History of southeast Missouri : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests, Volume II, Part 58

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 58

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He is known for his kindness, few men hav- ing ever been refused a favor at his hands. He has always been the friend of progress and has assisted in every, movement for the improvement of society; he has been a firm friend and supporter of the public schools, and is regarded as one of the leading and most influential men of the county.

ROBERT LEE WARREN. Among the native- born citzens of Wardell. Pemiscot county, who have spent their entire lives within its precinets. aiding in every possible way its growth and development, whether relating to its agricultural, mercantile or financial in- terests, is Robert Lee Warren, the represen- tative of a pioneer family of prominence. He was born in what is now Wardell. March 16, 1873, where his father, Richard C. Warren.

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a life-long resident of Pemiseot county, was an extensive farmer, owning about three hundred acres of good land.

Richard C. Warren died on his farm in Wardell in 1903, while his wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Parmenter, pre- ceded him to the better world, passing away in 1902. They were the parents of seven children, as follows: Curtis E., who died in 1884; William Henry, who died in 1886; S. K., a landholder in Wardell; J. T., owning a large tract of land near Wardell, married Mary F. Meatte, of New Madrid, Missouri, and they have one child; Mary Jane, who married Freeman F. Dillard, died in 1905, leaving four children; Marietta, who became the wife of J. W. Braey, of Wardell, is also deceased ; and Robert Lee is the special sub- ject of this brief sketch.

Becoming familiar with the many branches of agriculture while living on the home farm, Robert Lee Warren has always retained an active interest in the advancement of the farming interests of his community, and has wisely invested a part of his accumulations in land. His first purchase of land was in 1901, when he and his brother bought one hundred and sixty-four acres from the Stew- ard heirs. In 1902 they purchased eighty acres from the Cunningham Brothers, of Caruthersville, and, with his brothers, R. L. Warren has a third interest in eighty acres lying near Wardell. The greater part of the land owned by him is under a good state of cultivation, two hundred and thirty acres being eleared and partly improved, each sea- son yielding abundant harvests. Mr. War- ren is also interested in one of the leading general mercantile establishments of War- dell. for two years having been associated with the well-known and enterprising firm of Dillard, Perrigan & Company.

Fraternally Mr. Warren is a member of Wardell Lodge, No. 676, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. of Wardell; and of Portage- ville Lodge. No. 620, Mutual Protective League, of Portageville, Misouri. He has never been an aspirant for official honors. but for eight years served as justice of the peaee, resigning the position a few years ago. He is a worthy member of the Missionary Baptist ehureh, and a generous contributor towards its support.

ALBERT CLARKE MCMILLAN. Among the foremost representatives of Leadwood busi-

ness men is Albert Clarke MeMillan, of the firm of Leadwood & Pike, merchants who are carrying a substantial business here and are numbered among its most prosperous and progressive citizens. Not only the subject, but his father before him, was born in Jeffer- son county, this state, the younger man No- vember 8, 1874. and the elder December 13, 1839. The father, whose name is Robert W. MeMillan, is an exponent of the great basic industry and has spent his entire. life upon the farm. At the time of the Civil war he served in the state militia. He was married in 1868 to Adeline Donnell, of Jefferson county, and to their union the following seven children were born: Emma Rebecca, now Mrs. F. J. Heaton; A. C., the immedi- ate subject of this review; Claude E .; Stew- art Dean; Bert L. Vance; Maude Blanche, now Mrs. Fred Cooke; and Mahel Edna. The father and mother survive and make their home in Washington county, where they are held in the highest esteem and where the father still engages in the wholesome, inde- pendent occupation to which he has devoted his energies and capabilities since his earliest days of usefulness. He is aligned with the supporters of the Democratic party, with whose teachings he has been in harmony since his maiden vote, and the family are af- filiated with the Methodist Episcopal church. South.

Albert Clarke McMillan spent the roseate days of youth in Jefferson county and re- eeived his education in the public schools of DeSoto. Shortly after finishing high school, at the age of seventeen years, he began clerk- ing in a store at Elvins, and remained in the employ of the owners of that establishment until seven years ago, when he went into busi- ness for himself, choosing Leadwood as a promising location. His knowledge of the mercantile business, gleaned from his expe- riences as an employe, was thorough and gen- eral and he was thus well-equipped for the more independent duties to which he then gave his attention. The firm, as mentioned before, is known as McMillan & Pike. They have met with success and enjoy a patronage extending over a wide area.

