USA > Missouri > Randolph County > History of Randolph County, Missouri > Part 65
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To Felix G. Elsea and wife, Rachael C., have been born one son, Roy H. Elsea, born Aug. 17, 1898, who is now a student at Central Col-
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lege at Fayette, Mo. By a former marriage to Lucy M. Noble, Mr. Elsea has one son, Victor N. Elsea, born June 3, 1880. His mother died when he was a child. He married Ethel Mark, of Madison, Mo.
Mr. Elsea and his wife are representative of the best citizenship of Randolph County.
John R. Campbell, a well known resident of Cairo township, who has lived there three-quarters of a century, was born three miles northwest of the townsite Nov. 30, 1845. He is descended from a pioneer family of Kentucky and this state. His parents were Samuel R. and Eliza (Darby) Campbell. Samuel R. Campbell was born in Lincoln County, Ky .. in 1809. He remained in his native state until 1832, when he came to Missouri, locating in Pike County; the next year he entered land in Randolph County in Cairo township, the farm where his son, John R., was born. Samuel R. Campbell died in the fall of 1877, at nearly 70 years of age, and was buried in Union Church Cemetery. His wife died in 1882. Besides John L., there were the following children born to Samuel R. Campbell and wife: Susie, widow of W. Fredman Taylor, of Moberly ; Euphemia and C. D., deceased; Mrs. Emily Boney, and Mrs. Mary H. McKinney, both deceased, and George, who was killed on March 7, 1862, at the battle of Pea Ridge, Ark.
John R. Campbell was reared in Cairo township, on the home farm, and as there was no public school system established in Missouri at that time received his education in the subscription schools. He also attended the Sherwood school, which was located on the Sherwood farm, a log house, furnished with split log benches. When his schooling was over Mr. Campbell engaged in farming, a vocation which he had learned as a boy on his home place.
On Aug. 7. 1870, John R. Campbell was married to Miss Mary Boney, the daughter of James T. and Elizabeth (Carr) Boney, a sketch of whom appears in this volume. She was born on the Boney homestead, a quarter of a mile west of her present home, Jan. 5, 1851, reared there and educated in the district schools, and attended McGee College, in Macon County. Mr. and Mrs. Campbell moved onto their present farm in March, 1871, and have lived there ever since. In August, 1920, they will celebrate their golden wedding anniversary.
The Campbell farm consists of 317 acres, all under cultivation and well improved. The first house, built in 1871, is still standing and is in "good repair, but has been enlarged and remodeled, and is one of the good
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farm homes of this section. Mr. Campbell has been engaged in general farming, raises Shorthorn cattle, keeping a registered male at the head of his herd and conducts a dairy business. He says that for more than 34 years, he sold milk and butter in Moberly and used an old-fashioned tread mill churn to make the butter. It is operated by two or three sheep, which he found more satisfactory than a gas engine.
To Mr. and Mrs. Campbell have been born four children: Logan, deceased, was attending a medical college in St. Louis, and lacked but four weeks of graduating at the time of his death in 1893; Claudia, de- ceased; Ida May, the wife of Rec. G. L. Coffman, a Southern Methodist minister of Pilot Grove, Mo .; and Roy J., who lives on a farm adjoining his father's home place. He married Miss Neta Knause, a granddaugh- ter of Valentine Rollins, a pioneer of Cairo township, and to them have been born the following children: Allen Campbell, deceased; Mary Maud ; Delmar Lee; Logan Oliver Coffman; Gladys Marie; Charles Logan, de- ceased; and Pearl Campbell. Gladys and Pearl are both attending high school at Moberly.
Mr. Campbell's grandfather, John Darby, was born in Dublin, Ire- land, and educated there. After coming to America he became one of the instructors of Henry Clay, as the latter made his home with Mr. Darby when attending school. Mr. Darby was a public surveyor and while out on a surveying trip, took sick and died. Joseph Darby, Mr. Campbell's uncle, was the first person buried at Union Cemetery, Cairo township, his burial occuring Dec. 25, 1858, and the second person laid to rest there was Susanna Darby Fily, who died in 1859. She was Mr. Campbell's grandmother.
Mr. Campbell and his wife and W. L. Landram and his wife, a sketch of whom appears in this volume, are the only families now living on the Macon-Moberly road who were here in 1871, and they had many interesting experiences in the early pioneer days in this section of the state.
