USA > Missouri > Randolph County > History of Randolph County, Missouri > Part 42
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Mr. Murphy has seen great changes in this country; he broke the virgin prairie soil in Illinois with an ox team; he passed through Chicago when that great metropolis had but two railroads and for a switch engine, a black stallion was used to shift cars. It has been his fortune to attain many of his ideals and ambitions and to so have directed his affairs in life that he has won success without the aid of outside influences.
Dr. James W. Winn, a successful physician and surgeon has practiced his profession at Higbee, Mo., and vicinity for over 25 years.
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He was born at Fayette, Mo., Aug. 10, 1871 and is a son of George and Frances (Hitt) Winn, being the eighth of their ten children.
George Winn was a farmer in Howard County all of his life and died in January, 1902. He was prominent in his community, serving as judge of the county court 12 years. At one time he owned 800 acres of the finest land in the county. He was a Democrat. His father served in the Union army during the Civil War. Frances (Hitt) Winn was born in Culpeper County, Va. She is now living at Fayette, Mo., at the advanced age of 84 years.
Dr. Winn was reared on his father's farm and attended the public school for his elementary education and entered the University of Mis- souri in 1892. Two years later he entered the Missouri Medical College at St. Louis, Mo., graduating with the degree of Doctor of Medicine in 1895. Within a short period, he located at Yates, Randolph County, re- maining there until 1913, when he came to Higbee where he has since been engaged in practice, excepting the time he served in the army.
When the United States entered the World War, he responded to the president's call for volunteers in the medical department and enlisted Aug. 12, 1918, was commissioned Oct. 9, 1918 and assigned to duty at Camp Arthur, Tex., April 2nd. He was transferred to San Antonio, Texas and spent six months and six days on the border. With head- quarters at Sierra Blanca, Dr. Winn had charge of that post and one camp at Hester's ranch. Dr. Winn, soon after the cessation of hostilities, was discharged from the service and returned to Higbee, where he has since been devoting his time to professional duties.
On Oct. 15, 1919, Dr. Winn was married to Miss Ida M. Cubbage of Randolph County. She is a daughter of Harvey and Mary (Duncan) Cubbage, natives of Kentucky, who were early settlers of Randolph County. One child has been born to Dr. and Mrs. Winn, George Warren.
While in college, Dr. Winn also studied pharmacy and his state license is dated April 2, 1895. From May, 1895, to April, 1913, he owned and managed a drug store in Yates when he purchased the Dr. Broen drug store in Higbee which he conducted along with his practice until he entered the government service.
Dr. Winn is a Democrat and a member of the Baptist church. He holds membership in the Masonic Lodge and Independent Order of Odd Fellows Lodge. He is one of the progressive men of this section and is a stock- holder in the Yates Savings Bank.
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Ross A. Mitchell, M. D., a well known and successful physician of Moberly, Mo., is a native of Sangamon County, Ill., born Dec. 1, 1881. He is a son of George and Belle (Meacham) Mitchell, natives of Ohio and Illinois, respectively. George Mitchell was a farmer in Illinois and is now living retired and he and his wife reside at Moberly, Mo.
Dr. Mitchell received his early education in the public schools of Illinois. When 13 years old he came to Missouri and graduated from the Centralia High School. After completing his preparatory studies, he entered the University Medical School, Kansas City, graduating in 1905 with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. The same year, Doctor Mitchell established himself for practice at Clark, Randolph County, where he built up a good practice, during the four years he remained. He then accepted a position as physician for the coal and coke company of Union- town, Pa., an association which continued until 1914. With an idea of specializing in certain branches, he resigned his position to come to St. Louis to take special post graduate courses in the medical department of Washington University, remaining there a year. In 1915, Dr. Mitchell came to Moberly, opened offices in the Priesmeyer Building, where he now enjoys a lucrative and growing practice of general character, though he specializes in diseases of children, a branch in which he has met with particularly gratifying success. He has given much special study and thought to this department of his profession and has met with uniform success.
Dr. Mitchell is a Democrat and is a member of the Masonic Lodge and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Gifted with a love for his chosen profession, quick of intuition and generous and sympathetic in his work, he has won the esteem of the residents of this section by his courteous manner and genial nature as. well as acknowledged ability.
