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 71
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The union of Mr. and Mrs. Leeper has been without issue.
Politically, Mr. Leeper is a Democrat. Fraternally, he belongs to the
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Masonic Order at Walnut Grove, the old Sullivan Lodge No. 7. He and his wife are members of the Baptist church at Walnut Grove, in which she takes an active part, especially in Sunday school work.
Mr. Leeper is a home man, a hard worker and a good citizen.
JOSEPH LEWIS OWEN.
Scientific methods of farming disseminated through the medium of the agricultural schools throughout the country have come as a great blessing to those pursuing agricultural callings. Yet the farmers in the early days of this country had no such advantages. They had to depend upon their own judgment, their own foresight, their own intuition, as it were, to over- come many a perplexing problem in farming. And yet their success was more often than not almost phenomenal; and we can pardon the veteran tillers of the soil who yet remain among us if they look askance upon our newer methods. Joseph Lewis Owen, a creditable representative of the well- known old Owen family of Greene county, who owns a fine modern farm of large acreage in Wilson township, is making a pronounced success as a general farmer, employing such of the progressive methods as are consistent with this locality and climate, and his well-cultivated land and comfortable home would indicate to the observer that his efforts have been well rewarded.
Mr. Owen was born near what is now Battlefield, in the above named township and county, May 7, 1880. He is a son of Capt. C. Baker Owen and Nancy Caroline ( McCroskey) Owen. Captain Owen was a native of Tennessee, born in Marshall county, February 28, 1827. He was a son of Solomon H. Owen, a native of eastern Tennessee, and of Welsh descent. Baker Owen was nine years old when he was brought by his parents to Greene county, Missouri, in 1836, his father entering four hundred acres of land from the government, four miles northwest of Springfield. He continued entering land until he owned about two thousand acres. He owned large numbers of slaves. He became one of the most extensive farm- ers and stock men in this section of the state, and remained on his farm until 1874, when he was seventy-seven years of age, when he removed to Springfield. His family consisted of six children, named as follows: Sus- anna A., George H., Pleasant B., Charles Baker, Jesse W., and William S.
Captain Owens, father of our subject, grew to manhood in Greene county and here devoted his life to farming and stock raising on a large scale. On September 18, 1856, he married Sarah E. Yarbrough, and two children were born to this union, John S., and Stephen A. D. After his marriage Captain Owen settled on a farm on the James river, however, he
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had previously spent a number of years engaged in buying and selling live- stock, and, like his father before hin, he became one of the most progressive agriculturists in Greene county, owning a vast estate on either side of the James river, aggregating over nineteen hundred acres. He cleared and in- proved about one-half of the entire tract, leaving a large portion of his land in timber and he kept large herds of various kinds of livestock on his large pastures. The first wife of Captain Owen died in the spring of 1862, and on January 31, 1865, he married Nancy Caroline McCroskey, to which union eight children were born, named as follows: Charles J., Rachael M., Margaret S. E., Alwilda M. J., George D., Francis W., W. E., and Joseph L. (subject of this sketch).
Captain Owen was a Democrat and was influential in local public affairs. He was elected sheriff of Greene county in 1870, and was re- elected in 1874, serving two terms of two years each. He took a con- spicuous part in the local military affairs during the Civil war. In May, 1861, he organized a militia company of Home Guards in Wilson town- ship and was elected captain, but when his company was consolidated with another, he being the junior of the two captains, resigned and became a first lieutenant. When General Lyon's army marched out from Springfield on the night of August 9, 1861, to attack General Price and McCulloch on Wilson's creek, Captain Owen was appointed one of the guides; and he led the division under Col. Franz Sigel to the Confederate camp, he took part in the battle on the following day. The Union forces having retreated to Rolla, Phelps county, Captain Owen and his company were enrolled in United States service there, and was commissioned by the governor of Mis- souri as first lieutenant in the regular army. He saw considerable active service, was in a number of skirmishes in the southern part of the state and later fought against General Marmaduke in that part of the state and was also in minor engagements in Tennessee and different parts of his own state. At Columbus, Kentucky, his company did guard duty on the ordnance boat "General Grant," and later was with General Sherman on his march through Mississippi; was with General Banks on the Red river expedition, also at the occupation of the city of Alexandria, and the battle of Pleasant Hill, Louisiana, where his regiment lost all of its offi- cers except the major, one captain and one lieutenant, in killed and wounded. and lost one-third of the men. His own company lost one-half of its num- ber in killed and wounded. This company was in severe skirmishes. fighting from April 9th to May 16th, when the battle of Yellow Brow was fought. Later Captain Owen was in battle near Mineral Point, Missouri. He was sick in the Federal Hospital at Memphis, Tennessee, nine weeks. He was mustered out of the service in St. Louis, October 14, 1864. Soon thereafter he returned home and engaged in farming until his death.
