USA > Missouri > Randolph County > History of Randolph County, Missouri > Part 75
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78
Mr. Freeman was married Aug. 2, 1875 to Miss Hattie Nattress, a native of Canada, born April 15, 1858. Her parents both spent their lives in Canada. To Mr. and Mrs. Freeman have been born the following chil- dren : Miles F., Granite City, Ill .; John J., in the employ of the Wabash Railroad Company at Moberly ; Leo C., whose present address is unknown ; Anna B., married James Kehoe, Moberly, Mo .; Mae, married Arthur Cop- ley, Butte, Mont .; Martin J., who is engaged in farming operations with his father and resides at home with his parents; Timothy A., lives in South Dakota; Catherine, deceased; Margaret, married J. R. Broskey, . Kansas City, Mo .; Roberta, deceased; and Elizabeth resides at home with her parents.
Mr. Freeman is a Democrat and the Freeman family are members of the Catholic church.
James Truesdell, one of Randolph County's well known and prosper- ous stock buyers and shippers who owns 60 acres of land in Prairie town- ship, was born just a mile and a half northeast of Clark, March 11, 1858, the son of John C. Truesdell, who was born near Covington, Ky., in 1828. John C. Truesdell was educated in his native state and as a young man came to Missouri, one of the early settlers in this locality and owned three or four farms at different times and at his death was the proprietor of 400 acres of valuable farm property. He passed away in 1915. Mr. Truesdell's first wife died in middle life and he married Rebecca Stiles, who survives him; she had five children, half brothers and sisters of James Truesdell who was a boy when his mother died, being the third of the three children in the family.
James Truesdell has always lived in Randolph County ; he was reared on his father's farm and attended the district school and when his school
.
815
HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY
days were over began farming and trading in stock. He began his inde- pendent financial career 30 years ago and during the time he has been in business he has won a high reputation for honesty, ability and hard work. all of which have but naturally brought success. Thirty-two years ago Mr. Truesdell became established in Clark and for more than a quarter of a century has been one of its reliable and substantial citizens. Progressive in his business he also advocated the same methods in civic affairs; he takes an active interest in all movements that tend to the development of the county and its agricultural interests.
In Oct. 1886, Mr. Truesdell was married to Miss Bridge Nolen, a native of Boone County, Mo., who died in 1898, at the age of 34 years, leaving the following children: Pearl, at home with her father; Thomas B., of St. Louis, Mo .; John Raymond, who owns and manages a feed store and mercantile business in Clark and Wheeler, associated with his brother John in business.
Mr. Truesdell is a Democrat and belongs to the Baptist church and the Court of Honor. Through all the years of his residence in Clark, M". Truesdell has been known as a man whose "word was as good as his bond", and is one of the progressive representatives of the stock buying interests of the county.
John W. McCune, a successful mine operator and farmer, owning 120 acres of land in Prairie township, is a native of Randolph County. He was born in Prairie township Feb. 2, 1869, the son of Joseph and Sarah C. (Fowler) McCune. Joseph McCune was a native of Kentucky, born near Lexington and came to Missouri at an early day. He died in 1915 at the age of 74 years. He first settled in Howard County, Mo. with his parents and later became a pioneer of Randolph County, settling on a tract of land a mile west of Clark, where he passed the remainder of his days. Sarah Fowler McCune was a native of Randolph County and a more detailed history will appear in that of the Fowler family on another page of this volume. She is now deceased.
John W. McCune spent his boyhood and youth on his father's farm and received his elementary education in the public schools in this county and then entered the State Normal School at Kirksville, Mo., where he was graduated. In the fall after finishing at the Normal School he began teaching a vocation which he followed for seven years. He then bought a farm here in Prairie township. Mr. McCune bought his first land in 1892, placed improvements on it, sold at a good price and bought more
816
HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY
land and now has a coal mine on his present farm, the output of which for the season of 1919 was 1.000 tons which he sold at the mine to the wagon trade of the surrounding district. Both farm and mine are prov- ing profitable under his able management.
Feb. 28, 1895, Mr. McCune was married to Miss Clara Stockton, born in Randolph County in 1874 and died September, 1915. She was the daughter of Joseph G. and Eliza F. (Woods) Stockton, both now living a mile west of Clark. There were two children born to this union: Lyda Ellene, the wife of Thomas Long, of Elk City, Okla., and William Edward, deceased.
