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 57
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Politically, Mr. Earnest is an independent voter, and is a man who takes a deep interest in the general welfare of his township and county.
JAMES M. WILKERSON, M. D.
Greene county owes a great debt of gratitude to the state of Ten- nessee for the large number of sterling citizens which have located here from that state, perhaps more than from any two other states. They have proven themselves to be people of industry, honesty and public spirit, true types of empire builders. Among this number is Dr. James M. Wilkerson, who has lived in Springfield twenty-six years. Formerly he was a suc- cessful general physician, but later turned his attention to the real estate business in which he has reaped a satisfactory reward.
Doctor Wilkerson was born in Bedford county, Tennessee, November 2, 1844. He is a son of James and Lydia (Messick) Wilkerson, a fine old Southern family. The father was born in Ireland on a farm in County Tyrone, in the year 1808, and he immigrated to the United States when a young man and established his home on a farm in Bedford county. Tennessee. During the Civil war he removed his family to Arkansas, later to Kansas, where they remained a short time, then came to Lawrence county, Missouri, where the death of James Wilkerson occurred at the age of seventy-three years. He had devoted his life to general farming and stock raising. His wife was a native of Tennessee. Her death occurred in the year 1892. To these parents twelve children were born, ten sons and two daughters. Four of the sons are now deceased.
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Dr. James M. Wilkerson grew to manhood on the farm and he received his early education in the common schools. He studied medicine under his brother, W. C. Wilkerson, and Doctor Gray, of Lawrenceburg, Mis- souri, the town at that time containing only a country store. Later he took the regular course in the American Medical School in St. Louis, receiving his diploma in 1878. Locating at Humansville, Polk county, in 1871, where he was married, and soon thereafter he began the practice of his profession which he continued there for a period of eighteen years with a large degree of success, during which period he was regarded as one of the leading physi- cians of the western part of Polk county. He removed to Springfield, in 1888, where he continued the practice of medicine for three years with his usual success, but desiring to take up a business career, he abandoned his profession and took up the real estate business, which he has continued to the present time with ever-increasing success and is rated among the lead- ing dealers in this part of the country and a judge of property values, both city and rural.
Doctor Wilkerson was married, July 1, 1874, to Mary A. Ayers, a daughter of Alven Ayers, a native of Virginia, where he spent his earlier life, finally removing to Missouri. He devoted his active life to farming and stock raising. He and his wife are both deceased. They were the parents of five children.
Six children have been born to Doctor Wilkerson and wife, namely: Lydia, married Claude Washburn, who was killed in a railroad accident. leaving one son, James, born, January 22, 1899; Mary H., married A. C. Hayward, an attorney, of Springfield, and they have one child, Edgar; two sons and one daughter of our subject died in infancy; Edgar, the youngest child, died when five years of age.
Politically Doctor Wilkerson is a Democrat, fraternally a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and he and his wife belong to the Christian church.
WALTER HAUN.
In different localities the spirit of better things manifests itself in differ- ent ways. Sometimes it takes the form of increasing the fertility of the soil ; at other places there is a demand for good roads; it is shown in the desire to keep better live stock, to have more attractive farm-yard surroundings or to grow larger crops. It is shown in rural improvement clubs, in home economic organizations, in the consolidation of rural schools, in labor-saving appliances in the home in making the home attractive, and in a general belief that farmers are entitled to as pleasant surroundings as anyone else, and
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that a richer, fuller life may be better developed in the country than in any other place in the world. In Murray township, Greene county, one sees evidences of progressiveness on every hand, well-kept farms, modernly ap- pointed homes and prosperous contented people. One of these careful farm- ers who owns a valuable place and a comfortable home is Walter Haun, a representative of an old and well-known family in this locality.
