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 79
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Throughout the history of the Missouri Federation of Women's Clubs, Mrs. Shepard has been identified with the executive board of that organi- zation, and especially in sympathy with the various forms of altruistic work carried on by that progressive, yet sanely conservative body. First as one of its directors, then as chairman of its department of education, vice-presi- dent-at-large, and finally as president of the organization for four years, she has found much satisfaction in working with club women in all parts of the state. It was during her administration as president that the educational fund through which the State Federation aids deserving young women was established, and through her efforts that the prompt co-operation of indivi- dual clubs caused Missouri to be one of the first states to raise its apportion- ment of the General Federation Endowment Fund of $100,000. She is a member of the Ozark Branch of the Association of Collegiate Alumnae, in which she served as counsellor from 1908 to 1915; president, ibid. 1915;
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A. C. A. School Patroness for Missouri of the National Education Asso- ciation, 1908-10: delegate by governor's appointment to American Civic As- sociation, 1910: member executive committee Missouri Conservation Asso- ciation 1911 ; member board of managers Public Library, Springfield, Mis- souri ; delegate to National Conservation Congress. 1911 ; member of Mis- souri Ex Club : P. E. O. organization, Springfield Ladies Saturday Club and honorary member of Springfield Sorosis.
CHARLES H. McHAFFIE, M. D.
The humanizing influences of Christianity are shown in thousands of directions, but in none to a more marked degree than that of medicine, and although there are pretenders and incompetents in every profession who, for a time, may seem to succeed as well as those more worthy, if not, indeed, overshadow them, they eventually reach their level and the deserving are then shown in their true light. Of the younger element of Greene county's energetic and promising physicians is Dr. Charles H. McHaffie. of Spring- field, for during the years that he has practiced his profession he has shown that he is endowed with superior ability and his comprehensive knowledge of materia medica, together with the soundness of his judgment, secured him almost immediate recognition among his professional brethren.
Doctor McHaffie was born in Christian county. Missouri. September 21, 1879. He is a son of Marion and Mary I. (Miller) McHaffie. The father was born in Tennessee in February, 1845, and he grew up in Christian county, Missouri. He began life as a farmer, and continued general farming until his death, which occurred on December 21, 1897. The parents of the mother of our subject died when she was very young, and she was reared by her uncle, Solomon Miller. She is still living on the homestead in Chris- tian county with her youngest son, Marion A. Besides our subject, Dr. Charles H., there are also three other sons, Oliver Newton, James D. and Marion A.
John McHaffie, the paternal grandfather of our subject, was a native of Tennessee, where his parents were among the earliest settlers, and there he grew up, married and devoted his life to farming and other business. The date of his birth was 1818, and he died in Christian county, Missouri, on June 6, 1876. He was of Scotch and Irish ancestry.
Dr. Charles H. McHaffie grew to manhood on his father's farm and there assisted with the general work when a boy, and during the winter months he attended the district schools of Christian county. When but a boy he determined on the medical profession and began bending every effort
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in that direction, and entered, when twenty-two years old. Ensworth Medical College, at St. Joseph, Missouri, where he made a very satisfactory record and from which institution he was graduated with the class of April 21, 1906. Soon thereafter he began the practice of his profession at Cross Tim- bers, Hickory county, Missouri, remaining there from the spring of 1906 until AAugust 5. 1907. enjoying a very encouraging general practice. He then located at Rogersville, Webster county, where he practiced with his former success until April 4, 1914. removing to Springfield at that time, and after a year's stay he has proven to be not only a capable physician but also a man of upright principles and is building up a lucrative practice, main- taining an office at 400 West Commercial street, where he intends to remain permanently.
Doctor McHaffie was married December 15, 1897, to Myrtle Phillips, a daughter of Pleasant R. Phillips, a farmer of Christian county, where she was reared and educated. Three children have been born to our subject and wife, all of whom died in infancy.
Politically, Doctor Mellaffie is a Republican in principle but is inclined to vote independently. He is a member of the Christian church. He be- longs to the Masonic order, the Woodmen of the World and the American Yeomen. He also holds membership with the Greene County Medical Society, the Southwest Missouri Medical Society, the Missouri State Medical Association and the American Medical Association. He makes every effort to keep fully up-to-date in his profession.
