USA > Missouri > Henry County > History of Henry County, Missouri > Part 27
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Dr. C. L. Cheatham, a prominent veterinary surgeon of Clinton, is a member of a well-known pioneer family of this section. He was born in Henry County in 1870 and is a son of Claude E. and Jemima Jane (Hurst) Cheatham. The father was born in Calloway County, Missouri, in 1844 and the mother was a native of Kentucky, born in 1846. Claude E. Cheatham was reared in Calloway County, and about 1866 came to Henry County, and settled in Bethlehem Township, and is still the owner of the farm which he bought in that township at the time, although he resides in Clinton. Claude E. and Jemima Jane (Hurst) Cheatham are the parents of the following children: Etta, married Joseph Black, and they reside in Henry County; Pearl, married Benjamin Campbell, Chicago, Illinois; Dr. C. L., the subject of this sketch.
Dr. C. L. Cheatham was educated in the public schools of Clinton and entered the Kansas City Veterinary College, where he was gradu- ated in 1900. He immediately engaged in the practice of his profession and for the past eighteen years, with the exception of about one year, he has been successfully engaged in the practice of veterinary surgery in Henry County, although his practice has frequently extended to other sections of the State. He has been deputy State veterinarian for a number of years and is now serving his fourth term in that office. He is frequently called to different parts of the State in the capacity of deputy State veterinarian.
Doctor Cheatham was united in marriage September 30, 1914, with
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Miss Lilla Broaddus, a daughter of Rev. M. E., and Lilla (Caldwell) Broaddus, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of South Carolina. Rev. M. E. Broaddus is a well-known Baptist minister and came to Clinton in charge of the local Baptist Church in 1911, and is now located in Kansas City, Missouri. To Doctor and Mrs. Cheatham have been born one son, Claude Edwin, born October 15, 1916, and a daughter, Lilla Jane, born August 9, 1918.
Doctor and Mrs. Cheatham have an extensive acquaintance in Clin- ton and are universally esteemed. Doctor Cheatham was a schoolmate of Uel W. Lamkin, the editor of this work, when they both attended Lamkin's Academy, at Clinton.
Josiah G. McDonald, a Civil War veteran and an early pioneer of Henry County, is a native of Illinois. He was born in Sangamon County September 26, 1836, a son of John and Elizabeth (Knight) McDonald, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Culpeper County, Virginia. John McDonald came to Missouri from Illinois with his family in 1841, driving the entire distance with an ox team and wagon. Upon coming to this State he first settled in Audrain County and came to Henry County prior to the Civil War. He settled at the town of Lucas, which was then quite a commercial center, for pioneer days, and here he engaged in the mercantile business. He also owned land in that vicinity. He died about 1883. His wife died in Audrain County before the family came to Henry County. They were the parents of the following children: Joseph and John, who are deceased; Josiah G., the subject of this sketch; Chapman, deceased; Frank, deceased; Mrs. Mattie Hargraves; Mrs. Ellen Ridgeway and Mrs. Mollie Carter, the last three named being also deceased.
Josiah G. McDonald spent his boyhood days amid the pioneer sur- roundings of Audrain County and attended school in a primitive log school house of the early days. He was engaged in farming in Clinton when the Civil War broke out. He then joined the Confederate Army and served about three years. During his military career he served, principally, in Missouri and Arkansas. He participated in the battles of Springfield, Wilson's Creek, Prairie Grove and numerous other engagements and skir- mishes. At the close of the war he and his brother, Chapman, engaged in the general mercantile business at Lucas, which they conducted for a number of years in partnership, when the brother died and Josiah G. continued until 1897.
