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 47
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W. C. Potter, of this review, grew to manhood on the old homestead in Dallas county, where he worked hard when a boy. He had little opportun- ity of obtaining an education, partly because of lack of schools and partly because of the interruption by the Civil war. However, he has made up for this deficiency in later years by contact with the world and by wide miscellaneous home reading, and is a fine type of the successful self-made man. He remained in Dallas county until 1881, having devoted his atten- tion to trading in live stock, cattle and mules especially. In that year he pur- chased the fine farm where he now resides, the place then consisting of three hundred and twenty acres, known as the old Adams farm. During his resi- dence here of thirty-three years he has made many important improvements. and, having prospered, is now owner of over six hundred acres of valuable and productive land in this vicinity, all well fenced and properly improved, and he has long carried on general farming and stock raising on an extensive scale. His farm ranks with the best in the county in every respect. He has an attractive, substantial two-story stone residence, modern in its appoint- ments and elegantly furnished, a place where he can spend the "twilight of his years" in comfort and happiness. He has a large number of convenient and well arranged outbuildings, in fact, everything about his place denotes thrift and prosperity. He built his handsome residence in 1888 of stone
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quarried from his own lands. This home is known to the many friends of the family as a place of old-fashioned hospitality and good cheer. He has continued to handle annually large numbers of live stock of various grades, and there is no better judge of live stock in the county than Mr. Potter.
Mr. Potter has been president of the Bank of Fair Grove, near which village his farm lies, since its organization in 1905, and its pronounced suc- cess has been due for the most part to his conservative, honest and able man- agement. It is regarded as one of the sound and safe banking institutions of southwestern Missouri, and a general banking business is carried on. Its capital stock is ten thousand dollars. J. W. B. Appleby is cashier and H. E. Gault is assistant cashier. All three of these gentlemen are well known about Fair Grove and they have the confidence of the patrons of the bank to the fullest extent.
Mr. Potter was married December 30, 1886, in Greene county, to Emma Anthis, who was born in Madison county, Illinois, January 28, 1856. She is a daughter of George and Maria (Ellis) Anthis, the father born in In- diana in 1828, and died in Alton, Illinois, December 25, 1898; the mother was born in Delaware in 1830, and died in Springfield, Missouri, October 26, 19II. These parents were married January 30, 1851, in Madison coun- ty, Illinois, where Mr. Anthis devoted his active life to farming until 1876, when he removed to Greene county, Missouri. His family consisted of eight children, namely : . Frances E., deceased; Wesley, deceased; Emma, wife of our subject; Hiram, deceased; Stephen; Morton; Anna, wife of J. Fergu- son, and Ida, widow of J. S. Reed.
Mrs. Potter grew to womanhood in Illinois, where she received a good education, and she taught school a year in that state, and after coming with her parents to Greene county, Missouri, taught six years in the schools here, Prof. J. Fairbanks being superintendent of schools at that time.
The union of Mr. and Mrs. Potter has been without issue.
Politically, Mr. Potter is a Democrat, and although he has always been deeply interested in the public affairs of his township and county, as well as state and national, he has never held public office, being essentially a home and business man. Fraternally, he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, a charter member of Lodge No. 387, at Fair Grove, in which he has passed all the chairs. His wife is a charter member of the Rebekahs at Fair Grove, and they both belong to the Baptist church at that place and are liberal supporters of the same.
Mr. Potter is a splendid example of the virile, broad-minded man of af- fairs, who has always believed in doing well whatever is worth doing at all, a man of keen discernment and sound judgment, and at the same time a fol- lower of the principles embodied in the Golden Rule in all his relations with his fellow men, and therefore he enjoys their confidence and good will.
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HARRY SANFORD JEWELL.
The name of Harry Sanford Jewell is well known in newspaperdom in Missouri for he has long been the motive force behind the Springfield Daily Leader, one of the leading Democratic newspapers of the state and one of the best known papers of the Southwest-an organ that has done much for the upbuilding of the Queen City and the entire Ozark region.
