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 46
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Medical Society, and the Hodgen Medical Society. In politics he adheres to the principles of the Democratic party with progres- sive ideas.
Lewis Hawkins Turpin, whose death occurred in September, 1906, was for many years a prominent business man and honored citizen of Nevada, Mo. He was of English lineage, and was born in Lewis county, Missouri, in 1858, to Hezekiah and Octavia (Hawkins) Turpin. The former moved from Kentucky, his na- tive state, and settled on a farm in Lewistown, Lewis county, Missouri, where he died; the mother was a daughter of the late Judge Hawkins, of Canton, Mo.
Our subject supplemented his preliminary education with a course of study at Canton University, after which he spent three and a half years teaching in Butte, Mont., whither he went to recuperate his health, and thence went to Ogden, Utah, where he was employed three years as a traveling express auditor. In 1886 Mr. Turpin took up his residence at Nevada, and for several years thereafter was engaged in the grocery trade. Selling this business, he next turned his attention to the furniture trade, buying one-half interest in the house of Messrs. Penn and Beag- les; thereafter conducted under the firm name of Penn & Turpin until Mr. Penn withdrew, selling his interest to Mr. Frank H. Glenn, who came into the business which was carried on under the name of Turpin & Glenn, till the latter sold his interest to Mr. James D. Ingram, when the firm name changed to Turpin & Ingram. After Mr. Turpin's decease, Mr. Ingram retired, and the business was incorporated and has since been conducted as the Turpin Furniture Company, with Mrs. A. M. Turpin as president. Mrs. Loyd Turpin, vice-president, and Mr. Loyd H. Turpin, as secretary and treasurer ; the company being organized with a capital stock of $20,000.
Mr. Turpin was an active man of affairs and keenly alive to whatever related to the development and betterment of his city and community, and was always ready to do his part in forward- ing any worthy movement; he was for several years an active member of the school board of Nevada, and the Ward Schools were established largely through his efforts; he was kind-hearted and true, and withal, modest, quiet and unassuming, never car- ing for political office or honors, but was chairman of the Demo-
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cratic County committee, and his influence was felt everywhere in shaping political affairs. He stood high in Woodmen of the World, and Knights of Pythias circles, and also was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Masons, Knights and Ladies of Security, Modern Woodmen of America, and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
On June 17, 1882, Mr. Turpin was united in marriage with Miss Anna Mabel Wright, daughter of John W. and Emily (Crutcher) Wright, the former a native of northern Missouri, and the latter of Kentucky; their family lineage running back to Zachary Taylor and Robert E. Lee, respectively. She settled in Missouri while the Indians were yet numerous, her family being among the early pioneer settlers of Boone county.
Mr. and Mrs. Turpin's son, Loyd Hawkins Turpin, has the management of the Turpin Furniture Company, and their daugh- ter Mabel Lee Turpin, an alumnae of the Missouri State Univer- sity, is instructor in Latin at Nevada High School.
Mrs. Turpin, who is at the head of the Turpin Furniture Company, is a woman of superior qualities and fine attainments and admirably fitted and qualified for the responsible position she fills. Under the conservative and wise management of its officers the company's volume of business has shown a marked increase each succeeding year since it was incorporated, in 1909.
John A. Tyler was born at Worcester, Worcester county, Massachusetts, October 24, 1832, and was the son of George W. and Clara (Patch) Tyler, themselves natives of Massachusetts. The father died in 1842 at Natchez, Mississippi; his wife, as intimated, had preceded him to the grave some years before. John A. remained in the state of his birth until 1850, growing up with a mercantile experience. In 1854 he came west as far as Chicago, and from there went to Bloomington, Illinois, thence to St. Louis for a short time and later to New Orleans. Afterwards, owing to ill health, he went to Bell county, Texas, where he be- came interested in the horse and mule and cattle trade. He con- tinued this business some twelve years with good success, and upon the cessation of hostilities which had existed between the North and South he settled at Pleasant Hill, Cass county, Mis- souri. from whence he came to this county in 1869. He at once embarked in the hardware business, and from his first settlement
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here he took an active part in everything tending to the interest of Nevada and Vernon county ; especially in educational matters he was quite prominent. In 1860 Mr. Tyler married Addie A. Smith, a native of New York City. She died in Texas in 1863, leaving one daughter, Nellie, who married Charles Thom. In 1867 he was married to Miss Maggie Thomas, who was born and reared in Pleasant Hill, Missouri. Mr. Tyler was a Knights Templar in the Masonic Order.
