USA > Missouri > McDonald County > Illustrated history of McDonald County, Missouri: from the earliest settlement to the present time > Part 14
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to Carthage Mo. where he practiced as a Spe- cialist in eye and ear diseases until Sept. 1895 when he was admitted on trial into South West Mo. Conference held at Webb City Mo. by Bishop Duncan and was appointed to the Pineville Circuit. While at Carthage he was appointed by the Pension Dept. as special examiner for southwest Missouri in eye and ear diseases. He has served this Charge for two years and has been successful in building up the church; has secured 95 into the church, built three good church houses and a beautiful and substantial parsonage during these two years of labor for the church. He has been very successful as a physician and enjoys considerable reputation as an Oculist. As a preacher he is able and earnest, and a great honor to the calling. He has three children two boys and one girl.
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HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY.
J. W. SMITH.
AMONG the prominent and self made young men of our county is John W. Smith, our county school commissioner. He is the son of George W. and Elizabeth Smith, and was born in this county September 24, 1866. His parents moved to Granby about 1874 and remained there three years when they returned to this county. John was educated in the district schools, attended a few months at Pleasant Hope and finished his last school days as a student at Warrensburg Missouri. He has been teaching school for several years and is one of our most accomplished scholars. In the spring of 1895 he was elected county school commissioner, and re-elected in 1897. He is filling the office with credit to himself and satisfication to the people. He is a member of the Christian church and of the Masonic order.
Mr. Smith has had many disadvantages to overcome, but has triumphed over all and is an example of what perseverence, energy and close application will do for a young man.
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F. A. SEARS.
F. A. SEARS was born in McHenry county, Illinois, March 12, 1858. He is a son of Charley and Jane Sears. His parents moved to Iowa in 1861, and five years later came to Jasper county Missouri. Mr. Sears has lived in Mis- souri and Kansas ever since. He obtained a fair education at the district schools, and when quite a young man began work in a mill. He learned the trade at Lowell, Kansas, and for nearly twenty years has followed that business. In May, 1881, he and Miss Mary Ann Scholes of Cherokee county, Kansas, were united in marriage. They have four children, two boys and two girls. Ten years ago he came to this county and most of the time has had charge of the McNatt Mills. He is now in the mercantile business with Woolard & Co. at that place, but has leased the Galbraith Mills at Lanagan where he now lives. Mr. Sears stands well with the people wherever he is known, and his reputation for fair dealing is universal all over Southwest Missouri. His business has been such for the past few years that it was much more difficult for him to fill all of his orders than to find sale for his products.
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GEORGE R. CLAY.
AMONG the young men who have risen to dis- tinction in this county is George R. Clay. He was born at Aurora, Illinois, July 23, 1870, and came with his parents, M. W. and Nancy L. Clay, to Newton county Missouri in 1880. He attended the country school near his home a few years then went to school at Fort Scott, Kansas and Kansas City, Mo., until he received a good education. He then entered the law office of Col. Cloud at Pierce City where he read law until admitted to the barat Neosho in 1892. During the Cherokee payment in 1894 he was in the Indian Territory buying Cherokee war- rants for the Grand Forks, South Dakota Na- tional Bank. In January, 1895, he located at Pineville to practice his profession, and from the first made a phenomenal success. Though young and inexperienced in the practice, he won nearly all his cases and the first year made more money than any other lawyer ever made in this county in the same time. In 1896 he was nominated by the Democratic party for
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Prosecuting Attorney, and endorsed by the Populist. In the election which followed he received a majority over his opponent of 556 votes. Since taking charge of the office he has proven a vigorous prosecutor and is administer- ing his office with credit to the party which elect- ed him. Mr. Clay is a man of brilliant intel- lect and will evidently rise to distinction in his profession.
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HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY.
ANDREW J. MCKINNEY.
