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 44
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William R. Gorsuch was reared in his native township and there he received a good practical education in the public schools. He began working on the home farm as soon as he was old enough and he has followed general farming and stock raising here ever since with pronounced success all along . the line, and he now owns the homestead, which he has kept well tilled and well improved and the buildings in good repair.
Mr. Gorsuch was married to Margaret N. Smith, October 2, 1890. She was born, reared and educated in Walnut Grove township, this county, and is a daughter of Joseph W. Smith, a well-known minister in the Chris- tian church, who preached in Springfield about two years, and at various other places in Missouri, Oklahoma and Kansas, and was regarded as a prominent minister in that denomination. His death occurred about 1909.
Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Gorsuch, namely: Clar- ence C., a harness maker of Lamar, Missouri, recently married a Miss Mc- Linn, daughter of A. S. McLinn, of Greene county ; Joseph R., Nettie G., and Maud L. are all at home.
Politically, Mr. Gorsuch is a Republican and has long been more or less active in the political affairs of his township, and has served in various local offices, school and township. He has been township committeeman since he was twenty-one years of age, was also deputy assessor several times, and in the fall of 1912 was elected county judge, which office he is now filling. In 1914 he was re-elected to the office of county judge. As a public servant he has ever given the utmost satisfaction to all concerned, being faithful in the discharge of his every duty, obliging and prompt and proving himself to be a man of progressive ideas and well informed. Fraternally, he belongs to the Masonic Order and the Improved Order of Odd Fellows at Willard, and the Modern Woodmen of America at Cave Spring, while
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his wife holds membership with the Royal Neighbors. They are both mem- bers of the Christian church at Cave Spring, in which the Judge is an elder and active worker. He is one of the leading men of Cass township in every respect and is highly respected by all who know him.
HENRY D. ROBINSON.
In working for others it has always been the aim of Henry D. Robinson to do his full duty, and do well and honestly the tasks assigned him, and this conscientiousness and fidelity have resulted in success and a good conscience. If it had not been for these qualities he would not today be holdng the re- sponsible position of engineer of the crane and magnet reclamation depart- ment of the Frisco's South Side shops in Springfield.
Mr. Robinson was born in Waynesville, Pulaski county, Missouri, on December 9, 1875. His father, John Robinson, was born in Tennessee, where he grew up, attended school, married and engaged in farming, and from that state removed to Pulaski county, Missouri, prior to 1875, where he owned and conducted a farm for a number of years, finally removing to Springfield, where he engaged in the livery business under his own name for five years, then spent the rest of his life in retirement, dying in November, 1913, at the age of seventy-five years. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He married Sarah McMillan, also a native of Tennessee, where she grew to womanhood and attended school. Her death occurred in 1897, in Pulaski county, Missouri, and she was buried at Waynesville. Nine children were born to these parents, namely: Mrs. Mollie Trower lives at Crocker, Missouri; William is engaged in farming near Waynesville; Mrs. Alice Gil- liat was next in order ; Mrs. Cora Walker lives in St. Louis; Henry D., of this review; Mrs. Nira Wryrick is deceased; Edward lives in Springfield and is a brakeman on the Frisco Lines; Lilburn is engaged in the manufacture of stoves in St. Louis; Charles lives in Springfield.
Henry D. Robinson grew to manhood on the home farm in Pulaski county, where he worked when a boy, and he received his education in the public schools of that vicinity. He remained with his parents until he came to Springfield, in 1900. In February, 1901, he began working here for the Frisco, in the old North Side shops, a hostler, continuing at this for four years, then was fireman for a short time, after which he was appointed en- gineer of the traveling steam crane in the construction department, making trips all over the various divisions of this road. In September, 1913, he was transferred to the reclamation department as engineer of the yard crane and magnet, which position he holds at this writing in a manner that reflects
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credit upon himself and to the satisfaction of the company. His duties are manifold, including the overseeing of the shipment of a certain amount of junk from the yards, etc.
Mr. Robinson was married on June 4. 1897, to Augusta King, a daugh- ter of Martin King and wife, of Bellefonte, Pulaski county, where she was reared and educated. To this union four children have been born, namely : Ray, John, Estelle and Mabel.
