USA > Missouri > Randolph County > History of Randolph County, Missouri > Part 22
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Frank C. McAfee, proprietor of the McAfee Mill and Commission Company, was born in Lafayette County, April 11, 1875. He is the son of George L. and Julia A. (Smith) McAfee, both of whom are now de- ceased. George L. McAfee was born in Mercer County, Ky., in 1852 and came to Missouri in 1872, locating near Holliday, Monroe County.
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There he was married to Julia A. Smith and moved to Lafayette County when he returned to Monroe County where he died and is buried at Paris. After his death his wife married Thomas E. Crow of Monroe County and later came to Moberly where she died in 1917 and her remains are buried in Oakland Cemetery. The children born to her second mar- riage are William B. and Thomas E. junior both of whom are connected with the McAfee Mill and Commission Company; Nellie E. married Ray Coons of Houston, Texas and Isabell married Roy Prather of Kansas City, who is with the Fidelity Trust Company of Kansas City.
Frank C. McAfee was educated in the public schools and the Moberly High School and in 1896 organized the McAfee Mill and Commission Com- pany and has conducted that business till the present time. This busi- ness has expanded under his management until there are now eight branches of the business located in various sections of the state. One at Brunswick has an elevator capacity of 30,000 bushels. Their elevator at Huntsville, which was completed in the fall of 1919, is strictly modern and one of the best in the country, has a capacity of 10,000 bushels. The Randolph Milling Company, a corporation owned by the McAfee family has a daily capacity of 50 barrels of flour. The Holliday elevator was completed in 1919 and has a capacity of 6,000 bushels. Frank C. McAfee's father, George L. McAfee, began farming in Monroe County years ago, within a 100 yards of where this elevator now stands. The City Feed Store of Paris, Mo., is a branch of the McAfee business and they also have a store at Madison, Mo. and one at Jacksonville. F. C. McAfee also con- ducts an automobile sales agency at 112 Rollins street, Moberly and handles the Studebaker, Cadillac and Brisco automobiles and also trucks and tractors. This business was started in 1917 and in 1919, 63 cars were sold. Mr. McAfee also owns valuable real estate interests in Moberly and vicinity.
Mr. McAfee was maried April 21, 1898 to Miss Letha G. Smothers, of Randolph County, a daughter of Daniel Smothers who is now deceased and his widow resides in Moberly. To Mr. and Mrs. McAfee have been born two children: Louise and Gertrude who reside at home with their parents.
Mr. McAfee and his family are members of the Central Christian church.
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John C. O'Keefe, president of the O'Keefe Brothers' Grocery Com- pany, of Moberly, is one of the progressive and enterprising business men of Moberly and Randolph County. He was born in Susquehanna County, Pa., Aug. 7, 1859, and is a son of William and Margaret (O'Connel) O'Keefe, early settlers of Randolph County, who are now deceased and further mention of whom is made in connection with the sketch of Arthur O'Keefe in this volume.
John C. O'Keefe came to Randolph County with his parents in 1862, when he was about 3 years of age. The family first settled in Renick and here John C. O'Keefe attended school during the winter terms and worked in the stores of Renick in summer. The first school which he attended was held in a primitive log school house and he recalled Ben- jamin Ashcomb as being a first teacher, a pioneer teacher of Randolph County who died a few years ago and his widow now lives at Hunts- ville.
The O'Keefe family moved to Moberly in 1872, where the father engaged in railroad work. Here Arthur O'Keefe engaged in retail gro- cery business in 1879 and was joined by John C. later. The business at first was conducted as a retail grocery, but later developed into a wholesale grocery house. John C. was secretary and treasurer of the company for a time and afterwards became president and has occupied that position to the present time. The O'Keefe Brothers Grocery Com- pany does an extensive business in this section of the state, their busi- ness extending over eight counties, north of the Missouri River, in which they are represented by six traveling salesmen. In 1919 their business exceeded $800,000.
John C. O'Keefe was married June 16, 1897, to Miss Margaret G. Haggerty, a daughter of Frank and Mary (Cunningham) Haggerty, of Moberly. Frank Haggerty was one of the early settlers of Moberly and one of the pioneer merchants of this city. He was born in Ireland in 1849 and came to America about 1867, first locating at Memphis, Tenn. In 1872, he came to Moberly and engaged in the grocery business. He was successful in business, public spirited and had much to do with the development and upbuilding of Moberly. He built the Haggerty Opera House which was the only opera house in Moberly for many years. It is now known as the Lyric Hall. Mr. Haggerty was engaged in business here until about 1910, and in 1914 went to California and now resides in Los Angeles. His wife died in 1883 and her remains were buried in St. Mary's Cemetery Moberly.
