History of southeast Missouri : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests, Volume II, Part 44

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 44

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William L. Craig passed his boyhood and youth in the vicinity of Malden, Missouri, to the public schools of which place he is in- debted for his early educational training. After his parents settled on their farm near Malden he continued to reside at home until 1890, assisting his father in the work and management of the estate. In that year he opened a grocery store at Malden and con- ducted a most flourishing concern for a period of eight years, at the expiration of which he became interested in the undertak- ing business. He is a licensed embalmer and

is a particularly efficient funeral director. In connection with his undertaking estab- lishment he now conducts a large and con- stantly increasing building material business, handling dressed lumber, shingles, doors and windows. He has proved decidedly success- ful in both ventures and is known as a man of unusual executive ability and tremendous energy. As a result of his fair and honorable methods he commands the unalloyed confi- dence of all with whom he has had dealings and as a citizen he is respected for his high- minded principles and unwavering support of all measures and enterprises advanced for the good of the community. In all the walks of life he has been manly, generous and true and he is ever willing to lend a helping hand to those less fortunately situated in the way of worldly goods than himself.

On the 17th of December, 1891, Mr. Craig was united in marriage to Miss Addie V. Oxley, of Valley Ridge, Dunklin county, Mis- souri. Mrs. Craig is a daughter of W. J. Oxley, who for a number of years conducted a store at Valley Ridge, where he was the popular incumbent of the office of post- master. He is now living in retirement at Malden. Mr. and Mrs. Craig have five chil- dren,-Pearl, Lloyd, Van, Winnie and Earl. Pearl Craig is a member of the class of 1912 in the Malden high school.

In politics Mr. Craig is an unswerving sup- porter of the principles of the Democratic party and in religious matters he and his wife are consistent members of the Mission- ary Baptist church, in which he is deacon at the present time. In fraternal circles he is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he is past noble grand; and he is also a valned and appreciative member of the Modern Woodmen of America, the Tribe of Ben Hur and the Royal Neighbors.

BENNETTE DILLEY CROWE is as universally respected as he is known in Caruthersville. In these days of specialization it is a relief to find a physician who is a general practi- tioner. Dr. Crowe is as fully qualified to perform a surgical operation as he is to steer a patient through a lingering case of typhoid fever. His personality is such that his mere presence serves as a tonic, his bearing being just sympathetic enough to give assurance of his sincerity, and yet is sufficiently hearty to elevate the spirits of the sick one.

Dr. B. D. Crowe is from Tennessee, his birth having occurred near Newbern, that

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state, August 18, 1863. He is a son of John Rice Crowe, who was known in his native state (Tennessee) as a prosperous farmer, belonged to the Primitive Baptist church, and in politics was a stanch Democrat, but with no desire for public office for himself. John Rice Crowe was born in Perryville county, Tennessee, March 28, 1818, and when a young man moved to Dyer county, where he purchased a tract of land near Newbern and devoted his time to the management of his farm. He there married Miss Betty Lunsford, a young lady born in Raleigh, North Carolina, February 7, 1820; she was a member of an old North Carolina family who were religiously of the Methodist per- suasion, as was Miss Betty. In course of time Mr. and Mrs. Crowe became the parents of a family of eleven children, whose names are as follows: William G., James A., Arbezine, John R., Andrew J., Melissa, Jennie, Thomas, Amanda, Bennette and Aquilla. The three eldest sons were all soldiers and John R. was killed in battle, and of the entire family of eleven the only two living today are Andrew J., the well-known justice of the peace in Caruthersville. and Dr. Bennette Crowe. Father and Mother Crowe lived together for many years, the husband's demise occurring March 9, 1890. His widow survived him al- most seven years, she being summoned to her last rest on the 2nd day of March, 1897; both died at Newbern, Tennessee, and lie side by side in the Poplar Grove cemetery at New- bern.

Dr. Bennette D. Crowe, the tenth child in order of birth, was brought up on his father's farm. As soon as he was of the proper age he entered the public school at Newbern and after completing the grammar school course he became a student at Newbern high school. Immediately upon his graduation, at the age of eighteen, he began to read medicine, in preparation for the vocation he had chosen, but he was not able to continue his profes- sional training at that time and in order to earn money he worked on the farm and con- ducted the management of a sawmill which his father owned, postponing his medical ed- ucation, but not abandoning the determina- tion to become a physician. In 1892 he entered the medical college in connection with the Memphis Hospital, at Memphis, Tennes- see, and was graduated from that institution after a three years' course. During the en- suing four years he practiced medicine in Tennessee, then, in 1899, he came to Car-

uthersville and commenced to practice. He speedily was awarded the recognition which his abilities merit, gradually built up an ex- tensive general practice, and is today to be found at certain hours at his office ou Ward street.

