USA > Missouri > History of southeast Missouri : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests, Volume II > Part 111
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Mr. Gorg has long been affiliated with the Ancient Order of United Workmen and for many years has represented the same in the Grand Lodge of the state. He has been a valued and influential factor in the ordering of its affairs and had much to do with estab- lishing the order upon a substantial financial basis in Missouri. He also holds member- ship in the Knights of Pythias and has served as a member of its Grand Lodge in Missouri, besides which he is affiliated with the Ma- sonic fraternity.
At Warrensburg, Johnson county, Mis- souri, in February, 1891, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Gorg to Miss Emma C. Dun- bar, the daughter of a representative physi- cian and surgeon of that county and a scion of a sterling old Virginia family. Mrs. Gorg is a gracious chatelaine of the beautiful fam- ily home at Union and is a leader in the social activities of the community. Mr. and Mrs. Gorg have three children .- Raymond. Lillian and Harold. The elder son was graduated in the Union high school and is now a student in Drury College, at Springfield, Missouri.
CHARLES WORTH. Numbered among the agriculturists of New Madrid county is Charles Worth, who was born within its bor- ders June 27, 1862. He is a son of Jerome
Worth, who was born in Meigs county, Ohio, April 26, 1833, and when thirty years of age he came to Missouri, where he first worked as a riverman on the Mississippi and later engaged in farming. He married Ma- linda Adams, who was born in New Madrid county, April 4, 1839, and who died in this county in 1884. On the 25th of July, 1885, Jerome Worth was married to Elizabeth Strauglen, and his death occurred July 21, 1905.
Charles Worth received his limited educa- tion in subscription schools and in the public schools of the county. His parents were poor, so his chances for learning were even more limited than the poor educational ad- vantages of the new country afforded. He worked on his father's farm until he was eighteen, and then hired out by the month at a wage of twelve dollars for that period of service. After three years of this he share- cropped for three more years. From 1886 until 1909 he rented land, and then bought his present farm. This is a piece of eighty acres, all fenced and well improved. He raises wheat, hay, cotton, corn and pumpkins. His stock comprises eleven horses, fifteen cattle, fifty hogs and six goats. He does gen- eral farming and also has stock in a gin at Portageville.
Bell Everett, of Kentucky, was Mr. Worth's first wife, and they were married in 1883. Mr. Worth became the father of twelve children. seven of whom are deceased, and the five living, two sons and three daughters, are: R. M. Worth, C. L. Worth, Ella, Stella and Ethel Worth. The wife and mother died in 1905, and four years later Mr. Worth was united in marriage to Miss Lucy LaFont, of this county.
Mr. Worth is not an active politician, but is a good Democrat. His lodge affiliations in Portageville include the Woodmen of the World, the Red Men, the Odd Fellows and the Mutual Benefit Association.
WILLIAM ROBERT FIELDS, now passed four score years of age, has lived a life of singular usefulness and success and now enjoys the fruits of his labors, being a retired farmer. He was born in Greys county, Kentucky, in 1829. and followed the occupation of farming all his life. He spent two years in Ohion county, Tennessee, upon leaving Kentucky, and one year in Arkansas, after which he came to Missouri. Thirty-six years ago Mr.
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Fields purchased the eighty-acre farm he still owns for six hundred dollars. It is now val- ued at nearly six times that amount. He is occupied in general farming.
Mr. Fields was married in 1850 to Miss Liza Jones, of Weakley county, Tennessee. They had four children, Anna E., Sara V., Eliza J. and Desdemona L. Mrs. Field is de- ceased.
In a fraternal way Mr. Fields is connected with both the Masons and the Odd Fellows of Portageville. His interest in education is evi- denced by his service of eighteen years on the school board. In political matters he has al- ways stood with the Democratic party. He was nominee for representative of this county. but withdrew before election.
Mr. Fields is not only interested in all that promotes the material welfare of the commu- nity, but in spiritual matters also. He has a record of forty-four years' service as deacon in the Baptist church and the added distinc- tion of having organized the second church of that denomination in the county.
WILLIAM THOMAS JONES was left an orphan at the age of six and since he was sixteen has taken the full responsibility of his fortunes. From a poor orphan boy he has become an extensive land holder and a successful farmer. well and favorably known throughout the county. Wiley Jones, the father of William T., was a Tennesseean, horn about 1844. He was married in 1869 to Caroline Clack, also a native of Tennessee, born in 1846. Both died in New Madrid county, the father in 1876 and the mother a year later. Of their four children, William and Mary Alice are still living, the latter being Mrs. Albert Cox of New Madrid countv. She was previously married to F. N. Williams, now deceased. John N. died at the age of six years and Ben at eighteen. The father was a soldier in the Southern army and a stanch Democrat in politics. His religions convictions were em- bodied in the doctrines of the Baptist church. of which both he and his wife were loyal members.
William T. Jones was born October 20. 1870. After the death of his parents he lived with an unele in New Madrid county until he was sixteen. Following this he spent six years working by the dav for J. A. Lefturch. When he was married, November 1. 1891. he rented land and engaged in farming. The young woman whom he chose for his life companion was Miss Dora Acord. daughter
of Jonas and Lodine (Walker) Acord. She was born in Hamilton county, Illinois, on November 14, 1877. She was the mother of nine children, as follows: William L., born September 20, 1892; Edal, September 27, 1894; Edward S., September 28, 1896; Ethel, October 26, 1898; Eva May, January 25, 1900; Cecil, March 26, 1902; Willie, July 7, 1904; John Paul, October 21, 1907; and Wiley S., March 6, 1911.
