USA > Missouri > History of southeast Missouri : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests, Volume II > Part 45
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HERSCHEL P. KINSOLVING. A man of prominence and influence in the business and political world of Malden and Dunklin county, Missouri, is H. P. Kinsolving, who, in addition to numerons other interests, is the owner of farming property in this section of the state amounting to one thousand acres of most arable land. At one time he was presi- dent of the Dunklin County Bank and he has also served as president of the Malden Im- provement Company, in the organization of which concerns he was a most important factor. He is a former state commissioner and for twenty-five years prior to April, 1911, he was postmaster at Malden, serving in that capacity continuously except during the Cleveland administrations.
A native of the fine old Bluegrass common- wealth, Herschel P. Kinsolving was born in Marshall county, Kentucky, the date of his nativity being the 24th of April, 1854. He was reared to the invigorating discipline of the old homestead farm, in the work and man- agement of which he early became associated with his father. During the winter sessions he attended school in his home district and for a time he was also a student in the Mar- shall County Seminary, at Benton, Kentucky, At the age of seventeen years he began to teach school, first in rural schools for a period of three and a half years and later in the schools of Birmingham, in the latter of
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HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI
which he was employed for three years. His parents were M. B. G. and Nettie (Dunn) Kinsolving. The father was born and reared in Virginia and the mother was born and reared in Kentucky. The father was a farmer by occupation and he was summoned to eternal rest in the year 1887, the mother hav- ing passed away in 1871.
While teaching at Birmingham, Kentucky, Herschel P. Kinsolving became interested in a general store in that place. In 1879 he de- cided to try his fortunes further west and in that year came to Malden, Missouri, where he immediately opened a drug store. At that early day this now thriving little metropolis was a new town with a narrow gauge rail- road. With the passage of time Mr. Kin- solving's drug business began to extend out and eventually he controlled a large and lucrative patronage. He continued to be identified with that line of enterprise until March, 1911, in all a period of thirty-two years. Some twenty-five years ago he began to buy up land, paying for his first property the merely nominal price of two dollars and a quarter per acre. He cleared off the heavy timber on his land, burning the same up and opening the ground to cultivation. Little by little he has added to his original holdings until he is the owner of a thousand acres of some of the finest land in Dunklin and New Madrid counties. Eight hundred acres of his estate are under cultivation and of that area four hundred acres are operated by tenants. For some of his land he has paid as high as fifty dollars per acre, on various occasions dis- posing of the timber at very good prices. He has been a great advocate of drainage in Mis- souri, though most of his property is upland. In 1897 he became instrumental in the or- ganization of the Dunklin County Bank, of which substantial financial concern he was president for a period of twelve years. In recent years, however, he has disposed of his stock in that concern. He was also one of the organizers of the Malden Improvement Com- pany, serving in the capacity of president of that enterprise for a period of nine years.
In his political convictions, Mr. Kinsolving has ever been aligned as a stalwart supporter of the principles and policies for which the Republican party stands sponsor. He was chairman of the first Republican county com- mittee in Dunklin county, it having been founded in 1888, during the Harrison cam- paign. He continued as chairman of the county committee for eighteen years and for
ten years was member of the Missouri State Republican committee, the last four years of this time being a member of its executive committee. In 1902 he was nominated for Congress in his district but owing to normal political exigencies failed of election. In 1880, during the Hayes administration, he was appointed postmaster at Malden and he continued as such until April, 1911, being out of office only during the Democratic adminis- trations of President Cleveland. In 1880 the postoffice paid about twenty dollars per month and Mr. Kinsolving was urged to take it into his store. In 1911 it paid one hundred and forty dollars per month. The income in 1880 was about one dollar per day, while at the present time it is fifteen dollars per day. During his incumbency as postmaster Mr. Kinsolving established two rural delivery routes and he has accomplished a great deal in many different connections for the good of . the postoffice. He has ever manifested a deep and sincere interest in educational affairs at Malden and for nine years was president of the school board at Malden, it having been during his incumbency that the high school was started in this place. In religious mat- ters he is a consistent member of the Method- ist Episcopal church, in which he is a mem- ber of the board of trustees and of the board of stewards. He is also connected with the district board of stewards of the church of that denomination.