Politically, Mr. Robinson is a Democrat. Fraternally, he belongs to the Knights and Ladies of Security, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Loyal Order of Moose.
JAMES M. BUTTS.
Among the self-made men of Greene county who deserve their present comfortable situation in life is James M. Butts, who hails from the renowned Blue Grass state. This latter fact may not have much significance to some who peruse this biography, but maybe if he had not been fortunate enough to have had in his veins the blood of the sterling people who lived in that state in its early history and had not been reared in that splendid environ- ment he would not have succeeded in overcoming the obstacles that have beset his pathway. True it is that the Kentuckians who have located in Greene county have all been courageous, energetic and in every way good citizens, so there must be something after all in the place where we happen to be born, as the humorist Bill Nye maintained long ago.
Mr. Butts was born in Simpson county, Kentucky, on December 28. 1842. He is a son of H. G. and Mary (Barker) Butts. The father was born in Rockingham county, North Carolina, in 1815, and was reared in Kentucky, to which state he went when a small boy. He had no chance to obtain an education. He made a trip to Texas. but returned to Kentucky in 1850, and in 1856 moved to Missouri, locating in Dallas county, where he spent the rest of his life, dying on March 6, 1897. The mother of our subject was born in Simpson county, Kentucky, in 1813, and was reared on the home farm near the city of Franklin. Her death occurred on the Butts farm in Dallas county in 1891. She was a member of the Christian church. To these parents six children were born, namely : Reuben, deceased ; John, deceased ; James M., of this sketch; Richard, deceased; Nancy, deceased ; the youngest died in infancy, unnamed. So our subject is the sole survivor of his family.
James M. Butts was reared on the farm in Kentucky, where he worked hard when a boy. His education was neglected for lack of time and oppor-
MR. AND MRS. JAMES M. BUTTS.
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tunity. He came with the family to Missouri in 1856, and located in Greene county in 1885. Here he went to work in a mercantile establishment, later worked in a mill, then secured employment in a drug store. He became owner of a farm of one hundred and twenty-four acres in Dallas county. His present neat little farm of fifty-eight acres in Jackson township, Greene county, is well kept.
Mr. Butts was married in 1861 to Mary F. McGlothlin, who was born in Barry county, Missouri, on August 26, 1846. She is a daughter of Alex- ander and Mary (Durham) McGlothlin, both natives of Tennessee, the father born on October 15, 1808, and the mother born on February 2, 1809. They were married on February 22, 1831. They came to Missouri in 1833 and located in Barry county, making the trip over the rough intervening mountainous country in wagons. Their farm in Barry county consisted of three hundred acres. They were among the early settlers in that county. Mr. McGlothlin was influential in public affairs there and at one time repre- sented the county in the state legislature. His death occurred in that county in 1857, in which year also occurred the death of his wife. Mrs. Butts was reared on the home farm in Barry county and received her education in the public schools there. She was ten years old when her parents died, but she continued to reside in her native county until her marriage. She is one of ten children, eight of whom are deceased.
Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Butts, namely : Columbia, born on July 14, 1864; Mrs. Lula Bryan, born on December 6, 1867; Mrs. Mcie Cowden, born on March 6, 1870; Mrs. Sipie Burford, born on October 26, 1872, is deceased; Mrs. Florence Leslie, born on April 24, 1875; the youngest child, James H., died at the age of thirteen years.
Mr. Butts is a member of the Masonic Order, and he belongs to the Christian church.
ELMER E. E. McJIMSEY.
Elmer E. E. McJimsey is the editor and owner of The Springfield (Mis- souri) Republican. His brother editors declare that to think of the city of Springfield or of the beautiful Ozark country is to think in the same moment of Editor McJimsey, so closely has the fame of the region and of the Mis- souri journalist, politician and orator become interwoven.
