USA > Missouri > History of southeast Missouri : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests, Volume II > Part 32
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Politically Dr. Harrison was a sound Dem- ocrat, and though never an office seeker did make one vigorous campaign for the state senatorship, but was defeated at the polls. Fraternally the Doctor was made a Mason in early life, and was for years one of the lead- ing members of Clarkton Lodge, No. 130, A. F. & A. M., which he represented at the Grand Lodge; he was likewise a charter member of West Prairie Chapter, No. 31, R. A. M., the first chapter organized in this part of the state. Dr. Harrison was also one of the or- ganizers of the Clarkton & Hall Educational Association, which in 1880 erected a four thousand five hundred dollar building which was used for public and private schools and in which lectures were held, its influence be- ing felt over a wide area. He was an Old School Presbyterian in religion, and for up- wards of a quarter of a century was an el- der in the Clarkton Presbyterian Church.
Dr. Harrison married, in Clarkton, Rox- anna Stokes, who was born at Cape Girar- deau, Missouri, but was brought up and edu- cated in Clarkton, where her father, Judge John H. Stokes, was a judge in the Court of Common Pleas. Mrs. Harrison died in Ken- nett, Missouri, March 31, 1906. Ten chil- dren were born to Dr. and Mrs. Harrison, namely : Emma, widow of John T. James, late of Clarkton, Missouri; A. S. Harrison, M. D., of Kennett; O. S. Harrison, engaged in the loan and insurance business at Kennett; P. C. Harrison, a lumber dealer in Kennett; Lucretia, who died in infancy; R. E. Har- rison, who died at the age of twenty-five years, in 1895, was engaged in mercantile pursuits at Pascola, Missouri; Van Houston Harrison, Jr., a bookkeeper at Kearney, Ar- kansas; Zalma B. Harrison, an attorney at Rector, Arkansas; Agnes, wife of Professor Herbert Pryor, of whom a brief sketch may be found elsewhere in this volume; and Er- nest F. Harrison, M. D., of Kennett.
P. P. BRYANT. One of the old and pros- perous residents of Hornersville, Mr. P. P. Bryant knew this town when it had only one store. In this vicinity he has spent nearly forty years of his life, and beginning as a poor young man who had the responsibility of supporting his widowed mother and one
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sister, he worked a steady progress in his ma- terial circumstances and for a number of years has enjoyed a prosperity that fully re- wards his earlier struggles.
Mr. Bryant was born in Decatur county, Tennessee, September 25, 1855. His father was a farmer from east Tennessee and during the war moved to Paducah, Kentucky, where he died when his son was seven years old. The latter had few school advantages, largely owing to the conditions resulting from the war. In 1874 his mother moved to Dunklin county, when he was fifteen years old, and the support of the mother and sister devolved upon him. His mother lived with him until a year before her death, which occurred about 1887. For several years he worked on a farm, and then rented a farm near Horners- ville, where he made three crops, being in debt when he went on the place. He then bought a home and business block in Horners- ville and for five years was in business there and did well. Selling out, he was in business at Campbell two years, then in Noble, Arkansas, two years, and in 1893 returned to Hornersville. For two years he drove the mail to Kennett, and then for twelve years conducted a prosperous restaurant business in Hornersville. In 1909 he retired from his active career, but since then has built a two- story brick business house, fifty by fifty on Main street, and two dwelling houses, and owns thirty acres of valuable land adjoining town.
Mr. Bryant's first marriage was to Almedia Harmon, who died two years after marriage. His second wife, who died while he was in Noble, Arkansas. was Miss Nezzie Fisher. Their three children were: Hattie, Bert (see sketch), and John. In October, 1902, he married in Hornersville Mary Woodruff, who was born in Indiana, July 24, 1870, and came to Hornersville with her parents. They have one child, Cora E., born in 1903.
Mr. Bryant is a Democrat in politics. His fraternal affiliations are with the Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows and Woodmen of the World at Hornersville and the Knights of Pythias at Paragould.
