USA > Missouri > Pettis County > History of Pettis County, Missouri > Part 62
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Mr. Reavis was married June 2, 1917, to Miss Josephine Scott, a native of LaMonte township and a daughter of Albert and Mary (Ral- ston) Scott. Mrs. Reavis was reared in the family of John W. Johnson of LaMonte township.
Mr. Reavis is a Democrat and he and Mrs. Reavis are members of the Christian Church.
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DANIEL HAYWOOD REAVIS.
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Victor H. Leffler, member of the firm of the Nafziger Baking Com- pany of Sedalia, is one of the progressive young business men of this city whose career has been marked by unusual success. Mr. Leffler was born in Sedalia, May 18, 1888, a son of James K. and Elizabeth (Edwards) Leffler, both now deceased. The father was a native of Virginia and the mother of Missouri. He was a railway trainman and was employed by the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroad Company for fifteen years. He died June 9, 1916, and his wife departed this life February 3, 1897.
Victor H. Leffler is one of a family of four children, three of whom are now living who were born to his parents as follow: Victor H., the subject of this sketch; Mrs. John L. Cousley, Sedalia, Missouri; Mrs. John Y. Boatright, Sedalia, Missouri, and James Leffler, deceased.
Mr. Leffler was reared in Sedalia and received his education in the public schools here. He began life as a grocery clerk at the age of six- teen years. When he was twenty-one years of age, he engaged in the bakery business in 1910, when he entered into partnership with L. F. Streng, under the firm name of Streng & Leffler. They operated the large bakery on South Ohio street where they built up an extensive business until August 3, 1918, when this business was consolidated with the Naf- ziger Bakery Company, under the name of the latter. Mr. Leffler was chosen vice-president and treasurer of the company. They proceeded to erect a new modern, up-to-date building to be used exclusively for a wholesale bread bakery on the corner of Main and Prospect streets, Se- dalia. This is one of the best equipped, modern bakeries in the State of Missouri. Every device to facilitate this important industry, both from a productive and sanitary standpoint is to be found in this insti- tution.
Mr. Leffler was united in marriage May 4, 1910, with Miss Stella Streng, of Sedalia and they have two children, Leonard and Victor. Mr. Leffler is prominent in lodge work. He is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Lodge No. 125, Sedalia, and is now serving his second term as exalted ruler of that lodge. He is a member of Se- dalia Lodge No. 236, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, of Sedalia Chap- ter No. 18, Royal Arch Masons, Order Eastern Star No. 57, Council No. 34 of St. Omer Commandery No. 11, Knights Templar, and of the Mystic Shrine, holding membership in the latter Masonic body, in Kansas City, Missouri. He was made bakery advisor and inspector for the United States Food Administration during the World War, and gave much time to
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this work. He is a Republican and a member of the Calvery Episcopal Church.
Mr. Leffler has a splendid voice and is considered one of Sedalia's best singers. In spite of his busy career, he often finds time to sing at various entertainments and in church services.
Henry Lamm, former chief justice of the Supreme Court of Mis- souri, and a leading attorney of Sedalia, is a native of Ohio. Judge Lamm was born in Wayne County, Ohio, December 3, 1846. His great-grandfather was Peter Lamm, a native of Holland who came from Rotterdam to America in 1740. Peter Lamm settled in Berks County, Pennsylvania, and established a home there for himself and his descendants. Philip Lamm, grandfather of Judge Henry Lamm, crossed the Alleghany Moun- tains in 1803 and settled in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania. In 1846, William Lamm, father of the subject of this review, settled in Wayne County, Ohio. His wife was Catherine Zuver, a native of Lawrence County, Pennsylvania.
Judge Lamm was educated in Canaan Centre Academy, and later pur- sued a course in Western College of Iowa. He graduated from Michigan University. He settled in Sedalia in 1869 and for a time he taught school while pursuing the study of law. He was admitted to the bar of Pettis County in 1871. He was appointed to the office of circuit clerk by Gover- nor Woodson and also served in this capacity and as deputy county clerk until 1874. He practiced his profession until 1904 and was then elected to the supreme bench of the State of Missouri. The firm of Sangre and Lamm which had been in existence in Sedalia for thirty years was then dissolved. Judge Lamm took his seat in the Supreme Court in 1912 and served until 1916. He was then a candidate for Governor of Mis- souri on the Republican ticket.
