USA > Missouri > History of southeast Missouri : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests, Volume II > Part 62
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ville soon after his arrival, and has held that office at various times since for four terms of two years each, and is the present incumbent of the office. As a stalwart leader in local Re- publican ranks he has served for several years as county central Republican committeeman.
ALBERT TINDLE. Mr. Tindle's family has been connected with the progress of Pemiscot county since the early fifties and he himself has gained distinction-has performed many useful acts for the betterment of the county, and his efforts have received the recognition which they merit. The great source of effi- ciency in a man's life is the principle of re- jection. Mr. Tindle would never have at- tained the prominence which he now enjoys if he had not possessed this discriminating qual- ity to a very large extent. Not that he is a negative quality by any means; on the other hand he is most decidedly alive and full of en- terprise, but he has put on one side all of those things which, though good in them- selves, have no part in his career. He has known what to accept and what to reject- where to trust and where to suspect; he has chosen this thing or that as the ones of all others he would wish to have in his own life; and the result is the man as he is today.
Mr. Tindle's grandfather, George W. Tindle, was the first member of the family to come to Missouri. His birth occurred on the 27th of January, 1825, at Shawneetown, Illi- nois, where he received his education and en- gaged in farming. In 1847 he married Miss Elizabeth A. Dillard, a native of Tennessee, where she was born in 1827, at Nashville. A few years after their marriage the couple de- termined to come to Missouri, and, packing such household articles as they could readily take with them, they embarked on a trading boat and came down the Mississippi river to Pemiscot county. During the Civil war he ran a woodyard or chute, which was known as Island No. 16, and later bought a tract of land near Caruthersville and followed agri- cultural pursuits, at the same time conduct- ing a general store in Caruthersville. He took up his residence in the old frame build- ing now standing on the corner of Third street and Ward avenue, where he also estab- lished his store. His house and the one now known as Dr. Bell's building are the two old- est buildings in Caruthersville. Grandfather Tindle was ever interested in politics. voted the straight Democratic ticket, but had no de- sire for public office. He had a family of
eight children, two of whom died in infancy ; the names of the six who lived to maturity are as follows,-Mary A., John A., Robert C. (father of Albert Tindle), Eliza J., George W., Jr., William H. George W. Tindle lived to be seventy-four years of age, his death hav- ing occurred in Caruthersville on the fourth of July, 1899, four years after his wife's de- mise, as she was summoned to the life eternal March 24, 1895.
Robert C. Tindle, the third in order of birth in the family of eight, was born October 27, 1851, in Pemiscot county (then called New Madrid county), soon after his parents' removal from Tennessee. His entire life was passed in Caruthersville and its vicinity ; here he was educated, here married to Miss Selina L. Daniels, and here died in the month of June, 1896, while his wife's death occurred August 20, 1886. Husband and wife both lie in the Eastwood cemetery at Caruthersville. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Tindle (whose marriage took place February 28, 1877), one child, Albert, was born.
Albert Clellan Tindle's nativity occurred August 9, 1878, in Caruthersville, where the first eight years of his life passed without event, except that at about six years of age he entered the public school. In 1886 his gentle mother was removed from the family circle by death, and the father and son lived together ; the lad continued his schooling. and after graduating from the public school he had the advantage of one session's instruction at the state normal school at Cape Girardeau, his course being literary and commercial. While attending school in Caruthersville he worked after hours and during his holidays in the store of C. G. Shepard. At the age of eight- een he secured a position in the Pemiscot County Bank, and has remained with the bank ever since. Entering as bookkeeper, his promotion to the place of cashier soon fol- lowed, in which capacity he is still serving, with William A. Ward as president of the bank.
When Mr. Tindle was twenty-four years of age (November 29, 1902), he was married to Miss Grace Roberts, daughter of Frank D. and Sallie (Cunningham) Roberts, old resi- dents of Caruthersville, where Miss Grace was born September 20, 1884. Mr. and Mrs. Tin- dle now have a family of four fine boys,- Albert G., Jr., born Angust 15, 1903; Joseph R., whose birth occurred February 6, 1905; George L., the date of whose nativity is De- cember 10, 1907; and Robert F., born De-
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cember 19, 1910. Mrs. Tindle is a member of the Catholic church.
