USA > Missouri > History of southeast Missouri : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests, Volume I > Part 87
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Dr. Selle. Finney Sr
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lent and general manager. In addition to this large interest he has considerable town property and also six hundred and sixty acres of land near Conran, which is being cleared and farmed. He is very loyal to Mis- souri, in which state all of his success has been achieved.
Mr. and Mrs. Gwyn have an interesting family of seven children. Bessie attends Hardin College, and Frank, Judge, Myrtle, Tom, Burley and Dan are all at home. Mrs. wyn and five of the children, Bessie, Frank, Judge, Myrtle and Tom, are all members of Missionary Baptist church. Mr. Gwyn is one of the most enthusiastic of local lodge nen and holds membership in no less than six orders. He is a Mason, being affiliated with the time-honored order at Cardwell and having attained to the thirty-second degree, und he also belongs to the Independent Order f Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias, the Woodmen of the World, the Modern Wood- nen of America and Ben Hur. He is the riend of good government and of a public spirited type of citizenship.
JOHN MARSHALL FINNEY, M. D. At a very early age a boy begins to make plans for his future career; he is positive as to the direc- ion this career will take, but very frequently before he has finished his schooling he ranches out into something entirely differ- nt; sometimes the change is brought about y a series of circumstances over which he has 10 control. Sometimes he himself undergoes such radical changes that he no longer feels iny inclination towards those things he formerly loved. In the case of John Mar- hall Finney, when he was in the grammar chool he had already decided on his profes- ion and he never changed his mind. Since hat time everything he studied or read was elected with a view to his chosen profession.
He was born at Vienna in Johnson county, llinois, February 18, 1852, and was the son f G. P. and Rachael (Latham) Finney, both f whom were born in Illinois. The Finney amily originally came from Virginia and vere early settlers in Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Finney had three children, one daughter and wo sons, of whom John Marshall is the oungest. His brother, W. N. Finney, is a esident of California. Mr. Finney died when he was forty-three years of age and his vife at about the same age.
After his mother's death, when he was
eleven years old, John Marshall Finney went to live with an uncle, Dr. J. F. Latham, a farmer of Saline county, Illinois. After he had finished the grammar school course, he attended the Ewing College, preparatory to the study of medicine. When he was only sixteen years of age he went to Eldorado, Illinois and there read with a doctor and practised under his instructions. Ile next at- tended a medical college in St. Louis, where he also practiced. In 1873 he came to Mis- souri, after practicing in Illinois for a short time, and located at Marble Hill. After three years of successful practice, he located at Laflin in Bollinger county, but very near to Cape Girardeau county. His practice was in both counties. For thirty years he kept up this hard life, traveling long distances to visit his patients. In 1906 he came to Cape Gir- ardeau, with the intention of giving up his visiting and intending to have only an office practice. He established a drug store in the town, carrying a very full line of drugs of all descriptions and medicines. His patients will not, however, be contented to let him de- vote his time to his drug store, but they come to him from long distances, although he only visits in Cape Girardeau. For the past twenty years he has been a member of the Southeastern Missouri Medical Society, being one of the oldest practitioners in this part of southeastern Missouri.
In 1877 he married Mary G. Manning, daughter of George and Louisa Manning of Leopold, Missouri. Dr. and Mrs. Finney had a family of eleven children, nine of whom are living now (1911), as follows: John Marshall, Jr., a physician near Leopold, Missouri ; Norman J. in the United States Army, located at the Philippine Islands; Louisa Ann, wife of J. H. Price of Orange, Texas; Francis M., attending normal school at Cape Girardeau; Rachael, Julia, George G., William Paul and Mary Gertrude are all at home with their parents. Norman was the only child who was not born in southeastern Missouri. He was born in St. Louis, while the doctor was living there attending medical college in 1884, tak- ing a special course of study.
The doctor is a member of the Masonic Order and is a master Mason. He is a Demo- cont in political sympathies: he is greatly in- terested in politics, but holds no office, nor has he any desire for political honors for him- self. He finds his time fully taken up with the duties of his own profession and the
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management of his drug store. He has been in practice in southeastern Missouri for thirty-seven years, much of the time in Cape Girardeau. He is naturally known all over the state by his professional brethren and his office, at 709 Broadway, is visited by physi- cians from all over the two counties. We sometimes feel that a man has mistaken his calling in life, that he would have made more of a success in some other position. That is not the case with Dr. Finney; one feels that he is a perfect success as a physician and he would not have done his best work in any other profession.
