USA > Missouri > Pettis County > History of Pettis County, Missouri > Part 34
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James P. Quinn was educated in the parochial and public schools of Sedalia, graduating from the high school in 1894. In 1898 he filled the office of city clerk of Sedalia and served as deputy county clerk under Robert H. Gray from 1899 to 1903.
Mr. Quinn was married in 1904 to Miss Mary Helen Younger, a
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daughter of John and Ellen Younger, of Kansas City, Missouri, the former of whom is deceased and the latter now lives in Sedalia.
Joseph M. O'Connell .- The Day and Night Studio, located at 320 South Ohio Street, Sedalia, is the outcome of an idea of its proprietor, J. M. O'Connell, in 1910, that Sedalia and the surrounding tributary country would support such a concern. Mr. O'Connell, after making a survey of the surroundings immediately acted upon his idea or "hunch," and established himself in business at 320 South Ohio Street. Not long after he had begun business the building collapsed through faulty construction and his stock of goods and paraphernalia was destroyed. He then moved to another location for a period of six months, and eventually located at his present place. The main feature of the Day and Night Studio is the extensive kodak finishing business, probably the largest in central Missouri, and the amount of work done in this establishment will probably exceed that done in any city in western and central Missouri. An extensive mail order busi- ness is also handled. The studio is equipped for doing all kinds of por- trait work, as well as enlarging and framing, this latter departure having been learned by Mr. O'Connell in Chicago, beginning the business when eighteen years of age and remaining on the road for thirteen years in the portrait business. While in Sedalia engaged in portrait work he conceived the idea of establishing his present business, and has succeeded even beyond his earlier dreams.
Speaking biographically, Joseph M. O'Connell was born September 2, 1879, in St. Louis, Missouri, the son of Michael and Jennie (Gibbons) O'Connell, the former a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, and the latter having been born in St. Louis. Michael O'Connell was a steamboat man who plied his trade or vocation upon the Mississippi River for many years. He died at St. Louis in 1902. His widow still resides in that city. The O'Connell children are: Charles, a traveling photographer; Edward, a traveling photographer of St. Louis; Joseph M., subject of this review; Anna, wife of John Brady, St. Louis, Missouri; Catherine, a Sister of Mercy, St. Louis Missouri; Robert, a mechanical draughtsman, Chicago, Ill.
Since he attained the age of eleven year, Joseph M. O'Connell has made his own way in the world, beginning as a cash boy in his native city at a wage of $2.00 per week. His subsequent career is set forth in the preced- ing paragraph. Mr. O'Connell was married on January 5, 1912, to Jean- nette June Crist, of Nevada, Missouri, a daughter of Edward and Lulu Crist. Mr. and Mrs. O'Connell have a son, Kenneth Leo, and the O'Connell family reside at 1422 South Central Avenue in this city.
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Ira Gilbert Barton, D. D. S .- For the past twenty-five years Dr. Ira Gilbert Barton has successfully practiced dentistry in Sedalia, with offices located at 306} Ohio Street, and has become firmly established in the city as a leading professional man of high standing in this section of Missouri. Dr. Barton was born in Jackson, Jackson County, Ohio, December 7, 1874, the son of Simon P. and Eliza Ann (Wells) Barton, the former of whom was a native of Jackson County Ohio, and the latter of Steubenville, Ohio.
Simon Barton was reared in Ohio, and at the outbreak of the Civil War he, although but fifteen years of age, was a member of the volunteer sharpshooters. He came to Henry County, Missouri in 1875 and located at Clinton where he was engaged in contracting and building construction for a number of years. Both Mr. and Mrs. Barton now reside at Commerce, Oklahoma. The following children were born to them: Charles H., living at Commerce, Oklahoma; Ira Gilbert, subject of this review; William Tullison, formerly a practicing dentist of Pilot Grove, Missouri, died at Iola, Kansas, at the age of thirty-two years; Mrs. Minnie (Barton) Ellis, Denver, Colorado; B. H. Barton, now a dental surgeon with the rank of lieutenant, in service with the United States Navy and attached to the United States Transport Pocahontas.
