USA > Missouri > Randolph County > History of Randolph County, Missouri > Part 18
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D. S. Forney was a son of Dr. D. S. Forney, Sr., who was born in Reistertown, Maryland, and died in Burlington, Ia. He was a highly educated man and a graduate of Yale, having received his degree when he was 21 years of age. He practiced medicine for 70 years. His first wife bore the maiden name of Buchanan and she was a niece of President James Buchanan. Their marriage ceremony 'was performed by Rev. Alexander Campbell, founder of the Christian church.
D. S. Forney, father of I. B. Forney, was not only a successful merchant, but took an active part in the civic affairs of Moberly. He served three terms as mayor of this city and during that period much public improvement was made, including a sewer system and water works, as well as other improvements.
I. B. Forney is one of the following children born to his parents: May Miller, deceased; I. B., the subject of this sketch; Mrs. Etta Ditty, deceased; and Frank B. a merchant of Moberly.
I. B. Forney was educated in the public schools of Moberly and was brought up in the mercantile business. He engaged in the dry goods business for himself at Moberly in 1894, at his present location. Here he continued in the general drygoods business until about 1913, when he began to specialize in ladies' ready to wear clothing and abandoned the general drygoods business and has buit up an extensive business in this particular line. He is a discriminating buyer and makes regular trips to the eastern markets and manufacturers to purchase his stock and study the styles and the I. B. Forney store can always be depended upon to stand in the forefront in style as well as quality.
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The store is located at 400 Reed Street and is equipped with the most modern fixtures. Mr. Forney is the owner of the building, the first floor of which is occupied by his business and the upper floor's is rented for office purposes.
Mr. Forney was united in marriage Jan. 1, 1895 with Miss Ida Trede- man of St. Louis, Mo., and two daughters have been born to this union: Henrietta and Irene, both graduates of the Moberly High School.
Mr. Forney is a progressive business man and stands high in the community.
Dr. Thomas S. Fleming, a well known and successful physician of Moberly, is a native of Randolph County. He was born at Elliott, May 30, 1887, and is a son of Jacob C. and Nettie (McClure) Fleming, further mention of whom is made in this volume.
Dr. Fleming received his preliminary education in the public schools of Moberly, and was graduated from the Moberly High School in the class of 1907. He then entered Missouri University at Columbia, Mo., where he was graduated in 1911; he then attended St. Louis Medical University, and was graduated with a degree of Doctor of Medicine in 1913. After serving two years as an intern in the city hospital at St. Louis, Mo., he began the practice of his profession at Moberly, Jan. 1, 1915. Here he was successfully engaged in the practice of his profession until the United States entered the World War, when on June 2, 1917, he applied for a commission in the medical corps of the United States army, and was com- missioned as first lieutenant, and sent to Fort Riley, Kan., where he was. stationed until Jan. 1, 1918. He was then attached to the 65th Coast Ar- tillery at San Francisco, Calif. In March, 1918, he set sail from San Francisco with his unit for France, by way of the Panama Canal, and arrived there with the 65th Coast Artillery, April 8, 1918. From that time on he was with his command at the front, until the armistice was signed. He returned to the United States in Jan., 1919, and shortly afterwards resumed the practice of his profession at Moberly, where he has an exten- sive and well established practice.
Dr. Fleming was united in marriage Oct. 3, 1917, with Eilleen Trenble, daughter of M. J. and Alma (Valendegham) Trenble, of Plattsburg, Mo. To Dr. and Mrs. Fleming have been born one daughter, Shirley, who was born June 27, 1919.
Dr. Fleming is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and holds membership in the County, State and American Medical Asso- ciation.
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James Sandison, a pioneer of Moberly who for many years was en- gaged in contracting, is now living retired at his comfortable and pleasant home at 902 West Gilman street, Moberly, Mo. Mr. Sandison was born at New Mills of Keith, Scotland, Dec. 29, 1843. He is a son of William and Jean (Dasson) Sandison, both natives of Scotland, the former being born near the New Mills of Keith and the latter on the River Donn. The father was a stone mason. The mother came to America when she was 52 years of age and settled near Huntsville, Mo. She spent the remainder of her life in Randolph County and died at the age of 92 years and her remains are buried at Huntsville.
The following children were born to William and Jean (Dasson) Sandison: William, died at Huntsville, Mo .; Mrs. Annie Simpson, Hunts- ville, Mo .; James, the subject of this sketch; Arthur, deceased; Charles, deceased; Mrs. Mary Murray, Paducah, Ky .; Christena Bohn, Huntsville; Jean, deceased; and two of the family, Jack and Helen, remained in Scot- land.
