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 87
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Bennette J. Ross grew to manhood on the home farm and did his share of the work there when a boy, and he received his education in the township schools and spent a year in high school at Ebenezer and two years at Drury College, taking a scientific course ; this was in 1876 and he was, therefore,
GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
one of the first students of this now noted institution. He was forced to leave college on account of measles, which affected his eyes.
November 24, 1897. Mr. Ross married Ida Ella Knox, a daughter of Jolm and Elizabeth ( Locke) Knox. The father was born January 15, 1832, in Giles county, Tennessee, but came to Greene county, Missouri, and took up a claim from the government, later returning to Tennessee, where he mar- ried. He brought his bride back to Missouri and settled on his claim in Rob- berson township, near Percy's cave, which he discovered, and in that vicinity he cleared and developed a farm, later selling out and purchased another tract of one hundred and sixty acres in Murray township, which he farmed until his death, in 1891. Politically, he was a Democrat, and was an ardent member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church, and an elder in the same for many years. His wife was born in Giles county, Tennessee, in 1830, and her death occurred on the homestead in Robberson township in 1879. She was an active member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church. To Mr. and Mrs. Knox nine children were born, namely : Joseph William lives in Spring- field : Jolm McClain lives near Willard: Samuel Edgar lives near Verona, Missouri: the fourth and fifth children died in infancy; Mrs. Mary Belle Sneed lives at Willard : De Witt Clinton lives on the old homestead near Wil- lard : Mrs. Sarah Alice Gillespie lives at Willard ; and Ida Ella, wife of Mr. Ross, of this sketch.
To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Ross four children have been born, named as follows: Lockie, born March 25. 1900: Marie Anna Fay, born February 3, 1902 : Bennette Knox, born September 16, 1905, and Pauline, born February 22, 19II.
Mr. Ross spent his earlier years on the home farm, remaining there until the fall of 1911, when he purchased eighty-seven acres of excellent land, where he now resides-"Maple Grove Farm," and is making a pronounced success as a general farmer and stockman. He has a comfortable residence, surrounded by a fine grove. His farm is well drained and well fenced.
Politically, Mr. Ross is a Prohibitionist and has taken an active part in the work of the same for years. He belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church. South, at Willard, in which he has been steward, trustee and Sunday school superintendent for many years, and at this writing holds the office of steward. He is also a trustee in the church of this denomination at Ebenezer, Robberson township. His wife is also a member of the same church as our subject and takes an active part in the work of the Sunday school, missionary and other societies of the church. At this writing Mr. Ross is assistant super- intendent of the Sunday school and is a teacher of the Ladies' Bible class at Willard. He is a man who has always stood high in the community owing to his industry, honesty and activity in church, school and whatever pertains to the general good of his township, never shirking his part in any good work.
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GEORGE PARKER WILEY.
There is no positive rule for achieving success, and yet in the life of the successful man there are always lessons which might well be followed. The man who gains prosperity is he who can see and utilize the opportunities that come in his path. The qualities of keen discernment, accurate discrimina- tion, sound judgment and executive ability entered very largely into the makeup of the late George Parker Wiley, for a period of fifteen years one of the most prominent of the younger business men of Springfield, and the above enumerated characteristics were contributing elements to the material success which came to him.
Mr. Wiley was born at Charleston, Illinois, November 7, 1871. He was a son of Eli and Martha Sanborn (Whittemore) Wiley. The father was born in Bracken county, Kentucky, in 1822 and there grew to manhood and received his primary education in the public schools, later attending a law school in Cincinnati, Ohio, from which he was graduated in 1860, and soon thereafter began the practice of his profession in which he rose to prominence. For many years he made his home at Charleston, Illinois. He continued his law practice until his death. His wife was a native of Sanbornton, New Hampshire, and she was graduated from the Kimball Union Academy at Meriden, New Hampshire. To these parents were born seven children, all now deceased, but a daughter, Mrs. Hagemeyer, who is living in Cincinnati, Ohio.
