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 69
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107
I574
GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
He preferred to earn his living by the "sweat of his brow," which Holy Writ indicates is the most commendable way to earn it, and having been a man of good habits, he has lived already past the Psalmist's three score and ten.
Mr. Hoover was born on July 4, 1843, at Reading, Pennsylvania. He is a son of David and Lydia (Trump) Hoover, both natives of Pennsyl- vania, where they grew to maturity, received a limited education and were married and spent their lives, both dying in that state, both dying many years ago. The father was a stone contractor by profession and put in locks in canals, which were numerous in his day. His family consisted of four children, namely: Caroline, Laura and Henry, all deceased ; John W., of this sketch.
John W. Hoover grew to manhood in the old Keystone state, and he received a limited education in the schools of Reading, Pennsylvania. After leaving school he learned the boilermaker's trade, beginning as an apprentice in Philadelphia, in 1861, and served four years. Leaving the City of Brotherly Love on October 15, 1866, he started west, and stopped at Indian- apolis, Indiana, and worked at the Eagle Machine works there, as boiler- maker, and later for the Big Four railroad in their shops there, the road then being known as the Bellefontaine railroad. After working there three years he went to Peru, Indiana, where he secured a better position with the Chicago, Indianapolis & Peru railroad, and worked there in their shops twelve years. He was then offered a still better position at Moberly, Mis- souri, to take charge of the boiler shops there of the Wabash railroad, and he spent ten years there, then came to Springfield, Missouri, where he had charge of the south side shops, the old Gulf shops, later owned by the Frisco, from 1890 until 1911, then was transferred to Memphis, Tennessee, to the Frisco's shops there, of which he remained in charge until July, 1913, when he reached the age limit of employees of this system, and was given a pension, and, although yet able to work, did not seek further employ- ment, returning to Springfield and retiring, and is living quietly at his home at 1004 West Walnut street.
Mr. Hoover was married in Reading, Pennsylvania, September 22, 1862, to Nancy Mast, who was born near that city on February 22, 1844. She is a daughter of George and Mary (Smith) Mast. Mr. Mast was a native of Germany, from which country he came to the United States when ten years of age. The mother of our subject was born in Pennsylvania. of Quaker parents.
Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hoover, named as follows : Henry J., born on May 2, 1864. died in 1866: J. W., born on Au- gust 3, 1866, received his education in Indiana and Columbia Universities, and is now making his home in Fort Worth, Texas; David, born on March
1575
GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
16, 1869, died when three months old; Caroline, born on July 11, 1872, was educated in Indiana and in Moberly, Missouri, married Victor Winnburg, who is division foreman of the Missouri Pacific shops in Sedalia, and they are the parents of one child, a daughter, Selma, born on June 18, 1899; Nellie, born on August 4, 1877, died on May 25. 1891; Harry, born on August 26, 1882, married Martha Bohana, who is with the Griffen H. Deeves Lumber Company, Railway Exchange, Chicago; Walter, born on May 5. 1891, married Opal Smith, of Kansas City; they live in Chicago; he is a traveling salesman.
Politically, Mr. Hoover is a Republican. He cast his second vote for Abraham Lincoln for his second term as president. Religiously, he belongs to the Presbyterian church. Fraternally, he is a member of the Masonic Order, including the Blue Lodge, the Royal Arch Masons, the Commandery and the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine.
ROBERT B. KITE.
It is a well-authenticated fact that success comes as a result of legiti- mate and well-applied energy, unflagging determination and perseverance in a course of action when once decided upon. She is never known to bestow her largesses upon the indolent and ambitionless, and only those who seek her untiringly are recipients of her blessings. In tracing the history of Robert B. Kite, now living in retirement in Springfield after a long career as a railroader and in more recent years a farmer, it is plainly seen that the prosperity which he enjoys has been won by commendable quali- ties, and it is also his personal worth that has gained for him the high esteem of those who know him.
