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 13
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Entering the ring when about eighteen years old, his first fight was at Swift Current, for which he received only fifteen dollars. His rise was perhaps the most rapid of any prize ring star in the history of pugilism, and his last battle, about eighteen months after his first, brought him many thousands of dollars, and during that brief period he earned about one hundred thousand dollars. In all he engaged in twenty-three battles and won sixteen of them with knockouts. Four of the other seven were ten- round, no-decision bouts, two were six-round, no-decision bouts, and one, the last, was to have been a ten-round fight. He won over such widely known pugilists as Carl Morris, Al Kaufman, Jim Flynn and Al Palzer. Upon the defeat of the last named at Los Angeles, California, January I, 1913, he was given a diamond-studded belt, valued at five thousand dollars, and was the recognized white heavyweight champion of the world, which honors he retained five months, or until his untimely death.
Mr. McCarty was married at Sidney, Ohio, May 28, 1907, to Rhoda Wright, who was born November 9, 1888, in Sidney, Ohio, and there grew to womanhood and was educated in the common schools. She is a daugh- ter of Theodore and Amanda (Stumpff) Wright, both natives of that place, also where they grew up, were educated, married and established their home. The father was born January 23, 1855, and his death occurred at Sidney, February 26, 1914. The mother was born March 23, 1852, and she still lives in Sidney. Mr. Wright devoted his active life to general farming, also operated a threshing machine. Politically he was a Democrat, and fraternally a member of the Masonic Order. His family consisted of six children.
To Luther Q. McCarty and wife one child was born, a daughter, Cor- nelia Alberta McCarty, the date of whose birth was February 14, 19II. Mrs. McCarty and daughter make their home in Springfield. The deceased champion was very fond of his little daughter, and intended retiring from the ring on her account after he had amassed a sufficient fortune to live comfortably the rest of his life and provide for her in every way, especially giving her an excellent education. He left a large bank account and valuable property at Venice, California, and elsewhere.
The death of Luther Q. McCarty occurred at Calgary, Province of
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Alberta, Canada, May 24, 1913. The exact cause has never been fully determined. He was engaged in a bout with Arthur Pelkey, and in less than three minutes after the opening of the engagement McCarty fell to the mat and expired almost immediately. It seems certain that he was not killed by a blow from his antagonist. However, such a blow probably had its effects in causing the champion's tragic end. It was at first believed that heart failure was the cause, but this was later doubted by physicians, who found that a dislocation of a vertebra in his neck had taken place, and it was the accepted theory by most that this injury had been caused a few days previous when the champion was riding a bucking mustang and that Pelkey's blow caused a further dislocation, resulting in death.
The remains of the great athlete were sent to Piqua, Ohio, for burial. The body was viewed by thousands as it lay in state. Beautiful floral tributes were sent by admirers from all over the country. Interment was made in the family lot in Forest Hill Cemetery. The city of Piqua never saw so large a crowd at a funeral. Newspaper representatives from big dailies throughout the country were there covering the funeral, as well as magazine writers of national reputation.
The following obituary, written by Billy McCarney, manager of the subject of this memoir, during his successful ring career, appeared in The Ozark Magazine in its issue of June, 1913:
" 'Luther McCarty, Springfield, Missouri,' were the last words ever written by the lamented heavyweight champion who went to his death in an orthodox ring engagement with Arthur Pelkey, at Calgary, Alberta, Canada, May 24th. The night preceding the bout, McCarty remained in the city of Calgary instead of returning to his training camp. Where he elected to stay was the best hotel the city of Calgary affords, the Royal King George, and it was on the register of the hotel he inscribed his name and home town. Luther McCarty was essentially a product of the Queen City of the Ozarks. He was heard continually referring to Springfield as the grandest place in the world and no matter when his trips across the country were being routed, he always tried to have it so arranged that he could go through the city he loved. When we were leaving the East to make the trip through Calgary, Luther asked me to try and arrange it so that we could go by way of St. Louis and Springfield, but it was so much out of the way and meant such a sacrifice of time that I declined changing the ticket routing and we made the run by the shortest route, via Chicago. I am sorry that I refused his request.
