USA > Missouri > Randolph County > History of Randolph County, Missouri > Part 71
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Humphrey B. and Margaret E. (Snoddy) Denny were the parents of the following children: Narcissa F., married David Bagby and is now deceased; James M., Armstrong, Mo .; David R., the subject of this sketch ; Nannie, married Ruby Humes, Howard County; Elizabeth, Silver Creek township; John A., Armstrong, Mo .; Humphrey, Jr., lives in Randolph County ; Maggie, married Charles Mayo, Silver Creek township, and Maurine, married Russell Hicks, of Randolph County.
David R. Denny was reared in Silver Creek township and educated in the district schools. He remained at home and assisted his father on the farm during the lifetime of the latter and when his father died he bought the home place. This farm consists of 408 acres and is well im- proved with a good residence and other farm buildings. Mr. Denny car-
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ries on general farming and stock raising and is recognized as one of the leading citizens of Randolph County. He maintained the home and cared for his mother in her old age and has never married. He has been a life long Democrat.
Oather A. Skinner, a progressive farmer and stockman and also a breeder of Hereford cattle in Cairo township, was born in Sugar Creek township, Randolph County, Dec. 26, 1867. He is a son of Greenberry and Nancy C. (Wagaman) Skinner.
Greenberry Skinner was born in Sugar Creek township, Randolph County in 1843. He has always followed farming and stockraising during his active career and is now living retired at Cairo. He has lived in Ran- dolph County all of his life except 12 years spent in Macon County and southwestern Missouri. He owns 120 acres of land in Macon County where he lived for six years when he sold the place when he went to south- western Missouri and bought 160 acres which he sold and returned to Randolph County and in 1889 bought 100 acres in Salt River township. Later he sold that place and removed to Cairo and is now living retired. During the Civil War he served in the state militia.
Nancy C. (Wagaman) Skinner was born in Carroll County, Mo. in 1843 and was married in that county to Mr. Skinner in 1865. The following children were born to them: Lena, married W. M. Austin and lives in Cairo township; Oather. the subject of this sketch; Tommie F., Sugar Creek township; Belle, married Jim Haley, Hannibal, Mo .; Ada, married Frank Condon, Cairo township; Lula, married Tom Capp, Hannibal, Mo .; Sarah, married Alf Capp, Hannibal, Mo. and Bessie, married Irvin Ray, Jacksonville, Mo.
Oather A. Skinner was educated in the district schools and remained on the home farm until he was 21 years old. He then worked out by the month and also rented land at times. In 1895 he bought 43 acres of land in Salt River township. He improved that place and sold it and in the spring of 1900 bought his present place in Cairo township. He owns 105 acres upon which he has made good substantial improvements. He built a modern seven room house in 1916 and in 1910 built a barn 36x36 feet. He is engaged in general farming and stock raising and in 1914 he began breeding pure bred registered Hereford cattle and now has a valuable herd of ten pure bred registered Herefords.
Mr. Skinner was married Jan. 31, 1900 to Miss Clelia Rodgers a daughter of Slate and Emma (Jett) Rodgers, both natives of Tennessee
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and now deceased. Mrs. Skinner was born in Cairo township, Jan. 24, 1873 and is the second of four children born to her parents. The follow- ing children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Skinner: Rodger, born Dec. 30, 1900 and resides at home with his parents; Floy, born April 20, 1902; Oleta, born July 22, 1905; Erma; born June 17, 1909; Ruby, born Nov. 26, 1911, all of whom reside at home with their parents.
Mr. Skinner and his wife are members of the Baptist church and he is a Democrat.
Swan T. McDonald, of the Lynch-McDonald Construction Company which is one of the leading construction companies in this section of the state, is a civil engineer who has had an extensive experience in construc- tion work. This construction business was founded by John E. Lynch and carried on by him for a number of years. In 1916, John Lynch, Jr. and Swan T. McDonald succeeded the Lynch Construction Company and since that time has successfully carried on the work. Later they pur- chased the Pan American Bridge Company's interest in Missouri and represent that Company in this state. M. A. Romane is associated with them in this department. The Lynch-McDonald Construction Company do all kinds of structural steel work, including bridges and buildings. While street paving and sewer work is a specialty; they also are exten- sive contractors of concrete work.
