USA > Missouri > History of southeast Missouri : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests, Volume I > Part 91
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In 1885, when he was thirty-six years old. Mr. Sexton married Mrs. Anna Floyd, . young widow in Dunklin county. She wa the daughter of W. T. Meredith. Two chil dren have been born to the union, Kate ano Ruth.
Mr. Sexton is a member of the Mutual Prc tective League and of the Modern Woodmer of America, standing high with the member of both those organizations. As a relie, from his strenuous duties he spends his va cations either hunting or fishing, being a: expert in both of these sports. Mr. Sextor is a thoroughly capable man and besides tha is conscientious, a combination which car not fail to result in success. He is very pop ular both socially and in his business rela tions, as he has the ability to command lov as well as respect.
JESSE M. ELVINS. With the history of S Francois county the name of Elvins has bee: long and prominently identified, and the sut ject of this memoir well upheld the prestig of the same through his sterling characte and large and worthy accomplishment. Th thriving little city of Elvins, this county. was named in his honor and he was lon numbered among the influential citizens 0 this favored section of the state, where h did much to further civic and industria progress.
Jesse Mahagan Elvins was born in S Francois county, on the 12th of May, 184] and he died at his home in Doe Run, thi county, on the 25th of April, 1910, secur in the high regard of all who knew hin He was a son of Moses and Sarah (Flar
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nigan) Elvins and a grandson of William Elvins, who was a native of England, a clock- maker by trade and the founder of the fam- ily in America. In the year 1840 Moses Elvins established his home in Farmington, St. Francois county, Missouri, and here he continued to reside until his death. He be- came one of the prosperous farmers of the county and also had other interests of im- portant order. He was a man of the most inflexible integrity and ever commanded the confidence and esteem of his fellow men. His wife survived him by a number of years. Jesse M. Elvins was reared and educated in his native county and as a youth he served an apprenticeship to the earpenter's trade, to which he continued to devote his attention, as a contractor and builder, for many years, within which he contributed materially to the upbuilding of various towns and villages in the county, as did he also through his various real-estate operations, which reached wide scope. He had much to do with the development of the lead industry in this dis- trict and was the virtual founder of the pres- ent fine little city which perpetuates his name. He supervised the construction of the lead mills at Bonne Terre and Doe Run and was known as a business man of ability, enterprise and scrupulous integrity. His progressive policies and thorough business methods enabled him to achieve large and worthy success in connection with his va- rious undertakings, and no citizen in the county commanded more seeure vantage ground in popular confidence and esteem. He was signally true and loyal in all the relations of life and his name merits an enduring place of honor on the roster of those who have contributed in conspicuous measure to the development and prosperity of his native county, within whose gracious borders his entire life was passed. He was aligned as a staunch supporter of the cause of the Republican party and was admirably fortified in his opinions as to matters of public import.
In the year 1861 was solemnized the mar- riage of Mr. Elvins to Miss Zelma Politte, a representative of one of the old and dis- tinguished French families of Missouri. Mrs. Elvins, a woman of most gracious and gentle personality, was summoned to eternal rest on the 5th of January, 1885, secure in the affectionate regard of all who had come within the sphere of her influence. Of the
seven children of this union three died in infancy and Rice, the fourth in order of birth, died in 1899. The surviving children are Linn, William and Politte, and concern- ing the last mentioned specific record is given on succeeding pages of this work. The loved wife and mother was a devout com- municant of the Catholic church and her life was marked by kindly words and gen- erous deeds. On the 11th of December, 1888, Jesse M. Elvins contracted a second mar- riage, by his union with Miss Elizabeth Meh- ring, who survives him, as does also the younger of their two children, Charles Par- sons Elvins. The elder son, Jesse Pierce, died at the age of five years.
Measured by its rectitude, its strength and its definite accomplishment, the life of Jesse M. Elvins counted for much, and his name will be held in lasting honor in the county which ever represented his home and the center of his varied interests.
HON. POLITTE ELVINS is engaged in the practice of law and the banking business in the city of Elvins, St. Francois county. A staunch and active Republican, he repre- sented the thirteenth congressional district in the sixty-first congress of the United States, in which he made an admirable record and in which he had the distinetion of being the youngest member.
