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 84
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103
GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
four years old at the time of his death. His wife, Margaret Holloway, was born in Monroe county, Tennessee in the year 1820, and there she grew to womanhood and was educated in the early-day schools. She was a daughter vi Mintor Holloway, also a native of Tennessee, who became an extensive tobacco raiser in that state. He married Marjorie Edmonds, a native of Tennesee, whose death occurred April 8, 1883. To Spencer Watson and wife mine children were born, namely : John T. lives at Willard; Mrs. Sarah Elizabeth Tatum is deceased ; Gilbert Russell of this review; Polly Ann lives in Springfield : William R. lives in Springfield where he trades in mules, and also owns about seven hundred acres of land in the vicinity of Cave Spring, Cass township; Ruth Jane is deceased ; Mrs. Susan C. Young lives in Spring- field ; George W. is deceased; Francis M. is farming near Willard.
Politically, Spencer Watson was a Democrat, and he and his wife be- longed to the Methodist church.
Gilbert R. Watson was two years old when his parents brought him from Tennessee to Greene county, Missouri and here he grew to manhood on the home farm where he worked hard when a boy, and he received such educational advantages as the schools of that period furnished in the rural districts, and, remaining a wide reader all his life he has become a well in- formed man. He has always followed general farming and stock raising, and besides operating his own valuable and well improved farm of one hun- dred and twenty acres he has charge of forty acres belonging to his sister, Polly Ann.
Mr. Watson was married October 22, 1884, to Mary L. Bond, daughter of Holbert and Corenna ( Lemon) Bond. Mr. Bond was born in Tennessee, June 14, 1837, from which state he inimigrated to Polk county, Missouri. when young and there engaged in farming near Morrisville until the break- ing out of the Civil war when he enlisted in the Confederate army and served for some time. He was wounded in the foot in a battle at Corinth, Missis- sippi, which made him slightly crippled for life. In a later day he spent many years about the lumber camps in California, but finally returned to Polk county and spent the rest of his life engaged in farming, and there his death occurred June 15. 1910. Corenna Lemon was born in Polk county, Missouri. September 13, 1834, and her death occurred June 8, 1878. In Polk county also occurred the birth of Mrs. Watson and there she grew to womanhood and attended school. Holbert Bond was the father of six chil- dren. named as follows: John Henry is deceased: Mrs. Charlotte Pipkin lives at Willard ; Mrs. Martha Sims lives in Texarkana, Arkansas; Mary L., wife of Mr. Watson of this sketch : Benjamin who lives on a farm just south of Morrisville. Polk county .: Holbert, Jr., is deceased.
The union of Gilbert R. Watson and wife has been without issue.
Politically, Mr. Watson is a Democrat, and while he is always ready
781
GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
to do his full share in promoting any cause for the general good of his town- ship and county he has never been a seeker of public honors. Fraternally, he is a member of the Masonic order and the Court of Honor. He was reared in the Methodist faith, and his wife belongs to the Methodist Epis- copal church, South, at Willard and takes an active part in all church work, and is president of the United Missionary Societies.
WALTER A. COON.
Walter A. Coon, president of the Bank of Republic, is recognized as one of the enterprising citizens and business men of Republic, Missouri. Mr. Coon was born near Urbana, Dallas county, Missouri, January IS, 1872. His parents were William Benton and Harriet V. (Andrews) Coon. His grandparents on his father's side were of German and Irish extraction, while on his mother's side they were of English and Scotch-Irish descent.
Walter Coon is a product of the public school and has always been a warm friend and protector of the public school. His father was a noted school teacher, and he saw to it that the son should not lose any of the ad- vantages of the public school, especially when he was the teacher. The subject of our sketch began teaching school at the early age of eighteen and taught some eight or nine terms of school and was very successful as a teacher. He points with pride to the fact that he taught three years at one place, two at another, and completed thirteen months of public school in less than one school year by teaching three different schools in three different counties and boarding at the same place during the whole year.
