USA > Missouri > Harrison County > History of Harrison County, Missouri > Part 25
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"We have heard the argument advanced in this campaign that, as this country sent more than her quota of men into the service, she does not need to raise the full amount or her apportionment of this Bond issue. We cannot think this argument can come from the lips of any man whose own flesh and blood is going to the fighting line. Shall we be less generous to our dollars than we are of the lives of our young men? Rather let us see to it that our quota of men in the service have MORE than enough of all that goes to make life easier for them in trench or hospital. That is the very least we can do for them, and that, surely they have the right to expect of us.
"The Kaiser has thrown dust in the eyes of the American people long enough. Now that our vision is clearing, let us take the bonds of this, the greatest country on earth, with such a greedy appetite that all the world shall know of our supreme confidence in the result.
"Aside from its patriotic features, as a business or saving invest- ment there is nothing that equals these bonds. In amounts so small that every head of a family may own one or more, bearing interest at 4 per cent per annum, payable semi-annually, free from all taxation, except the supertax, that would apply in case one person owned more than
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$5,000.00 of same, and absolutely safe, we should esteem it a privilege to own them. Should the war end within one year we have no doubt these bonds will command a substantial premium, and if the war con- tinues longer the bonds will eventually sell above par.
"With this statement of fact before you, let all subscribe freely and eagerly, as the terms of payment are easy, and your local bank will glady help you, should you not have the amount at hand just at the time the payments mature, and in this way do your part to meet this urgent situation. Do it now. This campaign ends October 27th."
William R. Burton, a successful farmer and pioneer of White Oak Township, was born in Wisconsin, November 18, 1847, the son of George and Margaret (Setzler) Burton. George Burton came to Harrison County in 1855 and entered the farm where William R. Burton now lives. This farm consisted of 120 acres. George Burton's first residence was a one room log cabin; later he built another residence of one room, to which he added another room, and where he lived until 1882, when he died, at the age of sixty-five years. His wife died in 1895 and both are buried in Foster Cemetery. Mr. and Mrs. George Burton were the parents of the following children; Andrew, who died at the age of seventy-two years; William R., the subject of this sketch, Sarah Jane of New Hampton; Frank of Bethany, Missouri; George, deceased; Laura, the widow of Alex Barger of White Oak Township; Martha and Emma, twins; the former married John Wallace of White Oak Township, and the latter married Russell McClure of White Oak Township; and Henry of Bethany, Missouri.
William R. Burton bought the heir's interest in the home place, and now owns 187 acres, where he has lived since 1855. Most of the im- provements have been put here by Mr. Burton, and the residence, which was built in 1890, is on the Jefferson Highway, three and one-half miles east of New Hampton.
Mr. Burton was married to Virginia C. Brooks, a daughter of Thomas and Catherine Brooks, who came to Harrison County, Missouri in 1854 and settled in White Oak Township. Thomas Brooks was born April 15, 1826 and died June 6, 1901, and is buried on the home place. His wife, who was born in Tazewell County, Virginia, October 24, 1829, now resides with her daughter Mrs. Burton, and is in her ninety-second year. Mr.
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and Mrs. Brooks were the parents of the following children: Thomas B. deceased ; Mrs. Jennie Burton; a son died in infancy ; Rebecca, who was the wife of John Green, and died June 5, 1921, and is buried on the home place.
Mr. and Mrs. William R. Burton have a son, Thomas Newton Burton, and who farms the home place. He was married December 29, 1915 to Tincy Vesper Justice, a daughter of Alfred and Dora Justice of Bethany Township.
William R. Burton is one of the few men in this county who lives on the farm his father entered. He says he has made enough rails since coming here to fence a large part of Harrison County, and that, in the pioneer times, he used to go to the woods often without breakfast and work until noon. He has a nice home and the comforts of life are being enjoyed by him and his estimable wife.
Rev. H. G. Bloomfield, a well known minister of New Hampton, Mis- souri, was born in Michigan, November 6, 1875, the son of Samuel and Rozena (Hoyt) Bloomfield. The latter, who was a native of Pomeroy, Ohio, died in Lincoln, Kansas, in 1884.
Samuel Bloomfield was born in Colchester, England, and came to America when twenty years of age. He settled in Lincoln, when buffa- loes were on the plains, and, while in Kansas, was a surveyor for six years. He located in Harrison County in 1884 and later moved to Bethany, where he died about 1919, and is buried in Miriam Cemetery.