JOHN C. O'KEEFE
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To Mr. and Mrs. John C. O'Keefe have been born the following children: Mary Margaret, a student of Marymount College; John C., Jr., a student in Georgetown University; Helen, a student in Loretta College, St. Louis, Mo .; Frank and Arthur, at home.
Mr. O'Keefe takes an active interest in local progressive movement for the improvement and upbuilding of Moberly and was one of the leading factors in the organization of the Moberly Commercial Club, which later developed into the Chamber of Commerce. While he has been interested and active in local affairs of a public nature, he has per- sistently refused to become a candidate for city office of any kind, al- though frequently urged to do so. He is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Knights of Columbus, the Country Club, and the Chamber of Commerce.
William P. O'Keefe, of the O'Keefe Brothers Wholesale Grocery Com- pany of Moberly, Mo. was born in Susquehanna County, Pa., Dec. 27, 1865 and is a son of William and Margaret (O'Connell) O'Keefe, early settlers of Randolph County both of whom are now deceased. A more extensive history of the O'Keefe family appears in connection with the sketches of Arthur O'Keefe and John C. O'Keefe in this volume.
William P. O'Keefe came to Randolph County with his parents when he was a child and attended the public schools in the vicinity of Renick where the family first settled, and later in Moberly. He also took a com- mercial course in S. M. Crawford's Business College at Moberly. He then learned the blacksmith trade in the Wabash railroad shops and in 1892 became identified with the O'Keefe Brothers Grocery Company and since that time has been actively associated with that company.
Mr. O'Keefe was married in 1901 to Miss Eliza McKinna of St. Louis, Mo. She is a daughter of John and Catherine McKinna, the former of whom is now deceased and the latter resides in St. Louis. The McKinnas belong to some of the pioneer families of that city. To Mr. and Mrs. O'Keefe have been born four children as follows: Catherine, William, Mary and Eleanor.
Mr. O'Keefe is a Democrat and takes a keen interest and an active part in political matters. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus and the Chamber of Commerce, and is recognized as one of Moberly's substantial and enterprising business men. The O'Keefe home is located at 615 S. Fifth street.
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Joseph F. O'Keefe, secretary of the O'Keefe Brothers Wholesale Grocery Company, of Moberly, is one of the progressive business men of Moberly and Randolph County. He was born at Davenport, Iowa, in. 1864 and is the son of William and Margaret (O'Connell) O'Keefe, a more extensive history of whom appears elsewhere in this volume.
Joseph F. O'Keefe was educated in the public schools of Randolph County and has spent his life in the grocery business in one capacity or another. He began his experience in that business driving a delivery wagon for the O'Keefe Brothers grocery, back in the days when this firm conducted a retail grocery business. He now divides his time between the office and outside as salesman.
Mr. O'Keefe is unmarried and resides with his sisters at 605 South Fifth street, Moberly, Mo. He is a member of the Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks. He is a live business man and has an extensive acquaintance throughout central Missouri.
Dr. Charles L. Dodson, a well known and successful physician and surgeon of Moberly, Mo., is a native of this state. Doctor Dodson was born in Adair County, Mo., July 26, 1878, and is the son of Perry M. and Rose Ann (Stukey) Dodson. Perry M. Dodson was also born in Adair County, Mo., and during the early part of his life he was engaged in farming pursuits. In 1898 he engaged in the real estate and loan busi- ness at Kirksville, Mo. and followed that vocation until the time of his death in 1917; he was 64 years old. His wife died at the age of 47 years and their remains are buried at Millard, Mo. They were the parents of two children: Dr. Charles L., the subject of this review, and Lena Pearl who married Albert B. Fish, of Sapulpa, Okla.
Dr. Charles L. Dodson received a good preliminary education in the public schools and then took a course in the State Normal School at Kirks- ville, Mo., and was graduated from that institution in 1899. He then entered the American School of Osteopathy and was graduated from that institution with the degree of Doctor of Osteopathy in the class of 1901. Later, Dr. Dodson entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons at St. Louis, Mo., where he was graduated with the degree of Doctor of Medi- cine. He engaged in the practice at Huntsville at first, and in 1905 came to Moberly which has since been the scene of his professional activity. He is a capable physician and with his knowledge of both the science of osteopathy and medicine as well as surgery he is well equipped for the wide field which his general practice embraces. Since coming to Moberly, he has built up a large practice and stands high in the community.