He was married November 27, 1895, to Mira A. Crudginton, the eldest daughter of T. B. Crudginton. They have three children, two daughters and one son ; Merle Coon, born December 2, 1896; Faye Coon, born January 5, 1899, and Teddy Benton Coon, born February 12, 1903. Merle Coon is a graduate of the public school at Republic and is now a student of Drury College. Mr. Coon learned the mercantile business under the care of Uncle Steve Burris, the "Merchant King" of Dallas county. After a thorough training in the mercantile and business world, he engaged in the newspaper business and was associated with the Pendletons in the Buffalo Reflex during the Spanish-American war. He developed considerable ability as a writer but after two years of newspaper experience he decided to embark in the mercantile business for himself and chose Republic as a desirable place to live and rear his family. He located there in the summer of 1899 and con- tinued in the mercantile business until December, 1911, when he sold out to J. S. Morris, of Pierce City. The store is now being conducted by William
782
GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
Dela Rue. Shortly after disposing of his mercantile stock he accepted the presidency of the Bank of Republic, the fourth oldest bank in Greene county. Mr. Coon has always been very successful in all business dealings and never speculates but is cautious and conservative in whatever he undertakes. Politically, he is a Republican and has never departed therefrom. He was appointed postmaster of Republic by President Roosevelt in 1907 and served one year, resigning voluntarily on account of his health. He is a member of the Christian church and teacher of the Bible class, rarely ever missing a Sunday. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, having attained the rank of the thirty-second degree in the Joplin Consistory of the Scottish Rites. It was largely through his efforts that a Masonic lodge was organ- ized in Republic which now has a membership of nearly one hundred. He is secretary of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons at the present time. He is also a member of the Abou Ben Adhem Temple Shrine, Past Worthy Patron of the Eastern Star, and belongs to the Woodmen of the World, Knights of the Maccabees, and Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Mr. Coon has been a great friend of the public school and has been president of the Republic school board almost continuously since 1903. He has seen the school grow from four teachers to nine teachers, from a six months' term to a nine months' term, from a two years course to a four years high school course, and from an unclassified school to a school of the first class.
Mr. Coon is an example of what can be accomplished by persistence and perseverance, as he has always been a hard worker and tireless in his efforts to accomplish whatever he undertakes. In fact, his life has always been a battle for supremacy and while he has had much opposition and competition, he has met the conditions fairly and honorably and successfully. There is no such word as failure in his vocabulary of business enterprises.
JAMES N. HILDERBRAND.
The late James N. Hilderbrand was for many years one of the successful and scientific farmers of Greene county and a citizen against whom no word of blame was ever uttered by his neighbors, so far as the biographer can learn. He was a man given to right thinking and was a man who believed in helping those with whom he came into contact on the highway of life and, therefore, he had a good conscience and a host of friends. He was public- spirited and was known as a good citizen in every respect.
Mr. Hilderbrand was born in Jefferson county, Missouri, in 1852. He was a son of Peter and Martha (Peppers) Hilderbrand. The father was reared in Jefferson county, and there received a common school education.
783
GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
He worked on a farm when a boy and devoted his active life to agricultural pursuits, becoming owner of an extensive landed estate and considerable wealth. He moved to Dallas county, this state, where his death occurred on his farm there a number of years ago. He was a prominent man and in- fluential in public affairs in both Jefferson and Dallas counties. Politically, he was a Republican. After the death of her husband, the mother of our subject moved to Greene county and died here. She was a member of the Holiness church.
James N. Hilderbrand was a boy when he accompanied his parents to Dallas county, and there grew to manhood on the home farm, where he worked hard when a boy, and he received a limited education in the common schools of that county. When twenty-one years of age he came to Greene county and bought forty acres, later added one hundred and twenty acres. He cleared most of his land, developed a fine farm by hard work and good man- agement and made all the modern improvements necessary, including a com- fortable home and several large barns. He took a delight in keeping his place in as good condition in every way as any of his neighbors. In connec- tion with general farming he devoted considerable attention to raising live stock, mostly mules, and was regarded as one of the most successful stockmen in Washington township.
