History of southeast Missouri : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests, Volume II, Part 40

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

USA > Missouri > History of southeast Missouri : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests, Volume II > Part 40

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

FRANK D. ROBERTS. Noteworthy among the talented and accomplished men who have graced the bar of Southeast Missouri is Frank D. Roberts, of Caruthersville, who has served as prosecuting attorney both of his home city and of Pemiscot county, and has likewise represented his district in the Mis- souri State Legislature. A native of Ten- nessee, he was born December 25, 1855, in Dyersburg, coming from a well-known and highly respected family.

His father, the late John Roberts, was for many years actively engaged in business at Dyersburg, Tennessee, owning a large store and also a cotton gin, both of which he oper- ated successfully, continuing there until his death, in the latter '70s. To him and his wife, whose maiden name was Mary Davis, four children were born, namely: Frank D., with whom this brief sketch is chiefly con- cerned ; William D., of Memphis, Tennessee, an extensive cotton dealer, owning gins in Memphis and in other places; Joseph, for many years engaged in the livery business in Dyersburg, Tennessee, died, in 1883, at Daw- son Springs, Tennessee ; and Robert Lee, who was engaged in the cotton business with his

brother William, died in Portageville, Mis- souri, in 1905.

Ambitious as a youth to enter upon a pro- fessional career, Frank D. Roberts began the study of law in Memphis, Tennessee. In 1880 lie located in Pemiscot county, Missouri, and having been admitted to the bar at Gayoso, the old county seat, he there began the prac- tice of his profession. In 1889 he opened a law office at Caruthersville, where he has since resided. A man of strong personality, possessing much force of character and reso- lution of purpose, Mr. Roberts, as natural to one of his mental calibre, soon became active in public affairs, serving as mayor of Caruth- ersville and representing his county in the State Legislature. He did much to advance the cause of education in Southeast Missouri, and for a while was school commissioner. For nearly six years after coming to Caruthers- ville he was connected with the mercantile establishment of Cunningham Brothers, dur- ing which time he invested in land. He has since bought many other tracts, and is now an extensive owner of realty, having title to much valuable land in Pemiscot county.

On December 21, 1882, Mr. Roberts was united in marriage with Sallie M. Cunning- ham, a daughter of Frank and Mary E. (Johnson) Cunningham, the former of whom died in Caruthersville, January 16, 1892, while the latter is a resident of this city. Mrs. Roberts has four brothers in Caruthersville, all of whom are large landholders and mem- bers of the old and reliable mercantile firm of Cunningham Brothers, as follows: John A., Charles L., Frank J. and Kent H. Six children have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Roberts, namely : Grace E., who married Clellan Tindle, cashier of the Pemiscot Coun- ty Bank, has four children, all sons; Mary E., wife of Arthur E. Oliver, a rising young attorney of Caruthersville, has one child, John R. Oliver; Nell C., was graduated from the Caruthersville High School, subsequently studied one year in Saint Louis, and gradu- ated at Dr. Mary Law's School in Toledo, Ohio, and is now teaching in a kindergarten school in Chicago; Ernestine, who completed the course of study at a school for physical enlture in Battle Creek, Michigan, is now residing at Chicago; and Floyd B. and Frank Jr .. are both pupils in the Caruthersville High School.

Fraternally Mr. Roberts is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Order of

M. Wofford

921

HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI

Masons and of the Knights of Pythias. He formerly belonged to Caruthersville Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, being a member until the disbandment of the lodge. He is a member of the Presbyterian church, to which his wife and children also belong.

Mr. Roberts retired from the active prac- tice of his profession in 1904, since which time he has devoted attention to his other ex- tensive interests.

MOSES WOFFORD. The world instinctively pays deference to the man whose success has been worthily achieved and whose promi- nence is not the less the result of an irre- proachable life than of natural talents and unusual energy exerted along the line of his chosen field of work. Among the great captains of industry in southeastern Mis- souri Moses Wofford holds prestige as a citizen and business man whose success has been on a parity with his own well directed endeavors. In addition to owning consider- able valuable property in this section of the state he is president of the Dunklin County Bank, is treasurer and general manager of the Allen Store Company, at Malden, and is vice-president of the Senter Commission Company, of St. Louis.

