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 88
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
Doctor Watson was married in September, 1865, to Josephine Massey, who was born in Greene county, Missouri, in January, 1845. She is a daugh- ter of Nathaniel and Nancy (Ellison) Massey. Mr. Massey was born in Charleston. South Carolina, came to Greene county, Missouri, in an early day and here became a prominent man of affairs, and here Mrs. Watson grew to womanhood and received a good education. She is a lady of sterling attributes of head and heart and her long life in Springfield has been of de- cided usefulness. The fortune which Doctor Watson left her has not dimin- ished as a result of her judicious management and rare executive ability. She has long been known as one of our leading philanthropists and the city owes her a debt of gratitude which it cannot repay. Among the liberal donations
815
GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
which she has made to worthy movements have been those for the local Young Men's Christian Association and the Young Women's Christian Association. She is now advanced in years, but is well preserved, having the appearance of a woman much younger and she is progressive in her ideas, well informed on current matters and she numbers her friends only by the limits of her acquaintance, owing to her affable manner, obliging and hospitable disposi- tion.
Only one child was born to Doctor Watson and wife, Edward Watson, whose birth occurred in October, 1866, who grew to be a very amiable and promising young man: he met an untimely death by the accidental discharge of a gun while hunting.
Politically, our subject was a Democrat, at one time belonged to the Masonic Order, and religiously he was a member of the Methodist Epis- copal church, South.
The death of Doctor Watson occurred November 18, 1903. He was a close friend of Hon. S. P. Hale, formerly president of the Hiwassee Col- lege, Madisonville, Tennessee, and in speaking of his death, Mr. Hale said: "In the last conversation I had with Doctor Watson during his last visit to Tennessee about a year prior to his death he expressed himself freely on the subject of death and future judgment; he had no fears of the terrors of death and had an abiding faith in the efficacy of the redemption of sin- ners made by Jesus Christ, our Savior."
Doctor Watson was an active member of Captain John Matthews Post No. 69, Grand Army of the Republic, and at a meeting a short time after his death, appropriate resolutions were passed by the post, respecting the life and character of the subject of this memoir, a part of which we here reproduce :
"Whereas, In His inscrutable wisdom the Divine Father of all man- kind, the Creator of our earth and of the great universe, has permitted the passing away from us of our beloved, honored and never-to-be-for- gotten comrade, Dr. Lorenzo T. Watson, who has surrendered his mortal and entered upon immortal life, wherefore, be it
Resolved, First, that we mourn his death, honor his character and for- ever cherish him in our memory. Second, That we extend to his ever faith- ful wife and widow, and to all his family, our most affectionate consolation in these, their days of immeasurable bereavement. We now humbly pray our Heavenly Father to so console her and them with the outpouring of His Holy Spirit, and of His all-pervading love, that the sad burden now so heavily weighing upon them may be removed, and that they may pos- sess the peace which passeth all understanding, and which comes to those who bow in submission to the decrees of nature and the providence of God. Our greeting to her and them is, and ever is Sursum Corda.
810
GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
"Comrade Watson requested that he be accorded the honors of a Grand Army burial by the post, and accordingly, on Sunday, November 22, 1003, we loyally and with tender affection of our hearts, performed that sacred and sad duty In consigning the mortal body of our comrade to the sheltering bosom of mother earth in Hazelwood cemetery.
"Comrade Watson was successful in every vocation and enterprise and we are glad to pay tribute to his creditable achievements worked out by him in his long, useful and patriotic life, which closed when he had attained his allotted three score and ten. Doctor Watson was thoroughly honest. No taint of the least lack of integrity has or ever can stain his life or character. His word was as good as his bond with surety. He amassed a fair fortune which was his own by the labor of his mind and hands. He was never guilty of the oppression of any man. He was a liberal supporter of the church and a very substantial contributor to every public enterprise. His life has been one of great credit to himself, his family, his community, to this state and the state of his birth. He lived the life of a gentleman and died the death of a Christian."
JAMES G. WOOD.