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Joseph L. Owen grew to manhood on the home farm and there he worked during the summer months and attended the district schools in the winter time. He has always lived on the old homestead, he having taken the old home place proper in the settlement of his father's estate, and he is owner of one of the choice farms of this part of Greene county, con- sisting of three hundred and twenty acres, two hundred acres of which is under cultivation and he is carrying on general farming and stock raising in a highly successful manner. He has carefully rotated his crops and otherwise skilfully managed the old farm so that it has not only retained its original fertility but the strength of soil has been increased.
Mr. Owen was married November 10, 1901, to Kate McConnell, a daughter of John and Nannie (Aven) MeConnell, both born, reared and educated in Christian county, Missouri, and in that county Mrs. Owen was born January 25, 1883, and there grew to womanhood and received a com- mon school education. Her father's death occurred June 3, 1909, but her mother is still living in Christian county. Ten children were born to Mr. and Mrs. McConnell, namely: Lindsay is the eldest; Mrs. Maggie Avery, wife of Ed Avery, of Christian county ; Lucy is the wife of James Stewart, of Greene county; Gracey is the wife of Herbert Avan and they live in Christian county; Ross also lives in that county; Bertha, wife of Will Gooch, resides in the same county; Kate, wife of Mr. Owen, of this sketch; the other three children died in infancy.
To Mr. and Mrs. Owen three children have been born, namely: Rosco died in infancy; Clarence, born February 7, 1903, and Homer, born Oc- tober 12, 1909 ,are at home.
Politically, Mr. Owen has voted the Democratic ticket since attaining his majority. Mrs. Owen is a member of the Christian church. They are among the popular young people of this part of the county.
SAMUEL A. FARMER.
Reform movements travel slowly. The wearing-out process of the vir- gin fields of the United States has extended over a long period of years of agitation on the part of experiment stations, county experts and farm week- lies, but each year the farmers of the Middle West are showing improve- ment in their method of handling the soil. Judicious crop rotation, in which one of the legumes is often included, is having much to do in bringing about an increased yield per acre. There has not been, and will not be, a spon- taneous movement to restore the soil's fertility. Farmers are no exception to the average of mankind. Some will take the initiative, others will doubt,
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still others will learn by example, and yet another class will wait until forced by a depleted soil and a decreased yield to take up the great work of rebuild- ing the soil. One of the farmers of Murray township, Greene county who has been a careful student of modern farming conditions and has kept his farm in a high productive state through judicious and timely management is Samuel A. Farmer, one of the most progressive farmers and one of the most widely known stockmen in the northern part of the county.
Mr. Farmer was born in the above named township and county on May 5, 1875. He is a son of Oscar and Anna (Appleby) Farmer, both promi- nent old families of this locality. The father was born in eastern Tennessee in 1835, and his death occurred in 1887.
A sketch of the father will be found on another page of this volume.
Samuel A . Farmer was reared on the home farm near Willard which village was built near his father's farm of one hundred and twenty acres of excellent level land. He received his education in the local public schools. On October 7, 1897, he married Stella Alsup, a native of Greene county where she grew to womanhood and was educated. She is the only daughter of Andrew Jackson Alsup and Pernecia ( East) Alsup. The father was born on February 15, 1852, in Greene county, Missouri, and was a son of James and Mary (Slaughter) Alsup. James Alsup was a native of Ten- nessee from which state he came to Greene county, Missouri, with his par- ents when a young man and settled in Franklin township, having made the long overland trip in wagons. Later the father took up a claim from the government, consisting of one hundred and sixty acres or more, and this he cleared and improved and lived here until his death.
