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 62
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The paternal grandfather of our subject was a well-to-do factory owner in Bavaria, Germany, making cabinets, furniture, etc. He spent his life in his native land.
August F. Prugger grew to manhood in Wisconsin and received a common school education, leaving school when sixteen years of age and began working at the Esterly Coffin Works, but not taking to this line of business he turned his attention to the manufacture of furniture and then to machine work for the Esterly Harvester Works as machinist apprentice, at Whitewater, Wisconsin. After serving his apprenticeship he worked as journeyman for six years, then went to Beloit. Wisconsin, with the Williams Engine Works, building stationary engines. He worked in the Berlin Machine Works at Beloit, assembling sand paper machinery. On January 28. 1891, he went to work for the St. Louis & Frisco Railroad Company at Springfield, Missouri, and has been in constant service with this com- pany ever since. He first worked as machinist, keeping machinery in repair. also worked in the pump department in the north side shops. He had become familiar with millwright work while at Whitewater, Wisconsin. At Beloit he helped install the machinery and worked there as millwright. and he has been working at this line for the Frisco here many years. He has installed machinery in many places over the Frisco System, such as Ft. Scott. Memphis, Birmingham and other points. He was appointed foreman of the north side shops about 1904, under Michael Carney, and he is now
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foreman of the motor car shops there, having about fourteen hands under his direction. Nearly all of the millwright work over the entire system is under his direction. He is an expert in his line and faithful in the discharge of his every duty.
Mr. Prugger was married in 1896 to Eva Sprohs, a daughter of John Sprohs, a native of Germany, but now living in Springfield.
To our subject and wife four children have been born, namely: John Joseph is a student in Conception College at Conception, Missouri; Clara, Theresa, and Henry are all at home, the Prugger residence being on Sum- mit avenue.
Mr. Prugger is independent in his political views. He is a member of the Catholic church, and fraternally belongs to the Knights and Ladies of Security and the Improved Order of Red Men.
EDWARD P. DINGELDEIN.
The German element in Springfield is not as large as in many American cities of this size, but those who have cast their lot here have proved to be industrious and loyal citizens, become property owners and have not hesi- tated to support such measures as have made for the general growth of the city. Of this class is Edward P. Dingeldein, one of our enterprising young Germans of the second generation in this country, but who seems to have the characteristic thrift of the true Teutons.
Mr. Dingeldein was born in St. Louis, Missouri, December 25, 1873. He is a son of Sebastian and Dorothea (Studt) Dingeldein, both parents natives of Germany, where they grew to maturity, received their educa- tions, which were limited, and there made their home until the year 1867. when they left the Fatherland and emigrated to the United States, each locating in St. Louis, Missouri, where they were married in 1869 and there established the family home. There the father engaged in the malt busi- ness for five years. The mother was one of eleven children, six sons and five daughters, four of whom are living at this writing, one remaining in Germany. .
To Sebastian Dingeldein and wife four children have been born, namely : Julius W., who is associated in business with our subject in Springfield ; Edward P., of this review : Emelie M. is single and is living in Springfield ; William S. is deceased.
From St. Louis the Dingeldein family moved to Springfield in 1876, when our subject was two years of age, and here the father established him-
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self in business and became comfortably situated. £ Politically he was a Democrat. His death occurred on March 24, 1894. His widow is still living, making her home in Springfield.
Edward P. Dingeldein grew to manhood in Springfield and here received his education, attending the common school up to 1889, then took a business course in the Southwestern Business College, including bookkeeping and business forms, and was graduated from that institution in 1891. He began his career as a railroader, working for some time with the old Kansas City, Fort Scott & Memphis Railroad Company, and later was in the employ of the St. Louis & San Francisco Railroad Company, and in December, 1897, he started in the retail liquor business with his brother, Julius W., which they have conducted to the present time.
Mr. Dingeldein was married in 1894 to Ida Stone, a daughter of C. . M. and Elizabeth Stone, she being one of four children. Her mother and father are still living in Springfield. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Dingeldein, namely : Edna L., William J. and Edward S. The two oldest are attending school.