One of the worthy citizens of Greene county, who has lived to see and take part in its development during the past sixty-two years, is James G. Wood, for a long lapse of years one of our leading agriculturists and stock raisers, now living in retirement enjoying the fruits of his former industry, and although he is past eighty-two years of age, he is in possession of all his faculties and enjoys life to the fullest extent as a result, no doubt, of wholesome living and thinking. He came here from the sunny South in the ante-belhun days, when this city was an insignificant village and when the county was sparsely settled and practically a wilderness or a wild prairie. Ilis long life of usefulness and honor has won for him the sincere affection of all who have known him. His early industry has resulted in his posses- sion of a neat competence, and while he still enjoys the glow of the golden rays of the sun of life that must eventually set behind the horizon of the inevitable. he shares that enjoyment with no stint in the companionship of the members of his family and his wide circle of friends, won through his continued residence here of over six decades.
Mr. Wood was born in Huntsville, Alabama, February 24, 1832. He is a son of John and Elizabeth (Morris) Wood. John Wood was born in England in 1805 and there grew to manhood and was educated, and there he married Elizabeth Morris, a daughter of James Morris, and she was born
JAMES G. WOOD.
o
MRS. SUSAN ANN WOOD.
817
GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
in England in 1804, and died in 1866. To John Wood and wife thirteen children were born, namely: Hannah, who was born in England, married John Williams, of Tennessee, and after his death in 1850, she married a Mr. Farrier, in 1854, he being a hatter; her son, John W. Williams, became a leading hardware merchant in Springfield, Missouri, and with him she spent the latter part of her life. James G. Wood, subject of this sketch, was the next child; John M .; Martha E., who married J. M. Powell, also became a resident of Springfield. The other children all died in infancy. After the death of the mother of these children, John Wood married Mrs. M. E. Weaver, widow of Joseph Weaver, and prior to her marriage to this gentle- man the widow of a Mr. Shackelford. She spent the latter part of her life in Springfield. John Wood emigrated with his wife and child to the United States when a young man, and was later followed by two brothers and one sister, James, Samuel and Ann. He located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he followed the trade of a cotton spinner, which he had learned in the old country, and eventually became an expert in that line of work. Mr. Wood moved to Huntsville, Alabama, where he erected a power loom for the manufacture of cotton goods, which was the first built in that state. From there he made many trips to Philadelphia for the purpose of purchasing machinery for his looms and at one time made the long journey on horse- back. He was a man of exceptional physical endurance, robust and cour- ageous. In 1834 he removed to Rockford, Illinois, being the third settler there, and there endured the many hardships incident to life on the frontier. He made numerous trips to Chicago, then a mere village. He became the owner of a ferry boat at Rockford, which was one of the very first to cross the Rock river at that point, and there he maintained a shop in which he did all kinds of engineering work. He removed to Franklin, Tennessee, where he built the first power loom ever used in that state. He then engaged in the manufacture of cotton goods and in his establishment was manufactured the canvas that covered the wagons of many of the early emigrants who left that country to come to Greene county, Missouri, prominent among them being the Rountrees. In 1836 he located in Lawrence county. Tennes- see, where he built a cotton mill and engaged in the manufacture of cotton goods for about sixteen years, and during that period also managed a large plantation, and was most successful in both enterprises. In 1853 he came to Greene county, Missouri, locating on Grand Prairie, northwest of Spring- field, where he became the owner of a fine tract of land, which he developed by the assistance of his sons, his advanced age compelling him to merely oversee the place. During the Civil war he removed to Madison county, Arkansas, where he remained until 1864, and while there engaged in the manufacture of knives and other utensils. After the close of the war he re-
(52)
.
