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 II > Part 10
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Joseph H. Turk, of this sketch, grew up on the home farm where he worked when a boy, and he received his education in the common schools. Having a natural inclination to machinery he secured a position in an im- plement house, and later was a traveling salesman for a champion implement firm for three years, giving it entire satisfaction and doing much to increase its prestige in the territory to which he was assigned. In 1892 he launched out in the hardware business in Ash Grove where he has remained ever since and has built up a large and growing trade which extends all over this section of the country. He has always carried a large and well-selected stock of general hardware and farming implements.
Mr. Turk has manifested an interest in public affairs for some time, and on July 13, 1913, he was appointed postmaster at Ash Grove, and is dis- charging the duties of the same in a manner that reflects much credit upon himself and to the satisfaction of the people and the department. Politi- cally, he is a Democrat, and he has been a committeeman for eight years and is active and influential in the affairs of his party. Fraternally he is a member of the Masonic order, and is now worshipful master of the local Blue Lodge; he is also a member of the Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, Zabud Council, Royal and Select Masters, and the Order of the Eastern Star. He is one of the active and prominent Masons in this part of the state. Re- ligiously he belongs to the Presbyterian church.
Mr. Turk was married on April 22, 1896, to Laura Barham, who was born in Ash Grove, in September, 1873, and here grew to womanhood and was educated. She is a daughter of Mr. W. F. and Mrs. T. E. Barham, natives of Missouri. Mr. Barham devoted his active life to farming. His family consists of six children.
To Mr. and Mrs. Turk the following children have been born: Seth, who is attending the Springfield high school; Harold is attending the high school in Ash Grove; Richard is in the public school; Geraldine is also a public school pupil; and Helen, who is the youngest.
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GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
SAMUEL W. HEADLEE.
As one reviews the history of Greene county and looks into the past to see what people were prominent in its early development, he will find that for more than three-quarters of a century, the period covering its first settlement to the present time, the Tennesseeans have been closely connected with the progress and advancement of this section of the state. Wild was the region into which they came. Its forests stood in their primeval strength, the prairie land was still unbroken, and the Indians still roamed through the woodlands and over the plains, seeking the deer and lesser game which could be found in abundance. The Headlee family, while not so early as some, yet figured in the early-day development of this locality. The late Samuel W. Headlee was of this number, and for a long lapse of years he was one of the most prominent men of the county, playing well his part in the local drama of civilization, not only clearing and developing the land, but aiding in the establishment of schools and churches, and was a public servant of unquestioned ability and integrity ; in fact, the various members of this sterling old family have ever manifested the characteristic thrift of the emi- grants from the old state of "Hickory" Jackson, and justly entitled to rep- resentation in this work.
Samuel W. Headlee was born in Maury county, Tennessee, March 6, 1823. He was a son of Caleb and Mary (Steele) Headlee. His parents were from North Carolina, but emigrated to Tenneesee in a very early day, where they lived until 1836, when they emigrated overland to Missouri and " settled in Greene county, began life in true pioneer fashion, and here Caleb Headlee spent the rest of his life engaged in farming, dying in 1847. Samuel WV. Headlee was thirteen years old when he accompanied his parents to Greene county. He grew to manhood on the farm and received such educa- tional advantages as the schools of those early days afforded, and for some time taught school in this county. In 1850, having caught the "gold fever," he crossed the great western plains to California, where he spent four years, ' engaging successfully in mining. Upon his return here he purchased the old homestead upon which he spent the rest of his life, and was regarded as one of the county's leading farmers of that period. He was elected to the lower house of the state Legislature by the Benton Democracy, re-elected in 1862 and in 1864. In 1866 he was elected by the Republicans to the state Senate, and in 1872, he, to heal the breaches in his party, became a candidate for the lower house, and was elected by a handsome majority. He was again elected to the Legislature in 1876. In all that period of six- teen years he voted as his conscience and judgment dictated, and won for himself the applause and approval of all good men, doing much for the
SAMUEL W. HEADLEE.
MRS. SAMUEL W. HEADLEE.