After his marriage, Mr. Farmer left the home farm and rented what was known as the Polly Watson farm for one year, then moved to his present farm of one hundred and seventy acres where he has been actively engaged in general farming and raising cattle and hogs. His place is called "Farmer's Stock Farm" and is an ideal location and a most excellent place for the breeding and raising of live stock. He has raised and shipped from year to year cattle and hogs, and is now making a specialty of breeding Hereford cattle. During the past few years he has been quite an extensive shipper of cattle and hogs, but recently he has been disposing of his stock in his own community. He has a well-improved farm in every respect, a good home and up-to-date barn, large silo and is a man of decided advanced ideas both as to farming methods and implements and success has been the result of his industry and good judgment.
The union of Mr. and Mrs. Farmer has resulted in the birth of one child, Clifford Farmer, born on December 21, 1898, who is at home with his parents.
Politically, Mr. Farmer is a Democrat, but often votes independently
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in local elections. Fraternally he belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America at Cave Spring, this county. And he is a member of the Presby- terian church at that place, and he has been superintendent of the Sunday school there for the past ten years, and has helped build up a large and inter- esting Sunday school. His wife has been a teacher of a class in the Sunday school there for the past ten years, and both are active in the general work of the church, giving liberally of their time and means to the support of the church.
STEPHEN A. D. OWEN.
No industry is so vital to the well-being of the nation as agriculture, and nothing is so vital to agriculture as the soil. From its treasury it has been estimated that we draw annually about eight billion and three hundred million dollars, and its possibilities are as yet only partially realized. There are still in this country millions of acres which have never felt the plow, while those which are now under cultivation can, by the application of scientific principles, be made to produce many times the present value of their products. How to use and not abuse this great resource is the most important problem which faces the farmer of today-one worthy of the best efforts of our profound and learned scientists ; for upon its solution depends the future prosperity of the nation. One of the alert and wide- awake agriculturists of Greene county of a past generation was the late Stephen A. D. Owen, of Wilson township, a scion of the prominent old Owen family of this locality.
Mr. Owen was born in Greene county, Missouri, January 6, 1861. He is a son of C. B. and Ellen (Yarbrough) Owen, the former a native of Tennessee and the latter of Christian county, Missouri, the parents of the mother of our subject having emigrated from middle Tennessee to Mis- souri in an early day. C. B. Owen was also one of the early settlers in the southern part of Greene county, becoming an extensive land owner along the James river and one of the most substantial and influential citizens here. He was twice married, and had two children by his first union, namely : J. Solomon, and Stephen A. D. During the Civil war C. B. Owen was a Unionist, and became captain of the Twenty-fourth Missouri Infantry, serving three years with distinction and credit. At the battle of Wilson's creek he acted as guide to Col. Franz Sigel's column which marched from Springfield to the camp of the Confederates the night preceding the bat- tle. Mr. Owen took part in numerous engagements, including the battles of Pleasant Hill and Ft. Derussy and several of minor importance. He was never wounded but was once struck with a spent ball. A fuller history of Captain Owen will be found on other pages of this work.
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Stephen A. D. Owen grew to manhood on the home farm, where he assisted with the general work and in the winter months he attended the old subscription schools, obtaining a meager education, which has since been properly supplemented by wide miscellaneous reading. When he was forty-six years of age his father died and our subject became possessed of a finely improved and valuable farm of two hundred acres from the old homestead, a part of which lies across the line in Christian county. Here he carried on general farming and stock raising in a manner that indicated he was fully abreast of the times of modern husbandry.