818
GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
turned to Greene county and lived a retired life until his death at the age of eighty-two years, dying in Springfickl. April 30, 1887. Politically he was a Whig and while active in political matters was never an office seeker. Rehgiously he was a member of the Christian church, and an active worker in the Sunday school. He even purchased a printing press on which he printed a Sunday school paper and cards for the Sunday school pupils. He was very liberal in his support of the church. He made money rapidly and was always lenient with his debtors, never suing anyone who owed him. He was a great Bible student and was well posted on the current topics of the day, was interested in the sciences, especially astronomy, and he made for himself a splendid telescope, some six feet long, which instrument is now in possession of his son. James G., of this review. By the exercise of his varied talents he accumulated a large property, and this, with an un- tarnished name, he left to his children. He did all his work thoroughly and believed that whatever was worth doing at all was worth doing well, and besides his other fields of enterprise he was an expert book-binder. His cotton factory in Tennessee had an overshot wheel thirty-five feet in diameter, and at the same time intelligently conducting this factory he also operated a tannery on a large scale in connection with his other enterprises. He was musically inclined, and first his own instructor in this art he later was able to instruct others. He made a number of musical instruments, all of which he could play, and they were considered excellent of their kind. He was never contented unless busy at something and even in his last days was always working. He was one of those men who had a keen observing faculty, and Mother Nature in her varied forms possessed great beauty and attraction for him, and while on his way to and from Philadelphia from Huntsville, Alabama, he always took occasion to visit the Natural Bridge in Virginia. He was one of the best known men in Greene county and was greatly admired and esteemed by all.
James G. Wood spent his boyhood days assisting his father with his various pursuits, principally about his cotton mills and farms, and he also- learned the tanner's trade, and for some time had the management of that branch of his father's business. Although the opportunities to obtain an education in those days were not the best, he improved those he had, and, remaining a wide reader and close observer always he became a well in- formed man. He left Tennessee in 1852, when he was twenty years of age, having preceded the family several months, and located with the rest of the family on Grand Prairie. Greene county, Missouri, where he engaged in farming until the commencement of the war between the states, when he removed with the family to Madison county, Arkansas. where he con- ducted a tannery until in 1864, when he returned to Greene county, and a
-
.
MRS. ELIZABETH WOOD.
-
JOHN WOOD.
819
GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
few years later located on a farm of one hundred and sixty-seven acres near Springfield, which was given him by his father, and on which he continued to reside until his retirement from active life a number of years ago. His farm was desirably located four miles southeast of Springfield, consisting of one hundred and eight-seven acres, and was one of the best improved and most productive in the county. On it stood a large dwelling in the midst of attractive surroundings and a number of substantial outbuildings. Here he carried on general farming and stock raising on an extensive scale and prospered with advancing years through his able management and close application, until upon the arrival of old age he was classed among the wealthiest agriculturists of the county. He now resides in a beautiful home on East Walnut street, Springfield, which he built himself, surrounded by all the comforts of life.
Mr. Wood was married on October 1, 1857, to Susan Ann Dishongh. a daughter of Henderson and Sarah (Hail) Dishongh. The father was born in North Carolina, January 2, 1812, and was a son of Augustin Dis- hongh, who came from France in an early day and located in North Carolina before the Revolutionary war. At one time he ferried George Washing- ton and his army across the river at his plantation. His death occurred in 1847 in Giles county, Tennessee, where he had moved in pioneer days. He reached the age of eighty-two years. His youngest son. Henderson Dis- hongh, was killed by lightning, June 16, 1847, in Giles county. The elder Dishongh was a skilled mechanic, and for many years was engaged in the manufacture of cotton cloth, and at the same time worked at his trade of millwright. He was the inventor of one of the first improved cotton spin- ning machines ever made. He was regarded as one of the greatest geniuses in a mechanical way in his day and generation in this country. Politically, he was a Whig. took considerable interest in public affairs and was a useful citizen in every respect and highly honored by all who knew him. He and Sarah Hail were married in Tennessee. She was a daughter of Butler and Elizabeth Hail, who were early pioneers of that state, and were relatives of Dr. William Hail, a noted surgeon in the Mexican war. The death of Mrs. Sarah Dishongh occurred in Giles county, Tennessee, December 26, 1850. To Henderson Dishongh and wife six children were born, namely: George B. became a prosperous manufacturer of cotton goods in Lawrence county. Tennessee ; Augustin, who owned a mill at Pulaski, that state, died at the age of forty-three years; Elizabeth married J. K. Speer, a prominent busi- ness man of Indianapolis. Indiana ; Susan, who married James G. Wood, of this sketch : Sarah A. married James R. Gilmore, of Alabama, and Martha J., who married a Mr. Foster, of Greene county, Missouri, died in early life. Mrs. Woods was born in Giles county, Tennessee, June 5. 1839, and there
820
GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
she received a common school education. She was seventeen years of age when she removed with the family to Lawrence county, Tennessee, where she lived until her marriage to our subject.
