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 81
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Richard M. Fink was young in years when his parents moved with their family from Illinois to which state they moved from Kentucky when they were a young couple, making the overland trip to Missouri in wagons, and locating at Lamar, Barton county. Here our subject grew to manhood and received his early education in the public schools. later taking a course
RICHARD M. FINK.
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GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
in the Missouri State University. Intending to become a physician he first took a medical course, but later abandoned the idea and took a course in pharmacy and devoted his active life to the drug business. However, before leaving the town of Lamar, he engaged in the nursery business for some time, with his father; but in 1890 he came with his family to Springfield. and opened a drug store on the public square, and he continued in the drug business, which he conducted alone, the rest of his life, and during his resi- dence in this city of twenty-two years he became one of the best known and most successful retail drug dealers in Springfield, enjoying a large and lucrative trade as a result of his honest and courteous dealings, his excep- tional skill as a pharmacist and his business ability, always carrying a large stock of up-to-date drugs and drug sundries.
Mr. Fink was married, November 28, 1884, in Cooper county, Missouri, to Sallie E. Harris, who was born September 26, 1858, in the above named county, and there she grew to womanhood and received her education, at- tending the public schools and college. She is a daughter of Edwin and Mary Elizabeth (Ellis) Harris. Mr. Harris was born in Louisville, Ken- tucky, December 20, 1830; his wife was born in Orange county, Virginia, September 16, 1831, and her death occurred April 8, 1898. Mr. Harris is living at Pilot Grove, Missouri. His family consisted of seven children, all of whom survive at this writing, namely: Richard E., Sallie E., who be- came the wife of Mr. Fink; Maggie, Mary, Edward H., William T., and Fred K. Mr. Harris, who is now living retired, was for many years a banker and prominent citizen in Cooper county. Politically he is a Democrat.
Four children, all living, were born to Mr. and Mrs. Fink, namely : Edith C., born December 13, 1885, married George W. Sears, and they live in Urbana, Illinois : Charles H., born May 1, 1887, married Lettie Noblett, lives in Springfield and is conducting the drug store formerly owned by his father. They have two children. Virginia, born April 12, 1909, and Richard M., born December 20, 1912: Margaret L., born December 17, 1889, is living at home: Fred E., born April 3, 1894, is the youngest of the family and lives at home, the Fink residence being one of the commodious ones on Benton avenue.
Politically, Mr. Fink was a Republican. Religiously, he supported the Congregational church and fraternally, was a member of the Modern Wood- men of America.
Mr. Fink was in failing health for some time, and his death occurred at Boulder, Colorado, October 10. 1912, where he had gone in an effort to regain his health. He was nearly sixty years of age.
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GRFINE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
GEORGE M. SHUMAKER.
The hardy, courageous and energetic blood of the race that has done much to make northern Europe one of the most progressive countries of the world flows in the veins of George M. Shumaker, who is regarded as one of the most enterprising building contractors of Springfiell. and it is a pleasure to chronicle here the events that mark his life as one of usefulness. He has successfully followed his vocation here for a period of twenty-seven years. Material wealth must not exclude the riches of character and ability in recounting the virtues which have been brought to Greene county by its citizens, and among its most precious treasures must be estimated the lives of those citizens who have by their intelligence and their activities in the higher walks of life assisted in raising the standard of citizenship in the communities which they have settled.
Mr. Shumaker was born in Seneca county. Ohio, February 4. 1839, and is therefore now well past his three score and ten milepost. He is a son of Henry and Elizabeth ( Weimer) Shumaker, and is one of a family of seven children, three sons and four daughters, all now deceased but our sub- ject and one brother. The parents of the gentleman whose name initiates this review, were both natives of Alsace, France ( this being now a province of Germany). This couple established their home in Seneca county, Ohio. in pioneer days, developed a farm from the wilderness and there spent the rest of their lives, the father dying in 1855 and the mother surviving until 1888. she having spent her last days at the home of her daughter at Pierce- ton. Kosciusko county. Indiana. Henry Shumaker, father of our subject, grew to manhood on his father's farm in Alsace, and devoted his active life to general farming, both then and after moving to America, for years rank- ing among the leading farmers of his township in Seneca county, Ohio.
