History of southeast Missouri : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests, Volume II, Part 86

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 86

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Russell L. Allen was reared to the age of fourteen years in Cape Girardeau county and thereafter he attended school for a time at Lutesville, in Bollinger county, Missouri. At the age of twenty years he began to teach school and he continued to teach and to at- tend school until 1901. In 1894 he was grad- uated in the State Normal School, at Cape Girardeau, and thereafter he taught in Stod- dard county, Missouri. He was principal of a school at Dudley, in Stoddard county, for three years, and for two years was principal at Bernie. In 1899 he became clerk of pro- bate court, serving in that capacity for a period of two years under Judge Thomas Connelly. He also taught in the Bloomfield high school for one year and in 1901 became interested in the organization of the Bernie Bank. This reliable financial concern was first incorporated under the laws of the state of Missouri with a capital stock of ten thou- sand dollars and later the capital was in- creased to twenty thousand dollars. At the present time, in 1911. the deposits amount to sixty thousand dollars and the surplus amounts to two thousand dollars. The bank is officered as follows,-Dr. J. F. Riddle, president; J. L. Higginbotham. vice-presi- dent ; and R. L. Allen, cashier. The home of

the bank is in a modern, well equipped build- ing and it is strictly a home enterprise.

In 1897 Mr. Allen began the study of law and he was admitted to the bar of the state in 1899, although he has never devoted any time to the practice of that profession. He has also pursued studies along theological lines and in 1910 was ordained as a minister in the Church of Christ, in which he is a most ardent and zealous worker. In the Sun- day-school of the church of that denomina- tion at Bernie he has charge of the men's class. He is deeply and sincerely interested in all matters affecting the progress and de- velopment of his home town and has ever ex- erted his every effort to advance the general welfare of this section of the state. In his political convictions he is aligned as a stal- wart in the ranks of the Democratic party, in the local councils of which he has been a most prominent figure, having been selected as a delegate to state conventions by the unanimous choice of his fellow citizens. For the past twenty-one years he has been affil- iated with the time-honored Masonic order and with the exception of one year has been master of Bernie Lodge, No. 573, Free & Accepted Masons. since the time it was first chartered. He has also represented this or- ganization in the Grand Lodge of the state. Near Union, Missouri, in the year 1896, on the 27th of May, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Allen to Miss Mary Eliza- beth Crowe, who was born and reared in Franklin county, Missouri. Mr. and Mrs. Allen are the fond parents of one son, John Mitchell, whose birth occurred on the 20th of April, 1897. Mr. and Mrs. Allen are de- cidedly popular and prominent in connec- tion with the best social affairs of Bernie, where their attractive and spacious home is recognized as a center of refinement and most generous hospitality. Mr. Allen is a man of liberal views and broad human sym- pathy and it may be said concerning him that the circle of his friends is coincident with that of his acquaintances.

EMANUEL KINDER. Successfully engaged in diversified agriculture and the raising of high-grade stock on a fine estate of two hun- dred and forty acres near Sturdevant, Mis- souri, Emanuel Kinder has long been known as a prosperous and enterprising farmer-one whose business methods demonstrate the power of activity and honesty in the business

E. Kinder

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HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI

world. His civic attitude has ever been char- acterized by intrinsic loyalty and public spirit and he has served in a number of public of- fices of trust and responsibility with the ut- most credit to himself and his constituents. For a period of thirty years he was justice of the peace in Wayne township and for four years he was the popular and ethcient incum- bent of the office of postmaster at Sturdevant.

Emanuel hinder was born in Bollinger county, Missouri, the date of his nativity be- ing the 17th of June, 1840, and he is a son of Israel S. and Sarah Kinder, both of whom are now deceased. Mr. Kinder passed his boyhood and youth on the old homestead farm, in the work and management of which he early began to assist his father. His early educational training consisted of such advan- tages as were afforded in the neighboring schools of his native township and that disci- pline has since been supplemented by exten- sive reading and association with men and af- fairs. In the '50s he inherited a tract of one hundred and sixty acres of land in Wayne township, Bollinger county, and for the en- suing several years he was busily engaged in developing the same. Eventually disposing of that farm, in 1870 he purchased a tract of one hundred and twenty acres in Wayne township, a part of which he gave to one of his sons, later selling the remainder to him. He bought one hundred and sixty acres in Wayne township but disposed of that farm and later purchased an estate of two hundred and forty acres, eligibly located in Wayne township, adjoining the village of Sturdevant. Mr. Kinder is engaged in general farming and he also devotes a portion of his time and attention to stock-raising.