Judge Lamm also served as prosecuting attorney of Pettis County for four years and was a member of the Sedalia School Board. He as- sisted in the organization of the Sedalia National Bank and the Missouri Trust Company. Upon the expiration of his term as justice of the Su- preme Court he resumed the practice of his profession in Sedalia.
Judge Henry Lamm was married at East Saginaw, Michigan, on June 18, 1874, to Miss Grace Adella Rose, a daughter of D. F. and Mary A. (Foster) Rose, a lumber merchant of East Saginaw. Six children were born of this marriage: Nellie R., a teacher in the public schools ;
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Philip F .; George D., deceased; Henry, a dairyman; Donald Sangre, a practicing attorney.
Judge Lamm is a member of the Congregational Church, and is fra- ternally affiliated with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons.
E. H. Milton, a progressive business man who is one of Sedalia's leading merchants, is a native of the province of Smolensk, Russia. He was born January 20, 1865. Mr. Milton was reared and educated in his native land and since he was twelve years old, made his own way in the world. His father was blind and it fell to the lot of young Milton in early life, not only to provide for himself, but to assist in maintaining his parents' home. He proved himself equal to the demands of the occa- sion and when a mere boy, engaged in business for himself in Russia. He was in the mercantile business and met with success. However, he saw greater possibilities in America and in 1912, disposed of his busi- ness in Russia, and came to this country. Unlike the average new-comer, he came here with some capital. After disposing of his business at home, he had about $5,000 in cash. He came directly to Sedalia and bought the mercantile business which had been conducted by Henry Edwards at Fifteenth and Osage streets. He immediately set about to increase and develop this business and in a short time, was carrying five times the amount of stock and doing as much more business as the place was when he bought it.
January 24, 1914, he bought his present business which is located at the corner of Seventh and Engineer streets. Here he conducts a gen- eral store, which includes a complete line of groceries, flour, feed, etc., with a meat market in connection where two butchers are employed. Mr. Milton employs on an average of seventeen clerks and assistants. This is one of the busy stores of Sedalia. By his square dealings and honest methods, Mr. Milton has built up in a comparative short time, one of the important business institutions of this city. The Milton store has a frontage of forty-five feet and is over one hundred feet deep. He carries a large stock of excellent merchandise, always buying in large quantities and giving his hundreds of customers the benefit of the best possible retail prices thereby.
Mr. Milton was married in 1890 to Miss Rona Chasnoff, a sister of M. Chasnoff, a sketch of whom appears in this volume. To Mr. and Mrs. Milton have been born five children as follow: Samuel, a soldier in the United States Army; Freda, married Nathan Saffern, St. Joseph, Missouri; Harry, who is assisting his father in the business; Margaret, at home with her parents; and Bertha, at home with her parents.
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Mr. Milton is a member of the Yeomen and is one of the progressive and public spirited citizens of Sedalia.
George B. Goodrich, a well-known citizen of Sedalia, Missouri, has been identified with Pettis County since boyhood. Mr. Goodrich was born at Lehigh, Iowa, June 6, 1867, and is a son of E. L. and Emaline Eliza (Marrs) Goodrich. E. L. Goodrich, the father, was a pioneer settler of Webster County, Iowa, and a native of Ohio. He was living in Iowa when the Civil War broke out, and enlisted in Company I, Thirty-second Regi- ment, Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and served throughout the war under Col. A. J. Smith. In 1879, E. L. Goodrich came to Missouri with his family, settling in Pettis County, where he lived several years. He now resides in California, where he is spending the sunset of his life in retirement. He is seventy-nine years old. His wife, who was a native of Indiana, died in Pettis County in 1913. Both the Goodrich and the Marrs families are of English descent, and were early settlers in New England. The Goodrich family has occupied a prominent position in England for cen- turies, and Goodrich castle takes its name from prominent members of this family.
George B. Goodrich is one of two children born to his parents. The younger brother, Hawley L., is a resident of Sedalia, and engaged in the United States mail service. George B. Goodrich was about nine years of age when he came to Missouri with his parents, who settled in Pettis County. Here he received his education in the public schools and grew to manhood. He is now successfully engaged in the shade tree business, in which he has been interested for a number of years, having practically spent his life in this work. He is recognized as an expert in this line of work and has built up a large business.
