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 81
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
To Mr. and Mrs. Doran two children have been born, namely: Ralph, born April 11, 1899, is living at home; Mabel L., born on November 26, 1907, is with her parents.
Politically, Mr. Doran is a Republican, and fraternally, he belongs to the Modern Woodmen.
1684
GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
REUBEN R. ROSE.
Probably many of us never stopped to consider some of the factors which have contributed to the gradual depletion of our soil fertility. When we see a farmer hauling fifty bushels of corn to town, worth in an average year about twenty-five dollars, we hardly think of him as hauling away fifteen dollars' worth of soil fertility with that corn. Yet if he brought back home in the form of commercial fertilizer the same amount of fer- tility he hauled off that is what it would cost. Likewise when fifty bushels of wheat is sold sixteen dollars' worth of soil fertility goes with it. A ton of clover hay may bring seventeen dollars, but the seller is giving away eleven dollars' worth of the soil fertility in the hay. One of the farmers of Brookline township, Greene county, who believes in putting something back in the soil and endeavoring to maintain its richness while he is gather- ing life-sustaining harvests from it is Reuben R. Rose.
Mr. Rose was born October 14, 1874, in Brookline township, near the village of Brookline. He is a son of Reuben R. and Lucy A. (McElhany) Rose. The paternal grandfather of our subject came from Tennessee to this locality in the pioneer days and established the permanent home of the family here. He and our subject's father devoted their lives to general farming and were well known in this part of the county. Our subject is one of a large family of children, namely: Sallie is the wife of Sol Owens and lives near Springfield; Jane is the wife of Amos Cooper and lives in Oklahoma; Kennard lives at Galloway, Missouri; John lives in Brookline township, Greene county; Reuben R., Jr., of this sketch; Martha is the wife of Charles Grothy and they live at Webb City, Missouri; Lucy is the wife of Wilson White and they live near Springfield ; Homer lives in Brook- line township; Frank also lives in Brookline township; two sons and one daughter are deceased.
Mr. Rose of this review grew to manhood on the home farm and there he worked during the crop seasons, and in the winter time attended the district schools. He has always followed farming, starting out in life for himself when eighteen years of age. He purchased forty acres in Brookline township in 1906, and he now owns two hundred acres in section 36 and also two hundred acres in section 1. He resides on the former, in a com- modious residence, surrounded by substantial outbuildings and an excellent grade of live stock. His land is also productive and well-improved, and he manages it in a skillful and successful manner, being rated as one of the best general farmers in the township. He is a noted mule breeder, and has been very successful. He owns "Greased Lightning," a very fine jack.
Mr. Rose was married in 1896 to Opie McElhany, who did not live
1685
GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
long thereafter, and in 1900 our subject married Mamie Van Wagon, a daughter of Fred VanWagon and wife of Brookline township, where she grew to womanhood and was educated. To this union four children have been born, namely: Philip, age thirteen; Glen R., age eleven : Elmer, age nine; and Effie Marie, age seven.
Politically, Mr. Rose is a Democrat. He was elected school director in his district, and has been incumbent of this office six years, and is a strong advocate for good educational work.
LEVY-WOLF DRY GOODS COMPANY.
One of the best known progressive mercantile establishments in Spring- field is the Levy-Wolf Dry Goods Company, located in the southeast corner of the Public Square.
This business was founded here by Mr. M. Levy twenty-seven years ago, under the firm name of the Model Dry Goods Company, and was oper- ated under that name until January, 1914, when the incorporation of the Levy-Wolf Dry Goods Company was effected, with increased capital stock, to take over the business, which had steadily grown during the many years of its existence to be one of the largest distributors of exclusive dry goods, millinery and women's ready-to-wear apparel in southwestern Missouri, and now has a force of sixty employees and counts among its patrons the best families of Springfield and surrounding counties. This store, which is still known as "The Model," has made a specialty of goods of quality and has won for itself an enviable reputation for dependability of its merchandise and for fairness and integrity in its dealings.
