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 20
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Fourteen children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Berry, namely : Leroy McClelland was killed by a falling log at the age of seventeen; Oliver DeWitt lives in Franklin township; Rolland Pate lives in Pittsburg, Kansas ; Mrs. Calverna Ann Patterson lives in Springfield; Gustavus Antioch Fink-
(71)
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linburg is a member of the real estate firm known as the Ozark Land Com- pany, Springfield; Mrs. Fidelia Cornell lives in Springfield; James Blaine lives in Springfield and is a member of the firm of the Ozark Land Com- pany, being in the real estate business with his brother; John Logan lives in. Springfield; the other six children died in infancy.
During the Civil War Mr. Berry enlisted for service in the Federal army in 1861, in Company K, Seventy-second Missouri Volunteer Infantry. He drove a team most of the time, however he took part in the battle of Springfield when Marmaduke and Shelby attacked the town, on January 8, 1863, and he was also in several skirmishes. He did guard duty for some time about the commissary. He was mustered out and honorably discharged, August 20, 1865. He remained in Springfield during his entire service. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. He has always been a Re- publican but now votes independently in local affairs. His wife is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church at Mt. Comfort. When a young man, just before the breaking out of the Civil war, Mr. Berry hauled lumber for the old court-house, also hauled sand from the James river for the same, driv- ing six yoke of oxen. He recalls many interesting reminiscences of the early days, and it is a pleasure to visit his home.
JOHN HENRY LEHR.
John Henry Lehr, now living in honorable retirement in his comfort- able home on East Elm street, Springfield, is worthy of mention in the pages of a volume of the province of the one in hand for various reasons, not the least of which is the fact that he is one of the loyal sons of the North who offered his services and his life, if need be, to perpetuate the Union, during its greatest crisis, a half century ago. He has spent his active life princi- pally as a carpenter, builder and agriculturist, and, being a persistent worker and doing his work thoroughly and well, he accumulated a competency for his declining years and is now spending his days quietly.
Mr. Lehr, as the name indicates, is of German descent, and of an Ohio- family, his birth having occurred near Tuscarawas, in the county of that name, in the state of Ohio, December 9, 1845. He is a son of Michael and Catherine (Gnagie) Lehr. Michael Lehr was born in Oldenbach, Germany, in June, 1809, and there he grew to manhood and received his education .. When twenty years of age he immigrated to the United States and located in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, where he worked at his trade of cabinet maker which he had learned in the old country. He was an expert workman and
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was always busy. Catherine Gnagie was also born in Oldenbach, Germany, and there grew up and was educated, and there she and Mr. Lehr were mar- ried in 1828, and for a wedding trip they came to America. These parents have long been deceased.
John Henry Lehr grew to manhood in his native county in the Buckeye state and there he assisted his father with the general work on the farm. He received his education in the common schools of his day, and when the Civil war came on he enlisted for service with the National troops, al- though he was but sixteen years of age, but, according to his comrades he proved to be as good and faithful a soldier as his older companions in his regiment. It was on August 6, 1862, that he enlisted in Company G, Ninety- Eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He saw much hard service and partici- pated in numerous important engagements, including the battles of Perry- ville, Kentucky, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, Resaca, Peach Tree Creek, Atlanta, and from that city marched with Sherman to the sea at Savannah, thence up through the Carolinas, and fought at the battle of Bentonville. He was never sick, captured or wounded, and was with his regiment every day, and never shirked his duty no matter how dangerous or arduous. He was commissioned corporal for his faithful service, and was so mustered out in June, 1865, after he had marched in the grand review in Washington City. He was honorably discharged and returned to his home in Ohio where he continued farming until 1869 when he came to Livingston county, Missouri, where he worked at the carpenter's trade, and in 1870 purchased land there and resumed farming which he carried on with his usual success until 1906 when, on account of failing health, he sold his farm and went to Colorado Springs, Colorado, where he remained three months, then came to Spring- field, Missouri, retired from active life and has since made his home here.
Mr. Lehr was married in December, 1870, to Mary Umphrey, a native of Illinois. Her death occurred in 1901. To this union five children were born, namely: Oscar V. lives in Chillicothe, Missouri; Clay E. is deceased ; Margaret E. is the wife of A. D. Miller, of Gault, Missouri; Esther D. is the wife of Dr. L. Hopper, of Ft. Scott, Kansas; Grace E. is the wife of H. L. Atherton, of Oklahoma City.
