USA > Missouri > Greene County > Past and present of Greene County Missouri, early and recent history and genealogical records of many of the representative citizens, Volume I > Part 100
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have been the defenders of civil liberty against tyranny and oppression. All the reforms for freedom and equality have been carried forward by them as leaders .. It has ever been their mission to promote and maintain right and justice among men. No higher object in human life than this can animate the patriot and philanthropist. One of the worthiest representatives of this class of professional men in Greene county is Judge Charles B. McAfee, for- merly judge of the criminal court, and for a period of sixty years a leader of the bar, now living in retirement, and although he has witnessed the snows of eighty-six winters, is hale and hearty, with keen intellectual faculties, and is entitled to the sobriquet of his professional brethren here as "the grand old man of the law."
Judge McAfee was born in Lexington, Kentucky, March 28, 1829. He is a scion of a sterling old Southern family, and a son of Robert and Martha J. (Kavanaugh) McAfee, natives of Kentucky and Virginia, respectively. The father was a frontiersman, a great hunter and brave pioneer, who carved a comfortable home from the wilderness. Soon after our subject was born these parents removed to Macon county, Missouri, locating near Palmyra in 1829, but in a short time went on to Shelby county and there Robert Mc- Afee spent the rest of his life, dying about 1870, his widow surviving some ten years, dying about 1880. Their family consisted of eight children, only two of whom are now living, Charles B., of this sketch, and Mrs. Eliza- beth A. Worley, of near Kansas City, Kansas.
Charles B. McAfee spent his boyhood in Shelby county, this state, leav- ing home when sixteen years old, but returned in a few months and left the parental rooftree again when seventeen years old, and went to Hannibal, where he had worked for an uncle in a packing house. Later he engaged at making wheat fans for five dollars per month and board. The shop in which he was employed was removed to Chariton county, Missouri, and young Mc- Afee continued to work in the same, his wages having been increased to twelve dollars per month, and the third year he received twenty-five dollars per month. After a visit at home he returned to the same employment and was given fifty dollars per month. After working another year he went to Henry county, this state, to which the shop had been moved, but there the firm dissolved. Our subject had become a partner in the firm and remained in the manufacturing business until shortly before the commencement of the Civil war. However, he had been studying law all the while during his spare moments from the age of seventeen years, and had begun to practice some in 1850, six months before he was twenty-one years old. He opened his first office at Cainsville, Harrison county, in 1860. He also engaged in the fur business, employing some twenty-five trappers and collectors of pelts. When the war broke out he lost his money and horses and other property, but later was reimbursed. He proved his patriotism by raising a company
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of one hundred men and entering the Federal army, in which he fought gal- lantly for three years as captain, and for meritorious conduct was promoted to the rank of major at the close of his term of enlistment. He was first with Neville's Battalion and later in the Third Missouri State Militia, one of the ten regiments authorized by Congress. The regiment was disbanded at Springfield and the field officers were mustered out, whereupon Major Mlc- Vice entered the Seventh Missouri Volunteer Infantry, with which he re- mained until the close of the war, receiving a commission in the veteran service when the war was practically over. He proved to be a most able and faithful officer and defender of the Union.
Immediately after the close of the war, Judge Mc. Afee formed a part- nership with John S. Phelps, who previous to the war had served sixteen years as a member of Congress from this district. The law firm soon be- came famous, and had business in nearly all the counties south of the Mis- souri river. In 1868 Judge Mcfee made the race for Congress as a Demo- crat in the face of the hopeless outlook. It took nerve to make a Democratic speech in some localities, and men are yet living who saw the Judge pro- claim Democratic doctrines with a revolver lying on the table before him. He was defeated by S. H. Boyd, who was his Republican opponent in that race. In 1872 he again made the race against Harrison E. Havens, but was defeated only by a narrow margin.
At about this time the late Benjamin U. Massey entered the law firm of Mc. Afee & Phelps as a law clerk, and was later admitted to the bar. O. H. Travers, now a practicing attorney in Springfield, also had his legal training there, as was true of P. H. Simmons and other lawyers of note in the South- west. Judge Moore, now a judge at Paris, Texas, was a student in Judge McAfee's office. In 1875 Judge Mc. Afee was elected to represent the dis- trict in the constitutional convention, and with the exception of one or two now living, is the only survivor of the body that formulated the present con- stitution of Missouri. In 1876 John S. Phelps was elected Governor of Mis- souri, and after serving his four-year term retired from the law firm.
