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 27
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GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
Mrs. Frey's first husband was S. R. Smith, an old railroad man. In late life he was injured, losing his right arm, and with his wife, went to farming in Taylor township, Greene county, and from a small beginning he and his wife accumulated two hundred and eighty acres. Mr. Smith died in 1904, leaving his widow with two hundred and eighty acres of land in Greene county and a heavy mortgage to pay. It is greatly to her credit as a man- ager, as well as to Greene county's wonderful resources, to state that in one year Mrs. Smith had paid up the mortgage, cleared her property and had an abundance of stock and property free of debt.
Politically, Mr. Frey has been a Democrat since old enough to exer-
RESIDENCE OF FRANK A. FREY.
cise the right of suffrage, However, he has never cared for public office, having no time to take from his private business affairs. Fraternally, he is a member of the Masonic order. Mr. Frey, in 1882, and again in 1886, crossed the Atlantic to visit his native land.
Mr. Frey's grandfather served in the French wars under Napoleon for a period of fourteen years and attained the rank of second lieutenant, and took part in the great battle of Waterloo, seeing the fall of the mighty Corsican. Our subject is the possessor of a number of interesting relics and heir- looms, including a number of grim reminders of the terrible wars of his native country a century or more ago. Among these is a sword carried by his grandfather, who was with Napoleon during the last years of the emperor's career in France.
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GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
ROBERT A. BOWLAND.
Robert A. Bowland has established a reputation for honesty and in- tegrity which is attested by the high estimation in which he is held by his fellow citizens, being a citizen and neighbor highly honored in his locality, and in his sphere of life, nobly and faithfully, has he performed every duty that presented itself. Formerly he was one of our efficient school teachers, and later served Greene county many years as treasurer, and thus is well known over the city and county. He is a man of positive temperament, firm in his convictions, forcible and fearless in his adhesion to principles, and is regarded by all who know him as an honorable man and obliging gen- tleman.
Mr. Bowland was born in Morrow county, Ohio. He is a son of Boyd M. and Mary Elizabeth (Colmery) Bowland, both natives of Pennsylvania, from which state they moved to Ohio when young and were married in the latter state, and were educated in the public schools. The mother of our subject taught school for some time prior to her marriage. Boyd M. Bow- land devoted his life to agricultural pursuits. He moved his family from Ohio to Greene county, Missouri, when his son, Robert A., of this sketch, was a small child. Politically, the elder Bowland was a Republican. Dur- ing the Civil war he was a soldier in the Union army, and after the war he served for some time as postmaster at Iberia, Morrow county, Ohio.
Eleven children were born to Boyd M. and Elizabeth Bowland, eight of whom are living at this writing. They were named as follows: Charles C. and Harry C. are the two eldest; Boyd M., Jr., is deceased; Robert A., of this sketch; William B. is deceased; David M., Cora E., Edward B., Leroy R. and Calvin are all living; and Samuel M., the youngest, is de- ceased.
Robert A. Bowland grew to manhood on the home farm and there as- sisted with the work when a boy. He received a good education in the public schools and the normal school in Springfield. He began life for him- self by engaging in farming for a few years, then taught school a number of years with much success, and later was a deputy assessor, and served as such in the Greene county court house for three years under W. A. Smith. During that time he mastered thoroughly the ins and outs of the office, and in 1904 made the race for county treasurer and was elected by a large ma- jority. His record as a public official in this connection was so highly com- mendable and he proved to be such a careful, honest and obliging public servant, that he was re-elected and held the office eight years, to the satis- faction of all concerned. Mr. Bowland owns a good home in Springfield, which is tastily kept by a lady of refinement, known in her maidenhood as Emma V. Kerr, whom Mr. Bowland married in 1895. She is a native of
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GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
Kansas, and when she was but a child she came with her parents to Greene county, Missouri, locating on a farm near Republic, where she completed her education in the Republic high school. To this union one child was born, Robert Paul, born at Republic, Missouri, August 19, 1900, and is at home attending public school. Her parents were born in Indiana and went to the Sunflower state many years ago, but remained only a few years.
