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 103
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Mr. DeLange was married January 20, 1913, to Bertha E. Moody, a daughter of Nathan E. and Martha Jane (Cooke) Moody, who formerly lived at Viroqua, Wisconsin, later coming to Missouri and locating at Jerico Springs, Cedar county, Mr. Moody coming to the Ozark Mountains for his health. He was a successful farmer in the North and accumulated consid- erable wealth.
To Mr. and Mrs. Moody were born four children, namely: Bertha E., wife of Mr. DeLange, of this sketch; Mrs. Jessie Whitsitt: Mrs. Helen Graff, and Mrs. Ethel McKenney.
Politically, Mr. DeLange has leaned toward the Republican party in national affairs. His wife, who is an exceptionally well educated woman, is a member of the Methodist church.
1888
GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
LUTHER M. CLAYPOOL.
The old-fashioned notion that hard work, patient industry and far- sightedness make for success in the various avenues of life, seems yet to hold good, although not perhaps so universally accepted in our day, the spread of pessimismm engendered by many phases of our complex life being in a great measure responsible for some lack of faith in the old ideas. However, if we observe conditions closely we will find that the intelligent individual who leads a practical and industrious life, will reach a point of success commensurate with his efforts. The career of Luther M. Clay- pool, well known insurance man of Springfield, will afford us an instance of this, for he is an advocate of persistency, honesty and the adoption of new ideas and in having system in his work, and these elements have re- sulted in success.
Mr. Claypool was born in Bell county, Texas, August 16, 1884. He is a son of C. W. and Sarah (Hall) Claypool, both reared in Missouri, the former of Scotch-Irish and the latter of Irish extraction. C. W. Claypool grew up a farmer boy and was educated in the rural schools of his com- munity. His wife was born in Tennessee, from which state she came to Missouri in her girlhood and received her education in the common schools. These parents were married in 1876 and two years later removed to Bell county, Texas, where Mr. Claypool engaged in farming. His family con- sisted of five children, namely: Nettie, Charles O., Luther M., Elza V., and Lonnie B. C. W. Claypool remained in the Lone Star state with his family until 1902, when he returned to Missouri, locating on a farm in Greene county, which has been his chief life work and which he has been successful in. He was justice of the peace for several years at Phoenix. During the past two years he has been engaged in the mercantile business there, handling boots and shoes, and has built up a good trade. He has been a loyal Republican since reaching his majority, and he and his wife have been members of the Baptist church for many years.
Luther M. Claypool grew to manhood on the home farm. After at- tending the public schools he spent two years in Central Texas Institute, from which he was graduated in June, 1902, with honors, having made an excellent record for scholarship.
He began life for himself as a farmer for one year, then followed stationary engineering for five years at Phoenix, Missouri, during which time he took a course in stationary engineering and steam fitting. He became an expert in this field of endeavor and followed it successfully until 1909, when he accepted a position in the Heer Department Store in
1889
GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
Springfield, remaining there until the fall of 1910, when he took up the insurance business which he has continued ever since with increasing suc- cess. In January, 1915, he accepted an agency for the Central Life In- surance Company, having agencies covering twenty counties. Eleven men are working under his direction. He is not only a good judge of men but is a splendid salesman and is one of the most successful insurance men in Springfield.
Mr. Claypool was married March 7, 1909, to Maud V. Brady, a daughter of John and Maryland (Keer) Brady. The father was born in Ireland, from which country he immigrated to the United States in early life and for a number of years followed farming. The mother of Mrs. Claypool was born in Greene county, Missouri. Both these parents are of Scotch-Irish extraction.
To Mr. and Mrs. Claypool one son has been born, Denziel Leon Clay- pool.
Mr. Claypool is a Republican, and he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. They have made many warm friends since taking up their residence in Springfield.
HENRY B. JONES.
A gentleman who has been considered one of the best farmers and stock raisers in the vicinity of Elwood, Greene county, is Henry B. Jones. who, as a citizen is intelligent and enterprising, combining with himself those sterling qualities of manhood that make not only a useful member of society, but a leader in whatever he undertakes. He has been contented to spend his life in his native county, rightly concluding that for the tiller of the soil and the live stock grower no better place could be found.
