USA > Missouri > Dade County > History of Dade County and her people : from the date of the earliest settlements to the present time > Part 54
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(5) John Wesley, born October 29th, 1899, still at home.
Mr. and Mrs. Smith are each members of the Christ- ian church, he is a Republican, has served on school board for a number of years. He is making a splendid official but expects to return to his farm when his term of office expires.
Mrs. Smith has four brothers living in Dade County: John B. Van Hooser, J. I. Van Hooser, W. H. Van Hooser and R. H. Van Hooser. One C. N. Van Hooser lives at Hoisington, Kansas and one, J. E. Van Hooser lives in Cal- ifornia.
F. M. SNEED DRUG COMPANY.
F. M. Sneed, the proprietor of this Drug Company was born in Greene County, Missouri, January 1st, 1853, son of J. P. and Mollie (Knox) Sneed, the former being a native of Greene County and his father was a pioneer from Tennessee. J. P. Sneed was married in Greene county, Mo., in 1881. He was a farmer and is still active. Is a republican in politics, and both he and his wife are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian church. Mrs. J. P. Sneed was also a native of Greene County, of the old pioneer Knox stock who were originally from Tennessee.
F. M. Sneed was the oldest of a family of 14 children, all of whom are living except one who died at the age of 2 years. Mr. Sneed was odneated in the schools of Greene county and supplemented that education by entering the Queen City Business College from which he graduated in 1903 after which he went to Pleasant Hope in Polk county where he worked for the Pleasant Hope Milling Company for one year then entered the drug business as
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clerk for The J. W. Crank Drug Company at Springfield, in which position he remained for twelve years. On the 19th day of December, 1907, he was licensed as a .Reg- istered Pharmacist and in June, 1914 came to Greenfield and bought out the Weir pharmacy. He immediately en- larged the stock and now carries a complete, up-to-date line of drugs and medieines, including jewelry, books, sta- tionery, cut glass, paints, oils, druggists' sundries and medical appliances. It is one of the most complete phar- macies to be found in the country.
F. M. Sneed was married on the 8th day of Septem- ber, 1908, to Miss Bessie B. White, born May 4th, 1889 in Springfield, daughter of A. C. and Fannie (Gott) White. To this union was born, one child, Melvin White Sneed, July 5th, 1912 in Springfield. Mr. Sneed is a Republican in politics and both himself and wife are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian church. He is an active, ener- getic, public-spirited man, wide awake to the best inter- ests of the community and in every way an exemplary citizen.
HUGH STAPP.
Born March 21st, 1852, in Monroe County, Tenn., son of Achillis Granville Stapp also born in Tenn., February 21st, 1830, and Margaret ( Weir) Stapp, a native of Tenn., born August 31st, 1826. Father and mother were mar- ried in Tennessee, April 24th, 1851 and came to Missouri, overland, in an ox wagon and settled first in Greene county in fall of 1852. He later took up a claim on the prairie in Dade county but was forced to give it up by reason of the treachery of persons he supposed were his friends. In company with his family he went back to Greene county on a visit just before the breaking out of the war and was taken sick and for a few years his life was despaired of. After the war he entered 120 acres and purchased 40 acres adjoining, upon which he made his home until the date of his death, June 30th, 1870. He was buried in Christian county.
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Achillis G. Stapp and wife were the parents of six children:
(1) Granville Armstrong, died May 28th, 1863, aged 1 year.
(2 and 3) Hugh and Achillis (twins).
(4) Jasper, B., born July 5th, 1854.
(5) Sarah Elizabeth, born February 15th, 1856.
(6) Elbridge Newton, born November 26th, 1859.
All of the above children are living in Dade county, Hugh Stapp was married February 11th, 1877 to Louisa Morris, who was born June 29th, 1858, a daughter of Mon- roe and Mary Jane (Menesse) Morris, both natives of Tennessee but were married in Dade County, December 1st, 1853.
James Monroe Morris died in Dade County, February 28th, 1905 and his wife Mary Jane Morris died the same year, January 10th, 1905. They were the parents of 13 children:
(1) Sarah Cordelia, born February 13th, 1856.
(2) Mary Josephine, born April 20th, 1857.
(3) Louisa Zipporah, born June 29th, 1858.
(4) Malissa, born June 4th, 1860.
(5) Martha, born September 8th, 1861.
(6) James Monroe, born October 2nd, 1862.
(7) Susan Rittabell, born February 12th, 1864.
(8) William Elvis, born August 29th, 1866.
(9) Jesse, born February 5th, 1868.
