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 14
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Politically, Mr. Morgan is a Republican, and religiously he holds mem- bership in the Christian church.
Mr. Morgan was married, August 12, 1897, to Minnie E. Pierce, of Shelbyville, Illinois. She was born in 1878. She received a good public school education. To the union of our subject and wife two children have been born, namely: Harold, born March 28, 1899; and Edgar, born Jan- uary 2, 1905; they are both attending school.
CHARLES I. GROBLEBE.
Springfield has long been noted for a lumber center, and ever since the days of the Civil war large yards have been located here, and this line has been one of the leading assets of the city, which is a distributing point for the vast Ozark lumber region, and although much of both the pine and hardwood forests have been denuded of their best trees, in southern Mis- souri, the lumber business here has not abated, but the supply of lumber is obtained in more remote sections of the country, for the most part. One of the most successful of the younger lumbermen here is Charles I. Grob- lebe, whose place of business is located on South Campbell street.
Mr. Groblebe was born October 2, 1879, in Carroll county, Arkansas. He is a son of Charles and Mary (Mitchell) Groblebe. The father was born in March, 1844, in Germany, from which country he emigrated to the United States in his youth and settled in St. Louis. He served in a Mis- souri regiment in the Confederate army during the Civil war. After the war he went to Arkansas and engaged in the lumber business at Eureka Springs, and became a well known lumberman throughout northwestern Arkansas. He is now 71 years of age and is still active. His wife, Mary Mitchell, was born August 24, 1850, and reared in Arkansas, and her death occurred September 12, 1883 when our subject was four years of age. He has three brothers, namely : George was born April 4, 1870, lives in Arkan- sas ; Earl was born July 7, 1879, and lives in Elgin, Washington; Edward, born August 6, 1881, is employed on the Missouri & Northern railroad.
Charles I. Groblebe grew to manhood in Arkansas and when a boy he worked with his father in the sawmill or on a farm, and he received his early education in the public schools of his native state. He was a poor boy and fought his way up from the bottom, and he is deserving of a great deal of credit for what he has accomplished in the face of obstacles that would have discouraged many. He had to work hard when a boy, often in severe winter weather, when scantily clad, and he attended school only three months of the year. He came to Springfield, Missouri, in 1902,
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and in order to better equip himself for the battle of life, took a course in the Queen City Business College, remaining there a year, after which he worked two years in the local lumber yards, the meanwhile mastering the various phases of the lumber business, and in 1905 he went into the busi- ness for himself, and. prospered from the first, his success growing with advancing years until today he is one of the widely known lumbermen of southwest Missouri. He is one of the few in this line who own their own property where their yards and buildings are located, and is the only dealer in Greene county owning an auto truck for the delivery of lumber. He carries a thirty thousand-dollar stock, which is extensive and complete, and he aims at prompt and honest service whoever he deals with.
Mr. Groblebe was married in 1906 to Kate Brown, who was born, reared and educated in Springfield. She is a daughter of Thomas Brown and Mahalia (Stutzman) Brown. She is one of three children, the other two being Alberta and Frank.
Two children have been born to our subject and wife, namely: Kath- erine, born May 5, 1907; and Annabell, born August 2, 1913.
Politically Mr. Goblebe is a Democrat. He is a member of the Spring- field Club, and is a member of the board of directors of the Young Men's Christian Association and Young Men's Business Club. Fraternally he belongs to the Free and Accepted Masons, and is a Knight Templar. He is an active member of the South Street Christian church, and has been a member of the official board of the same since 1907. He teaches the largest adult woman's Sunday school class in Springfield. He is a man of genial personality and is popular in the circles in which he moves.
EMMETT McDONALD MING.
