USA > Missouri > History of southeast Missouri : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests, Volume II > Part 8
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Dr. William H. Hatcher obtained his pre- liminary educational training in the public schools of his native county and for a time he attended the State Normal School and the Oak Ridge high school. In 1889 he began to study medicine at Nashville, Tennessee, where he remained for a period of two years, at the expiration of which he went to St. Louis, where he was matriculated as a student in the University of Missouri, then the Marion Sims Medical College, in which ex- cellent institution he was graduated as a member of the class of 1892, duly receiving the degree of Doctor of Medicine. Dr. Hatcher worked his way through college, making the money with which to defray his expenses by making "hoop-poles" for flour barrels. Immediately after graduation he settled in Perry county, at Brazeau, where he was identified with the work of his profes- sion for a period of nine years and where he gained distinctive prestige as a physician and
surgeon of unusual skill and ability. In 1901 he established his home and professional headquarters at Perryville, where he has re- resided during the intervening years to the present time and here he enjoys the unal- loyed confidence and esteem of all with whom he has come in contact. After his arrival in Perryville Dr. Hatcher espoused the reform movement in politics and he has figured prominently in the development of the city and locality. In 1907 he erected the Perry Hotel, which has been under several differ- ent managements but which was again taken charge of by Dr. Hatcher on the 1st of June, 1910. Under his able conduct this hotel has gained a reputation as one of the finest hos- telries in southeastern Missouri. Dr. Hatcher is on the committee and is one of the boosters for electric lights and water works in the town, where he is well known as an en- terprising and progressive citizen whose deep and sincere interest in community affairs has ever been of the most insistent order.
At Brazeau, Missouri, on the 17th of June, 1894, was solemnized the marriage of Dr. Hatcher to Miss Pinkie May Pross, whose birth occurred at Newton county, Missouri, and who is a daughter of Henry Pross, long a representative citizen of Newton county, Missouri, where he was engaged in the agri- cultural business. Mr. and Mrs. Hatcher have four sons, whose names are here en- tered in respective order of birth,-Melvin Pross, William Ray, Rollie Vernan, and Nolan Sanford, all of whom are attending school at Perryville. In his political convic- tions Dr. Hatcher is aligned as a stalwart in the ranks of the Democratic party and the peculiar thing about this is that his father was an uncompromising Republican, as are all his brothers. In fraternal circles the Doctor is a valued member of the Modern Woodmen of America, and the United Broth- erhood of America, in addition to which he is also affiliated with a number of professional organizations. The professional career of Dr. Hatcher excites the admiration and has won the respect of his contemporaries, and in a calling in which one has to gain reputation by merit he has advanced steadily until he is acknowledged as the superior of most of the members of the medical fraternity in this part of the state, where he has so long main- tained his home and where the list of his per- sonal friends is coincident with that of his acquaintances.
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JOHN JOHNSON is well known in Lutesville as the superintendent of the factories of the Pioneer Cooperage Company, one of the larg- est and most progressive cooperage concerns in southeastern Missouri. Before a man can hope to become a superintendent of any branch of industry he must give evidence of possessing certain requisites ; he must himself be perfectly cognizant of the details of that particular line of work, and he must also show that he has the ability to control men. Mr. Johnson has been connected in some wise with lumber and timber all of his life, is a perfect master of the workings of the cooper- age business, and he is possessed of that exec- utive ability and tact which are necessary to command the best possible service.
Born in Ashland, Ohio, March 10, 1846, Mr. Johnson is a son of Jacob and Zilpha Johnson, both natives of Ohio; the father is of Irish descent, while the ancestors of the mother were a mixture of English and Penn- sylvania Dutch. Jacob Johnson was a farm- er in his native state, where he passed his entire life, was there educated and married, and there his demise occurred in the year 1895, while his wife was summoned to her last rest in the year 1883. They were the parents of eight children, of which number their son John was the first in order of birth.