FRANCIS MARION WELLS. There is no finer satisfaction in life than to look back, when success has come, and see that achievement has been wrought, not on the foundation of the fortunes of one's forebears, but upon the firmer basis of innate progressiveness, perse- verance and courage undaunted in the face of all obstacles. Such is the satisfaction that F. M. Wells, the well-known banker of Mar- ble Hill, must take, when still in the prime of life, when he glances back over his note- worthy career of sixty years.
Mr. Wells was born in those days of clouded premonition, when the Missouri Compromise and its attendant circumstances had already split the country into the North and the South, January 6, 1850, in. Bradley county, in eastern Tennessee. He was the son of Eli and Mary (Brandon) Wells, the former a native of the Big Bend state and the latter a descendant of Colonial stock. horn near Rome, Georgia. The parents lived upon their farm, and there followed the great basic industry of agriculture. In 1858 the father brought his generous family of eleven children to Stoddard county, Missouri. Of the seventeen children born, six had deceased in Tennessee. Eli Wells had made an early venture in the mercantile business, but re- verses in that field had necessitated a second choice, and he selected farming, being en- gaged first on the farm of his brother James, well-known as a successful agriculturist.
On the 2d of April, 1863, occurred the death of Eli Wells, and a large family was left to carve out its own fortunes without the guidance or assistance of a father. Francis Marion was then thirteen, and during the remainder of the war period, he being the oldest boy at home, upon his sturdy boy's shoulders rested the responsibility of the
support of the large family. Two of th older boys were off at the war following th Union flag, while Francis Marion and younger brother, by renting a farm, wer cheerfully performing the tasks of fari, labor and keeping the family together unt. peace should be declared and the older boy return. Of such stuff are men made, thos early chapters but foretell the spirit of hi later life.
After farming in Stoddard county and i Scott county, Mr. Wells came to Bollinger where after farming for a year he entere the general merchandise store of Bollinge and Slinkard, located at Bollinger's Mi (now Zalma) in the capacity of clerk, an he made no change in his position for fiv years.
On March 24, 1874, Mr. Wells was unite in marriage to Miss Rachel C. Bollinge: daughter of Joel and Ann Elizabeth Bollinge. stanch pioneers of the region. Mr. and Mr Wells became the parents of two children Francis R., born in January, 1875, died i early infancy, and Charles A., born June 1877, is now a prominent physician, with flourishing practice, at Pascola, Pemisco county, Missouri, in which place he has ry sided for twelve years. In 1877 Mr. Well through an appointment by the county cour, became collector to fill the unexpired term ( Mr. Hopkins. He served two years, and the was elected to the same office for three co) secutive terms, a speaking comment of tl efficient and honorable service rendered b Mr. Wells.
In 1885 Mr. Wells opened mercantile e tablishments at Lutesville and Marble Hil On March 10, 1886, Mrs. Wells was called 1. the Great Beyond, leaving her husband wit her little son Charles, then a child of nine:
For three years, from 1887 until 1889, M Wells was interested in the handling of liv stock, and managed a large trading busine; in the same, carrying on extensive oper. tions throughout southeastern Missouri. 1. 1889 the governor of Missouri selected hi: to fill the unexpired term of county cleri and in 1890 the citizenship of the count: mindful of the record of Mr. Wells as count collector, again elected him to public offic. and for six years he was county clerk of Bo linger county, and no man has ever held tl office with more general satisfaction to tl community. In 1906 he was elected presi ing Judge of the County Court, serving for
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years, making altogether eighteen years of public service in county office.
When the Bollinger County Bank was or- ranized Mr. Wells, ever on the alert where he welfare of the county is concerned, was etively coneerned in the establishment of a eliable local monetary institution, and sub- equently became its president. In 1897, upon the resignation of Cashier B. F. Ster- ns. he accepted the cashiership, thus giving n all fifteen years of service. Besides his nterest in the Bollinger County Bank he is also a stockholder in the Bank of Marble Hill, ind with some six others he maintains a eon- rolling interest in the Advanee Telephone company, an enterprise that started with a apital stoek of $20,000, and has sinee, hrough wise executive policies, been built up 0 $44,000. Besides his handsome residenee ind town lots in Marble Hill, Mr. Wells' real state holdings inelude town lots in Okla- roma, a one hundred and twenty acre farm ind an interest in a farming property mounting to three hundred and sixty acres. Besides this he holds the enviable record of having been identified with Mayfield College or twenty years, having been president of he Board of Trustees for that length of ime.
