USA > Missouri > Vernon County > History of Vernon County, Missouri : past and present, including an account of the cities, towns and villages of the county Vol. II > Part 21
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HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY
November 11, 1868, he married Miss Mary E. Ellis, of Washing- ton township, Vernon county.
Of two children born to them, the elder, Anna Eliza, is mar- ried to Mr. A. W. Bell and lives in Oklahoma and has three children, two daughters and one son, the younger, Eva, is mar- ried to Mr. James C. Logan, of Vernon county, and has three sons and one daughter. Mrs. Dean's father was a native of Ten- nessee and settled in Calloway county, Missouri, with his parents and lived with them until he attained his majority. He grew up on the farm and learned the carpenter's trade from which he earned and accumulated sufficient means to buy and equip a forty-acre farm before his marriage. He had two children and died in 1890, when Mrs. Dean was forty-one years of age. Mrs. Dean's mother, whose maiden name was Sarah Jane Bently, was a native of Missouri and departed this life December 25, 1870. Her mother was a member of the Christian church, and her father a staunch Democrat and a hard shell Baptist, a pros- perous farmer and mechanic and at the time of his decease owned 500 acres of land, purchased with the accumulations of his labor, economy and thrift.
Mr. Dean is one of the influential citizens of Washington town- ship and has found his chief delight in cultivating and improv- ing the old homestead, and giving his children the advantages of a good education, and lives in the enjoyment of an ample com- petence and the esteem of all who know him. Both he and Mrs. Dean are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Robert S. Dean, for many years an honored and prominent citizen of Vernon county, Missouri, was born in Kentucky Jan- uary 11, 1839. When he was three years old his parents moved to Bates county, Missouri, and later settled in Washington town- ship, Vernon county, and there established the family homestead where our subject passed his life, and died May 19, 1910. Having but meager educational advantages in early life he made the best use of what he had and made up largely for this loss in the school of experience. As a farmer he was wide awake and pro- gressive in his ideas, and delighted in high-grade cattle and horses, of which he was a famous breeder and raiser. He was a born trader, and all his business dealings were characterized by rare good judgment and fairness. He was financially success-
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ful and accumulated a handsome fortune and owned, at the time of his decease, 400 acres of choice land in Washington and Lake townships. He served four years in the Confederate army during the Civil War, and his record there was characterized by bravery. His regiment was always in the fighting zone, and he had two horses shot under him in battle, and through all the perils and privations of that trying ordeal he endured hardships with forti- tude and in every position acquitted himself with honor, contend- ing for a cause he believed to be right. He was withal a man of generous impulses, ready to give a helping hand and material aid to those in need, and no worthy applicant seeking help was turned away empty handed, and many a helpless and disheart- ened one was cheered and enabled to start anew by his cheering words and material help. As a consequence he had many warm friends and was held in high esteem by all who came within the range of his influence. He was a devout Christian, and both he and his wife were consistent members of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, South. Although the large possessions he had accumulated before the war were swept away, he faced the situation bravely after his return home and earnestly setting himself to the task of retrieving his fortune so far succeeded that he left his family, at his decease, in comfortable circumstances with an ample competence. Mr. Dean was a staunch Democrat and active in supporting the principles of his party and a leader in its local councils and affairs in Vernon County, where he served many terms as school trustee and County Judge one term. His passing away brought sorrow to many a poor per- son whom he had helped, and was universally mourned as a loss to the community. He was a good man, a faithful friend and an upright citizen, whose life furnishes an example worthy of emulation.
On February 8, 1877, Mr. Dean married Miss Elizabeth Brown, of Scotch-Irish lineage; her father, who was a native of Glasgow, came to this country in early life and settled at Pittsburglı, Penn- sylvania, and engaged in the coal and mining business, amassing a fortune. Ill health necessitated his giving up business and he traveled extensively in European countries, and passed away in 1907.
There were born to Mr. and Mrs. Dean four children, viz. : Albert C., born January 5, 1878, married Miss Emma Snyder,
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a native of Washington Township, have three children, Willis Ray, Harold Aubrey, Robert S. and lives in Lake township. Rob- ert M., born January 11, 1881, married Miss Susie Huffine, a na- tive of Harrison township, and lives in Washington township, and Guy E., born April 19, 1885, married Miss Eula Taul and lives in Lake township. The fourth child, Harry Lynn, born December 9, 1887, died May 11, 1901.
