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 67
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Dr. William A. Delzell grew up in his native locality and he received his early education in the public schools and Morrisville College, in Polk county. Desiring to follow in the footsteps of his father in a professional way he entered the university of St. Louis, where he completed his literary course, then was a student in the medical department of that institution, making an excellent record and was graduated therefrom in 1912, taking the full four years' course. He then served a year as interne in the St. Francis Hospital in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and thereby gained much valuable experience, especially in surgery. He then came to Springfield and opened an office and he has succeeded in establishing an excellent general practice and does a great deal of surgical work, in which he is specializing . and for which he seems to be well fitted by both nature and training.
Doctor Delzell was married, January 27, 1914, to Myrtle Bearden, a daughter of R. R. Bearden and wife, of Springfield, where she was reared and educated.
Doctor Delzell is a member of the Greene County Medical Society, the Southwest Missouri Medical Society and the Missouri State Meidcal Association. Fraternally, he belongs to Lodge No. 5. Free and Accepted Masons. He is a Democrat and a member of the Methodist church. He is
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a man of industry, worked hard for his professional education and is still working hard in order to further equip himself for life's duties. His per- sonal habits are above criticism. His offices are on the sixth floor of the Landers building.
DR. MARY JEAN McLAGGAN ATHERTON.
If one cares to take the time to examine works on the early races of mankind he will be surprised to learn how profoundly ignorant those early peoples were regarding the anatomy of the human organism and how very little they knew of the art of healing, in fact, they believed that the sick were possessed of evil spirits and that they could not be dispersed by any means except incantations. Many centuries elapsed before the thinking Greeks established something of a science in the treatment of diseases and began studying plants, advocating the theory that certain ones possessed medicinal properties. This placed the study of the human organism upon a scientific basis, and since that remote age many theories have been advanced, little actual progress being made, however, up to a century or two ago. The last two decades have witnessed remarkable strides and new discoveries are daily being made. It seems that there remains yet a very great deal to be discovered if humanity is to cease suffering by reason of the "ills to which flesh is heir." Many women have of late years been studying and practicing medicine in its various branches, with success equal to the men. One of these is Mrs. Mary Jean McLaggan Atherton, of Springfield, whose record is that of a skilled, sympathetic practitioner, cheerful in the sick room, and possessing the happy faculty of winning the confidence of her patients, which has much to do with their restoration to health.
She was born on May 28, 1882, in the Province of Ontario, Canada. She is a daughter of John and Catherine (Munn) McLaggan, both natives of Scotland, from which country they came to Ontario when young and were married there and established their home on a farm near the town of Peterborough. It was in 1852 that he left his native land and settled in Canada. When old age came on he retired from active work on his farm. He had accumulated a comfortable competency by his industry, and he and his wife are living at this writing in Chesley, Ontario. To these parents the following children were born: Florence Able, Chicago; Isabel Ashelford, Toronto, Ontario; Alexander McLaggan, Saskatchewan, Canada; Catherine Broughton, Toronto, Ontario; Peter McLaggan, Vancouver, British Colum- bia ; John McLaggan, Metiskow, Alberta; Mary Jean Atherton, Springfield, Mo .; Elizabeth McLaggan, Chesley, Ontario, and Martha McIntyre, Chicago.
Peter McLaggan, the paternal grandfather of our subject, was born in
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Scotland where he grew up and married Isabella Fisher, also a native of that country, and there they resided until 1852 when they emigrated to Can- ada and established their home at Peterborough, Ontario, where they both died a year later of Asiatic cholera.
Mrs. Dr. Atherton grew to womanhood in her native locality and received her early education in the common schools and at Harbord Collegi- ate Institute, at Toronto, Canada, from which she was graduated with the class of 1899; she attended the Toronto Normal College for Teachers in 1900, and was a teacher in the Chicago Public School until 1908. In 1908 she entered the Bennett Medical College, at Chicago, Illinois, making an excellent record and graduating therefrom in the spring of 1912.