Mr. Hilderbrand married May 4, 1882, Mary M. Kelley, who was born in Greene county, January 11, 1864. She is a daughter of Hugh and Martha (Rhoden) Kelley. The father was born in Tennessee, and there he spent his childhood, being about sixteen years of age when he immigrated with his parents to Missouri, locating in Greene county. He was reared on a farm and educated in the early-day schools. He worked for his father until reaching maturity and finally bought a farm of his own, consisting of one hundred and sixty acres, which he brought up to a fine state of improvement and cultivation. In his earlier years he taught school for awhile in Missouri. His death occurred on his farm about the year 1896. He was married in this. county. His wife was a native of Indiana, and she was a child when she accompanied her parents to Missouri, the family locating on a farm, where she grew to womanhood, and she was educated in the common schools. She was a hard-worker, and spun and wove the cloth with which to make clothing for her family. She was a member of the Presbyterian church. Her death occurred on the old home place in 1890, prior to the death of her husband.
Mrs. Hilderbrand grew to womanhood on the home farm and she re- ceived a good public school education. She is a woman of tact and business ability and, with her boys, is successfully operating the home farm.
Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Hilderbrand, namely : Charles, born February 14, 1883, died in infancy ; Mabel, born February 19, 1885, died July 5, 1906, married Conrad Malonee ; Mrs. Annie Bowers, born February 2.
GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
1888, has one child, Harold ; she lives in Greene county : Arlie, born July 31, INos, lives at home; Fred, born September 30, 1900, is also at home; Mrs. Ana Humble, born February 2, 1891, lives in Greene county, and has one child, Arlina.
Politically, Mr. Hilderbrand was a Democrat, and fraternally, he be- longed to the Loyal Order of Moose. His death occurred September 3, 1911, at Hot Springs, Arkansas, where he had gone on account of declining health. He is remembered as a good neighbor, kind husband and indulgent father, a man who stood high in his community.
COL. THOMAS CALVIN LOVE.
A cheerful and hopeful disposition is a trait of character much to be admired. much to be desired, and one that with most men needs to be culti- vated and enlarged. It is absolutely necessary to success in any pursuit in life for man to be hopeful and resourceful. He must not only believe that "all things work together for good." but also have confidence in himself, that he has the ability to bring things to pass. It is easy to be good and cheerful when everything is running smoothly, when everything seems to be prosperous, when a man is flourishing and spreading himself like a green bay tree. How easy it is then to appear cheerful and happy, but it is often quite another story when the day of adversity comes, the hour of difficulty, failure and disappointed hopes. A man who has endeavored to remain cheerful, optimistic and courageous in both sunshine and storm as he has traversed the winding path of life during his three score and ten years is Thomas Calvin Love, during his active life a gallant soldier, successful farmer and stock raiser and faithful public servant, now living retired in Springfield.
Mr. Love has descended from a fine ancestry of military men and people of the right quality. He was born in what is now Webster county, Missouri, near the town of Seymour. May 17, 1844, and is a son of Thomas Bell and Elizabeth ( Barnard) Love. The father was born in Hayward county. North Carolina, on December 27. 1798, and was a son of Gen. Thomas and Martha (Dillard) Love. The mother was born September 27, 1774. Gen. Thomas Love, born November 16, 1776, was a native of Ireland from which country he emigrated to America when a young man, and located in North Carolina, and while living there the Revolutionary war began. He un- hesitatingly joined in the struggle of the colonists for independence. He was a brave and efficient soldier and for meritorious conduct was promoted until he received a colonel's commission and was given command of a North
COL. T. C. LOVE.
...
MRS. T. C. LOVE.