Mr. McJimsey is not a native of the Ozark country, nor even of Mis- souri. This information frequently surprises his most intimate friends. He was born in the little Indiana town once known as Pleasant Hill. but now called Wingate, in Montgomery county, February 23, 1862. His father,
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Joseph McJimsey, a native of Wheeling, West Virginia, was a merchant of Pleasant Hill before and during the Civil war and for some years afterward. In 1875, however, the family came to Missouri, locating at Maryville, Noda- way county, where Joseph McJimsey engaged in the livery business, conduct- ing this establishment for years. Joseph McJimsey died at the age of eighty- two years in Chillicothe, Missouri, March 9, 1906. His wife, nee Isabel Bales, was born in Xenia, Ohio, in 1837, and is now a resident of Long Beach, California.
Elmer E. E. McJimsey was educated in the public schools of his native town in Indiana and those of Maryville. He was from his earliest boyhood a lover of horses, and at fourteen years of age rode as a jockey with such success that he continued in this calling for two years. At the age of sixteen he was made a full partner with his father in the Maryville livery business, the first name becoming McJimsey & Son.
It was while pushing the interests of this business that the young man, always a lover of books, began to show a fondness for writing and later for public speaking.
Mr. McJimsey purchased in 1895 a half interest in the Maryville Tribune and became at once. its editor. Almost as soon as he had fully entered upon his new duties he realized that he had found his life work, and during the succeeding eight years the vigor of his writings-making possible in a short time the issuance of The Tribune as a daily instead of a weekly news- paper-attracted wide attention.
Mr. McJimsey was deeply interested in politics and scarcely did his suc- cess as a journalist become assured when he also began to win fame on the public platform. An enthusiastic believer in and supporter of the princi- ples of the Republican party, he defended that faith in state campaigns and became one of a company of earnest young men who took for their slogan, "Win Missouri for Republicanism." But he was not permitted to confine his campign efforts to his own state. Mr. McJimsey's fame as speaker reached the national Republican headquarters in Washington and he was called upon to visit the East and participate in the great battles being waged there for the predominance of Republican principles. One of his memorable oratorical efforts was when, the day of the death of President Mckinley, he spoke in a pouring rain to a great concourse of people on the public square of his home town, Maryville, the address being such a tribute to the martyred executive as stirred his hearers profoundly.
Calls to more extensive fields came constantly to the Maryville editor as his reputation grew, and in 1903 he disposed of his holdings in the Mary- ville Tribune to his business associate, Curtis Wray, and associated him- self with Charles D. Morris in the purchase of the St. Joseph (Missouri) Gasette. Mr. McJimsey became at once editor-in-chief of this paper and soon
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the journal took front rank with the best daily papers of the country. In 1906 Mr. McJimsey severed his connection with the Gazette in order to enter a yet more promising field. With John E. Swanger he bought The Springfield Missouri Republican on March Ist of that year, and at once Mr. McJimsey assumed editorial and managerial control. He has seen this paper grow to one of the influential and valuable properties in the Middle West, and is not only its editor now, but also principal owner and president of The Re- publican Company, as well as a stockholder in the St. Joseph Gazette Com- pany.
The Republican has wielded, from the moment Mr. McJimsey took up the direction of its policies, a potent influence in the development of Spring- field and southwestern Missouri. The Republican has stood firmly for public improvement in city and country. The paper originated the good roads movement in southern Missouri, and by persistent and wise effort built up an enthusiasm for highway improvement which has resulted in that section equalling other portions of the state in the extent and permanency of its road building. The Republican set about making known to the world the richness of the natural resources of the Ozarks, the salubrity of the climate of that region, the beauty of the scenery and the charm of year-around life there. More than to any other factor, it is admitted far and wide, the ensuing won- derful growth and development of this section of country is due partly to The Republican's work of loyalty and love toward this end .:
Among the recognitions of his service which have come to Editor Mc- Jimsey have been offers of posts of honor and of opportunity for yet addi- tional achievements for the public weal. Owing to the extent of his own business affairs, not all of these responsibilities could be undertaken by Mr. McJimsey. He accepted the supervisorship of the census in the fourth Mis- souri district under President Mckinley. He declined the appointment to the consul-generalship of Peru, South America, offered him by President Roosevelt. Mr. McJimsey was named by Governor Folk as a member of the Missouri commission to the Portland Fair in 1905, and by Governor Hadley as a member of the board of regents of the Springfield State Normal for six years, beginning with 1909. After serving as president of the board from 19II to 1913, Mr. McJimsey was compelled to resign because of other grow- ing duties. He was appointed by President Taft as postmaster of Spring- field, April 11, 1910. and also as custodian of the Federal building of that city, resigning both positions in January, 1914. He was named to the Spring- field library board by Mayor Ernst in 1910, resigning in 1913, in which year he was appointed by Mayor Culler as a member of the Springfield public park board and was made the first president of that board, which was created by vote of the people largely as the result of the tireless work of The Republican to inaugurate a park and boulevard system in Springfield.
