History of southeast Missouri : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests, Volume II, Part 15

Author: Douglass, Robert Sidney. 4n
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Chicago : The Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 802

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He was born at Demopolis, Alabama, November 18, 1859. His father, Benjamin Jones, was a native of Virginia, where he was reared and educated. He married Miss Odenia Ligon, a native of Alabama, who died about 1864. Her husband was killed soon after the war, leaving his young children without parental support.

Robert Henry had no recollection of the little Southern mother who was taken away when he was very small and hut a hazy memory of the father who died when he was so young. He went to the district schools in Alabama, where he received his early educa- tion. When he was only thirteen years old he started with his younger brother, Ligon,

on a long trip from Alabama to Wayne county, Missouri, walking the entire dis- tance, at times having to carry his brother over rough places and through streams. Part of his journey was through Clarkton, but he had little idea then that Dunklin county would ever be his home. He went to Patter- son, Wayne county, where his aunt, the wife of Seneca B. Sproule, lived. Mr. Sproule was publishing a small paper there and the boy entered the office, learned the trade and later went with Mr. Sproule to Greenville and then to Piedmont. Thence he walked to Oak Ridge, Cape Girardeau county, where the Rev. Nelson B. Henry was conducting a seminary or small college. He became a member of that good man's family, working his way through school for two terms. He stayed only for that short period because he did not find it possible to remain longer, although even then he realized that he should have more education if he would accomplish very much in the world. He went to Cape Girardeau and worked at the printing business under A. M. Casebolt, the eccentric about whom so many stories have been told. Then he went to Dexter and worked in a printing office with Charles E. Stokes. Later he was at Bloomfield for a while; then he started the Malden Clipper newspaper and published it for about six years. Later he ran the Dexter Messenger. After this experience in the journalistic field he engaged in the mercantile business for a while at Malden. He was city marshal of Malden at a time when great courage was required. He was absolutely fearless of physical injury and showed his bravery while in that office. While a citizen of Malden and owner of the Clipper newspaper, much of the time between 1881 and 1887, Mr. Jones was deputy clerk of the circuit court and deputy recorder of deeds under the late Judge T. E. Baldwin. It was while holding this position that he became familiar with the land matters and records of Dunk- lin county. Later with T. R. R. Ely and D. B. Pankey he organized a title and abstract company, which has grown into prominent proportions and the greater share of which he owned at the time of his death.

On February 16, 1886, Mr. Jones was mar- ried to Miss Hettie D. Langdon, daughter of Judge E. J. Langdon, of Cotton Plant, Dunk- lin county. Of this union three sons, Lang- don, Byron and Irl, were born. The two eldest boys are attending the University at

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IIISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI

St. Louis, while Irl has been at home with his father.

On April 9, 1888, exactly twenty-three years before his burial, Mr. Jones first came to Kennett, with Will A. Jones as his printer and on the 19th of April he put out the first issue of the Kennett Clipper, the predecessor of the Dunklin Democrat. Later he took his brother, Ligon Jones, in as a partner in the venture and the two ran the paper until April 27, 1893, when they sold it to the present owners, who changed the name to the Dunklin Democrat. Mr. Jones was one of the organizers of the Dunklin County Fair Association and was its secretary from its inception in 1891 to the time of his death. To him more than to any other man was due the twenty successful fairs held at Kennett. O. S. Harrison had been his chief co-worker in the fair for several years and is its presi- dent.

A few days ago Mr. Jones became inter- ested as a stockholder in the little timber railroad running from Campbell to the Dog Walk lands of Clay county, Arkansas, north- west of Kennett. Aside from hauling logs over a sawdust ballasted track on very small and crooked rails, its commercial importance consisted in carrying blackberry picking parties from Campbell to the luxurious patches along the St. Francois river. When Mr. Jones and his associates, business men of Kennett, became interested in the road and decided to build it to Kennett on a solid roadbed with real steel rails, the public be- came interested. The plan was to extend the road from the southern terminus across the river in Arkansas into Kennett, at the same time pushing branches and spurs into the wonderful Dog Walk lands of Clay county, Arkansas, thus affording opportunity for moving the vast body of timber on that land. These plans were carried out and with the extension of the road here the removal of the Campbell Lumber Company's plant from Campbell to Kennett was quickly agreed upon. The growth of that plant from one mill to three, trebling the capacity of the plant and the consequent increase of the working population of Kennett, are matters of general knowledge in the county. When the road had reached here and had been standardized in width, equipped with big engines and cars and appeared to be a real railroad, the demand for its extension west became so pronounced that it was built to Piggott, due to the efforts of Mr. Jones.