Mr. Kinsolving was married to Miss Eliza Heath of Birmingham, Kentucky, in 1877, and she died at Malden in 1888. He is the father of five children: Vernia, who is the wife of L. B. Stokes; Edith, whose death occurred in 1888; Herschel P. Jr., Nettie and Mildred. In 1911 was solemnized the mar- riage of Mr. Kinsolving to Miss Laura Allen, a native of Williamson county, Illinois, whence she came to Missouri in the year 1911. There have not been any children born to this union. In a fraternal way Mr. Kinsolv- ing is a valued and appreciative member of the grand old Masonic order, in which he has passed through the circle of the York Rite branch, being affiliated with the lodge, chap- ter and 'commandery of that organization. He is also connected with the local lodges of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Woodmen of the World and the Knights of Pythias. He is a man of wide experience and broad information and his deep human sympathy and kindliness of spirit make him
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one of the most highly honored and deeply beloved citizens in this section of the state.
JOHN J. HORNER. Numbered among the more active and prosperous business men of Pemiscot county is John J. Horner, who has been a dealer in hay, feed and grain at Car- uthersville during the past six years, and has the distinction of owning, with his brother, the only grain elevator in the county. He was born, November 5, 1878, at Olney, Illinois, and was there reared and educated. His parents, John N. and Mary E. (Rush) Horner, natives of Darke county, Ohio, lo- cated in Olney, Richland county, Illinois, where the death of his father occurred in 1889, and his mother is now a resident of Caruthersville, Missouri.
Coming with his brother, Paul L. Horner, to Pemiscot county, Missouri, in 1905, Mr. Horner established himself in business, and has since dealt extensively in hay, grain, feed, coal and wood, and in addition handles buggies, wagons and vehicles of all kinds. Beginning on a modest scale, he has each year increased his operations, the business which at the first amounted to about ten thousand dollars a year being now valued at over one hundred thousand dollars a year, its marked increase being due to the energy, enterprise and good judgment of the Messrs. Horner, men of pronounced ability.
Mr. Horner married Edna P. Richardson, of Olney, Illinois, and their attractive home is a center of social activity. Mr. Horner is a member of Caruthersville Lodge, No. 1233, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, while Paul L. Horner is a member of Olney Lodge No. 926, at Olney, Illinois.
JOHN C. SUMMERS, residing in the town of Campbell (a retired farmer, who formerly owned a farm in the vicinity), has many friends not only in the place which he now honors by his residence, but also in the vari- ous parts of southeastern Missouri where he has lived at different times. He has made many changes of location since he first started out for himself and the period of his life which stands out with most clearness is the time of his service in the army, as from that time his loss of eyesight dates.
Mr. Summers was born in Green county (now Clay county), Arkansas, May 16, 1846. His parents lived in Indiana and were visit- ing in Arkansas when their son, John, made his first appearance into the world. The
parents returned to Indiana with the little boy and they remained in that state until 1853, when John C. Summers was seven years old. The family then moved to Dunk- lin county, Missouri, where the lad received his educational training. When he was fif- teen years old President Lincoln issued his first call for volunteers to take part in the conflict that had become inevitable. The youth was desirous of accompanying the older young men of his acquaintance to war, but he was too young to be permitted to serve. The following year, however, on the 21st day of Angust, 1862, he was mustered into the Federal army at St. Louis. He served in the Missouri Volunteer Infantry, Company G, under Colonel Cavannah, in the direct command of Captain MeGarvey and later of Captain O'Brien. The incidents which followed stand out very distinctly in Mr. Summers' mind; from St. Louis his company went to Capt Girardeau, where they drilled for six weeks; then they went down the Mississippi river to Memphis, thence to Vicksburg, Shreveport and Arkansas Post. Mr. Summers participated in important en- gagements at the latter two places, then re- turned to Vicksburg, where the company remained until July, 1863, assisting in the capture of that city. When they finally left Vicksburg he went on a hospital boat to St. Louis. When he started from Vicksburg he was well and acted as attendant to his sick comrades, but he later was himself seized with illness, and went to Cape Girardeau, where the disease proved to be smallpox. The sickness settled in his eyes, with the result that his eyesight was irrevocably lost. After regain- ing his general health, he left Cape Girar- deau and returned to his home in Dunklin county, not to be a dependant because he had lost one of his senses, but to go forth and battle with the world as bravely as he had faced the enemy during his army life. In the year 1876 he bought a farm of one hun- dred and twenty acres on the St. Francois river; at the time of his purchase of this tract it was thickly covered with timber, and he cleared part of this and lived on the clearing for seven years. At the expiration of that period he moved to Holcomb, where he stayed fourteen years; from Holcomb he went to St. Francis, Arkansas, bought one hundred and seventeen acres of land, which he later sold to the railroad company and next took up his residence at Brown's Ferry, where for two years he ran the ferry. He
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then bought a tract of land one mile west of Holcomb, four hundred acres in extent, all timber land. During the fourteen years of his residence on the place he cleared two hundred and fifty acres of the tract, built fences and several good buildings, besides making other improvements. In 1897 he sold his farm at Holcomb and bought a one hundred and sixty acre farm near Campbell, where he resided until two years ago, when he retired from active farm work, sold his farm and moved to the home in Campbell where he is to be found today.