Mr. M. Levy before coming to Springfield was engaged in the mer- cantile business in Arrow Rock and Marshall in Saline county, this state, for twenty-one years, from 1866 to 1887, where he met with a very reason- able degree of success, and is further said to have had more personal friends than any man who had ever been engaged in business in that section, and even to this day none of the old-timers of Saline county visit Springfield without looking him up.
Mr. Levy has always been identified with every enterprise for the advancement and good of Springfield, and has likewise taken an active inter- est in all charitable and philanthropic affairs.
The Levy-Wolf Dry Goods Company is capitalized for fifty thousand dollars, fully paid up, and the destinies of the company are successfully directed by the following officers: M. Levy, president : Ignace Glaser, vice- president ; Sol R. Wolf, secretary and manager, I. R. Levy, treasurer.
1686
GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
The building which for the past fourteen years has housed this pro- gressive firm was entirely remodeled a few years ago, into an attractive convenient and modernly appointed store, which with its late style recess show windows would be a credit to any city. The first floor is devoted to staple and fancy dry goods, notions and toilet requisites; the second floor is given over entirely to the women's ready-to-wear department, and the third floor is very handsomely furnished for the departments of millinery and dressmaking. The latter department, being one of the principal fea- tures of the store, has a clientele while not large in numbers practically extends from Maine to California, and gives the store the distinction of almost a national reputation. It is such institutions that have contributed to the making of a greater Springfield.
GEORGE W. O'NEAL.
One of the men who has stamped his strong individuality upon the minds of the people of western Greene county in a manner as to render him one of the conspicuous characters of this locality is George W. O'Neal, who has had a somewhat varied career as a man of affairs, farmer, miller, banker and lumberman. Faithfulness to duty and a strict adherence to a fixed purpose, which always do more to advance a man's interest than wealth or advantageous circumstances, have been dominating factors in his life, which has been replete with honor and success worthily attained. He is a scion of one of the sterling old families of the Ozark region, and many of the strong characteristics of his progenitors seem to have outcropped in him, and he has been most vigilant in keeping the record of the family untar- nished, for the O'Neals have always been noted for their sterling honesty, their rare industry and their readiness to assist in the general upbuilding of the communities in which they selected as their homes.
Mr. O'Neal was born on April 8, 1841, in Carroll county, Arkansas. He is a son of Charles G. and Martha (Hillhouse) O'Neal, natives of Ten- nessee, where they spent their earlier years eventually moving to Carroll county, Arkansas, where they located on a farm and were well and favor- ably. known. They were parents of thirteen children, twelve of whom lived to maturity and eight of whom survive at this writing.
George W. O'Neal grew to manhood on the homestead in Arkansas and there he made himself useful when crop seasons came around, and in the winter time he attended the district schools in his community, obtaining a practical education which later in life has been greatly supplemented by wide reading and contact with the world until today he is an exceptionally
1687
GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
well-informed man on current events. He remained on his father's farm until he was twenty-one years of age, leaving home in 1862 to go to Spring- field, Missouri, where he enlisted in the First Arkansas Cavalry, and served three years and three months in the Federal army during the Civil war in a gallant manner, seeing considerable hard service in the Southwest, and was honorably discharged. About the time the war closed his father moved from Arkansas to what was known as the old Tom Dodd farm, three miles northwest of Republic, and here spent the rest of his life, and to this place came our subject when he returned from the army and engaged in farming with success until 1885, when he bought out the lumber yards in Republic owned by W. W. Coover, Keys, King & Company. When the Bank of Republic was organized he took considerable stock in the company, and was for a time its president, finally resigning from this office after he had placed the bank on a safe and sound footing and made it a pronounced success. He also took a large block of stock in the Republic Canning Com- pany, which was organized in 1888 and when the other stockholders of that company became discouraged after a year's run, Mr. O'Neal got four other men interested and managed the canning company himself, clearing ten thou- sand dollars the next four years and paying off the old indebtedness. When the R. C. Stone mill burned in 1894 it was Mr. O'Neal who took the contract to rebuild the mill, while the balance of the citizens of Republic only contrib- uted the necessary bonus to get the mill to remain. In this transaction he lost considerable money, but he considers himself fully repaid every time he looks at the big mill, knowing that it gives life and support to a town that otherwise would be dead. Mr. O'Neal has had other reverses, including the loss on the contractor's bond of the new school building in Republic, but despite that fact he is a successful man and justly deserves the wealth he has attained. He has acquired a one-third interest in a flouring mill at Mt. Vernon, Lawrence county, in which mill his son is the prime factor. Our subject was for some time a stockholder, director and vice-president of the Monitor Printing plant in Republic, which publishes the Weekly Monitor, but has recently retired from this firm. He is a thorough business man, ready at all times to help in any cause that will benefit Republic and vicinity, and he has done as much as any other one man toward the material upbuilding of this town and toward the general welfare of the people in this section of Greene county. He has one of the most extensive lumber businesses in the county, having recently rebuilt his sheds, making them ninety by one hun- dred and sixteen feet and all covered with felt roofing and iron. He is a progressive man of high ideas and has long enjoyed the good will and con- fidence of all who know him. Religiously he is a worthy member of the Christian church, and while he is deeply interested in public affairs, he has never sought office.
