History of Daviess and Gentry counties, Missouri, Part 44

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 44
USA > Missouri > Daviess County > History of Daviess and Gentry counties, Missouri > Part 44

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Mr. Chenoweth is accounted an excellent business man, energetic and competent in the management of his affairs, and with the prospect of a markedly successful business career.

Lester M. Robison, proprietor of the Robison Dry Goods store, at Albany, was born in Denver, Worth County, Nov. 17, 1883, the son of I. M. and Emma (Hess) Robison.

I. M. Robison was born in Licking County, Ohio, Sept. 24, 1855, and was reared on a farm there. He attended the public school and at the age of 16 years, began teaching. He later attended the Normal School at Le- banon, Ohio, for three years, acquiring during that period an unusual de- gree of scholarship. In 1876, he went to Henry County, Iowa, where he taught for one year when he accepted a position in a high school in Oregon. There he taught during the winters and worked in the harvest field during the summers. His work was measuring the grain after it had been thresh- ed and in one four weeks, Mr. Robison measured 14,376 bushels of grain. He returned to Ohio and resumed his studies in the Normal School at Lebanon and in 1879, he located at Denver, where he accepted a clerkship with Mr. Tipton, soon becoming a partner in the business. In January, 1882, the firm built a large store building at Denver. The company was later known as the McIninch & Company. Mr. Robison sold out his inter- est in Denver and moved to Albany in 1885 where he went into the dry goods business. Later he became interested in the clothing business in partnership with F. M. Gadd and in 1901 he retired from active mercantile pursuits and has been living in Albany ever since.

Lester M. Robison was educated in Gentry County, graduated from the Albany High School and then was a student in Northwest Missouri College at Albany for one year. He accepted a position as assistant book- keeper in the Gentry County Bank where he remained for two years. For the next four years he was connected with the firm of Tipton & Miller and at the end of which time he formed a partnership with Mr. Tipton and the two did business under the firm name of Tipton & Robison. Mr. Robison sold his interest in the enterprise to Mr. Tipton and in 1912 he opened up his present business which occupies the first floor, a room 26x93 feet, of the building at the northwest corner of the public square. Mr. Robison carries dry goods, shoes, and ladies ready-to-wear goods. He has an excel-

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lent line of merchandise and operates his business with courtesy and con- sideration. These have been strong factors in his success.

Lester M. Robison was married July 3, 1906, to Jeanette Owings, a daughter of O. H. and Minnie (Jacoby) Owings of Darlington. Mr. and Mrs. Robison have one son, Robert.

Mr. Robison is a member of the Albany School Board which position he has filled for the past four years. He is a competent business man and a reliable and substantial citizen.

John Preston, a pioneer settler of western Missouri, now living retired at King City, has been identified with this section of the state for over half a century. He is a native of England, born in London, June 19, 1851, and was the only child born to John and Anna Preston. He received his edu- cation in his native land and came to America in 1865, and after spending six months in New York State he came west to St. Joseph. In the winter of 1865-66 he was employed on railroad construction and in the following spring he was employed in making railroad ties for the Union Pacific from Leavenworth, Kans., west, later on the St. Joseph and Denver, and after- wards on the St. Joseph and St. Louis Railway, then on the construction of the Rock Island, from Leavenworth to Trenton. He then worked on a farm for a time between Horseshoe Lake and the river. Later he was em- ployed by the A. C. Smith Company Packing House and the old rock build- ing in which he worked is still standing. He then worked on a market garden for a time. Mr. Preston was engaged in farming and stock raising on a farm of 80 acres in Gentry County. He added more land later on, and is now the owner of 160 acres, and town property in King City where he now lives. He was successfully engaged in farming and stock raising for many years until he retired from active farm life when he removed to King City.

Mr. Preston was married to Miss Josephine Quell, a daughter of Joseph and Augusta (Schmidt) Quell. Joseph Quell was a native of Ger- many and in early life learned the trade of millwright in his native land, but after coming to America he was employed as a carpenter in connection with the coal mining industry of Pennsylvania. He served in the Union Army for a time during the Civil War and later came to Missouri and set- tled near Keystone, Clinton County, and became very well-to-do, and was the owner of 280 acres of land. He was a Democrat, and he and his wife were members of the Catholic church.