What the extension did for Piggott (an im- portant city on the Cotton Belt and the shire town of Clay county, Arkansas) is second in importance only to what it did for Kennett. If you go into that pretty city over the St. Louis, Kennett & Southeastern Railroad, the name of the extended line, you will see the evidence of the prosperity of the city. Mr. Jones had been president of this road since its extension to Kennett. If he had lived he would have seen another one of his great desires accomplished, the extension of this road west from Piggott to a connection with the Iron Mountain road and probably still further west.

Mr. Jones was one of the organizers of the Bank of Kennett, having been interested in it as a director for twenty years at the time of his death. He was also interested as a stockholder in banks at Malden, Campbell and Holcomb. His good judgment on the value of lands induced him to become the possessor of several thousand acres in this and adjoining counties. As partner of William Hunter, the land king of Southeast- ern Missouri, of Virgil MeKay, of W. F. Shelton and others, he was possessed of large interests at various times and had an ex- tensive landed property at the time of his death. Mr. Jones, known to his closest friends as Clipper Jones and to his oldest friend as Hal Jones, was a good provider and far-sighted, as is instanced by the fact that he carried life insurance in favor of his sons to the amount of thirty thousand dol- lars.

His death was sudden and unexpected; only two days before he was attending to his duties in his office. He had complained of slight rheumatic pains and intended to go to Hot Springs as soon as he should have arranged his business matters. Two days later he was beyond all connection with busi- ness and he died with his head on the shoulder of his youngest son, Irl, the other sons being away at college. The funeral was in charge of the Masonic order of which Mr. Jones was a member. The Kennett lodge, No. 68, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, with T. R. R. Ely, Master, (Malden Commandery as guard of honor) made every arrangement. Mr. Jones had been a member of the Presbyterian church since December 7, 1896, and its pastor, the Rev. C. W. Latham, conducted the religious services, assisted by the choir of the church for which he had done so much. During the last twenty-five years

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Mr. Jones did a great deal for the betterment of Dunklin county ; he made a fortune for his sons and was a progressive and valuable citi- zen. He was a man of broadest interests and was never idle. He was a born leader and only followed when he felt that some one else could be a better captain. He was positive in his opinions and formed conclusions on every subject, but he was always willing that others should hold their opinions and was willing to grant them as much liberty of ex- pression as he took for himself. He was charitable in speech and act, and his many acts of private benevolence will long be re- membered by the recipients of his kindness. As an instance he cared for a near relative who had become helpless, sparing neither ex- pense nor care, his reward being the con- sciousness that he was easing the burdens of others. This was the key-note of all his ac- tions, that of service to his fellow creatures, and his loss will long be felt in the county.

Upon the occasion of the twenty-first annual Dunklin county fair, his great friend, O. S. Harrison, wrote a beautiful apprecia- tion of him which was incorporated in the pamphlet containing the premium list. The article contained a short outline of his life, the main facts of which have been recorded in foregoing paragraphs. It can not be amiss to repeat some of this in Mr. Harrison's own words.

"To recount his early experiences and up- hill fight would occupy too much space, but from early boyhood he seemed determined to get as good an education as possible for a lad in his circumstances, and later we find him working his way through a small college at Oak Ridge, Cape Girardeau county, under the tutelage of Rev. Henry. From here he went to Cape Girardeau and worked at the printing trade. He next ap- peared at Dexter and for awhile edited the Dexter Messenger. He then entered the mercantile business at Malden and was at one time the fearless city marshal of the city, at a time when great courage and personality were required.

"He later came to Kennett and was for a time deputy circuit clerk and recorder of deeds under that grand old man, Judge T. E. Baldwin. He then, with others, organized a title and abstract company in this county, which has since grown into prominent pro- portions and of which he was half owner and manager at the time of his death.