Mr. Jones was born in Greene county, Missouri, March 21, 1860. He is a son of Isaac and Martha (McClure) Jones, both natives of Monroe county, Tennessee, where they spent their childhood and received a common school training, which, according to the times, was meager. Isaac Jones was twenty-three years old when he came to Greene county, Missouri, and by home study he had added to his education sufficiently to teach school, which he followed for some time in this county or until the commencement of the Civil war. The latter part of his life was devoted to general farming here. During the Civil war he was deputy sheriff under Elisha White. His death occurred in 1883. His widow survived nineteen years, dying in 1902. They were the parents of eight children, four sons and four daughters.
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1890
GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
named as follows: Sarah E., Jas. L., Henry B., the subject ; Effie K., Alice, Dora, J. Lyman, and Geo. B. W.
Henry B. Jones grew to manhood on the home place and there worked during the crop seasons when a boy, and attended the district schools during the winter. When a young man he began farming for himself, which he has continued to the present time, and is now owner of a well-improved and productive place of two hundred acres near Elwood. He has always been a very careful general farmer, rotating his crops at the right time, and he has made livestock raising and feeding a specialty, alivays keeping good grades and sparing no pains in their care. He has a good set of buildings and modern farming implements.
Mr. Jones was married on August 12, 1885, to Florence Pickering, a daughter of Samuel and Margaret (Gray) Pickering. She was born on her father's farm in Greene county, Tennessee, and here grew to woman- hood and received her education in the country schools. Mrs. Jones had two brothers, both deceased, namely: Charles B. and James B; also one sister, Mrs. Mary E. Graham.
Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Jones, namely : Fred, born July 17, 1886, owns a ranch in New Mexico and intends devoting his life to farming; Bert I., born November 18, 1888, owns a farm in Republic township, Greene county, where he carries on general farming; he married Ora E. Coggin, a native of this county, and they have one child, Ruth Mil- dred.
Politically, Mr. Jones is a Republican, and he and his family attend the Methodist Episcopal church.
ERNEST N. FERGUSON.
Step by step along the path of orderly progression Ernest N. Ferguson proceeded until he reached a prominent position as a representative of the industrial interests of Springfield, becoming cashier of the Holland Banking Company and president of the State Savings Trust Company. The initial step toward these ends was made when he was but a boy when he began careful preparation for a business career, and he has left no stone unturned anywhere along the highway of life whereby he might legitimately advance himself. His influence has always been on the side of progress, improve- ment and advancement. He is a dependable man under any condition and in any emergency. His quietude of deportment, his easy dignity, his frank- ness and cordiality of address, with the total absence of anything sinister or anything to conceal, foretoken a man who is ready to meet any obligation
GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI. 1891
of life with the confidence and courage that come of conscious personal abil- ity, right conception of things and an habitual regard for what is best in the exercise of human activities.
Springfield is his native city, his birth having occurred June 23. 1870. His parents are John R. and Virginia C. (Smith) Ferguson. The former, a native of Missouri, was born in February, 1842, and soon after the Civil war settled in Springfield, where he still makes his home. He engaged in the drug business for a number of years, afterward filled the office of circuit clerk for eight years and was recorder of deeds for four years, during which period his son, Ernest, acted as his deputy. He made an excellent record in official circles, his course being characterized by the utmost fidelity to duty and capability in meeting the demands of the business connected with the office. For three years he served his country as a soldier in the Union army and has at all times been actuated by a public-spirited devotion to the general good. He enlisted at Louisiana, Pike county, Missouri, March 29, 1862, and was mustered into service as a private of Company E. Third Regiment of Cavalry, Missouri State Militia, for three years, on the 8th of April, 1862. The following year he was promoted to the rank of cor- poral and in 1864 became sergeant. He continued with his command until mustered out, April 14, 1865. at Macon City, Missouri, on the expiration of his term of enlistment. While the Third Regiment was not sent to the front, it did arduous and dangerous duty in Missouri and northern Arkansas. Mr. Ferguson was almost constantly in a saddle from the spring of 1862 until the winter of 1864-5, pursuing and fighting the bushwhackers, guer- rillas and outlaws who infested the territory in large numbers, especially in the central, southwestern and southeastern portion of this state, using every opportunity to ambush and bushwhack the Third Regiment, ignoring all rules of civilized warfare. In the summer and autumn of 1864 no prisoners were taken by either side. Mr. Ferguson participated in the en- gagements at Kirksville, Missouri, in August, 1862, and in the fight near Patterson, Missouri, in the spring of 1863. He was also in the severe en- gagement in September, 1864, at Goslings Lane, Boone county, Missouri, where he was in command of the advanced guard, which was formed of a detachment from his regiment for protecting a wagon train of army sup- plies. The attack was made on the wagon train and guard by the notorious guerrilla band of three hundred of the most desperate and cruel guerrillas, commanded by the equally desperate Bill Anderson, a noted guerrilla chief, who burned the wagon train and killed without mercy the teanisters and soldiers who were unable to escape. As Mr. Ferguson says, service at the front under the rules of civilized warfare was a much less dangerous and arduous service than that which he experienced. He has been equally true and loyal to his country in times of peace and is regarded as one of the
1892
GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
most public-spirited men of Greene county. His wife is a daughter of Captain Jared E. Smith, a native of Tennessee.
