USA > Missouri > History of southeast Missouri : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests, Volume II > Part 16
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Dr. Newberry holds a prominent place among the Masons of Missouri. He has both the Royal Arch Mason and Knights Templar degrees, and has had the honor of being dis- trict deputy grand master and district deputy grand lecturer. He is also a member of the Knights of Pythias. He is one of the trustees of the Methodist Episcopal church, South.
For the most part the practice of his pro- fession and a determination to keep abreast with all that modern research is daily contrib- uting to medical science have occupied the entire time of Dr. Newberry. He is a mem- ber of the Madison County Medical Society, of the Missouri State Medical Society and the Southeast Missouri Medical Society, being one of its charter members. Dr. Newberry was for four years surgeon general of the National Guard of Missouri during the ad- ministration of Gov. Lawrence V. Stephens and was with the Missouri troops during the Spanish-American war. He was for thirty years local surgeon for the Iron Mountain Railroad.
BENJAMIN F. THOMPSON, of Flat River, is a native Missourian, the son of an old settler, and one of the active business men and pub- lic-spirited citizens of this section of south- eastern Missouri.
He was born in Ralls county June 20, 1876. His father, R. W. Thompson, who was born in Pike county, this state, January 1, 1837, was reared on a farm, received his edu- cation in the country schools of the time, and while very young served three years in the Thirty-third Missouri Infantry of the Fed- eral army. He returned from the field of war to become a school teacher, a vocation he followed for four years. Then he took up a tract of land in Ralls county and for twenty- three years was a farmer. From 1893 to 1906 he lived a retired life in Vandalia, Mis- souri. After a brief residence at Green For- est, Arkansas, he returned to Missouri and spent his last days at Hannibal, where he passed away November 28, 1908. At the age
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of thirty he was married in Pike county to Miss Elizabeth Williams. Six children were born of their union, Benjamin F. being the fifth. The mother died during the infancy of her youngest child, and several years later the father married Mrs. Mattie E. Danforth, of Vandalia, who is still living. Two children were born to the second marriage. R. W. Thompson was a Republican in politics and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
The early life of Mr. B. F. Thompson was spent on a farm, during which time he at- tended country school and two years in the Vandalia high school. At the age of sixteen he began life on his own account, and was engaged in various occupations until he was twenty-four. He then entered the profes- sion of photography, and has since been lo- cated at Flat River, where he has built up a good business. While Flat River was an in- corporated town he served in the office of city treasurer. In politics he is a Republican, is a member of the Baptist church, and affiliates with the Knights of Pythias, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Fraternal Or- der of Eagles. During the Spanish-Amer- ican war he was an enlisted soldier in the Fifth Missouri Volunteers.
On May 21, 1902, Mr. Thompson was mar- ried to Miss Sallie Callen, of Vandalia, Mis- souri.
JOSEPH R. MOORE is a retired farmer of St. Clair and has been identified with the state of Missouri for more than fifty years. His advent to the commonwealth dates from 1858, at which time the family came out from Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, where his birth oc- curred March 20, 1840. His ancestors were Union county pioneers and his father and grandfather were each of Keystone state birth. In the early days his father, James Moore, followed the dual vocation of farmer and railroad contractor and his location in Franklin county was just prior to the begin- ning of the Civil war. The grandfather, also named James Moore, was a farmer and builder of bridges, who lived and died in Union county. His birth occurred not far distant from the Revolutionary period and he lived to be eighty years of age.
James Moore, father of him whose name initiates this biographical record, was born in the early years of the nineteenth century and died some time in the '70s. He was an earnest citizen, loyal and enthusiastic in sup- port of the Union in time of Rebellion and
he furnished three sons to wear the Federal blue. He was a Republican and participated to some extent in local politics after the war, being elected county judge of Franklin county. He returned to the state of Pennsyl- vania towards the close of his life and passed away in the vicinity of his birthplace. He took as his wife Mary Ludwig, of Pennsyl- vania who preceded him by some years to the Great Beyond, her demise occurring at Old Mines, Missouri, in 1859. The children born to these worthy people were as fol- lows: Edward, who died in Miller county, Missouri, at the time of the Civil war, leav- ing two children; Annie, who married Pres- ton Lincoln and passed away while a resi- dent of a suburb of Boston, Massachusetts; James, who lived in Missouri until a few years ago when he removed to Columbus, Ohio; William, who died at Newport, Wash- ington; Joseph R., of this notice; Samuel, who died in St. Louis; and Charles, a resi- dent of Union, Missouri, and ex-surveyor of the county. The brothers James, Samuel and Joseph, were enlisted soldiers of the volun- teer army during the Civil war.
