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 80
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Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Smith, five of whom are living at this writing, namely: Lydia Eugenia lives in Kansas; Fred, deceased; Ethel is married and lives in Springfield, Missouri; Mattie is also with her parents; Nellie lives in Joplin, Missouri; Walter died in infancy; Campbell lives in Springfield, and Lee is deceased.
William Y. Smith is an example of a self-made man. His father died when he was a small boy, leaving our subject's mother with a number of children to rear, which made it necessary for William Y. to face life alone and unaided; but this he did courageously, and the hard knocks he received at that tender age proved valuable to his makeup. He engaged in general farming on the farm where he was reared, continuing in this vocation until he was twenty-five years of age, then moved to Springfield and engaged in the implement business, later went on the road for a harvester company, selling machines, remaining in that line of work a number of years, or until the various harvesting machine companies were consolidated into the trust, whereupon he turned his attention to the life insurance business. During the past five years he has been on the road as a commercial traveler, selling different lines, but principally lighting systems and silos. He is
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one of the most successful and best known traveling men in this section of the country. He has a pleasant home on Monroe street, Springfield.
Mr. Smith is a Democrat, and has long been more or less active in the affairs of his party. He is a member of the Anti-Horse Thief Association.
THOMAS ELLIS DABBS.
Thomas Ellis Dabbs was born in Champaign county, Ohio, August 8, 1878, and when three years of age he came to Greene county, Missouri, with his parents and here has since resided. His father, William P. Dabbs, was born in Virginia, May 28, 1829, and was the son of Abner and Mary Dabbs, who located in North Carolina in 1838, after spending their earlier years in the Old Dominion. In 1844 they left the old Tar state and made the long overland journey to Greene county, Missouri, where William P. Dabbs grew to manhood. On October 3, 1858, he married Hannah M. Johnston, a daughter of John B. Johnston, formerly a citizen of Spring- field. To this union ten children were born, six of whom are living at this writing, namely: Mary C., Hannah E., Clara L., Ellen V., Thomas E., and Robert Lee. The last named is a girl.
William P. Dabbs was a Southern sympathizer during the war between the states, and in the fall of 1861 he enlisted in the State Guards, and in February, 1862, joined Capt. "Dick" Campbell's company, and served in the regular Confederate army under Gen. Sterling Price. He took part in a number of engagements and was taken prisoner at the hotly contested battle of Champion's Hill, Mississippi, May 17, 1863, and was held at Camp Morton, Fort Donelson and Point Lookout until March, 1864, when he was released. He made his way to Clark county, Ohio, where he joined his fam- ily who had been ordered out of Greene county, Missouri, in the spring of 1864. He remained in Ohio until 1881 when he returned with his family to Greene county and bought a farm of one hundred and seventy-five acres.
Thomas E. Dabbs grew to manhood on his father's farm where he assisted with the general work. He received his education in the district schools and the old Springfield Normal, which he attended two years. On December 25, 1901, he married Eleanor Miller, a daughter of James Todd Miller and Christina (Stephenson) Miller. The father was born in Phila- delphia, Pennsylvania, and the mother in Henry county, Illinois. James Miller, grandfather of Mrs. Dabbs, was a native of Ireland, from which country he immigrated to the United States when a young man and settled in New York, later locating in Philadelphia. He was a weaver by trade which he followed until about 1865 when he came to Bureau county, Illi-
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nois, where he purchased three hundred and sixty acres of land and there his death occurred seventeen years ago, at the age of seventy-seven years, and he was burid at Kewanee, Henry county, that state. His wife, Jane (Legette) Miller, was a granddaughter of Joseph Robert and Eleanor (Sloan) Legette, natives of Ireland, from which country they immigrated to the United States and died at Kewanee, Illinois, he at the age of ninety- two years, and she at the age of eighty-eight years.
To James T. Miller and wife six children were born, namely : Elea- nor, wife of Mr. Dabbs of this sketch; Christina lives at Meta, Missouri; Jean married Fred Krone and they live in St. Louis; James S. lives in LaCrosse, Wisconsin; Will T. lives in Lafayette, Indiana; Joe Marshall is at home.
James T. Miller was but a child when his parents took him from Phila- delphia to Bureau county, Illinois, where he remained until 1899, when he came to Greene county, Missouri. He engaged in merchandising in Spring- field, where he remained until 1904. then went to Meta, Missouri, and retired.
Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Dabbs, namely: Will- iam James, born in 1903; Margarite Christina, born in 1907; Helen Miller, born in 1909; and Mary E., born in 1912.
Mr. Dabbs has devoted his life to general agricultural pursuits. He owns a productive and well-tilled farm of eighty acres in Campbell town- ship, near Springfield, only a mile from the city limits. Here for four years he conducted a successful dairy, but has abandoned this part of his opera- tions. He has also devoted considerable attention to the live stock business.
Politically, he is a Democrat. He is a member of the Anti-Horse Thief Association. He has served his community as road commissioner. Our subject's wife is a member of the Calvary Presbyterian church, Springfield.
MAJOR JOHN W. F. BEATIE.
Effective management of one's affairs has ceased to be a one-man game. A generation ago farmers and business men could and did carry on their enterprises quite independent of each other. If they could not make a satisfactory deal with one man, there was another at hand with which they could open negotiations. But there has been a gradual breaking down of independent individual action and a growing up of gigantic systems of com- bination. Small business establishments have been absorbed by the larger ones which have united their interests by working agreements. Farmers.
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now see the necessity of co-operation for cheaper production and less expen- sive marketing.
One of the farmers of Washington township, Greene county, who is alive to new conditions is John W. F. Beatie, who was born near St. Louis, Missouri, April 9, 1837. He is a son of Robert and Mary Anne (Smith) Beatie. The father was born in Lincoln county, Tennessee, July 29, 1811, and was reared on a farm in that state, and when a young man he learned the blacksmith's trade. He remained in his native state until 1837 when he made the overland trip in a wagon to Missouri, Greene county being his destination, and our subject was born en route. The family settled about ten miles southeast of Springfield at a place now called Palmetto. Here the elder Beatie secured a tract of land which he cleared and worked in connec- tion with blacksmithing, keeping a shop on his farm, and was one of the best-known blacksmiths among the pioneer settlers in that part of the county. There he spent the rest of his life, dying on March 22, 1884. His wife was born in Lincoln county, Tennessee, and there grew up and received a limited education. She did not live long after coming to Missouri. To these parents ten children were born, namely: Martha Jane, deceased; Lucinda, deceased; John W. F., of this sketch; Sarah Elizabeth lives in Webster county, Mis- souri; David M. is living in Rogersville, Webster county; Mrs. Frances Gault lives in Rogersville also; William R. makes his home at Rogersville; Anna Eliza, deceased; Lucretia G., deceased; the youngest child died in infancy.
Major Beatie grew to manhood on the home farm where he worked when a boy, and in the winter time he attended the district schools of his community. He has lived in Missouri all his life, and being now past his seventy-seventh birthday he is one of the oldest citizens of this township. which he has seen develop from a wild state to a fine farming community. and he has taken an interested part in the many improvements. When the Civil war began he soon took a stand for the Union and at first joined the Home Guards under Captain Waterson. After the battle of Wilson's Creek he entered the United States service, serving six months in Company D. Phelp's regiment, under Capt. J. W. Lisenby, then joined the Missouri State Militia, and later was a member of the Sixteenth Missouri Cavalry. He saw considerable service, but principally in his home district, and at the close of the war he was honorably discharged at Springfield.
Major Beatie was married in 1872 to Matilda Pickel, who was born in Tennessee, and from that state she removed with her parents at a very early age to Greene county, Missouri, the family locating just across the road from the Beattie family and there she grew to womanhood and received her education in the district schools. She is a daughter of Jacob B. and Malicia
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(Holt) Pickel, who came to Greene county, Missouri, from Tennessee, and located on a farm in Washington township.
To Mr. and Mrs. Beatie five children have been born, namely: Mrs. Mary Alice Davis lives in Greene county ; Robert M. is at home; Mrs. Emma Holland lives in Greene county ; Mrs. Jennie Isabel Webb lives in Greene county, and Mrs. Bessie F. Painter resides in Springfield.
Major Beatie has always followed general farming, and soon after his marriage he moved to the farm where he is now residing, purchasing one hundred acres, to which he later added twenty-six and one-half acres, one hundred acres being under cultivation, the balance in timber. He has a good farm and a comfortable home and has made an easy living here. He has owned farms in different parts of the state.