Two days after attaining his majority the Doctor was united in marriage to Miss Emma Kirkpatrick (August 20, 1884). Mrs. Crowe is a daughter of James and Minerva (Mead- ers) Kirkpatrick, of Newbern, Tennessee, where their daughter Emma was born on the first day of the year 1865. Dr. and Mrs. Crowe reared a family of four children, but one little one died in infancy. The names of those living are as follows: Myrtle, born July 17, 1885, the wife of J. E. Duncan, of Caruthersville; Robert L., whose birth oc- eurred November 27, 1887, a graduate from the Jackson Military School and from the Ohio State University (1911), now a drug- gist living in Ohio; Madge, born March 28, 1890, married to Leslie Prohaska, of Caruth- ersville; Roger, the date of whose nativity is April 11, 1895, is a student in the public school. Mrs. Crowe, a devoted member of the Baptist church, constantly encouraged her husband in his efforts to obtain his med- ical education and has aided him in every possible way.

The Doctor is affiliated with the Masonic fraternal order, with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, with the Knights of Pythias and with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He has remained true to his father's political beliefs, and has served the Democratie party in various responsible ca- pacities. During the past four years he has been the coroner of Pemiscot county; for a term of two years he served the city of Car- uthersville as mayor and for a period of six years he was a member of the board of alder- men. In the estimation of Dr. Crowe his profession takes precedence over all else, but if he were a less able practitioner he would still be a man of prominence, in relation to the public offices which he has so acceptably filled.

L. N. POLLOCK is one of the prosperous merchants of Campbell, Missouri. Taking a pride in his business he has brought into it system, order, organization and intelligence. Many merchants fail to make a success of their stores because they permit themselves to be cajoled into buying articles which they find themselves unable to sell. Mr. Pollock,

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HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI

while up-to-date in every respect, is pos- sessed of that sound judgment by means of which he instinctively knows when an article is apt to become a good seller, and he has rarely been caught with many unsalable goods on hand. Perhaps another cause of his success is to be attributed to his attentive, but not obsequious manners; it is very much easier to be waited upon than to wait upon others, and to serve humanity well, grace- fully and effectually, is a fine art which Mr. Pollock appears to have mastered.

Born on the 20th day of March, 1871, in Tennessee, Mr. Pollock is a son of Dr. D. C. and Eliza Pollock, natives of Tennessee, and they moved to Dunklin county soon after their marriage and later took up their resi- dence in New Madrid county. The son, L. N., was about two years old when the family located in New Madrid county, Missouri, and he came to Malden, Dunklin county, when about seventeen. Most of his schooling was obtained in New Madrid county. When he was seventeen years old he left the parental roof, went to Malden, where he worked for a couple of months for his board and then obtained a position as clerk in a store in Malden, remaining there for about three years. The ensuing seven years he clerked in different stores in Malden and in 1897 came to Campbell, at that time only a very small place. He engaged in business with Lasswell & Wade, who were operating a store in a wooden building belonging to John Bridges estate. At the expiration of twelve months (during which time Mr. Pol- lock was president of the company) Mr. Wade sold his interest in the business to Mr. Bailey and during the six or seven years that the new partners were associated, the re- ceipts of the business amounted to over two hundred thousand dollars yearly. In 1906 Mr. Pollock and Mr. Mitchell established the general merchandise store which is now being conducted under the firm name of Pollock & Mitchell. The firm, which is steadily increas- ing its trade, carries a complete line of groceries and of dry goods, with a little hardware and some farm implements.

In 1892, while a resident of Malden, Mr. Pollock was married to Miss Norma McCas- lin, a native of that place. By this marriage Mr. and Mrs. Pollock have six children, whose names are as follows: Herald L., Louise and Alline (twins), Clyde, Roy and Melba, all at home. Mr. Pollock has gone through all the branches of the York Rite

masonry, being a member of the Blue lodge at Campbell, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; of the Council at Campbell, Royal Arch Masons; of the Chapter at Kennett, Royal and Select Masters; and of the Com- mandery at Malden, Knights Templars. He is also affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America.

