USA > Missouri > Pettis County > History of Pettis County, Missouri > Part 29
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Judge Shain was united in marriage in 1887 with Miss Kate L. Hacken- smith. a native of Macon County, Missouri. She is a daughter of Matson and Louisa (McCoy) Hackensmith, both natives of Kentucky and early settlers in Macon county. They are both now deceased. To Judge and Mrs. Shain have been born seven children as follows: Lucille E., married Captain William A. Beckemeyer, who was a prominent physician of Sedalia and is now a surgeon in the United States Army with the rank of captain, having enlisted shortly after war was declared; Ed C. Shain, who was studying art in Chicago when the United States declared war against Germany, enlisted at Chicago and served in the war as a member of the One Hundred Twenty-second Field Artillery, Thirty-third Division, which is now a part of the army of occupation in Germany; Matson Hackensmith Shain, now serving in the United States Navy as chief yeoman of the
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U. S. S. Mallory; Catherin L. died in infancy; Beatrice S., who is now a senior in the Sedalia High School ; William D., who is a junior in the Sedalia High School; and Virginia, who is a student in the grade schools of Sedalia. Judge Shain has one grandchild, Marjorie Beckemeyer.
Judge Shain is a Democrat and a member of the Christian Church. He belongs to the Masonic Lodge, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Judge Shain is an able lawyer and in addition to being a close student of the law, all his life, he has had a vast experience at the bar. He possesses a keen logical mind and the judicial temperament which well qualify him for the important position which he holds.
E. G. Cassidy, president of the E. G. Cassidy Mercantile Company, vice- president of the Sedalia Trust Company and president of the Cassidy Hotel Company, with various other interests in Sedalia, has been prominently identified with the development of this city for forty years. Mr. Cassidy is a native of Ireland and came to America with his father, M. S. Cassidy, when a boy, his mother having died when he was a baby. The father settled in McDonough County, Illinois, where he still resides and has now reached the advanced age of ninety years.
E. G. Cassidy, after receiving a good common school education, took a course in Bryant & Stratton's Commercial College, in Chicago, Illinois, in 1867-1868. In 1879, Mr. Cassidy came to Sedalia and since that time has been an active factor in its upbuilding. Through his efforts and influence, outside capital has been induced to invest in enterprises here and for many years he has been a heavy investor himself in the industrial and commer- cial activity of Sedalia. He organized the Lemp's Ice & Refrigerator Com- pany and built the large ice plant which is located on West Main Street, when that section of the city was a waste of swampy land. This was in 1898 and Mr. Cassidy was president and general manager of that company which later acquired the Sedalia Ice & Cold Storage Company. Later they bought the Sedalia Electric Light Plant, Mr. Cassidy continuing as presi- dent and general manager of all the extensive interests of this company until they sold out to the Dougherty interests which now control them.
In addition to Mr. Cassidy's extensive industrial and commercial inter- ests, he is the owner of the Katy Building and the Cassidy Building, two of the most valuable business properties in Sedalia. He also owns a fine farm of 300 acres in Prairie Township which is devoted to stock and grain raising and in recent years has produced large quantities of wheat. Mr.
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Cassidy is also a member of the firm of Cassidy & McGrath who carry on a general insurance business in the Katy Building. His business interests are the most varied and extensive of any man in the city of Sedalia. In 1895, Mr. Cassidy erected a large, handsome, modern residence on West Fifth Street, which is the finest home in Sedalia. It is a model of archi- tecture, finished in hard wood and luxuriously furnished. It could not be built today for twice its original cost.
Mr. Cassidy was married in 1879 to Miss Kate Rilley, a native of Pettis County, who was born about three miles north of the city of Sedalia. She is a daughter of John Rilley, who was one of the early settlers of Pettis County. To Mr. and Mrs. Cassidy has been born one child, Catherin, now the wife of John McGrath of Sedalia.
Mr. Cassidy is a member of the Sacred Heart Church of Sedalia. His fraternal affiliations are with the Catholic Knights of America and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He has always supported the policies and principles of the Democratic party and since coming to Sedalia, has taken an active part and deep interest in political affairs, although he has never sought nor held public office. He has been a delegate to numerous State and county conventions and has always stood high in the counsels of his party.
Mr. Cassidy is not only progressive, but public spirited, and has not only invested extensively in Sedalia enterprises, but has contributed gen- erously to every worthy charitable, religious or patriotic movement. His career has been a successful one.
