USA > Missouri > Randolph County > History of Randolph County, Missouri > Part 38
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Frank B. Heddinghaus, a progressive citizen of Sugar Creek town- . ship, who is well known for his industry and integrity, is a native of Illinois. He was born in Adams County in 1860, and is a son of George
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and Elizabeth (Korte) Heddinghaus, natives of Germany, who came to America when young. They were married at Quincy, Ill., and prior to the Civil War, came to Missouri and during the war returned to Quincy, where they remained until 1870. They then returned to Missouri and settled on a farm three miles east of Moberly. This place is now owned by R. K. and S. P. Crose. George Heddinghaus was an honest, indus- trious citizen. He died in 1879 and was the first to be buried in St. Marys cemetery. His wife lived for many years after his death and departed this life in September, 1916 at the advanced age of 83 years. They were the parents of the following children: Frank B., the subject of this sketch; John, Prairie township; Mrs. Anna Kroner, Quincy, Ill .; Mrs. Josephina Schneider, Denver, Colo; Mrs. Lizzie Kelty, Moberly, Mo .; and George, Quincy, Ill.
Frank B. Heddinghaus was educated in the public schools of Quincy, Ill., and Moberly, Mo. and remained at home with his parents until he was 21 years of age. He located on his present place, just south of the city of Moberly in 1893. His farm consists of 47 acres of fertile and highly cultivated land. Here he carries on a general truck farming busi- ness. He raises vegetables of all kinds, including onions, cabbage, peas, rhubarb and etc., and he also raises potatoes extensively. He has been very successful in his chosen field and has become well-to-do.
Mr. Heddinghaus was married in 1881 to Miss Katie Winkamp, a native of Quincy, Ill. She is a daughter of Antonio and Anna (Wilper) Winkamp, both of whom are now deceased, having spent their last days at Westphalia, Falls County, Texas. Mrs. Heddinghaus has five sisters as follows: Mrs. Frances Bartschsmidt, Marshall, Texas; Mrs. Elizabeth Greger, Durango, Texas; Mrs. Josie Voltin, Barclay, Texas; Mrs. Anna Voltin, Barclay, Texas; and Mrs. Rosa Holcher, Barclay, Texas.
To Mr. and Mrs. Heddinghaus have been born the following children : Mrs. Josie Muehe, Moberly, Mo .; John, a bricklayer of Duluth, Minn .; Frank J., with the Harris Lumber Co., Moberly, Mo .; William H .. of Duluth, Minn .; and who for the past eight years has served in the United States navy; Mrs. Bertha Kroner, Moberly, Mo .; Mrs. Dora Thieman, Moberly, Mo .; Mrs. Christine Smith, Moberly, Mo .; Ed, a farmer. Moberly ; Caroline, a sister of Mercy at St. Johns Hospital, St. Louis, Mo .; Mrs. Viola Westhause, Glasgow, Mo .; and Albert, who resides at home with his parents. Mr. and Mrs. Heddinghaus have twelve grandchildren as fol- lows: Irene, Wilbur, Lucille, Arthur, Evelyn, and Viola Muehe; Ruth,
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Alice and Ralph Heddinghaus; Edna Kroner and Nora May Heddinghaus, and Bernice Viola Westhause.
Mr. Heddinghaus is one of the substantial citizens of Randolph County and the Heddinghaus family is well known and highly respected.
Herman J. Lotter, cashier of the Moberly Trust Company, is one of the well-known and capable financiers of Randolph County. He was born in Moberly, Jan. 15, 1881, and is a son of Charles J. and Anna (Howell) Lotter, the former of whom was born in the Kingdom of Saxony, Germany, in 1845, and the mother was born at Caven-Glass, South Wales.
Charles Lotter became a hardware merchant after locating here and remained in that line of business until his death, Aug. 17, 1914. He had been a locksmith in his native land and followed an allied occupation after coming to the new world and settling in Moberly in 1871. He accu- mulated considerable property and was one of the organizers of the Mo- berly Trust Company when it was incorporated in 1906. He was of keen mind and wide awake to the many opportunities for investment and im- proved every offer that presented itself. The mother still survives, be- ing one of the well-known members of the Coates Street Presbyterian church. There were seven children in the Lotter family: Herman, the subject of this sketch; Emma, who lives with her mother; Charles J., Jr., of Moberly, is engaged in the insurance business; Eda, the wife of F. G. Keiter, now employed by the Wabash railroad; Morgan E., of Moberly ; Lena, who married H. V. Jones, a traveling salesman of Moberly, and Ernest H., assistant secretary of the Moberly Trust Company.
