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 101
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Mr. Tracy was born in Webster county, Missouri, April 15, 1858, and the fact that he has spent his life in this section of the Ozark Mountains indicates that he has been contented with local conditions. He is a son of Evans and Sarah (Kinselo) Tracy, the father born near Glasgow, Barren county, Kentucky, in 1814, was reared on a farm there and received the usual limited education in the subscription schools of those frontier days. He remained in the Blue Grass state until 1840 when he emigrated to Mis- souri and settled in Greene county in 1841, entered a farm from the gov- ernment, owning a good place of one hundred and twenty acres, which he cleared and developed. His wife was also born in Kentucky in 1817, and her death occurred on the homestead in Webster county, Missouri, Decem- ber 16, 1888. She was reared on a farm in her native vicinity and attended the early-day schools. These parents were married in their native state. The father died on his farm in Webster county, where he removed from Greene in an early day, the date of his death being May 17, 1891.
To Evans Tracy and wife nine children were born, namely: Mrs. Nellie Hill is the eldest; Erasmus lives in Fair Grove, Greene county; Mrs. Mary Debbis, Mrs. Amanda Burgone; James is deceased; Mrs. Mealy Brit- ton, Mrs. Sarah Wommack, Isaac T. of this sketch; Samantha is the youngest.
Isaac T. Tracy grew to manhood on the farm in Webster county, where he did his full share of the work about the place when not in school. He attended the public schools of his home district, and assisted his father with the work on the place until he was twenty-one years of age, then started in life for himself, buying a farm of eighty acres in Webster county on which he got a good start. Finding this too small for the proper exer- cise of his talents as a husbandman, he sold it and purchased an excellent place in Jackson township, Greene county, consisting of two hundred and forty acres, which he still owns. He has made many substantial improve- ments with the advancing years until he now has one of the most up-to-date farms in this part of the county as well as one of the most productive, and he has been very successful as a general farmer and stock raiser. He has a commodious home and numerous substantial outbuildings. A good grade
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of live stock is always to be seen in his fields and about his barns and no small portion of his annual income has been derived from this source. His boys now operate the place for the most part, he merely planning and over- seeing the work.
Mr. Tracy was married in 1888 to Lucretia Wommack, who was born in Greene county, October, 1861, and here she was reared on a farm and attended the rural schools in her neighborhood.
Six children have been born to our subject and wife, namely: Mrs. Lodena Bass, Everett, Henry, Emmitt, Avery and Casper.
Politically, Mr. Tracy is a Republican and while he has remained loyal to his party through both defeat and victory he has never sought to be a leader in public affairs. Fraternally he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen. Religiously, he is a member of the Baptist church.
JOHN A. WALLIS.
Although the twentieth century farmer is of necessity a very busy man he can nevertheless keep on equipping himself with such information as advancing times make necessary. John A. Wallis, a farmer of Jackson township, Greene county, is a man who has kept abreast of the times in a fairly commendable manner, being both a wide reader and a close observer and he is therefor succeeding.
Mr. Wallis was born near Ebenezer, Greene county, Missouri, May 16, 1867. He is a son of Allen and Mary E. (Bedell) Wallis, both natives of North Carolina, the father born on October 1, 1823, and the mother on November 18, 1832. They were young in years when they emigrated with their parents to Greene county, Missouri, each family being early settlers here. These parents of our subject grew to maturity on farms in this locality and were educated in the district schools, which they attended a few months each winter for a few years, and here they were married on Janu- ary 21, 1849. Allen Wallis became a very successful farmer, owning a farm of four hundred acres. He lived in different parts of this county. His death occurred on December 23, 1898, and two years later, on June 10, 1900, his wife followed him to the grave. They were worthy members of the Methodist Episcopal church, were great charity workers and kind to their neighbors, especially in sickness, and were greatly beloved by all who knew them. They were the parents of seven children, namely: Mrs. Malissa J. Cowden, Mrs. Sara E. Cowden-these gentlemen being brothers ; Luther E. is engaged in farming in this county; Mrs. Nettie O. Brackett is
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deceased; Charles L. is farming; John A. of this sketch; and Allen M., a farmer.