Paul Barnett, a prominent young attorney of Sedalia and the present prosecuting attorney of Pettis County, is a native of Sedalia. He was born August 15, 1888, and is a son of George W. and Virginia (Christy) Barnett. George W. Barnett is one of the leading attorneys of Pettis County and has practiced law here for many years. He was born in the Licking River Valley, Kentucky. Virginia (Christy) Barnett is a native of Missouri. Her parents were Virginians and early settlers in this State.
To George W. and Virginia (Christy) Barnett were born seven chil- dren who are now living : Bruce, an attorney, Kansas City, Missouri; Irene, married Edwin Evans, Sedalia, Missouri; Carl, now dead ; George, an attor- ney, St. Louis, Missouri; Paul, the subject of this sketch; Philip, in the United States Army and at this writing is an instructor in the School of Arms at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma; and Lawrence, a sergeant of a Machine Gun Company One Hundred Thirty-ninth Infantry, Fifth Division, United States Army.
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Paul Barnett was reared in Sedalia and attended the public schools and after graduating from the high school, attended the University of Mis- souri, at Columbia, Missouri. He then read law in his father's office and was admitted to the bar, December, 1912, and immediately entered into the practice of his profession to which he has since devoted himself. He was elected prosecuting attorney of Pettis County, November, 1916, and his present term expires January 1, 1919.
Mr. Barnett was married in September, 1913, to Miss Letonia Leece of Sedalia, Missouri. Mrs. Barnett was born and reared in Sedalia. To Mr. and Mrs. Barnett have been born one child, Jane Christy.
Mr. Barnett is a member of the Woodmen of the World, the Knights of the Maccabees, and he is a Democrat.
Dr. Charles Talmage McConnell, extensive farmer and stockman, Houstonia, Missouri, was born in St. Louis, May 4, 1874. He is a son of John W. and Julia (Mixer) McConnell, the former of whom was a native of Pennsylvania, and the latter a native of Montreal, Canada.
John W. McConnell was reared to manhood in Pennsylvania and became a railroad man. He worked his way upward through the ranks of his chosen vocation and became a conductor, following railroading for a long period of forty-eight years. He moved to Sedalia, Missouri, in 1872, and was in the employ of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway, as train conductor until his death in 1896, at the age of sixty-five years. The last two years of his life were spent at Boonville, Missouri. Mrs. Julia McConnell died in Sedalia, in 1888. John W. and Julia McConnell were parents of four children: George, a railroad man at Hannibal, Mis- souri; Frank, a railroad man at Kansas City, Missouri; Dr. Charles Talmage, of this review; one child died in infancy.
Charles Talmage McConnell was educated primarily in the public and high schools of Sedalia. His collegiate education was obtained at Notre Dame University and the Kemper Military Academy at Boonville, after which he entered Missouri State Univeristy at Columbia and there pursued his first year's course in the science of medicine. He completed his medical education at Beaumont Hospital College at St. Louis and graduated with the degree of Doctor of Medicine in 1899.
Doctor McConnell practiced his profession in St. Louis for one year and in 1900 he located in Houstonia where he practiced for a short time before taking charge of the large estate which is owned by Dr. and Mrs. McConnell. Doctor McConnell has charge of extensive farm land em-
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bracing over 1,500 acres. Three hundred and four acres of this land adjoin Houstonia on the east, 760 acres lie south of Houstonia, 333.5 acres lie near Mt. Leonard, Missouri, and 160 acres are located near Linn Creek in Cambria County. The tract comprising 304 acres was formerly owned by the Houstons and was purchased by Doctor McConnell from the Ferguson estate. This farm is one of the finest improved tracts in Missouri and is a modern farm plant in every respect. The tract of 760 acres is the old Gibson home place, known formerly as the "Gibson-Glenn Farm," and this is well improved and adapted for stock raising, with silos and substantial barns. About half of the McConnell land is rented out to tenants. A tract of 335 acres, which is still held in fee simple by Doctor McConnell is located adjacent to Sedalia on the rock road and is also well improved. Doctor McConnell is a large feeder of cattle, 300 head being fattened for the markets each year on his farms. He raises and feeds from 800 to 1,000 head of hogs annually. Twenty men are em- ployed in season and twelve men with families are supported on the land. He has sown 720 acres to wheat for the season of 1919. An acreage of 600 acres harvested in 1918 made the great yield of 16,000 bushels or an average of twenty-seven bushels to the acre, a yield which was far above the average in Missouri. The land near Sedalia made twenty bushels to the acre and the Houstonia farm made the phenomenal yield of thirty bushels to the acre. Dr. McConnell usually raises each year about 500 acres of corn. It is conceded that the McConnell land is rated as the richest prairie soil in this section of Missouri and the proprietor believes thoroughly in the most modern methods of farming and soil conservation in his agricultural operations. Tractors are used in the heavy farm work and from twenty to thirty horses and mules are used, and the doctor operates the Farmers Elevator at Houstonia, which he owns in partnership with L. H. Stiles.
