USA > Missouri > Pettis County > History of Pettis County, Missouri > Part 63
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Having decided to move to the city, in order to give his children a better education, he moved to Sedalia, 1908, and opened a real estate office at 202 South Ohio Street (Pehl building). This company is now known as the Mosley-Shafer Company-George S. Mosley and Frances Shafer.
Frances Warren Shafer, partner in the Mosley-Shafer Realty Com- pany, is a daughter of Isaac and Mollie Warren, pioneer settlers of Pettis County, of which a complete history of the Warren family will be found elsewhere in this book. Mrs. Shafer was employed by Mr. Mosley in 1910, and later on became a partner in the business.
John F. Scally, grocery and restaurant proprietor, located at the cor- ner of Main and Lamine Streets, was born in Mononghela County, West Virginia, in 1856. He is a son of Peter and Ruth (Ruble) Scally. Peter Scally was born in Ireland and immigrated to America with his parents when eight years of age. The Scullys first located in Pittsburg, Pennsyl- vania, and later went to Monongahela County, West Virginia. In 1877
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Peter Scally came to Pettis County and purchased the John Gibson farm four miles southeast of Sedalia and resided there until 1880. He then came to Sedalia and engaged in the grocery business on Engineer Street, later moving to Third and Brown Streets and selling out after a time. He again opened a store at Fifth ad Engineer Streets and moved to the present location, 123 East Main Street. In old age he disposed of his interests to his son and died in 1894. The children born to Peter and Ruth Scally are as follow: James, killed in a railroad accident at Inde- pendence, Kansas; Jane, wife of James McGinness, Sedalia; Thomas, San Diego, California; Mrs. Annie Dunlap, Parsons, Kansas; John F., subject of this sketch; Mrs. Mary Boyd, deceased; Mrs. Catherine Divine, Fort Scott, Kansas; Michael, accidently drowned at Pittsburg, Pennsyl- vania ; Mrs. Bridget Ellen Enlightener, deceased; Daniel P., Los Angeles, California.
John F. Scally began his business career with a small stock of goods in 1883. His father closely observed his methods of doing business, and finding that the son was making a success of his venture, he took him into partnership, later disposing of his holdings, prior to his retirement from business. The Scully grocery and restaurant has an excellent trade and is nicely and conveniently located at the corner of Main and Lamine Streets.
John F. Scally was married June 11, 1883, to Sallie Dunlap, a daugh- ter of Matthew and Annie (Thompson) Dunlap, of Illinois, where the father died. Mrs. Scally's mother was accidently burned to death. The Dunlap family located in Pettis County in 1870 on the John T. Heard farm, in Sedalia township where Mrs. Scally was reared to maturity. Mr. and Mrs. Scally have a daughter, Annie, wife of C. N. Miller of Sedalia, mother of one child, Eva Ruth Miller. Mr. and Mrs. Scally have an imposing eleven room residence at 231 South Harrison Street. .
Mr. Scally is authority for the following reminiscences regarding prices for eatables over thirty years ago. A striking contrast is shown in comparing the prices for produce in those days with the present ex- tremely high war prices. For instance, from 1885 to 1890, eggs retailed at ten cents per dozen and often three dozen could be bought for twenty- five cents. Melons sold for from five to ten cents each. Chickens brought from $1.50 to $2.00 per dozen. One could buy a good sized chicken for from fifteen to twenty-five cents. Rabbits retailed for five cents each and were purchased by the dealer for two and three cents each in wagon- load lots. A trapped rabbit brought a nickel.
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Mr. Scally recalls the following old-time grocerymen who were doing business in Sedalia in 1885: J. K. Yeater, Ibig and Callis, Jacob Neusen- berg, Peter Brandt, and Michael Whittlinger. Mr. Scally paid four cents per pound for his first wagonload of turkeys and retailed them for five cents per pound, losing eight dollars on the transaction, learning by ex- perience that turkeys shrink alarmingly in weight when placed in con- finement.
Thomas J. Robb, consul commander of Sedalia camp, No. 16, Wood- men of the World and also district manager of the Woodmen of the World, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, February 17, 1859, the son of Thomas and Margaret (Anderson) Robb, the former of whom was a native of Ireland and the latter of Scotland. The Robb family came to Pettis County in 1870 and Mr. Robb located on a farm two and a half miles southwest of Sedalia near the town of Green Ridge. Mr. Robb purchased eighty acres there and resided upon his land until his death in 1896. His wife had preceded him in death in 1892. There were five children in the Robb family: Elizabeth died at the age of three years ; John M., accidently killed while serving as conductor on the Santa Fe railroad when a collision occurred; James A., an express messenger, Se- dalia, Missouri, in the employ of the American Railway Express Com- pany; Thomas J., subject of this review; Annie died at the age of nine years.