John A. Wallis was reared on the home farm where he worked until his marriage, having meanwhile received a good common school education. On September 23, 1888, he married Ella Huff, who was born in Greene county, April 23, 1869, on the farm where she now lives, and here she was reared and she was educated in the public schools. She is a daughter of Charles W. and Missouri (Whitlock) Huff, both natives of Greene county, the father born on July 16, 1830 and the mother was born on June 21, 1834. Mr. Huff was one of the successful farmers of this county, owning seven hundred acres at the time of his death, June 15, 1886. His wife died on October 7, 1911. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and she belonged to the Presbyterian church. They were well known and highly respected. To these parents eight children were born, namely : Thomas A., Charles C., Mrs. Sarah E. Gridges, a widow; Samuel, de- ceased; Annie E., deceased; Mrs. Lulu N. Brown; Etta A., wife of our subject, and Marvin, deceased.
The union of Mr. and Mrs. Wallis has been without issue.
After his marriage Mr. Wallis bought a farm of one hundred and sixty-five acres. He at present lives on his father-in-law's farm, owning two hundred and fifteen acres of the same, and in all he owns three hundred and five acres. He is engaged in general farming and stock raising in a successful manner and keeps his land well cultivated and well improved and has a pleasant home.
Politically, Mr. Wallis is a Democrat, and he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
WILLIAM ELIJAH ALBRIGHT, M. D.
Dr. William E. Albright was born in Polk county, Missouri, May 20, 1865. He is a son of William Franklin Albright, who was born in Georgia in 1822. He spent his youth in his native state and there received his edu- cation, in part, but was still a lad when, in 1843, he removed to Missouri, in which state he spent the rest of his life, engaged in farming and in the min- istry of the Cumberland Presbyterian church, and did an incalculable amount of good in the work of the same in various ways. He was of the hospitable. kind and courteous type of Southerner, and was greatly beloved by all who knew him. He did not live for self alone, but was constantly on the lookout for some way whereby he might benefit others. He married Millie Jane Fullerton, who was born in Tennessee, from which state she came to Mis-
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souri in her girlhood; she, too, was a fine Christian character; she died at the age of sixty-two years, but the doctor's father, truly a "grand old man of Israel," was not summoned to his reward until he had reached the ripe old age of eighty-nine years. Of their children two sons and one daughter are living at this writing, namely: Dr. William E., of this sketch; Sterling Price (named after the great Confederate general) lives at Purdy, Missouri, where he owns and operates a drug store; Anna Elizabeth is the wife of William D. Laney, also engaged in the drug business, and lives at Thayer, this state. The maternal grandfather, James Fullerton, died many years ago in Polk county, Missouri, whither he had moved from Tennessee in an early day, and spent the rest of his life in farming. His wife, Anna Elizabeth, has also been deceased a number of years. One sister of the doctor's mother survives, Mrs. Hannah Kerr, of Polk county, where her husband, James Kerr, a farmer, died more than thirty years ago.
Doctor Albright grew to manhood on the home farm in Polk county and there found plenty of hard work to do when a boy. In the winter time he attended the public schools. He is a fine sample of the self-made man. After entering his teens he earned his own way by engaging in various kinds of business, principally farming, and he has seen life on its hardest side, but with indomitable energy and perseverance he has forged ahead and may be justly proud of the large success which has attended his efforts. After attending the public schools he entered the Pleasant Hope Academy, near his boyhood home, completed the course and was graduated. Then he en red the Kansas City Medical College in 1900, from which institution he s graduated with the class of 1904. . Soon thereafter he began the practice of his profession at Carterville, Kansas, where he remained two years, then came to Springfield. He was successful from the first, and is now enjoying a large and constantly growing practice.
Doctor Albright is a member of the Greene County Medical Society and the Woods County Medical Society (Oklahoma). Fraternally, he belongs to the Masonic order, and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, also the Loyal Order of Moose. Politically he is a Democrat, and in relig- ious matters is a Methodist.