Doctor McConnell was married on December 15, 1898, to Miss Grace Mary Gibson, who was born in Pettis County, a daughter of Judge Will- iam Clay Gibson, one of the best known and highly honored pioneers of Pettis County. This marriage has been blessed with two children: Eugene, and Charles Talmage. Eugene Gibson was born December 15, 1900. He was a student in Missouri University at Columbia when he en- list in September of 1918 for service in the National Army. He was taking military training at Lawrenceville, New Jersey when war was declared against the Central European Powers by the United States, and
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upon entering the Missouri State University he immediately enrolled as a member of the Students Officers Training Corps. Charles Talmage, the youngest child, was born April 25, 1914. Doctor McConnell and family reside in one of the most beautiful, modern homes in western Missouri. This splendid recidence is one of which Houstonia people are justly proud. The lower story of the residence is built of brick and of a plan which combines beauty of architecture with solid comfort. The interior finish is all hardwood of a fine grain, and is of finished millwork which arrived ready for installation. Every part of the house was made accord- ing to previous design and ready to be fitted in place. The home is equipped with its own water, heating and electric plants. The father of Mrs. Grace Mary McConnell died when she was sixteen months old. A sketch of Judge William Clay Gibson appears in this volume.
Politically, Doctor McConnell is a Democrat. He and Mrs. McConnell are members of the Christian Church and are liberal supporters of relig- ious and worthy movements. He is a director of the Houstonia Bank. Doctor McConnell is affiliated with Blue Lodge No. 236, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Sedalia, the Mystic Shrine of Kansas City, Ararat Temple, and holds a membership in the Scottish Rite Masons of Kansas City. He is also a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of Sedalia. Personally, Doctor McConnell is a well read, intelligent, progressive citizen of the best type, and he and Mrs. McConnell are well liked and highly regarded in Pettis County.
Claude Wilkerson, a prominent attorney of Sedalia, is a native of Mis- souri. Mr. Wilkerson was born at Carthage, Jasper County, Missouri, May 15, 1890. He is a son of James N. and Luzetta (Butcher) Wilkerson. Both parents are natives of Missouri and descendants of early pioneer families of this State. The father was born in Lafayette County and the mother in Benton county as was his father, John Wilkerson. The Wilkerson family came from Bedford County, Virginia to Missouri. A more extended his- tory of this family appears in this volume in connection with the sketch of James N. Wilkerson.
Claude Wilkerson is one of a family of three sons born to his parents as follows: Jesse, Sedalia, Missouri; Claude, the subject of this sketch ; and Otto, who is now serving in the United States Navy, having enlisted in January, 1918.
Claude Wilkerson was about two years old when his parents settled in Sedalia. He was reared in this city and educated in the grade schools and
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the Sedalia High School, and later attended the University of Missouri and was admitted to the bar in 1911. Mr. Wilkerson immediately engaged in the practice of his profession in Sedalia and met with marked success in his chosen profession. He is one of the capable young lawyers of Pettis county and has built up a large and profitable practice. Notwithstanding the fact that Mr. Wilkerson had one of the best law practices of any young attorney in Sedalia, he enlisted in the United States Army in the tank service, October 1, 1918. He served in the National Army at Camp Dix, New Jersey, until he received an honorable discharge from the service December 20, 1918.
On April 11, 1912, Claude Wilkerson was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth O'Bannon, of Sedalia, a descendant of one of the pioneer families of Pettis County. An extended review of the O'Bannon family appears in this volume. To Mr. and Mrs. Wilkerson have been born two children, Elizabeth and Mamie Lane.
Mr. Wilkerson is a member of the Woodmen of the World, the Benevo- lent and Protective Order of Elks, Yeomen, the Knights and Ladies of Security, Mystic Workers of the World, Woodmen Circle, Knights of the Maccabees and Brotherhood of Paperhangers and Decorators of America. He is a Democrat.
Mr. Wilkerson is not only a successful young attorney, but a progres- sive and public spirited citizen and stands ever ready to give his support and cooperation to any worthy move for the betterment and upbuilding of his city and county.
