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 6
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995
GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
Judge Cowan was married at Stockwell, Indiana, November 13, 1845, to Harriet Doubleday Janney, who was born July 29, 1826, and was a daughter of Abel and Margaret (Porter) Janney. She was a descendant of a Quaker family of that name in Virginia, and her maternal ancestors were from the Porter family of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania and the Judahs of Switzer- land. Mrs. Cowan was a woman of strong intellect and many estimable characteristics. She was called to her eternal rest, June 28, 1905.
To Judge Cowan and wife the following children were born: Edward Howard Cowan, born December 21, 1846, was graduated from Wabash College, Crawfordsville, Indiana, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, later received the degree of Doctor of Medicine from Miami Medical College ; he married, November 13, 1877, Lucy L. Ayars ; they live at Crawfordsville, where he is a successful physician, and they have had two children, John Ayars Cowan, born August 11, 1880, died September 27, 1891 ; Elizabeth L. Cowan, born June 21, 1884, is a teacher of domestic science in the high school at Crawfordsville, Indiana. James Porter Ellis Cowan, second son of the Judge, was born October 29, 1848; he received the degrees of Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts from Wabash College ( was the first grandchild of that institution) ; he is a special pension examiner in Washington, D. C. He married, first, Louana Burnett, January 30, 1873, and to this union was born Harriet Janney Cowan, November 12, 1873. She married Lewis T. Gilliland, November 13, 1900; they live in Portland, Oregon, and have one child, Maxwell Porter Gilliland, born August 15, 1901. James P. E. Cowan's second marriage was on December 31, 1883, to Lalula R. Bennett, and to this union three children were born, Janet L. Cowan, born July 7, 1885; Mary Bennett Cowan, born July 20, 1888; Anna J. Cowan. born August 18, 1891 : they all three live at Marietta, Ohio. Laura Anna Cowan, third child of Judge Cowan and wife, was born March 14, 1851, was educated at Glen- dale Female College in Ohio, lives in Springfield, Missouri, is a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and Daughters of the War of 1812: she married on February 16, 1876, Allen Trimble Blaine, who was born November 13, 1846, and died April 26, 1880. He was a soldier in the Seventy-fourth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, later veteranized and was a member of the Twenty-second Indiana Volunteer Infantry ; to Mr. and Mrs. Blaine was born Mary Maxwell Blaine, October 3, 1877; she was graduated from Drury College with the degree of Bachelor of Science in 1898, and Master of Arts from the University of Pennsylvania in 1900. She lives in New York City; was married February 14, 1906, to Rudyard S. Uzzell, who is an A. B. and a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity from the University of Denver; to Mr. and Mrs. Rudyard Uzzell two children have been born, William Cowan Uzzell, born January 14, 1910; and Rud- yard S. Uzzell, Jr., born June 26, 1912. John William Cowan, the youngest
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GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
child of the Judge and wife, was born October 6, 1853, is unmarried and lives in Springfield, Missouri.
Judge Cowan was formerly a strong Whig and later just as strong a Republican. He has been a life-long Presbyterian. He is a member of the Society of Colonial Wars, and is a member of the Sons of the American Revolution. Although past his four score years he is hale and hearty and as active as many men at fifty. He is a grand character and is beloved by all who know him.
ROWAN F. M. MACK.
Another of the successful business men of Springfield who is a native of Greene county, where he has been content to spend his life, is Rowan E. M. Mack, well known groceryman. Much of his active life has been spent in agricultural pursuits, alternated with the grocery business, and in each he has made a pronounced success, owing to his willingness to closely apply him- self to his affairs, lead an honest life and depend upon himself rather than waiting for others to assist him or for fate, to provide for him.
Mr. Mack was born in this county, May II, 1865. He is a son of Wil- liam L. and Armenta (Dew) Mack. The father was born in Tennessee in 1832, and the mother's birth occurred in that state in 1836. They were brought to Greene county, Missouri, by their parents in the early forties and here they grew up, attended school and were married. William L. Mack was by nature a fine penman and was a well read man for his day and gen- eration and was influential in his community. His earlier life was devoted to farming and stock raising, but he quit the farm upon being appointed dep- uty sheriff under Jack Potter, and removed his family to Springfield. Later he served as deputy under Probate Judge W. A. Lincoln for a period of eight years. He gave entire satisfaction in both these positions. He was always a strong Republican in his political affiliations. His family consisted of six children, four of whom are living at this writing, namely: Maude E. is de- ceased; Iona is deceased; Rowan E. M., of this sketch; Caddy S., Edward W. and Lilly.