In a fraternal way Mr. Tindle is affiliated with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and with the Masonic Order, having at- tained to the thirty-second degree in Scottish Rite Masonry. While capably filling the posi- tion of cashier of the bank, as mentioned above, he does not devote his entire time to those duties which devolve on a cashier, but holds office in other organizations. He is the president and a stockholder of the Missouri Cotton Oil Company, of the Famous Store Company and of the People's Gin Company. He is possessed of considerable executive abil- ity, hence his election as president of these corporations. All matters of public better- ment receive a share of his attention and he has held various civic offices at different times. He has served on the board of aldermen for two terms, and in 1908 he was elected to the responsible position of mayor. During his mayoralty the first real improvements on the streets were made-twelve miles of concrete sidewalks were laid, and his whole term was conspicuous for its effectiveness.
WILLIAM L. DIGGES, although a young physician, has attained considerable distinc- tion in New Madrid. There is perhaps no calling in life the success of which depends so much on a man's personality, as well as his abilities and efforts, as that of a physician, and in both classes of these qualifications Dr. Digges has been thoroughly tested and fully proven.
A native of Missouri, Dr. William Digges was born at Moberly, November 9, 1874. He is the only son of Thomas Henry Digges, well known in New Madrid in various connections; the father is a Virginian, born in Culpeper county, that state, on the 13th of June. 1841. Reared in his native county, Thomas Henry Digges received his educational training at Warrenton, Fauquier county, until he was twenty years of age, at which time the war cloud, which had long been hovering with threatening aspect over the country, burst upon the nation. Mr. Digges, with the enthu- siasm of youth, hastened to lend his aid to the Confederate army. He enlisted in the Black Horse Company-an independent battalion- but so many of its members were killed that the survivors were placed in the Fourth Vir- ginia Cavalry. Mr. Digges served throughout the entire war, participated in both battles of Manassas, and although he himself escaped
capture or injury, he was the witness of many scenes of bloodshed from his position in the thick of the fight. After the close of the war he did not remain in Virginia long, but in the year 1867 traveled by way of St. Louis to New Madrid, Missouri. His years of army life had unfitted him for close, indoor work, and he spent the ensuing three years as clerk on a wharf boat. In 1870 he took up his resi- dence at Moberly, Missouri, where he engaged in the grocery business for the next three years; then he came back to New Madrid and for perhaps a year he farmed a tract of land which he rented. About 1875 he established a warehouse in New Madrid, remaining in that business until the New Madrid Bank (the first bank in the county) was organized. Mr. Digges, one of its promoters, was elected to the office of president, and acted in that ca- pacity, while at the same time continuing his interest in the warehouse, until 1905, at which date he came into the Commercial Bank as a stockholder and director. In addition to the connections already mentioned, he has inter- ests in the insurance business and in an ice and coal concern.
On the 9th day of April, 1872, Mr. Digges was married to Miss Lizzie La Forge, daugh- ter of Alfred A. and Laura (Dawson) La- Forge, old and respected members of the com- munity in which they lived. Born on the 1st day of November, 1849, at New Madrid, Mrs. Digges has spent practically her entire life here and holds membership in the Catholic church, the faith in which she was reared. Mr. Digges has never dabbled much in poli- tics, though he has ever been a firm adherent of the Democratic party, whose platform he believes contains the best elements of good government. In fraternal connection he is affiliated with the Ancient Order of United Workmen.
Dr. Digges has no remembrance of his birth place, as when he was but a babe the family moved to New Madrid, where they have ever since remained. When he was old enough he entered the public school, completed the cur- riculum prescribed, including a high school course, then went to St. Louis, where he entered the Christian Brothers College. In 1894, having determined to make the medical profession his chosen calling, he matriculated at the Washington University, and in April, 1897, was graduated from the medical depart- ment of that institution. Returning to New Madrid, he commenced the practice of medi- cine in partnership with Dr. Dawson; the fol-
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lowing year he joined Company L of the Third United States Volunteer Engineers, and after one year's service he again re- turned to New Madrid, resumed his inter- rupted practice, and has remained here up to the present time (1911). The Doctor has never married, but has devoted himself to his professional work and to his parents, with whom he resides.