Mr. Elvins was born at French Village, St. Francois county, Missouri, on the 16th of Mareh, 1878, and is the youngest of the three surviving children of Jesse M. and Zelma (Politte) Elvins. On preceding pages of this publication is entered a memoir to his honored father, and the family data incor- porated in said article are such as to render it unnecessary to repeat the same in the present sketch. Mr. Elvins is indebted to the public schools of his native county for his early educational discipline, which was . supplemented by a course in Carlton College and the University of Missouri, at Columbia, from which he received the degree of Bache- lor of Laws in 1899, being forthwith admitted to the bar.
On the 25th of November, 1901, he was married to Miss Florence Kells, of Arcadia, Missouri. Mr. and Mrs. Elvins are popular factors in the social activities of the com- munity and their pleasant home is known for its generous hospitality.
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JOHN H. HIMMELBERGER. Among the men of fine initiative and constructive powers who are contributing materially to the industrial and civic stability and progress of south- eastern Missouri, a place of no slight promi- nence must be accorded to this well known and public-spirited citizen of Cape Girardeau, where he is president of the Himmelberger & Harrison Lumber Company and where he has other capitalistic interests of important order. Sterling character, alert and pro- gressive ideas and marked civic loyalty and liberality make Mr. Himmelberger a valuable factor in the various activities of the com- munity, and he is distinctively one of the representative business men of the fine little city in which he maintains his home.
A scion of staunch German stock long and worthily identified with the history of Penn- sylvania, Mr. Himmelberger finds a due sense of pride in reverting to the fine old Keystone state of the Union as the place of his nativity. He was born at Myerstown, Lebanon county, Pennsylvania, on the 30th of October, 1861, and is a son of Isaac and Catherine (Haak) Himmelberger, both of whom were born and reared in that sturdy old commonwealth, where the respective fam- ilies were founded in an early day. In 1867 Isaac Himmelberger removed with his fam- ily to Logansport, Indiana, where he owned and operated a sawmill and was otherwise prominently identified with the lumber busi- ness for more than a decade. In 1879 he came to Missouri and established his busi- ness at Buffington, Stoddard county, continu- ing, however, to reside at Logansport, In- diana, in which place he continued in the same line of enterprise and built up a pros- perous business. He passed the closing years of his long and useful life at Logansport, and was sixty years of age when he was summoned to eternal rest, in July, 1900, se- cure in the high regard of all who had known him. His widow now maintains her home in Logansport, and he is survived also by one son and three daughters. The father was a stalwart Republican in his political pro- clivities, was a man of sincerity and strong individually, and his religious faith was that of the Universalist church. His widow has long been a devoted member of the Reformed Lutheran church.
John H. Himmelberger was a lad of six years at the time of the family removal to Logansport, Indiana, in which thriving little
city he gained his early educational disci- pline by duly availing himself of the advan- tages of the excellent public schools, in which he completed the curriculum of the high school. In the meanwhile he began to assist his father in the operation of the sawmill and other details of the lumber business, and he thus continued after the removal to Buffing- ton, Missouri, at which time he was eighteen years of age. Through this means he gained a thorough knowledge of all details of this im- portant line of industrial enterprise and was well equipped for successful operations in an independent way. In 1885 his father admitted him to partnership, and this alliance con- tinued about a decade, within which he won his spurs as a practical and successful busi- ness man of excellent constructive ability. In 1895 he became one of the interested principals in the organization of the Himmel- berger-Luce Land & Lumber Company, at Morehouse, New Madrid county, this state, and he was chosen its secretary at the time of incorporation. This company continued operations in the lumber business and the handling of timber lands until 1904, when it was succeeded by the Himmelberger & Harrison Lumber Company, of which he has since been president. This company is in- corporated with a capital stock of six hun- dred thousand dollars and its operations are of broad scope and importance, including the ownership of valuable timber lands and the manufacturing of lumber through the agency of a well equipped and thoroughly modern plant located at Morehouse, Missouri. The enterprising spirit of Mr. Himmelberger and associates was significantly manifested in 1907, when they instituted the erection of the Himmelberger & Harrison building, on Broadway, in Cape Girardeau. This is a fine, modern structure of brick and stone, is five stories in height and is conceded to be the finest office and bank building in the city. Here are maintained the offices of the South- east Missouri Trust Company, which is one of the substantial and popular financial in- stitutions of this section of the state and of which Mr. Himmelberger is a director. It is one of the strongest institutions of the kind in this part of the state and bases its operations upon a paid-up capital stock of five hundred thousand dollars. He has been a valued factor in the directing of the pol- icies of this institution, of which he is vice- president and which has done much to fur-
Brott Williams.