From the time he attained the age of fourteen years, Dr. Ira G. Barton has made his own way and is self educated. After attending the public schools of Clinton, Missouri, and after passing the State Board of Dental Examiners and practicing dentistry for seven years he then entered St. Louis University in 1903 and studied dentistry. He began his first dental work in Sedalia on May 13, 1893, with Dr. W. M. Carter, with whom he was associated for three years. He then passed the examination held by the Mis- souri State Board of Dental Examiners and received his diploma on October, 1897. While a dental student, Dr. Barton practiced extreme self denial and was fortunate if he had as much as twenty-five cents per week as spending money, over and above his board and clothing. In fact, if he had at any one time that much money or more he felt like a wealthy man. Besides constantly advancing himself in his profession, he taught dentistry to his first wife, and his brothers. He furnished the means for the education of his sister in bookkeeping and stenography, at the Jones Business College, St. Louis, Missouri, and she is now holding the responsible position as clerk of the city Legislature of that city. Dr. Barton is unmarried but has fathered and educated his brothers and sister and looked after the various members of his father's family as a loving elder brother, and his life has been full of efforts in their behalf.
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Dr. Barton is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and has filled all of the chairs in this order. He is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Lodge No. 142 of Otterville, Missouri. Doctor Barton has held several Schools of Instruction in Masonry, having been elected by the Otterville Lodge to the position of instructor.
Henry Schafer, deceased, was an early settler in Pettis County, and a man who by his thrift, industry, honesty and integrity, made a place for himself and his family among the foremost citizens of this section of the State. He departed this life October 6, 1912, and his death was not only a great loss to his family and immediate friends, but a distinct loss to the community and the county.
Henry Schafer was born in Germany June 20, 1849, a son of John and Margaret Schafer, who were the parents of nine children, of whom Henry was the seventh in order of birth. The Schafer family immigrated to America in 1860, when Henry was about nine years of age. They settled near Smithton, Illinois, where both parents died about two years after settling there.
Henry Schafer was reared on a farm, and received a good common school education in the district schools of Illinois. In the fall of 1867 he came to Missouri with a man named Joseph Burns and his family, who settled in Pettis County. Mr. Schafer remained with the Burns family until he was about twenty years of age, when he bought a team and engaged in teaming and hauling at Sedalia. He hauled ties for the con- struction of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroad, and later engaged in the ice business in Sedalia, which he conducted for several years. He met with success in this undertaking, and conducted the ice business until a few years before his death. He bought a farm in Sedalia township, about 1890, and moved onto the place five years later, and was also engaged in farming until the time of his death. Mr. Schafer was a Democrat, and a member of the Catholic church.
February 9, 1873, Henry Schafer was united in marriage with Mar- garet Ann Thompson, a native of England, born near Dorchester, England, October 14, 1847. She is a daughter of Septimus and Elizabeth (Riley) Thompson, both natives of England. The Thompson family came to America in 1849, when Mrs. Schafer was about two years of age, and settled at Prairie de Long, Illinois. Here the father engaged in farming and stock raising, and the parents both spent the remainder of their lives there. Mrs. Schafer was the eldest of a family of eight cchildren, five
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Henry Shafen
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of whom are now living. She was reared and educated in Illinois and remained in that State until she was twenty years of age, when she came to Missouri with the family of Reed Dunlap, with whom she lived, and she remained in Sedalia until she met and married Mr. Schafer. To Mr. and Mrs. Schafer have been born eight children as follow: John S., born January 10, 1874, was killed in an automobile accident in Sedalia March 19, 1915; Mrs. Mary Stetzbauch, Sedalia, Missouri; Agnes L., deceased ; Delia A., married William Dunlap, who is now deceased, and she resides in California; Minnie A., married Henry Imhauser, Sedalia, Missouri; Nellie C., married John Arrington, Washington, Indiana; Henry Charles, who operates the home place, and Charles H., also resides on the home place. Charles and Henry are twins.
The Schafer homestead consists of 400 acres of valuable land near Sedalia, which is one of the well-improved farms of Pettis County, and Mrs. Schafer also owns a bungalow in Sedalia. At the time of his death Mr. Schafer was a stockholder in the American Exchange Bank of Sedalia. He was a successful business man and, at the time of his death, left his family in good circumstances. The Schafer family are well known and stand high in the community.
Since Mr. Schafer's demise Mr. Schafer has made some extensive improvements on the farm. She has erected a large stock barn, and the Schafer home and farm buildings are all equipped with the Delco electric light system, and modern in all other respects.
Emile Landmann .- One of the most important institutions of Pettis County is The Landmann Abstract and Title Company. Practically all the abstract and title business of Pettis County is handled through the office of this company which is in charge of Emile Landmann. Mr. Landmann was born in Sedalia, being a son of Jacob and Christina Landmann, who came to Pettis County from St. Louis, Missouri, in 1865. Jacob Landmann was engaged in the general mercantile business in Sedalia until 1871 when his death occurred. His wife survived him many years, dying in February, 1907.