When John Johnson was but a lad of fif- teen the Civil war broke out, and he was seized with a desire to participate in the conflict. He was, however, too young to be permitted to enlist at that time, and was obliged to restrain his ardor with such pa- tience as he could call to his aid. He con- tinued his studies in the schools of his neigh- borhood, and waited until such time as he might be old enough to join the army. When he was seventeen years old his father gave his consent to the young man's wishes, and on the 7th day of October, 1863, he en- listed in the Forty-first Ohio Volunteer In- fantry under General W. B. Hazen. He soon was in the midst of the conflict, saw service through Tennessee, Alabama and Texas, was in the battles around Atlanta, Franklin and Nashville: was in the Hood campaign under General Thomas, and was in some of the most severely contested campaigns of the war. He was slightly wounded in the left leg at the battle of Nashville, but nevertheless con- tinued with his company until the latter part of November, 1865, when he received his honorable discharge at New Orleans, Louisi-
ana. After Lee's surrender, the regiment of which Mr. Johnson had been a member was sent to Texas with the Fourth Corps, to be ready for duty in Mexico, to guard against the expected French occupation. On Mr. Johnson's return to the life of a civilian he went back to his native place, and remained on the farm with his mother until 1871. He then went to Saginaw City, where he en- gaged in the saw mill business, since which time he has been constantly occupied in the lumber manufacturing industry. He spent a year in northern Michigan; then returned home to Ohio for a short time, and in 1892 went to Carlyle, Illinois, where he was con- nected with the cooperage business. Locat- ing in Cape Girardeau in 1896, he was en- gaged in the sawmill business again; in 1904 he took charge of a large mill at Brownwood and was one of the number who bought out the Pioneer Cooperage Company. Disposing of his interests, however, he entered the em- ploy of the Pioneer Cooperage Company, lo- cated at Fredericktown and in January, 1910, he assumed the charge of the four mills situ- ated respectively at Lutesville and Grassy, Bollinger county, and at Camp No. 33 and Coldwater, Wayne county. Under his effi- cient control the work turned out by these mills has increased in quantity and im- proved in quality.
In 1871, the year that Mr. Johnson left the farm and started in the sawmill business, he was married to Miss Susan Morris, of Paulding county, Ohio, where her father, George W. Morris, was an honored resident. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson became the parents of seven children, five of whom are living,- Anna, whose birth occurred in 1874 and who became the wife of K. C. Pierce, of Lutes- ville, where she maintains her residence ; Leora S., married to the Rev. P. J. Rinehart, a minister in the Methodist Episcopal church at Effingham, Ohio; Bessie, Mrs. Fred C. Shetley, who maintains her home at Spring- field, Texas; Ella Lee and Belle M., both teachers in the public school.
Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are both members of the Methodist Episcopal church, South, and in fraternal connection Mr. Johnson is affiliated with the Masonic order, his direct membership being with the Blue Lodge, No. 502. Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, at Paulding, Ohio. He owns property in Texas, having a tract of one hundred and forty- three acres on the south Gulf coast.
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HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI
THOMAS A. SON, M. D. As an able and successful examplar of the benignant Eclectic school of medicine Dr. Son, who is engaged in active general practice at Bonne Terre, St. Francois county, has gained prestige as one of the representative physicians and sur- geons of this section of the state and holds to the fullest extent the confidence and esteem of the community in which he is laboring with all of zeal and ability in his noble and exact- ing profession. He is a native son of Missouri and a scion of staunch old southern stock, as the original representatives of the name in Missouri came to this state from Kentucky.
Dr. Thomas Alvin Son was born on a farm in Morgan county, Missouri, on the 2d of January, 1857, and is a son of James M. and Eliza Jane (Harris) Son, the former of whom was born near the city of Sedalia, this state, in 1832, and the latter of whom was born in Cooper county. James Monroe Son was twenty-one years of age at the time of his marriage and his entire active career has been one of close and successful identification with the great basic in- dustry of agriculture. He and his wife, both now venerable in years, reside at Ard- more, Oklahoma, and it is worthy of special note that of their twelve children only one is deceased. Dr. Thomas A., of this review, is the third in order of birth. The lineage of the Son Family is traced back to staunch Ger- man origin and that of the Harris family is of Scotch-Irish extraction. The father of James M. Son was one of the pioneer clergy- men of the Baptist church in Missouri, where he continued to reside until his death, in 1865. When the Civil was was precipitated James M. Son showed his fervent loyalty to the Union by enlisting in its defense, in re- sponse to President Lincoln's first call for volunteers. Early in 1861 he thus became a member of a company commanded by Cap- tain IIart, and he was with his regiment in active service at Jefferson City during the memorable raid of General Price through this state. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, is a staunch Democrat in his political proclivities and both he and his wife are earnest and zealous members of the Baptist church. Their lives have been marked by faithfulness and sincerity and they have not been denied the just reward of popular confidence and regard, the while the gracious evening of their lives is brightened by the filial affection of their children and their chil- dren's children.