Rev. H. G. Bloomfield was educated in the schools of Albany, Mis- souri, and took a course in theology at Vanderbilt University at Nash- ville, Tennessee. His first pastorate was at Craig, Missouri, and he has been in the ministry of the Methodist Church, South, for fourteen years. He is now pastor at Maysville, DeKalb County, Missouri. Rev. Bloomfield owns a five acre farm at New Hampton, which he purchased in 1914. For three and one-half years, he was in the banking business with the bank of New Hampton, and was cashier for three years and is now assistant cashier. He was one of the organizers of this bank and is now a director. Rev. Bloomfield has been president of the Harrison County Telephone Com- pany for four years.
Rev. Bloomfield was married September 3, 1901 to Lillie Van Hoozer, a daughter of John and Sarah Van Hoozer. The latter lives with her daughter and the former died in February, 1920 at the age of eighty-three
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years and is buried at Grace Cemetery. John Van Hoozer settled north of New Hampton in Dallas Township, when a young man, and was a pioneer of this part of Missouri. When Robideaux ran an Indian trading post at St. Joseph, Mr. Van Hoozer was a pioneer freighter from there to other points in this part of Missouri.
Rev. and Mrs. Bloomfield have a son, Ray, who is now a senior in the New Hampton High School.
Rev. Bloomfield is a member of the following lodges: Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Yeoman, Knights of Pythias and Modern Wood- men of America. He is well known in New Hampton and Harrison County, and is a substanial and influential citizen.
John H. Virden, a prosperous and well known farmer of Harrison County, and president of the Farmers Bank of New Hampton, was born in White Oak Township, on the farm now owned by Naomi J. Kinkade, Oc- tober 6, 1854, the son of John W. and Caroline (Black) Virden.
John W. Virden was a native of Delaware, but came to Harrison County in 1839 and settled in White Oak Township, and was the first settler here. The first hogs he raised on his farm, he drove to Weston, Missouri, where he had them slaughtered and sold them dressed for $1,25 per hundred weight. He took a wagon loaded with corn, drawn by oxen, to feed the hogs while on the way to Weston. The nearest neighbor to Mr. Virden in the early days, was a Mr. Daley, who lived on the town site of Albany. At that time, there were no matches, and once, when Mr. Virden's fire went out, he had to go to Mr. Daley's, which was nine miles away, to get fire. Mr. Virden entered 160 acres of land when he first located here, and later entered more. The Indians supplied him with venison and they called him a "good white man, no shoot," as Mr. Virden brought no gun wth him here. He died in his eight-eighth year, about 1895, and is buried in Foster Cemetery, and his wife died in 1904.
Mr. and Mrs. John W. Virden were the parents of the following children: W. M., who died in 1900 at the age of fifty years; Ann Eliza, who died when fourteen years of age; John H., the subject of this sketch; Mrs. Naomi Kinkade of New Hampton and Mrs. Emma E. Pruden of New Hampton.
John H. Virden received his early education in a log cabin school, near Foster Cemetery, and later attended school in a house on the home farm.
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He remained at home until twenty-two years of age, when he engaged in farming. His present place, which is located one and one-half miles cast of New Hampton on the Jefferson Highway, consists of 1100 acres of land, and the farm has four sets of improvements, including six stock barns. Mr. Virden has fed cattle and hogs for thirty years and has been very successful. He is now breeding the Whiteface cattle and Hampshire hogs and Shropshire sheep and raises mules extensively. He moved to his present farm about 1881, and besides his agricultural pursuits, Mr. Virden was one of the organizers of the Farmers Bank of New Hampton, and has been its president for the past ten years, and previous to accept- ing this office, he was director and vice president.
During the course of his career as a successful farmer and banker, Mr. Virden has always found time to devote to the betterment and up- building of New Hampton and Harrison County, to the interests of which he has at all times shown unselfish devotion.
Mr. Virden was married in February, 1878, to Florence A. Chipp, a daughter of John W. and Elizabeth Chipp, both deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Chipp came to Missouri from Indiana and settled in Gentry County.
Mr. and Mrs. Virden are the parents of four children: Elizabeth, the widow of Curtis Larmer of Albany, Missouri; Florence Stella, the wife of Charles A. Roland. a merchant of Bethany, Missouri; Emma J., the wife of Louis T. Gibbs, of Kosse, Texas; Paul H., who lives on the home place. During the World War, Paul Virden was in Columbia, Mis- souri, a volunteer in the S. A. T. C. He was born in April, 1899.
John H. Virden is a fine citizen, and he and his family stand high in Harrison County.
