USA > Missouri > Pettis County > History of Pettis County, Missouri > Part 56
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in LaMonte township, and Linden Foy, assistant cashier of the LaMonte Bank, who resides with his father.
Mr. Wade is a Democrat, and takes a commendable interest in public affairs. He was elected mayor of LaMonte in 1916, and has given that town one of the best administrations that it ever had. He is a member of the Christian Church, in which he is an elder, and takes an active interest in Sunday school work. He is a Knights Templar Mason and a member of the Mystic Shrine, and belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America. Mr. Wade has worked hard, and he has been justly rewarded by success, and the story of his career should act as an inspira- tion to the young men of today, who are willing to make an honest endeavor to attain success. Mr. Wade is public spirited and patriotic, and has always been a liberal contributor to charitable institutions, churches and all patriotic movements during the great World War.
Paul L. Wensell, secretary and manager of the LaMonte Milling & Grain Company, is the active head of one of LaMonte's important busi- nesș institutions. This business was orgainzed in 1893 by M. H. Morris, who is now a prominent real estate man in Sedalia; C. W. Ruddy, who is still interested in the business, and Paul L. Wensell, the subject of this sketch, and these three gentlemen still constitute the firm. Mr. Morris is president, Mr. Ruddy treasurer and Mr. Wensell secretary and manager. In 1910 they built an elevator. The mill is 40x80 feet in dimension and is equipped with all modern machinery for grinding meal and feed. They handle meal, feed, grain and flour but do not manufacture flour, as the other products fully tax the capacity of their plant. This is one of the thriving industries of LaMonte. In 1917 they shipped 85,000 bushels of corn and in 1918, 130,000 bushels of wheat to Kansas City and St. Louis.
Paul L. Wensell is a native son of Pettis County. He was born in LaMonte March 19, 1876, and is a son of Aaron L. and Amanda (Reed) Wensell. They were the parents of eight children, all of whom are liv- ing, Paul L., of this sketch, being the third in order of birth.
Aaron L. Wensell was born in Ohio in 1838. He served in the Civil War and in 1870 came to Pettis County, Missouri, and for a number of year's was engaged in railroading. Shortly after coming to Pettis County he became a locomotive engineer on the Missouri, Kansas & Texas rail- road out of Sedalia. However, he was an experienced railroad man when he came to Missouri. Later in life he operated a threshing machine. He
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died in LaMonte in 1896. Amanda (Reed) Wensell, mother of Paul L. Wensell, is a native of Pennsylvania and now resides in LaMonte. She is a member of the Presbyterian Church, as was her late husband.
Paul L. Wensell was reared in LaMonte and educated in the public schools and has been engaged in the milling business at LaMonte prac- tically all his life. He was united in marriage in 1909 with Miss Maggie Shelley, a native of Blackwater township, Pettis County. She is a grad- uate of the LaMonte High School and the State Normal School at War- rensburg, Missouri.
Mr. and Mrs. Wensell are member of the Presbyterian Church, and he belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America. Politically he is a Republican.
Earl Stanton Elliott, an enterprising and successful agriculturist of LaMonte township, is a native son of Pettis County. He was born in Hughesville, August 15, 1886, and is a son of Joseph and Carrie (Berry) Elliott, early settlers in the vicinity of Hughesville. Earl Stanton Elliott was one of a family of seven children born to his parents, five of whom are living. Mr. Elliott received his education in the district schools and the Hughesville High School. In 1908 he engaged in farming on his own account and has operated rented land extensively. He is now farm- ing 485 acres of land in LaMonte township which he rents from W. D. Wade. In addition to this, he owns 172 acres in Johnson County which he purchased in 1917. He carries on general farming and stock raising and has met with a very satisfactory degree of success.
Mr. Elliott has been twice married. In 1908 he was married to Sallie Aldridge, a native of Pettis County and a daughter of James and Anna (Howe) Aldridge, early settlers of this county. To this union was born one son, James Spencer Elliott. Mrs. Elliott departed this life in 1912. In 1915 Mr. Elliott was united in marriage with Miss Catherine Knight, a native of Pettis County and a daughter of James W. and Izora (Hatton) Knight. James W. Knight is a former superintendent of schools of Pettis County. To Mr. and Mrs. Elliott has been born one child, Stella" Grace.