Mr. McCune is a Democrat, a member of the Christian church, be- longs to the Masonic Lodge and is a charter member of the Grange. He is progressive in his ideas about his business and believes that county and district should keep abreast of the times in good roads and good schools. He gives willingly of time and money for the support of all movements that tend to the development of his section.
John F. Robinson, a capable section foreman for the Wabash railroad at Clark is entitled to pioneer honors and special mention in the annals of the county as he is the oldest living resident of Clark, Mo. He was born in Lincoln County, Mo., Sept. 11, 1853, the son of William G. and Permalia (Brown) Robinson, being the oldest of their eight children. The father was also born in Missouri; he was a farmer all his life and died in Audrain County in 1908 at the age of 73 years. He was a veteran of the Civil War, having enlisted in the Union army at the outbreak of hostilities and served in a Missouri infantry regiment. He remained in the service until wounded and was discharged for disability before peace was declared and on returning to Missouri again engaged in farming. Mrs. Robinson was born in Kentucky, reared and educated there but spent all her married life in Missouri, passing away in 1911, aged 80 years.
John F. Robinson was reared on a farm, spent his boyhood and youth in the country and attended school in one of the early log cabins used for that purpose where he laid the foundation for a good practical education. When his school das were over he began to work as a farm hand and for four years followed this vocation receiving $12.50 a month. He farmed for himself a year, but in 1882 went to Renick to accept a position on the section gang, where he worked three months before leaving for Canada, having been offered a better position on the Canadian Pacific Railroad. He remained only three months when he returned to Clark, Mo., on Nov.
801
HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY
is a highly respected citizen and one of the substantial men of Randolph County.
Thomas B. Whittaker, an extensive farmer and stockman of Chariton township, is a large land owner and one of the successful men of affairs of Randolph County. He is the owner of 902 acres, 200 of which is located in Randolph County and 702 acres in Chariton County. This is one of the valuable farms in this section of Missouri. 300 acres of Mr. Whittaker's farm is upland, 300 acres second bottom land and about 300 acres first bottom land. Taken as a whole it is excellent land and very productive and well adapted to both general farming and stock raising. 250 acres is what might be called timber pasture land and 400 acres is under timothy and blue grass.
Mr. Whittaker employs up-to-date devices and modern methods and has a tractor on his place which is capable of plowing about ten acres per days. He will raise about 200 acres of corn the present season. A part of Mr. Whittaker's place is one of the historical old places of this section. It was the Judge W. A. Hall farm before it was purchased by Mr. Whittaker. This portion consists of 200 acres and is located in Ran- dolph County. The residence is a large brick structure of 12 rooms, two stories high and was built by Judge Hall before the Civil War. It is a very substantial building and is still an excellent state of preserva- tion. Mr. Hall, in addition to his general farming raises White Face Here- ford cattle and pure bred Shropshire sheep. He is an extensive feeder and buys large numbers of cattle which he, fattens for the market.
Thomas B. Whittaker was born in Cheshire, England, near the city of Manchester, June 24, 1851 and is the son of Benjamin and Mary (Lunt) Whittaker, both natives of England and now deceased and their remains are buried in Jacksonville, Ill. The Whittaker family settled in Jackson- ville, Ill., in 1870, after having lived for some years in Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and Missouri. The father was a woolen mill operator.
Thomas B. Whittaker was one of a family of four children born to his parents and is the only one living. Those deceased are: Francis, Mrs. Sarah Irwin and Arthur. Thomas B. Whittaker was educated in the public schools and in early life worked in woolen mills in various capacities. When 15 years old, he began to learn the brass finishers trade and worked at that until he was 19 years old when he returned to the woolen mills and worked at that business in Jacksonville until 1871. He was married about that time and came to Chariton County, Mo., where
818
HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY
man, and they engaged in general contracting and later the firm was joined by W. J. Heflin and did business under the firm name of Holman Bros. and Heflin. They did an extensive building business throughout this section of the state for a number of years. They erected the school buildings at Salisbury, Huntsville, Linneas and Centralia and also the city hall at Centralia and they built practically all the brick buildings in Huntsville, including the jail and hotel. They also built the school build- ing at Armstrong, a church building in Roanoke and did work in various other places.