Mr. McDonald was united in marriage January 15, 1865, to Miss Mary
14
J. G. McDONALD
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M. Snedigar, a daughter of Robert and Malinda Jane (Clinkscale) Orear Snedigar, early Missouri pioneers. The father was a Confederate soldier and died at Springfield, Missouri, in 1862, and the mother died at Lucas, Missouri, January 18, 1910, at the advanced age of ninety-one years and two months. Mrs. McDonald was born April 2, 1840, in Rawls County, Missouri, and was one of the following children born to her parents: Mrs. Martha J. Mason, deceased; Mary M., wife of Josiah G. McDonald; Mrs. Sarah Katherine Lee, deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Josiah G. McDonald were born seven children as follow: Dora, who resides at home with her parents; Robert E., Urich, Missouri; Catherine, married D. Gates, Craig, Colorado; Josiah, Urich, Missouri; George W., Urich, Missouri; Mary Florence, married James Marksbarry, Blairstown, Missouri; Viola, married Estelle Pelley, Craig, Colorado.
Mr. and Mrs. McDonald are truly entitled to be classed among the foremost pioneers of Henry County. They have lived on their present place for forty-five years. When the McDonald family settled in Henry County deer, wild turkey and other game of the unsettled frontier were in abundance. Clinton was a mere village and the few settlers that lived in the section of the country where the McDonalds located have long since passed to their reward. The McDonald family have in their pos- session a number of interesting relics of pioneer days, among which are a Seth Thomas clock which is over seventy years old and still measures time as accurately as it did during the Civil War. They also have a cherry dresser which has been in the family for four generations. The McDonald family are among the respected pioneer families of Henry County.
Mason Anderson, a prominent clothing and furnishing dealer at Clinton, Missouri, is a native of Henry County, and a member of one of its pioneer families. He was born at Leesville, February 17, 1875, a son of Christopher and Martha (Bell) Anderson. Christopher (better known as "Kit") Anderson, was a native of Virginia, and came to Mis- souri when a young man and settled on the little Tebo, near Warsaw. He was a man who had a varied pioneer experience. In 1849 he started across the plains to California, but was taken severely ill. The parties who accompanied him drove away with his team and left him sick and alone. After his return to Missouri, he engaged in the mercantile business and for a time was located at Pleasant Hill, and later at Sedalia. He served in the United States Army for a time. He came to Henry County
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after the close of the Civil War and engaged in the mercantile business at Leesville. He remained there until 1884, when he came to Clinton and purchased the William Allison store on the east side of the square, just two doors north of where Mason Anderson's clothing store is now located. Here he was successfully engaged in business for a number of years. He died in 1888. "Kit" Anderson was twice married. His first wife was Miss Bradshaw, and one child was born to this union, who is now the widow of Dr. J. H. Baugh, and resides at Clinton. After the death of his first wife Mr. Anderson was united in marriage with Miss Mattie Bell, a native of Tennessee, who came here with her parents at an early day. She was a daughter of Rev. William Bell, who was a minister and also engaged in the mercantile business at Otterville, Missouri, during the Civil War. To Mr. Anderson's second marriage were born the following children: Christopher, traveling salesman for the Peters Shoe Company of St. Louis, lives in Kansas City, Missouri; Pauline, who was a teacher in the Clinton schools for a number of years, and is now engaged in teaching at Waitsburg, Washington; Mason, the sub- ject of this sketch; and Berry, manager of the Osage Mercantile Com- pany, Osceola, Missouri.
Mason Anderson was nine years of age when he came to Clinton with his parents. He received his education in the public schools and in Lamkin's Academy. After the death of his father, the mother con- nitued the store for a number of years, and Mason assisted his mother in the business. In 1895 he went to Lowery City, Missouri, where he engaged in the drygoods, clothing and shoe business. In 1897 he moved his stock of goods to Clinton, and opened a store in the Reynolds building on the northwest corner of the square. In 1899 he sold out, and clerked for Mr. Weidemeyer in Clinton until March, 1913, when he bought out the Williams Clothing Company, on the east side of the square, where he has since conducted a first-class clothing store, with all the accessories in the way of furnishing goods that goes with it. He is located in the Weidemeyer building, which is one of the old commercial land-marks of Clinton.