Roy Nichols, of Moberly, has been identified with the business in- terests of this city for the past 13 years and is one of the progressive citizens of this city of the younger generation. He was born in Audrain County, Mo., Dec. 5, 1889, and is a son of J. D. and Cora Bell (Scrutch- field) Nichols, who now reside at 511 Johnson street, Moberly. J. D. Nichols, was born in Randolph County, March 5, 1852, and his parents were early settlers here. His wife is also a native of Randolph County and was born Nov. 4, 1862.
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J. D. Nichols came to Moberly in 1893, and in 1907 he engaged in the grocery business at 1209 Quinn street, and successfully conducted this business until November, 1919, when he sold it to H. A. Norfolk, who carries on the business there at the present time. To J. D. and Cora Bell (Scrutchfield) Nichols have been born three children, as follows: Opal. married T. O. Walker, of Moberly; Ruby, resides at home with her parents and Roy, the subject of this sketch.
Roy Nichols was educated in the public schools of Moberly and at- tended the Moberly High Schools. Later he took a course in the Webber Business College at Moberly. For a number of years he was engaged in the grocery business with his father and since Mr. Norfolk purchased the business he has been with him.
Roy Nichols was united in marriage Aug. 17, 1911. to Miss Della Graves, of Moberly. She is a daughter of Robert and Lora Graves, both of whom were born and reared in Randolph County. The father is now deceased and Mrs. Graves lives at 1201 Henry street, Moberly. To Mr. and Mrs. Nichols have been born one daughter, Mildred Catherine. The Nichols family reside at 1112 Quinn street and Mr. Nichols has re- sided on this one street for 25 years. He has a large acquaintance and stands high in the community.
George Staebler, a well known and popular conductor on the Wabash railroad who resides in Moberly, has been engaged in railroading all his life and for the past 17 years has been an employee of the Wabash Railroad Company, and during that time has been a resident of Mo- berly. Mr. Staebler was born in Ottumwa, Iowa, March 27, 1886. His parents were Robert and Catherine (Guinea Staebler, who both died and left George and his brother, Harry E., orphans, at a very early age. They were reared by their grandmother, Mrs. Sarah Ann Staebler, of New London, Iowa.
George Staebler was educated in the public schools of New London, Iowa, and at the age of 14 years he entered the employ of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad Company and for two years later he worked for the Rock Island Railroad Company for two months. He then entered the employ of the Wabash Railroad Company, and in 1903 came to Moberly, which has since been his home. He has been in the passen-
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ger service for a number of years and now runs a train between Moberly and St. Louis. He is a thoroughly experienced railroad man and has a good record to his credit.
Mr. Staebler was united in marriage Oct. 21, 1908, to Miss Harriet A. Schoen, of Des Moines, Iowa. She is a daughter of Julius and Louis (Kunkel) Schoen. Her father is a retired merchant now residing in that city. Mrs. Staebler is one of four children born to her parents, the others being as follow: Henry A., an automobile dealer, Des Moines, Iowa; William, an electrician, Des Moines, Iowa, and Agnes Louise, married Charles L. Taylor, Des Moines, Iowa.
Mr. Staebler is a member of the Order of Railway Conductors. He is one of the well known and highly respected citizens of Moberly and he and Mrs. Staebler stand high in the community. Their residence is at 407 South Williams street.
John P. Mize, assistant chief of police of Moberly, Mo., is one of the well known, popular and efficient officers of the Moberly police de- partment and has to his credit ten years of devotion to duty in this city. Mr. Mize is a native of Kentucky. He was born in Logan County, Ky., Jan. 25, 1888, and is a son of John R. and Olive (Herndon) Mize, both also natives of Logan County, Ky.
John R. Mize served in the Confederate army during the Civil War under General Morgan and was with that celebrated Confederate leader when he was captured by the Union forces. He was captured at the same time that General Morgan was and was confined in the same Fed- eral military prison with him. After the war, John R. Mize returned to his home in Kentucky where he spent the remainder of his life. He died at Epley, Ky., in 1892, and his remains are buried there. His widow still survives him and resides at Cave Spring, Logan County, Ky.
John R. and Olive (Herndon) Mize were the parents of the follow- ing children: Anna, married Frank Warder, Cave Spring, Ky .; Lena, married Noah Hall, Cave Spring, Ky .; Marvin, was accidently killed at the age of 18 years, on Feb. 2, 1900, on the Louisville and Nashville rail- road in Kentucky; Charles, Cave Spring, Ky .; Robert, Auburn, Ky .; Albert, Cave Spring, Ky .; and John P., the subject of this sketch.