Politically, Mr. Beatie is a Republican, and while loyal to his party has never sought leadership or public office.
COLUMBUS BERRY RUSSELL.
When Columbus Berry Russell, one of the substantial farmers of Brook- line township, Greene county, lost an arm in his boyhood it was regarded as a calamity, but this very circumstance may have led to the arousing of dormant energies, courage, self-reliance, determination and ambition that could not be thwarted and thus the accomplishment of greater things in future years than otherwise would have been the case. Anyway he is cer- tainly deserving of a great deal of credit for forging ahead from discourag- ing and humble environment to the commendable position he has attained in his locality.
Mr. Russell was born in Dade county, Missouri, December 20, 1852. He is a son of Jefferson N. and Elizabeth Russell, who came to Dade county from Virginia in the late forties. The paternal grandfather was a native of Germany. His wife was a native of Ireland. They immigrated to America early in the nineteenth century. Jefferson N. Russell owned a good farm in this county where he and his wife both died. They were the parents of the following children: Columbus B. of this sketch; Granson, of Hico, Hamilton county, Texas; B. V. lives in Buena Vista, Texas; Calvin lives in Plainview, Texas; Ann is the widow of J. D. Robinson and lives in Little Oak, California; Arrena Jane is the wife of J. J. Gray, a farmer of Brook- line township, this county; Sarah E. is the widow of J. Hale, of Kansas City.
Columbus B. Russell was a boy when his parents brought him to Greene county and he was reared on a farm which formed a portion of the battle- field of Wilson's Creek, and during this memorable engagement the Russell
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home was converted into a hospital. Our subject has a vivid recollection of the battle and tells many interesting stories regarding it. Soon after the battle he passed over the field in search of some live stock that had been frightened away by the firing, and he saw many dead and wounded. Our subject's father was a member of the Home Guards and at the time of the battle was at home; however, he was careful to conceal himself from the Confederates and he was not disturbed. But during the war he lost all of his live stock -several hundred head, including sixty brood mares, which practically ruined him financially.
Columbus B. Russell received his education in the district schools. He has always followed farming. When fourteen years old he met with the accident that caused the loss of his right arm, by the accidental discharge of a gun, but nevertheless he began life for himself when fifteen years old by engaging in farming and has made his way unaided in the world ever since, and, manging well has been quite successful. He moved to his present location in Section 36, Brookline township, in 1874, where he bought a government clam of forty acres, since then acquiring eighty acres more, the entire one hundred and twenty costing an average of about nine dollars per acre. It is not well worth seventy-five dollars per acre, partly because of the general incrase in land and partly because he has made many sub- stantial improvemens and has his land under excellent cultivation. He also owns one hundred and sixty acres in Section 23, of this township. He oper- ates a part of his land renting the balance.
Mr. Russell was married in 1873 to Visa Jane Croiv, a daughter of Bryant and Bindy Croy, whose home was on Wilson creek in Wilson town- ship. Here Mrs. Russel was born in 1853, grew to womanhood on the farm and was educated in the district schools. The following children were born to our subject and wife Hubert, born in April, 1888, died when sixteen months old; Lula, born february 10, 1875, married John Baumbarger and lives in Oklahoma; Minne A., born March 2, 1877, married John Ray, of Springfield; Alberta, bort December 22, 1879, lives at home; Etta, born February 6, 1882, married William Robinson, of Greene county; Roy and Effie, twins, were born on february 11, 1885, the former is unmarried and lives at home, and the lattermarried James Robinson and they live in Barry county, Missouri; Homer V.born on March 13, 1889, died in June, 1910, in Oklahoma; Phelix J., bornin May 2, 1892, is single and lives at home ; Leona, born on August 21, 1896 is also at home. These children were edu- cated in the district schools.
Mr. Russell is a member of th. Cumberland Presbyterian church. Politi- cally, he is a stanch Democrat bu is not active in public affairs, but is an advocate of all measures looking tohe general upbuilding of his community and county.
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LOUIS LAZZARO REBORI.
