USA > Missouri > History of southeast Missouri : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests, Volume II > Part 50
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While Dr. Dalton has never participated actively in local politics, he is a stanch sup- porter of the cause of the Democratic party, believing that the principles of that organiza- tion contain the best elements for good gov- ernment. He has served as a member of the school board for nine years and has been president of the board since the death of George Peck, in 1910. In a fraternal way he has passed through the circle of the York Rite Masonry, being past master of the Blue Lodge of the Ancient Free and Accepted Ma- sons, and recorder of the Commandery of the Knights Templar. He sat in the Grand Lodge of the state while master member in the Chapter and Council but has refused further honors. In religious matters he and his family are consistent members of the Presbyterian church, to whose good works they are most liberal contributors.
S. E. REDMAN enjoys the distinction of hav- ing been the first justice of the peace in Hol- land township, an office which he held from 1903 until November, 1910. Since coming to Holland in 1899, he has identified himself with all its interests both of a public and of a commercial nature. Before moving to Hol- land he lived in Senath, Missouri, near which town he was born in 1872. His parents had come to Dunklin county from Carolina in 1844, and it was their home until their death.
Mr. Redman had the usual chances for schooling, which were very poor indeed, but he managed to attain proficiency in one much neglected art, that of writing. He is one of the best penmen in this section of the country. He lived at home until his marriage, which occurred when he was twenty-four years old.
When S. E. Redman was united in marriage to Miss Lizzie Jones, his assets were fifty dol- lars in money and a horse. For two years he rented a farm and then moved to Senath and spent a year and a half in the livery business. He left this to handle a line of groceries, hut after doing this for a few months in Senath, he moved to Holland, where he had an in-
terest in a saw mill. Here he continued to carry on his grocery business for two years, as well as to manage his mill. One of his later investments is a gin in Holland, of which he holds one-third of the stock. This plant is doing a good business and has increased its earnings materially since Mr. Redman took hold of it in the capacity of manager. In 1910 the cotton ginned by it was 1,532 bales. Mr. Redman has bought several thousands of bales of cotton and of cotton seed as an in- vestment.
It was through his efforts that a post office was established in Holland in 1900. He was post-master for several years but resigned in 1908 and yielded the post to his wife, who was appointed to fill the vacancy. Another of Mr. Redman's public services is that of filling the office of mayor for several years.
The confidence which he feels in the future of Holland is indicated by the fact that he owns a half interest in sixty-six lots in the town besides the two-acre tract on which he has built his residence. When he came to Holland there were not any buildings, only timber.
Mr. and Mrs. Redman have two children, Bertha, born in 1897, and Ruby, in 1905. He is a member of the Red Men's lodge and in his political beliefs and practice belongs to the Republican party.
STEPHEN H. SADLER. A farmer and stock- raiser of enterprise and initiative in Dunklin county, Missouri, is Stephen Hollas Sadler, who is a native son of the state and a scion of a fine old pioneer family. Mr. Sadler was born on the 5th of November, 1866, in Cotton Hill township, Dunklin county, Missouri, and he is a son of James D. and Louisa (War- ren) Sadler, hoth of whom are deceased, the latter having been called to eternal rest on the 4th of February, 1890, aged forty-four years, and the former having passed away on the 7th of February, 1890. aged forty-eight years. The father was an agriculturist by occupation and was the owner of a fine estate of one hundred and sixty acres in Cotton Hill town- ship. He was a gallant soldier of the Con- federacy in the Civil war, having served for a period of eight months toward the close of that conflict under Captain White. For a time after the close of the war he was a mem- ber of the state guards for a number of years. He was very fortunate during the period of hostilities and did not lose a great deal as the result of raids and plundering at the
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hands of the enemy. Mr. and Mrs. James D. Sadler became the parents of three children, concerning whom the following brief data are here incorporated : Louis Jefferson, a prom- inent farmer in Dunklin county, married Minnie Demorea, and they have three chil- dren-Cora Alice, Elmer and Lorine; Sarah Alice is the wife of H. A. Lesmeister and they reside at Jonesboro, Arkansas; and Stephen H. is the immediate subject of this review.