On September 29, 1887, Mr. Wells laid the 'oundation for his present happy household y his marriage on that date to Miss Incy 3. Swift, daughter of Thomas and Hannah 1. (Wilkinson) Swift, of Cape Girardeau ounty. Six children have been born to this mion, four of whom survive, as follows :- William F., born September 20, 1888, is now cashier of the Bank of Patton, which he or- janized with a capital of ten thousand dol- ars; Marie, born January 24, 1896; Emma Tane, born April 19, 1899; and Harry Hu- bert, born March 17, 1902. Mr. and Mrs. Wells and their family are members of the Baptist church, and Mr. Wells is a deacon in he Marble Hill church. Fraternally Mr. Vells is affiliated with that historie order, he Aneient Free and Accepted Masons.
It is interesting to note, not only for the aet itself but for the lesson it may possibly each the younger generation, bred among ess trying scenes than those of war and rontier pioneering, that Mr. Wells never etually attended school except for the tri- ling period of six months, but like many an- ther indomitable soul of the sixties and sev- nties, when circumstances demanded that Vol. 1-40
the daylight hours be given to toil, he under- took to educate himself at night, and it is no mere figure to say that he studied by "midnight oil." Mr. Wells indeed deserves the loyal affection and high respect with which he is regarded throughout the county and beyond its limits.
EDGAR PREWITT CARUTHERS. There are but ten persons on the Midway Islands, a recent acquisition of the United States, yet they are not lonesome, for these Islands are used as a cable station, and the news of the world passes daily through their hands. The man who brings this news to our doors in readable form has performed a public bene- faetion, which should be highly appreciated. Such a man is Edgar Prewitt Caruthers, who was born in southeastern Missouri, in St. Franeois county, October 27, 1854, a son of Solomon D. and Mary Jane (Harris) Caru- thers. The father, Solomon D., was a native of Madison county, Missouri, coming here with his father, David L. Caruthers, from Tennessee in 1820. The mother was a native of Kentucky, her father being Squire Samuel Perrin Harris, of Irish descent, who came to Missouri at an early day. The branch of the Caruthers family to which this subject be- longs were of Seotch-Irish stock, and were settlers in North Carolina before the Revo- lution.
The immediate subject of this review, Ed- gar P. Caruthers, obtained his education in the common schools of his native state. In early life he decided to adopt the printer's trade as his life work, and, in accordance with this idea, went into a printer's office at Fredericktown, where he mastered the intri- eaeies of this business and beeame the owner of the Bee there when but a mere boy. Later he was employed for six years in the treasury department of Missouri, and then became a reporter on a St. Louis newspaper. He then removed to Medicine Lodge, Kan- sas, where he published a paper for eight years, and takes eredit as the "discoverer" of Jerry Simpson. He then returned to Mis- souri and located at Carthage, where he was engaged in the printing business for two years, when he removed to Kennett, in the same state, taking charge of the Dunklin Democrat in 1893. since which time he has been its editor and publisher, and he is quite proud of the fact that it has not missed an issue during all that time.
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Mr. Caruthers was first married in 1874, the lady of his choice being Mary L. Flem- ing, of Fredericktown, Missouri, and of this union there are four children living,-Mrs. Will A. Jones, of Kennett; Albert B. Caru- thers, for the past five years in the Canal zone in the government employ; Robert L. Caruthers, an attorney of Haskell, Okla- homa; and Mrs. Wallace E. Barron, of Cal- ico Rock, Arkansas. Mr. Caruther's first wife died in 1890. Four years later he was united in the holy bonds of wedlock to Miss Minnie Chandler, who lived but four years, her demise occurring in 1898. There were two children by this marriage, both of whom are deceased. He was again married, Mrs. Electra Townsend becoming his wife. No children were born of this union, and Mrs. Caruthers has passed on to her eternal life. In polities Mr. Caruthers is an earnest and unswerving Democrat, and in fraternal rela- tions is an esteemed member of the Royal Arch Masons.
