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 93
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Mr. Perkins and his faithful life companion traversed the road that leads from yesterday to the unknown beyond for a half century, and they celebrated their golden wedding, June 4, 1913, and we reprint the following from the society page of the Springfield Leader, which tells of that impor- tant event in the lives of the subject of this memoir and his wife :
"An elegant and unusual reception was given Wednesday evening at the Perkins Hotel on Commercial street, when the many friends of Mr. and Mrs. Leonard B. Perkins, were bidden to celebrate the fiftieth anni- versary of their marriage. The parlor suite was profusely decorated in
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Lady Wellington roses, which are of a deep yellow color, and on tables were displayed the many gifts of gold, and other pieces in which the golden color was prominent. The dining room was a veritable bower of white field daisies, festoons of yellow tulle gracefully draped the paneled walls. During the evening Mrs. George B. Swift, accompanied by Miss Mary Hall, sang. 'My Heart Is Singing,' by Sousa, and responded with "My Dear,' by Ernest R. Ball, as an encore. Miss Nell Haynes, accompanied by Professor Kelly, sang in her usual brilliant style, 'Happy Days,' and giving as an en- core, 'Silver Threads Among the Gold.' The orchestra program, under di- rection of Prof. Herbert L. Hoover, was exceptionally pleasing, the selec- tions 'Annie Laurie,' 'Drink to Me Only with Thine Eyes,' 'Soldier's Fare- well,' the popular airs of fifty years ago. In the receiving line were: Mrs. Lemuel Parsons and Miss Emily Hess, both of Oklahoma City; Mrs. Lee R. Hoff, and Misses Willene Rand, Adah Roberts and Bernice Jackson ably assisted in receiving the many guests. Mrs. Perkins was gowned in white and carried an arm bouquet of yellow roses. The ladies assisting in receiv- ing were exquisite in gowns of white lingerie. Later in the evening the younger people danced until a late hour. A two-course luncheon was served continuously during the evening, and in the large hall delicious punch was dispensed. About two hundred guests called and congratulated Mr. and Mrs. Perkins on this happy occasion."
The death of Leonard B. Perkins occurred on February 28, 1914, after a short illness, when nearly seventy-four years of age. We quote the fol- lowing from the Springfield Independent, in its issue of March 2, 1914:
"For several days Mr. Perkins' friends were confident that he could not survive many days, yet when the hour came they were much grieved at his departure. His home was constantly visited by his friends during his illness. His old soldier friends were there, his lodge friends called and his business friends were solicitous of his condition. Thirty and four years is a long time to be a citizen of the same location. During that time he called to his circle of friendships the old, the middle aged and the youth. Every- body respected him and all had a word of cheer. He delighted to relate stories of the Civil war. He also took delight to state that he and Mrs. Perkins played on the same play-grounds in youth while attending the same school. They played together in youth and they lived together as the years ripened into age. He was a sensible, intelligent old man-cultured and re- fined, and he never dropped his Yankee habits in full. He was a splendid conversationalist and he liked to talk about the early history of Commer- cial street.
"In his passing Springfield loses one of its warmest admirers and one of its best citizens. The little old hotel he used in the long ago is now the hotel office of the Perkins and no old citizen can pass that site without think-
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ing of the one who used to be there to greet friends and guests in the royal manner of the old Empire state. He has left a heritage of good will and good cheer to all the people. It is sad to see these old land-marks pass from the city's activities and the city's makeup. The old have a place in our his- tory and no matter how long they stay their life is precious to all who stop to consider. The old soldiers' ranks are thinning. The old people's circle is diminishing and ere long there will be but few to tell the tale of early his- tory. Mr. Perkins was our friend and neighbor and many times he came into this office with good cheer and sunshine when the hour seemed the dark- est. His many visits will be remembered as so many messengers of splen- did encouragement, confidence and trust."
WILLIAMSON PORTER WHITLOCK.
