USA > Missouri > Randolph County > History of Randolph County, Missouri > Part 64
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Warran L. Barr, whose name introduces this sketch, was born in Massillon, Ohio, in 1882 and is a son of M. and Mary Barr both of whom reside at Canton, Ohio. Warran L. Barr is a graduate of the Canton Ohio High School and the Ohio Northern University. He became Secretary of the Board of Control and Department of Public Works of Canton, a city
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of 100,000 population, and in that position he had much to do with and was brought into close contact with construction work in which paving brick and kindred materials were used, and thus became interested in the scientific production of paving brick. Later, he was assistant superin- tendent of the Cleveland Axle Manufacturing Company and while in that position gained a wide experience in the manufacturing industry. Thus equipped, Mr. Barr entered the field of paving brick manufacturing and in 1914 he succeeded O. W. Renkert as general manager of the Moberly Paving Brick Company. Mr. Renkert is now president of the company and vice-president and general manager of the Metropolitan Paving Brick Company of Canton, Ohio.
Mr. Barr was married in 1913 to Miss Bessie D. Farley of Washing- ton, Pa. and to this union has been born one son, Warren L., Jr., age five years.
Mr. Barr is a Scottish Rite Mason, a Shriner, and a member of the Moberly Chamber of Commerce.
George Hepple, Secretary-Treasurer of District No. 25 of the United Mine Workers of America with offices in the Moberly Trust Co. Building. Moberly, is a native of Pennsylvania. He was born in Westmoreland County, Pa., 21 miles east of Pittsburg, May 7, 1884. He is the son of Thomas and Mary (Richards) Hepple. The mother is deceased and the father resides at Bevier, Macon County, Mo., where he is still actively engaged in mining coal at the age of 61 years. He came to Missouri in 1886 and settled in Bevier where he has since resided. To Thomas and Mary (Richards) Hepple have been born the following children: George, the subject of this sketch; Mrs. Dora Yocum, Bevier, Mo .; John, a miner, Bevier, Mo .; Benjamin, also a miner at Bevier; Mrs. Bessie Weeks, Bevier; Lydia Hepple resides at home with her father and Damon, also resides with his father.
George Hepple was about two years of age when the family came to Missouri. He was reared and attended the public schools of Bevier, and at the early age of 12 years he began working in the mines with his father and was engaged in mining until 1912 when he was elected District Secre- tary-Treasurer of District No. 25 of the United Mine Workers with head- quarters at Moberly. This district includes Northern Central Missouri and Leavenworth County, Kan. There are over 8,000 miners in District No. 25. Mr. Hepple is well qualified for the duties of the responsible position which he holds and is a capable and conscientious official and
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stands high with the members of his organization as well as in the com- munity at large. Mr. D. A. Frampton is president of District No. 25, United Mine Workers of America and he also has offices in Moberly.
George Hepple was married Aug. 29, 1909 to Miss Stella Keen, of Bevier, Mo. She is a daughter of William and Sarah Elizabeth (Buchanan) Keen, the former of whom is deceased and the mother is now the wife of Fred Itschner of Bevier, Mo. To Mr. and Mrs. Hepple was born one son, Lawrence Milton, age nine years.
Mr. Hepple is a member of the Knights of Pythias, Forresters and is a 32nd degree Scottish Rite Mason and a member of the Mystic Shrine.
J. S. Hackley, a member of the board of city councilmen of Moberly and a well known citizen of Randolph County, is a native of Missouri and a descendant of one of the pioneer families of this state. He was born near Waverly, Lafayete County, April 3, 1849 and is a son of James and Ann Maria (Bayliss) Hackley. James Hackley, the father, was born in Virginia in 1812 and came to Missouri when a young man and settled near Waverly, Lafayette County, where he was an overseer of slaves for John V. Webb. He was married in that locality and later moved to Ray County where he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives.