Mr. Summers has been twice married. In 1871 he was united to Miss Nancy Sanders, who bore him one child, Emma, now married to Luther Avery, of Gibson, Dunklin county, Missouri. After eight years of wedded life the young wife and mother was summoned to the life eternal. In the year 1879 Mr. Sum- mers formed a matrimonial alliance with Mrs. Cornelia Beard, a widow with two chil- dren,-Albert and Rosie; both are married, the former living at Hayti, Missouri, and the latter, wife of Amos Harvey, resides at Kennett. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Summers six children have been born,- Annie, married and living in Jasper county ; John, married; James, married; Benjamin, William and Sylvia at home with their par- ents.
Mr. Summers is a stanch Republican and in religions connection he and his wife hold membership with the Methodist Episcopal church South. He has ever evinced an active interest in educational matters, possibly be- cause he himself received very little school- ing. During his residence at Holcomb he helped to establish the first school in that town and his suggestions in relation to mat- ters of education have always been of a help- ful nature. When the fact that Mr. Sum- mers has been blind since he was twenty years old is considered, it is impossible to re- frain from making comparisons between the progress he has made and the career of many men who have the free use of their five senses. It is the determination and op- timism of Mr. Summers which have been important factors in his success.
HENRY ANDERSON. Eminently worthy of representation in a work of this character is Henry Anderson, of Malden, who has been influential in advancing the mercantile in- terests of this part of Dunklin county, and is held in high esteem as a man and a citizen,
his business ability being unquestioned, and his character above reproach. He was born, February 7, 1861, at Cottonwood Point, Pemiscot county, Missouri, of pioneer stock.
His father, William Y. Anderson, was born, reared, and married in Tennessee. Coming to Missouri in 1857, he settled with his family in Pemiscot county, where he was engaged in agricultural pursuits until his death, at the age of forty-five years. His wife, whose maiden name was Susan C. Beaver, was bred and educated in Tennes- see. At her husband's death she was left with a family of six children, the oldest being about twenty years old. She kept the fam- ily together, renting the farm for a few years, but subsequently came with her chil- dren to Dunklin county, locating in Malden, where she spent her remaining days, passing away at the age of sixty-five years.
Leaving the home farm on attaining his majority, Henry Anderson clerked in a store at Hales Point, Tennessee, for three years. In 1893 he came to Malden, expect- ing to have no trouble in finding some re- munerative employment, and for a time, even, drove a draying team. Unable to secure work, Mr. Anderson was forced to embark in business on his own account. With the six hundred dollars which he had accumulated he paid five hundred dollars for a home, and invested one hundred in a restaurant, which he conducted successfully for a year, when he in company with his brothers, George W. Anderson and W. R. Anderson, opened a grocery, under the firm name of Anderson Brothers, establishing a substantial business, which is still being carried on successfully. Under the management of Mr. Anderson a large and exceedingly remunerative trade was built up, a line of general merchandise being added to the grocery department, the entire stock being now valued at twelve thousand dollars, while the sales mount up to about fifty thousand dollars each year. As its business increased larger quarters were demanded, and the past twelve years the firm has occupied a well furnished and equipped building, thirty feet by one hun- dred and twenty-five feet, with a balcony thirty feet by thirty feet, which is used for a millinery department. In 1906 Mr. Ander- son retired from the firm, which has been known as W. R. Anderson & Co. The An- derson Brothers are all men of excellent business and financial judgment, and have acquired considerable wealth. They own, to-
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gether, seven business buildings located in the best part of the business section of Malden, and each of the brothers have a pleasant home in this city. Heury Ander- son is a stockholder, and vice-president of the Dunklin County Bank.