I688
GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
Mr. O'Neal married Ellen Wallace, who died after a married life of eighteen years, leaving six children, who still survive. Mr. O'Neal married again in 1892, Zetta Bingman, of Greene county, and a daughter of James and Elizabeth (Lamb) Bingman, whose family consisted of ten children.
Personally, Mr. O'Neal is a genial, obliging and courteous gentleman whom it is a pleasure to meet.
JOHN P. GRIFFIN.
The business of farming comprises among many other points the con- sideration of what crops to grow, how to grow them to the best advantage, whether for sale or for use on the farm. It brings out more than anything else the business acumen of the farmer, and is more or less the very key- note to success or failure. A man may be the best of farmer so far as raising crops and harvesting them is concerned, but it would avail him nothing if he had no market for what he had raised, or, in other words, if he had raised the wrong crop. John P. Griffin is one of the farmers of Republic township, Greene county, who seems to be very successful in rais- ing the right crop, in the right manner, at the right time.
Mr. Griffin was born on August 7, 1863, in Iowa. He is a son of John and Ann (Gilmore) Griffin, the former born in 1840, in Ireland, and the latter born in 1842, in New York. The father of our subject was brought to the United States by his parents when three years of age, the family locating in Illinois, where he grew to manhood and was educated and where he remained until his marriage when he removed to Iowa, but after spend- ing a few years there came to Greene county, Missouri, where he resided until his death, having lived on his farm from about 1870 until 1910.
Thirteen children, seven sons and six daughters, have been born to John Griffin and wife, named as follows: John P. of this sketch; Joseph M., born in 1865, lives in Ashland, Oregon, married Mary Starr, of that state; James P., born in 1879, is single and lives in Baker, Oregon; Frank F., born in 1881, lives in Springfield, married Anna Norfleet, there in 1901, and they had four children-Paul, born in 1902; Elizabeth, born in 1904; and Mildred, born in 1911; one child died in infancy. Thomas T., who lives in Carterville, Missouri, married Mary Daniels of that place, and they have two children, Emmet and Audrey; Mark, born in 1877, is single, lives on the home place which he operates; M. E., born in 1880, is single and also works on the home farm; Mary A., born in Redwing, Minnesota in 1862, died in 1893; Sarah Katherine, a twin sister of John P., married J. W. Robinson, a brother of our subject's wife, in 1891; they live in New Mexico
1689
GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
and have three children-Elizabeth, Paul and Barnard. Margaret Eliza- beth, born October 13, 1867, is single and lives on the homestead; Cora Alice, born on May 9, 1870, married C. C. Humphreys in 1891, and they have had four children-Erma, Maude, Mary, who died in 1905, and Cora Alice whose death occurred in IS98. Rose, born in 1874, died in 1896; Bertha Ellen, born in 1871, died in 1899. These children were given good common school educations. Joseph M. was of musical talent. Mary had a great local reputation as a nurse and her death was the result of service to others, she having contracted typhoid fever while nursing a neighbor af- flicted with that disease. The entire family has always borne excellent reputations and are well thought of throughout this part of the county or wherever they are known.