Mr. Jones is the owner of a half section of land. In 1910 he moved to Sikeston, buying a home on the corner of School and Daniels streets. Here his children will receive the benefits of the Sikeston schools, and the town will benefit in the acquisition of an enterpris- ing resident. Mr. Jones is fraternally affil- iated with the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, and his political ideas are those of the Democratie party, to which he has always rendered allegiance.
WILL E. DAVIS. It is our boast in America that each man may choose his own destiny, irrespective of the calling of his fathers or of their status in this life. Our country is yet so rich in opportunity that no economic pressure obliges one to step into the niche his ancestors have carved in the over-crowded temple of commerce, as is the case in Europe, where the field for new enterprise is practi- cally closed to all except the very wealthy. And yet, although we have room to develop as we list, we are in our possibilities the sum of the accomplishments of our forebears, and so it is interesting to look at the lineage of the present generation which is making such strides in industrial development.
Mr. Will Davis' ancestry was of the sturdy pioneer stock who hewed down the prime for- ests and fought the savages of the new terri- tory. His paternal grandfather came from Ohio to Point Pleasant in the first half of the nineteenth century and died of yellow fever at Memphis in 1878. On his mother's side Mr. Davis is descended from the sister of Daniel Boone. This lady was her great-great- grandmother and so she was the great-grand- niece of the famous frontiersman.
Point Pleasant was the place of Mr. Davis' hirth and the year was 1872, January 13th the day. The place where he was born is now in the river, but the town has been his home all his life. When he completed the school course here he went for one year to the nor- mal at Cape Girardeau, but his health did not permit him to continue the indoor life of a
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HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI
student, so he returned to Point Pleasant and worked on different steam-boat lines. He was connected with the old Anchor Line, with the Cincinnati and Memphis Packet Company and with the Lee Line.
In 1892 Mr. Davis was elected county sur- veyor. After election he went to the State University and took a course in engineering and then served as surveyor for ten years. He did not finish his third term as he had other interests to which he desired to give his attention.
While engaged in surveying, Mr. Davis had bought up land all over the county and when he resigned his office as county surveyor he devoted himself to looking after his land in- terests and also did private surveying. He was engineer of the first drainage district of the county and while working for the govern- ment surveyed the levee route through New Madrid and part of Pemiscot county. A part of the time he was engaged in this work he made his home in New Madrid, the county seat.
Mr. Davis has bought and sold a great deal of land, mostly in his own county. At pres- ent he is living on a thousand-acre farm south of Point Pleasant. This place belongs to Mr. Sam Hunter, of New Madrid. Most of the land is cleared, the work being done under Mr. Davis' direction. He is now the general manager of this farm, and owns two acres of his own in the town of Point Pleasant.
Mrs. Davis was formerly Miss Iona Yount, of Cape Girardeau. She was born in this county November 27, 1872, and is the daugh- ter of Fred and Julia Yount. Her marriage to Mr. Davis was solemnized at Cape Girar- deau in February, 1906. She is a member of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Davis is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, of the Woodmen of the World and of the Modern Woodmen of America. In his political beliefs he is a Democrat.
VIRGIL MCKAY was born in New Madrid county, July 24, 1858. His father, John Mc- Kay, was one of the pioneers of that county and a most useful and estimable man. The family came to Dunklin county in 1878. Here
the father taught school for many years and was a well known and universally beloved teacher. Virgil Mckay farmed for a time, attended the public schools and the State Nor- mal at Cape Girardeau and then began to .teach. He was a successful teacher, exercising an inspiring influence upon those under his in- struction. He became very popular in many communities in his county and was finally in- duced to make use of his wide acquaintance and gift of making friends in a political way. At first he took an interest in the campaigns of personal friends, then became a candidate himself. He was elected assessor of the coun- ty and later county clerk, serving a number of terms. Here he acquired an acquaintance with people of the county which gave him an immense influence. He became thoroughly fa- miliar with county affairs and since that time has always exercised a great influence upon political events and also upon county business.
During his terms in office he studied law, was admitted to the bar, and has for a number of years been engaged in the active practice of his profession. Here, as elsewhere, he has been very successful, as his acquaintance with men and affairs makes him peculiarly quali- fied for the transaction of certain lines of legal business. His attention has by no means been confined to legal matters, however. He was one of the first men in Dunklin county who saw the inevitable increase in the value of the swamp lands of the section. This foresight enabled him to secure large tracts of valuable lands at a low price, out of which he has ac- quired a competence. In connection with the late R. H. Jones and others he became inter- ested in the building of the St. Louis, Ken- nett & Southeastern Railroad from Campbell to Kennett. He still retains his interest in this road, which is becoming a prosperous line.
Mr. Mckay has been twice married. His first wife was Miss Annie Marlow, a member of one of the pioneer families of Dunklin coun- ty. Two sons, Clyde and Landreth, children of this union, survive. After the death of his first wife Mr. MeKay married M. Kathleen Wickham, a daughter of General Wickham, of Kennett. They have a beautiful home in Kennett and enjoy the esteem of a large circle of friends.
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HECKMAN BINDERY, INC. Bound-To-Please"
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N. MANCHESTER, INDIANA 46962
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