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HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI
ther the financial prestige of Cape Girardeau. Mr. Himmelberger is also a member of the directorate of the Sturdivant Bank at Cape Girardeau and of the Bank of Morehouse at Morehouse, Missouri, where he still retains other interests, and he has also identified himself with various other enterprises in his home city of Cape Girardeau and he stands exemplar of the most progressive civic pol- icies, as he is ever ready to lend his aid and influence in the furtherance of measures and enterprises projected for the general good of the community. He is the president of the Board of Supervisors of the Little River- Drainage District. This drainage district has for its object the draining and reclama- tion of five hundred thousand acres of wet and over-flowed lands in Cape Girardeau, Scott, Stoddard, New Madrid, Pemiscot and Dunklin counties. He enjoys unqualified popularity in both business and social cir- cles in his home city, and here he is affiliated with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Both he and his wife are mem- bers of the Presbyterian church.
January 1, 1889, marked the solemniza- tion of the marriage of Mr. Himmelberger to Miss Mary A. Kesling, who was born and reared in Cass county, Indiana, of which Logansport is the judicial center. She is a daughter of Oliver and Kate (Pannebaker) Kesling, who still reside in that county, where the father has long been a representa- tive farmer and honored citizen. Mr. and Mrs. Himmelberger have four children, Harry I., Charles, John and Katharine.
GEORGE K. WILLIAMS. One of the most widely known and most important names to be encountered in connection with the lead district of this part of the state is the name of George K. Williams, of Farmington, Mis- souri, who is acting superintendent for the Potosi Mines Company, of Boston and New York, with mines located at Leadwood. He also served under two gubernatorial adminis- trations as state mine inspector, his thorough knowledge of mining making him a man ad- mirably incumbent of the office which in a state of such vast mineral resources of Mis- souri is an important one.
Previous to his present association, Mr. Williams was for fifteen years with the Doe Run Lead Company, and it was his portion fairly to grow up in an atmosphere of mines
and mining, for his father was a man of im- portance in the field. That gentleman, George M. Williams, was born in St. Francois county, March 4, 1830. He early hecame a miner and driller and possesses the distine- tion of being the first man to do drilling at Bonne Terre with a churn drill, the same striking disseminated lead ore.
St. Francois county was the scene of the birth of George K. Williams, and the date of his advent on this mundane sphere was September 9, 1864. He received his educa- tion in the schools at Bonne Terre, and, fin- ishing the school at the age of seventeen years, he entered upon his career in some comparatively unimportant capacity in the mines. In a short time he accepted a posi- tion with the Doe Run Lead Company, at Doe Run, Missouri, and was sent to the Flat River district with the first prospecting dia- mond drill to Flat River, and struek the first deep disseminated lead ore that was struck in the Flat River district. This being at the depth of four hundred feet.
The greater part of Mr. Williams' connec- tion with the Doe Run Lead Company was in the Diamond drill department. He was appointed state mine inspector by Governor A. M. Dockery, governor of the State of Mis- souri, in 1901, and was re-appointed in 1905 to that office by Governor Joseph W. Folk, holding the position until February 15, 1909, and in the eight years in which he had min- ing affairs in the state in his hands and un- der his supervision he proved himself with- out possibility of doubt to be the right man for the place, knowing the mining situation as it is given to few to know it and possess it,-splendid judgment in addition.
In December, 1910, he and his associates took up the Jacob Day land which was lo- cated in the Leadwood district, consisting of three hundred and fifty-seven acres, and sold it to Boston and New York capitalists. The property was tested with a diamond drill and a shaft is being sunk near the center of the property, and is called the Alma Shaft, be- ing named after his daughter. Mr. Williams, who is superintendent of the Boston and New York Company, is, of course, directing the work.