FOR many years, one of the most prominent men in the west part of our county, is Dr. A. J. Mckinney, of Tiff City. He was born in Bradley county, Tennessee, May 19, 1853. With his parents, Adaniram and Sarah Mckinney, he moved to Madison county, Missouri, in 1860. His father, who was a soldier in the Southern army, died in 1862. His mother now lives at Tiff City. He received a good education in the public schools of his place, and afterwards graduated from the Missouri Medical College at St. Louis, in 1882. Having studied medicine before entering college, he located at Marquand, in this state where he practiced two years. After graduating, he returned to that place and remained two years more. In 1884 he located at Tiff City, where he soon acquired an extensive and lucrative practice. Being studious and very attentive to his patients, and having a natural talent for his profession, he met with uncommon success. He also established a small drug store, which he has gradually in-
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creased until now he has a large stock of drugs and medicines and also a hardware.
On the 5, day of October, 1881 he was united in marriage with Miss Mary E. Griffin, of Fred- ericktown, Missouri. She died January 20, 1884, leaving two children, Ollie and William H. The Dr. was again married June 2, 1886, to Miss Nellie Chase, a daughter of John R. Chase, now of Seneca. He has always been a Democrat, is a member of the I. O. O. F. and of the Baptist church.
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HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY.
DAN HUCKINS.
MR. HUCKINS was born August 3, 1849, in Iriquois county, Illinois. His youth was spent near Kankakee and Chicago. He obtained a common school education in the district schools and at Elgin, Illinois. In 1867 he was married
to Miss Anna Porter. To them was born a boy, James, who is still living. Mrs. Huckins died several years ago. In 1869 he went to White Cloud, Kansas, and for five years traveled over that state as a photographer. He afterwards located at Craig, Missouri, on the Kansas City, Omaha & Council Bluffs rail road, where he car- ried on a wagon shop. At this place he held the office of city clerk, assessor and collector. In 1879 his establishment was destroyed by the flood. He made a boat in which he rowed out to his shop, secured what tools he could find and then floated down the river to Kansas City. From there he came to Seneca, where he re- maihed two years. In 1881 he located at Tiff City where for the last sixteen years he has kept a wagon shop, been notary public, justice
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of the peace, post master and local attorney. Although the office is one of considerable im- portance, he has held it under both Dem. and Rep. administrations, which speaks well for him as a public man. Some years after coming to this county he was united in marriage with Mrs. Nancy J. Foster, by whom he has three child- ren. He united with the M. E. church, south, in 1887. Is an Odd Fellow, Good Templar, and belongs to the Sons of Temperance, of which order he has been State Deputy. He is also a member of the A. O. U. W., Select Knights and Woodmen of the World.
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HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY.
JUDGE W. E. SMITH.
WILLIAM E. SMITH was born in Lincoln county Kentucky in September 1844, and is a son of John C. Smith of Neosho Missouri. Wm. E. Smith received an education in the common schools of Clay and Marion counties Ill., his family having settled in the former county in 1849, and in the latter in 1854. He came to Missouri in 1867, and located in Newton county where for one year he was engaged in farming, thence in 1868 he removed to Jasper county where he remained engaged in farming and mining until 1872, when he returned to Newton county, and continued farming and stock raising until 1879. He then engaged in the Mercantile business at Thurman that county of which place he was appointed post master on April 16, 1880, continuing in office and business until January 1882, when he removed to Indian Springs Mc- Donald county Mo. There he engaged in merchandise and real estate business, and was elected chairman of the town council. In the fall of 1882 was elected justice of the peace which office he resigned in Dec. 1884, to take charge of the Probate judge's office to which he had been elected the preceding Nov. to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of judge I. N. Shambaugh. In Nov. 1886 he was re-elected
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and in Nov. 1890 he again was re-elected his own successor. In Nov. 1894 he was the Nom- inee of his party for the same office, but was defeated by the heroic efforts of his enemies and combination of two parties, and on the first day of Jan. 1895 he turned the Probate office over after ten years service. In 1893 he purchased the Pineville News and at once changed the name of the paper to the Pineville Democrat which he published until Jan. 1896, when he sold his interest, since which time he has been engaged in the Hotel and Real Estate business and was commissioned Notary Public by Gov. Stone on Dec. 17, 1894. He was married to Harriett A. Smith a daughter of Wm. C. Smith on May 11, 1865 and to them was born seven children: those living are Jerusha E. A., Richard R , Lodosca L. and Edward C. Mrs. Smith died on June 5, 1879, and on February 22, 1883, Mr. Smith married Mrs. Virginia T. Tweedy. Mr. Smith still resides in Pineville and takes a very active part in the politics of the day. He is a member of the Congressional and Senatorial Democratic committies, of which party he is a loyal and able member. He has been a member of our school board much of the · time since his residence here, and takes an active part in all public improvements. He is also an Odd Fellow in which order he is serving his second term as Noble Grand. His ten years experience in the Probate office has given him a thorough knowledge of that business and he is doing the most extensive Probate practice of any lawyer in the county.