Herman J. Lotter received his educational advantages in the public schools of Moberly, and attended the Gem City Business College, at Quincy, Ill., in 1898, and the next year began his banking career by entering the employ of the Mechanics Savings Bank of Moberly. He showed such constructive ability and foresight in commercial affairs that when the Moberly Trust Company was organized in 1906, the position of assistant cashier was offered to him and accepted. In the early fall of 1910, Mr. Lotter became cashier of that institution. Since 1912, he also has been director. Mr. Lotter has served as city treasurer of Moberly, an office which he has held since 1911. He is a Democrat and his fra- ternal associations are with the Masonic Lodge. Mr. Lotter is a member of the Coates Street Presbyterian church and is chairman of board of deacons.
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On May 5, 1905, Mr. Lotter was married to Miss Anna Van Cleve, a native of Macon, Mo., and one child has been born to them: Herman Van Cleve, born Aug. 28, 1909.
George N. Ratliff, owner of Cedar Home Farm, which is located just east of the city limits of Moberly, is a native of Missouri and has been prominently identified with the public affairs of Randolph County for many years. He was born in Macon County, Mo., Feb. 28, 1843 and is a son of Jonathan and Dulaney (Rowland) Ratliff.
Jonathan Ratliff was born near Glasgow, Barron County, Ky., in 1807 and came to Missouri and first settled in Randolph County near Hunts- ville in 1827. He was married in Randolph County and shortly after- wards removed to Macon County where he remained until 1867. He then went to Benton County, Ark., and spent the remainder of his life there. His wife, Dulaney Rowland Ratliff was born in Tennessee in 1812. She was a daughter of Younger and Margaret (Crawford) Rowland and came to Randolph County with her parents when she was a young girl. They settled south of Huntsville about 1820 and Younger and Margaret Row- land both spent the remainder of their lives in that vicinity and are buried about four miles south of Huntsville. Margaret Crawford Rowland was a granddaughter of Col. William Crawford, a native of Virginia, who served as colonel in Washington's army during the Revolutionary War and was killed by Indians.
Jonathan and Dulaney (Rowland) Ratliff were the parents of the following children: Mrs. Margaret Clatterbuck, deceased; Mrs. Elizabeth Rogers, deceased; A. E., deceased ; J. T., deceased; Mrs. Polly Ann Shelton, deceased; George N., subject of this sketch; Mrs. Edna Whiles, deceased ; Mrs. Martha Hunt, Granit, Okla .; J. C., deceased; and Mrs. Sarah Posey, Benton County, Ark.
George N. Ratliff was reared in Macon County, Mo. and attended the public schools and later was a student in Mt. Pleasant College and the State Normal School at Kirksville, Mo. He then took up teaching as a profession and for 20 years taught school in Randolph and Chariton counties.
When the Civil War broke out George N. Ratliff joined the Missouri State Guards and was a member of the organization until the First Con- federate Brigade of Missouri was organized when he became a member of Company K, 3rd Regiment, Missouri Infantry, and served with that organization until the close of the war. He was wounded at the battle
GEORGE N. RATLIFF
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of Bakers Creek, Miss., May 16, 1863 where his left arm was broken by a minnie ball. He was left without medical attention for nine days. How- ever, he recovered and rejoined his regiment within six months and served until the close of the war. He then returned to Randolph County and after completing his education, engaged in teaching as above stated. He was one of the successful and well known educators of this section of Missouri. In 1877, he was elected superintendent of public schools of Randolph County and reelected to that office in 1879, serving four years. In 1886 he was elected sheriff of Randolph County and reelected to that office in 1888, serving four years. In 1890, he was elected county col- lector and reelected in 1892 and served four years in that office. He has ever been faithful to every public trust imposed in him by the people and in whatever capacity he has served, he has given the public business the same thoughtful consideration that he would his own private affairs.
Mr. Ratliff was united in marriage in May, 1874, with Miss Josie Terrill, a daughter of Judge James and Eliza (Chrisler) Terrill. Judge James Terrill was for many years prominent in the affairs of Randolph County. He served as county judge here prior to the Civil War and after the close of the war he again served in that office for about 20 years. He was a native of Virginia and when a boy went to Kentucky with his par- ents and settled in Boone County and in the early forties came to Ran- dolph County. In 1848, he purchased the farm which is now owned by Mr. Ratliff and here he and his wife spent the remainder of their days. This farm was entered from the government by Elrena Austin and was later sold to Judge Terrill. Austin built a huge log cabin on the place about one hundred years ago and a part of this old cabin is still standing in the Ratliff yard. Mr. and Mrs. Ratliff were married in this building.
