USA > Missouri > Randolph County > History of Randolph County, Missouri > Part 58
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HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY
1882. He then went to Waterloo, Iowa, and entered the employ of the Illinois Central Railroad Company as a locomotive fireman, being em- ployed by Master Mechanic Thomas Place, who is still living at Waterloo, Iowa, retired. He was a pioneer railroader and the first master mechanic of the Dubuque and Sioux City division of the Illinois Central. Mr. Spragg fired on that road until 1887 when he went to Denver, Colo., where he fired on the Union Pacific railroad until 1894, when he resigned and came to Moberly. On Aug. 15, 1894, he entered the employ of the Wa- bash company as engineer, having run an engine on the Union Pacific from Sept. 18, 1889, until he came to Moberly. He ran a freight engine until 1896, when he was promoted to passenger engineer and since that time has been in the passenger service and his present run is between Moberly and Albia, Iowa. He has had a successful railroad career and is regarded as one of the capable and careful men on the Wabash system. Since coming to Moberly, Mr. Spragg has taken an active interest in local affairs and has been a citizen of real worth. He has ever been a Moberly booster and possesses the Moberly spirit which has made of it one of the live and thriving cities of central Missouri. Mr. Spragg has made profitable investments and is also the owner of 80 acres of valuable land one mile south of Moberly. He has served on the Y. M. C. A. board of directors at Kansas City, Mo., for ten years.
Mr. Spragg was married June 20, 1888, to Miss Lois Stromgren, of Waterloo, Iowa. She died September 7, 1900, and is buried at Waterloo, Iowa. On Oct. 21, 1901, Mr. Spragg was united in marriage with Miss Lelia Stout, a native of Michigan and a daughter of Samuel B. and Elizabeth May (Lewis) Stout, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of New York. The father died at Plymouth, Ind., Aug. 1, 1880, and the mother departed this life in Chicago, Ill., Sept. 16, 1914. They were the parents of the following children: Samuel L., deceased; Lelia, the wife of Robert Willis Spragg, of this review; Perry G., de- ceased; Edith L., married William J. Henzell, Tacoma, Wash .; Gertrude, married Warren D. Smith, Chicago, Ill .;
Mrs. Robert Willis Spragg is a woman of extraordinary ability and rare accomplishments. She began her educational career in the public schools of Plymouth, Ind., where she was graduated from the high school. Afterwards she was graduated from the Barnes Business Col- lege of La Porte, Ind., and she also was graduated from the Chautauqua College at Chautauqua, N. Y. She has made an extensive study of music.
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HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY
She was a student at the Are Institute at Chicago for three years and studied at the musical college of Chicago for two years. She read law in the office of Judge Hess, of Plymouth, Ind. Mrs. Spragg has taught school a number of terms, her first experience in this work being when she was 15 years old. Later she taught in high school. She learned telegraphy and for some years was telegraph operator and station agent in the employ of the Wabash Railroad Company. For 20 years she was private secretary to Supt. J. S. Goodrich of the Wabash. She is a sten- ographer and an expert accountant and has taught shorthand, typewrit- ing and telegraphy for a number of years.
Mr. Spragg is a Knights Templar Mason and a member of the Shrine, Ararat Temple, Kansas City, Mo .; the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engi- neers and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He is a Re- publican and he and Mrs. Spragg are members of the Episcopal church. They are members of the Order of the Eastern Star of which Mrs. Spragg is Past Matron. She is also a member of the Ladies' Auxiliary of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. Mr. and Mrs. Spragg have a wide acquaintance in Moberly and Randolph County and rank high in its citizenship.
Mrs. Spragg was the first woman in Randolph County to take out a hunting license.
George C. Deskin, a well-known locomotive engineer of the Wabash railroad, was born on a farm a mile and a half east of the townsite of Moberly, Dec. 18, 1861, the son of Moses H. and Ann (Beal) Deskin.
Moses Deskin was born in Cape Girardeau, Mo., March 11, 1811, and was reared and educated in this state. He first engaged in farming and later ran a flat boat on the Mississippi River, but gave that up to come to Randolph County and entered a farm just east of the present site of Moberly 10 years before this city was thought of. In 1836 this land was mostly unbroken prairie and woodland. He farmed his home- stead and died there in the spring of 1877. Ann Beal Deskin was born in Boone County, Ky., in 1821, and was reared there during her early girlhood. She accompanied her parents when they came to Missouri and here she was married to Moses Deskin. She spent most of her life on the old homestead, passing away there in 1886. There were the follow- ing children in the Deskin family: Sophia, the wife of Andrew J. Foose, deceased; Mary, the wife of A. Shirley, deceased; Reason J., deceased ; Sally Joe, the wife of H. J. Link, of Edmond, Okla .; Jerry W. and Stephen L., deceased; Lucile E., of Moberly, and George of this review.