Politically Mr. Henry Anderson is a stanch Democrat, and in 1910, having been elected by a heavy vote to serve out the unexpired term of George W. Peck, served as mayor of Malden. He filled the responsible position most acceptably to all concerned, but posi- tively refused a second term in that office. During his time of service the electric light and water system was installed at a cost of $32,000, it being the best and most useful proposition ever accepted by the town. The plant is fitted with the most approved modern machinery and appliances, being one of the best in its appointments of any in Southeastern Missouri, and is giving splen- did satisfaction to the people.
Mr. Anderson married Mrs. Mary E. (Aclin) Forsythe, a widow, with one son, William C. Forsythe, who was brought up by Mr. Anderson, and was employed in the store until his death, when but twenty-four years of age. He was married, and at his death left two boys, for whom Mr. Anderson is tenderly caring. Mr. Anderson's oldest brother, John R. Anderson, died at Caruthersville, Mis- souri, and Mr. Anderson also brought up the four children which he left, namely : Louisa, formerly a clerk in the store, is the wife of Dr. W. L. Marlow, of Kennett; Anna, now a clerk in the store; John, clerking in the store; and Mary, who is a school girl.
GILLUM M. HOPPER. Merited appreciation offered voluntarily during the life time of the man who deserves it is the greatest honor that can come to one. Gillum Monroe Ilopper is one of the grand old men of Dunk- lin county, where he has resided during the greater portion of his active career and where he is honored and esteemed as a man of sterling integrity and worth. He has long been engaged in farming operations and is the owner of a fine estate of one hun- dred and twenty acres, the same being eligibly located two miles south of Malden.
Gillum Monroe Hopper was born in War- ren county, Tennessee, on the 26th of No- vember, 1827, and he is a son of Absolom C. and Ollie B. (Moore) Hopper, both of whom were born and reared in Tennessee. The father was an agriculturist by occupation
and at one time he owned a farm of one hundred and twenty-four acres of land near Hickory creek, in Warren county, Tennes- see, where he devoted most of his time and attention to the growing of corn, tobacco and flax. Absolom C. Hopper, father of the subject of this review, was the owner of some five hundred acres of land in Gibson county, Tennessee, and at the time of his death Gillum M. Hopper inherited from him a farm of fifty acres. Mr. and Mrs. Abso- lom C. Hopper became the parents of ten children, of whom Gillum M. was the first- born. Harrison Hopper died in 1907, near the old home in Tennessee; Louis was inter- ested in railroad work in southern Missouri for a number of years and is now deceased; Nathaniel and Elmo came to Missouri, the former settling near Clarkton and the latter near Wrightville; Moses resides in Obion county, Tennessee. In 1833 the Hopper family removed from Tennessee to Arkan- sas, where the home was maintained for a period of four years, and they then re- turned to Gibson county, Tennessee. Ab- solom C. Hopper was called to eternal rest in the year 1851, aged forty-four years, and his cherished and devoted wife passed away in 1878, aged about seventy-one years.