Mr. Jewell was born in Wyandotte, Kansas, August 11, 1867. He is a son of the late J. B. Jewell, a well-remembered publisher, who was engaged in the newspaper business in Missouri for a period of forty years. He was also a minister in the Methodist Episcopal church, having been ordained in 1869, and engaged in regular work as pastor of various churches from that year until 1880, in which year he retired from the ministry and resumed his newspaper career, purchasing The Democrat at Carrollton, Missouri, of which he was owner and editor from that year until 1893. Removing from Carroll- ton to Springfield in 1895. he became editor of the Springfield Leader-Demo- crat, the latter part of the name being later dropped. He was connected with the Leader for many years, also had other interests in this city. His death occurred March 23, 1907. He was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellow's and held the highest honor, grand master of Missouri. during the year 1892. also served as grand patriarch of the Encampment branch. He established the Triple Link, the official paper of the order, in 1875 and was editor and publisher until his death. He also represented the order at various meetings of the sovereign grand lodge of America. His widow still lives at the old homestead here.
Harry S. Jewell was nine years old when the family located at Carrollton, Missouri. There he received a public school education, and learned the news- paper business under his father, associating with him in business in the publica- tion of The Democrat of that city in 1888. He removed to Springfield in 1893 and became business manager of the old Springfield Democrat, a morn- ing daily paper, which was purchased by The Leader in May, 1895, and he has ever since been connected with the paper of which he is now owner and publisher. He is also owner and publisher of The Ozark Countryman. a monthly farm journal. He is president of the Springfield Paper Supply Company. He built and still owns the Jefferson Theatre in Springfield, a popular vaudeville house. The Leader occupies its own substantial two-story brick building, which is equipped with modern presses, type-setting machines. etc., being one of the best plants of its size in the Southwest. and a large force is employed here.
Mr. Jewell was married in 1889, in Carrollton, to Abba T. Kelly, a daughter of the late William H. Kelly, of Carrollton, Missouri. She was
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born at Strathroy, Canada, and moved with her parents to Carrollton, this state, in 1870, and was there educated in the public schools and in a convent of Independence, Missouri.
Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Jewell -- John, now twenty- three years of age, was educated in the local schools and at this writing is attending the school of journalism at the State University at Columbia, Mis- souri ; Marguerite, now sixteen years of age, is a student in Drury College.
Politically, Mr. Jewell is a Democrat and while he has never sought political leadership has been a loyal defender of the party's principles through his newspaper. Fraternallly, he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Royal Ar- canum and the Travelers' Protective Association. He also belongs to the Springfield Club, the James River Club and the Country Club.
B. E. MEYER.
For many years B. E. Meyer has been one of Springfield's most progres- sive men of affairs and most influential in public life. Strong mental endow- ment, coupled with an honesty of purpose that hesitates at no opposition, have so entered into his composition as to render him a dominant factor in the business world and a leader of men in important enterprises. He is essentially a man of affairs, sound of judgment and far-seeing in what he undertakes; and every enterprise to which he has addressed himself has resulted in gratifying financial returns, while at the same time he has won and retained the good will and confidence of all classes.
Mr. Meyer was born in Columbus, Ohio, on December 27, 1863. He is a son of B. E. and Mary L. (Fisher) Meyer. The mother was born in Reading, Pennsylvania, and the father was born in Baden, Germany. They emigrated to America in 1849. The father's birth occurred in 1834 and the mother's ten years later, in 1844. These parents grew to maturity in their native locality, received good educations and were married in Allen- town, Pennsylvania, and there established their home, Mr. Meyer engaging in the brewery business in Allentown for a number of years, later removing to Columbus, Ohio, and from there to Urbana, that state, continuing in the same line of business. Selling out in the last named city in 1866, he came to St. Louis and was connected with the Phoenix Brewery for some time. During the Civil war he served several months in the Union army, being sent home from the front on account of sickness. Politically he was a Republican in his earlier life, but later was a Democrat. He belonged to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and to the Knights of Honor. He
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was a good business man and always provided well for his family, which consisted of seven children, all of whom are still living but one, namely : B. E., Jr., of this sketch; Nellie, Charles D .. A. E., Mary, Jane and Louis, the last named being deceased. The parents of the above named children finally located in DeSoto, Missouri, where the death of the father occurred in 1894, and there also the mother passed away in 1896.