Doctor Albright married Rosa Ellen Sullivant, a daughter of Jackson Sullivant, a native of Pleasant Hope, Missouri. He formerly engaged in farming in Polk county, but is now retired and makes his home with our subject and wife. His wife, who was Sarah Elizabeth Edmondson, died in 1903. Mrs. Albright is the only child and is very fond of her father, who is a fine old gentleman, highly respected by all who know him.
One child has been born to Doctor and Mrs. Albright, Claud Welling- ton Albright, whose birth occurred in Polk county, this state, in March,
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1891; he received his earlier education in the ward schools of Springfield, was later graduated from Drury Academy, and expects to complete the regular course in Drury College, then take up the study of medicine; he is making an excellent record as a student and is a lad of much promise. He is a natural musician, and is also educating himself on the violin as a side issue of his more serious life work.
DR. THOMAS V. B. CRANE.
It must be true that an honest, faithful, capable life, considered even in its temporal relations, is not lived in vain; that its influence is not as transient and evanescent as mere physical vitality, but that the progress of mankind, in all that is virtuous and ennobling, is accelerated by it; that although the life of one man may be a small factor in the aggregate lives of the race, yet if well spent, its after influence is perceptible and continues to endure for the good of mankind. One such life in Greene county is that of Dr. Thomas V. B. Crane, one of the best known general physicians of the city of Springfield, a man who has always guarded well his conduct in all the relations which he has sustained to the world, and while advancing his individual interests has not neglected his general duties as a neighbor and citizen, and "while living in a house by the side of the road, has been a friend to man."
Doctor Crane was born on June 1, 1869. in Phelps county, Mis in the midst of the beautiful verdure of the Gasconade river. He is a son of A. W. and Roda A. (McDaniel) Crane. The former devoted his active life to farming and he died in July, 1914. The mother, who is now seventy- eight years old, is living with the subject of this sketch, he taking a delight in ministering to her every want in her declining years. Josiah Crane, the paternal grandfather of our subject, was born on the Hudson river in the state of New York, in the year 1800. During young manhood he moved to Pennsylvania, where he met and married Prudence Bates, and finally moved to Cannon county, Tennessee. To Josiah Crane and wife six sons and one daughter were born, Allison Woodville Crane, the youngest, being the father of the subject of this sketch. He was born in the year 1841. His family consisted of six children, named as follow: Mattie. deceased; Thomas V. B., our subject ; George A. is a Presbyterian minister in Texas; Melissa is deceased; Mrs. Maggie E. Belcher is living in Florida; Henry D. lives in Little Rock, Arkansas.
The Crane family is of Scotch-Irish ancestry.
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Soon after Doctor Crane's birth his father moved with him to Salem, Dent county, Missouri, where he lived two years, the family then moving to Kentucky. In the fall of 1874 his father moved back to the old Josiah Crane home in Tennessee. Meeting with reverses, the most notable being the destruction of his home by fire in the winter of 1874-75, A. W. Crane moved with his family to Kentucky again, thence to Illinois, and in the fall of 1880, moved to near Mountain Home, Arkansas, where, although then eleven years of age, our subject entered school for the first time. The terms averaged from three weeks to three months that he spent in school each winter during the four years that he lived in Arkansas. In the fall of 1884 his father moved to Missouri, locating in Ripley county, where. about three months of schooling out of each of the next two years were all he could embrace on account of assisting with the farm work. In the fall of 1886 his father moved to Bushton, Cole county, Illinois, where young Crane worked on the farm in summer and attended public school in winter during the succeeding five years. In June, 1891, our subject came back to Ripley county, Missouri, where he began teaching and farming. He took the literary course in Abbott College, at Maynard, Randolph county, Arkansas; then, in the year 1899, he entered the St. Louis College of Phy- sicians and Surgeons, where he spent two years, then transferred to Barnes' Medical College, St. Louis, from which institution he was graduated with the class of 1903. Soon thereafter he began the practice of his profession in Washington, where he remained one year; then came to Springfield, where he opened an office on July 19, 1904, and here he has remained to the present time, enjoying all the while a growing and satisfactory patron- age. He is deserving of a great deal of credit for what he has accomplished in view of the fact that he is purely a self-made man, having educated himself.