In the public schools of Springfield Ernest N. Ferguson pursued his early education and afterward attended a business college there. On leaving school he entered the office of the circuit clerk and subsequenlty was in the recorder's office, being so employed for about five years. His identification with financial interests dates from the 19th of May, 1890, when he entered upon a position in the Springfield Savings Bank, becoming bookkeeper. There he remained until February, 1906, when he became secretary and treasurer of the Springfield Trust Company, with which he was thus asso- ciated for eighteen months. He next became vice-president of the National Exchange Bank and after ten months went to the State Savings Bank as cashier. Eventually he was elected its president and continued as such until September, 1913, when the bank was consolidated with the Holland Banking Company, of which Mr. Ferguson is now cashier. During his ad- ministration of the affairs of the State Savings Bank the deposits were in- creased from sixty thousand dollars to more than a million and a quarter and when, with his assistance, the consolidation with the Holland Banking Company took place, the new institution became the strongest in this part of the state. His long and varied experience in different clerical and offi- cial positions has given him intimate and comprehensive knowledge of the banking business in all of its phases and enables him to speak with authority upon many of the complex problems of banking. The spirit of enterprise actuates him in all that he undertakes and he has the ability to unify seem- ingly diverse elements and coordinate forces into a harmonious and re- sultant whole. One of the older bankers of Springfield, who years ago em- ployed Mr. Ferguson in a humble position said of him: "He always had the faculty of making and holding friends and still never allowed friendship to affect his judgment in business transactions. He is looked upon as one of the county's leading men, but has not nearly reached his place he eventually will take in financial circles." He is very forceful, displays keen sagacity and almost immediately makes up his mind when any proposition is brought before him.
On the 24th of April, 1894, at Springfield, Mr. Ferguson was united in marriage to Miss Margaret B. Pinkerton, a daughter of Rev. J. P. Pink- erton, and their children are James P., Katherine, Ernest N. and Margaret B.
Mr. Ferguson has been a member of Company F, Second Regiment, Missouri National Guard, with which he served for two years, holding the rank of second lieutenant. His political allegiance is given to the Republican party and he is identified with several fraternal and social organizations. He is a Royal Arch Mason, a Knight of Pythias, a Red Man, Royal Ar- canum and Modern Woodmen. He also belongs to the Benevolent and Pro-
1893
GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
tective Order of Elks, is identified with the Springfield Club, the Young Men's Business Club, the Country Club and the James River Club-asso- ciations which indicate much of the nature of his interests and of his recrea- tion. In manner he is modest and unassuming, but he has friends among all classes of people. He is a member of the South Street Christian church and has been its treasurer since 1894. Through his energy and personal as- sistance the affairs of the church have been put on a sound financial basis and he deserves great credit for his efforts in that direction. He is also a trustee of Drury College and is the local treasurer of the Pythian Home. His activities outside of business are perhaps most pronounced in the church and in its teachings are found the motive springs of his life in all of his relations with his fellowmen. His ideals are high and he grasps eagerly every opportunity for raising himself to their level.
CHARLES B. PICKERING.
