USA > Missouri > Dade County > History of Dade County and her people : from the date of the earliest settlements to the present time > Part 47
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ARTHUR POE.
A son of Judge W. N. Poe, born in Dade County, Missouri, September 1st, 1875. Received his education in the district schools of Washington Township. He started in life upon his own account when but 16 years of age. working out for neighbors as a farm hand, and later on spent about one and one-half years in railroad construction work, after which he returned home and cropped with his father for about three years. On the 20th day of October, 1894, he was married to Miss Viola Poor, a native of Dade County, born near Grenfield May 11th, 1875, daugh- ter of Edmond and Sarah (Cotner) Poor, both natives of Indiana, where they were married. The Poors came to Dade County immediately after the war and settled in Greenfield. He was a shoemaker by trade. They came overland in covered wagons, and for many years he fol- lowed his trade in the county seat. Later in life they re- tired to a farm of 100 acres near Greenfield, where they both died, the husband surviving the wife many years. They are both buried in the Greenfield cemetery. They were both members of the Baptist church, and Mr. Poor was a Democrat.
At the time of his marriage Mr. Poe bought 40 acres of land in Washington Township and moved upon it, occupying a small log cabin. Here he worked, clearing out the land, fencing and otherwise improving. He built a new house, barn and other outbuildings, and bought 123 acres of land adjoining, making a farm of 163 acres. In 1912 they had the misfortune of losing their dwelling house by fire, and were obliged to move to another part of the farm and occupy buildings built prior to the war. They lived here two years, when Mr. Poe built a fine seven-room dwelling house, where they now live. It is one of the best farm residences in the county. The farm now consists of 120 acres, lying two miles east and south
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of Greenfield, where he conducts a general farming and feeding business, principally raising mules for the market. Mr. and Mrs. Poe are the parents of six children, five of whom are living:
(1) Frank, born March 15th, 1895, married Fern
Rook They are now farming in Washington Township.
(2) Mary Lorena, born January 3rd, 1897, is now at- tending business college in Springfield.
(3) Ruth Gretella, born December 25th, 1899, mar- ried Lloyd Morris, a farmer of Lockwood Township. They have one child, Francis Mardean.
(4) Willard Nelson, born November 17th, 1900, is now attending school.
(5) Delmar, born December 28tl, 1907, died May 6tlı, 1916.
(6) Hadley Albert, born August 4th, 1909, still at home, attending school.
Mr. Poe is a Republican in politics, and both himself and wife are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian church. Fraternally Mr. Poe is a member of the I. O. O. F. and the W. O. W., both of South Greenfield.
Mr. Poe's farm gives evidence of being well culti- vated, and the surroundings are both picturesque and at- tractive. Springs, which everywhere abound, and good wells furnish a never-failing supply of water, and the lands are especially adapted to grazing.
Mr. Poe has always been active in politics and served one term as deputy county assessor.
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DAVID LEE POE.
Was born in Washington Township, Dade County, Mis- souri, December 15th, 1880, son of Judge W. N. Poe, who came to Dade County from Arkansas while yet a baby in arms, and who still resides on a part of the old home- stead in Washington Township, at the age of 71 years. He has been prosperous and is now enjoying the quietude of a retired life on the farm. He enlisted for service in the Union army near the close of the war when less than
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20 years of age, but peace was declared before his regi- ment was mustered into the service. W. N. Poe was a Republican, an official member of the Presbyterian church and served as judge of the county court for three terms.
His mother, Louisa (Cecil) Poe, was born in Johnson County, Missouri, of North Carolina parentage, and de- parted this life in 1888, and is buried in Johnson County. Her parents at one time lived in Dade County, but later returned to Johnson County. She was the mother of four children:
(1) John W., now living at Carthage, Mo., engaged in the transfer business. They have three children.
(2) Albert, died at the age of 21 years.
(3) Arthur, a farmer, married, and living in Wash- ington Township. They have four living children, and one deceased.
(4) David L., the subject of this sketch, was raised on a farm and attended the common schools of the county. Was always a farmer. In March, 1911, he was elected superintendent of the Dade County Poor Farm, and has held the position continuously since that time, to the entire satisfaction of the County Court and the in- mates of that infirmary.
On the 18th day of March, 1900, he was married to Mary Poor, a native of Dade County, born December 6th, 18-0, daughter of Edwin and Sarah (Cotner) Poor, her father and mother being early settlers of the county, com- ing from Indiana. Mary was one of a family of six chil- dren. Her father was a veteran of the civil war, whose eyesight was greatly impaired in line of service.
