USA > Missouri > Randolph County > History of Randolph County, Missouri > Part 50
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To Henry and Nanny (Bradley) Jackson were born the following children : Mrs. Minnie Malone, Kirkville, Mo .; Mrs. Carrie Perkins, Hunts- ville; Mrs. Julia Fullington, deceased; Mrs. Bonnie Perkins, Huntsville;
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Mrs. Freddie Fricklin, lives near Huntsville; Mrs. Kate Fickland, Ros- well, New Mexico; Mrs. Edna McDonald, Huntsville; Thomas, died at. the age of 17 years; George H., the subject of this sketch; Courtney, Hunts- ville ; I. B., a merchant, Huntsville.
George H. Jackson was educated in the public schools of Huntsville and afterwards took a business course at Kirksville. In 1884 the Jack- son family moved to Huntsville. Mr. Jackson clerked for L. S. Harlan of Clifton for two years and then engaged in the general mercantile busi- ness at Thomas Hill. He was in business there about eight and one-half years and in 1918, when he was elected county clerk, he disposed of his business there and removed to Huntsville to assume the duties of his office where he has since resided. Mr. Jackson owns a valuable farm of 190 acres six miles northwest of Huntsville. He personally oversees the operation of his faim which is devoted to general farming and stock raising and he gives special attention to raising hogs.
Mr. Jackson was married in March, 1899, to Miss Nanny B. Fick- lin, a native of Randolph County and a daughter of J. R. and Belle (McCully) Ficklin, of Randolph County. To Mr. and Mrs. Jackson have been born the following children: James Henry a student in the Mis- souri University at Columbia; Ernest Lowell, a student in the Hunt- ville High School, and George I., attending the Huntsville grade school.
Mr. Jackson is a member of the Baptist church and holds member- ship in the Masonic Lodge, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias. He is a Democrat and has always taken an active interest in political affairs and the success of party.
David Samuel Benton, now living retired at Huntsville, is a native of Missouri and a descendant of a distinguished colonial family. Mr. Benton was born in Platt City, Mo., Sept. 2, 1842, and is a son of Del- ford and Susan (Musick) Benton.
The Musick family is conspicuous in the early history and develop- ment of the west and in particular in the early history of Missouri, long before Missouri was a state and even before this territory was acquired by the United States by the Louisiana Purchase. Col. David Musick, father of Susan (Musick) Benton, was born in Albemarle County. Va., in 1763. His father emigrated to South Carolina in 1775 and the same year moved to Rutherford, N. C. At that time the Cherokee Indians were on the warpath in that section and the settlers were compelled to live in forts. Colonel Musick's father was about 16 years old then.
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Later at the beginning of the Revolutionary War, he enlisted in the American army and served until the close of the war. Col. David Musick served in the Revolutionary War and after the war served in the Amer- ican army against hostile Cherokee Indians. In 1794 he went to the Northwest territory-that part of it which is now the state of Illinois- and was in a campaign against hostile Indians there. In 1795, he was married to Prudence Whiteside and came to what is now the state of Missouri and settled in what is St. Louis County, two miles south of Florissant. He was commissioned colonel of militia for that district and raised a troop of horsemen. He was called into service with his troops in 1796, and held that commission until 1812. In 1812, when the second war broke out between the United States and England, he organized a company of rangers, was elected captain and served two years or until the close of the war of 1812-14. He then settled down to civil life and was prominent in the early day affairs of St. Louis County. He repre- sented that county in the General Assembly of Missouri three terms and served as an elector for the state of Missouri at one time. Susan (Musick) Benton was born in 1803 in St. Louis County, Mo., and died in 1891, at the age of 88 years, four months and ten days.
Delford Benton, father of Davis S. Benton, was born near Columbus, Ohio, in 1893, and died in 1876. He was a son of Samuel Benton of Massachusetts and a member of an old colonial family. Delford Ben- ton was educated for the medical profession and dentistry and after com- pleting his medical studies in St. Louis, he engaged in the practice at Platt City, Mo., and his practice extended over a large scope of territory in western Missouri. He practiced for a time at St. Joseph and in 1850 he was practicing in St. Louis County and in that year he went to Cali- fornia and shortly afterwards returned and located at Florissant, where he was engaged in the general mercantile business until the Civil War broke out. He then took his stock of goods and was accompanied by two of his sons, one of whom was David S., of this review, and went to Idaho. After disposing of his goods at Salt Lake City and clearing $10,000 by the transaction he returned to Missouri and spent the remainder of his life here. When the father returned to Missouri from Salt Lake City, David S. and his brother, Thomas H. Benton, went to Virginia City and Helena, Mont., where they remained until the close of the war, when they returned to St. Louis County, Mo. Here David S. Benton was engaged in farming until 1880, when he came to Huntsville and engaged in the
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general mercantile business in partnership with Edward C. Pew and continued business here until 1885, when he returned to St. Louis. After remaining in that vicinity for ten years he again came to Randolph County in 1895 and purchased a farm of 328 acres near Randolph Springs. This was known as the old Fort farm. He operated this farm until 1912 when he sold it and removed to Huntsville, where he has since resided.
