History of southeast Missouri : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests, Volume II, Part 41

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 41

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A native of Tennessee, Daniel Edgar Duns- comb was born in Gibson county, that state, on the 3rd of January, 1876. His father, Samuel Dunscomb, was born and reared in Kentucky, in Logan county and was an ex- tensive farmer in Kentucky during the earlier years of his active career, besides spending two years in Tennessee. He was summoned to the life eternal February 24, 1899. Samuel Dunscomb married Miss Mollie Hopper, a daughter of Gillon Hopper, of Dunklin coun- ty, and they became the parents of nine chil- dren-six daughters and three sons, of whom two of the boys died as infants, the third being the subject of this review. The names of the daughters are here entered in respect- ive order of birth,-Beulah, Lela, Anna, Lillie, Ludie and Ollie. Mrs. Dunscomb sur- vives her honored husband, and she is now residing in Malden, Dunklin county, and her father, Gillon Hopper, is with her.

Mr. Dunscomb, of this notice, passed his boyhood and youth from one year of age in Dunklin county, Missouri, where he early began to assist his father in the work and management of the old homestead farm and where he received a fair educational training in the neighboring district schools. Since he has made his home on the farm which he still owns. His entire estate is under cultivation and in connection with its management he also runs a farm of fifty acres belonging to his mother. His principal crops are corn and cotton and in addition to general farming he raises considerable live stock, making a spe- cialty of thoroughbred cattle, also feeding and shipping hogs. He is possessed of un- usual executive ability and tremendous vitality and inasmuch as he has himself built the ladder by which he has risen to a position of prominence among the agriculturists of Dunklin county his admirable success is the more gratifying to contemplate.

In June, 1902, Mr. Dunscomb was united in marriage to Miss Olive Capshaw, who was

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born and reared in Dunklin county and who is a daughter of Judge C. C. Capshaw, long a prominent farmer near Clarkton, and now a District Judge. To this union have been born four children, one of whom, Alva D., died at the age of nineteen months. Those living are Wilbur. Edna and Daniel E. Jr. Mrs. Duns- comb is a woman of most gracious personality and she is deeply beloved by all who have come within the sphere of her gentle influence. The Dunscomb home is one of refinement and generous hospitality and is the scene of many attractive social gatherings.

In his political proclivities Mr. Dunscomb is aligned as a stalwart in the ranks of the Democratic party. He is not an active par- ticipant in public affairs but is ever on the alert and enthusiastically in sympathy with all projects advanced for progress and de- velopment. In fraternal channels he is a valued and appreciative member of the Malden lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in whose ranks he is an active worker. In their religious faith Mr. and Mrs. Dunscomb are consistent members of the Missionary Baptist church, to whose charities and benevolences they are liberal contributors.

CHARLES WILLIAM SHIELDS, one of the rep- resentative citizens of Caruthersville, has become known as an expert in all matters pertaining to abstracts. He has not, how- ever, always devoted himself to the business in which he is now engaged, but has in turn been in the employ of the city railroad, then in a collector's office, later worked at mining and finally became identified with the real estate and abstract business. In all of these different connections Mr. Shields has gained experience that is of inestimable value to him and which greatly adds to his efficiency as a business man.

Born on the 17th of September, 1869, in St. Louis county, Missouri, Mr. Shields is a son of Thomas Shields, whose birth occurred in 1840, in Washington county, Missouri, where he was reared to maturity. When Lin- coln's call for volunteers was issued Thomas Shields responded by enlisting in the Union army, and during his four years of service he showed bravery and grit. He gained pro- motion, being sergeant of his company when he was honorably discharged. He had suf- fered severely from the privations which he was forced to endure during his army life and was never very strong again. After leaving the army he went to Eureka, Missouri,

as agent for the Missouri Pacific Railroad, and in the month of December, 1870, he died, a victim of tuberculosis. The five years spent at Eureka had been crowded with in- cident, as during that time he married Miss Julia Nicholas, born in September, 1852, in St. Louis county, Missouri, and their only child, Charles, was born. After the death of Sergeant Shields his widow married James A. Shields, brother of her first husband, and to this union four children were born : Minnie, the wife of Dr. J. P. Townsend, living in Washington county, Missouri; James A., re- siding in Washington county, Missouri; Nell T., who was married first to Thomas Mc- Laughlin and is now the wife of Dr. Keeney, of Kirkwood, Missouri, and John N., who maintains his residence in Caruthersville, Missouri. Mrs. Shields death occurred in February, 1892, in Washington county, where her husband still resides.