Mr. Elliott is a supporter of the policies and principles of the Demo- cratic party and his fraternal affiliations are with the Modern Woodmen of America. He is one of Pettis County's substantial young men who is making good.
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Lewis T. Berry, a well-known farmer and stockman of Prairie town- ship, belongs to a pioneer family of Missouri. He was born near Linneus, Linn County, Missouri, February 8, 1857, a son of John R. and Eliza (Wright) Berry. The father was born in Kentucky, and came to Mis- souri just after the Civil War closed. He engaged in the mercantile busi- ness at St. Joseph, and later was in business at Holden and at other places in western Missouri. The mother was a native of Virginia. They are both now deceased. They were the parents of six children, two of whom are now living: James H., who resides in Los Angeles, California, and Lewis T., whose name introduces this sketch.
Lewis T. Berry was reared, principally, in Pettis County, his parents having settled here about the time the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Rail- road was being constructed. In early life he worked as a farm hand, and for a time worked for Mr. Hubbard, a dairyman at Sedalia, remain- ing with him about five years. He then entered the railway service as engine caller, and began firing about 1878, and later was promoted to locomotive engineer. About 1886 he resigned and bought his present farm, in Prairie township, which at that time had very little improve- ments on it, with the exception of an unpretentious pine cabin. Mr. Berry has made extensive improvements, and now has one of the well- improved and productive farms of the county, where he is successfully carrying on general farming and stock raising.
Mr. Berry was united in marriage November 17, 1880, with Miss Lizzie Davidson, a native of Pettis County, and a daughter of J. T. and Angeline (Warren) Davidson. Mrs. Berry was born August 1, 1863, and departed this life January 19, 1916. To Mr. and Mrs. Berry were born four children: Lena, deceased; Edna, married C. A. Richards, Dresden township; Thomas L., lives in Pettis County, and Hazel, resides at home with her father.
When Mr. Berry was a child, he passed through the experience of being stolen by the Indians-an experience common to a certain extent "in the Colonial, or even later history of our country, but there are few of the present age or generation who have such an adventure to their credit. When the Berry family lived at St. Joseph, Missouri, where the father was engaged in the wholesale mercantile business, the Berry home was located on about an acre of ground, and young Lewis and his brother were playing in the yard one day, and the Indians, who were plentiful in that vicinity, kidnapped Lewis, who was the younger of the
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L. T. BERRY.
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two boys, he being about three years old. The Indians started for their camp with the child. The mother missed her boy, and immediately an alarm was given and a posse formed, which went in pursuit of the Indians and in a short time located the child and, after much parleying, the Indians surrendered the boy without a fight. This, perhaps, is an expe- rience that no living person in Pettis County has ever had.
John M. Baldwin, a prominent farmer and breeder and president of the Farmers Bank at LaMonte, is a native of Kentucky. He was born May 13, 1856, at Maysville, Mason County, Kentucky, the son of Robert L. and Sallie E. (Metcalf) Baldwin, both natives of Kentucky who spent their lives in that State. The father was a farmer. He died in 1866 at the age of forty-five years. The mother died in 1862, aged forty years. They were the parents of two children, John M. Baldwin, the subject of this sketch, and Mrs. Emma T. Patterson, now deceased.
Mr. Baldwin was left an orphan at an early age, being only a little past five years old when his mother died, and only nine years old at the time of his father's death. After the death of his father, he was reared under the guardianship of W. W. Baldwin, an uncle. He was educated in the schools of Kentucky and the University of Virginia, at Charlottes- ville, Virginia. When he was twenty years of age he entered the employ of his uncle as bookkeeper in a plow factory which his uncle operated. In 1879 Mr. Baldwin came to Missouri and settled in Lafayette County, where he remained about eighteen months. He then went back to Ken- tucky, but remained a short time, however, when he returned to Mis- souri and engaged in farming and stock raising in Pettis County, near Dresden. In 1904 he located on his present place in LaMonte township. Here he has 460 acres of well improved land, under a high state of cul- tivation. It is one of the fine farms of Pettis County and is known as "Auvergne," which translated into English means Evergreen. The resi- dence is located on section 24. Mr. Baldwin carries on general farming and stock raising and makes a specialty of breeding Shropshire sheep, and for thirty-two years has been a successful breeder of these sheep. He was one of the organizers of the Farmers Bank of LaMonte, which began business in 1914, and has been president of that institution since its organization. Further mention is made of the Farmers Bank of La- Monte elsewhere in this volume in the chapter on banks. The field of banking is by no means a new venture for Mr. Baldwin. He has been interested in the banking business in Pettis County for a number of years and was one of the organizers of the Sedalia National Bank.
