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 31
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Mr. Jenkins has been twice married, first, to Mary Blankenship, by whom three children were born, namely: Inez, Mrs. Mazie Baxter, and the youngest died in infancy. The mother of these children passed away while living in Springfield. Mr. Jenkins then married, on February 27, 1890. Mrs. Ida M. (Underwood) Shinn, widow of Grovener A. Shinn. She was born in Milton, Illinois, April 2, 1856. She is a daughter of F. J. and Daphna J. H. (Bridgeman) Underwood. Mrs. Jenkins was reared in Illi- nois and received a good education. She came to Missouri in 1871 and was married in 1873 to Mr. Shinn, by which union three children were born, namely : John, Grovner Leslie and Mrs. Nellie U. Gross. Mrs. Jenkins' last marriage has been without issue.
Politically, our subject is a Democrat. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias, and is a member of the Episcopal church.
HARVEY MURRAY.
The name of the late Harvey Murray stood out distinctly as one of the central figures in professional circles in Greene county. Continuous ap- plication through many years gave him a clear and comprehensive insight into the philosophy and basic principles of jurisprudence, and the largest wisdom as to the method and means of attainment of ends, and he achieved success in the courts when most young men are just entering upon the form- ative period of their lives. A high purpose and a strong will, together with virile mental powers, close application to books and devotion to duty made him eminently useful. His individuality was impressed upon any work with which he was connected, and he was always ready to assume any amount of responsibility and labor incurred in accomplishing his ends, when once he decided that he was right. He is remembered as a broad-minded, manly man, a credit to his profession and one of the leading citizens of Ash Grove during the generation that is past.
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Mr. Murray was born on a farm near Ash Grove, Greene county, Mis- souri, February 6, 1864, and he was a scion of one of the prominent old families of this part of the county. He was a son of William and Malinda (Stone) Murray, natives of Tennessee. The father died in Ash Grove and the mother lives in Ash Grove. The father was a farmer.
A sketch of T. J. Murray, of Springfield, a brother of our subject, will be found on another page of this work.
Harvey Murray grew to manhood on the home farm and there assisted with the general work when a boy. He enjoyed good educational advan- tages in the schools of Ash Grove, later studied law and was in due course of time admitted to the bar and established himself in the practice of his- profession in Ash Grove. He was successful from the first and his busi- ness increased until it assumed large proportions and he ranked among the leading lawyers of the county. He was painstaking, earnest and diligent, kept fully abreast of the times in all that pertained to his profession and all fully recognized and appreciated his character for personal and profes- sional integrity. He never failed to fulfill all proper obligations and ap- pointments in all the relations with his fellow men, and he was ever ready to identify himself with his fellow citizens in any good work and extended a co-operating hand to advance any measure that bettered the material, civic and moral condition of his home community.
Mr. Murray was married in Bois D'Arc, Missouri, October 19, 1898, to Fannie Lambeth, who was born in Lawrence county, Missouri. She is a daughter of Jennings W. and Julia (Bymaster) Lambeth, a highly es- teemed family, who finally removed from Lawrence county to Bois D'Arc, where the father of Mrs. Murray became a prosperous merchant, and there he and his wife spent the rest of their lives, both dying a number of years ago. And it was there that Mrs. Murray grew to womanhood and received a good education in the common schools. She has an attractive home in Springfield, which is a favorite gathering place for her many friends, who never fail to find her a genial, entertaining and charming host.
The union of Mr. and Mrs. Murray was blessed by the birth of one child. Marjorie Murray, whose birth occurred on December 25; 1899. She is attending high school at this writing, and is a young lady of much promise.
Politically, Mr. Murray was a Republican, and influential in local party affairs. Fraternally, he belonged to the Masonic order.
The lamentable and untimely death of Harvey Murray occurred on September 5, 1899, by accident, resulting from a fall from a stairway in the business section of Ash Grove. His death was a shock to the people of this community where he was regarded as a leading citizen and an able and suc- cessful attorney, a man who was universally liked and respected.
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WESLEY C. SIDMAN.
