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 100
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widely known as a prosperous farmer and stock man, having handled for many years more Shorthorn cattle than any man in the county.
The following children have been born to William R. Robertson and wife: Isabell is the wife of E. R. Shipley, a Greene county farmer; Wil- liam Wesley married Rody World and he is engaged in the grocery busi- ness in Springfield; Sarah J., wife of our subject; Cordelia is the wife of F. G. Cowen, who is connected with a dry goods firm in Kansas City, Kan- sas; John Green is engaged in the grocery business in Springfield; James L. is a wholesale groceryman in Springfield; Florence married Charles Bax- ter, for many years a baker of Kansas City, Kansas, but is now deceased; Nanny died in infancy; Leonidas E. is engaged in business with his brother under the firm name of the Robinson Grocery Company, of Springfield.
To Harris K. Dale and wife one child has been born, Mawdy Irene Dale, who has received an excellent education in the Springfield high school and the old Normal in that city.
Politically, Mr. Dale is a Republican and has always been a loyal sup- porter of his party. He has served his community as road commissioner and also as school director. Fraternally, he is a member of the Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows, having joined the Elwood lodge eighteen years ago; he also belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America and to the Re- bekahs. He has done much to promote general public and material inter- ests and, like his father before him, his character has always been unassail- able.
JAMES G. MAGILL.
Some people seem to forget that a fertile soil is a living, breathing thing, well fed by nature or by the hand of man, with the natural mineral elements and the organic matter necessary for the use of the soil bacteria in the manufacture of plant food, and for a delightful environment in which they can live and work. James G. Magill, a farmer of Center town- ship, Greene county, has not overlooked this fact, and consequently he is making his farm produce good crops annually and is living comfortably as a result of his able management.
Mr. Magill was born in Carroll county, Arkansas, March 31, 1853. He is a son of Hugh and Rebecca (Scott) Magill, and as the name would indicate, the family is of Irish descent. Hugh Magill was born in Greene county, Tennessee, where he spent his boyhood and attended school, re- moving to Arkansas when a young man, and lived in Carroll county a num- ber of years, and there he died. The family came to Greene county dur- ing the latter part of the Civil War. Hugh Magill served in a militia regi-
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ment in the early part of the war, but was discharged on account of dis- ability, and died as a result of the sickness he contracted while in the serv- ice, his death occurring on White river in 1862, and he was buried there. His widow is still living, having thus survived him over a half century, be- ing now ninety-two years of age; she is one of the oldest citizens of Greene county, and makes her home with her son, our subject. Politically, Hugh Magill was a Republican and he was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. His family consisted of seven children, namely: John, who was a member of Company I, First Missouri Volunteer Infantry, served three years in the Union army and died before the close of the war; Mrs. Ema- line Redfearn is deceased; Mrs. Rachel Wade lives in Christian county, her husband being now deceased; Frances died in early life; James G., subject of this sketch; Mrs. Nancy Carter lives on a farm in Greene county ; Hes- ter is the wife of George West and they reside a mile west of the village of Plano, this county.
John Scott, maternal grandfather of our subject, was born in Tennessee, where he spent his early life, and from there removed to Arkansas, thence to Missouri. He was living in Springfield at the time of the Civil war. He devoted his active life to general farming. He enlisted in the Union army and died while in the service. His family consisted of eight children, four of whom are still living, namely: Mrs. Rebecca Magill, mother of the subject of this sketch; Mrs. Susan Laslay lives in Christian county ; Samuel is a carpenter and resides in Springfield; Mrs. Polly Mondy lives in Monett.
James G. Magill grew to manhood on the home farm, where he worked hard when a boy, and he received his education in the public schools. He was married in Greene county, in January, 1882, to Sarah West, a daughter of Josiah J. West, a native of Tennessee. His wife was known in her maid- enhood as Angeline M. Mason. Mr. West devoted his life to farming. He emigrated to Missouri in the early forties, being among the first settlers in Greene county, and here he spent the rest of his life on a farm, his death occurring on March 18, 1905, at an advanced age. He was buried in the cemetery at Prospect church. He was a member of the Methodist Episco- pal church. His wife's father, Josiah Mason, was born in Tennessee, where he resided until about 1837, when he immigrated to Greene county, Mis- souri, among the pioneers. He was a blacksmith by trade, also following farming. He spent the rest of his long life in this county, dying in 1900, and was buried in the Squibb cemetery.