-
785
GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
Carolina regiment. After the war he moved to what is now a part of the state of Tennessee, where he became an officer of the state of Franklin, which was created by an act of the Legislature of the state of North Carolina, and later repealed and made Tennessee. But the governor of the former state refused to obey the ruling of the Legislature of North Carolina, and Gen. Thomas Love, then a general of militia, commanded the troops that captured the obstinate governor of Franklin. General Love served thirty consecutive years in the Legislature of Tennessee. He was speaker of the house during a number of terms. He was during that long period one of the best known and most influential men of Tennessee, and was admired as an army officer, a statesman and broad-minded citizen. Perhaps no man did more for the early development of the state in general than he. His long life was spent for the most part in the service for others, and he passed away at an advanced age about the year that the subject of this sketch was born. He married a Miss Dillard in Tennessee, and to them nine children were born. His eldest son Robert, born December 31, 1789, was a colonel during the war of 1812 and fought under Gen. Andrew Jackson at the great battle of New Orleans. Thomas B. Love, father of our subject, grew up on the General's plantation in Tennessee and there received such educational advan- tages as the early-day schools afforded, and he remained in his native state until 1842. when he came to what is now Webster county, Missouri, where he entered six hundred acres of land from the government, which he cleared. improved and on which he established the permanent home of the family. and this land was retained by his children until 1910, when it was sold by our subject. When he was a lad, Thomas B. Love went with a party to assist in provisioning General Jackson's troops on their march back from New Orleans after the close of the war of 1812, and Robert Love, who was a colonel in that army, gave his sword to his younger brother, Thomas B. This highly prized heirloom was stolen from the Love home during the Civil war. Mr. Love did not live to enjoy his new home in the Ozarks long-ten years -- dying in 1852. Politically, he was a Democrat and while he was active in party affairs would never accept public office. He owned a lock of General Jackson's hair, which his son, our subject, has sent back to Tennessee. to form a part of the collection of the Historical Society, of that state. Thomas B. Love was an extensive farmer and he owned about twenty-five slaves at the time of his death. He always saw that they had comfortable quarters, were well cared for and was considerate of their every welfare. His wife, Elizabeth Barnard, was born in Buncombe county, North Caro- lina in the year 1800. To these parents nine children were born. Their oldest son died of measles while on the march to Mexico with the army back in the forties, he having been first lieutenant in a company organized in (50)
-80
GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
Springfield, Missouri. The mother was left with a family of small children. which she reared in comfort and respectability. She reached the age of sixty-nine years, dying in 1809.
Thomas C. Love, of this review, grew to manhood on the home farm in Webster county and there received a very meager education in the district schools, but he was preparing to enter college at Columbia, Missouri, when the Civil war began and interfered with his plans. He at once cast his services with the Confederacy, enlisting in July, 1862, in Company F, Third Missouri Cavalry, under General Marmaduke. He was in Arkansas during the early part of the war, and before his enlistment was captured by the Federals and held in jail at Batesville, that state, for five weeks. He proved to be a faithful and brave soldier and saw considerable hard service. On September 10, 1863. while in an engagement near Little Rock, Arkansas, he was shot through the lung and he still carries the bullet in his body. While in the hospital from this wound he was captured by the enemy, but later exchanged and rejoined his command at Camden, that state. He was in engagements at Poison Springs, Jenkins' Ferry, Leg Village, Pine Bluff, all in Arkansas, and the Big Blue in Missouri, and was on the retreat with General Marmaduke when the latter was captured, but our subject escaped by swimming Mines creek in Kansas, and rejoined his regiment and after a few skirmishes, surrendered with the entire army of the Trans-Mississippi department, at Shreveport, Louisiana, June 8, 1865.
After his discharge from the army Mr. Love went to Texas, where he rented a plantation and devoted his attention to raising cotton for three years, returning to his home in Webster county, Missouri, in 1869, and began farming on the home place, carrying on general farming and stock raising. in fact, traded extensively in live stock, and prospered with advancing years until he became one of the leading farmers of that county. He continued general farming and dealing in live stock until 1892, when he turned his farm into an apple orchard which was fairly successful. He moved to Springfield in 1883 in order to give his children proper educational advan- tages, but in 1899 moved back to the farm and lived there twelve years, then sold out and returned to Springfield, purchased a good home in which he now lives retired.
Politically, Mr. Love is a Democrat and had been a leader in his party in his earlier years, and he served as representative from Webster county in the state Legislature from 1882 to 1884, in a manner that was highly creditable to himself and to the satisfaction of his constituents. Among the notable things which he did while in that office was his assistance in securing the passing of a bill appropriating twelve thousand and five hundred dollars to rebuild the court house and jail at Marshfield, which were destroyed by the cyclone of 1880. From 1885 to 1889 he was deputy collector of internal
787
GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
revenue in Springfield, giving the government satisfaction in every respect. In 1893 he was appointed postmaster at Springfield, and served four years with his usual fidelity to duty, which elicited the hearty commendation of the people and the postoffice department at Washington.
Mr. Love in his fraternal relations is a member of the Masonic order and the Grange, being for some time quite active in the work of the latter. He is a member of Campbell Camp No. 488, United Confederate Veterans. He is active in the affairs of the same and has been commander of the local camp twice, being the only man ever re-elected to the place, and on Septem- ber 17, 1914, Mr. Love was elected brigadier-general of the Western Brigade, Missouri Division of Mounted Confederate Veterans.