On December 18, 1909, our subject was united in marriage with Dr. J. Leroy Atherton, who was a native of Illinois who attended the above men- tioned medical college at the time our subject was a student there and they were graduates of the same class. They both began practicing in Chicago, she in the fall of 1913 and there continued with success until their removal to Springfield, Missouri, January 1, 1915, where she has continued the prac- tice of her profession, building up a large practice which is rapidly growing. A complete sketch of her husband will be found in another part of this volume.
Mrs. Dr. Atherton is a member of the Chicago Medical Society and is a member of the Calvary Presbyterian church of Springfield.
EDWARD F. KOHLER.
To the man in the habit of superficial thinking it would seem that the place of one's birth could not matter very much ; that it could have no special bearing in shaping his earthly career, but proof to the contrary is over- whelming. The principal reason for the difference in degree of industry, intelligence and standards of civilization in the various nations of the world is due very largely to latitude and topography. For an example it is not hard to "figure out" why the people of Belgium are progressive, energetic, courageous and in the main, intelligent, and why the inhabitants of the islands of the South Seas are languid, lazy, ignorant and primitive in their modes of living. The former have to hustle for a livelihood on account of a somewhat resisting nature, while those of the latter live off of nature's bounty without exerting themselves winter or summer. People, like the Swiss, who live in a temperate, mountainous, inland country are hardy, independent, liberty loving and seekers after knowledge, consequently they make good citizens and are welcomed in all countries to which they may
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immigrate. Among those who have cast their lot with the residents of Greene county is Edward F. Kohler, a merchant of Springfield.
Mr. Kohler was born in Switzerland, January 16, 1866. He is a son of Edward and Margaret (Funk) Kohler, both natives of Switzerland, the father born in 1835 and the mother in 1836. There they grew to maturity, were educated, married and spent their lives, the father dying in 1882 and the mother passing away in 1886. The elder Kohler was a banker, in busi- ness in the city of Nidaw and was a successful and prominent man there during the latter years of his life. His family consisted of eight children, five of whom are living, namely: Arthur lives in Springfield, Missouri; Carl lives in Argentine Republic, South America, where he is engaged in contracting; Edward F. of this sketch; Marie lives in Arbon, Switzerland; Rosa also lives there.
Edward F. Kohler grew to manhood in Switzerland and after passing through the public schools spent three years in college. After serving an apprenticeship in the mercantile business he immigrated to the United States in 1884, locating first in Monticello, Iowa, and worked on a farm near that town, until he could master the English language, which he studied during spare time. Later he secured employment in a store where he remained until 1891, during which time he not only became proficient in our language but learned our methods of commercial life. He then came to Springfield, Missouri, and secured a position as mechanic in the north side Frisco shops. His natural ability in this direction and his faithfulness and energy won him promotion and he became foreman, being in charge of a department in these shops for several years, giving eminent satisfaction. In 1904 he began the mercantile business for himself on a small scale, renting a little frame building at 1954 Springfield avenue, and there he carried a line of general merchandise, later purchasing a fifty-foot front frame building. His busi- ness steadily increased and in time he was able to erect a handsome two- story brick building on his fifty-foot lot. In 1914 he built to his store another brick building with a fifty-foot front, making now a substantial block with a one hundred foot frontage, in which he maintains a modern, well-stocked and neat department store, of four departments-groceries, hardware, shoes and clothing and has a large force of clerks and assistants. He has built up a large and lucrative business by his energy, honesty and courteous dealings. He may well be referred to as one of the leading busi- ness men of the north side. He has done much for this section of the city, and was instrumental in securing the first paved streets in his locality as well as electric lights and gas, and he is now advocating the necessity of a better sewage system here. He is a man of excellent judgment and fore- sight, has his store under a superb system and is by nature the possessor of rare executive ability.
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Mr. Kohler was married in 1887 in Monticello, Iowa, to Rosa Mes- serli, who was born in Switzerland. She is a daughter of Joseph and Mar- garet (Glauser) Messerli. When a child her parents brought her to the United States and located in Iowa where the father died some time ago and where the mother still resides. Mrs. Kohler grew to womanhood in that state and was educated in the common schools.
To our subject and wife one child has been born, Freda Kohler, whose birth occurred on September 1, 1888. She received a good high school edu- cation in Springfield, and married Clem P. Horat, an enterprising young man who is engaged in business with Mr. Kohler.