George M. Shumaker grew to manhood on the home farm in Seneca county, Ohio, and there worked hard when a boy for in those carly days everybody on the farm found plenty of work to do. His early education was limited to the common schools of his community. In early youth he learned the blacksmith's trade which he followed for some time, then farmed for awhile. In 1867 he moved to Kosciusko county, Indiana, where after a few years on the farm he began the manufacture of rustic furniture which he followed for a period of thirteen years with much success. He came to- Springfield. Missouri, in 1887, and here established his future home. Soon thereafter he became engaged in the building and contracting business and for more than a quarter of a century he has continued in this line with most gratifying results and is one of the most widely known contractors in this section of the state. He has erected scores of substantial buildings of all
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kinds over this country. He has kept fully abreast of the times in all that pertains to his line of business and is not only an exceptionally skilled work- man, but has a reputation for prompt and honest work. Associated in busi- ness with him is his son. Urban M. Shumaker, a young man of business ability who is now in active charge of the business, and who takes consider- able interest in local public affairs and during the city campaign in the spring of 1914 was a candidate on the Progressive ticket for councilman from the first ward. Their well equipped place of business is located at 420 Pearl street.
Mr. Shumaker was married November 24, 1861, to Mary Weikert, of Tiffin, Seneca county, Ohio, where she was born, grew to womanhood and received her education. Her father was a successful farmer there; his family consisted of six children, four sons and two daughters.
Five children have been born to George M. Shumaker and wife, namely : Urban M., born in 1863, married Edna Bond and they have two children, Neilson F., and Ruth V .; Howard H., an expert demonstrator of wood- working machinery, married Lucy Cheatham, has one child, and they live in Malvern, Arkansas; Clarence E., lives at Shirley, Arkansas, married Patsy Arnold, and they have two children: Ida I. is the wife of R. R. Marquis, a minister of Lawrenceville, Illinois, and they have five children: Karl, who lives in Chicago, is state secretary of Illinois for the Young Men's Christian Association : he married Gertrude Boticher, and they have three children.
George M. Shumaker is a Prohibitionist in politics. He is a member of Calvary Presbyterian church, and has been an elder in the church of this denomination for forty years. He has long been an earnest church worker and has led an upright life, striving at all times to be a humble follower of the lowly carpenter of Galilee, and his example as well as his acts and charitable deeds has been most potent for good.
JAMES H. McCLUER.
We are always glad to revert to the lives of the old pioneers, for it seems that they had elements about them that are not found in the lives of men in the present generation; they seem to have been more courageous, more patriotic and more uniformly honest-it is at least indisputable that they were more hospitable. The stranger was always welcome and a guest need have no money with which to defray expenses of a night's lodging at the humble home of the early settler, and if he needed assistance in any way, he could always obtain it readily. There was evidently more brotherly love between men-a broader altruism. The change from such conditions to
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those of the present day is calculated to arouse regret. James II. McCluer, one of the oldest citizens of Greene county, has come down to us from the pioneer epoch. He has lived to see vast forests melt away before the sturdy stroke of the conquerors of the wilderness and fine farms spring up as if by magic, and the country everywhere dotted with substantial dwellings in place of the log cabins, school houses and churches built in every community, and thriving towns and populous cities where once were the tepees of the red men or roamed at will the denizens of the wild, and he has seen the wind- ing Indian trails changed into costly turnpikes and broad highways, where now speeds the high-powered motor car instead of the prolix ox-cart. Ile has not only been an interested spectator to all these vicissitudes, but has played well his part in the transformation. He can look back over it all, now as he stands on the threshold of his ninety-fifth year, with a clear mind and a good conscience ( the fruits of right living ), and recall many interest- ing reminiscences of the olden times, and can look forward into the mystic Beyond with no fear.