A native of the fine old commonwealth of Georgia, Moses Wofford was born in For- syth county, that state, the date of his na- tivity being the 20th of April, 1850. He is a son of John F. and Mary (Cunningham) Wofford, both of whom are now deceased. The father was identified with farming dur- ing his active career, and he died in 1885, at the age of sixty-nine years. The mother died in 1856, aged thirty-five years, and left seven children. The father married the second time, wedding Mary Wofford, and they had five children, one of whom is liv- ing. Mrs. Wofford died at about thirty-five years of age, in 1865. Mr. Wofford and his first wife became the parents of seven chil- dren, of whom the subject of this review was the fifth in order of birth, and two of whom are living in 1911. Moses Wofford passed his boyhood and youth in his native state of Georgia and his preliminary educa- tional training consisted of such advantages as were afforded in the schools of the stren- nous war times. When seventeen years of age, he removed to western Tennessee and thence to St. Louis, Missouri, in 1879. For a short time he maintained his home in Ar- kansas, representing the northern part of

that state and southeastern Missouri in the cotton market for the Senter Commission Company. This was in 1881, and he has been with them ever since.

Moses Wofford established his home at Malden, Missouri, in 1898, and here he has since continued to reside. The Allen Store Company, of which he is treasurer and gen- eral manager, was incorporated under the laws of the state in 1892, R. H. Allen, having been the original general manager, Mr. Allen was succeeded, in 1898, by Mr. Wofford as manager. This corporation has a capital stock of twenty thousand dollars and the excess including the capital as- sets amounts to forty-five thousand dollars. In addition the Company owns a fine store building, forty-five by one hundred feet in lateral dimensions, with four store rooms, twenty by forty-five feet, opening on Mad- ison street. The annual sales of the concern amount to from fifty-two thousand to fifty- five thousand dollars annually and the cot- ton end of the business amounts to from two hundred to five hundred bales annually. The Allen Store Company is practically a country department store, complete in equipment and strictly modern in all its appointments. For thirty years Moses Wof- ford has traveled in southeastern Missouri for the Senter Commission Company, of St. Louis, of which important concern he is now the efficient incumbent of the office of vice- president. This concern is a general com- mission house, with cotton as its principal line. Mr. Wofford is also interested in the Dunklin County Bank at Malden, of which substantial monetary institution he is presi- dent. This bank is incorporated with a cap- ital stock of twenty thousand dollars and is officered as follows: Moses Wofford, president ; Henry Anderson, vice-president ; and W. J. Davis, cashier. Mr. Wofford in his various business dealings is a man of keen foresight and of shrewd discernment, and inasmuch as his present high position in the business world of southeastern Missouri is the direct outcome of his own well applied et- forts, his admirable success is the more grat- ifying to contemplate.

In his political convictions Mr. Wofford is a stalwart supporter of the principles and policies for which the Democratic party stands sponsor, and while he has never been an office seeker he is a willing contributor to all matters projected for progress and improvement. He has served as a member

922

HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI

of the Malden school board and in his re- Iigious faith is a consistent member of the Missionary Baptist church at Malden. In the time-honored Masonic order he has passed through the circle of the York Rite branch, being past worshipful master of Blue Lodge, of the Ancient Free and Ac- cepted Masons; and past eminent com- mander of Malden Commandery, No. 61, of the Knights Templars, Malden, and a mem- ber of the Scottish Rite at Little Rock, Arkansas.

Mr. Wofford married first Emma Wade, a native of Trenton, Tennessee, where she was reared, and she died in 1885, when about twenty-five years of age. His second marriage was to Birdie Hilton, at Judsonia, Arkansas, where she was born and reared, a daughter of George and Cassie (Key) Hilton. They have two children: Irene, ten years of age, and Charles Hilton, an infant. Mrs. Wofford is also a member of the Missionary Baptist church.

WALTER M. HUBBARD. The city of Clark- ton, Missouri, is particularly fortunate in its type of clean-cut, straightforward business men, whose contribution to progress and de- velopment has ever been of the most insistent order. One of its foremost citizens is Walter M. Hubbard, who conducts a large and thriv- ing general merchandise business on Main street. His establishment is wonderfully well equipped and caters to a large trade in Clark- ton and the country normally tributary thereto.