A. C. Dempsey, one of the best known men in Nevada, Mis- souri, is a native of London, Ontario, and was born September 16, 1859. He passed his boyhood in his native place, and when fourteen years old started to learn the candy maker's trade in the employ of the T. McCormick Candy Company, of London. His first work was in the pan room and he was under the direc- tion of one Mr. Richardson, an expert in his line. The work was hard and his pay small, $1.50 per week, but, after some months, was raised to $2.00. He was, however, gaining valuable experience that stood him in good stead in his after career. His next position was with Messrs. D. S. Perin and Company of the same city, where he worked in the shipping department and as watchman, and advanced rapidly in knowledge of the business. In 1879, being then twenty years old, Mr. Dempsey came to the United States and first worked at his trade in St. Joseph, Missouri, with Messrs. F. L. Summers and Company (now Na- tional Biscuit Company), and made the first candy in their fac- tory. In 1881 he established the J. W. Chase Confection Com- pany, in which he owned a half interest, but a little later sold his interest to Mr. Chase and next made a contract to take charge of the factory of Huggens' Candy and Cracker Company at Kan- sas City, Missouri, but remained there only a short time. Re- turning to St. Joseph, he secured a position to take charge of the Riley Brothers' factory. Mr. Dempsey worked there three years, till the factory was sold to the American Biscuit Com- pany, and then decided to go into business on his own account. For this purpose he went to Council Bluffs, Iowa, and established the Council Bluffs Candy Company, which proved a great suc- cess, attracting the attention of the larger concerns, and, after a time, was merged into the Dequett Company and rapidly grew to large proportions, netting a profit of $7,000 the first year. Mr. Dempsey a little later withdrew from this company and his
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friend, Mr. J. G. Woodward, who had gained his knowledge of the candy business from Mr. Dempsey, bought into the concern, which became known as the John G. Woodward Candy Com- pany, and still continues doing a flourishing business.
Mr. Dempsey next spent two very successful years with Messrs. Loose Brothers at Kansas City, having charge of two departments of their factory and gaining the highest per cent of any man there. On leaving this position he worked for Messrs. Emery-Bird and Thayer, getting out new products, and while- here originated the celebrated "Yankee Toast."
In 1892 Mr. Dempsey, having determined to start business for himself, went to Independence, Missouri, and, providing him- self with a few tools, opened business in a modest way in the rear part of the grocery store of Messrs. Mills and Williamson, with whom he arranged to sell his products, and he also sup- plied Fairmont Park and sold at wholesale around town. Mr. Williamson, becoming greatly interested in the business, in the fall of 1893 suggested to Mr. Dempsey that they open a candy factory at Nevada, Missouri. He was not able to arrange his other business interests so as to engage in the new enterprise at that time in person, but furnished $300 to put into the business, and with this and what money he had of his own, and the tools he had, Mr. Dempsey moved to Nevada and started in the retail candy trade and by liberal advertising and skillful management, achieved a great success. When Mr. Williamson found himself unable to arrange his affairs so as to give his attention to the business, Mr. Dempsey made a settlement with him and after- ward sold out the plant, realizing a good round sum, and moved to Clinton and established, and for four years conducted a very successful wholesale and retail business.
This business he sold to the Wright-Austin Candy Company, and, returning to Nevada, he organized and incorporated the Dempsey Candy Works Company, himself being president and general manager and Mr. F. C. Strohm being secretary and treasurer. The original capital of $3,000 was soon increased to $6,000 and finally to $12,000, and such was the rapid growth of the business that in a short time the concern's goods were being distributed through adjoining states and almost every jobber in the Southwest was handling them. Selling his interest in this company, he next organized the A. C. Dempsey Candy
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Company, which achieved much success under his good manage- ment and after a time a few friends joined with him and together they purchased the Dempsey Candy Works Company and formed what has since been known as the Nevada Candy Company, which has had a phenomenal growth and whose products are famous throughout the Southwest, being everywhere known as a standard of quality.