In his political proclivities Mr. Kinder is a stanch advocate of the principles and policies for which the Republican party stands spon- sor. In 1874 he was honored by his fellow citizens with election to the office of justice of the peace of Wayne township, and with the exception of eight years he has remained in tenure thereof and is still serving. He has also been postmaster of Sturdevant, serv- ing in that capacity for four years. As a young man he enlisted as a soldier in Com- pany A, Seventy-ninth Missouri Cavalry, un- der command of Captain Dawson, continuing as a soldier in the Union army of the Civil war for a period of nearly one year. He re- tains a deep and abiding interest in his old comrades in arms and signifies the same by membership in the Post of the Grand Army

of the Republic at Zalma. In a fraternal way he is affiliated with the time-honored Ma- sonic order and his religious faith is in har- mony with the teachings of the Baptist church, to whose good works he is a liberal contributor. He is a man of broad informa- tion and deep human sympathy and he is ever willing and anxious to lend a helping hand to those less fortunately situated in life than himself. His innate kindliness of spirit and genial courtesy make him popular in all classes of society and the list of his personal friends is coincident with that of his acquain- tances.

Mr. Kinder has been thrice married, his first union having been to Mrs. Caroline Ladd, nee Cato, of Bollinger county, Missouri, the ceremony having been performed in 1861. Two daughters were born to this marriage, but both are deceased. Mrs. Kinder was called to the life eternal, January 24. 1864, and on the 15th of May, 1865, Mr. Kinder wedded Miss Matilda George, a daughter of James and Jennie George, of Wayne town- ship, Bollinger county. Concerning the four children born to this union the following brief data are here incorporated,-James R., born in 1866, married Cordelia Kinder, and they reside on the home farm at Sturdevant. Mis- souri ; Jesse, born in 1868, married Jane Wat- kins, their home being at the same place : Luther H. was born in 1872 and he married Della V. Fetters; and William R., born in 1888, married Iva Lay. Mr. Kinder's second wife died July 11, 1906, and on November 4. 1906, he married Samantha J. Sitz, whose first husband was Abram Brantley, and they had five children who grew to maturity.

CAPTAIN BENJAMIN C. JONES, M. D., who is also entitled to the term "Honorable," having served two terms in the State Legis- lature, has for upwards of two score years been actively engaged in the practice of med- icine at Poplar Bluff, Butler county, Mis- souri. where his professional knowledge and skill have met with ample recognition. His many years of varied practice have tended to make his medical experience and profi- ciency much above the average, and have gained for him the confidence and respect of a wide community. A son of Rev. Eli S. Jones, he was born August 25, 1836, in May- field, Graves county, Kentucky, of patriotic stock, his grandfather, William Jones, who spent his entire life in Virginia, having served as a soldier in the Revolutionary war.

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Rev. Eli S. Jones was born in February, 1800, in Virginia, where he acquired his ele- mentary education. Subsequently going to Kentucky, he entered the theological depart- ment of Transylvania University, at Lexing- ton, where at that time Jefferson Davis was a student in the law department. He had previously been graduated from William and Mary College, in Virginia, and went to Lex- ington, moving there at the solicitation of Rev. Aaron Shelby, a kinsman of Governor Shelby, of Virginia, to look after his inter- ests. Being ordained to the Presbyterian ministry, Rev. Eli S. Jones first had charge of a church in Kentucky, but later accepted a pastorate in Tennessee, where, in 1844, after holding a protracted camp meeting service, he died of pneumonia, while yet in manhood's prime.

Rev. Eli S. Jones married Mary Hubbard, who was born in North Carolina. Her father, Benjamin Hubbard, migrated from North Carolina to Tennessee, and having lo- cated in Obion county bought a large tract of land, which included the present site of Union City, and there improved a fine farm. He and his brother enlisted as soldiers in the war of 1812, and served under General Jack- son at the battle of New Orleans. Mrs. Mary (Hubbard) Jones subsequently married for her second husband Mr. Charles M. Cunning- ham, and died about 1854.

