USA > Missouri > Randolph County > History of Randolph County, Missouri > Part 72
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In 1886, Mr. Finn was married to Miss Mary C. Borgmeyer, on the 24th of June. She is a native of St. Charles, Mo., and the daughter of John and Minnie Borgmeyer, the former now deceased, while his widow now lives in Moberly. Mrs. Finn was the only daughter and she has four brothers.
Mr. Finn is a member of the National Union and is also a member of the Knights of Father Matthew.
James Temple Stephens .- The energetic and well directed efforts of James Stephens, of Moberly, have within less than three years resulted in the building up and development of a prosperous grocery business. James Temple Stephens was born at Waterloo, Neb., Dec. 29, 1889, the son of Lewis L. Stephens.
Lewis L. Stephens was born near Middlegrove, Mo., in 1843, the son of Thomas Nelson and Mary (Swindell) Stephens, who was born in Vir- ginia in 1818 and died in 1895. The father was a native of Kenton County, Ky., born in 1808. He was reared and educated in his native state and when a young man rode through the country on horseback to Missouri in 1832 and entered government land in Monroe County, taking up a large tract. His father, William Stephens, also came here about the same time and the land patent issued to him was signed by President Andrew Jackson. Both William and Thomas Stephens spent the re-
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HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY
mainder of their lives in Monroe County, the former passing away in 1873, aged 90 years, while the son survived until 1887, and died at the age of 79 years.
There were the following children born to Thomas Nelson and Mary (Swindell) Stephens: Lewis L .; J. C., of Columbus, Mo .; James T., of Moberly; Lena, now Mrs. Bassett; Leonard, of Middlegrove; Kent K., of Paris ; Ida, now Mrs. Noel, of Kansas City.
Lewis L. Stephens was reared on his father's farm and received his education in private schools and when only 18 years of age enlisted in Monroe County in the Confederate army and served throughout the war. He was in many important skirmishes in Arkansas, Mississippi, Georgia and Alabama. He participated in many of the great battles as his com- pany fought at Lexington, Pea Ridge, Ark., Baker's Creek, Miss., Vicks- burg, Kenesaw Mountain, Atlanta and Altoona, where he was wounded. Just after the close of the war he located in Douglas County, Neb., not far from Omaha and engaged in farming and merchandising, both lines of industry being followed for 30 years. In 1895, Mr. Stephens retired from the active management of his affairs and came to Moberly to open a store, but this too he disposed of in November, 1918 and his son now has charge as owner.
Lewis L. Stephens was married in Douglas County, Neb., on Nov. 12, 1874 to Miss Harriet Concannon, a native of Indiana, the daughter of the Rev. Thomas and Rhoda (Hathaway) Conconnon, the former a minister of the Christian church and both were natives of Miami County, Ohio. One son was born to this union, James Temple, the subject of this sketch.
James Temple Stephens was reared in childhood in Nebraska and when the family came to Moberly he attended the public schools here, later going to Kansas City, Mo., where he took special studies and voice training. Following this Mr. Stephens was engaged for concert work work by the Ridpath Lyceum Circuit, winning a high reputation for his skill as a musician. In 1918, when his father decided to retire, Mr. Stephens returned to Moberly to assume charge of the business and be- ' came the owner of the store at 709 South Williams street.
On April 12. 1916, James Temple Stephens married Miss Alma Smith, the daughter of John and Emily Smith, of Moberly. Mr. Stephens is one of the young business men of Moberly who is rapidly winning a high place in the commercial circles of the city where he has taken an active
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part in civic affairs. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen and the Moberly Country Club.
A. Thiemann, senior member of the firm of A. Thiemann & Son, the leading florists of Moberly are also engaged in raising early vegetables. Their greenhouse is located at 600 East Mckinley street where they have over 6,000 square feet inclosed under glass. Mr. Thiemann came to Mob- erly from Quincy, Ill. in 1887 where he had been engaged in the cooper- age business. After coming here he was employed in the Wabash shops until he and his son, Robert W., established their present business. They built their green house in 1914, where from the first successful operations were established and they now employ eight persons to take care of the constantly increasing business.
Before inaugurating their establishment, Robert W. Thiemann went to Toledo, Ohio, where he entered the employ of one of the largest fancy vegetable growers of that state in order to learn the business from the ground up. For eight months he worked in the hothouse and gardens, then he returned to Moberly and with his father opened their present business. They specialize in vegetables, though a fine and varied florist business has also been built up, so that they can supply all the usual local demand for flowers. During the winter seasons they specialize in lettuce, early spring sees the first fancy tomatoes ready for the market and on their 10 acre tract they raise many and varied garden products under glass and in the open.
