USA > Missouri > Gentry County > History of Daviess and Gentry counties, Missouri > Part 42
USA > Missouri > Daviess County > History of Daviess and Gentry counties, Missouri > Part 42
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Judge Rigney was educated in the schools of Albany and was a
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teacher in the Gentry County schools for 15 years. A part of Judge Rigney's old farm is now comprised in the south part of Albany. This includes the birthplace of the judge, now the site of the South Side school building. Judge Rigney laid out the part of Albany known as the Rigney First Addition and the Rigney Second Addition, both of which were former- ly a part of his land. Judge Rigney has extensive land holdings comprising more than 1500 acres, of which more than 500 acres are in Gentry County. He has been interested in various building enterprises ; he built the Rigney Theater in 1914 at an initial cost of $20,000, and he is the owner of several buildings in Albany including the building in which the Bassler Clothing Company does business.
T. N. Rigney was married, May 5, 1885, to Carrie R. Albin, a daughter of John and Mary J. (Rund) Albin. Her father, John N. Albin, came to Gentry County in 1854 and his farm of 423 acres was one of the best im- proved tracts of land in Athens Township. He was one of the men in his section of the state to vote for Abraham Lincoln the first time Lincoln was elected. Mr. Albin served in the Missouri State Militia during the Civil War. He was married the first time in February, 1855, to Rebecca Young of Tennessee. She died in August, 1859, leaving two small children ; Joseph F., and Mary R., Mr. Albin married the second time Mary J. Rund, a native of Ohio, who came to Missouri with her parents, Charles F., and Car- oline (Green) Rund. To his second marriage the following children were born: Ida, deceased, was Mrs. Zimmerman; Charles F., a resident of Seattle, Wash .; Rosa, Mrs. Quigley of Athens Township; Caroline, Mrs. Rigney ; Lulu A., now Mrs. Peterson of Albany ; Lola B., now Mrs. Swan of Thayer, Kans .; W. L., a physician in Lincoln, Neb .; and Homer, died at the age of four years. John N. Albin died in 1906 and his remains are buried in the City Cemetery at Albany. His widow still lives in Albany at the age of 88 years.
To the union of T. N. and Carrie R. (Albin) Rigney the following children were born: Lloyd C., a farmer and stockman on the home farm; John A., a farmer in Miller Township; Mary Ruth, died in infancy ; Blanch, graduated from the Albany High School, a student at the Northwest Mis- souri State Teachers College at Maryville, for several years a successful teacher, and now living with her parents; Grace, graduated from the Albany High School and from the Missouri State University at Columbia, now a well known teacher of Home Economics at Skiatook, Okla .; and George B., graduated from the Albany High School, attended college at Fort Worth, Texas, and Drake University, Iowa, and now making an excel- lent reputation as a teacher in Albany ; and Levi M., attending Palmer Col- lege, Albany.
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In 1906 T. N. Rigney was elected to the office of judge of the South District of his county and was elected two years later. He spent the next four years as a private citizen never however losing interest in public affairs and in 1914 he was tendered the office of presiding judge of his district. He was reelected to this position in 1918. His frequent re- elections speak for the attitude which his community has toward Judge Rigney's record as an official. He is known as competent, conscientious, and an unprejudiced official, one who has the trust and esteem of his fellow citizens. Judge Rigney is a Democrat, but his political predelictions have never been allowed to interfere with his high standard of fairness and justice.
H. C. Yeater, for many years a prominent druggist in Albany, and one of the interesting pioneer figures in Gentry County, was born in Butler Township, Harrison County, Aug. 13, 1853.
Mr. Yeater's paternal grandfather, Dr. Joseph Yeater, was the first physician to practice in Gentry County and was one of the well known men of his day. He was one of the many who followed the lure of California in those early days, and, in 1850, accompanied by his son, John, and driving a team of mules, he set out on the long trip westward. At St. Joseph, however, he became ill and was forced to return to his home where he died a few days later. The next year his son went west but returned to Mis- souri in 1853. After his return he settled in Harrison County but came to Gentry County in 1855 and settled on a farm five miles east of Albany. Here he built a log cabin and set about improving his land. The outbreak of the Civil War stopped his work and he enlisted in the Union Army where he served for three years. After the close of the war, he settled on his farm and lived there for 35 years when he movd to Albany where he died in 1899. His remains are buried in Highland Cemetery.