Worry comes from failure to think properly, so we are commanded to consider, be still and know, and to remember that we live and move and have our being in the same universal spirit which has expressed itself in all the wonders of the material universe. Even a flower is the unfolding of a vast divine plan. We are, therefore, not to worry about our life, but to take up our duties from day to day, as we know and understand the right and- wait. The long and honorable life of Wesley C. Sidman, now living in re- tirement in Springfield, in the fulness of his four score years has lived along such a plan, for he knew from the start that the best he could do was to work industriously, live nobly, and, therefore, worry has had little place in his nature.
Mr. Sidman was born near Syracuse, New York, September 11, 1834. He is a son of John B. and Mary (Quick) Sidman, both natives of the state of New York, where they were reared and received limited educations, and there they were married. They were living in Ohio at the time of the father's death, and the mother died in Jasper county, Missouri, a few years after moving there from the East. They were the parents of seven children.
Wesley C. Sidman grew to manhood in Athens county, Ohio, and there received a common school education. In his youth he learned the carpen- ter's and cabinetmaker's trade, at which he became quite expert, and followed the same throughout his active career. He remained in Ohio until 1888, when he came to Springfield, Missouri, and here he worked for the St. Louis & San Francisco Railroad Company for a period of six years, in the coach de- partment of the North Side shops, giving satisfaction in every respect. He then continued his trade, working for public schools until he retired from active life some six years ago.
Mr. Sidman was married, September 9, 1858, to Mary R. Rose, who was born near Zanesville, Perry county, Ohio, where she grew to woman- hood and received her education in the public schools. She proved to be a most faithful helpmate and was a kind and generous-hearted woman, who left behind a host of good friends when she passed to her eternal rest in Sep- tember. 1908.
Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Sidman, namely: William D., a Methodist minister, living in Springfield, is represented in a separate sketch in this volume: John W. lives in St. Louis; Robert R. died on No- vember 20, 1903: Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Hamilton lives in Carterville, Mis- souri: Mrs. Delia Jones resides in Springfield; Mrs. Captolia Irving lives in St. Louis ; Bessie M. has remained at home with her father.
Politically, Mr. Sidman is a Republican. He is a member of the Grand
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Army of the Republic by virtue of the fact that he served four years in the Federal army, having enlisted in 1861 in Athens county, Ohio, in Company H, Eighteenth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and he saw much hard service with the army in the South, taking part in numerous engagements and fighting gallantly for his country. He was honorably discharged in Vin- ton county, Ohio, on September 24, 1865. Religiously, he is a member of the Benton Avenue Methodist Episcopal church.
WILLIAM A. DAGGETT.
Believing with Longfellow that "within ourselves is triumph or de- feat," William A. Daggett, the present librarian at the Springfield State Nor- mal school, determined at the outset of his career to so shape his course that when life's goal was reached he could look backward along the labyrinthin highway without compunction or regret, and so far he has left no stone un- turned whereby he might honorably advance himself.
Mr. Daggett was born on March 14, 1876, at Waldoboro, Lincoln county, Maine. He is a son of Athern E. and Helen M. (Parsons) Dag- gett, both natives of Maine, each representatives of old families there. These parents grew up and were educated in the early-day schools of that state and were married there in 1875 and have since resided near their early day home. To this union, one son, William A., was born. The mother was a daughter of William and Margaret ( Fitzgerald) Parsons, descendants of English emigrants who established the future home of the family among the early settlers of Maine. The father of our subject was reared on the farm of his parents and he devoted the major portion of his active life to agricultural pursuits; however, he engaged in other lines of endeavor, in- cluding the confectionery business, for a period of twenty years. Politically, he is a Republican and he belongs to the Congregational church.
William A. Daggett attended the public schools in his native state and when fourteen years of age left there and spent two years in Tabor Acad- emy at Marion, Massachusetts, then came to Springfield, Missouri, in 1893 and studied two years in Drury Academy and four years in Drury College, from which institution he was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1899. Soon thereafter he accepted a position as assistant princi- pal at Rogers Academy, Rogers, Arkansas. He taught mathematics and science there for two years. His advancement as an educator was rapid and it was not long until his services were in demand in other and larger fields than the one at Rogers where he won such a creditable record during his two years at that place as an instructor. Learning of his success the board
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of the Springfield high school tendered him the position of instructor in history, which position he accepted, and in which he accomplished a work of far-reaching importance, such as had probably never before been attempted here and more signally successful than his former efforts as teacher. After spending six years in this school in the department of history, he was se- lected librarian at the Springfield State Normal, the duties of which position he has since discharged in an able and highly satisfactory manner, and at the same time has taught some in the history department; however, he has had no classes for two years, his increasing work as librarian claiming all his time and attention, including his committee work in the school and the library instruction course by him. He has also held positions as an instruc- tor in athletics and physical culture, in which lines he has pronounced natu- ral ability of a high order.
