USA > Missouri > History of southeast Missouri : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests, Volume I > Part 93
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John received his general education in the public schools and in the Cape Girardeau Normal, after which he took a law course at
the State University, from which he was graduated in the class of 1902. In 1908 he was elected prosecuting attorney, serving in 1908 and 1909, living in Kennett. In 1910 he was re-elected, without opposition.
On the 6th of October, 1903, Mr. Bradley married Miss Hettie Horner, of Caruth, Dunklin county. Four children have been born to this union, two of whom died in in- fancy. The two living are Lethe and Eugene.
Mr. Bradley has done excellent work dur- ing his service as prosecuting attorney and as he is but a young man, just at the beginning of his career, he will doubtless rise still higher in his profession, thereby finding opportunity to be of greater service to the state.
HARRY A. MILLER. The junior member of the well known and popular mercantile firm of Miller Brothers, of Elvins. St. Francois county, is one of the representative young business men of this county, which has been his home since his boyhood days and in which his circle of friends is coincident with that of his acquaintances. He was born in the city of Nashville, Tennessee, on the 22d of May, 1886, and is a son of Rulien and Ida (Bloom) Mil- ler, concerning whom more specific mention is made in the sketch dedicated to their elder son. Isadore W., on other pages of this work. said son being senior member of the firm of Miller Brothers and being a resident of Des- loge, St. Francois county.
Harry Abraham Miller was a lad of thir- teen years at the time when his parents re- moved to Missouri and established their home at Elvins. He had previously attended the public schools and after coming to Missouri he was enabled to continue his studies in the city schools of St. Louis. His initial business experience was gained in his father's well or- dered mercantile establishment at Elvins and upon attaining to his legal majority he was admitted to partnership in the enterprise, which was thereafter condneted for two years under the firm name of Miller & Son. The father then sold his interest to his elder son. Isadore W., and the two brothers have since continued the business with ever increasing success. Harry A. Miller has the direct man- agement of the establishment, which is admirably equipped and in which is carried a large and comprehensive line of general merchandise. Fair and honorable dealings have gained to the concern an appreciative patronage and he whose name initiates this
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sketch has a secure place in the confidence and esteem of the community. He is also in- terested with his brother in the conducting of a prosperous mercantile business at Lead- wood, in the same county. He is vigorous and alert as a business man, liberal and progressive as a citizen, is a Republican in his political proclivities, and is affiliated with the Ancient Order of United Workmen.
On the 27th of June, 1909, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Miller to Miss Minnie Magidson, of St. Louis, who presides most graciously over their pleasant home, which is further brightened by the presence of their little daughter, Mildred.
DR. EDWARD GRIFFIN. Among the prom- inent and valued citizens of Flat River and Saint Francois county stands Edward Grif- fin, who is particularly well entitled to a place in this volume devoted to representa- tive men and women of southeastern Missouri as a talented member of his profession-the dental-and as president of that flourishing monetary institution, the Miners & Merchants Bank. By no means one to be content with the theory of "letting well enough alone," he is a constant student of his profession and has well succeeded in keeping in touch with the steady march of progress which is the re- sult of dental investigation. The bank of which he is the head holds a position of prominence among the monetary institutions which emphasize and exert marked influence in conserving the financial stability and com- mercial prestige of the city.
Dr. Edward Griffin is still to be numbered among the younger generation, his birth hav- ing occurred in Sainte Genevieve county, March 20, 1879. The father, George Griffin, was born in Knoxville, Tennessee, in 1841, and was a soldier of the Civil war, serving for the whole four years in the army of General Thomas and participating in many notable engagements, among them being the battles of Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge and Shiloh, and was with Sherman on his famous march to the sea. After the war he came to the state of Missouri and located in the west- ern part of Union township, in Sainte Gen- evieve county, where he has ever since been engaged in farming, although his fine ability has by no means been solely devoted to the great basic industry. He was judge of the Sainte Genevieve county court for two years and has the distinction of having been the first Republican judge ever elected in that
county. A man of fine citizenship, he is widely known and everywhere honored. He was married in 1866 to Sarah J. Haines, of Knoxville, Tennessee, and to their union eight sons and daughters were born, Dr. Grif- fin being the seventh in order of birth.
