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 44
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orchestra, capable of rendering the most difficult music, such as Grieg's suite and melodies and the accompaniments to Saint- Saen's concerti.
Cottey College was chartered by the state of Missouri in 1887. On March 18, 1907, the college property was transferred to a board of trustees and made an interdenominational college for the higher education of young women. A new charter was pro- vided at this time. By provision of the constitution Mrs. V. A. C. Stockard is to remain president of the institution so long as life and health will permit.
The crying need of the school is an endowment fund. The alumnæ have begun this and are investing their funds with the proviso that the interest accruing therefrom shall become a part of the principal until the sum of $50,000 shall have been reached. Five thousand dollars will endow a scholarship in Cottey .College, the beneficiary to be selected by the donor, with the consent of the president.
The sight of a great soul is inspiring. To follow a leader . whom God has seemed to bless as He blessed Moses is strengthen- ing. The daily life of Mrs. V. A. C. Stockard is a beatitude. Order and quiet attend on her coming. Assailed by a multitude of great and petty problems daily, her poise is never impaired. She walks her life orbit clothed with the majesty of a jubilant soul. Simple and unpretending of demeanor, she is ever armed with an invisible scepter. In the bringing up of youth she is unexcelled, "that our daughters may be as cornerstones, pol- ished after the similitude of a palace." She considereth her field and buyeth it; with the fruit of her hand she planteth a vine- yard. She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. She perceiveth that her merchandise is good; her candle goeth not out by night. She stretcheth out her hand to the poor ; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
Hon. William J. Stone. The senior United States Senator of Missouri is Hon. William J. Stone, one of Vernon county's former citizens. The family from which he is descended came originally from England to the ancient colony of Virginia, at Jamestown, in an early day. Three generations of them have been born and reared in the old commonwealth. The great- grandfather of William J. Stone was a soldier in the Revolu-
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tionary War from that state, and his son, John Stone, who was also born there, subsequently moved to Madison county, Ken- tucky, early in the nineteenth century, where he died at the age of ninety-four, in 1863. The father of the subject of this sketch, William Stone, was born in Culpeper county, Virginia, in 1813, and went with his father to Kentucky, where he married Miss Mildred Phelps. In 1863 he went to Daviess county, Ind., and from there moved to Waco, Tex. He was twice married; his second wife being Miss Dora Johnson. His first wife (William J.'s mother), died in 1852, the second wife dying in 1880. After the death of the latter the father moved to Nevada, Mo., where he died in 1881. William J. Stone was born May 7, 1848, in Madison county, Kentucky, and was the youngest of four chil- dren by his father's first marriage. He worked on his father's farm and attended school until 1863, when, going to live with his sister at Columbia, Boone county, Mo., he enjoyed the priv- ileges of a three years' course at the State University, to which was added a thorough commercial education at Stewart's Com- mercial College at St. Louis. On his return to Columbia he entered the law office of his brother-in-law, Hon. Squire Turner, and two years later, or in 1867, was admitted to the bar. A partnership was then established with Judge A. B. Carleton, at Bedford, Lawrence county, Indiana, but only continued about two years, when Mr. Stone came to Nevada, Mo., and engaged in the practice of his profession. In 1872-74 he served as prose- cuting attorney of the county, and in the latter year became con- nected in practice with C. R. Scott, which firm was succeeded by Stratton & Stone. In 1877 and for some time afterward he was one of the editors of the Vernon county "Democrat." The Democratic party elected him to the state conventions of 1872-74- 76 ; he was their delegate to the congressional convention in 1872, and in 1876 he was elected presidential elector on the Demo- cratic ticket. In 1884 Mr. Stone received the nomination and secured the election as representative to the Forty-ninth Congress from the Twelfth District of Missouri. During this session he placed himself securely on the list of Missouri's statesmen, and the brilliant record which he made assured him future promo- tion by his fellow citizens, and in 1886 he was reëlected by a handsome majority. On April 2, 1874, Mr. Stone married Miss Louise Winston, of Cole county, Missouri, daughter of Col. W. K.
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Winston. Senator Stone belongs to the Masonic, Odd Fellow and Knights of Pythias orders, and is now serving his second term as United States Senator,
Howard C. Storrs, an enterprising citizen of Sheldon, Vernon county, Missouri, is a native of Lew Stone Canyon, Col., and was born October 8, 1874. When he was seven years old he came with his parents to Missouri, and here acquired a good English education in the common schools. Later he went to western Florida and there learned the printer's trade.