A name known to everyone who has had the slightest acquaintance with the business history of Springfield during the generation that is past, is that of the late Williamson Porter Whitlock. During his active life he filled a large place in certain lines of industrial affairs of the city, and as an energetic, enterprising, far-sighted man whose judgment and discretion were seldom at fault and whose influence made for the substantial upbuilding of the Queen City of the Ozarks he earned a reputation among his contemporaries. He is remembered as a man who possessed a broad, inquiring mind, who was keenly alive to everything that tended to improve general conditions here and benefit those upon whose shoulders fell the burden of making possible the phenomenal progress resulting from the development and success of the . industrial evolution of this section of the country during the past half cen- tury. Although modest and unassuming, he had a strong and vigorous personality and was fitted by nature to manage important enterprises. He was a representative of a sterling old pioneer family of Greene county, the Whitlocks having been influential in the growth of the same from the early period of her history to the present time and they have borne untarnished reputations.
Mr. Whitlock was born in Greene county, Missouri, July 21, 1841. He was a son of Thomas J. and Elizabeth ( Montgomery) Whitlock, who lo- cated in this county in the early thirties and here became well established and well known. To them eight children were born, namely: Lambert, Mrs. Adaline Huff, Samuel, Mrs. Clementine Snyder, Mrs. Susan Bedell, Williamson Porter, of this sketch; Mrs. Mary Leathers, and Thomas Jeffer- son. They are all now deceased.
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Williamson P. Whitlock grew to manhood on the old homestead in this county and he received such educational advantages as the early-day schools afforded. When the Civil war came on he enlisted in the Home Guards under Colonel Holland, at Springfild, in 1862, and he saw considerable service, including the battle of Pea Ridge, Arkansas, and of other minor engagements. He was mustered out in 1863, and honorably discharged, after which he went to St. Louis and engaged in the mule and horse busi- ness there for two years. Returning to Springfield, he devoted the latter part of his life to the livery business, in connection with handling horses, mules and general live stock and was very successful and one of the most widely known stock men in the county.
Mr. Whitlock was married. November 20, 1865, to Elizabeth J. Ross, a daughter of David and Louisa ( Robinson) Ross, who came from Ken- tucky to Greene county, Missouri, in the carly thirties, when this territory was inhabited by Indians and white settlers were few and far between. Mrs. Whitlock's mother was a native of Tennessee. Mr. Ross devoted his life to the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal church, South, had charge of a church in Springfield for many years in the early forties, and he was one of the most prominent pioneer ministers in southwest Missouri. His family consisted of twelve children, an equal number of sons and daugh- ters, namely : L. A. lives on a farm near Willard, Greene county ; William M., deceased: Dr. Francis E., for over a quarter of a century a leading physician of Springfield. is deceased; Elizabeth J., widow of our subject ; Mrs. Mary Louise Skeen, of Ash Grove, Missouri: Mrs. Sarah M. Wat- son. of Morrisville, Missouri; David W. lives on a farm near Willard ; ilrs. Henrietta Josephine Robinson lives in Texas: Bennette J. lives near Willard on a farm: Mrs. Cordelia Robinson lives in Oklahoma: Laura Emma is the wife of Dr. Robert Appleby, and they live in Topeka, Kansas : Dr. L. C., a Springfield physician, lives with his sister, Mrs. Whitlock, at 315 West Center street. The father of the above named children owned a large farm near Ebenezer.
To Mr. and Mrs. Whitlock nine children were born, namely : Mrs. Ina Belle Fawcett, of McAlester, Oklahoma: Mrs. Lela Louise Hubbard is cleceased : George David, deceased : Thomas Ross was next in order : Emma Jane died in infancy : Mary Jessie is a teacher in the local public schools ; William Porter, Jr., was next in order; Mrs. Lydia Layton, deceased ; Georgia Elizabeth is the wife of John Cassity, and they live in Kansas City.
Politically. Mr. Whitlock was always a Democrat, although he was a Union sympathizer during the Civil war. He was a member of the Metho- dist Episcopal church, South, of which his widow is also a member.
Mr. Whitlock was called to his eternal rest on August 18. 1895-
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HENRY F. KENNEDY.
Much has been written of recent years regarding the constant flocking of country boys to the city, which has resulted in a very rapid growth of American cities and left the rural districts without proper help in the raising and caring for crops. Many solutions of this problem have been offered, for it seems a fact to be deplored that so many boys who were better pre- pared by nature for agriculturists than for commercial men should leave the old homestead for the boarding house in the metropolis. Most of them had better remained on the farm, considering the question from every view- point. Henry F. Kennedy, a farmer of North Campbell township, Greene county, is one who has wisely remained on the farm, instead of seeking a precarious existence in. the city.