John W. Alexander, for many years recognized as one of the pro- gressive and prosperous farmers and stock raisers of Randolph County, is now living retired in Moberly, enjoying the fortunes won by industry during life's early years. He is a native son of Randolph County, born in Silver Creek township, March 22, 1849, the son of John Alexander who was born in Kentucky, where he was reared and educated. After attain- ing manhood, he decided to come West and became one of the pioneer settlers of Randolph County, taking up government land here; he became one of the well known and prominent agriculturists of this section.
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John W. Alexander was reared on his father's farm and attended the district school near his home. He engaged in farming early in life and at his father's death, he inherited 80 acres of the home farm. He pur- chased more land from time to time until he became the owner of nearly 400 acres of some of the best land in the county. He was engaged in farm- ing and stock raising for many years and introduced many modern methods of agriculture and animal husbandry that proved of benefit, both to himself and his neighbors. Mr. Alexander worked hard, many times beyond his strength and in 1914, he retired on account of poor health and came to Moberly and now lives at 5011/2 W. Reed street.
On May 3, 1904, Mr. Alexander was married to Miss Ledru M. Allen, who was born at Roanoke, Mo., Feb. 7, 1889. She is a daughter of Reuze G. and Logan (Boatman) Allen, both natives of Chariton County, Mo. and now living in Moberly. One child has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Alexander, John W., who is at home with his parents. The Alexander family are members of the Baptist church and Mr. Alexander is a Democrat.
Orville Meals, proprietor of Lone Oak Farm, four miles east of Mob- erly in Sugar Creek township, is known throughout this section of the state as one of the most successful breeders of Aberdeen Angus cattle and a well-to-do farmer, who is making a marked success. Orville belongs to one of the pioneer families of Randolph County and the land which they first entered from the government still remains in the family.
Orville Meals was born on the farm where he now resides, Aug. 30, 1878, the son of J. T. and Martha (Dunn) Meals and for more than 40 years has been a resident of this section. His father was born, reared and passed his days on the same homestead. He died in 1914, aged 63 years, and was laid to rest in the Meals family burying ground on the farm. The mother resides with her son, Orville, who is the only child of his parents.
Orville Meals was reared on the farm and received his education in district school No. 52, where he laid the foundation for a good practical education to which he has ever since added by the careful study of his business problems, the study of national questions of the day and wide reading. He has always followed farming and stock raising and is the proprietor of 320 acres of fine land, 100 acres of which is in blue grass pasture and he has one of the finest stock farms not only in Sugar Creek but in Randolph County. His present residence, built in 1916, is modern
RESIDENCE OF ORVILLE MEALS
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in every manner; he has a Delco light system for the house and adjoin- ing buildings, furnace heat and from his 310 foot well he pumps water with a wind mill which runs by gravity to all parts of the farm yard and also supplies the house with a running water system. He has a silo of hollow tile for winter forage for his cattle and good barns for the stock. White Oak branch runs through the farm which supplies the pasture with an unfailing supply of water in the pasture.
It is interesting to learn that his land was entered by Preston Meals, Orville's grandfather, who came from Howard County and a part of his old home is still standing on the farm. John Moberly rebuilt this first house and made a good modern residence of it but at present it is unoccu- pied. The old family cemetery of the family contains nearly 100 graves.
Orville Meals was married on March 18, 1902, to Miss Pearl Parrish, the daughter of Ezekiel and Nancy (Owens) Parrish, of Moberly and one child has been born to them, Thomas Chester, aged 11.
Mr. Meals is a member of the Randolph County Aberdeen Angus Association and also of the State Association and the National Association and Lone Oak Farm is noted for its fine cattle. Mr. Meals has 19 reg- istered Aberdeen Angus cows which he bought in 1917 and six calves and a famous bull, "Black Mark the Fifth," bred by Ursher & Ryan, heads the herd, being regarded as the best bred bull in this section of the country.
David S. Hare, who conducts a popular cafe and confectionery store at Higbee, Mo., is a native of Springfield, Ill. He was born Sept. 8, 1874 and is a son of Henry and Jeanett (Smith) Hare and is the second in order of birth of nine children born to them, six of whom are now living.