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Mr. Baldwin was married in October, 1883, to Miss Nannie L. Cat- ron, a native of Lafayette County, Missouri. Her parents were also natives of Missouri. To Mr. and Mrs. Baldwin have been born six chil- dren, as follow: Robert Lee, an electrical engineer, Kansas City, Mis- souri; Dolf, at home; Elizabeth, resides at home; Mrs. Emma Denton, LaMonte township; John M., Jr., in training for Government service in the University of Missouri at Columbia, and one child died in infancy.
Mr. Baldwin is a stanch supporter of the policies and principles of the Democratic party and is a member of the Methodist Church, South. He is a Knights Templar Mason and a member of the Mystic Shrine, hold- ing membership in the Blue Lodge and chapter at LaMonte, the Com- mandery at Sedalia and the Shrine at Kansas City, Missouri.
The business career of Mr. Baldwin may truthfully be said to be a successful one. He has not only succeeded for himself but in so doing he has contributed to the development of the great resources of Pettis County and Missouri.
Wilbur Ewers Files .- For many years it has been a recognized fact in this country that the raising of standard stock is one of the most important features confronting the stock raiser of the present and future. A number of stockmen have invaded this important field of stock hus- bandry, but, like all other important vocations, the sphere of the success- ful breeded requires especial knowledge, as well as study and application, to win success. Some have failed altogether, others have succeeded along special lines. We frequently find a man who is a successful breeder of some particular breed of horses, and others, various breeds of cattle, sheep, etc. It is a rare instance, where we find a man who has won a state-wide reputation as a breeder of horses, cattle, hogs and sheep. Such a man is Wilbur Ewers Files, whose name introduces this sketch. He is one of the successful breeders in the state of Missouri, and is recognized as such by those who are in the best position to know.
Mr. Files is a native of Ohio, born near Mount Vernon, Ohio, April 14, 1863, and is a son of William S. and Martha Ann (Ewers) Files. William S. Files, the father, was a native of Maine, born at Belfast Bay, June 11, 1824. When about eleven years of age he moved to Ohio with his parents, where he was reared and educated, and spent his boyhood days on a farm. In 1852 he was married to Miss Martha A. Ewers, a daughter of Robert Ewers. William S. Files continued farming in Ohio until 1866, when he came to Missouri and settled in Pettis County, on a
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farm near Dresden. In 1876 he took charge of the LaMonte House, which was the principal hotel in LaMonte, and conducted it for a number of years prior to his death.
Wilbur Ewers Files was about three years of age when his parents settled in Pettis County, and here he was reared and received his educa- tion in the public schools. He has made farming, stock raising and breeding his life's work. He owns a splendid farm of 240 acres of well- improved land, with commodious dwelling and other farm buildings, located in section 23, LaMonte township. Mr. Files is a breeder of Hol- stein cattle, Percheron horses, Mammoth Jacks and Jennys, and Shrop- shire sheep. He is also extensively engaged in the dairy business, and feeds cattle for the market. All his stock are either registered or eligible to registration. For the past three years he has exhibited Percheron horses at the Missouri State Fair, and taken the grand champion prize. At the last fair his seven-year-old mare was awarded first prize. His stallion, "Champaigne" No. 46,934, took the first prize at the State Fair. This horse was imported from France, and was bred by the French government. The horse was imported by Mclaughlin Bros., of Columbus, Ohio, in 1904. Mr. Files bought this horse from S. E. Martin, and owned him for a number of years. This is one of the best horses ever owned in Pettis County. Mr. Files conducts an extensive dairying business, which is in thorough keeping with all his methods, and is carried on on a scientific basis.
Mr. Files was united in marriage January 21, 1904, with Miss Ursula Terry, who was born in LaMonte, and her parents moved to the farm where she now resides, when she was two and a half years old. She is a daughter of Thomas and Nancy (Ewing) Terry, who now reside in LaMonte. To Mr. and Mrs. Files have been born two children, Wilbur Terry and Claire E., both residing at home.
