History of Daviess and Gentry counties, Missouri, Part 29

Author: Leopard, John C
Publication date: 1922
Publisher: Topeka : Historical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1164

USA > Missouri > Gentry County > History of Daviess and Gentry counties, Missouri > Part 29
USA > Missouri > Daviess County > History of Daviess and Gentry counties, Missouri > Part 29

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

G. G. Murray was married on Oct. 21, 1913, to Bess Carter, a native of Warrensburg. She graduated from the Central Missouri State Teach- ers College at Warrensburg, and taught Latin in the Gallatin High School for the two years prior to her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Murray have one child, Madeline.

Mr. Murray is a Republican, and is a member of the Masons, the Elks, and the Yeoman Lodges. Mr. Murray is one of the alert and pro- gressive business men of the county. He is a man highly esteemed in his community.

During the World War Mr. Murray's services as County Chairman of The Liberty Loan Organization for the Third and Fourth Loans were such as to make him the recipient of highly complimentary personal let- ters from Hon. W. G. McAdoo, United States Treasurer, as well as from the State Chairman. Neglecting his private business and at considerable sacrifice, he devoted several months to this work and so organized Da- viess County that its citizens gave expression to their loyalty by going over the top in these loan campaigns in a manner not surpassed by any county in the state.

A. F. Seiler, the superintendent and secretary of the Knauer and Seiler Rock Company, and the owner and operater of a plumbing shop at Gallatin, Daviess County, was born at Boonville, Aug. 26, 1868. His parents were Alois and Anna Seiler.

Alois Seiler was born in the Alps in Switzerland. He worked at the trade of a weaver in his native land, and after coming to the United States, worked at various occupations. Shortly after the close of the Civil War, he located at Boonville, Mo. He later returned to Switzerland taking with him his son, A. F. Seiler, who was ill. The boy received

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treatment at the hands of a Swiss physician, and after his recovery, was brought back to Missouri, by his father. In 1886 the father went back to his native land and died there. His wife died when her son, A. F., was nine years old. After the death of his parents, A. F. Seiler began to shift for himself.

He worked on a farm owned by John Wessing in Cooper County. In return for such work as he did, he was given his board and clothes, and was allowed to attend the district school for three months of each year. The school building was a log cabin, and Mr. Seiler recalls the fact that for a part of the time, the only member of his class besides him- self, was a little girl. He remained with Mr. Wessing for four years, and then worked as a farm hand for five years. In 1884 he went to Boon- ville, where he worked for three years and a month as an apprentice learning the tinning and plumbing trade. The hours were long in those days. Work began in the morning at five o'clock, and frequently con- tinued until 11 o'clock at night. The first year, Mr. Seiler received in payment for his work, $25.00; the second year, $40.00; and the third year, $60.00.

Mr. Seiler remained in Boonville until 1889, when he went to St. Joseph, where he worked at his trade until 1896. That year he came to Gallatin and opened a repair shop. He has established a thriving busi- ness, owns property, and has recently become interested in the Knauer and Seiler Rock Company.

A. F. Seiler was married the first time to Zettie Shephard in 1889. To this union the following children were born: Harry, now living in Kansas City, Mo .; Anna, the wife of J. O. Reed of Kansas City, Kan .; Lillian, married to Frank A. Williams of Miami, Fla .; an infant, de- ceased ; and William M., a sketch of whose life is given in a later para- graph. Mr. Seiler was married the second time on Dec. 4, 1915, to Grace Lee Williams, a native of Missouri.

William M. Seiler was born on May 18, 1896, at St. Joseph, Mo. He was a member of Company K, 3rd Missouri Militia, and was the corporal of the company. He served on the Mexican Border. When the regiment enlisted for service during the World War, he was made sergeant of Company K. 140th Infantry, 35th Division. The regiment went overseas, and Sergeant Seiler was killed on Sept. 29, 1918, at Exermont in the Ar- · gonne Forest. His remains are buried in France. His name stands among those of the honored dead of the state who gave their lives at the time of the country's greatest need.

A. F. Seiler is a Democrat. He served as an alderman for two terms.

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He was the chief of the fire department for 20 years. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and belongs to the following lodges: the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, the Woodmen of the World, and the Yeoman. As a city official, he was thoroughly competent, and efficient; as a citizen, he is interested in all that pertains to civic welfare; and as a business man, he is ener- getic and reliable.

Daniel M. Fisher, a minister in the Christian Church and the deputy county recorder of Daviess County, has his home at Gallatin. He is a na- tive of Ohio, where he was born on July 16, 1859, in Ross County, three miles west of Bainbridge. His parents were Daniel and Mary A. (Dan- nar) Fisher.