To Mr. and Mrs. Preston have been born the following children: Esther Ann, married P. A. Miller, El Paso, Texas, where he is engaged in the real estate and insurance business; J. W., who is owner of a farm of 80 acres near King City, where he is engaged in farming and stock raising;

MR. AND MRS. JOHN PRESTON

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married Martha Esther Blacklock who is now deceased; Grace, married Austin Brown, a farmer and stock raiser near Ford City ; Maud J., a student in Palmer College, Albany, where she is specializing in music; Anna Augusta, deceased ; Joseph Henry, deceased ; and George Cleo, deceased.

Mr. Preston has seen much of the development of Gentry County from the pioneer days to the present time. When he came here there were no railroads and transportation was mostly carried on with ox teams and the trip to St. Joseph was a long and tiresome one. He has been identified with many of the progressive movements which had for their object the devel- opment and upbuilding of Gentry County. He was president of the Farm- ers Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Gentry County for seven years. He and Mrs. Preston are Republicans and members of the Presbyterian church and he is a Royal Arch Mason.

John H. Guess, well known in Gentry County, as a successful auc- tioneer, was born eight miles northeast of Albany, his present home, Nov. 8, 1880, the son of Richard and Susan (Guess) Guess.

Richard Guess was born in Worth County in 1884. He was the son of Tilman Guess, a native of Tennessee, who settled in Smith Township, Worth County, prior to 1845. He located in Lot's Grove on Lot's Creek, but later moved to Gentry County where he located near Lone Star, where his brother, Matthew Guess, joined him a year later. Richard Guess own- ed a farm of 169 acres which he improved. He continued to operate his land with success until his death in 1889. His widow, born in Iowa, and married in Worth County, now lives at Lone Star. Their children were: Charles, living at Albany ; Tilman, a resident of Albany; Della, now the wife of A. J. Grace of Lone Star; John H., the subject of this sketch ; Rachel, married to Lester Runyon of Lone Star; and George, died at the home place at the age of 17 years.

Mr. Guess was educated in the rural schools and has been a farmer all of his life. In January, 1910, he attended the Missouri Auction School at Trenton of which W. P. Carpenter was the president. This is the school, now located in Kansas City, and still managed by Mr. Carpenter. Mr. Guess graduated within a year after his entrance and cried his first sale at Lone Star immediately after his graduation. Mr. Guess gives especial attention to farm sales and live stock sales. Last year he sold more than $110,000 worth of live stock, in addition to other sales. Mr. Guess continues to operate his farm of 160 acres in Howard Township in connection with his work as an auctioneer.

Mr. Guess was married Oct. 29, 1902, to Nellie E. Stewart, a daughter of Alfred and Emily (Glendenning) Stewart who lives nine miles northeast of Albany. Mrs. Guess graduated in music from Christian College in

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Albany and was a successful teacher of music before her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Guess have four children, as follows: George Stewart, now a senior in the Albany High School; Lewis D., in the third year of his high school work ; and Leona, and John Paul.

Mr. Guess made the race for sheriff of Gentry County on the Demo- cratic ticket in the primary election of August, 1912, competing with five men. He failed to get the nomination by 73 votes, but carried every vote in his home precinct. Mr. Guess is a member of the Masonic lodge and of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Both as a farmer and an auc- tioneer he is thoroughly competent. His work in the latter field has be- come so well known that he has many calls into the neighboring counties of Worth, Harrison and Daviess, and has at times been called upon to cry sales in other parts of the state. Mr. Guess is one of the substantial men of his community.

Jonathan S. Monroe, a highly respected farmer, the proprietor of Elm Grove Farm in Athens Township, Gentry County, is a member of the famous branch of the Monroe family to which President Monroe, belonged. Jonathan S. Monroe was born at Decatur, Ill., June 10, 1854, the son of Simon P., and Elizabeth (Wright) Monroe, both born in Baron County, Ky., in 1829; and married in Illinois, Jan 3, 1852.

Mr. and Mrs. Monroe left Illinois in 1868, and settled in Madison County, Iowa; but in 1873, they came west to Rice County, Kans. This was wild frontier country at that time and the next year the buffaloes overran the claim while Mr. Monroe was breaking up the sod; and, in 1874, the terrible scourge of grasshoppers swept over the middle west, destroy- ing the crops wherever they passed. That year Mr. Monroe had planted 115 acres of corn, only to see the grasshoppers desolate the entire tract. How- ever, he shipped a carload of seed corn in from Iowa, sold some of it to his neighbors, planted the remained of it himself, and was able to raise a crop. He remained on his farm until his death, July 10, 1916. His widow died May 26, 1921, at the advanced age of 92 years. The remains of both are buried in the cemetery at Lyons, Kans. Their children were: J. S., the subject of this sketch ; James W., now living in Colorado; Ida J., now the wife of William Saint, of Rice County, Kans .; Charles E., living in Chase, Kans .; and Mary E., living in Rice County, Kans.