Emile Landmann was educated in the public schools of Sedalia, and graduated from the Central Business College. After leaving school he entered the County Recorder's office as deputy recorder, serving under his brother, Frank, who was Recorder of Pettis County from 1887 to 1891. Frank Landmann, after leaving the recorder's office, purchased an interest in the Hartshorn and Wilson Abstract and Insurance Agency, and Emile
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Landmann accepted a position with the new firm. Later, the two brothers purchased the Hartshorn and Wilson interests and the firm was then known as Landmann Brothers, until the death of the elder brother in 1906. Emile Landmann then became sole owner of the business and in the fall of 1907 he incorporated The Landmann Abstract and Title Company. Mr. John W. Baker, his nephew, is associated with him, being secretary of the company.
Mr. Landmann was married in 1896 to Miss Louise M. Benz of Sedalia. They have one daughter, Christina L., a graduate of the Sedalia High School and who also pursued her college studies at Knox College, Galesburg, Illinois, and at Stephens College, Columbia, Missouri. Mr. and Mrs. Land- mann have a very pleasant home at 1001 West Sixth Street.
Mr. and Mrs. Landmann and daughter, Christina, are members of the First Congregational Church.
Hugh H. and Ennis H. Courtney .- The Courtney Shoe Company, owned and operated by Hugh H. and Ennis H. Courtney, is distinctly a progressive and thriving concern which has kept pace with the advance- ment in modern development of footwear. This concern was established in 1914, as successor to William Courtney, who succeeded W. S. Mackey in 1887, who had established the W. S. Mackey Shoe Company on Main Street, as far back as 1866. It is, therefore, one of the oldest established business concerns in Sedalia and Pettis County, having been in existence for the past fifty-two years, it naturally has a large number of old and steadfast patrons. The Mackeys eventually became engaged in the whole- sale business in Sedalia. William Courtney purchased the stock and good will of the Mackeys in 1887, after having been associated with Mr. Mackey since 1879. For a few years he had W. B. Langdon as a partner. Mr. Courtney died on November 10, 1914, and the present proprietors and man- agers are Hugh H. and Ennis H. Courtney. The store is located at 228 South Ohio Street and has a frontage of twenty-five feet with a depth of 100 feet, with the basement deck and first floor all occupied with sales- rooms. The firm employs fifteen people at all times to care for the immense business transacted, two repair men being included with the force. Hugh H. and Ennis H. Courtney are the sons of Peter Courtney.
Peter Courtney was born near Glasgow, Kentucky, in 1836 and came to Missouri in 1844, to the home of his sister who had with her husband previously located on Flat Creek. He was reared in Pettis County and became a farmer, eventually engaging in the mercantile business at Dres- den, Missouri and later operating a store at Holden, Missouri. Mr. Court-
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ney now resides at 724 West Sixth Street, Sedalia, and is aged eighty-two years. In the early pioneer days, Peter Courtney crossed the great plains with an ox team and drove freight wagons to New Mexico and Idaho prior to the days of the railroads. His wife was Elizabeth Bracht, a native of Georgetown, Missouri, born in 1840, a daughter of pioneer parents. She departed this life in 1912. The children born to Peter and Elizabeth Court- ney are as follows: William, deceased; Leslie, Sedalia, Missouri; Thomas L., deceased; Harry, Sedalia, Missouri; Cammie, deceased ; Hugh H., of this review ; Elizabeth, wife of W. E. Terrill, Holden, Missouri; Ennis H., of this review ; C. Hallam, Sedalia ; Kathryn, Sedalia.
Hugh H. Courtney was married to Miss Pearle Jackson of Holden, Missouri.
The Courtney Shoe Company carries in stock the Nettleton Shoes for men, the Strong and Garfield, and Walkover shoes for men. The well- known women's lines carried are the D. Armstrong and Company's Shoes, Smaltz Goodwin Co., and Walkover makes. For children they carry the H. W. Merriam Shoe Company's makes and other excellent lines. In addi- tion to an immense shoe stock the famous Stetson hats are retailed.
Frank T. Leaming, city engineer of Sedalia, was born September 26. 1882, a son of Rush G. and Mattie R. (Rogers) Leaming, the former of whom was a native of Indiana, and was a veteran of the Union Army. Rush G. Leaming served for four years in the Union Army during the Civil War. He came to Pettis County, Missouri, after some years' residence in Cass County where he had settled after the close of the Civil War. Mr. and Mrs. Leaming now reside in Sedalia, the former aged eighty-three years and the latter aged seventy-one years. The children born to Rush G. and Mattie R. Leaming are as follows: Mrs. Mary Holloway, Dallas, Texas; Ruth, wife of H. M. Haley, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Annie, wife of Frank L. Warren, Holdenville, Oklahoma; Fenn A., Mansfield, Louisiana; and Frank T. subject of this sketch.