John Ulch was born in Perry county, of the Keystone State, June 1, 1839, his parents being Jacob and Elizabeth (Charles) ยท Ulch, both natives also of Pennsylvania. The father was a farmer by occupation and naturally brought up his son to that calling, teaching him at first the rudiments of farm life and later the more advanced ideas of that occupation. In 1859 young Ulch removed to Illinois, where in 1862 he enlisted in the 93d Wisconsin Regi- ment, Volunteer Infantry, serving nearly three years. During this term of service he took part in the battles of Baker's Creek, Champion's Hill, seige of Vicksburg, Atlanta, Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge, Altoona Pass and many others. After the close of the war Mr. Ulch returned to Illinois. In 1866 he came to Vernon county, Missouri, and entered at once upon the career destined to be both an honorable and successful one, and by industry and good management met with more than ordinary returns. In March, 1871, Mr. Ulch was married to Miss Rebecca M. Rhea, a native of this county.
James W. Underwood was born in Cass county, Missouri, May 7, 1838, and was connected by birth with a family whose reputa- tion is not confined alone to this part of Vernon county. Jack- man K. Underwood, his father, was a son of Joel Underwood, wlic was born March 12, 1776, in the state of North Carolina, and died September 19, 1840, near Lone Jack, Missouri. His wife, whose maiden name was Susannah Cunningham, was of Scotch-Irish extraction and was born January 28, 1782; she died May 25, 1839, leaving the following children: Jackman K., Wesley, Narcissa, John H., William H., Grizella, James F., Sally, Susan, Rebecca, Eliza and Martha. The first named child, Jackman K., was born in Surry county, North Carolina, on January 4, 1805. He grew up in his native state, taught school in Virginia, and while in the
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Old Dominion married Miss Amanda Leonard. In 1837 Mr. Underwood moved westward, taking up a location in what is now Cass county, Missouri, during the following fall. In 1868 he came to Vernon county and made his home with his daughter, Mrs. Frank Lawrence, until his widely mourned death occurred, Jan- uary 18, 1880. Perhaps no man had a stronger hold upon the affections of the people in this community than Mr. Underwood. Plain, honest and honorable in all his dealings, his life was above reproach; for over forty years he was connected with the M. E. Church South, lived a faithful, earnest Christian career, and was devoted to the church. He was the father of five children: William C., now deceased; James W., Rossy A., Mrs. F. M. Lawrence, Susan M. and Henry H. James W. Underwood. a worthy member of the family whose name he bears, was reared to a farm experience and always followed that calling, and with uniform good success. In March, 1869, he settled in this county. During the war he enlisted in Company A, 16th Missouri Infantry, serving actively in the siege of Lexington, battle of Lone Jack, Jenkin's Ferry, Pleasant Hill and others of severe importance, returning after the close of the war to his home in Cass county. March 27, 1872, Miss Mary Bowman, of Fremont county, Iowa, became his wife. She was born in 1852.
William Vail was born on the 7th of October, 1829, a Canadian by birth, as was also his father, Isaac Vail, but his mother, whose maiden name was Mary Campbell, came originally from Scotland. Isaac Vail died in that country in 1857, his widow surviving until 1883, when she, too, passed away. Their children were: William, Susan, John, Betsy, George and Isaac. The subject of this sketch was brought up on his father's farm and early identified himself with agricultural pursuits. In April, 1857, he came to the United States, locating in Kansas, where some years later he joined the army, becoming a member of the 6th Kansas Cavalry. With this command he served for three years, two months and twenty days, obtaining an extensive military experience. In July, 1863, his health having been impaired, he was assigned to duty in the ordnance department at Fort Scott as issuing clerk, a position in which he continued during the remainder of his term of service. On the 30th of September, 1865, Mr. Vail located upon his farm,
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and on February 7, 1862, he was married to Mrs. Ellen Farwell (Manlove), of Illinois.
Cornelius C. Van Arsdale,* who has been a prominent man in Osage township, Vernon county, Missouri, for more than a quar- ter of a century, was born in Mercer county, Kentucky. November 7, 1842. His parents, Abram M. and Dovinda (Bohon) Van Arsdale, both natives of Mercer county, Kentucky, are at this time deceased, the mother dying in 1875.