Politically, Mr. Kohler is an independent voter. He belongs to the Modern Woodmen and the Improved Order of Red Men, and religiously he is a member of the German Congregational church. He is a pleasant man to meet, impressing the stranger at once with his sincerity and genu- ine worth.
JESSE MARION KELLEY.
In nearly every community have lived individuals who, by innate ability and sheer force of character, have risen above the masses and won for themselves conspicuous places in public esteem. Such a man was the late Jesse Marion Kelley, a pioneer of Greene county and who was intimately identified with the civic and industrial history of the city of Springfield for a long lapse of years, his career as a progressive man of affairs having been synonymous with all that was upright and honorable in citizenship. He contributed freely of his time and means to the maintenance of the early- day schools of this locality and other institutions which he deemed would make for the general good, using his influence in every way possible to advance the general welfare of those with whom he associated in the various walks of life. Mr. Kelley was not only a public-spirited citizen, but a whole- souled gentleman, whom to know was to admire and respect, and he not only delighted in public improvements in a material way, but liked to see also the promotion of such interests as were conducive to the comfort and happiness of his friends and fellow citizens. There was probably none of his contemporaries in this locality who was held in higher esteem by the population. during which might be termed the formative period of the county, regardless of all sects, political or professional creeds. His life most happily illustrated what one may accomplish by faithful and persistent 'effort in carrying out noble purposes, even in the face of discouraging cir- cumstances. It is the story of a life that has made the world better for his
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having lived, for his actions sprung from a heart filled with love and altru- ism for humanity, and was a blessing to all who were within range of his influence. Personally, Mr. Kelley was a high-minded, right-thinking man, according to those who knew him well, his private character having always been unassailable. His life may be safely imitated by the young, and the great amount of good which he did, while laboring for his own advance- ment and that of his family, will never be fully known until the last great day when the book of life shall be opened on high and every man receive due credit for his works, his actions and his influence.
Mr. Kelley was born in Greene county, Tennessee, in 1830, and he was seven years of age when he settled near Walnut Grove, Greene county, Missouri, with his parents, George and Sally (Bouldon) Kelley. The family made the overland trip from Tennessee by wagon, arriving in time to erect the log house that was to be their home, before the rigors of winter set in. It was merely a temporary shelter, and often during the terrible winter that followed they awoke in the morning to find that their beds were covered with snow which had sifted in through the cracks in the walls. But despite the hardships and privations incident to the lot of early settlers, the wife found time to give some instruction to her children. To the little son, Jesse, fell the task of keeping the smaller children employed, and to him many of the younger as well as the older ones owed their knowledge of reading, spelling and the rudiments of arithmetic. Grammar was not taught until a later date, but as the mother and father were excellent gram- marians the children used good language from hearing it constantly in their home. When the youngest of the children was quite small the father, after a lingering illness, was summoned from earthly scenes, leaving the highly educated and strong-minded mother to provide for the large family. She took up her task with rare courage and fortitude, and succeeded admi- rably although surrounded by a most discouraging environment. Jesse had been engaged to teach the country school in that vicinity one season, and although his pupils advanced as never before, the community felt that because he had not turned the class back to the word "baker" (which was a sort of land-mark in the old spelling-books) he was doing them an injus- tice, having taught them to read and write instead. However, before the end of the following summer the patrons of the school came to the boy (he was still very young) and importuned him to accept the school for another season, "because it was so nice to listen to their children read after their day's work was done."