Walter M. Hubbard was born at Clarkton, Missouri, the date of his nativity being the 9th of September, 1872. He is a son of Michael W. and Elizabeth D. Hubbard, the former of whom was called to eternal rest on the 10th of May, 1900, and the latter is now living with her sons. The father was a native of Madison county, Kentucky, whence he came to Missouri, settling in Clarkton at about the time of the inception of the Civil war. The mother was born in Smith county, Tennessee, and she is a daughter of R. L. Hodges, who came to Missouri in the ante-bellum days and who was at one time judge of Dunklin county. M. W. Hubbard was a farmer and merchant by occupation, at one time owning a farm of one hundred and sixty acres near Clarkton and conducting a store in this place for about twenty years. Mr. and Mrs. Hubbard be- came the parents of four children, concern- ing whom the following brief record is here

inserted,-Robert G. is the owner of a farm of one hundred and twenty acres of land south of Clarkton: he is mentioned on other pages of this work; Charles T. is likewise a farmer by vocation and a sketch of his career appears elsewhere in this compilation; Mollie is the wife of B. F. Jarman, who owns a farm west of Clarkton and they have two sons, Frank and Robert ; and Walter M. is the immediate subject of this review.

To the public schools of Clarkton Walter M. Hubbard is indebted for his preliminary. educational training and as a youth he be- came associated with his father in the work and management of the latter's store. He came into full possession of the store in 1908. This general merchandise business was begun by M. W. Hubbard in 1883, the original busi- ness occupying a store forty feet deep with a twenty-foot frontage. Subsequently ten feet were added to the side and twenty feet to the back of the store. At the present time, in 1911, the store has a frontage of one hun- dred and sixteen feet, a portion of which is forty feet deep, the rest being sixty feet deep. For two years, 1906-7, Robert G. Hubbard was associated with Walter MI. of this review in the conduct of this mercantile concern. Mr. Hubbard now conducts it alone, however, and he is achieving an unusual success, the same being the direct result of his own well applied endeavors. In addition to his other extensive interests at Clarkton Mr. Hubbard is a heavy stockholder in the Farmers' Bank of which substantial financial institution he is vice-president. In politics he is aligned as a stanch advocate of the principles and policies for which the Democratic party stands sponsor and in a fraternal way he is a valued and appreciative member of the Modern Woodmen of America. In religious faith Mrs. Hubbard is a member of the Cum- berland Presbyterian church, in the various departments of whose work she is active.

On the 14th of February, 1894, Mr. Hub- bard was united in marriage to Miss Maggie L. Young, who was reared and educated at Portageville, Missouri, and who is a daugh- ter of John Young and Phyllis (Delisle) Young. Mr. and Mrs. Hubbard are the par- ents of four children-three boys and one girl, all of whom are attending school at Clarkton. Paul S. was born in 1895; Carl in 1899; Loomis G., in 1901; and Jessie A. in 1903.

While Mr. Hubbard has not been without

923

HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI

that honorable ambition which is so powerful and useful as an incentive to activity in pub- lie affairs, he regards the pursuits 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 meas- ures for the general progress and improve- ment.

THOMAS B. KENT, of the Allen Store Com- pany of Malden, is one of the prosperous members of the community in which he re- sides. Having been actively engaged in the mercantile business almost a quarter of a century, it is natural that he should be con- sidered a first-rate business man; indeed there is very little in connection with the conduct of a store that Mr. Kent does not know. It is a fine thing for a man to be mas- ter of his own business and a still finer for him to strictly attend to it, and it is this last characteristic that has to a large extent de- termined the success of Mr. Kent.

Mr. Kent, born on the 5th day of May, 1866, at Des Arc, Arkansas, is the son of Thomas B. Kent, Sr., and Mary E. (Harris) Kent. The father was a native of Anne Arundel county, Maryland, where his birth occurred January 27, 1836. Mrs. Thomas B. Kent Sr.'s nativity took place on the 10th day of December, 1843, in Prairie county, Arkansas, where she passed her entire life, was there married, on the 22nd day of November, 1858, and there gave birth to five children. Of this number only Mr. Kent of Malden and his sister, Sadie T., born April 20, 1873, are liv- ing. Thomas B. Kent, Sr., was educated for the legal profession and for many years he was an able expounder of the law, engaged in general practice at Des Are, Arkansas. At the commencement of the Civil war he en- listed in the southern army as an officer, hav- ing been a student both at West Point and Annapolis, a graduate of the naval institu- tion, and he served throughout the entire war. He died March 20, 1881, his interests having been divided between his professional duties, his allegiance to the Democratic party, his Masonic brethren, the college at Annapolis (his alma mater) and the Episcopalian church. His widow survived his death twenty- three years, she having been summoned to the life eternal November 19, 1903.