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HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY.
H. C. PEPPER.
HENRY C. PEPPER was born in Hart county, Kentucky, August 13, 1851. He grew up on a farm in the state of his birth, where he learned the habits of industry which he still follows closely. He attended Normal school three years at Canmer, Ky., also attended Classical and Mili- tary College at Danville, Ky., and Neophogen College, Gallatin, Tennessee. He studied law at Cumberland University, Lebanon Tennessee, where he graduated in 1879, receiving the degree of L. L. B.
Having thus made a thorough preparation for entering the battle of life, he started out on that all important struggle. Being without means, he began by teaching school which he followed for some time. After coming west he was in Kansas a short time, then in the North part of this state. He located at Pineville in 1882 or 1883, since which time he has confined himself exclusively to the law practice. Being a strong Democrat and good worker in the ranks of the party, he soon came into prominence. In 1886 he was nominated on that ticket and elected prosecuting attorney. At the end of his first term he was again elected. From the
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time of taking charge of that office he rapidly rose in the estimation of our people as a man and as a lawyer, and at the close of his second term ranked among the leading lawyers of this judical circuit. In 1891 he went to Cassville where he is now living. He was soon recognized as the head of the bar in Barry county, and his business extends to all the counties of this judicial circuit, and considerable in other count- ies, besides an extensive practice in the St. Louis Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court. He is always pronounced in upholding right and denouncing wrong, and his influence in our county was such that the entire moral standard was raised. In other words, while public pros- ecutor he sought the influence of and set to work the better element in each community.
He was married to Miss Adrenna Wilson of Pineville, October 5, 1890. They have two chil- dren, Henry W. and Lura D.
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HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY.
HON. JOHN C. LAMSON.
JUDGE LAMSON was born in Jefferson county New York, Nov. 29, 1827. His father, Peter Lamson, was a native of Vermont, but moved to New York when a child. When the subject of this sketch was a small child his parents re- moved to Madison county, Ohio, where they re- sided three years, then went to LaGrange county Indiana. There John C. Lamson was reared on a farm, securing his education at Oberlin Col- lege, from which institution he graduated in 18- 57. He then entered the law department of the University of New York, at Albany, graduating in 1859. During the fall of 1860 he traveled through Texas with a view to locating, but po- litical excitement and animosities prevented. He afterwards traveled through the Central and Western states, and was at Sunrise, Minn., when Fort Sumpter was fired on. Immediately returning to Indiana, he enlisted, April 19, 1861, in the Federal army, but was not received in the three months' call. He, however, remain- ed at Indianapolis, and as soon as the call was made for 75,000 three-year men he enlisted as a private in Company B, Seventeenth, Indiana Infantry. This regiment served on foot until the early part of 1863, after which they served
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HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY.
as mounted infantry until the close of the war. Mr. Lamson was promoted to the position of first lieutenant in the winter of 1861-62, and was discharged as captain. He participated in the battles of Greenbriar, West Virginia, Shiloh, Stone River, Hoover's Gap, Chickamauga, McMinnville, Farmington, and was almost con- tinuously in the field at the front. Mr. Lamson came to Pineville in the winter of 1865, locating permanently in the spring of 1866, since which time he was actively engaged in practicing his profession, until he took charge of his present office, January 1, 1893. On November 13, 1872, he was united in marriage with Lois A. Santley a daughter of Joseph Santley, of Wellington, Ohio. She was born on the Western Reserve, Ohio, in Loraine County. In politics he is a Republican, and in religion is a member of the Congregational Church of Neosho, Mo. In 1870 Mr. Lamson was elected to represent McDonald County in the State Legislature, and has served as prosecuting attorney for one or two terms. In November, 1892, he was elected Judge of this Judicial Circuit, which position he still holds. Asa judge he has gained a reputation for honesty, fairness and judicial ability, and has the friend- ship of all the legal fraternity.