B. E. Meyer, of this sketch, received a practical education in the public schools, and when a boy went to work for the Anheuser-Busch Brewing Association, with which he has remained continuously to the present time, this being his thirty-seventh year with this concern. His long retention would indicate that he has been faithful in the discharge of his duties and has been reliable and industrious, looking well to the company's interests in every respect. He came to Springfield in 1895 and took charge of the Springfield Ice & Refrigerator Company, with which he is still connected as manager and secretary, and he is also manager and secretary-treasurer of the Ozark Ice & Storage Company, and is general manager at Springfield for the Anheuser-Busch Brewery Association. Thus it will be seen that he has a vast amount of business to claim his attention, but, being a man of rare business acumen and industry, he manages his affairs in a successful manner without friction and worry and whatever he turns his attention to brings gratifying results. The plants with which he is connected are well equipped in every respect, employing a large number of men and doing a mammoth annual business which extends over a vast territory.
Mr. Meyer was married on June 5, 1889, in St. Louis, to Louise A. Meyer (no relation), who was born in Berne, Switzerland; she is a daughter of Gustav and Anna Meyer. Her father, who was a tailor by trade, is now deceased. He and his wife grew up in their native land, were educated and married there, and when our subject's wife was a child immigrated to America and located in St. Louis, where Mrs. B. E. Meyer received her education. Her mother is living at St. James, Missouri.
The union of our subject and wife has resulted in the birth of five children, namely : Charles A., born on June 8, 1890, died in 1902; Lydia M., born on February 19, 1892, died in 1892; Lelia, born on July 16, 1893. died in 1894: Bert E., born on October 14, 1895, grew up in Springfield and was educated in the local schools and is now foreman of the storage house with which his father is connected; Irena A., born on November 24. 1897, was educated in the Springfield schools and is at home with her parents.
Politically Mr. Meyer is a Democrat and has long been active in party affairs, in fact, a leader. He was a member of the city council in 1902-3. and was elected mayor of Springfield in 1904. and. having made an excellent record during his first term, was re-elected in 1906, his administrations
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being marked by a comprehensive idea of what the city needed for its general development, and all parties regarded him as one of the best chief executives the city has ever had, his being a straightforward, conservative and yet most effective administration. He is a member of the Springfield Club and the Country Club, and is prominent in fraternal circles, being a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights and Ladies of Security, Royal Arcanum, the Improved Order of Red Men, the Fraternal Order of Eagles, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, having been exalted ruler three consecutive times of Florence Lodge, No. 409. He is also a member of the Knights of Pythias.
JAMES THOMPSON CANTRELL.
As an agricultural region of which Greene county, Missouri, forms a part is not surpassed by any state in the Union. It is indeed the farmer's kingdom, where he always reaps an abundant harvest of one kind or an- other. The soil, in most portions of Greene and adjoining counties, has an open, flexible structure, quickly absorbs the excessive rains, and retains mois- ture with great tenacity. This being the case it is not so easily affected by drouth. The prairies are covered by esculent, luxurious grass, equally good for grazing and hay; grass not surpassed by the famous Kentucky blue grass, the best of clover and timothy in raising live stock. This grass is. now as full of life-giving nutriment as it was when cropped by the buffalo, the elk, antelope, and the deer. One of the enterprising men of Greene county who took advantage of the naturally favorable conditions for agri- cultural purposes in this locality and was adequately repaid for his pains. is James Thompson Cantrell, now living in the town of Walnut Grove, Greene county, after a long, active and successful career as general farmer and stock raiser. He has also a good record as a public servant, having filled a number of county offices in an adjoining county, and he is also a veteran of the Civil war, and a citizen who has ever enjoyed the respect and confidence of his fellow men.