Joseph R. Moore received his higher edu- cation in Bucknell University at Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. He finished school early in his 'teens and engaged in railroad work on the New York & Erie Railroad at Susque- hanna, Pennsylvania, as a machinist and was at different points in the state before his ad- vent to Missouri. Here he resumed work with the Missouri Pacific Company but upon what is now the 'Frisco system. He re- mained in the state until the war ended and then returned to Pennsylvania, where he was employed again with the New York & Erie. He made several changes, being for a time with the Catawissa road and then becoming identified with the North Central roalroad, with which he continued to be associated un- til 1867. In that year he finally left Penn- sylvania and came to Missouri to resume his services with the Missouri Pacific. In two years the young man was given the responsi- ble position of engineer and spent a quarter of a century at the throttle, his residence be- ing maintained for a part of the time at Pacific, Missouri, and for a greater period at Springfield. He quit the service in 1889, but still retains his connection with the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers.
Mr. Moore's residence in St. Clair dates from the year last mentioned, when he bade farewell to the strenuous and hazardous life
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to which he had devoted his energies for a quarter century. The peaceful, independent life of the agriculturist appealed to him after the noise and rush of the road and he secured one of the fertile Missouri farms, his prop- erty being situated near St. Clair, in Frank- lin county. He continued successfully en- gaged in this fashion until 1906, when he placed a tenant in charge of his farm and be- came a resident of Saint Clair. When the Bank of Saint Clair was organized he as- sumed a share of the financial responsibility and at the present time holds the office of vice-president. He has shown marked dis- crimination in his part of the management of the affairs of the bank, the personal in- tegrity and high standing of the interested principals of the institution constituting its most valuable asset and giving assurance of its continued growth and prosperity. Buren Duckworth is president and Gilbert Lay, cashier, and the bank is incorporated for twenty-five thousand dollars.
In October, 1869, Mr. Moore was married at Brighton, Illinois, to Miss Dell S. Talcott, daughter of Daniel Talcott, a New Yorker, who came to Missouri and took his place among the state's substantial farmer-citi- zenship. Mr. and Mrs. Moore share their hospitable and delightful home with one daughter-Miss Ada E. Mr. Moore is a Republican, having for many years sub- scribed to the policies and principles of the Grand Old Party and he takes an interest in all matters relating to the public welfare. He is one of the honored veterans of the Civil war, his enlistment in the cause of the Union having been made at Saint Clair, where he had come just previous to the firing of the first guns at Sumter. He became a member of Company C of the Tenth Mis- souri Cavalry and participated in the battle of Wilson Creek. Under Captain Bowen the company entered the engagement as an in- dependent organization, the regiment being not completed at that time. Mr. Moore was shot in the left leg-hit with a musket ball- and so seriously wounded as to make his dis- charge necessary. His military service was thus of brief duration. With the passing of the years he has by no means lost his interest in the comrades of other days and is a prom- inent member of the Grand Army of the Republic.
JAMES BELCHAMBER. Forty-two years of service on one railroad is suggestive of old
age, but although Mr. Belchamber has been with the Iron Mountain road for that time no one would think of him in that light, for he is just in his prime. However, few peo- ple enter railroad work as early as Mr. Bel- chamber did. He was but sixteen when he was first employed by the company, and so he had an early start.
Port Huron, Michigan, was the place of Mr. Belchamber's birth and the year was 1856. His father, Daniel Belchamber, was a native of England and his mother, Anne, of Canada. The father was a painter by trade, and in 1859 he traded his paint shops and business in Michigan for two hundred acres of land near Glen Allen. He entered the state militia during the year of 1861. James Belchamber went from Glen Allen to Sar- nia, Canada, to attend school, thus continu- ing for two years, and he returned home in 1871, during the memorable Chicago fire. In the following year he began to work for the railroad as a watchman, while in 1880 he became an engineer and is still working for the road in that capacity.