Mr. Kite was born in Cleveland, Ohio, May 8, 1857. He is a son of Hiram and Rosanna (Warren) Kite, the father a native of Pennsylvania and of Quaker stock, while the mother was a native of England, from which country she emigrated to America in girlhood and located in Pennsyl- vania, where the parents of our subject were married, but not long there- after removed to Ohio, and there they lived until 1859. when they removed to Marshfield. Webster county. Missouri, and Hiram Kite built one of the first houses in that town. He was a leather worker by trade and was in business there when the Civil war broke out and joined the Home Guards. but did not become a soldier in the regular Union army. He finally removed to a farm near Strafford. Missouri, where he spent the rest of his life, but his wife died in Springfield. They were the parents of eight children, five of whom are still living, namely: Madora E., Mary, Lottie, Nettie; Frances
1576
GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
is deceased; Robert B., of this review; Emma and Ida are both deceased.
Robert B. Kite received a limited education in the public school at Marshfield, but he is principally a self-educated man. He began his rail- road career in 1873 as brakeman on the old Atlantic & Pacific railroad, now the Frisco system, and he remained a brakeman until 1880, when he was promoted to freight conductor, in which capacity he worked until he was promoted to passenger conductor, and ran as such for a period of fifteen years, or until 1901, living at Monett, Missouri, during that period. He was regarded as one of the most capable and most trusted conductors on the Frisco, and his continuous service of twenty-eight years would indicate he was a first-class railroader. Finally, tiring of the exacting work as con- ductor, he moved to his farm in 1901, just south of Springfield. His fine place there consisted of one hundred acres of the old Crenshaw homestead. This he brought up to a high state of improvement and a high state of cultivation, all but about ten acres. He made it a model farm in every respect. He installed the first water system in that part of the county, running hot and cold water to both his house and barn. He carried on gen- eral farming until 1907, when he sold out and moved to the corner of South and Madison streets, Springfield, where he owns two sets of four-apartment flats and two fine residence properties, all modern and desirable in every way, and he now spends his time looking after his personal property here.
Mr. Kite was married on September 17, 1883, in Rogers, Arkansas, to Vitae A. Powers, who was born in Newton county, Missouri, May 21, 1867. She is a daughter of Eli and Angeline (Wormington) Powers. The father was a native of North Carolina and the mother of Tennessee. They came from the South to Newton county, Missouri, in pioneer days, and there Mr. Powers engaged in farming and the milling business. His death occurred in 1875, his widow surviving thirty-five years, dying in 1910. They were the parents of five children, namely : Andrew B., deceased ; Mrs. Belle Carnes died in 1907; Mrs. Addie Tudor died in 1880; Douglass lives in Carbonado, Washington; and Mrs. Vitae Kite, wife of our subject. She grew to womanhood in Newton county and received her education in the common schools.
Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Kite, named as follow : Olive, born on October 2, 1884, was educated in Monett, married Andrew Edmondson, and they live in Fort Smith, Arkansas; Rolland, born on Sep- tember 10, 1886, was educated in the Springfield high school and later attended Drury College, married May King, and they are living in Hollis- ter, this state; Jessie May, born on August II, 1888. was graduated from the Normal school in Springfield, then attended Columbia University. New York City, and is now a successful teacher in Stephens College, Columbia, Missouri; Warren P., born on February 11, 1896, was graduated from the
1577
GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
high school in Springfield with the class of 1914. He is a natural mechanic, is a skilled taxidermist, and he has a splendid collection of Indian relics. He has mounted a valuable collection of birds. He has built various kinds of boats, canoes, power boats, etc., which have been regarded by those who have seen them as equal to any on the market. The future evidently holds much of promise for this fine young lad, as indeed it must for all Mr. Kite's children, who are all intellectual and highly cultured, and well liked by their associates everywhere.
Politically, Mr. Kite is a Republican, and he at one time was candidate for sheriff of Greene county, but failed to get the nomination. He was a charter member of North Side Division No. 30, Order of Railway Con- ductors. Fraternally, he belongs to the Masonic Order, in which he is active and prominent, being a past eminent commander; he is a Knight Templar, and a member of the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He also belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Religiously, he is a member of the Presbyterian church, and is a liberal supporter of the same. Mrs. Kite is a member of the Order of Eastern Star and the Rebekahs. The family stands high in all circles in which it moves.
CHARLES W. RULE.