To George N. Ratliff and wife have been born the following children: Lois and Louis, twins, the former the wife of J. N. Wayland, of Hunts- ville, Mo., and the latter is commissioner of public buildings, Jefferson City, Mo .; Vida, married B. A. Garber and resides at Garber, Okla .; Donna; Roy, a mail carrier in Moberly; Virgie, married R. E. Martin, Huntsville, Mo .; George N., Jr., a farmer and dairyman on the home place ; Edna, married L. M. Crose, a dairyman of Sugar Creek township; Susie, married J. W. Richardson, Moberly, Mo .; and Josephine died at the age of five years.
Mr. Ratliff has been a member of the Masonic Lodge for 45 years, having been made a Mason at Salisbury, Mo., in 1875. He is a member of the Baptist church.
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Rucker Brothers .- This firm is composed of J. Frank and Tunce C. Rucker and they conduct one of the leading dairy farms of Randolph County. The Rucker farm is situated one and one-half miles south of Moberly and consists of 173 acres and was formerly the property of H. R. Terrill, a pioneer of Randolph County and was purchased by the Rucker Brothers in 1910. However, they have been in the dairy business for the past 16 years, having started in Moberly in 1904. The Rucker dairy herd consists of 30 registered Jersey cows and the herd is headed by "Gamboge Major", a valuable registered male Jersey.
The Rucker Brothers dairy farm is equipped with all modern sani- tary dairy devices with a view to sanitation and expediency in handling dairy products. Their stables are conveniently arranged and kept in the best possible condition and everything about the place is kept in first class order. Their entire output of milk is delivered to the Ragsdale Carter Dairy Company, of Moberly, who distribute it daily to their hun- dreds of customers in that city.
In addition to their dairy business the Rucker Brothers are also well known and successful dealers in mules and have been very successful in this field of endeavor.
Frank and Tunce C. Rucker are the sons of John F. and Minnie C. (Coates) Rucker. John F. Rucker is now deputy collector of customs at St. Louis, Mo. He was born near Huntsville, Mo., in 1860 and his wife was born the same year in Sugar Creek township.
The Rucker boys are both graduates of the Moberly High School, having graduated in the class of 1904. They are both experienced dairy men, having learned the business on the farm of their grandfather, J. T. Coates, who was one of the pioneer dairymen of Sugar Creek township. When they began business on their own account, their capital consisted of $14.00 in cash and one Jersey cow. They attended strictly to business and worked early and late and their industry has been rewarded by suc- cess, and today they rank among the leading enterprising business men of Randolph County.
Judge Alexander H. Waller, who is the editor of this history of Randolph County, though not the writer of this sketch, is one of the veteran lawyers of central Missouri, and for the past 43 years has prac- ticed law in Randolph County, with the exception of 13 years when he presided on the bench of the circuit court of this circuit. Judge Waller was born near Carrollton, Carroll County, Ky., April 13, 1845. His par- ents were Esme M. and Jane H. (Moffett) Waller.
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Esme M. Waller was a native of the eastern Maryland and was a member of an old American family of English descent. This branch of the Waller family was founded in America by William Waller, who came from England in 1683 and died in Maryland in 1699. Esme M. Waller was a son of Ebenezer Cotman Waller. Ebenezer Cotman Waller removed from Maryland to Kentucky in 1804 when Esme M. Waller, father of Judge Waller, was one year old.
Esme M. Waller was reared to manhood in Kentucky and remained in that state until 1854, when he, with his family and his father, who was then an old man, started for Missouri. They became ice-bound at St. Louis and spent the winter in that locality. Ebenezer Cotman Waller, grandfather of Judge Waller, died near St. Louis that winter in his 83rd year. The following spring, Esme M. Waller went to Saline County, Mo., where he remained until the fall of 1855. He then went to Clay County and bought a farm of 350 acres of land near Smithville. He was engaged in farming on that place until his slaves were freed and in December. 1864, he sold his place in Clay County and bought 160 acres near Barry, Platte County, Mo. Later he returned to Clay County, where he died in January, 1892, at the age of 88 years and five months. His wife died in Clay County, in May, 1893. She was born in Ohio. Her father was a native of Virginia and her mother of North Carolina and she was reared and educated in Woodford County, Ky. To Esme M .. and Jane H. (Moffet) Waller were born three children: Alexander H., the subject of this sketch; Mary, married David T. Bronaugh, who was a prominent farmer and stockman of Clay County and is now deceased and his widow resides in Clay County, and George C. Waller, who for' many years was prominently identified with the affairs of Clay County and was one of the most popular and well known men of that county. He served as county collector for four years and died near Liberty, Mo., in 1902.