Mr. Anderson was united in marriage June 30, 1898, to Miss Kate Cal- loway, a daughter of James Calloway, a former sheriff of Henry County, now deceased. Mrs. Anderson was born in Henry County and her parents were pioneers of this section. To Mr. and Mrs. Anderson have been born three children, as follows: Mason, Jr., a graduate of the Clinton
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High School, and now attending school at Fulton, Missouri; Berry and Frank, both attending the Clinton schools. Mr. Anderson is a Democrat and has served two terms as collector of Clinton. He is a member of the Elks and the Modern Woodmen of America and is a progressive and enterprising business man.
Ben Rentchler, a prominent merchant of Clinton, who for a number of years has been successfully engaged in the grocery business, is a native of Nebraska. He was born at West Point, in 1871, and is a son of Christian and Barbara (Braun) Rentchler, natives of Germany, who came to America in 1860 and settled at West Point, Nebraska, where the father homesteaded Government land. Later he was engaged in the gro- cery and bakery business at West Point for a few years and in 1875 came to Kansas City, Missouri, where he followed truck gardening until 1890. He then came to Henry County, Missouri, and bought a farm six miles northeast of Clinton. Later he moved to Clinton, where, after living retired for a few years, he died in September, 1913, and his remains are buried in Englewood Cemetery. His widow now resides in Clinton. They were the parents of four children, as follows: John, Kansas City, Mis- souri; Benjamin, the subject of this sketch; Mrs. Lizzie Schleiche, Rose- dale, Kansas, and William, farmer, Clinton, Missouri.
Ben Rentchler was educated in the public schools of Kansas City, Kansas, and Kansas City, Missouri, and in early life was engaged in truck gardening with his father. After coming to Henry County he fol- lowed farming until 1905, when he came to Clinton and for about a year was employed by the White Swan Mills. In 1906 he purchased the grocery business from W. S. Hodd, and since that time has been engaged in that business. He is one of the live, progressive and up-to-date grocers in Clinton. The Rentchler grocery store is one of the busy places of Clinton. Besides his two sons, Mr. Rentchler is assisted by two other clerks, and this business is an example of the result of square dealing and good service.
Mr. Rentchler was united in marriage in October, 1905, to Miss Carrie Mann of Clinton, Missouri, a daughter of Valentine and Caroline Mann, early settlers in this vicinity, coming to Clinton in the sixties. Valentine Mann is now deceased and his widow resides in Clinton. To Mr. and Mrs. Rentchler have been born three children as follows: Philip, Ernest and Freda, all of whom reside at home with their parents. The two boys assist their father in the store. Mr. Rentchler is one of the
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progressive citizens of Henry County and the Rentchler family stand high in the community.
V. J. Day, the capable cashier of the Clinton National Bank, al- though comparatively a young man, has had an extensive and successful career in the field of banking and finance in western Missouri. Mr. Day is a native son of Missouri. He was born in Johnson County, near War- rensburg, July 4, 1877, and is a son of Daniel L., and Fanny (Covington) Day. The Day family are truly a pioneer family of western Missouri. Daniel L. Day, father of V. J., was born in Johnson County in 1851. He has been a successful farmer and stock raiser in the county of his birth and is now living retired at Chilhowee, Missouri. He is the son of Richard W. Day, a native of North Carolina, who settled in Johnson County, south of Warrensburg, in the early forties, and spent the remainder of his life in that vicinity. Fanny (Covington) Day, mother of V. J. Day, is a native of Kentucky and came to Johnson County, Missouri, with her parents when she was about twelve years of age.
To Daniel L. and Fanny (Covington) Day, have been born three children, as follows: V. J., the subject of this sketch; Robert, a farmer and stock man near Chilhowee, Missouri, and Dennis, a well-known live stock dealer and farmer at Chilhowee.