"Mr. Jones has since been found promi-

nently associated with all public enterprises, being one of the organizers of the Bank of Kennett, the president of the St. Louis, Ken- nett & Southeastern Railroad and was the guiding hand in the extension of this road to Piggott, Arkansas.

"He was also one of the organizers of the Dunklin county fair and was its secretary from its inception in 1891 to the date of his death, and it was in this enterprise that the writer came so closely in touch with the many lovable and manly qualities of R. H. Jones. He was a man of sound judgment, aggressive and ever a leader, kind yet firm, and his arm was ever ready to uplift his fel- low man or aid the unfortunate and op- pressed.

"He was ever cheerful and jovial and his office in Kennett was the rendezvous for many who were drawn to him as the magnet draws the steel. His place will be hard to fill in many ways. In no instance are the words of Emerson more aptly applied :

" 'Green be the turf above thee, Friend of my better days, None knew thee but to love thee, . None named thee but to praise.'

"Let us ever keep his memory green as a tribute to him, one of the worthiest sons Dunklin county ever produced."

HUEY F. BELL. There is no mistaking the high order of esteem accorded to Mr. Bell in his native county, and he is known as a young man of most genial and companionable dis- position as well as one of distinctive literary and business ability. He is editor of the Lead Belt Banner, one of the alert and attractive weekly papers of southeastern Missouri, and is one of the representative business men of the younger generation in his community. At Bonne Terre, St. Francois county, he was born on the 6th of September, 1885.

Huey Frank Bell is a son of Stephen and Josephine (Lyons) Bell, the former of whom was born in Carroll county, Virginia, and the latter in Wythe county, Virginia. The father has been a resident of Missouri for fully thirty years, and his entire active career has been one of elose identification with the min- ing industry. For a number of years past he has been captain of the mines of the Federal Lead Company at Elvins, St. Francois county, and he is well known in connection with this line of industry in Missouri, where his long experience in practical and executive

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HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI

capacities has made him an authority in his chosen vocation, the while he has so ordered his course as to retain the unqualified con- fidence and regard of his fellow men. He and his wife maintain their home at Elvins, and of their seven children four sons and one daughter are living. Stephen Bell is a staunch supporter of the principles for which the Republican party stands sponsor, is af- filiated with the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and his wife holds membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, South. The Bell family was founded in Virginia in an early day and is of staunch Scotch lineage.

Huey F. Bell is indebted to the public schools of Bonne Terre for his early educa- tional discipline, which included the curri- culum of the high school, and thereafter he attended the Gem City Business College, at Quincy, Illinois, and the Moorhart Business College, at Farmington, Missouri, in which later he was graduated in 1906. After leav- ing busines college Mr. Bell was employed in various clerical and executive capacities in . his home connty until March, 1911, when he purchased an interest in the Lead Belt Ban- ner, of Leadwood, of which he has since been the editor. The paper is issued on Friday of each week, is a six-column quarto, is clean and attractive in its letter-press, and is an effective exponent of local interests, as well as of the cause of the Republican party, to which its editor gives unswerving allegiance. Mr. Bell is known as a voracious student and reader and his fund of information is broad. and varied, so that he is specially well equipped for his work in connection with the "art preservative of all arts." He has much originality in thought and diction and has made his paper one of the brightest weeklies of this section of the state, besides which he has been a contributor to various advertising periodicals, principally on the subject of con- sistent newspaper advertising. He is an in- tuitive optimist, bright and cheery and every ready with a kind word or deed, so that he has gained to himself a wide circle of friends in the county that has ever represented his home. He is affiliated with the Brotherhood of American Yeomen and holds membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, South. Mr. Bell still remains in the ranks of the bachelors, but the perpetuity of this status is not to be predicted with undue assurance, even by the writer of this sketch, who has long considered himself immune in this direction.

ROBERT H. TINNIN, of Hornersville, began his active career as a teacher when twenty years old. Still a young man, he has never- theless accomplished what many men work half a lifetime to attain. As teacher, farmer and business man he is known as one of the most prosperous citizens of Hornersville, and to thrift, enterprise and intelligent industry he owes a substantial position in the world.