Mr. Lehr was again married in December, 1906, to Ellen Affolter, of Tuscarawas, Ohio, where her birth occurred on August 26, 1876. She is a daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth Affolter. The father was a soldier in the Fifty-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry during the Civil war, also served in a battery. Mrs. Lehr grew to womanhood and was educated in her native vicinity.
Politically, Mr. Lehr is a Republican. He belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic, and the Grace Methodist Episcopal church.
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GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
JAMES BISSETT.
The pioneer railroader, for many years master mechanic in the Spring- field shops, the gentleman whose life history is herewith outlined, was a man who lived to good purpose and achieved a large degree of success, solely by his individual efforts. By a straightforward and commendable course Mr. Bissett climbed to a responsible position in his calling, winning the hearty admiration of his fellow workmen and earning a reputation as an enterprising, reliable, trustworthy and efficient man of affairs which a num- ber of the leading railroad officials of the country were not slow to recog- nize and appreciate, and those who knew him best will readily acquiesce in the statement that he was eminently deserving of the good things which fate brought him during his life.
James Bissett was born in Scotland, May 15, 1840, and had many of the characteristic traits of the noble race of Scots. His birth occurred within two blocks of the house in which Andrew Carnegie first saw the light of day, but his family brought him to America when he was a child and he was reared in Madison, Indiana, receiving his education in that town and in In- dianapolis. However, his schooling was limited, and his knowledge, which was considerable and general, was acquired chiefly by experience in the prac- tical affairs of life. He was a son of Thomas and Mary ( Walker) Bissett, both natives of Scotland, where they grew up and were married. The father died in Madison, Indiana. He was a machinist by trade. His family con- sisted of seven children, five of whom are still living, namely: Thomas is deceased; Elizabeth; William; Robert; David; Ellen, and James of this sketch, who was the second in order of birth and who died on November II, 1914.
James Bissett returned to Madison, Indiana, after he left school in In- dianapolis, and went to work in the railroad shops of North Madison, re- maining there as an apprentice about four years, or until 1858, then went to Nashville, Tennessee, and from there to Huntsville, Alabama, where he was living when the war between the states began. He returned to Nashville and went to work in the Memphis & Nashville machine shops there, later ran a locomotive between Huntsville, Alabama, and Brownsville, Mississippi, and while thus engaged was captured at Huntsville by the Federals, the Fourth Ohio Cavalry, under Col. O. M. Mitchell. The invaders were later driven out of that city, and our subject went to Chattanooga, Tennessee, arriving there while General Bragg was crossing the river with his army, just prior to the battle of Chickamauga. He went on to Atlanta, being with Bragg's army most of the time. All the while he had been running an engine for the Confederates, and he took his engine from Atlanta to Macon, Georgia,
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later, where, the fire box giving out, he left it, and from there went to Selma, that state, and worked on the Blue Mountain route. From there he went to Birmingham, Alabama. He was captured at Selma by "Billy" Wilson.
After the war Mr. Bissett came to Nashville and went to work on the Nashville & Chattanooga railroad as engineer, but in 1865 he returned to his old home in Madison, Indiana, then went to work for the Louisville & Nash- ville Railroad Company. Later he was in the employ of the Chicago, Bur- lington & Quincy Railroad Company, with headquarters at Galesburg, Illi- nois, and from there he went to Omaha, Nebraska, for the Union Pacific, which company sent him to Wyoming, in 1868, that country then being a territory. He ran an engine for some time and later was foreman of the company's shops at Laramie, remaining there three years, then came to Moberly, Missouri, and took charge of the old North Missouri shops, re- maining there some time, then went with the Santa Fe road, and was the first master mechanic on that road west of Topeka, Kansas, his headquarters being at Dodge City, where he remained two years, after which he went to Los Angeles, California, in 1876, from which city he ran an engine to and from Wilmington. Later he went to Colton, at the edge of the desert, which was at the end of the road, which was only one hundred miles long. It was a private road at that time, but is now a part of the Southern Pacific. Sub- sequently Mr. Bissett ran a locomotive for the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroad Company between Parsons, Kansas, and Hannibal, Missouri. Leav- ing this company, he ran an engine out of Marshall, Texas, for the Texas Pacific road, and later was given an engine on the International Great North- ern. He came to Kansas City in 1883 and was made foreman of the Mis- souri River, Ft. Scott & Gulf shops, remaining in charge of the same until October, 1890, when he came to Springfield, Missouri, as master me- chanic for the Kansas City, Ft. Scott & Memphis road, remaining with the same until 1901, when this road was purchased by the Frisco System. He remained in the same capacity with the latter road, discharging his duties with his usual fidelity and success and to the eminent satisfaction of all con- cerned. When the old Gulf shops on the South Side were closed, he was re- tired with a pension, having reached the age limit.
