USA > Missouri > Randolph County > History of Randolph County, Missouri > Part 30
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78
Virgil Turner was educated in the public schools of Boone County, as he lived on the home farm, and after his schooling was over remained
366
HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY
there until he was of age. He then accepted a position as salesman in a clothing store in Columbia. Subsequently he was connected with the C. Hall Company of Columbia for four years, and then went to Centralia, Mo. Within a short time, Mr. Turner went into business there and in 1908 came to Moberly, established himself in business on West Reed street, where he was a well-known merchant for 12 years.
On March 1, 1920, Mr. Turner organized the Banner Motor Company, and opened his show rooms at his present address. He is now the agent for the National, Stephens, Grant and Dixie Flyer automobiles and Old Hickory and Grant trucks. He has a good display room, clean and con- venient and his business has started off well, for he is well known and liked in Moberly, where he has lived for more than a decade.
Mr. Turner was married on May 24, 1903, to Miss Mary Keene, of Columbia, Mo., the daughter of Thomas and Georgia Ann Keene. The father is deceased and Mrs. Keene married for a second husband Edward Kimball, of Sedalia, Mo., and both of them are now chiropractors there. Mr. and Mrs. Turner have two sons: Hall and Samuel D. The family resides at 623 Fisk avenue, and Mr. Turner is a member of the Benevo- lent and Protective Order of Elks.
Charles H. Richardson, a substantial citizen of Randolph County, who owns and manages a farm in Union township, three miles northeast of Moberly on the Paris road, was born in Chariton County, Mo., two miles south of Prairie Hill, Oct. 26, 1861. He is a son of H. H. and Elizabeth (Cloyd) Richardson, the former a native of Virginia, born in 1824, and came west in the winter of 1830-31. He drove across country in true pioneer style with a prairie schooner drawn by a team of oxen, reaching Randolph County when the snow was from five to six feet deep.
H. H. Richardson was a veteran of the Mexican war and crossed the plains in 1849 to California as captain of a company of gold seekers. After remaining in California for a time he returned to Virginia by making the trip around Cape Horn in a sailing vessel. During the trip they were caught in a storm near Cape Horn and were shipwrecked. They were compelled to finish the trip by crossing some of the southern continent and then by boat to the United States. On this trip he lost his money and gold dust. Mr. Richardson died in Maryville, Mo., while on a visit to his son, George, but was buried in the old Richardson cemetery in Chariton County, located on the farm that Ancil Richardson entered from the government.
367
HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY
The four children born to H. H. Richardson and wife are: Charles H., of this sketch; George, of Warrensburg, Mo .; Margaret Anne, the wife of F. M. Stamper, of Moberly; Kate, deceased, was the wife of Dr. B. J. Milam, and Thomas, a merchant of Salisbury, Mo. By a former marriage, H. H. Richardson had two children: W. A., deceased, and Ledora E., the wife of J. D. Bozarth, of Keytesville, Mo. By a former marriage, Elizabeth Richardson had two sons: M. M. Minor, of Arkansas, and L. H., deceased.
Charles H. Richardson was educated in the public schools of this county and after his elementary studies were finished he attended Central College, of Fayette, Mo. After leaving College, Mr. Richardson engaged in farming in Chariton County until he moved to Randolph County in 1880. For the first few years he rented his present farm and in 1890, purchased the place. It consists of 244 acres of land well watered by a good well and Elk Fork creek, which crosses the farm, furnishing fresh water for stock. There is one tenant house on the place; the main residence is a two-story house of seven rooms, modern and convenient. Mr. Richard- son has good barns, tool shed, and other buildings for farm use. In 1910, he built a silo of 100 tons capacity. He has followed general farming and dairying, having 75 head of milk cows and heifers with a registered male at the head of the herd. His cows are all good grade of Jerseys.
On Oct. 18, 1888, M. Richardson was married to Miss Blanche Wray, of Union township, the daughter of Joseph A. Wray, both now deceased. Mr. Wray was a pioneer settler of Union township, and owned a large tract of land. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Richardson: Wray, of Moberly, married Susie Ratliff in 1912; Rose, now a student at the University of Chicago, who for three years was one of the prominent teachers of the state, having been principal of the Centralia High School; Howard H., on the home farm, married Mary Paget in 1914; C. Horace, of Kansas City married Nellie Furnish, and John W., a student in the Mo- berly High School.