The late Charles B. Pickering was a worthy representative of that type of American character and of that progressive spirit which promotes pub- lic good in advancing individual prosperity and conserving popular inter- ests. Members of the Pickering family have long been identified with the affairs of Greene county.
Mr. Pickering was born at Greeneville, Greene county, Tennessee, Sep- tember 28, 1854. He was a son of Samuel and Margaret (Gray) Pickering, the father born March 22, 1820, and the mother on June 9, 1819, both in Tennessee, and there they grew to maturity and were married, and they were young when they came to Greene county, Missouri, located on a farm and here spent the rest of their lives, the father dying in 1908 and the mother's death occurred May 17. 1907. They were the parents of nine children.
Charles B. Pickering grew to manhood on the home farm and he worked hard when a boy, and in the winter he received his education by at- tending the district schools. Early in life he began farming for himself, which he continued along general lines the rest of his life and was one of the successful tillers of the soil in Republic township, owning over two hun- dred acres of well improved and productive land. He had a good home and numerous convenient buildings for his live stock, which he always managed to keep a good grade of and carefully prepare for the market.
Mr. Pickering was married October 29, 1884, to Sarah M. Summer, a native of Greene county. Tennessee, born July 16, 1861, and she was a daughter of Joseph and Julia (Harris) Summer, both natives of Virginia.
1894
GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
in which state they spent their earlier years, finally removing to Missouri, and locating on a farm in Greene county. Mr. Summer was also a carpenter.
To Mr. and Mrs. Pickering two children were born, namely: Leota, now about twenty-four years of age, married Ardo D. Anderson, a farmer of this county, and Samuel Bruce, who is now about twenty-two years of age, lives on the home farm with his widowed mother and is successfully operating the place.
Politically, Mr. Pickering was a Republican, and in his church affilia- tions was a Protestant Methodist, although he was raised a Quaker. Fra- ternally, he belonged to the Woodmen of the World.
The death of Mr. Pickering occurred on October 22, 1908, at the age of fifty-four years. He was industrious, strictly honest and reliable and was highly respected by his neighbors and acquaintances.
FRANCIS MARION DONNELL.
Francis Marion Donnell, born in Polk county, just over the line of Greene, December 22, 1846, has lived the greater part of his life in south- west Missouri, and is one of the best known men in Greene county. His father, John M. Donnell, came to Missouri in 1832, stopping first at a place near the old Hodge, later known as the Union grave yard, on the road be- tween Springfield and Buffalo, two years later removing to Upshaw Prairie in Greene county. He was of Irish descent, his grandfather being an Irish emigrant named O'Donnell, who changed his name after coming to Tennes- see. His father, James M. Donnell, accompanied him to Missouri. He mar- ried, near Nashville, Tennessee, in 1811, Miss Jane McClain, who was of Scotch lineage. He was a farmer and stock raiser, dealing extensively in mules after he came to Missouri, making many drives through to New Or- leans, which was customary in those days. He had eleven children by his first wife, the youngest of whom was Francis Marion. After her death he married Miss Jane Wills, one child being born to them. The children by the first marriage were: Sons, James M., G. W., William M .. Robert, C. W., Francis Marion: daughters, Mary Ann, Margaret, Jane, Caroline and Sarah. He had one child by his second marriage, Winfield S. Don- nell. Most of their lives were spent in this county. C. W. Donnell is still living near Grand, Oklahoma. Sarah, who married James M. Armstrong, a farmer, is also living in Polk county. The father died in 1860, at the age of fifty-two years,
Francis Marion grew up on the Donnell farm near Fair Grove, work- ing during the busy season and attending the district school in winter until
1895
GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
he reached the age of sixteen, when he enlisted, in 1863, in Company E, Sixteenth Missouri, Cavalry, under Capt. S. W. Headley and Lieut. A. J. Potter. He was in the battle of the Big Blue, in which the enemy were under command of General Marmaduke, and a number of minor engage- ments. After the war he returned to Greene county and farmed a number of years near Fair Grove and also in Saline and Taney counties, in this state, and in California. Returning to Springfield in 1880, he became a member of the police force under Marshal Nat Turner, and afterward a deputy under Sheriff Jack Potter. He then served as a policeman under Marshall Hollet Snow, after which he was elected constable of Campbell township in 1882. He was elected sheriff of Greene county in 1883, serv- ing two years, after which he spent six years more in farming, on a place two miles east of Springfield, after which he removed to the city and engaged in the livery business until he was again elected sheriff, to fill the unexpired term of Dan Stewart, who had died after serving a few months. Since then he has engaged by turns in different kinds of commercial business. He is now living comfortably at the corner of Main and Atlantic streets in this city in the elegantly finished mansion built by G. A. Ramsey, a number of years ago. The interior wood work is of walnut and poplar. There are four fine stone mantels, one of them being of marble inlaid with onyx. It is one of the most substantial frame structures in the city and may shelter generations of Donnells for many years to come.