AUGUSTUS SAMUEL ST. MARY, JR. The last of the male descendants of the family which founded St. Mary's, Ste. Genevieve county, Augustus S. St. Mary, Jr., was for many years an active and widely known figure in the mining industries of Southeast Missouri. especially as an expert builder of smelting
works. He is a native of Washington county, Missouri, born February 13, 1838. His grandfather, also A. S. St. Mary, located at Vincennes, Indiana, before the outbreak of the Revolutionary war, being one of the pio- neers of that place and one of Washington's most trusted couriers during the progress of hostilities. The father was born in old Vin- cennes, and at the conclusion of the hostili- ties with Great Britain his parents started with their family for their old home in Canada, but before they reached their destin- ation they were stricken with fever and both died. As the children disagreed as to what was best to be done under the distressing cir- cumstances their life-courses were henceforth separated.
A. S. St. Mary, at this crisis, directed his course toward St. Louis, arriving in that city in 1802, soon after the Louisiana Purchase had been made from France. Then twelve years of age, he secured employment as a farm laborer, and received as pay for his services the piece of ground which is now the site of St. Joseph's College, St. Louis. Trading the land for a horse and cart, he journeyed with his new possessions to Ste. Genevieve, where he worked for awhile and then exchanged the former for a ferry boat. This he operated for about thirteen years, also establishing and running a yard which supplied the river boats with wood. When the lead boom struck Washington county, he moved to that section of the state and engaged especially in the smelting branch of the lead industry, and until his death in 1867 was ex- tensively engaged in building and operating smelting plants in various parts of Southeast Missouri. While at the Old Mines he mar- ried Miss Mary Louise Politte, who died in 1893, mother of three children,-Henry ; Mary Louise (Mrs. Atwood), now deceased and A. S., Jr., of this sketch. The deceased was a Catholic and a stanch Democrat.
Augustus Samuel St. Mary, Jr., spent his early life in receiving a common-school edu- cation and working in the lead mines. At the breaking out of the Civil war he was in his twenty-fourth year, and served in the Con- federate army as a lieutenant under General Cockrell. After the war he married, and he continued to engage in lead mining, farming and other occupations, coming to Festus, Jefferson county, as machinist for the Glass Works. He also operated a construction camp during the building of the St. Louis & San Francisco Railroad, and made himself
Emma . P. Hinchan
Jansen M. Fischer 94.2.
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felt in manifold other ways as a distinct per- sonal force in the development of his home region. He is fully entitled to the retired life which he is now enjoying at one of the Festus hotels with a favorite daughter.
Mr. St. Mary was married, in 1866, to Miss Julian Boursaw, of Rich Woods, Washington county, and the two children of their union are Josephine and Margaret Cyrena, both unmarried. The father of this family is, therefore, as stated, the last male descendant of the founders of St. Mary's, Missouri.
JAMES M. HINDMAN, M. D. The profes- sional career of Dr. J. M. Hindman excites the admiration and has won the respect of his contemporaries, and in a calling in which one has to gain reputation by merit he has advanced steadily until he is acknowledged as the superior of most of the members of the medical profession in Bollinger county, Missouri, having long since left the ranks of the many to stand among the successful few. Dr. Hindman is engaged in the active practice of his profession at Dongola, Mis- souri, where he is a man of mark in all the relations of life.
In Jay county, Indiana, on the 21st of December, 1867, occurred the birth of Dr. Hindman, who is a son of J. Monroe and Mary Elizabeth (Lanning) Hindman, both of whom are now deceased. The father was a farmer in Bollinger county, Missouri, and he had achieved a fine success in that partic- ular line of enterprise. He served as county judge of the southern district for two years. He and his wife became the parents of ten children, of whom the Doctor was the eldest in order of birth and seven of whom are liv- ing in 1911. On the old homestead farm in Indiana Dr. Hindman was reared to adult age. In 1881 the family home was estab- lished in Jay county, that state, and there the Doctor received his preliminary educa- tional training. In 1883. J. Monroe Hind- man removed with his family to Arkansas, remaining in that state for a period of twelve months, at the expiration of which a return was made to Indiana. In 1885 the family again set out for Arkansas, but, sojourning for a time in Bollinger county, Missouri, while en route, Mr. Hindman became so im- pressed with the attractions of this place that he decided to settle here. Accordingly. he homesteaded a tract of one hundred and sixty acres of land in Liberty township, where he resided until his death. Dr. Hind-
man was associated with his father in the work and management of the farm until 1889. He then farmed for himself until 1898, when he decided upon the medical profession of his life work and in that year was matriculated as a student in the St. Louis College of Physicians and Surgeons, at St. Louis, Missouri, being graduated in that excellent institution as a member of the class of 1902 and duly receiving his well earned degree of Doctor of Medicine.
