History of Daviess and Gentry counties, Missouri, Part 51

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 51
USA > Missouri > Daviess County > History of Daviess and Gentry counties, Missouri > Part 51

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).

William J. Siddens attended the public school, and has been a farmer and stockraiser all of his life. He handles Duroc Jersey and Po- land China hogs. He feeds from two to six carloads of hogs each year, and from three to six cars of cattle. He is one of the efficient stockmen of his community.

Mr. Siddens was married on Feb. 14, 1891, to M. A. Burgess, a daughter of Thomas A. and Nancy Burgess. Mrs. Siddens was born, reared, and educated in Bogle Township. Mr. and Mrs. Siddens have the following children: Charles Edgar, married Kate Whitman of Al- bany, and is in partnership with his father on the home place; Lola, now the wife of W. Lainhart of Albany; and Ralph, Sylvia, Goldie, and Re- tha, all at home.

Mr. Siddens is a Democrat, but is independent in his political poli- cies locally. He is esteemed throughout the county as a capable and energetic man, and the Siddens family are an asset to their community.

James M. Gregory, well known farmer and stockman of Huggins Township, Gentry County, was born in Worth County on April 24, 1861, the son of Alva L. and Mary Ann (Canady) Gregory, who moved to Gentry County in 1864, and settled in Huggins Township on a farm three miles east of Hugginsville. Mrs. Gregory was a daughter of Caleb S. Canady and lived on the land now incorporated in the townsite of Albany. Her uncle, Riley Canady, ran a stage coach between St. Joseph and Albany for many years. Mr. and Mrs. Gregory were well known in Huggins Town- ship. Mr. Gregory was a veteran of the Civil War. He died at Albany, and Mrs. Gregory died at the home of her son, James M. The remains of both are buried in the Brick Church Cemetery. Their children were: Laura Elizabeth, married J. W. Banks, and lives at Enid, Okla .; James, the subject of this sketch; Esther J., the wife of R. E. Mahoney, Colorado; and Jonathan M., married Etta Summa, and lives on the home place, which he owns.

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James M. Gregory attended the rural school in the David District. He was married at the age of 23 years, and that same year, bought 33 acres of land. To this he added until he owned 265 acres. Mr. Gregory recently divided his land, with the exception of the 40 acres where he lives, among his children. The land is well improved, good houses barns and other farm buildings. Mr. Gregory and his sons are raising registered White Spotted Poland China hogs. They own a male, "Sampson," bred by J. D. Gates and Son, which took the first premium as a senior yearling at the state fair at Sedalia in 1920, and headed the two other herds of young bores that took premiums. His dam, "Spotted Lou," headed two herds of sows that took premiums that same year. On Nov. 5, 1921, Mr. Gregory and his sons sold 29 registered hogs at the Branham sale barns. J. E. Gregory, one of Mr. Gregory's sons, does a dairy business in con- nection with his other work. He has a herd of 12 milk cows, Holstein, Jersey, and Shorthorn.

James M. Gregory was married on April 3, 1884, to Elizabeth Anna Lewis, a daughter of George and Bettie Lewis. Both Mr. and Mrs. Lewis died on their farm in Huggins Township, and their remains are buried in the Hugginsville Cemetery. Mr. Lewis was a Civil War veteran. Mrs. Gregory was born on Oct. 31, 1861, and grew up in Huggins Township. Mr. and Mrs. Gregory have the following children : Lewis C., born, Nov. 22, 1885, married Delia Summa, and has two children, Jessie Beatrice and Meredith; W. S., born June 30, 1887, married Mary Higginbottom, and has two children, Doris Elizabeth and Mildred; Sarah Jane, born, Oct. 13, 1888, married Ray Johnson, and had one daughter, Goldie, who died in infancy; Jesse Layfayette, who conducts a grocery store and garage at Alanthus, was born Sept. 12, 1890, married Sadie Buckridge, and has four children, Fern Marie, Marvin, who died at the age of two years, Ermal, and J. H. Jr .; Ammon Virgil, born on April 15, 1893, married Edith Jen- nings, and had three children, James Ambrose, Keotha, died in infancy, and Straussey ; and Joseph Elza, born on March 23, 1896, married Eliza Boatwright, and has two children, Gladys Louise, and Joyce Esther.