After attending the public schools of Pettis County, Thomas J. Robb supplemented his elementary schooling with a course in the Mis- souri State University where he studied for three years. He then fol- lowed farming pursuits until 1898 when he removed to Sedalia and en- tered the employ of the Wells Fargo Express Company as messenger. He remained in this position for eleven years and then resigned his posi- tion to serve as district manager for the Woodmen of the Worid. The district which Mr. Robb has charge embraces Pettis, Benton, Johnson, Henry, Cass and Bates Counties. Mr. Robb was elected head consul for the State of Missouri at St. Joseph, Missouri in 1911, and served as head consul until 1913. For the past twenty years he has been delegate to the State conventions and has filled the important post of delegate to three sovereign conventions held during the years 1903, 1911 and 1913. Mr. Robb's duties require that he visit the different camps in his district and boost the membership and encourage the growth of the order in every legitimate manner. His work in his district has been excellent and
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there are over 2,500 members in this district and he has assisted in the growth of the Sedalia Lodge of 1,400 members, the Clinton Camp em- bracing 500 members and the Rich Hill Lodge 400 members and the LaDue Lodge, 100 members, the last-named being the largest in the dis- trict outside of Sedalia, composed almost entirely of farmers.
Thomas J. Robb was married in September, 1881, to Miss Emma Johnson, of Iona, Pettis County, a daughter of Alexander and Elizabeth Johnson, the former of whom was a native of Ohio and the latter of Pennsylvania. Mrs. Robb departed this life in 1911. Seven children were born of this union: Ernest died, aged two years; Elmer D., em- ployed in the coach-making department of the Missouri Pacific railway shops; Myrtle M., wife of John H. Morgan, Pueblo, Colorado; Russell H., shipping clerk for the Nafziger & Leffler Baking Co., Sedalia; Mabel, at home; Porter, enlisted in the National Army on May 13, 1918, and now in France, a member of Company G, 34th Infantry, Seventh Division. He was killed in action November 2, 1918, about twelve miles southwest of Metz; Nellie, the youngest of the family, resides at home with her parents. Misses Mabel and Nellie Robb are graduates of the public schools of Sedalia. Mr. Robb has six grand children: Charles, Thomas and Nadine Robb; Marguerite and Beatrice Morgan; Esther and Howard D. Robb. The Robb home is located at 664 East 16th Street.
Charles H. Heynen, manager of the Heynen & Sons Marble and Gran- ite Works of Sedalia, is one of the pioneer business men of this section. He was born in Allegheny, Pennsylvania, in 1853, the son of John and Mary Heyen. The Heynen family came to Missouri in 1869 and settled in Cass County where the father was employed on bridge construction for the Missouri Pacific railroad. About 1872, the family removed to Sedalia and later to Warrensburg where the parents spent the remainder of their lives. Their remains are buried in Pisgah Cemetery near Chil- howee, Missouri.
John and Mary Heynen were the parents of the following children: Charles H., the subject of this sketch; William, who is an employee of the Missouri Pacific railroad and resides at Osawatomie, Kansas; Mrs. William Fitterling, Warrensburg, Missouri; Mrs. Emery Coulter, Pitts- burg, Kansas.
Charles H. Heynen did his first work at the marble business in Brooklyn, New York, when he was fifteen years of age. In 1869 he came to Missouri with his parents and for a time worked as a section hand.
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About this time, when in Kansas City, one day, he saw the first street car that was operated in that city on its initial trip. He then went to Joplin, Missouri, where he was employed by a monument firm until 1875, when he came to Sedalia. Here he entered the employ of Clay and Hathaway, as a marble cutter. Four years later he and one of his employers, Mr. Clay, opened a marble shop, which they operated for a time when Mr. Heynen bought his partner's interest in the business. This marble works was located on Ohio Street, north of the Missouri Pacific tracks, and here Mr. Heynen has continued the business for thirty-eight years. By reliable business methods and honest representations, he has built up one of the important business industries of Pettis County. His two sons, Clyde and Charles, are skilled marble cutters and are associated with their father in the business. This is now the oldest monument works in Sedalia. Mr. Heynen has done some of the most notable marble and granite works to be found in this section of the State. He handles a variety of granite which is calculated to meet the demands of the most exacting work. He handles native Missouri granite, as well as granite from Vermont, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Colorado, and granite from foreign countries, as well.