In politics Dr. Digges has held to the teach- ings of his father and gives allegiance to the Democratic party; while fraternally he be- longs to the Tribe of Redmen. As a physi- cian he is considered unusually successful, and as a man he is widely respected and es- teemed; he has developed from being his father's son to a man who has made his own name-not content to live on the reputation of his father, exalted though it was and is.
ROBERT L. CROCKETT is one of the best known merchants in Pemiscot county, where he has spent the greater part of his life. He has had many difficulties to overcome, and life has been far from an easy road, but he has never had any aversion to hard work, and his career has been one of upward movement dur- ing all of the years that he has spent in the business world. He has followed the precept, do the thing that lies nearest you, and though often tempted to follow the lure of an "easier job," he did not yield, but continued to steadily fight his way upward. After trying his hand at various kinds of work he finally settled on the mercantile business, and has been eminently successful. His honesty in business methods and his straight-forward manner have won for him many friends, and his store is one of the best patronized in the county.
Pemiscot county, Missouri, was the birth- place of Robert L. Crockett, and the year 1864. He lived in the town of his birth, Caruthersville, until he was twenty-six years of age. During his youth he attended school, but as he grew older he had the desire that comes to all boys to go to work. Since his family were not wealthy, this was the more natural, so he turned to the first work that offered, and from then until he left the county to go to Tennessee he worked by the day or by the month. This nnsettled condition did not suit him, for he now had a wife to sup- port. He therefore determined to go to Ten- nessee where he hoped to secure steady em- ployment.
In Tennessee he went to work in a saw-mill
and remained in this work for five years. At the end of this time he had a pretty thorough knowledge of the timber business, from the manufacturer's standpoint, so on his return to Missouri it was not hard for him to secure a position. He returned to Caruthersville and went to work for the Pemiscot Land, Cooperage Company, as manager of their tim- ber interests in the country surrounding Ca- ruthersville. Four years ago he resigned this position and went into the grocery business at Terry Switch, near Hayti, Pemiscot county. He has worked early and late and has suc- ceeded in building up a flourishing trade, which amounts to about two thousand dollars a year.
Mr. Crockett was married to Miss Belle Hosick in 1885. They have no children.
SULLIVAN S. THOMPSON. Among the citi- zens who have given New Madrid county its high reputation throughout Missouri is Sulli- van S. Thompson, one of the prosperous and progressive real-estate dealers of Portageville. He was born of old southern stock in Bland county, Virginia, in 1869. His father was Jesse M. N. Thompson, who was born and died in the Dominion state, after serving four years in the Confederate army, in whose serv- ice he was four times wounded, once so se- verely that he was sent to the hospital. His mother, Mary A. (Thompson) Thompson, was his father's fourth cousin. She was born in Virginia, and is still living. The parents of Sullivan Thompson moved to Pemiscot county, Missouri, soon after the birth of their son, and there the father farmed. Sullivan S. grew up there and attended the district school while helping with the farm. He had few of what we call educational advantages, and in- stead has had to acquire his stock of informa- tion from a keen observation and a wide expe- rience with men and affairs. In 1902 he es- tablished himself in the real-estate business, and he has continued to do a thriving busi- ness ever since. He owns fifty-five acres of cleared land and nine hundred and eighty acres of wild land. He also owns nine town lots, with houses on three of them. He also deals in timber along with his real-estate in- terests.
In 1888 Mr. Thompson was married, the lady of his choice being Miss Mary J. Crab- tree. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson had one son, Jesse, now in his father's office. The present Mrs. Thompson was prior to her marriage Miss Mary Payne, one of the most popular
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young women of Owensborough, Davies county, Kentucky. She and Mr. Thompson are the parents of two children, Mercer V. and Joseph Manrice, both of whom are at home.
Fraternally Mr. Thompson is a Knight of Columbus and a member of the Knights and Ladies of Honor. He belongs to the herd of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks located at Cape Girardeau, and is a member both of the Modern Woodmen of America and the Woodmen of the World, in which latter order he has served as a member of the coun- cil. Because of his business he is also a mem- ber of the Concatenated Order of Hoo-Hoos, a national lumberman's organization.
In the field of politics Mr. Thompson is aligned with the party of Jefferson, Jackson and Cleveland, He served as the chief of po- lice of Portageville for two years before re- signing. He has several times been appointed to serve on the sixteenth irrigational congress, whose state committee is limited to sixteen. Both Mr. Thompson and his wife are members of the Catholic church.