Mr. Files is a Republican, and is a member of the Christian Church. He belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America and the Masonic Lodge. He also holds membership in the Holstein Friesian Company of Sedalia. In addition to his other numerous interests, Mr. Files is a stockholder and director in the LaMonte Telephone Company. He is a man well known, not only in Pettis County but throughout the State, and has done and is doing as much as any other man in Pettis County to encourage the raising of better stock.
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Jefferson Davis Woodward, a successful farmer and stockman of LaMonte township, is a native of Kentucky. He was born in Montgomery County August 17, 1861, a son of Richard M. and Cynthia (Faulkner) Woodward. They were the parents of nine children. Richard M. Wood- ward was born near Lexington, Kentucky, in 1838. He grew to manhood in his native State, and followed farming there until 1882, when he came to Pettis County and settled in LaMonte township, where he followed farming until his death, in 1905. He was an industrious man and a suc- cessful farmer and stockman. He took a commendable interest in public affairs, and was a lifelong Democrat. His wife, Cynthia (Faulkner) Woodward, was born in Powell County, Kentucky, December 25, 1841, and now resides in LaMonte, Missouri. She is a member of the Christian Church.
Jefferson Davis Woodward was reared in Kentucky and educated in the public schools of his native State, and came to Missouri in 1882, about a month after his parents came here. Farming and stock raising has been Mr. Woodward's life occupation. He remained at home and followed farming with his father for a number of years. He and his father bought part of Mr. Woodward's present farm in partnership, and Mr. Woodward is now the sole owner, having purchased his father's interest in 1896. He has made extensive improvements on the place, built a large silo, as well as other modern improvements. He owns 121 acres of land, which is situated in section 22, LaMonte township. Mr. Woodward carries on general farming and stock raising, in which he has been very successful, and for the last fifteen years he has been a breeder of Poland China hogs and Holstein cattle. He is a member of the Pettis County Holstein Friesian Company.
Mr. Woodward was married March 14, 1894, to Louisa Fisher, a native of Callaway County, and a daughter of Walter and Mattie (Terry) Fisher, the former a native of West Virginia, and the latter of Callaway County, Missouri. The Fisher family came to LaMonte about 1903, and 1905 moved to Arkansas, and 1916 returned to LaMonte, where the father died, 1917, and where the mother now resides with her youngest daughter, Miss Edna Fisher. To Mr. and Mrs. Woodward have been born the fol- lowing children: Ralph B., born May 9, 1895, enlisted in the United States army after this country entered the World War, and is now serv- ing in the construction department of the Aviation Corps in France; Mary, a student at Missouri University ; Paul, deceased ; Clarence, residing
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at home, and Mildred, also at home. Mr. Woodward and his family are members of the Christian Church, and stand high in the community.
John W. Johnston, a successful and well-known farmer and stockman of LaMonte township, is a native of Missouri. He was born in Benton County August 29, 1869. His parents were William and Mary (Johnston) Johnston. They were the parents of six children, John W. being the only one who resides in Pettis County. William Johnston was a native of Scotland and, when a young man, he came to American and settled in Sangamon County, Illinois, prior to the Civil War. There he met and was married to Miss Mary Johnston, who was also a native of Scotland. William Johnston and his wife came to Missouri in 1859, and settled in Benton County. The father was engaged in farming and stock raising, and they spent the remainder of their lives in that county. The father died in 1904, aged seventy-four years, and the mother departed this life in 1889, aged forty-nine years. They were highly respected people, and prominent in Benton County.
John W. Johnston was reared and educated in Benton County. He was reared on a farm and has made farming his life's vocation. He fol- lowed farming in Benton County, where he owned the old Johnston home- stead until 1904. He then sold his farm in that county, and removed to Pettis County, and in 1910, bought his present farm in LaMonte town- ship. This place consists of 200 acres; it is well improved, and under a high state of cultivation, and is one of Pettis County's valuable farms. Mr. Johnston has made valuable improvements and has recently built a large silo. He carries on farming and stock raising, and is now making a specialty of breeding Aberdeen Angus cattle, and has a herd of eight head of pure-bred cattle of this breed.