The early education of Edward Griffin was obtained in the public schools of Sainte Gen- evieve county and he attended for one term the old Baptist College at Farmington. He went thence to the Dental College at St. Louis and there prepared for the work he had elected to follow. In the year 1901 he was graduated from the Washington University at St. Louis, Missouri, taking the degree of D. M. D., and soon thereafter he located at Flat River and there hung out his profes- sional shingle, and in the intervening decade has built up a large and enthusiastic prac- tice as one of the leading dentists of the sec- tion. In 1906 he became director of the Miners & Merchants Bank and two years later he received the compliment of being elected to the presidency of that financial in- stitution. Dr. Griffin previously was secre- tary and treasurer of the Flat River Ice & Cold Storage Company, but upon becoming identified with the bank he has severed that association to devote his attention to his other concerns. Although by no means an office seeker, Dr. Griffin is active in local politics, giving hand and heart to the man and meas- ures of the Republican party, to which he has given his suffrage since his earliest voting days. At the time of the recent Prohibition campaign he acted as president of the Amendment County Committee of Flat River.
On the 7th day of April, 1903, Dr. Griffin formed a happy life companionship by his union with Marietta Sebastian, of Flat River, daughter of R. Sebastian, a blacksmith and wagon maker of this place. Their home is one of the popular gathering pla'ces of the community and they are particularly val- uable factors in society. They are members of the Christian church, the subject being a deacon of the same. Dr. Griffin is a member of the ancient and august Masonic order and is also affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America.
ISAAC N. DAFFRON. A widely known and highly esteemed citizen and public official is Isaac N. Daffron, county collector of Wayne county, Missouri, and a blacksmith by trade. With the expiration of his present and third term in the responsible position mentioned he
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will have served twelve years in that capac- ity, and he is well recommended by his serv- ices which have been a credit to himself and a benefit to the community. He is a native son of Wayne county, his birth having oe- curred in Benton township October 23, 1860. Mr. Daffron is the son of Smith and Elizabeth (Gilbert) Daffron, the former of whom was born in the vicinity of Ringgold, Georgia, in 1819. and died at the age of fifty-three years. The mother was born in Tennessee July 19, 1829, and is still living, a vener- able and worthy woman whom makes her home with the subject. After the death of Smith Daffron she was married a second time. to William Stokley, who is now deceased. The subject is one of three children, two of whom survive. His brother, Thomas E., resides in Piedmont, Missouri. The father of him whose name inaugurates this review came from Georgia to Mis- souri in the year 1857 and located upon the farm which a few years later was the birth- place of his children. He secured three hun- dred and twenty acres of wild land. which he cleared and brought to a state of cultivation. He was a blacksmith and carpenter by trade and he followed these callings throughout his life, also engaging in milling, having pur- chased a water power grist mill partially fin- ished, whose construction he completed. IIc was a man successful in all his business under- takings and his citizenship was admirably public-spirited. In his political convictions he was in harmony with the teachings of the Democratic party and he and his wife he- longed to the Missionary Baptist church. Smith Daffron and a Mr. Ivy practically built the first church and the first school-house in this part of Wayne county.
Isaac N. Daffron was reared on his father's farm and gained his preliminary education behind a desk in the district school room. Having finished its curriculum, he matricu- lated at the state normal school at Cape Gir- ardeau and there spent a profitable year and a half. He then started in to learn the trade of his father, that of blacksmithing, a smat- tering of which he had already gained under the tutelage of his brother. He was of Pied- mont when a blacksmith of that place was deserted by his assistant and Mr. Daffron was asked to help out-which the young fellow consented to do. What was supposed to be a temporary arrangement lasted for a number of years. The first week he received twenty- five cents a day and the second one dollar a Vol. 1-42
day, a hasty advancement which speaks well for his ability. Mr. Daffron worked in all eleven and one-half years in the blacksmith business, the last five years of this period for himself. He has always had a good business, for his work is good and reliable, but he has not always managed advantageously for him- self and he does not have the competence which he deserves. In 1896 he was elected county assessor and removed to Greenville, where he served in the office for a term of four years. That was his first experience in public life and he was well recommended by his services. ITis efficiency was not forgotten and in 1902 he was elected county collector and succeeded himself at the elections in 1906 and 1910. He is not without some experience in the pedagogical field, having taught school for a time in his young manhood. He has been a Democrat since his earliest voting days and he is very loyal to the interests of the party. His fraternal affiliations extend to the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen of America.
