USA > Missouri > Randolph County > History of Randolph County, Missouri > Part 34
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Mr. Carter was united in marriage in 1903 with Miss Victoria Rags- dale, a daughter of John W. and Rosa (Dixon) Ragsdale, the former of whom resides in Moberly and the latter is deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Carter have been born two daughters, Helen and Bernice.
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Mr. and Mrs. Carter are members of the Central Christian church of Moberly. They have a pleasant home at 715 South Clark street.
Earl Ragsdale, of the Ragsdale-Carter Dairy Company, is a native of Randolph County, born Jan. 18, 1884. He is a son of John W. and Rosa (Dixon) Ragsdale. John W. Ragsdale was also born in Randolph County and is a descendant of pioneer settlers here who came from Ken- tucky and settled in Prairie township at a very early date. Charles Rags- dale, father of John W. Ragsdale, was a Kentuckian. He spent the remainder of his life in Randolph County after coming here. John W. Ragsdale was born in 1853 and now resides in Moberly. His wife died at the age of 60 years and her remains are interred in Oakland Cemetery. To John W. and Rosa (Dixon) Ragsdale were born the following children : May, married I. S. Hamilton, Moberly, Mo .; Victoria, married Joseph C. Carter, the sketch of whom appears in this volume; Gertrude, lives in Kansas City, Mo .; Samuel C., Billings, Mont .; and Earl, the subject of this sketch.
Earl Ragsdale attended the public schools of Moberly and since leav- ing school has been engaged in the dairy business and is one of the thor- oughly experienced and practical dairy men of this section. In 1919 he and Mr. Carter established the Ragsdale-Carter Dairy Company, a suc- cessful institution which is mentioned more extensively in this volume
Mr. Ragsdale was married in October, 1905, to Miss Roxie Irons, of Prairie township, Randolph County. She is a daughter of Thomas and Mollie (Dent) Irons, a sketch of whom appears in this volume. The father is now deceased and the mother resides on the old homestead in Prairie township. To Mr. and Mrs. Ragsdale have been born two children: John Thomas and William Earl. Mr. and Mrs. Ragsdale reside at 131 Elizabeth street.
Charles E. Crisler, a progressive and enterprising citizen of Moberly, who has been identified with this city for the past 15 years, conducts a grocery store at the corner of Barrow and Porter streets, where he enjoys a profitable business. Mr. Chrisler is a native of Kentucky, born in Boone County, June 17, 1872. He is a son of Thomas and Matilda (Helm) Chris- ler. both of whom were natives of Kentucky and are now deceased. The mother died in 1878 and the father survived her for a number of years, living to the advanced age of 91 years. They were the parents of the following children: Fannie, married William Rice and they reside at Burlington, Ky .; Eliza Wingate, deceased; Lewis, a veterinary surgeon of
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Covington, Ky., who has been meat and milk inspector in Covington, Ky., and Cincinnati, Ohio, for the past 12 years, and Charles E., the subject of this sketch.
Charles E. Chrisler was educated in the public schools of Kentucky and for 12 years lived in Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1905 he came to Moberly, Mo., and for 12 years he was employed in the Thackston Owne Grocery Store on East Coates street. In March, 1919. he engaged in the grocery business for himself at the corner of Barrow and Porter streets. He has built up a large trade which is not only due to the fact that he is estab- lished in a desirable location, but that he gives the public a square deal and courteous treatment.
Mr. Chrisler was married Aug. 5, 1898, to Miss Ora German, of Belle- vue, Ky. She is a daughter of George and Melissa (Armstrong) German, who now reside in Moberly, Mo. To Mr. and Mrs. Chrisler have been born one son, Oran Edgar, who was born April 9, 1913. Mr. and Mrs. Chrisler have an extensive acquaintance in Moberly and stand high in the community.
John Albert Sternitzke, of the Louis Hunt Grocery Company, is a native son of Moberly, and one of the progressive men of the younger generation of this city. He was born in Moberly, July 19, 1888, and is the son of August and Maggie (Sutter) Sternitzke, now residents of Moberly, who have their home at 336 Woodland avenue. The father con- ducted a cafe on Sturgeon street in Moberly for a number of years, but recently has been in the employ of the Wabash Railroad Company in the shops at Moberly. He is engaged in making springs for cars and engines.
To August and Maggie (Sutter) Sternitzke have been born the fol- lowing children: Amelia, married Louis Hunt, Moberly, Mo .; August. a telegraph operator, employed at the Union Station, Moberly ; John Albert, the subject of this sketch; Frank , auditor for the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railway Company, Muskogee, Okla .; Martha, resides at home with her parents; Leo, employed by the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Company as engine time-keeper, Sedalia, Mo., and Marguerite, resides at home with her parents.