Mrs. MeMillan was before her marriage Miss Lulu B. MePike, and their union was celebrated August 25. 1901. They are the parents of one child. Glenwood Clarke. Mr. MeMillan, in his political eonvietions, resem- bles his honored father. He is a member of

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the Methodist Episcopal church, South; and his fraternal relations extend to the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows.

THOMAS PLATTE DARLINGTON. The post- master of Victoria came from "back east," a region whose location is variable, moving westward with the course of empire, but Mr. Darlington is a native of the "real east," as the northern section of the original thirteen colonies is sometimes called. Incidentally it may be remarked that he unites in his char- acter the best qualities of both west and east, being just a large-hearted, whole-souled American with plenty of western "push" tempered with eastern caution.

Mr. Darlington is the third child of Sarah Platte and John Darlington, a shoemaker. Philadelphia was the birthplace of the elder Darlington but he moved to New Jersey when a young man and there married Sarah Platte. Their four children were Alexander, Allia- nus, Thomas Platte and Ruth. The two first mentioned are dead and the daughter is Mrs. Gilbert Irdell. John Darlington died in 1865 and his wife in 1887.

Thomas Darlington spent his early life in New Jersey, the state where he was born, the date of his birth being July 26, 1845. He at- tended the public schools and then went to Camden, where he engaged in mercantile business. Here his marriage to Miss Emma Lloyd took place in 1871 and his two chil- dren were born. But one of these, Bessie L., lived to maturity. She is now Mrs. Harry McNicoll.

Mr. Darlington came to Missouri in 1895 and located in St. Louis, where he continued to work in the mercantile business. After nine years in St. Louis, he decided to move his business to Victoria, and since that time has been postmaster of the town. In politics Mr. Darlington is a Republican, but he en- joys the good-will of Republicans and Demo- crats alike, both for his efficient service in office and for his personal qualities. Mr. Darlington's religious faith is that of the Baptist denomination.

JOHN MATHEWS CAMPBELL, the manager of the United States Barytes Company. was born in New York city, on January 18. 1868. The same city was the birthplace of his father. William Campbell, the son of another .John Campbell. a mechanic of Irish descent. William Campbell went into a small mercan- tile business when he reached manhood and

remained in that line of work until a few years before his death, in 1901. He was mar- ried in 1867 to Hannah Ann Galleghar, of Brooklyn, and John M. Campbell is the eldest of their three children. The two daughters are now married, Mary Abagail to Mr. George Noonan and Helen Caroll to Mr. J. F. McLaught. William Campbell died in 1901, but his wife is still living and makes her home with her different children. She is a member of the Catholic church. Her hus- band was a Presbyterian.

John M. Campbell grew up in New York city and attended the public schools of that place, graduating from the grammar school in 1882. When he finished this course he was apprenticed to a jeweler but later left the business to clerk in the hardware house of H. T. Patterson and Company. He re- mained there some time and then went into an insurance and brokerage house, where he stayed until his marriage, in 1894.

At the age of twenty-six Mr. Campbell was married . to Miss Catherine L. Farrell of Rochester, New York. Five children were born of their union and three of them are liv- ing: Lawrence John, Raymond Leslie and Arthur Edwin. After his marriage Mr. Campbell went into a stock brokerage com- pany, where he was bookkeeper and had op- portunity to make money on the stock mar- ket. After leaving this firm, he spent two years away from business, traveling with his wife. He is the holder of the greater part of the stock in the Mclaughlin Press of Buf- falo, New York. He is secretary and treas- urer of this firm and his brother-in-law, Mr. Mclaughlin, is president.

Mr. Campbell had invested considerable money in southeastern Missouri and was suf- ficiently interested that he came to the re- gion at the request of the board of directors and took charge of the United States Barytes Company at Tiff. His family accompanied him here and are living in Tiff at present.

Mr. Campbell is a Republican in politics, as his father was before him. His church is the Episcopal and he is a Mason of the thirty-second degree.