Born in Bollinger county, Missouri, Au- gust 19, 1878, he spent his younger days on a farm. For two years he attended Concor- dia College in Wayne county, where he com- pleted two years of high school work, and then took a general literary course at Will Mayfield College at Marble Hill, Missouri. His first teaching was done in the country schools of Bollinger county, and he then spent eight years in the schools of Dunklin county. He was principal of the Clarkton school two years, three years as principal at Coldwater, and was teacher and also principal for three years in the Bone school.

On November 9, 1904, Mr. Tinnin married Miss Minnie Bone. She is a daughter of W. M. Bone, president of the Bank of Horners- ville. After their marriage he continued teaching, and also has given a large share of his attention to farming. There are few more successful farmers in this part of the state than Mr. Tinnin. He conducts his op- erations on a place of two hundred acres, which at his own expense he has improved with a comfortable dwelling house and with fences all around the farm. Corn and cot- ton are his staple crops. In 1910 he raised three thousand bushels of corn and fifty bales of cotton, the latter crop averaging from one thousand to one thousand five hundred pounds to the acre. With his farming and teaching he is one of the busiest men in Dun- klin county, but this labor has its rewards, for his annual profits run from two thousand to twenty-five hundred dollars a year, and he is laying the foundation for larger activities and greater prosperity in the future.

Mr. Tinnin is affiliated with the Masonic and Odd Fellows lodges at Hornersville. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, South. They are the par- ents of three children: Nelson, born Octo- ber 8, 1905; Opal, born September 26, 1907; and Ruby, born November 9, 1909.

Mr. Tinuin is a sou of Benjamin A. and Martha J. (Gibbs) Tinnin, both born in Missouri, in Bollinger county. B. A. Tinnin was a farmer, residing four miles east of

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Marquand, in Bollinger county, and is aged now fifty-six years. His wife died in Novem- ber, 1907, at the age of fifty-two years. Both were members of the Methodist Episcopal church, South. Robert H. is one of eight children, all living, he being the eldest. They are: L. E., of Texas; Mollie (McKin- zie), of Ste. Genevieve county, Missouri; K. G., of Flat River, Missouri; H. B., of Howell, Indiana ; Bess (Singleton), of East St. Louis, Illinois ; Rosa (Long), of East St. Louis; and Richard, at home.

COL. WILLIAM M. NEWBERRY, WILLIAM NEWBERRY AND DR. FRANK NEWBERRY. Per- haps no man who has ever lived within the confines of Madison county has been so in- timately concerned with its history and better- ment nor more sincerely mourned than Colonel William Newberry. His death was a distinet loss to the county not only because she lost one of her oldest residents and most highly esteemed public men, but because she lost a noble man and a loyal friend.

Colonel Newberry was born in Frankfort, Kentucky, at the very beginning of the nine- teenth century, in September, 1800. His early education he obtained in the public schools of Frankfort, and at eighteen came to the then far western territory of Missouri. He located at what was then the Kewanee village of St. Micheal, an old French settlement in the creek bottom, just north of the present site of Fred- ericktown, Madison county, Missouri. Two years later, in 1820, there came a great flood which completely inundated the little French village and it was never rebuilt. After the flood was over it was decided to move the set- tlement to the hill, now the site of Frederick- town. Mr. Newberry being a practical sur- veyor, was selected to lay out the new town. From then until his death he never ceased to have the interest of Madison county as of the dearest concerns of his heart. He was always actively associated with its political history, and in every public office he ever undertook he gained the same clean record of service done with scrupulous honesty and the same zeal that other men apply to private enter- prise. He was at one time probate judge for the county and filled the offices of county and circuit clerk, prosecuting attorney and col- lector. When he was collector, the capitol of Missouri was at Saint Charles. Saint Charles county. and it was necessary for him to take the state's share of the money he collected to the capital himself. He used to make the Vol. II-6

trip on horse back, carrying the money in his saddle bags. He was often accompanied by merchants en route for Saint Louis, the near- est large city. At that time there were very few banks in southeastern Missouri, except those at Cape Girardeau and at St. Louis. In all Colonel Newberry served in various offices for a period of forty years, a brilliant record of efficiency and unquestioned trust. He was licensed to practice at the bar of Missouri at Jackson, this state, and he was everywhere known as an old-time Democrat who always adhered to and supported his party nomi- nations.