John Yeater married Martha Jane Sampson, a native of Madison County, Ind. When she was 12 years of age, her father, Caleb Sampson, came to Gentry County and settled near McFall. At that time there were only seven families living in the county and life there involved many hard- ships. Martha Jane (Sampson) Yeater died in 1906 and her remains were buried in Highland Cemetery. To the union of John and Martha Jane (Sampson) Yeater the following children were born: George, died in in- fancy ; William, living in Dent County, Mo; H. C., the subject of this re- view; W. B., a resident of Albany; Cornelia, now Mrs. Van Norstrand of Stanberry; Mary, now Mrs. Peery of Albany; J. L., deceased; Camelia, now Mrs. Smart of Kansas City ; H. P., a physician at Maysville; Eliza, died in infancy ; and Julia Ann, died in infancy.
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H. C. Yeter was a student in the rural schools of Gentry County and attended the first high school ever taught in Albany. After completing his school work he went to Jameson and studied pharmacy. Later he went into the drug business at Jameson and remained there for ten years. Over 40 years ago, on March 26, 1881, Mr. Yeater received a certificate of proficiency from the State Board of Pharmacy. He then went to Pattans- burg and conducted a drug store there for two years. At the end of that time he bought a farm which he operated successfully for a period of 11 years. He came to Albany in 1902 and has been the progressive owner of a drug store on the west side of the Public Square ever since.
Aug. 16, 1877, Mr. Yeater was married to Margaret Irene Allen, a native of Daviess County, born Nov. 5, 1858. Her parents were George P. and Sarah Allen, both natives of Virginia and members of the Presby- terian church. To the union of H. C. and Margaret Irene (Allen) Yeater the following children were born ; Ethel, born in 1878, married Mr. Hankins and died at Albany at the age of 39 years; Alva P., born July 29, 1880, now a druggist at Trenton ; Harry, a resident of Albany ; Herman, a travel- ing salesman for the New York Rubber Company living in St. Joseph ; Roy born in 1883, and died 18 months later, his remains buried in Bethel Ceme- tery ; Evelyn, a buyer for the Leader Store at St. Joseph, now Mrs. Rader of Girard, Kans .; Frederick, mention of whom appears below; and Ruth died at the age of one year. Her remains are buried in Bethel Cemetery. Frederick Yeater enlisted for service in the United States Army when he was but 17 years old. He was sent to a school at Omaha for 15 months where he was in training as a mechanic. He was later sent to New York where he remained for a year inspecting army motors. Then he was placed at Hoboken, N. J., and later at Niagara Falls. After a service of three years he received his discharge. He took the civil service examina- tion and was in the service for a year when he resigned and went to Omaha where he accepted a position as head of a department in a music store.
H. C. Yeater is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, No. 403, at Pattonsburg. Mr. Yeater's reminiscences extend back over a period of more than 60 years. Although belonging to the pioneer days of the county, his is still an active business man counducting his affairs with the acumen and energy that were factors in his early success. It is well that the history of such a man, one whose family name has been con- nected with the development of Gentry County since the earliest days, should be incorporated in a volume such as this.
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Marcus M. Brown, a Civil War veteran, who was a prominent farmer and stockman of Gentry County during his life time was a native of Con- necticut. He was born in South Coventry, Ct., Dec. 3, 1842, a son of Rufus and Sarah (Clark) Brown. They were the parents of the following children: Daniel C., deceased; John B., deceased; Mary E., deceased; Marcus M., the subject of this sketch; Cornelius, who is engaged in the farm loan business in Gentry County.
Marcus M. Brown came to Gentry County in 1855 with his parents. When the Civil War broke out, he enlisted in November 1861, in the 25th Missouri Volunteer Infantry, and served until the close of the war. After the war he engaged in farming in Gentry County which occupation he suc- cessfully followed until the time of his death. He was the owner of 300 acres of land and was one of the substantial and well-to-do men of the county. He was a member of the Masonic lodge and the Grand Army of the Republic.
Marcus M. Brown married Elizabeth Alice Billmire, who was born in Ogle County, Ill., Nov. 22, 1851. She is the daughter of John W. and Nancy (Slaughter) Billmire. Mrs. Brown was one of four children born to her parents, as follows: Thornton W., deceased; Dora A., married Harry Barnes, Seattle, Wash .; William Sherman, a rancher of Crawford, Colo .; and Elizabeth Alice who married Marcus M. Brown, whose name introduces this sketch.
Since the death of Mr. Brown his widow, Mrs. Elizabeth Alice Brown, has resided on her farm five miles northwest of King City. Her place is operated by George Marcus, a nephew of Mrs. Brown. Mrs. Brown is one of the estimable women of Gentry County and has many friends in the community.