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general good of his county and looking carefully after the interest of his constituents. He was a faithful and conscientious servant of the people, and his long retention in important official positions would indicate that the people here reposed implicit confidence in his ability and honesty. During the Civil war he took an active part in the service of the Union and in 1862, to that end, was commissioned captain of a militia company. From 1863 to the close of the war, he was captain in the Sixteenth Missouri Cavalry of the Federal army. In 1874 he was complimented by a nomination by the peo- ple's committee as their candidate for lieutenant-governor upon the ticket headed by Major Gentry. After retiring from public life he devoted his attention to general farming on a large scale, and in the decline of a long, useful and honorable life enjoyed the satisfaction of peace with himself and the full confidence of those who knew him best. His death occurred on February 6, 1900.
Samuel W. Headlee was married May 2, 1855, to Emily L. Armor, a daughter of Washington and Nancy S. (Kerr) Armor, natives of Georgia and North Carolina, respectively. They immigrated to Missouri in 1846 and settled in Polk county. After remaining their until about 1848, the Armor family removed to Greene county and here the parents spent the rest of their lives, being long since deceased.
To Samuel W. Headlee and wife nine children were born, namely: Warren E., born on July 27, 1857; Arthur B., born on April 12, 1858, died in infancy; Margaret E., born on July 4, 1859; Blondville D., born on Sep- tember 4, 1861 ; Samuel M., born on February 5, 1865, died on August 14. 1887; James W., born on July 28, 1867; Claude L., born on November 20, 1871; Cora M., born on June 16, 1873, died on November 20, 1903; she was the wife of Avery Robards, and to their union one child was born, Jessie Margaret, whose birth occurred September 30, 1903; she was taken by her grandmother when six weeks old and is still living in her home. Jessie E. Headlee, youngest of our subject's children, was born on Septem- ber 13, 1875, and died on August 26, 1899.
Claude Leslie Headlee was born on November 20, 1871, on the home farm in Franklin township, Greene county, and here he grew to manhood and received his education in the district schools. He has been a life-long farmer ; however, he learned the carpenter's trade when a young man and has since followed it to some extent. He is the owner of one hundred and thirty acres of good land, eighty-five acres of which is under cultivation. He lives but a short distance from the old residence where he was born. He married, on January 24, 1879, Lona M. Knighten, a daughter of Aminon and Mary E. (Dotson) Knighten. Mr. Knighten is one of Franklin town- ship's leading farmers and stockmen, and formerly was engaged in black-
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smithing and mercantile pursuits at Hickory Barrens, this county. A com- plete sketch of himself and family appears on another page of this volume. 10 Claude L. Headlee and wife three children have been born, namely : Arthur Harry, Samuel Leslie and William B. Politically, Mr. Headlee is a Republican. His wife belongs to the Baptist church at Pleasant Hope, Polk county.
Blondville D. Headlee, son of the immediate subject of this sketch, was born on September 4, 1861, on the homestead in Franklin township, this county, and here he spent his boyhood and was educated in the common schools, remaining on his father's farm until he was thirty years of age. On February 3, 1892, he married Nanny Norman, who was born near Brookline, Greene county. She is a daughter of William and Mary (Gib- son) Norman. To this union two children have been born, Frank and Grace, both at home. Mr. Headlee has devoted his life to general farming, making a specialty of grain and live stock. He owns a well-improved place of one hundred and ten acres. Politically, he is a Republican. His wife is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church at Mit. Comfort. Her father, William Norman, was born on August 4, 1823, in Maury county, Tennessee, and in an early day he came with his family from his native state to Missouri and settled in Greene county, developing a farm in Brook- line township, where he owned a large tract of land and was a successful farmer. Here he spent the rest of his life, his death occurring October 24, 1895, three miles from Nichols Junction, in the western part of the county. Politically, he was a Democrat, and was a member of the Brookline Congre- gational church. His wife was born in Tennessee and died in this county in 1879. She was a faithful member of the Presbyterian church, and was buried in the cemetery at Brookline. To Mr. and Mrs. Norman eight chil- dren were born, three of whom are now living-Frank N., who makes his home in Oklahoma City; Marshall is a resident of Shawnee, Oklahoma; and Nanny, wife of Blondville D. Headlee.