David S. Benton was married in 1878 to Mary Tyler, a daughter of Washington Tyler, of St. Louis County, Mo. She was born in that county, April 2, 1842, and died in 1916. To Mr. and Mrs. Benton were born the following children: Jesse, a farmer west of Huntsville; Edgar, died in infancy; Bessie, who was educated in William Woods College, Fulton, Mo., the Teachers State College at Warrensburg and the Sedalia Busi- ness College and taught school for some years, is now a stenographer; Leslie L., Huntsville, Mo.
Mr. Benton is a Democrat and a member of the Baptist church.
Edmund Burke, a capable and well known attorney of the younger generation of Moberly, is a native son of Randolph County. He was born at Higbee, Jan. 16, 1895, and is a son of William and Mary (Pigott) Burke, the former a native of County Tipperary, Ireland, and the latter of New Jersey.
William Burke came to America from his native land when he was about 20 years of age. He first settled at Chicago and then came to Missouri, locating at Salisbury, where he resided for 15 years. He then went to Higbee, which was his home for 30 years, or until the time of his death, Jan. 1, 1914, at the age of 70 years. During his career he was quite extensively engaged in dealing in real estate. His widow, who now resides at Higbee, was born in New Jersey, Dec 16, 1853.
William and Mary (Piggot) Burke were the parents of the follow- ing children: Alice, married F. C. Bardot, St. Louis; W. D., Higbee; James, E., Kansas City, Mo .; Susie E., married R. R. Correll, Moberly ; Catherine died at the age of 25 years; Margaret, married John Wilson, Higbee, Mo .; Nellie, married Otho Robb, Higbee, Mo .; Edmund, the sub- ject of this sketch; and Amy, married G. H. Riley, Kansas City, Mo.
Edmund Burke received his education in the public schools of Hig- bee and the Missouri State University and State Normal School at Kirks- ville, Mo. He then entered the law department of the St. Louis Uni- ยท versity and was graduated in the class of 1916 and was admitted to the bar. In October, 1916, he began to practice his profession with
EDMUND BURKE
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offices in the Jennings Building. Mr. Burke continued in the practice until the United States entered in the World War, and on Dec. 15, 1917, he enlisted in the United States navy and was sent to San Francisco, Calif .; and was stationed at Yerba Beuna, commonly known as Goat Island. Here he remained about one year and after the armistice was signed, Mr. Burke was discharged, Dec. 18, 1918, and returned to Mo- berly and resumed the practice of his profession in the Jennings Building.
Mr. Burke is an able conscientious young attorney and is meet- ing with well merited success. He was elected city attorney in April, 1919, and is now serving in that capacity. He is a member of the American Legion and was the first adjunct of Theodore Bazan Post.
Norman C. Johnston, a prominent Randolph County attorney, who is engaged in the practice of his profession at Huntsville, is a native of Randolph County and a descendant of one of the representative pioneer families of this section of the state. Mr. Johnston was born in Clifton township, Feb. 27, 1887, and is a son of Heber C. and Susan (Dameron) Johnston.
Heber C. Johnston was born in this county in 1858 and is a son of William Henry Johnston, who was a very early settler of Randolph County and was killed at Vicksburg, Miss., in 1864, while serving in the Confederate army. Heber Johnston was for many years successfully engaged in farming and stock raising in this county and is now living retired at Huntsville. His wife, Susan (Dameron) Johnston, was born in Randolph County in 1862. She is a daughter of George W. Dameron and a descendant of one of the very early pioneer families of this county. A more extensive history of the Dameron family appears elsewhere in this volume.
To Heber C. and Susan (Dameron) Johnston were born the follow- ing children: Mrs. Beulah Patton, resides on a farm about three miles from Huntsville; Mrs. Cassie Newby, Salisbury, Mo .; George, Fayette, Mo .; Norman C., the subject of this sketch; Lyda, married Given Victor, Moberly, Mo .; Rufus, lives on the old home farm and Elba, died in 1915.