How shall we recall the fond memories that cluster about our beloved How shall we portray the nobleness of his character, the purity of his life, the gentleness of his disposition? How shall we describe his affection as father, his tenderness as son and brother, his devotion as hus- band, his sincerity as friend? How shall we impart the patience of his suffering, the unfailing fidelity of his trust in the great Healer of all our infirmities, the sorrow and desolation that, at his death, fell like a dark pall upon the hearts of the loved ones left behind? We know that all that is. must share his destiny; that the brief term of mortal existence is but a pass- ing dream-a. story that is briefly told-and man's spirit drifts away on the bosom of that tranquil river that winds with noiseless murmurs through the. gloom shaded shadows of the Valley of Death. To eulogize the deeds and
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preserve the memory of our dead from oblivion is at once our privilege and our sacred duty. Since the dawn of civilization men have made expression at the death of their fellows, whether such dead were citizen, statesman or soldier. Realizing that "all flesh shall perish together, and men shall turn again unto dust," we are naturally inspired with the desire that we may be remembered after death; that after our earthly remains shall have been laid away to sleep throughout the silent centuries yet to come, awaiting the final day, we are fed by the hope that some human heart that yet beats may cherish a memory of us, may yearn for one touch of "a vanished hand and the sound of a voice that is still." Prompted by such feelings we come to chronicle the lamented death, "in that he died so young," of Emmett Mc- Donald Ming.
Mr. Ming was born at Gray's Summit, Franklin county, Missouri, De- cember 3, 1860. He was a son of Judge James Morris and Jemima (Os- borne) Ming, the father a native of Virginia and the mother of Missouri. Judge Ming was a descendant of that chivalrous race of men who peopled the Old Dominion, but in an early day he emigrated to Franklin county, Missouri, and there became one of the leading and influential citizens of that section of the state, and he at one time represented that county in the state legislature and later was elected judge, serving as such for a number of years. His wife belonged to that class of noble Christian women and true type of womanhood found in the South in the happy days before the Civil war. Both the judge and his wife reached ripe old ages and spent their declining years serenely in their cozy home at the quiet town of Wash- ington, Franklin county, where they were ever known as good neighbors, hospitable and helpful. They reared a large family of sons and daughters, Emmett M. of this review having been the youngest.
The subject of this memoir grew to manhood at the town of Washing- ton, and spent his boyhood days upon the farm, close to nature. As a young man he was industrious, honest and everybody liked him, for even at that tender age he had a kind word for everybody, a helping hand for those in need, and a word of cheer for the disconsolate. He had the advantage of an excellent education, having passed through the common schools in Franklin county, and later took a regular course in Central College, Fayette, Missouri.
Mr. Ming began life for himself on a cattle ranch in Arizona, which he owned, but after his marriage he engaged in the lumber business, and later in the hardware and furniture business at Vinita, Oklahoma (then In- dian Territory), having selected Vinita as his future home. He built up a large and lucrative trade with the people of that town and locality and was doing much for the material welfare of the same, and at the time of his death his furniture establishment there would have been a credit to any
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city. He was a stockholder and promoter of the first artesian well at Vinita, and was regarded by all who knew him as a business man of rare foresight and acumen ..
Mr. Ming was married November 18, 1891, to Emma Wallis, a daugh- ter of Christopher and Elizabeth (Hoover) Wallis, a well-known family of Marshfield, Missouri, where Mrs. Ming grew to womanhood and was edu- cated. After their marriage they established their home at Vinita, in the Cherokee nation. Their union was blessed by the birth of two children, namely: Christopher, who was born at Vinita, October 20, 1892, and who is now a prominent young business man of Springfield, Missouri; and Mar- tha Lelia, whose birth occurred at Vinita, July 18, 1896.
In 1899 Mr. Ming built a comfortable home for his family in Vinita, surrounding them with all the comforts of life and preparing a place for them and for himself in his old age. No man was ever more happily mar- ried and his affection for his wife and children was tender and strong. He was never happier than when at home with his family. His devotion to his father and mother was genuine as well as was his love for his brothers and sisters, and he was never known to falter in his loyalty to a friend. He was an active member of the Knights of Pythias, and belonged to the Methodist Episcopal church, South, at Vinita. His life was ever an open book, and no one ever heard him say anything derogatory regarding his fellow man.
Mr. Ming was called to his eternal rest in St. Anthony's hospital, St. Louis, Missouri, August 2, 1900, when lacking a few months of his fortieth birthday. He had been in failing health for some time. He was buried at his old home near Washington, Franklin county, on the old Ming home- stead, on a beautiful bluff overlooking the Missouri river.