Mr. A. Thiemann was married to Miss Anna Steinkamp, a native of Quincy, Ill., and she and her husband have lived in Moberly for 45 years, two of its oldest and most esteemed residents. There were six children born to them: Anna, a teacher in the Moberly schools; Lawrence, de- ceased; Robert W., of this review; Mary, at home; Bernard, attending high school; Louise, at home and Theresa, deceased.
Robert W. Thiemann was reared in Moberly and attended the public schools. After completing his education he engaged in his present busi- ness, becoming the junior partner with his father in the A. Thiemann & Son Greenhouse. They are now conducting a rapidly growing business, each year showing an increase due to the care and attention devoted to details and the tireless energy of both father and son. They occupy a place among the prosperous and sound business concerns of the city and are now earning the well deserved rewards for the labor, capital and time devoted to the new enterprise.
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Ed A. Willott, of Moberly, has been identified with the interests of this city for 37 years and has a wide acquaintance in Moberly and Ran- ~ dolph County. Mr. Willott was born in St. Charles, Mo., in 1871, a son of Windel and Margaret (Tebo) Willott.
Windel Willott came to Moberly when this city was in its infancy and was one of the first to establish a bakery and candy factory here. It was located just back of where the Randolph Trust Company building now stands. He came here about the time the Wabash shops were built and spent the remainder of his life here. He died about 1877 and was one of the first to be buried in Oakland cemetery. His wife died in 1888 and her remains are also buried in Oakland cemetery. They were the parents of the following children: Kittie, married John McCabe, of Cheyenne, Wyo .; John, when last heard from was in New Orleans; Robert, an at- torney in New York City; Michael, a former well known business man of Moberly, who was proprietor of the Merchants Hotel, is now deceased; Louis, who was for several years a well known Moberly hotel man, is now deceased ; William, who was a boiler maker in the employ of the Wabash Railroad Company is now deceased; Emma, married Thomas Daly, a druggist of Urbanna, Ill .; Ed A., the subject of this sketch; August, pro- prietor of the Green Tree Cafe and Restaurant, Moberly, Mo. and Fannie, married George F. Morris, a Wabash engineer of Peru, Ind.
Ed A. Willott was educated in the public schools of Moberly and has made his own way in the world since he was 12 years of age. He has been interested in various business projects which he has conducted with uniform success. He ran a barber shop for 27 years and for over 10 years was engaged in the retail liquor business at 209 North Fourth street. Mr. Willott has always been an enthusiastic booster of base ball and was the owner of the base ball park and for nine years was manager of the Moberly base ball team known as the Moberly Signals. He now has in his possession two very fine portraits of that team taken in 1905 and 1907. This was one of the best base ball teams of the league to which it belonged which included Hannibal, Sedalia, Mexico, Chillicothe, Macon, Higbee, Kirksville and Glasgow. Later it was a member of the. Missouri and Illinois League.
Mr. Willott was married Dec. 27, 1892 to Miss Ida M. Malone of Moberly, a native of Madison, Mo.
Mr. Willott has always been interested in the progress and develop- ment of Moberly and Randolph County. He has served as councilman
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HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY
from the third ward. He is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the National Union and the Knights of Pythias.
Francis E. Winans manager of the F. W. Woolworth Company's store at 322-324 Reed street, Moberly, is one of the younger generation of the business men of Moberly who are winning a place for themselves in com- mercial circles. He was born at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., Oct. 15, 1895, the son of H. E. and Carrie S. (Shaw) Winans, both of whom now live at Belville, Ill. They were born in the same county in New York, were reared and educated there. H. E. Winans is now advertising manager of the Western Cartridge Company of East Alton, Ill. He formerly was in the hardware business and handled sporting goods in New York. To H. E. Winans and wife were born five children: Mildred, the wife of E. D. Phillips, of Los Angeles, Cal .; Helen, who married E. R. Cuthlow, of Belle- ville, Ill .; Alice, at home; Edna, the wife of A. S. Cole of Tulsa, Okla., and Francis E. of this sketch.
Francis E. Winans was still a young boy when his parents came west to Illinois and he was reared in Belleville, attended the public schools and graduated from the high school in 1912. He then entered the Belleville Commercial College for special courses in business. Later, he took an advertising course in the International Correspondence School. In 1914, he accepted a position with the Woolworth people at Belleville, Ill., learned their methods and then was transferred to St. Louis as assistant manager. After a period in that city he was sent to Pittsburg, Kans., as manager and from there came to Moberly, young in years but old in business experi- ence. Mr. Winans assumed charge of the Woolworth store May 1, 1919, since which time he has become recognized as an enterprising merchant with good practical ideas.