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Mr. McJimsey was a member of the Republican state committee of Mis- souri for two terms, beginning with 1898, was chosen as both temporary and permanent chairman of the Republican state convention held at Jefferson City in 1902 and was president of the Young Men's Republican Associa- tion of Missouri, 1911-12. He is a member of the Masonic, Knights of Pythias, Modern Woodmen and Elks fraternal orders. He is a member of the Springfield Club and served as its president from 1909 to 1910, and belongs to the Country Club and the Springfield Club. His family is Metho- dist in religious affiliations.
Mr. McJimsey was married at Maryville, August 24, 1901, to Caroline M. Webb, daughter of H. N. Webb, at the time of his death editor of the Unionville (Missouri) Republican, and at one time secretary of the Re- publican state committee.
PROF. JOHN R. ROBERTS.
Of high professional and academic attainments and ranking among the foremost educators of southern Missouri, Prof. John R. Roberts, the efficient and popular superintendent of the Greene county public schools has achieved marked distinction in the noble work to which his talents and energies have so long been devoted, and judging by the past it is safe to predict for him a future of still greater usefulness and honor. Not only as a teacher and man- ager of schools has he made his presence felt, but as a citizen in the daily walks of life, his influence has tended to the advancement of the community and the welfare of his fellow men, while the responsible public positions to which he has been called from time to time bear testimony to his ability to fill worthily high and important trusts. His name with eminent fitness oc- cupies a conspicuous place in the profession which he adorns and his career, presenting a series of successes such as few attain, has gained for him much more than a local reputation as a successful organizer and manager of edu- cational interests. The major portion of his life has been spent in this, his native state, and at the proper age he entered the school room, where he early displayed the powers of mind and desire for study which subsequently won for him honorable distinction as a scholar and success as a teacher. Ten years ago he accepted the superintendency of the Greene county public schools, and in this perhaps the greatest of his labors as an educator and manager have been thus far accomplished. His great force of character and ripe scholarship, together with his ability as an organizer enabled him to bring to his work in this county the results of his professional experience with marked effect, and it was not long until the schools under his super-
J. R. ROBERTS.
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vision advanced to the high standing of efficiency for which they are now noted. The teaching force during his incumbency has been increased and the enrollment of pupils is vastly greater than a decade ago, while many things tending to lesson the teachers' labors and at the same time make them more effective have been introduced; the course of study throughout has been modified and improved, the latest and most approved appliances purchased and everything in keeping with modern educational progress, tested and where practical retained.
Prof. Roberts was born in Macon county, Missouri, January 8, 1849. He is a son of Joseph P. and Celia (Rippetoe) Roberts, natives of Jackson county, Tennessee. They were married in Tennessee, from which state they emigrated to Missouri in 1844 and located in Macon county, where they made their home until 1856, when they removed to Greene county. Joseph P. Roberts was a pioneer minister in the Christian church and he did an incal- culable amount of good among the early settlers in this state. Upon coming to this county he located on the James river. Our subject was then about seven years of age. They lived in what is now a part of Christian county, which was formed from Greene county in 1858. The father died in 1888, and the death of the mother occurred in 1898. Their family consisted of six children, two sons and four daughters, five of whom survive at this writing, namely: Prof. John R., of this sketch; P. W., a farmer and minister of the gospel, a veteran of the Civil war, and ex-judge of the county court of Christian county, is still living there; Mary A., married N. A. Inman, a . farmer of Christian county, bore him eight children and is now deceased ; Wealthy is the wife of H. C. Collins, a stock dealer of Christian county, and they have six children; Nannie has been a teacher for forty years at Pea Ridge, Arkansas, where she is still employed; Martha, who married N. J. Robbins, a farmer and fruit grower of Bentonville, Arkansas, has eight children.