John Albert Sternitzke was reared in Moberly and attended the pub- lic schools. In early life he worked for a time at the Brown Shoe Factory and later was employed in the Wabash railroad shops. In 1909 he began in the grocery business and since that time has been with the Hunt Gro-
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cery Company. He has had a broad and varied experience and is well posted and thoroughly competent in his line of work.
Mr. Sternitzke is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. The Sternitzke family ranks among the best representative citi- zens of Randolph County.
Thomas Irons, now deceased, was for many years one of the substan tial citizens and prominent farmers and stockmen of Randolph County and the owner of 200 acres of valuable land in Prairie township. He was born here in September, 1848 and died June 20, 1917. He was the son of Thomas and Nancy (Given) Irons. The father was born in Scotland in 1808, where he was reared and educated and emigrated from his native land when a young man to America and located in Virginia where he lived until 1844, when he came west and took up land in Monroe County, Mo. Here he engaged in stock raising and farming. During the gold rush in 1849 he went to California, but three years later he returned and settled in Randolph County on a farm which has since descended to his son. He remained here the rest of his days and died in 1876. The mother, Nancy Given Irons, was born in Monroe County, Va., in 1810 but spent the most of her life in Missouri. She died in the early 80s, leaving the following family of children: Robert, deceased; Bettie, the wife of John McKinsey, now deceased, and she lives in Moberly; William A., a farmer of Prairie township; Mary, the wife of M. H. Neal, of Prairie township; Susan, de- ceased, was the wife of James Genola; John, of California; Thomas, of this review; Dazerine, the wife of Sanford Anderson, of Prairie town- ship; Wesley, deceased and his twin brother, Presley, lives in Kansas City, Missouri.
Thomas Irons was reared on his father's farm, received his edu- cational advantages in the district school and when old enough began to farm, a vocation he followed all his days. He prospered and was rated as a successful man not afraid of hard work and with marked ability. He invested his capital in land and was well-to-do at the time of his death.
Thomas Irons was maried to Miss Mary E. Dent, of Randolph County, who now lives on the home farm in Prairie township. There were 10 children born to Mr. and Mrs. Irons: Lloyd, the seventh child is now managing the old home place and his mother makes her home with him. He was married April 2, 1919, to Miss Anna Phelan, of Moberly, the daughter of Frederick Phelan, the freight agent for the Wabash Rail- road. The other children are Datz, deceased; Daisy, the wife of Estell
Y
THOMAS IRONS
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Sweeney, deceased; Mamie, the wife of W. Cottingham, of Moberly; Wil- liam, of Prairie township; Roxie, the wife of E. Ragsdale, of Moberly ; Victor, deceased; Dersie, deceased; Marie, at home with the mother; and Ethel, the wife of Leo Wilcox, of Moberly.
Thomas Irons was a Democrat from the time he cast his first vote. He took an active interest in the civic affairs of his community and gave liberally for every movement that tended to the development of the county and the community. He was a worthy citizen and an example of the prosperous American farmer.
Val Riegel, of the Riegel Agency, Moberly, Mo., is one of the pio- neer business men of Moberly and Randolph County and has been an im- portant factor in the affairs of this section for many years. Mr. Riegel is a native of Alsace-Lorraine, France. He was born Oct. 21, 1855, and his parents, Anthony and Anna (Hirtzlin) Riegel, who were natives of Alsace-Lorraine, are both now deceased. They were the parents of the following children: Xavier, was a professor of mathematics at Lyons, France, and a deputy of that city, is now deceased; Francis Joseph, served in the Franco-Prussian War of 1871 and was interned in Germany dur- ing the World War, and whose wife died within 18 miles of her home when being returned after the war, resides in Alsace, France; Rosine, married Francis Joseph Fisher, and is now deceased.
Val Riegel was educated in the public schools of his native land and came to America in 1870 when he was 15 years of age. He first located at St. Louis and in 1872 he came to Moberly, where he engaged in the confectionery and fruit business. About seven years later he opened a dry goods and notion store. He remained in that business until 1895. He then began the real estate and insurance business and for 35 years he has been successfully engaged in this business. And the Riegel Agency is one of the extensive real estate and insurance agencies in central Missouri. It is the oldest real estate firm in Mo- berly and the oldest general insurance agency. They buy, sell and ex- change real estate and also make loans. They represent some of the largest financial interests in Moberly, including business, manufactur- ing and residence properties, and they are one of the largest taxpayers in Randolph County. Their insurance department represents the lead- ing insurance companies of the country and includes such companies as the Aetna Insurance Company of Hartford, Conn., Atlas of London, Fire Association of Philadelphia, New York Underwriters, Commercial Union
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of London, Phoenix of London, Orient of Hartford, Conn., Springfield F. and M. of Massachusetts, Hanover Fire Insurance Company of New York and the Sun Insurance Company of London.