It was Robert Louis Stevenson, the great Scottish author, who said that a man who follows his own virtuous heart will be always found in the end to have been fighting for the best; that one thing leads naturally to another in an awakened mind, and that with an upward progress from effect to cause. The late Louis Lazzaro Rebori, for many years one of the best-known busi- ness men of Springfield, was a man who had evidently "an awakened mind," and whose career was marked by "an upward progress." And since it is true that individual success is determined, in true measure, by what one has accomplished, his naine is deserving of a high rank in the list of Greene county citizens of a past generation who rose, of their ovn efforts, from an humble beginning to the top rungs of the ladder of material success.
Mr. Rebori was born near Genoa, Italy, August 31, 1867, a scion of an excellent old Italian family. He was a son of Jiacomo anc Catherine (Gan- dolfo) Rebori, both also natives of the same locality in which our subject was born. There they grew to maturity, attended schooland were married. The death of the father occurred in 1889 at the age of fifty-three years, being killed by falling from a cherry tree. The mother is stil living in Italy, at the age of seventy-three years. The father was in the fruit business all his life and was highly successful. In the early eighties ie immigrated to the United States with his parents when our subject was eleven years old, the family locating in Indianapolis, Indiana, where the father engaged in the wholesale and retail fruit business for about fifteer years. He prospered and, branching out, established a retail fruit business in Knoxville, Ten- nessee, for his sons, he laying there the foundation for a large fortune, and was a very rich man at the time of his death. Ater retiring from active life he returned to Italy with his wife, and there they erected a beautiful home, along the American line of architecture, ad there spent the rest of his life. He was not only a man of superior abilty along business lines but was also of superior mental ability, and he wasa scrupulously honest man, in fact, a devout Christian. His family consiste of three children, namely : Louis L., of this sketch; Andrew, who is enaged in the wholesale fruit business in Springfield; and Stella, who is living in Genoa, Italy.
Louis L. Rebori received a limited eduAtion in the public schools of Indianapolis. However, he became a well-informed man. by coming in con- tact with the business world, by close obseration and by wide miscellaneous reading. He was a fine example of a sucessful self-made man, and was certainly deserving of a great deal of creit for what he accomplished in a business way. He assisted his father ; the fruit business until he was .twenty-three years of age. He went bac to Italy with his parents where he
LOUIS L. . REBORI.
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remained two years, but, tiring of life there, he desired to come back to America to make his fortune where he deemed business conditions better and existence pleasanter in our "land of the free." After spending four years in the fruit business in Knoxville, Tennessee, he came to Springfield in the year 1895, at the solicitation of his brother, who had previously located liere, Andrew Rebori, being now president of the well-known Rebori Fruit Com- pany, which operates a large wholesale house between Mill street and Phelps avenue, near the Frisco depot. Andrew Rebori had opened a fruit store at South street and the public square, Louis L. Rebori entering the firm with a capital stock of less than six hundred dollars, provided by his father. Later he was in different locations, one stand being on Walnut street, another on St. Louis street, and still another on Commercial street, and other places. The loan was repaid within a year and after remaining in partnership with his brother nine years, he opened his first business on East Walnut street. The last stand he owned was on South Jefferson street, now the property of his widow. He was apparently a genius at selecting good business loca- tions, for he placed fruit stands at points where none had ever been estab- lished before, and usually selling them in å short time at material profits. A striking illustration of the success of this enterprising man of affairs is seen from the fact that he left an estate of over twenty-seven thousand dol- lars, amassed during twenty years of business in Springfield. During his two decades of business here on a small scale, he became one of the wealthi- est merchants of his kind that the city has ever known. A large portion of his earnings were invested in Italy, the remainder being invested in Springfield.
Mr. Rebori was married on September 2, 1891, in New York City, to Laura Crover, who was born in Springfield, Olio, September 16, 1876. She is a daughter of Andrew and Columbia (Mousante) Crover, both born near Genoa, Italy, where they spent their earlier years, emigrating to America from their native land, and establishing their home in Springfield, Ohio. The death of Mr. Crover occurred in New York City, May 1, 1903, where lie had located a number of years previously. The mother of Mrs. Rebori is now making her home in Springfield, Missouri, being now sixty-three years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Crover were young when they came to America, and they were married in New York City, from which place they removed to Indianapolis, Indiana, and later to Springfield, Ohio, and finally moved back to New York City. Mr. Crover spent his life engaged successfully in the fruit business, being engaged for many years as a wholesale and retail merchant. His family consisted of four children, namely: Emma lives in Springfield: Laura, who became the wife of Mr. Rebori; Della lives in Springfield; and Ralph, who is also a resident of this city. Mrs. Rebori
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had the advantage of an excellent education, and is a woman of fine business tact and excellent personal characteristics.