Swan T. McDonald was born in Moberly, Nov. 11, 1880 and is a son of P. T. and Alice (Ferguson) McDonald, now residents of Moberly. P. T. McDonald came to Moberly in 1873 and is now engaged in the transfer and storage business. His wife came here prior to her marriage in 1872 and they were married in Moberly Dec. 5, 1878. The following children were born to that union: Swan T., the subject of this sketch; Lyman P., general foreman of the machine department of the Wabash shops; A. Bruce, who is associated with his father in the transfer and storage busi- ness ; Ray F., a salesman in the employ of the John N. Taylor Piano and Auto Company and he was engaged in the grocery business prior to the World War and served one year in France with the 89th Division and spent 100 days in the front line trenches; Eula Mae, married George Pen- nick, fireman for the Wabash Railroad Company, Moberly, Mo .; Gladys, bookkeeper for her father; Arthur F., an employee of the People's Laun- dry, Moberly. Mo.
Swan T. McDonald was educated in the Moberly public schools and graduated from the high school in 1898. He then took up civil engineering
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and was with the engineering department with the Wabash Railroad Com- pany and was chief engineer of the Randolph Macon Coal Company until 1907. He was then appointed city engineer of Moberly and served in that capacity for nine years and during that time was county engineer and county surveyor for eight years, and in 1916 engaged in his present busi- ness. Mr. McDonald was married June 2, 1909 to Miss Margaret E. Pilcher of Moberly and two children have been born to this union: Swan T., Jr. and Mary Alice.
Mr. McDonald is a Knight Templar Mason and a member of the Order of the Eastern Star and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
Edward W. Ragsdale, proprietor of the White Way Grocery and the Snow White Market of Moberly is one of the widely known and successful business men of this city which has been the scene of his interests since he attained manhood. Mr. Ragsdale was born in Moberly, March 29, 1872, and is a son of James W. and Ruth F. (Williams) Ragsdale, early settlers in Moberly and where the father was engaged in business. He died July 11, 1919 at the close of an honorable career and his remains are buried in Oakland cemetery. His widow now resides at 1202 Fisk avenue. They were the parents of the following children: Ora, died at the age of six years; Lee, also died in childhood; Maude, married J. C. Wilson and re- sides in Los Angeles, Cal .; and Edward W., the subject of this sketch.
Edward W. Ragsdale was educated in the public schools of Moberly and when 17 years of age was appointed deputy under Thomas C. Dam- eron. Later he was appointed on the Moberly police force and served for four years, two years under Chief William Fox and two years under Chief Charles L. Quaile, both of whom are now deceased. The author of this history was mayor of Moberly at the time. Later, Mr. Ragsdale was in the employ of the Wabash Railroad as brakeman and in 1903 he engaged in the coal and wood business in Moberly and later embarked in the meat and grocery business, being associated with his father until the death of the latter.
The White Way Grocery and the Snow White Meat Market which are owned and conducted by Mr. Ragsdale are extensively patronized and both are kept constantly stocked with a line of high grade goods and are among the leading business institutions of their kinds in the city.
Mr. Ragsdale, in addition to being a successful merchant, is also widely known as a successful breeder of registered Duroc Jersey hogs. He owns a valuable place of 15 acres within the city limits of Moberly and has this
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place arranged in the most modern fashion for breeding purposes. His herd consists of about 100 head of registered Duroc Jerseys and his herd leader is "The Greatest Pathfinder" which is one of the valuable hogs of the country and was purchased by Mr. Ragsdale from the celebrated herd of Hanks and Bishop of New London, Iowa. Mr. Ragsdale holds annual sales and at the last one conducted by Col. F. M. Holtsinger, Feb. 17, 1920, there were 58 hogs sold by the Randolph County Duroc Association of which Mr. Ragsdale is vice-president. He was one of the promoters of the organization of this association which was effected in 1919.
Mr. Ragsdale was married May 16, 1906 to Miss Hattie Josephine Cook of Moberly, a daughter of Free Cook, who now resides at Hayden, Colo. Mrs. Ragsdale's mother is deceased.
Mr. Ragsdale is a member of the Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen and the Knights of the Maccabees and Moberly Chamber of Commerce.
William H. Baird, superintendent of the Moberly Water Works, is a well known citizen of Moberly and a member of one of the pioneer families of Randolph County. Mr. Baird was born in Clinton County, Pa., Sept. 7, 1862 and is a son of J. C. and Almina (Milligan) Baird both also natives of Clinton County, Pa. The Baird family came to Missouri in 1866 when William H., the subject of this sketch, was four years of age. They set- tled on a farm two and one-half miles northwest of Moberly which was the family home until 1895 when they removed to Moberly where the par- ents both died and their remains are buried in Oakland cemetery.