Mr. Goodrich was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Elizabeth Berry, a native of Virginia, who came to Pettis County with her parents when four years of age. They first settled in Dresden, Pettis County. To Mr. and Mrs. Goodrich have been born three children, as follow: Louis Dewey, who served in the World War as a member of the Second Engineers, and in July, 1918, he was decorated for distinguished service; Llewelyn, who is in the employ of the United States Government in Wash- ington, D. C., and Fern, who is a student in the Sedalia High School. Both Louis and Llewelyn are graduates of the Sedalia High School, and Louis attended the Missouri State University at Columbia two years.
Mr. Goodrich is a Republican and a member of the Modern Wood-
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men of America and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He and the other members of the family are members of the Christian Church. Mr. Goodrich is one of Pettis County's substantial citizens.
William W. Bolton .- The office of sheriff of a county of the size and importance attained by Pettis County is weighted with responsibility, and requires a man of decided executive ability and acumen to fittingly discharge the duties devolving upon him. Sheriff William W. Bolton, since taking charge of the office of sheriff of the county has given and is giving ample evidence of decided ability and tireless energy, in behalf of the citizens of Pettis County. His work as chairman of the Pettis County Exemption Board has been marked with singular diplomacy and honesty, in the discharge of the duties involved upon him, because of the drafting of Pettis County citizens during the World War in which Amer- ican valor has played such a signal and decisive part. The Pettis County Board has the distinction of being one of the foremost boards of the State of Missouri, as regards accuracy and its responsibilities in the number of men handled and examined, places its eighth in rank in the State.
Sheriff William W. Bolton is a native Missourian, born in Cole County, Missouri, January 7, 1869. He is the son of William W. Bolton, one of the best known of the early pioneers of Cole County who served as a sergeant in the Mexican War. William Bolton, Sr., also filled the office of sheriff of Cole County during the Civil War period, and spent the rest of his days in Cole County, dying on his homestead where his remains were laid to rest in Bolton Cemetery, located seven miles south of Jefferson City. His wife was Martha M. Donahue prior to her mar- riage. She died at Jacksonville, Texas, where she had gone for her health. Her remains were brought to Missouri and interred in the ceme- tery at Sedalia. The children of William W. Bolton and Martha M. (Donahue) Bolton were as follow: William W., of this review; H. L., Sedalia, Missouri; Mrs. Clara McGhee, 2319 Quincy Avenue, Kansas City, Missouri. William W. Bolton, Sr., was twice married. By his first mar- riage he had two children: Benjamin F., Jefferson City, Missouri; Miss Millie Bolton, Williamsburg, Calloway County, Missouri. Martha M. Donahue was the wife of Captain Corbin prior to her marriage with Mr. Bolton and was mother of two children by this marriage: Mrs. Anna Y. Moore, Columbia, Missouri; and Mrs. Katie Villmore, deceased. Captain Corbin was a steamboat man who had charge of a steamer which plied
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up and down the Osage River during the pioneer days when the Osage was the only artery of traffic in communication with western Missouri, his route embracing both the Missouri and Osage Rivers.
William W. Bolton was reared to young manhood in the home of M. H. Sibert who resided on a farm west of Sedalia. He attended the dis- trict schools and Sedalia University, later completing a business course at Central Business College. For some years he followed farming and in 1908 he located in Sedalia where he was engaged in the livery and trans- fer business. He was elected constable of Sedalia township in 1912, and again elected in 1914. In November of 1916 he was elected to the office of sheriff of Pettis County for a term of four years, leading the Demo- cratic ticket in the number of votes received in all three times he ran for office. Mr. Bolton's term as sheriff will expire in 1921.
On September 22, 1897, Mr. Bolton was married to Gertrude V. Can- ning, a daughter of Daniel and Margaret Canning of Pettis County, Mis- souri. Daniel Canning died in 1895. His widow now resides in Sedalia, Missouri, having attained the great age of ninety-two years. Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Canning were parents of eight children: Bert Canning, Eureka, Kansas; Mrs. Sis Stillwell, Eureka, Kansas; Mrs. Anna Hunt, Eureka, Kansas; Charles E., Eureka, Kansas; Daniel, deceased; Mrs. Georgia A. Ford, 612 West Fifth Street, Sedalia, Missouri; Mrs. Clara Bergfelder, 914 South' Vermont Avenue, Sedalia, Missouri; and Mrs. Gertrude V. Bolton, wife of the subject of this review. To Mr. and Mrs. William W. Bolton have been born one son, Charles H., now attending the Sedalia schools. Mr. and Mrs. Bolton have a pleasant home at 601 West Fourth Street, Sedalia, Missouri.