Mr. Daggett was married on June 12, 1900, to Evelina Park, youngest ·daughter of Dr. William H. Park, a pioneer doctor of Greene county, Mis- souri, also a prominent business man of Springfield. Mr. and Mrs. Daggett are the parents of two children, Athern, born on January 10, 1904, and Algoa, born on April II, 1906, and died January, 1914.
Politically, Professor Daggett is a Republican, and a member of the First Congregational church, in the work of which he has been active and influential for a number of years, having been identified with the various branches of the church of this denomination in Springfield. Personally he is an unassuming, accommodating and likable gentleman.
ELIHU HIBLER.
Referring to agriculture, one of the earliest bards of the English- speaking race wrote the following: "In ancient times the sacred plow was employed by the kings and fathers of mankind; and some, with whom compared your insect tribes are but the beings of a summer's day. Have held the scale of empire, ruled the storm of mighty war with unwearied hand, disdaining little delicacies, seized thie plow and greatly independent lived." He might also have added that agriculture has been from the days of Cain, the greatest of all the arts of man, for it is the first in supplying his necessities. As an agricultural region, Missouri has no superiors. No state has a more natural system of natural drainage, or a more abundant supply of pure, limpid water than this state. Both man and beast may slake their thirst from a thousand perennial fountains that form our "blue, rejoic- ing streams that catch the azure of the skies." And here Nature has also generously bestowed her attractions of climate, soil and scenery to please
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and gratify man while earning his bread by the sweat of his brow. Being thus munificently endowed, Missouri offers superior inducements to the farmer, and bids him reap varied harvests from her broad domain and avail himself of her varied resources. One of the men of a past generation who wisely decided to devote his career to tilling the soil in this, his native state, was the late Elihu Hibler, and he was not only amply repaid for his toil, but found comfort in his close communing with Nature, and this in turn made him a peaceable and kind-hearted citizen who always had the good will and respect of his neighbors and acquaintances.
Mr. Hibler was born in St. Louis county, Missouri, July 26, 1846. He was a son of Alton and Mary A. ( Baxter) Hibler and was one of a family of six children, an equal number of sons and daughters, namely: Leora, Isadore and William are both deceased; Elihu, subject of this memoir; Pamella is the wife of J. W. Hoggs, of Springfield, and George, who lives in Kansas City. The father of the above named children devoted his active life to general farming in St. Louis county, this state, and there his death occurred many years ago.
Elihu Hibler grew to manhood in his native community and assisted his father with the work on the farm and there laid the foundation for his future success as a husbandman. He received his early education in the common schools of his district, and he remained in St. Louis county until the death of his father, when he removed to Bates county, Missouri, and in the year 1884 he purchased a farm there, which he operated successfully many years, finally moving to Liberal, Barton county, this state, where he purchased a farm, on which he spent the rest of his life, and was known as one of the leading general farmers and stock raisers of that locality.
Mr. Hibler was married on July 25, 1889, in Bates county, to Frances J. Maxwell, a daughter of Edley C. and Rebecca J. (Park) Maxwell. The father was a native of Virginia, where he spent his early life, finally remov- ing to Bates county, Missouri, where he purchased a farm, and there he and his wife still reside, highly respected citizens. Their family consisted of seven children, five daughters and two sons, namely: John Beauregard lives in Ft. Scott, Kansas; William P. died in infancy; Frances J., widow of Mr. Hibler, subject of this memoir; Mrs. Lucy Coon, of Ft. Scott, Kan- sas, is the mother of seven sons and one daughter; Betty lived with her parents on the farm; and Della May, who died when twenty-seven years of age.
