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 26
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His public life began at an early age. In 1840 he was chosen to rep- resent Greene county in the General Assembly of Missouri, and but little of his life was spent in retirement from that time until his death. In 1844. he was elected to Congress, and for eighteen consecutive years, served in the same high position of public trust. He was the father of the postage stamp. Any attempt at a full statement of his acts comprised in those years-his many valuable services-would far transcend the limits of this work; but the bare fact that for twelve years he was a member of the com- mittee on ways and means-always the most important committee of a legislative body-and part of the time its chairman, is, in itself, the best evidence of the esteem and confidence reposed in him on the part of his co-
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workers in Congress. He believed in a tariff for revenue only, and voted for the tariff of 1846, a measure denounced by the protectionists as one- fraught with destruction to the manufacturing interests of the country. In about ten years thereafter, when a further reduction of duties was advo- cated and carried, the leading manufacturers of the country besought Con- gress not to interfere with the duties established in 1846. Mr. Phelps favored the measure granting bounty lands to soldiers. He favored the granting of lands by the general government to Missouri to aid in building a railroad from St. Louis to the southwest corner of the state. In 1853 when Congress was discussing the building of a trans-continental railway, Mr. Phelps favored the construction of a road through the Indian country to Albuquerque, thence to San Francisco, on which route a road was later built.
During his last term in Congress, which was in Abraham Lincoln's first administration, he was part of the time in the field, the great Civil war being then in progress; and he was appointed on the committee of ways. and means before he had been sworn in as a member, a compliment never before tendered to any other citizen. In 1861 he raised a regiment, known as the "Phelps Regiment," which did valiant service for six months, and was commanded by Colonel Phelps in person at the memorable engage- ment at Pea Ridge, in which it suffered such heavy loss. Without solici- tation on his part Colonel Phelps was appointed military governor of Ar- kansas, in 1862, which he accepted, but ill health soon necessitated his re -- turn to St. Louis. In 1864 he resumed the practice of law in Springfield, his Congressional career having closed in 1863. He was nominated for governor of Missouri in 1868 on the Democratic ticket, but he failed of election but he ran 12,000 ahead of his ticket, but eight years afterwards he was elected to this high office by a larger majority than any governor of this state ever received up to that time, and no man ever did greater honor to that highest office than he, and no lady ever did the honors of the gov- ernor's mansion with more becoming grace than did his daughter, Mrs. Mary Montgomery. Had not the constitution fixed the one term limit on the governor's office, there is no doubt but that Mr. Phelps would have been re-elected .. had he been willing. In the convention of . 1876, no less a per- sonage than the Hon. George G. Vest-Missouri's greatest senator since- Benton-was defeated by Governor Phelps for the Democratic nomination. After the expiration of his gubernatorial term Governor Phelps lived in partial retirement, only occasionally giving legal advice in some very im- portant cases. He spent considerable time in travel, including northern Mexico and Oregon. President Grover Cleveland tendered him the posi- tion as American minister to any country in Europe, excepting the four great powers, but he declined the honor owing to failing health.
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Few men had greater conversational powers or enjoyed more keenly the social intercourse of friends, than did Missouri's great governor, from Greene county. He enjoyed a large circle of distinguished acquaintances from various parts of the Union, and when he was summoned to his eternal rest in 1886 he was mourned not only by the state but by the nation as well.
David R. Francis, mayor of St. Louis, afterwards governor of Mis- souri, declared a half-holiday in St. Louis and came in person to attend the funeral.
Great, genial, magnanimous, easy of approach, and yet dignified withal, scholarly, brilliant and a genteel gentleman in all the relations of life, Gov- ernor Phelps was just the style of a man that a whole people delighted to honor and revere, following his lead with the implicit confidence which is ever the surest criterion in pronouncing him a great man.
JAMES O'BYRNE.
Springfield has long been headquarters for a great number of commer- cial travelers. Men representing a wide diversity of firms maintain their homes here, which some of them have an opportunity to visit only infre- quently. It is a good residence town for their families, is conveniently and centrally located in one of the best sections of the Union, and salesmen go out in all directions in the adjacent territory, representing not only local houses but companies in many of the eastern and northern cities. Of this number the name of James O'Byrne should have specific mention, as he is not only one of the most successful but one of the best known traveling men out of the Queen City of the Ozarks.