Throughout his long and active career Mr. Dempsey has made it an invariable rule to use in the manufacture of his goods only the purest and best materials. With him it is a matter of con- science, and his motto has been, "keep yourself clean, keep your place clean, keep your tools clean and keep your character clean," and it is safe to say this, combined with his thorough knowledge of his work, is the underlying secret of his great suc- cess. Mr. Dempsey, on December 15, 1880, married Miss Hannah Butler, daughter of Mr. Senterlow Butler, of St. Joseph, Mis- souri, a native of England, and was born September 19, 1859. There have been born to them nine children, of whom seven, viz., Lillian, Senterlow O., Sadie, Pearl, Albert L., Gorman W., and Hudson S., are living, and two named respectively M. M. and Laurel are deceased.
Mr. and Mrs. Dempsey are members of the Later Day Saints Reorganized Church of Christ. Mr. Dempsey also belongs to the Odd Fellows, Modern Woodmen and United Commercial Trav- elers.
J. J. Devine,* who has been a resident of Vernon county, Mis- souri, since the year 1898, is a native Missourian and was born in Jackson county, October 5, 1851, to John and Ellen (McGeer) Devine, both natives of County Mayo, Ireland. The father came to this country with his parents in 1840, and settled first in Ohio, whence he soon moved to Jackson county, Missouri, and after one year's residence there, took up his abode in Cooper county, and is still living and enjoying good health, giving his attention to farming after the Civil War. The mother died in 1898.
Our subject grew up on his father's farm and attended the district schools till he was 18 years old, and lived at home until after attaining his majority.
On November 23, 1874, he was united in marriage with Miss Kate Scalley, and they have had eight children, of whom one is
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deceased. Those surviving are, Nellie, who was born November 17, 1876; Daniel, born October 10, 1877 ; Charles, born April 21, 1879; Margaret, born August 2, 1891; Alma, born August 26, 1898; Helen, born March 12, 1901, and Threasa, who was born March 12, 1907.
Mr. Devine moved to Vernon county in 1898 and bought and settled on a half section of land in Coal township, where he has since made his home, with his family, engaged in general farming and stock raising, giving particular attention to raising and feed -. ing hogs for the market. Mr. Devine is thoroughly up-to-date in his methods and systematic in all his operations, and has achieved a degree of success that ranks him with the best farmers in the community.
He is a Democrat of the William J. Bryan type in his political opinions, active in the affairs of his party and while living in Cooper county served as chairman of the Democratic County Central Committee. In religious faith Mr. Devine is a Catholic. He is member of the Knights of Columbus and also is a mem- ber of the Modern Woodmen of America.
August Diehr, a well known citizen of Center township, Ver- non county, Missouri, was born January 3, 1837, in St. Charles county, Missouri whither his father, George Diehr, came from Germany with his wife and family of six children in 1834. They settled on a farm and the father lived there till his decease in 1840. After his father's death August lived with his eldest brother till he was twenty years of age. He then started for him- self and for ten years cultivated a leased farm in St. Charles county. In 1869 he moved with his family and effects, with team and wagon, to Vernon county, and settled on a tract of 240 acres in Section Twenty-one, Center township, which he bought for $5 per acre, and where he has since made his home. On settling here Mr. Diehr built a house of two rooms into which the family moved in the fall of 1870 and which has since con- tinued to serve as the family domicile. During these years Mr. Dichr has acquired other lands, but has disposed of all except the home farm. The place is well stocked with cattle. hogs and horses and thoroughly equipped with machinery and implements required on an up-to-date farm.
In former years Mr. Diehr made large profits raising and sell-
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ing hay, but for some time has confined his work to other gen- eral farming operations, and employs help to do the farm work, himself looking after the management of affairs.
Mr. Diehr is a kind-hearted, sympathetic man, honorable, just and upright in his dealings, interested in the welfare of others, and given to charitable deeds.
He is an honored member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and in political belief adheres to the Democratic principles ad- vocated by William Jennings Bryan, and in former years took an active part in the local affairs of his party.
On February 4, 1859, Mr. Diehr married Miss Margaret Har- ney, of St. Charles county, Missouri, who was related to General Harney, of Civil War fame, and whose parents were pioneer settlers of that county.