Rowan E. M. Mack is an excellent example of a self-made man. He re- ceived only about six months' schooling, but he has made up for this lack of early training by wide home study, and is now a well informed man. He as- sisted his father with the general work on the farm when he was a boy, be- ing eighteen years old when he removed to Springfield. Here he worked in various stores, in each of which he sought to learn something of what was going on about him, so when he was only twenty years of age he was en- abled to launch out in the grocery business for himself, in a location at the
997
GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
corner of South and Walnut streets. However, after five years in this line he decided to return to farming, and for five years tilled the soil near this city, then came back to Springfield and engaged in the grocery business five years, after which he engaged in farming again for four years. On Febru- ary 28, 1904, he opened a grocery store at his present location, corner of High and Grant streets, and the fact that he has remained here ten years in- dicates that he has been successful and has enjoyed a good trade all the while. He has a well arranged and neat store and carries a large stock of staple and fancy groceries, also a large line of feed.
Mr. Mack was married on July 24, 1890, in Springfield, to Norma E. Dutton, a daughter of H. J. and Louise (Brinsdon) Dutton. She was born in Cedar county, Missouri, June 22, 1871. Her father was one of the early- day merchants in Springfield.
Seven children, all living, have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Mack. name- ly : Lester H., born June 29, 1891, married on February 28, 1914, to Leone A. Parnitter; Lundy A., born December 9, 1892; Harvey R., born Septem- ber 31, 1895; Carl R., born June 30, 1898; Edith I., born September 20, 1901; Elva M., born February 1, 1904, and Ernest T., born November 4, I 906.
Mr. Mack owns his store building and also a comfortable and substan- tial home nearby. He also owns three farms, two of which are located in Polk county, the other in Greene. His farms in Polk county consist of three hundred and twenty acres, which he is maintaining as stock farms.
Politically, he is a Republican. Fraternally, he belongs to the Modern Woodmen, the Modern Brotherhood and the Knights and Ladies of Security. He and his wife are members of Woodland Heights Presbyterian church.
EDWARD SWAYZEE FINCH.
One of Greene county's well known and successful business men is Ed- ward Swayzee Finch, manager of the Metropolitan Hotel, Springfield, for a decade in its early history, later operator of a large farm and now conduct- ing a big store in Ash Grove. His earlier history in the wild West reads like an adventure story and as a soldier in the war between the states he proved himself a man of courage, but like thousands of his comrades he has laid aside all animosity. For in the fulness of time there has been blotted from the bosoms of men all sentiment toward men of another sec- tion. No longer do we measure prejudice by the metes and bounds of a. river of imaginary lines. Those who fought and won, and those who fought
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GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
and lost have mutual admiration for the courage and patriotism of the other. The very issues of the contest have almost passed from memory. Today one can not tell whether the boy who wears the uniform of a united country came from a sire who wore the blue or the gray. In these uncertain days, when there are rumors of war, there is no question as to who will do his, duty when the clouds have lowered and the reign of death begins. There is no suspicion in the minds of men that any one section of our land will sulk, but from every point of the compass will come the men of stout hearts and ringing patriotism to redeem from insult the common banner of a common people.
Mr. Finch was born in Columbus, Ohio, February 2, 1849. He is a son of Wallace M. and Martha (Comstock) Finch. Wallace M. Finch was born in Maryland in 1820, and was a son of Mathew Finch and wife. Mathew Finch was also a native of Maryland but removed from there to New York where he followed contracting until his death. He was a captain during the war of 1812, and his father was a captain in the Revolutionary war. When a young man Wallace M. Finch went to Chillicothe, Ohio, and began in the mercantile business in a small way, later establishing himself in Columbus, where he became a very successful wholesale merchant. He re- tired from business on account of ill health in 1857 and until his death spent his winters in the South and summers in the North. His death occurred in 1863. Politically he was a Whig and during the last few years of his life a Republican. He was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows and the Episcopal church. He and Martha Comstock were married about 1845. She was born in 1826 in Columbus, Ohio, and died in 1903.