J. S. Monroe attended the Iowa schools in his boyhood and has been a farmer all of his life. He owned a farm of 200 acres in Rice County, Kan., which he sold when he came to Gentry County, in 1895. He bought a well improved farm of 124 acres adjoining the town of Albany and has been engaged in farming and stock raising there. He has a good residence, a well watered farm and has built up an excellent business. He raises reg-

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istered Shorthorn cattle, and owns a registered male, Irby Third, and 23 cows. The cows are of excellent grade and Mr. Monroe sells the supply of cream at the Albany market.

J. S. Monroe was married Nov. 20, 1879 to Mary R. Albin, born in Gentry County, the daughter of John N. Albin, deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Monroe have two children: Walter, mentioned later in this sketch; and Elizabeth, graduated from the Albany High School and from the Missouri State University at Columbia. Walter Monroe graduated from the Metho- dist College at Albany, and took a Masters Degree at Missouri State Uni- versity. He then taught a little while and entered the University of Chicago where he did the work for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. After completing his work there he taught in the Kansas State Normal School at Emporia for six years, then in the Indiana State University for one year. At the end of that time he secured a position in the University of Illinois where he is becoming one of the well known men in his work. He married Lulu Robinette, a teacher of music, from Norbourne, Mo.

J. S. Monroe is a member of the Methodist church and is a Republican. He is one of the men who typify the best in the middle western develop- ment ; he belongs to a family that has always been temperate, himself nor son, never having used tobacco nor intoxicating liquor. Mr. Monroe has been a worthy upholder of the family traditions and energy.

H. E. Lyons, who operates a successful jewelry business on the north side of the public square at Albany, was born in Albany, Sept. 28, 1881, the son of J. D. and Rachel (Talbot) Lyons, both now living at Albany.

J. D. Lyons was born in Coshocton, Ohio, enlisted for service in the Civil War from Illinois, and served five years remaining in service one year after the war closed. In 1870, he came to Missouri, located in Gentry County, and followed the occupation of farming for several years. He afterwards went into the insurance business in Albany, and has now re- tired. His wife is a native of Delaware. Their children are: H. B., a printer in Chicago; Arch, a painter and decorator at Mt. Vernon; Maude, died in infancy ; Fannie Leota, now married to Olat Edwardson of Parshall, North Dakota; and H. E., the subject of this review.

H. E. Lyons attended the Albany schools and was a student in the high school at Goshen, Ind., for one year. He learned the jewelry trade vith George Howell, at Albany and was a watchmaker in Bare's Furniture tore for 14 years. He moved to the Gentry County Bank building on he south side of the public square where he remained for two years. For te past five years he has been in his present location where he has estab- lihed an excellent business in the sale of silverware, jewelry, clocks, and

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Eastman Kodaks. Mr. Lyons does repair work in connection with his store.

H. E. Lyons was married Jan. 12, 1909, to Alice Eslinger. They have two children: Lewis, and Donald.

Mr. Lyons is an energetic and competent young man who has built up a good business through his perserverance and industry.

Ted Fore, associated with mercantile pursuits since he was 14 years old and now the owner of a stock of general merchandise at Gentryville was born near Gentryville, Jan. 30, 1884, the son of Warren and Rose (Owen) Fore.

Warren Fore was born in Pennsylvania, settled in Iowa, and later came to Gentry County where he became the owner of 280 acres of land, all of it now owned by his heirs, except a tract of 80 acres of land, which passed into the hands of Frank and Will Wooderson. Warren Fore mar- ried the first time Rose Owen who died in 1884, leaving three small chill- ren: Harry, now an instructor in Perdue University; Herbert, living at McFall; and Ted, the subject of this sketch. Mr. Fore married the second time Sarah Trimm and to this union one child was born; Norman, now living in Wyoming. Mr. Fore died in 1911, and his remains are buried by those of his first wife in Mt. Zion Cemetery. Mrs. Sarah (Trimm) Fore now lives at Albany.