Judge Waller was about 10 years old when his parents settled in' Clay County, Mo. He was educated in the district school and a semi- nary which was located at Mt. Gilliad, Clay County. He came to Hunts- ville, Randolph County, in 1873. However, he had read law in Clay County before coming here. He served as deputy circuit clerk of Ran- dolph County from 1875 to 1877. He was admitted to the bar by. Judge Burckhartt in 1877 and immediately engaged in the practice of his pro- fession at Huntsville. Shortly after being admitted to the bar, Judge
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Waller was appointed city attorney for Huntsville. In 1878, he was elected prosecuting attorney of Randolph County and was re-elected to that office twice, serving three terms, from January, 1879, until January, 1895. At the expiration of his last term of office as prosecuting attor- ney he removed to Moberly and had an extensive practice in Randolph and adjoining counties, until November, 1903, when he was appointed judge of this judicial circuit to fill out the unexpired term of Judge John A. Hockaday, of Fulton, who died in office. In 1904, Judge Waller was nominated and elected to the office of circuit judge and in 1910 was re- elected to succeed himself and served until Jan. 1, 1917. During his incumbency of the office of circuit judge, Judge Waller won the well- merited reputation of being a fair, fearless and able judge. His pro- found knowledge of the law, coupled with his extensive experience as a lawyer and his inherent honesty and integrity, well qualified him for the difficult and responsible position of circuit judge. While justice, as judicially administered in his court, may not always have been "tem- pered with mercy," he never lost sight of the humane element and was always loathe to see justice miscarry by reason of technicality. It has been said of him by members of the bar who practiced in his court for many years while he was judge that he was a great equity judge. Dur- ing the time that Judge Waller presided on the bench, the Ninth Judi- cial District was composed of the four counties of Randolph, Howard, Boone and Callaway. There was an enormous amount of business in this district for one judge, and during the period which he held office, Judge Waller heard and decided, perhaps, more cases than any other circuit judge in the state of Missouri, and of the appeals taken from his court the percentage of reversals was remarkably low. After the expira- tion of his term of office in 1917 Judge Waller returned to the practice of law to which he has since devoted himself. He is recognized as one of the ablest lawyers in central Missouri and is the oldest practicing attorney in Randolph County.
Judge Waller was united in marriage April 24, 1904, with Miss Annie James, a native of Howard County, Mo. She is a daughter of William and Mary (Smith) James, both the James and Smith families were from Kentucky and early settlers in this section of Missouri. William James wis a farmer and stockman, and died in Moberly in March, 1897, and his widow now resides with Judge and Mrs. Waller and is in her 88th year. She is a daughter of Joel Smith, who was a prominent pioncer of Randolph County and became a very large land owner.
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Judge Waller is a member of the Christian church and is a Demo- crat, having inherited his politics through many generations. His father voted for Andrew Jackson and his grandfather for Thomas Jefferson. Judge Waller is perhaps the best known man in Randolph County, and during the course of his long professional and official career he has made many friends and few, if any, real enemies. Written by M. J. Flannery.
Arthur Ferger Chamier, one of the leading members of the Ran- dolph County bar, and one of the younger generation of the professional men of this section, is a native of Moberly. He was born July 19, 1875, a son of Leo A. and Mary (Berger) Chamier, to whom three children were born: Jennie, who married W. S. Dolton, deceased, and is now bursar of Westminster College, Fulton, Mo., and has one daughter, Louisa; Olive, the wife of R. C. Dalton, and though the names of the husbands are similar, they are different and the men no relation, and Arthur B., the subject of this review, who was the second in order of birth.