Politically our subject is a Democrat and has remained with the party in both victory and defeat, as did his father before him. Religiously he is a member of St. John's German Evangelical church, having been confirmed at the age of fifteen years. He attended the church primary school of this denomination in 1889. He has always sought the companionship of per- sons older than himself, and has tried to profit by their examples .. Frater- nally he is a member of the Eagles, the Improved Order of Red Men and the German Brotherhood. He has always been a law-abiding citizen, and has kept within the bounds of good citizenship.
ANDREW THOMAS HART.
The attitude of the general public toward the farmer of today is some- what different to that during the century preceding the present. All now realize the fact that with the advanced methods of scientific farming it requires more brains than brawn to make a success as an argiculturist and stock man. The tiller of the soil can no longer follow the methods employed by his grandfather when he worked the virgin soil, when the climate was different, the land different, in fact, most everything different. One must not only "be up and doing, and learn to labor and to wait." as the poet, Long- fellow, admonished, but one must be a close student of literature bearing on agricultural and horticultural and live stock subjects, but also a keen
GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
observer and a logical thinker. Nature has given most men sufficient natural ability to succeed in farming, but so many are indifferent, apathetic and unwilling to put forth the proper amount of physical and mental exertion to reap large rewards in this greatest of all callings.
Andrew Thomas Hart, of Wilson township, Greene county, is a good example of the thoughtful, energetic and successful twentieth century farmer. He was born in this vicinity on April 4, 1867. He is a son of Maj. R. K. and Mary Jane ( Beal) Hart. The father was born in North Carolina and when nineteen years old emigrated to Christian county, Missouri, set- tling on a farm near the town of Clever, with his parents, with whom he remained until he was about twenty-eight years of age, and assisted with the general work on the farm. After his marriage he bought a farm near the present village of Battlefield and there devoted hinself to general farm- ing. During the Civil war he enlisted in the Union army and proved to be such a gallant and efficient soldier that he was promoted to the rank of major, and was honorably discharged at the close of his term of enlist- ment. He devoted his active life to general farming and is now living in retirement on South Market street, Springfield, Missouri. His family consisted of seven children, namely: Alvoree, Samuel K., Mrs. Nannie C. Hendrix, Mrs. Hollie A. Alexander, Andrew Thomas, of this review; Will- iam H., and the youngest child died in infancy.
Andrew T. Hart grew to manhood on the home farm and he received a somewhat limited education in the district schools, later taking a course in a business college, also attended the old Ash Grove College, and finally secured a very good text-book training. He has devoted his life principally to general farming, but during the year 1913 and 1914 he was for some time engaged in the real estate business with J. E. Walton on South street. Springfield. However, farming appealed to him most and he returned to rural life. He is owner of one hundred and sixty acres of well-kept and well-tilled land in Wilson township, and in connection with general farm- ing he carries on stock raising and buying and shipping live stock on a large scale, and is one of the successful and well-known stockmen of the western part of the county. He has made all the present improvements on his place. He has a good home and good buildings in general.
Mr. Hart was married on October 31, 1888, to Nannie C. Putman, a daughter of Joseph E. and Mary Jane ( Moore) Putman, both natives of Greene county, this state, and here Mrs. Hart was also born, grew to womanhood and was educated in the public schools. She had no brothers or sisters.
To Mr. and Mrs. Hart two children have been born, Herman E., and Roy P. The latter is a civil engineer. He was graduated from the Colum-
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bia University, and is at present employed in the engineering department of the Missouri Pacific Railroad, with headquarters at St. Louis. Herman E., who received a good high school education, is a traveling salesman for the McDaniel Milling Company, his territory being in Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas.
Politically Mr. Hart is a Democrat. He is a member of the Masonic Order and the Knights of Pythias, and religiously he belongs to the Bap- tist church.
WILLIAM A. FRY.
To hear the average city man unburden himself, often in none too graceful language, about high prices and the cost of living, one would imagine that he alone is affected and that the farmer is rolling in the fat of the land. As a matter of fact, the farmer is feeling the high cost of living the same as everyone else. He is paying more for his labor (when he can get it at all) ; more for his land; more for his implements, and more for everything that enters into his daily life, while the prices he receives for his products have not given him a fair return for his time and his labor. But notwithstanding these facts, many of the farmers of Greene county have accumulated competencies and are making a comfort- able living, among whom may be mentioned William A. Fry, owner of "Shady Oak Farm," in Wilson township.