Edward S. Finch left Columbus, Ohio, when seven years of age. He received common school education and later was a student at Racine Col- lege, Racine, Wisconsin. In December, 1863, he enlisted in Company I, Second Wisconsin Cavalry, and saw considerable hard service in the South, proving to be a courageous and gallant soldier. He was wounded in the battle of Black River in the right arm, and later was again wounded in the same place while on patrol duty. He was honorably discharged in August, 1865. After the war he attended a commercial school for some time, then went to Richmond, Indiana, where he worked in the office of a wholesale grocery company as shipping clerk, also salesman. He then went to Mexico, Missouri, where he engaged in the grocery business in 1872-3, then came to Springfield, this state, where he worked as clerk in the Metropolitan Hotel for six months, then spent five years on the western frontier as a miner, prospector, stage-driver and he was the first sheriff of Ouray county, Colorado, when it required a man of nerve, tact and courage to fill such an office. He had many thrilling and interesting experiences during his career
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GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
in the West. He came back to Springfield in the spring of 1879, his mother having purchased a two-thirds interest in the Metropolitan Hotel, our sub- ject later purchasing the remaining third. The hotel building he operated successfully for a period of ten years, during which it was one of the most popular and best appointed hostelries in southwest Missouri. In 1889 he left the hotel and engaged in the real estate business, and to him and others is due the credit of opening the Pickwick addition and securing the Elm street car line and also the Old Normal School. And for many years he was identified with every movement for the upbuilding of Springfield and a large contributor to the same. In 1896 he traded his interests in Spring- field for the old Gates farm, Greene county, and engaged in general agri- cultural pursuits on a large scale until 1914 when he purchased the Smith Brothers' store in Ash Grove which he is now conducting and is enjoying a large trade. He carries a complete line of merchandise, everything found in an up-to-date store of this kind. By his fair dealings and courtesy he has not only retained the customers which the store formerly had but is securing new ones constantly. He employs a number of capable assistants, and his store would be a credit to cities much larger than Ash Grove He was one of the ten men who signed the guaranty that brought the "Gulf shops" to Springfield.
Mr. Finch was married on October 26, 1889, to Brella Sherwood, who was born in Springfield, Missouri. She received a good education. She is a daughter of Judge T. A. and Mary E. (Young) Sherwood, one of the prominent old families of Greene county.
To Mr. and Mrs. Finch six children have been born, namely: Mary, wife of W. A. Hennington, lives in Springfield ; Martha, who is a stenographer and student in the State Normal school at Springfield; Florence is at home; Constance is also a student in the State Normal; Elenore and Adele are both at home.
Politically, Mr. Finch is a Democrat. He belongs to Capt. John Mat- thews post, Grand Army of the Republic at Springfield. Religiously, he is an Episcopalian. He is one of the active and prominent Masons in this part of the state. He was made a Master Mason in 1881 in Solomon Lodge, and has now demited to the Ash Grove Lodge. He is a member of the Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, and St. John's Commandery No. 20, Knights Templar, of which he was captain general for ten years, then was eminent commander for some time and again became captain general. He also belongs to Abou Ben Adhem Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, and at this writing is captain of patrol and has been for ten years. By his daily life he seems to strive, in an unobtrusive manner, to inculcate the sublime principles of Masonry, and his example as a man and citizen might well be emulated by the youth whose characters are yet in the making.
ICOO
GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
WILLIAM McKERALL.
The annals of Greene county do not present to the historian a name more worthy of laudation than that of the late William McKerall, a fine type of the old-time chivalrous Southern gentleman, one of the largest land owners of this county for many years and in his earlier career a lawyer of distinction and a soldier of talent, having been a West Point product and an officer in the Mexican war. His life was one of hard study and un- selfish industry, whose laborious professional duties in the various relations in which he was placed, led to a high position in the esteem of the public, which gave evidence that the qualities which he possessed afforded the means. of distinction under a system of government in which places of honor and usefulness are open to all who may be found worthy of them. He passed over the troubled sea of life like a galleon through the phosphorescent Spanish Main, leaving in its wake a pathway of illuminating radiance.