Mr. Bissett was married on December 25, 1866, in Madison, Indiana, to Levena Aigner, who was born in Jefferson county, Indiana, November 13, 1844. She is a daughter of M. C. Aigner and wife, her mother dying in the year 1865. She grew up in her native city and had the advantages of an ex- cellent education.
Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Bissett, two of whom are living, namely: James, born in Galesburg, Illinois, is deceased; Harry, born in Laramie, Wyoming, February 13, 1871, was graduated from the high school in Kansas City, after which he came to Springfield and went to work
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for the Frisco, beginning at the bottom, and is now foreman of the South Side shops. He married, on June 27, 1900, Emma Weaver, daughter of Major Weaver and wife, and they have one child, Marion, born September 7, 1903; Clyde, youngest child of our subject, was born March 19, 1876, and is living in Kansas City.
Politically, Mr. Bissett was a Democrat. He was an interesting talker on early railroading in this country, and his vast experience in so many places, made his reminiscences entertaining and instructive. His death was a great loss to the community and he will long be remembered as one of Springfield's best citizens.
JAMES A. WOODSON.
Some families seem to be born mechanics, just the same as men are born with a bent toward any other vocation, and the children of such are as a rule very precocious in the lines which they are destined to follow, their inclination being shown in their toys and in their play often when they can scarcely talk or walk. This bent should be carefully encouraged by the parent, whose child may become in due course of time a man of rare talent, if not an inventor of useful devices, at least a man of great service in some way or another, capable of doing exceptionally good work in some useful line and therefore be a blessing in a general way to the human race. James A. Woodson, general foreman of the South Side Frisco shops, Springfield, came from such a family and was such a child. He has followed up his natural liking for mechanical work with the result that he is one of the ablest mechanics on the great system for which he works.
Mr. Woodson was born at Roanoke, Howard county, Missouri, May 10, 1859. He is a son of William B. Woodson, who was born in the state of Virginia where he grew up, attended school and learned the carpenter's trade when a boy, later, in 1842, removing to Missouri and establishing his future home. He was of Scotch-Irish descent, and he became a well- known and successful contractor and builder in Howard and Randolph counties, this state, maintaining his office at Roanoke, under the firm name of Woodson & Phelps. His death occurred in 1893 at the age of seventy- four years. Politically, he was originally a Whig, later a Democrat. He was a member of the Baptist church. He married Martha C. Lockridge, who lived near Roanoke. She was a daughter of William Y. Lockridge, who was one of the first tanners in Missouri, who later became a manufacturer of shoes and handled leather and leather goods, being well known in Howard county. Archer W. Woodson, our subject's paternal grandfather, was a farmer near
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Gordingville, Roanoke county, Virginia. ยท Nine children were born to Will- iam B. Woodson and wife, namely: Willie married P. A. Frederick, a broker and real estate man of Kansas City; Emmett L., who died in 1909, was a traveling salesman for Swift & Company; James A., of this sketch; Lutie is the wife of a Mr. Mowinkle, traveling auditor for Swift & Com- pany out of Chicago; Ruth, Charles and Harry are all deceased; Bessie is the wife of C. A. Carrier, who is engaged in the manufacturing business in Kansas City; Maud, who has remained single, is with the secretary of the Relief Board of Kansas City.