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Dr. Dodson was married Dec. 15, 1901, to Miss Cordelia Beall. She is a daughter of Lee J. and Hannah (Armstrong) Beall. Lee J. Beall was a native of Ohio and served in the Union Army during the Civil War. He and his wife are both deceased. To Dr. and Mrs. Dodson have been born one child, Mary, who is now a student in the Moberly High School.
Dr. Dodson is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons.
T. R. Fiorita, of Moberly, has had a successful business career and is an example of what can be accomplished by thrift and industry, coupled with the determination to succeed. He is a native of the Island of Sicily and was born July 24, 1877. He is the son of Charles Fiorita who lived for a time at Des Moines, Iowa, and was engaged in the wholesale fruit business. He lived in Kansas City, Mo., where he died in 1916 and his widow resides in that city.
T. R. Fiorita came to America with his parents who first located at Des Moines, Iowa. He came to Moberly in June, 1899 and at that time, just 21 years ago, his entire capital consisted of $71.00 He first engaged in the fruit business and a short time afterwards added candies and ice cream to his business, making his own candy and ice cream. About ten years later he bought a saloon which he conducted until July 1, 1919. During the course of his business career Mr. Fiorita worked hard and saved his money which he invested carefully. He became prosperous and today is an extensive land owner, besides the owner of valuable property in the city of Moberly, including his residence and a business block at 118 Reed street. He is the owner of about 1,200 acres of land, 685 acres at Clapper, 252 in Audrain County, near Mexico, and 240 acres near Higbee, Randolph County. He leases two of his farms and has a tenant on the other 685 acre place which he operates under his own supervision. This place is well stocked and he is extensively engaged in breeding registered Duroc Jersey hogs and registered Jersey cattle and also conducts a dairy there.
Mr. Fiorita was united in marriage at Atlantic, Iowa, to Miss Ida M. Sanford, a native, of that place. To Mr. and Mrs. Fiorita have been born two children: Nina, a student in Linwood College at St. Charles, Mo., and Charles, who is at home with his parents.
Mr. Fiorita is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Knights of Columbus.
Dr. Stephen T. Ragan, a prominent physician, who is successfully engaged in the practice of his profession at Moberly, Mo., is a native of
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this state, and is a member of a pioneer Missouri family. Dr. Ragan was born in Kansas City, Mo., Feb. 24, 1888, and is a son of Dr. Stephen and Luvena (Duncan) Ragan. The mother died in 1911 and the father is engaged in the practice of medicine, in Kansas City. He was born in Gracon County, Texas, in 1864. He is a graduate of the Kansas City Medical College, and for 27 years has been engaged in the practice of his profession in that city. During the World War, he enlisted for service and did volunteer work for the government in Kansas City, until 1918 when he was transferred to Fort Leavenworth, Kan. and was in the service until the close of the war. He is a son of Stephen C. Ragan and Josephine (Chiles) Ragan. Stephen T. Ragan was a very early pioneer of Jackson County, Mo., and served as county marshal there and Josephine (Chiles) Ragan, was a member of one of the pioneer families of that county, several members of which are now prominent in the affairs of Jackson County.
Dr. Stephen T. Ragan, the subject of this sketch, has one brother, Dr. Walter H. Ragan, who is a practicing dentist in Kansas City, Mo. During the World War, he served with the Dental Corps, having enlisted in 1917, he was stationed at Fort Douglas, Arizona.
Dr. Stephen T. Ragan received a good education in the public schools at Kansas City and then entered the University Medical College of Kan- sas City, where he was graduated in the class of 1911. He then practiced medicine in Macon County until 1915. He then served an internship in a Kansas City hospital and then took post graduate course in Chicago and engaged in the practice at Moberly, Mo., in August, 1916, and when the United States entered the World War, he volunteered his services in April, 1917, and was called into service Aug. 1, 1917, and sent to London, England, where he was attached to the British Army. He served one year in London and four months in Belgium. He then was taken sick with trench fever and after being confined to a hospital for two months, he returned to duty and served for five months at St. Albans, England. He was overseas for 22 months and was one of the first three men to go overseas from Randolph County. He was mustered out of service at Camp Dix, New Jersey, in May, 1919.