NORRIS W. FELLOWS.
In presenting the following brief sketch of Norris W. Fellows, now living retired from the active duties of life in his pleasant home on St. Louis street, Springfield, Missouri, we find that the battle of life has been well fought by this enterprising, self-made man. That he is endowed with financial abilities of no mean order must be admitted, yet there is added to this an honest determination of purpose and an obliging disposition, which has impelled him to help others while he was making a path to prosperity for himself. From an early age his desire has been to earn every cent needed in the prosecution of his business. He has always lived up to his principle ; and now that old age has set her silvery seal upon his head, he having seen the winters of more than three-quarters of a century, with the ambition to accumulate not so strong upon him as in his earlier years, no longer being a necessity, free from embarrassing debts and with unencumbered property, he stands among the financially strong men of Greene county, in which he first
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N. W. FELLOWS.
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located more than half a century ago. Springfield presents quite a difference in appearance now to what it did then, and no one has witnessed its steady development with any more pleasure than our subject.
Mr. Fellows, formerly a well-known wagon manufacturer, was born in Wellsboro, Pennsylvania, October 21, 1837. He is a son of Erastus and Betsey (Cole) Fellows, the father born in Connecticut in 1800, died in 1886; the mother was born in Otsego, New York, in 1801, and her death occurred in 1888, both having reached advanced ages. Erastus Fellows grew up amid the primitive conditions of the East and he had very little opportunity to obtain an education. He left home when twelve years of age and went to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he found employment with a dairy company, with which he remained two years, then came to Tioga county, Pennsylvania, and there took up government land which he developed. He devoted his life principally to farming, also ran a "temperance hotel.", Politically he was first a Whig, later a Republican. His father, John Fel- lows, after the War of 1812, moved with his family to Tioga county, Penn- sylvania, locating on the same tract of land which his son, Erastus entered from the government. The mother of the subject of this sketch was a daughter of Royal Cole, who was a soldier both in the Revolutionary war and the War of 1812. Erastus Fellows and wife both spent the rest of their lives in Pennsylvania and died there. Their family consisted of four children, all now deceased but our subject; Rachel, Homer, Norris W., and Mary. The mother of the above named children was twice married and had two children by her first husband, Moses Johnson, these children being named Elmira and Newton.
Norris W. Fellows worked on the home farm in Tioga county, Penn- sylvania, when a young man and he received such educational advantages as the early day schools afforded. He left that state in 1860 and came to Springfield, Missouri, and during the Civil war was in the quartermaster's department here under Captain Grimes, and was in the state militia service a while at Rolla, serving as lieutenant. After his services for the Union he engaged in the mercantile business at Rolla with A. C. McGinty & Company, remaining there about three years as a member of this firm, the name then being changed to Fellows, McGinty & Company, which continued thus for about two years, enjoying a good business with the surrounding country. Mr. Fellows then went to Arkville, Missouri, where he continued in the mercantile business until 1869, with his usual success; then returned to Pennsylvania and spent six years on the old home place, which he purchased and on which he carried on general farming. Returning to Springfield. Missouri, in 1876, he and his brother, H. F., went into the wagon manu- facturing business, which at that time was reorganized from the Springfield
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Manufacturing Company to the name of the Springfield Wagon Company, with a capital stock of twenty-five thousand dollars, succeeding it with Norris W. Fellows as vice-president, his brother, Col. II. F. Fellows, being president. After the latter's death in 1894 our subject succeeded to the presidency, which position he retained until in December, 1896, then sold out, and has since been retired from active business, spending his time look- ing after his personal property. The Springfield Wagon Company has been one of the leading manufacturing institutions in this city for over a quarter of a century and its large success has been due in no small measure to the able management and keen business acumen of the subject of this sketch. He has been very successful in a business way, being a man of sound judg- ment. wise foresight and close application. He has made honesty and straightforward dealings with his fellowmen his aim and has consequently always enjoyed the good will and respect of those with whom he has come in contact.
Mr. Fellows was married, February 4. 1869. to Harriet M. Duncan, a native of Franklin. New Jersey, and a daughter of Sebasten and Harriet M. (Ford ) Duncan. Mr. Duncan was a woolen manufacturer. Mrs. Fel- lows grew to womanhood in the East and received a good education, and she taught school with success until 1868, when she left the Atlantic coast country and came to Missouri.