Since coming to Randolph County, James Sandison has seen this sec- tion of the country developed almost from the beginning. When he came to Randolph County there were only three houses on the present site of the city of Moberly. Since early manhood, Mr. Sandison has been engaged in construction work and similar industrial enterprises and was a success- ful contractor during his active career. He began constructing railroad bridges for the Hannibal, Moberly and Central Railroad Company which is now the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railroad. His last contract work was for the Wabash Railroad Company at St. Louis where he did some bridge work, built a roundhouse and constructed additional trackage to accommodate the World's Fair traffic. For several years Mr. Sandison was also engaged in the manufacture of brick at Moberly and did an ex- tensive business in this line and at the same time carried on his general contracting business. He frequently employed as many as 80 or 90 men and kept his plant in operation continually. He was an extensive employer of labor and never had any trouble with his employees. He sold his brick plant in 1906 to the Metropolitan Paving and Brick Company of Canton, Ohio, and that company still operates it. Mr. Sandison then retired.
In 1872, Mr. Sandison returned to Scotland and was married to Miss Mary Morrison and brought his bride to Moberly. Mrs. Sandison's mother, Margaret Morrison, now resides with Mr. and Mrs. Sandison. She came to Moberly in 1881. She was born in Scotland Dec. 24, 1827 and although
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James Sandison
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now in her 93rd year she is as keen and active as the average person many years younger. She gets up every morning at six o'clock and during the World War she did a great deal of knitting for the Red Cross. She has the distinction of having had three grandsons in the World War. They were John, Herbert and George Morrison, all of whom entered the army from Arizona.
To Mr. and Mrs. Sandison have been born the following children: James George, William, Jack, George and Arthur.
Mr. Sandison has been an extensive traveler during the course of his career and has made 13 trips across the Atlantic Ocean. He was in Scot- land when the World War broke out. He crossed the ocean four times on the ill fated Lusitania and made his last return trip on the Aquitania. For the last few years he and Mrs. Sandison made a trip north cach sum- mer, including Canada and Alaska. He is a Randolph County citizen of real worth and is held in the highest esteem.
Jack M. Sandison, a member of the firm of Robuck-Sandison Whole- sale Grocery Company of Moberly, is a well known and progressive busi- ness man of this city. He is a native son of Randolph County and was born in Moberly July 30, 1879. He is the son of James and Mary (Mor- rison) Sandison, a sketch of whom appears in this volume.
Jack M. Sandison was educated in the public schools of Moberly and the Ohio State University at Columbus, Ohio. After completing school he learned the science of ceramics, or the art of clay working. He then was engaged with his father in the manufacture of brick at Moberly for a number of years. In 1915 he engaged in the wholesale grocery busi- ness in partnership with Mr. Robuck and since that time has been success- fully engaged in that business.
Mr. Sandison is a Republican and takes an active part in political affairs; he has been his party's candidate for state representative and county assessor. He is a Knights Templar Mason and a member of the Mystic Shrine
William Sandison, of the firm of Robuck-Sandison, wholesale grocers of Moberly was born at Huntsville, Mo., Dec. 6, 1874. He is the son of James Sandison, a sketch of whom appears in this volume. William Sandison was educated in the public schools of Moberly, including a course in the Moberly High School. Later he took a course in business college and for 17 years he was manager and superintendent of the Moberly Pav- ing Brick Company. He continued with that company for several years
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after the local plant was purchased and operated by the Metropolitan Pav- ing Brick Company. He resigned his position with that company in 1916 and in February, 1917, he became associated with the Robuck-Sandison Company.
Mr. Sandison was married to Miss Olive Chamblin of Paducah, Ky. She is a daughter of C. H. Chamblin who now resides at Carthage, Mo. and whose wife is deceased. She bore the maiden name of Byers. To Mr. and Mrs Sandison have been born three children as follow: James C., at Harvard University ; Allie Janette and Gordon.
Mr. Sandison is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and is a Knights Templar.
Jacob C. Fleming, president of the Moberly Foundry and Machine Company, is one of the substantial business men of Moberly, and is at the head of one of the important industrial enterprises of this city. He was born at Kewanee, Ill., April 27, 1860, and is a son of Thomas and Janet (Simpson) Fleming, the former a native of England and the latter of Scotland. They were the parents of the following children: Jennie, now the widow of R. S. Crammer, and resides at Nevada, Mo .; Mary, mar- ried Thomas W. Vandivier, Nevada, Mo .; Jacob C., the subject of this sketch; Ira M., Kansas City, Mo .; Cora I., widow of E. K. Atkinson, Nevada, Mo .; Emma L., married A. L. Davis, Joplin, Mo .; Elizabeth A., - married David Cravens, Lincoln, Neb.
