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 45
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Judge Page was married in 1900 to Ada Trevitt, of Ash Grove, a lady of many commendable attributes of head and heart, and she was summoned to an untimely grave in 1903, leaving a daughter. Lenora Artemissa Page.
Personally the Judge is a gentleman of exemplary character, a good mixer and a pleasant man to meet.
JOHN P. McCAMMON.
John P. McCammon was born in Henry county, Iowa, May 25, 1853, and is a son of Samuel and Mary E. (Brown) McCammon. He is of Scotch- Irish ancestry on the paternal side. His father was born in Pennsylvania where he grew to manhood, received such educational advantages as the old-time schools afforded, and he devoted his active life to general agricul- tural pursuits, remaining in his native state until 1852 when he removed to the state of Iowa, and in Henry county, but subsequently removed to Davis county, that state, where his death occurred in 1864. He was a man of courage and possessed the typical pioneer industry that resulted in success, and he stood high in the estimation of his neighbors, was a loyal Republican and did what he could toward the general advancement of the communities in which he lived, and held a number of minor political offices, the duties
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of which he always discharged with fidelity and credit, and at all times. proved his worth as a citizen. His wife, Mary E. Brown, was born in Washington county, Indiana, near the town of Salem, and was the daughter of a pioneer family of that state. After the death of her husband she came to Missouri and made her home in Ash Grove, Greene county, subsequently going to Perry, Iowa, where she lived until her death at an advanced age. To Samuel McCammon and wife five children were born, named in order of birth as follows: John P., of this review; William H., who established himself in the mercantile business at Perry, Iowa; Jessie married John Ir- win, and they located in Belvidere, Nebraska; Augusta became the wife of I. Woodridge, of Stockton, Cedar county, Missouri; Samuel A. established his home in Perry, Iowa.
John P. McCammon grew to manhood on the home farm in Iowa and worked hard when a boy, assisting his father develop a farm in the new country. He attended the district schools in his community until he was about fifteen years of age, then entered the Iowa Wesleyan University at Mount Pleasant, Iowa, made a good record and was graduated from that institution with the class of 1877. That his scholarship was profound and he had won the highest estimation of his teachers is indicated by the fact that he began teaching in that university the following fall after his gradua- tion, and he followed teaching with much success until 1879, becoming one of the leading educators of that section of the state. In that year he came to Springfield, Missouri, where he continued his profession, but he had been studying law for some time before leaving his native state and he continued the study of this profession after coming to the Ozarks and was admitted to the bar in 1881. He practiced alone from 1881 to 1887 and was forging constantly to the front ranks. He then formed a partnership with Col. C. W. Thrasher and J. T. White, the same continuing until 1890, when Mr. Thrasher retired, and our subject and Mr. White continued in partnership until 1903 and the firm became one of the best-known in Springfield. Dur- ing the years he has been engaged in the practice of law he has shown a superior ability all along the line, has kept well abreast of the times, being ever a close student, not only of the statutes but of current events of im- portance. He was one of the original incorporators of the Missouri Fidel- ity & Casualty Company, in 1909, and was president of the same for the first six months, and got it well established and it grew rapidly into a large and important concern. He was then vice-president and general counsel for the same until 1914, when it was merged with the Southern Surety Com- pany of St. Louis, and the offices moved from Springfield to the Mound City, but Mr. McCammon became vice-president and attorney for the new concern, and is doing much to make it a great success as he did the for- mer concern.
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Mr. McCammon was married in 1859 to Lucy Owen, who was born in. Springfield, Missouri, where she grew to womanhood and received a good education. She is a daughter of Jabez Owen and wife, an old and influ- ential family of Greene county. Five children have blessed the union of our subject and wife, named as follows: Elizabeth Rush, born in September, 1890, is taking domestic science and physical training at the University of Missouri, Columbia; John Purdue, Jr., born in April, 1893, is studying law in the University of Kansas at Lawrence; Owen, born in December, 1896, is attending the Porter Military Academy at Charleston, South Carolina ;. Lucy, born in August, 1900, is a student in the State Normal School at Springfield; and William Samuel, born in June, 1903, is a student in the local grade schools.