Mr. Williams married in 1897 Miss Bar- bara Adams, of Irondale, Missouri. She is the daughter of Richard Adams, superin- tendent of the Old Irondale Company. Mr. and Mrs. Williams have two sons and one daughter-Naive, Alma and Richard,-thus
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sharing their delightful home with a trio of young people.
Mr. Williams is Democratic in politics, giv- ing heart and hand to men and measures. He and his family attend the Methodist Episcopal church, South, and he exemplifies in his daily living the fine principles promul- gated by the Masonic Lodge, in which he is entitled to wear the white-plumed helmet of the Knight Templar.
DR. JOHN F. WAGNER, a progressive young medical practitioner of Greenville, Wayne county, is a son of the widely known edu- cator, Professor L. M. Wagner. The father was born in Washington county, Tennessee, on the 1st of April, 1851, and received a theological education at Mosheim College, one of the first institutions of higher learning established in that state east of the Alle- ghany mountains. Soon after his gradna- tion he commenced preaching in Missouri under the auspices of the Lutheran synod. At the same time, in order to eke out a live- lihood, he taught school, most of this work in that state being in connection with va- rious parochial institutions connected with his church.
Professor Wagner first came to Missouri in 1877, locating in the northern part of what is now Cascade, Wayne county, where he founded Concordia College, in which so many of the professional men of that sec- tion of the state have received the early literary training which fitted them to assume the higher courses of their education. While conducting that select institution Professor Wagner also preached to many scattering charges and those without regular pastors. He was thus busily and worthily employed until 1909, when he retired from professional work altogether and entered the employ of the Williamsville, Greenville & St. Louis Railroad at Cascade, his present occupation. The Professor also cultivates and operates a farm, and has been serving on the local Board of Education since 1900. He had previously been a member of the County Board of School Commissioners for three terms, and there has never been a time since he became a resident of Wayne county that he has failed to show his unbounded interest in her educational progress, or that her peo- ple have failed to show their faith in his ability and high-minded motives. His wife (formerly Miss Emma Whitener) is also liv-
ing and highly respected as an intelligent and lovable woman. Of their nine children, the following seven are living: Virda, now the wife of Zark Souderman; John F., of this biography; Effie, who became Mrs. William E. Pabor, of Fredericktown, Missouri; Harry, a citizen of Cape Girardeau; and Otto, Gus and Irving, still living at home.
John F. Wagner was born at Gravelton, Wayne county, on the 20th of December, 1882; . was reared on the family homestead ; educated in his preparatory courses at his father's school (Concordia College), and in 1902 was matriculated at the American Med- ical College, St. Louis, from which he grad- uated in 1906. He established himself in practice at Cascade in 1906, but finally located at Greenville, where he has founded a sub- stantial and a high-grade professional busi- ness. He continues the family tendencies in his adhesion to the Lutheran church, as well as in his general support of Democratic principles and policies. His professional relations are with the Missouri Eclectic Medical Society and the National Electic Medical Association, and his fraternal con- nections are with the Modern Woodmen of America.
Dr. Wagner was married, March 7, 1911, to Miss Stella Rhodes, born in Greenville, a daughter of John F. and Sarah (McGhee) Rhodes, who have spent their lives here. Mr. Rhodes has filled nearly all county offices, including that of Representative, and owns a fine farm near Greenville, Missouri.
JESSE A. MCGLOTHLIN, the present circuit clerk and county recorder of Bollinger county, Missouri, is a man whose position as one in whom all who know him impose im- plicit trust, and whose name has come to be synonymous with progressive enterprise, makes it impossible to omit his name from any record of the history of Southeastern Missouri. He was born in Reynolds county on his father's farm, March 10, 1869. His father, Joseph McGlothlin, was a native Hoosier, while his mother, prior to her mar- riage Miss Louisa Allison, was born in the state of Tennessee. In 1879 the family moved to Wayne county, this state, and there Jesse A. McGlothlin lived until his twentieth year. His early education he obtained in the district schools of the locality, meantime being a willing assistant in the various duties of the home farm.