Mr. Cantrell was born in DeKalb county, Tennessee, on a farm, Oc- tober 29, 1842. He is a son of Peter and Elizabeth (Cantrell) Cantrell. Peter Cantrell was a native of Tennessee also, where his parents located in an early day, having removed from South Carolina. After spending his earlier years in his native state, Peter Cantrell came to Dade county, Mis- souri, arriving there November 3, 1848, and entered two hundred and forty acres of land from the government, one hundred and twenty acres of which
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his son, James E., of this sketch now owns. Here he worked hard de- veloping his raw land into a good farm, the work of clearing and improving being an arduous task, but he was not a man lacking grit and courage, and here he farmed successfully until his death on June 24, 1874. Politically, he was a Republican and was quite active in political affairs, was always ready to defend his position on any public question. Religiously he was a Baptist, and active in the work of the church. He married his cousin, Eliza- beth Cantrell, in Tennessee, where she was born and reared. Her death occurred in 1862. To them a large family, fifteen children, were born, two of whom died in infancy. Seven of the sons were all soldiers in the Union army during the Civil war, and all survived the conflict except one who was killed by a guerrilla near Dadeville, Missouri.
James T. Cantrell grew to manhood on the home farm, being six years old when his parents brought him to Dade county, this state. He assisted his father clear and develop the homestead, and he received what education he could in a few books at home by the old fire-place, school advantages of those days being very limited in his locality. On August 8, 1862, when but eighteen years of age, he enlisted in the Missouri State Militia in which he served a year, then enlisted in the Fifteenth Missouri Cavalry, and was con- tinuously fighting guerrillas while in this regiment. While in the service he contracted rheumatism from which he has never recovered. He was hon- orably discharged on June 30, 1865, in Springfield, after which he returned home and resumed work on the farm, and continued farming in Dade county, which joins Greene county on the west, until 1890 when he was elected re- corder of Dade county, which office he held four years, then returned to farming, which he continued with his usual gratifying results until 1911 when he retired from active life and located in Walnut Grove. Greene county. He always kept his farm in Dade county under a high state of cultivation and improvement and was regarded as one of the leading farm- ers of his community. He served as clerk of his township for some time, and was also assessor of his township for two years.
Politically, Mr. Cantrell is a Republican and has been more or less active in the affairs of his party for many years. He attends the Baptist church, and he belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic.
James T. Cantrell was married on December 8, 1867, to Mary E. York, who was born in Kentucky, April 15, 1852, a daughter of Greenberry and Elizabeth ( Hardcastle) York, and when young in years she came to Dade county, Missouri. Ten children have been born to our subject and wife, three of whom are now deceased, namely: Alva B. is the wife of William Carlock and they live in Dade county: Louis E. is practicing dentistry at Everton, Dade county; Nora E. is the wife of T. J. Drisdel, and they make
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their home in Dadeville, Missouri; Benjamin F. is practicing dentistry in Walnut Grove; Homer A. lives on the home farm; Henry C. lives in San Pedro, California, and Kate B. is the wife of F. A. Wheeler, of Walnut Grove.
JOHN M. HALL.
The record of John M. Hall is that of one of the leading twentieth cen- tury agriculturists and stock men of Franklin township, Greene county, where he owns and operates a valuable farm, specializing in dairying. His char- acteristics observed in demonstration are those of the matter of fact business man, reliable and responsible, careful of his antagonisms and loyal in his friendships. He is economic in the use of time, knowing that the "mill will never grind with the water that is passed," so he tries to make the best use possible of the present; for time moves as steadily as the clock ticks in its measurement, but the manifestation of things resulting during its movement is dependent upon the impetus or push applied in correlation. Knowing how and doing promptly dissolves the mysticism which wonderment attaches. Mr. Hall believes with the eulogies of Bret Harte, that
"The charitable few are chiefly they Whom fortune places in the middle way ; Just rich enough, with economic care, To save a pittance, and a pittance spare."
Mr. Hall was born October 5, 1869, in the above named township and county. He is a son of Isaac M. and Martha (King) Hall, a well known old family of this locality, full mention of whom is made in a separate sketch in this volume, hence their life records will not be reproduced here.