Frank T. Leaming was edcuated in the Sedalia public schools and after he had finished his schooling he netered the engineering department of the Kansas City Southern railway company and gained much practical experi- ence in engineering. While still employed, he pursued a course in engi- neering with the International Correspondence Schools and became a pro- ficient and skilled engineer. He began his engineering career with C. H. Zoll, city engineer of Sedalia in 1906, and on May 1, 1908, he was appointed to the post of city engineer of Sedalia. Since taking charge of the office
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Mr. Leaming has built over thirty miles of sewer, and laid over fifteen miles of paving and many miles of sidewalks and curbing.
Mr. Leaming was married in 1904 to Miss Vinita Finley, a daughter of W. A. and Birdie (Lakin) Finley of Sedalia, who are parents of children as follows: Emma, wife of D. Brennen, of Sedalia; Marion, living in New York City ; Walker, Sedalia, Missouri; Allan G., enlisted in April, 1918, in the United States Navy and is now in the service.
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Leaming have three children: Frank T. Jr., aged twelve years; Kathryn, aged seven years; Lois, born April 9, 1918. Mr. and Mrs. Leaming have a very pleasant home at 1404 Carr Avenue, Sedalia, Missouri.
Dr. Robert William Seaton Overstreet, cashier and clerk of the Antlers Hotel, Sedalia, Missouri, was born in Warren County, Illinois, in 1850 and is a son of Dr. Walter and Mary A. (Seaton) Overstreet, both na- tives of Kentucky. Dr. Walter C. Overstreet was born in Jessamine County, Kentucky, October 16, 1824, and died at Smithton, Missouri, July 27, 1895. His wife, Mary A. (Seaton) Overstreet, was born in Breckenbridge County, Kentucky, in 1829 and departed this life April 4, 1880. They were mar- ried on December 11, 1848. Walter C. Overstreet was the son of Robert Overstreet, who was born in Culpeper County, Virginia, January 31, 1789, and died July 30, 1855. His wife was Jane Lowrey, to whom he was mar- ried in Jessamine County, Kentucky, April 25, 1815. The children of Walter C. and Mary A. Overstreet were: Robert William Seaton, subject of this sketch; Mary Jane, born July 19, 1852, the widow of William Mann, resides at Smithton, Missouri; Dr. Walter Cunningham, born February 17, 1857, died in 1916; Emma, born April 26, 1859, died November 21, 1876; David Milton born June 28, 1863 died February 25, 1905; Anna Clay, born February 3, 1868, wife of Eck Seaman, Oakland, California.
James Overstreet, great grandfather of Robert W. S. Overstreet, had two sons, Harry and Thomas Overstreet, who served in the Revolutionary War under General Washington. Robert Overstreet, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was a veteran of the War of 1812, and fought at the Battle of the Thames, and later under General Jackson at New Orleans.
Dr. Walter C. Overstreet came to Missouri in 1847 and located at Higgins on Flat Creek and practiced his profession there for some time prior to going to Galesburg, Illinois, where his marriage took place. From Galesburg he went to Monmouth, Illinois. He invested in government land in Pettis County and made frequent trips to this county, riding horseback
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from Booneville. After 1864 he lived at Smithton, Missouri. At one time he owned 1,000 acres of land. For many years prior to his death, Doctor . Overstreet practiced medicine in the vicinity of Smithton, and was highly respected in Pettis County. During his later years, he devoted his time to caring for his extensive interests. Doctor Overstreet's remains are in- terred in Smithton Cemetery.
Dr. Robert William Seaton Overstreet was educated in the public schools, and studied for three years in the Monmouth, Illinois schools. After removing to Missouri with his parents, he received private instruc- tion from tutors and at the age of nineteen years, he entered William Jewell College and began his collegiate course which extended over a period of seven years. His father being a physician, Robert William naturally became interested in the study of medicine and drugs and became a reg- istered pharmacist. Doctor Overstreet's practice is mainly confined to office work.
Doctor Overstreet was married to Sallie A. Cox in 1872. Mrs. Over- street died in 1898, leaving five children: Walter, deceased; Grace, wife of W. R. Dillard, Kansas City, Missouri; Robert T., a farmer and stockman, of Leslie, Arkansas; Abbie, wife of Mr. Foster, Fillmore, Missouri; William Seaton Overstreet, former clerk in the Chicago offices of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railway, enlisted in the United States Navy in April, 1918. The second marriage of Doctor Overstreet occurred in October, 1917, with Mrs. Mary E. Weitz, of Sedalia, and they reside on East Seventh Street.
