USA > Missouri > History of southeast Missouri : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests, Volume II > Part 55
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Mr. Moore married, March 4, 1902. at Ken- nett, Missouri Storey, and into their home three children have been born, Culley A., Cleval F. and Tol H.
NATHANIEL C. WHALEY. The reputation of Mr. Whaley as one of the prominent and promising young lawyers of the state is in- deed well-deserved. his natural ability. train- ing and acquirements being of the highest or-
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der. Although to be accounted as a member of the younger generation of citizenship in Poplar Bluff, he has already to his credit a ca- reer of no small brilliance and event. He has creditably represented St. Clair county, Mis- souri, in the general assembly and he is now acting as city attorney, his splendid standing as a lawyer having been stamped with highest approval by his election to this office. His general practice has been carried on as a mem- ber of the partnership of Whaley & Ing. Mr. Whaley is a native son of Missouri, his birth having occurred in St. Clair county, Missouri, May 31, 1878. His parents, both of whom are now deceased, were John Calvin and Frances (Newsome) Whaley. The former, who was a very successful physician and surgeon, and who served as state senator from his county in 1898, was likewise a native of this state, his birth having occurred near Palmira, Marion county, and his demise in St. Clair county, in 1903. The mother, who was the scion of a well-known family of Georgia, in which state her birth occurred, passed on to the "Undiscovered Country" in September, 1909.
Mr. Whaley passed the roseate days of boy- hood and youth in St. Clair country and was graduated from the high school of Osceola. He subsequently matriculated in Westmin- ster College at Fulton and after pursuing his studies in that institution he attacked his Blackstone as a student in the Kansas City School of Law and there received his degree with the class of 1903. He inaugurated his practice in the Indian Territory, remaining there for one year and then returned to Osce- ola, the judicial center of St. Clair county, where he resided until 1907, finding a promi- nent place in the many-sided life of that com- munity. In that year he was sent by his na- tive county to represent it in the Forty-fourth assembly, his election being upon the ticket of the Democratic party. He served with sig- nal efficiency upon important committees, namely: The committees on criminal juris- prudence, and constitutional amendments. He introduced a bill on initiative and refer- endum which carried. The young statesman carried with him to the legislature well-de- fined and unfaltering ideas of duty towards his constituents, proving in refreshing con- trast to the self-seeking politician who has proved the menace of modern society. Ile is a Democrat in political conviction, having given hand and heart to the policies and prin- ciples of the order since his earliest voting
days. His election to the office of city attor- ney occurred in April, 1910.
Mr. Whaley was married on August 2, 1911, to Ida G. Roman. She was one of the talented and popular young women of the city and previous to her marriage was a teacher of English in the High school. Mr. Whaley and his wife are both members of the Presbyterian church.
The subject has a number of fraternal af- filiations. He belongs to the Masonic order and exemplifies in his own living those ideals of moral and social justice and brotherly love for which the order stands. He is a popular member of the Benevolent and Protective Or- der of Elks and the Modern Woodmen of America, and while at college became a mem- ber of the Greek letter fraternity, Kappa Al- pha.
LEE J. TAYLOR. A man of versatile talents, energetic and progressive, Lee J. Taylor has been actively identified with many branches of industry, and is now prosperously engaged in general farming and stock-growing at Campbell, having a well improved estate. A son of Lee J. Taylor, Sr., he was born Novem- ber 3. 1866, in Dunklin county, and here re- ceived his elementary education.
Lee J. Taylor, Sr., a native of Kentucky, was born in 1826, and died April 5, 1870, in Dunklin county, Missouri. He married, April 16. 1851, Mary Ann Pollock. Six children were born of their union, as follows: Nancy E., born February 2, 1852, is the wife of Charles MeCutcheon, of Campbell ; Martha J .. born in 1854, married William Bridges, of Campbell, of whom a brief biography is given elsewhere in this work; Felix M., born in 1856, died in infancy ; Van, born July 7, 1861. died February 27. 1883; Lee J .. with whom this sketch is chiefly concerned ; and Edward. whose sketch may be found on another page of this volume.