Mr. McCammon has made the practice of law his foremost concern. but has also found time to take an interest in manufacturing and real estate and has been very successful in a business way, accumulating a comfortable competence through his good management and wise foresight. He has been counsel for a number of corporations. Politically he is a Republican and while interested in party affairs has never sought office. Fraternally, he is a member of the Masonic order. He is a Beta Theta Pi. He was a mem- ber of the board of regents, State Normal at Springfield, Missouri, his term expiring in January, 1915.
JAMES GILMER McMURTRY.
In placing the name of James G. McMurtry, president of Drury Col- lege, in the front rank of educators who have at one time or another hon- ored Springfield with their residence, simple justice is done a biographical fact, recognized by all who are familiar with his history. A man of high. intellectual attainments, wise discretion and rare executive ability, he has managed with tactful success the great institution of which the citizens of Greene county are justly proud. He has been very largely the architect of his own fortunes, has been true and loyal in all the relations of life and stands as a type of that sterling manhood which ever commands respect. He is a man who would, no doubt, have won a conspicuous position in whatever environment fate might have placed him, for he has sound judgment, cou- pled with great energy and keen discernment, all of which make for success. wherever they are rightly applied and a laudable ambition is persistently followed. Withal, he is an unassuming and cultured gentleman, popular in all circles in which he moves.
President McMurtry was born on a farm in Parke county, Indiana,
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April 2, 1870. He is a scion of a sterling old family of the Hoosier state, being a son of David W. and Martha E. (Cooper) McMurtry. The father, also a native of Parke county, was born in 1837 and died in 1910, at the age of seventy-three years, after a long and successful career as a general farmer and stock raiser. He was a son of John S. and Margaret (McKee) McMurtry, both natives of Kentucky, from which state they came to west- ern Indiana in pioneer days, and there became well established through their industry. The McMurtrys have ever stood for right living and good citi- zenship, and it has been a pleasure to our subject to keep untarnished the bright escutcheon of the family name.
James G. McMurtry grew to manhood on his father's farm on which he laid the foundation for a robust manhood by performing his full share of the work during crop seasons. In the winter time he attended the dis- trict schools, later. taking a course in Wabash College, from which institu- tion he was graduated in 1893, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. In 1895 this institution conferred upon him the degree of Master of Arts, and ยท Doctor of Philosophy in 1898. After leaving college he began his career as educator, in which his rise was rapid, each succeeding year finding hin further advanced, until today he is universally recognized as one of the foremost educators of the Middle West. He has specialized in Greek, and is regarded as an authority on that old classic language. He has made him- self proficient in Latin also, and he taught these languages in the Collegi- ate Institute at Carthage, Missouri, in 1893-94. From 1895 to 1897 he was vice-president of Washington College in Tennessee, and was professor of Greek and philosophy in that institution, then taught the same branches in Henry Kendall College until 1902. He then went to Parsons College, Fair- field, Iowa, where he remained seven years as professor of Greek. When he first entered upon his duties there one pupil out of every twenty-three was studying Greek. He made this department so popular that when he left one out of every two students was studying this dead language, a re- markably notable increase which perhaps has not been equalled in any other school.
His insatiable thirst for higher learning led Professor McMurtry, after five years' work in Parsons College, to an extended sojourn abroad in travel and study in Scotland, France, Germany, Italy, Greece, Egypt and Palestine. He had not been in Europe long until he became a member of the American School of Archaeology at Athens, Greece. He has also been a member of the Classical Association . of the Middle West and South since 1905, and since 1907 his name has been on the membership roll of the American Philo- logical Association. He is a man of highly developed perceptive faculties, and thus being a keen observer, he was greatly benefited by his studies in foreign lands, and since his return to the United States he has given many
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interesting and instructive lectures, especially on Jerusalem, also many other places of importance, having been frequently requested to do so. His de- scriptions of the scenes and places through which he passed are graphic and are of greater value to the auditor than the average lecture by travelers. He produced a masterly sermon or prose poem on the twenty-third psalm several years ago, and, while not a theologian, his interpretation of this beautiful portion of the Scriptures, is superior to any yet known, according to those who have had the good fortune of hearing his address. He has been frequently importuned to have it published, but, never having put a single line of it to paper, he has so far refused to give it to the printer.