J. S. Hackley was reared on the home farm in Ray County and his educational opportunities were limited. He attended school only 61 days, but he has ever been a student of men and affairs and in early life had acquired a good practical education in the school of experience. The home of the James boys was in the same neighborhood where the Hack- ley family lived in Ray County and "Bill" Anderson was a cousin of J. S. Hackley's mother and thus Mr. Hackley was well acquainted with the James boys whose daring in later life is unparalleled in the annals of Mis- souri. Mr. Hackley relates many incidents in the life and deeds of the James boys. He relates an incident when he attended a theater in Kansas City with Jessie James just one year and three days before Jessie was killed by Bob Ford. At that time, Jessie James was known to his friends as "Tom Howard", and a reward of ten thousand dollars was offered for his capture. The plot of the play at the theater that night showed the holdup of a bank which according to the play was by the James boys. During the Civil War days a party of Federal troops and the James boys and "Bill" Anderson had an encounter near the Hackley residence in Ray County in which one of the Federal soldiers was shot through the shoulder and Jessie and Frank James and Anderson escaped through the dense
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woods. After the fight the Federal captain rode up to Mr. Hackley, father of J. S., who was plowing in a near by field and told him to unhitch his team and take the wounded soldier back to town which he did and James S., of this review accompanied his father. When they returned home about midnight, they found Mrs. Hackley getting supper for "Bill" Anderson and the James boys who were there waiting and they enjoyed the feast of fried chicken immensely. They left about three o'clock in the morning and as usual were not heard from again for several months.
Mr. Hackley spent many years of his life as a traveling salesman and has had a successful career in that field of endeavor. He began as traveling salesman for the R. E. Wathen and Company, distillers of Ken- tucky, Oct. 1, 1898, but had been on the road since Jan. 1, 1876 and never lost a day's salary from Jan. 1, 1876 to July 1, 1918. He traveled over the United States and during his long experience he acquired a personal knowledge of every wholesale druggist and wholesale liquor dealer .of financial standing from Boston to San Francisco and from Galveston to Duluth. He sold the wholesale trade, exclusively, with one exception and that was Huse Matthews of Moberly. As a salesman he held a record of business for the entire country.
Mr. Hackley has been a resident of Moberly for 43 years and has extensive investments here. He has, at all times, stood for every pro- gressive movement that has been for the betterment and upbuilding of Moberly. He has seen Moberly grow up as it were and remembers when there was not a foot of street pavement in the town. He has the unique distinction of being the first man in the city of Moberly to pay his taxes first every year for 15 consecutive years, and he follows the same practice in the payment of other bills.
Mr. Hackley was married at Huntsville, Mo., in 1901 to Mrs. Miranda R. Clark of Moberly. He is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Knights of Pythias.
Irvin L. Tuggle, one of the representative retail merchants of Mob- erly in the grocery business at 101 North Williams street, was born in Macon County, Mo., in 1880. He is a son of Henry and Sarah Tuggle, the former born in Randolph County in 1859 and the mother was a native of Iowa, born in 1861, who later came to Macon County, Mo. with her parents and was married there. Irvin Tuggle's grandfather, J. C. Tug- gle, was a native of Howard County and was a pioneer settler of Macon County, taking up a farm near Excello, where he lived for many years.
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He died near Moberly in 1902 and he was buried in the Hardester come- tery, north of Huntsville.
Irvin Tuggle spent his youth in Moberly and was educated in the public schools and after graduating from the Moberly High School, he engaged in business. When 11 years old he began earning his own living by driving a delivery wagon for W. B. Jones, a butcher. He paid strict attention to his work, saved money and in 1910 formed a partner- ship with L. W. Ficklin and they opened a grocery store and meat market at 113 North Williams street where they carried on the business for five years. Mr. Tuggle then erected the building in which he is now located. It has a frontage of 60 feet, is 120 feet deep and is divided so that Mr. Tuggle rents a store to the Walker Electric Company which has a front- age of 25 feet, which leaves a large store for the grocery and meat mar- ket. In October, 1918. Tuggle & Ficklin sold out and Mr. Tuggle opened up his present business with a fine stock of high class groceries and meats and has an extensive trade.
In 1897, Mr. Tuggle was married to Miss Alice Kelty of Moberly. She was a daughter of Thomas and Rose Ann Kelty, the former a native of Ireland who came to the United States when 18 years of age and set- tled in Moberly. Thomas Kelty was a veteran of the Civil War, having enlisted in the 39th Missouri Volunteer Infantry and served throughout the war. He was one of the pioneer settlers of Moberly who lived to see the village in which he first settled, become a city. He died in 1898 and is buried in St. Mary's cemetery and his wife died in 1918. She was a native of Kentucky, born in Louisville. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Tuggle: Thomas Henry and Alliene Roberta.
Mr. and Mrs. Tuggle are among the well known residents of Moberly who stand for progressiveness not alone in their business, but are always ready to help all movements for the upbuilding of the city and county.
I. J. Schmidt, a well known and successful farmer and stockman of Randolph County is the proprietor of Maple Grove Farm which is located four miles west of Moberly, in Sugar Creek township. This is one of the well improved and valuable farms of Randolph County. Mr. Schmidt was born in Adams County, Ill. in September, 1863 and is a son of Henry and Justina (Lier) Schmidt, natives of Germany. They settled in Adams County, Ill., in 1856 where they resided until 1871 when they came to Missouri, and settled in Randolph County, establishing their home in the woods just a short distance east of the present residence of I. J. Schmidt.
