USA > Missouri > Pettis County > History of Pettis County, Missouri > Part 55
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June 9, 1901, Mr. Knapp was united in marriage with Miss Margaret Ann Proctor, a daughter of William Proctor, a sketch of whom appears in this volume. To Mr. and Mrs. Knapp have been born five children, as follow: Agnes M., Isabel, Lydia C., Mary L., and Anna Louise.
Mr. Knapp is a Republican and a member of the Congregational Church. His lodge affiliations are with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Woodmen of the World. He is a progressive citizen and one of the substantial men of the community.
Victor Lewis, a prosperous stockman and farmer of Green Ridge township, is a native of Pettis County and was born on the farm where he now resides February 12, 1870. He is a son of Elijah W. and Malinda (Montgomery) Lewis. They were both natives of Kentucky. The father was born in 1820 and came to Pettis County, Missouri, from Kentucky prior to the Civil War. When the war broke out he returned to his native State but returned to Pettis County after the war closed. He died in 1874. His wife died the same year at about the age of thirty-two years. They were the parents of five children, as follow: Otis, deceased; Mrs. Beatrice Hanlon, Los Angeles, California; Victor, the subject of this sketch; Hattie, deceased, and Frances, married L. J. Woody, Richards, Missouri.
Victor Lewis' parents died when he was about four years of age, and he was reared by the Montgomery family in Kentucky to the age of eight years, when he came to Pettis County and lived with his uncle, Frank Montgomery, until he was eleven years old and for the following four years lived with his brother. During that time he worked out some as a farm hand, and also attended district school in the winter. Shortly after this he went west and was employed in ranch work two years, then engaged in the railway train service as brakeman and afterwards fireman. He was engaged in this line of work about two years and later in general merchandise business at Butte, Montana, and Denver, Colo- rado. In 1893 he returned to Missouri and engaged in farming six
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miles south of Windsor, Missouri. In 1897 he began farming the home place where he now lives. He inherited fifty-three acres, and has acquired more land from time to time and now owns 675 acres, 500 of which are in Pettis County. He has carried on general farming and stock raising but has given more special attention to feeding cattle for the market and generally has from 200 to 300 head. He has found cattle feeding to be his most profitable department and is one of the successful feeders of Pettis County.
Mr. Lewis was married February 12, 1893, to Miss Eliza McMillin, who was born in Gasconade County, Missouri, October 5, 1868. She is a daughter of John B. and Mary (Anderson) McMillin. The McMillin family settled in Benton County, Missouri, about 1867. The father died in Windsor, Missouri, in 1902, aged seventy years. His wife preceded him in death a number of years, having departed this life in 1878, aged thirty-five years. Four children have been born to Victor and Eliza (McMillin) Lewis, as follow: John W., born March 17, 1895, in Windsor, Missouri, is now serving in the United States army at Camp McArthur, Waco, Texas, having been called to the service in September, 1918; Leland, residing at home with his parents; Milford and Mary, both residing at home with their parents.
Mr. Lewis is a Democrat and a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is a progressive and public spirited citizen and stands ever ready to contribute his part for the betterment and upbuilding of the community.
Washington Stark, now deceased, was an early settler in Pettis County and a prominent factor in the affairs of this section of the State for many years, during his active career. He contributed to the develop- ment of Pettis County from an industrial, educational and moral stand- point. He was of that sturdy type of man who laid the foundation of the great West upon which the present generation is building and upon which the safety of the future depends.
Washington Stark is a descendant of the Stark family of Revolu- tionary fame in this country, and no name coupled with the Colonies' struggle for independence shines with greater luster on the pages of American history than the name Stark. Mr. Stark was born in Pike County, Missouri, March 10, 1834. His parents were Judge James and Jane (Watts) Stark. Seventeen children were born to them, of whom Washington Stark was the fourteenth in order of birth. He was the
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last survivor of the family and he died in Windsor, Missouri, October 11, 1914.
Judge James Stark and his wife were natives of Kentucky. Judge James Stark went from Kentucky to Pike County, Missouri, in 1816. He drove through the wilderness with ox teams and carts, bringing with him his family, household goods, etc. He also brought apple seedlings and slips with which the famous Stark nursery had its beginning. This nursery, the headquarters of which are now located at Louisiana, Mis- souri, has been in the hands of the Stark family for four generations, and has developed into the largest nursery in the United States.