Dr. Hindman initiated the practice of his profession at Dongola, Missouri, where he opened up a drug store and where he has continued to reside up to the present time. He rapidly built up a large and lucrative patronage and to-day holds prestige as one of the most skilled physicians and surgeons in Bollinger county. He has continued to conduct his drug store in connection with his professional work and the same is well equipped and strictly modern in all its ap- pointments. Dr. Hindman is the owner of some three lots and a beautiful residence in Dongola, where he is honored and esteemed by his fellow citizens and where he is un- usually loyal and publie spirited in his civic attitude.
In the year 1888 Dr. Hindman was united in marriage to Miss Emma P. Shell, a native of Bollinger county, Missouri, and a daugh- ter of Troy Shell, of that place. Dr. and Mrs. Hindman have no children. In their religious faith they are devout members of the Baptist church, in the different depart- ments of whose work they are most zealous and active factors. In polities he accords an uncompromising allegiance to the cause of the Republican party and in fraternal channels he is affiliated with the time-hon- ored Masonic order, the Tribe of Ben Hur and the Woodmen of the World.
WILLIAM T. STEVENSON. An able expo- nent of the progressive spirit and strong initiative ability that have caused Iron county to forge so rapidly forward commer- cially and in other lines is William T. Steven- son, who has done much for the material and civic development and upbuilding of the at- tractive town in which he has elected to establish his home. Mr. Stevenson is a man of great and diverse activity. He is engaged in the general merchandise business at Des Arc; he is a member of the firm of William Stevenson & Brothers, who conduct a general store at Scatterville, Wayne county ; he owns
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the Des Are Telephone Company, and in fact is one of the most prominent telephone men in this part of the state; he is vice-president of the Bank of Des Are and former president of this sound monetary institution; and he has given excellent service in public office. It is by no means to be gainsaid that he is one of the big men of Iron county. He built the Des Are telephone system and he has Bell and other long distance phones connected locally in five counties and extending to Wil- liamsville, Marquard, Lesterville, Ellington and all towns in that area. In addition to the enterprises above noted which benefit by his controlling ability he is also in the lumber and milling business. For two terms he has been elected one of the three county judges of Iron county and he is serving in that capacity at the present time.
Mr. Stevenson was born upon the farm where he now makes his residence on January 21, 1865, and is the son of J. W. and Ellen (Shaver) Stevenson, the latter of whom is living at Des Arc at the age of sixty-four years. She was born and reared in Madison county, Missouri, her parents having been pioneers to Missouri in the earlier part of the nineteenth century, and who took a part in the life of the country in an agricultural ca- pacity. The father was born in Iron county ; was reared near the site of Des Are; was a farmer; and served as a soldier in the Civil war. More is told of him in succeeding para- graphs. Ile and his wife became the parents of a round dozen of children, ten of whom were sons and two daughters, and of this number but one is deceased, the eldest, Perlie, who married Napoleon Lewis and died a year later, in 1898. The subject is the eldest of those living; David F., of Taskee, Missouri, is engaged in merchandising and farming; John H. resides at Des Arc and is interested in merchandising and real estate, owning a large number of houses in this place; Robert H. is a merchant of Des Are; James W., of near Corydon, Reynolds county, owns and operates two saw mills; Ollie D. is the owner of a saw mill near Lesterville, Missouri; Charles C. is a partner of his brother, the sub- ject, in the mercantile business; Ozro and Cicero, twins, are engaged in the tie and lumber business together ; Marshall resides at home with his widowed mother; Bertha, now Mrs. Zell Lewis, resides at Pangborn, Arkan- sas, where her husband owns a sawmill and is engaged in the lumber business. It is an interesting coincidence that all the brothers
are to more or less extent engaged in the lum- ber business and that all were reared upon the homestead farm a mile and a half north of the present town of Des Are.
Mr. Stevenson received his general educa- tion in the district schools and remained at home until the attainment of his majority. Ilis first experience as a wage-earner was as a book-keeper in a saw-mill. As early as 1886 he realized his ambitions of placing himself upon an independent footing and started in business for himself. He subsequently formed a partnership with his brother, John II., and these two gentlemen still retain some associate interests. In 1905 Charles C. Stevenson entered into partnership with his brother and at the present time he manages jointly with the subject the mill, the store at Des Are and a farm south of town. The other interests of the subjects are individual.