Mr. O'Byrne is a native of northern Ireland, and is a son of Patrick O'Byrne and wife. His paternal grandfather, James O'Byrne, emigrated from the Emerald Isle to America in an early day and proved his loyalty to the United States by enlisting in our ariny during the War of 1812, and he fought at the memorable battle of New Orleans under Gen. Andrew Jack- son. He was a farmer and also a manufacturer of Irish linen of a su- perior quality. He finally returned to Ireland, where his death occurred at the unusual age of one hundred and three years, and was buried beside his wife. He spent ten or twelve, years in the United States. His son, Patrick O'Byrne, father of our subject, was born in Ireland, where he learned the machinist's trade when a young man. After emigrating to America he fol- lowed his trade in New York City, working in one shop for a period of seven years. After spending ten years in this country he returned to his native land. His wife was known in her maidenhood as Margaret McCal-
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lig, a daughter of Hugh McCallig, a native of Ireland. Two sons and one daughter were born to Patrick O'Byrne and wife, James, our subject, being the only one living and the only one to come to America. The death of the father occurred at the advanced age of ninety-eight years.
James O'Byrne spent his boyhood in Ireland and received a good com- mon school education. He has always been a commercial man, and he came to the United States before the Civil war. On April 17, 1861, at New Orleans, he enlisted in the Confederate army, among the first to of- fer his services, and as a private in the Third Louisiana Volunteer Infantry he served with valor and credit all through the struggle of four hard years, participating in many important campaigns and nearly all the great battles. After the war he remained in the South until the spring of 1867, reaching Springfield, Missouri, on March 17, and he has made his home here ever since. He has traveled in every state in the Union, also Central America and South America and Australia, having a record as a commercial trav- eler which few can equal in the United States. He has no doubt traveled more miles as a salesman than any other man in the Middle West. He has met with uniform success, no matter what territory was assigned to him, and has been faithful and trustworthy at all times, ever alert to the good of the firm he represents. He is a man of tact, diplomacy and earnestness, a good mixer and makes and retains friends easily. He is one of the most widely known commercial travelers in the country. He has long owned a nice home in Springfield.
Mr. O'Byrne was married, September 27, 1876, in this city, to Mar- garet Hayes, a daughter of James Hayes, who owned a livery stable on Boonville street, Springfield, for many years, or up to a few years of his death. Mrs. O'Byrne was born in Mexico, Missouri, where she received a good education.
To our subject and wife eleven children have been born, nine sons and two daughters, namely: James Patrick died when twenty-six years of age; Ann married Edward L. Maurice, who has long operated a confectionery on South street, this city, and recently added a cafe; John, who lives in Springfield, Missouri, is a widely known race horse man, having for years participated in races in the United States and Canada; Margaret Ellen is engaged in the coal business with her brother in Springfield; Leo, who lives in Texas, is a commercial traveler; Edward Emmett is engaged in the coal business on Main street, this city; Joseph William is a member of the firm of Walker-O'Byrne Electric Company on East Walnut street. Springfield; Eugene is an attorney-at-law, with an office in this city; Lawrence is a salesman for the Walker-O'Byrne Electric Company; Francis Xavier is em- ployed in Mr. Maurice's cafe; Hugh Vincent lives in Lewistown, Montana.
Politically, Mr. O'Byrne is a Democrat. He is the oldest Catholic
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resident in Springfield. He is a stanch friend of Father Lilly. Fraternally, he belongs to the Knights of Columbus. He holds membership in the Church of the Immaculate Conception. He is also a member of the Illinois Commercial Travelers' Association. He recalls with much satisfaction his meeting with Count John A. Creighton, of Omaha, Nebraska, on the last birthday of that well-known gentleman. During his residence of nearly a half century in Springfield our subject has seen many important changes take place here and has always been interested in the city's general wel- fare. Although his vocation has made it necessary for him to be absent from the city a great deal during this long period, nevertheless he is well known here and has a host of good friends.
MAX SCHARFF.