Thomas Fleming came to America about 1854, and first settled at McKeesport, Pa., where he was engaged in coal mining. About 1858 he went to Kewanee, Ill., where he was living when the Civil War broke out. He enlisted in 1862 in the Union Army and served until the'close of the war. He took part in a number of important engagements and was with Sherman on his march to the sea and participated in the Grand Review at Washington at the close of the war. After receiving his honorable discharge from the army, he returned to Kewanee, where he operated coal mines for a few years and in 1872 went to Fort Dodge, Ia. He was engaged as superintendent of mines there for a time and in 1876 he went to Chetopa, Kan. Here he continued his interest in the coal mining busi- ness and had charge of coal mines in Missouri, Kansas and Indian Terri- tory for the Osage Coal and Mining Company. About 1879, he removed to Clinton, Mo. continuing with the same company and later went to Nevada, Mo., where he spent the remainder of his life. He died in 1895 and his wife departed this life in 1916 and their remains are buried at Nevada, Mo.
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Jacob C. Fleming was educated in the public schools of Illinois, Iowa and Kansas, and when he was 17 years of age, began life as a telegraph operator in the employ of the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railway Com- pany. In 1884, he took charge of the Osage Coal and Mining Company's store at Elliott, Randolph County, Mo. and later had charge of the opera- tion of their coal mine there. In 1890, his father bought the coal mine property there and Jacob C. had charge of the operation until 1905, when practically all of the coal mines of Randolph County, were absorbed by the Randolph-Macon Coal Company.
In 1906. Mr. Fleming came to Moberly when he and the other heirs of the Thomas Fleming estate organized the Moberly Foundry and Ma- chine Company. This company continued to do business as a partner- ship until 1915, when it was incorporated with a capital stock of $21,000. In 1917, the Thomas Fleming estate was settled and Jacob C. Fleming continued the business. This company has been successfully operated from the start and does an extensive business, their principal product being railway castings and their entire product, practically, is bought by the Wabash Railway Company. They do a general machine shop business in addition to manufacturing heavy castings; they also manufacture coal mine equipment and machinery, and employe about 18 men. The shop is located at the corner of East Reed and Moulton streets.
Jacob C. Fleming was married in 1886 to Miss Nettie McClure of Clinton, Mo. She is a daughter of William J. and Narcissa (Fike) Mc- Clure, the former of whom is deceased, and Mrs. McClure makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. Fleming. To Mr. and Mrs. Fleming have been born the following children: Dr. Thomas S., Moberly, a sketch of whom appears in this volume; Jacob William, who is associated with his father; Janet Elliott Fleming, in the employ of the Government at Washington, D. C.
Mr. Fleming is a member of the Knights Templar Commandery of Moberly. He has an extensive acquaintance in Moberly and Randolph County and is one of the enterprising and substantial citizens of this section.
E. Bell Mahan, of the well known firm of Mahan and Son, funeral directors of Moberly, Mo., is a native of this state and belongs to one of the early pioneer families. He was born in Audrain County, about 15 miles southeast of Moberly, March 23, 1864, and is a son of John T. and Elizabeth (Owings) Mahan. John T. Mahan was born in Boone County,
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Mo., Feb. 2, 1828 and died near Paris, Mo., Aug. 8, 1914, and his remains are buried at Moberly. He was a veteran of the Civil War, having served in the Union Army. His wife was a native of Kentucky and preceded her husband in death several years. They were the parents of the fol- lowing children: Mrs. Levina Crosswhite Monroe County, Mo .; B. D., a contractor, Annaconda, Mont .; James A., died at Ft. Worth, Texas, about 1914, at the age of 58 years; Walter, Anaconda, Mont .; Charles F., a farmer near Paris, Mo .; E. Bell, the subject of this sketch; Samuel L., Anaconda, Mont .; Mrs. Emma Hobson, Kansas City, Mo .; Florence, died in infancy ; Cyrus, died in 1890, age 16 years.