Henry Hare was born at Qutic, England, Aug. 29, 1851. He was reared in his native land and when 17 years old, came to America and first settled in Illinois. He was a coal miner and worked at his trade in Illinois for a time and in 1884 came to Missouri and settled at Elliott. where he worked as a coal miner and in 1886 he came to Higbee and was engaged in farming in that vicinity until his death, Dec. 21, 1911. He took a prominent part in local affairs and served as police judge of Higbee for four years and was also a member of the city council. He promoted a number of public enterprises while an official in Higbee and was instru- mental in having the public "well" dug in Higbee and was also one of the promoters of building the city hall there. He was a Republican and a charter member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows Lodge at Hig-
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bee. His wife was born in Pennsylvania, Nov. 28, 1854 and died April 25, 1906.
David S. Hare was about ten years of age when his parents came to Missouri and he attended the public schools of Higbee, and at the early age of 11 years began working in the coal mines of that district and fol- lowed that industry until 1911 when he engaged in his present business at Higbee and has met with success. He conducts a modern up-to-date place and has built up a good trade.
'Mr. Hare was married Feb. 27, 1901 to Miss Mary Lena Roberts of Prairie township, Randolph County. She is a native of Missouri and a daughter of Alex. and Mary (Newton) Roberts. To Mr. and Mrs. Hare have been born four children as follows: Thelma, married Forrest Lee, of Moberly, Mo .; Ermon, Jeanett and Earmson.
Mr. Hare is a Republican and a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and is recognized as one of Higbee's substantial and enter- prising business men.
Willard Owen, a well known and successful farmer and stockman of Moniteau township, who is also a breeder of Shorthorn cattle, is a native of Randolph County. He was born in Prairie township, Jan. 22, 1865 and is a son of Joel T. and Amanda (Ragsdale) Owen. They were the par- ents of seven children, of whom Willard Owen, the subject of this sketch is the oldest.
Joel T. Owen was born in Moniteau township, Dec. 30, 1839 and was a farmer all of his life and is now living retired with his son, Willard Owen. He was a son of John and Sallie (Higbee) Owen, both natives of Kentucky and among the very earliest settlers of Randolph County. They were the parents of six children, of whom Joel T. was the fifth in order of birth. W. E. Owen, a brother of Joel T., crossed the plains during the gold excitement in California and now lives in Linn County, Mo.
Amanda (Ragsdale) Owen, mother of Willard Owen, was born in Prairie township, Randolph County, in September, 1839; she died Nov. 11, 1919. She was a daughter of Charles and Cassie (Crystler) Ragsdale, natives of Kentucky and among the very first settlers of Randolph County. Charles Ragsdale crossed the plains in 1850, and after remaining in Cali- fornia a short time returned to Missouri and here spent the remainder of his life.
Willard Owen was reared on his father's farm and attended the dis- trict school until he was 15 years old, when he began railroading. Later
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he was weighmaster for the Osage Mining Company, Elliott, Mo., and for 26 years was in the employ of that company. In 1907 he bought 126 acres of land in Moniteau township and since that time has been suc- cessfully engaged in farming and stock raising. In 1917, he began breed- ing Shorthorn cattle and now has a valuable herd. He is a careful farmer and is meeting with success.
Nov. 26, 1889, Mr. Owen was married to Miss Mary J. Magruder, a native of Howard County, Mo. She is a daughter of Thomas Magruder, who died when Mrs. Owen was a child. To Mr. and Mrs. Owen has been born one child, Georgia May, who married Pete Gruber of Higbee, Mo.
Mr. Owen is a Democrat and is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias. He is a public spirited, enter- prising and dependable citizen.
Clay A. Shumate, the local agent in Moberly for the Hudson-Essex automobiles and a dealer in all automobile accessories, in partnership with James Figgins, has had a varied and successful business career. Mr. Shumate is a native of Randolph County and Moberly, born Dec. 2, 1879, the son of Thomas and Eliza (Yaeger) Shumate, being the fourth of the eight children born to them. Both parents were natives of Portsmouth, Ohio, where they were reared and spent their youth. They came to Mis- souri with their parents and were married at Hale, Mo., where Thomas Shumate engaged in farming before coming to Moberly about the close of the Civil War. He became foreman for the Wabash Railroad and re- mained in the employ of the road until 1882, when he engaged in business for himself by establishing a dray and transfer company in Moberly, which he managed until about 10 years before his death when he retired. He died in 1919, aged 73 years. Mr. Shumate is survived by his widow who still resides in Moberly.