In the same year in which he became an en- gineer Mr. Belchamber was married. His bride was Miss Viney Elizabeth Peterson, a native of Arkansas. They have five children : Emma, born in 1882, is Mrs. Ira J. Kness; James A. is married to Hattie Schuler; and Lula, Leona and Gail are still at home. The family reside on the farm of two hundred acres which is the old Belchamber estate. At the time of the father's death the property was divided between the mother, one brother, one sister and Mr. Belchamber of this re- view, and before the mother's death she willed her share to him, and he- also pur- chased the interests of his brother and sister, thus becoming the owner of the parental es- tate.
Mr. and Mrs. Belchamber are valued mem- bers of the Baptist church. He is connected with the lodges of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and with the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. In politics his views are in harmony with those of the Democratic party.
CLARENCE RAYMOND BRAMBLET. Among the promising young citizens of Flat River must be numbered Clarence Raymond Bramblet, cashier of the Miners & Merchants Bank, who since his first assumption of the office in the year 1909 has proved himself an efficient, alert and well-trained banker
OR Bramblet
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and has taken an active part in building up this splendid institution. He is a na- tive son of the state and like so many of the loyal citizens of Missouri who can claim it as a birthplace he has paid it the supreme compliment of electing to remain permanently within its fair borders. Mr. Bramblet was born in Ralls county, Missouri, March 26, 1884. His father, Henry W. Bramblet, by name, was born in the year 1852, also in Ralls county. He spent his early life upon the farm and at the age of twenty-four years he married Miss Nora G. Pulliam, of St. Charles county, daughter of Benjamin Pulliam. To this union were born two children,-he whose name inaugurates this review and Orie H. The elder gentle- man abandoned farming as much as fifteen years ago and since that time has been en- gaged as a commercial traveler for that im- portant concern, the International Harvester Company. He resides at the present time in St. Louis. In politics Mr. Bramblet, senior, is in harmony with the principles and poli- cies of the Democratic party, and he and his admirable wife are affiliated with the Metho- dist Episcopal church, South.
Clarence Raymond Bramblet passed the roseate days of childhood and youth upon his father's farm, and, as is the pleasant portion of the usual farmer's son, lived very near to Nature's heart. In fact, as an assistant in the various activities to be encountered upon the farm, he became familiar with agriculture in its many departments. He was not drawn, however, to adopt agriculture as his own oc- cupation, and after securing a good general education in the district school and the high school at New London, Missouri, he re- ceived an offer of a position in the bank of New London and accepted the same, being then about eighteen years of age. He began his banking career in the capacity of book- keeper and proved faithful and efficient, re- maining thus employed for two years and a half. He went thence to St. Louis and for four years was employed with the Mercan- tile Trust Company. At the end of that time he received an offer of the cashiership of the Miners & Merchants Bank of Flat River and came to this city, with which he has ever since been identified. He still holds the position above referred to and while he has gained recognition from financiers, as an able assistant, he is at the same time known to be one of the most progressive and pub- lie spirited citizens, giving his support to
all measures likely to result in general benefit.
On June 11, 1911, Mr. Bramblet became a recruit to the ranks of the Benedicts, the young lady to become his wife and the mis- tress of his household being Miss Helen Vaughn, of Poplar Bluff, daughter of J. R. A. Vaughn, presiding elder of the Poplar Bluff district of the Methodist Episcopal church, South. Mr. Bramblet and his admir- able young wife are affiliated with the Metho- dist Episcopal church, South. In his politi- cal conviction, the subject is aligned with the supporters of the Democratic party and his lodge relations extend to the great Masonic order and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In addition to the interests above referred to, he is treasurer of the Lead Belt Telephone Company.
JAMES W. GARGAS. After spending the early part of his life in the struggle to make a living, James W. Gargas has now reached the point when he has one of the best farms in the county, as the result of his own efforts. He was born September 4, 1869, on his father's farm near Shady Grove. His grandfather was a native of Giles county, Tennessee, and was one of the earliest settlers in Dunklin county, coming here about 1840, when the country was in a wild, uncultivated condition and very few of the towns were built up. His son, the father of James W., did not come to Missouri with his parents, but went to Alabama, not coming here until 1861. Soon after his set- tling in the county he married Esther Baker, who helped him in all his efforts. He settled on the farm that James W. owns to-day; at that time it was thickly covered with timber, part of which he cleared and helped to build roads. He died in July, 1876, aged about thirty-three years, but his widow is still liv- ing, with James W. She was born July 8, 1845.
