USA > Missouri > McDonald County > Illustrated history of McDonald County, Missouri: from the earliest settlement to the present time > Part 13
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six of whom are still living, and the entire family are respectable, and industrous people.
T. H. WIMPEY. Almost every body in the west part of the county knows Tom Wimpey, the genial miller of Tiff City. He was born in McDonald county June 27, 1854, and has spent most of his life in the land of his birth. His father, Joshua Wimpey, died in 1867. His mother, Rachel Wimpey, is still living. In 1869 the family moved to Arkansas, but returned to this county after an absence of three years. March 25, 1877, he and Miss Arizona Hutchison were united in marriage. They have seven children, all living, Sarah L. who is married to Lafe Hamilton, A. C., Plaudy, Lula, Mattie, Stella and Jessie. He was brought up on a farm, but went into the goods business at Twin Springs when that town first sprung up. He went to Coy about 1882 where he dealt in goods a while, then went into the Coy mill. While at this place he was post master some nine or ten years. Last year the mill was moved to Tiff City where it is now in operation, Mr. Wimpey being the miller and general manager. He is a consistent member of the Baptist church.
C. E. DAVIS, son of W. R. and E. E. Davis, was born in the City of Cincinnati in 1870. When he was about seven years of age his parents moved to Joplin, this state, where they resided
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some ten years. During their residence in Joplin they made several trips back to their native place, and came to this county occasion- ally. Mr. Davis being in poor health the changes were made in hopes of effecting his recovery. He died in 1882. Clarence attended the public schools at Joplin where he obtained a good business education. With his mother, he came to McDonald county about ten years ago and settled on a farm near Noel. This he cultivated until the town of Noel began to be a place of note, when he went there and took charge of the City Hotel. He keeps an excellent house, and has done a business that is surprising for a town no larger than Noel. He, also, has a good livery stable and runs the Noel & South- west City mail and hack line. In 1890 he was married to Miss Neta Farmer, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Farmer, of Pineville. They have two children.
EDWIN TYLER DOTY, was born in Cayuga county, New York, December 4, 1844. At the age of 15 years he moved to the state of Michigan. When the war broke out he enlisted in Fourth Michigan Infantry and served until his time ex- pired. After the war he entered the college at Ann Arbor, Michigan and graduated in the Medical department in March, 1870. In 1883 he came to Southwest Missouri, residing in Mc-
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Donald county two years, and in Joplin over seven years. He then located at Anderson, December, 1892, and embarked in the drug business in connection with the practice of medicine. During Cleveland's second term Mrs. Doty was postmaster at Anderson, and every one speaks well of her management of that office. The doctor enjoys a good practice, has a good trade in the store and he and his lady stand high in the estimation of the people.
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HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY.
A. W. NOEL.
THE gentleman whose name stands at the head of this sketch was born in this county April 10, 1868. He is a son of C. W. and F. M. Noel of Elk River township. Being reared on a farm he followed that occupation, attending the district schools until early manhood when he went to Warrensburg school and, also, took a term in the Business College at Kansas City. Soon after returning from school he secured a position as clerk and book keeper for M. N. LaMance, where he remained some four years. By this time, having saved his earnings, he bought a small stock of hardware and went into
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business on his own account. In May, 1893, he took charge of the post office at Pineville, to which position he had been appointed by Presi- dent Cleveland. He administered the affairs of the office four years to the satisfaction of the public and with credit to himself and the party which he represented. April 18, 1897, he was united in matrimony with Miss Grace Yonce, one of the most worthy and highly esteemed young ladies of our community.
By natural ability, attention to business and good management, he has built up one of the most lucrative mercantile establishments in the county. Mr. Noel is entitled to much credit for his success in life, having gained it by his own efforts. He is a man of good morals, genteel in his manners and a credit to the community.
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HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY.
A. U. CHASE.
DR. A. U. CHASE of Tiff City is one of our leading physicians who at the age of 30 years, has established a practice that often taxes his strength to the utmost. He has excellent suc- cess with his patients, and his agreable manners, and regard for the feelings of others make him a general favorite with the people. He is a son of John R. and Fannie Chase, of Newton county. He was born in Ray county, this state, August 10, 1867. When he was two years old his parents came to Newton county. He obtained a fair education in the common schools, availing himself of every opportunity to gain knowledge. In 1847 he came to Tiff City and began the study of medicine with Dr. A. J. Mckinney, finishing up his course at Marion Sims College of Medicine, St. Louis. He and Miss Mary Keenan, a daughter of the late Peter Keenan of this county were married, in 1891. They have three children. They have an ellegant home at Tiff City on a portion of the old Cummings farm, where he and his estimable wife are en- joying the comforts of life and reaping the rewards of a well merited and successful career.