Charles William Shields was only fifteen months old when death deprived him of a father's care and affection, but he found in his uncle and step-father a kind and consid- erate guardian, who educated and trained the lad to the best of his abilities. Mr. C. W. Shields obtained his education at the Belle- view Collegiate Institute, then took a business course at the Hayward Business School of St. Louis, Missouri, which he completed be- fore his twenty-first year. For a time he worked for the city railway company in St. Louis, then entered the employ of a collector at Potosi, Washington county, and remained in his service about two years. Not having found the line of work which suited his tastes and capabilities, Mr. Shields again made a change of occupation and mined for a couple of years; then went to Frederick- town and did abstract work, and some eigh- teen months later he returned to Potosi and went into the real estate business with his step-father. In January, 1904, he went to Kennett, Missouri and started an abstract office for himself; in July of the same year he sold out his business in order that he might accept a position with the Pemiscot Abstract and Investment Company. He is now filling the niche into which he just fits; is secretary of the company and doing excel- lent work.

On October 23, 1892, Mr. Shields was united in marriage to Miss Mary C. Hornsey, daughter of William D. and Sarah J. (Nichol- son) Hornsey of Potosi, Missouri, where Miss Mary's birth occurred February 13,

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1869. Mr. and Mrs. Shields have a family of two children-Ford N., born September 8, 1893; and James T., the date of whose birth was November 12, 1897. Mrs. Shields is an active worker in the Presbyterian church. while Mr. Shields' interest lies with the fra- ternal organizations with which he is affil- iated-the Mason, the Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks and the Modern Wood- men of America, and with the political party to which he adheres, he being a stanch Dem- ocrat. He has been an active worker for the public good since he came to Caruthersville, was superintendent of the water works for a time and is at present the chief of the fire department, a position which calls forth the good judgment combined with the fear- less daring for which Mr. Shields is noted.

JUDGE JAMES L. DOWNING. Conspicuous among the able and influential members of the Dunklin county bar is Judge James L. Downing, of Malden, who has won prestige, public recognition and endorsement as a lawyer, and as a public official has served his constituency with marked fidelity and ability. A native of Missouri, he was born in Scot- land county, January 27, 1851. His father, William G. Downing, was a planter and slave holder in his earlier life, but after the close of the Civil war was engaged in the whole- sale grocery business until 1871 in Saint Louis, where his death occurred in 1904, at the venerable age of four score and four years. He was active in public affairs, from 1882 until 1889 serving as state railroad com- missioner.

Being educated primarily under private tutorship, James L. Downing attended the literary department of Washington Univer- sity, at Saint Lonis, with the class of 1870. Subsequently completing the law course in the same institution, he was admitted to the Schuyler county bar in 1874, by Judge John W. Henry, at Lancaster. Beginning the practice of his profession in Schuyler county, Mr. Downing was located at Memphis for nearly ten years, winning a fair share of patronage and gaining experience of much value. In 1884, just as Malden was being started, he opened a law office in the new town, and has since continued in practice here, being one of the oldest established and most distinguished attorneys of Dunklin county.

One of the most active and influential members of the Democratic party, Judge

Downing takes a prominent part in local campaigns, being an effective speaker, and has served on different committees in the Democratic State Conventions for forty years. In 1898 he was elected, on the Democratic ticket, as probate judge, and served in that office from 1899 until 1903. He has been city attorney the past four years, an office which he had previously filled satisfactorily to all concerned. Judge Downing is now at- torney for the Bank of Malden and also for the United States Cooperage Company. He is an elder in the Presbyterian church, which he helped to organize, and was very influen- tial in securing the erection of the new church building. Fraternally the Judge belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he is a past noble grand; to the Knights of Pythias; to the Knights of the Maccabees; to the Woodmen of the World; and to the Mutual Protective League.

Judge Downing has been twice married. He married first, in Canton, Missouri, Mary Richardson, who died when forty-eight years of age, leaving one son, Samuel G. Downing, who is employed in the Levi Mercantile Com- pany. The Judge married for his second wife, in 1903, at Lamar, Missouri, Alice Clark. The Judge and Mrs. Downing have no children of their own, but have an adopted daughter, Nancy, a bright little girl of three years.