The children born to J. C. and Almina (Milligan) Baird were as fol- lows: Mrs. Frank Tedford, Moberly, Mo .; Frank P., Sedalia, Mo .; Fletcher C., died in St. Louis in 1910; Mrs. R. A. Curran, Moberly, Mo .; William H., the subject of this review; Mrs. C. H. Williams, who lives in Texas ; J. W., Moberly, Mo .; Mrs. Charles Brown, Brownsville, Texas and Dr. B. D., Galesburg, Ill.
When the Baird family settled in Randolph County, in 1866, the city of Moberly was not even a village and William H. Baird remembers when there was only one house on the present site of the city of Moberly and that was the home of Patrick Lynch, the father of John E. Lynch of this city. William H. Baird was reared on the Baird homestead, northeast of Moberly and attended the district schools. He remained at home with his parents until he was 22 years of age when he engaged in railroading in the employ of the Wabash Railroad Company and later was employed in the freight department of the Wabash and Katy railroads for several years.
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He then engaged in the grocery business in partnership with his brother- in-law, Mr. Curran.
Mr. Baird was married to Miss Lizzie Clark, a daughter of Benton and Lella (Sallee) Clark of Moberly, both of whom are deceased. The Clark family was very early settlers in Moberly. To Mr. and Mrs. Baird have been born two children: Fletcher C., in the employ of the Wabash Railroad Company, as city passenger and ticket agent at Kansas City, Mo., married Miss Dorothy Schroeder of Omaha, Neb. and Frank B., of Washington, D. C. He is a first lieutenant in the Quarter Master's Department of the United States army, having received his commission at Fort Sheridan, Ill. He was assigned to the 342nd Infantry and served for two years in France during the World War.
William H. Baird is well known in Moberly and is one of the substan- tial citizens of Randolph County.
F. M. Stamper, a leading commission merchant of Moberly who has been engaged in this line of business for more than a quarter of a century, was born at Clifton Hill, Mo., Nov. 24, 1861. He is a son of Hiram and Sallie (Cobb) Stamper.
Hiram Stamper was born in Owen County, Ky. and came to Missouri in the early 40s, locating on a farm at Clifton Hill, where he passed the remainder of his life. He died at the age of 78. His wife died at the age of 76. They were the parents of nine children: D. J., deceased; T. B., deceased ; Eliza, married E. Martin, is deceased; James L., deceased ; Eliza- beth, married T. N. Grizzell and after his death married again and is now Mrs. Y. Scott, of Clifton Hill; F. M., the subject of this review; Lucian, married Samuel Cobb of Clifton Hill.
F. M. Stamper was reared in Clifton Hill, attended the public schools and then entered the State Normal School at Kirksville. He then engaged in teaching in Randolph County and became well and favorably known in this section of Missouri and was a successful teacher. He followed that vocation for ten years. He then purchased a lumber yard and hardware store at Clifton Hill, which he owned and managed until he engaged in the produce business. Mr. Stamper opened his produce house in Clifton Hill in 1893, became a buyer of poultry, butter and eggs and four years later opened a branch store at Salisbury and still maintains his interest there. For one year, Mr. Stamper was in Salisbury as manager of that branch and came to Moberly in 1902 to open his business here which was located in 4th street, but within a short time he was made an excellent
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.
offer and sold out to Swift & Company, accepting a position with that con- cern for two years. He then resigned to start a business for himself in the east side at his present location at the corner of Dameron and 4th streets. As money came in Mr. Stamper reinvested it in the business and branched out establishing plants at Carrolton, Marshall, Fayette and Cen- tralia, where butter, eggs and dressed poultry are all handled. He estab- lished artificial cooling rooms in connection with the plants and they are in every way well equipped with the best machinery for handling goods. In Moberly, a creamery has been established as a branch of the business and high grade butter is manufactured here.
'On July 15, 1888, Mr. Stamper was married to Miss Maggie Richard- son, of Chariton County. She is a daughter of Haven and Elizabeth (Cloyd) Richardson, pioneers of Chariton County, both now deceased. Three children were born to this union: Howard H., Moberly; Ruth, the wife of J. W. Flemming, of Moberly and Kate who graduated from the Columbia University, New York City with the class of 1919. The Stamper family have a nice home at Urbandale, a suburb of Moberly.
Mr. Stamper is one of the pioneer commission merchants of central Missouri and recalls that the first car load of dressed poultry he shipped to Chicago market brought just four cents a pound, eggs five cents a dozen and other produce in proportion. He has seen great changes in his busi- ness and he believes they are for the best.