Three children were born to Elihu Hibler and wife, namely: Edith Pamella, born October 29, 1890, was graduated from the State Normal; she is married and has one son, William Elihu, named after his grandfather, our subject, he being the tenth William in the family line of descent, and his birth occurred June 14, 1913 : she has made herself proficient in music.
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especially in voice culture, and she has for some time been a successful instructor in music. Jessie Gladys, second child of our subject and wife, was born October 15, 1894, was graduated from the State Normal at Spring- field, specializing in domestic science and music. Mary Rebecca, the youngest child, was born July 25, 1897, is now a student in the Springfield schools and expects to take the course in the State Normal. These daughters have all been given excellent educational advantages, which they have duly appre- ciated and properly improved. Their father, our subject, was a great advocate of education, and himself a great reader and student all his life.
Religiously, Mr. Hibler belonged to the Methodist Episcopal church. He was summoned to his eternal rest on January II, 1906.
GEORGE W. HENDRICKSON.
Faithfulness to duty, persistence in the pursuit of a worthy object and a desire to be of service to those about him while laboring for his own ad- vancement have been some of the principles which have been dominating factors in the career of George W. Hendrickson, the present able assistant postmaster at Springfield, in which city he has made his home for a period of twenty-five years, and where he was formerly engaged in mercantile pur- suits. Like many of our best citizens he hails from the fine old Blue Grass state and possesses many of the winning traits of his progenitors, who were Southerners.
Mr. Hendrickson was born in Lewis county, Kentucky, January 6, 1860. He is a son of John T. and Jemima (Myers) Hendrickson, and was one of ten children, an equal number of sons and daughters, all now deceased but four sons. John T. Hendrickson, the father, was a native of Kentucky, where he grew up, was educated in the early-day schools, married and spent his life as a general merchant and died there in 1896. Jemima Myers, mother of our subject, was of Pennsylvania German stock. She met and married John T. Hendrickson in Lewis county, Kentucky, and spent the rest of her life there, dying in 1866.
George W. Hendrickson grew to manhood on the home farm in Lewis county, Kentucky, where he worked when a boy and there he received his education in the common schools during the winter months, remaining on the farm until he was eighteen years of age, when he went to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he secured employment with a paint company, with which he remained for a short time, then secured a position as clerk for the Cincin- nati & Memphis Packet Company, which he retained for ten years, then, in 1889, he came to Springfield, Missouri, and he and his brother engaged
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in the grocery business for four years, after which he sold out to his brother -John F. Hendrickson, and entered the political arena. He was first em- ployed in the sheriff's office, where he spent two years. Then served as deputy circuit clerk for three years, after which he accepted a position, in 1898, as assistant postmaster, which he has retained to the present time, his long retention being sufficient evidence of his satisfactory service, hav- ing discharged the duties of this responsible position for a period of eighteen years in a manner that reflected much credit upon himself and to the satis- faction of all concerned, being accurate, alert, painstaking and a man whose- integrity has never been questioned.
In 1887, two years before Mr. Hendrickson left his position with the- Cincinnati Packet Company in Ohio, he married Mary Rittenhouse, of Evansville, Indiana, a daughter of Thomas H. Rittenhouse, whose family consisted of three children.
To Mr. and Mrs. Hendrickson four children have been born, namely : Alberta, born on November 4, 1888, is librarian at the Springfield high school; Willa died in infancy ; Georgia, born on June 10, 1896, was educated in the Springfield public and high schools, later attending Drury College; John F., born on July 11, 1900.
Politically, Mr. Hendrickson is a Republican, and has been loyal in his support of the party. He served for three years as a member of the local board of education with Prof. J. Fairbanks. Fraternally, he belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America. He and his family attend the Presby- terian church.
AZARIAH WILLIAM LINCOLN.
One of the best known members of the Greene county bar is Azariah William Lincoln, who has been practicing law in Springfield for thirty years,. during which time he has met with continued success and has kept well abreast of the times in his profession. Concerning the sincerity of purpose, the unquestioned probity and uprightness of conduct and character, the ability and honesty of Mr. Lincoln, it may be said, they are as well known and recognized as his name. It occurs occasionally that a peculiar accent accompanies the declaration, when it is said of anyone, that he is honest, as if to impart a whisper of suggestion that the quality is rare or exotic. In its application to men in responsible public position it is not true : the reverse of it is. In its application to lawyers, as a body, which is not infre- quently done, it is false; the reverse of it is true. Both Mr. Lincoln and his son, Harold T. Lincoln, a rising young lawyer, are known to be advo-
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cates of strict honesty in all relations of life, and this has been one of the main secrets of their success.