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HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY
George C. Deskin remained at home on the farm until he was 17 years old, attended the district school and the schools of Moberly. He secured a position in the Wabash shops in 1881, where he worked two years before becoming a locomotive fireman. Six years later he was promoted to engineer and served in that capacity until 1894, when he resigned to engage in the dairy business in Moberly. In 1903 Mr. Deskin disposed of his dairy, and a year later opened a restaurant in Moberly, which he managed until 1914, then sold it and moved to Indiana, where he engaged in farming two years. He returned to Moberly in 1916 to take a position on the Wabash as switch engineer in the yards of Mo- berly.
April 5. 1905, Mr. Deskin was married to Miss Stella M. Paul, the daughter of Samuel and Ann (Grey) Paul, the former a native of Penn- sylvania and the mother was born in Indiana. Two children have been born to this union: Ann Mildred and Paul C., both at home.
Mr. Deskin is a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engi- neers, Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Engineers; also belongs to the Masonic Lodge and with his wife is a member of the Baptist church. He is a Republican. Mrs. Deskin belongs to the Auxiliary of the Brotherhoods of Locomotive Engineers and the Eastern Star.
Robert Ross Dixon, a well-known foreman of the Wabash railroad shops at Moberly, was born here Sept. 29, 1889, the son of Samuel K. and Matry C. (Strickler) Dixon.
Samuel K. Dixon was a native of Virginia, born April 2, 1846, where he was reared and educated and when old enough began farming. In 1866, Mr. Dixon came to Missouri and located on a farm in Monroe County and later moved to Randolph County, buying a farm three miles north- east of Moberly, where he engaged in farming until the family came to Moberly to live where the father worked as a carpenter until his death, Sept. 6, 1918. He was a veteran of the Civil War, having enlisted in the Confederate army and served until peace was established. Mr. Dixon was laid to rest on what would have been his golden wedding anni- versary. Mrs. Dixon was born in Rockville, Ind., Nov. 12, 1847, and was married there Sept. 6, 1868, and is now residing in her home in Moberly. There were two children in the Dixon family: Alva D., the wife of W. E. McCully, of Colorado Springs, Colo .. and Robert Ross, of this review.
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HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY
Robert Ross Dixon was reared in Randolph County and attended the district and the Moberly schools until his 15th year when he went to work in the storehouse of the Wabash shops and remained in the employ of the road here until 1911, when he went to St. Louis to take a position in the supply department. Three years later he returned to Moberly and in June of that year became foreman of the storehouse, a position which he still holds.
March 8, 1914, Mr. Dixon was married to Miss Laura Robinson, the daughter of John and Matilda (Whittker) Robinson, the former a native of England, born in Manchester and came to the United States in 1847 and later became an employee of the Wabash railroad in the Moberly shops. He died March 31, 1901. Mrs. Dixon's mother was also born in Manchester, England, and married in her native country and accompanied her husband to the United States. She now lives in Moberly. There were 13 children in the Robinson family of whom Mrs. Dixon was next to the youngest. The following children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Dixon: Robert Taylor and William Ross. The latter died in 1919.
Mr. Dixon is a member of the Modern Woodmen and is independent in politics. He is a member of the Baptist church and Mrs. Dixon is 2. Presbyterian.
Charles B. Cleveland, one of the popular passenger conductors of the Wabash railroad, with a run out of Moberly, where he makes his home, has been in the continuous service of the company for more than a quar- ter of a century. He was born on a farm eight miles east of Huntsville, Feb. 15, 1875, the son of John D. and Betty (Dameron) Cleveland.
John D. Cleveland was a native of Missouri, reared and educated here. He was a 49er when gold was discovered in California and drove across the continent with a team of oxen and a prairie schooner. He reached the coast safely and after a period there returned to Missouri and at the outbreak of the Civil War enlisted in the army, serving until peace was declared. He then engaged in farming again, and passed the remainder of his life on the old homestead, where he died in 1876, and was laid to rest in the family burying ground on the farm. Betty Dameron Cleveland was born in Huntsville, Mo., and was reared and edu- cated in that locality and married in Randolph County, where she passed her life and died Jan. 16, 1919, and was buried by the side of her hus- band. There were four children in the Cleveland family: Janie M., the wife of J. W. Malone, of Moberly; John D., of Fresno, Calif .; Charles B., of this review, and Able F., of Sacramento, Calif.