(10) Louetta, born March 20th, 1870.
(11) Rachel Catherine, born December 27th, 1871.
(12) Bailey, born July 12th, 1873.
(13) Elsie May, born November 4th, 1877.
Of the above children, Malissa married Harry Cowan of California, Cordelia married J. R. Cearnal of Jasper county, Rachel Catherine married Albert Lucas, Louetta died, aged 20 years, Susan Ritabell was the wife of Albert Daughtrey, died May 31st, 1914. Martha died in infancy and Elsie May is now the wife of G. W. Snaden.
Hugh Stapp and wife are the parents of two children:
(1) Nora Neel, born July 13th, 1880, died October 6th, 1880.
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(2) Jesse Lawson, born February 15th, 1882, married Grace L. Allison a native of Ohio, who was born December 14th, 1879, daughter of David JJ. and Lucinda ( Weed) Allison. They have two children: James Lacey, born June 20th, 1910 and Elsie, born September 24th, 1913. Father and son are now engaged in farming on a large farm.
At the time of his marriage Hugh Stapp was a tenant farmer and continued so until 1885 when he bought 80 acres of land in Washington Township where he now lives. It was raw timber land, but Mr. Stapp went to work with a vim, creeted a little frame cabin, 15 by 17 feet with a lean-to, cleared out a field, added 20 acres in two years and later bought 40 acres adjoining and after- wards 70 acres more so that his farm now comprises 210 acres of splendid land, practically the fruits of his own labor. He has made splendid improvements. His son owns 30 acres adjoining this farm and he and his father work in partnership.
Hugh Stapp and son are engaged in general farming, raise 40 or 50 head of hogs each year and make a spe- cialty of Short-Horn cattle. They also have 50 head of Angora goats.
In 1905 they erected a fine barn on this farm which is remarkable by reason of the floor, being a natural strata of flat limestone rock on the surface of the ground, 38 by 40 feet without a break, the foundation wall of the barn being cemented to the rock floor making it absolutely varment proof.
Both Hugh Stapp and his son, Jesse, are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian church. Jesse is also an Odd Fellow. Both are democrats and active in party work though not office seekers. Hugh Stapp is a stock- holder in the R. S. Jacobs Bank of Greenfield, while Jesse is a stockholder in the Bank of Pennsboro. Both are splendid citizens, good roads enthusiasts and progressive farmers.
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AARON D. STATES.
Born in West Cairo, Ohio, April 16th, 1860, died at his Cabin Home, near Greenfield, Mo., December 5th, 1916.
Mr. States received the major part of his education in the schools of Ada, Ohio, fitting him for the work of later life in the lines of education, writer, platform orator and minister in all of which lines he did credit to his early teach- ing, to himself and to the community wherever his lot was cast.
Just budding into young manhood he came west with his parents in 1879; four years later, in 1883 was married to Miss Josephine Culpepper, who survives him.
His first newspaper work was at Cherokee, Kansas where he founded and became editor of the "Cyclone" in 1884. He was afterward connected with the "Miami County Republican and the Paola Times of which he was owner in the same state; the Kansas City World, Golden City Trib- nne, Lamar Republican-Sentinel, Columbia Herald, and Springfield Independent, all in Missouri.
He entered the ministry of the Church of Christ in 1890, his first pastorate being that at Olathe, Kansas. He served later at Ft. Scott and also at Lawrence, Kansas, from which place he moved to Greenfield, Mo., in 1892, since which time his ministerial efforts were largely devoted to evangelizing. He held pastorates with different churches over most of Southwest Missouri and his work often calling him to other states. He was engaged in Christian work up to the time of his death but at that time was serving no regular pastorate. The last publie act of his life was the conducting of the funeral of a prominent Greenfield citizen, the late John Harrison.
During all the years of his church work he never for- got his pen nor permitted his ambitions as a writer to fag: was a constant contributor to the magazines and journals.
As an orator, his abilities brought him into prominence as a campaigner, political and otherwise and for 33 years the work occupied much of his time from National cam- paign work down to the smaller and more local work, but never at the sacrifice of his greater ideals. With all this,
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always public spirited and in the forefront of every move- ment for the material as well as the spiritual welfare of his people, his indefatigable labors accomplished much. He was the pioneer in the business and established the first practical telephone system in Greenfield-the business out of which the Dade County Mutual and other systems, local, have grown.