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The father preceeded the other members of the family here in a short time and built a log cabin which was the first home of the family in this sparsely settled section of Randolph County. He was engaged in farm- ing here until his death in 1881. He helped dig the first grave in St. Mary's cemetery and ten months later died and was laid to rest in that cemetery. His widow survived him for many years and died in 1912. They were the parents of the following children: Anna, Boorddick who resides at Seward, Kan .; Justinia Epping, deceased; William, deceased ; I. J., the subject of this sketch and Katie, who resides in Moberly.
I. J. Schmidt attended the district schools in Illinois and Missouri. He was about eight years old when he came to Randolph County with his parents, and here he grew to manhood and in early life acquired the knowledge of farming which he has made his life's occupation. He first purchased 80 acres of land at a cost of $100 per acre, going into debt for a greater part of the purchase price. He was successful in his farming operations from the start. Shortly afterwards he bought another 100 acre tract. Two years later he purchased the old home farm and is now the owner of 355 acres which is one of Randolph County's valuable farms. Mr. Schmidt's place is well improved with a splendid farm residence with all modern conveniences including electric lights. The place is equipped with a gas power engine. The farm buildings are well constructed and conveniently arranged. The Schmidt farm is underlaid by a rich vein of coal which approximate about four feet in thickness. Mr. Schmidt keeps a good grade of cattle, sheep and hogs, specializing in Polled Angus cat- tle, Shropshire sheep and Chester White hogs. He is a strong advocate of raising the standard of stock and has many well developed progressive opinions along the lines of modern animals husbandry.
Oct. 16, 1890, Mr. Schmidt was united in marriage with Miss Lizzie Steinkamp, of Moberly. She is a daughter of Herman and Anna (Wheel- ing) Steinkamp, the former of whom is deceased and the mother re- sides in Moberly. To Mr. and Mrs. Schmidt have been born the following children : Leona, Geger, of Lott, Texas; Edward, Lora, John, Walter, Martin and Gertrude, all of whom are residing at home with their par- ents and Tena Heddinghaus who resides on a farm west of town and Albert, a farmer east of town.
Mr. Schmidt is one of the substantial citizens of Randolph County and the Schmidt family rank high in the community.
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Phillip Mast, one of the pioneer farmers and stockmen of Randolph County who has played an important part in opening up and developing this section of the state and is now retired. He was born on a farm which today is the townsite of Monroe City, Mo., in January, 1856. He is a son of August and Catherine (Schreck) Mast, both of whom died at their home, nine miles east of Quincy, Ill. There were six children in their family: Henry, of Elliot, Mo .; Justina, now Mrs. Ehrhardt, of Quincy, Ill .; John, deceased, of Quincy, Ill .; Phillip, of this review, and Barney, of Quincy, Ill.
Phillip Mast spent his boyhood days on the farm in Illinois, and received his education in the public schools of that state where his par- ents had returned from Missouri when he was a child. In 1881, Phillip Mast returned to Missouri, locating in Randolph County and a year later, purchased 40 acres of land for $550.00, upon which he built a small log house. The ground was covered with white oak which had to be cleared with great labor; the underbrush was cleaned out and in time, he had all of the land under cultivation. As he made money, he invested in more land and today has 182 acres of valuable land, under a high state of cultivation. The improvement of this place has been the work of his own hands and he may well look upon his accomplishment with pride. In 1908, he erected a fine farm residence of six rooms, modern in every way and he has a good barn and other farm buildings.
Phillip Mast was married, Nov. 25, 1879, to Miss Josephine Strat- man, of Adams County, Ill., the marriage ceremony taking place at Can- ton, Mo. She died Feb. 8, 1920, and was buried in St. Mary's Cemetery, her little granddaughter, Rosalie, being buried at the same time. There were two children in the Mast family: George, born Sept. 11, 1880, and Martin, born Jan. 10, 1884. Both of the sons are engaged in farm- ing on the home place, the father having retired.
Martin Mast resides in the old homestead residence with his father, while George is just building a bungalow across the road from his father's home. George Mast was married, May 15, 1918, to Miss Mary Bussen, the daughter of Theodore and Mary Bussen. Theodore Bussen died in 1910 and his widow now resides in Moberly. He was a mer- chant and came from Indiana to Martinsburg, years ago and engaged in the mercantile business. To George and Mary Mast was born a daugh- ter, Rosalie Georgia, born March 26, 1919, and died Feb. 9, 1920.