Alfred Barlow, of the firm of Barlow and Graham, who own and man- age a fine up-to-date shoe repairing shop at 527 West Reed street, was born in Massachusetts in 1849. He is a son of John and Rebecca (Black) Bar- low, the father a native of Ireland and the mother was born in Scotland. They were reared and educated in their native lands and after coming to the United States settled in Massachusetts and later came west, locating at Shawneetown, Ill.
Alfred Barlow spent his youth at Shawneetown and attended the pub- lic schools in Illinois. While yet a small boy, Alfred Barlow began to learn the shoemaker's trade and by the time he was finishing school he was a good shoemaker and this is a business he has followed for the greater part of his 60 years. From Illinois, Mr. Barlow went to St. Louis, arriving in that city June 8, 1875 and took a position in a shoe factory. For about 12 years he was employed in various shoe factories in the city and when the United States declared war against Germany in 1917. he offered his services to the government, was accepted and assigned to work as shoe
.
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inspector May 13, 1917. First located at Brookfield, Mo., Mr. Barlow re- mained there until the last two months. before the signing of the armis- tice, when he was transferred to Columbia, Mo. After the cessation of hostilities he was free to go into business for himself and came to Moberly. He soon purchased the necessary up-to-date equipment and machinery and opened for business April 1, 1919. From the first, the new firm met with a warm response from the residents of the city. The business has in- creased rapidly and they employ three workmen.
On May 2, 1865, Mr. Barlow was married to Miss Mary E. Brinkley, a native of St. Louis, who died in 1906, leaving one daughter Eva, the wife of Knight Washburn of Los Angeles, Calif. Mr. Washburn is a mine in- spector for a company with headquarters at Jerome, Ariz.
Mr. Barlow is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, having joined that organization in 1880 and has passed all of the chairs twice.
Carl Haynes, county surveyor of Randolph County and city engineer of Moberly, was born in Cairo township, Oct. 3, 1880 and is numbered among the younger generation of professional men of central Missouri. His parents were the Rev. F. E. and Pamelia Agnes (Wilson) Haynes, both natives of Randolph County. The father was born on the same farm as his son Carl. in July, 1856 and Carl now operates the old homestead which his paternal grandparents Rev. Levi and Rebecca (Orr) Haynes settled on in the early fifties. Levi Haynes was born in North Carolina, but traced his forbears to Wales. Rebecca Orr was a native of Tennessee, where she was reared and educated. Levi Haynes became one of the early settlers of central Missouri and bought the homestead still owned by the family from John Maxwell and lived there the remainder of his life. He lived to be 92 years old and is buried at Grand Prairie cemetery. During his life, Levi Haynes was a minister of the Presbyterian church and was one of the first ministers of the gospel in this part of the state.
F. E. Haynes was reared on his father's farm in Cairo township, re- ceived his education in the early schools and studied for the ministry, a vocation which he followed for 30 years. His wife, Pamelia Wilson, was born three miles north of Moberly in Sugar Creek township in 1885 and was a daughter of Benjamin Wilson, an early settler here. There were 10 children in the Haynes family: Eula, the wife of James Dowdy, of Moberly ; Dora, who married Elmer Turner of Cairo, Mo .; Carl, of this review; Frank of Moberly; Minnie, the wife of D. C. Jean, of Moberly ;
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Fred, of St. Louis ; Lee, who lives at Moulton, Ia .; Opal, the wife of Charles Rutherford, of Moberly; Ray, of Cairo; and Jewell, the wife of A. E. Skin- ner of Cairo.
Carl Haynes spent his boyhood on his father's farm, attended the Haynes school and Prairie Hill Academy where he graduated in 1901. He took a position with the Santa Fe Railroad at Pueblo, Colo., where he was engaged for seven months, then was offered, and accepted a better position with the Wabash Railroad at Moberly. Three years later he resigned to engage in the transfer business in Moberly. Two years later Mr. Haynes entered the office of the county surveyor of Randolph County, an office then held by Swan McDonald and there for two years he was engaged in the duties of office and studying surveying under his chief. Following this period he was again an employee of the Wabash Railroad seven years and resigned in 1916 when he was elected county surveyor of Randolph County, a position which he has since held. Subsequently he was also elected city engineer of Moberly.
On Feb. 19, 1903, Mr. Haynes was married to Miss Carrie J. Simms, of Prairie Hill, Mo., a native of that place, born March 12, 1882. She died Feb. 7, 1920, leaving two children: Willard and Joe Kenneth.