ISAAC W. POWELL, M. D. Laving a sub- stantial foundation for his future prosperity in the days of his youth, when his exceedingly limited means taught him economy and his lack of influential friends taught him self-re- liance, Isaac W. Powell, M. D., has achieved success through his own well-directed efforts, and is now not only one of the leading citizens of Dunklin county, but one of the most skil- ful and popular physicians of Holcomb and one of its most active and able business men. Born, in 1853, in Louisville, Kentucky, he there acquired his preliminary education. He subsequently continued his studies at Funk's Seminary, in La Grange, Kentucky, and in 1888, several years after attaining his ma- jority, attended the Kentucky School of Medi- cine and graduated from the Louisville, Ken- tueky, Medical College, having earned the money to pay his college expenses.
Beginning the practice of his profession in Saint Francis, Arkansas, Dr. Powell remained there four and one-half years. Coming from there to Holcomb, Missouri, in 1891, he has here built up an enviable reputation as a physician of skill and ability, and has gained an extensive and lucrative patronage. He is also engaged in mercantile pursuits, handling drugs. For a number of years he was junior member of the mercantile firm of Westfall, Powell & Company. He subsequently bought
out the interests of Mr. Westfall, and sold one- half of his own interests to Mr. Hostetler, who now manages the business, the Doctor, how- ever, retaining the entire ownership of the building in which the store is located.
Dr. Powell has large landed interests, own- ing about one-fourth of the town of Holcomb; having a farm of four hundred acres, which he rents; having title to five houses and lots in Kennett, Missouri; owning four houses and twenty-five lots in Piggott, Arkansas; and, with Mr. Hostetler, owns a cotton gin in Hol- comb. The Doctor is one of the largest stock- holders of the Piggott (Arkansas) Fair Asso- ciation, and of the New Hotel Company of that place, which has a large, steam-heated, up-to- date hotel, one of the very best in Clay county.
Dr. Powell is actively associated with vari- ous financial institutions of importance; or- ganized and is one of the stockholders and the president of the Bank of Holcomb; is a stock- holder in the Citizens Bank at Rector, Arkan- sas; also in the Bank of Nimmons, at Nim- mons, Arkansas; in the Bank of Greenway, at Greenway, Arkansas; likewise in the South East Missouri Trust Company, and was one of the organizers and is a stockholder in the Peo- ples Bank of Holcomb. He is president of the Democratie Central Committee of Dunklin county, and since eighteen years of age has taken a zealous interest in political affairs.
Dr. Powell married Julia McCormick, of Louisville, Kentucky, a woman of much cul- ture and refinement. She died in 1903, leav- ing two sons, namely: Reginald B., a student at the State University, is prominent in ath- letics and was baseball pitcher for the Normal Ball Team for two years; and Isaac, who lives with an aunt in Louisville, Kentucky.
The Doctor limits his practice now to office work, endeavoring to leave the ranks. He had at one time the largest practice in the county. He attended the Catholic school when a boy and joined that church when young. He left school when sixteen years of age and learned the carpenter's trade and also that of building bridges for railroad construction, and he was foreman of a gang of men before he had reached his twenty-first year. He has been successful in his life work, and has won the proud American title of a self-made man.