The union of Mr. and Mrs. Rebori resulted in the birth of one child, Ralph A. Rebori, whose birth occurred on April 2, 1899. He is receiving a good education, and he gives promise of a successful business career.
Politically, Mr. Rebori was a Democrat, and while he was a strong man in his party, taking an abiding interest in public affairs, especially such as pertained to the general upbuilding and welfare of the city of Spring- field, he was never an office seeker. He was a member of St. Agnes Catho- lic church, and was noted for his fair dealings with his fellow men, his upright character and his kindness. He was held in high favor by all who knew him, both in the circles of his countrymen and Americans. He was a man who had a prodigious working capacity, his average working day being seventeen hours or more, the common comment of his customers being that "he was the last one to go home at night and the first one to be out in the morning." He frequently returned to Italy for short periods, crossing the ocean twenty-three times, being accompanied on twelve of them by his wife and son. He was always ready to help in any good cause, always gave a helping hand to those in need who appealed to him, and he did many a kind and generous act that the public never knew about, for he never gave from an impulse to gain the praise of men, but from a sense of duty and brotherhood.
The death of Louis L. Rebori occurred after a brief illness, on March 23, 1915, in his forty-eighth year, when just in the prime of life and useful- ness and when the future promised most to him.
THOMAS H. DORAN.
Wise farmers of Greene county are now planning their crops with safety first in mind. Dry years have impressed upon all of us the fact that the certain and regular production of feed, every year, must be the founda- tion of a safe system of farming. Very few are staking their all on one feed crop, and still fewer are placing their entire dependence on some "cash crop." expecting to buy their feed. Thomas H. Doran, of Clay township, is one of our farmers who plans well and can see ahead, one to whom the previous successive dry years have taught valuable lessons. He is a man who is ever on the alert to learn something more than what he was taught by the early-day farmers, whose methods were all right then, but since con- ditions have changed very materially, a new system of farming has had to be adopted.
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Mr. Doran was born in Greene county on March 9, 1871. He is a son of Alec. H. and Catherine (Grubaugh) Doran. The father was born in Tennessee, May 9, 1825, and was reared in that state, receiving the usual schooling of the times. When a young man he went to Illinois, but later moved to Greene county, Missouri, then located in Christian county. He
sold patent medicine for awhile but farming was his main business. His death occurred in Greene county, April 14, 1898. His wife was born near Springfield, Illinois, in 1826, and was reared on a farm there. She was a member of the Methodist church. Her death occurred on the old home place in this county, November 24, 1889. To these parents nine children were born, namely : William is deceased; Jennie, Edward. James, Meaford, Sherman, Mrs. Emma Mutchler, Thomas H., of this sketch, and Mollie, deceased.
Thomas H. Doran was reared on the farm in Greene county and he received a common school education. He lived on the farm which his father owned in Christian county. He has devoted his life to agricultural pursuits and has owned farms in different parts of Greene county. His present place consists of two hundred and sixty-six acres. He carries on general farming and stock raising, and deals in live stock on an extensive scale. He has a well-improved and productive place and a good home on the Rogersville and Galloway road.
Mr. Doran was married in November, 1895, to Annie Stephens, who was born on June 22, 1866, and it is a singular coincidence that she first saw the light of day in the same house in which our subject was ushered into the world. She was reared on a farm in Greene county, and received a common school education. She is a daughter of John and Cynthia B. (Owen) Stephens, both natives of Tennessee. Her father spent his active life on a farm. He was a soldier in the Union army during the Civil war, under Captain Kirby and saw much hard service, remaining in the army until the close of the war. He came home from the front sick and did not recover, his death occurring on April 3. 1866. The mother of Mrs. Doran was born on July 4, 1837, and died on December 8, 1906. To these parents three children were born, namely: Mrs. Mary Smith, Mrs. Smathey Chaf- fin, and Anna, wife of Mr. Doran. The last named is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
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