Newton E. Hinton, a well known automobile dealer and garage owner of Moberly with sales rooms at 106 South Clark street, is a progressive business man and a descendant of pioneer settlers of central Missouri. He is a native son of Randolph County and was born near Jacksonville, Nov. 3, 1864. He is a son of Richard W. and Mary Elizabeth (Gregory) Hin- ton, both of whom now reside on Hinton avenue in Moberly. The father is in his 77th year and the mother is 70 years old. They were born, reared, educated and married in Randolph County which has been their home the greater part of their lives. James Hinton, the grandfather of Newton E. Hinton, was born in North Carolina and became an early settler of this sec- tion of the country. His wife was a Missourian. The Gregory family set- tled in Tennessee at an early day and were prominent in public affairs there for many years.
To Richard and Mary Elizabeth (Gregory) Hinton were born the fol- lowing children: Ellen, the widow of Bert Kimball, of Moberly ; Newton E., the subject of this review; Amanda J., the widow of George Brown, of Moberly ; Mary M., the wife of John Hightown, of Ardmore, Mo .; Sarah, the wife of Charles Butler, of Iowa ; Hugh, a real estate dealer in Moberly ; Dolly, the widow of Murf Davis of Huntsville; James H., of Moberly ; John
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W., of Kansas City, Mo .; Etta F., the wife of James Show, of Slater, Mo .; Elmer F., of Pontiac, Mich .; Edgar R., of Jacksonville, Mo., and one child who died in infancy.
Newton E. Hinton spent his childhood and youth in Randolph County, attended the public schools where he gained a good practical education and after his school days closed he worked in a sawmill and mastered that business and was engaged in it for a number of years. He then opened a livery stable at Ardmore, Mo., which he conducted for 13 years.
He came to Moberly in 1916, and in October of that year, purchased the garage of Thomas Williams. In April, 1919, he moved to his present location. The garage is 30x80 feet and two stories high. Mr. Hinton has an up-to-date salesroom, and carries automobile accessories and also has established a fine service station. Mr. Hinton has built up a large patron- age, not only in Moberly, but he stands high with the traveling public. Mr. Hinton also owns a half interest in a garage at Hannibal, Mo., where the Chevrolet cars are handled.
In 1880, Mr. Hinton was married to Miss Minnie Gibson, of College Mound, Mo., and they have six children: Evert, who is with the Hudson Motor Car Co. at Detroit, Mich .; Earl, who owns a garage at Huntsville, Mo .; Gladys, with the Bell Telephone Company in Moberly ; Herchel, with his father in the garage at Moberly ; Henry and Robert, both at home and attending school. Mr. Hinton is a successful business man and has a wide acquaintance. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and the Travelers Protective Association. The Hinton residence is at 521 Woodland avenue.
John W. Finn, the proprietor of Moberly's leading cafe, at 100 East Reed street, Moberly, Mo., is a native of Missouri. For a number of years he was a railroad man and it may be that his years of experience in that vocation prepared him to know just how to cater to men of the same calling, for his restaurant, just opposite the depot, is one of the popular eating houses for railroad men, as well as the general public.
Mr. Finn is a native son of Missouri, born in St. Charles County, Jan. 12, 1862, the son of John and Anna Finn, both natives of County Cork, Ireland. They were married in St. Louis where Mr. Finn was connected with the Northern Missouri Railroad, which later became a part of the Wabash system. He became associated with that corporation in 1854, one of the early employees of the road who took part in the construction of the road from St. Louis to Macon City, having charge of much of the
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important work. After resigning from the construction department, Mr. Finn became a brakeman and came to Moberly in 1873, a pioneer settler of this city. He remained associated with the railroad all during his active life. He died in 1911, having been preceded in death by his wife in 1904, and both were laid to rest in St. Mary's cemetery, Moberly. There were four children in the Finn family: Michael, who died in 1918; John, of this review; Maggie, the wife of T. F. Roden, of Kansas City, Mo.
John W. Finn came to Moberly in 1873 with his parents. He had already attended an elementary school and after the family were settled here he again attended the public school. After his school days were over he began to work on the railroad, where he was employed until 1896. Resigning his position that year, Mr. Finn engaged in a private business venture by opening a restaurant, where he built up a fine trade. Being offered a good price for the business, he sold it in 1915 and went to Okla- homa, but within a short time returned and opened his present cafe on Reed street opposite the Union depot where he enjoys the custom of the railroad men and a large part of the traveling public.
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