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HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY.
MR. AND MRS. VERMILLION.
R. E. VERMILLION was born in Lawrence, county, Mo., in 1855. His wife, Fannie Mills, was born in the same county in 1859. They were acquainted while children and, in July 1875, when he was twenty and she sixteen years of Mr. Vermillion soon after- age, were married.
ward entered a drug store, and in the spring of 1878 located at Opolis, Kansas. He was in busi- ness there until 1885 at which time he accepted a position in the drug store of Caffee & Co., at Carthage. A year later he was employed by H. Dustin of Southwest City. The same year Mrs. Vermillion opened up a Millinery store there,
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M
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and for ten years this worthy couple were prom- inent figures in the business and social circles of that enterprising place. He continued as general manager of the Dustin drug store until October, 1895, when he again went into business of his own. He died January 15, 1896, after a couple days illness from pneumonia complicated with heart trouble to which he had been subject for some years. Mrs. Vermillion is still carrying on her millinery business at Southwest City. They have but one child, Maud, aged thirteen.
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HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY.
HUGH DABBS.
WITH some individuals the Battle of Life seems but a series of brilliant victories, and such has been the career of our former citizen, Hugh Dabbs. While he was born in Madison county, Arkansas, he has lived from early child- hood in this county. His father died when Hugh was four years old, and left his wife, Susan Dabbs, with a large family of small children. They lived near Rocky Comfort, and Hugh spent his boyhood days helping to clear out a farm on the flat woods. He was always studious, and as soon as he could procure a certificate, began teaching school. He saved his money and took a course of study in the academy at Corsicana, Barry county. In 1890 he graduated from the Law department of the State University at Columbia, and began the practice that year at Pineville. He held the highest grade in his class at the University, and wrote the Prize Thesis. That fall he was elected prosecuting attorney, which office he held four years. He rapidly rose to distinction in his profession and now, at the age of thirty-two, ranks among the leading lawyers of Newton County. Helocated at Neosho in 1895, where he has an elegantly furnished office, a fine library, and is doing a large practice.
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HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY.
H. B. BOSSERMAN.
H. B. BOSSERMAN, son of Jacob and Eve (Hanger) Bosserman, was born in Augusta county, Virginia, January 5, 1841. His parents lived and died in that state. When the warcame up, Mr. Bosserman lived where the active scenes of the great conflict was going on. He enlisted in 25th Virginia Infantry and served two months when he was taken prisoner at the battle of Rich Mountain. He was paroled by Gen. Mc- Clelland, and exchanged that fall. Those were times when much of the supplies for the people were made at home, and the looms and spinning wheels were brought into use. Mr. Bosserman was a very fine mechanic, and the time of his ex- change was sick for some time. As soon as his health would permit, he started to join his reg- iment. But he was well acquainted with the leading men of his part of the state who knew his skill as a workman, and they vouched for his good conduct and loyalty to the Confederacy and he was permitted to remain at home the rest of the war, making spinning, wheels, looms,
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and other necessary articles. In 1869 he and Miss Lucretia M. Ludwick were united in wed- lock. They have one child dead, and two living; Eugenia (Hargrove) and Emmett Guy. He left Virginia in 1872, went to Texas, then to Illinois, and came to McDonald county in 1889. He owns a fine mill near Pineville with which he is doing a good business.
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HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY.
T. J. CARNELL.
J. L. CARNELL, for several years an honored citizen of this county was born in Virginia March 13, 1833. His wife, Mrs. E. J. Carnell, was born in Kentucky November 23, 1835. They were married in Cass county, Missouri from which place they moved to Texas then went to Benton county, Arkansas and from that place to McDonald county. They had ten children, nine of whom are still living. Among them is the object of this sketch.