Mr. Riegel was married in January, 1879, to Miss Laura Cassatt, of Moberly. She is a daughter of William Cassatt and was born at Day- ton, Ohio. William Cassatt and his family settled in Carroll County, Mo., just after the close of the Civil War and spent the remainder of their lives there. Mrs. Cassatt had one brother, David, who served in the Union army during the Civil War, enlisting in an Ohio regiment. He died in Barton County, Mo. To Mr. and Mrs. Riegel have been born four children as follows: Jerome A., who is associated with his father in business; Ethel Cecil, who resides at home with her parents, and Leo and Leona, twins, the former of whom died in infancy and the latter departed this life July 9, 1913.
Jerome A. Riegel, who is associated with the Riegel Agency, was born and reared in Moberly. He attended the public schools here and was graduated from the Moberly High School in the class of 1900. He then attended Washington University and the Moberly Business Col- lege. He was admitted to the bar in 1902, when Judge Hockaday was on the bench. He does the legal business in connection with the Riegel Agency. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus.
Val Riegel has had an extensive business experience and a remark- ably successful career. He has not only been successful in a financial way, but by his square dealing has won a reputation for honesty and integrity, which is a man's best asset.
J. W. Balzer, a successful grocer, located at 111 West Carpenter street, Moberly, Mo., was born in Pike County, Ill., Nov. 13, 1885. He is a son of John and Charity (Piper) Balber. John Balzer was a native of Quincy, Ill., and spent his life in that state. He died near Barry, Ill., in 1898, at the age of 44 years. His widow now resides with her son, J. W. Balzer, of this review. They were the parents of the follow- ing children: Lydia, married Harry Tooley, Valley City, Ill .; J. W., the subject of this sketch; David, employed in the grocery business with J. W.,; Robert, also with his brother, J. W .; Cecil, an automobile me- chanic, Flint, Mich.
Robert Balzer served in the United States army during the World War. He enlisted Sept. 20, 1917, and was first sent to Camp Taylor, Ky., and from there to Camp Pike, Ark., and then to Camp Dix, N. J.,
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and on Aug. 26, 1918, was sent overseas, landing at Winchester, Eng. From there he was sent to LeMoines, France, with the 348th Ambulance Train. He remained in France ten months, when he was returned to the United States and honorably discharged at Camp Grant, Ill., July 17, 1919. He was married April 9, 1920, to Miss Ruby Young of Davis, Okla., and they reside in Moberly.
David Balzer, another brother, was also a soidier in the World War. He enlisted June 26, 1918, at Pittsfield, Ill .. and was immediately sent to Camp Taylor, Ky., where he was attached to the 36th Company, 159th Depot Brigade, for six months. On July 26, he was transferred to field artillery, F. A. C. O. T. S. He was mustered out of service and honorably discharged Dec. 19, 1918.
J. W. Balzer was reared to manhood at Kinderhook, Ill. and attended the public schools there, obtaining a good common school education. He entered the employ of the Wabash Railroad Company as a switch- man in 1907 and served in that capacity until 1914, when on April 14, 1914, he met with an injury which resulted in the loss of his right arm. After recovering he purchased the grocery business from Gus Miller, which he has since conducted. He carries a complete line of groceries and has built up an extensive trade and has met with success. By his policy of square dealing, high-class goods and honest representa- tions he has won the confidence of the buying public and he has a large trade.
Mi. Balzer was married Dec. 11, 1906, to Miss Ethel Noble, of Hannibal, Mo. She is a daughter of John and Emma (Traeger) Noble, both of whom are now deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Balzer have been born one son, Harvey, born Jan. 20, 1908.
Mr. Balzer is a member of the Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen and is treasurer of that order in Moberly, which has a membership there of 299. He is a progressive and public spirited business man and one of Moberly's well-known and substantial citizens.