Mr. Fry was born in the above named township and county, August 5, 1870. . He is a son of Marion S. and Sarah Jane (Payne) Fry. The father removed from Kentucky in an early day to northern Missouri. The mother was born and reared in Greene county, this state, and here received a common school education. Marion S. Fry was a boy when he came to Missouri, and here he grew to manhood and attended the public schools, after which he devoted his attention to general farming. He came to Greene county when about twenty-four years of age, settling on a farm of two hundred acres, and a year later he and Sarah Jane Payne were mar- ried, and to this union four children were born, namely: William A., of this review : Oscar E. lives in Oregon: Walter F. resides in Wilson town- ship, this county; and the youngest child died in infancy, unnamed. The parents of these children spent the rest of their lives on the farm here, the father dying October 3, 1898, and the death of the mother occurred in September, 1903.
William A. Fry grew to manhood on the home farm and there assisted with the general work when a boy. He received his early education in the
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district schools of Wilson township; he remained under his parental roof- tree until he was twenty-five years of age, when he married and established a home of his own, the date of his wedding being July 28, 1895, and he selected for his life companion Pearl Ward, a daughter of Arch W. and Allie (Edwards) Ward, who were residents of Greene county for many years, and the mother still resides on the old homestead in Wilson town- ship, the death of Arch W. Ward having occurred in September, 1912.
Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Fry, namely: Clorline is the eldest; the second child died in infancy unnamed; and Marie, who is the youngest.
Mr. Fry has devoted his active life to general farming and stock rais- ing. He is at present operating one hundred and seventy-five acres, which is a part of the old homestead, and which he has named very appropriately "Shady Oak Farm." He recently built an attractive new home, surrounded by a fine grove of oaks in a splendid location. The place is productive and well kept in every respect. Until recently Mr. Fry dealt quite extensively in live stock, raising, buying and selling, but in later years he has devoted his attention to general farming.
Politically Mr. Fry has always been a Democrat. In September, 1901. he was called upon to mourn the loss of his faithful helpmeet, and he has never remarried.
WILLIAM FRY ROPER.
One expression of the discontent of the people of the twentieth cen- tury is the back-to-the-farm movement. While the wages of workmen have increased and the hours of labor have decreased, the desire for the better things of life and the luxuries have grown proportionately. That which satisfied the laboring man of forty years ago would be regarded with disdain by the workers of today. The increased cost of living in the city undoubtedly has much to do with the discontent of the people, and the imperfect marketing system which raises the cost to the consumer and mini- mizes the profits of the producer, is another fertile source of discontent. Whether conditions will adjust themselves under the present economic ar- rangement and our imperfect system of distribution is a question. It will require more than an ordinary prophet to rise in his place and foretell what the answer will be to the rising tide of discontent of the people of the cities. Having spent his life close to Nature, engaged in peaceful agricultural pur- suits and dealing honestly with his fellow men, thereby keeping his con- science clear. William Fry Roper, a well-known citizen of Republic town- ship, Greene county, has never been seized with the spirit of discontent that
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is so apparent over the land; in other words, he has had the tact to live his life along well-regulated and proper channels.
Mr. Roper was born in Greene county, Missouri, February 17, 1853. He is a son of Wylie B. and Minerva (Fry) Roper. The father of our subject emigrated from middle Tennessee to Greene county, this state, in 1851, and rented land nine miles northeast of Springfield, but in a short time settled north of Nichols, on a tract of about two hundred acres. He was a native of Tennessee, as was also his wife, and there they grew to maturity and received limited educations and were married. Our subject was then about one year old, and it was on this place that he spent his boyhood, and attended subscription school at old Antioch. His parents rented their farm and moved to Springfield, where Wylie Roper was selling goods when the Civil war began. Later the elder Roper moved with his family to Texas and bought a large farm, of which he placed two hundred acres under cultivation. To Wylie Roper and wife ten children were born, namely : DeWitt C. is the eldest; Maggie L. is the wife of Frank White and they live near Nichols, in Greene county; Russell, deceased; John W. lives in California; William F., subject of this sketch; George lives in Lawrence county, Missouri; Wylie B. lives in Oregon; Mrs. Lulu Martin lives in Springfield; Mary and Myrtie, the two youngest, both died in infancy.