George P. Wiley grew to manhood in Charleston, Illinois, and there he received a good education in the public schools, and after his graduation from Yale, class of 1895, he came to Springfield, Missouri, where he was engaged for three years as cashier of the Springfield Traction Company, then became interested in mercantile pursuits for a number of years. He was secretary and treasurer of the George H. Tefft Grocery Company for some time and at the time of his death he was secretary and part owner of the Anchor Broom Works of Springfield, which he did much to make a pronounced success by his industry. wise counsel and sound judgment, in fact, all his business ven- tures had been a success.
Mr. Wiley was married on July 27, 1898, to Georgia Moist, who was born near Springfield, Missouri, and there she grew to womanhood and re- ceived her education. She is a daughter of Matthias and Anna ( McCarty) Moist, whose family consisted of three children: Georgia, who married Mr. Wiley of this memoir; Roger and Marshall, all living in Springfield. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Wiley was without issue.
Mr. Wiley was summoned to his reward very suddenly, after an illness of three days, May 13, 1908, when in the prime of life, and when life to him
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promised most. He evidently had a brilliant business career ahead of him had he lived. He was well known and universally liked. Religionsly, he was a worthy member of the Presbyterian church, in Charleston, Illinois.
CAPT. ALBERT DEMUTH.
The record of the life of such a man as the late Capt. Albert Demuth is worthy of perpetuation on the pages of history, for various reasons. lle was one of the brave defenders of the National Union during its most trying period. the military record of our subject being such as should in- spire just pride in his family, descendants and friends. He was one of the well known pioneer citizens of Springfield, having cast his lot here when the place was little more than a straggling village on the frontier, fifty-five years ago, and he took a delight in the development of the same into the metropolis of the Southwest. He was widely known to the publishing world, having been connected with various printing establishments during his active life. and was a master of the "art preservative" in his day and generation. Hle was popular among his co-workers, being an industrious, genial and kind-hearted man.
Captain Demuth was born in York, Pennsylvania, October 2. 1833. and there he grew to manhood and received his education. In 1858 he went with his father. John Demuth, to lowa, and after a year's residence in that state he came to Springfield. Missouri, with the rest of the family and for many years lived in a residence immediately west of the present location of the Masonic Temple on East Walnut street. At an early age Captain De- muth learned the printing business and worked for some time on Harper's Weekly in New York City. He also was employed in Philadelphia printing offices. After coming to Springfield he worked on the Missouri Patriot and several other papers.
When the Civil war came on, Albert Demuth did not hesitate to cast his fortunes with the Federal government and he enlisted from Greene county on December 19. 1861, in Colonel Phelps' regiment, to serve six months and was mustered into the service of the United States at Rolla, Missouri, as a private and was appointed first orderly sergeant under Capt. George B. McElhannan of Company H. John S. Phelps commanding this volunteer regiment. which regiment was chiefly engaged in protecting the lives and property of citizens of that part of the state and the surrounding country against attacks by guerrillas. Later the regiment was sent into Arkansas and participated in a number of engagements such as Bentonville, Leetown and the important battle of Pea Ridge. On March 7. 1862, at Pea
MISSOUR
CAPTAIN ALBERT DEMUTH.
809;
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Ridge, Mr. Demuth was seriously wounded in the right knee, which a musket ball entered, causing permanent injury. He was sent to a hospital at Cassville, Missouri, where he remained a few days, and, being thus dis- abled for effective service with his regiment, he was honorably discharged, May 12, 1862, at Springfield, the entire regiment being mustered out at that time, the term of enlistment expiring. His wound healing rapidly, Mr. Demuth re-enlisted on June 19, 1862, to serve three years or during the war, and was mustered into service at Springfield in Company C. Eighth Mis- souri Volunteer Cavalry, under Capt. George L. Childress and Col. W. F. Geiger, and our subject was soon promoted from private to first lieutenant of his company on August 6th, following, and for meritorious conduct and faithful service he was promoted to the rank of captain on July 3, 1863. This was one of the most active and efficient regiments of cavalry ever sent out by Missouri and was one of the best in the western army. It performed un- complainingly dangerous and arduous service wherever assigned. It was attached to the Second Brigade, Cavalry Division, Seventh Corps. Army of the Frontier, and participated in the following engagements: Lamar, Prairie Grove, Miller's Lane, Van Buren Creek, Chalk Bluff, Brownsville,. Bayou Metoe, Bayou LaFurche, Little Rock, Little Red River. Augusta, Pumpkin Bend, Clarendo, Long Prairie and a number of skirmishes in Mis- souri and Arkansas. In February, 1865, the command was dismounted and moved to Little Rock where it performed outpost and picket duty until May Ist, of that year, when the regiment was again mounted and ordered to Cam- den to receive the surrender of Kirby Smith's command, and afterwards the regiment did scout duty. Captain Demuth was honorably discharged at Little Rock, June 30, 1865.
