USA > Missouri > Dade County > History of Dade County and her people : from the date of the earliest settlements to the present time > Part 55
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He was elected proseenting attorney of Dade County at the general election of 1874, over the late Henry Merrill,
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who was a candidate for re-election after defeating Judge DeArmond for the office in 1872. He was again a candidate for re-election in 1876, and was defeated by J. F. Duckwall. In 1878 he was a candidate against the late JJudge L. W. Shafer for prosecuting attorney, and was elected. In 1881 he moved with his family to Lamar, Mo., having dissolved partnership with Judge De Armond, and entered into part- nership with A. J. Wray, a lawyer at Lamar, Mo., which partnership was continued for more than 25 years, and un- til the death of Mr. Wray. He was elected to the State Senate in 1888 to fill out the unexpired term of Senator Claycomb, who had been nominated to the office of lienten- ant governor on the ticket headed by Governor D. R. Fran- cis. He was a member of the revision committee of 1889, and helped to revise and compile the Statutes of 1889. He was appointed by Governor Dockery as a member of the board of curators of the State University, and served from 1902 to 1906.
At the election in 1906 he was elected judge of the Twenty-sixth Judicial District of Missouri, composed of Barton, Cedar, Dade and Vernon Counties, JJudge Charles G. Burton of Nevada, Mo., being the candidate against him. This election was to fill out the unexpired term of the late Judge L. W. Shafer, who was elected over J. B. Johnson of Nevada, Mo., in 1904. He was a candidate in 1910 against S. A. Payne of Greenfield, and was elected. He was re- elected in 1916 over A. J. Young of Greenfield, and his present term will expire in 1922.
He was married at Greenfield, Mo., November 12th, 1879, to Lula C. Clark, daughter of Captain S. S. and Mar- garet Clark. There were born of that marriage two chil- dren, a boy and a girl: Harold C. and Bess. Harold C. graduated from the university in June, 1904, having com- pleted the full course in the Academic and Law Depart- ments of the University, and located that year at Musko- gee, Okla. (then Indian Territory.) "Hal," as he was com- monly called, was married in 1904 to Freda Levy at Colum- bia, Mo., and there are four children born of that marriage. He engaged in the practice of law at Muskogee, and in
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1914 was elected superior judge of that county, which has the same jurisdiction as our Circuit Court. He was born in Dade County July 29th, 1881. Bess was born in Barton County July 25th, 1887, and married T. E. Braniff of Okla- homa City October 26th, 1912, and she now lives with her husband in that city. They have one child, a girl.
Thurman moved from Lamar to Nevada in September, 1913, where he now resides.
Since January, 1874, he has devoted his time almost exclusively to the practice of law, up to the time he was elected judge. Since 1874 he has been at every term of the Dade County Circuit Court except one, in 1889, when he was in the State Senate. During the years he has been on the bench he has never failed to open court at 9 o'clock in the morning, except one time when high water prevented him from reaching Stockton until 10 o'clock of the first day of court.
THOMAS JEFFERSON UNDERWOOD.
There is probably no better known or more highly re- spected man in Dade County than T. J. Underwood, the sub- ject of this sketch. He was born in North Township, Dade County, January 19th, 1862, the son of Decatur and Eliza- beth (Davidson) Underwood. He was born in Tennessee in 1835 and she in 1834. Decatur Underwood was brought to Dade County by his father, Thomas Underwood, during the late 30's, who came overland with ox teams and wagons, bringing his wife, who was Maria Howard. They settled two miles north of Arcola on 160 acres which they home- steaded. This they improved and built a log house, which was one of the first in that part of the county and which is still standing, although weather-boarded, and is prob- ably the oldest building now in use in the county. Thomas Underwood was a pioneer in every sense of the word. He died in St. Louis, while his wife passed away in . Dado County. Decatur Underwood was a prominent citizen of Dade County and was the father of four children, three of whom are now living. They are: Thomas J. of this review :
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Sarah E., who is now Mrs. D. W. Edwards of Greenfield, and Alice, now Mrs. I. G. Hawkins of North Township, while Anna married Dr. E. U. Sloan and died leaving two chil- dren, Geneva and Eudora. The father of these children died July 16th, 1908, but his first wife, mother of our sub- ject, died January 3rd, 1917, at the advanced age of 83 years.