The second child of the parental house- hold, Benjamin C. Jones remained with his mother as long as she lived, completing the course of study in the district schools and taking one term at the high school. Subse- quently, by selling a horse given him by his step-father, he secured means to advance his studies at an academy, and later began the study of medicine in the office of a local physician. Lack of sufficient means causing him to abandon his professional work, Dr. Jones came to Stoddard county, Missouri, in search of remunerative employment, and in Bloomfield entered the store of Dr. R. P. Perrimore as clerk, at the same time study- ing medicine in his office and making love to Dr. Perrimore's daughter, whom he married in 1860.

After the election of Abraham Lincoln as president Dr. Perrimore, who was a loyal Southerner, sent Dr. Jones to Gainesville, Arkansas, with a part of his stock of general merchandise, and afterwards closed out the Bloomfield, Missouri, establishment. In Au- gust, 1861, Dr. Jones closed the Gainesville

store, and offered his services to the Confed- eracy, enlisting in a company that later be- came a part of the Third Arkansas Battalion. In April, 1862, Dr. Jones, then a hospital steward, under command of General Albert Rust, was ordered to Memphis, thence to Shiloh to assist at the battle in progress, but was too late, and was sent back to Corinth, Mississippi, to join that division of Beaure- gard's Army commanded by General Cabell, who was under General Price He partici- pated in the engagements at Corinth, at Iuka and at Tupelo, Mississippi. Going back to Corinth, Mississippi, in the fall of 1862, the steward, who had charge of the in- firmary department, took part in the second battle at that place. He subsequently was at Port Hudson with his regiment for ten months, and took part in the siege con- ducted by General N. P. Banks, which lasted fifty-two days and nights, the firing ceas- ing only under the flag of truce during that time. On July 8, 1863, General Frank Gardner, who had made a valiant defence, surrendered the fort and reported a loss of six hundred men, only, in killed and wounded, while the Federal forces lost eighteen thousand men. For three weeks the Confederate soldiers had had neither bread nor meat, and many were falling ill when the surrender came.

Sent home on parole at the surrender, Steward Jones was exchanged in the fall of 1863, and helped to organize a new com- pany of cavalry, which was attached to the Seventh Missouri Cavalry, and was chosen by the men as its captain. He subsequently did much scouting for General Marmaduke, and at White River served under General Joe Shelby, being constantly under fire un- til the Price raid of 1864, when Captain Jones' company was attached to the Seventh Missouri Regiment, commanded by Colonel S. G. Kitchen, and the Captain was given charge of the post at Augusta and held it for ten days, notwithstanding the Union army had a large force at Devall's Bluff, a short distance away. He afterwards partic- ipated in the engagement at Pilot Knob, scouting for General Price uutil reaching Newtonia, Missouri, having skirmishes at Union, Washington, Chemois, Jefferson City, Glasgow, Booneville, Lexington, Little Blue, Independence and Big Blue, then marching on to Newtonia, Missouri, and en route, par- ticipated in the battle at Mine Creek, Kan- sas, where Captain Jones was slightly

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wounded. While in charge of a company Captain Jones, while ascending a hill, cap- tured two guns at Little Blue, while on the above mentioned skirmishes. He continued with his command on to the Indian Terri- tory and Texas, meeting with many hard- ships en route, when provisions became short existing for twenty-six days on beef which they obtained, eating it without bread or salt. In February, 1865, the Captain marched with his command to Fulton, where with General MeGruder, General Sol Kitchen and thirty-two ranking officers he was sent back to Jonesboro, Arkansas, oper- ating along the Saint Francois river and Crowley's Ridge, oftentimes coming in con- tact with Federal soldiers from Bloomfield, Missouri, his home town. His regiment, un- der General Kitchen, surrendered at Wits- berg, Arkansas, about June 1, 1865. The Captain had a rather peculiar service throughout the war, his regiment being so far detached from the main Confederate army, the four thousand men in the division with which he was mostly connected hav- ing been gathered together as one body, but operating in three independent bodies. He often made raids on the fort at Bloomfield, and took many horses from the Federals. He was twice slightly wounded, but received no serious injuries, receiving one shot at Mine Creek and having his clothing cut by shot on four occasions, and two shots cut- ting hairs from his horse, many of his es- capes having been almost miraculous.

Returning home, Captain Jones studied medicine at McDowell College and began the practice of his profession with his father-in- law, Dr. Perrimore, and in 1867 received the degree of M. D. In October, 1867 Dr. Jones located at Poplar Bluff, where he has since continued in active practice, having built up an extensive and lucrative patron- age.