AARON RUFUS ZIMMERMAN. Among the citizens of the younger generation who are generally recognized as definite factors in the advancement and prestige of Dunklin county, Missouri, must assuredly be mentioned Aaron Rufus Zimmerman, a member of the well known family of that name and cashier of the Bank of Clarkton, a position which he has held since 1907. He also enjoys a reputation as an enlightened instructor, having for sev- eral years previous to taking his present po- sition engaged as a teacher in the schools of the county. Mr. Zimmerman is a son of John Henry Zimmerman, the elder gentleman hav- ing been born December 16, 1855, at Glen- allen, Bollinger county, Missouri. He still resides in the vicinity of his birth and has devoted his life to agriculture. The mother whose maiden name was Drusilla McKelvy, was born April 23, 1853, at Glenallen, and is now deceased, this worthy lady having passed to the Great Beyond October 12, 1900, at Glenallen, where she is interred. There were three sons in the family. The eldest, Elery,

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was born February 28, 1879, and resides at Malden, where he holds the position of agent for the 'Frisco Railroad. His wife previous to her marriage was Octie King. Orville, born December 30, 1881, is a member of the legal profession and is located at Kennett, where he is associated in practice with ex- Judge Fort, having recently graduated from the law department of the University of Missouri. Aaron Rufus is the youngest in order of birth. After the mother's death the father married again, Miss Emma Jane Mayfield, of Mayfield, becoming his wife, and one child was born to their union, namely, Roscoe, born December 12, 1904. The father is a stalwart Democrat and a publie spirited citizen. He is a member of the time honored Masonic order and he and the members of his family are in harmony with the teachings of the Methodist Episcopal church.

Aaron Rufus Zimmerman was born on Jan- uary 31, 1883, at Glenallen. He received his preliminary education in the public schools and then attended the Mayfield Smith Acad- emy at Marble Hill, Missouri. Subsequent to that he taught school for two years, one year in the Farmington schools and another at Glenallen. Following that he went to Cape Girardeau and entered the normal school where he took a straight academic course, covering four years and entitling him to a degree. He then taught school at Clarkton and then, as always, his pedagog- ical services were recognized as of the highest character. However, in 1907 he made a rad- ical change of occupation by entering the Bank of Clarkton as cashier, which position he has ever since filled acceptably. He is an efficient, alert and well-trained banker and has taken an active part in building up this excellent institution. He is also identified with the agricultural interests of the county and owns a farm on the western edge of the corporation. He is a Democrat in his polit- ical convictions and he and his wife are mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal church. IIe takes great pleasure in his fraternal relations which extend to the Masons, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Wood- men of America.

On the 20th of November, 1908, Mr. Zim- merman was united in marriage to Myrtle M. Ward. daughter of W. J. Ward, a prominent citizen, of whom further mention occurs on on other pages of this work. The marriage of these popular young people was celebrated at Campbell. Mrs. Zimmerman was born No-

vember 23, 1887, and the union of her and the subject has been blessed by the birth of two daughters, Drucilla, born November 12, 1909, and Ouita, born September 30, 1911.

THOMAS M. WALKER. There is no occupa- tion that man may follow that has turned ont more honest men that the tilling of the soil, no occupation that has taught her sons more of the sterling lessons of right living or en- dowed them with more abundant heritage of physical and mental strength. Thomas M. Walker is a farmer and the son of a farmer, a loyal follower of the plow, and the generous possessor of those qualities for which the men of agriculture are known. He was born in Pope county, southern Illinois, on the 1st of January, 1850, to Newton and Luiza (Ford) Walker. His father owned a farm of one hundred acres, and upon it raised his family of eight children, equally divided into four boys and four girls. Besides Thomas M., the subject of this brief personal review, the brothers and sisters were as follows: William J., now in Stoddard county, living on a farm, to which place he came in 1885; Edgar H., who makes his home in Dunklin county and farms on Smith's land, his two children by his marriage with Miss Mattie Baker being Fred and Addie, the former of whom is en- gaged in farming and the latter being still in school; Willy, who died in Illinois; Mary who passed away at the age of fifty, and who married first James Fox and later William Hopkins, left two children, Newton, who is engaged in farming, and Almedie, who lives in Frances, Oklahoma; Martha, who married an Illinois farmer-Mr. E. J. Baker; Sarah, who passed to the "undiscovered country" in Illinois in 1895; and Harriet, who is now Mrs. William Henson, makes her home in Frances, Oklahoma.