Thomas J. Underwood was 20 years of age when he started out to make his own way in the world. He first entered the mercantile business in a very modest way, open- ing up a store in Arcola in a small rented building and with a stock of about $200. He enlarged this considerably, and finally took in as partners J. O. Mitchell and D. W. Ed- wards, and together they increased the stock materially, but after a few years closed the business and Mr. Under- wood bought 212 acres of good land and farmed and raised considerable stock, but sold this place in 1901, at which time he was elected county assessor, which position he held for four years. In 1903 he again entered the mercantile business at Arcola with his father as his partner. They started with a stock of $500 and soon increased it to $5,000. and ran the business under the firm name of D. Underwood & Son. This store burned in 1905, but the building, which was owned by Decatur Underwood and D. W. Edwards, was at once rebuilt, and the firm of D. Underwood & Son re- sumed their business. They had little money, but ample credit, so that they were able to go ahead with a stock of near $3,000. In 1908 Thos. J. took over the entire business, and the business is now known as The Home Store, T. J. Underwood, proprietor. Mr. Underwood has certainly made good in his business. He now carries a stock of $7,000. and it is a well-kept and up-to-date establishment. In 1909 he was appointed postmaster, and he has made a very efficient officer and still holds the place, even under a Democratic administration.
Mr. Underwood married Miss Amanda Appleby, who was born February 2nd, 1862, a daughter of Benj. and Louise (Wilson) Appleby, more of whom is written else- where. To Mr. and Mrs. Underwood have been born seven
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children, five of whom are living. Those deceased are: Howard, born October 4th, 1896, died at the age of 10 years, Irene, born November 1st, 1888, died in 1900. Those living are as follows: Eulalia May, born September 2nd, 1888, married C. W. Daugherty, a business man of Long Beach, Cal., and they have two children, Mary and Helen; Goldie, born February 2nd, 1891, married R. A. Furnoy, a business man of Joplin, Mo .; Benj. D., born October 24th, 1894, lives in California, where he has been employed by the Long Beach Dairy Company for the past six years; Thos. Walker, born April 8th, 1900, and Clyde Cowan, born May 29th, 1905, both at home and attending school.
Mr. and Mrs. Underwood are members of the M. E. church, in which they are both very prominent, and Mr. Underwood is a trustee. Fraternally Mr. Underwood is a Mason, an Odd Fellow, and also belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America, while his wife is a member of the Eastern Star and also president of the Home makers' Club. Mr. Underwood is a Republican and has always been active in the party. He has been a notary publie for over 30 years and has served for many years on the school board. Too much cannot be said of this fine, courteous gentleman. He has lived a clean and upright life and well deserves the high esteem in which he is held by all. He owns the build- ing in which his fine store is located, and his fair and honest dealing has built up for him a business that is one of the best in the county. Tom Underwood numbers his friends by the thousands, and we are proud to own him as a na- tive son.
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FLOYD G. VANOSDELL.
Was born in Dade County, Missouri, in 1875. His father, Thomas J. VanOsdell, was connected with the R. S. Jacobs Banking Company of Greenfield for many years. He died in 1892. His grandfather, Peter VanOsdell, was one of the pioneers of Dade County, was public adminis- trator for a number of years and guardian and curator for more minor heirs than any other man, perhaps, who ever
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lived in the county. His mother was Mary Emma Garrett, daughter of Rev. W. J. Garrett, one of the pioneer Cum- berland Presbyterian preachers of Southwest Missouri.
Mr. VanOsdell became connected with the Dade County Bank in 1897 and has remained therein to this date. He is at present the assistant cashier. His wife is the daughter of the late J. F. Johnson, one of the founders of the Dade County Bank. They have five children. Fraternally Mr. VanOsdell belongs to the Masonic Order, Commandery, Shrine, the Elks at Aurora, the I. O. O. F. of Greenfield. He is a member of the Presbyterian church and has been sec- retary of the Cemetery Association of Greenfield for 17 years. He is one of the prominent men of Greenfield in business, social and civic life.
REV. J. MONROE VAUGHN.