Much has been written on numerous occasions concerning the promi- nence of the Stark family during Colonial times, and the services per- formed by that family in the Revolutionary War, and suffice it is to con- fine ourselves in a work of this character more to the immediate family and biographical review of Washington Stark, the subject of this sketch, whose life and career were intimately associated with Pettis County. Among others who have written at length on the history of the Stark family is Hon. Champ Clark, who has given a very clear and concise review of this prominent old American family.
Washington Stark was reared in Pike County and received a good education. When he was a young man, his father gave him Government land in Green Ridge township, Pettis County, of which the father held a Government grant. This land is situated in section 3 and consists of 400 acres of valuable land which Mrs. Stark now owns. Washington Stark was engaged in farming in Pettis County after coming here in 1854 until the Civil War broke out. When that great conflict came on, he first became a member of the State Guards and was stationed at Sedalia and was soon commissioned captain of a company and served in that capacity practically through the war. At the close of the war he returned to his farm and was successfully engaged in farming and stock raising for a number of years. He was a man of keen judgment, close observation and a constant student of men and events. In 1891 he rented his farm and moved to Windsor. There he helped organize the Citizens Bank, which was organized several years before his removal to Windsor, of which he was president for several years. In fact, he held that office until the time of his death. He was at one time mayor of Windsor and was prominent in the public affairs of that town. Politically he was ever a stanch supporter of the policies and principles of the Democratic
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party. He was not a lodge member, neither did he hold membership in any particular church, but he was a broad minded Christian gentleman and the personification of liberality towards all creeds and denominations.
Washington Stark was united in marriage in 1856 to Miss Martha W. Whitledge, who was born in Pike County, Missouri, October 18, 1836, a daughter of Thomas B. and Christina (Jacoby) Whitledge. Thomas B. Whitledge was born in Pike County, Missouri, and was engaged in business there practically all his life. The Jacoby family are of old Ken- tucky stock and were related to Daniel Boone, whose name and fame is inseparably linked with the early history of Kentucky.
To Washington Stark and wife have been born seven children, two of whom died in infancy: Mrs. Augusta Pepper, who resides in Windsor ; Mrs. Cora Shelton, Windsor, Missouri; Lewis, resides with his mother in Windsor, and Martha, married Doctor Draper, now residing at Co- lumbia, Missouri, while her children are attending the university, but her permanent home is in Windsor, Missouri.
Mrs. Stark resides in Windsor, where she has a splendid home, al- though she still retains the home farm of 400 acres in Pettis County. She is an estimable lady and a member of the Christian Church.
James A. Fleming, vice-president of the LaMonte Bank, who is also extensively interested in farming and stock raising, is one of the pro- gressive and enterprising business men of LaMonte. Mr. Fleming was born in LaMonte, September 19, 1868, a son of John S. and Eliza R. (Routsong) Fleming, the former a native of Virginia, and the latter, of Maryland. They were the parents of four children, two of whom are now living. James A., the subject of this sketch, and Mrs. R. H. Wheeler, who resides in La Monte, Missouri.
John S. Fleming came to Pettis County in 1858, and engaged in farming in LaMonte township. He was an extensive farmer and stock- man, and had a very successful business career. At the time of his death he owned about 900 acres of land. He was active in a number of other enterprises, as well as farming and stock raising. He was one of the organizers of the LaMonte Bank, and for sixteen years was president of that institution. He was a public-spirited citizen, and did business on a big scale. He was a lifelong Democrat, and a member of the Meth- odist Church South. He retired from active participation in business affairs the last few years of his life, and died in May, 1916, at the advanced age of eighty-eight years. His widow now resides in LaMonte
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with her daughter, Mrs. R. H. Wheeler, at the age of eighty-five years.
James A. Fleming was reared on the home farm, in LaMonte town- ship, and educated in the public schools and Central College, at Fayette. He then worked in the LaMonte Bank for a time, when he went to Kansas, where he, with Mr. C. B. Littlefield and George Talpey, of Knob Noster, organized the Cassoday Bank of Cassoday, Kansas, and operated it about three years. He was then employed as office manager at the Stock Yards in Kansas City, Missouri, for a livestock commission com- pany. In 1908 he returned to LaMonte and engaged in farming and stock raising, and also interested in banking. He owns 520 acres of val- uable land and, in addition to carrying on the livestock business, he directs the operation of the farm work on his place.
