for six years. Thus from penury and poverty he has attained prominence, popularity and prosperity, not by any mystic witchcraft or wizardry, but by the old-fashioned method of honesty, integrity and in- dustry.
JONATHA J. McCONNELL.
A native of Dade county, born three and one-half miles north of Dadeville, September 12th, 1852, son of Rufus and Susan (King) McConnell. His father was a native of Virginia and his mother a native of Tennessee. They were married in Tennessee and came to Missouri about 1849. Jonathia J. was the first child born of this family in Dade County. His sister, Mary, married Henry Clay Marcum, both of whom are now deceased, leaving a family, a sketch of which will be found in another place in this history. His older brother, Elbert H. McConnell, is now a resident of Alhambra, Cal. His other sister died at a very early age. Rufus McConnell, his father, pur- chased 200 acres of partly improved land in Dade County, but died in 1855. His widow afterward married John Marcum, and they are now both deceased, leaving no children.
Jonatha J. McConnell was thrown upon his own re- sources when 16 years of age. After his mother's second marriage he lived with his brother until his marriage. He married his first wife, Mary Fletcher Thompson, a native of Ohio, on the 21st day of February, 1878. To this union were born six children, four of whom are now living, viz:
(1) Baby, died in infancy.
(2) Lucy Pearl, grew to womanhood, married Shelby Osborn, an attorney of Stockton, Cedar County, Missouri, she died leaving one child, Rowena McConnell Osborn.
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(3) Rufus, born on the 15th day of September, 1881. Married Mertie Toler, a native of Indiana. They reside on a farm in Sac Township, and have five boys, Alvin E., William Wilbur, John T., Charles Lester and Carl R.
(4) William Edward, born December 17th, 1883. Married Maude Vaughn, a native of Dade County, daugh- ter of Price Vaughn. They are farming in Sac Township and have three girls, viz: Huldah L., Vera E. and Helen O. (5) J. Arthur, born December 13th, 1885. Married Mamie Carlock, a native of Dade County, a daughter of James Madison Carlock. They now reside upon a farm in Sac Township and have three children, viz: Clinton A., Raymond E. and Mildred E.
(6) Mary Edna, born March 15th, 1888. Married M. A. Young, have one child, John Marshall Young.
Jonatha J. McConnell's first wife died July 19th, 1890, and on December 10th, 1891, he was married to Charity Maude Hembree, a daughter of Judge Joel Hembree. To this union were born nine children, all living:
(1) O. Elbert, born January 27th, 1893. He is now attending the state university at Columbia, taking a course in agriculture. Will graduate in 1918.
(2) Ida May, born September 8th, 1894.
(3) Guy B., born July 31st, 1896. Married Minnie C. Montgomery October 7th, 1916.
(4) Howard G., born March 1st, 1898, is still at home.
(5) Sarah Elma, born May 22nd, 1901.
(6) Emery Allison, born July 23rd, 1904.
(7) Gordon Lee, born December 30th, 1906.
(8) Frances Mildred, born July 28th, 1909.
(9) Donald Hembree, born April 6th, 1914.
After the death of his father, Jonatha J. received some land from his estate, and by buying out some of the heirs he started with 100 acres lying northeast of Dadeville. Here he built a house, made many improve- ments and resided till 1889, when he traded it for 170 acres on Sac river adjoining Seybert. This land was little improved, but year by year he has added to its value
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and acreage, until he has now 256 acres of fine land, highly improved, making it a splendid country home.
In addition to raising general crops, Mr. McConnell has had good success with alfalfa, to which his bottom land is naturally adapted. In keeping with the natural resources of his farm, Mr. McConnell raises, feeds and markets a large number of cattle and hogs each year.
Mr. McConnell and wife are members of the Christian church. He has served one term as judge of the County Court from the Eastern district from 1914 to 1916. He is a member of the W. O. W., and while a member of the County Court did much toward the good-roads movement in the county.
While there has been nothing of a spectacular nature in the life of Mr. McConnell, he is nevertheless one of those quiet, reserved, conservative sort of citizens that are always to be relied upon in matters affecting the general welfare of the community.
THOMAS K. McCONNELL.
It would be impossible to write a complete history of Dade County without making frequent mention of the name, McConnell This family was among the pioneers and the various branches of the family have figured largely in all the principal events connected with the growth and development of the county.
Thomas K. McConnell, the subject of this sketch, was born in Dade County July 27th, 1873, son of John S. and Mary Ann (King) McConnell, the former being a native of Washington County, Virginia, and born in that state February 11th, 1820, while the latter was born in Ten- nossee August 8th, 1829. They were married in Polk County, Missouri, in 1862. John S. McConnell had been previously married to a lady in Virginia, who died, leaving three children, who accompanied him to Missouri. Ho finally settled in Cedar County, Missouri. on government land. He was the first county judge of Cedar County,
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and prominent in Democratic political circles of that county.
John S. McConnell later came to Dade County and settled on a farm of 320 acres near Hulston's Mill, which tract of land is still owned by members of his family.