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At eighteen Jesse MeGlothlin inaugurated his independent career as a school-master, his first sehool being in Carter county. In Wayne, Bollinger and Madison counties he was known as a leading member of the pedagogic profession. He augmented his early education during his teaching career by attendance at Concordia College at Gravetta, and also at Hales College in Wayne county for two years.
In 1899 MeGlothlin became interested in the mercantile business, and he entered a dry-goods store at Glen Allen, in which es- tablishment he remained until 1906. After seven years he left Berry's employ and was elected in that year, on the Republican ticket, to the offices of circuit clerk and county recorder for a term of four years. So effi- cient and honorable was the record of his first term's service that he was re-elected to the same office, and he is now serving his see- ond term.
Mr. McGlothlin's active interest in edu- cational matters has never wavered, and he is now wielding his influence for what is best in that field as a member and secretary of the board of directors of Mayfield College. The old Snyder farm of seventy-one acres adjoining the municipality of Marble Hill is now in Mr. McGlothlin's possession, and is prospering under his management.
On October 7, 1894, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. McGlothlin, the lady of his choice being Miss Dora L. Rhodes. She was born and reared in Bollinger county, the daughter of Robert and Georgia (Floyd) Rhodes, prominent residents of that county. Four children have been born to the union of Mr. and Mrs. McGlothlin, namely : Maud, born in 1895; Helen, born in 1897; Lee A., born in 1901; and Jesse Robert, born in 1910. In their religious affiliation, the Me- Glothlin family are identified with Baptist church. Fraternally Mr. McGlothlin is a member of that historic order, the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and belongs to both the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America.
CAPTAIN W. I. MCDANIEL. A venerable and respected resident of Senath, Captain W. I. McDaniel, now living with his son, C. P. Mc- Daniel, of whom a brief personal account is given elsewhere in this work, fought bravely in defense of the Confederacy during the Civil war, and now bears upon his body a
scar which resulted from a wound received on the field of battle. A native of Tennessee, he was born November 14, 1827, in Sumner county, but as an infant was taken by his parents to Natehez, Mississippi, where he lived until six years of age.
Returning to Obion county, West Tennes- see, in 1834, he continued his residence there for nearly forty years, serving in the mean- time for awhile as captain of a company of State Militia, having been commissioned by Isham G. Harris, war-Governor of Tennes- see. On September 9, 1861, he enlisted as a private in the Thirty-third Tennessee Regiment, of which he was elected first ser- geant. After the battle of Perryville Cap- tain MeDaniel was promoted to the rank of second lientenant, and subsequently, at Shel- byville, Tennessee, was chosen as the bravest man of his company, owing to an order is- sued by the Confederate Congress that each and every company in that division should elect or appoint the bravest man in the com- pany. At Missionary Ridge, while serving as second lieutenant, he had charge of his company, as he had had much of the time during his enlistment, even at the battle of Chickamauga leading his company. He was subsequently confined in the hospital four months, and on rejoining his regiment as- snmed the same position, and held it until the close of the war, having command of Company D. The Captain saw many hard- fought engagements, at Shiloh twenty-one of the sixty-six men of which he had command being either killed or wounded. At the en- gagement at Franklin, Tennessee, Captain McDaniel received a severe wound from a bayonet, and still carries the scar that ensued. He was often detailed on special duty with squads of men of whom he had charge, serving under different commanders, including General Clark, who was afterwards governor of Mississippi; Brigadier General A. P. Stewart; and under General Strahl, who lost his life at the battle of Franklin. The brigade to which the Captain belonged assisted in protecting the rear of Hill's army on its retreat from the battle of Nashville, keeping up a constant fight with the enemy. He subsequently surrendered at Raleigh, North Carolina, with Johnston's men, and there took the oath of allegiance.
After his surrender Captain MeDaniel returned to his old home in western Tennes- see, which he had visited but twice during
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the entire war. His good wife, however, had visited him after the battle of Stone River, having ridden on horseback one hundred and fifty miles to do so, carrying a young child with her, crossing several rapid streams and fording some, and after meeting the enemy in the road riding straight through the Fed- eral lines.
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