Mr. Haun was born in the above named township and county, Novem- ber 24, 1875. He is a son of Newton Wright and Nellie ( Beal) Haun. Newton W. Haun was born in Monroe county, eastern Tennessee, September 8, 1822. He is a son of Abraham and Jane ( Wright) Haun. Newton W. Haun was twice married, first, in eastern Tennessee, May 2, 1854, to Martha I. Heiskell, a native of Tennessee, who died April 21, 1861. He was engaged in the general merchandise business at Sweetwater, Tennessee, for a number of years, finally selling out and removing to Lawrence county, Missouri, where he engaged in general farming until 1867, when he sold out and came to Murray township, Greene county, where he purchased two hundred and thirty-six acres of good land, which he farmed success- fully until his death, December 13, 1887. He was a man of great industry and sound judgment and was rated among the most progressive farmers of the county. He was a good citizen in every respect and was well liked. Politically, he was a Democrat and was active in party affairs, and before leaving Monroe county, Tennessee, he held the office of surveyor one term, but would never accept office in Missouri, preferring to give his sole atten- tion to his large farming and stock-raising industries. He was a faithful member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church, was a charter member of the church of this denomination at Walnut Spring and a ruling elder in the same from its organization until his death. His family consisted of nine children by his second marriage, namely: Daniel F., Mrs. Martha R. Blan- kenship, who lives in this township, just east of Willard; William E. lives in Cass township, Greene county; Mrs. May Emmerson, of Springfield; Walter, of this review; Mrs. Ella Tatum, of Center township; George lives in Wilson township; and two who died in infancy.
Newton Haun married Nellie Beal in Greene county, Missouri, for his second wife. She was a daughter of Daniel and Nancy (Gibson) Beal. Daniel Beal was born in North Carolina, May 19, 1799. He spent his boy- hood in his native state and learned the cabinet maker's trade. When a young man he went to Giles county, Tennessee, where he and Nancy Gibson were married. She was a daughter of George Gibson. Mr. Beal remained in Giles county, Tennessee, until three of his children were born, and, in 1831. he moved to Crawford county; Missouri, and settled near where Verona now stands. Judge James White came the same time, and there Mr. Beal
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made a clearing and began his home, he and Judge White being in partner- ship in the land, and, deciding that the tract of land was not large enough for both of them to operate he sold out to the judge and removed to Greene county, and in the latter part of 1833 Mr. Beal settled in Campbell town- ship, on Wilson creek, four miles west of Springfield. He owned two hundred and eighty-eight acres which he cleared up and improved and on which he spent the remainder of his days. When he first came to Missouri the southwestern part of the state was still the home of different tribes of Indians, among whom he did considerable trading, and, finding him honest and kind-hearted, they were very friendly with him. In politics, he was a Democrat and both he and his wife were members of the Baptist church. Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Beal; all now deceased but one, Allen Beal, who lives in Texas. The death of Daniel Beal oc- curred in the prime of life, December 7, 1847. Nancy Gibson, his wife, was a native of Tennessee, born near Madisonville, and she died in Greene county, Missouri, on the home farm in the western part of the county.
The mother of the subject of this sketch, who died, January, 1915, was born, April 7, 1839, near Springfield and here she grew to womanhood and was educated in the old-time subscription schools. Although she at- tained her seventy-fifth year she was active and had a good memory up until the time of her death. She was well known to the older citizens and led a life fraught with good deeds.
Abraham and Jane (Wright) Haun, grandparents of our subject, were natives of Tennessee, the former born in 1790 and he died in 1848. He had devoted his life to general farming in Tennessee, where he and his wife both lived and died.
Walter Haun was reared on the home farm in Murray township, and he received his education in the public schools. On October 20, 1904, he married Clara Middlemas, a native of New Zealand. She is the daughter of Thomas J. and Elizabeth (Dickey) Middlemas. The father is deceased, but the mother is still living.
To Mr. and Mrs. Haun one child has been born, Doris Virginia Haun.
After his marriage, Mr. Haun moved to his present farm of eighty acres, which is one of the finest farms of its size in Murray township. is productive and well-improved, and he built a modern home in 1904. also an up-to-date barn and a large cement silo, all his buildings commanding an ideal view from the roadside and for some distance around, and his is one of the most desirable places in the township. He also owns seven acres of timbered land. He carries on general farming and stock raising. keeping a good grade of various kinds of livestock. He is one of the hustling young farmers of Greene county and is rapidly coming to the
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front. He takes a just pride in his farm and set of buildings. Politically, he is a Democrat, but no public man, and he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church at Willard, and are faithful in their attendance and support of the same. They are popular with the best circles of this part of the country, well liked by all who know them.