Upon his return from Europe he went back to Fairfield, Iowa, and continued his connection with Parsons College until 1909, when, much to the regret of the curators and all concerned, he resigned in order to give his attention to personal business interests at El Campo, Texas, and although he had never given much time or attention to business affairs, he was so suc- cessful that while there he was offered the position of cashier in the First National Bank, which he accepted, acting in that capacity from January I, 19II, until the following September. Such was his administration of the bank's affairs that he received numerous flattering offers of positions in Eastern banks. However, he had never been imbued with an ambition to become a captain of industry. and he preferred to return to educational work, and he gave up his high-salaried position with the El Campo bank to accept the chair of Greek in Drury College, at a salary of less than one- half of the amount he was receiving as cashier. Thus he has been connected with Drury College since the fall of 1911. He proved to be such a valuable addition to the faculty that his salary was raised a number of times and in August, 1913, he was appointed acting president of the college for one year. However, before the close of the year, he was elected president, which re- sponsible and exacting position he has since filled in a manner that has re- flected much credit upon himself and to the satisfaction of all concerned. He has done much to strengthen the work in all departments and increase the prestige of the school. His exceptional business acumen has been of great service in placing Drury on a sounder financial basis. He is greatly enamored of his work, believing that teaching is the greatest of all profes- sions. He mixes freely with his students, encourages and assists them in any way possible, unlike the heads of some of our great institutions of learn- ing who hold themselves aloof from their students. He is easy of approach, obliging and of unquestioned altruistic impulses, and is therefore popular with all with whom he comes in contact. His superior scholarship, sound erudition and rare ability as an educator being unquestioned by those who know of his commendable work. Unlike many of his profession he has
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never become narrow or pedantic, but his views on national and other ques- tions are broad and progressive. He has marked ability as a public speaker.
Doctor McMurtry's domestic life began on July 25, 1894, in Craw- fordsville, Indiana, when he was united in marriage with Mary Anice Bray, a daughter of Ira M. and Emma Bray, a prominent and highly esteemed family of that city. Mrs. McMurtry received the advantages of an excel- lent education, and is a lady of culture and refinement.
The union of our subject and wife has been blessed by the birth of two- children, namely : Mildred Oenone and James G., Jr.
Politically, Doctor McMurtry is an independent voter. Socially he be- tongs to the University Club of Springfield, the Young Men's Business Club. and the Springfield Club.
JAMES BAIR.
The army record alone of James Bair, deputy county clerk of Greene county, entitles him to the respect of all good citizens who remember the troublous times of the great war between the states. True Americans can never forget the heroes of the sixties, nor should they ever fail to do them: honor. Mr. Bair has spent forty-five years in our midst and each succeeding year has found him with more friends than the preceding, which would
indicate that he has been an honorable and valuable citizen. Indeed his. long record as educator and public servant in this county is worthy of praise. He is an example of what honest effort, combined with perseverance and right thinking, will produce. His beginning was somewhat humble and dis- couraging, but he in due course of time rose to a position in the body politic which commanded respect by his fellow-citizens. All the more credit is. due him for his own brave efforts, and his example may well be imitated by those whose youthful environments are not of an encouraging nature, not that he has been a great success financially, but what is better, that he has made a good and useful citizen.
Mr. Bair was born at Canal Dover, Tuscarawas county, Ohio, on De- cember 18, 1845. He is a son of Jesse and Elizabeth ( Bonfield) Bair. Jesse Bair was born near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, about 1817, was reared on a farm and learned the millwright's trade when a boy, also worked at the carpenter's trade. From his native state he went to Canton, Ohio, and about 1842 moved to Canal Dover, that state, where he worked at his trades, erecting a number of substantial mills and other buildings over that country; the old Blake mills are still standing near that city as a monument to his skill as a builder. Politically he was a Democrat, and fraternally a Mason. His
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death occurred in 1890 at the home of our subject. Elizabeth Bonfield, mentioned above, was born at Canton, Ohio, and was a daughter of Dr. Bonfield, of that city. Her death occurred in New Philadelphia, that state, in 1853. Four children were born to Jesse Bair and wife, James, of this sketch, being the only survivor at this writing. His eldest brother, Martin V. B., was a soldier in the One Hundred and Fifteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry during the Civil war, and was one of the large number of soldiers who met death by drowning by the sinking of the steamer Sultana in the Mississippi river in 1865.