WILLIAM L. COLE is the prosecuting attor- ney of Franklin county, an able and success- ful advocate in criminal practice and a pow- erful factor in political affairs not merely in Franklin county, but throughout the entire state of Missouri. Although not yet come to middle life, Mr. Cole's achievements in his profession and in the domain of political af- fairs mark him as belonging to the chosen band of leaders who are shaping the policies and directing the forces which are lifting the commonwealth to a still higher plane of en- lightenment and prosperity.
A native of Franklin county, Mr. Cole's na- tal day is the 30th of March, and the year of his birthi was the centennial, 1876. Ger- ald, his birthplace, was the final home of his parents. His father was also indigenous to this county, his native place being four miles east of Washington.
W. N. J. Cole, the father of the present attorney, was born in 1831, spent his life as a farmer, was fairly educated for that time and was always actively interested in public education. Upon public questions he agreed with the Democrats until the time of the Civil war, when the issue of Secession drove him into the Republican party. Mr. Cole's mother was formerly Mrs. Susan Cooper, widow of a Mr. Cooper who came to Franklin county immediately after the Rebellion. Prior to her marriage to Mr. Cooper she was
Miss Susan Smith, whose father was a Ken- tuckian. She was the mother of three chil- dren by her first marriage and her issue by Mr. Cole were: George L., superintendent of schools at Marshfield, Missouri; Charles A ... superintendent of schools at Union, Mis- souri; Jacob E., a farmer of Franklin. county ; William L., of this review, and Emma J., who died in the county as the wife, f William Williams. Mrs. Cole passed, away in 1882 and her husband followed her in 1904.
The Franklin county branch of the Cole, family was founded by Jacob Cole in 1813. He was born near Charlestown, West Vir- ginia, in 1795. In 1798 he accompanied his father to Missouri. He lived in St. Charles county until the age of eighteen. As a pio- neer he became one of the best known citi- zens in this part of Missouri. His business was distilling liquor and farming. His mar- riage took place in Franklin county, where he lived until 1882. W. N. J. Cole was the youngest of his eleven children.
William L. Cole, the subject of this sketch, received his elementary education in the country near his birthplace, and then at- tended the Owensville Normal. He taught. in the district schools of Franklin and of. Gasconade counties until he was chosen prin- cipal of the schools in Pacific, Missouri. While filling this position, he devoted all his, spare time to the study of law, completing his preparation by taking the summer course in law at the State University in Columbia. In 1900 he was admitted to the bar in Her- mann before Judge Hertzel, but continued to. teach until 1904, when he began to practice his profession in Pacific. Mr. Cole was a. member of the bar in that town until he was elected prosecuting attorney of his county in November, 1906. He succeeded Hon. O. E. Meyersick in this office and established his residence in the county seat. Twice re- elected he has maintained the reputation of Franklin county for the conviction of viola- tors of the law, some of the notorious crim- inals of the age having been overtaken by justice in the Franklin county court.
Gifted by nature in the art of public speaking, Mr. Cole easily found place for his talents in the practice of law. The state Re- publican committee eagerly availed itself of so capable and convincing an expounder of the doctrines of the party and invited him; to take part in the compaign of 1904. Since
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that time he has participated in every cam- paign; he has served the county, the state and the congressional committees, and he has been a recognized power in the organi- zation of his party and in its success at the polls.
Mr. Cole has attained some prominence in Woodcraft, having filled the chair of consul in Union, attended stated conventions of the order and been delegate to the Head Camp at Buffalo, New York. In the Masonic order he has sat in the Grand Lodge as delegate both in St. Louis and in Kansas City. He and his wife hold membership in the Eastern Star.
On November 28, 1906, Mr. Cole was mar- ried to Miss Agatha Bucher at Pacific, Mis- souri. Her father was Jacob Bucher, a Swiss by birth, while her mother was Miss Agatha Zetch, born in Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Cole have no children.
The outline of Mr. Cole's career would present to one unacquainted with him the idea of a successful and popular lawyer, adroit in the handling of men and affairs. Mr. Cole is all of this and much more. No account of his achievements would picture the force and directness of his character nor the genialty of his manner, which is yet nt- terly devoid of the remotest trace of fawning or flattery. All in all, Mr. Cole's frequent selection for office may be said to be simply the natural tribute to his personal popular- ity and capabilities.