Dr. Thomas A. Son gained his early ex- periences in connection with the scenes and labors of the home farm and in the mean- while his ambition was quickened through the discipline secured in the local schools, as is shown by the fact that after completing the curriculum of the same he took a course in a business college in the city of Sedalia. His close application and ready powers of assimilation made him eligible for pedagogie honors when he was bnt seventeen years of age, and for ten years he devoted his atten- tion to successful teaching in the schools of Morgan, Miller and Moniteau counties. This service was, however, but a means to an end, and his next experience was gained along radically different lines, as he engaged in the general merchandise business in the little vil- lage of Passaic, Bates county, where he also served as postmaster for a period of four vears. In the meanwhile he had formulated definite plans for a career of wider usefulness, and in preparation for the work of his chosen profession he entered the American Medical College in the city of St. Louis, where he com- pleted the prescribed course and where he was was graduated as a member of the class of 1899, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. He made a specially admirable record as an undergraduate and came forth from this institution well equipped for the work of his profession, in which his initial ex- perience was gained in the city of St. Louis, where he remained until 1899, when he es- tablished his residence at Bonne Terre, St. Francois county, where he has built up a large and representative general practice and gained the high regard of the community. He is medical examiner for several fraternal insurance orders, is an active member of the Missouri Eclectic Medical Society, and in a competitive examination he won a prize through his excellent standing in American Order of Medical Examiners. Though never a seeker of political preferment, Dr. Son is unwavering in his allegiance to the Demo- eratie party and as a citizen he is essentially liberal and public-spirited. He is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity, the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen of America. and both he and his wife hold membership in the Baptist church.
On the 10th of February, 1882, was solem- ized the marriage of Dr. Son to Miss Ida L. Carney. of Enon, Moniteau county, this state. She is a daughter of Charles B. Carney, one of the representative agriculturists and sterl-
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ling citizens of that county. Dr. and Mrs. Son have an interesting family of nine chil- dren, of whom eight remain at the parental home, their names, in respective order of birth, being here entered: Alvin Darwin, John Ezra, Estella Blanche, James Benton, Goldie, Maude, Leota, Rowena and Emma. The attractive family home is known for its cordial hospitality and good cheer and is a favorite rendezvous for a wide circle of friends.
THOMAS G. WILSON, a prosperous farmer citizen at Senath in Dunklin county, is one of the men who have more than kept pace in their own prosperity with the remarkable progress of recent years in Southeast Missouri generally. Probably few men in this part of the state have more to show for their energy and business enterprise. A dozen years ago he was a poor tenant farmer; since then he has become the owner of several farms making in the aggregate one of the best country estates in his county, owns prop- erty in town, is a stockholder in the local bank, and one of the most prosperous citizens of his community.
Mr. Wilson was born in Henderson county, Tennessee, September 25, 1866, and lived there the first ten years of his life, during which time he acquired practically all the schooling he ever had. In 1877 his parents, Nathan C. and Clarissa (Derryberry) Wil- son, settled two miles northwest of Senath on rented land. The father died in the same year, and the mother then moved to Buffalo Island and bought forty acres at a dollar and a quarter an acre, all of it uneleared except four acres. Her other sons moved away, and Thomas was left alone to work the land and provide for himself and mother. He was not lacking in the faithfulness to duty and energy and determination which accomplish great works, and his later prosperity seems a grate- ful reward for his early toils and hardships. He set to work, cleared off the little farm, set out an orchard, and continued to live there until 1901.