James Ward Headlee was born on the old homestead here, and here he grew to manhood and was educated in the public schools at Hickory Barrens. He, too, has devoted his life to general farming, and is now owner of a very productive place of eighty-three acres, which lies close to the old home- stead. He learned the blacksmith's trade when he was a boy and this he has followed to some extent ever since, following the same fourteen years in connection with farming, maintaining his shop at his home place. He is a natural mechanic, and is regarded as a very highly skilled blacksmith. On December 2, 1894, he married Dora Kesterson, a native of Greene county, and a daughter of David C. and Minerva (Ketcherside) Kesterson, natives .of Ohio and Georgia, respectively. They came first to Arkansas, and from
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there to Missouri, locating on a farm in Franklin township, Greene county, where Mr. Kesterson spent the remainder of his days engaged in general farming. During the Civil war he enlisted in Company K, Second Arkansas Cavalry, was appointed second corporal of his regiment on April 28, 1864, and was mustered out of the service and honorably discharged at the close of the war at Memphis, Tennessee. He was in the command of Col. John E. Phelps, of Springfield, Missouri. Mr. Kesterson was born on March 18, 1837, and died on November 8, 1911. He was a tanner by trade, which he followed in Arkansas and also for a time after coming to Greene county, but after his marriage devoted his attention to farming. He came to this county immediately after the close of the war, in 1865. His wife was born on September 14, 1841. She was a daughter of James and Genette (Scab- berry) Ketcherside. Her death occurred in November, 1903. He died at the Soldiers' Home at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas, while her death occurred .on the farm in Franklin township. James and Genette ( Scabberry) Ketcher- side were both natives of Tennessee, but from that state they moved to Georgia, where they spent the remaining years of their lives. David C. Kesterson's family consisted of seven children, of whom Mrs. Dora Headlee was the fourth in order of birth. She has three brothers living at this writ- ing-John E., of Kansas City; Arthur U., who is farming near Hickory Barrens, this county; and Arvel D., of Los Angeles, California. Politically, Mr. Headlee is a Republican, and he belongs to the Cumberland Presbyterian · church at Mt. Comfort, to which Mrs. Headlee also belongs.
The Headlees have always enjoyed excellent reputations, being neigh- borly and honorable in all the relations of life.
GEORGE TRIECE.
It was nearly thirty-five years ago that George Triece came to Ash "Grove, and he has ever since been a resident of Greene county, and has been an interesting spectator to the general development of this vicinity. A Hoosier by birth, his earlier life was spent in that state, and most of his active life has been devoted to general farming, but the latter part has been spent as a hotel keeper. He is one of the honored veterans of the great war between the states, having proved his patriotism to his country by fighting in defense of the Stars and Stripes on many a sanguinary field, and he was · one of the sufferers at Andersonville prison.
Mr. Triece was born in Vermilion county, Indiana, March 26, 1841. He is a son of Samuel and Sarah (Missemor) Triece. The father was born in 1801, in Pennsylvania, and he was a son of Henry Triece, a native of
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Pennsylvania and of German descent. The latter came from his native state to Vermilion county, Indiana, in 1832, and entered three hundred and twenty acres of land which he farmed until his death in 1850. His son, Samuel Triece, came to Indiana at the same time, and spent the rest of his life farming in Vermilion county, dying there in 1860. The mother of the subject of this sketch died in 1872 at the age of sixty-nine years. Politi- cally, the father of our subject was a Democrat, and in religious matters he was a Methodist.
George Triece grew to manhood on the old homestead in Indiana and there worked hard when a boy, and he received his education in the com- mon schools. When the Civil war broke out he enlisted in August, 1861, in Company K, Seventy-first Indiana Volunteer Infantry, in which he served one year and was transferred to Company K, Sixth Indiana Cavalry. In fact the former regiment was merely changed into the latter. As infantry the regiment fought at Richmond and Muldo Hill, Kentucky, and as cavalry at Knoxville, under General Burnsides; Kenesaw Mountain, Resaca, Buz- zard's Roost, and was with General Stoneman on July 20, 1864, on his raid to Macon, Georgia, where our subject was captured and sent to Anderson- ville for three months, then to Florence, South Carolina, for two months, from which prison he was paroled and sent to Savannah, thence to Mary- land, and on home, and was mustered out and honorably discharged June 27, 1865.