Mr. Stevenson was first married to Miss Mollie Chilton, who died August 29, 1902, the mother of four daughters, Eva, Ethel, Lena and Lela, all of whom are at home. The subject was married in the year 1904 to Miss Rhoda King, daughter of the late Samuel King. This honored and venerable citizen died in May, 1911, when nearly eighty years of age.
Politically William T. Stevenson is a stanch and stalwart Democrat, as are all his brothers. In speaking of his public service mention should be made of his four years of office as deputy with Sheriff M. T. O'Neal. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America of Des Arc and he and his family favor the Baptist church.
The late J. Wesley Stevenson, father of the subject, was summoned to the Great Beyond on January 20, 1910, at his home near Des Arc, the very farm upon which he was born November 13, 1842. He is a son of Hender- son C. and Angeline (McFadden) Stevenson, who came to Missouri from Kentucky and Virginia, respectively. Angeline McFad- den's parents were Samuel and Lucy McFadden, early pioneers of this section of Missouri. The family all were farmers and none of the name of MeFadden now reside in this section.
J. Wesley Stevenson, himself the father of twelve children, was one of a family of ten, and of that number only three survive at the present time, namely : Mrs. Lucinda Shaver. of near Des Are; Mrs. Annie Lloyd, of near Des Are; and James A., of Iron county. Mr. Stevenson was one of those who paid
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Iron county the compliment of remaining within its favored boundaries throughout the entire course of his life. He was a farmer and stockman, in particular raising great numbers of horses and furnishing teams for the lumber business. He was Democrat in his political conviction, ever giving heart and hand to the party's causes.
Mr. Stevenson was married May 8, 1864, to Miss Ellen Shaver, born in 1848, in Mad- ison county, Missouri, on the Saint Francois river. This worthy lady is now residing at Des Are. She is a daughter of David W. and Mary (Ramsey) Shaver, they having been married in Illinois. The mother died when she was an infant-about 1850-and the father survived for more than a score of years, his demise taking place in 1872. He was latterly in the mercantile business at Des Are and when the railway was built through which brought the town into being he sold the lots upon which the town was built. Mrs. Ellen Stevenson was one of a family of four children, and of these, besides herself, one brother, John Shaver, is living at Des Arc. J. Wesley Stevenson was a soldier in the Civil war, serving in Company H, Forty- seventh Missouri Regiment. The military work of this organization for the most part was in the state, but toward the close of the war he was in the United States service in Tennessee. Altogether, he wore the uniform of the Union army over three years and was honorably discharged at the end of the great conflict. It is indeed remarkable that all the ten sons of this fine man are still living and in business, nearly all near the old home, and the name of Stevenson is one which enjoys high regard in Iron county. The Stevenson brothers are engaged in lumber manufactur- ing. mercantile business and farming and to- gether they operate three thousand acres of land. All are prominent and successful busi- ness men and all are sound, law-abiding citizens. none of the ten ever having been ar- rested. All are married with the exception of the youngest son. Marshall, who resides with his widowed mother. There are thirty- one grandchildren.
WILLIAM C. STOKES. A citizen of promi- nenee and influence, widely known through- out Dunklin county, William C. Stokes, of Kennett, has filled positions of importance to the public with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of all. and enjoys to a high degree the confidence and esteem of his fel-
low-men. A native of Missouri, he was born January 10, 1858, in Cape Girardeau, and at the age of four years was brought by his parents to Clarkton, Dunklin county, where he received his elementary education, which was completed at Westminster College, in Fulton, Missouri, where he took the literary course.
Returning to Clarkton, Mr. Stokes clerked for ten years in the store of his brother, T. C. Stokes, and was afterwards for four years engaged in farming, being located four miles south of that town. The ensuing four years he was employed in Clarkton, after which he resided in Malden, Missouri, for three years, being first engaged as a clerk and later as a manufacturer of shingles. Being then elected deputy circuit clerk and recorder, Mr. Stokes served in that capacity until January, 1906, his residence in the meantime being in Ken- nett. He was subsequently appointed, by Governor Folk, county recorder to fill an un- expired term, and being elected to that posi- tion in 1907 served acceptably to the people for four consecutive years, performing the duties of his office ably and faithfully. He is now busy looking after his landed interests, which consist of two hundred acres of wild land, one half of which he has already cleared. Politically Mr. Stokes is an earnest supporter of the principles of the Democratic party.