Mr. Owen was twice married, first, on April 28. 1883, to Lula L. White, a daughter of Hardy and Tampey White, formerly of the state of Tennessee, from which they emigrated to Greene county, Missouri, in an early day. She was one of three children, being the youngest, and her death occurred March 18, 1888, leaving three children, namely: Alfred Wilson, Charles Baker, and Horace Preston, all living in Greene county. Our subject was married on February 17, 1894, his last wife being Rachael Ann Payne, born April 6. 1858, a daughter of Lewis and Margaret Payne, natives of Tennessee and Virginia, respectively. The father came to Greene county, Missouri, when five years of age. His father was the second white man to settle in Greene county. He found only Indians and a few Spaniards in these parts. Our subject's second marriage was without issue.
Politically, Mr. Owen adhered to the principles of the Democratic party since reaching maturity, but never sought public office, being content to devote his attention exclusively to his pleasant home and his extensive farming operations. However he served as constable four years. His death occurred at his home, January 28, 1915.
HARRY COOPER.
The gentleman whose name heads this paragraph is widely known as one of the enterprising men of affairs of Greene county whose methods are those of the progressive twentieth century business man, who, despite ob- stacles and opposition, is forging to the front along conservative and legiti- mate lines. He is sole proprietor of the large supply company of Spring- field which bears his name, and he has long been prominently identified with the commercial interests of the capital city of the Ozarks. His well-directed efforts in the practical affairs of life, his capable management of his business interests and his sound judgment have brought him large financial rewards for the labor he has expended, and his life forcefully demonstrates what may be accomplished in this free land of ours by the gentleman of foreign
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birth who comes here with a willingness to work honestly and persistently in any legitimate line of established endeavor.
Mr. Cooper was born near Leicester, England, September 12, 1861. He is a son of Henry Cooper, who was born in England, where he grew to manhood, received his education and married, and from that country he emigrated to the United States with his family in 1872, landing in New York City, but came direct to the state of Missouri, secured a good farm in Wilson township, Greene county, and there became a successful farmer and stock raiser for many years and the latter part of his life was spent in retirement on his small farm of forty-five acres. He was seventy-seven years of age when his death occurred. Politically, he was a Democrat and served his township as a member of the school board. He belonged to the Episcopal church and led a quiet, honorable and industrious life. Mr. Cooper was twice married, his first wife, mother of our subject, whose maiden name was Mary Richardson, died in 1874, leaving two sons, Harry of this sketch, and George, who was associated in business with his brother in Springfield, from 1888 to 1908; he was for many years one of the well- known citizens of this city and while he and our subject were on a visit to England in 1910, he was stricken with illness and died in that country. Henry Cooper's second marriage was to Elizabeth Jackson, and to this union one son was born, Frederick Cooper, who is now engaged in the plumbing business on College street, Springfield.
William Cooper, the paternal grandfather of our subject, was born and reared in England and resided there all his life. He was a successful business man and became one of the wealthiest citizens of the city of Leicester. He retained the coat-of-arms of his ancestors, the Coopers being a prominent old English family, and he was very active in church work and was a heavy contributor, building a handsome church unaided for his denomination near Leicester.
