History of Vernon County, Missouri : past and present, including an account of the cities, towns and villages of the county Vol. II, Part 43

Author: Johnson, J. B
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Chicago : C.F. Cooper
Number of Pages: 632


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 43


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


993


BIOGRAPHICAL


Albert M. Smock, a prominent citizen of Richland township, Vernon county, Missouri, was born in Madison, Ind., March 9, 1861, the son of David R. and Isabella (Millican) Smock. His grandfather, John Smock, moved from Kentucky, his native state, to Jefferson county, Indiana, in the early days. He was a promi- nent man, a Democrat in politics, and served several terms in the Indiana state legislature. Possessed of considerable wealth, he presented a library to Hanover College, Indiana. The trustees of the college accepted the gift but declined to call it "The Jesse D. Bright Library," as requested by the donor. He was one of the original promoters and several years president of the Indiana State Fair Association.


Our subject's father, David R. Smock, was born in Jefferson county, Indiana, December 18, 1830, and grew to manhood on his father's farm. Our subject's mother was born in Northum- berland county, England, February 8, 1832, and soon after her birth her parents came to this country, settling first in New York state and removing thence to Jefferson county, Indiana, where she and David R. were married on November 6, 1855. Soon after their marriage they settled in Madison, Ind., where he conducted a general store some six years. In the fall of 1861 he enlisted as a private in the Third regiment, Indiana Volunteer cavalry, and rose to the rank of first corporal. He was stricken with typhoid fever and died in the army hospital at Fredericksburg, Va., August 18, 1862.


Four children besides our subject were born to David R. and Isabella, three of whom died in infancy. The other, Clara, is married to Mr. George Currie and lives in Richland township. The mother and daughter came to Vernon county in 1881, and Mrs. Smock made her home with her son till her decease, Feb- ruary 17, 1900.


Albert M. acquired his early education in the common schools of his native place, and when fourteen years old entered the office of the "Madison Courier" and learned the printers' trade, which he followed six years. In 1880 he came to Vernon county, where his father had bought as an investment some years prior to his decease a quarter section of land in section 16, Richland township. He worked as a farm laborer until his mother and sister arrived in 1881 and then they took up their abode on the quarter section in a log house that was on it. In 1890 Mr. Smock,


994


HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY


who inherited a half interest in this land, sold to the town of Richards thirty-five acres of his eighty acres. He has since bought other land in section 17, so that his present farm com- prises 185 acres in the two sections. In 1890 Mr. Smock opened a hardware store in Richards. The same year he was appointed postmaster there and served in that capacity three years, and on leaving the office also sold his hardware store. Mr. Smock is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, and he and his family are identified with the Presbyterian Church at Richards, and he is a Republican in politics.


On February 11, 1891, he was united in marriage with Miss Amanda Mann, who was born in Cooper county, Missouri, Feb- ruary 27, 1865, to Morris and Nancy (McKinney) Mann, natives of Kentucky and Illinois, respectively. They now reside in Walker township, Vernon county.


Mr. and Mrs. Smock have two children, viz., Isabel, born De- cember 30, 1891, and Carl M., who was born March 29, 1895, who reside with their parents.


Richard Berry Speed, who has been prominent in the affairs of Nevada, Mo., for nearly thirty years, was born in St. Louis, December 10, 1849, and is the youngest of four children born to Joseph R. and Nancy (Pitman) Speed, both of whom are deceased, his mother passing away during his infancy and lıis father when he was about twelve years of age. Prior to 1882 Mr. Speed was connected with the "Warrenton (Mo.) Banner" as editor and publisher, on which paper he was awarded two prizes by the Missouri Press Association as the best printed paper in the state, and in August of that year settled at Nevada and formed a co-partnership with the late William J. Knott in the publication of the "Southwest Mail." Purchasing Mr. Knott's interest in the paper in June, 1883, he at once began the publication of the "Daily Mail" in connection with the weekly publication, and as editor and publisher continued this con- nection with the paper continuously till 1906, when he sold his interest to Mr. E. E. Bean, who had become a partner in the enterprise. The "Mail" was at all times, as it now is, distinct- ively Democratic, and its remarkable success during Mr. Speed's connection with it is a part of the history of Vernon county.