George Kelley, the father, had served very creditably as a member of the state Legislature, also as sheriff of Springfield before his untimely death, Jesse being his deputy. In Springfield, then, seemed to exist the opportunity for the son to further his fortunes, so he decided to locate here, and for
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many years was employed as a dry goods clerk. Here he met and married Sarah (Taylor) Worley, a daughter of Htiram and Sarah Worley, a relative of the Taylors of Tennessee and a direct descendant of the Monroes and Henrys of Virginia, of whom the great orator, Patrick Henry, was one. To the union of Jesse M. Kelley and wife three sons and one daughter were born; Charles, the eldest, died during the Civil war; Richard, a promising young railroad man, died as a result of exposure while attending to his regular duties for his company at Grand River, Indian Territory; Mary Lizzie, who lived to the age of nineteen years, graduated from the Ward Seminary of Nashville, Tennessee, being a brilliant musician and one of a strong, peaceful mind; after graduating she returned to her home and lived for a short time to enjoy the benefit of her education; Edwin H. Kelley, who is later mentioned in this sketch, is the other son. Shortly after their marriage the wife prevailed upon her husband to purchase a small house and lot near the corner of Walnut and South streets. They pooled their ready money and contracted to pay the balance in monthly payments. Long before the expiration of the stipulated time they were given in which to make the final payment settlement was made in full, and they improved the place by adding several rooms and in making other important changes. Before and during the first years of the war between the states a great many strangers passed through this section of the state, many of them finding true hospitality and pleasant surroundings at the Kelley home. From this modest beginning sprang the name and fame of their hotel. About 1879 Jesse M. Kelley's name began to be mentioned with favor as a worthy public official, and he became a candidate for recorder of deeds on the Republican ticket, and he was duly elected, serving the county well, inaugurating many improvements. At the close of his term of office he began work on one of the first sets of abstracting books in this county, and he remained identi- fied with this business in Springfield until his death, which occurred in Jan- uary, 1914, at the advanced age of eighty-four years.
Mr. Kelley was one of the founders of the present splendid public school system of Greene county. He posted the announcements, calling the citizens in mass meeting, which resulted in much heated discussion. because some believed that the colored population would be sent to the same schools established for the whites. One fanatic even threatened the life of our subject, and rode many miles to shoot him, "for callin' his children no better'n niggers."
At the opening of the Civil war Mr. Kelley joined the Home Guards and helped build the forts and rifle pits south and west of the city. During these distressing times, coal was hauled from Greenfield, each wagon train having hairbreadth escapes from the enemy. Then came news of large
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armies marching on Springfield, and the citizens expected severe bombard- ments. Later the town was attacked and while shells were falling around their home the Kelleys took what they could of their household effects, jour- neying by stage to Kolla, Phelps county, which was at that time the western terminal of the railroad. There they took the train to St. Louis and on into Illinois. Upon returning, after quiet had been restored in the Ozark region, our subject and his wife found nothing but their house remaining, and they again opened a small hotel, which up to the year 1881 was the favorite stopping place for many of Springfield's most influential citizens. The hotel will be remembered by many as the Kelley House. The domestic life of Mr. and Mrs. Kelley was ideal, and Mrs. Kelley's death occurred only a few hours after that of her husband, in January, 1914.
Their son, Prof. Edwin H. Kelley, has long been one of Springfield's best known musicians. He was born in this city on October 16, 1865, and here he grew to manhood and received his education in the local ward and high schools. By nature he is both a musician and an artist, and during his school days here he became well known for his fine drawings. In 1891 he went to Leipsic, Germany, and studied music under Hans Sitt, a famous instructor of the Royal Conservatory of Music of that city, remaining there several years, making an excellent record. While abroad, Prof. Kelley studied art during the summer months in the studio of Martin Laemuel, a distinguished artist of Germany, who has since remained a very warm friend of Prof. Kelley. The latter made many paintings in water color while a student in Germany. They were all from life, and each one of them has a history in themselves. They show unmistakable talent, and have been admired by all who have had the privilege of seeing them. Returning to America in 1895, he was appointed musical director at the old Normal school in Springfield, which position he held two years. Since then he has been one of the instructors in music at Drury College at two different peri- ods. He now devotes his attention exclusively to his studio in the Masonic Temple building in this city and has a large number of pupils constantly. He teaches the violin, on which instrument he is exceptionally proficient.
Prof. Kelley was married in Leipsic, Germany, February 14, 1895, shortly before his return to the United States, to Marguerite Kneip, a mem- ber of a prominent old family of Leipsic, where she was reared and edu- ·cated. This union has been blessed by the birth of two children, namely : Elizabeth, born on December 13, 1895, received a common school education in the local ward and high schools, and is a member of Christ Episcopal church, in which she was baptized when a child; Alice was born on Febru- ary 5, 1902, and is now in the eighth grade in the public schools and has made excellent records in all her work.