Of four children born to Mr. and Mrs. Diehr, three are now living, viz., Oscar N., born February 26, 1864; Alva B., born April 1, 1866, and Belle, who was born February 3, 1871, and who is married to Mr. Thomas Ellis of Nevada, Missouri.
Clarence A. Dillman is junior member of the firm of George & Dillman, proprietors of The Nevada Business College, a young man of sterling worth. A native of Harvey county, Kansas, he was born June 9, 1885, and is the second child of a family of eight children born to George M. and Martha Ann (Prather) Dillman. The parents moved from Indiana, their native state, to Kansas in 1882; they lived in Harvey county till 1900, when they moved to a farm in Reno county, Kansas, where they now reside. Their other children are named, respectively, Marion E., Ura G., Orda J., Earl Henry, Ona Belle, Nettie E. and Frank, who is deceased. The ancestral line of the Dillman family is traced back to Prus- sia, while the Prather family is of Scotch-Irish lineage.
Clarence A. was reared on his father's farm and acquired his early education in the public schools. He afterwards pursued a commercial course and studied penmanship at The Salt City Business College, Hutchinson, Kansas, and then spent a year with the Southwest Kansas Baseball League.
In September, 1908, he accepted a position as head of the com- mercial department of the Nevada Business College, and in August of the following year purchased from Mr. F. B. George a half interest in that institution, which has since been ably con-
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ducted under the firm name of George & Dillman. Mr. Dillman is in charge of the commercial and penmanship departments, which, under his able management and instruction, have been brought to a high standard of excellence, the most modern and up-to-date methods of bookkeeping being brought into use and taught. Professor Dillman is a superior teacher in his special lines, being a thorough bookkeeper and an expert in every branch of practical business and ornamental penmanship, in which each student receives daily individual instruction.
Mr. Dillman is a worthy member of the Christian Church at Nevada.
On July 14, 1909, he was united in marriage with Miss Minon M. Micholson, a daughter of George and May (Robinson) Michol- son, of Reno county, Kansas, and they have one child, Mildred G. by name.
Dr. James N. B. Dodson, for many years influentially and prominently associated with the professional and commercial in- terests of Vernon county, and a sincerely respected and honored resident of Nevada, deserves more than a passing notice in any history of the county. Originally from Jackson county, Alabama, he was born June 20, 1813, the son of James and Lucy (Davis) Dodson, the latter of whom was a native of Jefferson county, Ten- nessee ; the former was a Virginian by birth and a prominent member of the medical profession.
Young James was the second son and fourth child of a family of ten children. Leaving Alabama at an early age, he went to East Tennessee to reside with his grandfather, Benjamin Davis, who was a revolutionary soldier, enlisting at the age of fourteen under Gen. Marion, and one of the most noted horse fanciers and breeders of Alabama. He remained with his grandfather several years attending school, and in 1830 came to Missouri with his father, first stopping in Boone county, where their home was made for one year. His father and family were soon en route for Springfield, Missouri, but on the way a stop was made in Crawford county, Missouri, where the father sickened and died in 1832. Circumstances interfering somewhat with their intentions, the family decided to remain in that county, and there young Dodson embarked upon the practice of medicine. the study of which he had previously commenced and pursued with energy.
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HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY
After this he went to Waynesville, Pulaski county (it having been formed out of Crawford county), where in 1837 he aban- doned his professional practice and engaged in the mercantile business in partnership with Col. Ed. Swink until 1840, when, Camden county being established, he was appointed by Judge Foster P. Wright, clerk of the circuit court, and also received the appointment from the county court as its clerk, serving at the same time as ex-officio recorder, to which positions he was soon after elected. His official positions he resigned on account of having entered again into mercantile pursuits, the last year of his business at Linn Creek, in company with Col. S. K. Rob- erts, being one of astonishing proportions, as their sales amounted to $450,000.
In 1854 Dr. Dodson was chosen by the people of his county as their representative in the State Legislature, and served out his full term of two years acceptably to his constituents, though in the meantime he had removed to Vernon county and opened up a large farm near Walker, on one corner of which, mainly through his influence, a school house was erected, costing $3,000, which was something quite grand in its day. While representing Camden county he drew and procured the passage of the bill establishing Vernon county, and having previously settled therein was elected in 1856 her representative and in 1857 was appointed by President Buchanan registrar of lands in the War- saw district. Six months later he resigned this position and it is worthy of remark at this place that the doctor never occupied an office from which he did not resign or offer to before the ex- piration of his term of office, and he filled by election or appoint- ment at different times near twenty-five terms.