Mr. Walker's father died in Illinois in 1867, at the age of thirty-five years, and three years later, in the fall of 1870, the for- mer came to Missouri and located in Dunklin county, on Fred Baker's farm three miles west of Malden. His mother came to Mis- souri in 1885, and passed away in this state in 1900, aged about seventy years. After two years on the Baker place Mr. Walker moved to several other places, finally, in 1888, making a purchase of eighty acres from Fred Baker. He raised crops on that tract for four years, in the meantime clearing about five acres of the forty that had never been cleared since pioneer days. At the end of

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that time he sold the farm to Sam Daugherty and went to Grand Prairie, where he estab- lished himself for one year near the old Sid Douglas place. For another year Mr. Walker farmed a one hundred and twenty acre farm north of Malden, and then removed to one about a mile south of the farm on which he just previously resided. This was Mrs. Pax- ton's farm, and the one on which he remained for the next two years and still in the same neighborhood was the property of the Cen- tury Company.

For ten years Mr. Walker remained on one farm, his former residence, renting from various owners as the farm changed hands, first Mr. J. J. Summers, then G. B. Grier and lastly from the Stokes Brothers. The one hundred and sixty acres in the plot were all cleared, and he had excellent success with crops of melons, corn, cotton and hay. The current year will mark his first venture into raising mules. In January, 1912. Mr. Walk- er removed to the G. N. Lasswell farm, in Stoddard county, one and three quarter miles south-west of Bernie, Missouri.

On the thirteenth of May, 1869, Mr. Walk- er was united in marriage to Miss Caroline Gage in Pope county, Illinois. She passed away when her husband was located at Grand Prairie in 1880, at the age of thirty-two years, and was survived by five children, concerning whom the following brief data is here insert- ed : John married Miss Florence Hammons, the daughter of an old resident of southeast- ern Missouri, became the father of six chil- dren, all of whom make their homes in the Lone Star state; William, also a resident of Texas, married Miss Lizzie Nannie, and they have one child; Antoway, who married first a Mr. Hammons, who died in Texas, and later be- came the wife of Mr. Robert Mentor, of Crock- ett, Texas, is the mother of four children by her first marriage; James O., who married Miss Fannie Pippins, daughter of an old- timer in Malden, William Pippins, became the father of three children, who make their homes in Dunklin county ; and Thomas, who was united in marriage to Miss Lily Hayes and resides now in Stoddard county, Mis- souri.

In 1880 was solemnized the second marriage of Thomas M. Walker, the lady of his choice being Miss Cora Waters, who was raised near Kennett, Dunklin county, the daughter of Newton Waters, a well-known farmer. She was the mother of three children, two of whom survive, as follows: Lenie, who became

the wife of Oscar Pippins, and they have two children; Arthur, employed by Hatley and Company, who have a store at Townley, and David, who contracted throat trouble and passed away in the year 1887 in infancy. Mr. Walker subsequently took as his wife Miss Elva Smith, the daughter of Will Smith, but after eleven months she became very ill and was called to her eternal reward before the year was up.

Mr. Walker was married to his present wife on the 11th of July, 1894. Prior to that time she was Mrs. Sarah Emiline, the wid- owed daughter of William Barr. They have lived happy and congenial home life. Of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Walker the follow- ing data are here incorporated in this record : Esker, died twelve years ago of typhoid fever, at three years of age; Altha was born the 17th of June, 1898; Pansie was born in December, 1901; Bealer was born on the 15th of July, 1905; and Raymond was born the 1st of March, 1908.

Mr. Walker derives much pleasure from his fraternal relations and is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, being connected with the branch of that body lo- cated at Townley. Mrs. Walker is an earnest member of the Missionary Baptist church of Schumach, Dunklin county.

Formerly Mr. Walker was a subscriber to the doctrines promulgated by the Democratic party, but his present views demand a broader and more liberal program for the amelioration of social conditions. He is now independent in political views.

JAMES MONROE BALLARD. The name of James Monroe Ballard, of Caruthersville, is familiar in business circles throughout Pem- iscot county, his achievements in agricultural, commercial, financial and industrial circles having won him distinction and great ma- terial success. A son of Joseph A. Ballard, he was born February 14, 1849, in Perry county, Indiana, and was there reared in the small town of Rono.