Stephen H. Sadler was reared and edu- cated in the place of his birth and at the time of his father's demise he inherited a tract of fifty-three and a third acres of the old parental homestead. He took possession of this land in 1900 and in the same year he and his brother bought up the sister's share of the estate, making eighty acres of Stephen's farm. He also purchased a tract of forty acres of land from John Robinson, one half of that tract being uncleared. He has com- pleted fencing and has it nearly all cleared. In addition to his farming properties he is the owner of a fine house and two lots in the Levi Addition of Malden. On his farm he raises cotton, corn, hay and melons. He also raised cattle and hogs and feeds a number of mules. He has an orchard of four hundred apple and pear trees and is doing a splendid business as a fruit grower. In his political affiliations he is a stalwart in the ranks of the Republican party, and while he has never participated actively in public affairs he gives freely of his aid and influence in support of all projects advanced for the general welfare. While not formally connected with any relig- ious organization, he attends and contributes to the welfare of the Christian church, of which his wife is a devout member. He is broad-minded and liberal in his views, is tolerant of others' feelings and sensibilities and in all the relations of life has so conducted himself as to command the unqualified con- fidence and esteem of his fellow men.
On the 3d of August, 1897, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Sadler to Miss Fannie Stanley, a daughter of William and Hannah (Evans) Stanley, who came to Malden from Fulton, Kentucky, but their home formerly was near Knoxville, Tennessee, where both were reared. William Stanley was identified with agricultural pursuits during the greater part of his active career and he died March 1, 1899, aged almost seventy-four, his wife, aged sixty-four, survives him, as do also six children. Mrs. Sadler is the fifth of twelve children, six of whom are living, viz: Man-
ford, who married Ethel Summers and has four children living and they reside at Ken- nett, Missouri; Robert, who married Laura Maples, has one daughter and resides at Ken- nett, Missouri; Charles married Caroline Scroggins, has two children and is a farmer near Campbell ; Ruth, wife of George Watson, has three children and resides at Malden; and Bedford, residing at Malden. Those deceased were : Susie, Richard Levi, Sanford, Freiling Hyson, Elnora and Vanda Lee. Mr. and Mrs. Sadler are the parents of two children, namely,-Inez Evelyn, born on the 7th of July, 1901, and Alline, born on the 8th of October, 1904, both having been at Hot Springs, Arkansas, with their mother, in 1911, but at home now. They had three chil- dren who died, as follows,-Diamond Chal- mer, born in February, 1900, died on the 26th of July, 1904; Wyman W., whose birth occurred on the 3rd of October, 1905, died at the age of eight weeks; and Laura Ger- trude, born on the 3d of August, 1898, died at the age of seven weeks.
WILLIAM W. TARKINGTON. Distinguished not only for his personal worth and integrity, but for his publie-spirit and honorable record in official life, William W. Tarkington, of Hayti, Pemiscot county, is one of the leading Democrats of his community, and in town and county campaigns uses all legitimate means to aid his party. A native of Missouri, he was born September 6, 1840, in New Madrid county, coming from pioneer ancestry. His parents, Joshua and Eliza Tarkington, came from their native state, North Carolina, to Missouri in 1838, and having purchased land in New Madrid county were there engaged in cultivating the soil the remainder of their lives. The father, whose birth occurred in 1800, died in 1849, while the mother, who was born in 1806, lived until 1856.
Brought up on the home farm, William W. Tarkington was educated in the subscription schools of his day, and while yet in boyhood began earning his own living, having been left fatherless when but nine years of age. In 1861 he joined the Confederate army, enlisting in Company I, First Missouri In- fantry, and served under the command of General John S. Bowen in many engagements of note. At the battle of Shiloh he was wounded and for a time confined in the hos- pital. During the siege of Vicksburg, Mr. Tarkington was captured, and at once paroled. Early in 1865, while in Tennessee,
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he was again taken by the enemy, and held a prisoner at Camp Morton, in Indianapolis, Indiana, until the close of the war.
Since taking up his residence in Hayti, Mr. Tarkington has taken a genuine interest in local affairs, and has rendered his party and his fellow-citizens excellent and appreciated service in various capacities. He was for two years county judge, and for five years served as justice of the peace. In the spring of 1911 he was elected police judge, and is filling the position with characteristic ability and faith- fulness.
Fraternally Mr. Tarkington is a member of Hayti Lodge, No. 571, Ancient Free and Ac- cepted Order of Masons, at Hayti, of which he is at the present time senior warden; of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows; and of the Order of the Eastrn Star. For a full quarter of a century he has been an active and valued member of the Methodist Episco- pal church, in which he has served as steward for twenty years, and is now superintendent of its Sunday school, a position which he has filled most ably and satisfactorily for twenty- five years. Politically a sound Democrat, he has for a score of years been chairman of the township committee of that party. Mr. Tark- ington has never married, his attention having been turned through life to things of a less serious nature.