CHARLES E. WADLOW.
Human life is made up of two elements, power and form, and the pro- portion must be invariably kept if we would have it sweet and sound. Each of these elements in excess makes a mischief as hurtful as would be its deficiency. Everything turns to excess; every good quality is noxious if unmixed, and to carry the danger to the edge of ruin nature causes each man's peculiarity to superabound. One speaking from the standpoint of a farmer would adduce the learned professions as an example of this treach- ery. The farmer has a much better chance to observe and enjoy art as it Is found in nature, and, therefore, ought to be a man of the highest ideals and cleanest characteristics. One of the well-known citizens of the north- ern part of Greene county who has been contented with life in the rural districts and has been a close observer of the uplifting things about him is Charles E. Wadlow, who is not only an excellent agriculturist, but a good citizen in the fullest sense of the term.
Mr. Wadlow was born on the old home farm in Murray township, Greene county, March 3, 1864. He is a son of John Wesley and Mary Ann (Lethco) Wadlow. The father of our subject was born on Decem- ber 17, 1797, in Washington county, Virginia, now a part of West Vir- ginia, and there he spent his earlier years, removing first to Tennessee, where he remained until about 1835, when he made the rough overland journey to Greene county, Missouri, and settled about twelve miles north- west of Springfield. On July 24, 1837, he married Mary Hastings, and to them seven children were born, namely: Alzirah Jane, deceased; Mary Louisa is living; Sarah Ann, Margaret Elizabeth, Martha Agnes, Matilda Caroline and John W. are all deceased. Mary Hastings was born on Jan- uary 27, 1820, and her death occurred on December 12, 1854. John W. Wadlow married, on November 29, 1858, Mary Ann Lethco. To this sec- ond union were also born seven children, namely: Joanna, Susan Arbell, Charles E., George W. and Dora Emma were twins; Laura May is deceased ; and Lillie D. The death of the mother of these children occurred on March 13, 1909. Cyrus Cunningham, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. John Wesley Wadlow was one of
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the early-day leaders in the Southern Methodist church in Greene county. He gave a tract of land on which was built the Wesley chapel, of Murray township. and close by he donated ground for a cemetery, in which he him- self was finally laid to rest, when he had finished his useful, industrious and honorable life at the ripe old age of ninety-two years. In his early days he taught school, and was a justice of the peace in Greene county for many years. He was a successful farmer and accumulated a comfortable fortune by his thrift and honest dealings. He was a well-informed man, was a loyal Democrat and an influential citizen. His wife, Mary Ann Lethco, was born on March 28. 1829, in Richland county, North Carolina, and when twelve years of age she emigrated from that state to Illinois, later to Greene county, Missouri, the family locating near Ebenezer, in Robber- son township. Her death occurred at the age of seventy-nine years; she had been a member of the Southern Methodist church for over sixty years.
Charles E. Wadlow spent his boyhood days on the old homestead, where he assisted with the general work, remaining there until he was twenty-seven years of age. He received his education in the public schools, mostly at the Waterloo school-house, later was a student in the preparatory branches of Morrisville College, in Polk county. Later he attended a busi- ness college in Springfield. After his marriage he located near where his present farm is located. He has spent all his life in Murray township, his native county. He has been very successful as a general farmer and stock- raiser and is owner of a finely improved and productive farm of three hun- dred and fifty acres, all in Murray township. They have a pleasant home in the midst of attractive surroundings. Mr. Wadlow formerly handled large numbers of cattle and hogs, and at present he feeds a great many mules from year to year. He built his present commodious residence in 1898, but for seven years previous he had lived in a small house on his farm.
Mr. Wadlow was married, November 26, 1890, to Jerena Boston, a daughter of Thomas Y. and Nannie (Killingsworth) Boston. Mrs. Wad- low was born in Greene county, here grew to womanhood and was edu- cated. Her family is well known in the northern part of this county, where they have long been well established on farms.
To Mr. and Mrs. Wadlow five children have been born, namely: Ma- bel L., Thomas Wesley, Jerena, Mary Charlotte and Josephine. They are all at home.