When Mr. Pollock came to Campbell four- teen years ago he had less than nothing, as he was in debt about three thousand three hundred dollars, for the first stock of goods which he purchased on time. Today, in ad- dition to his business interests he owns about three hundred acres of land near town, which is divided up into two farms, almost all cleared. These farms he rents ont to farm- ers, and has himself nothing to do with the working of the land. He is a self-made man, who has proved to be a first class workman.

WILLIAM ALMAN TEMPLETON is a prosper- ous and progressive agriculturist in Dunklin county, Missouri, and in addition to his farming interests he is also conducting a store at McGuire's Corner, some four miles sonth of Malden. Mr. Templeton was born on his father's farm in this county, the date of his nativity being the 13th of August, 1867. He is a son of James and Margaret (Arnold) Templeton, the former of whom is a successful farmer in Dunklin county, where he owns an estate of three hundred acres, and the latter of whom died in 1873. On other pages of this work appears a sketch dedicated to the career of James Templeton so that further data in regard to the family history are not deemed essential at this june- ture.

For a number of years after completing the curriculum of the district schools of his home community, William A. Templeton re- mained on the old homestead farm, in the work and management of which he early began to assist his father. In September, 1898, he purchased a tract of one hundred acres of land, one half of which was cleared, the same being located five and one-half miles from Malden. In 1902 he added thirty- five and a half acres to the original tract and in 1908 he purchased forty acres, all cleared. He disposed of a forty-acre tract in Cotton Hill township in the winter of 1910 and bought in its place a tract of sixteen acres from his father. He raises cotton, corn, peas and melons, his market for the last-men- tioned product being near his present store,

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HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI

on the Frisco Railroad. For the past year he has conducted a fine general merchandise store at McGuire's Corner, four miles south of Malden, his excellently equipped estab- lishment catering principally to a rural trade. In addition to the conduct of the store he has charge of a postal department. He is a business man of square and straight- forward methods and as a result of his splen- did executive ability and tremendous vitality he is achieving an admirable success. He is honored and esteemed throughout Dunklin county as a man of his word and as a citizen, whose aid and influence are ever exerted for the good of the community.

On the 8th of July, 1888, Mr. Templeton was united in marriage to Miss Sallie Lasater, a daughter of the late Dr. Lasater, formerly of Tennessee. Mrs. Tem- pleton was born May 16, 1867, and was the fourth in order of birth in a family of six children, three of whom are living, in 1912. Mr. and Mrs. Templeton became the parents of seven children, three of whom are de- ceased, namely,-George, born on the 18th of April, 1889, died in 1890; Ethel, born Feb- ruary 14, 1900, died in 1901; and Sallie, born on the 21st of September, 1905, died August 18, 1906. The children who are liv- ing are: Roy Ernest, born December 23, 1891, was graduated in the Campbell high school as a member of the class of 1911, and he is now employed on his father's farm; Arthur, whose birth occurred November 19, 1893, is now at Ft. Smith, Arkansas; Clara, born September 6, 1895, remains at home, as does also Nettie, born April 2, 1903. On the 21st of October, 1904, Mrs. Templeton was summoned to the life eternal. She was a woman of most gracious personality and her loss was deeply mourned by a wide circle of loving and devoted friends.

Mr. Templeton married November 7, 1906, Mrs. Mollie Hall, nee Brannon, who was born in Carroll county, Tennessee, a daughter of Michael and Isabella (McCluskey) Bran- non. Mrs. Templeton came to Arkansas with the family at fourteen years of age, and was married there to Mr. H. G. Hall, who died July 1. 1905. She, too, is a member of the Methodist Protestant church.

In politics Mr. Templeton is an unswerv- ing advocate of the cause of the Democratic party and in a fraternal way he is affiliated with a number of representative organiza- tions of a local character. His religious faith is in harmony with the tenets of the

Methodist Protestant church, to whose good works he is a liberal contributor of his time and means. There rests no blemish on his entire career and the same serves as lesson and incentive to the younger generation.