Was born in Giles County, Tennessee, October 26th, 1850, son of David Franklin and Lucinda (Cook) Vaughn, both natives of Tennessee, he being born about the year 1826, and she perhaps a year later. They were farmers in Giles County and he was also a cabinet maker. They left Tennessee about 1853, coming to Springfield, Mo., where he followed his trade for about one year, then located near Avilla, in Jasper County, Missouri, for a short time, and then moved to Dade County, about 1854, where he bought 500 acres of government land near Greenfield. It was roll- ing prairie land. He improved this farm and lived upon it till the war, when he enlisted, in 1861, in Captain J. J. Tucker's Confederate Company, one of the first to be organ- ized in Dade County. They first marched into Greene County, and was at the battle of Wilson Creek, where he was wounded on August 10th, and died at sunrise the next morning. There were eight children in this family, three girls and five boys. The mother raised this family on the 500-acre farm. One daughter died at the age of 12 years. The others grew to maturity. They were :
(1) Ellen, married W. F. Grider, died in Dade County about the year 1886, leaving four children.
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(2) Ann Eliza, now Mrs. James Carlock of Center Township.
(3) John Monroe (the subject of this sketch.)
(4) Robert Franklin, died in Dade County in 1905, leaving several children. He was an M. E. preacher.
(5) David Saxton, lives at Eureka, Kas.
(6) Amanda, died at the age of 12 years.
(7) William D., of Center Township.
(8) Benjamin Price, lives at Neola, Dade County.
David Franklin Vaughn was a Democrat in politics. After his death the mother divided up the farm with the children and lived with her son, De Witt, until her death, which occurred about 1907. The Vaughn family were, and are still, very prominent.
J. Monroe remained at home with his mother until 20 years of age. He received a common school education in Dade County. He was married on the 1st day of Decem- ber, 1870, to Martha O. Tucker, born in Dade County, where the County Farm is now located, May 10th, 1852, daughter of Captain J. J. and Elizabeth C. (McClure) Tucker, her father being a native of Richmond, Va., born in 1816, while her mother was born near Cleveland, Tenn., in 1827. He came to Dade County when a young man in the early 40's, and followed his trade, being a tailor, for a time, then traded with an uncle, Captain N. H. McClure, for about 600 acres of land lying southwest of Greenfield, which included the present County F'arm. He married his wife in Dade County, she being 16 years of age at the time, and moved upon this land, improving it and building a large two-story frame house. He was an extensive drover of horses and mules, driving many head to markets in the South previous to the war. He recruited the first Confederate company in Dade County and served actively in the Confederate army about one year, when he suffered an attack of measles, was sent home, and died about 18 months afterward in Waco. Tex., where his family had gone. He died December 1st, 1864, and was buried there. The mother returned to Dade County in August, 1865, and went to the farm. She sold out in 1868 and bought 120 acres east of Greenfield, where
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she died February 16th, 1880. There were nine children in this family which lived to maturity; one boy, Charles, died at the age of 11 years. They are:
(1) Hartwell H., now lives at Van Buren, Ark. He is a Presbyterian minister and served as the first chaplain of the Oklahoma Senate.
(2) Anis,, was Mrs. G. H. Hall. She is now deceased.
(3) Nathan, died at the age of 19 years and buried at Waco, Tex.
(4) Mary, now Mrs. Thomas M. Dicus of Lockwood Township.
(5) Martha O., wife of J. Monroe Vaughn.
(6) Walter S., a lawyer living in California.
(7) Florence, now Mrs. A. A. Long of Los Angeles, Cal.
(8) James L., lives in Durango, Colo.
(9) Hattie, now Mrs. Dr. H. E. Hackney of San Joachin Valley, Cal.
Captain J. J. Tucker in politics was a Whig before the war, and both he and his wife were prominent members of the Cumberland Presbyterian church. He was active in politics and served as sheriff and collector of revenue for Dade County two terms and one term as Representative in the Missouri Legislature before the war. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity, while his wife belonged to the Eastern Star.
J. Monroe Vaughn and wife first went to farming upon a 40-acre tract of land his mother had given him, being a part of the old homestead. Here he built a two-room house, and here he went to work with a vim. They lived upon this place 11 years and prospered, then sold out and bought 200 'acres southwest of Lockwood. After one year they sold this and bought 200 acres east of Greenfield. After living on this place three years they sold out and bought 160 acres in Cedar Township, where they lived for eight years. Dur- ing all these years they were very prosperous, adding 160 acres near his first purchase and two 80-acre tracts in Ernest and North Townships. They farmed and handled stock, being successful in both enterprises.