William F. Roper was married August 2, 1877, to Minerva Sparkman, a daughter of W. D. and Jane (Rainey) Sparkman, both natives of Ten- nessee, where they grew up, were educated and married, and from that state. immigrated to Greene county, Missouri, in 1854. Their family con- sisted of eight children, named as follows: Dr. Allen G .; Orren lives near Bois D'Arc, Greene county ; Jefferson lives in California ; Lizzie is deceased ; Minerva, who married Mr. Roper of this sketch; James lives in Seattle. Washington: John lives in Republic township, this county; Alice, who mar- ried J. M. Short, is deceased.
To Mr. and Mrs. Roper nine children have been born, namely: Ada is the wife of Edward Roop, of Independence, Missouri; James lives in Seattle, Washington; Ollie is engaged in the furniture and carpet business in Republic, and, being an ardent lover of horses, owns and trades in them: Alice is the wife of Oscar Roop, of Republic; Janie is the wife of George Burris, of Seattle, Washington : Charlie lives in Republic; Bruce lives in St. Louis : Leon lives in Republic: Thomas also resides in Republic.
Mr. Roper owns fifty-nine acres of valuable land on the outskirts of the city of Republic, which land he keeps rented, and he lives quietly in his attractive home here, having been retired from the active duties of life during the past two years.
Politically he is a Democrat. He is a member of the Christian church, to which his wife and children also belong.
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HUGH MeCLERNON.
The career of Hugh MeClernon, a retired farmer of Springfield. is a splendid example of what many of the thrifty sons of Erin's Green Isle have accomplished in this great western republic, after landing within our borders with little capital and being compelled to start out in a strange en- vironment without sympathetic and helpful friends. There have been many such during the past century or more, and we have always welcomed them, knowing that most of them would turn out to be good citizens and be bene- ficial to us in a general way.
Mr. McClernon was born in County Dary, Ireland, March 12, 1850. Ile is a son of Hugh and Margaret ( McElwee) MeClernon, both natives of Ireland, where they grew up, received meager educations and were married and established their home. The father was a stone mason by trade, also engaged in farming. His family consisted of nine children, two of whom are still living. Hugh, of this sketch, and a sister who has remained in Ire- land. A brother of our subject came to America in an early day, but the rest of the family remained in the old country.
Hugh McClernon grew to manhood in his native land, and, when a boy, assisted his father with his work. He received a common school edu- cation, and there, when about twenty years of age, he was united in mar- riage with Margaret McElhone, a daughter of James and Sarah (McKen- na) McElhone. Soon thereafter he brought his bride to the United States, about 1870. They landed in New York, but came on west to St. Louis, where they lived three years, where our subject worked as a stone mason, which trade he had learned under his father when a boy. He then came to Springfield and purchased a farm in Campbell township, then about two miles northeast of Springfield, but now only about one mile northeast of here. He went to work with a will, and from a small beginning forged to the front as a general farmer, later being able to add to his original pur- chase. It was his custom to buy land, improve it, and when the price raised on land in his community, sell out at a profit. In this way he became a man of comfortable financial circumstances. After living here several years he engaged in the dairy business, selling his products in Springfield, and became known as one of the successful dairymen of Greene county. Under his able training his sons all took up this line of business and have done well with it. He also became a successful dealer in live stock, trading ex- tensively in horses and mules. He still owns his productive, well improved and most desirable farm, but in the autumn of 1914 he retired from active life, having accumulated a handsome competency through his good manage- ment and close application to details, and purchased a fine residence on
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Cherry street, Springfield, where he now resides, surrounded by all the com- forts of life. He also owns considerable other real estate in this city. .
To Mr. McClernon and wife nine children have been born, namely : Hugh, Jr., the eldest, is deceased; Henry is a retired stockman; Mrs. Mag- gie Boll is the wife of a brick manufacturer; Patrick J. is engaged in the dairy business; Sarah married Con Shay, who died in 1913, she lives with her father and has one child, Nora Marie, five years of age; Jane and Mary are living at home; John is engaged in the dairy business, living on his father's farm; Annie is at home. These children were given excellent edu- cational advantages; the girls have all been trained in music.