James W. Gargas was deprived of a father's care when he was only four years old, but his mother has been devoted to him all of his life. He went to school at Shady Grove and Liberty. One of the schools he attended was a free public school. but the others were sub- scription schools. Being brought up as he was on the farm, he early learned all about farm work of different kinds, he began when he was very small to do odd jobs and to earn small sums of money, but the sums he earned were very small. When he was twenty years old he worked out for a time, but only re-
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ceived twelve and a half dollars a month. He worked around for the farmers in the neigh- borhood, receiving from twenty-five cents to fifty cents a day. His expenses, however, were small, but little as the pay was he man- aged to save most of the amount he made. He rented the place on which he lives now, but did not do very well at first as his own master. He finally was able to buy forty acres of land, eight miles south of Kennett, not paying cash for the land. It seemed at first as if he would not be able to make a go of it, as the property was very much run down, the fences were poor and the land pretty much worn out. He began to fertilize the land, so that now it will grow better cotton and more corn than before. Having once got a start, the rest has been comparatively easy. He now owns one hundred and eighty-six acres of land, part of which he rents to tenants. He has put up three houses for these different renters and in 1909 he built a good seven-room house and a fine barn for himself. He is grad- ually doing away with picket fences and putting in wire fences. He is not only im- proving his home place, but is spending money on his rented places.
In 1889, when he was just beginning to work for other farmers. James W. Gargas married Alva Goodwin. She only lived eleven months, having borne one child, Ella, who was cared for by his mother. On August 13. 1896, he married Media Jones, daughter of Ben- jamin and Nancy (Prnett) Jones, near Car- uth. Mrs. Gargas was born January 27, 1879, and has lived here all of her life. Her par- ents, too, were raised here, as her mother came to Missouri when she was seven years old and her father was born here. Mr. Gargas has had five children by his second marriage,-Effie, born September 24, 1897; Annie, born Febru- ary 13. 1900; Van M., born July 13. 1902; Mary, born April 27, 1907; and Bertie, born September 16, 1909.
Mr. Gargas is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons at Hornersville and of the Woodmen of the World. lodge No. 335, at Caruth. He has done well for himself and his family, after he once got a good start, and all he has is the result of his own efforts.
R. W. McMULLIN. For the past eight years Mr. R. W. McMullin has been in charge of the Jefferson County Democrat, ahly continu- ing the work in which his father hefore him was distinguished.
Richard Watson McMullin was a native of
Jefferson county, born in 1842, on his father's farm in Platte township, the eldest son of Reverend John T. and Eliza M. McMullin. Educated in the public schools of the county, he became a teacher after completing his school course. At the beginning of the war he was drafted, but was soon discharged on account of ill health. On October 5, 1864, he married Mary E. Reppy, daughter of B. S. and Rebecca Reppy. Mrs. McMullin lived but one year, and some thing over a year after her death, Mr. McMullin was again married, to Ellen, daughter of Emma O. and Elias F. Honey. They had ten children, four sons and six daughters, of whom R. W. McMullin, the present editor, is the eldest. Mrs. McMullin died in 1898, on the thirtieth of August.
R. W. McMullin, senior, was a member of the company that published the first paper of Hillsboro in 1866, the original or the Jeffer- son Democrat. In 1871 he became sole owner, buying his partner's interest out, and on June 21, published the first issue of the journal under his own management. The name of the paper had been the Jefferson County Leader but upon assuming control of the or- gan, Mr. McMullin changed the name to the Jefferson County Democrat.
Mr. McMullin was often called upon to represent the party which he so ably sup- ported with his pen and his popularity is indi- cated by the numerous offices which he held. He was at different times clerk of the county court, chairman of the Democratic county convention, member of the school board and town trustee, besides serving as probate judge from 1877 to 1881 and as treasurer from 1887 to 1889. He was a sound business man as well as an able public servant, as is evinced by his being one of the original stockholders of the Hillsboro Bank and at one time its vice- president. Mr. McMullin was a member both of the Missouri Press Association and of the South-east Missouri Press Association.
His death occurred on May 2, 1903, five years after that of his wife. Both of them were members of the Presbyterian church.
