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 15
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To. Doctor Evans and wife the following children have been born: Virginia, born January 11, 1898; Harry C., born March 17, 1899; Frances Irene born June 17, 1900; Dorothy Lee, born July II, 1902; Lenore, born July 26, 1903; Kirby, born June 23, 1909, and Ezra Levi, born January 29, 1911.
ALBERT N. HANSON.
All credit is due a man who wins success in his chosen fields of en- deavor in spite of obstacles, who, by persistency and energy gains a compe- tence and a position of honor as a man and citizen. The record of the late Albert N. Hanson, for many years a well-known contractor of Springfield, is that of such a man, for he came to this city in the days of her rapid growth and here worked his way up from the bottom to definite success and inde- pendence. He quickly adapted himself to the conditions which he found here and labored so consecutively and managed so judiciously that he finally became the manager of a thriving business, which he ever conducted along honorable lines and all the while was establishing a reputation among his acquaintances and friends for sound judgment, honest dealings and good citizenship. His tragic death was a matter of sincere regret to all who knew him.
Mr. Hanson was born on October 17, 1848, in Hancock county, Illi- nois. He is a son of Nichols and Adalize (Hubbard) Hanson. The father was born in the state of New York and the mother was a native of the province of Nova Scotia, Canada, from which she came to the state of New York when young where she met and married the elder Hanson. He was a blacksmith by trade in his early life, but later turned his attention to gen- eral farming. He and his wife removed from New York to Michigan, later to Illinois where they remained until within a few years of their deaths, having removed to Nebraska, where the death of Nichols Hanson occurred in 1900 at an advanced age, and his wife passed away soon after. During the Civil war he was quartermaster of the Twenty-sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry under Gen. John C. Fremont, having enlisted in 1862. Seven
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children were born to Nichols Hanson and wife, namely: Ellen, Charles, Louis are all deceased; Albert N., subject of this memoir; Mary E. Lewis lives in Springfield, Illinois; William is deceased; Florence, the youngest, lives in Turon, Kansas.
Albert N. Hanson received a common school education, and later at- tended a business college in Michigan about six months. He was all his life a wide reader of good literature and in this way and by coming in con- tact with the business world he became a well-informed man. In his early career he followed farming for the most part until he came to Springfield, Missouri. He had engaged in railroading also for a time during his younger days, and was in the mercantile business awhile. After living in Kansas several years he moved to Shannon county, Missouri, where he spent a few years, locating in Springfield in 1888. Here he engaged in contracting, general building and railroad construction work. When the Missouri Pa- cific built its branch from Crane, Missouri, to this city he secured the con- tract for the excavation between Main and Campbell streets in Springfield, also built the Washington avenue subway at the intersection of that thor- oughfare and Commercial street. During a period of twenty years he kept in his employ a crew of from ten to fifteen men, working at various places all the time. Having through his able management and close application ac- cumulated a competency for his declining years he partially retired from active life a few years before his death and lived quietly in his beautiful home on Guy street, Springfield.
Mr. Hanson was twice married, first, on December 30, 1867, in Han- cock county, Illinois, to Aarie Mintle, who was born in Ohio, from which state she moved to Illinois when a child. She was born on April 19, 1846, and was a daughter of Aaron P. and Mary Ann (Ward) Mintle. To our sub- ject and his first wife the following children were born, namely: Jessie, born on March 30, 1870, died on December 22, 1874; Frank and Fred, twins, born on December 8, 1872, both live in Springfield; Flora, born on October 15, 1876, lives in Springfield; Effie, born on April 14, 1879, lives in Spring- field; Mrs. Pearl Rueter, born on June 29, 1882, lives in Springfield ; Harry E. and Harvey E., twins, born on December 20, 1884, the former lives in Springfield and the latter died in infancy; Mrs. Stella Reynolds, born on June 20, 1887, lives in Springfield.
The mother of the above named children was called to her rest on March 24, 1910. On September 25, 1910, Mr. Hanson married Mrs. Etta B. Merchant, who was born in Ohio, October 25, 1862. She grew to wom- anhood in her native state and received a common school education. She first married W. W. Merchant on March 25, 1883, in Ohio. He died on March 12, 1910. Two children were born to this union, Maurice E., born on October 26, 1885. He married Odilia Branch on September 18, 1910.