Mr. Fleming is a Democrat, and takes a keen interest in public affairs. He is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Knights of Pythias, and is a Knights Templar Mason and a member of the Mystic Shrine. He is one of the capable business men of Pettis County.
Henry Gregory, a well-known farmer and stockman of Green Ridge township, has been a resident of Pettis County over fifty years. Mr. Gregory was born in England April 16, 1841, a son of Henry and Jane (Laney) Gregory, both natives of England. The father died in his native land in 1852, and the following year the mother with her children immi- grated to America and settled at Waterloo, New York. There Henry Gregory grew to manhood and attended school some, although his prin- cipal task, from the time he was eleven years of age, was to assist his mother in the support of the family. He worked in a tannery, where his duty was to grind tanbark in an old-fashioned mill used for that purpose. He walked two miles to and from his work each day, and received for his labor twenty-five cents per day. When he was sixteen years old he began work at the carpenters' trade for an uncle. After learning the trade he was engaged in building houses in the vicinity of Waterloo, until 1867. He then went to St. Louis, Missouri, where he engaged in the oil business. This venture did not prove a success. He then decided that he wanted a farm, and in 1868 he came to Pettis County, where he has since been engaged in farming and stock raising, and has met with very satisfactory results. He now owns 139 acres of land in Pettis County, eighty acres of which is in Green Ridge township and fifty-two acres in Washington township. His property is well
HENRY GREGORY AND WIFE.
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improved, and in the matter of value compares favorably with the best land in Pettis County.
Mr. Gregory was first married, in 1870, to Miss Mary M. Lambert, a daughter of John and Margaret (Sutliff) Lambert, of Waterloo, New York. The following children were born to this union: Clara L., resides at home with her father; Isaac L., Washington township, Pettis County ; Henry E., Rochester, New York, and Herbert S., who resides on the home place. The mother of these children died in 1883. On October 13, 1893, Mr. Gregory was married to Miss Ellen Alice Lambert, a native of Waterloo, New York, born June 14, 1855. She is a sister of Mr. Gregory's first wife.
Mr. Gregory has always supported the policies of the Republican party. He was reared in the Episcopal faith. His children attend the Congregational Church. Mr. Gregory has an extensive acquaintance, and during his long and honorable career in Pettis County has made many friends. He has lived a good Christian life and has never, know- ingly, done a wrong to his fellow-men.
Everett A. Wood, M. D., one of the leading physicians and surgeons of this section of the State, is a native of Pettis County. Doctor Wood was born about five miles northeast of Sedalia March 26, 1864. He is a son of John L. and Adaline (Vickers) Wood, both natives of Kentucky. The father came to Missouri when a young man and first settled in Henry County. where he was engaged in farming until the Civil War broke out. He then came to Pettis County and was also engaged in farming here until the close of the war, when he returned to Henry County and spent the remainder of his life there. He was born in Kentucky in 1836 and died in Clinton, Missouri, in 1916. The mother was born in Ken- tucky in 1844 and died in Clinton, Missouri, in 1914. They were both members of the Baptist Church. To John L. and Adaline (Vickers) Wood were born the following children: Dr. Everett A., the subject of this sketch; Mrs. Ella T. Puntney, Kansas City, Missouri; Herman, a cabi- net maker, Kansas City, Missouri, and Harry, a decorator.
Doctor Wood spent his boyhood days on the home farm and attended the district school, and later took a course at William Jewell College, Liberty, Missouri. He then taught school for a time. In 1885 he engaged in the real estate business at Clark County, Kansas, remaining there until 1888. He then went to Keokuk, Iowa, where he was employed as book- keeper in a wholesale grocery house until 1893. He then entered the
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Keokuk Medical College, where he was graduated in 1895 with the de- gree of Doctor of Medicine.