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HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY
Charles B. Cleveland was reared on his father's farm and attended the district school and lived at home until he was 15 years of age. He then secured a position as bell boy in the Mosier Hotel, of St. Louis. He remained a year when he went to Pine Bluff, Ark., to work in the Cotton Belt railroad shops, located there. In 1891, he returned to Mo- berly and entered the Wabash shops, where he remained a year. Mr. Cleveland then went to Chicago, where he began firing a locomotive on the Great Western railroad, being employed in that manner until 1894, when a strike was called. He went then to Melrose, Minn., to fire on the Great Northern system. Later he returned to Missouri and located in Springfield, where he was employed by the Kansas City, Fort Scott & Memphis railroad and from there came to Moberly in December, 1895. After getting settled here Mr. Cleveland entered the employ of the Wa- bash again as a freight brakeman and was promoted to conductor June 3, 1903, and was given charge of a passenger train in 1912, a position which he has since held.
Feb. 16, 1898, Mr. Cleveland was married to Miss Ada Miller, the daughter of David and Mary (Marvin) Miller, the former a native of Pennsylvania who came to Missouri with his parents when a boy of six years. He lived in Randolph County the rest of his life, passing away Sept. 12, 1918. Mrs. Miller was born in Virginia in 1852, and was married in 1877. She died in 1879, leaving the one child, Mrs. Ada Cleveland. Mr. Miller married again and four children were born to that union. Mrs. Cleveland belongs to one of the old pioneer families of Missouri. Her grandfather, Valentine Miller, was born in Pennsylvania in 1825, came west and located here in 1865, and was one of the well-known men of his day.
Mr. Cleveland is a member of the Order of Railway Conductors, No. 49, and of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, of. Moberly.
John L. Darby, who was engaged in farming for a number of years and later a well-known merchant of Moberly, is now agent for the Sharp- less Cream Separator Company. He is a native of Randolph County, born on the old family homestead, three miles northeast of Cairo, July 9, 1873, the son of John C. and Milissa (Stephens) Darby.
John C. Darby was born on the same place June 25, 1844, and reared and educated here. At the outbreak of the Civil War he enlisted in the army and served four years. His father, John Darby, came to Missouri at an early day and entered 160 acres, in Cairo township, three miles
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HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY
northeast of the town. James L. Darby's father inherited the home- stead and remained there, engaged in farming, until 1912, when he gave up the active management of the place and came to Moberly to live. He died Sept. 28, 1914. Milissa Stephens Darby was born on a farm close to Middlegrove, Monroe County, Mo., Sept. 18, 1842, and is now living at Grey Bull, Wyo. The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Darby: Lillie, deceased; Lelia, the wife of John Bennett, of Mo- berly ; Louis, of Rocky Ford, Colo .; John S., of Moberly ; James L., of this review; Luther, deceased; Emma L .; Willis, deceased; Paul, of Belgrade, Mont .; and David, deceased.
James L. Darby spent his boyhood on the farm, received his educa- tion in the district school. When he was 13 years old began to work on the farm. In 1901 he bought a farm of 120 acres, one mile northeast of Moberly, where he farmed six years before selling out in September, 1907. He then moved to Moberly. The next year he opened a confectionary store at 112 Reed street, where he built up a good business and in Feb- ruary, 1919, he sold out and is now agent for Sharpless Cream Separator.
Nov. 1, 1899, Mr. Darby was married to Miss Mariah Chandler New- man, the daughter of George T. and Susan E. (Baker) Newman, the former born in Kentucky in 1845, was a farmer and came to Missouri when only 18 years old and bought a farm near Higbee. He died in 1914. His wife was a native of Missouri, born in 1850, and now lives on the home farm, a mile and a half northeast of Higbee. Mrs. Darby was the third of the seven children in the Newman family. To Mr. and Mrs. Darby has been born one child: Allene, born August, 1900, died Nov. 11 of the same year.
Mr. Darby is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and is one of the substantial citizens of Moberly who has been well known in business circles for many years.
Albert 'C. Gladney, a leading member of the Randolph County bar, is a descendant from Irish ancestors who located in the Carolinas early in the 19th century and later became pioneer settlers of Missouri. He was born on the old homestead in Lincoln County, Sept. 7, 1872, the son of John M. and Annie (Wilson) Gladney. John M. Gladney was born on the same farm, July 4, 1830, and reared and educated in Mis- souri and when old enough became a farmer. He spent his life on the old home place, and died there March 1, 1893, and was laid to rest in the old family burying ground on the farm.