After leaving the public schools of Dunk- lin county, Lee J. Taylor took a business course at the Draughon Commercial School in Nashville, Tennessee. Ile was subsequently for fifteen years connected with mercantile establishments in Malden or Campbell. either as a book-keeper or a clerk. In 1888 he opened a general store in Malden, Missouri, and at the end of two years formed a partnership with William Bridges, and for two years car- ried on a general mercantile business amount- ing to fifty thousand a year. Selling out then, Mr. Taylor became book-keeper for his
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former partner, In 1898, in company with W. A. Gehrig, Mr. Taylor embarked in the livery business, having stables at hennett and at Campbell. Disposing of his interests in the livery in 1899, he became a stockholder in the Campbell Lumber Company, and was its secretary and treasurer for two years. Sell- ing out in 1901, he purchased the telephone exchange at Hope, Arkansas, which he con- ducted for six months. From 1901 until 1903 Mr. Taylor resided at Fort Worth, Texas, having charge of the Texas Telephone Supply Company. Returning then to Camp- bell, Missouri, he engaged in the pole, piling and lumber business, in that industry ship- ping goods to all parts of the Union. His health failing, he, in 1908, purchased his pres- ent farm of two hundred and twenty acres, and has made improvements of an excellent character on the place, having erected a snug little house of six rooms, a barn, and all the requisite outbuildings, and having fenced the land and set out fruit trees of various kinds. He raises each season good crops of wheat, corn and hay, and in addition keeps one hun- dred hogs, a fifth of them being Duroc Jer- seys; cattle of a good grade; ten horses ; and plenty of sheep and chickens.
Mr. Taylor married, September 29, 1886, Dixie Bridges, who was born August 2, 1867, in Campbell, a daughter of Ambrose D. and Lottie (Russell) Bridges, of whom further no- tice may be found elsewhere in this biographi- cal record. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor have one child, Henry A. Taylor, born November 21, 1890, married, November 23, 1910, Alice Smith, and is now a book-keeper at Mount Carmel, Illinois. Fraternally Mr. Taylor is a member of the Modern Woodmen of Amer- ica, A. F. & A. M. Four Mill Lodge, No. 212. and of the Tribe of Ben Hur. Politically he supports the principles of the Democratic party. Religiously Mrs. Taylor is a member of the Christian church. The son, Henry A. Taylor, is a member of the Mutual Protective League, the Knights of Pythias, Helm Chap- ter, No. 117, Royal Arch Masons, Kennett, Missouri, and of the Hoo Hoo Lodge, a Lum- ber order. He belongs also to the Methodist Episcopal church.
JOHN FRANK GRANT. Though not an old resident of Clarkton, John Frank Grant. by his genial personality, his ready sympathy, and intense interest in every enterprise ad- vanced in the best interests of the county. finds himself high in the esteem of the com-
munity in which he lives. Like all typical Kentuckiaus, for he is a native of the Blue Grass state, being born in Metcalfe county January 12, 1871, he has that large concern for the welfare of others that constitutes the ideal of American citizenship. He is the son of Flournoy and Frances (Tupman) Grant, and one of a generous family of nine children, concerning whom the following brief data are here set down: Emmett was united at the altar to Miss Fannie Shaw, and both are now deceased, Emmett dying in February, 1910, survived by his two children; Mattie, now Mrs. Kapps, is a resident of Kewanee; Beu- ford is a resident of Colorado; Swannie mar- ried Miss Carrie Underwood, and they, with their son Willie, make their home in Scott county ; Bartlette is now located in Bonnie- ville, Kentucky; Leslie is engaged in the Cen- tennial state; and Virginia, now Mrs. Carter, also resides in the state of Colorado.
John Frank Grant first came to the state of Missouri twenty-six years ago, on the 29th of December, from Boone county, Kentucky. His first land he purchased in 1895, and it was a tract of about one thousand two hun- dred acres a little west of Vanduser. After one year he sold that piece of ground and went to Kansas.
Six years ago he bought eighty acres of farming property north of Vanduser, which he kept for six years and then sold in De- eember, 1910. Coming to New Madrid county in January, he bought three hundred and twenty acres of old swamp land, and with the zeal of a pioneer set out to improve the value of his property. One hundred acres are now cleared, and he has utilized the swamp for pasturing purposes. He has also raised stock and crops of corn, wheat and watermelons in Scott county.
In September, 1892, was solemnized the marriage of John Grant to Miss May Vaughn, the daughter of Drew and Anna (Estes) Vaughn, whose home was near Morley in Scott county, and this union has been blessed with eleven children, four of whom are de- ceased : Lottie Ellis, born in 1894, died in 1895 from blood poisoning ; Willis D., born in 1895. died in infancy, as did also Frank Ar- nold, born in 1898. and Mary B. born De- cember 12, 1906. Of his living children. Anna May was born in 1899; Mattie V. was born April 28. 1901; Maggie Ada was born February 1, 1903: Twyman W. was born Oc- tober 9. 1904: Lawson Cline was born De- cember 5, 1907 ; Christine Marie was born on
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February 9, 1910, and Kenneth Hall was born December 5, 1911.