After completing his medical course, Doctor Wood engaged in the practice of his profession at Sedalia. His skill and ability as a physician was soon recognized and it was not long until he had a good practice. In 1905 he founded the Maywood Hospital, the institution being named in honor of his wife. Doctor Wood conducted this hospital in connection with his practice until 1915, when he sold it to the Sisters of the Incarnate Word and it is now known as St. Mary's Hospital, and is situated on the corner of Broadway and Ohio street. Doctor Wood then erected a build- ing on West Fifth, corner Osage and Fifth streets, which is known as the Wood Building. This is a two story structure, the second floor of which is specially designed for physicians' offices and besides Doctor Wood's office, three other physicians occupy this floor. These offices are commodious, conveniently arranged and have all the conveniences of any offices to be found anywhere.
Doctor Wood was first married in 1888 to Miss Stella Picken, a native of Carthage, Illinois. She died in 1900. Two children were born to that union : Paul, died in infancy, and Ruth, who is a graduate of Maryland College, Baltimore, Maryland, and is now taking a special course of study at the Hull House, Chicago, Illinois. In 1903 Doctor Wood was married to Miss May Jaynes, who was born and reared in Sedalia in the house which later was converted into a hospital by Doctor Wood, as above men- tioned and given the name, Maywood, by the combination of Mrs. Wood's name, May Wood. Mrs. Wood is a daughter of Col. A. D. Jaynes, who was treasurer of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroad Company and who also organized the First National Bank of Sedalia. He and his wife are now deceased. A sketch of Col. A. D. Jaynes appears in this volume.
Doctor Wood is a close student of the science of his profession. In fact he has been a student all his life, and early in life acquired the habit of thoroughness which no doubt was the foundation for the success which he has attained in his chosen field.
Harry E. Agee, editor and publisher of the "LaMonte Record," is one of the live, progressive newspaper men of Pettis County, and a descendant of one of the pioneer families of this county. Mr. Agee is a native son of Pettis County. He was born on a farm, about one mile west of LaMonte, February 18, 1879, and is a son of William H. and Nannie (Terry) Agee.
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William H. Agee is also a native of Pettis County, born in April, 1857. He is a son of William Agee, a Kentuckian, as was also his wife. William Agee settled in Pettis County, on Flat Creek, about 1832. He laid out the town of Dresden, Missouri, of which he was the founder, and for a number of years was engaged in the mercantile business in this county in the early days. William H. Agee was educated in the town of Dresden, and in early life began clerking in his father's store. He has practically spent his life in the mercantile business. In 1888 he moved to LaMonte, where he has since conducted a hardware store, and is one of the prominent merchants of that thriving town. William H. Agee was united in marriage to Miss Nannie Terry, a daughter of Vincent Terry, an early settler in Pettis County. To this union were born the following children: Harry E., the subject of this sketch : Ollie G., engaged in the hardware business with his father, in LaMonte; Estella, married W. C. Maltby, Tulsa, Oklahoma; Herbert, resides in St. Louis, Missouri, and Walter D., city editor Sedalia "Democrat," Sedalia.
Harry E. Agee received his education in the LaMonte public schools, attending the high school there, and in early life, assisted in his father's store, when not attending school. He then worked for a time in the printing office at LaMonte, and after becoming proficient in typesetting, he went to Sedalia, in 1901. Here he was employed on the "Sentinel" and the "Daily Capital," remaining there until 1903. He then returned to LaMonte and purchased the "LaMonte Record." This is one of the old newspapers of the county, having been established by John W. Baldwin, in 1882. Since purchasing this paper, in 1903, Mr. Agee has made substantial success with it, built up a large circulation and estab- lished a very satisfactory job printing business, notwithstanding the fact that he met with a loss by fire in 1909, which completely destroyed his plant. This disaster occurred just after he had his plant equipped with a good, complete line of modern machinery. However, he pro- ceeded at once to rebuild and install new machinery, and today, he has one of the well equipped small printing plants of the county, and has built up a pleasant and profitable business. Mr. Agee is a member of the Christian Church, and his political views are Democratic, as is the policy of his newspaper. He has served as city clerk of LaMonte. He has manifested a fondness and evinced an exceptional ability for writing since boyhood, and his well-edited newspaper bears testimony that journalism is his proper sphere.