Lewis D. Smith, for more than nine years the progressive superin- tendent of the Harrison County Home, has been prominent as a farmer, a stock raiser, and in public charity work ever since he has lived in the county. He was born in Logan, Illinois, May 4. 1870, the son of Charles M. and Elizabeth Smith. Mrs. Smith died in Pottawattamie County, Iowa about 1876, and Charles M. Smith was married the second time, to Carrie Hannah, also deceased. By his first marriage to Eliza- beth Smith, he had the following children: Abbie, died in girlhood; George, living in Iowa; Grant, a resident of south Missouri; Abilene, deceased; and Lewis D., the subject of this sketch. By his second mar-
LEWIS D. SMITH
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riage to Carrie Hannah, he had two sons; Minor, and Melvin. Charles M. Smith died in Iowa.
Lewis D. Smith, attended the public school of Illinois one year and later at Ridgeway, Missouri. He began working by the month on a farm and kept this work up for twelve years at the end of which time he bought 120 acres of land southeast of Ridgeway, again working by the month to make his first payment on the land. After three years on his farm, he accepted his present position as superintendent of the County Home. The Harrison County Home is situated just west of the city limits of Bethany. The building, a thoroughly modern structure supplied with water and electricity from Bethany, cost about $40,000.00 when it was built. The farm surrounding it consists of 1821/2 acres, well kept and managed in such a way as to make the place practically self supporting. For a long time the Home did pay for its support but the recent drop in the price of farm products has increased the cost of running the farm. The farm buildings are built and arranged according to a plan worked out by Mr. Smith with most successful results. On the farm one finds a horse barn, a cattle barn lighted by electricity, a silo, two poultry houses, hog sheds, smoke house and a cave. There is also a house for the men inmates to use during the day. At present there are ninteen inmates, some of them doing light work. Mr. Smith himself is a practical farmer and a lover of good stock and the results of his interest and work are quickly seen when one visits the Home. For the last seven years he has been raising pure bred Red poll cattle, Spotted Poland China hogs, and Standard bred Brown Leghorn chickens.
Lewis D. Smith was married September 4, 1895, to Alice Israel of Ridgeway, a daughter of John and Cornelia Israel, both of whom died at Bethany, where their remains are buried. Mrs. Smith is a native of Schuwley County, Missouri. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have one daughter, Elizabeth Lee who graduated from the Bethany High School, and spent two years in Drake University at Des Moines, Iowa, she was married, September 26, 1921, to Claud Zimmerlee, and they now live at Bethany, Missouri.
Mr. Smith is a member of the Knights of Pythias Lodge, the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, the Daughters of Rebecca, and the Modern Woodmen of America. Mr. Smith served as president of the Missouri State Alms House Association. This association is made up of all the managers of the alms houses of the state and meets with the
(19)
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Missouri State Conference of Charities and Correction Board in connec- tion with social welfare work. Mr. Smith's work in his superintendence of the Harrison County Home has always received high praise from the association. The county may well be proud of the results of Mr. Smith's labors.
J. V. Newton, a leading farmer of White Oak Township, was born in Quebec, Canada, June 2, 1864, the son of John and Isabelle (Kidd) Newton, both of whom died in Canada.
J. V. Newton came to the United States in 1904 and was in California for six years. He also lived in Detroit, Michigan, New York, Ohio, and came to this county in 1913. By trade, Mr. Newton is a millwright, learn- ing this work in Quebec. He now operates a farm of 120 acres, which is located one mile northwest of New Hampton. Mr. Newton also has done extensive contracting work for the El Oro Mining and Railway Company of Mexico, having as many as one thousand men working under him at one time. He was with this Company for more than eight years, and the headquarters of the company is in London, England.
Mr. Newton was married October 15, 1913 to Lottie Williamson, a daughter of John Williamson. Mrs. Newton was born on the farm where she now lives, and taught school in Harrison and Gentry counties for about twenty years.
John Williamson came to Harrison County from Illinois in 1865, and purchased 175 acres of land in this township. There was a log house on the farm when he came, and later, he built the present home of J. V. Newton. Mr. Williamson was a farmer and stockman and died here in 1899 at the age of sixty-one years. During the Civil War, he enlisted from Vermont and served three years, and he had two brothers, Robert and Arthur Williamson who were also veterans of the Civil War. Robert Williamson died in Kansas City, Missouri, and Arthur Williamson died in Alberta, Canada.