Among the enterprising citizens of Springfield who originally came from the German Empire is Max Scharff, the major portion of whose active career as a man of affairs has been spent in America, having for a number of years been a resident on a plantation of the far South before casting his lot with the people of the Queen City of the Ozarks.
Mr. Scharff was born in Esslingen, Rhinepfalz, Bavaria, September 9, 1854. There he grew to be seventeen years of age, and received his educa- tion, emigrating to the United States shortly after the close of the Franco- Prussian war, in 1871. He was then seventeen years of age. He landed in Vicksburg, Mississippi, subsequently locating in Louisiana on a sugar plan- tation, where he resided until 1891, in which year he came to Springfield, Missouri, and engaged in business on South street for one year, then moved to the northwest corner of Campbell and Walnut streets after the new build- ing was completed here, in 1892 and this has been his location ever since. His industry and good management has resulted in success. He owns a modern and attractive home in this city.
Mr. Scharff was married September 6, 1882, to Rosa Scharff, of Natchez, Mississippi. She was a daughter of Daniel and Carolina (Wert- heimer) Scharff. Her father is a native of Germany. To our subject and wife four children have been born, two sons and two daughters, namely: Daniel is engaged in business with his father; Clarence is a traveling sales- man with headquarters at Vicksburg, Mississippi; Clara is the wife of M. A. Ullman, a member of the firm of the Ullman-Netter Dry Goods Com- pany of Springfield; Fay is the wife of Marx Netter, a member of the firm of the Ullman-Netter Dry Goods Company.
The mother of the above named children died in Louisiana in October,
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1889, and Mr. Scharff was married in Cincinnati, Ohio, on September I, 1895, to Carrie Hart, of that city. She is a daughter of Meyer Hart, a native of Villmar, Nassau, Germany, on the river Lahn. There he grew to manhood and was educated. He came to America in 1896, and his death occurred in Springfield, Missouri, in 1907.
Mr. Scharff is a member of the Masonic blue lodge, Acacia, No. 116, at Plaquemine, Louisiana. He also belongs to the Royal Arcanum and to the Knights of Pythias, also Florence lodge of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Politically, he is a Democrat; however, he is somewhat of an independent voter and does a great deal of "scratching" on his ballot, his aim always being to support the best man for the place sought, and his method is one to be commended to the voters of all parties. He is a mem- ber of the Temple Israel of Springfield, being vice-president of the same, and has been influential in the work here for years. He has led a quiet, law-abiding life, never having served on a jury, and has never been sued or had to stand a law suit.
HENRY T. WATTS.
Restlessness causes many of us to leave our parental halls and seek our fortunes in distant lands. Some people feel this wanderlust spirit so strongly that they have no control over it. Offer to them whatever inducements you please-wealth, honor, a pleasant home -- they will not yield to them, but rather struggle against the hardships which the building up of a new domicile in a foreign land implies. It is exactly this hardship that attracts them. They dislike nothing more than the monotony of a well-regulated life, and consider themselves well repaid for their troubles by the charms which ever- changing enterprises offer them. Another cause for emigration is the attrac- tion which another occupation holds out to the new-comer. It is the outcome of the excellent and infallible law of supply and demand. These are doubt- less some of the reasons that have brought millions of Europeans to America. among them being the Watts family, of which Henry T. Watts, foreman of the air room at the Frisco's North Side shops, Springfield, is a creditable representative.
Mr. Watts was born in London, England. December 18, 1868. He is a son of Robert Watts, a native of Summersetshire, his birth having occurred near the town of Yoeville, England, and there he grew to manhood, was edu- cated and married. He was there engaged in wool buying until he emigrated with his family to the United States, in 1872, having first traveled through Canada, and located in St. Louis, Missouri, where he took up the carpenter's
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trade and worked as a journeyman. After remaining in St. Louis ten years he removed to Springfield, in 1882, where he followed carpentering, con- tracting and building for a number of years; also worked as coach carpenter and bridge builder for the Frisco railroad for many years. His death oc- curred at his home here in 1908 at the age of sixty-eight years, and he was buried in Hazelwood cemetery. He was a member of St. John's Episcopal church in England, but after coming to Springfield he united with the Baptist church. His wife, who was known in her maidenhood as Emily Baker, was born, reared and educated in the same locality in England of which he was a native. She is residing in Springfield with her unmarried daughter at their home on Sherman street, and she will be seventy-two years of age on July 4, 1915. To these parents the following children were born: Alice, Mollie, Bessie, Henry T., Frederick, Minnie and Frances.