Mr. and Mrs. Poe have three children:
(1) Mary Lee, born in Center Township Jannary 23, 1901.
(2) Edgar Allen, born in Washington Township October 8th, 1906.
(3) Hubert Austin, born in Washington Township January 1st, 1911.
Mr. and Mrs. Poe are members of the Christian church. He is an Odd Fellow, a W. O. W., and votes
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HISTORY OF DADE COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE
the Republican ticket. Mr. Poe is an ideal farmer and a splendid official. He and his wife have managed the County Farm in a way and manner which reflects much credit on them and a source of pride to the inhabitants of the county in general.
J. H. POE.
One of the prosperous, energetic business men of the county was born in the state of Tennessee November 7th, 1871. His father, F. M. Poe, and mother, Sarah Ann (Russell) Poe, were both natives of the same state, were married there, and came to Dade County in 1874 and set- tled near Kings Point. Both are now deceased. F. M. Poe was a farmer by occupation, and died May 26th, 1590, his wife surviving him by almost 20 years, and died in February, 1909. Both are buried in Dade County.
J. HI. Poe was their only child. He remained at home until the death of his parents. He first started in the mercantile business at South Greenfield in 1889, and con- ducted a grocery store at that place till 1904, when he purchased a farm of 160 acres in South and Smith Town- ships from Uncle Ben Hudspeth. This particular tract of iand bears the distinction of never having been mortgaged. Mr. Poe occupied this farm until the year 1914, during which time he built a new dwelling, erected large barns, re-fenced with woven-wire, drilled a deep well, and put it in first-class condition, so that now it is one of the "show places" of the county.
Having the commercial instinct, and possessing the energy and ambition to conduct a dual business, in March. 1914, Mr. Poe purchased the J. W. Griffin stock of general merchandise at Pennsboro, and in 1915 became the owner of the fine, double-decked brick business house, 27x100 feet, which he filled with a $7,000 stock of goods, consist- ing of dry goods, general furnishings, groceries, medicines, shoes, and, in fact, everything usually kept in. a general store. Elegant living quarters are arranged in this build- ing, making it both comfortable and convenient.
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HISTORY OF DADE COUNTY AND HER PEOPLE
On the 23rd day of November, 1890, Mr. Poe married Laura E. Fuqua, who was born November 23rd, 1875, a daughter of William and Martha E. Fuqua. William Fuqua departed this life August 25th, 1903, having some time prior to his death retired from active business. Her mother still lives in South Greenfield.
Mrs. Poe is the third of a family of six children, all living, viz:
(1) Ida, now Mrs. F. M. Thompson of Pittsburg, Kan.
(2) Hattie, now Mrs. J. N. Turner of Trinidad, Colo.
(3) Mrs. Poe.
(4) Will Fuqua, residing at Pittsburg, Kan.
(5) J. H. Fuqua, a merchant at South Greenfield, Mo.
(6) Lula, now Mrs. Dr. L. S. Copeland of South Greenfield.
Mr. and Mrs. Poe are the parents of two children, both girls:
(1) Leona F., born March 31st, 1893, married Wherry Moore, a native of Dade County, in August, 1911, and now resides in Pennsboro.
(2) Willie Marion, born December 26th, 1894, mar- ried Alfred Long in August, 1912, and they now live on the home place. They have one child, Leona Aleen, born April 1st, 1914.
Mr. Poe is an active Democrat, and was assessor of Smith Township three terms. Himself and family are members of the Baptist church, as also were his father and mother before him. His fraternal relations are in keeping with his fraternal nature, having membership in the A. F. & A. M. at Greenfield, and with the I. O. O. F. and W. O. W. at Pennsboro.
Mr. Poe is a public-spirited citizen of that commend- able type which places action above words. He is an enthusiastic "good roads" booster, and a staunch advo- cate of the very best possible schools for the rural com- munities. He is a man who takes great pride in his busi- ness, both in the store and on the farm. He is a breeder of registered Poland-China hogs, and the general appoint-
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HISTORY OF DADE COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE
ments and conveniences of his farm adds much to its attractiveness, as well as value. Mr. Poe is a stockholder in the Bank of Pennsboro, and keeps in close touch with all the enterprises of his community, both social, domestic, as well as financial and fraternal.
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MONTA POINDEXTER.