Mr. McCluer was born in Blount county, Tennessee, February 16, 1821, his people having been early settlers in the mountains of the eastern part of that state. not many miles from the Virginia border. He is a son of John and Elizabeth (Mitchell) McCluer, the father born in Virginia, February 25, 1706, and the mother was born in eastern Tennessee, March 16, 1800. The father of our subject left the Old Dominion when young in years and located in Blount county, Tennessee, where he was married on January 28, 1819, and began life on the farm. From there he emigrated with his family, in 1835, to Polk county, Missouri, being thus among the earliest settlers in this section of the state. There he continued farming with great success until 1858 when he removed with his family to Spring- field, locating at what is now the corner of Campbell and Mt. Vernon streets, which at that time was at the edge of the village. Here the parents of our subject spent the rest of their lives. the father dying on November 20, 1884, and the mother passed away on November 16, 1865. To these parents eight children were born, four of whom are still living, namely: Elmira is de- ceased ; James H., of this sketch: Morris Mitchell is deceased; Louise is de- ceased : Rufus lives in Greene county where he has long been a leading farmer and stockman; Avery is deceased ; Elizabeth lives in California ; and Caroline makes her home in St. Louis.
James H. McCluer grew to manhood on his father's farm and there he worked hard assisting in the development of the raw land for general agri- cultural purposes. He was fourteen years old when his parents brought him from Tennessee to Polk county, this state and here he received a limited education in the old-time subscription schools, taught a few weeks out of each year in the primitive log school houses of those days. He began life as
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a farmer which he followed in Polk county, getting thereby a good start, and he continued general farming for twelve years after his marriage. In 1863 he moved to Springfield and engaged in mercantile pursuits, under the firm name of M. M. McCluer & Company, maintaining a large and popular store on the public square until after the close of the Civil war. The rest of his active life was spent in improving various properties and building, retiring .a few years ago owing to his advanced age and is now living a quiet life at his picturesque old home on South street. He has managed well and his . sound judgment and industry has resulted in financial success.
During the war between the states he was a member of the Home Guards and his service was confined to this locality.
Mr. McCluer was married in Polk county, Missouri, in November, 1847, to Lorina Boyd, who was born in eastern Tennessee, April 17. 1823. She was a daughter of Hugh and Levina (Williams) Boyd, who immigrated from Tennessee to Polk county in 1835, the same year that the McCluers came, and there they became well established on a farm, on which Mrs. Mc- Cluer grew to womanhood and there she attended the pioneer subscription schools. Her death occurred on November 11, 1899.
Three children were born to James H. McCluer and wife, namely : Addie, born in Polk county, has remained unmarried and is living in Spring- field; the second child died in infancy; Florence, the youngest, died in St. Louis, Missouri.
Politically, Mr. McCluer is a Republican, as was also his father, but neither of them ever aspired to public office. Our subject and family are members of the Grace Methodist Episcopal church. In 1906, Mr. CcCluer built and now owns the brick store building on the corner of Market and College streets, which is now a very fine property. He built many business blocks in the city.
CHARLES R. FULBRIGHT.
Self-assertion is believed by many people to be absolutely necessary to success in life, and there are good reasons for the entertainment of such be- lief. The modest man very rarely gets what is due him. The selfish, aggressive man elbows his way to the front, takes all that is in sight with no seeming regard for the rights of others. And it would sometimes seem that modesty is a sin with self-denial the penalty. There are, however, excep- tions to all rules and it is a matter greatly to be regretted that the exceptions to the conditions referred to are not more numerous. One notable exception in Greene county is the case of Charles R. Fulbright, well known real estate and insurance man of Springfield, who seems to possess just a sufficient
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amount of modesty to be a gentleman at all times and yet sufficient persist- lucy to wm in the business world and at the same time not appear over bold ; and as a result of these well and happily blended qualities, Mr. Fulbright has Hon and retained a host of friends throughout the county, where his life has been spent, and he is well known to all classes as a man of influence, integrity and business ability.