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Mr. and Mrs. Vaughn were the parents of one child, a son, Howard Ernest, born April 13th, 1876. On account of the ill health of this son they went to Arizona in 1892, where they bought 160 acres of land, but lived in the city of Phoenix. They bought lots and built a home in the city, where they lived for 10 years, then came back to their Dade County farm, where the son died March 23rd, 1904. They moved to Lockwood, where they bought a nice home in 1905. Immediately after this they went to Chicago and entered the Moody Bible School for study, Mr. Vaughn for the minis- try and his wife for special Sunday School work. They re- mained during the season and returned to Lockwood. Mrs. Vaughn was the first in the state to receive the diploma for the Advanced Course in Bible Study from the International Sunday School Association.
Mr. Vaughn had been studying for the ministry some time previous to going to Chicago. They are each mem- bers of the Presbyterian church and he was ordained at Mt. Vernon in 1906, and since that time has preached all over Dade, Polk, Greene and adjoining counties. He is a forceful public speaker and a power in the pulpit. They were each delegates to the World's Sunday School Conven- tion held in Washington, D. C., in 1910, where 52 nationali- ties were represented and many illustrous speakers present, including President Taft.
Mr. and Mrs. Vaughn are living practically retired from the business activities of life save and except the more weighty affairs of the Master's Kingdom. Mr. Vaughn still personally supervises his farming enterprises, which con- sist of 640 aeres all told in Dade County and 80 acres near Wagoner, Okla. They also own some business blocks in Lockwood. Mr. Vaughn was one of the organizers and orig- inal stockholders in the Bank of Lockwood. He is a Demo- crat in politics, a strong temperance advocate, and both he and his wife have been largely identified in the county Sun- day School work for many years. They drove one faithful horse no less than 1,600 miles in organizing the various townships in the county. Both Mr. and Mrs. Vaughn are highly educated and refined people. Their standing in the
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THE HULSTON MILL, Sam Farmer, Owner and Operator.
REV. JOHN BELL. J. T. HURST. JAMES BELL AND FAMILY.
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community in which they live is irreproachable. Few peo- ple have contributed more of their time, talents and worldly goods to the welfare of humanity and the advancement of the cause of Christ's Kingdom than the Rev. J. Monroe Vaughn and his faithful wife.
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W. H. VANHOOSER.
Among the enterprising merchants of Dade County is to be found W. H. Vanhooser of Dadeville, where he con- ducts one of the best grocery and hardware stores in north east Dade. Mr. Vanhooser is a native of Dade County, born December 16th, 1877, a son of John N. and Minerva Eliza- beth (Logan) Vanhooser, both natives of Tennessee, he having been born in 1843 and she in 1842. They were mar- ried there on December 24th, 1863, and were the parents of thirteen children, seven of whom are still living and are as follows: John, William, Horace and James of Dade County; Charles of Kansas and J. E. of California, and one daugh- ter, Mrs. Wright Smith of Greenfield.
John N. Vanhooser was a kind, Christian gentleman. He belonged to the Christian church and served during the Civil war in the Sixth Missouri Provincials. He died at Dadeville in 1915 at the ripe old age of 71, while his wife passed away in 1906, also a member of the Christian church.
W. H. Vanhooser received a good education, remaining at home until the year 1899, when he started teaching at the McConnell school; he taught there for two years, and was then elected on the Republican ticket to the office of county surveyor, which he held for four years, and lived in Dadeville during this time. AAfter spending one year at farming on his father's farm, he went west, locating in Los Angeles, Cal., holding the responsible position of eivil en- gineer for the city for five years, which fact alone speaks volumes for the high ability of Mr. Vanhooser. During his stay in the west he entered into partnership with his brother-in-law, R. A. Moore, and opened up a hardware and grocery store at Dadeville. This was in 1908, and the busi- ness was successfully run until 1915, when Mr. Vanhooser
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bought out the entire business, having returned to his native town in the meantime, and has since run the business under his individual name. He carries a fine stock of hardware, groceries and sundries, also conducting a large business in general produce, butter, eggs and cream. His stock will average about $3,000, and is kept clean and up-to-date, and is known all through northeast Dade County as a good, square place to trade. Mr. Vanhooser was married Febru- ary 19th, 1902, to Miss Rozella E. Moore, who was born Jan- uary 12th, 1882, and a daughter of Ruben N. Moore, more extended mention of whom is made elsewhere under the name of Charles Moore of Dadeville. To Mr. and Mrs. Van- hooser has been born one child, Leona Chloe, born August 12th, 1905, who is at home and receiving a good education. Mr. Vanhooser is one of our all-around good citizens. He supports both the Christian and Presbyterian churches. He is a staunch Republican and a booster for any enterprise for the good of the county, such as good roads, free public schools and good government. Fraternally he is a Mason and W. O. W. Too much cannot be said for the true worth of Mr. Vanhooser as a citizen and business man. He is well worthy to be numbered among our most prominent native sons. To meet is to like and appreciate this well-educated and courteous business man.