John P. Mize was reared in Kentucky and was educated at Cave Spring, Ky. He began his career in the capacity of brakeman on the Louisville and Nashville railroad. In 1910, he came to Moberly and entered the employ of the Wabash Railroad Company, as brakeman, and
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three years later he was appointed a member of the Moberly police force and in 1915, he was promoted to assistant chief of police and has since served in that capacity, and has won a well merited reputation of being one of the capable and fearless officers of the Moberly police force.
Mr. Mize was united in marriage June 22, 1914, to Miss Gertrude Chandler, of Moberly. She is a daughter of Gus and Lena (McCanne) Chandler, of Moberly. To Mr. and Mrs. Mize have been born a daugh- ter, Ruth Elizabeth.
Mr. Mize is a member of the Masonic Lodge, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Modern Woodmen of America, Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
Duff G. Phillips, of Moberly, assistant claim agent for the Moberly and Western Division of the Wabash railroad and a veteran of the World War, is a native of Kansas. He was born at Tonganoxie, Kan., Aug. 11, 1871, and is a son of C. W. and Rose (McMurty) Phillips, both natives of Indiana and now residents of Lawrence, Kan.
C. W. Phillips is a Union veteran of the Civil War. He enlisted in Indiana, becoming a member of Company I, 39th Indiana Infantry, and served in the army four years. After the close of the war, he returned to his home in Hamilton County, Indiana, where he was married and shortly afterwards went to Kansas and settled in Leavenworth County. He resided there for a number of years before moving to Lawrence, where he now resides. The following children were born to C. W. and Rose (McMurty) Phillips: Duff G., the subject of this sketch; O. C., an attorney in Kansas City, Mo .; C. M., a special agent for the Missouri Pacific Railroad Company, Kansas City, Mo .; Mary, married George Dews, Lawrence, Kan .; Florence, married Robert Hicks, a live stock commission- man, St. Joseph, Mo .; Alta Phillips, who is advance agent for a Chau- tauqua company, Lawrence, Kan., and Nettie, married Charles Spray, Lawrence, Kan.
Duff G. Phillip's was educated in the public schools and after attend- ing Tonganoxia Academy, he entered the Kansas University, Lawrence, Kan., and was graduated from the art department in the class of 1898. He then entered the law department and was graduated in 1900. He was admitted to the bar and practiced law in Kansas City, Mo., for three years and afterwards engaged in railroading and for seven years fired a locomotive on the Wabash railroad out of Moberly. He practiced law in Moberly for four years and for the past six years has been claim
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agent with the Wabash Railroad Company with the exception of the time when he served in the army. July 1, 1920, he became superintendent of safety for the Wabash Railroad Company, with headquarters at St. Louis, Mo.
Aug. 27, 1917, Mr. Phillips entered the officers training school at Fort Sheridan, Ill., and was commissioned first lieutenant Nov. 27, 1917. He was assigned to the. 60th United States Infantry at Camp Green, N. C., and remained with this regiment throughout its career in the World War. He went overseas with his regiment in April, 1918, as a part of the 5th Division, also known as the Red Diamond Division. This division was used on the defensive sectors of the western front until September, 1918, when it took part in the St. Mihiel drive and went over the top Sept. 11, 1918, and was in the Argonne drive on the front line when the armistice was signed Nov. 11, 1918. Mr. Phillips was promoted to captain while on the Argonne drive and was made adjutant of his regiment. Immediately after the armistice he was made captain of the Headquarters Company and was stationed at Esch Luxemberg until July, 1919, when he returned to the United States and was mustered out of service at Camp Taylor, Ky., July 29, 1919, after having served nearly two years. Captain Phillips was offered a permanent commission as captain in the regular army, but declined to accept.
On Aug. 19, 1897, Duff G. Phillips was married to Lucy B. Steele, of Oak Grove, Mo. She is a daughter of Samuel and Catherine Steele, early settlers in Jackson County, Mo. The father died in 1898, and the mother in 1899. Their remains are buried at Oak Grove, Mo. To Captain and Mrs. Phillips has been born three children: Stanley, a stu- dent in Missouri Wesleyan College at Cameron, Mo .; Norton, a member of the senior class of the Moberly High School, and Homer, attending the grade schools of Moberly.
Captain Phillips is a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and is a 32nd degree Mason, and also holds membership in the Moberly Chamber of Commerce.
John N. Taylor, wholesale and retail dealer in pianos and automo- biles of Columbia, is one of the leading business men of this section of Missouri, where he has built up a fine business and is one of the oldest merchants of this section of the state. He has been in business in Mis- souri for more than a half century. He was born in Pennsylvania and reared and educated there until 15 years of age when he came west,
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first to Iowa, where he remained five years and during that time married and moved to Huntsville, Mo.