Something of the high standing of Mr. Ming in the community hon- ored by his citizenship, may be gained from the following resolutions, passed by the Knights of Pythias at Vinita, Oklahoma, shortly after his death:
Whereas, God in His infinite wisdom has deemed it best to remove from the scenes of his earthly home our beloved friend and co-worker, Brother E. M. Ming, be it
Resolved, That while we bow in humble submission to His supreme will, yet we mourn the death of our fellow-worker, fully realizing our lodge has lost a faithful member, the community a true patriotic citizen and his family a good husband and father. His many sterling qualities of head and heart, the blameless character, and pure name won the love and admira- tion of all who knew him.
Resolved, That we extend to the sorrowing family our heartfelt sym- pathy in their bereavement, praying the all-wise Father to lighten the deep
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sorrow that has fallen upon them, by shedding into their hearts and lives. that blessed peace and comfort which man can not give.
Resolved, further, That a copy of these resolutions be spread upon the minutes of the lodge, that a copy of the same be sent to the local newspaper and also a copy to his bereaved family.
JOHN D. ALLEN.
The wanderlust, like a siren, calls to every youth to forsake his an- cestral hills and halls and go out in quest of a better country. Many have- heeded the summons to their advantage, but perhaps more have answered to- their doom. In such a county as Greene that young man is fortunate who. has the sagacity to remain at home. The call very frequently. leads men to forsake the "land of milk and honey" and go in search of a never-to-be- attained oasis of a mirage, ultimately finding instead the barren, sand-swept waste of a Sahara; often, too, after it is too late to return and establish themselves in their own native locality in a proper manner. John D. Allen, foreman of the tin department at the new Frisco shops, Springfield, is one of our native born sons who has been prudent in remaining in his native county.
Mr. Allen was born at Cave Spring, Cass township, Greene county, March 18, 1870. He is a son of Stephen G. and C. N. (Penley) Allen. The father was born in Georgia, April 15, 1845, and is still living at Cave Spring, whither he removed from Dixieland in the year 1868. He has a good small farm here and has followed agricultural pursuits for some time but being. a carpenter by trade his earlier life was devoted to work in this line. He served in the Confederate army in the Civil war, enlisting before he was eighteen years old. He was wounded in the battle at Atlanta, Georgia, August II, 1864. After the war, he located in Marion county, Tennessee, where he was married, August 10, 1867, to C. N. Penley, a native of Ten- nessee. In 1868, Mr. Allen came to Greene county, locating at Cave Spring, where he has since resided and here has reared his family of seven children, namely : J. Charles, John D., Laura, Louis M., Stephen G., Mary A. and' Katy J. The latter died at the age of four years. Mr. Allen, at the age of seventy years, is a hale, hearty man and enjoys caring for his little farm. Politically, he is a Democrat and belongs to the Universalist church.
John D. Allen grew to manhood on the home farm in Cass township where he worked when a boy and he received his education in the district schools at Cave Spring. He remained on the farm until he was nineteen years of age, then came to Springfield and went to work in the office of the-
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Springfield Republican, later he worked at the barber's trade for a short time. In 1890 he began work in the North Side Frisco shops where he learned the tinner's trade, remaining there three and one-half years, then spent over six years in the South Side shops at his trade, after which he re- turned to the shops on the North Side and has remained in the tin depart- ment here, being now foreman in the new shops, which responsible position he has held since the opening of the new shops. He has a large number of men under his direction, and he is not only a most capable and highly skilled workman but is a man of considerable executive ability.
Mr. Allen was married on December 5, 1892, in Springfield, to Della Gee, who was born in Indiana, April 12, 1871. She is a daughter of Amos and Nancy Jane Gee. The father was a native of Indiana and was born in 1845 and the mother was born in 1850. They are still living and reside on a good farm near Alva, Oklahoma.
Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Allen, namely : Wade, born on March II, 1895; Gladys, born on July 15, 1899; and Louise, born on August 9, 1909.
Politically, Mr. Allen is a Democrat and fraternally he belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America. He and wife belong to the Knights and Ladies of Security.
JOHN SPANDRI.