The following children were born to Josiah J. West and wife: Mrs. Ellen Mills is living five miles north of Republic, this county: James lives at Milton, Oregon, where he holds the office of deputy sheriff; William is farming in Greene county; Sarah, wife of the subject of this sketch: Rosa- lia, who married a Mr. Hendrix, is now deceased ; John is engaged in farm-
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ing in Greene county; Mrs. Lou Redfearn lives in Greene county ; three other children died in infancy.
James G. Magill was twelve years of age when he removed with the rest of the family to Greene county. He has devoted his active life to farming. His father dying when he was young, he had to assume part of the responsibilities of supporting the family, and he knew what hard work meant from the time he was large enough to wield a hoe or axe or hold the plow handles. He located on his present farm in 1910, and has made many good improvements since buying it. He is carrying on general farming and stock raising successfully. He has charge of the Magil Central Tele- phone switchboard. He has no children. Politically, he is a Republican, and he is a member of the Baptist church.
PETER KLINGENSMITH.
A properly managed farmers' organization can be used to secure the farmers the benefits that "big business" secures from doing things on a big scale. Many have the idea that nothing can be done in this line unless there is a powerful organization, but this is a mistake-the successful co- operative enterprises have come from small beginnings. One of the pro- gressive farmers of Center township, Greene county, who is always ready to adopt the advanced methods, of farming, is Peter Klingensmith.
He was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, February 15, 1844. He is a son of Gasper and Barbara (Bush) Klingensmith, and a grandson of Andrew and Susanna Klingensmith. Ancestors on both sides of the house originated in Bavaria, Germany. Andrew Klingensmith's father emigrated from that country to America in an early day and here spent the rest of his life, dying in Pennsylvania on a farm. Several gen- erations of the family have been farmers. Andrew Klingensmith was a member of the old Lutheran church. His family consisted of eleven chil- dren, eight boys and three girls, all now deceased. Gaspar Klingensmith was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, December 24, 1820. He was a shoemaker by trade. Upon leaving Pennsylvania he located in Trum- bull county, Ohio, where he followed his trade for a short time. Leaving that locality in 1865, he located in Daviess county, Indiana, where he en- gaged in farming, and there his death occurred November 5, 1885. His wife had preceded him to the grave January 19, 1865. Before moving to Ohio they were members of the old Lutheran church, but at that time they joined the United Brethren church. Politically, he was a Republican.
1863
GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
Peter Bush, father of Mrs. Klingensmith, devoted his life to farming. He was twice married; twelve children were born by his first wife and four by his second marriage. He was a Democrat and a member of the Lutheran church.
Peter Klingensmith, our subject, was five years old when his parents removed with him to Ohio. There he grew up and attended the public schools, and when a young man learned the carpenter's trade. From Ohio he moved to Daviess county, Indiana, and there, on June 17, 1868, he mar- ried Sarah Rodarmel, a daughter of Friend Rodarmel, a native of Indiana, and a son of Joseph Rodarmel, a native of Pennsylvania, but whose father was a native of Germany, from which country he emigrated to the United States in an early day and settled in the old Keystone state. Friend Ro- darmel was the father of twelve children, four of whom died in infancy, three of them still living, namely: William lives in Knox county, Indiana, where he is engaged in farming; Sarah, wife of our subject, and Marcellus, a farmer of Knox county, Indiana. Politically, Friend Rodarmel was a Republican, and he was road commissioner for some time in his commun- ity. He belonged to the Cumberland Presbyterian church. His death oc- curred April 29, 1870. His wife survived him twenty-five years, dying De- cember 23, 1905, at an advanced age.