V. J. Day was reared on his father's farm in Johnson County, re- ceiving his early education in the district schools. Later he attended the Warrensburg State Normal School, after which he was a student at the Central Business College, Sedalia, Missouri, and was graduated from that institution in 1900. He then accepted a clerkship in the Commer- cial Bank of Warrensburg, and was continuously employed in that bank for ten years. He began as bookkeeper and when he resigned, in Sep- tember, 1909, he was assistant cashier. He then returned to his farm, near Warrensburg, which he sold a short time afterwards and for about six months was assistant cashier of the Farmers Bank of Chilhowee. He then bought an interest in the Schell City Bank at Schell City, Mis- souri, and was elected cashier of that institution. He conducted the affairs of that bank very successfully until he resigned to accept the cashiership of the Clinton National Bank in the fall of 1917, which posi- tion he now holds.
The Clinton National Bank is one of the important financial institu- tions, not only of Henry County, but of western Missouri. It was organ- ized April 29, 1905, under the Federal Banking Laws with a capital stock
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of $50,000. The first officers were, William Docking, president; Dr. W. H. Gibbons, vice-president, and C. W. Snyder, cashier. The original stockholders were William Docking, George S. Hovey, Lee Clark, J. D. Robertson, William C. Henrice, C. W. Snyder, Dr. W. H. Gibbons, C. H. Avery, E. C. Kent, W. L. Garner, Thomas B. Lee. Thomas G. Hutt succeeded William Docking as president of the bank, and later went to Kansas City, Missouri, with the Drovers National Bank. He was suc- ceeded by Dr. W. H. Gibbons, who served as president of the Clinton National Bank until January, 1915, when E. C. Kent became its presi- dent, and is still serving in that capacity. C. W. Snyder served as cashier from the organization of the bank until 1910, when he was succeeded by William L. Poynter, who served until September, 1917, when V. J. Day became cashier.
V. J. Day was united in marriage April 7, 1901, with Miss Mary Lewis of Warrensburg, Missouri. She is a daughter of Elijah Lewis, who settled in the vicinity of Pertle Springs. To Mr. and Mrs. Day have been born two children, Frances Louise and Mary Katharine.
Mr. Day is a man who possesses the unusual mental qualifications that go to make up a successful banker. He is a progressive business man, and at the same time possesses that degree of conservatism so essential to safety in the great field of finance and banking. Mr. Day takes a commendable interest in local affairs and while a resident of Schell City, he served three terms as a member of the local school board, and takes a deep interest in the public schools. He is a member of the Masonic Lodge, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and he and Mrs. Day are members of the Presbyterian Church.
James E. Bennett, a former Henry County sheriff who has been prominently identified with the affairs of this county for a number of years, is a native of Kentucky. He was born June 19, 1850, and is a son of John and Martha (Ham) Bennett, both natives of Kentucky and descendants of Kentucky pioneer stock.
James E. Bennett's parents moved to Bates County from Benton County, Missouri, in 1856, when James was six years of age. They first settled in Benton County and after remaining a short time there went to the western part of Bates County and settled on a farm not far from the Kansas State line. This section was in the heart of the Border War district. When the Civil War broke out the father joined the cause of Confederacy, serving under General Price. A few months after the
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outbreak of the war he returned to his Bates County home and removed his family to Henry County on what is known as the Lafe Cruse place, near where Cook's old mill stood on the Grand River. About a year later the family went to Pettis County. After the war the father bought a place in Pettis County on Flat Creek. Here he followed farming, meet- ing with a fair degree of success until his death. The mother survived him eight years. Both died on the old home place on Flat creek in Pettis County.
James E. Bennett was one of a family of eleven children, ten of whom are now living: W. T., Orange California; G. L., Green Ridge, Missouri; James E., the subject of this sketch; H. L. Spokane, Washing- ton; Susan, married Milton Durrell, Ionia, Missouri; Martha J., mar- ried May Field, who is now deceased and she resides at Hot Springs, Arkansas; Walter L., Rockville, Missouri; Lillie, married Philip Snovall, a member of the board of county judges at Benton County, and resides at Ionia, Missouri; John M., Brownington, Missouri; and Ed A., who resides on the old home place in Pettis County. Of the ten members of this family, the youngest is fifty-one years of age and the oldest about seventy-two.