William Eugene Duffy, a well-known conductor of the Wabash Rail- road, who resides at 617 South Clark street, Moberly, is a native of North Carolina. He was born March 12, 1872, in Raleigh, N. C., and is a son of James and Mary (Pope) Duffy. James Duffy was born in County Donegal, Ireland, and came to America with his three brothers, Daniel, Cornelius and Patrick. The other brothers located at St. Joseph, Mo., and James Duffy eventually settled at Raleigh, N. C., where he
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died in 1890, aged 60 years. His wife preceded him in death a number of years, she having died at Raleigh, N. C., in 1876, and their remains are buried there. They were the parents of three sons: James Patrick, who lives at Henderson, N. C .; Silas Cornelius, Washington, D. C .; and William Eugene.
William Eugene Duffy was reared in North Carolina and educated in the public schools. He learned the stone cutter's trade in early life and worked at it for five years. He then entered the employ of the Sea- board Airline Railroad Company in the train service and after a time went to Indianapolis, Ind., where he was employed by the Chicago, Ham- ilton and Dayton Railroad Company for one year. He then returned to North Carolina, where he remained until 1903, when he came to Mo- berly, and since that time has been in the employ of the Wabash Rail- road and he is now employed as freight conductor between Moberly and Kansas City. Mo.
Mr. Duffy was married July 22, 1909, to Miss Martha Catherine Spell- man. She is a daughter of P. E. and Mary Elizabeth (Barnes) Spell- man. P. E. Spellman was prominent in the affairs of this section of Mis- souri. He was the founder of the Clark Exchange Bank of Clark, Mo., and was the president of that institution for 30 years. He was a promi- nent breeder of Hereford cattle for over 40 years, importing his first registered cow from England. He retired from active business in 1919. Mary Elizabeth Barnes, mother of Mrs. Duffy, was a granddaughter of Rev. James Barnes, who was a prominent pioneer minister in the early days of Boone County, Mo. His brother, Philip Barnes, was the founder of the Barnes Medical College of St. Louis. He gave a $1,000,000 to this medical college and hospital and lived to see it become one of the great medical institutions of the country. Rev. James Barnes married Mary Elizabeth Burkhart, who was also a member of a prominent pioneer fam- ily of Boone County, who came from Kentucky to this state at an early day. Mrs. Duffy is one of the following children born to her parents: Edward Spellman, of Clark, Mo .; M. A., also of Clark; Mrs. William Engene Duffy, of this review; and Mrs. E. Mayer, of Chicago. To Mr. and Mrs. Duffy have been born one daughter, Julia Elizabeth Duffy.
Mr. Duffy is a member of the Order of Railway Conductors and the Knights of Columbus. He and Mrs. Duffy have an extensive acquaint- ance and many friends in Moberly and vicinity.
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Thomas Kellock, a prominent contractor and builder of Moberly, who has been successfully engaged in that line of work here for the past 15 years, is a native of Scotland. He was born in Lanarkshire, Scotland, in December, 1863, and is a son of Thomas and Anna Belle, both natives of Scotland, where they spent their entire lives; the mother died at the age of 55 years and the father died when he was 75 years old. Thomas Kellock was the youngest of the children born to his parents and is the only member of the family now living.
Mr. Kellock was reared to manhood in his native land and attended the public schools and Gertshire Academy. In 1883 he came to America and settled in Minnesota, where he bought land. Later he went to St. Paul, Minn., where he was employed in the construction of the court house there and laid the first stone of that building. After remaining in St. Paul for six years he sold his land in Minnesota and went to Den- ver, Colo., where he worked at his trade for six years. He then went to Great Falls, Mont., where he was employed for a time and went frem there to Chicago. In 1894, he came to Moberly and was employed as foreman for James Sandison in the construction of the Wabash railroad and later succeeded Mr. Sandison as foreman for the Wabash Company. About 1905 he began his independent career as a general contractor in brick, stone and concrete construction and he has been successfully en- gaged in this line of work in Moberly and vicinity since that time. He has built some important structures in this vicinity, including the Mo- berly Trust Company building, the North Park School Building and the John C. O'Keefe residence, as well as many other structures. He under- stands the building business from beginning to end, and has had an extensive experience in bridge building as well as general structural work and ranks as one of the leading building contractors in this section of the state.
Mr. Kellock was married April 17, 1912, in New York City, to Miss Jane Walker, a native of Ayershire, Scotland, where she was reared and educated. Mrs. Kellock is a daughter of James and Mary Cuthbert) Walker, both of whom are now deceased. Her father died in 1875, and her mother departed this life in 1896. Mrs. Kellock was born within six miles of the home of Robert Burns, the celebrated Scotch poet. She has three brothers, one brother, John Walker, of the firm John Walker Company, Limited, furniture manufacturers, Glasgow, Scotland. 'This is one of the largest firms in Scotland.