Ted Fore was reared by his uncle, Daniel Fore, and his wife. He attended the public school at McFall and obtained his initial experience in serving the public at the age of 14 years when he began to work in a restaurant. He later went to Quincy, Ill., where he was a student in the Gem City Business College, and then accepted a position with the firm of Bleish & Brother at McFall where he remained for eight years. He was on a farm for the four years following; then spent two years with the Pattonsburg Mercantile Company. At the end of that time he went to San Antonio, Tex., where after one year, he returned to Gentryville, and opened his present store. Mr. Fore has a building 26x70 feet with a con- crete floor and walls of brick and tile. He carries a good stock of general merchandise and has built up a flourishing business. Gentryville is lo- cated seven miles from McFall and five miles from Darlington and Mr Fore uses a truck to carry his goods from those two stations and to tak his produce to the railroads. Mr. Fore, his wife, and one man do all th work of the store, which means that they are all energetic.

Ted Fore was married April 23, 1908, to Lena Lewis, a daughter f Thomas and Ollie (Stewart) Lewis. Mr. Lewis died in 1910 and his widw now lives at McFall. To the union of Ted and Lena (Lewis) Fore tvo children have been born: Carl, died at the age of five years ; and Lucille

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Mr. Fore is a member of the Masonic lodge and of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows there. He is a man whose varied experience in busi- ness has given him an opportunity to develop his commercial talent. This combined with his industry and prudent outlook have been factors in the success he has attained. As a business man and the owner of 200 acres of land in Miller Township, Mr. Fore is well and favorably known.

A. O. Miller, recently returned to Gentry County after a prolonged sojourn in the West and now the Miller farm with his mother, was born near Darlington on the farm which is now his home, Aug. 26, 1871. He comes of a pioneer family, the Millers having been well known here since 1832.

Isaac Miller, paternal grandfather of A. O. Miller, was born in Ken- tucky in 1813, the son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Whitley) Miller, the former, a native of Pennsylvania, and a blacksmith by trade, and the latter born in South Carolina. Jacob Miller died when his son was but a child and Isaac lived on the farm until he was 19 years old when he and his mother came to Gentry County, and in 1832, settled at Greenwell's Ford. That same year he went to Clinton County and remained there for two years, returning to Gentry County in 1834. He entered several thousand acres of land, and later acquired the ownership of several pieces of property in Stanbarry. During the Mormon troubles, Mr. Miller was a member of the state militia under Gen. Clark. He married in Daviess County, Elizabeth Cope, born in Clay County, Ky., in 1809, the daughter of Wiley and Keziah (Burnes) Cope, and to their union the following children were born: Mary Jane, deceased, Allen C., William H., Elizabeth Anne, Jacob W., Zachary Taylor and Lurana. Mr. Miller sold his farm to his son, William H., and spent his later years at the home of his son Allen. Mr. Miller was a man well and favorably known throughout the county. Miller Township is named for him; he was one of the oldest Masons of the Gentryville lodge, and he was a lifelong member of the Christian church. Allen C. Miller was born on the Miller farm in 1842. He was a well known farmer and stockman. His success in stockraising lay in his work with Shorthorn cattle and Chester White hogs. At one time he owned 349 acres of land, but just before his death in June, 1908, he sold 189 acres. Allen C. Miller was married in 1866, to Sarah A. Robertson, a daughter of Charles and Sarah Robertson, who came from Breckenbridge County, Ky., in 1840. Sarah A. Robertson was born in Gentry County, Nov. 19, 1843, and now lives on the home place. To her union with Allen C. Miller, the following children were born: Sarah E., living at home; A. O., now living at home; Charles B., a farmer in Miller Township; and Henry, died in June, 1920, leaving

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a widow, Catherine (Clark) Miller, and two children, Marion and Lennie; and Effie Lee, at home.

A. O. Miller attended the public school and was a student in the normal at Stanberry. He went to California in 1901, and remained in the west for several years. For six years he was doing construction work on the Roosevelt Dam in Arizona, and for three years homesteaded in Arizona. Mr. Miller is well informed on the history of Gentry County, and his com- muntiy and relates many interesting experiences which fell his lot while in the far west.

John W. Walker, farmer and stockman in Cooper Township, was born on the farm where he now lives, Aug. 5, 1881, the son of W. S. and Mary (Cranor) Walker, now living at Darlington.