Norman C. Johnston received his preliminary education in the public schools of Randolph County and then entered William Jewell College at Liberty, Mo., where he was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Arts in the class of 1908. He then took up the study of law and while pursuing his law studies he worked on a farm in order to defray his expenses. After he was admitted to the bar, he engaged in practice at
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Huntsville, June 27, 1912, and since that time he has devoted himself to the practice of law. He is one of the able lawyers of the county and has built up a satisfactory practice and has met with uniform success.
Mr. Johnston was married in 1908 to Miss Nellie Williams of Fulton, Mo. She is a daughter of Fred B. Williams. To Mr. and Mrs. Johnston have been born one child, Donald, age nine years.
Mr. Johnston is a Democrat and a progressive and enterprising citi- zen as well as an able lawyer.
Judge Percy L. Vasse, who is now serving his second term as pro- bate judge of Randolph County, is also one of the leading merchants of Huntsville. He is president of the Just Right Mercantile Company.
The Just Right Mercantile Company was organized by Mr. Vasse in 1914 and is one of the large mercantile establishments of Huntsville and Randolph County. They handle a complete line of dry goods, shoes and kindred merchandise and the business occupies two large store rooms at 101-103 South Main street, Huntsville.
Percy L. Vasse was born on a farm near Thomas Hill and is a son of Dr. William Wood and Mary M. (Lowry) Vasse. Dr. William Wood Vasse was a native of Virginia and a son of Ambrose Vasse, who came to Randolph County at an early day and died here at the age of 55 years. Dr. William Wood Vasse was a physician and was successfully en- gaged in the practice of medicine in Randolph County during his entire active career. In later life he moved to Moberly, where he died in 1897. He was born in 1842. Mary M. (Lowry) Vasse was born in Howard County in 1846 and now resides at Las Vagas, N. M. Her father, Thomas Lowry, was an early pioneer settler of this section of Missouri.
Judge Percy L. Vasse was educated in the district schools and at the age of 18 years came to Huntsville, Mo., and for eight years was in the employ of George W. Taylor Company and then engaged in business for himself and in 1914 organized the Just Right Mercantile Company and has built up an extensive retail trade in Huntsville and vicinity which is recognized as one of the prosperous and progressive mercantile in- stitutions of Randolph County. Judge Vasse was elected to the office of probate judge of Randolph County in 1914 and in November, 1918, was re-elected to succeed himself and is now serving in that capacity. He is a capable and conscientious public officer and his administration of the affairs of the office of probate judge has met with universal approval of the citizens of this county.
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Judge Vasse was united in marriage Nov. 23, 1892, with Miss Stella Price DeYoung of Madison, Monroe County, Mo. To Mr. and Mrs. Vasse have been born two children: Edwin DeYoung, a law student in the University of Missouri, and William Wood, a student in the medical de- partment of the University of Missouri.
In addition to his business enterprise and other interests, Judge Vasse is a large land owner in Randolph County and is the owner of four farms of 230 acres, 179 acres, 145 acres and 50 acres each. He is a Democrat and a member of the Methodist church and holds membership in the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen of America. He is a progressive enterprising and public spirited citizen and a man of real worth to his community and Randolph County.
Joseph A. Doyle, now living retired at Huntsville, Mo., is a veteran railroad man and for many years was identified with the Wabash Rail- road Company and for a long time was the agent of that company at Huntsville. He was born in Allegheny County, N. Y., April 4, 1847, and is a son of Joseph and Phoebe (Penfield) Doyle, the former a native of ' New York and the latter of Connecticut. In 1867 the Doyle family removed to Wisconsin and settled at Doylestown in Columbia County. The town was named after Limuel H. Doyle, a brother of Joseph A.