Mr. Grant has been an enthusiastic and ac- tive lodge man for many years, being thor- oughly acquainted with the benefits of such organizations. He is a member of the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, No. 700, lo- cated at Vanduser; the Modern Woodmen of America, of Vanduser, in which organization he was formerly on the council and manager for over six years; the Ben Hur fraternity, of Vanduser ; the Redmen; the Royal Neighbors; the Mutual Protective League of Clarkston, and the Knights of Pythias. Both he and his wife are members of the Missionary Baptist church of Vanduser, and they attend the church of that organization which is located in their present home.
Besides his multifarious interests Mr. Graut is a stockholder in the Vanduser Bank, and he acts as one of the directors of that re- liable monetary institution.
JOHN M. KARNES. One of the most pros- perous and prominent business men of Sen- ath, and a substantial representative of the mercantile interests of Dunklin county, John M. Karnes, founder of the John M. Karnes Store Company, is held in high respect as a man and a citizen, while his influence as a man of honesty and integrity is felt through- out the community. He was born October 15. 1864, in Pemiscot county, Missouri, a son of John Karnes, a native of Tennessee. His father moved from Tennessee to Missouri in 1860, locating first in Pemiscot county, where he lived nine years. Coming from there to Dunklin county in 1869, he was engaged in general farming near Hollywood until his death, in 1887, at the age of fifty years.
Brought up and educated in Dunklin county. John M. Karnes remained at home during his earlier years, but had no ambition to follow the rural occupation of his ances- tors. Forming a partnership therefore with J. I. Caneer. he became junior member of the firm of J. I. Caneer & Company, which for several seasons conducted two general stores in Senath. In 1898 Mr. Karnes established a store of his own, and managed it independ- ently until he was burned ont. He was then doing an annual business amounting to about thirty thousand dollars. A stock company was then formed, and in 1904 the John M. Karnes Store Company was incorporated. the stockholders being men of recognized business acumen, and it was capitalized at twenty-five
thousand dollars, Mr. Karnes being elected treasurer and manager. Subsequently the capital stock was increased to fifty thousand dollars, and Mr. Karnes is now president and treasurer, while his son, J. W. Karnes, is man- ager, and W. G. Bray is secretary.
The John M. Karnes Store Company occu- pies a building that is one hundred and six feet by one hundred and twenty-two feet, its main room being sixty-four by one hundred and twenty-two feet, and carries a stock of dry goods, clothing and general merchandise, including hardware and agricultural imple- ments, valued at twenty thousand dollars, its sales each year averaging one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. This firm also deals in cotton, buying from twelve hundred to three thousand bales a year, which are sold at sums ranging from one hundred and fifty thousand dollars to two hundred and twenty- five thousand dollars. The expense of oper- ating the establishment of this firm is about thirteen thousand dollars a year, which in- cludes the pay rolls. Mr. Karnes, who had no capital to speak of to begin with, the sum at the most not exceeding a thousand dollars, now holds the controlling stock in the com- pany, which is one of the most prosperous in the town, and one of the best patronized.
Mr. Karnes married first Jane Johnson, who died a few years later, leaving two sons, namely: J. W., manager of the John M. Karnes Store Company; and James, a clerk in the store. Mr. Karnes married for his sec- ond wife Bertha Sando, and they are the par- ents of two children, namely: John Senter and George Patton. Mr. Karnes is public spirited and takes an intelligent interest in everything pertaining to local affairs. Fra- ternally he is identified with the Ancient Free and Accepted Order of Masons.
CHARLES H. MASON. In the death of Charles H. Mason three years ago there passed away from earth one of the most en- terprising spirits that Malden ever knew. This marvelous man left the stamp of his abil- ities on everything with which he was con- nected-his business, the schools in which he taught, and the various organizations which he promoted-and, dying. others have been able to carry on the different enterprises which he so ably launched.