Mr. McKerall was born in Orange county, North Carolina, June 17, 1824. He was a son of John Wilson McKerall and Lorena McKerall, a prominent old family of the Carolinas. The father of our subject was born at Norfolk, Virginia, in 1771. His father was a Scotch sailor and was lost at sea. During John McKerall's early life, his folks moved to North Caro- lina and his mother was married to a man by the name of Childs. While Mr. McKerall was in Tennessee attending to business, the children of his mother's second marriage, influenced his creditors to push their claims, which they did, and John McKerall lost his entire estate. He was a lawyer but gave up his practice late in life and was recorder in Orange county, North Carolina. He was commander of a company in the War of 1812. His sister was the wife of one of the governors of North Carolina. John McKerall died of apoplexy in 1834 on the way from his home to his office in Hillsboro.
Our subject grew to manhood and attended school in Orange county, North Carolina. When sixteen years of age he entered West Point Mili- tary Academy and was in the same class with Winfield S. Hancock, who. became a famous general and was called the "hero of Gettysburg." Owing to failing health, our subject was compelled to leave West Point before he finished the course. He returned to his home in North Carolina and later entered Caldwell Institute. When the Mexican war began, he en- listed as a volunteer and was elected first lieutenant of Company E. in a North Carolina regiment. Later he was promoted to captain. On one occasion he commanded a detachment on escort and conducted a supply train one hundred and eighty miles without loss or mishap. He was a most capable and faithful officer, trusted and admired alike by his men and
WILLIAM MCKERALL, Deceased.
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MARY A. MCKERALL.
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GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
superior officers. He was honorably discharged at Old Point Comfort, Virginia. He then took up the study of law and settled in Louisiana, and practiced his profession in Texas for some time, moving to Waco in 1854. After a successful career at the bar, he engaged in merchandising and raising. cattle on a large scale. The same year he was appointed to fill an unexpired term as chief justice of McLennan county, Texas. He discharged his judicial duties in a manner that reflected much credit upon himself and to the eminent satisfaction of all concerned.
Our subject was married twice, his first wife being a Miss Sedbury and to their union two children were born, Nannie and William. In the summer of 1868 he came to Greene county, Missouri, and married Mrs. Mary Roan (Danforth) Campbell, widow of Capt. John M. Campbell. She was born February 22, 1838, and was reared and educated in Greene county. She was the daughter of J. F. and Latitia Danforth. Her first. husband, Capt. John M. Campbell, was born in Springfield, November 17, 1832. When fifteen years old, he joined the United States army when the Mexican war began and served in that conflict with credit, taking part in a number of engagements. His father was also a soldier in that war, at the close of which, the latter was made bearer of dispatches to Washington City. The Campbells were honorably discharged at the close of the war. Five children were born to Mrs. William McKerall by her marriage with Captain Camp- bell, namely: Louisa, Argyle and John, all deceased; Finley lives in Cali- fornia ; and Mrs. Mary Schaffer lives in New Mexico.
To the union of our subject and wife, four children were born, Josiah Danforth is living in Greene county; Fannie Elizabeth, widow of Thos. Jackson Bennett, who died November 8, 1913. He was a native of Dallas county and was a farmer and capitalist. Mrs. Bennett is living on the homestead with her mother. Daisy is the wife of Jei O'Kino, to whom she was married December 19, 1913. He is a graduate of the Imperial University of Tokio and is a gentleman of rare ability. Mrs. O'Kino is also making her home with her mother; and John Wilson, who is the youngest of the family. After the marriage of our subject and wife, they settled on land inherited by Mrs. McKerall, northeast of Springfield. Mr. McKerall prospered as a general farmer and stockman and at one time owned seven hundred acres of valuable land in this county and for years ranked among our most progressive men of affairs and influential and honored citizens. The house in which the widow and her two daughters reside was built in 1849 and is of the Colonial type.
Politically, William McKerall was a Democrat. He was a member of the Masonic Order and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows." ""He be- longed to the Methodist Episcopal church. Personally, he was a scholarly. - broad-minded, gentleman of never-failing courtesy.
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GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
LEMUEL C. RICKETTS.