Mr. Daffron was married October 23, 1887. to Georgia E. Miller, who was born in Cape Girardeau county, Missouri, August 18, 1866. Mr. and Mrs. Daffron's union has been further cemented by the birth of three daughters, namely : Nellie, wife of Scott Judy, of Gar- nett, Kansas: Clara and Ann. at home.
JAMES F. TATUM. We all of us look to- wards the future as having something greater in store for us than that we have already ex- perienced. or at least if such is not the case we are to be pitied. Every man hopes for a future better than the present or the past. In the case of James F. Tatum, he has al- ready realized the future, some two years ago: of that we know nothing, but we do know what his past has been.
He was born January 5, 1850, in Howard county. Missouri. He was a son of the late A. C. Tatum, who moved from Virginia to Howard county, Missouri, soon after his mar- riage. There James received his education and after he left school he started into busi- ness, first working for a relative at St. Charles, traveling through the state as a to- bacco salesman. His travels brought him to Dunklin county, where he saw the possibil- ities for a young man and he entered the mercantile business in Dunklin county. being one year at Malden and then in Kennett until three years ago, when he retired and turned the business over to his two sons, Frank and
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Ira, who removed the stock to Clarkton. There they are successfully following in the footsteps of their father.
Mr. Tatum was married in 1877, to Miss Lillie Bragg, daughter of the late Captain W. G. Bragg and a sister of Mrs. Sturgis and Mrs. Towson and of that wonderful family of nine splendid "Bragg girls," as they were known. W. G. Bragg of this city is a brother of Mrs. Tatum. Luther P. Tatum, the mer- chant and capitalist at Kennett, is a half brother of James F. Tatum, and Mrs. Nannie Newby is his cousin. Of the six children born to Mr. and Mrs. Tatum five survive him, as does their mother. John the fourth son, died about eleven years ago. Frank and Ira are in business at Clarkton, while Richard M. is in business here. Susie, the only daughter, is just blossoming into womanhood and is a student of William Woods College, Fulton. Bernie is at Central College at Fayette, Howard county, Missouri.
Mr. Tatum died December 13, 1909, not having quite attained his three score years. He had been in failing health for two years, though he was up and able to attend to bus- iness. He was a member of the Masonic order, being a member of the Kennett lodge, No. 68, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. The funeral service was conducted by the Masons, Dr. Paul Baldwin being the presid- ing master. Mr. Tatum had for years been a member of the Christian church and relig- ious services at the home were conducted by Elder Rolley Ney, pastor of the Christian church, assisted by the ministers of the Presbyterian, the Baptist and the Methodist Episcopal churches. The fact that these min- isters of different denominations came to pay him their last tribute is significant of the liberal attitude Mr. Tatum bore towards all religions bodies. He believed in any organ- ization which had for its aim the betterment of mankind and inasmuch as there are all kinds of men, it takes all kinds of religious creeds to reach them. At the time of his death Mr. Tatum was a member of the Ken- nett school board, having always taken the deepest interest in all educational matters. He was vice president of the Bank of Kennett and was interested in much Kennett property, for he was well off in this world's goods. He was thoughtful for others, as is evidenced by his having a fifteen thousand dollar life in- surance policy. He was a man of deliberation and good judgment, was reliable and honor- able and inasmuch as his past has been full of
thoughts for others, full of kindly deeds, we can feel that the future which he is already experiencing must be in keeping with his past, therefore we rejoice. Since he left us, time has to a certain extent mercifully softened the keenest first feelings of loss which his widow and children felt, yet they feel, as does the whole of Kennett and Dunklin county, that it is impossible to exactly fill his place, be his successor in the business and church spheres ever so good. He was a man who had the loft- iest ideals and he came as near to attaining them as it is possible for any one to do.