Mr. Storrs is a man of fine mental attainments, fond of study and research, and early developed more than ordinary ability as a writer. Some of his published verses show a high order of poetic taste and talent, and have been much admired for their naturalness, beauty of sentiment and clearness of diction.
In 1896 Mr. Storrs purchased the Sheldon "Enterprise," to the publication of which he has since devoted his chief attention, and which, under his careful management, has won its way to popular favor, and come to be recognized by all classes as among the wide-awake, bright, worthy and valuable channels of infor- mation and news of the county.
In 1907 Mr. Storrs was united in marriage with the eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. M. A. Hatch, of Sheldon, and they have one son and one daughter.
James W. Storms, who is known as one of the ablest educators in Missouri, his native state, was born in Cass county, June 14, 1868. He is a son of James T. and Margaret (Briscoe) Storms. James T. moved from Kentucky, his native state, and settled in Cass county, Missouri, about 1840. They were people of good standing in their community, and were both killed in a collision at a crossing of the Missouri Pacific railway at Strasburg on their way home from church, their daughter Georgia, who is now the wife of Mr. Earl Parker, of Pleasant Hill, Mo., being the only one of the party who escaped alive. Mr. Storms' ancestors were among the early settlers of Missouri, the earlier paternal repre- sentatives of the family coming from England to Virginia, thence going to Kentucky and from there moving to southern Missouri.
Left an orphan when twelve years of age, James W. was thus early thrown upon his own resources, and spent his summers in farm work and attended school through the winter months. After
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finishing his preliminary studies, with a view to fitting himself for teaching, he attended the Warrensburg Normal School in 1886-7-8, and later, in 1892, studied at the Oregon Agricultural College, teaching and working in the meantime to get money necessary to carry on and finish his studies. Mr. Storms was for two years principal of Buena Vista (Oregon) public schools ; taught in the science department in the Ashland (Oregon) State Normal two years ; was principal of public schools at Sisson, Cal., and then, returning to Missouri, spent five years as principal -of the high school at Webb City, and one year as superintendent of schools there, and resigned that position to become superin- tendent of schools at Nevada, Mo., which place he has filled since 1905.
Mr. Storms is a close student, not only of books but also of men and affairs, and by constant observation, reading and study keeps in close touch with the trend of modern advances in edu- cational ideas and methods. His varied experiences have given him a broadened vision of his work in all its phases, and bringing to it the full force of his cultured mind he easily holds the high place in his profession to which he has attained.
In recent years he has studied at the University of Chicago, at Omaha, and at the Missouri State University, and is thoroughly up-to-date. Mr. Storms was president of the Southwest Teachers' Association and also a member of the State Teachers' Association of Missouri. He takes a lively interest in fraternal organizations, being a prominent Mason and a member of the chapter, and of the Knights of Pythias, a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Modern Woodmen of America.
In 1897 Mr. Storms, at San Francisco, Cal., was united in marriage with Miss Blanche Barron, a native of Cass county, Missouri, and a daughter of Mr. William Barron, of Raymore.
Mr. and Mrs. Storms have four children, named, respectively, Robert B., James W., Wendell C. and Marian Blanche Storms.
Mrs. Mary E. Strain, whose maiden name was Godfrey, was born in Mercer county, Kentucky, and came to this county with her brother, Leaven Godfrey, as early as 1839. Some three years later, or in 1842, she was married to Mr. James Logan, a native of Montgomery county, Missouri, and son of Hugh and Sarah (Massey) Logan; he was born May 9, 1819, and in 1837 settled
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in Vernon county, living here until his death in 1856. He was the father of the following children: Achilles, Letitia, who married William Proffit; James W., who died in 1852; Sarah Ellen, died in 1857, and Clay B., who survived until 1879. Mrs. Logan remained a widow until 1878, when she was united in marriage with Mr. John C. Strain, originally from Tennessee. He is also deceased, having died in 1880. Mrs. Strain's mother's maiden name was Ellen Dean, and she was a Kentuckian by birth. Mrs. Strain's maternal grandparents were Leaven and Margaret Dean, nee Howell, closely related to the Dean family of our own day.