Two children were born to James G. Wood and wife: Sarah E., whose birth occurred June 11, 1859. died April 15. 1862, and Susan J .. whose birth occurred August 15, 1861. The latter was educated in the Springfield high school. She married B. L. Routt, a leading groceryman of Springfield, and to them four children were born, namely: Amma, now Mrs. Bert Richardson, who has one child, Josephine; Josephine; Lonnie, who died at the age of two years; James Routt, married, and is a clerk in the Metropolitan hotel.
The death of Mrs. James G. Wood occurred, February 2, 1912, when nearly seventy-three years of age. She was a woman of strong mind and kind heart, was beloved by her neighbors and friends, and was a devout member of the Christian church. Mr. Wood is also a member of that de- nomination, and politically he is a Democrat, but he has never been active in political affairs. He is charitably inclined and has ever been generous to those about him in need or distress, and has never hesitated to aid generously all movements that have for their object the general good. Many a young man owes his start and success in life to the material aid and sound advice of this venerable patriarch whose example is worthy of emulation by the youth who would not only make a success in life, but also become a useful and highly respected citizen.
JAMES W. WATTS.
Not all of us can succeed in more than one line of endeavor. As a rule it requires years of preparation. study and practical experience to reap more than mediocre success. It seems that James W. Watts, a well known citizen of Clay township. Greene county, is a man endowed with a versatility of talents, for he has succeeded as a farmer, stockman. veterinary surgeon, a breeder of live stock, pump salesman, harnessmaker and shoemaker. He has always applied himself very assiduously to whatever task he set himself to perform and, being courageous has never permitted little things to deflect him from his course, when once he decided that he was right.
Mr. Watts was born in Webster county, Missouri. September 5. 1864. He is a son of Dr. Thomas J. and Martha A. M. ( Hedgepeth) Watts. The father was born in Tennessee, August 10. 1837. He came west at an early age and settled in Greene county, Missouri, on the James river. He was educated in the Ozark high school, and in early life taught school for some time. In 1858 he began the study of medicine under Doctors Robertson and
821
GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
Barrett. In 1861 he began the practice of his profession in Webster county, and in 1864 moved where his son, our subject, is now living, in Greene county. He was one of the well-known and successful early-day physicians of this section of the state. He became owner of four hundred acres of val- uable land in this county. He married in 1863. His wife, mother of our subject, was born on December 3, 1838. in Tennessee, where she was reared, and from that state emigrated with her parents in ox wagons to Christian county, Missouri. She received a good education and taught school several years. She was a great charity worker. She was a member of the Christian church. Her death occurred on February 7. 1905. and on April Igth, of that year. she was joined in the Silent Land by her husband. they thus having run a pretty even race on the highway of life. They were useful, influential and highly esteemed in their community. To these parents only two children were born. Lula T .. who died in infancy; and James W., of this sketch.
James W. Watts grew to manhood on the home farm and received his education in the local schools. He removed to the place where he now re- sides when he was three weeks old, and thus he has here spent his life. After attending Henderson Academy, he married, in May, 1890, Carrie K. Dixon, of Ohio. She was born August 17, 1870. When young he learned the trades of harnessmaker and shoemaker, but his attention has been directed principally to general farming and breeding and handling live stock on an extensive scale. He owns two hundred and eighty acres of well-improved and productive land in Clay township, all in a body, constituting one of the most desirable farms in this part of the county. He studied the science of veterinary medicine and surgery at home and is well up in such matters and maintains an office at his place and has a good practice. He is also agent for The Hayes-the leading pump-and has sold a large number. He has been very successful in what- ever line he has engaged.
