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 66
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life for himself, he has inadvertently had a palliative influence on the lives of those with whom he has come in contact, the people of this locality know- ing him as an honest, earnest, energetic and public-spirited citizen, worthy of their confidence and respect.
Mr. Pollack was born in Cass township, Greene county, Missouri, September 6, 1874. He is a son of Joseph Pollack, who was born in 1842 in Alsace-Lorraine, which was a part of France up to 1871, but since the Franco-Prussian War it has been a province of Germany. Reidseltz is the name of the village in which he first saw the light of day and where he spent his boyhood and attended school. Leaving there at the age of seventeen years he immigrated to America, landing in New York City. He came on west to Dayton, Ohio, where an elder brother had previously located. From there he went to St. Louis, where he attended a commercial college. After remaining there two years he came to Springfield, and engaged in the mer- cantile business, working for the firm of Frieberg & Klotz, which established a branch store at Walnut Grove, this county, of which Mr. Pollack was placed in charge. On March 1, 1866, he married Martha Elizabeth Skeen, a daughter of Hope Skeen. She was born on October II, 1845, at Fair Grove, this county, and removed to Cass township when eight years old and grew to womanhood and received her education. She is a member of one of the prominent old families of this locality, and she has spent her life in Greene county, living now at Cave Spring. After his marriage Joseph Pollack purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Cass township and here spent the rest of his life as a general farmer. He developed his place from the wilderness, establishing a good home by hard work and perseverance, and he became a useful citizen here and was highly respected by all who knew him. His death occurred December 13, 1905.
Twelve children were born to Joseph Pollack and wife, four of whom died when young, namely: Guy died at the age of twenty years; Delinda is the wife of George Rock and they make their home in Colorado; Calvin, of this sketch; Adele is the wife of C. Denby, and they reside at Pearl, this county; Marvin is living on the old home farm in Cass township; Harry is married and is clerking in the store of his brother, our subject; Mrs. Katie Short lives in Tennessee where her husband is engaged in the real estate business; Helen is at home with her mother.
Calvin Pollack grew to manhood on the homestead and assisted with the general work about the farm when a boy. He received his education in the common schools here and he began life for himself as a farmer, continu- ing in this line of endeavor successfully for a period of twenty-five years. Leaving the farm he began clerking in the general merchandise store of D. E. Cloud at Cave Spring, remaining in his employ four years, during which time he learned the ins and outs of this line of business, but continued to
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work four years more in the same store for W. S. Click, who purchased the store from Mr. Cloud. After spending eight years as clerk and be- coming well acquainted with the business and the people of this locality, he bought out his employer and has since managed the store on his own accord, enjoying a large and constantly growing business, and keeping at all seasons an extensive and well-selected stock of general merchandise. Having always dealt courteously and honestly with the scores of regular patrons of the store, he has enjoyed the confidence and good will of the people of this community.
Mr. Pollack married Nellie Darraugh, March 18, 1900. She is a daughter of Whitfield Darraugh, and was reared and educated in Greene county. Two children have been born to our subject and wife, namely : Florence, now ten years old, is attending school at Cave Spring; and Jose- phine, seven years old, is also in school.
Politically, Mr. Pollock is a Democrat, and is a supporter of every measure, which makes for the general upbuilding of his community. Fraternally he is a member of the Modern Woodmen lodge at Cave Spring. He is an active member of the Christian church of his home community, being a deacon in the same.
WILLIAM E. THOMPSON.
It used to be if there was a bright boy in the farmer's family he must needs forsake the farm to become a lawyer, or a doctor, or some sort of a professional man, but those whose wits were seen to be dull, would do very well on the farm. On the surface it would seem that the farms lost and the professions gained. But it was not always so and more often the farmer lad who chose to remain on the farm outstripped his apparently brighter brother. Yet because he dealt with things earthly his occupation and he himself, likewise, were very frequently "looked down upon." As years went by, however, it became more and more apparent that to succeed in crop producing required knowledge no less exacting in its requirements and covering a vastly wider range of subjects than the knowledge which brought success in other walks of life. For many, many years, however, it was true that our practice as applied to crop raising far outran our knowledge of the principles involved. While it is true that the cultivation of the soil and the handling of crops will never become an exact science, yet the knowledge which we now apply to the work in which we are interested and which any tiller of the soil must have at his command. has increased manifold within very recent years. And it is because of this gain in knowledge, both theore-
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tical and practical, that the attitude of every one toward the farmer and his occupation has changed. Today farming in its several more or less spec- ialized branches of vegetable growing, fruit growing, berry raising, poultry raising, and field crop production is regarded as a worthy calling for the brightest and best minds in the land. One of the most progressive general agriculturists of the northern part of Greene county is William E. Thomp- son, of Cass township, who owns a large acreage of valuable land and who applies twentieth century methods to his business.