George Marcus who operates the Marcus M. Brown farm in Gentry County and was born in King City, July 7, 1882. He was educated in the public schools and has been engaged in farming most of his life. He mar- ried Miss Ada Pickard, a native of DeKalb County, and to them have been born the following children: Claude, Beatrice, Leo D., Curtis E., William Clark, Dora, and Hazel Louise.
Mr. Marcus is progressive and enterprising, and a substantial citizen.
J. E. Davidson, for 22 years the capable and careful superintendent of the Albany Telephone Company, was born at Albany, Jan. 10, 1878. His parents were W. H. and Margaret B. (Austin) Davidson, the former still living at Albany.
The Davidson name has been well known in Gentry County since the time of Joseph Davidson, a pioneer settler of Athens, now called Albany, and the grandfather of J. E. Davidson, W. H. Davidson was born in Albany
0
MARCU'S M. BROWN
MRS. ELIZABETH A. BROWN
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HISTORY OF DAVIESS AND GENTRY COUNTIES
in 1853. He lived in Harrison County for four years and then moved to Oklahoma. Here his wife died at Oklahoma City on July 6, 1921, at the age of 67 years. Her remains are buried in Grand View Cemetery there. J. E. Davidson is the only surviving child of his parents. A sister, Effie, died at the age of 38 years.
J. E. Davidson was educated in the public schools of Albany and was a student in Central Christian College graduating from the Commercial Department of that institution. He has been connected with the Albany Telephone Company practically since its organization on Feb. 26, 1897. The company was formed with a capital stock of $2500 with the following officers : C. O. Patton, president; Wallace Hubbard, secretary ; and C. V. Larmer, treasurer. The Company started business with only 60 tele- phones in service. So rapid has been the growth of the business that today there are 650 stations in operation, the company has one of the finest cen- tral office installations in the state, and the capital stock and surplus amount to $17,942.50. The present officers are: J. W. Agee, president ; M. P. Whaley, vice-president; M. B. Watson, secretary; J. E. Lainhart, treasurer ; and E. L. Peery, L. H. Peery, and W. J. Siddens, members of the official board, in addition to the officers already named. The company has achieved one of the marked successes of the county. It affairs have been ably managed and the value of such an organization has been vital in the growth of the community.
J. E. Davidson was married to Lizzie Bohanna of McFall. To this union two sons have been born; Joseph E., and Hartwell.
Mr. Davidson is a member of the Masonic lodge. He is a man of en- terprise and energy. His record of 22 years of continuous and efficient service with the Albany Telephone Company would be difficult to duplicate. To a large degree the success of the company has been due to the methods of Mr. Davidson. He makes it a rule to give his attention to the details of the management thus obtaining a view point that gives him a grasp on the larger responsibilities. He has attained a success which he well merits by virtue of these traits ..
Johnson Wesley Coulter, a Civil War veteran and a resident of Albany since 1865, was born in Meigs County, Ohio, June 15, 1839, the son of Abraham and Hanna (Hampton) Counter. Abraham Coulter was born in Pennsylvania in 1813 and his wife was born in Ohio in 1919. They settled at Albany in 1886, and both died there. Their remains are buried in Highland Cemetery. Their children were: Johnson Wesley, the subject of this sketch; Warren, died while serving in the Union Army at Knox- ville, Tenn .; Mary Evaline, died in girlhood; John, a merchant at Kansas
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City ; Mary, married Harry Willis, died at Stanberry and her remains are buried in Highland Cemtery; Ann, now Mrs. A. K. Smith of Albany ; and Dallas, a retired farmer, Denver, Mo.
J. W. Coulter grew up in the midst of the privations of the early pioneer days in the Middle West and had little schooling. Three months each year he attended the district school in Ohio, but early learned the tinners trade at Pomeroy, Ohio, in order to start work for himself. When the Civil War broke out, Mr. Coulter answered President Lincoln's first call for 75,000 troops and was placed in Company H. 18th Ohio Volunteer Infantry where he served for four months. He reenlisted for service but the company had been completed so he was denied admission. He came to Albany, April 1, 1865 and opened a tin shop. In conjunction with E. L. Peery, he ran a hardware store for some time. He and his brother, George Coulter, formed a partnership and operated a hardware store also at Albany. The firm of Coulter and Perry handled implements in connection with the hardware business and later established implements houses at Bethany, Pattonsburg and Gentryville. Mr. Coulter retired from active business pursuits in 1910, but says that he regrets his retirement as he feels it is better for a person to remain actively engaged in commercial work until his retirement is absolutely essential.