E. Bell Mahan was educated in the public schools and engaged in business at his present location in Moberly, Sept. 16, 1892. This firm was also engaged in furniture business until Sept. 1, 1918 and since that time they have been devoted exclusively to the undertaking business and are recognized as one of the leading firms of funeral directors in this section of the state. The firm was originally, Van Cleave, Martin and Mahan and on Jan. 1, 1910, Mr. Vancleave sold his interest to the other partners and since April 1, 1920, the business has been conducted by Mr. Mahan and Son at 211 North Clark street.
Mr. Mahan was married March. 18, 1890, to Miss Francis King, a daughter of Francis and Mary (Bunger) King, both natives of Kentucky and now deceased. The father was killed shortly after the close of the Civil War and the mother died in 1895 and their remains are buried in Meade, Kentucky.“
To Mr. and Mrs. Mahan have been born the following children : Verna, married H. H. Stampes, Moberly, Missouri; Albert, a sketch of whom follows this article; Eugenia, resides at home with her parents, at 527 Logan Terrace.
Mr. Mahan is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; Knights of Pythias; National Union; Knights and Ladies of Se- curity and the Mystic Workers of the World. Mr. Mahan is progressive and public spirited and takes a commendable interest in public affairs ; he has served as a member of the Moberly City Council.
Albert K. Mahan of Moberly, who is associated with his father, was born in Moberly, July 11, 1894, and was reared and educated in the public school of this city and graduated from the Moberly high school in the class of 1913. After leaving school he was employed by the firm of Mar- tin and Mahan until after the United States entered the World War. On
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May 25, 1918, he enlisted in the United States army and was sent to Camp Dodge, Iowa. Later he was transferred to Camp Upton, New York, and in Aug., 1918, he embarked for overseas, a member of Company M, 349th United States Infantry, and first landed on the other side at South- ampton, England, and from there sailed to LeHarve, France, and after a period of training was sent to sector Hute, Alsace, France, Oct. 17th, and when the armistice was signed he was with his command about twenty miles from Metz. After the signing of the armistice, he remained in France for several months and reached the United States on May 30, 1919. He was then sent to Camp Zacharay Taylor, Ky., where he received his honorable discharge June 12, 1919. He then returned to Moberly and resumed his former position and became a partner with his father.
Albert Mahan is a member of the American Legion and is adjutant of Theodore Bazan Post, No. 6, Moberly, Mo. He is also a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
John E. Lynch, president of the Bank of Moberly, and United States marshal for the Eastern District of Missouri, has had an unusual and successful career. Mr. Lynch was born in Randolph County, just north of Huntsville, Jan. 11, 1858, and is a son of Patrick and Amanda (Stevens) Lynch.
Patrick Lynch was a native of County Carlow, Ireland, and was born in 1818. He came to America in 1848, and the same year settled in Randolph County, near Roanoke, and a few years later, he removed to a farm north of Huntsville. Here he resided until 1860, when he came to the vicinity of what is now the city of Moberly, and during the Civil War he cultivated a portion of the present site of Moberly, and lived at what was known as old Allen, and after the war when the railroad was being built the railroad company offered Mr. Lynch and others an amount of land in Moberly equal to that which they owned at old Allen. Mr. Lynch was the first to accept the proposition and moved his residence to Moberly. The original town site of Moberly con- sisted of 40 acres of land, and was bounded on the east by Morley street, on the south by Wightman street, on the west by the alley be- tween Clark and Williams street, and on the north by Union avenue. Mr. Lynch's house was located on block No. 12, and his barn was located on block No. 7, where the Merchants Hotel now stands. After the Wabaash shops were built, Patrick Lynch was employed by that company, and spent the remainder of his life in Moberly. He died
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in 1883. Amanda (Stevens) Lynch, wife of Patrick Lynch was a na- tive of Virginia. She died at the age of 68 years, and her remains and those of her husband are buried in St. Johns cemetery.
The children born to Patrick Lynch and wife are as follow: Thomas Allen, was an engineer on the Southern Pacific Railroad, and was killed in a wreck at Centralia, Wash .; Richard Moberly, died in infancy; John E., the subject of this sketch, and James C., Omaha, Neb.