Seven children have been born to our subject and wife, namely : Charles, a carpenter at Bristow, Oklahoma, is married and has seven children. He is a Modern Woodman. Gasper, the second son, who lives at Washington, Indiana, is a carpenter and contractor. He is noble grand of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and also belongs to the Improved Or- der of Red Men. He is married and has five children. Jesse is a carpenter by trade, lives in Greene county, and has a wife and five children. Mrs. Lucy Ginn is the wife of a Greene county farmer and they have three chil- dren. Anna Augusta died when three years of age. Edwin Ray is farming in Greene county, is married and has two children. Amanda is the wife of Clarence Kindrick, of Elwood, this county, and they have one child.
Peter Klingensmith left Indiana in 1888 and came to Cowley county, Kansas, where he resided until 1891, when he moved to Greene county, Mis- souri, locating on his present farm, buying fifty acres, which he has placed under excellent improvements and one on which he has made a comfortable living. He has done a great deal of the work in building and keeping re- paired the famous Carthage road.
Politically, he is a Republican, religiously a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and fraternally a member of the Masonic blue lodge No. 449. of Bois D'Arc, but he first became a Mason in Indiana : he also belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Elwood, to Encampment No.
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42 in Springfield, and to Lodge No. 512 Rebekahs, in which he has held several offices. His wife is a member of the Ladies' Aid Society of the Cen- ter Grove Methodist church, there being thirty-two members in the society,. and she is one of the most active.
AARON M. RITTER.
Few men live to the advanced age of Aaron M. Ritter, a venerable citizen of Campbell township, who has passed his eightieth birthday, with- out having changed his life work several times, but it seems that he has been wise in sticking to agricultural pursuits. For it takes a farmer to suc- ceed at farming, just as it takes a clerical man to make a success of office work, an engineer with a locomotive, an architect in architecture, or a mu- sician in music. That man is indeed fortunate who, when young and start- ing out in life, chooses his work wisely, selects the thing for which nature has best adapted him and in which he can make the greatest success in his- immediate environment, for both innate ability and one's surroundings must be taken into consideration. No matter how strong a natural bent one might have for agricultural pursuits, he could not display that faculty to advantage on the banks of the Red Sea. Our subject has made a success of his chosen life work because he was fitted for it and because he located in a country propitious for general farming. He has been a resident of Greene county forty-five years.
Mr. Ritter was born May 25, 1834, in St. Joseph county, Indiana, near the city of South Bend. He is a son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Miller) Rit- ter, and a grandson of John and Mary (Gauver) Ritter. John Ritter was born in Ohio, but his father was a native of Germany, from which country he came to the United States when young, in the old Colonial period, and he was living in Massachusetts at the time of the famous Boston "tea party," in which he participated. He lived to be eighty-seven years of age. John Ritter grew up in Ohio and married there, later establishing his home in Wayne county, subsequently removing to Portish Prairie, thence to Iowa, in which state he died. He was one of the pioneers in the last named state. He devoted his life to farming. His family consisted of ten children. Po- litically, he was a Whig, and religiously a Dunkard. His oldest son, Jacob Ritter, father of our subject, was probably born in Ohio. He went to Wayne county when a young man, being one of the first settlers in that part of the state of Indiana. He resided there about twenty years, or until his death. His wife, Elizabeth Miller, was a daughter of Daniel and Sarah (Hardman) Miller. Her father was a minister in the Dunkard church.
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To Jacob Ritter and wife twelve children were born, seven of whom are still living. Aaron M., of this sketch, was the fourth child in order of birth. The father was a Whig in politics in his earlier life, but finally became a Democrat. He was a member of the Universalist church. He belonged to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He devoted his active life to farm- ing in St. Joseph county, Indiana, and for a number of years was justice of the peace there.
Aaron M. Ritter grew to manhood on his father's farm in Indiana, and there he worked when a boy. He received a district school education, also- spent one term in Mercantile College, Cincinnati, Ohio. He has been mar- ried three times. First, in the spring of 1869, in Lawrence county, Mis- souri, he was united with Martha A. Johns, who died in early life. One child born to this union is also deceased. Our subject's second marriage took place in 1872, to a Mrs. Isabelle Gray, nee Landreth, and to this union three children were born, all of whom are deceased, and the mother passed away in 1898. Mr. Ritter was subsequently married to Emma J. Perry- man, a daughter of John J. and Cassey (Griffen) Perryman. This last union resulted in the birth of two sons, Miller and Howard Ritter.