Mr. Kennedy was born in Davidson county, North Carolina, November 7, 1858. He is a son of Isham H. and Lydia M. (Meyer) Kennedy. The father was born in the same county and state, April 21, 1832, the Kennedy family having been among the older people of the Tar state. There the father was reared on a plantation and received a common school education. He remained in Dixieland until 1869, when he made the long journey to Missouri, later buying a farm in Greene county, where he became a success- ful farmer. He is now living with his daughter in Wright county, being past eighty-two years of age, but is still active. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. The mother of our subject was also born in North Carolina, on December 29, 1839, and there she grew to womanhood and received a common school education. Her death occurred in Wright county, Missouri, March 23, 1905. To these parents eight children were born, namely: Henry F., of this sketch, being the eldest: Mrs. Martha J. Gardner, Mrs. Sarah Ayres, John W., Mrs. Emma V. Mitchell, George, Mrs. Julia Smith, and Effie, the latter being deceased.
Henry F. Kennedy was reared on a farm in North Carolina. and he received some education in subscription schools. He worked for his father on the farm until he was twenty-one years of age, then began farming for himself. The first farm he owned contained eighty acres, to which he has added until now he has three hundred and forty acres and owns three hundred and twenty acres in Webster county. He has prospered through good management and close application. He left his native state and took up his residence here in 1888. He has become one of the most substantial and progressive general agriculturists in Greene county, and he has brought his large acreage up to a high state of development. his improvements being modern, including a commodious residence and large outbuildings. In con- nection with general farming he handles large numbers of live stock of various kinds. He is deserving of a great deal of credit for what he has
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accomplished unaided, and many a young man could well profit by studying his methods. Since coming to this state he has lived in Greene, Barton, Dade and Jasper counties.
Mr. Kennedy was married on April 6, 1885, to Sarah L. Appleby, who was born in Greene county, Missouri. December 30, 1857, and here she grew to womanhood and received a common school education. She is a daughter of William and Elizabeth (Snow) Appleby. Mr. Appleby was a successful farmer of this county. He and his wife have been deceased several years.
Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy, namely: Ida is with her parents ; David lives in Greene county ; George is at home; Frank is also helping his father on the farm; Effie, deceased; and Hugh, who it at home.
Politically, Mr. Kennedy is a Republican, and while he is always ready to take a good citizen's part in public affairs, he has never sought political leadership, preferring to devote his attention to his large farming interests.
JAMES DEVEREAUX.
Although Wales, like Switzerland, is a small, rugged country, it is sur- prising how large a number of excellent citizens have come from there to the United States, where they have benefited both themselves and us, for they are almost without exception, thrifty, economical, painstaking in their work and are people of untiring industry and in every way most desirable citizens. Of those who originally came from that picturesque land "by the sounding sea" and located in Springfield, Missouri, the late James Devereaux, railroader and expert stationary engineer, is deserving of special mention in this volume.
Mr. Devereaux was born near Swansea, Wales, April 12, 1838. He was a son of Thomas and Jane ( Wade) Devereaux, both natives of Wales, the father born in 1793. and died in 1841 ; the mother was born in 1800 and (lied in 1848. These parents grew to maturity in their native land and received good educations; there they were married, spent their lives on a farm and died there. To them six children were born, only one of whom, John Devereaux, of the state of Pennsylvania, is still living.
James Devereaux had little opportunity to obtain an education, but he was a widely read man, always a great reader. When only eighteen years of age he began running a locomotive on a railroad in his native land, when the engines were very small compared with our present day moguls and were built without cabs. He continued railroading in Wales until he
James Devereux
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was twenty-three years of age, when he emigrated to the United States, locating first in Pennsylvania, later removing to Coalburg, Ohio, where he secured employment running a stationary engine for the Powers Ice & Coal Company. After remaining there a few years he moved to Stark county, Ohio, and ran an engine for a mine hauling coal, and he worked at several other places in Ohio, then he removed with his family in 1880 to Kansas, locating in the town of Rosedale, and was engineer in the iron works there; later he was in the West for a short time, then came to Cherokee county, Kan- sas, and there ran a hoist engine at coal and smelter works. He came to Springfield, Missouri, in 1887, and worked as engineer in a saw mill for a while. His family remained here from that time, but he worked in other places most of the time, being able to get better wages and was regarded as a stationary engineer of superior ability and performed his duties most faith- fully.