In those days Judge Mc.Afee was among the foremost Democrats of the state, and was a leader in the regime to which belonged John T. Philips, T. T. Crittendon. David Armstrong, Joseph Pulitzer (later the owner of the New York World). James O. Broadhead. Martin J. Clardy, John O'Day, Thomas H. Sherwood and other noted men. In his law office, where now stands the Landers building, were held many state pow-wows of Democratic politicians.
In 1879 Judge McAfee was employed by George H. Nettleton as the attorney for the Kansas City, Fort Scott & Gulf and Kansas City, Spring- field & Memphis Railroads, now absorbed by the Frisco. He had charge of all litigation of these companies in Missouri, and retained the position until 1891, when he retired from the active practice of the law following a par-
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tial paralysis which occurred in April of that year. He soon recovered from that, however, but never re-engaged in the practice.
In 1896, and at the request of the Democratic leaders, he made the race for judge of the criminal court of Greene county, and defeated James J. Gideon. The judge's term of office will long be remembered. His charge to the grand jury when he took up his duties in 1897 is regarded as a phil- lipic and attracted attention throughout the state. His terms of court were brief. Court opened at 8 o'clock, and, if necessary, night sessions were held and business expedited as it had never been before. His chief aim was to hold the court at the least expense to the state, and to do this he held down the number of witnesses to the minimum. In this way many witnesses were summoned to court who, because they were not necessary, were not permit- ted to testify and collect witness fees. The practice discouraged the airing of neighborhood quarrels in court, and in this way saved the county many thousands of dollars. At the succeeding election disappointed witnesses were so numerous that their votes defeated Judge McAfee, who refused to make apology for administering the law strictly to the letter.
Since he retired from the bench, Judge Mc.Afee has lived quietly at 604 Dollison street, his home since 1868. When he first moved there it was a fifty-acre tract. As the town grew, Judge McAfee gave to the city Dollison street, Cherry street from Dollison to the Boulevard, and the Boulevard it- self for half a mile was given by him to the United States. At this, time the whole tract, excepting what the Judge has reserved for his home place- about twelve acres-is built up in beautiful homes.
Judge McAfee was identified with nearly all of the larger interests founded in Springfield. He organized the Greene County National Bank in the early seventies. The original subscription list signed by Henry Sheppard. Charles Sheppard. W. J. McDaniel, L. A. D. Crenshaw and C. B. McAfee, is now in the possession of the Union National Bank. The instrument was made before the days of typewriting, and is in Judge McAfee's handwriting.
He was one of the organizers of the Springfield Cotton Factory, the Springfield Iron Foundry, the Springfield Wagon Company, the Metropoli- tan Hotel and the Springfield Traction Company. He was president of the Springfield Driving Park Association, and the Springfield & Southwestern Fair Association. The fair grounds occupied the eighty-acre tract now occupied by the State Normal School, and the residence district now known as the Driv- ing Park Addition.
Judge McAfee was many times a delegate to the various national Demo- cratic conventions, and was Missouri's delegate to the celebration in New York of the Centennial Celebration of the Inauguration of George Wash- ington, and through the administrations of Governors Dockery, Folk and Hadley was the president of the Mountain Grove State Experimental Station.
GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
At this time Judge Me Mee's family remains intact. His wife, Mattie E. Me Vice ( nee Ritchey ), and his sons, Ernest C., John R., Charles B., Jus- 1111 J. and Robert B., are all living in Springfield, except Justin J., who is a resident of Joplin.
Since he became twenty-one years of age Judge Mc. Afee has been a Mason, and has been a Knight Templar for half a century. He was one of the charter members of Ararat Temple, Order of the Mystic Shrine, at Kan- sas City, the first Shrine in Missouri.
Judge Me Afce, until very recently, has been an enthusiastic fisherman, and since 1887 has made frequent pilgrimages each year to Current river, where is situated the Carter County Fishing and Hunting Club House. He is a former president of that club, and designed the present clubhouse in 1887. He is a great naturalist, and his declining years find him busy breed- ing his gold fish in the lawn fountain at his home, and experimenting with early berries and vegetables in his garden. Surely he bears his advancing years with wonderful and becoming grace.