Eight children have been born to Norris W. Fellows and wife, six of whom are living, namely : William H. is superintendent of an electric light and gas company at Leavenworth, Kansas: Helen is the wife of Capt. J. J. Maze and lives in Washington, where he is First Assistant Adjutant Gen- eral. United States Army: Susie, a twin of Helen, is single and is assistant librarian in the public library in Springfield; Robert M. lives at Harrison, Arkansas, where he has charge of his father's interests; Norris L. is a travel- ing salesman for the Springfield Wagon Company: Duncan is deceased ; Harry and Harriet, twins, the former deceased, the latter living at home.
Politically Mr. Fellows is a Republican and has been influential in local party affairs for many years. He served on the local school board several times, also as a member of the city council. He was a member of the build- ing committee when the present magnificent high school was built in Spring- field, the other members of the committee having been John McGregor, W. C. Booth. Newton Rountree. W. A. Reed and Silas Eversoll. Mr. Fel- lows was chairman of this board. Fraternally he is a member of the Knights and Ladies of Honor and the Woodmen. Religiously he is a mem- ber of the Presbyterian church, in which he was treasurer and a trustee for several years. He is plain and unassuming in manner, charitable and oblig- ing, and by reason of his noble character is frequently sought as coun- selor and friend.
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JOHN THOMAS KNOWLES, M. D.
Although death is natural and inevitable to all that is mortal, it comes among our friends and invades our homes before we are ever ready. He comes-the Grim Reaper-unbidden, and with no decorum crosses our threshold and removes those we have loved and who have loved us, leaving in his wake only desolation and sorrow, an ache in the heart that Time, even, cannot wholly soothe. Why the human heart was not made to look with more tolerance upon the ravages of the so-called King of Terrors, we can not say, we do not know; for "seeing that death, a necessary end, will come when it will come" as wrote the greatest of poets, it would seem that we could regard it rather as the friend of storm-tossed humanity than as an enemy. But there are things not given mortal mind to understand. Death is particularly sad when it knocks at the door of the young, promising and useful, as it did when it took from our midst Dr. John Thomas Knowles. one of the leading younger physicians of Springfield, and a man who had much to live for, who was needed, and whose untimely end will long be deplored by the host of friends he left behind.
Dr. Knowles was born September 2, 1879, on a farm in Greene county, Missouri, eight miles south of Springfield. He was a son of Thomas M. and Martha (Yarbrough) Knowles. The father was born in Kentucky in 1833, and there he grew to manhood, received a common school education, and in early manhood removed to Missouri, establishing his permanent home in Greene county on a farm where he still resides, engaged successfully in . general farming. His wife, who was Martha Yarbrough, was a native of Missouri, and she grew up in her native community and, like her husband, received a limited education in the district schools. Her death occurred in 1885, leaving two children : Mrs. Minnie Kelly, who lives in St. Louis, and Doctor John T., subject of this memoir.
John T. attended the public schools in Springfield, including high school. Deciding upon a medical career he went to Memphis, Tennessee, where he attended the College of Physicians and Surgeons, making an excellent record and was graduated from that institution with the class of 1908. He returned to Springfield in 1909, opened an office on the public square where he re- mained until the opening of the Woodruff building, when he removed to the same, maintaining offices there until his death. He was building up a large and lucrative practice among the best people of Springfield and was meeting with pronounced success as a general practitioner.
Doctor Knowles was married April 1, 1901 in Springfield to Flossie V. Moore, who was born in Greene county, Missouri, March 15, 1879. She is a daughter of Samuel and Eliza (Payne) Moore, the father born in Tenn-
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essec, March 15, 1846, and the mother was born in Arkansas, May 29. 18.46. Mi. Moore devoted his active life successfully to general farming, but he and his wife are now living retired in Springfield. Politically, Mr. Moore is a Republican He is a veteran of the Civil war.
Mrs. Knowles is one of a family of ten children. She grew to woman- hood on the farm and received her education in the country schools. She is a lady of broad mind, comprehensive ideals and genial address, and has long been a favorite with a wide circle of friends.
The union of Doctor Knowles and wife was blessed by the birth of two children, namely: Viola, born February 22, 1910, died in infancy; Mary Helen, born AApril 27, 1912.
