History of southeast Missouri : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests, Volume II, Part 25

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

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in which Mr. Logan has been an elder for many years and in the various departments of whose work they are most active factors.

On the 19th of November, 1857, was cele- brated the marriage of Mr. Logan to Miss Ann Stephens, who was born on the present Logan estate on the 27th of March, 1838, and who is a daughter of Joseph L. and Louisa W. (Wyatt) Stephens. Louisa W. Wyatt was eldest of these children : Louisa W., Susan H., James J., Mary E., William S., Edward A., Minerva J. (residing at Caledonia), Rice C., Benjamin L., and Nancy H., all deceased except Minerva J. Mr. Stephens was one of eleven children, whose names are here entered in respective order of birth-Joseph L., Mary, Ann, David B., George W., Isaac C., John D., Brookings, Eveline, Berthena and Susan. Joseph L. Stephens was born near Bowling Green, Kentucky, on the 29th of December, 1812, and he died on the 15th of September, 1885, in Iron county. He came to Missouri in 1824 as a small boy and after reaching years of discretion learned the stone-mason's trade, following that line of enterprise for a number of years. At one time he was suc- cessfully engaged in the general merchandise business in Iron county and he was also ex- tensively interested in farming operations. In politics he was a Democrat and he served for two terms-eight years-as county judge. For a period of ten years, from 1865 to 1875, he was engaged in the mercantile business with his son-in-law, James M. Logan. They were unusually successful in that enterprise. Mr. and Mrs. Joseph L. Stephens were Meth- odists in their religious faith and for a time he served faithfully as steward in the church of that denomination at Belleview. Mr. Stephens was a son of George and Sarah (Wright) Stephens, representatives of an old and honored Kentucky family. Louisa W. (Wyatt) Stephens, mother of Mrs. Logan, was born in Virginia, on the 19th of March, 1812, and she died on the 22nd of November, 1888. She came to Missouri with her parents, William G. and Frances (Level) Wyatt, when she was in her twelfth year. Settlement was made by the Wyatt family in the close vicin- ity of the present Logan estate, the old homestead entered by William G. Wyatt be- ing still in possession of the family. Mr. and Mrs. Wyatt died near Caledonia, Missouri. Mrs. Logan had one brother, George William, who died in infancy.

Mr. and Mrs. Logan became the parents of one son, Eugene M., whose birth occurred on

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the 27th of January, 1859. He owns and operates a thirty-barrel capacity flour mill at Belleview, having been interested in the mill- ing business for the past fourteen years. Eugene M. Logan was educated in the public schools at Belleview, Missouri, and subse- quently attended the Westminster school at Fulton, Missouri, for a period of one and one-half years. He married Miss Fannie L. Reyburn, a sister of Joseph A. Reyburn, a sketch of whose career appears elsewhere in this volume. They have three children, Jennie Elsie, Joseph Lemuel and Anna Belle. The elder daughter is a prominent music teacher iu St. Louis, where she was graduated in the Beethoven Conservatory of Music. She has taken extensive post-graduate work in violin and piano and for one year was a student in Oberlin College, at Oberlin, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Logan have also reared a young man, G. F. Coombs, who entered the Logan household at the age of eight years. Mr. Coombs is now assistant buyer in the gentle- men's furnishing department of "The Fa- mous" store at St. Louis. He was born on the 16th of October, 1885, at London, England, a son of Joseph and Mary (Morgan) Coombs. With his widowed mother and brother and sister, he came to America when a child of but four years of age. Mrs. Coombs, with her other two children, now reside in St. Louis. Mr. Coombs is an energetic young business man and is making rapid progress toward the goal of success.

Mr. and Mrs. Logan, though well advanced in years at the time of this writing, in 1911, are still hale and hearty, retaining in much of their pristine vigor the splendid physical and mental qualities of their youth. They are kindly, generous-hearted people and as such hold a high place in the undying affec- tion of their fellow citizens. Their exemplary lives make them eminently well worthy of re- presentation in this volume dedicated to the careers of representative Missourians, for they are citizens of sterling integrity and worth.

ELI THOMAS BRAND, M. D., who is recog- nized as one of the best physicians and sur- geons of the Lead Belt and enjoys a large practice at his home town of Desloge and vicinity, was born at Bonne Terre, Decem- ber 12, 1883. His early schooling was in his native town, after which he took the academic course at Washington University in St. Louis. Entering the medical department of that uni-

versity, he was graduated with the degree of M. D. in 1908. During his student career he showed unusual ability, during part of the course acting as assistant in the anatomical laboratory, and after graduation was ap- pointed to the City Hospital, where he spent one year. He then located at Desloge, where he soon acquired a large general practice.