Mr. Devereaux was married May 25, 1867, in Hubbard, Ohio. to Mary Lloyd, a native of Wales, and a daughter of John and Jane ( Mathews) Lloyd, both natives of Wales also, where Mr. Lloyd followed mining. His birth occurred March 31. 1818, and he died January 17, 1885, in Weir, Kansas. His wife was born January 9, 1820, and died May 18, 1888, in Springfield, Missouri. These parents with the wife of our subject emigrated to the United States in 1853 and the family settled in Pennsylvania. To Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd eleven children were born, three of whom are still living, namely : Mrs. Margaret Hughes. Mary, who married Mr. Devereaux of this sketch, and Edmond J.
To Mr. and Mrs. Devereaux nine children were born, six of whom are still living, namely : Thomas, born March 2, 1868, died August 20, 1883; Jane, born January 2, 1871, lives in the Province of Alberta, Canada ; John, born October 22, 1873, is an engineer, and lives in Weir, Kansas: Margaret May, born May II, 1876, died June 13, 1878; Naoma, born February 16. 1879, lives in Springfield, she married Arthur Jones: James Garfield, born April 29, 1882. died January 9, 1883; Edmond James, born December 4, 1883, lives in Chicago, Illinois: Elizabeth, born November 7. 1886, lives in Springfield, Missouri, married William Jones; Mary Lloyd, born May 31, !889. is teaching in the Rogers' school.
Politically Mr. Devereaux was a Prohibitionist for a period of twenty- six years. Fraternally he belonged to the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows. the Masonic Order and the Ancient Order of United Workmen.
The cozy family home is on West Lynn street, Springfield.
. The death of Mr. Devereaux occurred June 24, 1906. He was a man noted for his sobriety, peaceable nature and industry and he was highly respected by all who knew him. He was a deacon in the First Baptist church for thirty-five years. His family are all Baptists.
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WILLIAM J. ORR.
A lawyer of intense energy and application, William J. Orr, of Spring- fickl, has won a position in the front ranks of men of his profession, in which he is what might be denominated a student lawyer. His mind is of the work- shop order, in contradistinction to the lumber room sort. Its acquisitions are not uselessly there, and not alone for him, but for others, they are ready to be shaped into the support of whatever purpose is in hand. He knows enough to know, and he knows it by both intuition and experience, that to be a good lawyer. a successful one, means hard study and devotion to the profession. Hence, we refer to him as a student, or a studious lawyer, as a man among his books, not as a recluse, or a book-worm, but as a lawyer who busies him- self with those things in which success depends upon the symmetrical judg- ment and practical grasp that come from reading and reflection.
Mr. Orr, who for nearly a quarter of a century has been district attor- ney for the old "Gulf" and Frisco railroads, and one of the most widely known attorneys in the Southwest, was born in Pike county, Missouri, February 2, 1856. He is a son of Robert S. and Henrietta A. (Early) Orr. The father was born near Salisbury, North Carolina, but removed from that state to Missouri in an early day with his parents and here he grew to man- hood on a farm and received good educational advantages for those times. When a young man he worked as a stair builder for some time. When his health failed he engaged in mercantile pursuits. His death occurred in Louisiana, Missouri, in 1880. The mother of our subject was a native of Pike county, this state, where she was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools. Her parents located in that county upon their arrival in Missouri from Virginia. She was the niece of Gen. Jubal A. Early, of Virginia. Her death occurred in 1912 in Howell county, Missouri. These parents were members of the Presbyterian church. To them eight children were born, four of whom are deceased.
. William J. Orr was reared in his native county and there received his primary education. He was graduated from Watson Seminary in 1878, but he is for the most part a self-educated man, having remained an ardent stu- dent all his life. In 1880 he went to West Plains, Howell county, Missouri, later taking Horace Greeley's advice, went West and tried his fortunes in the state of Oregon, remaining there several years, then returned to West Plains. He was admitted to the bar in 1878 and has been practicing law continuously ever since with pronounced success. Twenty-four years ago he was appointed district attorney for the Kansas City, Ft. Scott & Mem- phis Railroad, and when that road was leased to the St. Louis & San Fran- cisco Railroad Company he was retained in the same position, being the
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only man from the law department of the former road that is now with the law department of the Frisco. This long service would indicate that he has been very capable and faithful in the performance of his duties. He has re- tained the same district, Springfield to Memphis.