THOMAS JEFFERSON EDGAR PAGE. No rec- ord of the lives and accomplishments of the men of southeastern Missouri would be complete without an account of the men who have furnished the basis of the prosperity this section enjoys, for no district is more in- dehted to its agriculturists than Dunklin county. Prominent among these builders of her fortunes stands Thomas E. Page, well- known for his success as a breeder and dealer in stock. Not only his business record but the unblemished story of his private character and achievements easily account for the high esteem with which he is regarded by his large circle of friends, a circle, it may be noted, that is almost co-incident with that of his acquaintances.

Mr. Page, christened Thomas Jefferson Edgar Page, was born December 30, 1861, just when the lowering cloud of civil war was bursting upon a sorely divided nation, the place of his nativity being Lockhart, Cald- well county, Texas. He was the son of Leander Berry and Mary Manson (White) Page. Of his one brother and six sisters, the following data is here inserted. Anzo E. be- came the wife of Guy M. Smith, a resident of the Lone Star state, and upon her death, ten years ago, she left five children, all of whom now live at Kennett. Ella B. married R. W. Stokes in 1881, and became the mother of two sons, Merrill Aubert and Roy M. and she makes her home in Malden. Lula L., Mrs. T. R. R. Ely, passed away at Kennett twelve years ago, survived by three children. Idella was united in marriage to J. D. Wal- trip, a resident of Dunklin county, and she passed to her heavenly reward in September, 1908. She was the beloved mother of seven children, of whom five are now living. Estella, whose death occurred five years ago. was the wife of T. R. R. Ely, and her only child lives at the present time with the father in Kennett. Clarence E., for the last eight or ten years has been one of the prominent and reliable attorneys of Dunklin county, with an office in Kennett, where he and his wife, Mrs. Hattie (Moore) Kennett make their home. Texanna, the first born of the family, died in infancy.

The elder Mr. Page was a property owner

THOMAS J. E. PAGE

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HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI

in Texas and his death occurred in that state in 1908, at the age of seventy-nine years. Prior to his first visit to this state, Thomas E. Page resided at the parental home. In 1880 he made a visit to this section of the country with his sister, remaining here for about eight months. After his return to Texas, he con- tinued in the stock business as a cowboy, etc., gaining valuable experience. After eighteen months, he returned to this state with his mother and his sisters and brother. His mother remained with him until her death at Clarkton in 1896, at the age of sixty-six years.

Mr. Page, upon settling in Dunklin county, farmed on a small scale for a few years. His first property, he bought fifteen years ago, about 1895, the purchase being two hundred acres of land about one mile north of Clark- ton, which he secured from the Skagg heirs. Besides that tract, he bought fifteen acres more of Melt Gardner, and a two-thirds in- terest in a one hundred and sixty acre farm at Holcomb. This he sold after fifteen years of ownership. His present place, where he now lives and has erected his substantial and handsome home, he bought thirteen years ago, along with twelve acres in Clarkton in the spring of 1911. Mr. Page bought out the in- terest held by Mr. Ely in the farm they had formerly owned in partnership, the same being a section of swamp land, located east of Gideon. Besides the splendid residence in which he lives, Mr. Page has two other houses in Clarkton. His stock farm is large and prosperous, and both the quality of his stock and the various improvements upon the farm reflect the progressive spirit of his manage- ment. Besides the three hundred head of cattle now grazing on his swamp land, he has a drove of one hundred hogs, sixteen head of horses and mules and a few colts.

Mr. Page's interest in business has not been confined, however, to stock-raising. Other thriving enterprises in which he has financial interests are the Clarkton Real Estate and Improvement Company and the Concrete Block Company, and he is a stock-holder in the Bank of Clarkton and also in the Peoples Bank of Holcomb.

On the 7th of August, 1897. Mr. Page laid the foundations of his present hospitable and delightful household by his marriage to Mrs. Ida Josephine Davidson, the charming and attractive daughter of George Young of Portageville. At the time of her marriage, she was the mother of two children by her first husband Mr. Will Davidson, both of them

being daughters, Bertha Irene, and Trixie by name. Bertha Irene, having completed a preparatory course at Malden is a high-school pupil there, while Trixie will graduate in one more year at Clarkton. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Page has been blessed by the births of two children,-Mary Kathleen, who was born March 17, 1902, is at the parental home and attends school in Clarkton, and a son, Julius Raymond, who was born December 12th, 1903.

Mr. and Mrs. Page lend their support to the Presbyterian church of Clarkton, both being members of that denomination, Mr. Page being one of the elders. Fraternally, Mr. Page is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias of Kennett, and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Clarkton.