In the following sketch is strikingly illustrated the force of well-directed energy, steadfast purpose and never-ceasing effort for the accomplishment of noble ends, and the successful overthrow of those obstacles which beset the progress of every young man who, unaided and alone, starts out to combat life's stern realities and hew his own way to distinction and fortune. It is the story of a successful life, and from the study of such a record the dis- couraged youth may gain lessons of ultimate value, lessons that are calcu- lated to inspire new zeal in his faltering heart and new courage in his darkened spirit. It shows that it takes grit, perseverance and honesty to win in life's battle rather than the help of wealth or influential relatives or friends. In other words, it is better to rely on ourselves and map out our own paths than to rely upon others and follow a career dictated by others.
Mr. Spandri hails from the wonderful little republic of Switzerland, a country from which many of the so-called great nations of the earth might take valuable lessons. His birth occurred in the southern part of that country on December 1, 1860. He is a son of Peter and Mary (Vanini) Spandri, both natives of Switzerland, where they were reared, educated, married and established their future home. The paternal grandfather of our subject
Ano Spandri and Family
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was a native of Italy. Peter Spandri was a collier by trade, his work being chopping timber, which he burned by a process to make charcoal. His death occurred in his native land before our subject left there and the mother survived until about seven years ago, having reached an advanced age. To these parents four children were born, namely: Juditta is living in Italy, Frank is deceased, John, of this sketch, and Giacomo lives in Europe.
John Spandri spent his boyhood in Switzerland and he received a limited education at home, which has been greatly supplemented in later life by contact with the world and by wide miscellaneous home reading until today he is a well informed man and an excellent conversationalist. When a boy he worked with his father in the woods, but when only fifteen years of age he left home and began working for wages. Believing that America held greater opportunities for the poor boy with pluck, he bade a final adieu to his native hills in the autumn of 1882, crossed the great Atlantic, landing in New York in the month of November. He did not tarry in the great city, but came on West to Rolla, Phelps county, Missouri, reaching the goal of his long journey with only ten dollars and twenty-five cents in his pocket. He soon found employment and went to work with a will. Six months later found him a contractor, in business for himself. In May, 1883, he came to Springfield and began contracting to build foundations for houses and build- ings in general. He prospered at this and continued in this line until a few years ago. Among the foundations he laid for well-known buildings were those of the South Street Christian church, Meyer's Model Mills, the round house at the North Side shops, St. John's church and many others. Some years ago he turned his attention to other lines of contracting, such as railroad construction work and sewer building. His first work in the former line was in 1901, when he turned out jobs for both the St. Louis & San Francisco and the Missouri Pacific railroads. It was in 1909 that he began sewer work, and during that year put in about three miles of sewer in Springfield, then took a large contract for the Frisco in Texas in building arch culverts. At this writing he is confining his attention to sewer construction. He has been a careful student of modern ways of contract work along his lines and his work is always highly satisfactory, being well done in every respect. He is well equipped in the matter of modern machinery and tools and employs a large number of skilled hands. He gives personal attention to every detail of his business, which is under a superb system. He has been very successful in a business way and is one of the substantial men of affairs of the Queen City of the Ozarks. He deserves a great deal of credit for what he has accomplished, which has been done in the face of obstacles. He owns an imposing home and office at 5201/2 East Commercial street.
Mr. Spandri was married on January 15, 1885. in Springfield, to Eliza
(68)
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Carmack. She was born in Phelps county, Missouri, on July 10, 1861, and is a daughter of William Carmack, a native of Indiana, where he grew up and married, removing with his family to Phelps county, this state, in an early day, and there he became a well-to-do farmer. Mrs. Spandri spent her girlhood in Phelps county, and she was given the advantages of a good education.
Two children have been born to our subject and wife, both deceased; they were named, John, whose birth occurred on December 28, 1886, re- ceived a good education in the Springfield ward and high school and Drury College ; he met an untimely death in a railroad accident on May 15, 1910; he had married Blanche Morrison, by whom one child was born, Walter J., whose birth occurred on September 8, 1909. William, our subject's second son, was born on November 22, 1888, received a good education in the Spring- field schools and died on August 19, 1901. They were both very promising young men and their early deaths were much lamented by their family and friends.