William Dillard O'Bannon, a prominent Sedalia attorney, is a native of Pettis County, and a descendant of one of the very first families to make a home in the then unsettled waste which is now Pettis County, just a cen- tury ago. William D. O'Bannon was born near Hughesville, Pettis County, March 29, 1884, a son of Thomas H. and Mary (Dillard) O'Bannon. Thomas H. O'Bannon was born near Georgetown, Missouri, March 10, 1850. He spent the early part of his life as a tiller of the soil and was later employed in the circulation department of the Sedalia "Daily Capital." He died . February 5, 1911. Thomas H. O'Bannon was a son of Allen and Mary (Bird) O'Bannon. Allen O'Bannon was born in Pettis County near the old town of Pinhook, which has long ceased to exist, as a town. It was the first county seat of Pettis County. Allen O'Bannon was prominent in the early day affairs of Pettis county and the State. He served as a member of the State Legislature in 1876 and at one time was judge of the County Court.
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Allen O'Bannon was the son of William O'Bannon, who settled in Pettis County, near the old town of Pinhook in 1818, and was one of the first six settlers in this county. He came from the blue grass district of Kentucky to this county, and spent the remainder of his life here.
Mary Elizabeth Dillard, the mother of William D. O'Bannon, was born in Cooper County, Missouri, a daughter of William and Nancy Virginia (Hughes) Dillard. Her father, William Dillard, was born in Cooper County, and spent the greater portion of his life in Pettis County and died in this county. His parents were early settlers in the vicinity of old Pilot Grove. His wife, Nancy Virginia (Hughes) Dillard was a native of Ten- nessee and came to Pettis County, Missouri, with her parents in 1830. Her parents both spent the remainder of their lives here, the father dying at the age of sixty-five years, and her mother at the age of eighty-five years. Nancy Elizabeth (Dillard) O'Bannon, mother of William D. O'Bannon, now resides in the city of Sedalia.
Thomas and Mary Elizabeth (Dillard) O'Bannon were the parents of the following children: William Dillard, the subject of this sketch; Mary Ann, Sedalia; Allen, Sedalia; Nancy Lucinda, married Willis Barnes Combs, Columbia, Missouri; and Elizabeth, married Claude Wilkerson, a Sedalia attorney, a sketch of whom appears in this volume. By a former marriage Thomas O'Bannon was the father of two sons: Fred W., Paonia, Colorado; Thomas F., who was killed in the Eden wreck on the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad near Pueblo, Colorado, in 1904.
William D. O'Bannon was reared in LaMonte, Pettis County, and edu- cated in the public schools there and the Sedalia High School, from which he was graduated in the class of 1904. He then took a course in Hill's Business College. He was admitted to the bar in December, 1904, and since that time has been engaged in the practice of law in Sedalia. Mr. O'Bannon has served two terms as prosecuting attorney of Pettis County, from 1910 to 1914. During the World War he served as chairman of the Legal Advisory Board, under the Selective Service Act, and was active in patriotic war work of various kinds. Mr. O'Bannon was united in mar- riage November 20, 1907, with Miss Margaret Elaine May, daughter of William May, of Knob Noster, Missouri.
Mr. O'Bannon is an able lawyer and has an extensive clientage. He is a Democrat and is active in his party organization. He is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Pettis County Bar Asso- ciation.
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Charles C. Evans, secretary and treasurer of the Sedalia Trust Com- pany, is one of the veteran financiers of this section of the State. Mr. Evans is a native of Missouri. He was born at Otterville, Cooper County, Missouri, October 11, 1861, a son of Edwin C. and Betty (Joplin) Evans. The father was a native of Washington, D. C., and the mother of Richmond, Virginia. When they first came to Missouri, they settled at Hawk Creek and later removed to Otterville and then to Boonville. They came to Pettis County in 1878. The father is now deceased and the mother resides in Sedalia in her eighty-fourth year.
Charles C. Evans received a good public school education. His first position was that of clerk in the auditor's office of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway Company, at Sedalia. He was thus employed when the road went into the hands of a receiver. He then went to St. Louis and was employed as general bookkeeper for a time. Later he entered the employ of the Missouri Pacific railway as a bookkeeper and afterwards re- turned to the Missouri, Kansas & Texas railroad.