Politically, Mr. Bowland is a Republican. He and his family are members of the First Baptist church, in which he is a deacon and an active worker. Fraternally, our subject belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen. Mrs. Bowland is a charter member of the Wild Rose camp, Royal Neighbors, of Republic.
OWEN M. EVANS.
There are not many Vermonters in Greene county, notwithstanding the fact that this New England state is one of the oldest in the American Union, and has been sending her population westward for over a century to help build up and develop the newer sections of our country. They have the record of being good citizens wherever they have located, being industrious, intelli- gent and law-abiding, for the most part. Owen M. Evans, chief engineer at the Springfield Wagon Works, and one of Greene county's honored citizens, is such a man.
Mr. Evans was born in Castleton, Rutland county, Vermont, December 27. 1862. He is a son of Moses Evans, a native of Wales, the little rugged country where all the numerous family of Evanses originated. There he grew to manhood and from there emigrated to the United States in the fifties, locating at once in the famous Vermont quarry district. He engaged in pros- pecting and got out roofing slate for himself, owning and operating slate quar- ries at Castleton. His death occurred in 1897, at the age of sixty-five years, and he was buried at Fair Haven, Vermont. Before leaving Wales he joined the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He was a member of the Presby- terian church, and was for many years active in church work. Politically, he was a Republican. His wife, who was known in her maidenhood as Jane Williams, was also a native of Wales, where she spent her early childhood. emigrating to America when thirteen years of age, and lived with her brother in Vermont until her marriage. Her mother died some time before she left her native land. She was a daughter of Owen Williams and wife. She died in 1910 at the age of seventy-two years and is buried at Fair Haven, Ver- mont. To Moses and Jane Evans thirteen children were born, named as fol- low : Annie married William Peck, a carpenter and contractor at Stamford.
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Connecticut, where they still reside; Owen M., of this sketch; John is en- gaged in farming in Pennsylvania; Laura married William Owens and they live in New York City; Jane, widow of John Tackebury, lives in New Ro- chelle, New York; William is engaged in the grocery business in New York City ; Moses is engaged in the bakery and confectionery business in West End, New Jersey; Elizabeth has remained single and is engaged as book- keeper for the Bell Telephone Company at New Rochelle, New York; Mar- garet, widow of Llew Perry, lives in New York City; Katie, who lives in Florida, is a twin sister of Nellie, who married Harry Owens, a slate operator at Poultney, Vermont; Winifred is unmarried and makes her home at New Rochelle, New York.
The paternal grandfather of the above named children, whose name was Owen Evans, was a native of Wales, where he spent his entire life; he was a slate operator, and this business has been the principal vocation of many of his descendants.
Owen M. Evans, of this sketch, grew to manhood in his native state, and there attended the common schools, and when twelve years of age he went to work cutting stone, continuing for three years, then worked as a farm hand in that community for three years, after which we find him oper- ating pumps and engines at the slate quarries at Castleton, subsequently working as engineer for the Castleton Milling Company, holding this posi- tion one year. Leaving Vermont when twenty-eight years of age, in 1890, he came to Springfield, Missouri, and soon thereafter secured employment with the Dunlap Construction Company, later worked for the Metropolitan Street Railway Company, then was trimmer and lineman for the Springfield Lighting Company. In March. 1893, he was employed by the Metropolitan Electric Railway as chief electrician at the power house, and he held this position until the spring of 1900, when he went with the Springfield Brewing Company as chief engineer, leaving there in July, 1901, and began working as night engineer for the Springfield Ice and Refrigerator Company. In November of that year he went with the Springfield Wagon Company as chief engineer, which position he has continued to fill to the present time, giving his usual satisfactory and faithful service. When he began with the last-named firm, steam was used throughout the plant, but Mr. Evans de- voted his spare time for years to the study of electricity and has become a capable and thorough electrician, and, at his solicitation, the company in- stalled an electric power plant in 1914. In January, 1913, Mr. Evans was promoted to the position of assistant superintendent, the duties of which he ably discharged for a period of two years, but finding the work too engross- ing, he resigned, preferring the position of chief engineer. He has been in the employ of the Springfield Wagon Works thirteen years.