"The sudden and unlooked for death of McCarty jarred the whole world, but nowhere did it hit with such teriffic heart aches as it did in Springfield. They loved the big good-natured boy in the city he loved to call home. They had seen him in his budding days, saw him blossom the
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night he tumbled Carl Morris to the mat and later when he returned from his triumphal, sensational, astounding tour of the West, with the champion- ship of the world in his keeping, it was the people of Springfield who gave him his greatest reception. McCarty returned in full bloom to greet his friends of the early struggling days. Despite the fact that he had won the greatest honor a man of his chosen profession could acquire, he returned to Springfield as just the same plain Luther McCarty they had known here in the days of privation. He did not run to grasp the hands of the big men of the city. It was not his way. With the reception over he jumped on the same horse he had ridden in the early days and rode from place to place meeting the friends he called friends when he was just one of the common herd. His success never turned his head and he never forgot anyone who befriended him in the early days. The religious element did not take kindly to the reception planned for the return of the lad who went forth from Springfield to conquer and, incidentally, placed Springfield on the map, and headed by one individual they made the home-coming of the champion some- what different from what it was planned, but McCarty never once referred to it as an unpleasant memory. His idea of life was that we all travel in our own grooves and it hurt him to know that he had been spoken of so illy by the man who fought the giving of a reception for him. It was not the individual; it was not a combination of forces working against him; it was not the stout-hearted friends who battled to have him received properly, that stood out in his mind. It was simply that he loved Spring- field. Despite the harsh things said of him by the man who opposed his being received properly, I am glad to say Springfield loved Luther McCarty. Not Springfield alone, but the world loved the big boy. The world admires a winner, but some are better liked than others, and Luther McCarty was loved to the fullest. I do not recall him ever speaking mean of anyone. He lived a temperate life, was free from profane language, loved his fellow- man and was ready at all times to benefit one in need. The Golden Rule was his motto and he never was so well pleased as when, in his days of prosperity, he was able to help one of those in need. His charity was not of the noisy kind. He was unostentatious in the performance of good deeds and his enjoyment was in knowing he had done something for some- one, that he at some time in his early life would have appreciated having done for him.
"In the death of Luther McCarty the world lost a noble character. His loyalty to a friend was unbounded. Appreciation of good done for him was paramount and the one way to awaken him to a point of showing his temper was to have anyone speak disparagingly of his friends. As a companion he was truly lovable. Of a sunny disposition, he loved the good things of life and wanted those nearest to him to share his every pleasure.
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His treatment of myself was so perfect and our days of close association so crowded with sweet memories that he will live in my mind for all time. I loved him as a son and he respected me as an obedient son would a father. In our eighteen months of daily association we never had a cross word. I did at times chide him for some of his recklessness, but he never answered me back. He knew I had his interest at heart. By his death I lost the dearest pal man ever had, one who knew no wrong. His equal in manly principles will never again grace the profession he adopted. May the dust rest lightly over him."
It would require volumes to hold all that was published about him. The Springfield Daily Leader, in its issue of June 8, 1913, contained an article under the caption of "McCarty and Ketchel," which we deem worthy of reproduction here :
"With the sad taking off of Luther McCarty, the name of his home town, Springfield, Missouri, became temporarily the most talked of place in America. Twice before the Queen City was the central focus point of the Union. The night Carl Morris went down to defeat from the powerful right of Luther McCarty and the day Stanley Ketchel was done to death were the two occasions when, everywhere over the country, this city was foremost in the topics being discussed. Speaking of Ketchel and McCarty, two of the most senational men who ever gained distinction in the sport world, it is strange that this city should have to do with the end of one and the rise of the other. They were two grand characters standing out in bold relief from all others of their profession. Each bore a name, one Stanley, the other Luther, new to fistiana. They both rose meteorically, astonished the world by the character of their ring work, champions of the never-to-be-forgotten kind, and after brief careers each went to a sensa- tional death. From the beginning of their lives to their untimely end these two men, lovable socially and dreaded when in the roped enclosure, traveled in almost parallel lines. Disciples of Nomad by choice, stout-hearted to the point of recklessness, with the love for adventure uppermost in their hearts, it was but natural when they took to boxing that their very temperaments would carry them to the front ranks of their new profession. Both men sprang into prominence from the unknown class over night. It was Joe Thomas, then welter-weight champion of the world, who was the stepping- stone for Ketchel, while Carl Morris answered the same purposes for McCarty.