.A man of naturally sound judgment and shrewd perception, character- istics of the Teutonic race, of which Charles W. Rule, of Springfield, is a descendant, are dominating factors in his career, and he has so ordered his course in the world's affairs as to be eligible to representation in a work of this kind. He has risen through close attention to business and his desire to deal promptly and courteously with his fellow men, and his name stands high in all business circles with which he has come into relationship. His domestic and social connections have ever been of a pleasant character, and the fact that his surroundings are such as to make life enjoyable is due solely to his individual merits.
Mr. Rule was born in Springfield, Missouri, May 22, 1871. He is a son of John Christopher Rule, who was born in Baltimore, Maryland. April 16, 1844, and he was a son of Mundus Rule, who was a native of Germany, from which country he emigrated to America and located in Maryland, and engaged extensively in railroad contracting and building in and around the city of Baltimore, and there his death occurred in 1891 at the advanced age of eighty-seven years. The father of the subject of this sketch grew to manhood in the Monument city and was educated there, and he spent his early life as a sailor. During the Civil war he entered
I578
GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
the service of the Confederacy, most of the time of his enlistment being spent in the navy service. He was captured by the Federal navy and spent nine months in the old Washington prison, then exchanged and released. After the close of the war, about the latter part of 1866, he came to Spring- field, Missouri, where he spent the rest of his life, first engaging in business on South street, later on Commercial street, and during this period of nearly a half century he was one of the best known business men of the city. He lived to see and take part in the substantial and steady growth of the city from a mere village to the metropolis of southern Missouri, and always had its interests at heart. He married Celeste Heffernan, a native of Wabasha. Minnesota, a daughter of Steven and Margaret (O'Day) Heffernan, both natives of Ireland, from which country they emigrated to Minnesota in an early day. The mother died when comparatively a young woman. Mrs. Celeste Rule was a well-educated woman, and of an excellent family, but was unable to definitely trace her ancestry in the Emerald Isle. Her death occurred in Springfield on October 16, 1909. The father of our subject survived until 1911.
Charles W. Rule grew to manhood in Springfield and was educated in the public schools here, and when but a boy commenced his business life as a grocery merchant on Commercial street, in which business he met with encouraging success and remained four years, then took a position with the Frisco railroad with the superintendent of motive power, the duties of which responsible place he discharged for a period of nine years in a man- ner that was entirely satisfactory to the company, then went on the road for the Springfield Brewing Company, doing much to increase the prestige of the same until it closed down in 1906, when Mr. Rule became manager of the Springfield depot of the William J. Lemp Brewing Company of St. Louis, in which position he is still employed and is handling the same in his usual acceptable manner. He has been very successful as a man of affairs and is a stockholder in the Citizens Bank of Springfield.
Politically, Mr. Rule is a Democrat. He was reared in the Roman Catholic faith and has proved faithful to his allegiance to the mother church. Fraternally, he belongs to the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and is president of the local aerie of Eagles. He is also a member of the United Commercial Travelers.
Mr. Rule was married in 1891 to Lula M. Teague, a daughter of Elihu and Sarah ( Brock) Teague. Mr. Teague lived in western Colorado, where he was interested in mining. His wife died many years ago, and his death occurred in 1911. The family formerly lived in Springfield, where Mrs. Rule was educated in the high school from which she was graduated.
Five sons have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Rule, namely : Francis G .. born November 22, 1893, was educated in the Springfield high school, and
.
I579
GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
is now employed with the Ice steamboat line as electrician; Raymond T .. born on April 22, 1896, is attending St. Mary's school; Carl W., born on January 13, 1903, is in school; John Christopher, born on October 16, 1905 : Richard L., born on May 2, 1909.
MASON CLAUDE WASHBURN.
Although Springfield is a city of considerable size, where the inhabit- ants are engaged in a great variety of pursuits, yet a large number of her citizens are engaged in railroading or dependent upon the railroads, one way and another, for their livelihood; and where there are so many actively engaged in as hazardous a calling as railroading there necessarily occur many fatal accidents. One of the most regrettable was the loss of Mason Claude Washburn, a Frisco employee, who met his untimely death while a member of a train crew over thirteen years ago. He was a young man of much promise, only a quarter of a century having passed over his head. and he was summoned before his Judge in the Great Beyond when it seemed that he was most needed here. He was both a railroader and a minister of the gospel, and no doubt would have eventually become a lead- ing preacher in the Christian church in southern Missouri had he been spared.