One of the tragedies of Greene county history occurred during Sheriff Donnell's first term of office. This was the lynching of George Graham, for the alleged murder of his wife at the Molloy farm. Much time was spent in preliminary examinations and various motions until rumors of intended mob violence were heard. Sheriff Donnell kept close watch until, worn out with long vigils, he was surprised by vigilantes who gained admittance to the jail on the night of April 22, 1886, by telling an assistant that they had a prisoner to deliver to him, pretending to be a posse from some out-lying district. The man opened the door to find himself surrounded by the night riders, who shoved revolvers into his face and made him keep silence while they crowded into the bedroom of the sheriff, who was sound asleep. When he arose half awake and started to dress there were weapons jabbing him from all sides and loud demands for the keys of the jail. These he had deposited in a drawer, the key of which he had managed to throw unobserved behind a log in the fireplace. But his wife had another bunch, which she was compelled to drop. They were picked up by a member of the mob, the drawer opened, the jail keys procured, and then the jail door was opened and the prisoner taken out while the sheriff and his assistant and everybody else in sight were guarded. Strangers were halted and made to hold up their hands as the wagon conveying the prisoner moved away from the jail
1896
GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
and out Boonville street to the place of execution in the northwest part of the city. Sheriff Donnell went out and cut the body down as soon as he got a chance.
Mr. Donnell married Miss Mary Ann Hall at Fair Grove in 1865. They have four children, all born in Missouri: George Sylvester, near Fair Grove on December 10, 1866; Charles C., near Forsyth, June 6, 1869; Rose Isabel and James Milton, at Marshall, Saline county, the former, February 26, 1871, the latter February 5, 1873. Of these three there are two living, Rosa, now Mrs. De Camp, at Long Angeles, California; and James Milton, at Stockton, California.
After the death of his first wife, Mr. Donnell married Miss Mattie J. Williams in Springfield, September 7, 1882. They have six children: Fran- cis M., Jr., born in Springfield, July 11, 1883; Cordy, in Springfield, Oc- tober 1, 1884; Carrie I., in Springfield, October 13, 1887; Lee A., in Spring- field, April 12, 1890; Roy E., in Springfield, August 2, 1892; Helen L., Springfield, August 30, 1899. Frank is a druggist in this city; Cordy is the wife of Lee F. Johnson, Carrie the wife of William Wallace, both of Springfield; Lee is in the water service of the Frisco; Roy is working for the Heer Dry Goods Company ; Helen, the youngest, is living at home.
Mr. Donnell is a member of the Woodland Heights Presbyterian church. He was chairman of the Democratic city and county committees twenty- five years, having always been a zealous worker in the interest of the party. His son, Frank, is chairman of the Democratic city committee.
JAKE ALBERT.
The career of Jake Albert of Springfield has been a varied one, as will be seen by a perusal of the following paragraphs. But he has been a man who has made stepping-stones of his adversities, and has succeeded in his life work. He has for many years devoted a great deal of attention to fruit growing, and is one of the best informed men on horticultural subjects in Greene county. He is also engaged in the real estate business. Mr. Albert was born in St. Clair county, Illinois, October 16, 1863. He is a son of Jake and Maggie (Coffenberger) Albert, both natives of Ger- many, and there they spent their early childhood, emigrating to the United States about the same time, the father being about thirteen years of age when he accompanied his parents to our shores. He had received a com- mon school education in his native land. The family located in Illinois, coming direct to that state, and there Jake Albert, Sr., grew to manhood and married. His wife died when our subject was fourteen years old, in
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