In that year he made the move which started him to prosperity. He moved to the T. J. Bolin farm of eighty acres two and a half miles west of Senath. He bought the place on credit, having only his own character and energy as capital. His mother had lived with him all these years and also moved with him to the present home, where she died in
September, 1902. From his new beginning at this location he has prospered. In 1903 he added another eighty acres adjoining his first place, in 1909 bought the Irv Scott eighty lying just west of the corporation of Senath, and has also acquired thirty-nine acres ad- joining his original place on the east. In ten years he has thus succeeded in possessing two hundred and seventy-nine acres, and also owns a couple of lots in town. All of his land is cleared but twelve acres, and he has im- proved it with good house and barn, and is in every way a modern, progressive farmer. He owns stock and is one of the directors of the Citizens Bank of Senath.
Mr. Wilson is one of the active citizens of this community. He is a school director and served as school clerk for nine years. In polities he is Republican. He is one of the working members of the Christian church. Fraternally he is a member of the Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows and the Woodmen of the World at Senath.
In 1894 he married Miss Artie M. Smith- wick, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Smithwick, well known residents of Dunklin county, who came here from Tennessee. Six children were born to them, three of whom died in infancy, and the three living are: Helen, born in 1901; Hubert G., born in 1903; and Veder H., born in 1906.
GEORGE W. ALBRIGHT. Madison county, Missouri, includes among her representative citizens George W. Albright, at present county collector, a native son who has ever proved very loyal to her institutions and her interests and who can ever be counted upon to support such measures as in his opinion will prove of general benefit. Mr. Albright has held his present office since March 1, 1911, and has already proved most faithful and capable.
George W. Albright was born on April 5, 1861, the son of Benjamin and Rachel (Whitener) Albright, both of whom are de- ceased, and of whom more extended mention will be made in ensuing paragraphs. Both belonged to families originally founded in North Carolina and among the first to locate in southeastern Missouri. George W. was the tenth in order of birth in a family of fourteen children, four of whom survive at the present day, namely: Elijah P., of Fred- ericktown; F. M., residing in the southeast- ern part of Madison county, where he is an
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extensive farmer and stockman; Miss Hattie, who makes her home with the foregoing; and George W.
Mr. Albright was reared in Madison county and for a number of years was enrolled among the successful agriculturists, only upon his assumption of his present office, in fact, be- coming less active in the great basic indus- try. Politically he is one of the most loyal and unswerving of Democrats, giving hand and heart to the cause of the party. He has fraternal affiliation with the Modern Wood- men of America and the Modern Brother- hood of America and he is a consistent mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church, South. He has maintained his home in Frederick- town for the past three years and is helpfully interested in the many-sided life of the com- munity.
Mr. Albright's wife, previous to her mar- riage, was Leannah C. Tinnin, daughter of Jason Tinnin, representative of an old Bol- linger county family. To their union have been born seven children, four of whom are living, namely : Hugh D., Oscoe, Lola and Edgar. Roscoe, twin of Oscoe, Lillie and Jessie are deceased.
Benjamin Albright, father of the subject, was born in Georgia and was but two years of age when his parents, Christopher Al- bright and wife, removed to Bollinger county, Missouri, where Benjamin resided until after his marriage, upon which occasion he removed to Madison county. Three of Benjamin Al- bright's sisters survive, they being Mrs. Eliza Bennett, of Oklahoma; Mrs. Henrietta Mc- Daniel, of St. Louis; and one other also re- siding in St. Louis. Benjamin was an agri- culturist and was well and favorably known in this county, in which his interests were centered.
The mother, Rachel Whitener Albright, was born in this county, the daughter of Henry Whitener, an early farmer-settler. As before mentioned, but four of the children who came into the home of these worthy peo- ple are now living. Elijah P., born in Oeto- ber, 1851, resides in Fredericktown. He was for years engaged in farming, but for the past five years he has devoted his attention for the most part to teaming. He married Miss Rosie Bess, daughter of Edward Bess, and they have one son, William G., a farmer in Arkansas. Francis M. is an extensive farmer in the southeastern part of Madison county, and Miss Hattie resides with him up- on his farm.