Not long after coming to Greenfield he established a neat little cottage home in the north part which he christ- ened "Rest-A-While." This was in his possession at the time of his death and is now occupied by his bereaved wife. For some years, however, he had not occupied this home. After returning from Springfield where he was last in the newspaper business he settled, with Mrs. States, in the Cabin Home, "The Cabin by the Winding Way," as he de- lighted to express it, situated on his holdings out on the Limestone Way. This spot he dearly loved-loved to live in-loved to write about and to talk about-loved to work for and "his works do follow him."
He has been an Odd Fellow for nearly 35 years and had served that order as state Chaplain and was never too busy to do his duty for the organization or anywhere else when duty called him.
The writer realizes that this brief biographical sketch can give but an intimation imperfect and colorless of the man's real worth who was altogether and wholly a man. At the time of his death he was engaged in the work of this publication and collaboration with others and was a moving spirit if not in fact the moving spirit locally in the enter- prise. As an evangelist, writer, platform and pulpit orator and a literateur of no mean ability, he magnified his posi tion to all cases for more than these positions magnified the man. As a citizen, a plain citizen, his life and example were worth more than all these. The worth of his life among us was inestimable and his loss to us is irreparable.
GEORGE E. STRANGE.
A native of Barton County, Mo., born December 25th, 1878, son of Joseph Abner and Lucinda E. (White) Strange.
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His father was born December 3rd, 1847 and his mother was born March 11th, 1840. His father was a native of Johnson County where he was raised and so far as known the Strange family were native Missourians while Mrs. Strange was a native of Tennessee, her people coming to Missouri in 1840. Joseph A. Strange died in Dade County. He was a farmer. He came to Dade county in the early 80's and settled near Lockwood. In his early life he was a member of the Christian church but later joined the United Brethern. In polities he was a Republican. Joseph A. Strange and wife were the parents of six children all dead but George E.
(1) Martha, born August 10th, 1870, married Ed. Means. She is now deceased. Left no children.
(2) William Clay, married Mary Kimbler. He is now dead. Left one child, Eltla.
(3) John (twin of William Clay) they were born April 11th, 1872, JJohn married Zona Cassada. He died leav- ing three children, Goldie, Ray and Hughie.
(4) C. W., born December 25th, 1878, died single.
(5) George E. Strange.
(6) Nora A., born February 25th, 1880, died, aged 10 years.
Lucinda E. Strange is still living with her son, George E., at a ripe old age.
George E. Strange received his education in the com- mon schools of Dade county and remained at home until 1900 when he commenced farming on rented land on his own account. In 1909 he bought an 80-acres of land in South Morgan Township which he kept for one year, and since which time he has bought, sold, traded, exchanged and invested until he now owns 160 acres all in one body in South Morgan Township.
This 160 aeres is a well improved farm, all in cultiva- tion except 15 acres, well fenced, well watered by springs and well. In 1913 Mr. Strange built a new frame house on the Greenfield & Dadeville road also a new house west of his present place. He has put up substantial out buildings, and has one of the choice farms in his locality. He is engaged
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in general farming and stock raising. Raises horses, cat- tle, mules and hogs.
In the year 1899, on the 24th day of October, he was married to Mary Elizabeth Edwards, who was born Jan- uary 7th, 1881, a native of Spencer County, Ind., daughter of Abraham and Levenia Jane (Dale) Edwards. Her fath- er was a native of Indiana while her mother was born in Kentucky. The Dales were early emigrants from Kentucky. There were six children in the Edwards family, three of whom are living:
(1) Clara, married Robert W. Vanderville, and lives in Kansas. They have one child, Agnes.
(2) Arema, married Alex Cassada of Dade county. They have nine children.
(3) Mary Elizabeth, married George E. Strange.
(4) Franklin A., died in early manhood. Clarence, died in early manhood.
The Edwards family came to Dade County about 1881. They settled near Dadeville and Mr. Edwards died August 18th, 1894. Mrs. Edwards still lives in Dadeville.
George E. Strange and wife are the parents of seven children :
(1) Levenia E., born July 6th, 1900, received her schooling in Dade county, married Hiram Hunt, March 5th, 1915, and lives in South Morgan township. He is a native of Dade county, born December 25, 1889, and is a farmer by occupation.
(2) Forrest S., born July 21st, 1902, is still at home attending school.
(3) Lettie D., born July 4th, 1904.
(4) Clara V., born October 2nd, 1906.
(5) Mary E., born March 23rd, 1908.
(6) Berniece F., born August 16th, 1910.
(7) Joseph E., born November 22nd, 1915.
All of the above children are at home attending school except the oldest daughter. Mr. Strange is a Republican but never aspired to a public office nor held any political position. Has been a member of his local school board. He
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has always been an earnest supporter of good schools and is an advocate of good roads.