Mr. Johnston was married in December, 1899, to Miss Jessie Rolstin, a native of Benton County, Missouri, and a daughter of David R. and Josephine (Chastain) Rolstin, the former a native of Canada, and the latter of Benton County, Missouri. To Mr. and Mrs. Johnston have been born one son, John R., who resides at home with his parents. Mr. John- ston is a member of the. Knights of the Maccabees, and he and Mrs. John- ston are members of the Christian Church. Mr. Johnston is one of the progressive citizens of Pettis County, and a supporter of any worthy movement, or enterprise, which tends to the betterment of the community. He is interested in the Farmers Bank of LaMonte, in which he is a stock- holder.
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Dennis Connor, of LaMonte township, is an early settler in Missouri and for many years has been engaged in farming and stock raising in Pettis County, where he has met with success, and is one of the sub- stantial citizens of this county. He began life a poor boy, but by hard work and good management he has attained a competence and is now the owner of 320 acres of valuable land in LaMonte township. Mr. Connor was born in County Kerry, Ireland, in 1842, a son of Humphrey and Mary (English) Connor.
When Dennis Connor was eight years old, in 1850, he was brought to America by his parents, who settled in Kentucky. The father followed railroad construction work. The family removed to Missouri prior to the Civil War and the father was employed on the construction of the Wabash railroad. Shortly afterwards he came to Pettis County, where he was engaged in farming until the time of his death, in 1878. He was seventy-four years old when he died. The mother was also a native of Ireland. She died in 1890, aged eighty years.
Dennis Connor worked on railroad construction work when a young man in the capacity of teamster. When the Civil War broke out he was engaged as a teamster in the employ of the United States Government. In this capacity he hauled supplies for the United States troops to vari- ous points from Sedalia. Shortly after the close of the war he engaged in farming in Pettis County with his father, northeast of LaMonte. He sold this place in 1881 and purchased his present farm in 1881 and has made practically all the improvements that are on this place, including the fine residence and other farm buildings.
Mr. Connor was married in 1868 to Miss Ellen Clifford, a native of Ireland, who was brought to the United States by her parents when she was five years old. She is a daughter of John and Katherine (Coffey) Clifford. They came to Missouri about 1855 and settled in Johnson County, where they spent the remainder of their lives. The both died at War- rensburg. To Mr. and Mrs. Connor have been born eight children, as follow: Dennis, Jr., lives in Kansas City, Missouri ; Anna, resides at home with her parents; John, at home with his parents; Mrs. Emma Brosna -. han, lives in Kansas City, Missouri; Agnes, married A. Cross and they live in LaMonte township; Lula, married P. J. Devine and they reside in Cooper County, Missouri; James, lives in LaMonte township, and Dora, at home with her parents.
Mr. Connor is a Democrat, but inclined to be independent in political
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affairs. He and his family are members of the Catholic Church. Mr. Connor has spent over half a century of his life in Pettis County and is well worthy of being classified as a worthy pioneer in a work of this character. When he first came to this county, the present site of the city of Sedalia was an open stretch of prairie, with some swamp land during rainy weather, and the county was mostly an open and unbroken country. He has seen many changes worked out in this county since the days of the Civil War. While he has been handicapped on account of a limited education, he has gone on and succeeded to a very consid- erable extent by hard work and the application of good, sound, practical judgment. He is now living practically retired, while his sons carry on the work of the home place.
John W. Sims, who is associated with the Morris Real Estate and Loan Company of Sedalia, is one of the progressive business men of Pettis County. Mr. Sims is a native of Missouri. He was born in Audrain County, and is a son of Benjamin O. and Luella (Walden) Sims, both natives of Audrain County and descendants of pioneer families of that section of the State. Benjamin O. Sims was engaged in farming and stock raising for a number of years but is now engaged in the banking business at Welletka, Oklahoma.
John W. Sims is the eldest of a family of eight children born to his parents. He was educated in the public schools of Mexico, Missouri, and the Sproul Academy. He then took a general business course and studied law at the Gem City Business College at Quincy, Illinois. After com- pleting his business course, Mr. Sims engaged in the land business in Texas. In 1904 he promoted the handling of 42,000 acres of land in Texas which involved the founding of the town of Kingsville, Texas, which now has a population of from eight to ten thousand people. This town is located on the St. Louis, Brownsville & Mexico railroad. In 1908 Mr. Sims came to Sedalia and since that time has been associated with the Morris Real Estate and Loan Company, one of the leading institu- tions, of its kind in Pettis County.
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