After his discharge from the army, Dr. Ragan resumed his practice at Moberly and is one of the successful physicians of Randolph County.
Jim W. Holman, of the Peoples Steam Laundry, is one of the enter- prising and successful citizens of Moberly and the Peoples Steam Laundry
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occupies a position among the leading industrial institutions of this char- acter in the state. The plant is located at 100 North Williams street and is equipped with all modern machinery and appliances for handling a general laundry business on a large scale. They employ 35 people and have an extensive business. The Peoples Laundry has won a well merited reputation for promptness and excellency of workmanship.
Jim W. Holman is a native of Moberly and a son of H. Frank and Linda (St. Clair) Holman of Moberly. H. Frank Holman is also a native of Randolph County and is the senior partner of the Peoples Laundry Company and founded the business in 1898. A sketch of him appears in this volume.
Jim W. Holman was educated in the public schools of Moberly and at- tended the Moberly High School. He later attended the Pritchett Col- lege which was conducted by U. S. Hall, at Glasgow and afterwards at- tended Westminster College at Fulton, Mo. After completing school in 1909 he entered the laundry business at Moberly in partnership with his father and since that time has devoted his attention to that business.
Mr. Holman was united in marriage Sept. 30, 1915 with Miss Pearle M. Wilhite of Blytheville, Ark. She is a daughter of John F. and Laura Wilhite, the latter of whom is deceased and the father resides at Blythe- ville, Ark.
Mr. and Mis. Holman reside at Urbandale, a suburb adjoining Moberly, where Mr. Holman is also interested quite extensively in poultry raising. For the past three years he has been a successful breeder of single comb Rhode Island Red chickens, of the standard bred variety. He now has about 135 hens, the breed of which is of the highest strain obtainable. He is also a breeder of pure bred Pointer dogs which bring a good price. He has sold dogs in all parts of the country.
Mr. Holman is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and has a wide acquaintance in Randolph County where he stands high.
May J. Tędford, a well known and successful insurance man of Moberly is a native of Randolph County and a descendant of some of the very early pioneers of this section of the state. He was born in Sugar Creek township, Feb. 22, 1869 and is a son of Frank and Mary Virginia (Baird) Tedford.
J. Frank Tedford, was also born in Sugar Creek township March 28, 1843, a son of pioneer parents. During the Civil War he enlisted in the
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Confederate army and served with General Price. Randolph County has been his home practically all his life. He furnished ties for the Wabash railroad when it was being constructed in this vicinity. He now resides at 112 Kirby street, Moberly. His mother. Catherine Hannah Tedford, was a native of Tennessee and came to Randolph with her parents about 1807. They settled in what later became Sugar Creek township and were among the very first settlers of this part of the state. They were the organizers of Sugar Creek Cumberland Presbyterian Church, the first meeting being held in the home of Andrew Hannah, the father of Cath- erine (Hannah) Tedford. Andrew Hannah and his wife spent the re- mainder of their lives in Randolph County, after coming here, and their remains are buried in Sugar Creek Cemetery which perhaps is the oldest regularly established cemetery in Randolph County.
Mary Virginia Baird, mother of May J. Tedford of this review, was born in Pennsylvania in 1850 and came to Randolph County with her parents, J. C. and Almina Baird who settled in Sugar Creek township shortly after the close of the Civil War. To J. Frank and Mary Virginia (Baird) Tedford were born the following children: May J., the subject of this sketch; Fred H., who is engaged in the hotel business at Kansas City ; Allie, married N. C. Figley, of Los Angeles, Cal.
May J. Tedford received his education in the district schools of Sugar Creek township and the Moberly public schools. In 1893 he was elected collector of the city of Moberly and reelected in 1895 and in 1897, serving six years in that office. He was then engaged in farming and stock rais- ing for four years when he engaged in the insurance business in Moberly and since that time has successfully devoted himself to that field of endeavor.
Mr. Tedford was married in 1899 to Mrs. Ida L. (Elsea) Last, of Moberly, Mo. They have one son, John Elsea, a student in the Moberly High School.
E. G. Rupp, a well known citizen of Moberly, who is an extensive dealer in coal, wood, sand, crushed stone and junk is a native of Illinois. He was born at Quincy, Ill. and is the son of F. J. and Hannah Rupp. The mother died at Moberly in 1900, and the father now resides in this city. They were the parents of the following children: William, Moberly, Mo .; Mary Hannah, Pawhauska, Okla .; Clara, Tulsa, Okla .; Helen, and Agnes married Elsworth Warner of Moberly, Mo. and E. G., the subject of this sketch.