Daniel Fisher was born in Botetourt County, Virginia. He went to Ohio when he was 21 years old, and operated a farm there until the out- break of the Civil War. He enlisted for service in Company C, 176th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and took part in many of the important bat- tles of the war. He died while in service at Nashville, Tenn. He mar- ried Mary A. Dannar, born in Gallia County, Ohio, in January, 1833. Her parents were Michael and Sarah (Vance) Dannar, both natives of North Carolina. Michael Dannar died in Ohio, and his widow died in Daviess County. The Dannar family came to Daviess County before the Civil War. Daniel Fisher's father, Jacob Fisher, was a native of Vir- ginia, and died there. After his death, his widow, Eva (Moomaw) Fisher, took her three children to Ohio, and in 1869, she came with her son's widow, Mary A. (Dannar) Fisher, and her son's children to Mis- souri. They settled in De Kalb County, where the grandmother died. In 1879 the remainder of the family came to Daviess County. Mary A. (Dannar) Fisher died at Pattonsburg in 1904. She was the mother of seven children, four of whom are still living. One son, David, lives in Jefferson Township, Daviess County ; and another is Daniel M., the sub- ject of this sketch.

Daniel M. Fisher attended the Normal College at Stanberry, and graduated from the commercial and teachers courses in 1879. He taught for 15 consecutive years in the schools in Daviess County; and for four years held the position of principal of the school at Pattonsburg. He completed 20 years in the service of the schools by acting as principal of the school at Altamont. In 1902, the postmaster at Altamont resigned, and Mr. Fisher was tendered the position, which he accepted. He re- mained in that position for 13 years, then took up insurance work, and was made the justice of the peace at Altamont. In 1919 he came to Gal-

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latin, and was appointed the deputy county recorder, which place he has filled most acceptably ever since. He began preaching in 1915, and has been the acting minister in De Kalb County, at Altamont, and in Da- viess County, always with marked success.

Daniel M. Fisher was married to Sarah B. Deering, Dec. 24, 1876. She was born in Daviess County, the daughter of J. R. and Samantha (Stapp) Deering, both now dead. Mr. and Mrs. Deering came to Da- viess County in the forties, and located on a farm in Marion Township. Mrs. Fisher is the second oldest of the five children born to her parents, four of whom are now living. Mr. and Mrs. Fisher have three daugh- ters: Ora, H., the wife of Fred Robinson of Gallatin ; Lu Verne, married to D. T. Browne, of Altamont; and Pauline, the wife of J. B. McKaskey, of Altamont. Mr. Browne and Mr. McKaskey are partners in a mercan- tile establishment at Altamont.

Mr. Fisher is a Republican, and is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which lodge he is the district deputy grand master. He has been elected the representative to the Grand Lodge for 1922-1923. Mr. Fisher is an excellent citizen, a man of keen intelligence, and one who holds the respect of the entire community.

Arthur M. Stephens, the capable and energetic manager of the Farmers' Store at Gallatin, is well and favorably known throughout the community. He has lived in and around Gallatin for years, and has been connected with various mercantile enterprises in the county.

Mr. Stephens was born in Sangamon County, Illinois, March 26, 1876, the son of Sanford E. and Fannie (Ficklin) Stephens. Both Mr. and Mrs. Stephens were born near Covington, Ky., and came to Illinois in their youth. They settled in Missouri in 1874, and bought land in the eastern part of Daviess County, later returning to Illinois. They after- wards came back to Daviess County, and after making two more trips back in Illinois, they settled permanently in Daviess County. They both died on the farm in this county, and their remains are buried in Lock Spring Cemetery. They were the parents of seven children, three of whom are still living : Luther, farming in Livingston County; Benjamin, living in Livingston County ; and Arthur M., the youngest child, the sub- ject of this review.

Arthur M. Stephens was reared in Daviess County. At the age of 13 years, he began clerking in a store at Lock Spring. He afterwards clerked in various stores, thoroughly mastering the phase of the mer- cantile business that involved the successful management of a store. He conducted a store at Lock Spring for S. N. Norris, who is the owner of

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the Farmers' Store at Gallatin. In 1905, Mr. Stephens came to Gallatin, where he clerked for Mr. Norris. In 1916 he was made the manager of the store, and has conducted it with unvarying success ever since. The store building covers a space 65x120 feet, and has a balcony 50 feet wide. The firm carries dry goods, ladies ready to wear garments, shoes, and men's clothing. They handle the Hart, Schaffner and Marx brand of clothing for men. The business is constantly growing, and shows the effect of Mr. Stephens' competent management.