Mr. Thompson was born in the above named township and county on January 14, 1867. He is a son of William E. Thompson, who was born on April 28, 1827, in Tennessee, and there he grew to manhood on his father's farm and received a common school education. Remaining in his native state until 1851, he emigrated to Greene county, Missouri, and established the future home of the family in Cass township. During the Civil war he served in the Federal army, in a home militia regiment, and was stationed in Springfield during the latter part of the conflict, however, he saw little actual fighting. After being discharged from the service he located on a farm of his own in Cass township and developed a good place through his good management and hard work. He married Malinda Earnest, May 23, 1850. She was born, June II, 1830, and was a daughter of Wesley Earnest, one of the early settlers in the vicinity of Cave Spring, this county. To their marriage ten children were born, six of whom died when young; those who survived were named as follows: Sarah married Doctor Delzell, of Rogersville, Webster county, Missouri, where they still reside; Alice is the wife of W. S. Julian and they make their home near Gravel Springs, Okla- homa; William E., of this sketch; Ethel is the wife of W. E. Haun, and. they live on a farm in Cass township.
The father of the above children was a Democrat. He was an active member of the Presbyterian church, and gave liberally of his time and means. in building the church of this denomination at Cave Spring, which struc- ture has been used as a high school for a number of years. He was a mem- ber of the Masonic Order and was active in the work of the same in this. county. The death of Mr. Thompson occurred on February 3, 1908, his. wife having preceded him to the grave on June 14, 1906. They were held in high esteem by their neighbors and friends, being noted for their honesty, charity and hospitality.
William E. Thompson, of this sketch, grew to manhood on the home- stead farm in Cass township and there worked hard when a boy during the crop season. During the winter he attended the common schools and the high school at Cave Spring, later spending one term in Morrisville College and one term in Drury College, after which he worked with his father on the home farm for two years, then purchased a farm of his own. Ten years.
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after leaving school he purchased his present excellent home farm of two hundred and forty acres. He has managed well and applied himself closely to his work as general farmer and stock raiser and, prospering with advanc- ing years, has added to his original purchase other tracts until today he owns in all four hundred and five acres of valuable and well-improved land. He makes a specialty of raising large numbers of mules for the market. He is an excellent judge of live stock, especially of mules. He has a commodious home and substantial and convenient outbuildings where his stock, which he tries to keep up to a good grade, is properly cared for at all seasons. Every- thing about his place denotes thrift and that a man of modern ideas is at the helm.
Mr. Thompson was married on February 12, 1890, to Fanny Staley, who was born in Cass township, Greene county, and there reared and edu- cated. She is a daughter of Weldon E. and Angeline (Evans) Staley, a complete sketch of whom will be found on another page of this volume. To our subject and wife one child was born, which died in infancy.
Politically, Mr. Thompson is a Democrat, and he has been more or less active and influential in local party affairs for some time, having been township committeeman for twelve years.
WILLIAM M. MORTON.
One of the famous lines of "The Old Homestead," a popular play a generation ago, was "Young blood tells." This expression 'applies not alone to a man's social advancement, but in business life particularly, where the old men are dropping out and the younger generation stepping into their shoes. In Springfield it would seem that the young men are in the lead in almost every calling or vocation, especially in the trades. In looking over the list of engineers at the various industrial plants of the city one finds many of them mere youths, in which list occurs the name of William M. Morton, engineer at the Marblehead Lime Works. But although young according to the calendar, they have studied and wrought faithfully to become proficient in their line and are doing their work satisfactorily.