Cornelius C. acquired his preliminary education in "subscrip- tion schools" in his native county and later attended Harodsburg University at Harodsburg, Kentucky. He ran away from school in the early part of 1861 and enlisted in Company H, Third Regi- ment, Arkansas Infantry, and entered the Confederate Army, serving till June, 1864, when he was taken prisoner and sent to the military prison at Rock Island, Illinois, where he was held till the close of the war in 1865. Returning to Kentucky in the fall of that year, he took a course of study in the Commercial College at Louisville and in 1866 engaged in mercantile business at McAfee, in Mercer county. After three years of mercantile life he turned his attention to farming and continued it with good success till March, 1882, when he moved to Vernon county, Mis- souri, and settled in Ballstown, Osage township, where he has since made his home. Mr. Van Arsdale bought twenty acres and leased other land, and since that time has devoted himself to farming in connection with other matters. In 1887 he was ap- pointed postmaster at Ballstown by President Cleveland and. filled that office until the spring of 1891. He was also at the same time 'elected justice of the peace and, with the exception of two terms, served in that office from the spring of 1887 till 1909. He also served on the township board some eight or ten years, and for eight years was township tax collector. In politics Mr. Van Arsdale has always adhered to the principles of the Democratic party. On November 3, 1874, he was united in marriage at Louis- ville, Kentucky, with Miss Mary T. Burford, who was born in Mercer county, Kentucky, January 17, 1852, the daughter of Dr. John A. and Mary A. (Wallace) Burford, who moved about 1861 to Louisville, where the mother passed away in 1907 at the age of eighty-seven, and where Dr. Burford celebratetd the ninetieth anniversary of his birth on January 2, 1911. They had a family
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of seven children, of whom Mrs. Van Arsdale is the second in order of birth, Stonewall J. Burford, who was a member of the Rhodes-Burford Furniture Company, being a younger brother.
Of seven children born to Mr. and Mrs. Van Arsdale. Edna E., born January 24, 1875, resides with her parents; Lulu B., born September 24, 1879, is married to John E. Hobart, of Webster Grove, Missouri; Robert H., born March, 1881, lives in St. Louis, Missouri; Addie A., born March 28, 1893, resides at home ; Fannie L., born in March, 1888, died March 31, 1911, and two passed away in infancy.
Thomas W. Vandiver is one of the substantial and well-known business men of Nevada, and a native Missourian. He comes of Holland ancestry on his paternal side, and was born in Chariton county, October 14, 1850, and is one of a family of six children born to Thomas L. and Elizabeth (Heryford) Vandiver, natives of Virginia and Missouri, respectively; the father settling in Missouri, in 1818, and the mother spending her life there. Their other children were: Jacob O., a twin brother of our subject, now deceased; Eliza, who is married to Mr. Allen Taylor, of Salisbury, Mo .; Della, the wife of Mr. Charles Landrum, of Linn county, Missouri, and Susan and William, both now deceased. Our subject's paternal grandfather, Jacob Vandiver, moved from Virginia, his native state, in the pioneer days, and spent his life as a farmer in Shelby and Marion counties, Missouri. His ma- ternal grandfather, Capt. James Heryford, settled in north- central Missouri about the year 1808, and experienced numerous thrilling encounters with the Indians and other perils incident to those early pioneer days; he commanded a company in the Black Hawk War.
Thomas W. acquired his preliminary education in the public schools of his native county and supplemented this with a course of study in the State Normal School at Kirksville, Mo. He began his business career as deputy county clerk of Chariton county, and then, after clerking for a time in a general store at Salisbury, engaged in mercantile business at Clinton, Mo. He was after- wards employed as a traveling. salesman till 1893, when he took up his residence at Nevada, where he has since made his home. Here Mr. Vandiver joined with others in organizing the Farm and Home Savings Association of Missouri, which has grown to
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be one of the strongest financial institutions in the southwestern section of the state, and from its beginning has filled the offices of manager of agents and vice-president of the organization, which last office he now holds.
Colonel Vandiver, as he is familiarly called, is widely known as an active and leading man of affairs throughout his section of the state, and is alive to all that relates to the development and betterment of his community. In 1880 he married Miss Mary A., daughter of Thomas and Janet Fleming, of Clinton, Mo., and they have one child, Earl F. Vandiver. "Tom," as Mr. Vandiver is more generally known, is an ardent devotee of hook and line, and there is not a more thorough and enthusiastic fisherman in the state than he is. He renders good assistance in the support and enforcement of the game and fish laws.