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They live in Kansas City, Missouri. They have one child, Donald J., born on September 24, 19II, and died on May 24, 1914. The second child is Leister H., born on August 16, 1890.
Mrs. Hanson is the daughter of Erastus Lockwood and Emily R. Bax- ley. They were both born in Ohio, the father on September 12, 1833. He died on February 7, 1891, in Ohio. The mother was born on August 19, 1840, and is still living in Raymond, Ohio, at the old home.
Politically, Mr. Hanson was a Republican, and he was always loyal in his support of the party. He served as street commissioner of the city of Springfield under Mayor Bartlett, also Mayor Malotte. He discharged the duties of this important position in a manner that reflected much credit upon himself and to the entire satisfaction of all concerned. Fraternally, he was a member of the Knights of Pythias. Mr. Hanson enlisted in Com- pany A, Sixty-fifth Illinois Regiment Volunteer Infantry, in the ninety-day service. However, he served till the close of the war and was discharged at Jonesboro, North Carolina.
The death of Mr. Hanson occurred on April 16, 1915, as the result of an accident. He was driving across the street in his automobile when a street car crashed into his machine, hurling him from his seat a distance of somme twenty feet, his head striking the curbing. Burning oil from the gasoline tank of the automobile was scattered over him and the oil took fire, igniting his clothing. Help reached him immediately, but he remained un- conscious to the end which came a few hours later, as a result of injuries to the head.
Personally Mr. Hanson was an admirable character, kind-hearted, com- panionable, charitable and always a high-minded gentleman. He was be- loved by the hundreds of men who had been in his employ during his long business career. His work was always honestly done and all who knew him esteemed him highly as a result of his many commendable characteristics.
GRANVILLE W. TURNER.
To be employed nearly a half century by one firm, continuously, is a record of which few citizens of Springfield and Greene county can boast, but Granville W. Turner has been connected with the bridge building depart- inent of the St. Louis & San Francisco Railroad Company since 1866, and for forty years has been in charge of that department. He would not only have had to proved himself to be an expert in his line, but also a man of courage, fidelity, integrity and industry to have been retained during so long a period. He is one of the most widely known Frisco employees. He is a man
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who has always valued his good name and today takes pleasure in feeling that he has won the respect of his fellow workers and acquaintances by his course in life.
Mr. Turner was born in Knox county, Missouri, January 3, 1843. He is a son of Granville D. and Maria (Taylor) Turner. The father was born in the mountains of Kentucky and the mother was a native of Ohio, but she came to Harrison county, Kentucky, when young. These parents were mar- ried in Quincy, Illinois. Our subject's father and the first governor of Illi- nois came to Quincy together. Mr. Turner became a large land owner. He was a cabinet maker by trade. Leaving the Prairie state in an early day, he located in Knox county, Missouri and he and his wife died in this state. He was a minister in the Christian church, an old-time circuit rider, and preached among the pioneers. Politically, he was a Democrat. His family consisted of nine children, named as follows: The eldest child died in in- fancy; William is deceased; Mary; Emma; Granville W., of this sketch; James, deceased ; Reuben, deceased ; George and May E.
Mr. Turner of this review received a limited education in the common schools, and he grew up on the farm in Knox county, where he worked when a boy. He has worked hard and is a self-made man in the best sense of the term. In his youth he learned the carpenter's trade. In September, 1861, he enlisted for service in the Civil war, at Rolla, Missouri, under Captain Rich and Colonel Phelps, and although his term of enlistment was but for six months, he served nine months. He saw considerable service during that brief period, including a number of skirmishes and the battle of Pea Ridge, Arkansas. He was honorably discharged in April, 1862, then went to work for the government, building pontoon bridges, corrals, barracks, coffins, etc. He continued in this work until the close of the war, gaining valuable ex- perience which stood him well in hand in his subsequent career. He began work for the Frisco at Rolla in 1866, in the bridge building department, with which he has been connected ever since, being head of the department for the system for some four decades. In 1913 he was retired by the company on a pension. However, he is still doing special work in his department, re- porting direct to the general manager. He long ago mastered every phase of the art of bridge building and has kept well abreast of the times in this line of endeavor.