Thomas Blake Kent, Jr., was educated in the public schools of his native town and his

training comprised a high school course. When he had attained his majority he com- menced to work in the general store of B. B. Bethel of Des Arc, remaining with this establishment for about nine years. On the first of September, 1896, he came to Malden, Missouri, in compliance with an offer from the Allen Store Company. Since he first became connected with this corporate body Mr. Kent has made himself almost indispen- sible in the responsible position which he occupies.

The day following Christmas, 1898, Mr. Kent was united in marriage to Miss Susie Eastward, a daughter of Arthur and Mary (Waters) Eastward, of Malden. Mr. and Mrs. Kent are now the parents of four chil- dren,-Thomas B. (the third of the name), Elizabeth, Josephine and Margaret.

Mr. Kent has remained true to the political faith of his father, but has deviated from his parents' religious creed, as he is a member of the Presbyterian church. Mrs. Kent is a member of the Catholic church. Mr. Kent is a member of two insurance orders. He owns a three hundred and twenty acre farm, which he rents.

WILLIAM THOMAS ALVEY. A well-known resident of Caruthersville and a large prop- erty owner, William Thomas Alvey began life for himself with a very limited capital, and by dint of persevering industry and good man- agement has acquired a fair share of this world's goods and is justly entitled to that honorable term "a self-made man," his pres- ent prosperity being entirely due to his own efforts. He was born in Perry county, In- diana, March 21, 1846, and spent his earlier years on a farm in that county.

His father, George W. Alvey, who formerly owned land in Perry county, Indiana, came with his family to Pemiscot county, Missouri, and here continued his agricultural operations until his death, which occurred in Caruthers- ville a quarter of a century ago. His wife, whose maiden name was Susan Mack, died in Caruthersville, Missouri, in November, 1908. They were the parents of several children, as follows: William Thomas, the special sub- ject of this brief biographical sketch; George W., Jr., who married Mandy Elder and died in Caruthersville, in 1898, leaving one son, George S., whose home is with his uncle, Wil- liam T. Alvey, although he is at present at- tending Jasper College, a Catholic institu-

924

HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI

tion at Jasper, Indiana; Mary H., widow of George Baker, owns and occupies a farm in New Madrid county, Missouri; Emma, who makes her home in Caruthersville, with her brother William; Susan, wife of J. E. Mode, a steamboat man, running on the "J. T. Reader," lives in Caruthersville, and has six children ; Nannie is the widow of J. D. Black, who died at West Memphis, Arkansas, in 1896, and since the death of her husband she has lived in Caruthersville with her brother William ; and Mrs. Sallie Langdon, whose hus- band, Edward Langdon, was murdered in 1908, by whom it is unknown. Mrs. Langdon has three children, namely: Truman L., at- tending Jasper College, and Edwina and Fred II., who live with their Uncle William.

In February, 1863, William T. Alvey offered his services to his country, enlisting in the Thirteenth Indiana Cavalry, under Captain J. T. Wheeler, and Colonel J. M. L. Johnson, and served until the close of the conflict. He participated in many closely contested en- gagements, including among others the battles at Nashville, Tennessee, and at Mobile, Ala- bama. After being mustered out of the army, in 1865, he remained for about six months in the South, and then returned to his In- diana home. Coming to Pemiscot county, Missouri, in February. 1868, Mr. Alvey located in Caruthersville, and for a time earned his living as a wood chopper. In- dustrious and thrifty, he saved his money and in 1901 bought a whole block of land lying just outside of the city limits. About six years ago lie sold that land at an advance, and has since secured title to other tracts of realty, purchasing first four lots in the Bill- ings Addition, numbers six, seven, eight and nine, his sister, Mrs. Langdon, owning block numbers ten and eleven in the same addition. Mr. Alvey's home is in this addition, at the corner of Walker and Sixth streets, and is noted for its generous hospitality. Mr. Alvey also owns property in the business section of Caruthersville, where, about sixteen years ago, he embarked in the saloon business, buy- ing out William Wilks in 1895.

Mr. Alvey and his sisters are valued mem- bers of the Roman Catholic church, and the nephews are being trained in the same re- ligious belief.