Politically Mr. Spandri is a Democrat and he has long taken an active interest in public affairs. However, has never been an office-seeker. Fra- ternally he belongs to the Masonic Order, including the Knights Templars and the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine.
Mr. Spandri won the Springfield Republican trophy cup in the first annual Ozark motor tour of three hundred miles on June 27th to 29th, inclu- sive, 1910, using his favorite car-E. M. F., a make of the Studebaker Com- pany. He gets a great deal of pleasure and diversion out of motoring. He is a gentleman of sociable inclinations, obliging, public-spirited and com- panionable, which traits, added to his unassuming manner and high sense of honor, make him popular among a wide acquaintance.
E. L. EVANS, M. D.
The medical profession of Greene county has no abler exponent than Dr. E. L. Evans, universally liked by all with whom he comes in contact. His friends feel deservedly proud of his success in his profession, for he has studied hard, worked diligently and been self-sacrificing when there was need. He possesses excellent judgment of men and things, well balanced by knowledge and experience. He is a gentleman of good personal appear- ance and courteous address, and is certainly entitled to mention with the representative citizens of Springfield and Greene county.
Doctor Evans was born in Boone county, Indiana, January 2, 1867. He is a son of John and Sarah Jane (Clark) Evans. The father was a contrac-
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tor and died here on December 17, 1913; the mother is living on St. Louis street, Springfield, Missouri. Grandfather Samuel Evans was a farmer and one of the early settlers of Boone county, Indiana. His death occurred at the age of eighty-four years. His wife was a Miss Wilson. The maternal grandfather, Ezra Clark, married Harriet Hancock. They were both na- tives of Ohio in which their parents were early settlers, and there Ezra Clark and wife grew up and were married, and soon thereafter moved to Boone county, Indiana, where they established the family home on a farm, and were among the first settlers.
Dr. Evans of this review has two brothers and one sister living, namely : Dr. Emery Evans, is a practicing physician in St. Louis; Dr. Harry T. Evans is engaged in the practice of his profession in Springfield, and Mrs. Ella Speer, also lives in Springfield.
Dr. E. L. Evans is one of those self-educated, successful, self-made men, commonly met in America. When a boy he earned his own way, working at various things to earn an honest dollar to assist in defraying the expenses of an education, and when he had gone far enough in the public schools of his native county to enable him to teach he took up that line of endeavor and taught several terms most satisfactorily, working meanwhile, during the summer months, on the farm or at other things until he suc- ceeded in obtaining his professional education. He received his primary education in the schools of Harrison, Arkansas, where he removed from Indiana when a boy, and later he attended the Rally Hill Academy, and in 1892 he entered the Marion Simms Medical College in St. Louis, from which he was graduated with the class of 1895. Soon thereafter he re- turned to Harrison, Arkansas, where he began the practice of his profession, in partnership with Dr. Kirby, and remained there eleven years, during which he enjoyed a large and constantly growing practice, and was one of the leading general physicians of Boone county throughout which his name was a household word. Seeking a larger field for the exercise of his talents he came to Springfield, Missouri, in April, 1906, and has been engaged successfully in the general practice from that time to the present, each suc- ceeding year finding him further advanced and more popular than the preceding.
Doctor Evans is a member of the Greene County Medical Society, the Southwest Missouri Medical Society, the Missouri State Medical As- sociation and the American Medical Association. He was for some time president of the Boone County Medical Society when he lived in Arkansas, and was also secretary of the same for many years, resigning the office upon his removal to Springfield. Fraternally he is a member of the Masonic order, including the Chapter, Commandery and the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He also belongs to the Knights of Pythias
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and other lodges. Politically, he is a Democrat, and is a member of the South Street Christian church.
Doctor Evans was married March 19, 1897, to Nora Kirby, who was born in Harrison, Arkansas, in September, 1876, and there grew to woman- hood and received her high school education in Harrison, Arkansas, and graduated from Christian College at Columbia, Missouri. She is the scion of a prominent family of that place, and, is a daughter of Dr. L. and Vir- ginia (Crump) Kirby.
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