Mrs. John Williamson was a native of Ireland, born near Dublin. She died in 1907 at the age of sixty-nine years, and both she and her husband are buried in Foster Cemetery.
Mr. and Mrs. John Williamson were the parents of the following children: Lottie, the wife of J. V. Newton; Arthur J. of Albany, Mis- souri; Mary A., the wife of Henry McMillan of Gentry County, Missouri ; Dr. C. N. Williamson of Gentry County ; Reece, who died in infancy ; Jean-
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ette Marie, the wife of Harry M. Davis of Casper, Wyoming ; James Alex- ander, who lives on part of the home place; and Hon. John R., who died at the age of thirty-five years, and who was a representative of this county in the State Legislature prior to his death.
Mr. and Mrs. J. V. Newton are widely known throughout the town- ship, and are substantial citizens of the county.
Robert D. Scott, an enterprising and progressive member of the Scott Mercantile Company, of New Hampton, Missouri, was born September 20, 1896, the son of J. L. and Mary P. (Davis) Scott. Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Scott were natives of Virginia, but settled here early in life, where they lived for a few years, and then moved to Ridgeway and farmed for awhile, but later returned to New Hampton. where Mr. Scott entered the harness business; he has been successfully engaged in shoe repairing business for the past ten years. He was also scale master for a number of years.
Robert D. Scott was educated in the schools of New Hampton and spent one year at Park College at Parkville, Missouri. He enlisted in Company G. 139th infantry, June 21, 1916 and went to the Mexican border with Company G. He returned March 5, 1917, and August 5, 1917 he was called again into service and went to Camp Doniphan, Oklahoma, where he remained nine months, and was sent overseas, April 22, 1918. He was on the front lines for four months with his division in the battle of St. Mihiel and Meuse Argonne. He was mustered out May 8, 1919 with a term of service of almost three years to his credit.
The Scott Mercantile Company, of which Elmer and Robert D. Scott are proprietors, succeeded Scott and Nickerson in June, 1921. This firm carries a full line of groceries, shoes, dry goods and ladies' and men's ready-to-wear merchandise. The store is neatly kept and goods are nicely displayed. The building is 50x100 feet with basement under the entire store, and the basement is used for plumbing and storage. The ladies' and gent's ready-to-wear department is on the balcony of the first floor. The firm has a large business, for more than the average store in cities of this size, owing, no doubt, to the progressive and hustling activities of the proprietors.
Robert D. Scott was married January 17, 1918 to Agnes G. Roleke, a daughter of Herman and Rachel Roleke of Bethany, Missouri.
Mr. Scott is a member of the Knights of Pythias, Knights of Karra-
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son and is chancellor commander for the Knights of Pythias lodge, No. 285. He is a charter member of the American Legion and is at present Post Commander.
Mr. Scott is well known in New Hampton and surrounding country and has many friends.
Harry B. Henton, successful manager of the New Hampton Imple- ment and Hardware Company, and member of a prominent pioneer family of Gentry County, was born three miles north of Albany, October 5, 1878, the son of James W. and Judie A. (Fallis) Henton, both deceased. James W. Henton was a native of Kentucky and came to Gentry County, Mis- souri, with his parents, John B. and Martha A. (Magee) Henton. They died in Gentry County and are buried at Henton Cemetery on the home place. James W. Henton died March 11, 1893, at the age of fifty years, four months and two days, and his wife died December 29, 1898, at the age of fifty-two years, seven months and fifteen days. Mr. and Mrs. James Henton were the parents of the following children: E. M., cashier of a bank at Denver, Missouri; Clara M., of Albany, Missouri; Belle, the wife of Marshall W. Cunningham, deceased, of Albany, Missouri; R. T., who lives on the home farm near Albany; Anna V. and Julia C., who died in childhood; and Harry B., the subject of this sketch. James W. Henton was a leading educator and was a teacher in the Gentry County public schools for many years, and was superintendent of the schools for several years.
Harry B. Henton was educated in the public schools of Gentry County, and has followed the mercantile business since he was eighteen years of age, his first work being with Mrs. J. B. Twist and Company of Albany He was with this firm for a year and then went to New Hamp- ton and began work with Magee & Stevenson and continued with them until the death of Mr. Magee, when the stock was sold to Higgins and Rowland, and Mr. Henton then worked for this firm for a number of years and finally purchased Mr. Higgins' interest in 1906 and continued with this firm until 1908 when Mr. Rowland bought out Mr. Henton. He then went to Stafford County, Kansas, and purchased a farm. He remained there for six months, at which time he sold out and returned to Albany and opened a dry goods store in partnership with his sister, Mrs. Cun- ningham. They sold this establishment in the fall of 1912, and then engaged in the real estate business at Albany until March, 1916, when
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Mr. Henton came to New Hampton as manager of his present business. This firm carries a line of implements, buggies, wagons, pumps, wind- mills, harness, hardware, tractors and engines and does heating and plumbing. Mr. Henton is an excellent manager, and the company does a good business, owing to his business ability, which he acquired in his various experiences in the mercantile line.