James A. Woodson grew up in Howard county and there received a common school education, and when but a boy he began work as a machin- ist at Moberly, Missouri, where he served his apprenticeship in the St. Louis, Kansas City & Northern Railroad shops, beginning there on March 8, 1874, and remained with that company until 1880, then went to Mt. Vernon, Illi- nois where he worked a year as machinist for the Louisville & Nashville Railroad. He then worked at Tracy, Tennessee, as machinist for the Ten- nessee Coal & Iron Company, was division foreman there for three years. He then went to Chattanooga, Tennessee, where he worked as machinist for the Southern railroad for a short time, after which he came back to Mo- berly, Missouri, where he worked in the Wabash railroad shops for awhile at his trade, then went to Kansas City and found employment with the Kansas City, Ft. Scott & Memphis Railroad Company, beginning as ma- chinist there on October 1, 1884, and remained there until October 1, 1890, then came to Springfield for this company, working in their shops here until October 1, 1891, when he was appointed machine shop foreman. In March, 1907, he was promoted to general foreman of the South Side shops which position he has occupied to the present time, and was placed in charge of the round house here on August II, 1911. He has under his direction on an average of one hundred men. Everything is under a splendid system of modern management and he is a man of such fine executive ability that he gets the best results possible from his men and at the same time wins and retains their good will and friendship.
Mr. Woodson was married in 1889 to Julia D. Wray, a daughter of Joseph A. and Christiana (Rea) Wray, who were born near Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. To this union two children have been born, namely: Doro- thy L. is a student of piano under Miss Atwood, of Springfield, and she has decided musical talent; Gladys is a student in Drury College.
Politically, Mr. Woodson is a Democrat. Fraternally, he belongs to the Masonic order, Solomon Lodge; also the Royal Arcanum, and the Mod- ern Woodmen of America. He is a member of Calvary Presbyterian church, in which he was a deacon for some time. He has long been active in church work.
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GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN FIELDER.
That period of the nineteenth century embracing the decades between 1830 and the breaking out of the Civil war was characterized by the immi- gration of the pioneer element which made the great state of Missouri what it is today. The immigrants were sturdy, heroic, sincere and, in the main, upright people, such as constitute the strength of the commonwealth. It is. scarcely probable that in the future of the world another such period can occur, or, indeed, any period when such a solid phalanx of strong-minded men and noble, self-sacrificing women will take possession of a new country. The period to which reference is made, therefore, cannot be too much or too well written up, and the only way to do justice to such a subject is to record the lives of those who led the van of civilization and founded the institutions which today are the pride and boast of a great state and a strong and virile people. Among those who came to Greene county when it was. still largely in its primitive wildness was the late Benjamin Franklin Fielder, who was not only a leading actor in the great drama which witnessed the passing of the old and the introduction of the new conditions in this locality, but who enjoyed an excellent reputation that penetrated to adjoining counties. during his career here of over sixty years. He devoted his life, which en- braced the unusual span of ninety years, to agricultural pursuits, and by close application he established those habits of industry and frugality which insured his success in later years. With the able assistance of his estimable life com- panion he forged ahead, extended the acres of cultivable land and in due time found himself upon the high road to prosperity with a good farm in his possession and all the comforts and conveniences of life surrounding him. He was regarded as an enterprising and typical farmer of the progressive type. His thorough system of tillage, the good order of his fences, the well- cared-for condition of his fields, the commodious and comfortable buildings, all demonstrated his successful management and substantial thrift, and his- long residence in the vicinity of Springfield won for him a very high place in the confidence and esteem of his neighbors and friends.
Mr. Fielder was born in Maury county, Tennessee, on February 7, 1824. He was a son of John and Mary (Denton) Fielder, one of the old families in that section of the South, and there they spent their lives, dying in Maury county. The father of our subject was a successful farmer and was influential in public affairs. He was at one time sheriff of Maury county. His family consisted of eight children, all now deceased, namely: Mrs. Martha Speer, Thompson, Benjamin F., Mrs. Mary Wilkes, Samuel P., Ellen, Louisa and the youngest died in infancy unnamed.
Benjamin F. Fielder grew to manhood on the home farm in Tennessee and there worked when a boy. He received a limited education in the rural
BENJAMIN F. FIELDER.