During the time of his connection with the paper, in June,


995


BIOGRAPHICAL


1897, Mr. Speed was appointed by Governor Stephens inspector of oils at St. Louis, which office he filled four years, it being the only public office he ever held. Since severing his connection with the "Mail" Mr. Speed has been variously employed, and at the present date-1911-is associated with Mr. Pat. B. Rafter in the ownership and management of Hotel Mitchell, one of the most popular public houses of Nevada. Mr. Speed is eminently fitted for this work by reason of his pleasing personality, his fine social qualities and his obliging and courteous manner, so that it is not surprising that he is widely known as one of the hospitable landlords in Missouri in his endeavors to make the Mitchell the popular "House for the Man Behind the Grip."


Mr. Speed has been a member of the Missouri Press Asso- ciation since his earliest connection with newspaper work, and during the years 1883-4 served as its president and later as corresponding secretary, and since retiring from that line of work it has been his pleasure to keep up his membership in the organization. Mr. Speed is identified with several fraternal orders, being a member of Osage Lodge, No. 303, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Nevada Royal Arch Chapter, No. 56, O'Sullivan Commandery, No. 15, Knights Templar of Nevada, and also of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.


On October 17, 1882, Mr. Speed was united in marriage with Miss Maggie B. Carstarphen, a daughter of James E. and Belina (Jackson) Carstarphen, of Louisiana, Pike county, Missouri. This union was marked by unsullied happiness and continued till the passing to the higher life of the loved and loving wife on the afternoon of April 10, 1904. Her body was laid to rest under the shade of a large oak tree in the Jackson family burial lot near her childhood home at Louisiana, Mo.


Conrad Stahler was born in Germany, December 25, 1834, his parents also having been born there; his father, Philip Stahler, was a farmer by calling, who when a young man married Miss Catharine Lindensmith. The latter became the mother of six children, of whom Conrad was the third. After growing up in his native country upon a farm he emigrated to the United States in 1852, soon after moving to Illinois and locating not far from St. Louis. For about fifteen years he made his home in either that state or Missouri, in its eastern part, until choosing a home


996


HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY


in this county in 1868. Now he owns a well improved and nicely cultivated farm of 192 acres, and in its management he shows himself possessed of knowledge gained by long experience at the business. Mr. Stahler has been twice married; first in 1857 to Miss Margaret E. Smith, of Illinois, who died in October, 1877, leaving two children: Sarah and Belle. His second marriage was to Miss Nancy E. Jones, of Kentucky originally. Mr. Stahler is one of the popular men of this vicinity.


Hon. Jasper N. Staten, who ranks with the leading men of Vernon county, Missouri, is a native of Trimble county, Ken- tucky, and was born March 2, 1851. He was the third child and is one of four survivors of a family of seven sons and four daughters born to James M. and Mary (Shannon) Staten, the former born February 8, 1815, the first white child born in Wash- ington county, Indiana, and the latter born April 17, 1825, in Shelby county, Kentucky. They were married in Shelby county, February 1, 1846, and settled in Trimble county and lived there till 1870. After that they lived two years in Carroll county, Missouri, then two years in Woodsen county, Kansas. After that they returned to Carroll county, where the mother passed away February 19, 1879, the father surviving till February 18, 1899. Their eldest son, Shannon, now, 1911, lives on the old homestead in Carroll county. There are also two sisters, Mrs. Amanda Cassingham, of Bosworth, Mo., and Mrs. Victoria B. Browning, of Iowa City, Iowa.


Jasper N. was educated at Antioch, Ky., leaving home when a boy, in 1873. He worked some three years as a farm hand and then, from October, 1875, to February, 1883, traveled through the entire Mississippi valley and Texas as agent for Dr. J. H. McLean. Mr. Staten covered some 135 counties in Texas, and it is interesting to note that he was required to pay a state license of $200 as a traveling salesman.


February 1, 1883, he was united in marriage with Miss Laura B. Allen, who was born in Lincoln county, Missouri, May 28, 1858, to Robert C. and Rebecca (Cannon) Allen. Settling at once on a farm near Fair Haven Springs, in Blue Mound township, Vernon county, Mr. Staten lived there twenty years, developing, improving and cultivating his land, and in 1903 moved to his present home in Harwood, still retaining the farm. Since first


997


BIOGRAPHICAL


coming to Vernon county Mr. Staten has taken an active part in political matters, and in 1887 was elected township clerk and ex- officio assessor of Blue Mound township. In 1894 he was made treasurer of the Democratic county central committee, and was elected chairman of that body in 1896. His earnest advocacy of the proposition favoring a new courthouse when the matter was before the people in 1905, together with his well-known public spiritedness, led to his appointment on the building committee, and in 1906 to his nomination and election as presiding judge of the county court of Vernon county, to which office he was re- elected in 1910.