To his second marriage were born five children, four of whom grew to maturity, but only one (Thomas K.) is now living. John S. McConnell was a prominent man in Dade County, taking an active part in all public mat- ters. He was a member of the Presbyterian church and also of the Masonic order, and died August 16th, 1892. His wife died July 17th, 1916.
Thomas K. McConnell received his entire education in Dade County, first in the common schools and later in Ozark College in Greenfield. He was 17 years of age when his father died. He made a specialty when in school of civil engineering and surveying. His first public office was that of County Highway Engineer in 1908-1909, and in 1912 he was elected County Surveyor of Dade County for a four-year term, during which time the office was combined with that of County Highway Engineer.
Prior to the time of his service as County Highway Engineer, he was engaged in the mercantile business in Greenfield, making a specialty of boots, shoes and gents' furnishings. About the time of his entry into the office of Highway Engineer the good-roads movement was be- ing agitated in Dade County, which resulted in the voting of $30,000 in Center Township, $17,000 in Washington Township, and many thousands of dollars by subscription in various parts of the county for the purpose of building rock roads and bridges. During his term of office he surveyed, platted, drew plans, specifications and estimates of cost of more than 50 miles of rock roads in the county and more than 100 bridges, large and small, were con- structed under his direct supervision.
Mr. McConnell is a Democrat in politics, a member of the Presbyterian church, has attained the Knights Templar degree in Masonry and is a resident of the city
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of Greenfield, living in a commodious, comfortable, modern residence, which he erected in 1915.
He was married on the 28th day of October, 1908, to Rosa E. Scroggs, born in Dade County, Missouri, October 11th, 1882, daughter of John E. Scroggs, a prominent member of another Dade County pioneer family. To this union two children were born: Mary Virginia, born No- vember 18th, 1909, and Lora Bell, born August 20th, 1917.
In the spring of 1917 Mr. McConnell purchased the William L. Scroggs grocery stock, in company with his brother-in-law, R E. Wasson, under the firm name of McConnell & Wasson, and are now enjoying a splendid trade in that line.
In addition to his mercantile business, Mr. McConnell is an extensive farmer, owning 260 acres of the old McCon- nell homestead, all in one body, which he has named "The Spring Farm," where he feeds annually for market a large number of hogs and cattle, having a preference for the Whiteface cattle and Poland-China hogs. He still maintains a lively interest of "good roads," and is active in farmers' clubs and community organizations.
JOHN B. McCONNELL.
A native of Dade County, Missouri, was born August 29th, 1861, son of Thomas and Narcissa (Patterson) Mc- Connell. His father was a native of Virginia, but came to Dade County very early, and married here. He died shortly after the close of the war. His mother re-married, her second husband being Eldridge Miller. They are now both deceased.
Thomas and Narcissa McConnell were the parents of two children: John B. and Alex. The latter served two terms as sheriff of Dade County, married Laura Seroggs, and they are now living in the west. His mother raised two children by her second marriage: Charles I. Miller and Clarence, a Dade County farmer.
John B. McConnell lived with his mother and step- father until he was 20 years of age, then went back to
CHARLES F. NEWMAN.
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the old McConnell homestead, being the land which his father entered from the government, and consisting of 280 acres of splendid land. He received 140 acres from his father. The house on the old homestead was burned during the war, supposedly by the Kinch West raiders, and this part of the land came to John B. When he came into possession of this land he went to work with a will, and has made it one of the leading farms of the county. He has prospered and has added to his holdings until now he has 305 acres, all in one body, and a five-acre tract in Dadeville. In 1887 he built a fine six-room dwell- ing house on the land, two stories high, and now has it equipped with a modern acetylene lighting plant. The farm is well watered with wells, springs and branches, and is all in cultivation excepting 40 acres. Mr. McConnell is engaged in general farming and stock raising, including cattle, horses, hogs and mules.
He was married on the 28th day of December, 1881, to Ella Nora Kirby, born in Dade County, Missouri, Sep- tember 1st, 1863, daughter of James M. and Mary J. (Grisham) Kirby.
Mr. and Mrs. McConnell are the parents of three children:
(1) Hugh A., born November 30th, 1885, married Cytha Berry. He is farming in Dade County northwest of Dadeville. They have two children: Frances, born April 23rd, 1913 and Junior, born April 2nd, 1915.
(2) Clara Ester, born June 17th, 1888, married Vernon Grisham, a native of Jasper County, Missouri, but now resides in Dade County on her father's farm. They have two children: Lavon, born July 17th, 1911, and Elladean, born October 9th, 1914.
(3) James Ralph Benton, born December 28th, 1899. He is now attending school at Dadeville.
Mrs. McConnell is a member of the Baptist church. Politically Mr. McConnell is a militant Republican, has never aspired to be an office-holder, but has always taken great interest in local matters, especially those pertaining to roads and schools. He has served as a member of the
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local school board for a number of years and has demon- strated his faith in the good-roads movement by purchas- ing and driving a Ford car, not as a mark of distinction, but as an act of sound sense and good judgment.
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