Mr. Evans was first married in 1886, to Annie Fox, a daughter of Henry
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and Margaret Fox. Her death occurred in 1909, at the age of forty-six years. This union was without issue. In 1911 Mr. Evans married Millie Grantham, widow of Howard M. Grantham. This union has also been without issue.
Mr. Evans is a member of the National Association of Steam Engineers, in which he has long been active and influential; in fact, he has the honor of being known as the founder of this new important and widely known asso- ciation, of which he has for some time been president. He belongs to the Masonic order, including the Knights Templars. He is also a member of the Knights of Pythias, the Modern Woodmen of America, the Woodmen of the World, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Knights of Pythias Sisters, the Order of the Eastern Star and the Royal Neighbors. He is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church, and politically is a Re- publican. He is chairman of the board of stationary engineer examiners. He was twice elected city councilman from the Sixth ward and served two terms of four years in this capacity. He is known as the father of the Con- crete Paving Company, of Springfield. He is devoted to the work of city progress, and he was one of the prime factors in starting the movement that led to the paving of our streets. He has always been conservative in the expenditure of the city's money ; in fact, has done much for the general and permanent good of Springfield in many ways, and in all the positions of trust which he has occupied he has proven himself to be most capable, ener- getic, honest and trustworthy, meriting the esteem in which he is universally held, and he ranks with the most representative and useful of our citizens.
OMER E. RISSER.
Among the well known and popular railroad men of Springfield is Omer E. Risser, passenger conductor, who has been connected with the Frisco for over a quarter of a century, and his long retention by the sys- tem would indicate that he is a man of ability and worthy of the trust re- posed in him. He is of German descent on his father's side and has in- herited many of the commendable qualities of those people, and his suc- cess in life has been due entirely to his own efforts.
Mr. Risser was born in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, July 26, 1864. He is a son of Daniel and Martha (Townsend) Risser. The father was born in Germany in 1830, and there he grew to manhood and had the advantages of a good education, and he served three years in the army, as is the cus- tom in that country of every able bodied man when he becomes of certain age. He was a shoemaker by trade, which he followed for a livelihood,
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GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
and became quite an expert workman. He emigrated to the United States when a young man and spent several years in Indiana, where he was mar- ried; later lived in Iowa during a protracted period, but finally removed to Springfield, Missouri, where his death occurred in 1898. The mother of the subject of this sketch was born in 1832, in New England, of Quaker parents, and was reared in their faith. She is now living on East Walnut street, Springfield, Missouri. To Daniel Risser and wife eleven children were born, five of whom are living at this writing, namely : Mrs. J. E. Han- sell, of Springfield (a complete sketch of Mr. Hansell and family appears on another page of this work); Dr. C. H. Risser lives in North Manches- ter, Indiana; Omer E. Risser, of this sketch; Mamie Risser is living with her mother in Springfield; Mrs. A. T. Moore, who lives on West Walnut street, Springfield.
Omer E. Risser received his education in the public and high schools of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, and when but a boy he took up railroading as a career, first working, however, for the American Express Company, in the office at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. In 1883 he went to work for the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company, with which he remained until 1886, in January of which year he came to Springfield, Missouri, and went to work for the Frisco system as brakeman, his run being between Spring- field and Newburg, Missouri. In 1888 Superintendent W. A. Thomas re- quested our subject to go to the southwestern division, at Talihina, Indian Territory (now Oklahoma), and after working there a short time he was promoted to freight conductor. Mr. Risser worked between Talihina and Paris, Texas, until 1893; then returned to Springfield and went to work on the Kansas City, Ft. Scott & Memphis railroad as brakeman behind twenty-six extra conductors. In 1897 he was promoted to the regular crew again as conductor of a freight, and in 1903 he was promoted to extra pas- senger conductor, and for many years his run has been between Spring- field and Thayer, this state. He has been very successful as a conductor and is one of the best known and most popular men of his division.