J. W. Coulter has been twice married. His first marriage occurred in September, 1861, to Sarah R. Sylvester of Dansville, Ohio. To this union three children were born: Carrie, first married James Cramer, for many years a partner of Mr. Coulter's and after his death his widow mar- ried J. M. Layman of Los Angeles, Cal .; Myrtie, died at the age of four years; and Wade H., born in 1872 and died in 1914, married to Fannie Grantham, who with her children, Marguerite and Jack W., lives at Albany. Wade H. Coulter was in the public amusement business. He started with a wagon show which he ran for two years and then bought the Cole Bros. Amusement Company of 15 cars. He operated this business successfuly for some time. Shortly after closing the business up he died at Albany, Feb. 2, 1914. Mr. Coulter's daughter, Mrs. Layman, has two children, Pearl, now married to George Nelson, and with one son, Jimmie Bob; and Opal, married to Hudson Wilcox of Los Angeles. Mrs. Coulter died at Albany in June, 1906, and her remains are buried there.
Mr. Coulter was married the second time, Jan. 11, 1910, in Kansas City, to Lillie E. (Evans) Case. Her parents were Edward Evans, born in Lancaster County, Pa., Nov. 22, 1823, and Mary (McKee) Evans, born in Cumberland County, Pa. Mrs. Coulter was born in Cumberland County, Pa., in 1852 and the family came to Rochester, Minn., in 1857. There Mrs.
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Evans died and, in 1862, Mr. Evans moved to Missouri and settled in Andrew County for a short time. He married the second time, Anna Guinter, and in 1865, they moved to Gentry County, and located at King City where Mr. Evans was a contractor and builder. In 1877 they moved to Albany and there Mr. Evans died in 1902. His daughter, Lillie, was married the first time at Maryville, to A. C. Case, born in Jefferson County, N. Y., Dec. 15, 1842, the son of Joseph Case. A. C. Case enlisted in the Union Army in 1861 and served until the war closed. Mr. Case died at Pueblo, Colo., in 1904, leaving one son, Edward C., born in 1876, and died at Pueblo, Colo., in 1904. Mr. Case was postmaster at Albany during the administrations of President Hayes and President Garfield, serving eight years in the office. Mr. Evans built the New Albany and Merchants hotels and erected several other important buildings at Albany, and other places.
Mr. and Mrs. Coulter have a nice two story seven room house on North Hundley street with one and one-half acres of ground. Mr. Coulter has always been a progressive man with many varied interests. He and J. W. Barkley built all of the public buildings on the west side of the square with the exception of the Peery building. Mr. Coulter is one of the interesting and well known men of the community, known for his public spirit and his upright business standards.
William Peery Stapleton, a well known business man of Albany, con- ducts a real estate, loan and insurance office, in which enterprise he has been successfully engaged for the past 20 years. Mr. Stapleton was born at Albany, Feb. 18, 1865. His parents were Dr. George W. and Emily Winn (Peery) Stapleton, both diseased.
Dr. Stapleton was born in Tennessee, the son of Joseph Stapleton, who brought the family to Daviess County, and settled near Pattonsburg, where he operated a farm. He lived on his farm for many years and died at his home there. His son George W., was born in 1824 and was reared in Daviess County. He was a student at Grand River College, Edinburg. and received his medical training at St. Louis Medical College from which he graduated. He settled in Gentry County In 1848 and was a prominent physician here for half a century. He was a charter member of the Masonic lodge and of the Chapter and the Commandery. He died in 1910, and his remains are buried in Grand View Century. His wife, Emily Winn (Peery) Stapleton, was born in Tazewell County, Va., in 1834 and came to Grundy County, when she was a young girl with her parents, George and Jane Peery. To her union with Dr. Stapleton, the following children were born: Edwin E., who died at Santa Rosa, Calif., in 1920; William Peery, the subject of this sketch ; Fielding P., a graduate of Simp-
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son Medical College, St. Louis, and now a practicing physician at Lawrence, Kans .; and Leona S., married to Robert J. Austin, an attorney, born in Casey County, Ky., and for more than 30 years connected with the United States Pension Bureau at Washington, D. C.
William Peery Stapleton was a student in Central College, Fayette, and later went into the hardware and implement business. He remained in that work for 17 years. He then opened his present office where he handled real estate, insurance, and loans. Mr. Stapleton has handled a volume of business which of itself marks the success of his methods. From March, 1919, to March, 1920, he sold more than $800,000 worth of real estate.