Neal Holman was married Aug. 24, 1868, to Augusta Belsher, a native of Randolph County, born Oct. 9, 1851. She is a daughter of Milton and Rachel (Walden) Belsher, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Missouri. Milton Belsher was born May 5, 1824, and died Dec. 15, 1892; he was an early settler in Randolph County. His wife was a daughter of Zepheniah and Elizabeth Walden, natives of Kentucky and pioneers of Missouri. They settled here in the twenties. Rachel Walden was born in 1828 and died Jan. 10, 1912.
Mrs. Holman was one of the following children born to her parents: Mrs. Elizabeth Straley of Moberly, Mo .; Augusta, married Neal Holman, the subject of this sketch; Mrs. Cassie Hogue, deceased; Mrs. Annie Per- kins, Moberly; Emma, deceased; Mrs. Dollie Hogue; Winslow, Ariz .; and James Milton, lives near Cairo, Mo.
To Neal Holman and wife have been born the following children: Ada M., married Ashley Dameron and they reside in California' and have two sons, Bernard and Charles ; William, married Catherine Stamper and they have three daughters, Helen, Nadine and Mildred and they reside in Moberly ; Russell, married Blanche Buchanan and is employed in the office of the Secretary of State; Jackson, married Stella Bright, and has two children, Hamilton and Lucile, resides in Moberly; Ethel, married Otis Doyle of Huntsville; Lloyd, further mention of whom is made below; an adopted son, Pascoe Holman; Paul, married Nina Thompson, is a foreman in the shipyards at Seattle, Wash.
Lloyd Holman was born Oct. 11, 1886. When the United States entered the World War he enlisted Oct. 5, 1917. After a period of train- ing at Camp Funston of six weeks, he was sent to Santiago, Cal. as supply sergeant. July 28, 1918, he was sent to New York and on Aug. 6th sailed for France. He was attached to the general supply department, a mem- ber cf Company K, 159th Infantry regular army. He returned to the
819
HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY
United States April 5, 1919 and after receiving his honorable discharge arrived at Huntsville, May 5, 1919 and on. July 5th, left for Seattle, Wash., where he is superintendent of construction of street work.
Neal Holman has been a life long Democrat and he and all the other members of the family are members of the Christian church of which he is a deacon.
Nathan E. Walker, for many years a citizen of Moberly, Mo., a native Missourian, born in Macon County, is the son of John P. and Mary Brown Walker, natives of Virginia. Mr. John P. Walker was well known in Macon County, having served as county surveyor and judge of the county court for a number of years. Both he and his wife died in 1898 and were buried in Bethlehem cemetery in Macon County, the county of their adoption. There were nine children born to them: William G., a con- sulting civil engineer of Macon City, Mo .; Nathan E .; Charles O., a farmer and orchardist of Macon County; John S., a farmer and stockman of Macon County ; James M., a farmer and stock raiser of western Canada ; Sarah C., wife of W. H. Sketchley, a breeder of fine horses, western Can- ada; Ella J., wife of L. C. Ebrite, a retired lumberman of Mesquite, Texas; Mary F. and Annie Lee, deceased.
Nathan E. Walker was educated in the common schools of Missouri and was a student at Mount Pleasant College, at Huntsville, Mo., at the time that great educator, President J. W. Terrill, was in charge, and J. M, Greenwood, superintendent of the Kansas City public schools for many years, was an instructor. After leaving school, Mr. Walker taught country schools and also taught several years in the public schools of Moberly, when Moberly was in its infancy. At one time he was principal in the old high school building which burned and the present high school building was erected on the same site. Later, Mr. Walker became a member of the Moberly board of education and served in that capacity for some seventeen years, most of which time he was secretary to the board. Mr. Walker was at one time a member of the city council, was a member when the first deep wells were installed for the purpose of furnishing water to the city, was also acting mayor during an interregnum. He has held various positions with the Wabash railway and is at present employed as a timekeeper.
Feb. 24, 1876 he married Miss Mary S. Woods, a native of Kentucky, the daughter of Solon and Martha Reid Woods. Two sons were born to them: Thomas P., now chief clerk to Mr. T. J. Jones, general superin-
820
HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY
tendent of the Wabash railway at St. Louis, and William J., who is con- nected with the Santa Fe Railroad at Winslow, Ariz. Mrs. Walker died Feb. 26, 1918, and was buried in Oakland cemetery.