Jack Truitt .- The Sedalia Theater, owned and managed by Jack Truitt, was leased by the present management in March, 1915. Mr. Truitt came to Sedalia from Kansas City where he was manager of the Willis Wood Theater. Prior to Mr. Truitt's advent in Sedalia, the local theater had not been very successful in a financial way; and the first thing the new manager did was to open the house for "one little dime," and give an excellent show for the money. The price was catchy with the theater-loving public and the shows being good, the house was soon crowded daily and nightly and the theater sprang into great popularity as "Sedalia's popular joy spot." Other catchy phrases used in advertis- ing the attractions of this popular playhouse which show the distinct genius of the manager are "The Sedalia Theater, Worthy of Its Name,"
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"The Sedalia Theater, a Little East on Third Street," "Sedalia's Happy Comer," "Sedalia Theater, Everybody's Friend."
The success of this theater is, in large measure, due to the rigid at -. tention to details of management, such as cleanliness, beginning the plays on time, and always telling the truth about the various attractions. Admission prices are always the same, unless some unusual attraction is put on the boards, and then an advance notice of the increase is given to the public. Since taking charge of the Sedalia Theater, Mr. Truitt has expended over $5,000 on interior decoration and equipment. In Septem- ber, 1916, purchased the theater outright and it is a paying institution. Sixteen people are employed with a pay roll of $300 per week, irre- spective of the added expense when vaudeville attractions are placed before the public.
Jack Truitt was born in Osage City, Kansas in 1882. When sixteen years of age he went to Chicago and began his first theatrical work as usher in a city theater. He soon began to get an insight into vaudeville and musical comedy and for five years was general manager of the thea- ters owned and operated by the Crawfords of Topeka, Kansas. The Crawfords operated a vaudeville, a road show house and a stock house. While serving as agent or expressman for the Wells Fargo Company run- ning out of Cherryvale, Kansas, into Oklahoma, he became attracted to the idea of nickel and ten cent shows for the entertainment of the public. One night at Cherryvale he purchased a ticket, during a raffle held in a restaurant and was lucky enough to win a nickle in the slot phonograph. Taking the phonograph with him in the express car of the mixed train with which he was working, he invited the Indians and other passengers on the train to enjoy the music obtained by inserting a nickel in the slot of the machine. So popular was the innovation that he became imbued with the idea that the people at large would willingly pay nickles and dimes for entertainment. This idea grew with his advance in the theat- rical entertainment world and his present successful venture as owner of the Sedalia Theater is the outcome. Mr. Truitt rightly believes that his theater is a valuable asset to the city, as the city is valuable to the theater. The theater business in Sedalia has been placed upon a higher and better plane since he has become so closely identified with this city and his belief, that the public cares most for clean moral shows has been amply justified by the crowds which daily throng his theater.
Jack Truitt was married on January 2, 1910, to Miss Loa Learned
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of Topeka. Mr. and Mrs. Truitt have an adopted daughter, Nettie Jane, and reside at 618 West Sixth Street.
John H. Connor, a substantial farmer and stockman of Dresden township, is a native of Pettis County and a descendant of one of the prominent early settlers of this section of the State. He is a son of John and Mary (Shay) Connor. The mother now resides in Dresden township at the age of seventy-six years. The father departed this life September 5, 1918, at the advanced age of eighty-three years. He was one of Pettis County's honored pioneer citizens and was held in high esteem by his friends and neighbors who were legion. At the time of his death, the following article appeared in the local newspaper of LaMonte, which gives a brief resume of Mr. Connor's career and an esti- mation of the esteem in which he was held by his fellow man: "John Connor, one of the best known farmers of Pettis County, aged eighty- three years, died at his home three miles east of LaMonte at 1:50 o'clock Thursday morning, following an illness of four or five months, the last nine weeks of which he was confined to his bed.