Mr. Orr was married in 1884 to Emma Winger, a daughter of J. B. Winger, who was postmaster at Springfield during the Civil war. Mrs. Orr's death occurred in 1898, and he was subsequently married to Ola B. Saunders, of Kansas City. She is a daughter of L. L. Saunders. Both. unions have been without issue.
Politically Mr. Orr is a Democrat, but he has never sought the emolu- ments of political office. He is a gentleman of pleasing address, impressing the stranger with his versatility, sincerity and genuine worth.
H. S. BENNETT.
Mr. Bennett was born at Shelton, Connecticut, October 5, 1861. He is the son of a sterling old New England family ; the son of Henry and Emily Shelton Bennett, both born in Fairfield county, Connecticut, where our sub- ject first saw the light of day and where his parents grew to maturity, re- ceived their education, and were married. The father was a steamboat captain on Long Island Sound, spending the principal part of his active life in charge of boats running out of New York, on the Bridgeport and Derby lines, where he was well known and popular, both with the passenger and freight patrons of these lines. Politically, he was a Republican, and for several years was a major in the Connecticut State Militia. H. S. Bennett. only child of his parents, grew to manhood in his native community, and received his education in the public schools and the Episcopal Academy of the state of Connecticut, at Cheshire, Connecticut. In 1882 he left his New England home and came West, locating in St. Louis, where he engaged in the grocery business a few months : then entered the employ of the Waters Pierce Oil Company. In February. 1883, this company made him their local agent at Springfield, Missouri. In July, 1913. this company sold out to the Pierce Oil Corporation, Mr. Bennett retaining the position of local agent for the new concern.
Mr. Bennett was married in Shelton, Connecticut, in 1881, to Ila J. Wason, who was born at Bridgeport, Connecticut, and is a daughter of Captain James and Elizabeth Mary (Fairchild) Wason. Captain Wason was born in Virginia and Mrs. Wason at Newton, Connecticut, where they were married. Captain Wason, in his early life, was proprietor of the Berk- shire Mills at Bridgeport, Connecticut, and was captain of coasting schooners
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during the latter years of his life. He and his wife are both now deceased. Mrs. Bennett grew to womanhood in Bridgeport, and received a high school education, finishing it at Newtown Academy, Newtown, Connecticut. Mrs. Bennett is a member of the Daughters of the Revolution.
Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Bennett, namely, Shel- ton W., born March 18, 1883, married Mabel Clara McClain, and is now engaged in farming and general stock raising at the head of Lake Taney- como, in Taney county, Missouri : James Hurley, born in 1897, died in 1908, and Henry Fairchild, born September 29, 1895, and is now at home with his parents.
Politically, Mr. Bennett is a Republican. Fraternally, he belongs to the Masonic order, and is a past high priest of Vincel chapter. He is also a member of the Elks, and of the Sons of the Revolution, having had three great-grandfathers in the Revolutionary war; and is a member of the James River Club.
ANDREW J. SCOTT.
The name of Andrew J. Scott is becoming well known among the con- tractors of Springfield. although he is a comparatively new comer in this field. a number of his competitors have been in the business here from a score to two score of years, but our subject's skill, advanced ideas along the building line, his industry, honesty and perseverance is resulting in a lucrative business. For over twenty years he was foreman of one of our largest planing mills. A great deal of his early life was spent in the South of which he is a native, but has resided in Springfield for over a quarter of a century and is well known to the building tradesmen here. Although a Southerner, he has a commendable record as a soldier for the Union, and his life of nearly three score and ten has been a varied and interesting one.
Mr. Scott was born in Tishomingo county, Mississippi, March 17, 1845. He is a son of Robert and Elizabeth (Searcey) Scott, and is one of a family of seven children, six sons and one daughter, namely: William died when twenty-one years of age: John L. died Christmas night. 1858. when cighteen years of age: Aaron W., died January 15, 1858. at the age of fifteen years; Andrew J .. of this review ; Jane Elizabeth married William Miles, and she died when twenty years of age, leaving one child, Victoria; Frank P., who married Mrs. Josie Beal, lives in Springfield, Missouri; Rufus, who was a planter at Rienza, Mississippi, died in 1902, at the age of forty-two years. The father of our subject was born in Virginia, from which state he re- moved to Tennessee when young and there married Elizabeth Searcey, who was a native of Columbia, Tennessee. Later they established their home
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