Mr. Gregory and his family are among the substantial citizens of the township. They are known as progressive farmers and stockmen, and are an asset to the community. When Mr. Gregory came here he was without funds, and cleared up his place and lived in an old log cabin at first, and by his industry he worked his way to success. Each of his boys are settled and have a farm of their own. Mr. and Mrs. Gregory and children are members of the church of Christ, except one.

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The Farmers and Mechanics Bank of Stanberry, Gentry County, was first organized in 1880, as a private banking institution by Armstrong & McLean with a capital stock of $20,000. In 1885 the bank was reorganized as a state bank with the amount of the capital stock remaining the same. The first officers under the new organization were D. F. Hill, President ; A. R. Stockton, Vice President; and Frank Jones, Cashier. The present cap- ital stock of the bank is $50,000 the surplus and undivided profits are $30,000, and the present officers are: W. E. Teel, president, L. E. Holding, vice-president ; J. A. Moore, cashier; Cleo Gregg, assistant cashier ; and W. E. Teel, W. A. VanHook, L. E. Holding, D. C. Thomas, R. S. Liggett and J. A. Moore, directors. The business is conducted in a two story brick build- ing, owned by the bank, and located on the northwest corner of the square, where it was built in 1880. The farmers and Mechanics Bank is one of the thoroughly reliable and most thriving financial institutions in this part of Missouri.

William E. Teel, the president of the bank, was born near McFall, Aug. 8, 1868, the son of A. M. and Emiline (Hardin) Teel. Alexander M. Teel was born in Indiana in 1839, and came to Gentry County when he was a small boy. He was married in Miller Township to Emiline Hardin, born in Kentucky in 1840. Her father came to Gentry County in 1851, and lived there until his death at Gentryville. A. M. Teel was a well known farmer and stockman of Gentry County. He died in 1914, and Mrs. Teel died on Sept. 15, 1917. The remains of both are buried in McFall Ceme- tery. Their children were: W. E., the subject of this review; James E., a farmer in Miller Township; Jennie, living at McFall; Minnie, living at McFall; and Aaron H., operating the home farm which still belongs to the Teel estate.

W. E. Teel attended the public schools of Gentry County, and later was a student in the Stanberry Normal and the Northwest Missouri College at Albany. He taught school for 15 years, and was elected to the office of county clerk of Gentry County in 1906. He was reelected in 1910. His term of office expired Jan. 1, 1915, and he at once came to the Farmers and Mechanics Bank as the cashier. He held that position until the fall of 1917, when he was made the president of the institution.

W. E. Teel was married Nov. 26, 1902, to Permelia J. Akes, a daughter of Alexander and Matilda Akes, both now living at Stanberry. Mr. Teel was born, reared and educated in Gentry County. To her union with W. E. Teel the following children were born : Lois, a graduate of the Stanberry High School; Carl, now a student in the Stanberry High School, and Lucille.

Mr. Teel is a Democrat. He is a member of the Masonic lodge and of

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the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Stanberry. He is an able and progressive business man, was an officer of excellent repute, and is a sub- stantial citizen of the community.