PHILLIP HENRY BARTH, M. D. One of the most active and successful physicians of Saint Francois county is Dr. Phillip Henry Barth. who is enjoying a large and con- stantly growing practice in Bismarck, his home, and by his skill, genial manners and kindly courtesy has endeared himself to all

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classes of people. He is of German birth, but came here with his parents when a child of five years and is to all intents and purposes a loyal young American citizen. The date of his birth was in April, 1878. His father, Christopher Barth, was a native of the same country and he, like so many of his country- men, came to America to seek the wider op- portunity and rieher resource which had been the portion of so many who had pre- ceded him. The year in which he crossed the Atlantic was 1883. He went with his fam- ily to Leadville, Colorado, soon afterward and there died in the following year. He was married in the Fatherland, about the year 1872, to Caroline Zeigler, and to the union a quartet of sons were born, namely : William, of St. Louis; Fred, of the same city ; Phillip, of this review; and Charles, of St. Louis.

Phillip Henry Barth, M. D., passed a boy- hood and youth of unusual vicissitudes. As mentioned, he came to this country with his parents and brothers when a little lad of five and can but faintly remember the voy- age which was to make such a momentous change in his life. When about seven years of age (in 1884) the family removed to Bis- marek, Missouri, and here he received his ele- mentary education, subsequently matriculat- ing in the Tunsfueldts Board School in that city. He later became a student at the Uni- versity of Missouri, remaining enrolled at that institution for one year. In the mean- time he had come to the conclusion to adopt the medical profession as his own and he chose as his professional alma mater the Simms-Beaumont Medical College, from which he was graduated with the degree of M. D. in 1901.

When fully prepared for his life work Dr. Barth was influenced by the happy memories of his early youth to locate in Bismarck and there he first hung out his professional shin- gle. In a short time, however, circumstances made it appear to he advisable to remove to Dexter, but while there he was seized with a serious ease of malaria and, temporarily in- capacitated for professional activity, he re- turned to the city of St. Louis where he believed that the climate would he more fa- vorable to his state of health. After practic- ing in S. Lonis Dr. Barth returned to Bis- marck. where he again engaged actively in the duties of his profession. while at the same time attending to practice at Desloge and at Booneville. In 1908 he became permanently

established at Bismarck and in the interven- ing time has met with the greatest success and appreciation. Dr. Barth also owns and conducts a drug store, which provides him with an additional source of income and is likewise one of the well-managed business houses of the town.

Dr. Barth established a particularly happy household when, in 1903, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Euler, of DeSoto, Missouri, and their union has been blessed by the birth of two children,-Andrew Ma- rion and Dorothy Phyllis. The Doctor pins his faith to the men and measures promul- gated by the Democratic party, and finds pleasure and profit in his relations with the Masonic Lodge, the Associated Order of United Workmen, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Court of Honor.

D. L. RIVERS. This sterling and represen- tative member of the bar of southeastern Mis- souri is established in a large and successful practice in St. Francois county and maintains his home in the thriving little industrial town of Elvins. He is a scion of one of the old and honored families of Virginia and the lineage is traced back to patrician English origin, as is shown by the use of the family name in the writings of Shakespeare. The family was founded in the historic Old Do- minion commonwealth in the colonial era and became one of prominence and influence in that colony, whence representatives later went to Tennessee in the pioneer days, and at the present time scions of this fine old parent stock are to be found in most diverse sections of the Union.

D. L. Rivers, who has maintained his home in St. Francois county for more than a quar- ter of a century and who is firmly entrenched in the confidence and high regard of its peo- ple, elaimis the state of Tennessee as the place of his nativity. He was there born on a farm, in Tipton county, on the 30th of March. 1853, and is a son of Judge Thomas Rivers and Elizabeth (Tuggle) Rivers, the former of whom was born in Virginia, in 1808. Judge Rivers was reared on the old family planta- tion in Virginia and finally removed from that state to Tennessee, where he became the owner of an extensive plantation, which he operated through the service of a large num- ber of slaves. He was a man of prominence and influence in the community, owing alike to his sterling character and his fine mental powers, which well equipped him for leader-