Mr. Risser was married June 19, 1889, in Springfield, to Rose Con- lin, who was born in St. Louis, December II, 1864. She is a daughter of Thomas and Ann (Mooney) Conlin, both born in Ireland, from which country they came to America in early life and were married in Auburn, New York.
Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Risser, namely : Ralph D., born March 23, 1892, is at present employed in the city engineer's office, Springfield: Kathryn, born January 8, 1896, and Marjorie, born De- cember 28, 1899.
Politically, Mr. Risser is a Democrat. In 1890 he joined Division 30, Order of Railroad Conductors, and when on the old Gulf road was trans-
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ferred to Division 321. He joined the Masonic order in 1907, is a Knight Templar and became a member of the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles. of the Mystic Shrine in 1908. In 1910 he was elected councilman from the fifth ward and served two years with much credit. Since 1907 he has been secretary of the local Order of Railway Conductors, and was a delegate to the annual meetings of the order at Jacksonville, Boston and Detroit .. He has long been an active and influential worker in the same.
OBADIAH CLARK MITCHELL.
Few can draw rules for their guidance from the pages of Plutarch, but all are benefited, one way and another, by the delineation of those traits of character which find scope in the common walks of the world. The unos- tentatious routine of private life, although in the aggregate more important to the welfare of the community, than any meteoric public career, can not. from its very nature, figure in the public annals, though each locality's his- tory should contain the names of those individuals who contribute to the success of the material, civic and moral welfare of the community and to. its public stability ; men who lead wholesome and exemplary lives which might be profitably studied by the oncoming generation. In such a class must consistently appear the name of Obadiah Clark Mitchell, the present efficient and popular postmaster of Springfield, Missouri, a man who has led a plain, industrious life, a large part of which has been in government service, and suffice it to say that his record is without blemish, for he has always endeavored to do his duty faithfully, deal honestly with everyone and contribute somewhat to the general public good in an unobtrusive man- ner. He is one of the best examples in Greene county of the successful self-made man, and is deserving of a great deal of credit for what he has accomplished in the face of obstacles, having climbed, step by step, from an environment none too promising in his youth to a position of promin- ence in the affairs of the capital city of the Ozarks. His example might be studied with profit by the youth, discouraged and hesitating at the parting of the ways.
Mr. Mitchell was born in Dallas county, Missouri, October 20. 1858. He is a son of Greenberry Mitchell and Sarah (Williams) Mitchell, both natives of the state of Tennessee, the father born in 1819 and the mother in 1822. They each represented fine old families of that state. There they grew to maturity, received such educational advantages as the early days afforded and there they were married. At the age of twenty-three years. Greenberry Mitchell began the ministry of the Missionary Baptist church ..
H
O. C. MITCHELL.
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GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
About the year 1850 he moved to Missouri as a missionary of his church, and was one of the pioneer ministers of this section of the state. He was a. man of sterling character, a powerful preacher of the old school and he did an excellent work among the frontier settlers here, some of the older citizens yet remember him and revere his memory for his kind, helpful and unselfish life. He was called to his reward in the Silent land in 1888. His wife died in Greene county in 1882. They are both buried at the Union. Grove cemetery, near Fair Grove, Missouri.
To Rev. Greenberry Mitchell and wife nine children were born, six sons and three daughters, two of the sons and one of the daughters being now deceased. Those living are, Samantha is the wife of H. A. Highfield, and they live at Highfield, Arkansas: David H. lives at Marshfield, Mis- souri; Rebecca A. is the widow of George W. Cooksey, of Strafford, Mis -- souri; Robert G. lives in Cassville, Missouri; Allen J. makes his home at Pladd, this state; and Obadiah C., of this review.
The subject of this sketch received a common school education and spent one year in Morrisville College, in Polk county, Missouri, after which he engaged in farming until March 9, 1887, when he came to Springfield and secured employment with the Frisco railroad with which he remained two years, then secured a position on the police force under Mayor Walker, which he held for two years, discharging his duties most faithfully, then engaged in the grocery business for a year. In 1893 he was appointed mail carrier, in which capacity he served in a highly satisfactory manner to all concerned until in February, 1914, when he was appointed postmaster at Springfield, and he is proving to be a most faithful, conscientious and capa- ble public servant, giving eminent satisfaction to both the department and the people. He has served the government faithfully for a period of twen- ty-one years.