J. A. Moore, cashier of the Farmers and Mechanics Bank, was born on the Island of Cape Breton, June 28, 1855, the son of Benjamin and Susan (Musgrave) Moore. Mrs. Moore died in 1857 and Mr. Moore married Susan Moffatt in 1857. They came to the United States and settled in Gentry County, leaving J. A. Moore's son in Cape Breton. He joined his father's family in Gentry County in 1876. Benjamin Moore, who had served in the Civil War and was discharged because of illness, died in 1866. His remains are buried in Hugginsville Cemetery. His widow now lives at Mount Ayr, Iowa. J. A. Moore has a brother, Thomas A., now living in Alberta, Canada, and a half brother, Edward, living at St. Louis. J. A. Moore was reared by his maternal grandmother, Ann Musgrave. For more than 45 years he has lived in Gentry County. He farmed in Cooper Township until 1885, and since 1887 has been connected with the Farmers and Mechanics Bank, first as the bookkeeper, and, since October, 1917, as the cashier.

J. A. Moore was married Dec. 15, 1880 to Martha Saunders, a daughter of James H. and Mary (Rowe) Saunders, both deceased. Mrs. Moore was born in Gentry County, Feb. 11, 1862. Her father died here, and her mother died in Montana in March, 1918. Their children were: W. A., a resident of Silicia, Mont .; Mary, now Mrs. Rose of Stanberry ; Effie, now Mrs. Stockton of Stanberry; Jasper, living in Montana; and Martha, now Mrs. Moore, who was the oldest daughter. Mr. and Mrs. Moore had three children: a son, who died in infancy; James Carl, born in 1884, and died in 1915, who graduated from the Stanberry High School, married Blanche Mathis, and left three children, Doris Merle, Albert and Arlan, who with their mother live at Stanberry; and Merle, died at the age of 23 years.

Mr. Moore is a member of the Masonic lodge. He is an efficient and courteous bank official, a citizen highly esteemed for his progressive ideas, and a man of energy and ability.

John J. Cain, well known operator of a real estate, loans, and insurance office at Stanberry, was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, Feb. 14, 1845, the son of Isaac and Mary Ann (Reed) Cain. They were married in Ohio, and both died near Bloomfield, Ind., Mr. Cain in 1852, and his wife in 1864. John J. Cain is the only one of their ten children now living. The others, who lived to be adults, were: James and Isaac, who died from cholera in 1848; Jacob, died at Lexington, Ky., while serving in Company K, 80th Indiana Regiment, during the Civil War; Alexander died in Iowa in 1860; and Elizabeth died in 1863.

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John J. Cain attended the rural schools of Illinois, and enlisted for service in the Civil War when he was 17 years old, in Company K, 80th Indiana Volunteers, but was transferred to the Veterans Reserve Corps, Company E, 8th Regiment in December, 1863. He remained in service until 1865. After the close of the war, Mr. Cain farmed in Illinois, and in 1871 he settled in De Kalb County, Mo. In partnership with P. C. Noaks and his brother, Mr. Cain ran a saw mill on the Isaac Miller farm. They sawed more than 500,000 feet of lumber during one summer, after they bought the Jameson Mill, which was later moved five miles west of Pattons- burg.

In 1880 Mr. Cain moved to Gentry County and settled two miles north- west of Stanberry on the farm of 110 acres, now operated by his son. For more than 30 years Mr. Cain has been writing insurance at Stanberry, where he lives, and for the past 22 years, has handled real estate and loans. He has conducted a constantly increasing business, and is known as an enterprising business man.

John J. Cain was married near Swan Creek, Ill., Oct. 21, 1869, to Margaret J. Fry, a native of Virginia, born on Sept. 27, 1850, the daughter of Abraham and Eliza (Helms) Fry. Abraham Fry died in DeKalk County about 1918, and his wife died some years before. Mr. and Mrs. Cain have seven living children: Mary E., married L. D. Hughes of Stanberry, and he has been dead about 20 years ; Joseph A., married Minnie Heims, and is a bookkeeper in Kansas City ; Rausa E., at home ; Aaron D., a bookkeeper in Kansas City ; G. C., married Rebecca W. James, and is living on the home farm; Sylvia M., at home; and Paul H., married Ida Yarrington and is a traveling salesman in Kansas City.