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Mr. Kellock has a fine modern residence at 216 South Clark street, which he built in 1919. He has traveled extensively in the course of his career and since coming to this country has been in 28 states, and he also visited Cuba. He stands in the front rank in his chosen line of work and is a leading citizen of Moberly and Randolph County.
James Alfred Peebles, a well-known locomotive engineer on the Wa- bash Railroad, who resides at 203 North Hagood street, Moberly, Mo., is a railroad man of an extensive experience and has been an employee of the Wabash Railroad for the past 11 years. Mr. Peebles was born in Litchfield, Ill., Feb. 7, 1871, and is a son of James J. and Susan H. (James) Peebles.
James J. Peebles was a native of Grayson County, Ky., and came to Missouri in 1880. He first located at Moberly, where he was a coach builder in the employ of the Wabash Railroad Company for six years. He then went to St. Joseph, Mo., where he was employed as master car builder for the St. Joseph Terminal Company until the time of his death in 1909. He was a Union veteran of the Civil War, having enlisted in California and was transferred to Boston. Mass, and became a member of the 22nd Regiment, Massachusetts Cavalry. He served with the Army of the Potomac and took part in a number of impor- tant battles and skirmishes and during the latter year of the war he was severely wounded by a minie ball passing entirely through his body. His widow now resides in Moberly with her son, James Alfred, of this review. She is a native of Point Pleasant, Mason County, W. Va., and was born in 1847. She is a daughter of Aaron E. and Mary (Amos) James, both also natives of Virginia. James Alfred Peebles is one of three children born to his parents, the others being: Alma, now leceased, and Benjamin, who is in the employ of the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad and resides at Trenton. Mo.
James A. Peebles was educated in the public schools of Litchfield and Mattoon, Ill., and Moberly, Mo., and in 1891 began firing on the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad and six years later was pro- moted to engineer and continued in that position until 1902, when he came to Moberly and was engineer on the Wabash Railroad about one year when he entered the employ of the Rock Island as engineer, mak- ing his home in Trenton, Mo. From there he went with the Mexican National Railroad as engineer, with headquarters at San Louis Potozi, Old Mexico, and remained with that company one year when he entered
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the employ of the Mexican Central Railroad as engineer with headquar- ters at the same place, and remained with them about two years when he went with the Southern Pacific Railroad Company and ran from Delero, Tex., to New Orleans, La. He afterwards returned to Old Mex- ico and was engineer on the Mexican Central again for a time. He then was engaged in operating a ranch in Southern Missouri and after a time returned to railroading and was employed by the Burlington until 1909, when he entered the employ of the Wabash Company as engineer and has held that position to the present time with his resi- dence in Moberly.
Mr. Peebles was married with Miss Lena L. Thoroughgood of Des Moines, Ia. She is a daughter of J. E. Thoroughgood, who now resides in Los Angeles, Calif., and the mother is deceased and her remains are buried in Des Moines, Ia.
Mr. Peebles is a Knights Templar Mason and a member of the Mys- tic Shrine and holds membership in the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engi- neers. He is an enterprising citizen of high character and reliability.
Frank J. Epping, who is successfully engaged in the grocery busi- ness at 407 Taylor street, Moberly, Mo., is a native of Illinois. He was born in Adams County in 1864. His parents were Gerard and Anna (Heddinghouse) Epping. Gerard Epping was the son of Henry Epping and was brought to America by his parents when an infant. They set- tled in Madison County, Ill., where Gerard Epping was reared to man- hood. Later he went to St. Louis, and after a time from there to Quincy, Ill., where he was married to Anna Heddinghouse. In 1876, he came to Randolph County and was engaged in farming and stock raising in Union township. He died in 1882 and his wife died in Moberly in 1914. They were the parents of the following children: Barney, Moberly, Mo .; Frank J., the subject of this sketch; John resides in Moberly, Mo .; Jose- phine, married W. R. Klein, of Moberly, Mo .; and Cecelia, who is now the widow of Charles E. Reynolds and resides in Moberly, Mo.
Frank J. Epping remained at home with his parents on the farm and attended the public schools until he was 17 years of age. He then entered the employ of J. H. Miller, a grocer, in Moberly and about a year later went to work for the Wabash Railroad Company and was with that company about ten years when he bought a half interest in the Thackston Grocery Store on East Coates street and was identified with that business for three years. Mr. Epping then sold his interest to Mr. Thackston and
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