From the first time they attracted attention, McCarty and Ketchel were lionized by the public. Their care-free ways won people to them. The newspapers of New York attacked both men, but was the result of work on the part of their managers demanding what they figured the right price for services of the men wanted by the New York clubs. The unjustness
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of their attack on McCarty was so palpable that many other papers took sides with the big boy, and the unwarranted abuse of the New York sport writers cut deep into McCarty's sensitive brain, but he never once com- plained. Both McCarty and Ketchel survived the attacks and when away from New York were idolized. They both thrived on the adulations they received, loved to be in the limelight and the very air they breathed, they exhaled with a sensational flavor. Dying sensationally as they did, they lived their parts right to the very last earthly move. Even in death, the eyes of the world were focused on them. The train bearing McCarty's remains was met all along the line by throngs of people who stood about, sad-eyed, talking of the good traits of the boy they all loved. Just so with Ketchel. When the former, on his tour, visited Grand Rapids, Michigan, he made the trip to the Polish cemetery and paid his respects to the grave of Ketchel- the man whom he had always looked upon as his hero. May the memory of both be kept green forever."
OSCAR L. PEAK, M. D.
The name of Dr. Oscar L. Peak, of Springfield, will be held in lasting honor as one of the able physicians who has given loyal service in behalf of suffering humanity in Greene county. Those who know him best are unre- strained in their praise of his genial disposition and his ability as a physician. The large success which has crowned his life work, coupled with his ripe ex- ยท perience and kind heart, has enabled him to bring comfort, hope and confi- dence to the sick room and he has brought sunshine into many a home.
Doctor Peak was born in Buffalo, Dallas county, Missouri, November 20, 1849. He is a son of Reuben T. and Juliet F. (Johnson) Peak. The father was born in McMinn county, Tennessee, in 1824, and his death oc- curred in St. Joseph, Missouri, June II, 1907. The mother was born in Steubenville, Ohio, July 16, 1828, and her death occurred August 2, 1852, in Buffalo, Missouri. The Doctor's father received a good college education in Illinois, and after coming to Missouri in pioneer times he taught school in Buffalo. He was also a minister in the Baptist church in later life. A part of his earlier life was devoted to merchandising. His family consisted of six children, namely: Dr. Oscar L., of this sketch; Loren J., deceased; . Mary A. lives in St. Joseph, Missouri; William C. lives in Aline, Oklahoma; Edward C. lives in Modena, Utah, and Dr. Frank is a practicing physician in Pratt, Kansas.
Dr. Oscar L. Peak received a good common school education, later at- tending Shurtleff College in Illinois, after which he took a course in a medi-
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cal college in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he was graduated with the class of 1878, and in 1886 he took a post-graduate course in St. Louis, Missouri. He began the practice of his profession in Pratt county, Kansas, in 1878, and remained there until 1893. He took an interest in public affairs there and was county superintendent of public instruction of Pratt county, Kansas, in the eighties. He was United States pension surgeon in Pratt county for over ten years. He enjoyed a good practice in that field, but in 1893 he left it and took up his residence in Springfield, Missouri, where he has since re- mained. He first established his office on the south side of the public square, later moving to the north side of the city, with an office at 41012 East Com- mercial street, where he is still located. He has built up a large practice and is one of the best known general practitioners in the county.
Doctor Peak was married, April 13, 1880, in Pratt, Kansas, to Eliza- beth Viola Moore, who was born in Van Buren county, Iowa, June 6, 1862. She is a daughter of Thaddeus S. and Samantha A. (Richey) Moore. The latter was a daughter of James E. and Elizabeth (Parker) Richey. Mr. Moore was a cabinet maker by trade. He was born in 1834 and is now liv- ing in California. He is a first cousin of Thomas Moore, the famous Irish poet. The mother of Mrs. Peak was born in 1837 and died September 8, 1885. 'Mrs. Peak is a graduate of the Woman's Medical College of St. Louis. This college suspended operations several years ago.