Leo Chamier was born in the province of Prussia, Germany, April 5, 1845, of French descent. He was educated in the public schools of his native land and later worked in his father's store, but became dis- satisfied in Germany because of the required service in the army and when 21 years old came to America. He located near Chicago and working on a farm while he learned the customs of this country, and later married the daughter of his employer. Subsequently he came west and located at Moberly about 1870, at the time when the Wabash shops were established in the town. For sometime he was employed in these shops, then returned to Illinois, where he married, in 1872, Miss Mary Berger, a native of Cook County, Ill. Returning to Missouri, Mr. Chamier remained with the railroad company for a number of years, but later entered into a partnership with Valentine Riegel in the ownership and management of a dry goods business, located on Reed street. Later the store burned and Mr. Chamier again accepted a position with the Wabash railroad until he retired in 1913.
Arthur B. Chamier was reared in Moberly, attended the public schools here, graduating from the Moberly High School in 1892. The following fall he entered William Jewell College, Liberty, Mo., where he remained a student four years, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Arts in June, 1895. Almost immediately after graduation, Mr. Chamier accepted a position with the Wabash railroad, being located at St. Louis. and in January, 1896, he engaged in teaching French and psychology in
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Wayne Academy at Piedmont, Mo. The next year he taught the public school at Mill Spring, Wayne County, Mo., remaining there until 1897, when he came to Moberly to assume charge of the history and civics departments in the high school of this city. In September, 1900, he entered the law department of Washington University, St. Louis, grad- uating in 1902.
Shortly after graduating, Mr. Chamier located in Seattle, Wash., taking a position in the law office of Peters & Powell for a year, but returned to St. Louis and was associated with Paul F. Coste, a leading attorney until the opening of the Louisiana Exposition, when he became customs inspector for the government, and secretary to J. J. Crowley, special agent in charge of the treasury department of the government. Following this service, Mr. Chamier became secretary to Amos. M. Thayer, United States judge of the Circuit Court of Appeals, 8th District, but upon the judge's death in 1904, returned to Moberly, where Judge Wal- ler appointed him court reporter of the Ninth circuit, which then con- sisted of Randolph, Callaway, Howard and Boone counties. This position Mr. Chamier held until January, 1911, when he engaged in practice in Moberly in partnership with Oak Hunter and the new firm opened offices in the Moberly Trust Building, where they have built up a high grade and large clientele.
Mr. Chamier has ever taken an active interest in public affairs, gained many warm friends. He was elected city attorney of Moberly in the spring of 1911, serving in that capacity four years. For the past five years, Mr. Chamier has been a member of the school board. He is a Democrat, is a member of the Baptist church, is a Mason, belonging to Lodges A. F. & A. M., No. 344, Moberly Chapter No. 79, Royal Arch Masons, Tancred Commandery No. 25, Knights Templar, Moolah Temple and a member of the Shrine at St. Louis. He is also a member of the Odd Fellows, the Elks, and while in college belonged to the Sigma Nu fraternity.
On Sept. 15, 1906, Mr. Chamier was married to Miss Lulu Jeffries, who was born near Columbia, Ky., the daughter of W. F. and Ella (Reynolds) Jeffries, both natives of Kentucky, who came early to Carroll County, Mo., and later moved to Randolph County. Two chil- dren have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Chamier: Richard and Mary Lou.
John W. Faessler, president of the Faessler Manufacturing Company of Moberly, is engaged in one of the most important industries of the
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country, which is recognized as one of Moberly's foremost industrial in- stitutions. Mr. Faessler was born in Moberly, July 25, 1878, the son of John and Christiana (Klore) Faessler. John Faessler was born near Berne, Switzerland, July 25, 1838, and came to the United States when he was 14 years of age, to join his father, who had preceded him to St. Louis. There were nine children in his father's family, five of whom came to this country, while the others remained in their native land. Two of John Faessler's uncles served in the Union army during the Civil War.
When the Wabash Railroad Company moved its shops from St. Charles to Moberly, John Faessler, Sr., came to this city and about 1875 he became an employe of the road in the tool department. He was ambi- tious and after accumulating some capital determined to establish him- self independently in business and became a manufacturer of boiler- makers' tools, a business in which he was engaged until his death, March 9, 1899. He made an unusual success of his business and at the time of his death was a leading factor in the industrial life in Moberly. He is survived by his wife and three children: John W., Jr., whose name introduces this sketch; Louis, treasurer of the Faessler Manu- facturing Company, and Lulu M., who married H. B. Gilfillan, a resident of this city.
John Faessler, the subject of this sketch, spent his boyhood in Mo- berly, attended the public schools here until his senior year in the high school, when he gave up further educational advantages to assist his father who was in poor health. He began work in the factory when he was 10 years of age, so that he had a practical insight into the business, knew all the varied processes of manufacturing and was soon able to assume much of the burden of the management.
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