After his career in the army, Captain Demuth returned to Springfield and resumed his trade. On April 23. 1867, he married Nanna M. Foss, who. was born near Boston, Massachusetts, September 15, 1848, and is a daughter of Walter and Hannah ( Bodge) Foss, natives of the state of Maine, and to that state they returned when Mrs. Demuth was a small child, but subse- quently the family removed to Ohio where Mrs. Demuth received her educa- tion. Her mother died in Ohio. Finally she accompanied her sister, Mrs. WV. C. Peck. to Springfield, Missouri. In his earlier life Mr. Foss was en- gaged in the manufacture of pianos in Boston, Massachusetts.
The union of Captain Demuth and wife was without issue. In politics the captain was a Republican. He served in various county offices as deputy and was familiar with the early records. He was elected county clerk in 1866 and served for twelve years in that capacity, his long retention being sufficient evidence of his ability and the confidence reposed in him by his constituents. He was deputy county clerk under Mr. Patton, later under Mr. Cloud until a month before his death. He was an active member of
810
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Capt. John Matthews Post, No. 69, Grand Army of the Republic, of which he was at one time commander, later quartermaster. He took the school enumeration of the Springfield district twice and resigned as registrar in the Second ward only a few days prior to his death.
Mrs. Demuth, who proved to be a most faithful helpmeet, owns a cozy home on South Grant street. She is a member of Grace Methodist Episcopal church, and is president of the Ladies' Circle of the Grand Army of the Republic.
The death of Captain Demuth occurred, November 17, 1911, at the age of seventy-eight years. His funeral was a large one, many of the older citizens of Springfield, who had known him well, attended. After Rev. S. B. Campbell, pastor of Grace Methodist Episcopal church, delivered the funeral sermon, W. C. Calland, commander of the local post of the Grand Army of the Republic, eulogized our subject as a soldier and citizen. The casket was covered with a large United States flag and many beautiful floral tributes. The pallbearers were W. C. Calland, A. R. McDonald, H. E. Patton, J. T. Walker, John B. Waddill and W. E. Smith. Interment was made in Maple Park cemetery, and the large flag, covered with flowers, was left on the grave.
JAMES M. SMITH.
While Virginia has been aptly termed the "Mother of Presidents," she has also given to the nation many of its most enterprising and successful people in minor capacities, and thousands in the humble sphere of private citi- zenship trace their ancestry back to the Old Dominion. This was true of the late James M. Smith, himself a Virginian, and for a long lapse of years a successful farmer of Greene county, Missouri. Just when the original pro- genitor of the Smith family became a resident of that state is not known, but it is supposed to have been at a time antedating the Colonial struggle for independence, and from that remote period to the present, members of this fine old family have been influential in the affairs of the various communities where they have resided. This may also be said of the subject's maternal ancestry, who also settled in Virginia at an early day, so Mr. Smith was justly proud of the fact that he belonged to two of the well known yet unorganized class denominating themselves as the "First Families of Virginia." His popularity as a citizen was due, no doubt, to the fact that he possessed many of the common characteristics of the true Virginian -- hospitality, gallantry, courtesy and adherence to right principles.
Mr. Smith was born in Lee county, Virginia. September 4. 1810 Ile
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is a son of Hiram and Polly (Ely) Smith. The father was born in Virginia in the year 1812, there grew to manhood and was educated in the common schools. He grew up on a plantation. He came to Missouri in 1845 and settled in Greene county, entering one hundred and sixty acres from the gov- ernment, cleared most of his land and made a success as a general farmer, and he traded a great deal in live stock, especially horses. Politically, he was a Republican. He died on his farm here when about eighty years of age. His wife was born, reared and educated in Virginia and there they were married. She was a member of the Holiness church. She died about three years before her husband's death. To these parents twelve children were born, namely: Mrs. Elizabeth Biggs, deceased ; George, a soldier in the Civil war, was killed during the service; James M., subject of this sketch; Allen makes his home in the West: Mrs. Louisa Smith is deceased; Mrs. Ellen Self lives in Polk county : Robert lives in Sparta, Christian county ; Mrs. Martha Hendrix, deceased; William, deceased: Preston lives in Carter county ; the two youngest children died in infancy.