Politically, Mr. Wadlow is a Democrat, and while he has never been an office-holder, he has been more or less active in party affairs. Frater- nally, he belongs to the Royal Arch Masons, at Springfield, and the Blue Lodge at Willard, being chaplain of the latter. He is also a member of the Modern Woodmen of America at Willard. Religiously, he belongs to the Southern Methodist church at Willard and is on the official board of the
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same. His wife also holds membership with this congregation and they are both active in church and Sunday school work. As a representative of one of the leading families of Greene county Mr. Wadlow is widely and favorably known, having the reputation of being a good neighbor, and helpful, public-spirited citizen, always ready to assist in any laudable move- ment having for its aim the betterment of his community in any way.
WILLIAM H. RATHBONE.
If the husbandman is fortunate enough to have the true vision of farming, and starts out to make it a reality, he will certainly find the busi- ness of farming a most profitable one. He will urge the backward acres of his farm into activity that will make them produce an hundred-fold. The highest grades of live stock will be found about his barns. He will ac- quire labor-saving and pleasure-giving machinery and equipment of va- rious kinds. He will make his surroundings attractive and he will ex- perience the full joy of living. William H. Rathbone is one of Greene county's farmers who seems to have the right idea about agricultural matters, and although he does not farm on so large a scale as some, he does it rightly and makes a comfortable living.
Mr. Rathbone was born, June 5. 1857, in Rochester, New York. He is a son of Thomas Henry and Sarah Ann (Warr) Rathbone. The father of our subject was born in Warwickshire, England, July 19, 1827, a son of John and Sarah (Taylor) Rathbone, both natives of England, and who have been long deceased. Thomas Henry Rathbone grew to manhood in his native land and married there, finally emigrating, with his wife and two children, to New York, where he spent seven years. Leaving that state, he came to Greene county, Missouri. He was a tinner by trade, which he had learned in England, was quite expert, and he continued to follow his trade in the United States, working at it for some time in Springfield, Missouri, or from the year 1858 to 1860, then bought a farm in North Campbell township, consisting of eighty acres, mostly undeveloped, but by dint of hard toil he made a good farm here and remained on the place five years, then took up the tinning business again, leaving the farm in the hands of his sons. Five years later he sold his farm and entered the hard- ware business in what was then known as North Springfield, maintaining the .business for a number of years, then sold out and retired from active life. He built a comfortable home on North Jefferson street where he now resides, having reached the advanced age of eighty-eight years. He is a find -old gentleman, greatly beloved by his many friends, for he has lived
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an honorable life and his business career was fraught with much good to those with whom he came -in contact. He always tried to follow the Golden Rule explicitly. He is a great lover of flowers and enjoys the sim- ple life. He has been twice married. His second wife was a Mrs. Wright. a widow, and a native of England. To this union five children were born, all of whom died in infancy. By his first wife, Sarah Ann Warr, four children were born, namely: John, deceased; Bernard F. is engaged in the hardware business in Springfield, on the north side; Mrs. Teresa Mas- sey lives in Springfield: and William Henry, who also makes his home in this city.
Mr. Rathbone often recalls the trying voyage to America, spending three months on the ocean, the captain of the vessel being drunk most of the time and incapable of handling his ship. Drinking water gave out and the passengers were almost starved and famished when they reached New York. During the Civil war Mr. Rathbone was a member of the Home Guards of Greene county and fought at the battle of Springfield, January 8, 1863, when General Marmaduke made his raid on the place. He was in the thickest of the fight and men were killed on each side of him. He had narrow escapes from death. His first wife was a native of the same locality in England where he was born and there she grew to womanhood. She has been deceased many years.
Politically, Mr. Rathbone is a Republican. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias, and belongs to the Second Presbyterian church in Springfield. He is a man of strict Christian character and has always taken much interest in church affairs.
William H. Rathbone spent his boyhood days in Greene county, whither he was brought by his parents when only a year old. He grew to manhood on his father's farm in North Campbell township. and when nineteen years of age started out in life for himself. He received a com- mon-school education. He has been living on his present farm of eighty- three acres for a period of fifteen years, during which he has made many improvements, and he is very successful as a general farmer and truck raiser. However, after spending seven years on this place, he went to Springfield, where he became foreman of the casting department of the Crescent Iron Works for awhile, but preferring the country, moved back to his farm.