Mr. Heynen was united in marriage in 1878, with Miss Lola Cahill, a native of Pettis County. She was born at Georgetown and her parents were among the early settlers of this county. To Mr. and Mrs. Heynen have been born the following children: Elbe, married Miss Flora Mowrey, of Sedalia, and they now reside in Kansas City, Missouri; William C., married Miss Sallie Bertche, of Sedalia, and they live in Kansas City ; Clyde, married Miss Margaret Heuchan, of Denver, Colorado, and they reside in Sedalia, Missouri; and Charles, married Edith Taylor of Sedalia and they reside in Sedalia. The two last-mentioned sons are associated with their father.
Mr. and Mrs. Heynen have a pleasant home at 311 West Tenth Street and the Heynens ranks among Sedalia's best citizens.
Emmett Dugan, a Civil War veteran and a highly respected citizen of. Sedalia, now living retired, is a native of Pennsylvania. He was born at Bridgewater, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, February 3, 1843. His parents were Talbot T. Dugan and Elizabeth (McLean) Dugan, both na- tives of Pennsylvania. Talbot T. Dugan was a veteran of the Mexican War and his father, John Dugan, served in the War of 1812. John Dugan was a son of John Duganne, of French Huguenot ancestry, who settled in
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eastern Pennsylvania, in the vicinity of the city of Carlisle. Elizabeth (McLean) Dugan was born in eastern Pennsylvania, of Scotch descent. She was a cousin of John R. McLean, well known as the publisher of the Cincinnati Enquirer. The late Marcus A. Hanna, United States Senator from Ohio, was a cousin of Emmett Dugan of this review.
Talbot T. Dugan removed from Pennsylvania to Ohio in 1852, and in 1874, the family came to Missouri and settled at Sedalia where the father died the following year, and his wife survived him for twenty- five years and departed this life in 1900. Talbot T. Dugan and wife are the parents of the following children: Albina M., married Judge George Blodget and is now deceased; Alonzo J., who was a captain on a United States transport on the Mississippi River during the Civil War and died at Vicksburg in 1864; Albert M., who was a steamboat captain for many years and was last heard from in 1883; Henry J., who served four years in the Union Army during the Civil War and died at New Orleans from disease contracted while in the service; George E., who came to Sedalia in 1872 and was engaged in busness here until his death in 1907; Emmett, the subject of this sketch; Elizabeth J., who was better known in Sedalia as Rosa Pearl. She died in Sedalia January 10, 1911.
When Captain Alonzo J. Dugan died in 1864 he left three children who were reared, cared for and educated by Emmett Dugan. They were: Alice Mary, died May 15, 1915, who was a capable newspaper woman and engaged in that line of work with her aunt for a number of years. Her first experience was with the "Sedalia Bazoo" and later she and her aunt, Rosa Pearl, published a society paper known as "Rosa Pearl's Paper." Oscar, the second child of Captain Dugan, now resides in Topeka, Kansas, and has three sons, one of whom is in France with the American Expe- ditionary Force. Frank, the youngest child of Captain Dugan, went to California and is now deceased.
Emmett Dugan received most of his education in Warren County, Ohio, where his parents removed when he was about nine years of age. He spent his early life much as the average boy of his time and after the Civil War broke out, when he was about nineteen years of age, in 1862, he enlisted in Company E, Seventy-ninth Ohio Infantry. He served about three years, during which time he participated in many important engagements, among which were the battle of Lookout Mountain. He was wounded at the battle of Kenesaw Mountain as result of which he was unable to accompany Sherman on his march to the sea. However,
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he recovered from his wound and joined his command at Goldsborough, North Carolina, and served until after the close of the war. He was honorably discharged June 30, 1865, at Washington, D. C., by general order of the war department.
In 1874 Mr. Dugan came to Sedalia and since that time has been identified with the interests of this city. For a number of years he was engaged in paper hanging and decorating but for the past three years he has been living retired. Mr. Dugan is unmarried.
Eugene B. Helman, a prominent farmer and stockman who is an extensive land owner in Sedalia and Prairie townships, has one of the best improved farms in Pettis County. His place consists of 815 acres of valuable land in splendid condition. The residence is located on Sec- tion 18, Sedalia township, within a short distance of the city of Sedalia. It has a neat modern bungalow with all modern conveniences, consisting' of hot and cold running water, electric lights, and in fact, the Helman home has all the conveniences of modern city life, combined with a free- dom of the country.