James M. Smith was young in years when he accompanied his parents on their overland trip from Virginia to Greene county, Missouri. Here he grew to manhood on a farm and received such educational advantages as the schools of that early period afforded. He remained under his parental roof- tree until he was twenty-three years of age, then, in 1862, enlisted in the Six- teenth Missouri Cavalry, Union army, in which he served faithfully during the Civil war. Toward the latter part of his service he was promoted to lieutenant. He saw considerable hard service in Greene county and various parts of the state, and was with the troops that drove General Price from Mis- souri when on his last raid into this state, our subject having been thirty- eight days on this chase in Missouri and Arkansas, and was fighting all the while. He was a gallant and brave soldier, and was honorably discharged from the army at Marshfield, Webster county, June 4, 1865.
After his career in the army, Mr. Smith returned home and resumed farming and on February 28. 1866, he married Rebecca Watts. He first rented a farm of sixty acres, which he worked for three years, then moved on a two hundred and fifty acre farm on the James river, which place he rented and operated for eight years, getting a good start, then bought seventy- five acres, to which he later added forty acres, and here his widow still resides. He cleared this land and was very successful as a general farmer, was a hard worker and good manager. Twelve acres of the place has remained in timber. He built a comfortable home and made other modern improvements. He devoted considerable attention to raising live stock. especially hogs. Here his death occurred July 23, 1905. He was well liked throughout his community and had the respect of all who knew him.
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Mrs. Rebecca Sunth was born in Greene county, Missouri, August 17, 1843. She is a daughter of James and Della ( Faber) Watts. The father was born in Tennessee in 1810, and there grew up on a farm and received a common school education and married and there resided until three of his children were born; then immigrated to Green county, Missouri, in wagons drawn by oxen, crossing the Mississippi river in the winter, on the ice. Hle followed farming in Tennessee for a time after his marriage, later was a steamboat pilot on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. He often made extensive trips, being away from home eight and ten months at a time, when he was a riverman. It was in 1835 that he brought his family to Greene county, and was thus among the first settlers. He entered from the government two hun- dred and forty acres, most of which he cleared and developed into a good farm and was rated among the successful pioneers of this locality, was well known among the frontiersmen and well liked for his many good traits of character. Politically, he was a Republican. His death occurred on his farm here. His wife was born in Tennessee in 1812, was reared on a farm there and received such educational advantages as the schools of those early times afforded. She was a hard worker and was always ready to assist her hus- band in making the living and in the proper rearing of their children. She lived to an advanced age, dying at the home of her son twenty years after her husband's death. She was a member of the Presbyterian church. To Mr. and Mrs. Watts the following children were born, namely : William Harri- son was an artilleryman during the Civil war and was killed in battle, shot while tending his cannon : John J., a veteran of the Civil war, lives at Rogers- ville, Webster county; Thomas J., deceased; James Madison, who was a soldier in the Civil war, is deceased ; Isaac Newton, who was a soldier in the Sixth Missouri Cavalry, died while in the service, in 1862; Rebecca, who be- came the wife of Mr. Smith, of this sketch; Mary T. is deceased : Mrs. Delila E. Sams lives in Clinton county, Missouri : Robert S., deceased ; George W. lives in Rogersville ; AAndrew Jackson, deceased ; Mrs. Mattie Robenau lives in Springfield, where she is engaged in the millincry business; Mrs. Artelia Jennings lives in Webster county, Missouri.
Mrs. Smith was reared on the home farm and was educated in the com- mon schools in Greene county. She has been a diligent and worthy helpmeet and a prudent and kind mother. She is now getting along in years, but has the appearance of a much younger woman, being well preserved and enjoying good health. She has a wide circle of friends in this part of the county.