John M. Hall spent his boyhood days on his father's farm in Franklin township, and he received his education in the common schools of his native county, and with the exception of six months spent in Colorado, he has always lived in Franklin township. In the spring of 1907 he bought ninety- four acres, known as the McMurray farm, and his father gave him sixty acres, thus making him a farm of one hundred and fifty-four acres, which is known as the "Grove View Stock Farm," and which he has placed under a high state of improvement and cultivation, and here he is making a pro- nounced success as general farmer and stock raiser. Formerly he handled large numbers of mules annually, but has now turned his attention to dairy- ing, operating a modern and sanitary dairy for several years, keeping an excellent grade of cows and he also raises large numbers of hogs, specializing in spotted Poland-China breeds, and is having great success with them. At
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RESIDENCE OF J. M. HALL.
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GROVE VIEW STOCK FARM-J. M. HALL.
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this writing he owns two choice specimens of Poland-China hogs, one ten months old and weighing four hundred and fifty pounds. He takes great pride in his stock and the upkeep of his fine farm, believing in advanced methods whenever practicable, and everything about his place indicates thrift and good management. He has a pleasant home and large outbuildings. He has such modern farming machinery and implements as his needs require. In 1912 he built an imposing barn, sixty by seventy feet, with a capacity of one hundred tons of loose hay. It is equipped with box stalls and is well protected by lightning rods.
Mr. Hall is one of eight children, namely: Mrs. Sadie Appleby lives near Strafford, Missouri; Mary has remained on the home farm; John M., of this review : Mrs. Lillian Appleby lives in Kansas City : William lives near Gladville, this county, on the Bolivar road; Avery lives in Franklin town- ship : Frank makes his home in Franklin township : Charles died in infancy.
Mr. Hall was married in October, 1891, to Emma Thomas, a native of Greene county, Missouri, where she grew to womanhood and received her education. She is a daughter of Jackson and Cellia (Foren) Thomas. To Mr. and Mrs. Hall six children have been born, namely: Coral; Madison, born April 5, 1892, who married Emma Kemling, have one child. Edward Kemling Hall, born April 4, 1915, is a native of Greene county and lives with the subject of this sketch; Mrs. Mabel Fitch, born November 17, 1893. is living at home; Hazel. born January 7, 1896, died December 26, 1901 ; Loal Luanna, born January 2. 1898: Dorotha C. A., born February 3. 1907. and Martha Hermosa born August 30, 1910, all at home.
Politically, Mr. Hall is a stanch Republican, but has never aspired to public office. However, he takes a delight in assisting in any local movement. political or otherwise, which he thinks will be for the general good of his community.
LUCIUS W. HUBBELL.
When a man can command his own self-respect he will have no cause to worry about what the world thinks of him. Lucius W. Hubbell. well- known real estate and insurance dealer of Springfield has always looked well to his self-respect and thus the world has respected and trusted him and since coming to Greene county, some forty years ago, he has built up a reputation that is inviolable, having the good will of all with whom he has come in contact. Like many of the best citizens of the Ozark region he hails from the old Buckeye state, a commonwealth that has produced more presidents, great generals and famous statesmen than any other except
(87)
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Virginia, and the natives of that state are always welcomed into the newer sections of the Union, for they have proven themselves to be people who do things and can be relied upon in all emergencies.
Mr. Hubbell was born in Ashtabula county, Ohio, May 16, 1841. He is a son of William S. and Eliza (Case) Hubbell, both natives of Connec- ticut, the father's birth having occurred in the town of Birmingham in 1812, and his death occurred in 1899. The mother was born in 1809 at Canton, and her death occurred in 1877. These parents grew up in the old Nutmeg state, and there attended the common schools, and they both emigrated to Ohio when young where they were married. William S. Hubbell was a woolen manufacturer, having served his apprenticeship in Orange, Connec- ticut, going from there direct to Ohio, and was married about 1835. He built the first woolen mill in that part of the United States. In later life he and his wife removed to Benzonia, Michigan, where they both died. Politically, Mr. Hubbell was a Republican in his later life. He belonged to the Congregational church. His family consisted of seven children, only two of whom are living at this writing. They were named as follows: Har- riett, deceased; Helen, deceased; Lucius, of this sketch; John, deceased; Buel; Nelson, deceased; Lizzie, deceased.
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