Mr. Helman is a native of Ohio. He was born in Ashland County, August 30, 1865, a son of Jacob D. and Mary (Bower) Helman. Jacob D. Helman was born in Ashland County, Ohio, in 1832. In early life he was a farmer and merchant in Ohio and shortly after the Civil War broke out, he enlisted at Salem, Ohio, and served throughout the war in the Forty-second Ohio Infantry and for a time was regimental color bearer. At the close of the war he returned to his Ohio home, and in 1869 came to Missouri. He first located in Johnson County where he remained about a year, and in 1870, came to Pettis County and bought a farm in Prairie township, about one-half mile north of Camp Branch. Here he was suc- cessfully engaged in farming and stock raising until 1910 when he re- tired and removed to Green Ridge where he has since resided. He is a member of the Masonic Lodge, and he and his wife belong to the Metho- dist Episcopal Church. She was born in Center County, Pennsylvania, and is now seventy-eight years old. To Jacob D. and Mary (Bower) Helman have been born three children as follow: Elvia, who resides with her parents at Green Ridge, Missouri; Eugene B., the subject of this sketch; and Forrest E., who occupies the home place in Prairie township.
Eugene B. Helman was reared on a farm and was educated in the public schools of Pettis County and Central Business College, at Sedalia, Missouri. He has made farming and stock raising the occupation of his
RESIDENCE OF E. B. HELMAN.
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life and for a time was an extensive cattle feeder. He bought his first land about 1898, and in 1910 bought his home place which consists of 265 acres and was known as the old Sibert farm. Since purchasing the place, Mr. Helman has given it the registered title of "Westview Stock Farm."
Mr. Helman has been twice married, his first wife being Fannie, daughter of Isaac and Ann (Rhodes) Glover, natives of Pennsylvania, who came from that State to Pettis County. To Mr. Helman's first mar- riage two children were born: Elmer G., born January 28, 1898, now a student in the University of Missouri, where he is taking the agricultural course; and Clyde W., was born in 1900 and died 1913. The mother of these children died in 1906.
April 30, 1916, Mr. Helman was united in marriage with Miss Nellie A., a daughter of William H. and Susan (Lewis) Purchase, natives of Barnston, England, who located in Pettis County in 1881, and now re- side in Elk Fork township. A sketch of William H. Purchase appears in this volume. No children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Helman.
Mr. Helman is a Republican and has served one term as mayor of Green Ridge. During his administration, many improvements were made in the town. He is a thirty-second degree Mason, a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, and the Knights and Ladies of Security. He organized the Camp Branch Brass Band, of which he was leader for twelve years.
Brown-Evans Manufacturing Company is one of the important in- dustrial institutions of Sedalia and its marvelous growth and develop- ment from a small beginning to a position of commercial importance, as a manufacturing plant, evinces the capabilities of the owners and pro- prietors, Messrs. Charles P. Brown and Edwin C. Evans. The Brown- Evans Manufacturing Company's plant, which is located at 404-412 West Second Street, Sedalia, is devoted to the manufacture of working men's pants.
The company was organized in 1913 and in December, 1915, was in- corporated, with a capital stock of $15,000. In 1916, the capital stock was increased to $25,000, out of the accumulated surplus and in 1917 the capital stock was again increased to $50,000, from the accumulated sur- plus. The above figures show the remarkable growth and progress of this company, but a more comprehensive idea of the vast volume of busi- ness carried on by a concern, operating in our midst, of which manv of
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us know very little, may be gained by the following figures. During the first six months that this company operated, they did a business amount- ing to $7,000 and the increase in their business may be shown for periods of each succeeding six months as follows : The second six months $15,000; third six months, $30,000; fourth six months, $55,000; fifth six months $80,000; sixth six months $120,000; seventh six months $111,000; eighth six months, $155,000; and the ninth six months, $210,000.
During the World War, seventy-five per cent. of the products of this . factory consisted of khaki uniforms. When this company began busi- ness, they operated ten machines and had ten employees. They now operate 140 machines and have over two hundred employees on their pay-roll. The value of such an institution as the Brown-Evans Manu- facturing Company, to the city of Sedalia, as a contributing factor to its industrial development, is far reaching in importance-much more so than the average person appreciates or understands.