Joseph A. Doyle went to Wisconsin some time after the other mem- bers of the family had located there. He remained but a short time, however, when he went to Pennsylvania, where he worked as a tele- grapher. He worked for a short time in that state when he was trans- ferred to Ohio and worked as a telegraph operator at Akron and Kent. Shortly afterwards he went to Wisconsin again on account of his health and shortly afterwards entered the employ of the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul railroad. He was stationed at various towns on that road in- cluding Milwaukee, Watertown and Prairie Du Chien, Wis., and Charles City, Ia., and Owatonna, Minn. In the fall of 1869 he left Minnesota and went west and stopped at Kit Carson. Colo., on what is now the Union Pacific railroad and for a time was at Denver, remaining in Colorado about a year altogether. He was not favorably impressed with that country and resigned his position and started to return to Milwaukee. At Kansas City, he met Nathan Kimbell, an old Ohio friend, who was then a freight conductor on the Wabash railroad, running between Moberly and Kansas City. Kimbell insisted that Doyle go to Moberly with him and after they reached there, Mr. Kimbell wanted Doyle to see the superintendent
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of the telegraph department, but Doyle refused, as he wanted to return to Milwaukee, and explained to Kimbell that even if he did want a posi- tion he had no letters of recommendation. However, Kimbell insisted that Mr. Doyle call on D. H. Fitch, the superintendent of telegraphy, which he did. And after explaining how he came to be in Moberly, Fitch gave him a trial on an instrument between two dispatchers and he handled the work until noon. In the afternoon Fitch came to him and said, "As I am short of a manager, I will appoint you manager of this office." At that time the western division was all under one management. Mr. Doyle worked one month as manager and later served as agent at St. Charles, Moberly and Richmond for eight years. He was then appointed train master and dispatcher of the St. Joseph and Lexington branch with offices at Lexington Junction. Upon a change of the officials on the road, he was appointed agent at Huntsville in April, 1885, and with the excep- tion of two years, he served in that capacity until Nov. 29, 1917, when he resigned.
Mr. Doyle was married April 7, 1873, to Miss Anna Jane Callahan, a native of Pittsburg, Pa. She is a daughter of Benjamin and Anna (Bower) Callahan. Her parents removed from Pennsylvania to Ohio, where the father was engaged in farming and stock raising and he and his wife both died there. After the death of her mother, Anna Jane Callahan went to Wisconsin to join her brother, W. S. Callahan, who was a railroad conductor in that state, and here she met Mr. Doyle. To Mr. and Mrs. Doyle have been born seven children, three of whom are living: Mrs. Josie DeMaster, of Kansas City, Mo .; Herbert, Oakland, Cal., and Stanley, Tucson, Ariz. Mr. Doyle has one grandson, Jack De Master.
Mr. Doyle is an independent Republican and a member of the Bap- tist church. He belongs to the Masonic Lodge, the Knights of Macca- bees and the Court of Honor. He has been an extensive traveler, and perhaps has made as many as 20 trips across the Rocky Mountains. Dur- ing the course of his career as a railroad man, he has held many posi- tions of responsibility. He is the oldest employee of the Wabash rail- road and is the first station agent to be retired on a pension.
Charles D. Sandison, a Spanish-American War veteran and a lead- ing jeweler and optician of Huntsville, is a native of Randolph County. He was born in Huntsville, Feb. 7, 1872, and is a son of William and Elizabeth (Burton) Sandison, a more extensive sketch of whom appears in this volume.
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Charles D. Sandison was reared in Huntsville and educated in the public schools. In 1893, he began serving an apprenticeship at the jeweler's trade, working at Kirksville, Mo., and for a time was located at Armstrong, Mo. In 1895, he located in Huntsville, and was there engaged at his trade until the Spanish-American War broke out, when on May 16, 1898, he enlisted in the United States army for a term of three years. He was sent to Camp Mackenzie, near Augusta, Ga., and was a corporal in Troop M, 3rd Regiment, United States Cavalry, and after the close of the Spanish-American War he was discharged on Feb. 21, 1899.
After the Spanish-American War he returned to Huntsville and re- established himself in the jewelry business and since that time has been engaged in that business in Huntsville. He carries a complete line of clocks, watches and optical goods and supplies and also has an extensive repair trade. He is a natural mechanic and his long experience as a watchmaker and jeweler well qualifies him for the intricate and delicate task of repairing and adjusting all manner of makes of timepieces as well as kindred work in his line. He has given special attention to fitting and supplying glasses during all these years and is an expert in that line. When he began the jeweler business or about that time, he took a special course in optometry at the Bradley Polytechnic Institute at Peoria, Ill., where he was graduated in 1894.
Mr. Sandison was married Dec. 26, 1906, to Miss Elizabeth Coulson, a native of Stanhope, Eng. She is a daughter of Matthew and Mary Coulson, who settled at Huntsville in 1881. Here the father was en- gaged in mining and later served as city collector of Huntsville. He was born May 10. 1846, and died Dec. 21, 1916. His widow now resides at Huntsville with her daughter, Mrs. Sandison, and is 72 years old.
Mr. Sandison is a member of the Spanish-American War Veterans, Hamilton Fish, Jr., Camp No. 1, Department of Missouri, at St. Louis, Mo. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias and is a member of the Mo- berly Hunting and Fishing Club. He organized the first company of boy scouts in Huntsville and was the first scoutmaster there. He is a pro- gressive and enterprising business man.