Mr. Mason was a native son of Illinois, his birth having occurred in Hamilton county, on the 4th day of January, 1861. His father, John Mason, was born at Hopkinsville, Ken-
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tucky, May 17, 1821, and was reared to ma- turity and educated in his native town. On the 29th day of July, 1847, John Mason was united in marriage to Miss Mary A. Burton, born October 27, 1832, at MeLeansboro, Illi- nois, and to this union seven boys and three girls were born. About the year 1848 Mr. Mason moved to Calloway county, Missouri, and took up his residence near Fulton; after remaining there for a short time he went to Hamilton county, Illinois, which became his permanent home. There he led a simple life ; he neither served in the army nor dabbled in politics, but busied himself with the conduct of his every-day tasks, with the rearing of his family, with his Masonic lodge meetings. and with his church activities (he was a member of the Christian church). He became a man of note in the community, being both re- spected and loved.
Charles Mason spent the first sixteen years of his life in his native place, where he made such good use of his educational opportuni- ties that when he was only sixteen years of age, he was adjudged competent to teach, and for the ensuing half dozen years he was con- nected with the pedagogical profession, most of which time he taught in St. Francis, Ar- kansas. In 1888 he determined to abandon his scholastic work and associate himself with commerce. He entered the marble business at Malden ; two years later he located in Para- gould, Arkansas, but his residence in that town was of short duration; he returned to Malden, where he remained for the residue of his days, conducting his business and identi- fying himself with the prosperity of the town of Malden. He was ever on the alert to per- form good and useful deeds for the improve- ment of the rapidly growing town and per- haps the most important act which is re- corded to his honor, is the establishment of the Park cemetery of Malden, which today is a beautiful memorial to Mr. Mason. He was a prominent member of the Building and Loan Association, and there was no citizen of Malden who did more for its advancement in many directions. The hosts of friends who still mourn his loss bear evidence to his lofty character and varying capabilities.
On the 14th dav of July, 1897. Mr. Mason was married to Miss Nellie Joyner, one of the eight children of Matthew and Nancy (Par- ker) Joyner of Saline county, Illinois, where all the family were born and reared. The date of Mrs. Charles Mason's nativity was December 19, 1869. No children were born
to the union of Mr. and Mrs. Mason, but they had an adopted daughter, Pearl, whom they have always regarded as their very own by ties of blood, as she has ever been by reason of the care and devotion with which they en- veloped her. Mr. Mason was too busy abont other matters to devote much time to politics ; he was a Democrat, and did what he could for his party, but any public matter received a share of his attention, no matter whether a Republican or Democrat was at its head. Mr. Mason for years was a member of the Chris- tian church, of which church Mrs. Mason is also a member. In fraternal connection Mr. Mason was affiliated with the Masonic order, with the Knights of Pythias, the Maccabees and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Mrs. Mason still resides in Malden, amongst . the friends who love her because of her gra- cious demeanor and her cordial, sympathetic personality.
ROLLA AUGUSTUS COLE, of the mercantile firm of Cole Brothers at Desloge, was born in Jefferson county, Missouri, November 15, 1873. His father, Joshua Cole, was born in Washington county, May 25, 1843, was reared on a farm and educated in country schools, and during the Civil war served as a soldier of the Confederacy. He then returned to Mis- souri and located on a farm in Jefferson county, where he and his wife are still living. He is a member of the Baptist church, and in polities is a Democrat. Soon after the war he married Miss Anne Long, daughter of Thomas Long, a farmer of St. Francois county. They were the parents of eight children :- Nancy Jane, Mrs. A. S. Coaker ; John Milton ; Bruce ; Rolla A .; Emma Belle, Mrs. W. L. Johns; Luther Joshua; Lewis Everett; and Newton LeRoy.
During his boyhood on the farm Mr. R. A. Cole attended country school and later had one year in the Baptist college in Farmington. He taught school in St. Francois county and engaged in other occupations until 1903, when he embarked in the merchandise business at Rush Tower. He was a merchant at that place four years and three years at Festus, and in March, 1910, he and his brother Bruce established the mercantile house of Cole Brothers at Desloge. This is a large general merchandise business, and the members of the firm have acquired a reputation for commer- cial integrity throughout this section of the state.
Mr. Cole is a Democrat in politics, belongs
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to the Methodist Episcopal church, South, and is a member of the Masonic order and the Knights of Pythias. He married, in Febru- ary, 1898, Miss Laura Etta England, daugh- ter of B. F. England, a farmer of Jefferson county. They have one child, Franklin Au- gustus.
CAPTAIN JOHN W. REVELLE. The Revelle family is of French descent and Captain Revelle's father and grandfather were both born in Pennsylvania. His mother, Susanna Rowe Revelle, was a native of North Carolina, her family being of German lineage. She was married to John L. Revelle in Bollinger county and they reared a family of seven chil- dren. These were Joel W., Henry W., Levi W., Lucinda, Katherine, James and John W. John L. Revelle served as a justice of the peace for many years during his life. He died December 26, 1855, at the age of fifty- seven years.