On the organization of the Bank of Harwood, in 1895, he was elected to its board of directors, became vice-president of the bank in 1898 and in 1899 was elected cashier, which office he still fills.


Judge Staten is a worthy member of Schell City Lodge, No. 355, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, having united with the order at DeWitt, Mo., in October, 1877. He also belongs to the Nevada Encampment. In religious faith and fellowship Judge Staten is affiliated with the Christian Church at Schell City.


John M. Stayton,* a well-to-do farmer of Metz township, Ver- non county, Missouri, is a native of Marion county, Kentucky. He was born October 10, 1843, and is the second of three children born to George and Rebecca (Shehan) Stayton, both of whom were natives of Marion county, Kentucky. The father was born June 29, 1819, to Mathias and Mary (Murcer) Stayton, natives of Maryland and Kentucky, respectively. Our subject's mother was born in 1818 to John and Rebecca (Beals) Shehan, the former a native of Ireland and the latter of Marion county, Kentucky.


When a lad of thirteen years John Shehan ran away from his home, and without any money, boarded a vessel and came to this county, making his way to Marion county, Kentucky. He was there "bound out" to Mr. Beals, whose daughter he married on attaining his majority. He was a farmer by occupation.


After the death of our subject's mother, which occurred in January, 1855, his father, in 1858, married a second wife and survived till April, 1896, when he passed away.


John M. attended "subscription schools" in his native place


998


HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY


and remained on his father's farm till he attained his majority. He then spent eight years, working as a farm hand in Kentucky, and in 1872 came to Vernon county, reaching Nevada on March 13. He worked as a farm laborer that year, then leased and worked a farm in 1873, and the following year leased sixty acres for five years. At the expiration of that lease he rented for another year, and in the spring of 1880 bought eighty acres in section 4, Metz township, to which he added another eighty-acre tract in the following fall. Here Mr. Stayton has made his home for the past thirty or more years, giving his time and attention to farming operations with most gratifying success. Besides the home farm he also owns a fifteen-acre timber tract in section 8, Metz township.


Mr. Stayton is a Democrat in political sentiment and in religious fellowship is affiliated with the Baptist denomination.


On March 7, 1884, Mr. Stayton was united in marriage with Miss Susan E. Messer, who was born September 6, 1863, to Isaac and E. J. (Hackney) Messer, natives of Illinois, and Ohio, respectively. In 1876 they settled in Metz township, Vernon county, whence they moved in 1883 to Wilson county, Kansas, where Mr. Messer died in 1886. His widow returned to Illinois in 1898 and has since made her home there. They had a family of seven children, of whom Mrs. Stayton is the eldest. Of three children born to Mr. and Mrs. Stayton, the eldest, Mary P., born January 4, 1885, is married to Mr. Courtney Kelso, of Ft. Mor- gan, Col. Dovie May, born in April, 1888, is the wife of Mr. Benjamin Brooks, of Metz, and James L., who was born in May, 1895, lives with his parents.


August C. Sterett* is one of the well-known and substantial citizens of Nevada, Mo. He is of Irish-German lineage; a native of Benton county, Missouri, and was born December 7, 1841. He is the fourth son of a family of ten children born to Nathan M. D. and Maria (Bruner) Sterett, the other surviving children being : Henry J., of St. Francis county, Missouri; William B., who lives on the family homestead in Benton county, Missouri, and Juliette, who is married to Mr. Thomas Jones and lives in Pettis county, Missouri. Those deceased were named respectively, Smith Agnew, Jeffrey B., Preston N., Franklin, Alonzo L. and Emma, who was married to Mr. R. C. Vaughn. The parents were both natives of