Colonel Newberry lived on his estate, lo- cated just west of Fredericktown. The large farm which was his now lies, most of it, within the corporate limits of Fredericktown, and is an unusually fine and fertile tract of land. Colonel Newberry was actively inter- ested in the organization of the Methodist Episcopal church at Fredericktown and it was his liberality that bestowed the lot that is the site for the present church.

In 1832 was solemnized the marriage of Colonel Newberry to Miss Gahrella Frier. She was born in Loudoun county, Virginia, and had many of the graces for which the womanhood of the Dominion state has ever been noted. She was the daughter of a wealthy business man of English descent and the daughter of an old Virginia family. Mr. Frier was known as the man who put in the first stage line between Saint Genevieve and Pocahontas on to Little Rock, Arkansas. He came to Missouri in 1825 and was a resident of the state until his death. He accumulated a large fortune for those days when the big corporation was not yet known, and was the owner of an extensive farm three miles south of Fredericktown. Mrs. Newberry, his daugh- ter passed away in 1877, at the age of sixty.

Of the children of the union of Colonel and Mrs. Newberry three survive. Mrs. Sallie Ramey, of Fredericktown, William and Dr. Frank Newberry. Their father passed to the Great Beyond in February, 1876. His passing left the county bereft of one of its most able and devoted citizens.

William Newberry, son of the late Colonel Newberry, is now a farmer and stockman re- siding east of Fredericktown, and in partner- ship with his son Henry is operating a four hundred acre farm, half of which is in cultiva- tion. He was born at the home farm adjacent to Fredericktown, December 23, 1844, and re- ceived a good education as a boy. In April.

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1864, he entered a mercantile establishment as clerk, after his return from the army. He had served a short time in the Confederate army under Colonel Jeffrey, being captured and paroled. For thirty-five years he continued to be occupied as a salesman in the Frederick- town store, with the exception of eight years he spent in the public service. He was twice elected to the position of county collector, for terms of four years each. Ten years ago he took up the great basic industry in which he has been eminently successful.

In October, 1866, was solemnized the mar- riage of William Newberry to Miss Maggie Montgomery, who was born in Saint Francois county, a daughter of Henry Montgomery, a stockdealer who had in the early days operated a stage line in southeastern Missouri through Madison, Bollinger and Cape Girardeau coun- ties. Mr. Montgomery passed away in Benton county, Arkansas. Mrs. Newberry spent her early life in Madison county and died here in January, 1903, at the age of fifty-six years. She and her husband were members of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he is one of the trustees. This union was blessed with several sons, who have grown to be use- ful men. Mr. Newberry is an earnest Free- mason having been made a Mason over forty years ago. Like his father, he is a member and loyal supporter of the Methodist church.

Dr. Frank R. Newberry, brother of Wil- liam and son of Colonel William M. New- berry, is now one of the most prominent physi- ciaus and surgeons in Fredericktown. Com- ing from a long line of ancestors, early set- tlers in Newberryport, Massachusetts, and the town of the same name in South Carolina, he was born at the old Newberry homestead at Fredericktown, Missouri, January 25, 1853. Dr. Newberry was reared in his native town and obtained his medical education at the University of New York City, graduating there with the class of 1875. After gradua- tion he came at once to Fredericktown, where with energy and skill he built up a large prac- tice. He was united in marriage to Miss Susie Webb, of Iron county, Missouri. Of their union several children have been born, all bright and intellectual, and give promise of doing well.

Politically Dr. Newberry has been active in the workings of the Democratic party, and, like his father, has served the people of the county in many public offices, bringing to each those sterling qualities of progressiveness and. absolute integrity with which the name of

Newberry has become synonymous. He has been mayor of Fredericktown, and has repre- sented the county both as a state representa- tive and in the Missouri senate. While Dr. Newberry was in the general assembly, he was the author of the Newberry law, which elim- inated all amusements, gambling, dances, and musical instruments from saloons, a law which has since worked out for the better moral status of the liquor business.

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History of southeast Missouri : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests, Volume II, Part 15

Author: Douglass, Robert Sidney. 4n Publication date: 1912 Publisher: Chicago : The Lewis Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 802

Author: Douglass, Robert Sidney. 4n
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Chicago : The Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 802