Dr. Brand is a son of George W. Brand, who is living retired at Bonne Terre, having spent most of his life as a successful farmer and stock raiser in St. Francois county. He has been prominent in the Democratic politics of his county, and is now serving as road supervisor. He is a member of the Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows and the Yeomen. He married in 1879, Miss Mattie Boyd, of St. Francois county. Her father was a sol- dier in the Federal army and was killed dur- ing the Civil war.

Dr. Brand is a member of the county and state medical societies, the American Medical Association, the City Hospital Alumni Asso- ciation, and the St. Louis Medical Society. His fraternal relations are with the Phi Delta medical fraternity, the Knights of Pythias, Modern Woodmen of America, Select Knights and Ladies, and Degree of Honor. In pol- ities he is an active Republican and is now serving as local register. He was married on Christmas day, 1910, to Miss Bessie Per- kins.

BERT P. BRYANT. One of the oldest fam- ilies of Dunklin county is represented by Mr. Bryant. His great-grandfather was Dr. Wil- liam H. Horner, who was family physician to the pioneer settlers and whose career has been permanently commemorated in the town of Hornersville, named in his honor. He set- tled here in 1832. His stock of medicines and other equipment, ordered in St. Louis, was brought down Little river to this spot, in what was then a wilderness. He accumu- lated a great deal of property, and the town is built on land that he once owned, and which after his death passed to his heirs. He was a fine type of the old country doctor, and his name deserves a place in the history of this region.

His children were Amanda and Dr. Joseph S., the latter still living and practicing medi- cine at Hot Springs, Arkansas. Amanda Horner, the grandmother of Mr. Bryant, first married R. L. Fisher, a practicing phy- sician of Kennett, and later became the wife of Judge J. W. Black. As the wife of Dr.

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HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI

Fisher she was the mother of Ennezia and William H., besides several that died young. William H. spent all his life near Horners- ville. Ennezia Fisher, who was born and reared at Hornersville and attended school there, died on January 15, 1890. She was married in Hornersville to Mr. P. P. Bryant.

Mr. P. P. Bryant was born in Tennessee, September 25, 1855, and came to Dunklin county at the age of thirteen, having spent the rest of his life here with the exception of a short time when he lived near the Arkansas line. He now owns a farm of thirty-five acres adjoining town, has a two-story brick business building on Main street, besides sev- eral dwelling houses, and is one of the pros- perous citizens of Hornersville. Most of his early career was devoted to farming. For twelve years he was in the restaurant busi- ness, and had a large and successful trade, which laid the foundation of his present pros- perity.

Bert P. Bryant, whose family history has been briefly outlined, was born at Kennett, February 15, 1885, his father having resided there and at Campbell a few years. He at- tended school in Hornersville until he was thirteen, and then became a clerk for his father in the restaurant business. For the past three years he has been engaged in the fire and life insurance business, and has built up a very profitable connection in this line. At the last general election he was Demo- cratie candidate for the office of circuit court clerk, and intends to try again in 1914.

Mr. Bryant takes an active interest in fraternal affairs, and is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which he was secretary ; the Masonic lodge, of which he was also secretary; the Woodmen of the World, the Woodmen Circle, and the Tribe of Ben Hur, all at Hornersville. His church is the Baptist. He is a progressive young citizen, and enjoys the confidence and esteem ·of all his fellow citizens.

Mr. Bryant married Miss Ida Craig. Her parents are old settlers of the county, and came from Tennessee. She was born in Ken- nett, August 25, 1886. They are the parents of one child, Mildred May, born August 25, 1909.