999


BIOGRAPHICAL


Pennsylvania, and settled in Howard county, Missouri, in 1835, but a little later removed to Benton county and established the family home, where they spent their lives, his death occurring in 1866, when he was sixty-five years of age, and she surviving till 1888 and passing away at the age of seventy-six years. Our subject's paternal grandparents, John and Matilda Sterett, were natives of Pennsylvania and it was in that commonwealth and in Virginia that the first representatives of the family in this country settled, being four brothers who immigrated from Ireland. Little is known of this branch of the Bruner family, except that it is of German origin and settled in Pennsylvania. August C. was reared on the family homestead in Benton county and acquired his education in the public schools there. At the opening of the Civil War he entered the Confederate Army as a member of Company A, Ninth Regiment Missouri Infantry, and was in the trans-Mississippi Department. He served till the close of the war and was mustered out in June, 1865. Returning to Missouri, Mr. Sterett, in 1866, established himself in mercan- tile business at Sedalia, whence he moved in 1869 to Nevada, and there continued in mercantile trade, dealing in dry goods, clothing, etc. Later he closed out this line and dealt in hard- ware, continuing till 1890, when he retired from active business with an ample competence. Mr. Sterett has been somewhat active in public and civic affairs, and has served several terms as County Collector. He is prominently identified with the Masonic fraternity, being a member of the Blue Lodge, the Royal Arch Chapter and the Commandery of Knights Templar.


On May 31, 1874, Mr. Sterett married Miss Adaline, a daughter of W. S. and Bernettie (Wells) Divers, of Nevada. There have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Sterrett ten children, of whom W. B. is a druggist at Jacksonville, Tex .; William F. is assistant cashier of the First National Bank of Nevada; Lucy M. is a teacher in the Benton School, Nevada; Neelie is married to Mr. O. F. Munson, of Brokenarrow, Okla .; Harry C. is engaged in newspaper work in Montana ; Helen B. is a teacher in the Bryan School, Nevada, and Charles and Lester live at home; and two, viz .: Hallie May and Mary Eliza are deceased.


1000


HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY


MRS. V. A. C. STOCKARD. By Mrs. Laban Edward Smith.


Some one has said, nothing is difficult when you put your heart in it. Mrs. Virginia Alice Cottey Stockard put her heart into a school twenty years ago and the school grew and the woman waxed in wisdom and usefulness. She once said: “I no longer look for easy tasks; I try to accomplish the hard tasks well and I soon find they become easy." To those who love her the truth is revealed. God walks in hand with her.


Cottey College cannot be detached from its founder, even in a brief history of its origin and growth. Long after she shall have passed through the invisible door it will proclaim her high mission. The school is the evolution of an idea which took form in the mind of a young woman thirty years ago. On March 27, 1848, a rich argosy was launched on the high sea of life-Vir- ginia Alice Cottey. Her father, Ira D. Cottey, came of cavalier stock and was born and reared in Kentucky. Her mother, also reared in Kentucky, was a daughter of Rev. Martin L. Eads, a pioneer Methodist minister. Clear fountain; clear stream.


The effectual man or woman are those born to rugged con- ditions, unbolstered and with ambition made keen by the depriva- tion of the things they most desire. Lincoln split rails by day and studied by the torchlight at night. Benjamin Franklin sprung from a generation of blacksmiths, spent an apprentice- ship in soap-boiling and at last, by his native talent, harnessed the lightning. American soil is rich and fruitful; the possi- bilities of a young republic immeasurable. These were the con- ditions which brought forth a Virginia Alice Cottey. A harmo- nious home dominated by love and pious frugality ; a Christian mother and father; earliest impressions, those of earth and sky ; a dearth of books; a great longing for them. The root of a rose tree set in the desert, if it may taste of moisture, will spring up and blossom. So it was with this human plant. The meager advantages, such as the public schools of a rural district afforded, were hers in childhood and later on she was permitted to attend a school of higher grade for one and one-half years. To one of her invincibility this was equipment. She began to teach. Prob- ably it was in the first year of active work that the thought,


1001


BIOGRAPHICAL


vague and unformed, of a school of her own day took shape in her mind. A thought is a thing. This thought was a seed des- tined to be watered and tended by God. Years of patient toil must intervene between the conception of the thought and its fulfillment; but years are but moments to a spirit bucklered with determination.


First, money must be earned. The work began in the public school, then followed a position in Richmond College, which lasted for two years. She was elected for the third year and resigned to teach at home that she might have the privilege of aiding her younger brothers and sisters. In 1876 she was elected to a posi- tion in Central College, Lexington, Mo., which she held for eight years, resigning only to take up her life work, the long-cherished plan of establishing a school of her own for young ladies.