SAM J. MCMINN. A man firmly established in the business and social life of the county and intimately connected with the history of its development in Sam J. McMinn, now the assistant cashier in the Consolidated Bank, formerly the People's and the Bollinger County Banks. He was born in Buchanan, Missouri, in the southwestern part of Bol- linger county, the date of his nativity being August 11, 1869. He is the son of W. A. and Elizabeth C. (Burk) McMinn. His father was a native of the county, and well known for his wise administration of the office of county judge. His grandfather, Samuel Mc- Minn, was a native of North Carolina, who left the old North state in 1819 to try his fortunes in the then far western territory of Missouri. After the death of W. A. McMinn his wife, the mother of the subject of this brief personal review, continued to make her home on the old home farm, where she still lives. During his early life Sam J. McMinn attended the public schools of the county, and also did his share of the work on the parental farm. Following that took a course at the Kentucky University in Lexington, Ken- tucky, and was graduated from that institu- tion.
In 1893 he began the business career that has made his name a guarantee of stability in any undertaking, and entered the merchan- dise and milling business at Zalma with his brother, Andrew J. McMinn. The two brothers operated the mill for their father, and managed the store as their own venture until 1897. In that year their father passed to the "Great Beyond," and left his affairs entirely in the hands of his sons.
From 1897 until 1899 Mr. McMinn took charge of the farm, an occupation which he gave up at his election on the Democratic ticket to the office of circuit clerk, an office in which he gave honorable and highly effi-
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cient service, which is evidenced by the fact that he was returned to office upon the ex- piration of his first term, thus making his tenure of that office eight years. In 1907 he entered the People's Bank in the capacity of assistant cashier, soon becoming cashier, a position of trust and responsibility which he held until the consolidation of the bank with the Bollinger county institution, June 7, 1911, upon which he assumed the position of as- sistant cashier of the Consolidated Bank. Be- sides stock in the bank, Mr. MeMinn is a di- rector and one of the principal stockholders of the Peoples Telephone Company, an In- dependent Company now operating in Bol- linger, Wayne, Madison, Cape Girardeau, Iron and Stoddard counties; is also a stock- holder and director of the Lutesville Milling Company; has a half interest in a tract of farming and woodland of one thousand nine hundred and seventy acres, and himself owns one thousand eight hundred and fifty acres and some fine residence property in Marble Hill.
In 1903 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. MeMinn to Miss Maude Conrad, the charm- ing and accomplished daughter of Judge Conrad, of Bollinger county. She was sum- moned to eternal rest in April, 1909, leaving one son, Samuel Joseph, Jr., born in 1904.
Mr. MeMinn's cordial personality finds nat- ural outlet in his fraternal relations, and he is a prominent member of the esteemed Ma- sonic order, being affiliated with the A. F. & A. M. at Fredericktown, the Commandery at Cape Girardeau, and having taken the thirty- second degree, Scottish Rite, at Saint Louis. Mr. MeMinn is also a member of the Benevo- lent and Protective Order of Elks, the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of the Maccabees, in all of which he maintains an active interest.
T. C. MCHANEY. A prosperous druggist of Senath, and one of its substantial and prominent business men, T. C. MeHaney is an important factor in promoting its advance- ment, and is held in high repute as a man and a citizen. He was born April 22, 1876, in Hen- derson county, Tennessee, where he was bred and educated.
Beginning life for himself at the age of seventeen years, Mr. McHaney entered a drug store as a clerk, and proved himself so well adapted for the business that he made himself familiar with its every detail, in due course of time becoming a skilled pharmacist. In
1901 he located at Senath, Missouri, where he has since built up a large and lucrative trade, his patronage having steadily increased from year to year. He has made wise investments in real estate, and now owns a farm of eighty acres lying about two miles from Senath, and this he rents to tenants, who devote al- most the entire tract to the growing of cotton.
Mr. MeHaney married, April 20, 1903, Grace Sando, who was born in Indiana, but was brought up in Dunklin county, Missouri, her early home having been near Cotton Plant. The following children have been born of their union, namely: Robert, Neal, James, Elizabeth and Nellie. Politically Mr. Mc- Haney is an earnest suporter of the prin- ciples of the Democratic party, and in local campaigns is quite active. Fraternally he belongs to the Woodmen of the World. Mrs. McHaney is a most estimable woman, and a valued member of the Christian Church.
