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 30
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GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
Politically, he is a Democrat, fraternally a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Court of Honor, both at Willard; and in religious matters he belongs to the Baptist church at Willard, of which his wife is also a member, and in which she takes an active part.
Dr. Pike was married, August 15, 1880, to Mollie Ryan, who was born, reared and educated in Polk county. She is a daughter of William Ryan, an early settler and prominent in Polk county.
Three children have been born to Dr. Pike and wife, namely: Ethel, who married Horace Dameron, a farmer of Rogersville, Missouri, has one child, Lucile: Charles R., who married Gettie Frazier, a native of Greene. county, is engaged in the drug business at Willard, and they have two chil- dren, Lillian Belle and Robert Ray ; Arbaleta is at home with her parents.
WILLIAM C. CORNELL.
It is not everyone that can make a success of the real estate business. Some men fail at it no matter how long and hard they may try. Those who enter this line of endeavor should study themselves carefully, weigh their good and bad qualities accurately and be influenced rather by sound reason than by impulse. If he has a mind capable of grasping situations quickly and accu- rately, if the arithmetic is the easiest to him of all text-books, if he likes the work better than anything else, and, finally, if he is willing to be uniformly courteous, pleasant and honest, then he may open an office and announce the fact that he has entered the real estate field as his serious occupation. We do not know whether William C. Cornell did all this or not, but as manager of the National Land and Investment Company, of Springfield, he has shown himself to be a capable real estate man in every respect, well suited by nature for the work which he has chosen.
Mr. Cornell was born in Greene county, Missouri, January 3, 1874, and he comes of one of our honored old families, being a son of Leonard W. and Elizabeth ( Witherspoon) Cornell, the latter still living at the age of sixty- seven years, the father having died in 1914 at the age of seventy-two years. He was a son of Charles Cornell, a native of the state of Michigan, who died tlere at an advanced age.
Leonard W. Cornell was a soldier in the Union army, having enlisted in 1861, soon after the outbreak of the Civil war, in a Michigan cavalry regiment, but owing to sickness overtaking him he did not get to the front and was discharged for disability, but upon his recovery he re-enlisted in a different company and regiment and served until the close of the war with an excellent record. He is remembered as a quiet, home loving man and
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GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
a good neighbor. Our subject's maternal grandparents were William and Mary Witherspoon, who were well known Greene county farming people, the former having died in 1882, but the latter is still living, having attained the unusual age of ninety-four years, and she is in possession of all her faculties and enjoying good health. To Leonard W. Cornell and wife seven children were born, four sons and three daughters, namely: Arthur, John, Hiram, William C., Mrs. E. O. Rogers, Mrs. Nettie Jones and Mettie Cornell.
William C. Cornell spent his carly life on the farm, removing with the rest of the family from Greene county to Kansas when he was young, and in that state he attended the public schools and later was a student at Union College, Lincoln, Nebraska. His father was engaged in the wholesale hay and grain business, and our subject assisted him in this work until he was twenty-three years of age, and then began life for himself by engaging in the livery business in Springfield, Missouri, for two years, after which he was associated with the Deering Harvester Company until this concern con- solidated with the International Harvester Company, and he continued with the last named firm until 1909, giving eminent satisfaction to both. In that year he began his career as a real estate dealer in Springfield and has con- tinued in this line to the present time with ever increasing success, and is at this writing manager of the National Land and Investment Company, which is doing an extensive business under his able guidance.
Mr. Cornell was married on October 21, 1897, to Della Berry, a daugh- ter of James and Elizabeth (McCurdy) Berry, both still living in Greene county, at the home where the subject of this sketch was born. They were among the early pioneers of this county. Mr. Berry was born in North Carolina, January 1, 1841, and he made the long overland journey from that state to Greene county, Missouri, with his parents when he was eight. years of age, and he has since resided in this county. The original farm, which the grandfather entered from the government, is still in possession of the family. Elizabeth McCurdy was a daughter of Thomas McCurdy, and she was born in this county, February 3, 1842, and here she grew up. and married Mr. Berry in 1860, shortly before the breaking out of the Civil war, in which he served as a member of the Home Guards of Spring- field. His father. William Berry, was a native of North Carolina, where he spent his earlier years and married. He spent his latter years in Greene county, dying here at the age of seventy-four years. To James and Eliza- beth Berry the following children were born: O. D., R. P., G. F., J. B., Mrs. L. F. Patterson, and Della, wife of our subject.