Mr. Henton was married in 1902 to Nettie Maupin, of Stafford, Kan- sas a native of Monroe County, Missouri. Mr. and Mrs. Henton have reared two girls from childhood: Joyce and June Magee. Joyce is a graduate of the New Hampton High School of class of 1920 and June graduated in 1921.
Mr. Henton is a member of the Knights of Pythias Lodge. He is well and favorably known in New Hampton and throughout the county.
Samuel Bob Stockwell, a well known and progressive farmer of White Oak Township and member of a leading family of this section, was born December 28, 1870 on the farm where he now lives, the son of Shelton M. and Amanda Ellis Stockwell. Mrs. Shelton Stockwell was born November 17, 1826, a daughter of Judge Ellis, a farmer and Christian preacher who came to Harrison County from Rush County, Indiana, in 1867 and located six miles north of Bethany, where he and his wife died. Mrs. Shelton Stockwell died March 20, 1918 and is buried at Mirian Cemetery. Shelton Stockwell lived in Ray County, Missouri, in Civil War times and was a member of the Missouri State Militia. After the war, he settled three miles west of Bethany, purchasing the Joe Riggs farm. He was one of the early live stock feeders and bred Poland China hogs and Shorthorn cattle. In politics, he was a Republican and favored good schools, and he and his wife were members of the Christian Church.
Mr. and Mrs. Shelton M. Stockwell were the parents of the following children: Alonzo, of Bethany, Missouri; Belle, the wife of J. W. Kerlin, of Albany, Missouri; Viola, the wife of Charles McCoy, of White Oak Township; Alice, the wife of W. M. Claytor, of White Oak Township; Elizabeth, the wife of R. A. Cowan, of Bethany; Jennie, the wife of J. B. Rhodus, of Bethany, and Samuel B., the subject of this sketch.
The father of Shelton M. Stockwell was a native of Bourbon County, Kentucky, and he had all the Kentuckian's love for fine horses, which he bred and he also engaged in farming. He married a Miss Goff, of a
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prominent family of Bourbon County, and they moved to Rush County, Indiana, where he followed farming until his death. He was also a Chrstian preacher. He and his wife were the parents of the following children: Thomas, died in Nebraska; Mrs. Eliza Cowan died in Indiana; Parson, who died in Missouri; Elisha, who died in Ray County, Missouri; Shelton M., the father of Samuel B .; Margaret, who married Hugh Cowan and died in Indiana and Robert M.,who died in Harrison County, Missouri.
Samuel Bob Stockwell was brought into close connection with stock early in life, and began buying cattle when thirteen years of age, and in the meantime attended the county schools, and, in his words, "he went as far as he could." He became manager of the home farm at the age of eighteen years, and eight years later was put in entire control of it. He fed his first load of cattle in 1896 and has been identified with feeding stock ever since. His ranch comprises land in sections twelve and thirteen in township 63, range 29, aggregating 320 acres. In Bethany Township he owns land in sections 7 and 18, same township and range, amounting to 200 acres. He has an excellent ranch whch he devotes to the raising of horses, mules and cattle, and he also operates a ranch near Hatfield, Missouri.
In politics, Mr. Stockwell is a Republican, but has no political ambi- tion. He possesses a pleasing personality, being an intelligent and interesting conversationalist. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Knights of Pythias lodges and both he and his wife attend the Christian Church.
Mr. Stockwell was married April 17, 1910 at St. Joseph, Missouri, by the Rev. M. M. Goode, to Miss Sadie J. Sutton, a daughter of John H. and Ellen Hubbard Sutton of Rush County, Indiana. Mr. Sutton was reared in Daviess County, Missouri, and lived in Harrison County since 1888, and has been a prominent contractor here for many years. He has four sons engaged in the same line of work. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Sutton are: Leonard H., Henry G., Fred K., Ralph H., Mrs. Stock- well, Nell K .; the last named was formerly county superintendent of the public schools of this county ; John H., Jr., and Herbert D.
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