Mr. Turner was first married in June, 1879, to Malissa Trower, in St. Louis, her native city. She was a daughter of Samuel Trower, a farmer and stock raiser, a pioneer of the Mound City, where, for a number of years, he was justice of the peace, also holding other minor offices. Mr. Turner's first wife died October 10, 1889, leaving five children, namely: Walter G. married Gertrude Singleton in St. Louis and he is a civil engineer by pro- fession ; Mary Agnes married Mr. Greenridge and they live in Douglas,
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Arizona; George R. married Goldie Holder and they live in Walnut Grove, Missouri; Nellie E. married Thomas Wommock, an employee of the Frisco, and they live in Springfield; Lillian F. married G. Marks, who is also con- nected with the Frisco and lives in Springfield. Mr. Turner's second mar- riage was consummated in February, 1893, in Carthage, Missouri, when he was united in marriage to Mrs. Agnes L. Brown, a daughter of John and Eliza Deyell, of St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada. To this second union two children have been born, namely, William E. and James D.
Politically, Mr. Turner is a Democrat. Fraternally, he belongs to the Masonic order, Gate of the Temple blue lodge and St. John's Commandery.
Mr. Turner made his headquarters in Springfield in 1873 and moved here to make his home in 1879. In 1872 he was made assistant superintend- ent of the bridge and building department of the old Atlantic & Pacific rail- road, later known as the Frisco. In 1875 he was made general superintend- ent of this department. He has had something to do with the building of nearly every bridge on the entire Frisco system.
WILLIAM PENN MURRAY.
The deft shuttle which weaves the web of human life and human destiny, constantly and ceaselessly flies backward and forward, and into the vast and checkered fabric is woven the individuality, the efforts, ambitions and achieve- ments of each man-of all men. Within this web may be defined the lines of personality, be they those that lend the beautiful crystal sheen of honest merit and worthy effort, or dark, curving and deflecting ones, which penetrate warp and woof, and mar and efface the composite beauty of their darkened threads. The life record of the late William Penn Murray, for many years one of the most progressive agriculturists and stock men of Franklin township, Greene county, indicates that the fabric of which his individuality was woven was of the best and purest, and consequently he left behind him "that which is rather to be chosen than much riches-a good name."
Mr. Murray was born in Wyandotte county, Ohio, June 4, 1867. He was a son of David C. and Hulda (Dow) Murray. David Murray, who was also a native of the locality in which our subject was born, grew to manhood, was educated and married there, and in 1869 he removed from the old Buck- eye state to Greene county, Missouri, with his family, locating in Robberson township, on a farm of three hundred and twenty acres which he purchased and on which he followed general farming and handling live stock in a suc- cessful manner. He became well known here and was considered a man who
N. B.OMurray
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was uniformly fair in all his dealings with his fellow men, and here his death occurred in 1873, when our subject was six years old. His wife, who was also a native of Wyandotte county, Ohio, also died on the home farm in Greene county, being summoned to her rest in 1879.
William Penn Murray was two years old when his parents brought him to Greene county and here he grew to manhood on the homestead where he worked when a boy, and he received his early education in the common schools. February 18, 1891, he married Jennie Stiver, who was born January 5, 1870, a daughter of Isaac and Susannah (Horner) Stiver. Isaac Stiver was born March 16, 1826, in Pennsylvania. After his marriage he moved to Elkhart county, Indiana, and was living there when Mrs. Jennie Murray was born, and there he engaged in farming for twenty-two years, then sold out and removed with his family to Greene county, Missouri, locating seven miles northeast of Springfield, buying one hundred and twenty acres of good land, and here followed general farming until his death, July 24, 1897. He was a Republican and a Lutheran. His wife was born December 30, 1835, near Dayton, Ohio, and her death occurred on the home farm in Greene county, June 20, 1908. To Isaac Stiver and wife twelve children were born, namely : Daniel J. lives in Newcastle, Indiana ; Jacob M. is deceased ; Louis J. is prac- ticing dentistry in Ft. Wayne, Indiana; Mrs. Mary L. Risk, of Amsterdam, New York: Isaac N. is deceased; Wesley M. lives in Campbell township, Greene county ; William H. lives in Indianapolis; Jennie, widow of the subject of this memorial review; Harrison G. lives in Springfield, Missouri; James is living but his address is not known at this writing; Edward and Calvin J. are both residing in Springfield.