T. J. Carnell was born in Benton county, Arkansas, June 4, 1872, and is consequently 25 years of age. He came with his parents to this county in 1889. He attended the district schools in Arkansas, and the public school at Pineville after they came to this county where he acquired a fair business education. On January 16, 1895 he and Miss Florence M. Clemons were united in marriage. There union has been blessed with one child, Hazle B. now aged two years. Mr. Carnell was reared on a farm which occu- pation he followed until a couple of years ago, since which time he has been running a saw mill. Being a man of energy and industry he is making a success of his business, and is manufacturing and selling a large amount of lumber. Politically he is a Democrat, having been brought up in that faith, but his adherence to the party would never induce him to forget a personal favor or one who had befriended him.
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HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY.
ETUE, PETER D .- Born in Perth county, Ontario, June 29. 1846. Educated in the com- mon schools until 14 years of age. when he entered the office of the Mitchell Advocate to learn the art of printing. At the age of 16 ran away from home and went to Buffalo, N. Y. where he enlisted in the 14th N. Y. Cavalry, serving until April 24, 1866. After a few months at home in Canada, returned to the U. S. and be- came a citizen at Flint, Michigan in 1868. Re- moved to St. Louis in 1869, working on the old St. Louis Republican, and various job printing offices until 1871, when he became connected with the Kansas City Times. Established the Kansas City Live-Stock Indicator in 1878, and sold out in 1893. The panic of that year resulted disastrously for him and he lost the accumula- tion of years. After a residence of over a quarter of a century in K. C. he came to Anderson in September 1896, purchasing the Anderson Messenger, which he renamed the Advocate, and he runs as an independent (not neutral) localjournal. In politics he hasalways affiliated with the Democrats, and was elected member of the Common Council in Kansas City 1878-79 as such. He is an anti- protectionist and a free silver man, also a believer in the Single Tax doctrine.
HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY.
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J. L. ELLIFF.
MR. ELLIFF was born in Lawrence county this state, May 26, 1855. His parents came to McDonald county in 1966. and Jessee has made this his home ever since. He improved every opportunity to attend school and was granted a certificate and taught his first term in 1874. Mr. Elliff has twice been principal of the South- west City public schools and is a prominent teacher of the county. He is Sunday School Superintendent and clerk of the Baptist church
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at Anderson and is a member of the I. O. O. F. In 1890 he was appointed clerk at Quapaw Agen- cy and served 15 months after Cleveland's inauguration. He filled his position with honor to himself and with credit to his county and administration. He stands high with the de- partment and is well versed in Indian affairs. Is an untiring republican worker and in 1894 was a delegate to the county, congressional and State conventions and a member of the Con- gressional committee. Mr. Elliff is the owner of a good residence in Anderson and is a substan- tial citizen of the county. He is now keeping a hotel at Anderson and is doing a thriving business as real estate agent.
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HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY.
JAMES H. WIMPEY.
AMONG the men who figured prominently in the affairs of the county for several years is James H. Wimpey of Anderson, son of Joshua and Nancy (Ragsdale) Wimpey. He was born June 3, 1837, in Hamilton county, Tenn. When he was about three years old his parents moved to Illinois, and in 1844 settled in what is now McDonald county, where the object of this sketch was reared. He took advantage of the meager facilities for schools, and by close application se- cured a fair education which he has since great- ly improved by an extensive course of reading. He and Miss Mary Kinslow were united in marriage in December, 1859. To them have been born four children, two of whom died in infancy. Their son, Joshua L. Wimpey is now a Justice of the Peace, elected in 1894, and a respected citizen of this county. The daughter Tennie B. is the wife of Ed Rudisill, a merchant at Ander- son, this county. Being an uncompromising Union man, Mr. Wimpey was compelled to leave this county in the early part of the war, conse- quently he enlisted, August 2, 1862, in the 6th Kansas Cavalry, and served to the close of the war. He participated in several engagements
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among which were those at Newtonia, Prairie Grove and Honey Springs. At the election No- vember, 1866, he was elected assessor of this county, which office he filled two years. In 1868 he was elected Sheriff and Collector, which he also held two years. In 1871 he was appointed by Gov. Brown to fill a vacancy in the county court. He has since been nominated for various county offices on the Republican ticket but his party having been greatly in the minority, he has each time been defeated. He was a staunch Republican until 1894, since which time he has been a Populist with strong leanings to- wards Socialism. In religion he is an Agnostic; by occupation a farmer. Being a man of strong convictions and out spoken in defending what he believes to be right, he made some enemies while in public life but his dealings, whether as an official or in private life, have always been honorable, and his whole life on the side of morality, intelligence and progression.