In 1870, Mr. Taylor entered business at Huntsville, Mo., first as a fine cabinet maker, a trade in which his skill placed him as a master work- man. This line developed to such an extent that he began to carry a stock of furniture and pianos and developed into a considerable estab- lishment. Mr. Taylor was successful from the start and became recog- nized as one of the leading businessmen of the town, where he conducted his store until the fall of 1909. That year he moved to Columbia to take advantage of the excellent educational facilities afforded there for the education of his children.
Within a short time, Mr. Taylor established the main office of his business in Columbia with branches at Huntsville, Brookfield, Moberly and Macon. His business has increased materially within the last decade and he is now one of the large and successful merchants of this sec- tion. Under the excellent management of Paul S. Witten, Mr. Taylor has been able to devote his time and energies to the enlargement of his house which is the pride of the city of Columbia and enjoys the patronage of the best citizens and the public. A full line of musical instruments is carried in stock, phonographs and a special service is maintained in rec- ords. No man has achieved a greater independent success in commercial life than Mr. Taylor, whose vision from the start has led him to take the right course aided by his personal supervision of all detail and his enthusiasm, all of which combined for a prosperous career.
Mr. Taylor for the last 15 years has dealt largely in automobiles and is now the largest dealer in Boone and Randolph counties. Mr Taylor lived at Huntsville, Randolph County, Mo., from 1870 to 1909, or' 39 years.
In the fall of 1870, Mr. Taylor was married to Miss Lida Straup, who died in 1886, after becoming the mother of four children. In 1889, Mr. Taylor was married to Miss Elizabeth Reed, and to this union two daughters and 5 sons were born. Elizabeth Reed Taylor was the daugh- ter of Captain Thomas B. Reed and his wife, residents of Huntsville, where he was a lawyer of recognized ability and worth. Mrs. Taylor has inherited many of the traits of her parents and is one of the repre- sentative women of the cultured city of Columbia.
The Taylor family is one of the representative and progressive ones in Boone County, where they expect to make their permanent home.
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HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY
Charles F. Crist, a well-known insurance man of Randolph County, who is the representative of the International Life Insurance Company of St. Louis, is a member of one of the pioneer families of this sec- tion of the state. He was born in Chariton township, Randolph County, Aug. 9, 1875, and is a son of Joseph and Nancy R. (Merrick) Crist. The mother now resides on the home farm in Chariton township, which has been her home since 1874.
Joseph Crist was a native of Ohio and served in the Union army during the Civil War with an Ohio infantry regiment. He served for four years and took part in many important battles and minor engage- ments, including the battle of Shiloh. Following the close of the war he engaged in the mercantile business in Ohio and later was in the gen- eral commission business in Chicago, Ill. Later he came to Missouri and located in Chariton township, Randolph County, where he was suc- cessfully engaged in farming and stock raising until the time of his death at the age of 52 years. He was prominent in the work of the Farmers Alliance and was purchasing agent for that organization for some years.
Owen Crist, father of Joseph Crist, came to Missouri about the same time that Joseph Crist came here. He was a mechanic and worked at his trade at College Mound and Darksville. He lived to be 75 years of age. His remains are buried in Hickory Grove Cemetery and Joseph Crist is buried at the same place.
The following children were born to Joseph and Nancy R. Crist: Lawrence L., who resides on a part of the old homestead in Chariton township; William O., a farmer and stockman in Chariton township; Charles F., the subject of this sketch, and Noah P., who is engaged in the grocery business at Huntsville, Mo.
Charles F. Crist was educated in the public schools of Randolph County and the Stanbury Normal School. He then was engaged in farm- ing for three years on the home place when he entered the employ of the Farmers and Merchants Bank at Huntsville. Six months later, he went with J. M. Hammett Banking Company, of Huntsville, and for 19 years was cashier of that well-known institution. In 1918, he resigned his position there and became the representative of the International Life Insurance Company, to which he has since devoted his attention, and has met with marked success. Mr. Crist located at Moberly in January, 1920.
Dec. 31. 1896, Mr. Christ was united in marriage with Elzada Terry, of Chariton township. She is a daughter of William Y. and Anna
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M. (Jackson) Terry, both of whom are now deceased. They were very early pioneer settlers in Chariton township. To Charles F. Crist and wife have been born three children: Joseph W., Charles and Louanna.