Isaac J. Veatch was born in Washington county, Illinois, October 7, 1845. He was the sixth child and is one of five sur- vivors of a family of fifteen children born to William and Lucy (Larkin) Veatch, both natives of Kentucky. Our subject's grand- father, Elias Veatch, settled in Washington county, Illinois, with his family when William, our subject's father, was eight years old, and died there. William Veatch moved to Davis county, Iowa, soon after the birth of our subject, and lived there twenty- one years. In the fall of 1866 he moved with his family to Ver- non county, Missouri, and bought and settled on a quarter sec- tion of land in section 1, Harrison township, and built the first house erected between Big Drywood and Little Drywood rivers west of Branough. Here he was a successful general farmer and cattle dealer. He died in Vernon county, Mo., in 1886. He was a member of the Masonic order, and in political opinion held to Democratic principles. His widow passed away at the age of seventy-three, February 20, 1898.
Our subject attended the common schools in Davis county, Iowa, till he was eighteen years old, and in his twentieth year was there united in marriage with Miss Mary King, a daughter of Mr. Soloman King, a native of Virginia.
Mr. Veatch has devoted his life to farming, with gratifying success, and owns one of the choice farms of Harrison township, being in section 15, well stocked, thoroughly equipped and hand- somely improved. He is esteemed among his neighbors and by
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all who know him as an upright and worthy citizen, and as a farmer ranks with the best.
He is a Democrat in political opinion and takes a somewhat active part in the local affairs of his party. Mr. Veatch has a comfortable' home and with his wife lives happily in the enjoy- ment of the fruits of their busy lives.
Of four children born to Mr. and Mrs. Veatch the only sur- vivor, Jasper Lee Veatch, was born July 17, 1873, is a farmer and lives in Harrison township, Vernon county, Missouri.
Orange T. Vedder is one of the prosperous and successful merchants of Nevada, Mo., whose success is the result of tire- less effort and good judgment. A native of Carrollton, Ill., he was born November 7, 1850, to Francis P. and Wilhelmina (Ter- hune) Vedder, whose parents were natives of Holland. On coming to this country the grandparents first settled at Coney Island, whence the father followed his trade as a cabinetmaker until his removal to Carrollton, Ill., in the early thirties, being among the pioneers of that place. He served seventeen years as county clerk of Green county, Illinois, and lived there till 1865. He then removed to Carrollton, Ill., where he died in 1872, at the age of sixty-three years, his death having been preceded by that of his wife, who passed away when she was forty years of age. Of eight children born to them, one daughter, Sarah, who is mar- ried to Dr. J. M. Davis, of Carrollton, Ill., and our subject, who is next to the youngest of the family, are the only survivors.
Orange T. acquired his preliminary education in the public schools of his native place and supplemented it by a course of study at a college in Syracuse, N. Y.
After leaving college he clerked five years in a dry goods store at Syracuse, and then for a time was similarly employed at Carrollton, after which he was employed three years as man- ager of a store at Washington, Kan., owned by his uncle, James S. Vedder. Returning to Carrollton at the end of this engage- ment he spent five years clerking and then engaged in business on his own account, opening a large dry goods store at Carrollton and conducting it with marked success from 1872 to 1889.
On the 15th of May of that year Mr. Vedder settled at Nevada and associated with Messrs. J. H. Jackson, of Nevada, and William H. Sturgis, of St. Louis, under the firm name of Sturgis-
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Jackson Dry Goods Company, purchased the business formerly owned by Mr. J. F. Harber and began the development of a dry goods trade that has grown to large proportions. The business is managed by Mr. Vedder, whose long experience admirably fits him for the work; and the fact that the house ranks among the leading and most prosperous mercantile establishments of the city speaks more eloquently than words of Mr. Vedder's able, wise and progressive management of its large affairs.
Mr. Vedder is an active member of the Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks.
In 1884 he was united in marriage with Miss Mollie G. Jack- son, daughter of H. V. and Louise (Hinton) Jackson, of Carroll- ton, Ill. Mrs. Vedder is a woman of rare attainments with great executive ability and fine accomplishments, and is a recognized leader in social and club circles in Nevada. Mr. and Mrs. Vedder have two children, viz .: Vena, who is married to Mr. Irving C. Brower, of Chicago, and Louise, who lives at home.