When war was declared by the United States against Germany, Mr. Winans enlisted at Fort Scott, Kans. and was assigned to the aviation corps at his request and sent to Belleville, Ill., for training, being trans- ferred from there to Utica, N. Y. to give special study to the Savage Arms Company's field guns, spending two months in this line. Following that he was sent to Dayton, Ohio, and became instructor in the aviation school there for nine months.
On March 15, 1919, Mr. Winans was married and soon after came to Moberly with his bride.
The Woolworth store in Moberly was opened August 15, 1916, under the jurisdiction of the St. Louis office and employs 10 people. Mr. Winans
HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY . 789
assumed charge three years later and under his able management it is a growing concern, doing more business each quarter.
Asa T. Burton, successful farmer and stockman and prominent in the affairs of Union township operates a farm five miles northeast of Mob- erly, is a native of Randolph County. He was born on the land where he now resides, Dec. 12. 1886. His parents were William R. and Louise (Proctor) Burton, the former a native of Randolph County, born here May 15, 1845, the son of Jolly Burton, who was born in Kentucky and came here at an early day and entered land two miles northeast of Milton. He died in Macon County and is buried there. William R., Burton bought the present farm in 1872 and engaged in farming and lived there until his death, Sept. 22, 1900, and was laid to rest in, Antioch cemetery. Louise Proctor Burton was born in Union township March 12, 1848, and now resides with her daughter, Mrs. Hayes Russ, of Moberly. There were the following children in the Burton family: Russell P., has a position with the Fleming Foundry of Moberly; Mary, the wife of Joseph Burton, of Union township; Fannie, the wife of Hayes Russ, of Moberly; Hall, deceased; Asa T., of this review; and Alice, the wife of Hubert Engle, of Cairo, Mo.
Asa T. Burton was reared on the home farm and received his edu- cation in the district school and when the school days were over engaged in farming. He soon assumed the entire management of the farm and today is regarded as one of the practical and successful farmers of the county. The old home place is still owned by Mrs. W. R. Burton who leaves its management to her son, Asa T. The place is well improved with a good residence, large barn and other buildings, including a dairy barn, as Mr. Burton keeps 13 Jersey cows and carries on a considerable dairy business, selling milk and cream in Moberly. In addition, he has 14 Shropshire sheep, good work horses and a flock of 100 Rhode Island Red chickens. Mr. Burton takes special pride, too, in his Chester White hogs, which are high grade and has met with marked success as a breeder.
On Oct. 24, 1917, Mr. Burton married Miss Mabel Hurt of Union township, the daughter of L. A. and Sarah E. (Pentin) Hurt, and two children have been born to this union: Grace Marie, born Aug. 2, 1918, died Sept. 6. 1919, and Paul L., born Feb. 20, 1920. Mrs. Burton comes from a fine old pioneer family as her grandfather, Judge P. Y. Hurt, was a pioneer settler of. Macon County, where he served as county judge for two terms.
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HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY
The Burton faim is well located on one of the main roads leading into Moberly and is served with mail by rural route No. 3. Mr. Burton takes great care to keep the farm up, uses modern machinery where available and his is one of the prosperous dairy farms of this section of the county.
Rev. Finis Ewing Haynes, a retired Presbyterian minister of Cairo, belongs to a pioneer family of Randolph County of English descent. He was born in Cairo July 17, 1857, the son of Rev. Levi and Rebecca (Orr) Haynes, the former born in Roland County, N. C., Jan. 2, 1807 the son of James Haynes who came to the United States from England when a young man. He and his son Levi moved to Tennessee, locating in Murray County, where the father died.
Rev. Levi Haynes and his wife came to Randolph County in 1854, settling on a homestead of 570 acres in Cairo township, where he to !- lowed farming and preached the gospel for 64 years. He died in October, 1898. He and his wife lived together for 62 years and were the parent; of the following children: James Wilson, of Joplin, Mo .; J. Warren, of Moberly, Mo .; Robert Reed, of Denver, Colo .; William Levi, of Moberly ; Rev. Finis, of this sketch; Sarah Elizabeth Thompson, deceased; Mary Jane Wilson, deceased; Martha Emily Wilson, deceased, and Rebecca Narcissa Cunningham, of Hinton, Okla. There were two other children that died in infancy.