Mr. Walker is an exceedingly young man for his age and he hopes to live many years yet, or at least as long as he is capable of doing some good for somebody.
William Robertson, county superintendent of schools of Randolph County, is one of the well known and successful educators of the state of Missouri and has to his credit, a long line of accomplishments in the im- portant field of education in this state. Mr. Robertson was born at Roa- noke, Randolph County, Sept. 11, 1874 and is a son of Andrew J. and Caroline Francis (Davis) Robertson.
Andrew J. Robertson was born in Randolph County in 1840 and died in 1898. He was a son of John Robertson, a native of Virginia who was an early pioneer settler in Randolph County, coming here about 1832. Caroline Francis (Davis) Robertson was born in Lewis County, Mo., and now resides at Roanoke, Mo. Andrew J. Robertson and his wife were the parents of the following children: Phillip A., Fowler, Colo .; J. W., Salis- bury, Mo. Mrs. J. W. Patterson, Salisbury, Mo .; Mrs. S. P. Gooch, Salis- bury, Mo .; William, the subject of this sketch; Charles E., Fort Steel, Wyo. and Caroline Francis, deceased.
William Robertson was educated in the public schools, Central College at Fayette, Mo. and the State Normal School at Kirksville, Mo., where he was graduated in 1904. He has also taken special courses in graduate work at the University at Chicago. Mr. Robertson began his teaching career in the district schools of Sugar Creek township in 1896. He rose rapidly in his profession and two years later was principal of the Roanoke schools and held that position for five years. He served as superin- tendent of the Huntsville schools for three years; principal of Central College Academy one year and principal of the Moberly High School two years, and also taught mathematics in that institution for one year. He was superintendent of the Maplewood school of St. Louis County for seven years and his work in connection with that school has perhaps never been surpassed in the history of education in this state. He built that school up from almost nothing to one of the best schools in the state, during the seven years that he was at the head of it, and when he left they had voted a $100,000 high school building. He raised the standard of the school and increased the teaching force. It was the first school in St. Louis County to have domestic science and manual training and
821
HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY
special supervision, all of which were introduced by Superintendent Rob- ertson. In competition with the other schools in the state at the state fair, Maplewood school won considerably more than its share of awards. From Maplewood, Professor Robertson went to Webster Groves as super- intendent of the public schools and there introduced many features which built up and increased the efficiency of the institution and introduced domestic science, manual training and many other commendable features of modern educational methods. Mr. Robertson was the first to in- augurate a school survey in the state, which has in recent years become quite 'popular and is instrumental in greatly raising the standard and efficiency of public schools.
In 1917, he returned to Roanoke where he bought a farm and engaged in farming. However, his plans for a peaceful, pastoral life soon vanished. The school officials of Clifton Hill pressed him into service as superin- tendent of the schools there to take the place of the superintendent who was in the army during the World War.
In April, 1919, Professor Robertson was elected County Superin- tendent of schols of Randolph County and is giving this county one of the best administrations in that department that it has ever had. His motto is "a good school for every child, and every child in school." The short- age of teachers has handicapped his work in a measure; however, he is making very satisfactory progress.
Mr. Robertson was united in marriage in 1899 to Miss Helen H. Hunker of Roanoke, Mo. She is a daughter of Louis and Mary E. Hunker, both of whom are deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Robertson have been born one child, George Lawrence, born in 1901 and is now a freshman in the University of Missouri.
Mr. Robertson is a Democrat and a member of the Presbyterian church. He is not only well and favorably known in Randolph County, but is widely known and recognized as one of the leading educators of the state.
Dr. John A. Lowry, a prominent physician and surgeon who was engaged in the practice of his profession for nearly 40 years in Randolph County, is now living retired at Clifton Hill, after a successful professional career. Dr. Lowry was born near Eldad church, March 10, 1853 and is a son of Dr. William Tolman and Sarah E. (Turner) Lowry.
Dr. William T. Lowry was a successful pioneer doctor of central Mis- souri and a descendant of one of the very first pioneer families that set- tled in what was known as the Boonslick country. He was born at Old
822
HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY
Franklin in 1809 and died in 1878. He was also a son of a physician, Dr. John Jefferson Lowry, a native of Virginia who was born in 1769 and died in 1862. He was one of the very first pioneers to settle in the vicinity of Old Franklin. He conducted the land office at Old Franklin for a time and later removed to Fayette, Mo.