Throughout his residence in Poplar Bluff the Doctor has evinced an intelligent inter- est in local affairs, and in 1890 was elected mayor of the city, and served two years. In 1896 he was elected as representative to the State Legislature on the Democratic ticket, and there introduced and was in- fluential in having passed the Drainage Law, requiring the organization of drainage districts. In 1898 he was re-elected to the same responsible position, and in that ses- sion revised the drainage law so as to make it more effective. He also secured the pas-

sage through the House of the bill creating the Confederate Soldiers' Home at Higgins- ville, and when the home was completed he was appointed by Governor Stephens as a member of its Board of Managers and served in that capacity for six years. Dr. Jones was subsequently appointed by Gov- ernor Folk one of the Board of Managers of the State Hospital for the Insane at Farmington, and served for two years, dur- ing the erection of its buildings. Resigning the position. he served as inspector under the Pure Food and Drug act until 1909, having control of the Southern Missouri District, which extended to the Arkansas line. An active and prominent member of the Democratic party, the Doctor has been a delegate to all state and congressional con- ventions for thirty-five years, and has been a member of the county committee for forty years.

Fraternally Dr. Jones was made a Mason in 1858, and was very active in the organ- ization for thirty-five years, helping to found the Poplar Bluff Lodge, No. 209, A. F. & A. M., in which he passed all the chairs, and during the Civil war was prominent in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

Dr. Jones married, in 1860, at Bloomfield, Missouri, Mattie Perrimore, a daughter of Dr. R. P. Perrimore, referred to above. Dr. Perrimore sympathized with the South dur- ing the Civil war, and soon after its out- break he closed his Bloomfield store and removed with his family to Gainesville, Ar- kansas, soon afterward enlisting in the Mis- souri State Guards as a staff officer of Gen- eral Jeff. Thompson. At the close of the conflict Dr. Perrimore practised medicine for quite a while, but afterwards became a preacher in the Baptist church, and held different pastorates, his last one having been at Jonesboro, Arkansas, where his death oc- curred in 1889 or 1890. Mrs. Mattie Jones died at Poplar Bluff, Missouri, in 1888, leaving two sons, namely: Walter, engaged in mercantile business at Poplar Bluff, and Charles, who died in 1908. The Doctor mar- ried for his second wife, in 1892, at Poplar Bluff, Susie Dukes, and they have one daughter, Myrtle, a stenographer and typist, living with her parents.

G. L. ROPER. For many years conspicu- ously identified with the growth of Senath and its material industries, G. L. Roper, a leading lumber and shingle manufacturer

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dealer, has attained noteworthy success in business through well directed endeavor, and is eminently entitled to representation in this work. He was born in Tipton coun- ty, Tennessee, but while yet an infant was taken by his parents to Arkansas, where, when he was but six year old, his father died. His widowed mother returned with her family to Tennessee and died within six months. Left an orphan at that early age the son had poor chances for an educa- tion but developing the mechanical talent with which he was so generously endowed by nature he served a regular apprentice- ship at the carpenter's trade when young, · and by study and practice so advanced his artistic ability that he became an expert architect, drawing his own plans for use in building and becoming a skilled artisan. Seeking a favorable location. he came in 1890 to Dunklin county, having just at- tained his majority, and for about three years resided in Kennett, filling contracts as a builder in all parts of the county, erect- ing some of the finest residences in this part of the state. In 1893 Mr. Roper settled in Senath, which has since been his home, and in which he has erected nearly all the build- ings of prominence and importance, there having been but two stores in the place when he came. In 1902, deciding to enlarge his business interests, Mr. Roper opened a small planing mill, in his back yard, the orig- inal investment on his present plant not having exceeded fifty dollars. A year later he purchased the lot on which his present plant is located, erected a saw mill, equip- ing it with steam power, and began work on a much larger scale. He also continued work as a builder and contractor, taking contracts in both wood and brick. He like- wise added a shingle mill to his plant in 1908, and is now carrying on a very exten- sive and lucrative mercantile business, as well as a large manufacturing business, be- ing both a wholesale and a retail dealer in lumber, sash, doors, paints, hardware and all kinds of building materials, and making a specialty of drawing the plans and specifi- cations for the erection of buildings, and then supplying all the materials needed in the building of such.