Mr. Washburn, who was familiarly known as "Claude" Washburn, was born on July 19, 1875, in the state of Illinois. Ile was a son of Henry Harrison Washburn and Molly E. (Wilson) Washburn. The father was born on September 25, 1849, and the mother's birth occurred June 14th of the same year, both being natives of Kentucky, where they grew to maturity, were educated in the common schools and were married, and from that state they immigrated to Illinois, where they resided until about 1886, in which year they came to Springfield, Missouri, and established the future home of the family. A few years ago the parents of the subject of this memoir removed to Cape Girardeau, this state. Henry H. Washburn has followed railroading ever since he was a boy, has been in the employ of several roads, and has been with the Frisco system about thirty-five years. all told. He is now a passenger conductor; in fact, has been for many years. His family consisted of four children, namely: Lutie lives in St. Louis; Mason C., subject of this sketch; Pearl lives in Cape Girardeau. Missouri ; and Harry H. lives in Chaffec, Missouri. The father of these children is a prominent Mason, having attained the thirty-second degree in this order.
Mason C. Washburn was young in years when his parents brought him
1580
GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
to Springfield, Missouri, and here he grew to manhood and received a good education, including the public and high schools, a business college and the old Normal school. He prepared himself for the ministry in the Christian church, in which he was engaged for five or six years, during which time he had a church on the north side and supplied a number of pulpits in his denomination. He was a successful minister, well versed in the Bible, and was an earnest, forceful and convincing speaker and a man whose influence in all the relations of life made for better living.
Mr. Washburn secured a position as brakeman on the Frisco railroad in November, 1896, and was assigned to a freight crew to run between Monett, Missouri, and Fort Smith, Arkansas.
Mr. Washburn was married on June 28, 1898, to Lydia M. Wilkerson, who was born on April 16, 1875, in Polk county, Missouri. She is a daugh- ter of Dr. J. M. and Mary (Ayers) Wilkerson. Doctor Wilkerson was born in Tennessee on November 2, 1844, and his wife was born in Mis- souri on September 8, 1849. He received his medical education in the St. Louis Medical College and practiced for many years in Humansville, Polk county, this state, finally removing to Springfield, where he and his wife still reside. A complete sketch of them appears on another page of this work. Mrs. Washburn grew to womanhood in the town of Humansville, and she received a good education in the public schools.
To Mr. and Mrs. Washburn one child was born, James Harrison Wash- burn, whose birth occurred on June 22, 1899; he is being educated in the Springfield schools. Mrs. Washburn and son live on North Jefferson street.
Politically, Mr. Washburn was a Republican.
The tragic death of Mr. Washburn occurred on November 13, 1900. We quote the following account of the accident from the Springfield Leader of that date :
"Claude Washburn, one of the most popular trainmen in Springfield, met a horrible death at Aurora this morning. He left Springfield this morning as a brakeman on an extra run out in charge of Conductor Garvin. At Aurora the train was heading in and while taking the side track Claude Washburn was riding the pilot of the engine. By a sudden jerk of the loco- motive the unfortunate man was thrown from the pilot directly in front of the track and then the engine wheels crushed his life out. He was dragged a short distance, there being scarcely room for a body to pass beneath the pilot, but the wheels of the engine passed over both legs and he was horribly mangled. The engine was stopped as quickly as possible, but the brakeman lived but a few minutes after being taken from beneath the engine. The remains were brought to this city on a passenger train.
"Claude Washburn grew to manhood in Springfield. He came here when only a small boy with his parents. He was about twenty-five years
1581
GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
of age and leaves a wife and one child. He was an extra conductor and had been running trains a great deal this fall. He would soon have liad a regular run as a conductor if he had lived, as he was considered a most efficient man. His father, H. H. Washburn, an old Frisco conductor, resigned his position yesterday and left last night for Little Rock, Arkan- sas. His mother and aged grandfather are now at the home on Benton ave- nue and are heartbroken, as Claude was the pride of the family. Out on Summit avenue and Pacific street there is also his heartbroken widow, almost prostrated by the untimely death of her husband. She is the daugh- ter of Dr. J. M. Wilkerson.