Mr. Cain is a member of the Masonic lodge, and is Commander of the Grand Army of the Republic post at Stanberry. He assisted in the organ- ization of the Farmers Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Gentry County and has served on the board of that organization for 15 years. He also helped to institute the Farmers Mutual Tornado and Cyclone and Wind- storm Association of the Third Congressional District, and was the presi- dent of the company for ten years. . This company has increased its terri- tory until it now covers the entire state of Missouri. Mr. Cain is a reliable business man, one of the substantial citizens of his community, and a highly esteemed individual.

Claud A. Greenlee, secretary of the Gentry County Trust Company at Stanberry, was born in Washington County, Dec. 14, 1884. His parents are E. F. and Rebecca (Middleton) Greenlee, the former a native of Indiana, and the latter born in Wisconsin. They now live in Washington County. Their children are: A. C., Claud A., J. E., John, J. P., Mary, the wife of

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Cleve Record, and May, now living in St. Louis. Three children died in infancy.

Claud A. Greenlee attended the public schools and graduated from the commercial course of the Stanberry Normal School in 1905. He spent 15 months as timekeeper for the Wabash Railway Company, and in August, 1907, he became the assistant cashier for the Farmers and Mechanics Bank at Stanberry. He remained in that position until November, 1919, when he organized the Gentry County Trust Company.

The Gentry County Trust Company was organized on Nov. 26, 1919, with a capital stock of $75,000, and with the following officers: S. H. Dres- bach, president ; George Morton, vice-president ; Claud A. Greenlee, secre- tary ; Gladys Collier, assistant secretary ; and W. A. Temple, W. S. Hardin, L. O. Grantham, G. W. Rose, C. S. Allen, Andrew Bennett and Owen Collier, directors. The only change in the personnel of the officers since the organ- ization of the company is in the position of assistant secretary, now held by Loren Stockton, and A. R. Liggett, treasurer.

Claud A. Greenlee was married in March, 1908, to Iva Blakesley, a daughter of Mrs. Harriett Blakesley of Burlington Junction. Mrs. Green- lee was born in Nodaway County, attended the Stanberry Normal School, from which she graduated, and then was a student in the Northwest Mis- souri State Teachers College at Maryville, from which she also graduated. She taught in Nodaway and Gentry Counties for two years prior to her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Greenlee have two children: Ieca and Claud Ansel.

Mr. Greenlee is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, has served on the Board of Education of Stanberry, and has been the clerk of the City Council since 1907. He was a member of the Interstate Highway Commission for two years. He is a man of marked executive ability and ambition. He was born in a log cabin in the Ozark Mountains, and has worked hard for his success. He made his way through high school, and when he entered the Normal School at Stanberry, he had just $12.50 in his possiession. He managed however, to complete his college work, and his pluck and perserverance have carried him on to his present success.

S. D. McCoy, proprietor of the Cash Store at Stanberry, is a native of Ohio, born in Richland County, Dec. 11, 1849, the son of Benjamin and Catherine (Simpson) McCoy, both natives of Pennsylvania. Benjamin McCoy died in Ohio, in 1852, and his widow came to Guildford, Mo., then moved to Worth County, and afterwards to Saline County, Kans., where she died in 1880.

S. D. McCoy was living at Guildford, Mo., in the sixties when the

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deer were plentiful, and the wolves still infested the country. He taught school for a time. His first school was taught in a log cabin in Worth County the year he was 18 years old. He took a claim in Saline County, Kans., and lived on the land for three years. He sold the farm and moved to Salina, Kans., where he entered the marcantile business. While he was living in Saline County, he had an opportunity to make a most undesirable acquaintance with a Kansas cyclone. One of the "freaks' 'of that particu- lar storm was to carry away from the wagon upon which it had been loaded the 500 pound master wheel of a Marsh Harvester. The wheel was never found and the supposition was that it had been blown into the river and embedded in the soil there.