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schools of his neighborhood, and remained at home until he was about thirty years of age, when he came overland to Greene county, Missouri, in the year 1853, and settled on a farm about three miles southeast of the business center of Springfield, which was then a mere village, but which has now spread almost to the Fielder homestead. However, he had learned the carpenter's trade in his native state and followed this for some time after coming to- Greene county in connection with farming, in fact, he liked to use tools so. well that he worked at his trade at times during all his active life. Being industrious and managing well, he prospered and became owner of a number of good farms in this county, all of which he placed under high-grade im- provement and an excellent state of cultivation. His widow still owns the- old home place, lying just east of the National cemetery, and which fine farm contains one hundred and five acres. Old age finally rendering him unfit for the strenuous work of the farm, he removed to a comfortable dwelling on East State street, Springfield, which he purchased, and here he resided from 1913 until his death, which occurred on December 4, 1914. He was. twice married, first in Tennessee to Mary Estes, about 1851. Four children were born to this union, Mary A. Brown, living near Ozark, Missouri ; Roxie, deceased; William Thomas is living in this county, and Andrew J. is living in Lindsay. California.
Mr. Fielder was married on February 6, 1877, on his farm in this county, to Mary S. Barnes. She was born in Greene county, Missouri, on September 28, 1846. She is a daughter of Matthew C. and Luceta A. (Town- send) Barnes. Her father was born in Indiana on January 18, 1823. He spent his early life in that state, eventually removing to Greene county, Mis- souri, where he spent the rest of his life on a farm, dying here on December 7, 1908. He was thirteen years old, when he came here, Springfield at that time being a small trading center on the wild prairies. Mr. Barnes became a minister in the Methodist Episcopal church and was prominent in that de- nomination in the early days in this locality when most preachers were also farmers. He is remembered as a man of fine characteristics, beloved by all who knew him, and he did much for the moral and general uplift of the county. His wife was born in Logan county, Kentucky, on August 20, 1827, and her death occurred about twenty-seven years ago near Monett, in Barry county, Missouri, when she was in the prime of life. To Mr. and Mrs. Barnes eleven children were born, nine daughters and two sons; five of them are still living, namely : Mrs. Mary S. Fielder, widow of our subject; Mrs. Virginia Thomas, Mrs. Ellen Decker, Mrs. Lula Williams and Mrs. Geneva Tharp.
The union of Benjamin F. Fielder and wife resulted in the birth of four children, named as follows: Mrs. R. L. Matthews lives in Springfield, Cor- delia lives at home, Benjamin F., Jr., resides in Springfield, Mrs. G. W.
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Chapman lives at Hunter, Missouri. These children all grew up on the home- stead southeast of the city and all were given good educational advantages.
Thompson Fielder, a brother of our subject, was also an early settler in this county and he was a soldier in the Mexican war.
Benjamin F. Fielder was a member of St. Paul's Methodist Episcopal church, South. In earlier life he was a Democrat, but in later years voted for prohibition. He was long an active member of the Masonic Order, having in early life united with Polk lodge at Columbia, Tennessee. He led a quiet home life, never taking an active part in politics and was never a candidate for office.
The following article on Mr. Fielder's death occurred in the Springfield Republican in its issue of December 6, 1914 :
"Away back in '53 a prairie schooner pulled by a span of horses rattled and creaked its way across the country from Maury county, Tennessee. A jolly party was in the schooner. . Ben F. Fielder and his brother, T. F. Fielder, with their wives and babies, were searching for a new home. Both had been married less than two years. It was autumn and the whole world looked bright.
"For days the party looked over the Missouri country-and drove on. Arriving in the Ozarks, the Fielders drove more slowly, having been enamored with the beauty and prospects of the hillsides. Arriving in a little village of log cabins on November 17, 1853, they made their camp. That was the town of Springfield.
"Yesterday morning one of the pioneers of Greene county passed away. It was "Uncle Ben" Fielder, the last of the four grown-ups who traveled across the country in the schooner to Springfield. He died at the family home on East State street. For the last month "Uncle Ben," as he was known to hundreds of people in the county, had been failing in health. He grew weaker, but firmly believed to the last that he would recover and again go about among his friends. Prior to the beginning of the month of illness "Uncle Ben" was hale and hearty and walked about town unassisted. He was known here as the oldest Mason in Missouri.
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