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HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY
John M. Gladney was the son of Samuel and Margaret Gladney, both natives of Ireland, who came to the United States and settled in South Carolina in 1817 and two years later came to Missouri, locating on the homestead of 300 acres in Lincoln County, which has never passed out of the family. Samuel Gladney spent the rest of his life in Missouri and died on his Jand in 1872, and his wife died in 1876, and both are buried in the family cemetery.
Annie Wilson Gladney, mother of Albert C. Gladney, was born in Auburn, Mo., May 4, 1842, and is living on the old Gladney homestead. She and her husband were the parents of the following children: David, farming the old home place: Enoch, deceased; Emma, on the home farm with the mother; Andrew, of Phoenix, Ariz .; Albert C., of this review ; Lucy, the wife of William Raymond, of Clarksville; John M., deceased; Frank, a lawyer of St. Louis; Steele, of Bellville, Ill., and Eugene, of Oklahoma.
Albert C. Gladney was reared on the old homestead, attended the district school during his boyhood and then entered Central College for higher courses of study. He remained at home until he was 21 years old and then entered the St. Louis Law School, where he graduated and was admitted to the bar in 1900. That same year, Mr. Gladney came to Moberly and opened an office, where he has since been engaged in the practice of law. He has built up a good practice and is one of the well- known lawyers of this section of the state. Mr. Gladney has served as justice of the peace for 1912 to 1918.
Dec. 12, 1901, Mr. Gladney was married to Miss Mary Duncan, of Lincoln County, and two children have been born to this union: Enoch A. and David C., both at home with their parents.
Mr. Gladney is a Democrat; he and Mrs. Gladney are members of the Methodist church, south, and they also belong to the missionary society of the church. Mrs. Gladney is a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
J. Ereckson Hall, the successful manager of the Moberly Steam Laundry, has led a varied career, and today is regarded as one of the substantial business men of the city. He was born at Halmstad, Sweden, Sept. 14, 1863, the son of E. Ereckson and Anna Hall, the former born in Annestad, Sweden, in 1828, and the mother in 1836. They came to the United States in 1880 and first located in Iowa, where E. Ereckson Hall was engaged in business as a general merchant for many years.
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HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY
Mrs. Hall died in Smithfield, Utah, in 1898, and her husband died there in 1900. They were the parents of the following children: Rika, the wife of John Peterson, of Oakland, Calif .; Maria; the wife of A. Benson, of Blackfoot, Idaho; J. Ereckson, of this review; Axrel, deceased; Nettie, now Mrs. Mitchell, of Pocatello, Idaho, and three children who died in infancy.
J. Ereckson Hall was reared in Sweden and received his education there, the schools in Sweden are under the supervision of the govern- ment and attendance is compulsory. When only 15 years of age he went to sea on a Swedish sailing vessel which landed at an English port and he left the boat on which he had crossed the North Sea and became a sailor on an English vessel. For a number of years he sailed under the British flag, touching the ports of many lands and sailed nearly all over the world and by the time he was 22 years old, he had visited many countries and seen many races of people.
Soon after his 22d birthday Mr. Hall returned to his home in Sweden, where he was married Aug. 12, 1888, to Emma Magnuson. They went to England within a short time and came to the United States, landing here March 1, 1888. Mr. Hall and his wife located in Des Moines, Iowa, but four years later came to Moberly, where the family has since lived. Upon first locating here Mr. Hall secured a position with the Moberly Steam Laundry Company as foreman, and in 1918 he was promoted to manager.
Mr. and Mrs. Hall had one child that died in infancy. They are well known in the city and have many friends. Mr. Hall holds two men- berships in the Chamber of Commerce, one personal and the other in the interests of the laundry, of which he is the executive head.
David P. Ash, one of the substantial and successful farmers of Prairie township, Randolph County, who specializes in breeding pure blooded Poled Angus Aberdeen cattle and Poland China hogs, is the owner of 120 acres of valuable farm land. He was born in Denmark Jan. 9, 1858. the son of Peter and Margaret Ash, both natives of Den- mark. Peter Ash was born in 1819; he was reared and educated in his native land and fought in the war between Denmark and Germany. He was a farmer all his life, specialized in raising stock and spent the re- mainder of his days in his native land. He died in March, 1869. The mother was born in 1821 and died in 1886. There were five children in the Ash family: David, of this review; Christian and Sophia, deceased ; John, who remains in the native land, and Annie, deceased.