Mr. Richardson is a member of the Masonic Lodge at Milton, Mo. For more than 30 years he has been engaged in farming and today is one of the substantial men of the community and stands high in the esteem of the people of Randolph County. He is a member of the Methodist church. He is a Democrat and has served on the school board from the time he came to the county until 1920.
368
HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY
The C. J. Harris Lumber Company, which has one of the leading lumber yards at Moberly, is one of the extensive industrial institutions of the state and has 13 lumber yards in operation, two of which are in ' Randolph County, one at Moberly and one at Higbee. This company was established in 1888 and was incorporated in 1905. The present officers are: C. J. Harris, president; George Friedmeyer, vice-president ; W. E. Crutchfield, treasurer; E. N. Wood, secretary ; D. R. Fitzroy, pur- chasing agent, and William F. Wigginton, sales manager.
The C. J. Harris Lumber Company has had a remarkable growth and development. It began business in a humble way with about a $3,000 stock, and during the 33 years of its existence has developed into a corporation with a stock amounting to more than $500,000. The marvel- ous growth of this company is not due to accident nor chance. They carry a complete line of lumber and all kinds of building material, and by their methods have won the conference of the buying public. The motto of this concern is "A satisfied customer is of more value than many shekels of silver."
The Moberly branch of the Harris Lumber Company was estab- lished in 1906, and is one of the leading lumber yards in Randolph County. They take special pride, even in this age of delinquency, in filling their orders promptly and their delivery department is properly known as the "Rapid Fire Delivery," and in this department in the city of Moberly they use four auto trucks and one wagon. The local yard is located on the corner of Rollins and Sturgeon streets and occupies a space of 170x175 feet. It is one of the well kept and neatly arranged lumber yards of the country.
E. N. Wood, secretary of the C. J. Harris Lumber Company, who is the manager of the Moberly branch, is a native of Missouri. He was born in Neosho, Newton County, and has had a wide experience in the lumber business. He has been manager of the Moberly branch of the Harris Lumber Company for the past ten years.
Mr. Wood was married in May, 1900, to Miss Maggie B. Meredith, of Cooper County, Mo. She is a daughter of B. H. Meredith. To Mr. and Mrs. Wood have been born two children, Martha Sue and John.
Mr. Wood, during his business career in Moberly, has become well known and is one of the substantial business men of this section.
C.U.HARRIS
LUMBER
COMPANY
OMBER COMPANY
THE C. J. HARRIS LUMBER COMPANY. MOBERLY, MO.
369
HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY
Sutliff and Jennings, well-known breeders of pure bred registered Spotted Poland China hogs, and also wholesale dealers in coal, handling practically the entire output of the mines around Huntsville and owners of five farms in Randolph County. Two of the farms are near Hunts- ville, a third, four miles north of Moberly, the fourth, three miles east of Higbee on the Chicago and Alton Railroad, and the fifth two and a half miles south of Clifton Hill, Mo. This firm began breeding hogs three years ago and on Feb. 23, 1920, held a sale at Huntsville, where they sold over $23,000 worth of hogs, averag- ing $430.00 a head, to buyers from central Mississippi states, which in- dicates the success of the business. "Royal Spot," No. 12577, is at the head of this herd and was raised by Sutliff & Jennings. Three of the hogs sold at this sale took first, second and third prizes at the Ohio State Fair and first, third and fourth at the National Swine Show. The hogs were "Miss Thrift," No. 27834; "Miss Red Cross," No. 27838, and "Miss Liberty," No. 27836.
W. N. Jennings was born at Moberly in 1892, the son of W. B. and Ella C. (Coffee) Jennings, the former a native of Livingston County, Mo., who for 35 years was division freight agent of the Wabash Rail- road. He and his wife died in 1910, and both were buried at Bloomfield, Ia. W. N. Jennings was reared in Moberly, received his education in the public schools here and then attended the state university for two years; he then formed the present partnership with Mr. Sutliff.
Van G. Sutliff was born in Huntsville, Mo., and after completing his education engaged in the grain business there and also owned and oper- ated a farm, in which line he met with success. His parents were pio- neer settlers of Missouri and are now living. Mr. Sutliff had been a breeder of stock before he formed the partnership with Mr. Jennings, and he now has charge of the hog department and is recognized as one of the most successful breeders in the business.