The boyhood days of James E. Bennett were spent amidst the scenes and hardships of the Border and Civil Wars, and he has a distinct recol- lection of many of the tragedies of that time. He witnessed a number of minor engagements between the contending factions and many of the events of those times left an indelible impression on his mind. He was reared on a farm and received his education in the schools which the early times afforded and began life as a farmer in the vicinity of Windsor, Missouri. About 1880 he was elected marshal of Windsor, serving in that capacity for six years, and during that time he also held the office as constable. He was then appointed deputy sheriff of Henry County under Sheriff W. J. Ellison, and had charge of the county jail during the latter part of Sheriff Ellison's administration. Sheriff Elli- son was succeeded by Sheriff James H. Calloway, and Mr. Bennett was appointed deputy sheriff under Sheriff Calloway, continuing to have charge of the jail for four years more. He was then elected sheriff of Henry County, and at the expiration of his first term, was re-elected and served for four years. In going out of the office of sheriff, Mr. Bennett left a record as one of the capable and conscientious officers of Henry County.
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At the close of his official career, Mr. Bennett bought a farm, near Windsor, where he was engaged in farming and stock raising about eight years. In 1904 he came to Clinton and since that time has been engaged in buying and selling horses and mules, and he is one of the extensive dealers in that line in this section of the State.
On June 17, 1873, James E. Bennett was united in marriage with Miss Catherine I. Hines, a daughter of Brantley and Elizabeth (Douglas) Hines. The father was a soldier in the Confederate Army and when the war ended he was in Texas in the service of the "lost cause." After the close of the war and while on his way home, on a transport on the Red River, the boat sank on account of overloading and he was drowned. To Mr. and Mrs. Bennett have been born four children, as follows: Mary Myrtle (oldest), married Charles Gray, and is now deceased; Walter, supervisor of the State Hospital at Nevada, Missouri; Wallace, who is engaged in the transfer business at Long Beach, California ; Edwin, asso- ciated with his father in business in Clinton.
Mr. Bennett has been identified with the Democratic party since boyhood, and it may be truly said of him that he is a staunch Demo- crat. He is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workman and the Modern Woodmen of America. He is a public spirited and progressive citizen and there are few, if any, men in Henry County who have more friends than "Jim" Bennett.
Dr. L. L. Cress, a well-known and successful veterinary surgeon of Clinton, Missouri, is a native of North Carolina. He was born at Salis- bury March 9, 1878, and is a son of Adolphus and America (Cody) Cress, both natives of North Carolina, and now residents of Salisbury. The Cress family is of Holland descent, members of whom settled near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, probably about 1700. Many descendants of these early Pennsylvania pioneers are scattered throughout the East, including Ohio and Illinois. The great-grandfather of Doctor Cress went to North Carolina and the Southern members of the Cress family are descendants from him. Many members of the Cress family served in the Revolutionary War in Washington's army. Americas Cody, mother of Doctor Cress, comes from a long line of Southern ancestors who suffered severe losses during the Civil War. The late William F. Cody, "Buffalo Bill," was a cousin of Doctor Cress' mother.
Doctor Cress was one of a family of ten children all of whom are now living. He received his early education in Rowan County, North
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Carolina in an old log school house near Salisbury. Doctor Cress is a young man but he has experienced the atmosphere of the log school house. His early life was spent on his father's farm and in 1898 he came to Missouri and located at Clinton. Here he was employed by a veterinary surgeon, and young Cress soon discovered that he had a liking for the profession of his employer and under the preceptorship of his employer began the study of veterinary surgery, and at the same time getting considerable actual practice. He was thus employed for eighteen months when he entered the Kansas City School of Veterinary Surgery and after studying there two years, entered the Ontario Veterinary College at Toronto, Canada, where he was graduated in the Class of 1904. He then returned to Clinton, where he has since been engaged in the practice of his profession. Doctor Cress has met with well-merited success in his chosen profession and is one of the capable veterinary surgeons of the State, and is recognized as such.