Joseph W. Crist is also engaged in the fire insurance business and is state special agent for the Fidelity Phenix Fire Insurance Company of New York. He was educated in the public schools of Huntsville and was graduated from the Huntsville High School in the class of 1916, and was a student in the University of Missouri at Columbia for two years and then attended the Gem City Business College, at Quincy, Ill. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias Lodge at Huntsville, Mo., the Benevo- lent and Protective Order of Elks of Moberly and is one of the capable and progressive young men of Randolph County.
Charles F. Crist is a member of the Masonic Lodge at Huntsville, and is well known as one of the substantial citizens of this county.
Henry W. Owen, a retired merchant of Moberly, belongs to one of the pioneer families of Missouri. He was born in Sugar Creek township, May 15, 1860, the son of Eli and Mary Jane (Grimes, Morgan) Owen. Eli Owen was born in Kentucky, in 1819, and died in 1892. He came west and took up land where he farmed and also became one of the first dairymen of Moberly. Twenty-five acres of this homestead has been platted as part of East Moberly and Henry W. Owens still owns seven acres of this original tract.
Eli Owen was a prominent member of the Masonic Lodge, being a charter member of the Moberly lodge and a Knights Templar. Mary Jane Grimes (Morgan) Owen was born in West Virginia and died here in 1904, aged 82 years. Her father, Henry Grimes, came west at an early day, from West Virginia, driving a prairie schooner and a fine old carriage. Mr. Grimes took up land just east of the present site of Moberly when Indians were frequent callers, and as they wished to avoid the Redskins, followed a dog out of the house, as the animal disliked Indians and always gave the alarm when any were in the vicinity.
The following children were born to Eli and Mary Owen: Henry, of this review; Minnie, the wife of A. D. Gross, of Macon. To a former marriage of Eli Owen to Amanda Baker, the following children were born: T. D., of Vernon County, Tex .; Nancy, the wife of Ezekiel Par- rish, and Emily, the widow of William Meals, of Moberly. By a former marriage Mary Grimes Morgan had two children: J. G. Morgan, of Atlanta, Mo., and L. M. Morgan, deceased.
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Henry W. Owen attended the public schools of Sugar Creek town- ship and the schools of Moberly. He was engaged in teaming for a year when he went to work for the Wabash railroad in the bridge and build- ing department, where he remained 22 years, but resigned to engage in business for himself when he bought an interest in the grocery business with J. W. Thackston, in 1905, and continued in that line 14 years. In 1919 the partners sold out. He owns a fine brick residence at 537 Union avenue, built in 1911, and has an interest in the store building where he and his partner operated the grocery.
Feb. 20, 1881, Mr. Owen was married to Miss Ella Spires, who died in 1897. The following children were born to them: Albert J., deceased ; Arthur H., connected with the Wabash railroad; H. W. Owens, married Miss Lena Menefee, of Moberly; they have no children; she has five brothers and sisters; Shirley, of Woodville, Mo .; J. R., of Cherry, Neb .; M. B., of Houston, Tex .; Grace, the wife of E. P. Bales, of Kansas City, and Mattie, the wife of Iva Cole, of New Columbia, Mo., deceased.
When the Grimes family located here Hannibal, Mo., was the near- est trading point and the bacon which the farmers had to sell was loaded on a wagon and taken to Hannibal, where it was exchanged for supplies. Mr. Owen tells that as a boy he remembers that matches, 12 in a box, were worth 10 cents a box.
Chester L. Rentchler, a prosperous farmer and stockman of Clifton township, whose farm is situated about two and one-half miles north of Clifton Hill, is a native of Illinois. He was born near Bellville, St. Clair County, July 2, 1863, and is a son of Benjamin F. and Marie (Griffin) Rentchler. They were the parents of the following children : Chester L., the subject of this sketch; Edgar C., St. Louis, Mo .; and Albert G., St. Louis, Mo. The father died near Bellville, Ill., in 1868, and the mother was afterwards married to William D. Howard, and the following children were born to that union: May, Lebanon, Ill .; Joseph, East St. Louis, Ill .; Mrs. Carrie I. Stark, Lebanon, Ill., and Roy, Lebanon. The mother now resides at Lebanon, Ill., and is 81 years of age.
Chester L. Rentchler was reared in Illinois and educated in the public schools. He has made farming and stock raising his occupation since early manhood. In 1893, he came to Randolph County and bought 160 acres which constitutes his home place. He has made many improve- ments and keeps his place in an excellent state of cultivation. He has
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