"Claude Washburn was a religious man and a member of the Christian church on Washington avenue. Before he began to work on the railroad he had a strong liking for the ministry, and had in fact been a local preacher. He was a member of the Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor, and attended the national convention in Boston as a delegate in 1895. He was a member of the Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen. He is spoken of in the highest terms by all who know him, and there is probably not a railroad man of Springfield whose death would cause more general sorrow."
JAMES CALEB SQUIBB.
"I didn't begin with asking, I took the job and stuck;
And I took the chance they wouldn't and now they're calling it luck."
Thus wrote Rudyard Kipling of a man who pronounced success in life by his own efforts, advancing himself from an humble environment, refusing to permit discouraging circumstances to down him, until he won the goal sought. The great poet might just as well have had in mind James Caleb Squibb, for many years a successful druggist of Springfield. He came up from the soil, won a large measure of success unaided and also made a good citizen.
Mr. Squibb was born in Greene county, Missouri, July 29, 1861. He is a son of Caleb and Elizabeth (Wallace) Squibb, both natives of Ten- nessee, where they grew to maturity, received such educational advantages as the old-time schools offered, and were married in their native state, and from there emigrated to Missouri, locating in Greene county, where they spent the rest of their lives in farming. They came here in the days before the great Civil war and experienced the stirring times here during the struggle. They worked hard and had a good farm and comfortable home and were well and favorably known. The death of Mr. Squibb occurred in August, 1861 ; his widow is still living in this county, having thus sur-
1582
GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
vived her husband fifty-four years, and has reached an advanced age. They were the parents of two children-James Caleb, of this review; and Prior Lee, who is living on a farm in Greene county.
The subject of this sketch spent his boyhood days on the farm with his parents, where he worked hard and remained until he was nineteen years of age, when he came to Springfield and attended the common schools, later entered the Marionville Collegiate Institute, at Marionville, Missouri, where he took a general course. Leaving college at the age of twenty-two years, he went to St. Louis and took a course in a business college and afterwards studied pharmacy and went into the drug business in Springfield, and continued the same, owning his own store until 1913, when he sold out and has since been living practically retired, merely looking after his private property. He made a pronounced success as a druggist and always enjoyed a good trade and carried a large stock of drugs and drug sundries, and dealt fairly and courteously with his many regular customers and tran- sients alike. He has a fine home on North Jefferson street.
Mr. Squibb was married on November 19, 1883, to Nora Massey, who was born, reared and educated in Greene county. She is a daughter of Nathaniel J. and Mary Catherine (Bass) Massey, both natives of Missouri, who located in Greene county in an early day and established the permanent home of the family. Mr. Massey was a successful farmer and stock trader and a public-spirited, self-made man. During the Civil war he was a gov- ernment contractor, furnishing stock and general supplies to the army. In politics he was a Democrat and a Union man. His father, James Massey, was probably born in the green isle of Erin, but crossed the Atlantic when young and settled in Tennessee. Later he moved to Greene county, Mis- souri, and located a few miles east of Springfield, where he became the owner of a good farm. There his death occurred during the Civil war. He was twice married and was the father of twenty-two children. His last wife, who died on February 15, 1894, married Allen Gentry, of Stone county. Theophalus Bass, Mrs. Squibb's grandfather, was the first repre- sentative to the Legislature from Taney county, and died during his incum- bency and was buried in Jefferson City. Nathaniel J. Bass was born in Tennessee, about 1815, and died in 1868. His second wife, mother of Mrs. Squibb, was born in Taney county, Missouri, and died about forty years ago in Springfield. She was born during the later forties, was reared and educated in Boone county, Missouri, having attended Howard Female Col- lege. Our subject's wife was one of two children, she being the eldest ; her sister, Effie, was born in February, 1868, married Oscar Headley, and they live in Los Angeles, California. Mrs. Squibb's great-grandfather, John D. Shannon, came from Tennessee and settled in Greene county, Mis- souri, in the forties. He was the first representative from Greene county to
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.