Mr. Edwards, his father-in-law was a veteran of the civil war, serving in the 53rd regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry for three years and four months, and was for some time a prisoner in the Andersonville prison.
MASON TALBUTT.
Mason Talbutt, a member of the Greenfield bar, was born October 6th, 1846, in Greenfield, Dade county, Mo., his parents being Columbus and Amanda (Allison) Talbutt. The father who was a Tailor by trade, was born in Bour- bon county, Kentucky, and the mother in Tennessee, but for many years they were residents of Greenfield where both passed away. They had a family of eight children, seven of whom are now living.
In his early life Mr. Talbutt learned the printing busi- ness, and worked at it until the beginning of the Civil War, and in 1863 he enlisted as a private in Co. I of the 15th Mo. Cav. Vol., and was promoted to the rank of First Sergeant, and was discharged June 30th, 1865. After the war was over he again engaged in the newspaper business for a number of years, and while working at his trade studied law and was admitted to practice by Judge Parkinson at Greenfield, in June, 1879, and has been so engaged since that time. In October, 1884, he formed a partnership with the Hon. E. P. Mann, which continued until January, 1901, when Mr. Mann moved to Springfield.
Mr. Talbutt served several years as JJustice of the Peace, and in 1882 he was elected Judge of the Probate Court and served four years, and in 1896 he was elected Prosecuting Attorney of Dade county, and served two terms. He is a member of the Greenfield School Board and has been for a munber of years, and has served as a member of the Board of Aldermen and one term as Mayor of Green- field.
In Greenfield, on December 7th, 1569, he was united in marriage to Miss Clara Kimber, a daughter of Joseph H. Kimber, and to this union five children were born who are
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now living, viz: Florence B., the wife of C. E. Tarr,, of Billings, Montana, Mary E., the widow of Harry HI. Davis, of Greenfield, Maggie D., the wife of W. C. Whaley, of Greenfield, Henry K., of Greenfield, and Lucy M., wife of Clyde MeLemore, of Billings, Montana.
Mr. Talbutt has been connected with the R. S. Jacobs Banking Co., from its organization, was elected a director June 10th, 1892, and has been on the Board since that time, was elected Vice President in February, 1900 and President in June, 1906-which position he still holds.
The family are members of the M. E. church, and Mr. Talbutt politically is a Democrat. He is a member of Wash- ington Lodge No. 87. A. F. & A. M., and of Dade Lodge No. 518, I. O. O. F. at Greenfield, Mo.
The above is a brief sketch of a man who has resided in Greenfield for more than seventy years and whose life is written upon every page of her history. JJudge Talbutt has been a power in the educational forces of Greenfield. He was the first man to place his name npon the subscription list for $1,000 in an effort to secure the Southwest Missouri Normal School for Greenfield. His influence and standing in the community has contributed to the success of the R. S. Jacobs Banking Company of which institution he is Pres- ident. As an evidence of the high regard and esteem in which he was held by the veteran financier and business- man, R. S. Jacobs, he was named as one of the Executors in his will. Mr. Talbutt's law library is one of the best in Southwest Missouri outside the large cities, and the books have not been mere shelf ornaments but have been carefully and diligently studied by the Judge so that his knowledge of the law is equalled by few and surpassed by none of the leading lawyers of this section.
By reason of his extreme modesty the last portion of this sketch goes to the printer without Mr. Talbutt's knowledge or consent, but it is true in every particular. never-the-less.
D. E. TARR.
Was born in Barton County, Missouri, November 10, 1871, son of Nathan D., and Lina B. (Waight) Tarr. His
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father was a native of Maine while his mother is a native of New York. They were married at Liberty, Clay County, Mo. Both families had emigrated to Clay county in an early day, although Mrs. Tarr had been previously mar- ried to George Potter in New York and after living in Kentucky for some time where they were engaged in the dairy business, they had two children, Flora, who is now Mrs. William Thomas of Douglas, Iowa and AArthur Potter, of Greenfield. Mr. Potter enlisted in the Union Army dur- ing the civil war from Clay County, Mo., and died during the service.
After the marriage of Nathan D. Tarr and Mrs. Pot- ter (Lina B. Waight) they remained in Clay County only a short time, moving first to Cass county, later to Barton county, then to Vernon county, after which they came to Dade county, locating in Greenfield in 1878 where Mr. Tarr opened up a jewelry store which he conducted and enlarged until his death in 1884.