Upon the death of his father. R. W. Mc- Mullin, junior, assumed the management of the paper. He claims Hillsboro as his native town and was born here in 1867. After com- pleting the course of the public schools of Hillsboro, he traveled for some time and then attended the School of Mines at Rollo. Mis- souri, for three years, returning to Hillshoro at the conclusion of his studies at Rollo. Mr. McMullin spent most of his time attending
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to his father's fine gardens until he was called upon to manage the newspaper. For a while one of his brothers worked with him, but he is no longer in Hillsboro.
Mr. McMullin continues to publish the paper on the lines followed by his father. The politics of the journal are still those of the Democrats. Mr. McMullin is interested in politics but has no desire for office, pre- ferring to devote his whole time to the Demo- crat, all of whose editorials he writes. Like his father, he maintains membership in the Missouri Press Association and in the South- east Missouri Association. Fraternally he is active in the A. O. U. W.
EDWARD THILENIUS. A distinctively prom- inent and influential citizen of Perryville, Missouri, is Edward Thilenius, who has been identified with the milling business during the major portion of his active career and who is now incumbent of the responsible position of superintendent of the Perryville Milling Company, in which important concern he is a stockholder. Mr. Thilenins was born in the city of St. Louis, Missouri, on the 8th of March, 1849, and he is a son of George C. and Charlotte D. F. (Stuhldreer) Thilenius, both of whom were born in Germany, the former at Uslar on the 12th of May, 1803, and the latter at Adelebsen, on the 7th of Septem- her, 1808. Mr. and Mrs. George C. Thilenius became the parents of twelve children-six boys and six girls-of whom five are living at the present time, in 1911. Edward, of this review, is the youngest in order of birth of the above children and George C. Thilenius, of Cape Girardeau is the eldest. George C. Thilenius was married in Germany and he and his wife immigrated to America about the year 1848, location having been made at St. Louis, where the family home was main- tained throughout their lives. The father was summoned to the life eternal in the year 1883 and the mother passed into the great be- yond in 1887. Mr. Thilenius was a merchant hy occupation and in addition to a number of other important business enterprises he was also interested in the Shaefer Soap Factory of St. Louis.
Edward Thilenius completed his prelimin- ary educational training with a thorough course in the German Institute at St. Louis. being graduated in that excellent institution at the age of nineteen years. After leaving school he entered the employ of his brother at Cape Girardeau, there learning the milling
business. He continued to reside at Cape Girardeau until 1881, in which year he came to Perryville, where he has since maintained his home and where for a time he was man- ager for the Biehle & Jaeger Milling Com- pany. In 1891 the German Savings Institu- tion of St. Louis assumed control of the above concern and for the ensuing twelve years Mr. Thilenius was in their employ. In 1903 the mill was reorganized, under the name of the Perryville Milling Company, the same being incorporated with a capital stock of twenty- five thousand dollars. Mr. Thilenius is a stockholder in this company and he is the present superintendent, a position he has held since 1903. In politics Mr. Thilenius is a stanch advocate of the cause of the Republi- can party and while undoubtedly he has not been without that honorable ambition which is so powerful and useful as an incentive to activity in public affairs, he regards the pur- suits of private life as being in themselves abundantly worthy of his best efforts. In community affairs he is active and influential and his support is readily and generously given to many measures for the general prog- ress and improvement. He is a devout mem- ber of the Lutheran church in his religious inclinations and is affiliated with the local aerie of the Fraternal Order of Eagles.
On the 19th of October, 1873, was solemn- ized the marriage of Mr. Thilenius to Miss Emelia Bramdes, who was reared and edu- cated at Cape Girardeau and who is a daugh- ter of Henry Bramdes, of that city. Mr. and Mrs. Thilenius are the fond parents of five children, namely,-Arnold, Theodore, Helena, George and Edward. Arnold is a dentist by profession and is engaged in his life work at St. Louis; Theodore is engaged in the automobile business at Perryvile ; Helena is the wife of F. J. Morton and they maintain their home at Perryville, Missouri. George is connected with the freight depart- ment of the Frisco system at St. Louis; and Edward is in the employ of Milliken Drug Company at St. Louis. Mr. and Mrs. Thilen- ius are popular in connection with the best social activities of Perryville and their spac- ious and attractive home is widely renowned for its generous hospitality.
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