Clay Shumate was reared in Moberly, attended the public schools of the city and after finishing his schooling went to work for the Wabash Railroad when only 18 years old. He began in the freight department and worked up from trucking through the various departments to traffic manager. Later, Mr. Shumate was promoted to the position of traveling freight and passenger agent. In 1918 he resigned to take a contract with the Wabash Railroad to feed the livestock in transit. In 1919, he formed a partnership with James Figgins and opened a salesroom for the dis- tribution of the Hudson and Essex cars, with a complete line of accessories.
On Jan. 15, 1902, Mr. Shumate married Miss Grace Poore, who was born near Mexico, Mo.
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1
Since first coming to Moberly, Mr. Shumate has taken an active part in the civic life of the town and is ever ready to support any and all measures for the development of the county and city. He is a director of the Chamber of Commerce and is a Republican and one of the substan- tial and progressive men of Moberly.
William P. Dessert, a well known harnessmaker and dealer, with a store at 219 North Clark street, Moberly, Mo., is one of the oldest mer- chants of the city and today is rated as one of the most prosperous of its citizens. He was born at Mt. Sterling, Ill., Jan. 17, 1855, the son of Joseph and Sophia (Rioth) Dessert, being the sixth of 11 children born to them. The father was born in Alsace-Lorraine, where he was reared and educated, and before coming to this country had learned the tailor's trade. When only 16 years old he came to America, first locating in Ohio, but later he removed to Mt. Sterling, Ill., where he passed the re- mainder of his days. Sophie Rioth was also born in the same provinces as her husband, 15 miles from his native town, but never knew or met him until after coming to the United States. She was about 10 years old when she accompanied her parents to this country.
William P. Dessert passed his boyhood and youth in Mt. Sterling, Ill. and attended the public schools and when old enough served his appren- ticeship as harnessmaker with his brother Frank, at Macon, Mo., where he remained for 25 years. During this time he had acquired capital and opened a harness shop of his own. At different times, Mr. Dessert had come to Moberly and being impressed with the good opening here for a harness business located here in 1897. From first locating here, Mr. Dessert met with success. He is a stockholder in the Bank of Moberly.
On Nov. 8, 1878, Mr. Dessert was married to Miss Ella Chisholm, a native of Canada, being descended from Scotch and Canadian stock. Nine children were born to this union: Joseph, at Fulton, Mo .; Katharine, at home; Mark, at home, who enlisted during the World War and saw 18 months service in France as a member of the tank corps, taking part in all the important engagements in which the American army was engaged in which he was captain and since returning to private life he has become associated with his father in business in Moberly; Sophia, at home; Leo, of Los Angeles, Calif .; Daniel, deceased; William, also with his father, is a machinist by trade, who was working for the government at Washing- ton, D. C., when war was declared and enlisted in the engineering division of the navy for service as long as hostilities continued; Marie, at home, and Celia, also at home.
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Mr. Dessert is a Democrat; he is a member of the Catholic church and the Catholic Knights.
Dr. William J. Miller, a well known and successful dentist of Mob- erly with offices in the Moberly Bank Building, is a native of Randolph County and was born in Moniteau township, Jan. 28, 1883. He is a son of Agustus and Ann Mary (Christian) Miller, being sixth in order of birth in a family of nine children, as follows: Eugene, deceased; John A., a farmer and stock raiser, of Moniteau township; Elizabeth, the wife of A. J. Hunker, who resides near Roanoke; Dorothy, who lives with Mrs. Hunker; Ella, the wife of R. B. Burkhart, of Huntsville; Gussie, the wife of R. R. Quinn, who is salesman for Paige automobiles and Delco lights at Moberly; Frances, a teacher of domestic science at Palmyra, Mo. and Eva, the wife of H. A. Yeager of Palmyra.
Agustus Miller was born near Drakes Valley, Ohio, in 1849. He was ieared there and after reaching maturity, became a farmer, but de- siring to take advantage of the cheaper land in the west came to Mis- souri in 1874 and located in Randolph County, Moniteau township, where he became a well known breeder of Hereford cattle and also a prosperous general farmer, owning at the time of his death, in 1912, about 1,100 acres of valuable land. Mrs. Miller was born in Randolph County, about two miles south of the present site of Moberly.