Finis Ewing Haynes was educated at the Haynes school on the home farm near Cairo and as he says, "What I lacked in scientific book learn- ing, I have gained by practical observations through a long life." After leaving the district school he engaged in farming. In 1889, Mr. Haynes entered the ministry, though he continued to live on the home place until 1915, when he sold the homestead and came to Cairo to live, having 30 acres of land adjoining the town site.
Reverend Haynes has preached in Macon, Chariton, Randolph, Howard, Monroe, Boone and Callaway counties. For the past 18 months, he has given up active work.
Reverend Havnes was married Nov. 28, 1875, to Miss Permilia Agnes Wilson, who was born in Cairo township, Jan. 16, 1856, the daughter of Squire Benjamin R. and Agnes (Haley) Wilson. The father was one of the pioneer settlers of Union township who later moved to Cairo. He died at Holliday at the age of 85 years. His wife died in 1860 and both were laid to rest in the burying ground at Antioch church.
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HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY
Reverend Haynes and his wife are the parents of the following chil- dren: Eula May, the wife of James Dowdy, of Moberly; Dora, the wife of C. E. Turner, of Cairo township, who live on a part of the old farm; Carl, now county surveyor and city engineer of Moberly; Florence, de- ceased; Frank, of Moberly; Minnie, the wife of D. C. Jean, of Moberly ; Frederick, of St. Louis; Lee, of Moulton, Iowa; Opal, the wife of Charles Rutherford, of Moberly; Ray, of Cairo; and Jewel, the wife of O. Aubrey Skinner, of Cairo.
For 38 years, Reverend Haynes has been a member of the Masonic Lodge at Cairo and was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows until the local lodge surrendered its charter. This elderly gentle- man has many interesting recollections of the early days here and says that the first merchant of Cairo was William Hoard who opened a little store a half mile west of the present town site, which had not yet been platted. Reverend Haynes has the original land warrant of the farm which he now owns, which was entered by Samuel Baker, Feb. 17, 1855. Reverend Haynes still retains much of his physical and all of his mental vigor and is interested in all public affairs.
Joseph G. Richeson, manager of the Cairo Lumber Company, Cairo, Mo., is a representative business man of Randolph County, and the Riche- son family have been identified with the interests of this county about 70 years. Joseph G. Richeson was born at Salisbury, Mo., Oct. 27, 1875, and is the son of Sanford G. and Mary E. (Minor) Richeson. The mother was born in Randolph County in 1851 and died in 1889 and her remains are buried at Huntsville, Mo. and the father now resides at Huntsville.
Sanford G. Richeson was born in Kentucky and when three or four years of age was brought to Missouri by his parents. He is the son of Joseph Richeson who was killed near Huntsville by Federal soldiers during the Civil War and his remains were buried at Darksville. After his father was killed, Sanford G. Richeson joined the Confederate army and served about one year. Later he was engaged in the lumber business at Hunts- ville and is now living retired. The children born to Sanford G. and Mary E. (Minor) Richeson are as follows: Wilber, who is engaged in the lumber business at Seattle, Wash .; Vallie, married William Wilhite, Huntsville, Mo .; Joseph G., the subject of this sketch ; Robert Bert, Ellensburg, Wash .; Thomas William, engaged in the lumber business at Seattle, Wash .; Goldie, married Hugh Hinton, Moberly, Mo. and Edgar, who died at the age of six years.
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HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY
Joseph G. Richeson was reared and educated at Huntsville, Mo. and has been engaged in the lumber business all his life. He remained with his father in that business at Huntsville until he was 28 years of age. He then spent one year in Texas and was in Arkansas three years. He came to Cairo in 1913, and took charge of the Cairo Lumber Company and has been manager of that concern since. This is one of the leading lumber establishments of the county. They carry a complete line of lumber and building materials of all kinds, including paints and sewerpipe. The stock of this company is housed in a building 60x105 feet. They do an extensive business in Cairo and vicinity.
Joseph G. Richeson was united in marriage July 3, 1904 to Miss Mary E. Miller of Huntsville, Mo. She was born in Richmond, Ky. and is a daughter of John T. and Anna Miller who now resides at Danby, Okla. To Mr. and Mrs. Richeson have been born three children: Sanford Miller, born Jan. 10, 1906; Joseph Giles, born Oct. 27, 1907, on his father's birth- day ; and Marysue who was named after her mother and aunt who were twins. was born June 12, 1915.
Mr. Richeson is a member of Cairo Lodge No. 486, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is an energetic and enterprising business man and a leader in the affairs of the community.