William P. Murray devoted his active life to general farming and handling live stock. He owned a valuable and well kept place of one hun- dred and twenty acres in Franklin township; however, his principal business was raising, buying and trading in livestock, especially cattle, and in this he was very successful, being an exceptionally good judge of all kinds of stock and dealing honestly with his fellow men so that he retained their confidence and good will. He owned over one hundred head of good cattle at the time of his death, March 9, 19II.
Mr. Murray's family consisted of three children, namely: Mrs. Mazie Newton, born November 20, 1891, wife of R. H. Newton, first lieutenant of No. 2, Springfield fire department, of Springfield; Ralph, born January 15, 1893. died October 16, 1893 ; and Norman B., born September 23, 1895, who- is living with his mother on the home farm which he operates.
Politically, Mr. Murray was a Democrat and served for some time on school board. While he was not a member of any church he was religious at heart and a good honest man in every respect, a kind husband and an indulgent
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father and a man whom his neighbors admired and respected. He was super- intendent of Sunday school at Pleasant Valley for several years and a man who delighted in extending a helping hand to those in need, and he will long be greatly missed from his neighborhood.
FLAVIUS JOSEPHUS UNDERWOOD.
The world owes much to the plain, plodding worker who, uncomplain- ingly, does his whole duty as he sees it; but beyond his labors there is a sphere of activity wherein the workers are few and the products produced more rare-that of genius. Through the medium of this subtle, sublime, elusive thing, possessed of certain favored ones, all the great treasures of art, music, invention, literature and science have been given to the world. Those who know him best do not hesitate to pronounce Flavius Josephus Underwood, a venerable inventor and business man of Springfield, as a genius of high order, although it is doubtful if many who know him appre- ciate this fact to the fullest extent. His fertile brain has given humanity many helpful things, which will continue for all time to be a blessing to the race. For considerably more than a quarter of a century he has been one of our leading men of affairs, for many years a wagon manufacturer and later a contractor, but now in view of his advanced age, he having passed his eighty-fourth mile-post, he is living in retirement at his cozy home on North Grant street, although he is hale and hearty and in possession of his faculties, his lusty old age being due no doubt to the fact that he has led a busy, temperate and wholesome life.
Mr. Underwood is a scion of one of the oldest American families, who lived in New England for many generations, where the first of the family landed from the Old World nearly four centuries ago, and from that remote period to the present time the various members of his descendants have played well their parts in pushing forward the wheels of the car of civiliza- tion in the western hemisphere.
Flavius J. Underwood was born in Hardwick, Caledonia county, Ver- mont, March 9, 1830. He was a son of Silas and Lucy Warner (Leslie) Underwood, the latter a granddaughter of Robert Leslie, an Irish peer, who immigrated to America in the early period of the country's history and located in New Hampshire. Silas Underwood was born at Westford, Massachusetts, December 7. 1783; he devoted his life to agricultural pur- suits, and his death occurred in March. 1869. He was a son of John Under- wood, of Bradford, Vermont, who was born October 28, 1755, and was a son of Joseph Underwood, born on September 15, 1727, at Westford,
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Massachusetts ; the latter was a son of Joseph Underwood, born on May 28, 168I, at Watertown, Massachusetts; he was a son of Joseph Underwood, who was born in 1650 at Watertown, Massachusetts, and was a son of Jo- seph Underwood, the emigrant, who crossed the Atlantic from England, his native country, and took up his residence at Hingham, Massachusetts, in 1637, later removing to Watertown. He was the founder of the Under- woods in America, now quite numerous, having dispersed to all states of the Union.