Henry T. Watts was four years old when his parents brought him to America. He spent his boyhood in St. Louis and received a common school education, which was very limited, for he went to work when only nine years of age, and has supported himself since that time, his record being one of self- reliance, grit and unswerving perseverance, and he is deserving of much credit for what he has accomplished. When a boy he worked for the news- paper known as the Springfield Southwest, the name of which was later changed to the Southwester. He held the position of "printer's devil" for three years, then worked as pressman for some time at the plant of the Springfield Patriot, and later was pressman on the Springfield Republican. As pressman he turned out the first daily paper in Springfield, in the building opposite the Metropolitan Hotel on College street. He remained in the em- ploy of the Republican five or six years. From there he went to Johnstown, Pennsylvania, in 1886, and was there during the memorable flood, then went to Pittsburgh, but later returned to Johnstown. He subsequently worked as machinist at Rankin, Pennsylvania, with the Braddock Wire Company, and learned his trade there. Returning to Springfield on a visit, he accepted a position at his trade in the Frisco's North Side shops, first being under in- structions, then worked during the year of 1888 as regular machinist, and continued as journeyman for sixteen or seventeen years, when he was trans- ferred to the round-house as air-brake inspector in the North Side shops, which position he held for four years, then was promoted to foreman of the air room there, in July, 1909, and is still holding this position, and discharg- ing his duties in an able and acceptable manner. He has ten men under his direction. They do repair work for the entire system.
Mr. Watts lives at 1352 Clay street, where he bought a lot and had a neat dwelling erected according to his own plans. He was married, in 1880, to Minnie Sterling, a daughter of John and Mary (Shepard) Sterling. Her
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father is a farmer near Crocker, Missouri. She grew up in this state and received a common school education.
The union of our subject and wife has been without issue.
Politically, Mr. Watts is a Republican. He is prominent in fraternal circles, being a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, the Royal Arch, the Blue Lodge, the White Shrine and the Order of the Eastern Star; also the Woodmen of the World, the Loyal Order of Moose and the Inter- national Association of Machinists.
MARION A. NELSON.
We do not find many Greene county people who originally came from Arkansas. The reason is perhaps that they have as good a country as ours and find it to their advantage to stay at home. Arkansas is a great state in every respect, greater than most citizens in other states ever dream. This is due partly to the fact that there has never been a "boom" there, the rail- roads have not put forth much effort to advertise it, as they have had such overrated states as Oklahoma, Florida and California, consequently the general public does not really know of the vast resources and opportunities. to be found in the state just to the south of us. Marion A. Nelson, en- gaged in the life insurance business in Springfield, is one of the enterprising young men from that state who has cast his lot with the people of Greene county.
Mr. Nelson was born at Wilmar, Drew county, Arkansas, November 20, 1875. He is a son of Thomas D. and Maggie N. (Alexander ) Nelson. The father was born in Tennessee, in which state he grew to manhood and there enlisted in a regiment in the Confederate army during the Civil war, serving with credit until the close of the conflict. After the war he came to Arkansas and engaged in the lumber business until 1882, when he went to' Louisiana, where he has since made his home, and there he is still en- gaged in business. His family consisted of nine children. The maternal grandfather of our subject was a native of the state of Mississippi, and during the Civil war he was a soldier in the Confederate army and was killed in battle. His family consisted of three children, all now deceased. His daughter, Maggie N. Alexander, mother of our subject, died April 25, 1914, in Dubach, Louisiana.
Marion A. Nelson spent his childhood in Drew county, Arkansas, be- ing seven years of age when he removed with his parents to northern Louis- iana, where he grew to manhood and received his education in the public:
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schools there. After graduating from the high school in his community he began his career by entering the lumber and mercantile business, continuing these lines with ever-increasing success in northern Louisiana and southern Arkansas until 1909, when he took a position with the Equitable Life As- surance Society, in which his advancement has been rapid, and he now oc- cupies the responsible position of agency manager for this district, with headquarters at Springfield, and he is discharging his duties in an able and faithful manner that is highly satisfactory to the company.