Mr. Stephens was married to Florence McClure on Oct. 12, 1918. She was born in Indiana and is the daughter of Charles and Mary Mc- Clure, former residents of Daviess County.

Mr. Stephens is a Democrat, and is a member of the Masons and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows Lodges, holding his membership in the former at Gallatin, and in the latter at Lock Spring. He is a relia- ble man, and has the respect of the entire town.

R. L. Etter, Sr., manager of the W. H. Etter Dry Goods Company of Gallatin, is a member of a family that has been connected with mercan- tile pursuits in Missouri for many years. Mr. Etter has been an integral part of the mercantile development of Missouri in several parts of the state, and has been intimately associated with all phases of the business world since his early youth. The training he received has been of ines- timable value to him in recent years, since he has been operating a busi- ness.

Mr. Etter was oorn on Dec. 11, 1863, at St. Louis, the son of C. A. and Sarah (Allen) Etter. C. A. Etter was born in Marietta, Pa., and his wife was a native of St. Louis County, Missouri. They are both now dead. They were early settlers of St. Louis, and had their residence near the river. C. A. Etter started a dry goods store in St. Louis, and for 30 years, he conducted it with marked success. He retired from active busi- ness several years before his death. Mr. and Mrs. Etter were the parents of 11 children, four of whom are now living: Charles, of San Antonio, Tex .; Coleman, in the W. H. Etter store at Gallatin ; Belle, now Mrs. Ar- thur Klug of St. Louis; and R. L., the youngest child, and the subject of this review.

R. L. Etter was reared in St. Louis, and graduated from the public schools in that city. He and his brother, M. F. Etter, became interested in the dry goods business, and operated stores in several towns in Mis- souri. In 1882, they opened a store at Pattonsburg, which they sold in 1886. Mr. Etter then came to Gallatin, where his oldest brother had founded the present Etter store. This store, founded by W. H. Etter

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more than 40 years ago, is one of the thriving enterprises of Gallatin. It is located in a building with a frontage of 60 feet, and is 125 feet deep. The two floors are given over to the housing of the complete stock of dry goods, shoes, carpets, men's clothing, ladies' ready to wear, and mil- linery, which the firm carries. The W. H. Etter Dry Goods Company was incorporated ten years after it was first organized. R. L. Etter is one of the stockholders. The founder, W. H. Etter, died in 1915, but the com- pany has continued the use of the original name.

R. L. Etter was married the first time to Elizabeth McDonald, and to that union two children were born: Golden, a successful teacher in Tulsa, Okla .; and Robert, connected with the office of the Democrat at Gallatin. Mr. Etter was married the second time to Neva Green, a native of Chillicothe, Livingston County.

Mr. Etter is a Democrat, and a member of the Methodist Church. He is an alert business man, and is accounted one of the substantial cit- izens of Gallatin.

Charles Hemry, a prominent business man of Daviess County, is the president of the First National Bank at Gallatin. Mr. Hemry is a member of a pioneer family of the county, and has spent all of his life in and near Gallatin, where he has established an enviable reputation as an efficient, careful, and successful financier. He was born May 20, 1870, in Monroe Township.

George Hemry, grandfather of Charles Hemry, came from Ohio to Missouri, and settled in Daviess County in 1842. He entered land in Monroe Township, and made extensive improvements for his time. After a lapse of two years, he returned to Ohio to settle up the Hemry estate. He returned to Missouri shortly after, and died at Brunswick, where his remains are buried. His son, Thomas, the father of Charles Hemry, was born in Carroll County, Ohio, Dec. 9, 1830. He was reared in Daviess County ; received his education in the rural schools; and became a prom- inent farmer and stockman in the county. He was a man of great energy and ambition, conservative and careful in his dealings. At his death on Jan. 31, 1903, he was the owner of 1500 acres of land, and his estate was valued at $100,000. He married Sarah Payne, born in Bourbon County, Ky., Dec. 10, 1834, the daughter of Henry Payne. Henry Payne and his family came to Missouri and settled in Daviess County in 1846. They lo- cated on a farm in Monroe Township where they lived for many years. Mr. Payne died in Iowa. To the union of Thomas and Sarah (Payne) Hemry six children were born: Martin, now living in Gallatin; Augusta, at Gallatin ; Charles, the subject of this sketch; and Stella (Hemry) Hunt,

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CHARLES HEMRY

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the assistant cashier of the First National Bank. Mrs. Hemry died Nov. 2, 1914. Both her remains and those of her husband are buried in Brown Cemetery.