In December, 1917, Mr. Jennings enlisted in the army at Jefferson ·Barracks, Mo., and was sent to Camp Custer, Mich., for two months training in the infantry. From there he was transferred to Barron Field, Tex., serving two months in the aviation corps before being sent to Fort Oglethorp, Ga., to the psychological department, and then was made examiner at Camp Bowie, Tex., remaining there until discharged from the service in December. 1918. Upon his return to Missouri, Mr. Jennings resumed his business here. He takes part in the civic life of
370
HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY
the city and belongs to the following organizations: American Legion, Masonic Lodge, being a 32d degree Scottish Rite Mason and a Shriner, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and the Chamber of Commerce.
The Central Coal and Supply Company, owned by Sutliff and Jen- nings, with offices in the Jennings Building, was organized in 1915, with Van G. Sutliff, president, and W. N. Jennings, vice-president. They han- dle nearly all the output of the coal mined in the vicinity of Huntsville, doing a wholesale business only. This department is under the manage- ment of Mr. Jennings. In connection with their hog business the con- cern publishes the Spotted Poland China Journal, which has a circulation in 37 states and is also sent to England and South America, as it is the only publication in the world devoted exclusively to the Spotted Poland China hogs. It is issued monthly.
Jerry C. Hutsell, a prominent farmer and stockman of Randolph County, who resides four miles northeast of Moberly in Union township, on the Paris state road, was born on the farm where he now lives, May 16, 1864. He is a son of Bloomfield and Emily (Carver) Hutsell, who were early settlers of Randolph County, locating here in 1838. The father died in 1884 and the mother in 1907 and both are buried at Antioch.
Mr. Hutsell's father died when he was a small lad and he was reared on the home place by his mother. He attended the public schools of his district and after his education was finished began to work on the farm, where he has lived all his life. Mr. Hutsell became one of the well- known agriculturists of this section and in time became a breeder of fine grade stock. The farm is watered by several ponds and there are two good springs on the south side which are an ever available supply, which with the good blue grass pasture make the Hutsell place excellent for raising cattle. Mr. Hutsell specializes in Poland China hogs and Short- horn and Jersey cattle and raises horses also. Mr. Hutsell has placed many and permanent improvements on the farm with the passing years; his present house was built in 1897, and he has two convenient, large stock barns and other buildings for farm use and stock.
On Nov. 7, 1888, Mr. Hutsell was married to Miss Susie F. Hall, of Union township, a daughter of Dr. R. R. and Annie (Coates) Hall, the former a pioneer of this township, as he located here in the late 30s. Mrs. R. R. Hall was the daughter of Captain Coates of Union township, who came here in the early days and entered a large tract of land, becoming one of the prominent men of this section of the state.
371
HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY
One son has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hutsell, Wilbur Hall Hutsell, now located in Birmingham, Ala. He enlisted in the army during the World War and was first sent to Camp Beauregard, La., for 13 months' training. He was then transferred to Deming, N. M., for five months and sent from there to Camp Devens, Mass., where he received his com- mission as captain. While in the army Mr. Hutsell was a physical in- structor for the soldiers and is now holding a similar position in private life at Birmingham, Ala. He was reared on his father's farm, received his elementary education in the district school and then graduated from the ' Moberly High School. Following this, he entered Missouri University, at Columbia, where he was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. On Nov. 12, 1919, he was married to Miss Corinne Southard, of Ft. Smith, Ark.
The Hutsell farm is admirably located and is one of the well kept and prosperous farms of Randolph County, and receives mail by rural delivery, being on route No. 3.
F. H. Meyers, manager of the F. M. Holtsinger Duroc Jersey hog farm, located six miles northeast of Moberly on the Paris road, is regarded as an authority on hog breeding, having specialized in this line of live stock for more than 15 years.
Mr. Meyers was born at Quincy, Ill., March 4, 1875, the son of H. H. and Mary K. (Feeler) Meyers, both now deceased. Mr. Meyers was reared in Illinois, and received his education there. After leaving school he en- gaged in farming for a number of years and then came to Randolph County in 1900. For a time he farmed here and also held a position in a livery barn until he accepted a position on the Holtsinger hog farm, where he has been employed for the past 15 years. At first Mr. Meyers was a helper, but was advanced and today is superintendent of the place and has four helpers under him besides a night watchman. This farm is one of the best equipped stock farms in Missouri, where a specialty is made of breed- ing Duroc Jersey hogs. There are 300 head on the place at the present time; 80 brood sows, all registered; 60 yearling gilts, which will be bred for the summer sale, which takes place July 19, 1920. The last sale from the Holtsinger herd, held Feb. 17, 1920, brought $67,000.