The union of Mr. and Mrs. Cornell has been without issue.
Politically, Mr. Cornell is a Democrat. He belongs to the United Commercial Travelers, and is a member of the Presbyterian church.
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GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
SEBASTIAN DINGELDEIN.
The late Sebastian Dingeldein, for many years a well known business man of Springfield, afforded in his life and its success and other evidence that industry, economy and straightforward dealings constitute the keynote to honorable competency. Pre-eminence is a goal that most men strive to attain. No matter what field, whether it be literature, art, science or com- merce, the ambition of the true man will push him to such endeavor that his success shall stand out with glaring distinctness and his position shall be above all others.
Mr. Dingeldein, as the name implies, was of Teutonic blood, his birth having occurred in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, October 15, 1842, and was one of a large family, seven daughters and six sons, and there he grew to manhood and received his education. He learned the trade of brewer and traveled around for some seven years. Emigrating to America, he landed at New York City, October 6, 1867, and went from there to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and in October, 1868, he went to St. Louis, Missouri. He worked in the largest breweries and malt houses in that city for over eight years, and then came to Springfield, this state. Here he engaged in the brewery business the rest of his active life, the brewery in question having been built in 1872 by Buehner & Finkenauer. Mr. Dingeldein leased this property in October, 1876, for ten years, and in June, 1882, bought it before the lease expired, and for a period of fourteen years he was owner of the Southwest brewery, located on College street. It is a substantial plant with walls of the best rock and laid in cement, the cellar having a capacity of twelve hundred barrels. When first started the brewery turned out eight hundred barrels per day, but Mr. Dingeldein increased its capacity until, in 1882, it made twenty-one hundred barrels per day. He thoroughly under- stood every phase of the business and built up a large and lucrative trade. shipping his products all over the country. He retired from active life a few years prior to his death, which occurred on March 24, 1904. His father died in Germany in 1859 and his mother died in 1862.
Mr. Dingeldein was married in St. Louis to Dora Stuedt, who was born in Keppeln, Prussia, April 5. 1844. She is a daughter of Peter and Annie (Greisher) Stuedt, whose family consisted of eight children, four of whom are still living-Mrs. Dingeldein, of Springfield : two daughters in Illinois, and one in Prussia. Mrs. Dingeldein grew to womanhood in Ger- many and received her education in the common schools there: however, her textbook training was very limited. Her teacher was a man who had taught in the schools for over fifty years, teaching all grades, and it was ·compulsory for children to attend school two years to the local minister for
MR. AND MRS. SEBASTIAN DINGELDEIN.
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GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
Bible education, Bible history, etc. Mrs. Dingeldein is known to her many friends as a woman of kindness, charity and hospitality, and her beautiful home on College street is often visited by her many friends. Religiously, she is a Protestant and belongs to the German Evangelical church.
To Mr. and Mrs. Dingeldein four children were born, namely: Julius W., born in St. Louis on January 24, 1870; Peter Edward, born in St. Louis on December 25, 1873; Amelia Margareta, born in 1882 in Spring- field, and William Sebastian, born in Springfield, August 18, 1885, the last named being deceased.
GEORGE W. SMALL.
Americans are often spoken of as a restless race, and this is unques- tionably true. Thousands of trains are constantly speeding from one place to another, carrying families to new localities-everybody hunting a bet- ter place to live. Most of them would be better off to remain in their old communities. So when we find a man like George W. Small, of Jackson township, Greene county, who has spent his entire life of sixty-eight years on the same farm, we are ready to extend our congratulations, for such a man is worthy of admiration. It shows that he has had stability and a wise foresight.