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HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY.
JOHN B. CHRISTENSEN.
JOHN BENJAMIN CHRISTENSEN, was born in Malta Bend, Saline County, Missouri, April 2, 1876. In 1877 his parents moved near Odessa, Missouri where they lived until 1887, when they went to Kansas City which place was John's home until he and his wife came to McDonald County to take up their residence. He received his education in the public schools. From the Westport High School entering the Law De- partment of the Missouri State University in September, 1893, he graduated from that In- stitution in June, 1895, at the age of nineteen and
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as valedictorian of a class in which he was the youngest student. Besides having attained the highest standard of proficiency during the whole course, he had the distinction of writing a prise thesis on a legal subject submitted by the Law Faculty, the Judge of merit being the Chief Justice of the Missouri Supreme Court. He was admitted to the bar before the Supreme Court, June 7, 1895, since which time he has devoted himself to the practice.
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HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY.
J. A. JACKSON.
JOHN ALONZO JACKSON, oldest son of Samuel H. and Mary J. Jackson, was born in Neosho, Missouri, March 16, 1870. He received a good education in the common schools of Neosho, where he spent his childhood and youth. He and Miss Esther Page of Neosho, were married December 4, 1892. They have one child, Mar- guiritte, born at Neosho, Nov. 21, 1893. From July, 1889, to May 1892, he was deputy circuit clerk of Newton county. Is a member of the First Congregational church of Neosho. Has never held an office.
Mr. Jackson has always taken an active part in politics, having been secretary of the Newton county executive committee, president of the Republican club of Neosho and chairman of the Republican executive committee of that city. He stumped Newton county in behalf of the Republican party in 1892, 1894 and 1896. He was admitted to the bar in May 1892 and prac- ticed at Neosho until February, 1897, when he located at Pineville. Here he is building up a good reputation and with it a good legal business, having poven himself a lawyer of fine abilities.
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HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY.
L. W. CARLYLE.
THE object of this sketch was born in Dela- ware county, Indiana, October 16, 1850. He remained in that state, attending the district schools during his boyhood, until 1870, at which time he came to McDonald county. December 28, 1876, he was united in marriage with Miss Callie C. Stevenson of this county. They have seven children, Flora E., Franklin, John, Vern- on, Howard, Lemuel and Lois.
He has been collector of South west City three years, street commissioner five years and city marshal five years, all of which speak of his moral worth and standing among the people. He is a member of the M. E. Church, south, an Odd Fellow and Mason. In politics, he is a Republican, and is counted as one of the leading men of that party. He has never sought or held an office outside of his city, though his name has been mentioned on one or two occasions as a candidate on the county ticket. Should he ever come before the people they can rest assured that an honest and competent man will be asking their favors.
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HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY.
DAN HARMON.
DAN HARMON, son of Mark and Elizabeth Harmon, was born in Green county, Tenn. July 22, 1833. His parents came to McDonald county in 1847, and from that time until the present the Harmons have been among the leading people of this county. Dan remained with his parents five years after their arrival here, during which time he went to school three months, Moses Pollard being the teacher. In 1852 he went to California to seek his fortune in the gold diggings. He drove an ox team and was six months and one day on the road. It is useless to remark that Mr. Harmon did not die on the road, but he passed through the desert where for miles the trail was lined with the carcasses of dead cattle and horses and the bones of many human beings were bleaching in the sun where they had perished from heat and thirst. Heremained west of the Rocky mount- ains thirteen years, returning in 1865. On his return he brought with him $5,500, and spent $1,000 on his way home.
In December, 1866, he and Miss Nancy J. Walker, daughter of Hon. Claudius B. Walker
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of this county, were married. They have had eight children, five of whom are living. Mr. Harmon was public administrator a few years after the war. He has served as Justice of the Peace and post master. For some years he was in the mercantile business at Erie, where he enjoyed a good trade until burnt out. He owns a fine farm on Indian creek where he lives in good, comfortable style, and where he and Mrs. Harmon dispense hospitality to their nu- merous friends in a truly royal manner.
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HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY.
JUDGE I. N. SHAMBAUGH.