Milton P. Stroud was born in Tazewell county, Illinois, July 20, 1832, the youngest of two boys and seven girls in the family of his parents, Thomas and Sallie (Thompson) Stroud; the former was born in North Carolina, August 27, 1790, and the latter in Virginia, September 22, 1789, their marriage occurring in David- son county, Tennessee, from whence they moved to Dickson county, where eight of their children were born. Of these Cassie R., born in 1812, became the wife of Gen. Moses K. Anderson, . of Sangamon county, Illinois, and subsequently died, leaving nine children; her husband afterwards married Mourning T. Stroud, who bore him five children: Fanetta, born in 1814, who married James Atterbury, died in 1854; Sinia S., born in 1816, died in 1850; Obedience L., born in 1817, Mrs. E. P. Sullivan, of Monroe county, Iowa, and the mother of eight children; Mourn- ing T., born January 17, 1820, married first James M. Hall, who died leaving one child, after which she married Parker Hall, by whom she also had one child : her last husband was Gen. M. K. Anderson. She died November 24, 1880. Laban M., another son in the family, born September 27, 1822, married Elva Adams (whose father, Captain Adams, was killed in the Black Hawk War.) Hon. Laban M. Stroud served from Tazewell county, Illi- nois, as a member of the Twenty-eighth General Assembly. Arti- micia, born December 25, 1823, the wife of Dr. W. W. Higgs ; they have seven children. Julia Ann, born in 1827, died in 1857. Thomas Stroud, the father, who had participated in the Florida War, died in 1858. One brother, Jesse, was in the War of 1812, serving at New Orleans under General Jackson. Mrs. Stroud had one brother who lived to be almost 100 years old ; another brother,
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Col. S. M. Thompson, secured a colonelcy in the Black Hawk War over Abraham Lincoln, and also served as captain in the Mexican War. Milton Petiller Stroud, our subject, was reared on a farm, receiving a common school education, and September 18, 1856, married Sarah L. Johnson, daughter of N. P. Johnson, of New York; she was born December 29, 1836, in Logan county, Illinois, and died in June, 1860, leaving a daughter, Priscilla, born August 29, 1857, who married February 3, 1881, Robert W. McGovney, and at her death, March 17, 1886, left one daughter, Katie. In 1862 Mr. S. was married to Miss Mary J. Stringfield, daughter of. R. B. (of Kentucky) and Mary (Keagle) Stringfield (of Illinois). Their three children were Emma, born January 16, 1863, married John Ephland in 1884, and they have one son, Willie M., born September 11, 1885, and a daughter, born February 12, 1887; Henry G., born November 29, 1866, now deceased, and John M., born August 3, 1869, died March 8, 1870. After his second wife's death, February 21, 1872, Mr. S. married, in 1874, Mrs. Mary A. Joyner, nee Hunt. Her three children were Miller L., born July 1, 1863; John W., born December 12, 1864, died August 19, 1875, and Minnie P., born April 17, 1866.
William A. Summers is a son of Moses M. Summers, deceased, whose biography appears elsewhere in this work, and Mary Candace (Welch) Summers, and was born in Metz township, Vernon county, Missouri, February 10, 1856. He acquired his education in the district schools of his native place and grew to manhood on the family homestead, his experiences being those common to the farmer boy. He worked the home place with his father till he was twenty-five years of age and then leased a part of the farm and cultivated it on his own account. Since his father's decease in 1904 he has leased about 100 acres from his mother, who moved off the place in 1904, and has carried on general farming with good results. He devotes himself closely to his farming operations and finds little time for other things. Mr. Summers adheres to the principles of the Democratic party, but has never sought or held political office. He is an honored member of the Christian Church at Rinehart.
On September 2, 1894, Mr. Summers married Miss Allie E. Boling, who was born in Montevalo, Vernon county, November 26, 1874, and is a daughter of Charles T. and Martha J. (William-
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son) Boling, the former born in Virginia in 1825 and the latter in Sangamon county, Illinois, August 23, 1833. After their mar- riage in Illinois they, the Bolings, settled on a farm near Monte- valo, on March 18, 1874, the father buying and selling several different farms in Vernon county. Since his decease his widow has made her home with their son, Mr. Frank S. W. Boling, in Nevada.
Mr. and Mrs. Summers have five surviving children, whose names and dates of birth are: Paul T., born June 21, 1895; Emmett A., born September 14, 1896; Edward C., born April 23, 1899 ; Edna May, born August 14, 1903, and Cecil, born April 27, 1906. One child died in infancy.
Moses M. Summers* was born in Arkansas, November 18, 1827, and was a son of Allen and Elizabeth (Wright) Summers, both natives of Kentucky. The parents were married in Osage county, Missouri, and removed thence to Arkansas. In 1830 they returned to Missouri and, settling on a farm of one hundred and ninety-five acres in Metz township, Vernon county, passed the remainder of their days there, the father dying in 1849 at the age of about fifty years and the mother passing away in 1857. They had a family of eleven children, Moses M. being their first born. He received his schooling in a log school house in Metz township and lived with his parents till their deaths, then bought the homestead of the other heirs and lived there till his decease in 1904. He was a suc- cessful farmer and an upright citizen, and a kind husband and father. He was a Democrat in politics, and in religious fellowship was affiliated with the Christian Church, in which he served as an elder some forty years.