FELIX J. PARKIN. A citizen of prominence and influence at Fredericktown, Missouri, is Judge Felix J. Parkin, who gave efficient service for a period of four years as county judge of Madison county, retiring from that office in 1910. At the present time he is en- gaged in the abstract business, having launched out into that line of enterprise in 1900. Judge Parkin was born in Madison connty, Missouri, on the 18th of September, 1859, his parents being Joseph T. and Mary (Lanpher) Parkin. The father, who is still living, resides at Fredericktown and the mother passed to the life eternal in 1876, at the age of thirty-seven years. Joseph T. Parkin was likewise born in Madison county, this state, and he is descended from stanch English stock, his father, Joseph Parkin, having immigrated to America from Eng- land prior to the year 1818. On his arrival in the United States Joseph Parkin proceeded directly to Missouri, locating in Madison county, where he entered a tract of govern- ment land, the same consisting of six hun- dred and forty acres. At one time he oper- ated a grist mill in Madison county and he was the first miner in southeastern Missouri to use powder. He and his brother, Thomas Parkin, with others, came together from Eng- land. The Parkin brothers conducted a mill one mile west of Fredericktown, in 1838, and subsequently they were engaged in min- ing and milling enterprises for a number of
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years, using negroes for the work. Both these pioneer brothers are buried in the fam- ily cemetery on the old farm near Frederick- town.
Joseph T. Parkin was reared to the invig- orating discipline of his father's farm and his rudimentary educational training con- sisted of such advantages as were afforded in the schools of the locality and period. He was identified with agricultural pursuits during . the greater portion of his active career but he is now living in virtual retirement at Fred- ericktown, enjoying to the full the fruits of his former years of earnest toil and endeavor. In 1858 was solemnized his marriage to Miss Mary Lanpher, who traced her ancestry to stanch French extraction, her mother having been a member of the celebrated Nifong fam- ily. Mr. and Mrs. Joseph T. Parkin became the parents of two children,-Lizzie, who married Robert Murray and who died in 1884; and Felix J., the immediate subject of this review.
Judge Parkin passed his boyhood and youth at Fredericktown, where he attended the public schools. At the age of eighteen years he went to Colorado, where he main- tained his home for fourteen years and where he was most successfully engaged in mining operations. For a period of four years he was circuit court clerk and recorder in Ouray county, Colorado. Eventually dis- posing of his interests in that state, he re- turned to Missouri, in 1891, engaging in farming operations in Madison county for the ensuing nine years. In 1900 he turned his attention to the abstract business and it is worthy of note here that he has the only com- plete set of abstract records in Madison county, the same including all the old rec- ords. In politics Judge Parkin is an un- swerving advocate of the principles and poli- cies for which the Democratic party stands sponsor and while he is not an office seeker he is deeply and sincerely interested in com- munity affairs. In 1907 he was elected judge of Madison county and he was the able and popular incumbent of that important office for a period of four years, retiring therefrom at the close of 1910.
In 1890 was recorded the marriage of Judge Parkin to Miss Minnie Watts, a daugh- ter of Napoleon B. Watts, a sketch of whose career appears on other pages of this work, so that further data concerning the family history is not deemed essential at this junc-
ture. Mr. and Mrs. Parkin are the parents of three children, whose names and respective ages, in 1911, are here entered,-Maurice, seventeen years; Lelia, fourteen years; and Reva, seven years. In their religious faith the Parkin family are devout members of the Baptist church and they are popular factors in connection with the best social activities of Fredericktown, where their spacious and attractive home is recognized as a center of gracious refinement and hospitality. In a fraternal way the Judge is an appreciative member of the local lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is a man of broad human sympathy and generous im- pulses and in the various walks of life is hon- ored and esteemed as a man of high ideals noble principles.
WILLIAM C. BERGMANN. The United States ranks as the foremost nation of the modern civilized world. It has served as the melting pot of the best characteristics of all other nations and the outcome is a fine sterling American citizenship consisting of strong and able bodied men, loyal and public-spirited in civic life,' broad-minded and honorable in business, and alert and en- thusiastically in sympathy with every meas- ure tending to further the material welfare of the entire country. The great Empire of Germany has contributed its fair quota to the upbuilding of this great nation and among its representatives in this country are to be found successful men in every walk of life, from the professions to the prosperous farmer and business man. William C. Berg- mann, whose name forms the caption for this article, was born in Germany but he has re- sided in the United States since he was a child of eight years of age. He has main- tained his home at Cape Girardeau for fully a half century and here he has long been en- gaged in the general merchandise business. He is a fine old veteran of the Civil war and as a citizen and well known business man hc commands the unqualified confidence and es- teem of all with whom he has had dealings.
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