The farrowing house is 132x22 feet, is heated with steam as is the sale pavilion, which is 50 feet in diameter and seats 800 people. At the present time this pavilion is being utilized as a farrowing house also. There is a stock barn 100x70 feet and a number of other smaller farm
372
HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY
buildings devoted to various uses. All are fitted up for the comfort of the hogs, for which the farm is famous. The F. H. Holtsinger Duroc Jersey hogs are known throughout the United States as the best of the breed. When Mr. Holtsinger advertises a sale it is attended by stockmen from all over the country.
Mr. Meyers is a successful breeder, gaining his present position through actual experience. For he has devoted his entire time and at- tention to the breeding and care of hogs, being, as he expresses it, "on the job night and day." There is no particular season at this farm as the work keeps up the year round and the same number of men are ' kept steadily.
This year Mr. Meyers will attend the state fair at Sedalia with a number of show hogs. Greater Orion Sensation heads the herd and holds the record for the highest price sale for an untried sire in the world. He was a year old on Oct. 15, 1919, and now weighs over 850 pounds. In addition to being exhibited at Sedalia, Mr. Meyers intends to show him at the National Swine Show at Des Moines, Ia.
C. A. McAdam, one of the oldest residents of Randolph County, why lives on a farm four miles northeast of Moberly, is descended from one of the pioneer families that settled in Missouri at an early day and be- came well and favorably known in this section. He was born in Chari- ton County, Mo., Jan. 15, 1843, the son of John P. McAdam, a Baptist preacher who spent his life in Missouri and died in his 75th year. The mother died in 1879. John McAdam was one of the early preachers of central Missouri. There were the following children in the family: John P., of Salisbury, Mo .; Lucius, of Colorado; Dr. J. B., of Prairie Hill; C. A., of this sketch; Eliza, deceased; Louisa, the wife of a Mr. Harbour, is deceased; Sallie, who became Mrs. O'Neal, deceased, and Diana, who married a Mr. Cobb, is also dead.
C. A. McAdam was reared in Chariton County and received the edu- cational advantages afforded at that period. His brother, John P., was in the Civil War; he joined the Confederate army though but a boy and served until peace was established. Returning to Missouri he engaged in farming. In 1869, C. A. McAdam came to Randolph County and lo- cated on the farm where he still lives. He bought his land from William Wallace, a pioneer settler of this section.
On Jan. 28, 1869, Mr. McAdam married Miss Lucy Coates, the youngest daughter of Capt. Thomas Coates, one of the earliest and most
-
373
HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY
prominent settlers of the county, who entered 640 acres of government land. His home is now owned by Price Dixon. The captain entered into the life of the community and became a man of prominence and wealth before his death at the age of 75 years, in 1869. He was buried on the home place. His wife, Susan P. (Lanier) Coates, lived to be 84 years old and was buried on the well-known Turner faim, as she first married Synnie Turner. Her brother, J. Thomas now lives in Moberly. The other children in the Coates family were: Tunstall, who died in Oklahoma; Norbourn B., deceased, also of Moberly; David, deceased, of Moberly ; Julia, who married a Mr. Roberts of Moberly, is deceased; Sallie, who married H. Roberts, died near Milton, Mo .; Anna, married Dr. Hall, deceased, and Belinda, who married Dr. Davis, of Moberly, is dead. Her son, Jefferson Davis, now runs a furniture store in Moberly.
There were the following children born to Mr. and Mrs. McAdam: Erastus, who married Mattie Dawkins, lives at Lamar, Colo .; Thomas, deceased; Susie, the wife of William Cox, of Cairo township; Sallie, the wife of W. C. Dawkins, of Moberly; Henry R., married Annie White, and lives at LaJunta, Colo .; James, a machinist, of Moberly, married Dazzie Delaney, who is dead; Pearl, the wife of Earl Vantrese, of Moberly, and Ethel, the wife of Willard Rice, a machinist of Moberly.
On Jan. 28, 1919, Mr. and Mrs. McAdam celebrated their golden wedding anniversary, having all their children and grandchildren with them. This happy event occurred on the farm where they had lived for 50 years.
Mr. McAdam recalls that when he came here in 1869, Old Milton was a thriving town and Uncle James Dameron and William Briscoe were two of the merchants. Among some of his friends of that period, most of whom have passed away, were Irvin Gay, Captain Coates, Joe Vince, Joseph Wrey, William Wallace and Levi Haynes, all well known and prominent men in their day. Mr. McAdam says that most of the land north of his farm, in 1869, was open prairie; there were few settlers and they were far apart and he paid $18 an acre for his farm.