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HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY.
M. N. LAMANCE.
MARCUS N. LAMANCE was born at Saratoga, McDonald county, Missouri, October 16, 1844. He has always lived in this county, and most of his life has been a citizen of Pineville. His father, J. P. LaMance, was a merchant at this place for many years, and served as county treasurer one or two terms, Marcus spent his early days in farming and clerking in a store. During the first years of the war he re- mained at home, and was present when the court house was burnt. . At one time he came near being lynched by some Kansas troops, but was saved by the entreaties of his mother. After this he enlisted in the Confederate army and served two years.
· In 1878 he began the mercantile business here, which he has followed for nearly twenty years. He has made a success, and now occu- pies a handsome two story brick, which is filled with a well selected stock of goods. He is now county treasurer, which office he has held one or two previous terms. He was appointed post master in 1879 and held the position until after the installment of Harrison in 1889. He is a Mason and a member of the Chapter.
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HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY.
MRS. LORA S. LAMANCE
LORA S. NICHOLS was born in Wolcottville, Indiana, April 2, 1857. Her father, Nelson Nich- ols was a native of New York, and her moth- er, Keziah (Waltman), of Pennsylvania. Lora received a liberal education in the States of Minnesota and Ohio, but was compelled to quit school before graduating on account of ill health. She came to Southwest Missouri in 1878. April 14, 1880, she and M. N. LaMance of Pineville were united in marriage. They have one child Lora, who is now attending college at Neosho. They have an elegant home, and for many years the beautiful plants and flowers have been an object of attraction to all our people.
Mrs. LaMance early developed talent as an authoress, but did not begin writing for the press until 1888. Her natural taste for flowers, and the "beautiful in life" inspired her pen and her literary productions soon gained notoriety. Besides fugitive pieces she has written three horticultural books "House Plants, " "Beautiful Home Surroundings," and "Insects." Twenty thousand copies of one of these books were sold in a year's time. She was offered the editorship of two floral journals, one of which is the leading journal of the world. As Mr. LaMance's health
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was too delicate to make a change to a severer climate, she rejected the offer. Shehasaletter from the literary editor of the Kansas City Star commending in very high terms an article of hers he chanced to read in an exchange.
She is a constant temperance worker, having taken the lead in that work in this county for several years past. Much of her work has been done through the W. C. T. U., of which she is county president, and her efforts have produced a decided change in public opinion on that question. She is in favor of Woman's Suffrage, and is a member of the Congregational church.
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HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY.
DR. J. E. EDELEN.
JOHNSON E. EDELEN, son of Joseph B. and Agnes O. Edelen, was born in Washington City, D. C., November 15, 1848. He attended school at Georgetown college and afterwards gradua- ted at the Cecilian College, Hardin county, Ken- tucky. He read medicine in his father's office some four years after which he graduated in the medical department of the University at Louisville, Kentucky, at which place his father had located after the war.
In 1871 the doctor went to Fort Smith, Ar- kansas, where he remained about a year. He then went back to Louisville and remained un- til after his father's death, and then located a few years at Bardstown, Ky. He then went to Colorado on account of his health, and remain- ed about four years. He came to Pineville in 1886, since which time he has been practicing medicine and operating a drug store. He was married July 20, 1871 to Miss Mattie B. Carroll, of Arkansas, a grand niece of Charles Carroll of Carrollton, who signed the Declaration of Independence. His mother was a niece of the distinguished Rev. Abercrombie of Philadelphia. They have two children living Joseph and Katie. He has twice been elected coroner of this county by a large majority over a popular opponent and filled the office with great credit.
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HON. W. C. PRICE.