Charles Hemry was reared on the farm, attended the rural schools in his boyhood, and later became a student in Kidder Institute at Kidder. He studied in Gem City Business College for a while, and then became manager of the home farm, which he now owns. In July, 1894, he came to Gallatin and entered the banking business, in which he remained until 1900, when he returned to the farm. In 1909 he was made the president of the First National Bank and has filled that position with credit ever since. In 1916 Mr. Hemry erected a house in Gallatin which is all modern and is accounted one of the best residences in the town. He is an exten- sive land owner, holding 687 acres in Daviess County and 1600 acres in Western Kansas.

Mr. Hemry was married Dec. 19, 1909, to Adah Macy, a native of Daviess County, the daughter of W. C. and Mary (Nichols) Macy. Mrs. Hemry died Feb. 16, 1922, and is buried in Brown Cemetery. She left one daughter, Mary Charlene; a daughter, Dorothy, is deceased. W. C. Macy was born in Daviess County, the son of Captain Macy of Civil War fame, and one of the early settlers of the county. Mr. Macy died July 20, 1921, at the age of 73 years. He and his wife were the parents of six daughters and one son. At the time of his death, Mr. and Mrs. Macy had retired from their farm.

Charles Hemry is a Republican in politics, and is a member of the Baptist church. He belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is one of the alert and keen minded business men of Daviss County, and a man of marked civic pride for his town. The Hemry family has been an asset to Daviess County since the days when the grandfather of the present subject first settled here.

Frank A. Woodruff, one of the best known and most popular hotel men of northwest Missouri, is the owner and proprietor of the Woodruff Hotel at Gallatin. Mr. Woodruff is a man of varied business interests ; he owns 169 acres of land in the county, and owns and manages the larg- est pear orchard in the state. He is a native of Daviess County, born at the southwest corner of the city limits of Gallatin, Dec. 3, 1865. His par- ents were Joab and Paulina (Fisher) Woodruff.

The Woodruff name has been known in the United States since the days of the American Revolution. Joab Woodruff, the paternal grand- father of Frank A. Woodruff, was a native of Pennsylvania. He married Sophia Dumhan, and they moved to Indiana. Their son, Joab, the father

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of Frank A. Woodruff, was born near Nineneh, Johnson County, Indi- ana, Oct. 25, 1825. He learned the trade of a wagon maker and followed that trade for a time. He also farmed. In 1856 he came to Missouri and located in Daviess County, where he owned a section of land in Union and Liberty Townships. He was a successful farmer, and a fancier of high grade stock. His home was an open house to all of his neighbors, and was a meeting place for people from all parts of the county when anything of importance called them to Gallatin. Mr. Woodruff was known throughout the community for his spirit of hospitality.

Joab Woodruff married Pauline Fisher on Nov. 29, 1846. She was born in Middletown, Ohio, May 14, 1825. To their union the following children were born: Jamsy, the wife of T. P. New, living six miles east of Gallatin; Mary, the widow of T. P. McGuire of Los Angeles; Gillie, married L. F. Hill, they are both dead, and their remains are buried in Colorado; John W., whose farm at Eugene, Ore., was selected as the model chicken farm of Oregon; Halleck, living near Gallatin; and Frank A., the subject of this review. Mr. Woodruff died on June 17, 1882, and Mrs. Woodruff died on Feb. 25, 1901. The remains of both are buried in Brown Cemetery at Gallatin.

Joab Woodruff was a Republican. He enlisted for service in the Civil War, and in 1862, was commissioned captain of Company I by Gov- ernor H. R. Gamble. He was assigned to No. 33rd, Regulars, Missouri State Militia ; and in 1863 was detailed captain of Company A, 4th Pro- visional Regiment of the Enrolled Militia, stationed first at Rochester, and later at Savannah and St. Joseph. He remained in that service until the close of the war. In 1866 he was commissioned first lieutenant by Gov. T. C. Fletcher, and was made the enrolling officer for Daviess County. He held that position for a year. He was one of the best known men of his time in Daviess County, where he was held in high esteem.

Frank A. Woodruff was reared on the farm, and attended the pub- lic school until he was 14 years of age. He looked after his father's farming interests, and farmed for himself until 1901. He became heir to 80 acres of land in 1892, which he at once converted into an orchard. The land lics just a mile west of Gallatin, so Mr. Woodruff has an ex- cellent shipping point. At the time that Mr. Woodruff set out his or- chard, there was not a Commercial pear orchard to be found in the com- munity, but he established the industry on so subtsantial a basis that others have followed his lead. In 1919 Missouri raised more pears than any other state; Daviess County produced half the pears of the state that year; and more than half of the Daviess County crop was raised in

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Mr. Woodruff's orchard. That year he shipped 17 car loads of pears, and in 1914 he shipped 23 car loads.