Doctor Crane was married on September 18, 1892, to Amanda A. Marlin, of Osceola, Mississippi county, Arkansas, where she was born on February 26, 1871. She is a daughter of David M. and Elmira (Casey) Marlin. Mr. Marlin, who devoted his life to farming, died in May, 1909, his wife having preceded him to the grave several decades, dying when Mrs. Crane was a small child.
Three children have been born to Doctor Crane and wife, namely : Marvin Elsie, born in Ripley county, Missouri, in 1893, was educated in the public schools of that county and the ward schools of Springfield; she was graduated from the high school here, after which she spent two years in Drury College. Bryan D., the second child, was born on October 30, 1896, was graduated from the ward schools in Springfield, after which he spent two years in high school here, then entered Scarritt-Morrisville Col-
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lege at Morrisville, Missouri, where he was making an excellent record when he met an untimely death. Adolphus H., the youngest child, was born in Ripley county, this state, October 24, 1898; he was graduated from the ward schools in Springfield and at this writing is in his third year in the local high school.
It must not be forgotten that, although our subject was deprived of the privilege of attending the common schools in early life, his education was not neglected altogether, for both his father and mother, especially the latter, were painstaking in the tutoring of their children; and many were the nights, although tired and weary from the cares and toils of the day, by the light of the tallow candle, grease lamp or pine knot fires, and other means for artificial light, the parents and the children might have been seen as tutors and pupils, searching for those things which go to build character and fit boys and girls for future usefulness. This is a tribute which will not be paid to the average father and mother of today.
Doctor Crane is a stanch Democrat. He is a member of the Blue Lodge, Council and Chapter, of the Masonic Order; also the Modern Woodmen of America and the Royal Neighbors. He is also a member of the Greene County Medical Society, the State Medical Society, the Ameri- can Medical Association and the Southwest Medical Society. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, South.
ADDISON BROWN.
Addison Brown has achieved marked success as a lawyer while yet a young man, for the vocation he selected is one of the most exacting of all professions and, too, he has had to win his way in the face of opposition in various ways and in a community long noted for the high order of its legal talent. He throws his whole soul into his work. As a citizen, he stands for the highest ideals in all the relations of life.
Mr. Brown was born on January 19, 1874. in Ozark, Christian county, Missouri. He is a son of E. B. and Sarah A. (Clapp) Brown; the father was born on December 5, 1845; the mother was born on July 15. 1856. These parents received good educations, and the father attended the Keokuk Medical College, at Keokuk, Iowa, from which institution he was grad- uated in April, 1872. He first began the practice of his profession in Ozark, Missouri, where he remained until 1889, when he removed to Billings, this state, and there he is still actively engaged in the practice of medicine, hav- ing built up a large patronage. Politically he is a Democrat. He belongs
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to the Masonic order, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and other fraternal organizations.
To E. B. Brown and wife nine children were born, all of whom are still living, named as follow : Mollie L., born on August 28, 1872, is single and she has been teaching in the public schools of Dallas, Texas, for the past seven years; Addison, of this sketch; Fred H., born on November 16, 1876, is single, and he is engaged in the practice of medicine at Billings, Missouri; Ross B., born on June 20, 1879, married Elizabeth Berry, and they live in Branson, Missouri, where he is engaged in the real estate busi- ness; Frank H., born on July 15, 1883, married Lucy Garroutte, and they are living in Billings, where he is engaged in the mercantile business; Min- nie V., born in 1886, is single, and is teaching in the public schools of Dallas, Texas; Ned R., born on November 3, 1888, married in 1909; he is a traveling salesman and resides in Colorado Springs; Joseph D., born on January II, 1893, is a pharmacist and lives in Billings, Missouri; Alta L., born on December 8, 1896, lives in Billings; she is a student in the State Normal school at Springfield, Missouri.
John D. Brown, the paternal grandfather of our subject, married Jean Bray, and to them five sons and three daughters were born, all of the boys being made physicians. Joseph Addison Brown was the father of Dr. William McFarland Brown, a physician and surgeon of Springfield, Mis- souri, a complete sketch of whom appears on another page of this work, in which will be found a complete genealogy of the Brown family. Dr. G. P. S. Brown, of Nixa, Missouri, is also a physician; he is an uncle of the subject of this sketch.