W. S. Walker is the son of George and Sarah Walker who came to Cooper Township from Iowa in 1856. They had formerly lived in Indi- ana, but left that state in the early days. George Walker was born in Tennessee in 1801, and was a pioneer settler of Indiana. He built the first cabin on the ground that was later the site of Indianapolis. He died in Gentry County in 1885, his wife having died ten years before. The re- mains of both are buried in the Rouse Cemetery. W. S. Walker lived on the farm taken up by his father until 1917 when he retired from the cares of active farm management and moved to Darlington. His wife, Mary (Cranor) Walker comes of a pioneer family also. Her father was Joshua Cranor, a well known early settler of Gentry County, who lived six miles southeast of Stanberry. To the union of W. S. and Mary (Cra- nor) Walker the following children were born: Alexis, deceased ; Viola, deceased ; Deborah, deceased; Jennie, the wife of Robert Austin of Al- bany; John W., the subject of this review; Ella, married to Frank Pru- den of Darlington; Mabel, the widow of Daniel Cravens of Darlington ; and Minnie, later Mrs. Jameson, now dead.

John W. Walker attended school at the Walker school and, with the exception of a year spent in Canada, has lived in Gentry County all of his life. Mr. Walker operates 320 acres of land in a highly efficient way. He does general farming and is interested in the breeding of Duroc Jersey hogs and Hereford cattle, in which line of work he has achieved success.

Mr. Walker was married in 1901 to Aerie James, a daughter of Cam and Victoria James. Mr. James died in 1913 and his widow now lives in Darlington. Mr. James was a well known carpenter and con- tractor of the community. Mr. and Mrs. Walker have one daughter, Dorothy.

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Mr. Walker is a member of the Masons at Darlington. The Walker farm is one of the interesting places connected with the growth of Gen- try County. The old Albany and St. Joseph stage coach trail ran by the house and the visitor to that part of the county may still see marks of that historic old route.

M. M. Green, proprietor of the Shelternook Farm located three miles northeast of Albany, is a well known poultry fancier. He specia- lizes in standard bred Brown Leghorn fowls, and has achieved state wide success in his work. He went into the hatching business only five years ago, and for the past four years has made the heaviest win, that is the most points, in the Dark Brown Leghorns shown at the Heart of Amer- ica Poultry Show in Kansas City. He maintains a pen of his fowls at the Mountain Grove Experimental Station, and is rapidly becoming known throughout the state for his success in his work.

M. M. Green was born Oct. 20, 1878, on the farm where he now lives, the son of W. P. and Nancy B. Green ; the former died on the farm in 1919 at the age of 71 years, and the latter now lives in Albany. Mr. Green was educated in the public schools and attended the Northwest Missouri College, now Palmer College. He has made his own way in the world since leaving college. He was married, Dec. 15, 1913, to Mrs. Lola (Gilmore) Mattox, born in Page County, Iowa, a daughter of C. A. and May Gillmore. Mr. Gilmore and his wife live in Athens Township, where he is a well known farmer and stockman. Mrs. Green graduated from the Shenandoah, Iowa, High School in 1904, and then attended the West- ern Normal College in Shenandoah. By her first marriage, Mrs. Green has a daughter, Muriel Mattox, now a student in the Albany High School.

Mr. Green sells the products of Shelternook Farm by mail and has established a thriving mail order business. His farm of 100 acres is used to raise feed for the poultry, and he also keeps a number of sheep on the place. Both Mr. and Mrs. Green devote their time to the raising of poul- try, and both are people of marked ability in this line of work. They give careful study to various poultry magazines, and bulletins from var- ious colleges, thus keeping in touch with every new and progressive idea in connection with poultry raising. In 1921, Mr. Green summoned a special vocational expert to assist him, and expects to have the services of an expert from time to time. A visitor to the Shelternook Farm finds the various buildings and esuipment for handling the poultry extremely interesting. There is a large hatchery building which was built espe- cially for this work and in which 6,000 eggs are incubated at one time,

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with capacity for that many more. Mr. Green keeps about 2,000 laying hens, and the farm has 104 trap nests, by means of which Mr. Green se- lects the best laying hens. The farm is one of the most interesting places in the community.

Mr. Green exhibited at the National Club Meet in Kansas City last year, and carried off several honors; he took first and second prizes on his Old Pen; first and third on his Young Pen; second and third, on hens; and second and fourth, on cocks; and second, on pullets. Mr. Green is a member of the American Poultry Association and of the American Brown Leghorn Club. He is a man of marked capacity for the patient experimentation through which alone success is attained. Starting in an entirely new field he has made a success that has made his name widely known in his community.

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History of Daviess and Gentry counties, Missouri, Part 44

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