J. L. WRIGHT has always been one of the progressive farmers in southeastern Missouri. The salvation of the country's agriculture lies in greater skill and less waste, and he has al- ways tried to increase the one and reduce the other. He has never been much concerned with the worry over the farmers leaving the farm, for what we want is not more but bet- ter farmers. He has always tried to make farm life so attractive that no man in his senses would want to leave it. His attitude has always been that farmers should of course make a success of their farms, but they should use their increased revenue not to hoard, but for greater comfort on the farm.
J. L. Wright was born at Hickman county, Tennessee, September 7. 1852. His father, James B. Wright, was a native of Davidson county, Tennessee, where he grew to man- hood and married Nancy Cook, like himself a native of Tennessee. Soon after their mar- riage they decided to leave their native state and in 1859 they came to Missouri. locating first on Horse Island, one mile north of Senath. ' They did not stay there very long,
but went to Grand Prairie, near Caruth, re- turning later to Horse Island. After a short period they went to Kentucky, and Mr. Wright died there in Graves county. After his death his widow returned to Missouri and to the farm near Senath, remaining there until she died, in 1901. James B. Wright served in the Mexican war and also six months in the Civil war, under Colonel Ketchen.
J. L. Wright remained in his native county until he was seven years old, when he came with his parents to Missouri and located near Senath ; from there he went to Grand Prairie, then back to near Senath, and then to Ken- tucky, where he stayed three years. Upon the death of his father he and his mother came back to Missouri once more, where he rented a piece of land near Senath and began to farm. He had moved about so much that he had not been able to have the advantage of much schooling, but he was naturally a quick boy and he has made up for the lack of school- ing in later years by the readiness with which he has picked up knowledge as he went along. In 1876 Mr. Wright moved on to a farm near the center of Kennett. After a few years of successful farming he built the house in which he lives now, making a most attractive home. After a time he sold some of the farm, as it was larger than he cared to manage, so that now he owns one hundred and thirty-five
acres. He has improved a great deal of swamp land, putting one hundred acres into cultivation, besides about one hundred acres of land on which he grew fruit, corn and cotton. The swamp land was some of the land that he sold, retaining only the very best cultivated land for himself.
In 1876, when he was twenty-four years old, Mr. Wright married Mary E. Price, the daughter of John and Sophia (Medlock) Price, who came from Virginia and were both dead at the time of their dangliter's marriage to Mr. Wright. John Price was a pioneer of Dunklin county, his farm extending to with- in two blocks of the court house in Kennett, the first session of the circuit court in Dunk- lin county being held in his log residence, which stood where the Campbell Lumber Company's office is now, three-quarters of a mile northeast of the present court house. The old building is still standing and Mr. Wright (who lives on the farm that was owned by John Price) uses it as a corn crib. The part of the farm that was nearest to the court house has been sold, some of it being Wright's
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Addition to Kennett-the Addition being eight acres in extent, and is filled with good residences. The land was originally covered with a fine growth of native oaks, many of which are still standing. One of the ward school houses stands in the midst of several trees and there is as fine a playground under these trees as ean be found anywhere. An- other five acre tract which was owned by Mr. Price is now owned by D. B. Pankey, dozens of these fine old trees ornamenting the entire tract and surrounding the brick mansion. The house and grounds make as fine a residence as can be found in southeastern Missouri. Mr. Price was justice of the peace for many years until the time of his death, just before the war. He was a first rate farmer and a man with wonderful executive ability. His son, Marion, grew up here and when all the young men were filled with the gold fever he went to California in search of gold; it is not re- corded that he found any, but he stayed there until the time of his death. Mary E. Priee was born in one of the first houses ever built in Kennett, the one that is now used as a corn erib by her husband, Mr. Wright. Mr. Price's other daughter married and went to Illinois, where she died. Mary was only four years old when her father died and eight at the time of her mother's death; the little girl, doubly bereaved, was taken in by the Garrett Owens family, neighbors, and she remained with them for four years. She then went to live with Richard Cook, who was an uncle, but he only lived a short time after Mary came to them. His widow, Nancy Cook, kept the young girl until she and Mr. Wright were married. She died December 21, 1904, hav- ing brought up a family of five children. James M., the eldest, died June 20, 1908. in Arkansas, at the age of thirty-one. He was a merchant in Kennett and afterwards became a farmer. lIe left a wife and two children, who are in Little Rock, Arkansas. Mr. Wright's second child was Sarah Ellen, who is now the wife of P. S. Smith, a farmer at Kennett. The third child, married Hattie Prickett, of Carbondale; Bettie was the fourth child and she married Ab. Graves, also a prosperous farmer and is living now with her father. William F. is a merchant living at Carbondale, Illinois; Eva, the youngest, is the wife of Robert Sandefur, a prominent railroad man of Muskogee, Okla- homa.