Of the prominent business men of the younger genera- tion there is none that ranks higher than Monta Poin- dexter, the cashier of the Bank of Everton. He is a native son of Dade County, having been born in Pilgrim Town- ship on August 31st, 1883, a son of James R. Poindexter, a prominent farmer of Dade County. James R. Poin- dexter was born in South Township, Dade County, in 1858, and is a son of Robert Poindexter, who was brought to Dade County by his father, William Poindexter, when he, Robert, was a small lad. William Poindexter was a pioneer in every sence of the word. He settled on "Turn- back," where he became one of the very largest land owners of the county. He owned several thousand acres of bottom land up and down the Turnback creek. He was a veteran of the Mexican war, while his son, Robert, was a Union soldier in the Civil war. William Poindex- ter lies buried on Turnback, and Robert is buried at Antioch. They were both large slave owners. James R. Poindexter married Miss Vida Taylor, who was born in Polk Township in 1860, and is a daughter of William and Sarah (Hoyle) Taylor. Mr. Taylor was killed during the Civil war at Lone Jack, Missouri. Mrs. Poindexter is a granddaughter of Uncle Peter Hoyle, pioneer of Dade County, and of whom more will be found in these volumes.
To James R. Poindexter and wife five children were born, as follows: Leslie and Effie died in infancy; Mamie. who married Coe Hudspeth, is deceased; Monta, of this review, and Hugh, who is on the home place.
Monta Poindexter received a fine education, having attended the public schools in the country and graduated at the Everton High school. He completed a course in
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HISTORY OF DADE COUNTY AND HER PEOPLE
business college at Sedalia and also an elementary course at Springfield Normal. He taught in the district schools of Dade County for four years, and in 1908 entered the private banking house of George W. Wilson at Everton, taking the position of assistant cashier and bookkeeper. When Mr. Wilson and his associates reorganized the bank in 1914 Monta Poindexter was elected cashier of this large institution, which position he now holds. He is a fine, courteous young business man, and is well worthy of the high esteem in which he is held by all. We pre- dict a great future for this rising young gentleman, as his name is known far and wide over the county, and he is a credit to our county and to the name of Poindexter, which is saying a great deal, for there is no name that ranks higher in this or any other county of Missouri.
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ROY C. POINDEXTER.
While not yet 30 years of age, Roy C. Poindexter has attained success which has been denied many other men of equal opportunity, after a lifetime struggle. He is a native of Dade County, having been born November 24th, 1891, a son of J. T. and Mary (Cates) Poindexter. His father was one of the early settlers of Pennsylvania Prairie, in South Township, and is well and favorably known all over Dade County.
Roy has lived in the county all his life, receiving his education in the common schools, and attended Green- field High School. He has always been associated with his father in business. He commenced farming for him- self when 17 years of age, and very early in life engaged in the business of buying and selling stock. On October 9th, 1913, he was married to Pearl Bishop, a young lady of good family and rare attainments. She was a native of Dade County, a daughter of Thomas JJ. Bishop, and eligible to membership as a Daughter of the American Revolution.
Two children were born of this marriage:
(1) Royellen, born August 29th, 1914.
JUDGE J. W. WADDLE AND WIFE. PHOTO APRIL 20, 1917.
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HISTORY OF DADE COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE
(2) Dorothy Clem, born August 22nd, 1916.
Mr. Poindexter has made a specialty of Aberdeen- Angus cattle, having at the present time three registered males and one registered female.
These animals are splendid specimens of the breed, and are perfect beauties in appearance. He also has one female eligible to registry.
Mr. Poindexter's farm consists of 260 acres, being a part of the original Poindexter homestead, and is highly improved.
Besides conducting general farming operations, Mr. Poindexter raises a large number of mules, and annually feeds and ships one carload of hogs to market.
He and his wife are each members of the Christian church, and identified with its enterprises. Mr. Poin- dexter is a Democrat, a member of the township board, interested in good roads and good schools, drives a Ford, and enjoys the distinction of being one of the most progressive and successful farmers in South Town- ship.
Mrs. Poindexter is a graduate of the Greenfield High School and spent two years in Drury College at Spring- field, where she gained considerable distinction in literary pursuits. Her Altrustic sentiment finds expression in the "Ladies' Club of Pennsboro," of which she is a charter member and active worker. It has for its object and purpose the betterment of living conditions in rural communities, and extends its influence both into the church and into the home.
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WILFORD H. POLLARD. Deceased.