After the war Mr. Triece returned to Vermilion county, Indiana, and resumed farming which he carried on along general lines until 1880 when he came to Ash Grove, Missouri. He was deputy postmaster here for three years, then operated the Grove House twelve years and the Commercial House nine years, then conducted a grocery store and restaurant two years. He also spent two years in Springfield, and during the past two years has been running a boarding and rooming house in Ash Grove. He has become one of the most widely known men in his vocation in this part of the country, and the traveling public have always found him a genial, obliging and hon- est host.
Politically, Mr. Triece is a Republican. He belongs to the John Mat- thews Post, Grand Army of the Republic at Springfield.
Mr. Triece was married May 22, 1866, to Lydia McBuey, who was born May 16, 1851, in Fountain county, Indiana. She is a daughter of Daniel and Mary (McKewn) McBuey; they came from Ireland. Mrs. Triece received a limited education.
To Mr. and Mrs. Triece four children were born, three of whom are deceased, namely : Charlie L., Millard; the third died in infancy, and Man- drid M. Triece, the surviving child, is living in Long Beach, California.
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GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
JAMES COLEMAN GARDNER.
Among those whose military records as valiant soldiers of the great war between the states reflect lasting honor upon them and their descendants is James Coleman Gardner, who has had a varied career and has long been engaged as trustee and receiver in bankruptcy at Springfield, where he has won an honored name by virtue of his consistency to truth, honesty and right living. It was fifty-eight years ago that he first came to the present capital of the Ozark region, then a mere village on the frontier, and he has been identified with the growth of the place ever since, taking a delight in its progress.
Mr. Gardner was born near Santa Fe, Murray county, Tennessee, on November 17, 1832. He is a son of Britton D. and Jeanette (Oakley). Gardner. The father was born, September 1, 1808, and was a son of Na- than and Nancy Gardner. Nathan Gardner was of German descent, and in an early day he went west to make his fortune. Britton D. Gardner grew to manhood in Murray county, Tennessee, and there devoted himself to general farming. When the Civil war came on he enlisted in the First Regi- ment, Tennessee Cavalry, Confederate army, and fought gallantly for the cause until killed while fighting in General Forest's brigade at Thomp- son's Station, Tennessee, March 23, 1863. Politically, he was a Democrat, and religiously belonged to the Methodist Episcopal church, South. His wife was born in Murray county, Tennessee, August 22, 1814. She did not long survive after the death of her husband. Their home, which was in the heart of the country overrun by the opposing armies, was destroyed by fire; she was ill at the time, and died from the effects of the exposure, October 17, 1863. Both subjects' great-grandfathers were soldiers in the Revolutionary war.
James C. Gardner grew up on the farm and received a limited edu- cation, attending the district schools about fifteen months, but later in life he educated himself by general home reading. He worked on the farm until 1854, when he went into the dry goods business in Santa Fe, Ten- nessee, for a year. On May 23, 1856, he arrived in Springfield, Missouri, and clerked for some time in a dry goods store. In September, 1862, he enlisted in Company H, Sixty-first Regiment, Tennessee Volunteers, Con- federate army, and proved to be a brave soldier, taking part in numerous engagements, including Chickasaw Bayou, where he was under fire eight days and nights continuously, and also during the siege of Vicksburg he was under fire at one time continuously for forty-seven days and nights. He had the distinction of firing the first gun in the battle of Black River. He surrendered with the balance of General Pemberton's army of thirty thousand men at Vicksburg, July 4, 1863. He had been promoted to first
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lieutenant for meritorious conduct. He returned to Springfield in 1866 and. clerked in a store until 1872, when he went into business for himself, where the Aladdin Theatre is now located. Later taking a farm in Greene county, he moved thereto and continued general farming until 1881, when he moved back to Springfield and resumed clerking. During the past twenty-two years he has been working in the bankruptcy business, as trustee and re- ceiver, and is regarded as an expert in this line and his services have been in great demand.
Politically, Mr. Gardner is a Democrat. He is a member of Campbell Camp, No. 488, United Confederate Veterans, which camp was organized by himself and Dan Campbell, and he has been active in its work ever since.
Mr. Gardner was married, January 31, 1866, to Mrs. Mary (Evans) Shackleford. She was born in Tennessee, January 31, 1833, and died August 18, 1898. She was a woman of fine Christian sentiment.