Mr. McCoy came to Stanberry in 1882, and opened a restaurant. He remained in that pursuit for 10 years, in the meantime opening a grocery store. From this latter business he built up his present enterprise of the Cash Store, where he handles glassware, queensware, tinware and granite. The store represents the continued work and forthought of 40 years of Mr. McCoy's life, and is evidence of his business acumen and industry.

Mr. McCoy was married in 1871, to Anna Milligan, a daughter of W. J. and Nancy Milligen of Worth County. W. J. Milligen was one of the first judges of Worth County and was a prominent man in his community. Mrs. McCoy died in 1912 and her remains are buried in the Stanberry Cem- etery. Her children were: Ora V., now the wife of S. B. Sweat, a sketch of whose life appears later ; Howard C., married Bertha Drinkard, and is con- nected with the Wabash Railway Company at Stanberry ; and William A., married Gretchen Frederick, and is a clothing merchant of Stanberry. Be- sides the children of Mrs. Sweet, Mr. McCoy has the following grandchild- ren ; Howard C., Claude L., Alice, Isabell, Mary Elizabeth, and Ora McCoy.

S. B. Sweat, born in Miller Township, Nov. 20, 1871, is the son of C. and Sarah (Teel) Sweat). C. Sweat was born in 1848 and came to Missouri when he was but a child. He died in 1893, and his remains are buried in the High Ridge Cemetery. His widow now lives at Stanberry. Their children were: S. B., the subject of this sketch; and Susan, the wife of E. Buckley, now in partnership with Mr. Sweat. Mr. Sweat was educated in Stanberry, and took the commercial course in the Stanberry Normal School. He then worked for the J. T. Norman Dry Goods Company for a year and later for the Standard Oil Company for two years. He left that company to enter the lumber business, and has been the manager of the Stanberry Lumber and Coal Company since 1911. From 1896 he was the manager of the Groomer & Company Lumber Yard, a business which was taken over by the present firm of the Stanberry Lumber and Coal Com- pany.

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Mr. Sweat was married in June, 1896 to Ora McCoy and to this union three children were born; Vestena, now with the Farmers and Mechanics Bank at Stanberry ; Blanch, a teacher in Kansas City ; and Elizabeth, now a student in the Stanberry High School.

Mr. Sweat was elected County Judge of Gentry County on the Repub- lican ticket in 1905. He is a member of the Masonic and Knights of Phythias lodges. Mr. McCoy has served as justice of the peace at Stan- berry. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Both Mr. McCoy and Mr. Sweat are excellent business men.

Hon. Silvester W. Brandom, A. B., LL. B., of Gallatin, was born in Grundy County. He lived on the farm with his parents until he was 15 years old, working on the farm in summer and attending the country school in winter. Then his father told him that if he wanted to go to school any more he must earn the money himself to pay the expenses. So, with the father's consent he left home to shift for himself and began the struggle for an education. After years of earnest toil, he had com- pleted a regular college course, attended the Missouri University for some time and received his law degree from Washington and Lee University, after taking the regular course in law and equity. While in school he pur- sued regularly the study of music, and completed the regular college course in voice, piano, thorough bass and harmony. He has always claimed that no one, man or women, should neglect to become proficient at least in the rudiments of vocal and instrumental music.

He was a teacher for several years, and now holds a first grade or life certificate to teach in the school of Missouri. He has been admitted to practice law in all the courts of Missouri, Kansas and Colorado, and has engaged in practice in the three states named. He was chosen represen- tative of Daviess County, and served in the Forty-fourth General Assembly during the administration of Gov. Joseph W. Folk. In 1914 he published two volumes of his addresses. At that time Prof. Howard A. Gass was state superintendent of schools, and also editor of the Missouri School Journal, and in the November, Missouri State Journal (1914) there was a reference to Mr. Brandom and one of his books, in these words: "Sixteen Miles to Hell, and Other Addresses, by Hon. S. W. Brandom, A. B., LL. B., author of "Capturing the Colonel and Other Themes." This work consists of a number of addresses or sermons delivered by Mr. Brandom on differ- ent occasions, which have been gathered together and put in book form, 205 pages, paper bound. Mr. Brandom is a lawyer and a minister of the gospel, and in years past was a successful teacher. He is an interesting writer, a strong speaker and a good student."