Five children have been born to Doctor Peak and wife, namely : Burt, born February 22, 1881, in Pratt, Kansas, died February 28, 1882; Bird C., born May 20, 1882, married William A. Minor, superintendent of Lieut W. Weiler's force pump factory at Rochester, New York, and they are the par- ents of one child, Oscar E. Minor; Bessie O., born September 12, 1883, mar- ried, June 1, 1912, Rev. Paul B. Waterhouse, of Pasadena, Cal., a graduate of Princeton, and they are now living in Hachiman, Japan, where they are engaged in missionary work in Omi Mission. A son was born to them in Tokyo, Japan, February 19, 1915. He was christened Gordon Merrill. Mrs. Waterhouse is a graduate of Drury College, where she was an honor student. She is also a graduate of Hartford (Connecticut) Theological Seminary ; Reuben T., born April 30, 1891, lives in Springfield. He attended Drury College, after having graduated in the Springfield high school, later being graduated from the Western Dental College in 1914. He was married in October, 1914, to Miss Helen V. Trenary, of this city. He has an office with his father and is making a good start in his profession; Oscar L., Jr., born May 23, 1893, died June 13, 1893.
Doctor Peak is a Republican, of the progressive wing of the party. Fraternally, he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Mod- ern Woodmen of America, the Knights and Ladies of Security, in which he has been financier for a period of ten years. He is also a national trustee
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of this order. He and his family are members of the First Congregational church. Mrs. Peak is president of the Greene county district of the Women's Christian Temperance Union. They are both very active workers in the temperance cause.
WILLIAM PENN ELSON.
It was nearly a half century ago that William Penn Elson came to. Boone township, Greene county, Missouri, from the old Buckeye state and here he has resided ever since, doing his part in the general change that has come 'over the face of the land," and his labors have benefited alike the com- munity about Ash Grove and himself, for he had little of this world's goods when he took up his residence on a small farm here just after the close of the war between the states, but by close application and honest dealings he has become one of the substantial agriculturists of the township and owns a large and well stocked farm.
Mr. Elson was born in Stark county, Ohio, September 9, 1837, and is therefore now getting well along in years-seventy-seven in number-but is still comparatively hale and hearty, having led a careful life. He is a son of John Harris and Osee ( Wilson) Elson. The father was born in Brooks county, West Virginia, October 14, 1806, and was a son of Capt. John Harris and Margaret (Wiggins) Elson. Captain Elson was also born in the last named county and state, the year of his birth being 1769. He was a son of Richard Elson. The latter was a native of Scotland and emigrated to America in old colonial days, and took up a "tomahawk claim" of four hundred acres from the government, in the Old Dominion, now a part of the state of West Virginia, and there he spent the rest of his life engaged in farming, clearing his land and rearing his family of four sons and three daughters. Captain John Harris Elson was an officer in the war of 1812 and also served in the early Indian wars with distinction. His death occurred in 1820. The subject of this sketch is now in possession of his poll-book and many of his papers. His widow survived until 1847. When twelve years of age John Harris Elson, father of our subject, moved to. Stark county, Ohio, and there he engaged in farming the rest of his life, dying in 1898. Politically he was first a Whig and later a Republican. He and Osee Wilson were married in 1833. She was born May 15, 1815. She was a woman of rare intellectual attainments for those days and was a great reader. Her death occurred in 1891. The parents of the subject of this sketch were excellent types of the sturdy citizens of Ohio during the century that is past.
WILLIAM P. ELSON.
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William P. Elson grew to manhood on the home farm where he worked when a boy and he received good educational advantages, having attended the common schools and later Mt. Union College at Alliance, Ohio, after which he engaged successfully in teaching for a number of years in Ohio, Indiana and Illinois. Later he worked at the insurance business in Illinois, and in the town of Fidelity, that state, he clerked and acted as postmaster for three years, then returned to Ohio, where he remained until 1866 when he came to Greene county, Missouri, and purchased eighty acres in Boone township, and here he has since been engaged in general farming and stock raising, and, having prospered with advancing years, is now owner of a fine farm containing two hundred and forty acres under cultivation and forty acres in timber, constituting one of the choicest farms in this part of the county. It is productive, well improved and has on it a large, well-furnished residence and numerous substantial barns and other buildings.