Mr. Stapleton was married on April 28, 1886, to Anna L. Bell, born in Howard County, and a graduate of Howard Payne College at Fayette. Her father was W. F. Bell, a Southern Methodist minister, now dead; and her mother was Sarah D. (Ridgeway) Bell, also deceased. To the union of W. P. and Anna L. (Bell) Stapleton the following children were born: Ada Bell, a graduate of Central College at Fayette, holding a Master of Arts degree from Washington University at St. Louis, and now a teacher of English, and Dean of Women at Texas Womans College, Fort Worth, Texas; Sarah Emily, a graduate of Central College, Lexington, formerly a teacher of Home Economics in Palmer College, and now living at home; George W., at home; Margaret Ann, a graduate of Washington Seminary, Washington, D. C., and now married to John R. Doyle of Albany ; Fielding P., a brief sketch of whom appears below; and Jack Frederick, who holds the degree of Bachelor of Arts from Washington University, St. Louis, and was a student in the Pulitzer School of Journalism, Columbia University, New York. He served during the World War in the Students Training Corps at Washington University. He is now publisher of the Owl-Head- light at Stanbury.
Fielding Peery Stapleton was born at Albany, Sept. 6, 1897. He grad- uated from the Albany High School in the class of 1914, took a Bachelor of Arts degree from Washington University, St. Louis in 1919, and the degree of Bachelor of Laws from Harvard University in 1921. He began the practice of his profession in Albany in July, 1921. He enlisted for service in the World War at the Municipal Pier, Chicago, and was sent to the Great Lakes Naval Training Station at Chicago. He was there in the United States Naval Auxiliary Reserve School until Feb. 3, 1919, and is still a member of the Reserve Corps.
W. P. Stapleton and his sons, Fielding P., and Jack F., are all members of the Masonic lodge. Mr. Stapleton and his family are all factors for
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progress in the community. It is a family of marked ability and enter- prise.
Robert Murphy, formerly a farmer and stockman of Gentry County, and engaged in the real estate business with W. P. Stapleton, was born in Carey County, Ky., Jan. 13, 1845, the son of William and Melianda (Henson) Murphy.
William Murphy was a farmer in Kentucky where he died in the fall of 1845, leaving the following children: Richard, died in Illinois in 1852; Mary, married A. J. Malson and died in Gentry County ; James, died in Gentry County in 1862; Martha, died in Nebraska, married first to Lewis David of Gentry County, and after his death in Iowa, married to James James who died in Gentry County ; Joseph, a farmer now living in Huggins Township, at the age of 84 years; Ann, now living in St. Joseph, married first to G. W. Wells to which union nine children were born, and after Mr. Wells' death, married to Jacob Creager of Bethany ; John, a farmer in Lin- coln County, Okla., now 79 years of age; and Robert, the subject of this sketch. By a second marriage of Melisanda (Henson) Murphy in Illinois in 1847 to Jacob Collins, a physician, she had two children: Zachariah, died at the age of two years ; and L. A., a farmer living near Frederick, Okla., and now 69 years old. Dr. Collins died in 1852 and his widow died in Gentry County in 1899 at the age of 83 years. Her remains are buried in the New Friendship Cemetery.
The Murphy family moved from Kentucky to Illinois in 1846 and from Illinois to Missouri in 1855. The family settled near Albany and five years later Robert Murphy, then 15 years old, began working on a farm for $10 a month. He continued to work by the month for six years, sometimes re- ceiving as much as $16.50 per month. He then took up the work of trad- ing and followed this line until he was 35 years old when he bought a farm of 205 acres of excellent land. He owned this land at the time of his death and also 170 acres which he bought later.
Robert Murphy was married in 1880 to Lizzie Ray of Gentry County, a daughter of A. J. and Jane Ray, both deceased. Mrs Murphy died in March, 1920 and her remains are buried in the New Friendship Cemetery. To this union of Robert and Lizzie (Ray) Murphy two children were born: Maud C., died at the age of seven years ; and E. Ray, born Sept. 11, 1892, graduated from the Albany High School, and afterwards was a student for three years in William Jewell College at Liberty. He enlisted for service in the United States Navy, May 28, 1918, and was sent first to the Great Lakes Training Camp and then to Norfolk, Va., where he remained until June, 1919. He is now a member of the Naval Reserve Force. He now holds a position with Gentry County Bank of Albany.
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Robert Murphy was the one of the interesting pioneer characters of Gentry County. His recollections of the early days of mingled romance and hardships gave a vivid picture of those times in the history of the state. He knew the state before the turbulent days of the Civil War as well as through that trying period. Mr. Murphy died Dec. 18, 1921.
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