Politically, Doctor Knowles was a Democrat. Fraternally, he belonged to the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Ladies and Knights of Security and the Court of Honor. He was also an active member of the Young Men's Business Club. He belonged to the Greene County Medical Society and the Missouri State Medical Association. He was a splendid example of a successful self-made man and accumulated considerable prop- erty by his industry and good management, including a handsome home on South Dollison street. He contributed largely to charity and never hesitated to assist a person in need.
The death of Doctor Knowles occurred September 1. 1912, at the carly age of thirty-three years. His funeral was conducted by the Elks, Florence Lodge, and also the county medical society attending in a body.
WILLIAM HENRY FULBRIGHT.
This well known citizen is an excellent representative of the better class of retired agriculturists of the United States. Mr. Fulbright comes from an ancestry that distinguished itself in pioneer times. When Greene county and the Ozark region were covered with vast forests of large trees which alter- nated with the wild prairie lands, and wild animals of many species were numerous on all sides, his people came to this section of Missouri and began to carve homes from the primeval forests, assist in building schools and churches, and introduce the customs of civilization in the wilderness, and it was our subject's grandfather who enjoyed the distinction of founding the city of Springfield. The Fulbrights were genuine pioneers, willing to take the hardships in order that they might acquire the soil and the home that was sure to rise. They were willing to work and do without many of the luxuries of the older clime under Dixie skies from whence they came and which had been the abiding place of their ancestors so long. It has been
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just such spirit that has caused the almost illimitable lands toward "the sundown seas" to be reclaimed and utilized, as told in Theodore Roosevelt's book, "The Winning of the West."
William Henry Fulbright, of Murray township, was born near Spring- field, Greene county, Missouri, August 14, 1837, and practically all of his life of seventy-seven years has been spent in this locality, which he has seen de- veloped from its wild state to one of the foremost in the state and he has taken a good citizen's part in this work of advancement. He is a son of John Lawson and Elizabeth O. (Roper) Fulbright. He is the scion of two old American families of colonial stock. His grandfather, David Roper, was a soldier in the war of 1812, and fought at the battle of Horse Shoe under Gen. Andrew Jackson. The great-grandfather on his mother's side was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. The emigrant ancestor of our subject on the paternal side was a German. William Fulbright, grandfather of our subject, was born in North Carolina, and could speak the German language. He married Ruth Hollingsworth, and went to Tennessee where they owned a large plantation and owned many negroes. In the spring of 1829 he made the overland journey with his family to Greene county, Missouri and located on land which is now covered by the heart of the city of Springfield. His children were Ephraim R., Henry, John Lawson, Rhoda. Eli. Levi. David L., Wilson, Samuel, William D., Daniel N., and Elkana. They all came in wagons, bringing thirty slaves. William Fulbright had four brothers, who came to Missouri with families-David, John, Martin and Daniel; they settled where Col. Fellows' wagon foundry was eventually. built, and from these brothers sprang the large present generation of Ful- brights. Several of them settled in Laclede county, William being the only one to remain in Greene county, and he built his rude first dwelling near the Frisco's south side shops, which formerly belonged to the old "Gulf" rail- road, and this mammoth spring was ever afterward called the "Fulbright spring," by which it is known to this day. The spring where the city gets part of its water, four miles north of the public square, is also known as the Fulbright spring on account of William Fulbright having built a grist mill there, which was the first one in this county. It was operated first as a still house and later as a mill. He entered a large tract of land. most of the south part of Springfield now covering this land. The country was open, covered with wild high grass and large trees scattered about, and presenting a beautiful appearance. The country was full of game-deer, wild turkey, prairie chicken, pheasant and many other varieties. William Fulbright was a practical farmer, which business he carried on extensively, and provided the largely increasing immigration which came into the county with farm products. He had one unvarying price for his products without regard to the market prices. He made his price for corn fifty cents per bushel. It
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being a new country, corn was high and often sold for one dollar per bushel, but he did not alter his price. Albert Patterson, was his nearest neighbor. eight miles north. Jeremiah Pearson lived eight miles east of the Fulbrights. The Rountree came about a year later. William Fulbright was a giant physically, weighing three Inundred pounds. Hle was widely known to the pioneers, was a man of great hospitality, his house being always open to the early settlers and many of them made it a stopping place. He and his wife were members of the Christian church. He lived to be about sixty years of age. He did not live to see much evidence of the great city that was destined to spring up on his land for during his day here only a handful of people settled in this vicinity. It is not certainly known whether he gave the town its name, however it is known that the place did not receive its name, as popularly supposed, from the many springs in its vicinity, but a meeting of the first settlers was held for the purpose of choosing a name for the new village, and as several of them came from near Springfield, Tennessee, it was agreed that the new place should bear the name of the old town in the south, which was accordingly given it.