On October 24, 1852, he was united in marriage with Miss Mary C. Welch, who was born May 21, 1831, in White county, Tennessee, the daughter of William and Mary A. Welch, who were natives of the Carolinas. Mrs. Summers' father died in Ten- nessee. and her mother. with her two children-Mrs. Summers being the younger-settled in Metz township, Vernon county, in 1849, and the mother passed her life there.
Of eight children born to Mr. and Mrs. Summers, Sarah E., the eldest, is married to Joseph Rynard, of Metz township; William A. lives on the family homestead ; Mary A. is the wife of Samuel C. Foraker, of Bronson, Kansas; Marion M. lives in Amos, Mis-
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souri ; John is deceased ; Tabitha is deceased ; Mary C. is married to Isaac N. White and lives on the home farm in Metz township; Garrett H. lives in Metz, and M. M. passed away November 30, 1905.
Mrs. Summers moved from the family homestead in 1906 and since then has made her home with her son, Garrett H. Summers. He is the youngest of the family and was born October 31, 1875. He was educated in the Whitefield district school, in Metz town- ship, and lived on the home farm till March 9, 1906, since which time he has been engaged in buying and shipping grain at Metz. On September 19, 1895, he was united in marriage with Miss Pearl Harts, who was born in Metz township, in 1877, to Barn- hart and Elizabeth (Foraker) Harts, both natives of Vernon county. Mrs. Summers passed away February 15, 1906, and left surviving three children, viz., Carinne E., born July 11. 1896; Frances M., born September 10, 1898, and Alta L., born March 9,1901.
Mr. Summers is a Democrat and is now (1911) serving his sec- ond term as township collector. He is active in fraternal orders, being a member of Metz Lodge, No. 694, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which he has been secretary since 1906; a mem- ber of Lodge No. 3387, Modern Woodmen of America, and a member of M. B. of A.
Mr. Summers has served four years as clerk of the Metz Christian Church and for ten years has been one of its board of deacons, and since January, 1910, has served as superintendent of its Sunday school.
Dennis S. Swart,* one of the substantial farmers of Harrison township, Vernon county, Missouri, was born in Pennsylvania, January 31, 1836, his parents both being natives of that state.
On April 30, 1857, Mr. Swart was united in marriage with Miss Lida Huffman, and the same year moved to Clark county, Missouri, where he lived thirteen years. In 1870 he moved with his family to Vernon county and settled on three hundred and twenty acres, which he bought in section six, Harrison township, and there established the family home, where he now resides, engaging in farming, giving particular attention to raising corn and hay. He is a practical and up-to-date farmer and a progressive man of affairs, and is the founder of the town of Swart, in Vernon
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county. He now (1911) owns four hundred and ninety acres of land. In politics he is a Republican.
Mrs. Swart passed away in 1911. There were born to Mr. and Mrs. Swart twelve children, named, respectively, James, Eliza- beth, now deceased; Ellsworth, Franklin, Annie, Sherman, Sarah, George, William, Henry, now deceased, Alice and Lida.
John W. Taylor, a resident of Montevallo township, Vernon county, is a native of Pettis county, Missouri, and was born August 27, 1859, the younger of two children born to Louis and Mischia (Hill) Taylor, the father a native of Henderson county, Kentucky, and the mother born, in 1840, in Pettis county, Mis- souri. The father came to Pettis county with his parents when voung, and grew to manhood and married there. He entered. the Confederate Army after the opening of the Civil War, and · was killed at the Battle of Jenkins Ferry, Arkansas. After his death, his widow, with her two children, Ida, now the wife of Mr. Buidine Shelton, of Nodaway county, Missouri, and our subject, returned to Warren county, Illinois, her and her parent's native state, and lived there till about 1867. Returning thence, to Vernon county, she settled near Sandstone, in Badger town- ship, and in 1872, was married to Mr. J. S. Baker, a pioneer resident of Barton county, where the family lived till 1875. The mother died in Vernon county in 1877, leaving one child by her second marriage, viz .: Elmeda; now the wife of Mr. F. M. Kerr, of Le Veta, Colo. After his mother's decease, John W. lived with his step-father, who now resides at Minden City, Mo., till his marriage in 1882. He then bought forty acres of land in Dover township, but sold it in 1884, and bought eighty acres, which he cultivated till the spring of 1886 when he disposed of it and settled on his present farm in Montevallo township, where he has given his attention to general farming operations with gratifying success. Mr. Taylor is a Democrat in political opinion, but has never cared for official position. He is identified with the Masonic Lodge, No. 490, at Montevallo, also belongs to the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Modern Woodmen of America; and in religious faith and fellowship is affiliated with the Montevallo Baptist Church.