John W. Revelle was six and a half years old when his father died, as he was born June 16, 1849. Deprived early of his father, and still further straitened in resources by the war, in which his brother James had enlisted, he was obliged to go to work early both to sup- port himself and to help his mother. The other brother was married and had his own family to supply, so the burden fell upon John. During the winters and between crop seasons he managed to secure some education and at eighteen began teaching in Bollinger county.
After four years of work in the county Mr. Revelle was elected superintendent of public schools in 1872, when the school law provided for supervision as now. He served two years and in 1874 was elected clerk of the circuit court, in which office he served three succes- sive terms.
In 1886 Mr. Revelle entered the Charleston Classical Academy in Mississippi county and later attended the State Normal at Warrens- burg and he spent three years in preparation for the profession to which he was called by nature and training and added the "Incident of education to the accident of ability" for that loftiest of vocations. From 1889 to 1892 Mr. Revelle held the position of principal of the Lutesville schools and was then called to the principalship of the Benton schools in Scott county. He remained here two years and then left the profession for eight years to engage in mercantile business in Lutesville.
In 1903, at Bertrand, Mr. Revelle again
took up the school work, and served three years in that place as principal. The next two years he filled the same post at Wyatt and from 1907 to 1909 was at Anniston. After two years at Van Dusen, Missouri, Mr. Revelle accepted his present position as su- perintendent of the Bismarck schools.
When a boy Mr. Revelle was for two years a student at West Point and at the outbreak of the Spanish-American war, he organized company H of the Sixth Missouri and com- manded this company during the war. He accompanied his regiment to Tampa, Flor- ida, after being in Jacksonville, but was forced to resign on account of ill health. He contracted malarial fever at Jefferson Bar- racks and narrowly escaped dying from the effects of the disease. He served four months in all, having entered the service June 2, 1898. The peace protocol was signed while company H was preparing to leave for Cuba. Later, in Cuba. the company saw active serv- ice under another captain.
Mr. Revelle's marriage occurred in 1873, in September, when he was united to Miss Mary Frances Arnold, of Ironton, Missouri. They had seven children, who are all living. Valee was horn February 19, 1875. She married L. L. Vandervoort, and they re- side at Paragould, Arkansas. Charles Gil- bert, two years younger, is now first assist- ant to the attorney general of Missouri. Al- bert Clarence, born January 2, 1880, is a physician iu Los Angeles, California. Mary Alice, born in 1883, lives in Georgetown, Texas, the wife of Dr. W. J. Birchman. Sarah Sue is unmarried and is a teacher in the Poplar Bluff High School. Mildred Belle married recently Mr. B. O. Wells, and they reside at Lutesville, Missouri. John Arnold, the youngest son, is a traveling salesman for Swift & Company, of St. Louis, with head- quarters at Paris, Kentucky.
Mrs. Revelle was born October 20, 1855, in Greenville, Missouri. Her father was a native of Indiana and her mother, Sarah Moore Arnold, of Kentucky. Her maternal grandmother lived to be one hundred and five years old; she was a Stevens, of the fam- ily who fought in the Revolutionary war. Mrs. Revelle's maternal grandfather fought in the Union army in the Civil war for three years.
Mr. Revelle owns a pleasant residence in Lutesville, where both he and Mrs. Revelle enjoy a wide circle of friends. They are members of the Missionary Baptist church
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at Marble Hill. Mr. Revelle has been a member of the Masonic lodge for forty-four years. His wife belongs to Chapter 106 of the Eastern Star.
JOHN R. KELLEY was born in Decatur county, Tennessee, in 1858. There were few chances for education in that region at that time, subscription schools being the only in- stitutions of learning, and they were short in duration and sometimes short in instruc- tions also. John R. Kelley was raised on a farm on the Tennessee river until seventeen years old. His father was engaged in the cotton and stave business, also conducting a general furnishing business, but in 1874 he failed financially. Not being able to give John R. a start in life, he set him free to work out his own fortune. The son then left Tennessee for Arkansas, and taught schools in mathematics, and after a few months left there for Texas, where he herded cattle and worked in a general mercantile store, leaving there in 1878; he then went to Scotts Hill, Henderson county, Tennessee, where his father had moved and was in the hotel busi- ness.
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