Martin and George Mast are engaged in general farming and raise high grade Shorthorn cattle and keep from 16 to 20 head. They also
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specialize in Duroc Jersey hogs and Buff Cochin chickens. Their farm is underlaid with a four-foot vein of high-grade coal which has recently been opened up on their place and successful mining operations estab- lished which bid fair to be highly profitable. They are industrious, thrifty men of high standing in the community.
David A. Frampton, president of District No. 25, United Mine Work- ers of America, with offices in the Moberly Trust Company building, Moberly, Mo., is one of the most experienced miners in this section of the country and today holds one of the most responsible positions in the state. He is a native of Missouri, born at Richmond, Jan. 19, 1877, the only child living of David A. and Anna (Floyd) Frampton. The mother died in 1894 and the father in 1918. Both are laid to rest at Richmond. D. A. Frampton, the father, was a native of Illinois, but was reared in Jackson County, Mo., while his wife was born in Wales, accompanying her parents to this country when she was a small girl of five years old. Mr. Frampton came to this state with his parents and was here reared and married. He enlisted in the Union army at the outbreak of the Civil War, going from Jackson County, and served four years. He took part in the battle of Lone Jack and many other important engagements and when peace was established returned to his home and engaged in farming.
D. A. Frampton, the subject of this sketch, was reared on his par- ents' farm near Richmond, Mo., and attended the schools of Richmond until he was 13 years old, when he began to work in the mines. For 22 years, Mr. Frampton followed this vocation in different states where mining operations were extensive, working his way up to his present important position, and no man knows the business, in all its varied details, better than he. Finally he returned to make his permanent home in his native state, locating at Richmond, and became the charter member of Local Union No. 298, United Mine Workers of America, which was organized in 1899. From first engaging in mining operations, Mr. Frampton had always taken an active part in the work of organization and his ability has been recognized by his fellow workers. In 1910, he was elected a member of the International Executive Board of the Mine Workers and in the fall of 1916 he was elected president of the United Mine Workers of District No. 25, assuming the duties of this office April 1, 1917, and is now serving his fourth term in this district, which has a membership of 9,000.
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On Sept. 29, 1906, Mr. Frampton was married to Miss Loma Phillips, a native of Richmond, Mo., a daughter of John B. Phillips, She died Dec. 13, 1919, and was laid to rest at Richmond, Mo.
Mr. Frampton has taken an active part in the civic life of his com- munity and supports all worthy movements. He has resided in Moberly since May, 1916. For many years he has stood high in Masonic circles, being a member of the organization of Novinger Lodge No. 583, is a member of the Consistory and Shrine at Kansas City, Mo. The respon- sibilities of a man in the position held by Mr. Frampton are great, but he has measured up to its requirements. He is one of the capable men of the state.
John C. Skinner, the owner of Cedar Farm in Sugar Creek township, four and a half miles northwest of Moberly, is a well known and highly respected farmer and stockman of Randolph County. He belongs to one of the pioneer families that came here when Missouri was on the fron- tier. Mr. Skinner has passed 64 years in this county. He was born on the farm where he now resides Dec. 13, 1855, the son of Elcaney and Sarah (Walden) Skinner, both natives of Kentucky, the former born in Estill County, where he was reared and received his education. When old enough Mr. Skinner determined to take advantage of the cheap gov- ernment land to be had in this state and in 1832 came to Randolph County, entering land in Sugar Creek township, the homestead now owned by his son. The patent to this tract of land was signed by President Millard Fillmore and it has never changed from the hands of the Skinner family. Elcaney Skinner passed the remainder of his life in Randolph County, and was buried in the family cemetery on the home place in 1891 and four years later his wife died. Forty members of the Skinner family are buried there. The children of Elcaney and Sarah (Walder) Skinner were as follows: Greenbury, of Cairo, Mo .; D. W., of Pomeroy, Wash .; Mary Ann, who married a man named Rogers and later a Mr. Turley, is deceased; James H., died in California; Louisa, deceased; John C .; Luther, who lives near Cairo, and Sarah Frances Rogers, deceased, lived in Texas.
John C. Skinner first attended school in Sugar Creek township, he was reared on his father's farm. When he went to school he applied himself well under his first teacher, Sallie Robertson, who was welk known in the district as an efficient instructor. Later Mr. Skinner was enrolled in the Mount Hope district where he remained in school until
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his education was finished. After the school days were over he engaged in farming. He has lived in the country all his life with the exception of four years when his daughter was in school and the family moved to Moberly for the time. In 1897, Mr. Skinner purchased the old home place and is the owner of 200 acres of valuable land. Since acquiring the old homestead he has made substantial improvements, built a good modern home, has fine barns for his stock and "Cedar Farm" is one of the attractive places of the county. The entire tract is underlaid with a vein of coal and when opened up will prove valuable.