JESSE S. DALTON, D. D. S. This is an age of progress and America is the exponent of the spirit of the age. In the beginning of the past century our country was in its infancy and history shows no parallel for its growth
O it Dowill
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and achievements. No other country has Dr. and Mrs. Dalton are valued members of made as great advancement in the lines of the Methodist Episcopal church, South, and both are useful factors in the many-sided life of the community in which they enjoy general and well-deserved esteem. science and mechanical invention, and the superiority of her inventions has been widely recognized throughout the civilized world. In this steady growth and development, which has characterized the age, the science E. M. JONES. The editor of the Lilbourn Ledger was born west of Clarkton in the year 1879. This same place was the birthplace of his mother, Nancy Powers Jones. She was born in 1850 and in her youth used to haul cotton from Clarkton to Cape Girardeau, as- sisting her mother in this occupation. In 1878 she was married to J. C. Jones at Clark- ton, then one of the largest towns in this part of the country. Her husband had come into the county two years before from Tennessee. She was his second wife and lived with him until her death in 1900. He is still living in Malden, Missouri, aged eighty years, Febru- ary 13. 1912. of dentistry has kept pace with the general progress, and in that profession Dr. Dalton enjoys the highest reputation. He is a native son of the state, his birth having occurred September 22. 1862, at Millersville, Cape Gir- ardeau county, Missouri, on his father's farm. He is a son of Jonathan and Lorena (Harp) Dalton. The subject attended the public schools of the locality and in such time as re- mained worked on the farm, early becoming familiar with the secrets of seed-time and har- vest. His first adventures as a wage-earner were in the capacity of teacher, his pedagogi- cal activities being in the counties of Cape Girardeau, Bollinger and Dunklin. In 1886 E. M. Jones was born on a farm and re- mained there until he was twenty years of age. He then went into business at Campbell and spent one year in that town, after which he spent a year in Caruthersville and one in New Madrid. In 1904 he came to Lilbourn and for two years was in the mercantile busi- ness. Since 1906 he has dealt in real estate. In 1910 he was made postmaster. he entered the normal school and there pur- sued an academic course, attending for one year. He then continued as a teacher until 1890, when he entered the dental department of Vanderbilt University at Nashville, Ten- nessee, from which institution he was gradu- ated in 1892. He began his active practice of the profession in his home county, where he remained for one year, and in 1894 he re- moved to New Madrid, where he has ever since engaged in practice. He has been in practice here longer than any dentist in the place and enjoys general confidence both from the professional and civic standpoints.
On April 19, 1893, in his home county, Dr. Dalton was married to Ella Byrd. daughter of William and Mollie (Evans) Byrd. whose birth occurred near Jackson, Missouri. Sep- tember 19, 1869. Her much lamented demise on June 21. 1897. left motherless a little daughter, Lorena, born April 5, 1895, who makes her home with her father. Dr. Dalton was a second time married December 25, 1898, to Ella D. Miller, daughter of Francis M. and Sophronia (Edinger) Miller. Mrs. Dalton's birth having occurred in Cape Gir- ardeau county, February 10, 1872. Their three children are: Jessie L., born January 11. 1901 ; Ralph M., born July 18. 1903; and Francis Willard, born May 18. 1906.
Dr. Dalton is popular and prominent as a fraternity man. his affiliations extending to the time-honored Masonic order. the Macca- hees, the Modern Woodmen, the Redmen. the Royal Neighbors and the Eastern Star. Both
For several months Mr. Jones has con- ducted a ladies' and gentlemen's furnishing store. This has its quarters in the large con- crete business block which Mr. Jones and Dr. E. E. Jones own in partnership. Mr. Jones owns six lots in town with three good build- ings on them and he has the largest real estate business in town. Since the spring of 1910 he has been editor of the paper conducted by the citizens of Lilbourn, called the Lilbourn Ledger.
In 1907 Mr. Jones was married at Memphis, to Miss Mary Fox. of New Madrid county, Missouri. Mrs. Jones was born and reared in this county. Her mother is deceased, but her father resides at Matthews. New Madrid county, Missouri. They have one daughter, Vergie Marie, born June 1. 1909.
ADOLPHUS BRANHAM. Among the men who have contributed to the general prosperity and helped to make the reputation for pro- gressive enterprise which Portageville bears in this section of the country is Adolphus Branham. He himself was born in this county, the date of his nativity being Febru- ary 22, 1859. one year before the cloud of civil
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war burst on a divided nation, and his father also claimed New Madrid county as the place of his birth. The mother of Jeff Branham, father of the subject, the grandmother of Adolphus, was one of the pioneer women of Missouri, for she was living here in 1811 and '12, and could remember the earthquakes of those years. Her son Jeff Branham married Miss Eliza Limery, who was born and spent her entire life in New Madrid county. Jeff Branham was born in 1824, and passed to his eternal reward in 1866, when Adolphus was only six years old. Adolphus Branham grew up on his father's farm, and after attending the district schools went to work on the old place. He still manages two hundred and eighty acres of the farm land along with his other interests. Adolphus was the eighth of ten children, and is the only one now living. He has a niece and nephew living.
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