Mr. Elson was married, November 2, 1875, to Elizabeth C. Frame, who- was born in Montgomery county, Indiana, February 13, 1860, and came to Greene county with her father and mother, Samuel Park and Elizabeth E. (Harshburger) Frame when she was nine years of age. They settled in Center township and were substantial citizens of the early days. Mrs. Elson received her education in Greene county. She has proved to be an excellent helpmeet in every respect.
Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Elson, namely: Vinnie Ream, born December 23, 1776, is the wife of F. J. Hawkins, a farmer of Boone township; they have three children, Elson C., Carrol and Paul. John Harris, born March 18, 1879, who is in the commissary department of the United States army, is at present stationed at Vera Cruz, Mexico. He is married and has one child, Vinnie. Charles H., born July 1, 1881, is assist- ing with the work on the home farm; married Laona Wheelock and they have three children, John Harris, Martha E., and Robert B. William Robert, born December 9, 1893, lives on a farm in Boone township; married Frances Hawkins, and they have had two children, Louise and one deceased. Richard P., born November 13, 1887, lives in Fayetteville, Missouri; mar- ried Jessie White and they have two children, Vera and William Penn. Archie died at the age of nineteen in the West.
Politically, Mr. Elson is a Republican and religiously a Presbyterian. Fraternally he belongs to the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Masonic order. He has been more or less active in public affairs and has. had charge of the Boone Township Republican Committee, and he once made the race for presiding judge of the county court. He is a man of influence in his community and no one is better or more favorably known in the western part of this county.
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HARRY CARRIGAN MORGAN.
In few branches of art or science have such developments or perfected improvements been made as in photography and few establishments in Greene county and this section of Missouri show more conclusive proof of this assertion than that of Harry Carrigan Morgan, whose studios are located on West Commercial street, Springfield. He has long been a close student of art, and his splendid work is pronounced by those best capable of judging, to be fully equal to that of his co-workers in this field of endeavor in this locality. He has won a growing reputation over this country for securing for those who sit before his camera, a natural pose and pleasing expression and in all his work is shown the skilled hand of the adroit artist. No one is more qualified to execute work in this direction than Mr. Morgan and no one has the happy faculty of meeting the requirements of all more than he.
Mr. Morgan was born near Logansport, Indiana, February 29, 1872. He is son of Rees and Alice (Carrigan) Morgan. The Morgan family is of Welch descent and the first emigrant took up his residence in America several generations ago. Rees Morgan was born in the same locality in the Hoosier state as was our subject, the former's father having been a pioneer citizen of Cass county and there he developed the home farm on which the father of our subject was born in 1847 and on which he was reared to manhood. He received his education in the common schools of his community, and when a young man learned the carpenter's trade and followed this and contracting for a livelihood. He remained in Indiana until 1883, when he removed to Rolla, Missouri, where he carried on his line of business with success for a period of seventeen years, meanwhile engaging in farming also. In 1900 he came to Springfield, where he lived until 1908, working as a builder, then he and his wife located in California, where they now make their home. Politically he is a Republican, and religiously is a member of the Christian church.
Harry C. Morgan was eleven years old when his parents moved from his native state to Missouri, and grew to manhood on the home farm near Rolla, Missouri, where he worked when a boy, and received his education in the district schools there, and also studied photography, having manifested a decided natural talent in this direction when but a child. He remained with his parents on the farm until he was twenty-one years of age. He worked in the city of Rolla a year, then came to Springfield and formed a partnership with S. H. Wickizer, and they conducted a studio for two years, but since that time Mr. Morgan has been in business alone, and is now lo- cated on West Commercial street, where he has a neat and modern equipped studio and is doing a good business, many of his customers coming from neighboring towns and adjoining counties.
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