At the time of his untimely demise, Wilford H. Pol- jard was one of the most prominent business men of the thriving city of Lockwood, Dade County. He had built up a furniture business second to none in the county, and it is to his credit that he was a self-made man, and he earned his success by well-directed effort and wise
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and honest business methods. Mr. Pollard was born near Bloomfield, Ia., September 17th, 1874, the son of A. M. and Jane (Harris) Pollard, natives of Kentucky and Indiana, respectively. Mr. Pollard Sr. was a stock and dairy man during his active life, and in later life was a resident of Lockwood, where he died March 27th, 1914, and his wife passed away on the same day in March the year following. Wilford H. Pollard received his education in Iowa and came to Dade County in 1894. He followed farming for a time, then opened a feed store, which he conducted for a few years, but in 1900 he purchased a grocery store, and two years later established a furniture store, and ran this business under the name of the Lockwood Furniture Company. This business he found to his liking, and he built up the largest store in the city, and, in fact, the largest of its kind in the county. Mr. Pollard received his best in- spiration in life when he married Miss Eva A. Yoder, a native of Dade County. They were married June 1st. 1898. She is a daughter of J. D. and Melvina (Lyons) Yoder, early settlers of Dade County. Mr. Yoder is now engaged in the grocery business, and is considered one of our best citizens. Mr. Pollard was prominent in the I. O. O. F. at Lockwood; he was a Democrat in politics, and took active part in civic life. To Mr. and Mrs. Pol- lard were born three children, namely, Velma, Arla May and Leo Bell, all at home and attending school. Mrs. Pollard is a member of the Baptist church of Lockwood and enjoys the reputation of being a thorough business woman, for it is well known that at the time of Mr. Pol- lard's sudden death that she took complete charge of his large business interests, and has managed the business in a truly remarkable manner, and thereby earned for herself the reputation of one of the very few successful woman managers in the entire country. Her fine furni- ture store is a credit to Lockwood and Dade County, and of herself and family we are all justly proud.
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HISTORY OF DADE COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE
WILLIAM M. PRESTON.
Few men have a wider acquaintance and are better known in Dade County than William M. Preston. He is related by blood and marriage to many of the families who have made Dade County history. His father, Isaac Preston, was for many years an active, energetic business man of Lockwood, Mo., and possessed that pleasing per- sonality which marked him as a man among menl.
William M. Preston is a native of Dade County, born February 13th, 1856, a son of Isaac and Susan (Friar) Preston. His father died in 1903, but his mother is still living and active, although 85 years of age.
William remained at home until he attained the age of 33 years, engaged in stock raising and agricultural pursuits, in which he was very successful, and in 1888 he purchased 300 acres of land, where he now resides. Since that time he has wonderfully improved the same, building a splendid dwelling in 1901, which, together with barns, granaries and other outbuildings, make it one of the best farms in Smith Township. Mr. Preston has added 220 acres to his original purchase, 200 acres of which lies near Kings Point. He is actively engaged in general farming, feeding, stock raising and shipping, of both hogs and cattle. In live stock matters his judg- ment is par excellent.
On the 30th day of May, 1889, he married Minnie Pierce, who was born April 18th, 1865, a daughter of Howard and Mary (Mossman) Pierce, the former being a native of New York, while the latter was a native of Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Pierce were married in Indiana. and came to Dade County in 1871 and settled on a farm west of Lockwood, where they lived until 1894, when they moved to Chicago, in which city Mr. Pierce died in 1915, and where his widow still resides.
William M. Preston and wife are the parents of three children, all boys, viz:
(1) Isaac F., born March 30th, 1890, and resides on a farm in Smith Township. He is a graduate of the
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Springfield Business College, and completed a short course in mining and agriculture at Columbia.
(2) Will C., born May 6th, 1892. Is a graduate of the State University at Columbia, class of 1917, and distinguished himself on the gridiron as well as in the classroom, making the football team and gaining an "M" on the athletic field.
(3) Paul Pierce, born January 13th, 1897, is still at home with his parents.
Mr. Preston and his family are members of the Presbyterian church and are active workers in every department thereof. He is a Democrat in politics, and, while, not a politician, his face is familiar to all who attend the conventions of that party. For four years he was president of the Dade County Mutual Fire Insurance Company, one of the largest mutual companies in the state, and his activities have contributed much to its success. He was also an active member of the Dade County Agricultural Society.
He enjoys the luxury of a Ford car, and is an en- thusiastic "good roads" booster, so that walking may not become a pleasure. His farm home is modern in every respect, being equipped with an acetylene lighting plant and other twentieth century conveniences.
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JASPER N. PRESTON. Deceased.