Dr. William T. Lowry was educated by private teachers and prepared for a medical college. He then entered the Cincinnati Medical University where he was graduated with the degree of Doctor of Medicine at the age of 18 years. He then practiced with Dr. Terrill until he was 21 years of age when he located at McGee College where he practiced his profession for 40 years. Later he went to California where he died.
Dr. John A. Lowry, whose name introduces this sketch, was edu- cated at McGee College and the University of San Francisco and was graduated from the University of Missouri as valedictorian of his class with first honors in 1879. He then began the practice of his profession at Thomas Hill, Mo. and practiced at Darksville and Clifton Hill, his prac- ticing extending over a radius of 15 miles. He has been very successful as a physician and surgeon and had an extensive practice up to the time of his retirement. He is an extensive land owner, owning a farm of 447 acres in the vicinity of Thomas Hill which is operated by his son.
Dr. Lowry was married Aug. 17, 1887 to Miss Eliza J. Terry, a native of Randolph County and a daughter of William Y. Terry, Jr., whose father, William Y. Terry, Sr., was one of the first pioneer settlers of Randolph County. Mrs. Lowry died July 26, 1908 at the age of 48 years. To Dr. and Mrs. Lowry was born one son, Thomas Jefferson Lowry, born Nov. 29, 1890. He was educated in the public schools of Clifton Hill and under private instructors and at the University of Missouri, Columbia, Mo. He married Lois L. Stamper and they have two children, Lida Alice and Marjorie Tolman.
Dr. Lowry is a Democrat and a member of the Baptist church. He holds membership in the Masonic Lodge and is one of the widely known and highly respected citizens of Randolph County.
John Pressley Heifner, a successful farmer and stockman who is operating a large farm of 295.5 acres of land in Chariton township, is a native of Missouri and a descendant of one of the very early prom- inent pioneer families of this section. He was born at College Mound, Mo., May 26, 1861 and is a son of John and Mary Elizabeth (Baker) Heifner, a more complete history of whom is given in connection with the sketch of John Finis Heifner in this volume.
823
HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY
John P. Heifner was educated in the public schools and reared on a farm and has made farming his occupation since boyhood, and is one of the successful practical farmers of Randolph County. He bought his first land about a mile east of his present place in 1886 and since that time, he has bought, sold and traded farms from time to time. He has lived on his present place since 1893. He first bought 110 acres here and bought additional land and now owns 297.5 acres of valuable and well improved land. He carries on general farming and stock raising and has met with success.
Mr. Heifner was married June 19, 1882 to Miss Laura Bell Swetnam. She was a native of Randolph County and a daughter of William and Hannah (Carter) Swetnam, the former of whom is now deceased. Mrs. Heifner died April 13, 1909 at the age of 47 years. The following chil- dren were born to Mr. and Mrs. Heifner: William, who lives on the home farm, married Mary Frazier and they have one child, Thelma, aged ten years; Roy, a farmer and stockman, married Elma Broaddus and they have three children, James Pressly, Roy Lester and Rosine; Edna May, married Loan Yeakey and resides in Chariton township; Clarence, married Esther Summers and they live in Chariton township; Joseph Ernest, mar- ried Helen Yeakey and they have one child, Ernestine; Berna Estelle, resides at home and Marie also resides at home.
Mr. Heifner is a Democrat and a member of the Baptist church and belongs to the Loyal Order of Moose of Moberly. He is progressive, pub- lic spirited and one of Randolph County's valued citizens.
Richard L. Carter, Jr., one of the younger generation of railroad men of Missouri who has had a varied and successful career in transporta- tion both here and in France during the World War, is a native son of Randolph County, born in Moberly, Aug. 10, 1889, the son of R. L. Carter, Sr., whose biography appears upon another page of this volume.
Richard L. Carter spent his boyhood in Moberly and received his edu- cation in the public schools. When only a boy of 15 years he became associated with the Wabash Railroad Company as a messenger boy. He liked railroad work and his advance was rapid. From messenger he was advanced to yard clerk, then to supply clerk at the roundhouse and time- keeper. After that he left the railroad and went to Bonner Springs, Kan. as assistant electrician but within a short time moved to Des Moines, Iowa, to take a position as brakeman on the Des Moines, Iowa Falls & Northern railroad, but when a better opening occurred for him on the
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.