Harry Cooper, our subject, spent his boyhood in England, where he attended school and was eleven years of age when, in 1872, his parents brought him to America. He continued his education in the public schools of Springfield, attending about one year when he went to Wilson township to his father's farm and there assisted with the general work during the summer months. However, his educational advantages were limited and he left school when thirteen years of age. He remained under his paternal roof-tree until he was twenty-two years of age, then came to Springfield and went to work for the Springfield Gas Company, under J. S. Ambrose, and began learning the plumbing trade. After remaining with this concern a year, he went to Ft. Smith, Arkansas, where he worked at the plumbing trade in 1883 and 1884. He worked as journeyman plumber until 1887. then opened a plumbing business of his own at 412 South street, Springfield,
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and later moved his shop to the southeast corner of South and Walnut streets. He was successful from the start and his business grew to large proportions with advancing years. For twenty years his brother, George Cooper, was in partnership with him, the business being conducted under the firm name of Cooper Brothers. In 1908 Mir. Cooper purchased his brother's interest, since which time he has been sole proprietor of his estab- lishment, which is now known as the Harry Cooper Supply Company. On June 1, 1908, he moved to 30 East Water street, where he rented a one- story brick building, twenty by one hundred and forty-five feet, and opened a strictly wholesale supply house. The following year he was obliged to seek larger quarters and he rented the adjoining property, doubling his space on the ground floor and adding another story also of equal capacity, and here he remained until again forced to seek more commodious quarters, when he purchased a lot, sixty by one hundred and thirty-five feet, at 223-227 East Water street, early in 1914, and here he constructed a substantial mod- ern three-story and basement reinforced concrete brick front building, pur- chasing his own cement, iron and all supplies and had the building erected according to his own ideas and plans made by George F. Reed, architect. It is one of the models of its kind in the Southwest. The building con- tains thirty thousand feet of floor space, and he has one of the best display rooms in the state, which room with his office occupies the entire front of the building. He does a large wholesale business over a vast territory con- tiguous to Springfield, handling plumbing, heating and engine supplies, well casings, pumps and wind mills. Everything in these lines may be found at his large plant and it requires fifteen experienced assistants to help manage the daily volume of business which is constantly and rapidly growing. The business was incorporated under the laws of Missouri early in 1915. While doing plumbing work, Mr. Cooper was employed in several adjoining states as well as throughout Missouri and he is widely known to the plumbing trade of the Southwest. He did the plumbing work in the Missouri building at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St. Louis, in. 1903. He gives his business his personal attention and promptness and honesty are his watch- words.
Mr. Cooper was married in 1890 to Catherine Elizabeth Coombs. a daughter of David Coombs, who was a native of New Jersey. Both the parents of Mrs. Cooper died when she was quite young and she made her home with her uncle, ohn Coombs, a native of New Jersey. He came to Springfield when Mrs. Cooper was but twelve years of age and it was here that she received her education in the public schools.
To our subject and wife two children have been born, namely: Catherine R., who was graduated from the Springfield high school and later from Wheaton College in Massachusetts. She was married on February 3. 1915,
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to Allen F. Mack, of this city, who is in the dry goods business. John Henry George Cooper, second child of Mr. and Mrs. Cooper, is attending local high school.
Politically, Mr. Cooper is a Democrat and fraternally is a thirty-second degree Mason.
JAMES QUINN.
Farmers as a class are intelligent, industrious and economical, and many of them are men of good business judgment. Further, those who have made a thorough study of the business side of farming know that it is not an easy matter to make money on the farm. Only the most practical and experienced farmers are making any considerable profit out of their business. Most of the money that has been made on the farm in recent years has been made, not by farming, but by the rise of prices on farm lands. In the nature of things this rise can not continue indefinitely, and some one will own this land when the price becomes practically stationary or perhaps starts to decline. Those who purchased their farms years ago should con- sider themselves fortunate; that is, if they like farming and are doing well, but the outlook is none too encouraging for the man who is looking for a good farm at a price which he can afford to pay and carry on general farm- ing successfully, especially if that man has but little or no experience in country life. James Quinn, of Campbell township, is one of Greene county's prosperous and contented farmers. He came here from a foreign strand and got good land when the price was low, and, using sound judgment, has made a success.
Mr. Quinn was born in County Down, Ireland, June 5, 1848. He is a son of John and Susanna (McClune) Quinn, and a grandson of John and Charlotte (Hill) Quinn, all natives of Ireland and representatives of the farming class. John Quinn, Jr., died at the age of ninety-eight years, and his wife almost reached the century mark. Their son, John Quinn, father of our subject, was born in County Down in 1806, and, like his father before him, devoted his life to farming in the north of Ireland, dying there in 1892 at the age of eighty-six years, his wife having preceded him to the grave in 1884. They were the parents of eight children, all boys but one, namely : William has remained in Ireland and is a hammersman by trade; John is a brick mason and lives in Ireland; James of this sketch; Samuel is deceased ; Hugh, who is now employed at Wolf's shipyards in Ireland, was formerly a school teacher ; Robert is a bridge builder in Ireland; David is farming in Ireland ; Susanna is deceased. A daughter of Hugh Quinn won first pre-
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