In February, 1910, Mr. Roper's plant, in- cluding the shingle mill, planing mill and saw mill, were burned, without any insur- ance, but the plant was at once rebuilt.

Mr. Roper married, in Dunklin county,

Missouri, Della Landreth, a daughter of the late Dr. W. F. Landreth, who at the time of his death was actively engaged in the practice of medicine at Senath. Mrs. Roper born and educated in Tennessee, and prior to lier marriage she was a successful teacher in the public schools. Five children have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Roper, namely : Russell C., Edris (lived but three years), Winnie Davis, Evelyn and Idella. A stanch Democrat in politics, Mr. Roper named one of his daughters Winnie Davis in memory of the daughter of the president of the Confederacy.

COLONEL HENRY N. PHILLIPS. A well- known and prosperous attorney-at-law of Butler county, Henry N. Phillips has been actively engaged in the practice of his pro- fession at Poplar Bluff for many years, dur- ing which time he has won many important suits and been associated in different cases with many of the most able lawyers of the county. He was born November 5, 1845, in DeSoto Parish, Louisiana, where he spent his youthful days, obtaining his rudimen- tary education in the common schools.

His education was further advanced by an attendance at a Jesuit college in Spring Hill, Alabama, and at a military college in Alexandria, Louisiana. Entering the Con- federate service on May 5, 1861, he enlisted in the Second Louisiana Volunteer Infantry and was subsequently transferred to the Crescent Regiment, Louisiana Infantry, and served in Virginia under Stonewall Jack- son remaining under that gallant leader's command until after the battle at Chancel- lorsville, where Jackson met his death, and afterwards under General Dick Taylor. En- tering the ranks as a private, Mr. Phillips was promoted for bravery until made cap- tain of his company, which he commanded successfully in many engagements. On Au- gust 22, 1865, at Shreveport, Louisiana, Captain Phillips was paroled by General Herron, having been one of the first to hold a commission in the Confederate army and one of the last to be paroled.

Returning home, Mr. Phillips was engaged in agricultural pursuits for about five years, after which he read law for two years in the office of Elam & Wimple, at Mansfield, Louisiana. Admitted to the Louisiana bar in 1872, he came to Stoddard county, Mis- souri, the same season, locating in Bloom- field, where he taught school and where, in

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1874, he was licensed to practice law. In 1881 Mr. Phillips accepted the principalship of the high school at Westplains, Missouri, and retained it three years, being success- ful and popular as an educator. In 1886 he opened a law office at Malden, Dunklin county, Missouri, and continued there until 1895, when he located at Poplar Bluff, where he has since been actively engaged in the practice of his chosen profession, his legal skill and ability bringing him a large and valuable clientage.

An active supporter of the principles of the Democratic party, Mr. Phillips has for the past thirty years served as a delegate to nearly all the county and state conven- tions, and in 1880 was elector at large and in 1892 was elector for the Fourteenth Mis- sonri district. From 1896 until 1904 he rendered efficient service as city counselor of Poplar Bluff, Missouri.

Mr. Phillips married, in 1874, Alice Mont- gomery, who was born in Scott county, Il- linois, of Kentucky parentage, and they have three children, namely: Samuel M., a successful attorney in Poplar Bluff; Pierre S., a lawyer in partnership with his father; and Macean M., studying law in his brother Samuel's office. These sons have doubtless inberited the legal tastes and talents of their ancestors, their father and their paternal grandfather and great grandfather adopting the legal profession. Mr. Phillips' father was born in Virginia, spent a part of his early life in Mississippi, from there moving in 1841 to DeSoto Parish, Louisiana, where he was successfully engaged in the practice of law for many years. He married a Miss Thompson, a sister of Hon. John B. Thomp- son, United States senator from Kentucky.

WILLIAM L. DAVIS. The father of Mr. Davis was a native of Georgia, born in 1809. He was an Indian fighter and helped to drive the Cherokee Indians from the state. He left Georgia at about the same time the red men did and went to Tennessee, where he married. His wife's maiden name was Steward. She bore him six children and died in Madison county, Tennessee, in 1844. Samuel Davis moved from Tennessee to Ar- kansas, passing through Missouri in 1851. He located near Arkadelphia, Arkansas, where he died in 1890.

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History of southeast Missouri : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests, Volume II, Part 86

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