Mr. Mitchell was married October 2, 1878, to Elizabeth Donnell, who was born in Greene county, Missouri, March 26, 1858. She was reared to womanhood and educated in the public schools of her native community, and she has proven to be a most faithful helpmate. To Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell one child has been born, John E. Mitchell, who is employed in the Frisco shops at Springfield.
Politically, Mr. Mitchell is a Democrat and has been a worker in the party since attaining his majority. He has been a member of the Baptist church since 1877. He is a member of the Ozark Mountain Branch, No. 203. National Association of Letter Carriers. He has been president of the- same for ten years, and has been a delegate to the state and national con- ventions of the' order. 'He is a member of the Knights of Pythias, the Royal Arcanum and the Woodmen of the World.
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GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
IRVIN H. CAMPBELL.
The old Keystone state has furnished many of her good citizens to the newer western states who have been of inestimable value in develop- ing them, for it seems that they have ever been people noted for their en- terprise and courage. Although poor when they came into the wilder west, many of them, a few years finds them in possession of good homes, for they work with a will, are not thwarted by obstacles and make good citi- zens in general. One of this number was the late Irvin H. Campbell, for many years a successful agriculturist, later devoting his time to railroad- ing, and was one of the trusted employees of the Frisco System for a num- ber of years.
Mr. Campbell was born in Huntington, Pennsylvania, January 8, 1848. He is a son of Armstrong Campbell and wife, both natives of the state of Pennsylvania, where they grew up, were educated in the early-day schools and married, later removing to Ohio, and from that state moved finally to Illinois, the mother, however, dying while the family lived in Ohio. Arm- strong Campbell devoted his life to general farming. His death occurred in 1893. He was twice married, the only child by his first wife being Irvin H., the subject of this memoir. Four children were born to his second marriage.
Irvin H. Campbell grew to manhood on the home farm and he as- sisted his father with the general work on the same during the crop season, and during the winter attended the district schools in Ohio. However, he had little opportunity to receive an extensive education in his boyhood, but he developed himself and always depended upon his individual resources.
Mr. Campbell was a soldier in the days immediately following the Civil war, having enlisted, in May, 1865, in Company I, One Hundred and Thirty-second Regiment, Ohio National Guard. This was during the re- construction period and his service was about the same as if he had enlisted during the regular period of the Civil war, in which he would gladly have served had he been old enough. He saw some service, however, and was in one skirmish. He was honorably discharged, and not long thereafter came west to Bureau county, Illinois, where his father had previously lo- cated, and there he took up farming, which he followed until March 8. 1881, when he came to Springfield, Missouri, where he first secured employ- ment in the Queen City Mills, with which he remained some time, then went to work for the Frisco railroad, remaining with this company until about a year prior to his death, when he retired from active life, after a faithful and successful career as railroader.
Mr. Campbell was married June 5. 1869, in Illinois, to Anna S. Ott,
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GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
who was born in Maryland, April 21, 1853. She is a daughter of Jacob D. and Margaret Ann (Houck) Ott, both natives of Maryland and repre- sentatives of old Southern families. Mr. Ott was a tanner by trade. When the wife of our subject was five years old the Ott family moved to Illinois, and later came to Missouri, where the death of the father occurred in 1904. The mother is still living, making her home in Springfield. Mrs. Camp- bell is the oldest of ten children, all living. She received a good education in the common schools in Illinois.
Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Campbell, namely: Eva M., born October 30, 1870, makes her home in Springfield; Blanche E., born April 30, 1872, married J. E. Ledman, and they have one child, Margaret Ann, born March 17, 1913; Lillian B., born August 30, 1874, has remained unmarried; William E., born October 8, 1885, died in infancy.
Politically, Mr. Campbell was a Republican in his earlier years, but later was a Socialist. He was a Christian Scientist in his religious beliefs, and he was formerly a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, but in later years dropped his membership in the same. He was a man of fine character and had a large number of friends here.
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