William F. Moore, proprietor of the "Smoke House", Moberly, Mo., where he carries on a retail tobacco and cigar business and also conducts a pool and billiard room, is a well known citizen of Moberly. Mr. Moore was born in Monroe County, Mo., Sept. 17, 1877 and is a son of William F. and Mary E. (Arnold) Moore. The father was a successful farmer for 40 years in Monroe County, and died in 1919 and his remains are buried in Oakland cemetery at Moberly. The mother preceded him in death many years, she having died in 1883 and is buried at Holliday, Mo. William F. and Mary E. (Arnold) Moore were the parents of two children: Mrs. Mat- tie E. Stice, of Denver, Colo .; and William F., the subject of this sketch. After the death of his first wife the father was again married to Mrs. Ellen Roberts and one child was born to that union, Mable, who is now the wife of Prof. Harry Larne who is an instructor in the Engineering De- partment of the University of Missouri at Columbia.
William F. Moore, the subject of this sketch, attended the public schools in Monroe County and in Moberly and took a business course in the Gem City Business College at Quincy, Ill. He followed farming for a
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HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY
few years when he came to Moberly and purchased his present business in 1916. The "Smoke House" is one of the popular places of Moberly and is well patronized. Mr. Moore carries a complete line of cigars, tobaccos and smokers accessories and does an extensive business. During the World War Mr. Moore accepted a position as extra brakeman on the Wabash Railroad and still holds that position in addition to his other business, inasmuch as he is not steadily employed on the road.
June 2, 1899, Mr. Moore was united in marriage with Miss Josephine Roberts of Cairo, Mo. She is a daughter of John Roberts of Cairo who is now deceased. Mrs. Moore's mother belonged to one of the pioneer families of Randolph County; she was a sister of the late Judge Terrill who was prominent in the affairs of this county.
Mr. Moore is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and is well known and popular in the community. The Moore family is one of the old pioneer families of Missouri. William F. Moore had three uncles who served in the Confederate army in the Civil War and two of them, James and Thomas Moore were killed while in the service.
Joshua Terrill Epperly, a prominent citizen of Chariton township, has been identified with farming and stock raising in Randolph County all his life and belongs to one of the pioneer families of this county. Mr. Epperly was born in Chariton township about one-half mile south of his present 1 esidence, Jan. 6, 1858 and is a son of David and Virginia Epperly. They were natives of Kentucky and came to Randolph County in 1840 and here David Epperly entered government land where Joshua Terrill Epperly was born. He engaged in farming and stock raising here where he spent the remainder of his life. His wife died in 1873 and he departed this life Oct. 2, 1890 and their remains are buried on the old home place. They were the parents of the following children: William, deceased; Joseph, Hinton, Okla .; Allen was a Confederate soldier and died in the Federal prison at Alton, Ill., during the war; George, Bevier, Mo .; Mrs. Barbara Thomas, deceased ; Mrs. Henry Eppard, Moberly, Mo .; Joshua T., the subject of this sketch; Lucinda, deceased and Garth.
Joshua T. Epperly attended the district school in the Epperly school district which was named after his father. He was reared on the pioneer farm in Chariton township and early engaged in farming and stock rais- ing and is one of Randolph County's practical and successful farmers and stockmen. He owns 406 acres, 320 of which are in one body. His farm includes the old home place upon which his father settled when he came
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HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY
to Randolph County. Mr. Epperly carries on general farming and stock raising.
April 24, 1879, Joshua T. Epperly was united in marriage with Miss Mary Nancy Minor, a daughter of Willis and Martha E. (Epperly) Minor. Mrs. Epperly was born in Wayland township, Chariton County, Feb. 1, 1862. Her grandfather, George Minor and wife, Mary, were natives of Kentucky and very early settlers in central Missouri. To Mr. and Mrs. Epperly have been born the following children: Josie, died at the age of 21; Harvey Allen, Chariton township; George W., died in infancy ; Arthur, born Jan. 26, 1885, married Kate Vandiver of Salisbury township and they have one son, Arthur Terrill; Mrs. Ethel Mckeown, Dodsland, Canada ; Thomas H., born Jan. 10, 1895, married Mabel Turner, of Chariton township and lives on the home place; Robert, born Feb. 4, 1897, was a soldier in the National Army during the World War and while in training at McArthur, Tex., died from pneumonia Oct. 13, 1918 and his remains are buried in the Thomas Hill cemetery; Nora Lucinda, a student in the State Teachers College at Kirksville, Mo .; Ida Lee, also a student in the State Teachers College at Kirksville and Percy Andrew. Mr. and Mrs. Epperly have the following grandchildren: Dorothy, Millard, Lois and Marjorie Mckeown; and Arthur Terrill, Marion Hardin and Richard Lee Epperly. .
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