To Mr. and Mrs. Smith three children were born, namely: Jerome, born January 4, 1867. is deceased : Leon, born January 4. 1869. is deceased ; Mrs. Lennie M. Roach, born June 28, 1877. Mr. Roach operates the home- stead for Mrs. Smith, he and his wife residing at the old home with the widow of our subject.
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GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
LORENZO TIPTON WATSON, M. D.
The record of a life well spent, of triumph over obstacles, of persever- ance under difficulties and steady advancement from a modest beginning to a place of affluence, honor and distinction in the industrial and professional worlds, 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 mature years whose achievements have not kept pace with their expectations. Dominated by the highest principles of in- tegrity was the course of the late Dr. Lorenzo Tipton Watson, one of the most distinguished citizens of Springfield and Greene county during a past generation, who, for a long lapse of years was among our leading men of affairs. His life was a varied and useful one and during its course we find him not only a skilled physician, but a successful teacher, farmer, merchant and real estate dealer, and during the nation's greatest crisis he was a soldier. For nearly half a century Greene county had been his home, and his career had crowned so many successes and wrought so many achievements that he had become distinguished for his thrift, energy and enterprise.
Doctor Watson was born near Madisonville, Monroe county, Tennessee, September 13, 1833. He was a son of Barnard and Jane (Holloway) Watson. He was the second child of a family of twelve children. The father was a highly respected and substantial farmer in Tennessee, of old Southern stock, his people and also those of his wife being of the Andrew Jackson type, all courageous and clear in their conceptions of duty. These par- ents remained in that state until 1847, when they removed to Greene county. Missouri, and secured land west of Springfield on which they spent their declining years. In his early boyhood Lorenzo T. Watson followed the plow on the old homestead, and he was about fifteen years of age when his parents moved to Missouri, but he remained behind in his native state, for he was de- termined to work his way to an education there. After attending the public schools he entered Hiwassee College at Madisonville, where he made a credit- able record. He then taught school three or four years in Tennessee. North Carolina and Georgia, and in the fall of 1853 he came to Greene county, Mis- souri, and taught school two years in Cass and Robberson townships, spend- ing the summer months on his father's farm near Cave Spring. Having cultivated a desire to study medicine, and being ambitious to become a physi- cian and surgeon he began reading medicine while engaged in teaching and saving his earnings to defray his expenses in medical college. He entered the Missouri Medical College in St. Louis, where he made a good record and was graduated in 1859, having defrayed his own expenses with the money earned by teaching. He began the practice of his profession at Hartville,
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Wright county, this state, and was getting a good start when the Civil war began. He was strong in his Union sentiments and clearly saw that his duty called him to the defense of the country, and without hesitation he entered the Federal army, enlisting at Rolla, in October, 1861, in the Twenty-fourth Missouri Volunteer Infantry, and was commissioned assistant surgeon of the same, which he held until in October, 1862, being part of the time on duty with his regiment at various places in southern and southeast Missouri, and the remainder of the time on detached duty in the military hospital at Spring- field. In October, 1802, he was promoted to surgeon of the Fourteenth Missouri State Militia Cavalry, with the rank of major, under command of Colonel John M. Richardson and held the position until the regiment was out of existence by the consolidation of the Fourteenth regiments so as to make ten full regiments of that arm of the service, in March, 1863. His services in the army of three years were higlily patriotic, efficient and honorable. Dur- ing his service he was closely associated with Doctor Robberson. Shortly before the close of the war Dr. Watson was honorably discharged and mus- tered out. Soon thereafter he located in Springfield and began in the mer- cantile business which he continued for about three years, then sold out and purchased a well improved farm in Cass township, this county, and prospered rapidly as a general agriculturist, stock raiser, breeder and trader. He re- mained there until 1881, having proven himself to be a man of remarkable industry and energy. No exposure or hardships could daunt the courage of this man. But after ten years as a farmer he sold out and located again in Springfield where he spent the rest of his life in a picturesque brick residence on South street, still occupied by his widow, and about which are associations of pioneer and war days. Numerous bullets were fired into it during the battle of Springfield as it was located near one of the forts where a spirited engagement took place. After leaving the farm he engaged extensively in buying and selling real estate. He was eminently successful as a man of business and accumulated quite a handsome estate, valued at a quarter of a million.
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