Mr. Morton was born August 20, 1880, in Knoxville, Tennesee. He is a son of Frank and Tenie (Shield) Morton, natives of Tennesee. The father received a common school education and when a young man learned the blacksmith's trade, which he made his chief life work, and was regarded as an expert. He and his wife grew up in their native state and were mar- ried there, and established their home in that country. After following his trade there many years Frank Morton removed with his family to Wright
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county, Missouri, where he continued his trade. His family consists of five children, names as follows: Minnie married G. H. Morton and they live in Aurora, Missouri; William M. of this sketch; Fred lives in Springfield; Walter has remained in Wright county, this state; Charles is deceased.
William M. Morton assisted his father with his work when a boy, and during the winter months he attended the common schools in Wright county, and when he began life for himself it was as a farmer, which he followed with success for eight or ten years. However, he was more or less a rover in his youth and did not stay in one place long at a time, but this traveling around was beneficial to him in an educational way, for he learned by coming in actual contact with the world, having been by nature a close observer. He always had a liking for stationary engineer- ing, and, upon coming to Springfield a number of years ago he secured em- ployment as engineer at the Marblehead Lime Works, which position he has filled ever since. This would indicate that he is not only a capable man in his line of endeavor but that he is entirely trustworthy and reliable.
Mr. Morton was married in Springfield December 24, 1910, to Mary Cheatham, who was born in the year 1892, in Greene county, Missouri, and she received a common school education. She is a daughter of James and Maggie (Reynolds) Cheatham, of Springfield. The father is dead and the mother is still living here.
To Mr. and Mrs. Morton one child has been born, Harvey Morton, whose birth occurred September 19, 19II.
Politically our subject is a Republican.
DR. J. LEROY ATHERTON.
As we stand amidst the wonders of modern achievements and take a cursory glance over the factors that make up the sum total of the highest civilization the world has known since the age of Pericles, one factor looms forth conspicuously-the art of healing. Some even in their enthusiasm claim that it is above all the rest. This may not seem plausible to many in view of the fact that such great progress has been made in the mechanical sciences, which is more closely allied with our every-day life and is there- fore more generally understood and appreciated. Whereas the study of the ills of the flesh is restricted to a proportionately small number of students. However, the progress in the art of healing has been somewhat remarkable during the past half century. One of the younger generation of physicians of Greene county is Dr. J. LeRoy Atherton, who has been unusually success-
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ful in the practice of his profession, and that he deserves the good fortune that has attended his efforts is indisputable.
Doctor Atherton was born in Illinois, February 13, 1879. He is a son of Aaron S. Atherton, a native of Ohio, a minister in the Methodist Episco- pal church, who followed his profession until his health began to fail in 1883 when he located on a farm in Vernon county, Missouri, later removing to Nevada, this state, where he resumed preaching and continued at this work for about five years, practically doing charity work, filling various pulpits without recompense. His death occurred in the city of Nevada about 1902 after a long and useful life. He was highly esteemed by all who knew him for his many fine characteristics and he ranked high as a preacher. His wife, mother of our subject, was known in her maidenhood as Mary Sanders, and she traces her ancestry back to Holland. She is still living in Nevada. Milton Atherton, paternal grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born in Ohio. In his later life he removed with his family to Vernon county, Missouri, where his death occurred when about seventy- eight years of age. His progenitors were very early settlers in New Eng- land from which country they came to Ohio in pioneer days. From Ohio the family removed to Illinois when that state was still a wild unimproved prairie. The older members of this sterling old family were typical pioneers and liked the wild frontier life best of all.
To Rev. Aaron S. Atherton and wife the following children were born : S. M. Atherton, Waldron Arkansas; Mary E. Atherton, deceased; Ruth E. Pheils, Nevada, Missouri; Aaron E. Atherton, Dover, Oklahoma; Joseph R. Atherton, Nevada, Missouri; Gilbert H. Atherton, Girard, Kansas; J. LeRoy Atherton, Springfield, and Agnes S. Johnson, Nevada, Missouri.