GEORGE W. REDDEN. It has been the pleas- ant fortune of George W. Redden, leading photographer of Farmington, to have ob- tained the highest prestige in his particular field of endeavor. He is in truth one of the state's leading photographers· and is an ar- tist in the truest sense of the word, his pro- ductions having that quality which distin- guishes the work of the really artistie tem- perament from the commonplaceness of him who merely understands the mechanism of the camera and fails to reproduce the individual- ity of his sitters. More than this, he is a man of fine inventive ability, and his method of photographic printing, known as the "Redden Way" is known over the entire country. He has also invented a number of other devices in this field.
George W. Redden was born July 26, 1868, ou a farm near the town of St. Aubert. now Mokane, Callaway county, Missouri. He is
the sou of Wiley S. and Mary Jane (Level) Redden. The father was a native of middle Tennessee, and his father, Willian Redden, was born in North Carolina, and went to Tennessee as a young man. The grandfather was a farmer and slave-holder and he was called to the life eternal when about fifty years of age. He was a descendant of an old and well known North Carolina family. The father was reared and educated in Tennessee and resided there at the time of the breaking out of the Civil war. There were four brothers in the family and all of them were brave young fellows whose first thought was of enlisting. But there was so much to say on both sides of the great question which pressed for settlement that they were a little undecided upon which side to enlist. The four gathered in the yard of the old home and, seated on a log, talked the matter over, long and earnestly. At last they sadly sep- arated, one brother going to enlist in the Union army and the other three joining the army of the Confederacy. The first fought throughout the entire war, being wounded at the battle of Gettysburg. This brother who joined the cause of the Union was the subject's father, Wiley S. Redden, and among his adventures was a period of incar- ceration in Andersonville prison. He es- caped at one time from the prison, but was recaptured.
After the termination of the war, Wiley S. Redden, settled at St. Aubert, Callaway county, Missouri, and in 1867 he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Jane Level. Six children came to bless their union and of this number three died in infancy. The three surviving are George W., of this review; Samuel G., of St. Charles, Missouri; and Charles A., of Memphis, Tennessee. Mr. Redden remained upon the farm until his deatlı, in 1878, at the age of forty-seven years, this resulting from blood poison, with which he became afflicted from the wounds received while a soldier. His widow now re- sides at Fredericktown.
The boyhood days of George W. Redden were passed npon the home farm and there he learned the helpful lessons of industry and thrift. He attended the district schools and the schools of Fulton and subsequently became a student in Westminster College. He entered the photograph business at the age of twenty years, for several years being a journeyman workman, employed by some
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of the leading photographers of the United States, his ability becoming at once apparent. He was established at Fredericktown for eleven years and during that time acted as official photographer of the mines, quarries, clays, timbers, and timber products, securing pictures of the foregoing for the Missouri Commission of the St. Louis World's Fair, and serving with credit to himself and the state. As previously mentioned Mr. Redden is the inventor of the Redden photographic printing machine and several other devices for shortening the long process and securing easier and better work. He is now having them manufactured and sold on royalty.
On September 4, 1892, Mr. Redden was united in marriage to Miss Ora Gross, of Se- dalia, Missouri, daughter of A. P. M. and Ella Nevada (Gay) Gross, both natives of Dade county. The father is deceased, but Mrs. Gross now makes her home in Los An- geles, California. Mrs. Redden received her education in the Sedalia public schools. They have a quartet of interesting children, namely : Allan C., Elizabeth, Anthony and Charles Greer. The subject is a Republi- can and a Royal Arch Mason and he and his wife are affiliated with the Christian church.
LIN GRISHAM. As president of the Con- solidated Store & Manufacturing Company, the main headquarters of which important concern are at Fredericktown, Missouri, Lin Grisham is actively identified with mercan- tile and manufacturing interests in south- eastern Missouri. He is deeply interested in community affairs and his efforts have also been a potent element in the business prog- ress of this section of the state. He has with ready recognition of opportunity directed his labors into various fields, wherein he has achieved success, and at the same time has promoted a business enterprise that has proved of more than local value, largely pro- moting the commercial activity of the state. A brief history of this gigantic concern will appear in a succeeding paragraph.
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