On June 23, 1881, Mr. Stokes was united in marriage with Mary T. Hood, and into their pleasant home two children have made their advent, namely: Clara, born August 6, 1886; and Lawrence, born November 21, 1894. Fraternally Mr. Stokes is a member of C. H. Mason Camp, Modern Woodmen of Amer- ica, at Malden; and of Pioneer Lodge, No. 165, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at Kennett. Religiously the family is affiliated by membership with the Presbyterian church, in which he has been an elder the past four years.
EVERETT REEVES. A prominent figure in both the military and legal circles of Caruth- ersville, Everett Reeves occupies a noteworthy position in the foremost ranks of the leading citizens of his community, and is deservedly popular with his fellow-men and co-workers. A native of Tennessee, he was born January 17, 1877, in Weakley county, a son of G. W. and Laura ( Arnold ) Reeves.
Having acquired a good education in the public schools. Everett Reeves was variously
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employed until after attaining his majority. In May, 1898, he enlisted as a private in Troop H, First United States Cavalry, and after serving faithfully for nine months was mustered out at Fort Meade, South Dakota. Returning then to his home, he was for some time a member of the National Guard at Fulton, Kentucky. Continuing his military career, Mr. Reeves, in 1907, enlisted as a pri- vate in Company I, Sixth Infantry, Missouri National Guard, and has since been three times promoted, in February, 1911, having received his commission of captain, of that company, an important office which he is fill- ing with the same fidelity and ability that characterized his efforts in subordinate posi- tions.
Soon after his return from the Spanish- American War Mr. Reeves entered the South- ern Normal University, at Huntington, Ten- nessee, and was there graduated in 1900. He had taught school four years before entering the University, and then began the study of law and was admitted to the bar in 1901. Beginning his professional career, he prac- ticed law at Fulton, Kentucky, for four years, and in 1905 located at Caruthersville, Missouri, as a partner of R. A. Pierce, of Tennessee. Three years later, that partner- ship being dissolved, Mr. Reeves was for two years in company with N. C. Hawkins. In the summer of 1911 he became associated with the well-known legal firm of Shepherd & Mc- Kay, and has since carried on a large and lucrative business, his clientele being exten- sive.
Mr. Reeves married, February 14, 1901. Erin Pinkley, who was born in Carroll county, Tennessee, May 11, 1880, and into their home three children have made their advent, namely : Folk Odell, Opal and Ever- ett, Jr. Politically Mr. Reeves is a firm sup- porter of the principles of the Democratic party, and served from May 1, 1908, until May 1. 1910, as city attorney. Fraternally he is an active member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he has passed all the chairs; and is also a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and of the Im- proved Order of Red Men.
I. F. DONALDSON. Worthy of special rep- resentation in this volume is the late I. F. Donaldson, one of the strong, brave and public-spirited men who were active in pro- moting the upbuilding and growth of Ken- nett and Dunklin county, and who also
assisted in the pioneer task of opening up public highways throughout this section of Dunklin county.
He was born August 31, 1847. in Gibson county, Tennessee, and died at West Plains, Missouri, December 19, 1905, where he had moved with his family for the benefit of his health, his death being a cause of general regret.
He came to Dunklin county with his father, Captain Humphrey Donaldson, in 1856, locating on Horse Island, the family being one of the first to settle below Kennett. He worked for his father until he was thirty years of age on the farm and as a teamster, hauling freight from Cottonwood Point and Malden. In 1878 he went to Malden and clerked in a store until 1882. He was a Democrat, was twice elected as sheriff and collector, and was also a county judge. After finishing his term as sheriff and collector he engaged in general mercantile business. He was a man of good business ability and judg- ment, and for many years conducted his store on the northwest corner of the Square. He was affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, a member of the lodge at Ken- nett, and was also a member of the Presby- terian church.
He was married, April 22, 1884, to Miss Panola Rayburn, daughter of Major W. C. and M. J. Rayburn, of Clarkton. Of this union six children were born, two dying in infancy and Thomas F., Davis R., Madge and Josie Aileen are all living with their mother in Kennett.
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