ROBERT A. WHITEAKER, like all other suc- cessful men, found the beginning of his busi- ness prosperity was the securing of the right

job. His brilliant rise came with the oppor- tunity to put into play those mental faculties that had no chance to develop in the routine of a small position. The man who is bigger than his job hunts another, realizing that in all probability, unless he takes the initiative, some bolder man-possessed of no greater qualifications-will forestall him and secure the coveted post. Mr. Whiteaker has never been found lacking in courage-that essen- tial factor in "making good"-hence his prominent position in the commercial life of Campbell, Dunklin county, Missouri.

Beginning life August 15, 1868, Robert A. Whiteaker made his first appearance on the scene of life two miles west of the city where he resides today. He is a son of Robert Whiteaker, whose birth occurred in 1845 in Bollinger county, Missouri, and the time of whose demise was February, 1868. At the age of two years, Robert Whiteaker, Sr. was brought by his parents to Dunklin county, where he was educated and later became en- gaged in farming. At the time of the incep- tion of the Civil war he was desirous of serv- ing in the army, but was only sixteen at that date and was forced to wait with such pa- tience as he could summon, until he should be old enough to enlist. He then became a mem- ber of the Tenth Missouri Cavalry and dur- ing the year of his army life he was trans- ferred to the Fourth Missouri Batallion. On his return to Civil life, at the close of the war, he went back to his boyhood home and engaged in farming and stock-raising for himself. In 1866, he married Miss Sara McElyra and died two years later, as men- tioned above. His widow married again and is now Mrs. E. C. Haines, maintaining her home at Portageville, Missouri.

Robert A. Whiteaker, thus deprived of a father's care before his birth, was brought up by his mother and his step-father, attended the school in his district and at the age of twelve the lad left home and commenced his independent career by working on a farm, where he remained for two years. He then entered the store of William Bridges, at that time the proprietor of a first class store in Campbell. From 1882 until 1897, a period of fifteen years, Mr. Whiteaker stayed with Mr. Bridges, who also had a store in Malden where Mr. Whiteaker spent part of his time. In the year 1897 Mr. Bridges sold out his Malden store and his efficient employee, Mr. Whiteaker, determined to commence to make

925

HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI

use of the executive abilities which were la- tent in him. Forming a partnership with T. C. Stokes, a general merchant at Malden, the two did business under the firm name of T. C. Stokes and Company, for a period of five years. In 1902, while looking about for busi- ness openings, he occupied a position in a hardware store at Malden, and in August, 1903, he accepted an invitation to enter the employ of the MeCutcheon Mercantile Com- pany of Campbell, and from that time until the present day, his success has been steady and certain. Beginning his connection with that corporate employer in the capacity of manager of the dry goods department of the concern, he has advanced until he is now su- perintendent of the whole business and he has stock in the company. He has invested his money in two farms in the neighborhood- two hundred and fifty acres in extent-and on his land he has erected fine, improved buildings. His farms are about four miles from Campbell and he also has three houses and lots in that town and one in Malden.

In the year 1897, Mr. Whiteaker married Miss Gertrude Spiller, whose birth occurred in 1875 in Cotton Hill township, Dunklin county, Missouri, where she passed her entire life previous to her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Whiteaker have four children,-Roland, born in 1898; Russell, the date of whose birth is 1903; Sylvia, who made her first appearance into the world in 1908; and Robert A., Jr., whose nativity occurred in the month of De- cember, 1910.

Mr. Whiteaker, in his fraternal connection, is affiliated with the Masonic order, holding membership with the Blue Lodge at Malden, Free and Accepted Masons; and with the Modern Woodmen of America. He places his suffrage with the Democratic party, but has never cared to take any active part in politics. His present prominent position is one that a man might well feel proud of, under any cir- cumstances, but when the fact is recalled that he has made his way in the world, without assistance, from the time he was a lad of twelve, it is to be acknowledged that he is deserving of the respect which is tendered to him by his fellow citizens. Having had very little schooling, he has read, observed and profited by his experiences, so that he is today a well-informed man on all practical sub- jects.

DANIEL E. DUNSCOMB. Among the essen- tially representative and influential farmers

of the younger generation in Dunklin county, Missouri, Daniel E. Dunscomb holds prestige as one who has achieved success through his own well directed endeavors. He is the own- er of a fine estate of one hundred and thirty acres, located two miles south of Malden, on which he raises cotton and corn, and in addi- tion thereto he manages fifty acres of his mother's farm, both estates being located in the close vicinity of Malden.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of southeast Missouri : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests, Volume II, Part 40

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