Dr. J. LeRoy Atherton received his early education in the public schools and later studied at Baker University in Kansas, after which he began the study of medicine at the Bennett Medical College, Chicago, Illinois, where he made a good record, and was graduated with the class of 1912. Soon thereafter he began the practice of his profession in Chicago where he got a good start and remained in that city until January 1, 1915, when he came to Springfield, Missouri, opening an office with a view of remaining here permanently. He has started out well in his new location, his patients gradually increasing all the while. He is a member of the Greene County Medical Society, the Missouri State Medical Association and the American Medical Association. Fraternally he belongs to the Masonic order, includ- ing the Chapter, Royal Arch Masons and Council.
On December 18, 1909, he was united in marriage with Dr. Mary Jean McLaggan, who was born in Chesley, Ontario, Canada. She grew to wom- anhood in her native province and received her early education at Toronto, later taking the course at the Bennett Medical College in Chicago, from
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which she was graduated with the class of 1912, and a few months later began practicing in that city with her husband, and since coming to Spring- field she has continued the practice of her profession with gratifying results. A separate and complete sketch will be found of her on another page of this volume.
The union of our subject and wife has been without issue. Doctor Atherton is deserving of a great deal of credit for what he has accomplished in the face of obstacles. He is a self-educated and self-made man. He has earned his own living since he was seventeen years of age. He worked hard during vacations to get money to defray the expenses of a higher education. Learning something of civil engineering he followed that for the most part between terms of school, but was not above doing any kind of work to earn an honest dollar.
MELVILLE E. DARK.
One of the enterprising young business men of Springfield is Melville E. Dark. What he has achieved in life proves the force of his character and illustrates its steadfastness of purpose, and his advancement to a posi- tion of credit and honor in the business circles of Greene county is the direct outcome of his own persistent and worthy labors, and he is a congenial and popular gentleman with bright prospects for the future.
Mr. Dark, who is district manager of the Illinois Life Insurance Com- pany, with offices in the Holland building, was born at Lewisburg, Marshall county, Tennessee, September 29, 1879. He is a son of Harris E. and Martha E. (Dyer) Dark, the father born in Lewisburg, Tennessee, Febru- ary 5, 1844, and the mother was born in Franklin, that state, November 5, 1853. They grew to maturity in Tennessee, received their educations in the public schools, and were married there and established their home at Lewisburg, where the father engaged in farming.
Melville E. Dark spent his boyhood days in his native locality and there he received a practical education. He came to Springfield, Missouri, in the year 1901 and has since made this his home, finally becoming district manager for the Illinois Life Insurance Company, the duties of which re- sponsible position he is discharging in a manner that reflects much credit upon himself and to the entire satisfaction of the company, and is rapidly extending the interests of the same in this territory where he has built up a large business. He understands every phase of the life insurance field and keeps well abreast of the times in the same.
Mr. Dark was married on November 14. IGII. to Katherine O'Dowd.
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M. E. DARK.
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a daughter of Mike and Amelia (Engleman ) O'Dowd, a highly respected family of Springfield, Missouri.
Mrs. Dark was born at Richmond, Missouri, October 5, 1887. She moved with her parents from Kansas City, Missouri, to Springfield in 1906, at which time her father accepted a position as chief tie and timber inspector for the Frisco railroad.
To Mr. and Mrs. Dark one child has been born, Winifred Dark, whose birth occurred on September 15. 1912.
MOSES M. RENSHAW.
A man who has spent his life as a farmer can not move into town and make himself indispensable in an art studio, nor can the artist, the machinist, the dry goods clerk, those from the professional offices, become prosperous in any early time as hewers of wood and drawers of water, tillers of the soil, or salesmen of its products. No greater disaster could come to the masses in cities than to thrust them unprepared into the strange situations they would encounter in attempted farm life. Their story would be one of tragedy. There are a great many people in the cities now-a-days who desire to heed the "back-to-the-land" slogan, who have very little conception of what is to be done to success after they are located on a farm. All such should have some capital to start with and go slow until they can learn what they should know of the thousand and one things regarding life as an agri- culturist. On the other hand, those who have spent their lives as farmers should stay away from town unless they have laid by enough money to live comfortably without an income. Moses M. Renshaw, a farmer of Cass township, near Cave Spring. Greene county, has lived on a farm many years, and being contented and successful, has no desire for city life.