To Mr. Gardner and wife three children were born, namely: Minnie is at home; Henry E. has also remained a member of the family circle ; and Lillian is the wife of J. W. Quade.
L. S. KUCKER.
A man of unquestioned artistic temperament is L. S. Kucker, who, although practically a new-comer in Springfield, is one of our best known and most highly accomplished photographers, and a man who has made many friends since casting his lot with the people of Greene county.
Mr. Kucker, of this review, has made the photograph business a life study and therefore has kept well abreast of the times in all phases of the work as new discoveries and advancements have been made, and he is there- fore one of the most up-to-date photographers in the Southwest. He first began the business in Alta, Iowa, when about twenty years old. He was successful from the start, and, seeking a broader field for the exercise of his talents he removed later to St. Louis, Missouri, and accepted a position as special demonstrator for the Eastman Kodak Company, and he made St. Louis his headquarters until he came to Springfield on December 1, 1909, ivhere he has since remained, and has built up a large and lucrative busi- ness here. He has been in the same location ever since coming here -- 314 Boonville street, buying an old studio there. While this place was fairly well suited to his needs, he moved into one of the most attractive and con- venient studios in the state in May, 1915, in the Fraternity building on St. Louis street, a handsome new structure, where he will have modernly ap- pointed, conveniently located and attractive quarters with new and attractive
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equipment. He will spare neither pains nor expense in his new studio and will doubtless rank with the best in the Middle West in every respect.
Aside from his regular portrait work, Mr. Kucker does a great deal. of commercial photography, which has a certain distinctness about it not com- monly found and he is very successful in both lines and is always a very busy man, yet never slights any part of his work, planning to do his best always, but promptness and courtesy as well as honesty are his watchwords. He does every kind of work which one can have done at any first-class, up-to-date studio. He is a firm believer in advertising and does a great deal of it, always judiciously. He is a member of the advertising trio watch, "300. Green," "Walkover," and "Take 'em all." He is a member of the Spring- field Club, the Young Men's Business Club, and the Retailers' Association.
LORENZO PHILLIPS.
Among the high-grade and straightforward business men of a past generation who helped to make Springfield the substantial commercial city which we of the present generation take such delight in, was the late Lo- renzo Phillips, who for many years was one of the city's best known gro- cerymen. He was a man who bore a reputation for wholesome living in all walks of life and was therefore deserving of the material success he achieved and also the social prestige which was unquestionably his.
Mr. Phillips was born in Greene county, Missouri, September 23, 1866. He is a son of Thomas and Elizabeth Phillips, who were natives of the state of Tennessee where they grew up, were educated and married. Thomas Phillips became a prosperous farmer and extensive mule dealer in his na- tive state, from which, however, he finally removed to Greene county, Mis- souri, where his death occurred a number of years ago. His family con- sisted of eleven children, seven of whom are still living, namely: Marion, Monroe, Jesse, Thomas, Warrie, Vida and Lorenzo.
Lorenzo Phillips grew to manhood in Greene county and received his education in the common schools and here he engaged in farming until his marriage, after which he went into the grocery business in which he con- tinued with ever-increasing success up to within two years of his death. The L. Phillips Grocery, located on South street, Springfield, of which he was proprietor, was well patronized by the best people of the city, for there they always found a large and well-selected stock of staple and fancy groceries and were dealt with in a courteous and honest manner. The last two years of our subject's life were devoted to the bakery business with equal success.
Mr. Phillips was married on November 21, 1886, to Laura Hardesty,
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who was born in Audrain county, Missouri, December 18, 1860. She is a daughter of Felix and Catherine (Gurton) Hardesty, the former a native of Missouri and the latter of Kentucky. They have both been deceased for some time. Mrs. Phillips received good educational advantages and she taught school several terms. Her father devoted his active life to mercantile pursuits. He located in Springfield when Mrs. Phillips was sixteen years of age and her education was obtained here.
Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Phillips, namely: Curt, born on August 14, 1887, married Bessie Codel and they live in Springfield; Al- bert, born on July 19, 1889; Marie, born on August 28, 1891, died Septem- ber 23, 1895; Pearl, born on September 25, 1893, is at home; Georgia, born on December 4, 1895, is at home. These children received good educations in the Springfield schools.
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