Mr. Love was married, November 5, 1865, to Sallie J. Rogers, who was born in Texas county, Missouri, November 26, 1846. Her people were refugees to Texas during the Civil war. The death of Mrs. Love occurred May 20, 1912, at Mt. Pleasant, Texas, but was brought to Springfield, where she rests in the beautiful Maple Park cemetery. She was a faithful life companion, devoted to her home and family and was beloved by her many friends for her numerous excellent traits of character.
Seven children, all sons, were born to Mr. and Mrs. Thomas C. Love. five of whom are living at this writing, namely: Dr. Joseph W. Love, a specialist of the eye, ear, nose and throat, of Springfield, was for some time in the medical department of the United States army in the Philippine Islands ; Dr. Robert B., of Springfield, is one of the leading veterinary physi- cians of southern Missouri: Thomas B. is a prominent attorney of Dallas, Texas; Ralph M. is a successful banker at Mt. Pleasant. Texas: Edgar P. has built up a large business as a manufacturer in Dallas, Texas.
HOWARD BENTLEY EAST.
The biographies of successful men are instructive as guides and incen- tives to those whose careers are yet to be achieved. The examples they fur- nish of patient purpose and consecutive endeavor strongly illustrate what is in the power of each to accomplish, if he is willing to press forward in the face of all opposition, refusing to be downed by untoward circumstances, thus making stepping-stones of what some would find to be insurmountable stumb- ling blocks. The gentleman whose life history herewith is, succinctly and, we hope, accurately set forth, is a conspicuous example of one who has lived to good purpose and achieved a definite degree of success in the special spheres to which his energies and talents have been devoted.
Howard Bentley East, president of the Bank of Willard, and one of the
788
GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
most progressive agriculturists and useful citizens of Murray township, Greene county, was born January 31. 1855. on the old home farm in the above named township, and is a son of Sidney and Eliza ( Williams) East. Sidney Bast was born in Indiana, February 1, 1822, and was a son of Jahhue and Sarah Fast, both natives of Indiana also, where they grew up and were married and spent the earlier part of their lives, and there their son, Sidney. grew to manhood and received the usual meager educational advantages of the times. He was twenty years of age when he removed with his parents from that state to Greene county, Missouri, in 1842; they located in Murray township, where, three miles northwest of Willard. Jahhue East spent the rest of his life engaged in general farming, dying about 1858. He owned eighty acres of good land. Politically, he was a Democrat. His wife be- longed to the Baptist church.
Sidney East was married in what is now Murray township in 1853 to Eliza Williams, a daughter of Abner and Mary ( Folden ) Williams, both natives of western Tennessee, the father's birth occurring there on March I, 1800, and the mother was born on November 8, 1807. Mr. Williams died March 1. 1863, and his widow survived until October 24, 1896. These par- ents grew to maturity in Tennessee and were married there and removed to Greene county, Missouri, when their daughter, Eliza, was seven years old. The family was accompanied by Abner's brother, Melton Williams and wife, the party making the overland trip in wagons, with ox teams, from Hender- son county, the trip practically all the way being over a wild, rough country. Upon reaching Springfield they found only a cross-roads' dry-goods store and a blacksmith shop surrounded by almost a wilderness. They began life here in true pioneer fashion. Eliza Williams was born in 1832, and was, therefore. a young girl when her family brought her to this county in 1841. Her father took up a claim of one hundred and twenty acres and purchased forty acres more. This land he cleared and improved and in due course of time had a good home. Politically, he was a Democrat and he and his wife were members of the Missionary Baptist church at Mt. Pleasant. Sidney East was the third child in a family of nine children. all of whom are now deceased. After his marriage. Sidney East purchased eighty acres of land, which he farmed until his death. in 1858. His family consisted of three children, namely: Alvin Munroe is deceased : Howard Bentley, of this review : and Tabitha Clementine, who died in infancy. After the death of the father the mother of these chil- dren married again. in 1860, to Henry Grant, a son of John and Catherine Grant. A history of the Grant family will be found on another page of this work, in the sketch of William W. Grant.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.