Mr. Ritter came to Missouri in the sixties. He served a short time as a volunteer soldier in the West for the government in assisting to protect mining towns. In 1870 he located on a farm in Greene county, and has since resided here, engaged successfully in general farming and stock raising. He owns a productive and well improved farm of one hundred and sev- enty-six acres in Campbell township.
Politically, he is a Socialist, is well read and a man of progressive ideas. Fraternally, he is a Master Mason. He has been regarded as one of the- leading citizens in his part of the county for nearly a half century.
EDWARD FORREST RACE.
Some farmers who have cropped their soils from year to year, taking everything off and returning nothing, when their crops fall off until there are no profits, sometimes conceive the idea that they can have their soils analyzed and have a fertilizer mixed for them that will furnish all the needed elements of plant food, so that by applying that fertilizer to their lands they should grow bumper crops. They are doomed to disappointment. The chemist can tell the amount of plant food in a sample of soil, but he cannot tell how much of it is in available form for plant food, and another sample a few yards away would in all probability show a very different amount of plant food. Knowing this, Edward Forrest Race, a successful
1866
GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
farmer of Campbell township, has always tried to keep his land up to the standard of fertility by employing the best modern methods, therefore ren- dering an analysis of his soil unnecessary.
Mr. Race is a native of Greene county, Missouri, born on November 6, 1869. He is a son of Alfred P. and Sarah C. (Greenwade) Race, the latter a daughter of Moses Greenwade and wife, whose family consisted of ten children, six sons and four daughters. Alfred P. Race was born in Hamp- shire county, Virginia, and was of Scotch descent. He was probably the eldest in a family of ten children. He received his early education in the district schools and devoted his life to general farming. He was married in Maryland, in which state his wife, mother of our subject, was born and reared. To this union ten children were born, five of whom are deceased. Those living are: Mrs. Laura Moore, who resides at Willard, this county ; Edward F., of this sketch; Sarah M. lives in Nebraska; William T. makes his home in Polk county, Missouri; Albert lives in Kansas. The parents of these children left Maryland not long after their marriage and located in Illinois, subsequently coming to Greene county, Missouri, purchasing a farm, which, however, they later sold and moved back to Illinois, and after a year's residence returned to this county and bought back the farm near the village of Willard which they had previously owned, and here they con- tinued to reside, engaged successfully in general farming until Mr. Race's death, in the fall of 1909, and there Mrs. Race still makes her home. Po- litically, Alfred P. Race was a Democrat, but was never active in public life. He stood high in his community and was well liked by all who knew him.
Edward F. Race grew to manhood on his father's farm, and he re- ceived his education in the district schools of Greene county. He has farmed all his life, and has been very successful in general agricultural pursuits and stock raising. He located on his present well improved farm of one hun- dred and forty-two acres in 1904. His residence and outbuildings are sub- stantial and convenient, and he has made the excellent improvements now to be seen on his place. He takes much pride in his home and farm, and every- thing denotes close attention to details.
Mr. Race was married on March 1, 1899, to Lular Gillespie, a daugh- ter of William S. and Martha M. (Horn) Gillespie, natives of North Caro- lina, in which state they grew to maturity, were educated and married, and soon after the latter event they moved to Tennessee, and from there to Mis- souri about thirty-five years ago, and bought a farm in Greene county, near the town of Strafford. After living there five years they moved to a good farm near Willard, where the family still resides. There are seven children of this family, named as follows: C. Plato, of Willard; S. Ciscero, of Wil- lard; O. Sular, the wife of D. C. Knox, of Willard; Lular C., wife of our subject; O. Dexter lives at Willard; Willie T., of Springfield; R. Eddie, of
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Willard. William S. Gillespie, father of these children, served all through the Civil war in the Confederate army, taking part in many important en- gagements, including the battle of Richmond and those in the vicinity of that city. He was only sixteen years of age when he enlisted.
To Edward F. Race and wife four children have been born, namely : Pearl Madalene is attending the Willard high school; Ester Naomi, Lloyd Franklin and Orville Edward.
Politically, Mr. Race is a Democrat, but he has never been an aspirant for political office. He is a member of the Grand Prairie Presbyterian church at Willard and is an elder in the same and an active church worker.