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ship in thought and action. He had secured admission to the bar but gave his attention to agricultural pursuits as a vocation rather than to the practice of law. He served as county judge for a number of years and was called to other offices of public trust in his home county. When the Civil war was pre- cipitated his loyalty to the cause of the Con- federacy was of the most insistent order, and though then well advanced in years he promptly tendered his services in its behalf by enlisting in a Tennessee regiment, of which he was made colonel and with which he proceeded to the front soon after the in- ception of hostilites between the north and south. He virtually sacrificed his life in the cause, as he suffered an attack of pneumonia when in the field and died soon after his re- turn home, in 1862. He ever commanded the respect and confidence of all who knew him and his life was one of signal honor and use- fulness. He was a stalwart in the camp of the Democratic party, was a zealous member of the Presbyterian church, and was promi- nently identified with the Masonic fraternity. He was twice married, his first union having been with Miss Emma Grover, who bore him two sons and two daughters. Judge Rivers' second wife survived him by a number of years, she likewise having been a devoted member of the Presbyterian church. She was a woman of noble and gracious person- ality and her memory is revered by those who came within the circle of her gentle in- fluence. Of the three children of the second marriage D. L., of this sketch was the first- born; Rosa is Mrs. Seward; and Emma is the wife of Dr. Jackson, a representative physi- cian and surgeon.

D. L. Rivers passed his boyhood days on the old home plantation in Tipton county, Tennessee, and his youthful experiences were varied, as the country was at the time in the midst of the cataclysm of civil war and he lived in a section that was a stage of military operations. He was not yet ten years of age at the time of his fathers' death and his early educational advantages had been those af- forded in the country schools in the vicinity of the homestead plantation. In 1867 he en- tered Andrew College, at Humboldt, Tennes- see, from which institution was developed the fine Vanderbilt University, in the city of Nashville, that state. There he pursued higher academic studies for a time and later he entered Cecilian College, at Elizabeth- town, Kentucky, in which he was graduated

and from which he received the degree of Bachelor of Arts. In 18(2 he became a stu- dent in the law school of Cumberland Uni- versity, at Lebanon, Tennessee. He with- drew from the law school prior to graduation and turned his attention to newspaper work, in connection with which he and effective service and gained more than local reputa- tion. He served in turn as editor of the Humboldt Journal, the West Tennessee Jour- nul and the Union City Chronicle, in the same state, and for varying periods he was identined in an editorial capacity with other representative papers in Tennessee. In the meanwhile he had continued his reading of the law and in 1878 he was admitted to the bar ot his native state, but he practiced but little at that period.

In 1880 Mr. Rivers came to Missouri and located at Bismarck, St. Francois county, where he was admitted to the bar of the state in the same year, and where he continued in the active practice of his profession for twen- ty-four years, within which he was identified with much important litigaton in the various courts of this section of the state and gained established reputation as one of the able trial lawyers and conservative counselors of the bar of St. Francois county. He was called upon to serve in various township and village offices of trust and his course has ever been such as to justify the high regard in which he is held in this county. In 1901 he trans- ferred his residence to Elvins, but he still controls a large professional business at Bis- marek, in additon to his representative prac- tice in Elvins. He served for some time as claim agent and assistant attorney for the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Railroad and he has also been retained by other im- portant corporations, either as attorney or counsel, or as both. He has never wavered in his allegiance to the principles and policies for which the Democratic party stands spon- sor in a basie way, though he has never been a seeker of political preferment. He is an appreciative member of the time-honored Ma- sonic fraternity and both he and his wife hold membership in the Presbyterian church.

In the state of Georgia, in the year 1876. Mr. Rivers was united in marriage to Miss Mary W. Ferrill, who was born and reared in that state and who died at Bismarck, St. Francois county, Missouri, in 1884. Of the children of this union only one is now living. Mr. Rivers wedded Miss Sarah M. Hutchins, of Cape Girardeau, Missouri, who presides

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most graciously over their pleasant home. The three children of this union are: Irene, Thomas H. and Lillian.