'Upon the death of his mother in 1853 James Bair went to live with relatives near Waynesburg, Ohio. He received his education in the public schools there, and on December 22, 1861, enlisted in Company F, Eightieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and proved to be a gallant soldier for the Union, serving in a number of important engagements, such as Farmington, Iuka, Corinth, Raymond, Jackson and the siege of Vicksburg, all in Mississippi, later in the battle of Missionary Ridge, Tennessee, and Resaca, Georgia, then joined Sherman during the Atlanta campaign and marched with his army to the sea. He had previously re-enlisted in the same company and regiment, which entitled him to rank with the veterans. After reaching the coast at 'Savannah he accompanied the army northward through the Carolinas to Raleigh and was present when Gen. Joseph E. Johnston surrendered to Sherman, then marched overland to Washington, D. C., camped at Arlington Heights, Virginia, and later participated in the grand review at the capitol. After that he was sent with some troops to Louisville, Kentucky, and thence to Little Rock, Arkansas, and was honorably discharged and mustered out on August 13, 1865, as sergeant-major of his regiment, of which he had been adjutant clerk from August, 1863, until May, 1865, when he was appointed sergeant-major. Appreciating his ability as a soldier, he was com- commissioned first lieutenant, but never mustered as such.
After his career in the army Mr. Bair returned to Waynesburg, Ohio, and attended school for some time, then spent two terms at Mt. Vernon College at Alliance, Ohio. After finishing school he clerked in a store at Malvern, Ohio, for eight months, then began his career as teacher, for which he seemed well qualified by both nature and training. His first work as an educator was at Mapleton, Ohio, where he remained until 1869, when he came to Springfield, Missouri, and soon thereafter began teaching in the rural schools of Greene county, which he continued for a period of seven- teen years, teaching nine terms in one district. He was regarded as a progressive, thorough and painstaking instructor and his services were in great demand. He was one of the best-known teachers in the county of that period. Since abandoning the school room he has served in various capacities in business and county offices. He was deputy recorder of deeds for two
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years, was deputy county clerk for one term, then bookkeeper for five years for a wholesale company in Springfield, then traveled for a firm for eighteen months in several states. We next find him as deputy county collector for two years, then as deputy county assessor for four years, and in 1903 he was appointed deputy county clerk, in which capacity he has since served, being still in this office. His long career in the county offices has made him one of the best-known men in the county, and his work has been most satis- factory to all concerned, being not only well performed, but promptly and courteously.
Politically Mr. Bair is a Republican. He is a member of the local post of the Grand Army of the Republic, and religiously he is a member of the Christian church.
Mr. Bair was married on August 11, 1870, to Virginia J. Jeffries, who was born in Greene county. Missouri, in March, 1851, and her death occurred on November 12, 1912. She proved to be a faithful and sympathetic help- meet and was a good woman in every respect.
To Mr. and Mrs. Bair four children were born, namely: Anna L., born on April 20, 1871, died on August 9, 1905; William M., born on May 4, 1873, died in March, 1875; Victoria, born on September 8, 1875, died on February 28, 1894; Charles A., born on May 2, 1878, is a conductor on the Frisco Railroad and lives in Springfield.
JAMES ELMER POTTER.
A young man who has stamped the impress of his strong personality upon the minds of the people of Greene county in a manner as to render him one of the conspicuous characters of the locality is James Elmer Potter, who is now serving his second term as county collector. Few men of his age are better known throughout the county, few occupy a more conspicuous place in public affairs, and it is a compliment worthily bestowed to class him with the representative men of this locality where the Potters have been influential since the first settlement of the county and where he has been con- tent to spend his life as teacher, agriculturist and public servant-always having the best interests of the county at heart.