Joseph M. Waddell was born June 26, 1826, in Gallia county, Ohio. His father, James Waddell, and also his mother, formerly a Miss Cunningham, were Virginians by birth, but when Joseph was six years old they removed to Michigan City, Indiana, and thence in 1840 to Freeport, Illinois. Accompanying the family on these moves he was reared, as it were, on the frontier, becom- ing thoroughly familiar with agricultural life in a pioneer coun- try. In 1859 he removed to Wisconsin, from which state in 1861 he enlisted in the 12th Wisconsin Infantry, serving eight months, when he was discharged on account of sickness. After recovering he enlisted as a recruit in Company F, 3d Wisconsin Cavalry, as private, and when mustered out held the rank of orderly sergeant. It was while a soldier that he first came to this county in 1862, and he remained in this vicinity until mustered out of the service in 1865, when he returned to his home in Wisconsin for the win- ter. In 1866 he located here permanently and engaged in farming up to 1872, when he engaged in the mercantile business at Deer- field.
William J. Wainscott, one of the enterprising and hustling business men of Nevada, is a native of Kentucky and was born in Richmond, Lafayette county, April 23, 1855. He began his
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business career when 18 years of age as a traveling salesman for Messrs. Phillips, Grant & Co., manufacturers and wholesale dealers of boots and shoes, at St. Louis, and continued in that relation ten years. In 1883 he moved to Nevada and bought an interest in the Tyler Hardware & Furniture Company, of which he became sole owner after the death of Mr. Tyler, May 3, 1894, but immediately disposed of a part of the business of the house, retaining only the furniture and undertaking business, which was organized and merged into the Wainscott Furniture Com- pany, with Mr. Wainscott as president. Mr. Wainscott is a practical undertaker, thoroughly posted in all the minutiae of the business and holds the highest grade certificate as an embalmer.
The business, under his splendid management, has grown to large proportions and is the most extensive in its line in the city of Nevada or Vernon county, and its trade extends over a wide territory in every direction. Mr. Wainscott stands high in Masonic circles, being a Shriner and a member of Ararat Temple, of Kansas City. On April 17, 1884, he married Miss Mittie E. Sparks, of Lexington, Mo., and they have one son, named Richard . S. Mr. Wainscott is a worthy example of the up-to-date, pro- gressive, wideawake business man, and his various activities have accomplished results of which he may justly be proud.
Daniel Ward was born in Trumbull county, Ohio, February 22, 1829. He was the son of Charles Ward, a native of Ireland, who emigrated to America in 1818, here embarking in agricultural pursuits, his occupation previous to this having been that of a sailor. To himself and wife, formerly Miss Grace Fury, also of Irish nativity, fifteen children were born, twelve of whom grew to maturity. Daniel was the sixth child, and he grew up in the Buckeye State until ten years old, then accompanying his father to Ray county, Missouri, and later to Livingston county, from whence some time after, in 1841, he turned towards southwest Missouri, settling in Cedar county. There his home continued to be for many years, and in that locality he gave close attention to the details of agricultural life. In 1853 Mr. Ward was united in marriage with Miss Maria Ellis, of Montgomery county, Mis- souri, daughter of Spencer and Mary (Hudson) Ellis, the former of Richmond, Virginia, and the latter of Tenessee. Mrs. Ward was the eldest of eleven children in her parents' family. She
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has borne her husband a family of seven children: Alice, wife of William Rinehart; Hamilton, Florence, Benjamin Davenport. Laura, wife of William Hudson; Patrick, Emmet and Eva, who married William Osborne. Mr. Ward located in this county in 1863. Mrs. Ward's father came to Vernon county as early as 1845, settling near Avola.
William H. Ward, who has been a resident of Harrison town- ship, Vernon county, Missouri, since 1875, is a prosperous and substantial farmer. He was born in Bourbon county, Kansas, December 13, 1866, and is the third child and one of four survivors of a family of six children born to A. G. and Mrs. (Wilson) Ward, both natives of Indiana. The father went to Bourbon county, Kansas, in 1859, and moved thence to Vernon county. Missouri, with his wife and four children, in 1875. He settled on a tract of 200 acres in section 4, Harrison township, and there established the family home and passed the remainder of his life, his death occurring February 22, 1902. His widow, who was born in 1842, now lives on the old homestead.
William H. has always been engaged in farming operations .. and is a man who keeps pace with modern improvements, and in his ideas and methods is thoroughly practical and up to date. He is a general farmer, but gives particular attention to raising wheat and oats and breeding fine horses. In political matters he supports the Republican party, and takes a live interest in its affairs. He is a member of Garland Lodge, No. 603, Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
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