ARCADIA COLLEGE AND URSULINE SEMINARY. The fine Catholic institution to which this ar- ticle is dedicated is located at Arcadia, Mis- souri, and is known as the Arcadia College and Ursuline Seminary. This school and col-

lege accommodates young ladies only, and among its students are girls of various de- nominations. The site of this institution is the one formerly occupied by old Arcadia College, which was founded by the late Rev. J. C. Berryman, a sketch of whose career ap- pears elsewhere in this volume. In 1877 the college was taken over by the Catholic church and while it was a school of but very modest proportions and facilities in those days it is now one of the finest Catholic institutions of learning in southeastern Missouri. The pres- ent roll of attendance numbers one hundred students. The grounds of the school cover eighty-five acres and are beautifully im- proved. The present fine church edifice was completed in 1909, at a cost of fifty thou- sand dollars. From 1877 until 1880 Bishop John C. Hennessy, of Wichita, Kansas, had charge of the institution, his assistant having been Rev. Father L. C. Wernert, who has been in charge since that time to the pres- ent. The present assistant is Rev. Father John Adrian, and Mother Borgia Bigley is mother superior. The institution represents an investment of upwards of one hundred thousand dollars. in addition to the fine new fifty thousand dollar church.

Rev. Father L. C. Wernert has presided as pastor in this parish since 1880, the same be- ing known as St. Joseph's Chapel and Pa- rochial church of Arcadia, Missouri. He was ordained to the Catholic priesthood at St. Louis, in 1876. A native of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, he was born on the 3d of No- vember, 1852, and he is a brother of the late Rev. Father John L. Wernert, who died at Detroit, Michigan, where he had been pas- tor for a number of years, the date of his demise being the 11th of February, 1889. Joseph and Theresa Wernert, parents of Father Wernert, were born at Strassburg, province of Alsace-Lorraine, then French ter- ritory. They came to the United States in early youth and settled at Pittsburg, then Allegheny, Pennsylvania, where the father gained renown as a prominent architect and builder. The Wernert family has always given its allegiance to the Catholic church. Father Wernert was educated in St. Fran- cis Seminary, at Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and he was ordained as a priest by the late Bishop Ryan, then coadjutor at St. Louis to Archbishop P. R. Kenrick, of that city. When Father Wernert assumed charge of the parish at Arcadia his territory included some ten counties and he was obliged to

ARCADIA COLLEGE AND URSULINE ACADEMY, ARCADIA, MO.

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HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI

travel extensively in order to hold service at the different churches in his charge. For the past eight years he has had an assistant. He is a man of fine intellectual attributes and his many kind acts have been prompted by intrinsic goodness and deep human sym- pathy. He is ever ready to extend a help- ing hand to the poor and needy and his great charity knows only the bounds of his oppor- tunities.

Concerning the equipment and attractions of Arcadia College, the following article, compiled by the Ursuline Sisters, is consid- ered worthy of reproduction at this point and the same is given in full below.

The College and Academy, under the di- rection of the Ursuline Nuns, is a thoroughly equipped institution for elementary, second- ary and the higher education of women.

The aim of the Ursuline Order is the Christian education of young women. This is a work which embodies the physical, in- tellectual and moral development of the stu- dent-a work which can be brought to com- pleteness only by the concentration of ener- gy that is capable of turning all things into so many factors achieving the one great end.

The buildings are spacious and commodious and are provided with all the modern im- provements. The hot water system of heat- ing is used with the most gratifying results to both health and comfort. No expense has been spared to provide the most complete lavatory system throughout. The Bethalto water system has been installed; with it the pressure can be instantly increased, and a strong steady stream of water sent over any of the buildings; thus a reliable fire service is always at command.

The pleasure grounds, which surround the College, are extensive and most beautifully adorned. The tennis courts, golf links, cro- quet and basket-ball courts tell their own tale, and bring to our mental sight a vision of fair girlhood, with sparkling eyes and cheeks aglow, the very embodiment of health and happiness.

The increase in the number of religious services and students necessitated the build- ing of a larger chapel, which was dedicated on April 14th, 1909, by the Most Rev. J. J. Glennon, D. D., assisted by the Rt. Rev. J. J. Hennessy, D. D., of Wichita, Kansas, and forty-five priests of the Archdiocese of St. Louis. The magnificent structure is strictly Romanesque, of Cruciform design; measures

118 feet in length by 53 feet in width, and has a seating capacity of over six hundred. The edifice represents not only the largest chapel in Southeast Missouri, but also one of the most beautiful in the West.

It has been truly said that the zealous daughters of St. Ursula have made the Val- ley of Arcadia worthy of the name it bears to-day, because of their beautiful Temple, reared for the honor and glory of God, of their great institution, nestling among the Ozark hills, and because of the many cul- tured and noble women they have sent forth from their historic walls.