The years she had passed in the school room had been fruitful years, not only in the accumulation of money but in self-improve- ment. French, German, Latin and higher mathematics were compassed. He who essays to progress in darkness will find it the ditch of his own undoing. The president of Cottey College loved the light and grew toward it. At this time she found herself the proud possessor of $3,000; another sister, also a teacher, had accumulated $2,000, and a third $500. They took counsel; they said we will have a school. Nevada, Mo., was fixed upon for a location. A large territory lay tributary to this point-Kansas, Indian Territory and Arkansas-a territory in those days for the most part unblessed with college advantages. On September 8, 1884, the idea had taken material form. It opened with an enrollment of twenty-eight boarding and day pupils the first day; total enrollment for the year seventy-two. The next year there were forty-three pupils at the opening; the third year eighty-six. The institution was getting on its feet. Soon it was found necessary to enlarge the building. This was made pos- sible by the sale of scholarships and the loan of some money by Dr. W. G. Miller, a devoted friend of Miss Cottey.


The first building was a brick structure, fronting east, 42x40, two stories above basement. By most economic management it was made to accommodate eighteen boarding pupils, besides reci- tation and music rooms.


1002


HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY


In 1886 another building of equal size was added to this, but was soon found to be inadequate to the demands of the school.


In 1889 a third story was placed on the first building and a wing added on the north.


In 1894 an excellent steam plant was added to the equipment of the college and the campus greatly improved.


In 1899 a new wing was added on the south and other improvements made in the interior of the building, but the rapid growth and development of the college soon demanded another building, which was erected in 1903.


During the years 1905-6 $5,000 was spent in reconstructing the interior of the east building so as to make it conform to the highly popular "grouping" plan of the west building.


New hardwood floors were laid in the halls and handsome new stairways replaced the old ones. An addition was also made to the boiler room, and a new Ideal boiler added to the steam plant.


In 1908 the front entrance to the college was greatly improved and beautified by the addition of an extensive concrete porch.


In 1909 an extension was made to the south (conservatory) wing, by which provision was made for sixteen additional piano rooms and the capacity of the dining room almost doubled.


During these twenty-seven years the college has had but one president, and several of her co-laborers have been associated with her almost from the beginning.


The two sisters who entered on the work with the president married and retired to other homes, and Mrs. V. A. C. Stockard absorbed their interest. She herself was married March 6, 1890, to S. M. Stockard, and at once assumed the responsibility of wife and mother to the three children by a former marriage of her husband's. The children, two sons and a daughter, grew up and graduated in the school, the sons afterward receiving pro- fessional education in the University of Arkansas and Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tenn. The daughter completed her mus- ical studies in Belgium.


The hope of the founder of the school goes deeper than mere educational culture. Early in life she set her face toward a high achievement and has followed it unfalteringly. She is building for eternity. The seed field of her life has been sown with high purposes. Very quietly went the tenor of this life, but attended


1003


BIOGRAPHICAL


always with the results of steadfast endeavor; gently invincible, softly resolute; a Dorcas of her generation. She has by her excellent economies put within reach of the many at surprisingly low rates the finest educational advantages. Her chief thought is to attain a symmetrical development of the mental, moral, æsthetic, social and physical natures; to strengthen the pure and noble qualities and to weaken and destroy evil and unholy ten- dencies. Solid, practical knowledge and thorough training must supersede display, affectation and pretense. Realizing the great fact that God has called woman to a high and holy destiny in that He has commissioned her to be a co-laborer with Himself in the great work of enlightening and saving the world, the prime object of her school is the adjustment of woman and her natural and God-given relation. But while it is the aim of Cottey Col- lege to maintain the highest intellectual culture, the moral, religious and domestic training are thoroughly emphasized as necessary to complete education.


The course of study is equal if not superior to that of any college for young ladies in the middle West. It embraces thor- ough courses in English, mathematics, Latin, sciences, ancient and modern languages. A strong faculty trained in the best colleges and universities is always employed. Carlyle said : "Literature is the wine of life." The ambition of the president of the school has been to lay the foundation of pure English and to engender in the minds of youth a love for the beautiful and chaste in literature.


The conservatory proper was organized in 1895, under the direction of Dr. and Madame Blitz. The reputation of this school of music has extended far and wide, and with justice, for it is now fully directed upon the plan of the Royal Conservatory of Brussels, one of the first schools of music in the world. The program of study is identical with that approved by the state conservatories of France and Belgium, and it becomes possible to enter any of those foreign institutions in their advanced classes after leaving Cottey College. The conservatory boasts of being the only one where the musical education is founded on the science of sight reading and sustained by theoretical as well as practical instruction. It is the only one having a large string




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.