Mr. Watts' first wife was a daughter of Jack and Ardella Dixon, and her death occurred May 20. 1905. To this union two children were born. Arlie. May 18, 1892 and Gladys, born December 9. 1894, both at home. Mr. Watts married for his second wife, Mrs. Lillie (Gray) Dixon. widow of George B. Dixon. . She was born July 6, 1875. in Douglas county, Missouri, and is a daughter of John and Artela Gray. She became the mother of two children by her first husband : they are Agnes A., born November 28, 1897, and Hallie A., born August 22, 1899, both living at home. To Mr. Watts and his second wife one child has been born. Thomas A. Watts, born December 22, 191I, who is living with his parents. Mrs. Watts is a member of the Methodist church. Politically, Mr. Watts is a Republican. Mr. Watts has been re- peatedly asked to take different public offices of the county, but has always refused on account of his large varied interests which require all his time.
GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
JOSEPH GEORGE AUMOTH.
No more enterprising, courageous and altogether desirable immigrants come to America from any country of the globe than the Norwegians. They have both the will and ability to do things, are loyal to our government and institutions, faithful and reliable citizens and their coming among us has been mutually helpful. We have furnished them comfortable homes and they have helped develop our various states and counties. The natural con- ditions in Norway have ever been such that only a race of people of honesty, persisteney, tact and fortitude could survive. The art of making a liveli- hood there is indeed quite different from what it is in the South Sea islands where the natives need not put forth any effort to subsist, merely plucking and eating the fruits Mother Nature furnishes, but in the frigid mountains of Norway it is a constant battle to survive, and this battle develops in her natives the qualities that are necessary to win anywhere in the civilized countries of the world. They were innate in such men as Joseph George Aumoth, who was one of the prominent business men of Springfield, Mis- souri, in the early period of her development, for many years a wholesale merchant and banker, establishing the very first wholesale house in Spring- field. He proved to be one of our best citizens in every respect, even risking his life in the defense of the flag during our great war between the states, and although he has long since been summoned from earthly scenes, his influence on the history of this locality a half century ago will be permanent.
Mr. Aumoth was born in Norway, on November 20, 1831. He was a son of Joseph and Elizabeth Aumoth, natives of Norway, where they spent their lives, never coming to America. The father of our subject was a ship owner and lived on the coast.
Joseph G. Aumoth grew to manhood in Norway and assisted his father when a boy, and he was given splendid educational advantages, being cdu- cated by a Lutheran minister. He early manifested a liking for business and had decided talent in that direction, and he worked in a bank in his native land when a young man at the age of eighteen years. Believing that greater opportunities for advancement awaited him in the United States than in his own country, he ran away from home, worked on a ship across the Atlantic ocean to pay for his passage to the new world. His parents were people of means and they sent five hundred dollars to the Norwegian consul at New York, which sum was to be given to their son if he would return home. But he came on west. his first stop being at Chicago, where he worked four months. after which he came to St. Louis where he worked in a hardware store and attended night school, and remained at work there until the com- mencement of the Civil war when he enlisted in the Missouri State Home
823
GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
Guards to protect the government arsenal at St. Louis, later enlisting in Company C, Missouri Volunteer Infantry, under General Sigel, and served about two and one-half years in a faithful and gallant manner, being pro- moted from time to time for his meritorious conduct until he had attained the rank of captain at the time of his discharge. He saw considerable hard service, and among the engagements in which he participated was the battle of Pea Creek, battle of Wilson's Creek and siege of Vicksburg, being wounded during the latter by a grape-shot. He was sent to the hospital where he re- mained nine weeks, after which he was discharged from the service and came to Springfield, Missouri, and engaged in the mercantile business, supplying clothes and other materials to soldiers, etc. He remained in the mercantile business here for twelve years, first as a retail merchant and, as before stated, was the first wholesale merchant. He by nature was a mathematician, an expert accountant and he could add three columns of figures simultaneously of greater length and with more accuracy than an average man could add one column. He was very successful as a merchant and built up quite an exten- sive trade. Later he became connected with the Greene County Bank of Springfield as vice-president, which position he held until his death, and the rapid growth of this institution during that period was due for the most part to his judicious counsel, enterprise and keen foresight.
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.