Azariah W. Lincoln was born in Iowa county, Wisconsin, September 25, 1851. He is a son of Thomas Lincoln, a native of Pennsylvania, who went to Wisconsin with his parents when a child, and after his maturity he removed to Ohio in 1862, and engaged in farming. His death occurred. in May, 1890. He was a son of Azariah Lincoln, who died in Ohio in the early sixties.
Mr. Lincoln, of this review, received his education in the common schools of Ohio and the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, Ohio, from which institution he was graduated. He began studying law with James E. Wright, of Columbus, Ohio, and was admitted to the bar in 1881, before the supreme court of that state, but instead of devoting his attention to practice he engaged in educational work, was elected county superintendent of schools, which responsible position he held for three years with satis- faction to all concerned. He then came to Springfield, Missouri, in 1884, and began the practice of law, which he has continued to the present time, and has been very successful all along the line and ranked among the leaders- of the bar here from the first. He was judge of the probate court from 1887 to 1895, and was judge of the criminal court for two years. As a jurist he more than met the expectations of his friends and discharged his duties in a manner that reflected much credit upon his ability and fidelity, his decisions being noted for their fairness and profound insight into the basic principles of jurisprudence, as well as his familiarity with the statutes. He is senior member of the firm of Lincoln & Lincoln, and with his son enjoys a large practice.
In April. 1885, the marriage of Judge Lincoln occurred to Jennie M. Adams, a native of Mt. Gilead, Ohio, a daughter of Henry H. Adams, a merchant, who at present resides with his daughter, Mrs. Lincoln, in Spring- field, Missouri. His wife was know in her maidenhood as Isabel U. Swaner.
To the union of our subject and wife three sons were born-William Lincoln, born in Springfield, in January, 1887, was graduated from the local high school, later attending Drury College several terms; he married Pauline Burns in 1908 ; she is a daughter of F. M. Burns, and to this union one child has been born, William Burns Lincoln, whose birth occurred in January, 1910. Harold Thomas Lincoln, second son of Judge Lincoln and wife, was born in Springfield November 11, 1888. He was graduated from the Springfield high school and from the Columbia Law School in Ohio, and commenced the practice of his profession with his father in 1909. and he is regarded as one of the leaders of the younger generation of the Greene county bar. In December, 1911, he married Maggie Sims, and to this union one daughter has been born, Margaret Lincoln. Harold T.
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Lincoln is a Republican. He was appointed city tax attorney, which position he held two years, and was assistant prosecuting attorney of Greene county under James H. Mason. Urged by his friends, he was a candidate for city attorney in 1914, and his election was regarded from the first as most probable, since he is popular with all classes, and his record as a public servant in his former capacities was most commendable in every respect.
Elwyn Russell Lincoln, youngest son of the Judge and wife, was born in Springfield, October 26, 1896, and died October 27, 1913.
Mr. Lincoln is a Republican. He is a member of the Masonic order and the Improved Order of Red Men. Religiously he belongs to the Meth- odist Episcopal church.
CHARLES L. ROBERTSON.
Year has been added to year and decade to decade until seventy-seven years have been numbered with the past since Charles L. Robertson, a ven- erable and highly honored farmer of Murray township, came to Greene county, this long span of years embracing nearly the whole of his life, which has been spent in this locality. Upon the arrival of the Robertson family this section of the state was largely an undeveloped region, awaiting the awakening touch of the sturdy pioneers to transform its wild lands into rich farms and beautiful and comfortable homes, to establish churches and schools, and in many other ways reclaim the country for the use of man. Our subject has played well his part as a citizen of enterprise and public spirit, has lived' to see and take part in the transformation of the county, whose interests he has ever had at heart, and, having been a close observer all the while, he is an interesting talker on what the vicissitudes of time has wrought here.
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