Mr. Wright is a Democrat, but he has never cared to take any active part in politics. He
is a member of the Presbyterian church, and one of its elders, and his wife was also a mem- ber of the church. He is always ready to help not only in any good work that is instigated by the church, but he is liberal in his gifts to any worthy objeet. He has a beautiful farm and residence and is so situated that he can enjoy the fruits of his hard work in past years. He is one of the most influential men in the county and his personality is such that he is liked as much as he is respected.
CAPTAIN BENJAMIN F. ALLEN, proprietor of the City Hotel at Hayti, Missouri, and one of its leading grocers, has the distinction of being one of the oldest hotel keepers in years in the city, and one of its longest-established business men. Beginning life for himself when a mere boy, he has steadily trod the path of progress, by means of indomitable perseverance, untiring industry, and resolu- tion of purpose has achieved success in his career, winning a position of note among the self-made men of our times. A native of the Blue Grass state, he was born in 1846, in Greenup county, a son of Thomas Jefferson and Peserva (Dewey) Allen. His father moved from Kentucky to the western part of Missouri in 1845, but his stay in that locality was brief, and on returning to his former home he resumed his occupation of a miller, operating both a saw mill and a grist mill for a number of years.
His early education being limited to an at- tendance at a subscription school for five months, Benjamin F. Allen decided, when ten years old, to leave home and earve out his own fortune as he pleased. Going, therefore, to Portsmouth, Ohio, he peddled newspapers and tobacco on the street for awhile, and was afterwards employed for a time on the river boats. At the close of the Civil war he made his way to southern Illinois, where he seeured a position as deck sweeper. Becoming famil- iar with the Mississippi river in all its phases and conditions, he acted as pilot between Cin- cinnati and New Orleans from 1873 until 1888, being as well-known and popular in that capacity as the late "Mark Twain." On leaving the river, Mr. Allen rented land near Hayti, and was here successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits for six years. In 1895 he purchased and assumed the proprietorship and management of the City Hotel, at Hayti, and has since catered generously to the wants of the traveling public, as "mine host" being noted for his genial courtesy, accommodating
William Bridges
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spirit and genuine hospitality. Mr. Allen also conducts one of the leading groceries of Hayti, his store, in which he carries on a busi- ness amounting annually to about ten thou- sand dollars, being well stocked with a general line of fancy and staple groceries. He has been identified with the interests of this thriving village since it was organized, and has contributed his full share towards its ad- vancement.
Prominent in local affairs, Mr. Allen served as mayor of Hayti from 1896 until 1898, at the same time being police judge, and filled both of these offices again for a term of two years, from 1906 until 1908. He was alder- man from 1909 until 1911, and for fourteen years has served as justice of the peace, his present term in that capacity not expiring until 1914. He is very active in Democratic ranks, and is now a member and the secretary of the Central County Committee. Frater- nally Mr. Allen is amember of Hayti Lodge, No. 571, Ancient Free and Accepted Order of Masons, of which he has been both junior and senior warden and is now the treasurer. He is a valued member of the Missionary Baptist Church, of which he has been deacon for a number of years, and superintendent of its Sunday school.
Mr. Allen married, in 1881, Emma Pop- ham, who was born in Meade county, Ken- tucky, in 1861. Four children have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Allen, namely : Eva, born in 1884; Arthur, born in 1886; Walter, horn in 1888; and Ben, born in 1890.
WILLIAM BRIDGES, a life-long resident of Dunklin county, Missouri, is one of the prom- inent landowners of the southeastern part of the state. He has made a fortune, lost it and again placed himself in a position of af- fluence. Of all the qualities which are im- portant in order to ensure success, there is none more essential than the ability to stick to a thing. Mr. Bridges, in spite of all ob- stacles and unpleasantness, climbed up after losing practically all he possessed, was hope- ful in face of failure and preserved a consis- tent optimism, which has assisted him to bring things to pass which a less sanguine man would have deemed impossible.