From 1860 to 1865 he was a non-resident of the county, hav- ing removed to Pike county, Missouri, but after the war closed he returned here and embarked once more in the mercantile business at Nevada, conducting a lucrative and respectable busi- ness until 1870, when he retired from the arduous duties of busi- ness life. In 1869 he was interested in an important railroad en- terprise (the Laclede and Fort Scott Railroad) and the first year was made president, but afterwards was relieved of the duties of this position; however, two years later he was again called to the aid of those whose experiences had proven their mistake in not continuing him previously at their head, and for
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eight years he labored earnestly but under many difficulties to place the road in the way of early completion, in which he sub- stantially succeeded for the second time, but the building of the road was never accomplished. The failure, however, of this en- terprise was through no fault of his, but from reasons too nu- merous and lengthy to recite in this connection.
To attempt a detailed account of the numerous enterprises with which the doctor was actively connected, or review even passingly his official and public life, or to speak at length of his- characteristics and many admirable and intellectual, moral and social traits, would be impossible in the space allotted for this sketch. In every walk of life his career was above criticism or reproach; a man of unbending honor, incorruptible honesty, broad but practical charity, noble and generous in his dealings, dignified in his manhood, worthy as a citizen, true and faithful as a friend, he merited and received the honor and respect of all who knew him.
Dr. Dodson was thrice married; first, in 1843, to Louisa Har- rison, of Phelps county, Missouri, who died in 1846, leaving one child, Eliza, who died in 1860. In 1846 he married Mrs. Marcia Swink, nee Meade, widow of Col. Ed. Swink. She was born near Huntsville, Ala .. and died in Louisiana, Missouri, 1861, leaving three children by her first marriage: George Swink, Sallie, who married Col. John Q. Burbridge, one of the first to enlist in the Confederate service under General Price; and Llewellyn. In 1862 the doctor was united in marriage with Mrs. Margaret John- son (Beers). widow of Capt. J. H. Johnson, of Louisiana, Mis- souri. She died in August, 1884, leaving four children by her first marriage: Irene, now Mrs. Monroe Cunningham; Anna, wife of Kimbrough Winston, of Vernon county ; Henry H. John- son and James B., an attorney at Nevada. Dr. Dodson passed to the great beyond March 17, 1893.
R. A. Doores, who ranks among the successful men of Vernon county, Missouri, was born in Allen county, Kentucky, July 4, 1835, to J. W. and Amanda (Freeman) Doores. who were natives of Virginia, and who, in 1855, moved with their two children to Jackson county, Missouri. In 1874 they removed thence to Vernon county and settled in Richland township. The father was a Whig in early life, but in his later years held to the
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principles of the Democratic party. He was killed in a railroad accident in Johnson county, Missouri.
Our subject had but meager school privileges in his early life. He remained with his parents till he attained his majority and on October 28, 1856, was united in marriage with Miss Louisa Ferguson, daughter of John C. Ferguson, an early settler of Johnson county. When he was twenty-five years old Mr. Doores learned the carpenters' trade and followed it in connection with farming twenty years. During that period he constructed six church buildings in Vernon county, besides numerous residences, barns and other farm buildings, both in that county and else .. where, being known as a skillful and expert mechanic, and his services always being in demand. Mr. Doores has retired from the building trade and devotes his time to his other interests. By industry and thrift he acquired at different times consider- able real estate, but has disposed of the most of it, owning now a small farm and handsome and commodious residence near Bronaugh, where he makes his home with his family, enjoying the well-earned fruits of his busy life.
Mr. Doores is an ardent advocate of temperance and a pro- hibitionist. In political action he adheres to the Democratic party.
He is a worthy member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, . South.
Of nine children born to Mr. and Mrs. Doores, four sons and four daughters are now-1911-living, named, respectively : John J., William, Horace, Susan Elizabeth, Sallie, Robert M., Joseph Leslie and Cora.
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