March 10, 1881, Mr. Skinner married Miss Emma Frances Scott, a daughter of Dr. A. W. and Sarah H. (Wright) Scott, the former born In Howard County and reared near Paris. Mrs. Scott was a native of Kentucky. She accompanied her parents to Monroe County when a girl of 10 years. She was reared and educated in that locality and later married Dr. Scott. The doctor and his wife came to Huntsville in 1865, where he was engaged in his profession as a dentist until his death in 1906. His wife died in 1896. Mrs. Skinner was the third of their six chil- dren. The other children born to Dr. A. W. and Sarah (Wright) Scott and who are now living are: Mrs. D. H. Merell, Ralls County, Mo .; Mrs. Luther Skinner, lives near Cairo, Mo .; and E. C. Scott, of Huntsville, Mo. To Mr. and Mrs. Skinner was born one child, Ella Genevea, born Dec. 17, 1883. She died Sept. 14, 1901, just one year before she would have graduated from high school in Moberly.
The Skinner family have been known in this section for their church activities. Since locating in the state. Elcaney Skinner was a "Hard Shell Baptist," and when he first came to this county would ride on horseback 15 or 20 miles to church, going on Saturday and returning Sunday evening. Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Skinner are members of the Chris- tian church of Moberly. Mr. Skinner is a Mason, belonging to Lodge No. 36, at Huntsville.
Felix G. Elsea, who resides at 824 North Morley street, Moberly, is a successful and well-known farmer and stockman of Randolph County. He is a native of Missouri, born in Macon County, May 28, 1854, a son of B. F. and Mary Jane (Grafford) Elsea. B. F. Elsea was born in Vir- ginia and came to Missouri at the age of 19 years and first settled in Macon County. He came to Randolph County in 1866 and settled on a farm one and one-half miles northeast of Jacksonville. He bought land there and remained in that vicinity until 1890, when he removed to
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Kirksville, Mo., where he died. To B. F. and Mary Jane (Grafford) Elsea were born the following children: J. W., Huntsville, Mo .; B. F., resides three miles north of Moberly; Felix G., the subject of this sketch ; J. C., lives in California; and Lora Bell, died in infancy. The mother of the above children died in 1862, and the father was afterwards mar- ried to Telitha Taylor and to that marriage were born the following children: Mrs. Lydia Jane Hatler, Harve, Mont .; D. J., Monte Vista, Colo .; Mrs. Florence Holbrook, deceased; Lucy Henderson, Stronghurst, Ill .; Catherine Barker, La Harpe, Ill .; Dr. Homer J., Carthage, Ill .; and Mrs. Lottie Stevenson, Alamoosa, Colo. The mother of these children now resides at La Harpe, Ill.
Felix G. Elsea was educated in the public schools of Shelby County, Mo., and began farming in early life and has made farming and stock raising his life's work and business and has met with success in his undertakings. He owns and operates two farms and makes his home in the city of Moberly. He owns 70 acres in Sugar Creek township and 120 acres in Union township. He also owns a block of land in the city of Moberly, where he has a good modern residence and also a good barn and the place is supplied with water from two good never-failing wells. The Elsea residence was formerly owned by Lucian Taylor, who built it.
Felix G. Elsea was married to Rachael C. Holbrook in 1894. She is a daughter of Colbert and Nancy (Milam) Holbrook, who came to Randolph County and settled just west of Moberly in what is now known as the James Crotty place. They settled here in 1837. Mrs. Elsea was born on that place in 1853 and lived there during the Civil War. She was educated in the district school, attending school at the Hagar school house. Her father died in 1854 and her mother in 1894 and their remains are buried on the home farm. Colbert and Nancy (Milan) Holbrook were the parents of the following children: Solomon, was a soldier in the Confederate army and died at Jetmore, Kan., in 1912; Mrs. Elizabeth Adams, died at McAlester, Okla, in 1913; Caleb, died in 1855 at the age of 13 years; Buse, died at Clarksville, Texas, in 1865, while serving in the Confederate army ; Benjamin, a farmer and stockman of Sugar Creek township, a sketch of whom appears in this volume; Mrs. Merinda Rich- ardson, Orofino, Idaho; Nancy Emerson. Moberly, Mo., and Mrs. Felix G. Elsea, the subject of this sketch.
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