Mr. Small was born on the farm where he now resides, October 16, 1846. He is a son of Robert B. and Martha R. (Donnall) Small, natives of Rockingham county, North Carolina, but when small children they moved with their parents from that state to Tennessee, where they were reared on farms and received common school educations, and they were married in that state and remained there until the year 1833, when they emigrated to Greene county, Missouri, being among the first settlers, and here our sub- ject's father entered land from the government and owned seven hundred acres at the time of his death. He was a very successful farmer and was one of the substantial men of his locality and influential in county affairs. His death occurred August 7, 1861. His widow survived many years, dy- ing July 17, 1897, on the home place. These parents were members of the Presbyterian church. Ten children were born to them, namely: Mrs. Sarah Ross, deceased: Mrs. Mary J. Barnes; James B. is deceased : Mrs. Cordelia Duke is deceased; Columbus lives in Greene county ; George W., of this sketch; Mrs. Christina Cavin, deceased; Julia is living with the sub- ject of this sketch; Willie and Robert, deceased.
George W. Small grew to manhood on the home farm and was edu- cated in the district schools. When twenty-one years of age he bought the
(77)
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GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
homestead, which he has kept well improved and well tilled. He has one of the choice farms of the township, consisting of five hundred and forty- six acres. He carries on general farming on an extensive scale and has prospered by his able management. He keeps an excellent grade of live- stock of all kinds and is a believer in progress in all lines.
Mr. Small was married in 1876 to Harriett A. Pipkin, who was born, reared and educated in Greene county. She was the daughter of Louis and Frankie (Roberts) Pipkin, highly respected farming people of this county, the Pipkin family having long been a well established one here. The death of Mrs. Small occurred January 7, 1878. The union of our subject and wife was without issue. Mr. Small has never remarried.
Politically, Mr. Small is a Democrat. He belongs to the Masonic order, and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He has never been especially active in public affairs, but has always been influential for good in his community.
JACKSON P. C. LANGSTON.
A man like Jackson P. C. Langston, farmer of Jackson township, Greene county, is deserving of a great deal of credit, who, thrown upon his own resources at a tender age, and in a number of ways handicapped for the battle of life, has, nevertheless, forged ahead and kept the even tenor of his way until he is not only regarded as a successful farmer but as a good citizen in every respect.
Mr. Langston was born in Christian county, Missouri, October II, 1856, near the town of Linden. He is a son of George W. and Elizabeth (Hayden) Langston, the father born near Nashville, Tennessee, in 1836, and the mother was born near Bowling Green, Kentucky. George W. Lang- ston was brought by his parents to Greene county, Missouri, when a small child and here he grew to manhood on a farm and received a common school education. His wife was but a child when she accompanied her parents from the Blue Grass state to this county, and here she grew up on a farm and was educated in the district schools, and here they were mar- ried in 1855. Mr. Langston worked on the farm when young and later handled a great deal of live stock and was a good business man. While driving cattle to St. Louis at the age of twenty-three years he was seized with an illness and returned home and died on April 12, 1858. His widow later married John P. Simpson, but she, too, was fated to fill an early grave. She left two children, Jackson P. C., of this sketch, and a daughter by her last marriage, Mrs. Sarah Comstock.
The subject of this sketch was but a child when he lost his parents, and
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he was reared by his grandparents, having been six years old when taken into their home. He grew up on the farm, learned to work there, and was given the advantages of a fairly good education. He remained with his grandparents until a young man, then began life for himself by renting different farms and thereby got a start. In 1879 he bought a farm near Strafford, Greene county, which he later sold and bought another farm west of that town. Selling it, he purchased the place where he now re- sides, owning eighty acres of productive land, which he keeps well tilled and well improved and on which is to be found a cozy cottage and conven- ient outhouses; in fact, he built his own modern home and made practi- cally all the improvements now seen on the place. He has lived in Jackson township forty-five years. He handles a great deal of live stock from year to year.
Mr. Langston was married in 1877 to Sophronia Comstock, who was born in Tennessee, in March, 1858. She was brought to Greene county, Missouri, when small and was reared here on a farm, that of her parents, and attended the rural schools. She is a daughter of Luther B. and Nancy (Ferguson) Comstock, both now deceased.
Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Langston, namely : Hettie, who was the wife of A. B. Grier, now deceased; Arby J. lives in Springfield; Mrs. Mazie Sweetin lives in Cuba, Missouri; Inez is single and at home with her parents.
Politically, Mr. Langston is active in Republican affairs. He served very acceptably as deputy sheriff of Greene county for two years, was also constable at Stafford for a period of six years, and he was a committeeman from Jackson township for twelve years. In all three capacities he proved faithful, alert and energetic and was highly praised by his fellow partisans.
DOMINO DANZERO.
From the far-away land of purple peaks and turquois skies, the genial clime of sunny Italy, the favored haunt of authors and painters, hails Dom- ino Danzero, who is proprietor of a popular bakery in Springfield. Inherit- ing many of the commendable traits of head and heart of the respectable middle classes of the realm of the once mighty Cæsars, he has proven to be a good citizen of Greene county, a man of industry, good habits and proper decorum, and while he at times longs for the subtle beauties of his pic- turesque home land, as is quite natural and right, he nevertheless appre- ciates the opportunities in this our land of the free and is content to re- main in the broad republic of the west.
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GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
Mr. Danzero was born near Turin, Italy, January 13, 1871. He is a son of Jack and Angelina Danzero, both natives of the same vicinity in which our subject was born, and there they grew to maturity, received com- mon school educations and there married and established their home, and the father is still living in his native land and is still active, being a painter and decorator by trade and is a highly skilled workman. The mother died when our subject was five years of age. To these parents two children were born, Domino, of this sketch, and John, who died when eleven years of age.
Domino Danzero grew to manhood in Italy, and there he received a good common school education, attending high school two years. When nineteen years of age he emigrated to America and settled in Chicago, Illi- nois, where he worked in a bakery for four years, during which time he mastered the various phases of this business. From there he came to St. Louis and traveled for a bakery there for a period of seven years, giving his employers entire satisfaction, being energetic and courteous to the trade. He then came to Springfield, Missouri, where he has since made his home. At first he managed a restaurant of his own, then opened a bakery on Jer- ferson street, and about two years ago built his own bakery at Elm and Pearl streets, which he has since operated with ever increasing success and has built up an extensive trade owing to the superior quality of his products which find a very ready market. His plant is sanitary in every respect and is modernly equipped and only skilled employees are to be found here. Prompt and honest service is his aim and he has therefore won the good will of the people.
Mr. Danzero was married in St. Louis, August 18, 1902, to Bridget Roetto, who was born near Monett, Missouri, February 19, 1883, and there grew to womanhood and received a good education. She is a daughter of Charles and Katherine Roetto, both natives of Italy (born in 1852 and 1857, respectively), where they spent their earlier years, but emigrated to the United States in an early day and settled in Missouri. Mr. Roetto has engaged in agricultural pursuits in this state for a period of forty-two years, has become wealthy through his good management and wise foresight, and is the owner of several finely improved and valuable farms near Monett, where he and his wife are still living and are well and favorably known in that locality. Mr. and Mrs. Roetto are the parents of nine children.
Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Danzero, namely: An- gelina, born September 26, 1903, and Leola, born June 14, 1907.
Politically, Mr. Danzero is a Republican. Religiously, he is a member of the Catholic church, and, fraternally, he holds membership in the Knights of Columbus and Modern Woodmen.
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GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
ARTHUR W. BRYANT.
In reading over the record of the lives of many of the leading citizens one becomes impressed with the fact that certain families show at the outset a strong inclination toward books and learning generally, or in at least keeping up with the times on current topics, especially dealing with national affairs. The Bryant family, which has long been well established in Greene county, is one of this type, and we find that Arthur W. Bryant, at present a progressive merchant of Strafford, was formerly a successful educator and is a well informed man on current topics.