Charles W. Rothgeb, a prominent contractor and builder, of Sedalia, Missouri, is a native Missourian. He was born in Cooper County, May 18, 1875, a son of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Carr) Rothgeb. The father, who was a native of Virginia, died in 1889, at the age of sixty-two years, and the mother, who is now in her eightieth year, lives on the old home farm at New Lebanon, Missouri. This old town is renowned in church history, for being the location of the first Presbyterian church, which was built west of the Mississippi River. The original church was a log struc- ture, and a monument has been erected to mark the site of this pio- neer house of worship. New Lebanon was the home of the parent Presby- terian Church of Missouri.
Charles W. Rothgeb is one of the following children born to his parents : James F., formerly a contractor and builder, now at the head of the Los Angeles Art Metal Works, Los Angeles, California; Abraham, also formerly engaged in contracting and building, now in the mercantile business at Joplin, Missouri; Daniel L., a former county superintendent of schools of Cooper County, now engaged in farming and contracting at New Lebanon, Missouri; Charles W., the subject of this sketch; Rich- ard, who was formerly a Cooper County teacher, now a thoroughbred stock breeder, on an extensive scale, in Cooper County, and Soloman, a promi- nent farmer and stockman of New Lebanon, Missouri.
Charles W. Rothgeb, was reared in New Lebanon, Missouri, and edu- cated in the public schools, also State Normal School of Warrensburg,
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Missouri, and taught school for a time, and then engaged in the contract- ing and building business, with a brother. In 1909, he came to Sedalia, where he has since been engaged in building, and during that time has built some of the finest residences in the city, as well as a number of business blocks. Among the many residences that he has erected here might be mentioned the Gunther residence, Peter Pehl's residence, the Yeager residence, J. Waldman's residence, M. Chasnoff's residence, Dr. Bohling's residence, the entire block of bungaloes at Broadway and Ohio streets, and many others. Mr. Rothgeb employs from eight to thirty men. mostly skilled mechanics.
Mr. Rothgeb was united in marriage in 1904 to Miss Lena S. Jordan, of Otterville, Missouri. She is a daughter of B. A. Jordan, of Otterville.
Mr. Rothgeb is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Council Commandery and Shrine. Mr. and Mrs. Rothgeb are members of the Baptist Church. Mr. Rothgeb is one of Sedalia's most progressive citizens.
George F. Fisher, a representative citizen of Sedalia, is a native son of Missouri. He was born in Morgan County, January 20, 1859, a son of J. H., and Elizabeth Fisher. The father came from Germany when a young man, landing at New Orleans, Louisiana. He first settled in Mor- gan County, and in 1875, came to Sedalia. Here he worked at his trade, which was that of a cabinet maker, for a number of years and later fol- lowed truck farming. He owned a small place, consisting of about thirty- five acres near Sedalia, northeast of the city. Here he spent the latter days of his life and died, June 16, 1904. His remains are interred in Crown Hill Cemetery, Sedalia. His widow still survives him and now lives in Sedalia. She was eighty-three years old, September 10, 1918.
To J. H. and Elizabeth Fisher were born the following children : J. H., an employe of the Missouri Pacific Railroad Company, Sedalia, Missouri ; L. E., deceased, a son of whom, F. W., conducts a garage in Sedalia; George F., the subject of this sketch; Tena, resides with her mother; F. W., died at Fresno, California; J. C., an engineer in the'employ of the Frisco railroad, resides at Cape Girardeau, Missouri; Lettie, married Charles Tanner, a shoe merchant, and resides at Washington, Missouri; John O., resides on the home place near Sedalia ; Ida, married James Em- ery, dry goods merchant at Ada, Oklahoma; and Lulu, married Charles A. Emery, auditor and treasurer of the New Orleans and Lower Coast Railroad Company, New Orleans, Louisiana.
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George F. Fisher was educated in the public schools of Florence, Mor- gan County, Missouri, and Sedalia. In early life, he learned the machinist trade and was employed in that capacity in the Missouri Pacific shops, at Sedalia, until 1886, when the big strike occurred. He then engaged in the cafe and restaurant business in Sedalia, which he has continued un- til the present time.
Mr. Fisher was united in marriage June 20, 1887, with Miss Mary K. Neitzert, of Florence, Missouri. Her parents are both now deceased and their remains are buried at Florence, Missouri. To Mr. and Mrs. Fisher have been born the following children: Ruby, married Prof. W. J. Waldorf, Lebo, Kansas; Eva, married Herbert Schrankler, who is a member of the Stanley Coal Company, Sedalia, Missouri; George W. Wilbur, a sergeant in the United States Marines; Otto F., asistant band leader in the United States Marines. Both of the boys are musicians and were members of Kroenckes' Band at Sedalia before entering the Marines.
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