Mr. Potter was born on February 2, 1875, near Strafford in the eastern part of Greene county, Missouri, and he is a son of Louis Cass Potter and Susan M. (Hankins) Potter. The father was born in the same locality as was our subject, the date of his birth being 1845, and there also, about three miles south of Taylor township line, the mother was born. These parents grew up in this locality and received their education in the common school
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and were married there, established their home on the farm and spent their lives engaged successfully in general farming and stock raising, and there the death of Louis C. Potter occurred in 1893. He was a man of industry and public-spirit and made a success in his vocation, leaving behind him at death an honored name. His family consisted of three children, namely: Susie, James E. and Ethel.
James E. Potter grew to manhood on the home farm near Strafford and there he worked when a youth, and when of proper age he attended the schools of his community and later the Springfield Normal, after which he taught school for a short time, but was compelled to give up that line of endeavor owing to failing health. He has made general farming and stock raising his main occupation.
Politically, Mr. Potter has always been a stanch Republican. He was first elected to the office of county collector in 1910, and, having served his term of four years in a manner that was highly satisfactory to all concerned and with much credit to himself he was again elected to this office in No- vember, 1914, and is now beginning on his second term. He is faithful, painstaking and accurate in his official work. Being a man of uniform cour- tesy and fair dealing, and being straightforward, candid and sincere, he at once enlists the good will of everyone.
Mr. Potter was married on August 10, 1904, near Strafford, to Susan E. McCraw, who was a native of California, from which state she was brought to Greene county, Missouri, when young by her parents and here grew up on a farm and received a common school education. She is the daughter of Gabriel and Elizabeth C. ( Waterson) McCraw. These parents. were early settlers here, locating on a farm. They went to California, where the mother died. The father later returned to Greene county, Missouri, where he still lives on the old homestead on the James river. Our subject's wife is the oldest of two children, the youngest being James G. McCraw, living with his father on the farm.
John L. McCraw, paternal grandfather of our subject's wife, was one of the pioneer settlers of Greene county, and was a surveyor by profession. He surveyed a great deal of land in this locality.
Thomas Potter, paternal grandfather of our subject, was among the first settlers in Greene county, was prominent among the pioneers and was sheriff of the county in the early fifties.
Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. James E. Potter, namely : Eldred McCraw Potter, born May 16, 1905, died in infancy ; and Howard Cass Potter, born July 5, 1910.
Fraternally, Mr. Potter is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen of America. He is a Republican. The family are members of the Presbyterian church.
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EDWARD F. NEWTON.
Why is it that railway magnates, presidents of banks and heads of great enterprises who must perforce do business in cities, almost all try to have homes on farms in the country, where they develop soils, plant crops and breed animals? It is because there is wearisome monotony in piled up brick and stone. There is confusion in crowded streets and clanging trolley cars and hot smoky railways. These things man has made, and they are needful, but they are not life, much as the farm boy may imagine them to be. It is the dream of millions of country bred boys to get established in some city, but after they have tried urban life a few years and see the many ob- jectionable phases of it, they begin to have other dreams-of returning to the farm, where there is more freedom, better health and greater happiness. Edward F. Newton, well known farmer and breeder of live stock of Franklin township, Greene county, has been wise enough to establish himself in the country.
Mr. Newton was born in Bowling Green, Kentucky, March 2, 1864. He is a son of Hiram and Caroline (Kite) Newton. The father was born in Massachusetts, from which state he came with his parents to Bowling Green, Kentucky, when young and there spent the rest of his life, engaged principally at the carpenter's trade, his death occurring in 1865, when about fifty-two years of age. Politically, he was a Democrat. He owned valu- able property in Bowling Green. His wife was born in Warren county, Kentucky, and her death occurred also in the year 1865, when forty-four years of age. To these parents fourteen children were born, named as fol- lows: Richard. James, John, Hiram, Jr., are all deceased; George lives at Beaver Dam, Kentucky; Andrew Jackson and Silas are both deceased; Ed- ward F. of this sketch; Mary, Fanny, and Eliza are deceased; the next child died in infancy ; the two youngest, twins, also died in infancy.
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