FOR nearly twenty years the man whose name stands at the head of this page was an honored and prominent member of our community. Judge Shambaugh was born in Warren county, Virginia, September 29, 1823. In 1841 he moved to DeKalb county Missouri, where he remained until the war came up. He was a self educated man, having studied during his leisure time at home. He studied law in DeKalb county and began his career there as a practitioner. In 1858 he was elected a member to the State Legislature, and re-elected in 1860, being a member when the question of Secession came up. He met with the General Assembly at Neosho and opposed that measure, but after- wards espoused the cause.
During the Mexican war the Governor of this state issued him a commission as Lieutenant Colonel, but the war closed before he reached the scene of conflict. About the close of the war he wentto Nebraska City, Neb., where he practiced law seven years. While in active practice he had remarkable success and won a brilliant reputation. The close confinement and hard study together with the severe climate were more than he could bear, and his health
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gave way. For this reason he came to McDonald county in 1873, and purchased a large farm on Elk River where it crosses the stateline. Here he was engaged in farming and dealing in stock until his death. As in every other venture which he ever undertook, he made a success of this and was counted one of the wealthiest men in the county. The management of our county officers had been quite improvident and in some instances there were strong indications of fraud. The county was in debt some $30,000 and county warrants worth but 25 cents on the dollar. Judge Shambaugh promised the people that if they would elect him presiding Judge he would get the county out of debt. Accordingly in 1876 he was elected to that office, also Probate Judge, and re-elected in 1880. Heinaugurated a system of rigid economy and before half of his second term was out had paid the entire debt and raised the warrants to par. Having accomplished the object for which he was elected, he handed in his resignation. His publis life and sterling worth as a private citizen gave him a high place in the estimation of our people, and he could have held any office within their gift, but he preferred the peace and quite of his farm life. He was married in 1850 and they had three chil- . dren all of whom are living in this county. He
died in November, 1892.
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HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY.
J. W. SHIELDS.
AMONG the enterprising men of this county is J. W. Shields, the genteel cashier of the McDonald County bank. He was born in this county, Nov. 14, 1856. He is the son of George R. Shields formerly of Tenn., who came to this Co. in 1846. He secured a good education in the schools at Southwest City, near which his father resides. He taught school two years, two terms being in Southwest City. He estab- lished a mercantile business at Saratoga in 1880. He was at that place seven years, four of which
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. HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY.
he was post master. He then moved his business to Southwest City, where he was also post master until Benjamin Harrison appointed his successor. He remained at that place until he took charge of the Circuit Clerk and Recorders office to which he was elected in 1890. He filled the office with great credit and was a candidate for re-election, but went under with the Repub- lican wave that swept this county in 1894. He at once established the bank which he has made a great success. His extensive improvements have given employment to a number of men. His residence is one of the finest and best arranged in the county. He and Miss Lulie Riggs of Saratoga were married Oct. 14, 1880. They have four children living. Mr. and Mrs. Shields are members of the Baptist church, and he is a great Sunday school worker, and has been clerk of the Shoal Creek Association for the last five years. He owns a fine set of ab- stract books and does an extensive Abstract and Real Estate business.
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HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY.
REV. T. A. COFFELT.
REV. THEODORE A. COFFELT, M. D., is the fifth son of Rev. Wyatt Coffelt, who now lives in Bentonville, Ark., aged 85 years. Dr. Coffelt was born on Buffalo, McDonald county Missouri April 10, 1855. He was reared and educated in Benton county Ark. where his father moved to when he was quite young. He studied medicine and attended the Medical Department of the Vanderbilt University at Nashville Tenn. in 1883-84. He began the practice of medicine in Benton county Ark. in April 1884. In Oct. 1885 he was married to Miss Mary C. Clayton, daughter of Rev. J. M. Clayton, a member of the Arkansas Conference. Dr. Coffelt graduated at the Missouri Medical College, St. Louis Mo. March 2nd, 1886. He continued practice in Arkansas until January 1892 when he moved to St. Louis. Here he took a Post graduate course in diseases of the eye and was appointed as an assistant in the Eye Clinic under Dr. Chas. E. Michel in the Polyclinic and Post Graduate School of Medicine. In April 1893 he was licensed to preach as a local minister in the M. E. Church South, and in June 1893 moved
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