John 1. Fulbright, father of the immediate subject of this sketch, was born on October 11. 1816, and was therefore thirteen years of age when he came with his parents to Greene county and here he grew to manhood and engaged in farming. In 1860 he rebuilt the old grist mill of his father and operated it in connection with farming. continuing to run the mill about twenty-five years. When he rebuilt the mill in 1860 he added a cotton gin and carding machine. He had learned the milling business when he worked for his father in the old mill here as a young man. After his marriage here he moved to Newton county, this state where he owned and farmed one hun- dred and sixty acres of land. He did not know that underlying his land were valuable mineral deposits, and he sold it for a small sum when he decided to return to Greene county, the same land subsequently bringing an immense sum, after the mineral had been discovered. but too late to do him any good. Upon his return to Greene county he again took charge of the above men- tioned mill. The history of this mill would be interesting enough to fill many pages if space permitted. The old Fulbright spring furnished water power sufficient to operate this mill. This spring was sold by the subject of this sketch to P'. B. Perkins of the Springfield water works, and our sub- ject when a boy plowed on what is now South street, one hundred and thirty acres the old Fulbright farm having lain very close to the public square. The death of John L. Fulbright occurred on October 31. 1882, on the old home farm in Campbell township. His wife, who was born in Tennessee in 1816. died on the homestead here June 21. 1885. They were the parents of six children, three of whom died in infancy; the other three were William
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H., of this sketch; Mrs. Jane Girley, deceased; and Mrs. Katherine Lee, deceased.
William H. Fulbright spent his boyhood days on the home farm with the exception of a few years of his boyhood spent in Newton county. He was six years old when his parents brought him back to Greene county. He received his early education in the common schools, when fourteen years of age entering school in Springfield. In 1860 he took active charge of his father's mill which he operated for a period of twenty-seven years, and he took care of his parents during their old age. He moved to his present farm in Murray township in December, 1886. He owns two hundred and sixty acres, mostly under cultivation, and also owns one hundred and sixty acres of prairie land. He has made a pronounced success as a general farmer and stock raiser, and his land is well improved and productive. He has an excellent group of buildings. He remains on his home place and does a little farming, but has lived practically retired from active life since 1904.
Mr. Fulbright was married in 1859 to Habagil Bryant, a daughter of David and Rozelle (Still) Bryant. Mr. Bryant was born in Virginia in 1805. From his native state he moved to Kentucky where he married, and lived there until he came to Missouri, first locating in Lawrence county, when his daughter Habagil was four years old. He followed farming in that county for ten years. In connection with farming he practiced medicine and was a successful doctor of the old school, being known as an "Indian doctor." Upon selling his eighty acre farm in Lawrence county he came to Murray township, Greene county, in 1850, and settled on the farm now owned by Mr. Fulbright of this review. Here he also practiced medicine for many years or until old age compelled him to retire. He was a Repub- lican, and was a member of the Methodist church at Walnut Springs. His wife was born and reared in Kentucky, her birth occurring August 11, 1818, and her death occurred at Pleasant Hope, Polk county, Missouri, while on a visit to her son, James Bryant, April 1, 1895. To David Bryant and wife eleven children were born, namely: Habagil, wife of Mr. Fulbright of this sketch; Timberlake. Mrs. Martha Stoneking, Mrs. Nancy Watson are all three deceased ; the next child died in infancy : James is deceased ; Mrs. Mary Watson lives in Murray township: Zachariah lives in Oklahoma; Mrs. Eliza Hughes lives in Clark county, Kansas; Warren Pitt also lives in Clark county, Kansas; Mrs. Jennie Munroe is deceased.
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