Prof. John R. Roberts received his early education in the public schools of Ozark, this state, then entered Abington College, Knox county, Illinois, from which institution he was graduated in the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1873, and later that college conferred on him the degree of Master of Arts. After leaving school he went to Arkansas and established a college at Pea Ridge, of which he was president for a period of twenty years and which grew to be an institution of great importance to that country under his able management, and it has sent thousands of useful young men and women from its halls to benefit northwestern Arkansas especially, and this school will ever be a monument to our subject of which his descendants may well be proud. Coming to Springfield, Missouri, in 1896, Prof. Roberts con- tinued his profession here, teaching most acceptably in both the Normal and high schools until 1905, when he was elected county superintendent of public
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schools and has discharged the duties of this important trust for a period of ten years in a manner that has reflected much credit upon himself and to the eminent satisfaction of all concerned.
Prof. Roberts was married in 1876, in Arkansas, to Alice Dean, of Benton county, that state, where she grew to womanhood and was educated. She is a daughter of W. B. and Laura Dean. Mr. Dean was a merchant during his active life, and his death occurred in 1910. His widow is now liv- ing in Dallas, Texas. Their family consisted of seven children, namely : A. J., Alice, John L., William A., Henning A., Marguerite and Nannie.
To Professor Roberts and wife one child was born, Josephine, who was given excellent educational advantages, and she is the wife of H. P. Mob- berly, a well known civil engineer, who has been employed in the engineering department of the Texas Pacific railroad for a period of twenty years. Mr. and Mrs. Mobberly reside in Springfield and have one child, Alice Dean Mob- berly, born in 1906, and is now a student in a local grade school.
Politically. Professor Roberts is a Republican, but has never cared for political preferment. Religiously, he belongs to the Christian church. A gentleman without pretense, broad-minded, of pleasing personality, he is honored by all with whom he comes in contact.
JUDGE ALFRED PAGE.
One of the prominent lawyers of Greene county is Judge Alfred Page, whose career at the local bar, comparatively brief, has been most commend- able. As judge of the Circuit Court for a period of four years, he proved himself to be worthy of the people's trust in high positions. Coming up from the soil, battling his way alone and unaided up the ladder of professional success, he is entitled to the respect and admiration that all should accord the successful self-made man.
Judge Page was born near Covington, Tipton county, Tennessee. He is a son of L. and Artemissa (Montgomery) Page, early settlers in western Tennessee and there the father engaged in farming, being now eighty-three years of age. The death of the mother occurred in 1904, when about seventy- five years of age. The father removed to Missouri many years ago, lo- cating in Webster county and came on to Greene county in 1907. Judge Page has a brother in California and one in Missouri, who are engaged in teaching; four of his brothers are deceased; two sisters are living, one in Joplin, this state, and the other is keeping house for her father in Greene county, Missouri.
Alfred Page grew to manhood on the farm and assisted with the gen-
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eral work about the place when he became of proper age. He was sixteen years old when he came to Missouri in 1885, and located in Greene county in 1891, where he has since maintained his home. He received a common school education, and later studied at Drury College, Springfield, from which institution he was graduated with the class of 1897. He began his career by teaching which he followed five years, four of which were spent as principal of the high school at Ash Grove and one as principal of the high school at Aurora. Not finding this field of endeavor entirely to his liking he began the study of law while still teaching and in 1901 was ad- mitted to the bar, and at once began practice in Springfield. Taking an interest in public affairs from the first he was assistant prosecuting attorney of Greene county from 1903 to 1906, inclusive. He was elected judge of the Criminal Court in 1908, the duties of which office he assumed January I, 1909. In April of that year the criminal court was merged with division No. 2 of the Circuit Court, and Mr. Page was appointed by Governor Herbert Hadley the first judge of the new division. After his term of office ex- pired, January 1, 1913, he formed a partnership with Col. G. A. Watson, under the firm name of Watson & Page, with offices in the Baker block on the public square, Springfield, and he has since been a member of this firm. Politically, he is a Republican.
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