CAPTAIN CHARLES K. POLK. "And they shall beat their swords into plow-shares" is a fitting text for a brief sketch of the life of Captain C. K. Polk, a soldier of distinction in the Confederate army, now an enterprising and successful farmer. He resides on his farm twelve miles southeast of Ironton, in the county which his ancestors took such an active part in organizing and developing.

Captain Polk's father was Major John Polk, a native of Georgia, who came to Mis- souri from "way down south" early in the nineteenth century with his father, William Polk. They secured land and after making several moves came to the present home in Iron county, where they have been potent factors for its upbuilding, both by their pub- lie services and private enterprise. Major Polk was a representative of Madison county in the 'Missouri legislature, and performed the same service later for Iron county, which he was active in organizing. The family is related to that of the former president, James K. Polk, and like him is of Scotch descent. Major Polk married Christina Yount, of Cape Girardeau county, Missouri. She was born in that county in 1799, her family being among the early settlers of eastern Missouri, German by descent. She was a member of the Baptist church, which her husband favored, but was not formally connected with. Christina and John Polk were the par- ents of a large family, of whom two sons and three daughters grew to maturity, but Cap- tain Charles Polk is the only member now alive.

Captain Polk was born in Madison county, Missouri, October 16. 1839, and has spent all but eight years of his life in this state. Four years he was in the war, two in Arkan- sas and two in California, in Tehama county.

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HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI

where he was engaged in farming. Farming and fighting have been the two occupations of his life and he has made good in both.

His military career began in the state service, where he was lieutenant. Later he joined the Confederate forces and was elected lieutenant of Company B, Third Mis- souri Cavalry, under Colonel Colton Greene. His faithful and gallant service soon secured him the appointment of captain, for he never avoided any engagement or shirked the small- est duty. He served from July, 1861, until the surrender at Shreveport, Louisiana, and though he was in the forefront of some twenty-five or thirty engagements of all de- grees of severity, he was never wounded nor touched by a bullet.

Captain Polk was first married to Miss Christ, of Missouri, Iron county, who died before the war. While in Arkansas during the war he was married a second time. The union occurred in 1864 and the bride was Mrs. Rhoda A. Emerson, nee Whitlow. She had one child of her former marriage and two were born to her and Captain Polk. The daughter, Mrs. Christina Lee Ashlock, now resides in Madison county. She has seven children, the eldest of whom, Charles, is in the United States army. The others, John, Richard, Earle, Alma, Joseph and Dumont, are at home. The son of this second mar- riage, John William, was engaged in farm- ing and milling in Iron county until his death, in 1905, at the age of thirty-seven. years. He left a wife and four children, Elmer, Lorene, Raymond and Carrie. The bereaved widow was formerly Miss Laura Miller, daughter of John J. W. Miller, whose family came to old St. Michaels, now Fred- ericktown, in 1811. Later they came to Marble Creek, where C. W. Miller now resides. Mrs. Laura Polk's father, J. J. W. Miller, entered the land on which he still resides in 1855, during Pierce's administration. There ten other children beside Mrs. Polk were born to J. J. W. and Rachel Sutton Miller, six of whom are still living. Captain Polk's second wife went with him to California in 1873, but she did not live to return in 1875, when he came back to stay in Iron county. Here in 1877 he married the present Mrs. Charles Polk, who was Miss Harriet Isabel Sharp, a native of Iron county and a sister of Thomas B. Sharp, ex-sheriff of Madison county, whose life appears elsewhere in this work.

Captain and Mrs. Polk have seven chil- dren. Of these, one son, Thomas, and two

daughters, Miss Annie and Miss Laura, live at home, Thomas assisting his father to oper- ate the farm. Three other daughters are mar- ried: Hattie to Mr. W. L. Boatner, a farmer whose residence is not far from the Captain's home; Lula Polk Thomas, wife of Otto Thomas, of Granite city, Ill., a miller by trade, and they have one daughter, Marian, and Mrs. O. L. Yount, nee Eusebia Polk, is a resi- dent of Ironton. She has two sons, Charles and Morris. All of the daughters and the son Henry Polk have all taught in the schools of Iron and Madison counties. Charles Henry Polk, is a traveling auditor of the M. K. & T. Railroad. His headquarters are at Sedalia, Missouri. He was two terms representative of Iron county in the Missouri legislature.

In politics Captain Polk is a Democrat. To this party he has given lifelong adherence and is a firm believer in its policies, though his public service has been military rather than political.