In the public schools of his native place and in those of Boone county, Arkansas, Gillum M. Hopper received his preliminary educational training. In 1872 he decided to try his fortunes in Missouri and in that year went to Clarkton, where he purchased a farm of one hundred and thirty-seven acres and where he also built a mill and a gin, continuing to operate the same until 1881, at which time he removed to Malden. In the latter place he conducted a gin for the ensuing eighteen years, during which time a great deal of the cotton raised in this sec- tion of the state passed through his hands. In 1889 Mr. Hopper's mill and gin at Mal- den were destroyed by fire and from that time he lived in virtual retirement on a farm located two miles south of Malden until five years ago and since then he has resided at Malden with his daughter, Mrs. Dunscomb. Most of his land was originally very heavily wooded but he realized nothing from the timber on it. Since clearing his estate he has been very successful in the growing of wheat, cotton and corn. He still has three acres of timber land and a portion of his farm is set out to small fruits and berries. In 1885 Mr. Hopper purchased
G.M. Hopper
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HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI
several acres of land in Malden and then as the town grew up round him he sold off portions of it at different times. He now possesses only one lot in Malden, although he has a small interest in some of the prop- erty owned formerly by Louis Hopper
In his political affiliations Mr. Hopper is aligned as a stanch supporter of the prin- ciples and policies for which the Democratic party stands sponsor. He takes a deep and sincere interest in all matters affecting the general welfare of the county and he is a man of influence and prominence in the vicinity of Malden. In fraternal channels he is connected with Blue Lodge, No. 146, Free and Accepted Masons, of Malden, and with the local lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In his religious faith he is a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Malden, and in the same is an active and zealous worker. Al- though he has now reached the venerable age of eighty-four years, Mr. Hopper is still erect and hearty, retaining in much of their pristine vigor the splendid mental and phys- ical qualities of his youth.
Mr. Hopper has been thrice married. On the 24th of November, 1853, he married Elizabeth Daniel and after her death, which occurred November 25, 1883, he married, on June 5, 1884, Mrs. Elizabeth Allen, who died in 1896. For his third wife Mr. Hop- per chose Elizabeth Anne Glisson, of Ten- nessee. She died April 3, 1904. Mr. Hopper became the father of five daughters and one son, concerning whom the follow- ing brief data are here incorporated: Ab- solom Clark Hopper, who died November 15, 1891, at the age of twenty-six years; Mary Elizabeth, who became the wife of Samuel Dunscomb, of Tennessee, and they had seven children ; Ollie B. married R. C. Vinson and they had one child, Dee Vinson, now in Indiana, and Mrs. Ollie B. Vinson died March 25, 1880; Ditha Louella and Jennie Lee died while infants; and Julia Ann is the widow of G. W. Peck, formerly mayor of Malden for a number of terms.
EDWARD DONLEY GILLEN, proprietor of the Gillen Furniture Company, an extensive and progressive enterprise of Caruthersville, Missouri, is one of the leaders of commerce in this city. His interest in the city and county prompts him at all times to encourage every plan for advancement. His courteous treatment and fair dealing are bringing to the Vol. II-16
Gillen Furniture Company a large trade, which is ever expanding.
Mr. Gillen is a Kentuckian, born in Mc- Cracken county, that state, February 6, 1872. His father, Edward Gillen, was a life-long resident of MeCracken county, Kentucky, it having been the scene of his birth in the year 1833, his marriage in 1871 to Miss Loulie Gardner (born in 1854 in MeCracken county, Kentucky), the birth of his two children, Edward and Ella, the death of his daughter, Ella, at the age of seventeen, April 19, 1874, and his own death on the 8th of October, 1880. During his life he was a man of prom- inence, being well known as a farmer and a school teacher. His education had been ob- tained in the public schools and at the college at Georgetown, Kentucky, from which insti- tution he was a graduate, and later became a teacher in the public schools. In politics he favored the Democratic party, while in a re- ligious way both he and his wife were Metho- dists. He had a high standing with the Ma- sonic fraternal order, being the secretary of the Masons in his vicinity. His widow sur- vived him just eleven years, her demise having occurred in the month of October, 1891.
Edward D. Gillen was educated in his native county and on the termination of his schooling he began to work in the saw-mills in his neighborhood, and was connected in some wise with the lumber trade until 1902, at which time he came to Caruthersville, without any close family ties, his father, mother and only sister all being dead. On his arrival in Caruthersville he and E. L. Reeves, established a furniture business, and the same year both partners went to Texar- kana, Texas, where they established a furni- ture business under the name of Reeves-Gil- len Furniture Company. Here Mr. Gillen remained until 1907, at which time he sold out his share of the business, came to Caruth- ersville again, after his seven years' success- ful experience, and on the 8th day of May, 1909, he established the Gillen Furniture Company, located on Third street. His store is thoroughly modern and equipped with up- to-date accessories. There is a large sales- room for the furniture department, with a balcony, a stove department, work rooms and ware rooms, the whole requiring more than six thousand square feet of floor space. His line is a large and varied one, consisting of a complete stock of house furnishings, includ- ing the famous Buck's stoves and ranges
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