In 1910, Doctor Cress was united in marriage with Miss Pearl Haw- kins of Clinton. They are both members of the Presbyterian Church. Doctor Cress is a man who has read a great deal and traveled much He has been in the East, the West and the South, but as he expresses it himself, after he returned to Missouri from a trip, he feels like "jump- ing up and cracking his heels together, and saying that he is glad he's back home."
Archalus Binum Redford, a Henry County pioneer now residing at Urich, is a native of Tennessee. He was born in Knox County July 18, 1829, a son of Noah and Phoebe (Dodson) Redford. Noah Redford was a native of North Carolina. He came to Missouri in 1834 and first set- tled in Moniteau County, and moved from there to Johnson County, where he spent the remainder of his life. He was a resident of Johnson County for over fifty years, and died in that county and his remains are buried at Warrensburg. His wife also died in Johnson County and is also buried at Warrensburg. A. Binum Redford is the only member of a family of eight brothers and sisters now living ..
Binum Redford came to Big Creek township, Henry County, in 1857, and first purchased two hundred acres of land at $7.50 per acre. He then entered one hundred sixty acres of Government land, which cost him seventy-five cents per acre, and he is now one of the large land owners of Henry County. He owns nine hundred ninety-nine acres. When Mr.
MRS. A. B. REDFORD
A. B. REDFORD
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Redford came here there were very few settlers in western Henry County, James Smith was the only settler in the vicinity where Mr. Redford lo- cated and the country was one broad expanse of unfenced prairie, and Mr. Reford recalls the days of free range with a sort of regret, common to the cattle men of the early days. There were no public schools when he came here and Clinton was a small hamlet. Mr. Redford has seen many changes in the sixty-one years of his residence in Henry County. When he came here there were a number of Osage Indians in this vicinity. They were friendly and inoffensive. During the Civil War Mr. Redford remained on his place and was one of the few men who had no trouble with either side, although some of his horses were taken. Mr. Redford's first wife was Hannah Anderson, to whom he was married in Johnson County, and the following children were born to this union: Mrs. Serepta Overbey, Urich, Missouri; Noah, deceased; John, deceased, and Robert, a farmer and stockman in Big Creek township. The mother of these children died in March, 1906, and Mr. Redford was married to Miss Dora Barnett, now deceased. Mr. Redford was united in marriage August 28, 1913, with Hannah N. Colson, widow of Archibald B. Colson, a Henry County pioneer, who settled in Walker township. He died in 1906. Mrs. Redford is a native of Missouri, born in Osage County, September 24, 1848. She is a daughter of Moses and Susan Glenn (Hibler) Sevier. They were early settlers in Henry County and came from Osage County in 1855. The father was a native of Birksville, Kentucky, and a grandson of Governor John Sevier, the first Governor of Tennessee. Moses Sevier was a captain of a Confederate company in the Civil War. He died Sep- tember 11, 1876, aged sixty-eight years, at Dallas, Texas. His wife died in 1884. Mrs. Redford is the oldest of a family of ten children born to her parents, only two of whom are living. Mrs. Redford and Mrs. Pliny Hanes, Dallas, Texas. By her marriage to Archibald B. Colson, Mrs. Red- ford has seven children: Doctor John, Schell City; Mrs. Mattie Angle, Clinton, Missouri; Mrs. Laura Crissman, Bonham, Texas; Mrs. Mollie Clizer, Montrose, Missouri; Mrs. Gertrude Harness, Walker township, Henry County ; B. S. Colson, Appleton City, Missouri, and Richard P., Montrose, Missouri.
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