JAMES HARVEY ENGLISH, M. D. In no pro- fession is there more constant progress than in that of medicine and surgery, thousands of the finest minds the world has produced making it their one aim and ambition to dis- cover more effectual methods for the allevia- tion of suffering, some more potent weapon for the conflict with disease, some clever device for repairing the damaged human organism. Ever and anon the world hears with mingled wouder and thanksgiving of a new conquest of disease and disaster which a few years ago would have been placed within the field of the impossible. To keep in touch with these discoveries means con- stant alertness, and while there may be in some quarters a great indolence in keeping pace with modern thought, the highest type of physician believes it no less than a crime not to be master of the latest devices of science. An up-to-date practioner is Dr. James Harvey English, of Farmington, Saint Francois county, Missouri. He was born in Hardin county, Kentucky, December 25, 1865, and his father, Robert S. English, was also a Kentuckian, the date of the elder man's birth being November 25, 1825. Mr. English, the father, received his edu- cation of a preliminary character in the common schools and spent his youth and early manhood as a farmer. In the fall of 1881 he removed to the state of Missouri and engaged in farming in Mississippi county, where he remained for two years, at the end of that period removing to a farm north of Farmington. In about 1850 Robert S. Eng- lish was united in marriage to Mary E. Eggen, of Hardin county, Kentucky, and to this union five children were born, the sub- ject being the fourth in order of birth. The others were Dena, who became Mrs. R. N. Davis and is now deceased; Silas English, of Hardin county, Kentucky ; John M. Eng- lish, a resident of Hardin county, Kentucky, and Lizzie, now Mrs. I. W. Ware, of Fred- ericktown, Missouri. The mother died June 10, 1898, and the father survived a number of years, his demise ocenrring November 20, 1904. They were faithful members of the Presbyterian church, and the father was Democratie in politics and a member of the Masonic fraternity.
Dr. English, of this review, received his education in the public schools of his section of Kentucky, and was abont sixteen years of age when his parents removed to Farming- ton. To go into detail his public school edu-
James AN English
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HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI
cation consisted of two years in the Charles- ton public schools, one term in the public schools of Farmington and two years in the Baptist college of this place. After teaching school for one year, he entered the Missouri Medical College at St. Louis, and received his well-earned degree from that institution in the year 1890. Shortly after finishing his preparation he came to Farmington and he has ever since been successfully engaged in general practice. In 1907 he took three months post-graduate work at Washington University, at St. Louis, Missouri. Dr. Eng- lish has served two four year terms as county coroner. He is Democratie in politics, Presbyterian in church faith and belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America and the Royal Neighbors.
On the 24th day of December, 1891, Dr. English laid the foundation of a happy household and congenial life companionship by his union to Miss Della Gossett, of Far- mington, daughter of John Gossett. Dr. and Mrs. English are the parents of one son, Charles R., a progressive and promising young man, who intends to follow in the paternal footsteps in the matter of a pro- fession. He is at the present time stenog- rapher at the State hospital. Dr. English, who is generally recognized as one of the leading members of his profession in the county, is a member of the County and State Medical Societies.
ABRAM WENDELL KEITH, M. D. Among the deceased but well remembered representative of the medical profession in Saint Francois county is Dr. Abram Wendell Keith. Bonne Terre was the scene of the professional labors of this gentleman, who has also left behind him a record for unselfish and public-spirited citizenship. For forty years he devoted him- self to relieving the ills and sufferings of humanity, nor were his services of the coldly professional type, for he bore with him into the sick room the kindly presence of the in- terested and sympathizing friend. And in the constant growth and development which characterized the age in his field as in all others he kept pace with the general progress. As his name indicates he was of Scotch descent and in his character were incorporated those stanch, true traits which make old Scotia's sons, in the words of her own poet, "loved at home, revered abroad."
Abram Wendell Keith was born in Saint Francois county, the date of his nativity hav-
ing been February 4, 1835. As said before, his forefathers were of "the land o' cakes." and his father was a native of Knoxville, Tennessee. He grew to manhood near Farm- ington and began the study of medicine un- der Dr. Goff. In 1865 he entered the Medical College of St. Louis and was graduated in 1858. After practicing for some five years in Saint Francois county he entered the St. Louis Medical College and in 1864 was grad- uated from that institution, which has pre- pared so many men noted in the profession. Thus thoroughly ready for the profession which more than any other requires that a man give up his entire life to it, he estab- lished himself at French village, St. Francois county and after five years he succeeded his preceptor, Dr. Goff at Big River Mills, re- inaining there until 1880. He then went to Bonne Terre, where he practiced until his death in April, 1897.
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