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Wilbur D. Wade, of LaMonte, a man of extensive interests in western Pettis County, is one of the notable examples in this county of what can be accomplished by a young man of ability and ambition with a determination to succeed. Mr. Wade is a native of Virginia. He was born in Highland County, Virginia, March 27, 1855, and is a son of William McCoy and Nancy (Ruckman) Wade, who were the parents of thirteen children, six of whom are living, as follow: Mary Anne, born August 24, 1838, married William Gum and died July 20, 1904; Samuel R., born December 12, 1839, and during the Civil War he enlisted in the Confederate army in Cooper County, Missouri, was wounded in battle and, after recovering from his wounds, was murdered while on his way to join his regiment, which was with General Price's army; Mrs. Matilda F. Weedin (a sketch of the Weedin family history appears in this volume) ; Mrs. Margaret Winston (a sketch of the Winston family also appears in this volume) ; James S., born May 16, 1846, and died January 6, 1907; Reuben Alexander, born January 8, 1848, and resides in Los Angeles, California; Sarah I., married T. M. Bobbitt, a sketch of whom appears in this volume; John R., born January 17, 1852, now resides in Kansas City, Missouri; Virginia A., born October 2, 1853, married Joe Smith and lives in Pueblo, Colorado; Nancy Alice Adella, born March 27, 1855, and died at the age of four years; Wilbur D., the subject of this sketch, a twin brother of Nancy Alice Adella; Marilla C., born March 28, 1857, married William Burton, and died in 1913, and Anson L., born December 21, 1858, and died in infancy.
William McCoy Wade was born in Bath County, now Highland County, Virginia, January 12, 1817. He lived in Virginia until 1859, when he came to Missouri with his family and settled in Cooper County. He remained there until March, 1865, when he came to Pettis County, and settled on a farm about ten miles northwest of LaMonte. He was a farmer all his life, and at the time of his death was the owner of about 100 arces of land. He was an industrious and hard-working man, and met with a reasonable degree of success, although he met with some reverses, including the depressing period of the Civil War. He reared a large family, and well deserves to be recorded among the honored pioneers of Missouri. He died November 17, 1881. Nancy (Ruckman) Wade, mother of Wilbur D. Wade, was born in Highland County, Virginia, August 20, 1816, and died in Phelph City, Missouri, March 22, 1882. She was a devout Christian woman, and she and her husband belonged to the Methodist Church South.
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Wilbur D. Wade was four and one-half years old when his parents came to Missouri, and ten years old when they settled in Pettis County. He had attended school before coming to Pettis County, but received the principal part of his education in the public schools of Blackwater township. He remained on the home farm with his father until 1875, when he went to LaMonte and learned telegraphy, under the preceptor- ship of his brother, John R., who was at that time employed as telegraph operator for the Missouri Pacific Railroad Company, at LaMonte. After learning telegraphy Mr. Wade was employed as a telegraph operator at various stations on the Missouri, Kansas & Texas railroad, and also was in the employ of the Missouri Pacific in Missouri and Kansas, as a tele- graph operator.
In 1881 Mr. Wade returned to Pettis County, bought the old home farm, which his father owned, and engaged in farming and stock raising. He has also been an extensive feeder of cattle for the market. In addition to his farming and stock operations, he traveled on the road for six years, for a St. Louis grain commission house, and while thus engaged he got his first real financial start. He worked hard and saved his money. He has bought more land, from time to time, until he now owns 1,265 acres of some of Pettis County's best land. His farm property is all located in LaMonte township except 346 acres, which is in Elk Fork township. His property is all well improved, and under a high state of cultivation. He has built a number of large, commodious barns and nice residences. He carries on general farming and stock raising, and feeds cattle and hogs on an extensive scale. Mr. Wade has resided in LaMonte since 1889, where he built a magnificent fourteen-room residence, in 1914. This is a modern structure throughout, luxuriously furnished, and one of the finest homes in Pettis County. It is built of stone and stuccoed, and this place is known as "Wayside Farm."
On October 14, 1886, Wilbur D. Wade was united in marriage with Miss Anna M. Snoddy, who was born in Pettis County, June 10, 1864. She is a daughter of Dr. William D. and Elnor (Brown) Snoddy, natives of Virginia and Franklin County, Missouri, respectively. Doctor Snoddy was a pioneer physician of Pettis County, and lived at old Georgetown in the early fifties. He entered government land, southwest of LaMonte, where he lived until 1882, when he retired and moved to LaMonte. He died in Warrensburg in 1910, aged about eighty-eight years. To Mr. and Mrs. Wilbur D. Wade have been born two sons: Lawrence L., who lives
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