Mr. Renshaw has spent practically all of his life of three score and ten years in the vicinity where he now resides, having been born there December 15, 1844. He is a son of Joseph A. and Sarah ( Griffis) Renshaw, a pioneer family of the northern part of this county. The father was born in Ten- nessee, in 1813, and the mother was also a native of that state. There they both spent their childhood years, received limited educations in the old-time subscription schools, and when young, removed with their parents to Greene county, Missouri, the mother coming here in 1842. Here the parents of our subject spent the rest of their lives. the father dying in the year 1863 and the mother died May 9, 1914. They were the parents of eight children, namely : Robert, who is making his home on the farm with our subject;
(98)
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Moses M. of this review; the next child died in infancy; Sarah J. married. Gilbert Hughes and they live in Murray township, Greene county ; Howard A. died in 1900; William C. lives on a farm near the home of the subject of this sketch; Mary is the wife of J. B. Easly, who is engaged in the real estate business in Springfield; Francis A. is living with our subject.
Moses M. Renshaw grew to manhood on the farm in his native locality, and he received his education in the common schools of Greene county, and here he began life for himself as a farmer. In 1877 he removed to Ar- kansas, where he engaged in the livery business in Pine Bluff, Jefferson county, remaining there until 1900, enjoying a large and successful business all the while, and became well known throughout the county. He then went to Wyoming, where he remained only a short time, after which he returned to his native vicinity in Cass township, Greene county, locating on his present farm of two hundred acres of well-improved and productive land, his well-kept place bearing the name of "Locust Lawn Farm." He carries on general farming, keeping tenants on his place to assist him. He is also owner of valuable land on the prairie south of his home district, his holdings in all amounting to nearly six hundred acres. He farms on an extensive scale, is careful of details, always exercising proper system and adopting advanced methods. He handles large numbers of live stock from year to year.
Politically, Mr. Renshaw is a Republican, but he has never been espe- cially active in public affairs. He is a member of the Presbyterian church, in which he has been a director.
Our subject has remained unmarried.
WILLIAM A. DELZELL, M. D.
In a comprehensive work of this kind, dealing with industrial pursuits, sciences, arts and professions, it is only fit and right that that profession on which, in some period or other in our lives (the medical profession) we are- all more or less dependent, should be noticed. It is the prerogative of the physician to relieve or alleviate the ailments to which suffering humanity is heir, and as such he deserves the most grateful consideration of all. One of the most promising of the younger physicians and surgeons of Greene county, who, by his own ability, has attained a good foothold in his profes- sion, is Dr. William A. Delzell, of Springfield.
Dr. Delzell was born at Henderson, Missouri, June 4, 1885. He is a son of Dr. William David Delzell, who was born near Rogersville, this state, July 4, 1844, his parents having located there in pioneer days. There he
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grew to maturity, assisted with the general work on the farm and received his education in the public schools of Webster and Greene counties. After finishing his primary education he entered the St. Louis Medical College from which institution he was graduated with the class of 1876. Soon thereafter he returned to his native vicinity where he engaged successfully in the practice of his profession until about 1896, when he retired from prac- tice and removed to his large stock farm near Rogersville, Missouri, and engaged in general farming and stock raising on an extensive scale. He has long been a prominent man in that locality in public affairs, and in 1899 he was elected representative to the state Legislature, serving his constituents in such an able and satisfactory manner that he was elected for a second term in 1901 and again distinguished himself as a member of the lower house. He was given by nature many strong attributes, and he became a splendid example of a successful and influential self-made man, having forged his way to the front up from the station of a poor farmer boy. His habits were above all idle cavil and he has always been highly esteemed by all who know him. On January 27, 1875, he was united in marriage with Sarah E. Thompson, a daughter of William E. Thompson, a native of Greene county, Missouri, and one of the early settlers here. His death occurred some twelve years ago. A. D. Delzell, the paternal grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was a minister in the Presbyterian church, hav- ing commenced preaching when eighteen years of age and followed the same the rest of his life. His death occurred at the age of seventy-five years.
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