In pioneer days when farming implements and machinery were of the crudest kind, requiring a goodly supply of both muscle and grit to use them to advantage, brawn, more than brains, was needed in the business of farming, in order to rescue the fertile soils from the wilderness of forest and prairie growth. In these modern days of worn and worn-out soils and the abandoned farm, with the most improved labor-saving farm machinery, the business of farming needs brains more than brawn, that our soils may be rescued from the wilderness and desert or wasted fertility that has stifled and depleted them. One of the farmers of Jackson township, Greene county, who is evidently intelligently applying himself to his vocation, is Lemuel C. Ricketts, who not only uses his brains, but is a hard worker with his hands, and therefore has succeeded.
Mr. Ricketts was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, November 3, 1873. He is a son of Jesse M. B. and Othelia (Chaney) Ricketts, both natives of that county and state also, each born near the town of Carroll, the father's birth having occurred in 1819. There they spent their earlier years and attended the common schools. Jesse M. B. Ricketts also went to school in Columbus, Ohio, studied law, and later practiced his profession at Finley and Lan- caster, that state, with success. He retired from his professional life at the age of sixty-five years, and moved to a farm in Greene county, Missouri, his place here consisting of eighty acres. His death occurred in Colorado at the advanced age of eighty years. His family consisted of three children, namely : Mary Ella, deceased; Lemuel C., of this sketch; Mrs. Viola M. Russell lives in Billings, Montana.
Lemuel C. Ricketts was reared in Ohio. He was thirteen years of age when he removed with the family to Greene county, Missouri. He received a good education. He hired out most of the time until he was twenty-one years old. In 1897 he went to the West, where he worked for some time as a contractor, returning to Greene county in 1907. Soon thereafter he purchased the farm of two hundred and twenty acres where he now lives. He has a well-improved and productive place, which gives every indication of good management. He has been very successful in a business way and is one of the substantial and influential citizens of this section of the county. He is president of the Bank of Stafford, which he helped to organize and which, under his able and judicious management, has become one of the popular and sound banking institutions of this part of the state. He has been president since its organization. It has had a constant and satisfactory growth and a general banking business is carried on. He has built an attrac- tive home on his farm. This place was settled in 1845 by Erskin Danforth.
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GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
Mr. Ricketts was married, January 6, 1899, to Estella Palmer, who was born in Wisconsin, August 19, 1876. She is a daughter of Randolph and Marira (Dearth) Palmer. She spent her early life in Iowa, Kansas, Ar- kansas, Oklahoma and Missouri. She received a common school educa- tion.
The father of Mrs. Ricketts was a soldier in the Civil war, having enlisted in Company D, Sixty-third Illinois Volunteer Infantry. and he served in the Georgia campaign under General Sherman, with whom he marched to the sea. He is now living in Joplin, Missouri.
Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Ricketts, namely: Hugh, born October 25, 1899, lives at home; Lemuel E., born October 29, 1901, died October 20, 1908; Jesse Paul, born January 17, 1905, is at home ; Arthur L., born July 6, 1907, is at home; Helen May, born August 7, 1910, is at home; Ralph Randolph, born July 4, 1912, died March 3. 1915.
Politically, Mr. Ricketts is a Republican. Fraternally, he is a thirty- second degree Mason, and is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
TIMOTHY J. WRIGHTSMAN.
"Through struggle to triumph" seems to be the maxim which holds sway with the majority of people, that is, those who attain to a successful goal at all, must find it after arduous effort. And, though it is undoubtedly true that many fall exhausted in the conflict, a few, by their inherent force of character and strong mentality, rise above their environment, and all which seems to hinder them, until they reach the plane of affluence toward which their face was set through the long years of struggle that must necessarily precede any accomplishment of great magnitude. Such has been the history, briefly stated, of Timothy J. Wrightsman, one of Greene county's pioneer business men and Civil war veterans, who, after a long, busy and useful life, is living in honorable retirement in his attractive home in Springfield, spending the De- cember of his years in quiet, as he is now in his seventy-seventh year.
Mr. Wrightsman is the scion of an old Southern family and hails from the Old Dominion, "the mother of Presidents," his birth having occurred in Roanoke, Virginia, November 13, 1838. He is a son of Joseph and Kesia (Beckner) Wrightsman, both natives of Virginia, also, the father's birth hav- ing occurred in 1808, and the mother was born there in 1818. They grew to maturity in their native state, attended the early-day schools and were mar- ried there, and devoted their lives to agricultural pursuits, and the father was also a cabinet maker by trade, and made a great deal of fine furniture in his early life, thereby getting his start in the business world. He remained in
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