One of our highly respected citizens who has passed to the great beyond was Jasper N. Preston. He was a native of Dade County, born August 22, 1855, and was a son of Harrison and Louisa (Hembree) Preston. The father was a native of Kentucky and is now deceased, while the mother is still living, and resides in Gutherie, Okla.
Jasper Preston received the advantages of a good education, and was a merchant at Arcola, Dade County, Missouri, where he run a general store some ten years. He was not a strong man physically, and spent many
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years of his life in Colorado for the benefit of his health. At the time of his untimely demise, April 14, 1906, he owned a farm of 94 acres in Smith Township, and upon which he built a very fine residence, which is today occu- pied by his widow. Mr. Preston was married September 5, 1886, to Miss Josephine Rountree, who was born April 18, 1864, in Dade County, a daughter of Rufus Rountree and Lucretia Hopkins, his wife.
Mrs. Preston was fifth in order of birth of a large family of eleven children, nine of whom are living. To Mr. and Mrs. Preston were born four children, three of whom are living. A brief record of them is as fol- lows: Zula L., born September 5th, 1889, married John F. Ragsdale, a farmer of Washington Township (a com- plete sketch of whom may be found elsewhere); Mary Pearl, born June 3, 1891, died October 28th, 1894; Ruby Harrison, born October 13th, 1892, is an accomplished young lady, and resides on the home place with her mother, Flosie Lucretia, born December 28th, 1895, mar- ried Marion Steinrod, and they are living at Dadeville, where he is a mail carrier. Mrs. Preston lives in her fine residence, which is certainly one of the very best country dwellings in the county. She rents out her land, as a rule, but takes the active management, and is more or less active, as she raises some stock. Mrs. Preston and her family are members of the Presbyterian church and are very highly respected.
The Rountree family, of which Mrs. Preston is a descendant, were among the very first pioneer settlers of southwest Missouri. As early as 1867 Joseph Roun- tree, at that time 85 years of age, wrote a reminiscent and traditional history of the Rountree family, and which is herewith produced verbatim:
TRADITION.
"A tradition respecting the origin of the name of the Rountree family from Joseph Rountree, December 18th, 1867:
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HISTORY OF DADE COUNTY AND HER PEOPLE
"A good many years ago there was a male child found in Yorkshire, England, by a rich landlord under a rowan tree, otherwise called mountain ash, but in England called ROWAN tree. The child was dressed in very rich clothing, which bespake for its wealthy par- entage. The kind-hearted landlord took it home and raised it as if it was his own child. Not knowing its origin, he named it ROWAN-TREE, after the tree under which it had been found.
"The boy grew up and was educated by his foster- father, and in time married and raised a family, and they became numerous.
"When William II, King of England, dethroned his father-in-law, King James II, King James then went to Ireland and raised a large army of Irish, thinking to get himself reinstated on the throne of England, but William III raised a large army in England, and went to Ireland, and there were two brothers of the Rowan- trees that went over with his army. After the battle of Boynewater, when William's army conquered James' army, William then disbanded a part of his army and the two Rowantrees were in that part of the force that was disbanded, and they concluded to remain in Ireland. One of them stopped in the south part of Ireland and mar- ried among the Celtic race of people or nation of that country, and but little is known of his generation.
"The other brother settled in the north of Ireland and married among the Anglo-Saxons, who previous to that time had populated that part of Ireland. He raised his family there and in time they became numerous.
"When there was a great immigration from Ireland to the Province of Virginia in North America, one old man named Rowantree took passage for himself and family for Virginia. Before the ship was ready to sail his younger son took smallpox and was not admitted aboard the ship, and, as passage had been paid, he and six of his sons went on the ship and settled in Nancemund County, Virginia, and from this family of Rowantrees
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HISTORY OF DADE COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE
the various families that are scattered over the United States sprang.
"The seventh son, that was left in the care of his mother, recovered from the smallpox, and from that son our family sprung. He remained in Ireland and raised a family, and they multiplied and became numerous. When Uncle Joseph, my father, was 19 years old, he took passage in a ship for America and stopped in the Prov- ince of Pennsylvania, and worked at the ship carpenter's trade for two or three years. He then went back to Ireland, and after staying there a few years he married Eva Sturgis, and after his marriage they took passage for America. They stopped in Pennsylvania, remaining there until three of their children were born, then emi- grated to North Carolina. There the balance of their children were born, and there they died, and their earthly remains lie buried in the graveyard at Little Run Meet- ing House.
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