Joseph A. Ballard was a farmer and me- chanic, owning one hundred and eighty acres of land near Rono, Indiana. He married first Mary A. Carte, and they became the parents of ten children, one being the subject of this sketch, James Monroe Ballard, the other nine being as follows: Lemuel F., who died in childhood; Samuel G. and Joseph L., who died in infancy; Mrs. Sarah J. Everard, of Blytheville, Arkansas; John A., whose death

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occurred a few years ago in Farmington, Mis- souri; Charles M., a rural mail carrier at Dyersburg, Tennessee, married Margaret Wiedman; Thomas J., who when last heard from was living in Crawford county, Indiana ; George W. died in Dubois county, Indiana, in 1887; and Eliza A. died in Perry county. Sarah J., the oldest daughter, married first Anthony Little, who died while in manhood's prime, leaving her with two children, namely : A. G. Little, who has represented Mississippi county, Arkansas, in the State Legislature during the past two years; and Curtiss J. Little, a surveyor in Mississippi county, Ar- kansas, and captain of a company of militia at Blytheville. Mrs. Little subsequently married for her second husband C. J. Ever- ard, of Blytheville, and they have four chil- dren. After the death of his first wife, Joseph A. Ballard married again, and by his second union had one child, Mary Katherine, wife of A. J. Thornton, of Morganfield, Ken- tucky, a well-known lumberman.

James Monroe Ballard was brought up and educated in his native state, and as a young man was there variously employed, for four years serving as postmaster at Rono. Coming to Missouri in 1885, he lived for a short time at Cottonwood Point, subsequently being for fourteen years a resident of Cooter. He in- vested largely in land, obtaining title to one thousand acres, and still owns five hundred acres in the vicinity of Cooter. An ambitious student, with a natural aptitude for the law, he was admitted to the bar in 1897, at Gayoso, the old county seat, but has never engaged in the practice of his profession to any extent.

Mr. Ballard has been one of the promoters of many of the more important enterprises that have marked the pathway of progress in Pemiseot county. He was one of the incorpo- rators of the Saint Louis, Caruthersville and Memphis Railway, which is now a part of the Frisco system, and was also associated with the Mississippi Railroad Company in connec- tion with the Tyler Land and Timber Com- pany. He is a stockholder in the Pemiscot County Bank and was formerly a stockholder in the Bank of Caruthersville, and for a time was president of the Bank of Cooter. He likewise held stock in the old Caruthersville Grocer Company and in the Tyler Land and Timber Company. Mr. Ballard was one of the original promoters of the Caruthersville Oil Mill Company, now the Missouri Cotton Oil Company, and served as vice-president one or more terms; was one of the founders

of the Argus Printing Company; and was also actively associated with the Pemiscot Land and Cooperage Company.

Politically Mr. Ballard is an ardent sup- porter of Prohibition whenever action is called for, but otherwise casts his vote in favor of the Democratic party. While living at Cooter he served ten years as justice of the peace; for four years was associate justice of the County Court; and for sixteen years was notary public commissioner. Fraternally he is a member of the Blue Lodge, No. 461, Ancient Free and Accepted Order of Masons, at Caruthersville; is a Royal Arch Mason; and a member of Fallen Lodge, No. 1415, Good Templars, at Stanley, Kentucky.

Mr. Ballard married, May 11, 1873, at Rono, Indiana, Rachael R. Hatfield, and to them five children have been born, namely : Thomas H., engaged in the lumber business at Claremore, Oklahoma, married Maude Miller; Flora E., who seventeen years ago married Thomas L. Cassidy, of Cooter, has seven children; James R. lived but seven years; Addie M., who was educated at the Caruthersville High School; William Floyd, also a high school graduate, is a member of the Caruthersville Hide and Fur Company. Mr. Ballard and his wife and children are members of the Methodist church at Caruth- ersville.

WILLIAM H. POWELL. Numbered among the successful and well-to-do farmers of Campbell is William H. Powell, who has found both pleasure and profit in his inde- pendent occupation. A native of Tennessee, he was born, November 1, 1856, in Weakley county, but has no recollection of having ever lived there, as he was but an infant when brought to Missouri.

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History of southeast Missouri : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests, Volume II, Part 41

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