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HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY
David Ash was reared on his father's farm in Denmark, and at- tended the public schools. He left his native country in 1875 and came to the United States. After reaching here he settled on a farm near Rock Island, Ill., and removed from there to Des Moines, Iowa, where he worked as a miner until 1904. That year Mr. Ash came to Missouri, locating on his farm in Randolph County, where he has since been en- gaged in general farming and stock raising. For some years, Mr. Ash has handled Poled Angus Aberdeen cattle and Poland China hogs, and he is one of the prominent stockmen of the township. He has placed per- manent improvements on his farm, and in 1917 built his present modern home.
March 8, 1884, Mr. Ash was married to Miss Eliza Meyer, the daugh- ter of John and Magelina (Barnhart) Meyer, both natives of Germany. John Meyer came to the United States in 1847 and settled on a farm in Illinois, where he died in 1885. Mrs. Magelina Meyer was born in 1849 and died in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1912. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. David P. Ash: John P., of Moberly; Lena, now Mrs. M. Oldham; George, on the home farm; and Ada, also at home.
M. A. Carter, a widely known stock buyer, who has been successfully engaged in that business in Randolph County since he was 18 years old, is a native of this county. He was born in Jacksonville, April 18, 1875, and is a son of M. M. and Mary E. (Renolds) Carter.
M. M. Carter was also a native of Randolph County, born in 1842, and died at Jacksonville in 1918. He was a stock buyer and shipper and for many years was successfully engaged in that business. He was a veteran of the Civil War, having served in that army for four years. Mary E. Renolds Carter was also a native of Randolph County, born near Jacksonville, in 1854. Mr. and Mrs. Carter were married by Rev. J. A. Berry.
To M. M. and Mary E. (Renolds) Carter were born the following children: Frank E., Jackson, Miss .; M. A., the subject of this sketch; Isaac B., Green River, Utah ; Maggie M., married L. A. Malone and resides near Jacksonville; Minnie, married H. Conner, Union, Neb .; James D., Huntsville, Mo .; Jessie L., married Jess C. Scott, Scott, Miss .; Harry D., Jonesberg, Mo .; Hayden R., Salisbury, Mo .; and two children who died in infancy.
M. A. Carter was educated in the Jacksonville public schools and when 18 years of age became his father's partner in buying and shipping
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HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY
stock and has been engaged in that business to the present time. He owns a half interest in 219 acres of land near Jacksonville.
Mr. Carter was united in marriage Oct. 20, 1919, at Jacksonville, Mo., to Beulah Miles a daughter of William and Clara E. (Snow) Miles, both natives of Missouri. To Mr. and Mrs. Miles have been born two children: Marilla E., married Asher W. Elliott, a druggist of Jacksonville, Mo .; and Beulah, the wife of M. A. Carter, the subject of this sketch.
Mr. Carter is a Democrat and a progressive citizen.
James S. Hedges, Jr., one of the leading merchants of Moberly who owned a grocery store for a number of years and now handles coal and ice, is a native son of Randolph County, born in Moberly Aug. 27, 1883, the son of James S. and Sarah (Featherston) Hedges.
James S. Hedges, Sr., is a native of Clay County, Mo., born April 3, 1846, and was reared and educated in this state. He came to Moberly in 1867 and engaged in the grocery business, opening his store the day the first lots of the town site were put up for sale, which gives him the honor of being one of the very oldest merchants of the town. Mr. Hedges is a veteran of the Civil War, having enlisted at the outbreak of hostili- ties and was assigned to the 48th Regiment, serving under Colonel James Moss and later under Colonel Hale. Mr. Hedges has taken an active part in local affairs, serving as a member of the city council of Moberly from 1892 to 1896 and for a number of years was a director of the Mo- berly Building and Loan Association. Mrs. Hedges was born on a farm just east of Moberly, June 5, 1843, and was married there in 1876. She died in 1912. Her father, Charles Featherston, came to Moberly in 1868, and lived here until his death in 1883. He was the first constable of the town and took a prominent part in the early development of Mo- berly. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. James S. Hedges, Sr .: Willard, deceased; Lillie, the wife of Robert Kiernan, of Huntsville, and James S., of this review.
James S. Hedges, Jr., was reared in Moberly, attended the public school until he was old enough to engage in business and then bought a half interest in his father's grocery store, which they conducted until 1914, when Mr. Hedges began handling ice and coal. He was one of the prime movers in the establishment of the Moberly Artificial Ice Company and handles that ice. His coal business has proved profitable and he is considered one of the substantial of the younger generation of business men of the city.
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