J. B. ROSS.
The character of a community is determined in a large measure by the lives of a comparatively few of its members. If its moral and intellectual status be good, if in a social way it is a good place in which to reside, if its reputation for the integrity of its citizens has extended into other localities, it will be found that the standards set by the leading men have been high and their influence such as to mold their characters and shape the lives of those with whom they mingle. In placing J. B. Ross in the front rank of such men, justice is rendered a biographical fact recognized throughout Greene county by the scores who have come in contact with him during his residence here of more than three decades. Although a quiet and unassum- ing man with no ambition for public position or leadership, he has contrib- uted and still contributes much to the general welfare of his chosen city and county, while his admirable qualities of head and heart and the straightfor- ward. upright course of his daily life have tendered greatly to the substantial standing of the circles in which he moves and given him a reputation for in- tegrity and correct conduct such as few achieve.
Mr. Ross was born on a farm lying along the Ohio river, in Harrison county. Indiana, not far from the city of New Albany, March 9. 1851. He is a son of Jesse and Jane (Overton) Ross. The father was born in the same community the same year in which Abraham Lincoln was born, and in
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his earlier life was a steamboat man on the Ohio river in the days when our chief transportation was by river. In his later years he took up land in Harrison county, Indiana, and devoted the latter part of his life successfully to farming, but eventually removed to Missouri, where his death occurred. His wife was also born in. Kentucky and was reared there; her death also occurred in Missouri. They were a sterling pioneer couple, rugged, ener- getic. hospitable and honest. To these parents eight children were born, namely: William, the eldest, is deceased; Mrs. Mary J. Fox lives in In- diana ; George is deceased : Henry is deceased : Ezekiel lives in Indiana ; Ber- nard lives in Illinois; J. B., of this sketch, and Sally, who lives in Spring- field, Missouri.
J. B. Ross grew to manhood on the home farm in Indiana and there he assisted with the general work when a boy, developing a fine physique and strength of body and mind which has been a great asset to him in his sub- sequent career. His early education was obtained in the common schools, later by a course in Holbrook Normal at Lebanon, Ohio; but he has re- mained a student all his life and is a widely informed and well advised man on all questions and topics of moment and current interest, especially in po- litical and national affairs. He began life for himself by teaching school, which he followed for some time in his native county. In 1872 he went to Helena, Arkansas, and engaged successfully in the mercantile business for a period of fifteen years. He came to Springfield, Missouri, in 1886, ar- riving here on November 23. Soon thereafter he engaged in the real estate business, then was interested in mining at Aurora, this state, a few years, making a success of each venture. All the while he has been actively in- terested in local public affairs, being loyal in his support of the Republican party, and during the administration of President Roosevelt he was ap- pointed postmaster at Springfield. 1902 to 1910, and very ably and suc- cessfully discharged the duties of the same until his term expired. proving to be one of the best incumbents of this office the city has ever had. giving satisfaction to both the people and the department. In 1910 Mr. Ross opened a book store at 320 College street, which he has conducted to the present time. He carries a well selected stock of everything commonly found in modern book stores and is doing a very satisfactory business.
Mr. Ross was married in Arkansas, in 1877, to Sophia Roberts, a lady of many estimable qualities, whose death occurred in that state before our subject removed to Springfield. She left two daughters, Elizabeth and Nel- lie. They have both been well educated and are popular with the best social circles in Springfield.
Mr. Ross is a member of the Royal Arcanum and the Springfield Club .. Personally, he is a pleasant gentleman to meet, obliging and companionable.
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JAMES WATSON.
Success comes to the deserving after all, though it seems sometimes that this is not the case. The man who puts forth the proper effort long enough and hard enough will achieve just about what he set out to achieve. This fact was realized early in life by James Watson, another of the sterling Tennesseeans who have cast their lot in Greene county, and by so doing have benefited alike themselves and us. He has now passed his three score and ten years' limit of the Psalmist, and is living in retirement in his home in Republic, after a long and successful career as a general farmer and stockman. His life record has been especially characterized by the most absolute integrity of word and action, which has gained for him the unquali- fied respect of the entire community. Added to this is a spirit of good fel- lowship and geniality which has brought to him a large circle of warm friends.