WILLIAM VONSTROH.
Among the prominent and well-to-do farmers of Dade County we must mention William Vonstroh. As his name indicates, he is a native of Germany, having been born Octo- ber 24th 1836, in that country. He was a son of Henry and Lizzie Vonstroh. His parents were both natives of Ger- many, were married there, and followed farming in their native country until the year 1850, when they emigrated to the United States, landing in the state of Illinois, and set- tling about 30 miles cast of St. Louis on 160 acres of good land. Here they farmed and prospered, raised their family, and died many years ago. They had a family of six chil- dren. Mr. Vanstroh, the subject of this sketch, was third
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in order of birth. At the age of 14 years he went to St. Louis, Mo., and learned the blacksmithing trade, which he followed for some years, alternating with farming at his father's place. Mr. Vanstroh married first Miss Dora Eggeman, a native of Illinois. She died in April, 1880, and in 1881 Mr. Vonstroh married her sister, Miss Catherine Eggeman. About this time Mr. Vonstroh became interested in the west, and came to Dade County in 1882, bought 560 acres lying close to Lockwood, in fact, joining the corpora- tion line. He farmed here and prospered greatly, until at one time he owned 1,040 acres of fine prairie land in western Dade County. There are 11 children of this fine family, all of whom live in Dade County. They are as follows :
Henry, William, Frank, John, all living within a few miles of the city of Lockwood on farms. One daughter, Caroline, is now Mrs. Henry Bohne of Marion Township, and Millie is now Mrs. Fred Bohne of Marion Township. Mollie is now Mrs. William Nehoff. They all live near Loek- wood. Ida is the wife of Gus Bohne. Lizzie married Henry Brinkhoff of western Dade County. Dora and Mabel reside at home with their father and mother.
Mr. Vonstroh has given his children good educations and has started them all in life with good farms; in fact, it is hard to bring to mind another family resident in Dade County who are more appreciated and considered better citizens than the descendants of William Vonstroh.
Mr. Vonstroh is now living practically retired and en- joying a well-deserved rest from his strenuous labor in his fine residence, two and one-half miles west of Lockwood. He still retains 200 acres of his original holdings. Mr. Von- stroh is a fine specimen of the high class citizens that Ger- many has given to this country. Mr. Vonstroh is a member of the Lutheran church, in which he has been more or less active all these years. He was one of the main movers in the construction of the first Lutheran church in the county, which is at Lockwood, and he donated two acres for a Lu- theran cemetery, which is located just north of Lockwood. He is a Republican, having cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln. He has served as school director a great many
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times. He has also been a promoter of public good and a friend of education, although he received very little in his early life. He is, however, a self-made and self-educated man. One whom we of the younger generation of citizens of Dade County delight to honor, and whose example is well worthy of emulation.
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JUDGE JOHN WILLIAM WADDLE.
No history of Dade County could be written mention- ing the prominent people without putting at the head of the list John William Waddle, Judge of the County Court for the Eastern District, a prominent farmer of the east side of the county and a man of illustrous ancestry. Mr. Waddle was born April 15th, 1851, in Lawrence County, Missouri, the son of David and Margaret (Reagan) Wad- dle.
David Waddle was born in Chariton County, Mis- souri, November 26th, 1827, and came with his parents to Greene County in 1830. He married Miss Margaret Reagan in Greenfield, Dade County, Missouri, August 11th, 1848. Miss Reagan was born August 9th, 1831, in Ten- nossee, near Nashville, and came to Dade County in 1834 with her parents. They both died while she was quite young and she resided in Dade County until she was married. Her mother's maiden name was Gerard and her father was a wealthy farmer and slave-holder near Nash- ville, Tenn. David Waddle and his wife resided in Dade and Lawrence Counties until 1857, then went from Law- rence to Washington County, Arkansas, and resided there until 1862. He was a strong adherent to the Union cause and had to leave there on short order or be conscripted into the Confederate army. He left his family and went to Fayetteville, Ark., where a branch of the Union army was located. He was gone for several weeks and acted as guide and scout all over that country. He was even- tually given an escort of 100 soldiers for the purpose of bringing his family out. He took them first to Fayette- ville, and from there to Springfield, Mo., where he left
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