In 1901, Mr. Woodruff started in the hotel business at Gallatin, us- ing a building on the site of the present Farmers' Store. That building was burned, and in 1911, Mr. Woodruff bought the present hotel build- ing. He is operating one of the most successful hotels in this part of the state. The success is largely due to the hospitable attitude maintained by both Mr. and Mrs. Woodruff toward their guests. Mr. Woodruff al- ways employs from 12 to 15 assistants in the hotel, and during the pick- ing season of the pear orchard, he employs 50 people. He supplies the town with ice during the summer season.

Frank A. Woodruff was married on Oct. 4, 1885, to Sarah M. Hen- derson, born on Feb. 6, 1865, on a farm four and one-half miles west of Gallatin. Her father, G. W. Henderson, was born in Clay County, March 11, 1834. When he was two years old, his parents moved to Gentry County, where his father was the first white man to build a log cabin in that county. In 1840 he moved his family to Daviess County, and there George W. Henderson grew up. G. W. Henderson was a farmer and grain broker. In 1874 he was elected to the position of county judge, which position he held for three years. He was acting as the county treasurer at the time of his death on July 29, 1893. He married Matilda McBrayer, Dec. 29, 1859. She was a native of Daviess County, and died Sept. 24, 1878. To her union with G. W. Henderson four children were born : John A., deceased ; W. E., deceased ; Sarah M., the wife of Frank A. Woodruff ; and Eleanor J.

To the union of Frank A. and Sarah M. (Henderson) Woodruff two children were born: Frankie, born Dec. 18, 1893, graduated from the Gallatin High School, married on Jan. 15, 1914, to Roy Talbert of Galla- tin ; and John, born Feb. 4, 1906, in the hotel, where he has been reared, now a student in the Gallatin High School. Mr. and Mrs. Woodruff have one grandchild, Eleanor Frances Talbert, born on Dec. 28, 1914.

Mr. Woodruff is a Republican, and is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America Lodge. His recollections of his youth on the farm are very interesting. He was very fond of pets as a boy, and his list of pet animals which he kept as a boy, includes 50 Shetland ponies, 40 deer, an elk, an antelope, a golden eagle, 12 foxes, six wolves, and 500 squirrels, which he kept in a huge cage at one time. Mr. and Mrs. Wood- ruff are excellent citizens and are held in high esteem, not only in Galla- tin, but by all the travelers, who have been guests in the hotel.

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Dr. P. L. Gardner, since June, 1918, a practicing physician and sur- geon at Gallatin, is one of the progressive and widely known physicians of the county. He is a native of Missouri, having been born at Trenton, June 12, 1882. His parents are C. L. and Mary J. (Law) Gardner.

C. L. Gardner was born near Palmyra, and is now a retired railroad man. He started as an engine wiper in his boyhood, was later made a fireman at Trenton, and then became an engineer on the Rock Island Railway, which position he held until 1901, when he retired from active service. Mary J. (Law) Gardner was born in England, and came to the United States about 1878. She went to Trenton, Mo., where she and her husband now live. Mrs. Gardner is a member of the Episcopal Church. Mr. and Mrs. Gardner had three children born to their union: Albert, deceased ; P. L., the subject of this review; and John T., living at Tren- ton, and holding a position as traveling salesman for the Sharp and Dohne Company of Baltimore, Md.

Dr. Gardner graduated from the Trenton High School, and in 1901, entered Missouri State University and studied medicine there for one year. In 1902 he went to University Medical College at Kansas City, Mo., and graduated from that institution in 1905. He began to practice his profession at Waldon, and remained there until 1909, when he lo- cated at Gilman City. In April, 1918, he went to Chicago, and took a post graduate course and in June, 1918, he located at Gallatin, where he has established a large practice. He was a volunteer for medical service during the World War, but was not called into active duty.

Dr. Gardner was married, April 19, 1905, to Jessie Ethel Ratliff. Mrs. Gardner was born at Trenton, the daughter of J. Newton and So- phronia (Drinkard) Ratliff, and graduated from the Trenton High School. Her father was a native of Illinois and her mother was born in Grundy County, Mo. Mr. Ratliff a partner in the Ratliff Commission Company of Kansas City, Mo., and was one of the well known and popu- lar business men of northwest Missouri. He died in 1920, and his widow now lives at Trenton. Dr. Gardner and his wife have two children; C. Newton, and P. L., Jr.

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History of Daviess and Gentry counties, Missouri, Part 29

Author: Leopard, John C Publication date: 1922 Publisher: Topeka : Historical Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1164

Author: Leopard, John C
Publication date: 1922
Publisher: Topeka : Historical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1164