On both sides of the family Mr. Bridges is of English descent and has inherited the bull- dog tenacity of purpose characteristic of the British race. He made his entrance into the scene of life March 28, 1850, on his father's farm near Campbell. His grandfather was
of English birth and when a young man he emigrated from his native land, came to America and settled in Virginia, later mi- grating to Kentucky and taking up his resi- dence in Mercer county, that state. There he married and there his son, Ambrose D., was born and became later the father of William Bridges. Father Bridges, after his marriage, left his Kentucky home, migrated to Mis- souri and settled on a farm a mile and a half west of Campbell and here he proceeded to raise cattle on an extensive scale. He is still living on the old place, at the age of eighty- seven, and his daughter, Minerva, who mar- ried Mr. Thompson and is now a widow, is his companion and housekeeper. Mr. Bridges, Sr., has given a large proportion of his land to his children, but he still owns fourteen hundred acres of valuable farm land.
Raised on the farm near Campbell, William Bridges early learned those habits of useful- ness and responsibility which have stood him in such good stead in his later career. When he was a lad there were very few schools in his neighborhood, either public or subscrip- tion, but he went to school for a short time, when his educational training was inter- rupted by the Civil war, which suspended all routine work of every nature throughout the country. For the ensuing four years Wil- liam Bridges lived close to nature, gaining thereby the foundations of the strong physique which he still retains. When he was fifteen years old peace was declared and the schools again resumed sessions; he at- tended only during three winter months of cach year, until he was nineteen years of age, while the balance of the year was devoted to helping to make and gather the crops and to taking care of the stock on the farm. He learned to become expert in all out-door ex- ercises, was an excellent swimmer and rider and was a good shot-daring in spirit without being reckless or boisterous, with nerves of steel. When a lad of sixteen, in January, 1866, he had a little hunting expe- rience which he retails in his pleasant, in- imitable manner. His father had a number of cattle in the bottom land which the youth was commissioned to sell; after transacting his business, he started on his homeward way and came across hear tracks: he soon reached the house, and reported the discovery to his father, who in turn told two of his neigh- bors ( Archie Mills and Marion Beazley), that there was a bear in that region. Early the next morning the three men and the boy,
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each armed with a rifle, assembled to hunt the bear. They called to their seven dogs, then each mounted his steed-Archie Mills had a fine sorrel horse, a swift runner; Mar- ion Beazley was astride a large roan horse, also a good runner; Mr. Bridges climbed on to his racing mule, while the young man leaped on to a mustang mule, of a vicious temper, a poor runner but long-winded. The little party rode, all four abreast, to Taylor Slough, where they saw the bear track and almost at the same time they discovered the remains of the bear's supper-a half-eaten hog, which the bear had killed and torn in pieces ; the animal of which the hunters were in quest was lying asleep in a big hollow tree, but he wakened when he heard the men and dogs, and started to run. At that moment a herd of deer approached and the atten- tion of men and dogs was attracted by the deer; all the dogs except one followed the deer, while the remaining canine continued faithful to the purpose of the expedition and followed the bear track, which was easily discernible. After running for about a mile and a half Mr. Bear flung himself into a swamp that was supposed to be impassable, dog followed and next came the boy, who had so urged his vicious mule that they had out- distanced the three men and their mounts during the mile and a half run. The bear made a quick turn and the dog lost him, but the boy did not lose sight of his prey. He raced ahead, intending to have the honor of capturing the bear single-handed, without even a dog to assist him. The mustang mule caught up with the bear, and William Bridges shot deliberately over his head. This in- furiated the bear, as was the intent; then followed a scene of confusion; the dogs all arrived at the place and the three men came running at full speed, for in one way or another they had lost their horses. William Bridges tried to catch Mr. Beazley's horse, and while he was thus engaged the bear seized the opportunity to make his escape. The hoy followed and for two hours he chased that bear, paving no attention to the direction he was going. intent only on reaching the bear. As a natural consequence the youth was lost in those woods. but he did not lose his head. nor did he lose sight of the object for which the party had been formed. Get- ting between the bear and the river, so as to prevent the huge heast from crossing. the race continued, until finally the bear started on the back track and ran straight to the
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