Doctor Miller was reared on his father's farm and attended the high school, also the district school at Higbee, graduating from the high school with the class of 1901. In the fall of the same year, he entered the dental department of St. Louis University at St. Louis, Mo. and was graduated with the degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery in 1905. Within a short time, Dr. Miller returned to Randolph County and began the prac- tice of his profession in Moberly. He has built up an extensive practice and is well known for his professional skill and ability.
On Oct. 28, 1906, Doctor Miller was married to Miss Vivia M. Danley, of Moberly, the daughter of W. D. and Anna (McSweeney) Danley, and two children have been born to them: Danley and William J., Jr., both at home.
Though he is a stanch adherent of the policies of the Democratic party, Dr. Miller does not take an active part in politics.
John S. Sours, a well known merchant of Moberly was born at St. Charles, Mo., June 22, 1866. He is a son of John and Catherine (McCabe) Sours, the former a native of Rochester, N. Y., and the latter of Brighton, Mich.
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John Sours was a bridge builder who came to Moberly when the vil- lage was not yet platted to take a position with what is now known as the Wabash Railroad. He purchased some of the real estate of the townsite, which in time became very valuable property, though he main- tained his position as superintendent of bridges with the railroad until he died in 1901 from injuries sustained from a fall from a bridge over the Grand River near Brunswick.
John S. Sours was the second of the 10 children born to his parents. He attended the school of Montgomery City, Mo. In 1882 he began as a clerk for Henry Roemer in his general wholesale and retail store, one of the early business houses of the town. On June 1, 1883, he accepted a position with the bridge and building department of the Wabash Rail- road, as a carpenter. In 1887, he began firing a locomotive. In July, 1892, Mr. Sours was promoted to engineer and held one of the runs out of Moberly for two years. He resigned in the spring of 1894. On April 15, 1895, Mr. Sours bought one-half interest in the grocery business at 551 West Coates street with F. J. Smith. In 1896, Mr. Smith sold out his interest to L. W. Ficklin and the firm was conducted as Sours and Ficklin. In 1898, Mr. Sours took over the entire store and has since been sole owner, having been 25 years at this present location, on April 15, 1920.
On Nov. 2, 1897, Mr. Sours was married to Miss Nonie Reeves, a native of St. Charles, Mo. She is the daughter of Michael and Ellen (Hurley) Reeves, natives of Ireland.
Michael Reeves was employed in the repair department of the Wabash Railroad in Moberly, and in the early days he was a brakeman, serving in that capacity during the Civil War. He is now dead and his widow re- sides in Moberly at 308 Taylor street. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Sours: One child died in infancy; Mary Vesta, Louise and Mildred are at home.
Mr. Sours is a Democrat and he is a member of the Catholic church, Knights of Columbus, National Union, Brotherhood of Locomotive Fire- men and Engineers and Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
William Egly, who for nearly half a century was engaged in coal min- ing and for more than 15 years has been one of the recognized leading agriculturists of the Higbee district where he owns 255 acres of valuable land of Moniteau township, is a native of Pennsylvania. He was born in Allegheny County, Pa., Dec. 14, 1849, and is a son of John N. and Kath- erine (Horn) Egly, being the sixth of their 11 children. The parents
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were both natives in southern Germany, but left their native land some 80 years ago and after coming to America met and were married at Pitts- burgh, Pa., where John Egly was a coal miner. Later in life he bought a farm in Pennsylvania, near Armstrong, where he passed the remainder of his days.
William Egly was reared in Pennsylvania and attended the village schools until his tenth year when the family moved on a farm. He at- tended the district school there. As soon as he was old enough, he began his career as a coal miner, a vocation which he followed 50 years. After working in the eastern coal fields for some years he came west to follow the same vocation in Kansas and Texas advancing from one position of importance to another. Mr. Egly was made foreman of a mine and later superintendent. He purchased his first farm near Sherman, Texas, farmed there three years then entered his work again as miner at Pitts- burgh, Kan., but left that state to return to Pennsylvania. Later he returned to Kansas remaining there until the spring of 1900 when he came to Howard County, Mo. and was interested in mining operations there some five years before buying his present farm in Randolph County. In the spring of 1906, Mr. Egley moved onto his place. He has made excellent and permanent improvements in the way of buildings and im- proving the fertility of the soil and has become recognized as one of the substantial farmers of this section.
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