Mr. Watson was born in Monroe county, Tennessee, September 2. 1842. Fle is a son of Thomas and Bersheba ( McCray) Watson, and was one of ten children, eight of whom survive.
The father of these children was born in Tennessee and there grew up and married and engaged in farming until the year 1844 when he removed with his family to Greene county, Missouri, and he spent the rest of his life on farms in this and Lawrence counties, dying about 1863. He served six months in the Confederate army during the Civil war, when he was killed in Arkansas, being assassinated by his own comrades, he having attempted to escape further service in the army. The mother of our subject was born in Tennessee in 1820 and there resided until removing with her husband and children to Missouri. She spent the latter years of her life in Greene county, dying here in 1900 at the advanced age of eighty years. She was a woman of heroic mettle and after the death of her husband returned from Arkansas to the farm in this county and reared her small children in comfort and respectability, and gave them such educations as could be obtained in that day in the country schools.
James Watson grew to manhood on the home farm in Greene county. having been but two years old when his parents brough him here from Tennessee, and he worked hard when a boy assisting his mother in making a living. He received his education in the district schools. In the carly part of the war between the states he enlisted in 1862 in the Eighth Missouri Cavalry. in which he served three years in the Union army and saw consider- able hard service, taking part in many of the campaigns and battles of that noted regiment. He was incapacitated for some time as a result of sun- stroke, but was retained for active service until honorably discharged in .August, 1865.
MIR. AND MRS. JAMES WATSON.
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GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
After returning home from the war Mr. Watson resumed farming which he continued in Greene and Christian counties in an eminently satisfactory manner, becoming owner of valuable and productive farming lands, which he brought up to a high state of improvement and cultivation and on which he carried on general farming and stock raising on a large scale up to a few years ago, when he retired from the active duties of life and is now living retired, surrounded by all the comforts necessary to happiness in old age, as a result of his earlier years of activity.
Mr. Watson was twice married, first, in 1861, to Martha Ann Brashears. a daughter of Walter Brashears and wife. She was a native of Tennessee. She survived twenty-eight years after her marriage, her death occurring in 1889. In the year 1893 Mr. Watson married for his second wife, Louisa Balcom, a daughter of John and Amanda ( Swadey) Balcom. She was born in 1844, in Greene county. She was the mother of five children by a former marriage, two girls. three boys, namely : Alice, born in 1874, now Mrs. Alice Cantrell: Charles, born 1878; James Thomas, born 1881: John Lawrence, born 1884: Mary Ellen, now Mrs. Fred Keltner, of Springfield.
Mr. Watson's second union has been without issue, but he is the father of twelve children by his first wife. five of whom are now living, namely : William, of Goodland, Kansas: Robert, of southern Missouri: John. of Republic township: Mary, now Mrs. C. O'Neil. of Oklahoma : Malinda. now Mrs. William Garroutte, lives in Missouri.
Politically. Mr. Watson is a Republican. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, Post 219. at Republic, in which he has carried the flag for the past thirty years, and has been active in the work of the same. He belongs to the Christian church. Mr. Watson was justice of the peace for twelve consecutive years and served on the school board for thirty years.
KIRK HAWKINS.
While yet a young man Kirk Hawkins, lawyer of Springfield and state senator, has won a brilliant reputation in one of the most exacting of pro- fessions and as a public servant, and he presents to the people of this sena- torial district a record of which any man might well boast and an ambition and energy worthy of the highest emulation. He has built himself up by the sheer force of his character and his unswerving honesty of purpose. He has been thoroughly tried as a legislator and has won the best regards of his constituency while in that capacity, and, judging from his past achievements, the future must necessarily be replete with larger success and higher honors.