John P. Griffin grew to manhood on the home farm and was a good student in the schools of his neighborhood. He has devoted his life to general agricultural pursuits and paid considerable attention to stock raising. His well cultivated and well improved farm in Republic township contains one hundred and twenty acres and he has a comfortable home. He was married in 1895 to Mary Robinson, who was born in 1863, in Greene county. She received a good education in the public schools. She is a daughter of Anthony and Hettie Robinson, of Republic township, Greene county.
Two children have been born to our subject and wife-Leo, born on July 25, 1897; and Bertha Frances, born on June 22, 1899, died when seven years of age.
Politically, Mr. Griffin is a Democrat. He is a member of the Catho- lic church.
GEORGE W. THURMAN.
In any rich and progressive agricultural country, like that contiguous to the town of Republic, Greene county, Missouri, the flour milling business is usually found to be one of the most important industries. Here a vast acreage is put to wheat annually and the total number of bushels produced after the results of the threshing season are known is enormous, so a great and modern mill in the center of this nature-favored locality has sprung up, known as the Republic Custom and Merchant Mili Company, of which George W. Thurman is manager. To conduct such a business successfully requires ability of a high order and characteristics that have been known to make for success whenever and to whatever they are properly and persis- tently applied.
Mr. Thurman was born in this county, February 22, 1870, and is the son of Caleb and Mary S. (Jenkins) Thurman. The father was born in
1690
GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
Sevier county, Tennessee, in 1834, where he spent his boyhood and during the Civil war he removed to Arkansas, and after the close of the conflict came to Greene county, Missouri, and soon thereafter purchased a farm and devoted the rest of his life to general farming and stock raising here, making grain raising a specialty. He was a man of rare business ability and industry, and although he came here with little of this world's goods, only fifty cents in money and a pair of mules, he worked hard, managed well and prospered with advancing years, became owner of one of the finest farms in the western part of the county, which contained three hundred acres, and at the time of his death was worth twenty-five thousand dollars. He was a well-known man and influential citizen. His first wife was also a native of Tennessee and there spent her girlhood and they were educated in the common schools of their native state and were married upon leaving there for Arkansas. She proved to be a faithful helpmeet and is still living on the home place near Republic, at the age of eighty years. The death of Mr. Thurman occurred in January, 1909, at the age of seventy- five years. To these parents ten children were born, seven sons and three daughters, six of whom survive, namely: William H., I. J., Samuel G., Robert E., and Martha C., twins; James G., our subject; John died in infancy; Cyphronia A., and Mary Jane.
George W. Thurman was reared on the homestead in Greene county and there he did his full share of the work during crop seasons when he became of proper age, and he received a good practical education in the local schools. In August, 1898, he was married to Hattie A. Orr, a native of Greene county, where she was reared and educated. She is a daughter of Elias R. and Martha Jane (Norman) Orr. Mr. Orr was of German descent, and he came to Greene county, Missouri, early in the nineteenth century, from Ohio, and here became well established on a farm and spent the rest of his life, dying in Republic in October, 1907. His wife died in 1889. They were the parents of seven children, one son and six daugh- ters, namely: Mary Elizabeth, Gracy Alta, Libby Emma, Hettie A., wife of our subject; Lula Mehelia, Homer Noah, and Edith Audry.
Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Thurman, named as follows: Gaynell H., born in October, 1899; Jewell Ivan, born March 7. 1891 ;; Noel, born March 7, 1903; Geneva died in infancy; Ruth, born in March, 1914.
Mr. Thurman remained on the home farm until he was twenty-three years of age, then began working as a stationary engineer, which he fol- lowed for a number of years. In March, 1904, he and five others formed a stock company and built the Republic Custom and Merchant Mill and have operated the same ever since. During the ten years of its existence it has been a marked success and its volume of business has gradually
1691
GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
increased with the years. Mr. Thurman is active manager of the mill, and its pronounced success has been largely due to his able management. He is a close student of everything that pertains to the flour-milling business and has mastered every phase of the same, keeping fully abreast of the times in modern methods. This is one of the largest and best equipped mills in southwest Missouri. The building is a three-story substantial, well arranged and well located structure, and the equipment is up-to-date in every respect. In February, 1911, an electric light plant was added to the equipment. The capacity of the mill is fifty barrels per day of flour and same of cornmeal, and the products of the same find a very ready market over the Southwest, owing to their superior quality. The following are the principal brands of flour produced here: "White Lily," "Satis- faction," and "Premium."