Mr. Bryant was born near Fair Grove, Missouri, August 10, 1870. He is a son of Junius A. and Sarah J. (Harkness) Bryant. The father was born in North Carolina, June 9, 1834, and when a child his parents re- moved to Maury county, Tennessee, where he grew to manhood and at- tended school, receiving an excellent education for those times. He spent his early life on the home farm. When twenty-two years of age he emi- grated to Missouri and located in Greene county, near Fair Grove, where he purchased a farm and engaged successfully in general farming and stock raising. He taught school a number of years with much success. Being successful, the last few years of his life were spent in retirement from ac- tive work. His death occurred January 6, 1910. During the Civil war he was a soldier in the Eighth Missouri Cavalry, Union army, serving two years in Company C, proving to be a gallant soldier in every respect. He was honorably discharged in St. Louis on account of disability. He took part in a number of minor engagements. He was a member of the Baptist church. The mother of our subject was born in Tennessee, February 13, 1841, and when an infant her parents brought her to Missouri, where she grew to womanhood on the home farm near Fair Grove and was educated. She and Mr. Bryant were married April 6, 1858. She was a member of the Baptist church. Her death occurred December 10, 19II.
Seven children were born to Junius A. Bryant and wife, namely : Columbus N .; Mrs. Nannie Dyer, deceased; John F .; Walter W .; Arthur W., of this sketch; William S .; Viola, deceased.
Arthur W. Bryant grew to manhood on the home farm and worked there during his boyhood, receiving a good common school education. He began life for himself by teaching school four years, after which he began his career as merchant in Strafford in 1896, and has continued in the same line with ever increasing success to the present time, enjoying a large and lucrative business with the town and surrounding country, and always car- rying a well selected stock of general merchandise at all seasons. His aim is to deal courteously and fairly with all.
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GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
Mr. Bryant was married March 22, 1897, to Lola M. Bass, who was born near Bassville, Greene county, December 22, 1877, and there she was reared on a farm. She is a daughter of Martin V. and Edith (Allen) Bass, who are living still on the old home place and are well known in this part of the county. Mrs. Bryant received a good education and in her girlhood taught school several years. She is a member of the Baptist church.
Five children have been born to our subject and wife, namely : Junius S., born January 27, 1898; the second child died in infancy; Nola M., born April 6, 1905; the fourth child died in infancy; Marion W., born April I, 19II.
Politically, Mr. Bryant is a Republican. Fraternally, he belongs to the Modern Woodmen and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is also a member of the Baptist church, and has always borne an excellent reputation as a man and citizen.
ROBERT JENKINS.
Not many Canadians are found within the borders of Greene county, which is a fact to be deplored, for we who are conversant with these ster- ling people know that no better citizens are to be found than they, and that community is indeed fortunate who can boast of a colony of them, for they are, without exception, thrifty, persevering, painstaking, and, as a rule, law abiding and honorable in all walks of life. One such is Robert Jenkins, a successful farmer of Jackson township.
Mr. Jenkins was born in Sarnia, Ontario, Canada, January 6, 1849. He is a son of William and Sarah (Gordon) Jenkins. The father was born in Paisley, Scotland, and was reared in that country and received a good education. When a young man he learned the iron molder's trade, which he followed during his active life. He was a member of the Pres- byterian church. His wife was also a native of Scotland, where she was reared, and there they were married and from that country emigrated to Canada about a year before the birth of our subject, and the family moved to Michigan in 1850, and there the death of the father occurred in 1854. The mother, who was a native of the city of Glasgow, died in Sarnia, On- tario, in 1858, to which place she returned after the death of her husband. To these parents four children were born, namely: Robert, of this sketch; Mrs. Mary Gray, James and William. The last named is deceased.
Robert Jenkins was reared in Canada and Michigan until he was four- teen years old, at which age he joined the United States army, in the fall
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of 1863, and fought with the Federals in our great Civil war, under Cap- tain Steele, of the Eighth Michigan Cavalry. He remained in the army until the close of the war, seeing considerable hard service. He was with Sherman on the march to the sea through Georgia, took part in the battles of Knoxville, Tennessee, and others, and was honorably discharged at Raleigh, North Carolina. After the close of the war he went to St. Louis, and later to Kansas, where he learned the bricklayer's trade. From there he went to Texas, thence to Mississippi, then returned to Missouri and lo- cated in Greene county in 1872, where he has since resided, owning a good farm in Jackson township.
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