Politically, Mr. McClernon is a Democrat. He was a member of the county school board for a period of nine years; he was road overseer for four years in his district, and also served four years as road commissioner. He proved to be a most faithful, able and conscientious public servant, al- ways looking closely to the interests of his locality and county. He is a member of the Catholic church and is a charter member of the local lodge of the Knights of Columbus.
FLEMIN T. JARED.
Success is only achieved by the exercise of certain distinguishing quali- ties and it cannot be retained without effort. Those by whom great epoch changes have been made in the political and industrial world began early in life to prepare themselves for their peculiar duties and responsibilities, and it was only by the most persevering and continuous endeavor that they suc- ceeded in rising superior to the obstacles in their way and reaching the goal of their ambition. The life of any successful man, whether he be prominent in the world's affairs or not is an inspiration to others who are less courageous and more prone to give up the fight before their ideal is reached or definite success in any chosen field has been attained. Flemin T. Jared, of the firm of Jared Brothers, well-known merchants of West Commercial street, Spring- field, is a man whose example has made for the good of his associates and acquaintances, for his career has been an industrious and useful one.
Mr. Jared was born in Buffalo Valley, Tennessee, March 17, 1877. He is a son of Moses A. Jared, also born in that vicinity, where he was reared, attended school and engaged in farming until in 1896, when he removed to Missouri, locating in Howell county, where he continued farming until his death, in September, 1903, at the age of seventy-six years. In his younger days he taught school for some time in his native state, and during the Civil
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war he taught school in Ripley county, Missouri, from 1860 to 1864, then went to Illinois and taught school in the southern part of that state for a year. He was prominent in the affairs of his locality in Tennessee and held a num- ber of offices, including that of judge of the County Court, and he was a justice of the peace for a period of twenty-seven years. He was a Demo- crat, belonged to the Grange and the Wheelers ; also belonged to the Methodist Episcopal church, South. His father, Alexander Jared, was one of the early pioneers in Buffalo Valley, Tennessee, where he engaged in farming, and was also a carpenter by trade. Moses A. Jared was twice married, first to Amanda Price, who died many years ago. His second marriage was to Sarah A. Thompson, who died May 1, 1906, at the age of sixty-seven years, and was buried at Pottersville, Howell county, Missouri. To the first marriage thirteen children were born, and seven children were born to the second union, the subject of this sketch being the eldest of the children by the last marriage. This large family of twenty children were named in order of birth as follows : Yateman died when fifteen years of age; Wade W., born July 1, 1849, was a minister in the Methodist Episcopal church, South, and one time was pastor of a church in Springfield, and was pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church at Malta Bend, Missouri, up to the time of his death, December 10, 1891 ; Brice, who was engaged in the hotel business at Nashville, Tennessee. died in 1912, at the age of sixty-one years ; John W. died in early life ; Mary F. also died when young : Martha J., deceased, was the wife of W. A. Holliday, a farmer of Gentry, Putnam county, Tennesse; Samuel is connected with the Dixie College in Putnam county, Tennessee : Tennie, deceased, was the wife of E. Holliday, a minister in the Methodist Episcopal church, South, of Put- nam county. Tennessee : James A. is pastor of a Southern Methodist church at Warrensburg. Missouri; Peter is circuit clerk of the court in Cookville, Tennessee: Simon, deceased, was a school teacher and farmer of Putnam county, Tennessee : Augusta is farming in Grayson county, Texas; Robert died when fifteen years of age: Flemin T. of this review : Mary is the wife of H. L. Taylor, of Thayer, Missouri: Alice is the wife of J. W. Cox, of the firm of Cox Brothers, of Commercial street. Springfield, Missouri ; Anthony. born December 12, 1881. who is a member of the firm of Jared Brothers. merchants of Springfield, married Elizabeth Heindrich, which union has been blessed with one child: Bettie, familiarly known as Betsey, is the wife of C. A. Cox, who is engaged in the furniture business with his brother in Spring- field : Newton, born May 8, 1887, has remained single and is a member of the firm of Jared Brothers of Springfield : Taylor died when fifteen years of age.
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