In 1893, Mr. Evans entered the employe of the Missouri Trust Com- pany as assistant treasurer. This company occupied the same building at that time, which is now owned and occupied by the Sedalia Trust Company. Mr. Evans remained in the employ of the Missouri Trust Company in the capacity of assistant treasurer until 1901 when the Missouri Trust Com- pany removed to St. Louis. He then proceeded to organize the Sedalia Trust Company and became its first secretary and treasurer, a position which he has since held. This company opened its doors for business June 1, 1901, and since that time the business has gradually increased under the able management of Mr. Evans who has largely directed the policy of this institution and today it is one of the substantial financial institutions of the State. The first president of the Sedalia Trust Company was O. A. Crandell, father-in-law of Mr. Evans. He died suddenly in Philadelphia, July 5, 1901, a little over a month after being elected president of the Sedalia Trust Company. He was succeeded by Hon. John T. Heard, who was succeeded by Dr. E. F. Yancey. The first vice-president was W. H. Howell, who was succeeded by E. G. Cassidy, who holds that position at present. The following are the present officers and directors of the Sedalia Trust Company : E. F. Yancey, president; E. G. Cassidy, vice-president ; Charles C. Evans, secretary and treasurer; E. L. Zoering, assistant treas- urer. The other directors are W. J. Ferguson, L. P. Andrews, John W. Murphy, Otis W. Smith, Peter Pehl and C. C. Kelly.
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The Sedalia Trust Company was organized with $100,000.00, one-half of which was paid up and in less than seven years the accumulated divi- dends enabled the company to issue $50,000.00 of paid-up stock and the present capital stock of the company is $100,000.00, all of which is paid up.
The following is a statement of the condition of the Sedalia Trust Company at the close of business August 3, 1918: Assets: Loans on per- sonal security, $167,503.22; loans on collateral security, $54,470.90; loans on real estate, $81,616.66; stocks and bonds, $116,093.75; due from banks, $96,402.92; expense account, $1,853.26; bank building, $30,000; vaults, furniture and fixtures, $5,000; other real estate, none; revenue stamps, $35.65; war savings and thrift stamps, $175.62; tax bills, $25,306.82; cash on hand, $8,858.68 ; total assets, $587,317.68. Liabilities : Capital stock, $100,000.00; surplus fund, $19,300.00; undivided profits, $2,689.84; interest account, $5,877.74; commission account, $479.75; rent account, $4.44; individual deposits, $145,271.33; time deposits, $4,067.95; savings deposits, $286,895.85; due banks, $20,000.00; total of last four items, $456,225.13; treasurer's checks, $915.77; reserve for taxes, $1,825.01 ; total liabilities, $587,317.68.
Charles C. Evans, the subject of this sketch, was united in marriage June 25, 1889, with Miss Emma C. Crandell, daughter of O. A. Crandell, of Sedalia, and three children have been born to this union: Edwin C., who is one of the proprietors of the Brown-Evans Manufacturing Company, Sedalia ; Catherene, who died at the age of three years; and Clark S., who is six years of age. Mr. Evans is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Episcopal Church.
Newton P. Elmore, the well-known and popular county clerk of Pettis County, has been identified with this county over forty years. He is a na- tive of Kentucky, and was born in Warsaw, Gallatin County, Kentucky, January 4, 1859, a son of Oliver and Sallie M. (Payne) Elmore, both natives of Kentucky, the former of Owen County and the latter of Scott County. The Elmore family is of old Kentucky stock, and this branch came across the mountains from Virginia to Kentucky in the pioneer days of the latter State. The Payne family is also of old Virginia stock and were among the very earliest settlers of Kentucky. Sallie M. Payne's grandfather was the first of that family to settle in Kentucky and he helped survey that State in the early days when it was a vast unpeopled wilderness.
Oliver and Sallie M. (Payne) Elmore settled in Pettis County with their family in 1872. They first settled in Heath's Creek township
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on a farm which is now owned by Newton P. Elmore, the subject of this sketch. Here the father followed farming and stock raising and met with success. During the latter few years of his life he lived retired. He was a substantial and valued citizen and a life-long Democrat. He and his wife were members of the Christian Church. They are both now deceased. They were the parents of the following children: Newton P., the subject of this sketch; Bettie, married A. K. Haggard, Sedalia, Missouri; J. E. lived in Imperial Valley, California; Emma, married James H. McCurdy, Hughes- ville, Missouri; Frank B., Chillicothe, Missouri; Oliver, deceased; Susie married O. D. Jenkins, Nelson, Pettis County ; and Sallie married Dr. J. E. Mitchel, Hughesville, Missouri.
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