Politically, Mr. Thurman is a Republican and he has long been active and influential in local public affairs. He is now incumbent of the office of police judge of Republic and is discharging his duties in this connec- tion in a highly commendable manner. He has also served as alderman. and has done much for the material and moral upbuilding of Republic. Fraternally, he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Modern Woodmen of America, and the Free and Accepted Masons. He and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. and Mrs. Thurman belong to the Knights and Ladies of Security, and the East- ern Star.
GEORGE W. JACKSON.
Endowed with a liberal share of good common sense and possessing sound judgment, backed by a well-founded purpose to succeed, George W. Jackson, well-known farmer and amateur botanist of Republic township, Greene county, has labored with the object primarily in view of making a good home for himself and family and acquiring a competency for his declining years. This laudable desire has been realized, and he is in what we sometimes call "easy circumstances," with a sufficient surplus for the proverbial "rainy day," which sooner or later comes to every individual, and which, when not provided for, results in at least much inconvenience and unhappiness if not downright suffering. After farming successfully in this vicinity for over forty years he is now living in retirement, spending quietly the mellow Indian summer of his years, and, having an eye for the beautiful in nature, is happy with her wonders spread about him, which he seeks to interpret.
Mr. Jackson was born near Knoxville, Tennessee, November 27, 1843.
1692
GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
He is a son of John and Christiana (Chenabury) Jackson, both parents natives of Tennessee, where they grew to maturity, were educated in a lim- ited way in the old-time subscription schools and there were married. The father was of Scotch-Irish descent and the mother was of German descent. The paternal grandfather of our subject was a Virginian and he spent his early life in the Old Dominion, removing from there to Knox county, Ten- nessee, and establishing his future home on a farm. After their marriage the parents of our subject took up their residence on a farm in Knox county and resided there until 1870, when they removed to Greene county, Mis- souri, where three of their sons had preceded them, and here they spent the rest of their lives, the father dying in 1872 and the mother in 1879. Their family consisted of five children, four sons and one daughter, namely : James is deceased ; George WV., of this sketch; John S. C., a sketch of whom will be found on another page of this volume; Edward L. and Mary Jane were twins.
George W. Jackson grew to manhood on the farm and worked there during the crop seasons, and in the winter time attended the district schools. He remained in Tennessee until 1867, when he and two brothers came to Greene county, Missouri, and purchased railroad land, and here they have since resided and prospered by their industry. His brother, John S. C., has accumulated four hundred acres, and our subject's finely improved and pro- ductive farm consists of one hundred and sixty acres, on which stands a good home in the midst of attractive surroundings, and he has numerous substantial outbuildings. Some time ago he retired from the active work of the farm and is now renting his farm, which is one of the best in Pond Creek township.
Mr. Jackson was married on September 14, 1871, to Charlotta O'Neal, who was born in 1851 in Carroll county, Arkansas, and she received a common school education. She is a daughter of Charles and Martha ( Hill- house) O'Neal, natives of Kentucky, where they grew up and were married and resided until 1850, when they came to Carroll county, Arkansas, living there a while, then came to Greene county in about 1865. The O'Neals are a well-known family, and Mrs. Jackson is a sister of Judge A. J. O'Neal and George O'Neal. To Mr. and Mrs. O'Neal eleven children were born.
Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Jackson, namely: Mat- tie married Luther Wade, a farmer of Pond Creek township, this county, and they have three children; Jason G., also farming in Pond Creek town- ship, married Della Batson, and they have four children; Minnie married Benjamin Squibb, a farmer of Pond Creek township, and they have four children ; Nellie, who married Lawrence Coggins, died November 13, 1906, leaving one child, Gladys.
Mr. Jackson has long made a study of botany and has spent much time
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.