Flavius J. Underwood of this review, was the youngest of ten chil- dren; he grew to manhood in Vermont, assisting his father with the general work about the farm, and during the winter months he attended the district schools and an academy, and he began life for himself by teaching school in his native locality. Remaining in Vermont until he was twenty-two years of age he, following the advice of Horace Greeley, editor of the New York Tribune, came west, locating at Milton, Pike county, Illinois, and operated a farm in that vicinity several years. In 1860 he went to Rock Island, that state, where he resided until 1871, having turned his attention to the manu- facturing business, and became superintendent of Buford's Plow Works. Forty-three years ago he left Rock Island and came to Springfield, Missouri, where he has since resided, and where, with James M. Wilhoit, he started a wagon manufacturing plant, and made a success of this venture, operating the plant for many years with much success, there having been a great de- mand for their products owing to the high-grade workmanship and superior quality of their wagons. Our subject finally gave up the manufacturing business and turned his attention to contracting, which he followed with satisfactory results up to his retirement from active life a few years ago. But it has been as an inventor that Mr. Underwood has figured most con- spicuously and for which he is deserving of the most credit. He has se- cured about twenty patents. While at Rock Island he built the first suc- cessful two-horse cultivator, which has revolutionized agricultural work, es- pecially in the corn producing states. He enjoys the distinction of being the first person to advocate and demonstrate the circulation of steam for the purpose of heating buildings, which method is now so universally employed. Among his many inventions is a coal chute which he patented in 1904 and which is widely used. He believes his best invention is a machine for boring out hubs in which to insert boxes. His name is deserving of a high place among the successful inventors of his day and generation.
Mr. Underwood was married at Hardwick, Vermont, July 8, 1851, to Daphna Josephine Hortense Bridgman, who was born in that town and there grew to womanhood and was educated. She, too, is a representative of an excellent old family of New England. Our subject and wife have traversed the life-path which leads through sun and shadow, for nearly
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sixty-three years. Theirs have been an ideal domestic life, mutually help- ful and pleasant, and now, in the December of their years they can look backward with no compunction for wasted hours or misdeeds and forward with the hope of the just. Their union was blessed by the birth of four children, but only one survives, Mrs. Ida M. Jenkins, who lives at Nobo, Greene county, Missouri; she has three children. Our subject and wife have seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Underwood: Genevieve Leslie, born on November 19, 1853, died November 9, 1854; Ida May, born in April, 1856, married Grovner A. Shinn, September 19, 1873, and three children were born to them, John B., Grover L., and Nellie U .; Inez Belle, born on October 18, 1860, married George B. Garlick, and to them two children were born, Harold U., and Ruth; Nellie Maud, born, January 6, 1864, mar- ried William Sheffield, and to them two children were born, Hortense and Cornelia.
Politically, Mr. Underwood has always been a loyal Democrat. He has served as a member of the city council. He was at one time candidate for the state legislature, and for many years he has taken an active part in: political affairs. During campaigns he has frequently taken the stump in Greene and adjoining counties and won a reputation as a forceful speaker. Fraternally he belongs to the Masonic order, and is active as a member of St. John's commandery, and served as eminent commander several years. ago. Mrs. Underwood is a member of the Order of Eastern Star of which she was formerly worthy matron when it was first organized.
This grand old couple are well known and highly esteemed by a very wide circle of friends in Springfield. (Mr. Underwood's death occurred on May 4, 1914, after the above sketch was written. )
JAMES E. SMITH.
It is a good sign when a county like Greene can boast of so many of her enterprising business men and farmers who are native sons, for it indicates that there are to be found all the opportunities necessary to insure success in the material affairs of life and that her native sons, unlike so many from various sections, have found it to their advantage to remain at home. They have been wise in doing this for nature has offered the husbandman unusual advantages here and has seldom failed to reward the earnest worker with gratifying results, and when the tillers of the soil are prosperous all lines of business flourish, consequently not only the farmers have succeeded in this. locality but also the merchants, millers, lumbermen, stock dealers, and many
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others, and the county ranks well with the most thriving sections of this or any other state.
One of the native-born business men of Springfield is James E. Smith, whose birth occurred in this city, July 28, 1868. He is a son of David and Mary (Fulton) Smith. The father was born in Glasgow, Scotland, as was also the mother, and there they grew to maturity, were educated and mar- ried, and when young immigrated to America and located in Greene county, Missouri. The elder Smith was a well driller and he operated the first well drill in the vicinity of Springfield. It was in 1858 that they located here and they spent the rest of their lives in Springfield, the father's death occur- ring here in 1870. To them thirteen children were born; the following are still living, namely : Maggie lives in Pennsylvania ; David, a machinist, in the employ of the Frisco, lives in Springfield; Joseph lives in Kansas City; James E., of this sketch, and Jennie E. (twins), the latter also lives in Springfield; Robert makes his home in this city.
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