Then in the Missouri State Journal of December, 1914, was another

S. W. BRANI OM

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reference to the other book and the author in these words: "Hon. S. W. Bradom of Gallatin, has published a book of sermons and addresses under the general title of 'Capturing the Colonel' Every address is worth read- ing, as it is filled with wise suggestions that will prove helpful to all."

During his struggles to acquire college and university training, he gained that reliance upon himself and his own resources which has proved to be his chief dependence in both professional and business efforts. His mother's people were Kentuckians, while his father was a native of the Old Dominion, and came to Daviess County in 1856, but a few years later moved to a farm in Grundy County, and at the date of his death was presi- dent of the Citizens Bank at Trenton.

July 3, 1886, S. W. Brandom married Etta L. Boyce, daughter of Judge and Mrs. D. D. Boyce of Harrison County. This union was blessed with four children, three boys and one girl, viz: Vincent Boyce, Ralph Wallace, Charles Daniel, and Lena. His wife departed this life on May 12, 1917. The oldest son, Vincent Boyce Brandom married Miss Loie Jameson of Buchanan County and now lives on a farm in Harrison County. The second son, Ralph Wallace Brandom, married Miss Ruth Trimble of Clay County, and now lives on a farm in Grundy County. The third son, Charles Daniel Brandom, married Miss Katherine Dudley, of Daviess County, and is now practicing law in Gallatin. The daughter, Miss Lena Brandom, is attending school at the Kansas State University at Lawrence.

S. W. Brandom came to Pattonsburg in 1897, as superintendent of the Pattonsburg schools, which position he held for two years, and he moved to Gallatin in February, 1904, and the next month opened a law office in the town. He purchased a vacant block of ground, and improved it for a per- manent home, where he now resides; he has also doubled his real estate holdings in Grundy County, since moving to Daviess County. Upon enter- ing the work of the gospel ministry, his efforts to accumulate property naturally ended, in 1907. He has been secretary of the Daviess County Baptist Association continuously from September, 1906, to the present time, May, 1922. He has held pastorates in Altamont, Nettleton, Edin- burg, Clarksdale, Stewartsville, Bethany, and a few country churches. His work as an evangelist has extended over several counties, and his work has been generally successful.

The Official Manual of Missouri, for the years 1907-1908, on page 33 refers to the subject of this sketch, in the following words: 'S. W. Bran- dom, representative from Daviess County, was born Aug. 30, 1863, in Grundy County, Mo. He received his education in the public schools, Grand River College,, Missouri State University and Washington and Lee University. He married Miss Etta L. Boyce, July 3, 1886, in Harrison

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County, Mo., and resides at Gallatin. He was elected a member of the legislature in 1906, and during the session of 1907 was a member of the following committees : Criminal Jurisprudence, Criminal Code and Public School Text-books. He is a lawyer and practices in the courts of the Seventh judicial circuit.

His attitude toward professional and political issues all through his life has been one of duty and right. He has persistently refused to seek or court popular applause, or resort to any questionable expediency to gain a point of advantage. When drafted as a candidate for the legisla- ture, he said that, "We need the enforcement of the laws, rather than the enactment of more laws." He has consistenely contended in his public addresses that good laws will not result in good government or good social conditions while people themselves are wrong. Therefore, he argues, that the work of the churches in evangelizing and saving men, women, boys and girls' is the most patriotic service of all. Hence, he says, that the work the preachers are doing is the best work to which any man can devote his time and talents. September 16, 1920, Mr. Brandom married Ida San- ford, and to this union one son, Sanford Woodrow, was born Feb. 7, 1922.

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History of Daviess and Gentry counties, Missouri, Part 51

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