Mr. Fulbright was born in Springfield, Missouri, May 4, 1863, and he is a som of Judge John Y. and Martha H. ( Hayden) Fulbright. Judge Fulbright was also born in Springfield, his family being one of the first set- tlers here, the date of his birth being May 2, 1836, and from that early day to the present time the family has done much for the general progress of the city and has stood well in the community. Here the judge spent his life. which was a long, useful and influential one, replete with honor and success worthily attained. His death occurred May 29, 1912. He devoted his life to agricultural pursuits until about 1902, when he became president of the Farmers & Merchants Bank, which position he retained until his death, and during that period of a decade his able and judicious management of the bank resulted in its rapid growth and placed it high among the sound and im- portant institutions of its kind in the state. He helped organize this institu- tion and took a great pride in the same from the first. He was assisted in its organization and development by its present cashier, H. M. Smith and others. Judge Fulbright also owned several hundred acres of valuable land in this section of the state, and for many years he ranked as one of the suc- cessful and prominent men of the county. Politically, he was a Democrat. He was presiding judge of the Greene county court for four years, filling the position with credit and satisfaction to all concerned. Fraternally. he was a Mason and active in the work of the order. His wife, Martha H. Hayden. was also born in Springfield, in 1843, and she too, was a representative of one of our oldest families. Her paternal grandfather, Rev. Joel HI. Hayden, was a Campbellite preacher and was the first member of the family to locate in Greene county. Her father, Charles A. Hayden, was a farmer and stock man, and was well known and highly esteemed, one of the successful men of his day in this county. Mrs. Martha E. Fulbright is still living in Spring- field. She has now reached her three score and ten years. She is a devoted member of the Campbellite church.
To Judge Fulbright and wife four children were born, namely: Mrs. Lucy E. Hubble of Humansville. Polk county, Missouri ; Charles R., of this sketch ; Mrs. Mary G. Carson lives in Springfield ; and W. N., who makes his liome in Kansas City : he is married and was formerly engaged in railroading.
Charles R. Fulbright was reared in Greene county and he received a good education in the local schools. When a young man he went to Sparta, Christian county, just south of Greene county, and there engaged in mer-
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chandising for ten years, enjoying a good trade with the people of the sur- rounding country, from 1887 to 1897, then returned to Springfield and en- gaged in the real estate and insurance business and has continued in the same to the present time, building up a large and constantly growing business and ranking among the leading men in this line in the southwestern part of the state. Dealing in a straightforward, honest and courteous manner with his fellow men he has retained their confidence and respect all along. He repre- sents a large number of old line and accident insurance companies, about twelve in all. He maintains an office in the Baker block on the public square.
Mr. Fulbright married in 1887. Laura Hornbeak, of Sparta, Missouri, although she was reared and educated in Springfield. She is a daughter of Major John and Amanda (Murray) Hornbeak, early settlers of Greene county. Her father was for many years a prosperous merchant at Sparta and Linden, this state. His death occurred about five years ago. His widow still lives in Springfield. Mrs. Fulbright also has two sisters and one brother living in Springfield, namely : T. E., who is connected with the Union National Bank ; Mrs. A. T. Quisenberry, and Mrs. C. S. Burks.
One child has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Fulbright. J. M., now twenty- five years of age, who is engaged in business with his father; he married Emily Diggins.
Politically, Mr. Fulbright is a Democrat ; fraternally, he belongs to the Masonic order, and in religious matters holds membership in the Campbellite church.
GEORGE DAIGLER.
Mr. Daigler was born October 14, 1837, in Erie county, New York, and is one of a family of five children, three of whom survive at this writing. The old homestead of the Daigler family is six miles from the city of Buffalo and is operated by Adam Daigler, brother of our subject.
George Daigler, of this sketch, grew to manhood on the home farm and there worked hard when a boy, and he received his early education in the common schools of his vicinity. When the Civil war came on he enlisted in 1861 in the First Wisconsin Light Artillery, he having removed from his native state to Wisconsin prior to the war. He was sent to the far South and saw considerable hard service. He was in General Grant's army and fought during the long siege of Vicksburg, was also under General Banks on the Red river expedition. He served a year under General Morgan, and was in the battle of Cumberland Gap, Tennessee, serving in that locality about a year. He was in the service three years and three months and was mustered out and honorably discharged at Madison, Wisconsin, in 1864. He came
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to Springfield, Missouri, in 1889, and here purchased an interest in the firm of Binger & Company, who handled house furnishing goods, and he con- tinued this line with his usual success until 1904 when he sold out and retired from the active affairs of life.