Mr. and Mrs. McAdam have 15 grandchildren and one of them, Roy Cox, has carried out the fighting traditions of his grandfather. He enlisted in the United States Marines when war was declared against Germany, and soon after was followed by his brother. Therefore the family was well represented in the fighting forces of the country.
374
HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY
Both Mr. and Mrs. McAdam have retained practically all of their physical and mental vigor. The former still looks after the farm though he rents a large part of the land, while his wife does all her own house- work. Mr. McAdam has as a historical treasurer, a history of the Towles family, of which his mother was a member, showing that the earliest members in this country settled in the eastern states before the Revolu- tionary War and were prominent in colonial affairs.
John Henry Roberts, a substantial farmer and stockman of Ran- dolph County, who lives about four miles north of Moberly in Cairo township, is a native of this county, born on the farm which his brother now owns, Sept. 17, 1868, the son of John S. and Sallie (Terrill) Roberts. The former came to Randolph County with his father, William Roberts, when only six years old. The family settled on a farm a part of which is now the town site of Moberly. William Roberts died there and was buried in the family burying ground on the home place. John S. Rob- erts bought the farm which James G. Roberts now owns when it was unbroken land. He placed many improvements on it and erected a home.
John H. Roberts was reared on his parent's farm, early learned the practical side of the business while attending school at the Haynes school house. After he finished his education he began to farm, a vocation he has followed to the present day. For some years he has also raised stock and has been successful. His present place consists of 265 acres, 110 of which originally belonged to his father, but the residence is on that part which belonged to John Hoog. After purchasing the farm, Mr. Roberts rebuilt the house and erected barns necessary for farm use and stock. Since first locating here Mr. Roberts has kept sheep and now has a flock of 80. Each year he feeds from 80 to 100 head of hogs and keeps a fine flock of Barred Plymouth Rock chickens. The land is well watered by springs and ponds furnishing a never failing supply for the stock.
On Dec. 28, 1893, Mr. Roberts was married to Miss May Griffin of Cairo, and they have one son, Raymond Griffin, born in 1896, who graduated from the Moberly High School and then entered Missouri Uni- versity at Columbia, receiving his degree in 1918, and is now at home with his parents.
Mr. and Mrs. Roberts are members of the Baptist church at Cairo and received their mail from Rural Route No. 1.
375
HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY
Mrs. Roberts belongs to one of the pioneer families of Missouri, as her father, James G. Griffin was born, reared and educated in Macon County, but now resides at Independence. He married Belle Mckinney, March 21, 1872, and for 25 years they lived in Cairo, where Mr. Griffin was a well-known merchant. Mrs. Griffin died in 1916. Mrs. Roberts was the oldest of their eight children.
James T. Boney, a well-to-do farmer of Cairo township, living five miles north of Moberly, with mail delivered by rural route No. 1, from Cairo, was born in this township, Nov. 11, 1869, the son of William J. and Emily (Campbell) Boney.
James T. Boney, grandfather of James T. and A. T. Boney took up government land three miles northwest of Cairo and lived there until his death in his 83d year. The family made the trip across half the continent in wagons and was accompanied by David McCann, William Boney's brother-in-law, who located a mile northwest of Jacksonville, where he spent the remainder of his life. William and Emily Campbell Boney were the parents of the following children, born in Cairo township: Walter G., of Eugene, Ore .; Arthur T., a sketch of whom appears in this volume; Robert M., of Merced, Calif., and James T. of this review who was reared on the old homestead, educated in the public schools and at Bolivar Col- lege, Polk County, Mo. After leaving college he returned to his native county to engage in farming which he has followed to the present time. He and his father began the breeding of registered Hereford cattle in 1883 and met with success and became known as prosperous stockmen of this section. In 1915, this herd was sold.
James T. Boney's present farm consists of 262 acres in Cairo town- ship, known for many years as the Kirkendall Farm; he also has a 5/8 interest in 405 acres of another tract; all the land is rich and has good pastures and is well watered. The residence on the home farm was built in 1879, but has been improved and modernized by Mr. Boney. He has built a silo and several good barns while other buildings are used for granaries, cattle sheds and hogs.
On Aug. 23, 1899, Mr. Boney married Miss Margaret Tait, a daughter of R. J. and Jean (Gemmill) Tait, both deceased. They came to Moberly in 1885 and the father died in 1909 and his wife died in 1914. One child has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Boney, William C., born in 1900, who was reared on his father's farm, received his education in the local schools, graduated from the Moberly high school and now is attending the agri- cultural college of the State University at Columbia, Mo.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.