Mr. and Mrs. Tarr were the parents of two children: Charles E. Tarr, for many years a prominent business man of Greenfield, serving one term as mayor of the city, now located in Billings, Mont., where he is engaged in the coal and ice business.
D. E. Tarr, the subject of this sketch, received his edu- cation in the public schools of Greenfield. After his father's death in the year, 1885 in company with his mother and brother they moved to the old Seroggs farm where they farmed for one year then returned to Green- field and in February, 1887 opened up a new grocery store where the Opera House now stands. They begun business with a $300 stock of goods under the firm name of L. B. Tarr, although both boys were interested in the business. This firm is now the largest grocery firm in Greenfield and one of the largest in Southwest Missouri. It still retains the original firm name. In 1900 C. E. Tarr retired as man- ager, selling his interest to D. E. Tarr and Arthur Potter, his half-brother, but the business still continues in the original firm name of L. B. Tarr. They now occupy a large, two-story brick building on the west side of the
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square and large ware-rooms farther south on the same street. They carry a stock of approximately $15,000, con- sisting of "up-to-the-minute" groceries, crockery and gen- eral supplies. In addition to a large retail trade they also conduct a wholesale grocery business covering a territory of several counties.
D. E. Tarr and Arthur Potter are the owners of the Dade County Garage which was completed in 1917 and is one of the very best equipped buildings of its kind in Southwest Missouri. Mrs. Tarr is still living at the age of 85 years.
D. E. Tarr was married on the 17th day of May, 1899, to Ethel A. Wilson, a native of North Missouri, born August 27th, 1878, daughter of George and Fannie (Harper) Wil- son. Her mother is now deceased. Her father is a farmer residing one mile southeast of Greenfield.
Mr. and Mrs. Tarr are the parents of four children: Wilson, Fred, Howard and John. Wilson is now attending Westminster College at Fulton, Mo., taking a commercial course, the other children are attending the Greenfield schools.
Mr. and Mrs. Tarr are members of the Presbyterian church and he belongs to the W. O. W.
Arthur Potter married Effic Evans, daughter of A. J. Evans of Nevada, Mo., and they have two children, Jack and George, both attending school in Greenfield.
The firm of L. B. Tarr, in addition to the grocery busi- ness, conduets a large flour, feed, hay and grain business, and were the first to establish the auto delivery in the city.
Until recently D. E. Tarr was the owner and resided upon a fine farm of 160 acres ad joining the city limits on the south. Here he built a large frame residence, barn and other ontbuildings, planted an orchard and otherwise im- proved it for an ideal farm home. He has been connected with the grocery business for over 31 years, and is active in all the public enterprises of the city.
BERRY G. THURMAN.
Was born in Miller County, Missouri, June 25th, 1851. He was one of a family of six boys and four girls, of which
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three sons and one daughter are living: Dr. E. J. Thurman, a practicing physician in St. Louis; James W. Thurman, a farmer in the state of Washington, and Mary N. Tarrant, the wife of J. R. Tarrant of Springfield, Mo.
His father, John B. Thurman, was born in Warren County, Kentucky, and came to Calloway County, Missouri, when 20 years old. He was a blacksmith by trade, but spent most of his life on a farm. He died at his home in Green- field, Mo., in 1888, at the age of 74 years.
His mother was born in Monitau County, Missouri, and died at the home of J. R. Tarrant in Springfield, Mo., in 1905, at the age of 86 years. Her maiden name was Jane Allee. Her mother was a Hill, and it was said in an early day that the population of Maniteau County consisted of "Hills and Allees."
Both the father and mother are buried at Greenfield, Mo.
B. G. Thurman, with his father, moved from Miller County to Morgan County, Missouri, in 1858, and from there, in 1868, to the Thurman farm, adjoining Cedarville, in Cedar Township, Dade County. Thurman was raised on a farm and was educated in the district schools of Mor- gan County. He attended the High school at Greenfield, Missouri, in 1868, and of Boliver in 1869, and the State Uni- versity at Columbia in 1871-72-73. He received his first cer- tificato to teach school from Prof. West, school commis- sioner of Dade County, and taught school in Dade, Barton, C'edar and Vernon Counties, and paid his expenses in High school and college. He read law in the office of the late and lamented Judge David A. De Armond in the summer of 1872, and graduated in June, 1873, in the first law class graduating after the inauguration of the law department in the State University. He taught school at Virgil City, in Vernon County, to pay up indebtedness incurred during the last year at the university, and opened a law office with Judge De Armond in the old Jacobs building in Greenfield January 1, 1874.
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