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GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI
Mr. Hawkins was born at Ash Grove, Greene county, Missouri, July 19. ISSO. He is a son of B. F. and Alice ( Kirkpatrick) Hawkins. His an- cestors emigrated from Virginia and North Carolina, by way of Tennessee, the family eventually establishing their home in Greene county, Missouri. llis paternal grandmother, Elizabeth Littleberry Burnett, lived with her par- ents at their homestead near Ashiville, overlooking the beautiful French Broad river, whose acres now form a part of the famed Vanderbilt estate- Biltmore, the old home having been torn away to make room for one of the most beautiful country residences in America. Her family being in com- fortable circumstances, the brothers were tutored in Latin. Greck and mathe- maties at an early age, and were later prepared for the ministry and other professions But following the customs of the times it was considered unnecessary to educate the girls and little Elizabeth was expected to pick up what knowledge she could from listening to her brothers recite and by associating with her elders until she was sent to a girls' seminary near Knox- ville, Tennessee. It was while attending school there that she met the grand- father of the subject of this sketch. A tall, gray-eyed, sober-minded youth. apprenticed to a tailor was this William Pemberton Hawkins. His parents were either dead or in poor circumstances. Miss Burnett who was just the opposite type-small, dark of hair and eyes, vivacious and very attractive- gave up her comfortable home and plighted her troth with the young tailor, and moved with him to the wild and hilly regions of southwest Missouri. The grandfather traveled around for some time selling goods to the Indians, and finally established a store at Stockton, Cedar county. During the latter fifties they located in Ash Grove. Greene county. Although our subject's grandmother reared a large family and endured the hardships of pioneer life and border warfare, she became quite a student of the classics, especially Shakespeare. The Bible was so familiar to her that she was able to quote at length chapter after chapter. This worthy old pioneer couple spent the re- maining years of their lives at Ash Grove. Their youngest son was B. F. Hawkins, father of our subject.
He grew to manhood at Ash Grove, where he was born in 1859, and there attended the public schools, later spent a term in Morrisville College, in Polk county, and prepared to enter medical college in St. Louis, but gave up the idea. About this time he married Alice Kirkpatrick, a native of Tennessee, who came to Ash Grove when young in years. To their union three children were born. namely: Kirk, of this review; Maud, who has re- mained at home with her parents: and Norris, who died in childhood.
The grandparents of our subject lived with their son. B. F. Hawkins. until their death, which occurred when Kirk was twelve years of age, and he is indebted to his grandmother for his early education. She had unlimited patience and took a great deal of interest in teaching the children. As a
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result of her skill and perseverance, and through his eagerness to learn, she had succeeded in teaching him to repeat the letters of the alphabet and to count when only a little more than two years of age. B. F. Hawkins and wife are still living in Ash Grove. where he is a successful merchant and a leading citizen.
When he became of proper age, Kirk Hawkins was sent to the public schools of his native town, between the ages of six and thirteen years. Later he attended the old Ash Grove College two years, then by virtue of financial sacrifice and self-denial on the part of his father and mother, the youth entered Drury College at the age of fifteen. He was there four years. com- pleting the sophomore year in the college. He then entered the law depart- ment of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, where he made an ex- cellent record and from which institution he was graduated in 1902 with the degree of Bachelor of Laws, and three days later he was admitted to the bar of the supreme court of Michigan. Returning to Ash Grove for a short visit, he intended to start to Texas to locate, but being without funds he re- mained at home and was later elected justice of the peace on the Demo- rcatic ticket, fall of 1902. although the township was normally Republican by about one hundred votes. He was the youngest justice of the peace in the state. About this time he was elected to succeed Alfred Page as prin- cipal of the Ash Grove schools. For the next three years he was very busy, being principal of the schools, justice of the peace, manager of the opera house and attorney-at-law. Mr. Page later became judge of the circuit court. He began his career as a lawyer about the same time as did Mr. Hawkins and he tried his first case before the latter as justice of the peace. At the end of three years young Hawkins, feeling that he had accumulated enough capital to justify him to go to Texas as he had originally planned. called ou C. W. Hamlin, congressman from this district, for the purpose of securing a letter of introduction to certain members of Congress in Texas, but Mr. Hamlin offered him a law partnership. which seemed better than taking a chance in a strange country, so he located in Springfield and soon the law firm of Hamlin & Hawkins was established, which continued successfully for four years. Then Mr. Hamlin gave up the practice in order to devote his entire time to Congressional matters. Subsequently our subject was engaged in the practice of law with Judge T. J. Murray. He now occupies offices in the Woodruff building and has been most successful as a lawyer and has a large clientage.
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