THOMAS W. PRICE.
One would find it necessary to search long and far to find a farm kept in better condition or managed under more up-to-date methods than that of Thomas W. Price of Taylor township. Greene county-the place on which he has spent his life. He has not only worked hard and persistently in keeping everything in its proper place, but has been a student of local conditions and has read such literature as pertains to twentieth century methods of husbandry, so that he has been enabled to reap just reward for his pains and labors from year to year.
Mr. Price was born here on July 14, 1871. He is a son of John H. and Mary (Calwell) Price. The father was born in Russell county, Vir- ginia, July 19, 1822, and was reared there on a farm and received a com- mon school education. The mother of our subject was born in Tazewell county, Virginia, December 17, 1830. She was brought to Missouri when a young girl by her parents, the family locating in Greene county, where she attended school, and here she married Mr. Price in 1868 Her death occurred on the home farm in Taylor township. July 13, 1899. John H. Price was fourteen years of age when, in 1836, he immigrated with his parents from the Old Dominion to Greene county, Missouri. His father entered a farm from the government which he developed. Here John H. Price worked amid pioneer environments, and in 1853, during the gold fever days, he and his brother drove five hundred and twenty-five head of cattle overland to California, reaching their destination with four hundred and ninety head. A loss of only thirty-five head from this large herd over the wild plains of the vast west and during a trip of some six months was indeed a remarkable feat. He was successful in his venture to the far West, and returned home in due time and turned his attention to general farming. When the Civil war came on he joined the Home Guards in
1868
GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
1861, and was made assistant inspector general of General McBride's bri- gade of the Federal army, and in September, 1861, he was commissioned lieutenant-colonel for meritorious services. He had command of the post at Lebanon until October of that year. He was in command of the State Guards at Springfield when Gen. John C. Fremont marched his great army to that place, and it was against Colonel Price's men that Major Zagonyi made his famous charge in October, 1861, just west of the city. Colonel Price was captured in Taney county and for a brief period was held a pris- oner at the government arsenal in St. Louis, finally being exchanged and rejoining the army under Gen. Sterling Price at Osceola, St. Clair county. He saw considerable hard service and was an efficient and brave officer. He fought at the battle of Pea Ridge and was captured again and sent to the Union prison at Alton, Illinois, where he was held for six months. In June, 1863, he rejoined the Confederate army and was made adjutant of Colonel Cornell's Missouri regiment. In August, 1863, he was appointed inspector general of Freeman's brigade of Marmaduke's division, which position he held with honor and success until the close of the war. Return- ing home after his brilliant military career he resumed farming and was owner of two hundred and fifteen acres, on which he carried on general farming and stock raising in an able manner. He was well known and influential in his locality, and was a man of fine personal character. His death occurred on April 7, 1889, in Henderson, Missouri. He had but two children, namely: Mrs. Lydia Foster, who lives in Springfield, and Thomas W., of this sketch.
Thomas W. Price was reared on the home farm, where he worked hard when growing up, and he received his education in the common schools. He worked the farm for his father until the latter's death. He has remained on the home place, which consists of one hundred and thirty-eight acres at the present time, this being his part of the original. He has kept it well improved and carefully cultivated and the buildings in good repair.
Mr. Price was married on October 15, 1902, to May Wells, who was born in Webster county, Missouri, December 4, 1880, and was reared on a farm there and received her education in the common schools. She is a daughter of John D. and Elizabeth (Compton) Wells, both of whom still live in Webster county and are actively engaged in farming. Four chil- dren have been born to our subject and wife, namely: Mary, John H., Marion and Mildred.
Politically, Mr. Price is a Democrat. He has been justice of the peace in Taylor township for four years, giving eminent satisfaction. He belongs to the Modern Woodmen and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
1869
GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
ISAAC T. TRACY.
It is a pleasure to farm if one manages like Isaac T. Tracy, of Jackson township, Greene county. On his farm of large acreage it is doubtful if you could find anything materially out of its place. The owner has even been his own manager and carefully looks after details. Nothing is done in a haphazard manner, everything being carefully planned and methodically carried out.
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