Both Mrs. Polk and the Captain are valned members of the United Baptist church, the latter having the distinction of being a mem- ber of the first organization of that denomi- nation west of the Mississippi river.

W. J. WARD. A wide-awake, brainy man, possessing an unlimited amount of energy and keen business instincts, W. J. Ward, secretary, treasurer and manager of the Shelton-Ward Hardware Company, is one of the representative citizens of Kennett, stand- ing prominent in mercantile and financial circles. He has risen from humble surround- ings and limited circumstances to a place of affluence and influence in the community, his success in life being entirely due, as he says, to the wise counsels and advice of Mr. W. F. Shelton, who always stood ready to give as- sistance to worthy young men. A son of D. W. and Dillia A. Ward, he was born May 30, 1860, in Weakley county, Tennessee, where he spent the first fourteen years of his life.

In December, 1874, his parents moved to the north end of Dunklin county, Missouri, settling in what is now known as the "Col- ony," from there going, in 1876, to Grand Prairie, near Cotton Plant, where they lived two years. They subsequently settled near Campbell, and not far from Valley Ridge, Dunklin county, where the father's death occurred in December, 1906, at the age of seventy-two years. Mr. Ward's mother still lives on the home farm, making her home with a daughter.

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HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI

After going with the family to Grand Prairie, W. J. Ward worked out by the month, picking cotton, etc., until twenty-four years old. He then married, and for two years rented land of his father-in-law at Grand Prairie. Mr. W. F. Shelton came forward about that time and assisted Mr. Ward in buying eighty acres of land at Horse Island, near Senath, furnishing all of the money in- vested, as Mr. Ward had not a dollar. Mr. Ward cleared and improved a good farm, erecting a substantial house and barn, and in course of time repaid Mr. Shelton the money which he had advanced while agent for the land. Subsequently Mr. Ward traded his farm for two hundred acres of land lying just southeast of Kennett. He added to its improvements, bought two hundred acres of adjoining land, and held it all until about three years ago, when he sold at an advance. Mr. Ward has since purchased eight hundred acres of wild land in Dunklin county, and a thousand acres of the "Dog Walk" tract in Arkansas, the development of which he is just beginning.

In 1894 Mr. Ward became associated with the business interests of Kennett, in company with W. F. Shelton, W. F. Shelton, Jr., and D. W. Moore establishing the Shelton Corn Company, which was capitalized at two thou- sand five hundred dollars, and handled corn, cotton seed and retailed lumber. The com- pany built an elevator, and for two years carried on a good business, Mr. Ward being manager of the concern. Buying out Mr. Moore's interest in 1896, the Messrs. Shelton and Mr. Ward built a planing mill and a saw mill in connection with their lumber yard, the plant adjoining the yards of the Railway Company, and there manufactured all the lumber they handled, and also shipped much rough lumber, their lumber interests crowd- ing out the corn and seed business.

This firm, as lumber manufacturers, car- ried a good supply of builders' hardware and supplies, and in 1901, through the insistence and persistence of Mr. W. F. Shelton, erected on the public square of Kennett its present fine building in which its hardware store is housed, investing five thousand dollars in the building, which is fifty by one hundred feet, and to which a wareroom was subsequently added. Putting in a stock of hardware valued at six hundred dollars, the store was opened October 1, 1901, and in the two fol- lowing years the business had so increased

that a much larger stock was needed, so in 1903 an annex building, fifty by eighty feet was erected, and two years later it was neces- sary to build another annex, that one being thirty-six by fifty feet. Each year the busi- ness grew, assuming enormous proportions, all under the management of Mr. Ward, and in 1908 a building thirty-four by seventy feet was added to the others, giving a floor space of over thirteen thousand square feet. The firm now carries a very heavy stock of hardware, and its annual sales have vastly in- creased in later years, six salesmen being em- ployed. In November, 1909, the lumber busi- ness, which had increased in a corresponding ratio, its sales each year being about the same as in the hardware department, was sold to the Campbell Lumber Company. In January, 1908, during the illness of Mr. Shelton, the business was incorporated as the Shelton- Ward Hardware Company and was capital- ized at fifteen thousand dollars. Mr. W. F. Shelton, Jr., was made president of the com- pany, and Mr. Ward was elected secretary, treasurer and general manager, a position for which he was amply qualified both by knowl- edge and experience, and which he has since filled ably and satisfactorily.

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History of southeast Missouri : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests, Volume II, Part 25

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