WILLIAM C. PRICE was born in Jackson county Tennessee, March 11, 1821. His father, Camp- bell Price, was a native of South Carolina, who removed his family to Benton, then Washington County, Ark., in 1829. Thence he removed to Bowers Mill, in what is now Lawrence County Mo., late in 1833. The next year he went to Newton County, coming to McDonald County in 1835. He entered government land and settled on Boffalo creek where the subject of this sketch now resides. It was here that he reared his family and passed the remainder of his days. Hon. William C. Price grew to man- hood at the home of his parents, assisting in the work of the farm. He can remember when wild animals were very plentiful in the region of his home, and Indians often hunted up and down the valleys. On February 1, 1844, Mr. Price was united in marriage with Clarinda, a daughter of James F. Beeman, and to them were born twelve children. Politically he is a Democrat, and his party has favored him with several important offices. For four years he served as sheriff of the county, and represented the same in the State Legislature from 1873 to
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1877. For six years he served as superintendent of the United States Flouring Mills in the Seneca Nation, Indian Territory. During the Civil War he sympathized with the South and served in the Confederate army as a member of Captain Parks' Company H, Second Cherokee Regiment, with which he participated in the battles of Fort Gibson and Armstrong Ford. He was one of the leaders of his party for many years and served as chairman of the county com- mittee several terms. He is now living out his old days in peace and plenty at the old home where he grew to manhood.
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HISTORY OF MCDONALD COUNTY.
A. TABLER.
ASA TABLER was born in McDonough county, Illinois in 1849. He was a son of Thomas H. and Louisa Tabler. He grew up to manhood near the place of his birth but, like so many other young men concluded to "go west and grow up with the country." Asa doesn't say whether he had been reading Horace Greely, or just took his advice from his own personal inclination and ideas. Be this as it may he came west and the first point he struck was Fort Smith, Arkansas. He remained there but a short time, then went to Fayettville, Arkansas, where he remained about a year. He then went to Linn county this state where he remained some eight or nine years. After this his thoughts wandered back to Arkansaw, and he went back to that state. This time he stopped at Bentonville where he remained a short time, but failed to find a suitable investment for his means. After looking around for some time he located at Southwest City, about 1886, where for the last eleven years he has been one of the leading business men of that place. His occu- pation most of the time has been keeping Hotel and Livery stable. His estimable wife is pro-
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ficient in the former business and they are both of such a friendly disposition that every one is made to feel welcome and fed on the best that can be found in the market.
His livery is one of the best in this county and he has the name of taking the best of care of horses put up at his stable. You need never look to see that they are properly fed and watered. He has lately completed a handsome building on Main street which they expect to occupy when their present lease expires. In 1879 he and Miss Mattie Sharp of Bentonville, Ark., were married; they have no children.
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JOSEPH W. KELLY.
THE subject of this sketch was born in Kos- ciusko county, Indiana, three miles South of the city of Warsaw. Like nearly all country boys he had to depend on the district school for an education, going to such school during the winter months only. He lived and worked on the farm until June, 1862, when he went into the United States army, being a member of Co., "K" 74th. Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He served with his company to the close of the war, participating in the battles of Green River, Mumfordsville, Kentucky, Hoovers Gap, Tenn, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge and the battles and skirmishes of the Great Atlanta campaign, and marched with Sherman to the sea. After the war he went to Iowa, then to the far northwest where he participated in several skirmishes with others fighting hostile Indians. After several years in the mountains and on the plains he returned to Indiana, re- maining there for a few years, then back Iowa. and then to McDonald county, Missouri, in April, 1893. With J. H. Qualls he established the Anderson Messenger in June, 1893, and in November, 1893, disposed of his interest to Mr. Qualls; on December 1st of the same year assu- med charge of the Pineville Democrat for W.
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E. Smith & Co., who had just purchased the office. He remained with Smith & Co., two years and then with F. A. Freeze, who had be- come interested in the office, until August, 1896, when he assumed control of the paper by purchase and lease and is still its editor and publisher. Under his management the paper has steadily increased in circulation and influence and is regarded with favor and confidence by its party and adherents as well as the people at large. He is a free silver Democrat all the time and under all circumstances.
July 2, 1893, he was married to Miss Kate L. Neff of Pineville. To this union has been born one daughter Miss Viola M. Kelley, a bright little Miss of three Summers. Mr. Kelly came to McDonald county on account of poor health, and the result is that our fine climate and pure water made a comparatively well man of him, and he now thinks this the county of all commu- nities for the poor in health as well as poor in purse.
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