On January 8, 1882, he was united in marriage with Miss Mollie E. Nippert, a native of Freeport, Ill., born April 4, 1859,
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the daughter of Charles and Eveline (Hathaway) Nippert. The father, who was born in Germany, in 1829, was brought to this country when he was six months old, by his parents, who settled first in Ohio, thence moved to Illinois, and later to Wisconsin. He was raised on a farm and also learned the blacksmith's trade of his father. His wife-Evaline-whose parents were natives of Ohio, was born at Freeport, Illinois, in 1835. Mr. and Mrs. Nippert moved with their family to Vernon county, Missouri, in 1870, and until they could build and settle in their own home, lived with Mrs. Nippert's father, Thomas Hathaway, who owned 800 acres of land in Montevallo township. Mr. Nippert bought and settled with his family on a quarter section of land in sec- tion 3, and there made his home till his decease, October 21, 1878. . He was a Republican in politics, and a member of the Methodist Church. His widow, who still survives, makes her home with Mr. and Mrs. Taylor, and her other children. Mr. and Mrs. Nippert had, besides Mrs. Taylor, four children, viz .: Lizzie, the wife of Mr. W. B. Burr, of Selby, S. D .; Nellie, who is married to Mr. Albert Duemcke, of Oklahoma City; Louis Nippert, who lives at Long Branch, Calif., and Harriet, the wife of Mr. D. L. Balderson, of Santa Barbara, Calif.
Mr. Taylor leased the Nippert homestead for several years after 1886, after which he purchased, from time to time, the in- terests of the several heirs of the estate, except that of Mrs. Nippert, and now, with her, owns the entire farm.
Mr. and Mrs. Taylor have nine children, viz .: Nellie E., the wife of Mr. Wesley Hanson, of Palo Alto, Calif; Ida Beatrice, the wife of Mr. O. B. Owens, of Oklahoma City; Neil W. Taylor, of Palo Alto, Calif .; Louis U. Taylor, of Topeka, Kan .; Frank K. Taylor, of Palo Alto, Calif., and Quimby W., Albert W, Harriet Zoe, and Esley Taylor, all of whom live at home with their parents.
William H. Taylor was one of the bravest soldiers who en- listed for service during the late war, on the side of the Confeder- acy. Entering the Southern army at the first call for troops to suppress invasion, he was subsequently commissioned captain, and in 1862 was taken prisoner near Montevallo, on the old Bangs' farm. He was removed to Fort Scott, and then sent to
HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY
Fort Leavenworth from whence Le was released om parole Sep- member 6. 1862. remaining on parole until in 1863. In 1865. he surrendered at Nevada. Away back in 1849 he had settled in this county. and in ISSS was appointed to ill out the unexpired neema of James Fergus. the county sheriff. a position to which he was elected im Isdo. and one that he held until his enlistment. Mr. Taylor came wriginally from Boyle county. Kentucky. where he was been Oefober 20. 1831. Jesse Taylor. his father. and Elizabeth Ansie Taylor. his mother, were also Kentuckiats bv birch. and the parents of six chiliren, of whom William H. was the third. though the eldest som. When quite young he accom- pazied his parents to Missouri, shopping Erst at St. Louis. from there going to Warren county, where he grew up on a farm. ar i Then coming here as stated .. After the elose of the war he went do INfois for a short time. visiting Nebraska the following fall. but in 1868 he returned again to Nevada. In 1872 he was a second time elected sherif of the county. a compliment which plainly indicated his worth and duness for political preferment. His term expired in 1805, and in 1806 he went to Dade county. and after awhile te Arkansas. where remamed two and a half Fears. During this time he was engaged in a survey of the town of Eureka Springs. In November. 1883. Vernon county again became his home. and in September. 1885. he received the ap- pointment as postmaster of Montevallo. by President Cleveland. In 1953. Mr. Taylor was married to Miss Emaline Gresham. who died @ 1884. leaving one son. Willie S. In 1861. Miss Sarah E. Posteri, of Barry county. Illinois, became his wife. and one son Blessed this min. Willis H. Mr. Taylor was a Knight Templar in the Masoni: Order. His death occurred in March. 1888.
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