Politically, Mr. Daigler is a Republican.
CAPT. DANTON H. NICHOLS.
Praise is always due to merit and especially where merit is the product of unassisted energy and perseverance. The self-made man commands our highest respect. The struggles by means of which he has risen from ob- scurity to honorable distinction cannot fail to enlist sympathy and call forth our warmest applause, and, too, the record of a life well spent. of triumph over obstacles, of perseverance under difficulties and steady advancement from a modest beginning to a place of honor and distinction in the industrial world, when imprinted on the pages of history, present to the youth of the rising generation an example worthy of emulation and may also be studied with profit by those of more mnature years whose achievements have not kept pace with their expectations. On the roster of the names of those who have been prominently identified with the development and upbuilding of Spring- field and southwest Missouri that of the late Capt. Danton H. Nichols merits a place of honor. The major portion of his brilliant career was spent in this city, and ever during that epoch his energies were effectively directed along normal lines of industry and business enterprise-railroading-through which he made distinct contribution to the progress of this favored section of Missouri, and the same may be said of him in other localities of the nation, for he was one of the most prominent men of his field of endeavor in the United States for a number of years and held many high and respon- sible positions. His life was one of signal integrity and usefulness and such was his association with the varied affairs of the Queen City that it is alto- gether proper that a record of his strenuous, varied, useful and honorable career be perpetuated in this publication.
Capt. Nichols was born in Lima, Ohio, on August 14, 1849, and was ' a son of Mathias H. and Sylvia S. (Fisher) Nichols. The father was born in New Jersey in the year 1827, and he spent his boyhood in his native state, emigrating to Ohio when nineteen years of age. among the pioneers, and locating at Lima, and he published the first newspaper in that town, called The Allen County Gazette. He became a prominent man in that section of Ohio, and when only twenty-four years of age was elected to Congress. His death occurred in Cincinnati, Ohio, at the early age of thirty-nine years.
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Thrown upon his own resources at the age of seventeen years, Danton H. Nichols carved out his own fortune unaided. He had received a fair education in the common schools of Lima and in the Illinois Military Academy, which he attended two and one-half years. At the age mentioned he came to Missouri and secured a job as peanut vender on trains out of St. Louis. He afterward held various positions on the old Atlantic & Pacific Railroad, which he filled with such satisfaction that the head officials offered him the position of division superintendent of the road. This was in 1875, and in 1881 he was advanced to the position of master of transportation. He was for some time general superintendent of this road, which is now a part of the Frisco System. Leaving the latter road, he went to the New York & New England Railway to straighten out a freight blockade. He did his work so promptly and thoroughly that when it was finished he was made general superintendent of that road. He returned to Missouri a year later to attend to some mining interests, after which he went to Mexico as superintendent of construction of the Pecos Valley System. When this road was built from Roswell, New Mexico, to Amarillo, Texas, he was made general manager and vice president. He later left the Pecos System to become president of the Kansas Southwestern Railway. After two years in this position he returned to Springfield to live, and during the three years following was with the Frisco Company, rebuilding its lines in southwestern Missouri. He then went to Monroe, Louisiana, as superintendent of the construction of the Arkansas, Louisiana & Gulf Railway, from Monroe to Hamburg and Crossett, Arkansas. After completing this line he took up the promotion of the line from Monroe through southwest Arkansas.
It was while Capt. Nichols was general superintendent of the Frisco that a fierce contest broke out among the officials of that road. Vice-president John O'Day was on one side and Capt. Nichols and E. D. Kenna, assistant general attorney, were on the other side. The fight became as bitter as a political campaign and Springfield was the storm center. It resulted in both O'Day and Nichols tendering their resignation, but Captain Nichols remained sixty days after Mr. O'Day. Mr. Kenna remained with the Frisco for a number of years as general attorney, but finally went to the Santa Fe.
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