"Mr. Connor was born in Cahirciveen Parish, County Kerry, Ireland, in 1836, coming to this country when a lad of fourteen years, with his father, Humphrey Connor, and other children. They landed at New Orleans and journeyed up the Mississippi to Cincinnati, Ohio, where they lived for a short time. He came to Missouri in the early fifties and worked on the construction of the Missouri Pacific railway from Jeffer- son City to Sedalia. From the railroad work he entered the employ of William Gentry, and afterwards became his foreman, and had entire charge of the men who operated the farm of several thousand acres which Major Gentry owned. He saved his money and bought forty acres of land and through his energy and sound judgment accumulated enough money to purchase land from time to time, adding to the original forty acres, until at the time of his death he owned 400 acres of the best land in Pettis County.
"The deceased was married to Miss Mary Shay, at Jefferson City, in 1864, to which union thirteen children were born. The widow and nine children survive, as follow: Mrs. T. J. Buckley, S. C. Connor, J. H. Connor and Miss Mayme Connor, of the LaMonte neighborhood; W. D. Connor, Mrs. Margaret Brosnahan and Kathryn Connor, of Kansas City; Sister Mary Alexandrine of St. Louis, and Miss Anna Connor, a teacher in the Sedalia schools. Besides the widow and children, he leaves one brother, Dennis Connor, of LaMonte.
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JOHN CONNOR.
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"Mr. Connor was an upright, straightforward, honest Christian gentleman, a man of sound judgment and strong convictions. He was blessed with a host of sincere friends and loved and respected by all with whom he was acquainted. His judgment in farm matters went unques- tioned, and he was one of the finest judges of live stock in the county. He was a devout member of the Catholic Church and the estab- lishing of the LaMonte Mission of his faith was largely due to his untir- ing efforts in its behalf." He was a stockholder in the Farmers Bank of LaMonte.
John H. Connor was born February 3, 1877. He was reared on his father's farm in Dresden township and attended the public schools. Later he attended a private school at LaMonte. He remained on the home place until 1895 when he went to Sedalia and clerked in a clothing store about two years. He then returned to the home place in Dresden township and took charge of the place and made extensive improvements and he and his sister, Mamie, now own 230 acres of the old homestead. Mr. Connor operates 390 acres of land and in addition to general farm- ing and stock raising he is an extensive feeder and feeds a great many cattle for the market.
On October 30, 1918, John H. Connor was united in marriage with Miss Olive M. Hutchison. She was born in Richmond, Missouri, Novem- ber 3, 1890, and is a graduate of Woodson Institute. She is a daughter of Robert A. and Adaline (Banister) Hutchison, both natives of Ken- tucky and now residents of Chillicothe, Missouri. Robert A. Hutchison is a railroad contractor.
Mr. Connor is a Democrat and a member of the Catholic Church. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus and the Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks. He is an enterprising and progressive citizen, and a member of one of Pettis County's pioneer families, who occupy an im- portant place in its development. Mr. Connor is a stock holder of the Farmers Bank of LaMonte.
Mosley-Shafer Realty Company .- One of the thriving and important real estate firms of Sedalia, Missouri, is the Mosley-Shafer Realty Com- pany, with offices at 202 South Ohio Street.
This concern was established in 1908, by Mr. Mosley and has had a substantial growth of business during the past ten years, conducting a general real estate and loan office, and has handled thousands of acres of land in Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Missouri, besides many stocks
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of merchandise and has always taken pride in having one of the best equipped up-to-date offices in Sedalia or central Missouri.
George S. Mosley was born in 1874, on a farm in Callaway County, and the son of Robert and Susan (Bagby) Mosley, the former of whom died in 1916, at the age of eighty-six years, and the latter is still living aged eighty years. The Mosleys were pioneer settlers of Callaway County and quite prominent in the affairs of that county, being large land owners and always ready to lend a helping hand to any proposition that would be a benefit to the community. At the time of Robert Mosley's death no man had more friends; he was a Mason of high standing and all who knew him, old and young, greeted him as "Uncle Robert."
George S. Mosley received his education in the public schools of his rative county, and was there reared to young manhood. He engaged in farming and the raising and feeding of cattle in his native county, and met with substantial success. For years Mr. Mosley has made a busi- ness of improving farms and increasing their marketable value, buying a farm which was in a run down condition as regards soil and buildings, fixing them up, improving their productivity and selling at a profit. This building of farm improvement is a real lasting benefit to the country and Mr. Mosley has accomplished much good in his work.
At the time of leaving Callaway County, Mr. Mosley was credited with buying, improving and selling more farms than any other man in south Callaway.
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