Doctor Overstreet began business as a druggist in 1872 and in 1883 he went to Colorado and located at Trinidad, where he looked after live stock on the ranges of Colorado and New Mexico and also conducted a drug business. While at Trinidad he was commissioned an organizer for the farmers co-operative union, and with deputies assisting him, he organized unions in Colorado and New Mexico. Returning to Pettis County, he opened a drug store at Smithton, which he conducted for a time, eventually disposing of his interests in 1900. He also served as assistant postmaster at Smithton. His father, Dr. Walter C. Overstreet, was the first practicing physician in Smithton township, a graduate of the Transylvania Medical College, Class of 1917. He was a zealous advocate of good schools in Pettis County.
Dr. William Seaton Overstreet was a drill master of boys of fourteen and upwards for a time, and he is now an honorary member of the Missouri
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Pharmaceutical Association and is classed with the Veterans Druggists Club. He is a member of the Old Settlers Association.
J. B. Marksbury, chief of police, of Sedalia, Missouri, was born in Williamstown, Grant County, Kentucky, October 7, 1869. He is the son of John S. and Elizabeth R. (Tunis) Marksbury, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Kentucky. John S. Marksbury, the father, was born in Virginia, in 1824 and died at Williamstown, Kentucky in 1908, having attained the ripe, old age of eighty-four years. He was prominent in the affairs of Grant County and served as deputy sheriff and as sheriff of the County for a period of twelve years, and held this important office during the troublesome times of the Civil War. The mother of J. B. Marks- bury still resides on the old home place and is seventy-one years old. She is a daughter of Nehemiah Tunis, one of the pioneer merchants of Williams- town, Kentucky, who erected the Tunis Block in that city, which was the first brick building erected there. He came to Kentucky from Newark, New Jersey. To John S. and Elizabeth R. Marksbury were born ten children as follow: J. B., subject of this review; Frank, Williamstown, Kentucky ; Nehemiah, killed while employed as traveling salesman for the Bradley-Wheeler Implement Company, and while aboard a Chicago and Alton railway train which was wrecked in 1900; Charles, Sherman, Ken- tucky; George, Greensburg, Kansas; James, living on the home place in Kentucky ; John, garage proprietor and dealer in motor cars at Williams- town, Kentucky ; Elizabeth, wife of John Swain, Oklahoma; Mary, a teacher and telephone operator, Williamstown, Kentucky; William, foreman, of construction in the employ of the American Telephone Company, Chicago, Illinois.
After receiving his education in the public schools of his native county and attaining his majority, J. B. Marksbury came to Pettis County, March 11, 1890. For two years he was employed on the farm of D. W. Thomson and then rented the Thomson farm for two years. He followed farming in Pettis County until 1901 and was a partner with Mayor A. Baumgartner in the conduct of his farming operations. From 1903 until June, 1909, he was foreman of the John A. Crawford farm. On July 5, 1909, he came to Sedalia and took employment in the coach shops of the Missouri Pacific railway, remaining in the shops as a trusted and capable employe until May 1, 1915. Receiving the appointment as health officer of Sedalia, he capably filled this position until April 8, 1918. He was then elected to the position of chief of police of Sedalia, receiving the largest majority ever given a
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candidate for office in the city. Chief Marksbury's majority was 783. His conduct of the duties of his office have been such as to commend him to the large body of citizens whose safety and well being are entrusted to the vigilance and watchfulness of his department. The police department of Sedalia was never in better condition and its efficiency is marked. In fact Sedalia has a well earned reputation for being law-abiding, a situation which is due in large measure to the capable enforcement of law and order and the diplomacy of the police head and his assistants.
On November 3, 1891, J. B. Marksbury and Anna May Hoffman were united in marriage. Mrs. Anna May Marksbury is a daughter of John and Anna May Hoffman, both of whom were natives of Wisconsin, and were well known residents of Sedalia for several years. Mr. Hoffman died in 1910 and his widow now resides at Argentine, Kansas. The children born to John and Anna May Hoffman are as follow : Mrs. Anna May Marksbury, wife of the subject of this review; Mrs. Lulu Baker, Kansas City, Kansas; John, Kansas City, Kansas; Mrs. E. G. Dolph, whose husband is a mer- chant and stockman at Arthur, Nebraska, and also operates a motor bus line between Kingston and Arthur, Nebraska. Mr. and Mrs. Marksbury have a very pleasant home at 400 North Stewart Street.
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