ROBERT L. WARD. A well-known and emi- neutly successful lawyer of Pemiscot county, Robert L. Ward, of Caruthersville, has at- tained signal precedence and honor in the legal profession, and as a stalwart supporter of the principles of the Democratic party has contributed a due quota toward the advance- ment of its cause, in the meantime having rendered able and appreciated service in vari- ous public offices of trust and responsibility. A native of Tennessee, he was born Angust 18, 1873, in Dyer county, a son of Benjamin F. and Mary F. (Green) Ward.

As a small boy Robert L. Ward attended the public schools of his native town, but in January, 1885, a few years after the death of his father, he came with his mother to Wayne county, Missouri, driving across the intervening country with a two-horse wagon. He continued his studies for a while in the public schools, and began his active career as a school teacher. At times from 1892 to 1898 he attended the State Normal School at Cape Girardeau, and in 1900 entered the law de- partment of the University of Missouri, from which he was graduated in 1901. In 1902 Mr. Ward was admitted to the Missouri bar in Wayne county, and was there engaged in the practice of law until 1904. Coming to Caruthersville in that year, he opened a law office and began the practice of his profession. In December of that year he became associ- ated with his present partner, L. L. Collins, and the firm thus established has since car- ried on an extensive and lucrative law busi- ness, being one of the strongest and best legal firms of the county. An active and valuable member of the Democratic party, Mr. Ward

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represented Wayne county in the State Leg- islature for two years, being elected to the position in 1901, and in addition to serving well on the committees on education and the probating of wills, and on several minor com- mittees, was one of the promoters of the bill to license teachers.

Mr. Ward married, October 10, 1906, Vir- ginia A. Atkins, of Jackson, Missouri, and they have one child, Byron A. Ward, who was born July 12, 1907. Fraternally Mr. Ward is a member of the Ancient Free and Ac- cepted Order of Masons, belonging to Caruth- ersville Lodge, No. 431, of Caruthersville; of the Order of the Eastern Star, to which his wife also belongs; and of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Both Mr. and Mrs. Ward are consistent Christian people, Mr. Ward being affiliated by membership with the Methodist Episcopal church, while Mrs. Ward is a member of the Presbyterian church.

JAMES J. SHARP came to Dunklin county in 1881 when he was twenty years of age. His reason for leaving Kentucky, his native state, was that he liked Dunklin county bet- ter. He had visited here earlier and decided that this was a better place than his former home. When he first arrived in the region, he settled on a small place near his present home and after five years, he was able to buy a small place and this he kept two years. At the end of that time he bought his present place, or a part of it and has been improving and enlarging it ever since. Mr. Sharp now owns 158 acres situated a mile west of Clark- ton. All but twenty acres of this is cleared and the land is worth over a hundred dollars an acre. When he took the farm there was nothing on it in the way of buildings but he has put up a commodious house and good barn. A part of the land was cleared, but most of that work has been done since the present owner came into possession of the place.

Mr. Sharp was left an orphan at three years of age and was reared by an unele, his father's brother, Jesse Sharp, of Ohio, Ken- tucky, and later in MeLean county, Ken- tucky, where he resided with his elder sisters until coming to Missouri. Mr. Sharp had an older brother, Allen Sharp, who settled in Missouri about 1878 and married a sister of Mrs. James J. Sharp. Allen Sharp died some twenty-six years ago. James J. resided with

Allen for some two or three years after com- ing to Missouri.

Mrs. Sharp was formerly Miss Mattie James, born in Dunklin county, Missouri, in 1866, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Tom James of this county. James J. Sharp and his wife were married December 1, 1888, at Kennett, Missouri. Her father is known as "Uncle Tom James" and was one of the first settlers of Dunklin county. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Sharp. They are Sam C., Mamie Ella, Ernest, and Carroll, all at home. One child, Paul, died in November, 1909, aged fourteen years. Sam C. Sharp is assistant cashier of the Bank of Clarkton. Mr. and Mrs. Sharp are members of the Oak Grove General Baptist church, of which Mrs. Sharp's father and grandfather were founders, having hewed the logs and built the structure. Mr. Sharp is a Democrat in polit- ical policy and in a fraternal way his affilia- tion is with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at Clarkton.

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History of southeast Missouri : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests, Volume II, Part 44

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