ALBERT SIDNEY DAVIS. It is most unusual for a man of prominence, such as that which has been attained by Mr. Davis, to have had such a varied business life. A man's career cannot be guided entirely by his own wishes -new conditions arise, old conditions change. Fortune will not come to a man at the time and place of his selection and Mr. Davis knew that he must go and seek fortune, for it would never hunt for him. He also knew that if a man is really competent there is need of him somewhere, and it behooves him to find out where he is required. That is ex- actly what Mr. Davis did; he changed occu- pation as well as location, until finally he found the niche into which he fitted. He is now known as one of the most progressive real estate men in Malden, Missouri, and his suc- cess is attributable to the fact that instead of drifting he has kept on shifting until he found what he wanted.

Mr. Davis is a native of New Madrid county, Missouri, born there December 26, 1861. He is a son of Samuel T. Davis, a Kentuckian, whose birth occurred February 29, 1836, in Shelby county, that state, and who died September 28, 1881. aged forty-five years, six months and twenty-nine days. When Samuel Davis was five years old he ao- companied his parents to New Madrid county. Missouri; his father, William R. Davis, was the owner of a large plantation in Kentucky and possessed many slaves. When he came to Missouri he brought with him his slaves and other personal property. Grandfather Davis hought a large plantation in Missouri and proceeded to surround himself with all the luxuries which were considered fitting for a southern gentleman and his family. Shortly before the Civil war broke out Grand- father Davis died, and his wife (Catherine Merriwether, before her marriage) outlived the close of the war only a short time.

Samuel Davis was educated at the schools in New Madrid county, then entered the col- lege at. Arcadia, Missouri, and later prepared for the bar at the University of Kentucky at. Louisville. Ile was gradnated with honors from that institution in 1856, when he was but twenty years old. He forthwith com- menced his legal practice with the Hon. R. A. IIatcher at New Madrid. Continuing his practice, he won an enviable reputation as a

brilliant lawyer and successful business man. In 1865 he was elected on the Democratic ticket as a representative to the legislature, and he had a part in the exciting sessions which followed the war. In 1858 Mr. Davis was married to Lizzie McGuire of Jackson, Missouri, and to this union were born six children. In 1869 Mrs. Lizzie Davis de- parted this life and in 1872 the Hon. Samuel Davis formed a matrimonial alliance with Mrs. L. K. Buchanan, who became the mother of two children. In 1881, on the 28th day of September, Samuel Davis died of dropsy, in New Madrid county, leaving a large estate to his children and widow.

Albert Sidney Davis attended the schools in New Madrid county, later was a student at the naval academy at Annapolis, where he remained for a couple of years, and then en- tered a military school at Tuskaloosa, Ala- bama. His was an impetuous nature, and he was desirous of leading an adventurous life; after leaving school he went west as a cattle driver, but soon tired of being a cowboy and secured a position in Kansas City. In 1893 he came to Malden, Missouri, and located on the place where he is found today; he went into the grocery business on his first arrival in Malden, and for eight years he was the successful owner of a store. Mr. Davis has been in the real estate business for the past eight years and is entirely successful.

On the 2nd day of March, 1885, he was united in marriage to Miss Carrie Dawson, of New Madrid county, Missouri, where the wedding occurred. Mrs. Albert Davis is a daughter of George W. Dawson and Laura Amanda (La Vallee) Dawson, residents of New Madrid county, where their children were all born.

Mrs. Davis, whose birth occurred February 13, 1862, received her educational training in the public schools in St. Louis, Missouri. The first eight years of her wedded life were spent in Kansas City, and she has since lived in Malden. They are the parents of four chil- dren,-Louis Sidney, born September 30, 1886, who was educated in St. Louis and is now in business with his father; Laura Kate, born January 25, 1894, a student in the high school; Mildred, born June 26, 1898, died June 8, 1900; Albert Samuel, born August 15, 1903, who is just commencing his school- ing. The Davis family are all members of the holy Catholic church.

In addition to the real estate business in which Mr. Davis is engaged, he is also inter-

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ested in other activities. He is a director of the Bank of Malden; he held the responsible position of mayor of Malden, being elected to that high office on the Democratic ticket; and he was for some time school director, finding in this position opportunity to do good work in the educational world. He is well-known in Malden and is deservedly popular.

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History of southeast Missouri : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests, Volume II, Part 58

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