Addison Brown received a common school education, being graduated from the high school at Billings, Missouri, in 1893. He became a regis- tered pharmacist in Texas on July 15, 1893, and for a number of years engaged in the drug business in the city of Dallas with much success. He was manager of a number of drug stores there. Finally he decided to enter the legal profession and began studying law during spare moments. Pro- gressing rapidly, he entered the law department of Washington University, at St. Louis, Missouri, from which institution he was graduated on June 20, 1901, having made an excellent record. From 1901 to 1905 he was engaged as manager of drug stores in Dallas, Texas.
On September 1, 1905, Mr. Brown located in Springfield for the prac- tice of his profession. He has been very successful from the first and his clientage has constantly increased since coming to this city. During the past seven years he has been attorney for a number of wholesale merchants here. He has long ranked among the leaders of the Greene county bar.
Mr. Brown was married on December 22, 1910, to Lydian D. Berry,
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of Nevada, Missouri. She is a daughter of J. H. Berry. She received a good education.
Politically, Mr. Brown is a Democrat. He belongs to the Masonic order, the Young Men's Business Club, and the Christian church.
GAYLARD DOUGLASS.
Among the enterprising business men of Springfield and Greene county of the present day is Gaylard Douglass, widely known dealer in farm loans, with offices in the Landers Building, suite No. 934-36, a man who has suc- ceeded in life partly because he has inherited commendable traits from his sterling Buckeye ancestors, and partly because he has dealt honorably with his fellow men, thereby winning and retaining their good will and confi- dence, and his reputation in the several localities where he has lived has ever been above idle cavil.
Mr. Douglass was born near Ft. Wayne, Indiana, February 16, 1851. He is a son of Samuel and Diana (Edgington) Douglass, both natives of the state of Ohio, the father's birth occurring near Mansfield. These par- ents grew up and were married in their native locality and established their home on a farm in Allen county, Indiana, where they were known as honest, industrious and neighborly people, and they spent their lives on a farm and both died there, the mother passing away when the subject of this sketch was but a child. They were the parents of twelve children, our sub- ject being the only survivor.
Gaylard Douglass grew to manhood on the home farm and he did his full share of the work there when a boy. He received a limited education in the public schools, but this lack of learning has later been supplied by wide miscellaneous reading and by contact with the world, until he may well be called a successful self-made man. In 1876 he left his native state and came to Bates county, Missouri, where he spent ten years engaged in general farming and, working hard and managing well, he got a good start. He took much interest in live stock and handled a good grade. Although liking the farm and live stock business, he finally decided that the city held greater attractions and opportunities for him and removed to Clinton, Henry county, this state, where he engaged in the real estate business for some time, then went to California and remained in that state two years, after which he returned to Clinton, Missouri, and went into the loan busi- ness, and made his first loan at Schell City, Vernon county, this state. He was successful in this line of endeavor and, seeking a larger field for his operations, he came to Springfield in 1904, where he continued to the pres-
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ent time, building up a large business in farm loans and real estate. He maintains an up-to-date office in the Landers Building, and is regarded as one of the best posted men in the value of Missouri farm property or in the city. He is assisted by his son, J. M. Douglass, and enjoys a constantly growing business.
Mr. Douglass was married on December 21, 1872, to Catherine Lovinia Dolley, who was born and reared near Ft. Wayne, Indiana. She died in Red Bluff, California, February 12, 1898, leaving two sons, namely : James M., who married Nellie N. Danley, lives in Springfield; Clark, who married Mary Lee, of Mountain Grove, Missouri; later they moved to Seymour, Webster county, where they now live. Mr. Douglass was married a second time to Alice Davis, a native of Missouri and a daughter of Wilbur Davis and wife. This second union has been without issue.
Mr. Douglass has been very successful in a business way, and he has a beautiful home at 724 East Walnut street, Springfield. Politically, he is a Republican, and religiously he belongs to the Presbyterian church.
JOHN S. OWEN.
The name of the late John S. (Sol) Owen needs no introduction to the readers of this history, for he was widely known in Greene county for many years, being a worthy representative of one of our best pioneer families, and he was highly regarded by all who knew him.
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