Mr. Rathbone was married twice, first to Margaret Potter, a daugh- ter of Henry Potter, a native of Kentucky, who came to Greene county. Missouri, where he located and where Mrs. Rathbone was born and reared. She has been deceased for some time. To this union one child was born. Mrs. Lou Lamson, who lives near Strafford, Greene county. Mr. Rath- bone's second wife was Emma Fielder, a daughter of Thomas Fieldler, and
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to this union one child also was born, Mrs. Rosa Potter, who lives at Ebe- nezer, Greene county.
Politically, Mr. Rathbone is a Republican. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias, and his wife is a member of the Methodist church in Springfield.
HOMER GLENN FRAME, M. D.
A farmer may take good care of all his crops and animals and conduct his business at a profit, but he will find an added enjoyment and an increased profit by giving especial attention to some one crop or animal. Suppose a farmer's specialty is corn. If he does his duty by his pet crop he will raise some of the best, if not the best, corn in the neighborhood. He will not only have greater profits in the ordinary use of the crop, but the demand for his seed-corn will enable him to dispose of a large amount of it at bet- ter than the average price of seed-corn. The necessity of using only the best seed is yearly becoming more appreciated, and the man who has the reputation of growing the best corn is the one that seed buyers will seek. The reputation is the reward for building up a specialty. It is well known that the specialty of Dr. Homer Glenn Frame, of Cave Spring, Cass town- ship, Greene county, is alfalfa. Many of the farmers of this locality have doubted the practicability of attempting to grow alfalfa, but he is proving that our land will produce good crops of it, and showing wherein it would be to an advantage of many of his fellow tillers of the soil to let up awhile on planting their land to corn, wheat and other grains until the soil is ex- hausted and build it up with alfalfa, which is not only an excellent soil restorer but is a very profitable crop from a financial standpoint. The re- sults he has obtained have been plainly visible. He is one of our progres- sive citizens who believe in scientific, intense farming, who is setting a splen- did example. for his methods are advanced and in time will have to be adopted by most husbandmen of this section of the state. Doctor Frame is also one of the leading physicians of the county and is widely known. He is active in the practice, farming being only a hobby or avocation.
Doctor Frame was born in Center township, near Bois D'Arc, Greene county, Missouri, June 26, 1877. He is a son of J. William and Delilah Edna (Jones) Frame, a highly respected family of this county, mention of whom is made in a separate sketch in this volume, hence their life records will not be repeated here.
Dr. Homer G. Frame spent his boyhood days on his father's farm, where he worked hard, and he received his education in the district schools of his township, also attended high school at Marionville, Lawrence county. His father also owned a store in Bois D'Arc, in which our subject clerked
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for some time. Deciding to enter the medical profession, he went to St. Louis, when twenty years of age, and took the course at Washington Uni- versity, where he made an excellent record and from which institution he was graduated with the class of 1902, with the degree of Doctor of Medi- cine. He further prepared himself for the successful practice of his chosen calling by spending one year as interne in the City Hospital, of St. Louis, and was also house surgeon for six months in the Missouri Pacific Railroad Hospital, in St. Louis, and he was also connected with the Frisco system for a year as surgeon in the company's hospital at Cape Girardeau, Mis- souri, after which he came to Bois D'Arc, his boyhood home, where he practiced successfully for three years, and on August IC, 1909, located at Cave Spring, where he has remained to the present time, and has built up a lucrative practice, which extends over a wide locality, and has been very successful as a general practitioner. He also holds a pharmaceutical degree, issued by Missouri state commissioners. He has remained a close student of all that pertains to his profession, and has, therefore, kept fully abreast of the times, and he ranks in the fore-front of medical men in a county long noted for the high order of its medical talent. Although very busy with his professional duties, he is deeply interested in farming, es- pecially in the culture of alfalfa, as before stated, and he is experimenting with twenty acres of alfalfa on his neat and tastily-kept little farm at Cave Spring, where he has a comfortable home and attractive surroundings.
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