Mr. Nelson was married on February 17, 1902, to Pearl Hale, at Junc- tion City, Arkansas, and they resided at that place until 1913, when they removed to Springfield, Missouri, where they have since made their home. They are the parents of four children, namely: Marion Hale, James Den- ny, Maurice Sanders and Rose Elizabeth.
Politically, Mr. Nelson is a Democrat. Fraternally, he belongs to the Masonic order, including the Royal Arch degree. He has long been quite active and influential in this order, and while in Arkansas was deputy grand master. He has also been a member of the Knights of Pythias for many years, and has been equally active and prominent in this order, hav- ing passed all the chairs while living in Arkansas. He is a member of St. Paul's Methodist Episcopal church, South, in Springfield. He and his wife have made many warm friends since locating in this city.
FRANK A. FREY.
The chief characteristics of Frank A. Frey, prominent agriculturist and stock man of Taylor township, Greene county, who also maintains a home in Springfield, are keenness of perception, an unflagging energy, honesty of purpose and motive and every-day common sense, which have enabled him not only to advance his own interests in a most gratifying manner, but also to largely contribute to the moral and material interests of the community. He worked his way from a modest beginning, having landed from a foreign strand on our shores many years ago, "a youth to fortune and to fame unknown," step by step to a position of no mean importance, by his individual efforts, which have been practically unaided from boy- hood, which fact renders him the more worthy of the praise that is freely accorded him by his fellow men. His life has been one of unceasing in- dustry and perseverance, and the honorable and systematic methods he has ever employed are commended to others, if they court the goddess Suc- ยท cess.
Mr. Frey was born in Alsace, France, March 9. 1853. He is a son of
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MRS. FRANK A. FREY.
FRANK A. FREY.
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Francis Joseph and Christina (Herd) Frey, both natives of Alsace, for- merly a part of France, now a province of Germany. There they grew up, were educated and married, and spent their lives, and to them two sons were born, Aloys Frey, now deceased, and Frank A. Frey, of this sketch.
Frank A. Frey sent his boyhood in his native land, and there received his education. When eighteen years old he emigrated to the United States, in 1871, landing in New York, where he remained only a month, then came on west to St. Louis, where he spent one year, then spent two years in Terre Haute, Indiana, where he was engaged in the butcher business, then went to Paris, Illinois, where he worked for George Mullins in the meat business for five years, then started in the same business for himself, and continued to operate successfully a meat market there for nine years, when he sold out and went to Grand Island, Nebraska, where he continued his former vocation for two years, then sold out and came to Springfield, Mis- souri and here established a meat business, which he carried on with his usual success for seven years, then sold out and started in the live stock business in connection with general farming in Taylor township, a few miles from Springfield, where he owns a valuable and productive farm of two hundred and forty acres, which he has placed under modern improve- ments and a high state of cultivation, and there carries on general agri- cultural pursuits and stock raising on an extensive scale, and has become one of the leading farmers of Greene county. He keeps large numbers of various kinds of live stock of a good grade, and there is no better judge of stock in the county than he. A substantial, convenient and attractive set of buildings are to be seen on his farm, and everything about the place denotes good management, thrift and good taste. Mr. Frey also owns a fine new residence in Freemont street in Springfield, where his family re- sides, and from there he makes frequent trips to his rural home. His hold- ings contain over thirty-five acres inside the city limits, some of which is platted and is very valuable.
Mr. Frey was married first, in 1881, in Paris, Illinois, to Emma Ormis- ton, whose death occurred twenty-two years later, on January 31, 1903. She was a daughter of David and Harriet Ormiston, who lived in Paris, Illi- nois, in which city Mrs. Frey grew to womanhood and was educated. To this first union one son was born, Paul A. Frey, who is engaged in farm- ing two miles south of Springfield. In. 1909 our subject was married a second time, his last wife being Mrs. Susie Smith, of Greene county, Mis- souri, widow of Samuel Smith, and a daughter of John and Julia (Miller) Harpster. She was born on April 29, 1856, and she received a common school education in White county, Illinois, where she was born and reared. This last union has been without issue.
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