William M. Evans, cashier of the Farmers and Merchants Bank of Huntsville, Mo., has been identified with the banking interests of Ran- dolph County for the past 17 years and is well known in financial circles of central Missouri. During his entire banking career of 17 years he has been cashier of the Farmers and Merchants Bank of Huntsville.
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The Farmers and Merchants Bank is one of the substantial and well managed financial institutions of Randolph County. It was organized in 1900 by H. L. Rutherford and W. H. Hubbard. Mr. Hubbard was the first cashier and John N. Hamilton, the first president. Mr. Hamilton served as president about ten months when he was succeeded by J. H. Evans and about that time J. H. Evans and C. H. Dameron bought a controlling interest in the bank. In 1903, William M. Evans became cashier and has held that position to the present time.
The Farmers and Merchants Bank is organized with a paid in capi- tal stock of $15,000; a surplus of $5,000; undivided profits of $8,000, and its total resources are $220,000. The present officers are: H. L. Rutherford, president; C. C. Johnson, vice-president; William M. Evans, cashier; W. O. Doyle, and M. D. Evans, assistant cashiers. The board of directors consists of H. L. Rutherford, C. C. Johnson, William M. Evans, Neal Holman, W. A. Brooking, Thomas Kerr and W. O. Doyle.
William M. Evans, whose name introduces this sketch, is a native of Missouri. He was born in Howard County, Oct. 18, 1861, and is a son of James H. and Margaret (Shores) Evans. James H. Evans was born in Callaway County, Mo., in 1830, and died March 11, 1914. His father was a pioneer of Boone County, Mo., and died in 1840. James H. Evans taught school in early life and later was engaged in stock dealing and shipping and he also operated a tobacco factory at Mt. Airy in the early days. He settled in Randolph County in 1867. Margaret (Shores) Evans, mother of William M. Evans, was born in Howard County in 1832 and now lives in Huntsville. She is a daughter of Rev. William Shores, a pioneer Methodist preacher of this section.
William M. Evans was educated in the public schools of Mt. Airy and Mt. Pleasant College at Huntsville and began his career as a teacher and also followed farming. He took a commercial course in Bryant and Stratton's Commercial College. In 1898, he came to Huntsville and en- gaged in the grocery and meat business. In 1903, he became cashier of the Farmers and Merchants Bank and has since ably filled that position.
Mr. Evans was married April 10, 1898, to Miss Lutie Dameron, a native of Randolph County and a daughter of George W. Dameron. To Mr. and Mrs. Evans have been born five children: Lela, bookkeeper in the Farmers and Merchants Bank; Louila, a teacher in the public schools ; Jennie, principal of the public schools at Clark, Mo .; Melville, assistant cashier of the Farmers and Merchants Bank, and Edith, a former teacher, now residing at home with her parents.
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Mr. Evans is a Democrat and a member of the Methodist church. He is a substantial citizen and has an extensive acquaintance over Ran- dolph County and the Evans family stands high in the community.
Callie Halliburton, county recorder of deeds of Randolph County, is a native of this county and a descendant of a pioneer family of this sec- tion of this state. He is a son of Thomas W. and Martha E. (Rogers) Halliburton. Thomas W. Halliburton was born at Nashville, Tenn., in 1827, and died June 9, 1894, near Cairo, Mo. He was a son of Reuben Halliburton, who was an early settler in Sullivan County, Mo., and located near Milan and there spent the remainder of his life. Martha E. Rogers was born in Nashville, Tenn., in 1832. She was a daughter of Calvin Rogers, a native of Tennessee, who spent his last days in Arkansas. Martha E. Rodgers died Feb. 7, 1907, near Cairo, Mo.
Thomas W. Halliburton was married to Martha E. Rodgers in Ten- nessee and came to Missouri in 1854. He engaged in farming and stock raising near Cairo, Randolph County, and became a successful citizen of that section and spent the remainder of his life there. He was an up- right citizen and was a member of the Baptist church and both he and his wife were ardent workers in the church. They were the parents of the following children: J. A., deceased; E. R., a farmer near Cairo; George D., also a farmer near Cairo; Ophelia, married G. W. Creed, Jack- sonville, Mo .; Mrs. Cynthia Ridgeway, a widow of Cairo; Dr. James M., a physician and surgeon of Atlanta, Mo .; Samuel M., a farmer near Cairo; Sallie G., married H. G. Brock of Holiday Mo .; William E., de- ceased, and Callie, the subject of this sketch.
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