John E. Lynch bears the distinction of being the oldest living resi- dent of the city of Moberly from the standpoint of continuous residence here. He came here with his parents when a child, and here grew to manhood, and since that time he has been closely identified with the growth and development of this city in many ways. He received his 'education in such public schools as the town afforded in the early days of its existence. When a boy his first work was driving team at the construction of the Wabash shops here. He received $5.00 per week for his labor. After that, he worked in the shops for three years, and then was a fireman for three years. In 1880, he was elected chief of police of Moberly and served in that capacity for three years. This was an early day in the history of Moberly, and like other new towns of that epoch, the limited police force found itself confronted frequently by duties that were difficult to perform. Mr. Lynch met all these con- ditions and by his courage and capabilities always succeeded in main- taining law and order. After having served three years as chief of police, he was engaged by the city to run the city fire engine for two years, when he was re-elected to the office of chief of police and held this position until 1894. He was then appointed United States marshal for the Eastern District of Missouri by President Cleveland, and capa- bly discharged the duties of that office for a period of four years. At the expiration of that time Mr. Lynch began operating as a construc- tion contractor, and specialized in paving and sewer construction, and was successfully engaged in this line of work until Aug. 15, 1914, when he was appointed United States marshal for the Eastern District of Missouri by President Wilson, and at the expiration of his four years' term in that office, he was reappointed and holds that position at the present time.
Mr. Lynch was elected president of the Bank of Moberly in Febru- ary, 1916, and since that time has held that position, and in the capacity of chief executive officer of this well known and substantial financial
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institution, Mr. Lynch has evinced the same keen foresight and clear judgment that has characterized his successful career in other fields of endeavor.
My Lynch was united in marriage in 1882 with Miss Mary A. Hall. of Truesdale, Warren County, Mo. She is a daughter of Denny and Elizabeth Hall of that county. To Mr. and Mrs. Lynch have been born the following children: George, chief deputy United States marshal, St. Louis, Mo .; John E., Jr., of the Lynch-McDonald Construction Com- pany, of Moberly; Nellie, Grace, Frank, Lucille and James Robert. The latter served in the United States navy during the World War.
Mr. Lynch is a Democrat and for years has been active in the coun- cils of his party in Randolph County and Missouri. He has served two terms as a member of the state legislature. He was a delegate to Demo- cratic National Convention at Baltimore, which nominated Woodrow Wil- son for president, and is recognized as one of the leading Democrats of the state. He has an extensive acquaintance and many friends, not only in Randolph County, but throughout the state and country.
The Bank of Moberly is one of the strong financial institutions of central Missouri. This bank was organized May 11, 1895, by John H. Babcock, and is therefore a quarter of a century old, and has to its credit 25 years of successful business, and each year of this period has shown a substantial growth in the volume of business of this institution.
The first stockholders of the Bank of Moberly were George Hassett, W. T. Richmond, W. P. Palmer, J. T. Lamb, Gus J. Ginther, W. E. Mc- Kinney, G. R. Reynolds, A. B. Thompson, William Firth, W. P. Cave, B. F. Harvey, D. S. Forney, J. H. Babcock, P. J. O'Leary, H. M. Jordan, J. H. Lotter and F. B. Forney.
The present officers are John E. Lynch, president; J. H. Lamb, vice- president ; F. B. Harvey, cashier ; P. J. O'Leary, teller, and A. E. Brown, teller, and R. E. Lynch, teller. The other members of the board of directors are Dr. C. B. Clapp, George H. Sours, Gus J. Ginther and George Reynolds.
The following is the official statement of the bank at the close of business December 30, 1919. Resources: Loans and discounts, $801,- 335.68; overdrafts, none; real estate (banking house), $15,000.00; fur- niture and fixtures, $15,000.00; demand loans, $327,781.49; bonds, $85,- 850.00; War Savings Stamps, $1,684.00; cash and sight exchange, $255,- 642.61; total, $1,502,293.78. Liabilities: Capital stock, $100,000.00; sur-
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plus and undivided profits (earned), $64,165.28; deposits, $1,338,128.50. Total, $1,502,293.78.
Owen Redick O'Bryan, a well known and successful attorney of Mob- erly and a veteran of the World War, is a native of Randolph County and a member of one of the pioneer families of this section of Missouri. Mr. O'Bryan was born in a one room log cabin, three miles southwest of Hunts- ville, Mo., on the old O'Bryan homestead in Salt Spring township. He is the son of James T. and Jennie Lee (Bagby) O'Bryan.
James T. O'Bryan was born in Chariton County, Mo. in 1860 and re- moved to Randolph County with his parents who settled in Salt Spring township when he was three years old. He was a son of Redick O'Bryan who was born in Kentucky in 1820. Redick O'Bryan was prominent in the early day affairs of Randolph County and served as justice of the peace of Salt Spring township for many years. He was a deacon in the Mt. Salem Baptist church. He died Dec. 25, 1893 and his remains are buried in the O'Bryan cemetery which is located on the old O'Bryan place.
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