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F. J. Rupp came to Moberly with his family and about a year later began to deal in junk and shortly afterwards engaged in the poultry busi- ness, handling poultry in carload lots. After a time he sold his poultry business and engaged in the grocery business which after a time he sold. However, he continued to handle junk after first engaging in that business.
E. G. Rupp was educated in the Loretta Academy at Moberly and was reared to a practical knowledge of his father's business, beginning work with his father when he was 12 years. In 1911, he bought his father out, and since that time he has conducted the business which has developed into large proportions. He has several branches and handles over 150 carloads annually of junk, alone, which is a large business in itself, to say nothing of the other commodities in which he deals.
Mr. Rupp is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Knights of Columbus. He is a progressive citizen and one of the substantial citizens of Moberly and Randolph County.
August Merck, now living retired at his home in Moberly, is one of the pioneer business men of Randolph County and for many years was successfully engaged in the bakery business at Moberly. He is a native of Illinois and was born at Bellville, Ill., Feb. 23, 1851, and is a son of Charles and Louise (Knoell) Merck, very early pioneer settlers of Bell- ville, Ill., who are both now deceased. The mother died in 1852 and the father departed this life in 1881 and their remains are buried at Bell- ville. They emigrated to America in 1833 from Kreuznath, Germany, both coming on the same sailing vessel and were married some time after reaching America. The voyage across the ocean required three months, which was about the average time that it took a sailing vessel to make the trip in those days. Charles Merck was a son of Carl Merck, who was a forest overseer under the Napoleon the First.
After reaching this country, Charles Merck was married and settled at Bellville, Ill. He had learned the baker's trade in his native land and established a bakery at Belleville, which he conducted throughout the re- mainder of his life and this business is still being carried on by the widow of his son, Charles, Jr. It was established over 87 years ago. Charles Merck, the father of August Merck, lived at Bellville during the Civil War, and was a strong supporter of the Union, although he was always a Democrat and an enthusiastic supporter of Stephen A. Douglas.
August Merck was one of seven children born to his parents and is the only one now living. He was reared in Bellville, Ill. and educated
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in the public schools there. In early life, he learned the baker's trade with his partner. In 1878, he came to Moberly and bought out the bakery here which was owned by William Radell, who was one of the first bakers of Moberly; this bakery was located in the 200 block on North Clark street. It was afterwards moved to Williams street and later to Reed street, where Mr. Merck conducted the bakery business until 1898.
August Merck was united in marriage Feb. 11, 1880 to Miss Mary Kaufman of Illinois, a daughter of John Kaufman. To Mr. and Mrs. Merck have been born four children as follow: John, a barber living in Moberly ; Arthur, an employe of the Cotton Belt Railroad Company, Little Rock, Ark .; Edwin, a tailor, Moberly, Mo .; August, Jr. chief clerk for Superintendent Greenland of the Wabash Railroad Company.
Mr. Merck is a member of the Court of Honor and one of the highly respected and substantial pioneer citizens of Randolph County.
James Thomas Cross, of the J. T. Cross Lumber Company, is the present mayor of the city of Moberly and a representative progressive business man of Randolph County. He is a native of Randolph County and a descendant of a pioneer family of this state. Mr. Cross was born on a farm adjoining the town site of Clark, Mo., Aug. 6, 1856, and is a son of William B. and Mary (Shores) Cross, both natives of Howard County, Mo. William B. Cross was a son of John Cross, a Kentuckian, who came to Missouri and settled in Howard County at a very early day and spent the remainder of his life there. His remains are buried in a private cemetery on the old Cross homestead near Armstrong, Mo. William B. Cross grew to manhood in Howard County, and after his mar- riage, settled on a farm in Randolph County near Clark, and he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives in this county and their remains are buried in Chapel Grove Cemetery.
William B. and Mary (Shores) Cross were the parents of the follow- ing children: J. N., Modesto, Calif .; Mrs. Susan Martin, died at Clark, Mo .; James Thomas, the subject of this sketch; Anna, died at age of 7 years; Clay, resides at Clark, Mo .; Mrs. Cornelia Trailkill, Clark, Mo .; Mollie, married Dr. R. A. Wood, Clark, Mo .; Samuel, Clark, Mo .; Marvin, Clark, Mo .; and Charles, died at the age of 16 years.
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