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Prof. Kelley and wife are members of Christ Episcopal church, and he belongs to the Springfield Musicians' Union, also the Springfield Musical Club.
JAMES D. VAN BIBBER.
The late James D. Van Bibber, was a well-known man throughout Greene county during a past generation, having been clerk of the county court for a period of twelve years, and long a successful merchant and agri- culturist in the northern end of the county. He will long be remembered in this locality as a man of public-spirit, comprehensive ideas and as a man of honest impulses and genial and sociable personality.
Mr. Van Bibber was born on May 3, 1828, at Liberty, Clay county, Missouri. He sprang from old Colonial stock of Holland Dutch ancestry ---- three brothers, sea captains-coming to America from Holland in the early part of the seventeenth century, and located in New York and Virginia, and were among the early founders of the country. Joseph Van Bibber, grand- father of our subject, was born in Virginia from which state he moved to Missouri in 1800 with his family and settled in Callaway county, in the wilderness. He married a Miss Irwin, of Irish stock. He owned a large tract of land and passed the remainder of his days in Callaway county. He was the father of seven children, namely: Lucinda, Minerva, Melissa, Joseph, Irwin, Frank and Daniel. Joseph Van Bibber, son of above and father of our subject, was born in Greenbriar county, Virginia, in 1797 and was but three years old when brought by his parents to Callaway county. Missouri, and was, therefore, reared in this state, received a common edu- cation and was a gunsmith by trade and employed by the United States government at Liberty, Missouri, when there was an Indian agency at that point. He married in St. Charles county, Missouri, Susan Boone, a daugh- ter of Nathan and Olive (Van Bibber) Boone. Nathan Boone was the son of the most famous of all pioneers-Daniel Boone, of Kentucky. It will be remembered that this noted hunter and Indian fighter moved to Missouri about 1795 and settled in St. Charles county, having been preceded by his son. Daniel. Morgan Boone came a few years previously. Nathan, who came in 1800, was born in Kentucky in 1781 and married there before he was twenty-one years of age. and he and his wife became the parents of thirteen children, twelve of whom lived to be married men and women. namely : James, Jeremiah, Delinda. Susan, Olive, Nancy, Benjamin H., John C., Levica, Melcena, Mary. Sarah and Mahala. Mr. Boone resided on his farm in St. Charles county until 1834. He was a captain in the Dragoon service of the United States army and stationed at Fort Leaven-
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worth many years. He was engaged in the early Indian troubles, and resigned when he became an aged man, being lieutenant-colonel at the time. In 1834 he moved to Greene county and settled on land near Ash Grove which he purchased from the government, several hundred acres, and here he passed the remainder of his days, an honored citizen, and reached the age of seventy-five years.
After his marriage Joseph Van Bibber lived at Liberty until 1832, when he went to Arkansas and settled in Randolph county, in the wilderness, and was one of the first settlers in that county, and was one of the surveyors who laid out the town of Pocahontas, the county-seat of that county, and there he died at the age of forty-two years, and his wife died a few years previously. They were the parents of four children who lived to grow up, namely : Letitia, James D., Sarah and Emulus C.
James D. Van Bibber, subject of this memoir, was left an orphan when he was thirteen years of age, after which he lived with his grandfather, Col. Nathan Boone, at Ash Grove, until between fifteen and sixteen years of age, when he began to work out for himself. He worked and paid his tuition at a subscription school, and attended school at Springfield two terms and thus gained a common education and began life in an industrial way as a clerk at Cave Spring, Greene county, later engaging in the mercantile business there for himself in which he built up a good trade and continued in this line of endeavor until the breaking out of the Civil war. He then exchanged his stock of goods for land near Cave Spring, and continued purchasing until he owned about seven hundred acres, and lived on this land until 1862 when he came to Springfield and engaged in the mercantile business until the close of the war. In 1874 he was elected clerk of the county court, and held this office twelve years, being elected three times. He discharged the duties of the same in a manner that reflected much credit upon himself and to the satisfaction of all concerned. He owned a good farm just north of the city limits of Springfield which he sold in 1887 and bought two hundred and forty-three acres upon which he built a large residence. He spent the rest of his life engaged successfully in general agricultural pursuits.
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