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 83
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
A large number of Germans live in Greene county, a number in the vicinity of Republic, and of this nationality the Ingler family is deserving of mention, one of the best-known members of which is Hugh B. Ingler, the present efficient postmaster at that place. He was born in Jo Daviess county, Illinois, July 7, 1870. He is a son of John and Lucinda (Saxon) Ingler. He has a sister, Addie, who married A. A. Pierce, a farmer of Christian county, Missouri, and they have one child, Leo.
John Ingler, father of our subject, was born in Germany, and when five years of age he immigrated with his father's family to the United States, the family locating in Baltimore, Maryland, where the grandfather of our subject followed his trade of tailor, however, he purchased a farm near that city, on which he located his family. John Ingler grew to man- hood there and received a common school education. When a young man he went to Carroll county, Illinois where he followed general farming for many years, then removed to Greene county, Missouri, purchasing a good farm near Republic, which he sold later and is now living retired from active work. He has a well-improved place and has made a success as an agriculturist. He was married in Carroll county, Illinois, and he and his wife are now advanced in years, but are comparatively hale and hearty.
Hugh B. Ingler spent his boyhood days on the home farm in Illinois and there he remained with his parents until about eight years of age, when they moved to near Republic, and at the latter place he received his edu- cation in the public schools. He worked on the farm until he was twenty
1703
GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
years of age. Learning the trade of decorating and painting, he became quite expert and followed the same for a period of twenty years. He worked as an expert in a canning factory for a number of years, also worked in Louisiana for the Chicago Building and Manufacturing Company. Finally returning to Republic he served as deputy sheriff of Greene county for two years, 19II and 1912. He was appointed postmaster at Republic May 6, 1913, and is still incumbent of this office, the duties of which he has discharged in a manner entirely satisfactory to the department and the people.
Politically, Mr. Ingler is a Democrat. Fraternally, he belongs to the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, the Woodmen of the World, and Knights of the Maccabees, and he and his family are members of the Chris- tian church.
Mr. Ingler was married in Lawrence county, Missouri, November 14, 1894, to Alice Ragsdale. She is a daughter of Branson Ragsdale, who died when she was four years of age. His family consisted of four chil- dren, two sons and two daughters. He devoted his active life to farming. Mrs. Ingler grew to womanhood in her native community and was edu- cated in the common schools.
Nine children, six of whom are deceased, have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Ingler. Those living are named as follows: Charles W., born Sep- tember 14, 1896; Ayo Recktor, born October 4. 1903; Louese, born June 1, 1909.
JOSHUA L. JONES.
Farmers come nearer being their own business masters than any other class of workers. It takes considerable capital these days to go into farming properly, but a farmer nowadays does not need so much land as he has been taught to believe he should have. Where one hundred and sixty acres has been considered a necessity for a good farm, forty acres will soon he regarded as plenty ; and for some kinds of crops ten acres is all a man can properly care for. Intensive cultivation with modern methods makes a successful farm out of few acres of land. Ownership and proper development of even a few acres will amply provide for the unproductive period in the lives of farmers.
One of the capable farmers of Republic township. Greene county, is Joshua L. Jones, who was born in this township and county, on the old Jones homestead, March 23. 1872. He is a son of Isaac N. and Martna (McClure) Jones, both natives of Monroe county. Tennessee, where they spent their earlier years. Isaac N. Jones was twenty-three years of age
1704
GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
when he left his native state and immigrated to Greene county, Missouri. He received a fairly good education for a country boy in those days, and he taught school after coming to the Ozarks, continuing as a teacher until the commencement of the Civil war, during which period of strife between his fellow citizens, he acted as deputy sheriff under Elisha White. He was also county suveyor at one time. He devoted the latter part of his life to general farming in Republic township, where his death occurred in 1883. His widow survived until 1902, outliving him nineteen years. They were the parents of ten children, an equal number of sons and daughters, four of whom are living at this writing, one son and five daughters being de- ceased.
Joshua L. Jones grew to manhood on the home farm and there he worked hard when a boy. He received his education in the district schools of his neighborhood, and he also studied at Marionville Collegiate Insti- tute, Marionville, Missouri. His brother, Ben G. W. Jones, who is in partnership with him farming, and who is three years younger, was edu- cated in the local public schools and later was graduated from the Marion- ville Collegiate Institute.
Joshua L. Jones began life for himself as a farmer when a young man and this has continued to claim his constant attention. He and his brother, Ben G. W. Jones, own a good farm of forty acres in Republic township and here they are obtaining very gratifying results as general farmers and stock raisers, being very close students of modern methods of agriculture and not afraid to experiment and adopt advanced ideas in hus- bandry. Both he and his brother have remained unmarried.
Politically our subject is a Democrat and active in local party affairs.
WILLARD MAJOR. BARRON.
In placing the name of Willard Major Barron, of Republic, in the front rank of Greene county's business men, simple justice is done to a biographical fact, recognized throughout this section of the Ozark region by those at all familiar with his history, for he was the founder of the ex- tensive manufacturing industry which bears his name. A man of wise dis- cretion and business ability of a high order, he manages with tactful success an important enterprise and has so impressed his individuality upon the community as to gain recognition among its leading citizens and public- spirited men of affairs. What of the man and what of his work? This is the dual query which represents the interrogation at least nominally enter- tained whenever that discriminating factor, the public, would pronounce on the true worth of the individual. The career of Mr. Barron indicates
1705
GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
the clear-cut, sane and distinct character, and in reviewing the same from an unbiased and unprejudiced standpoint, interpretation follows fact in a straight line of derivation. In this publication it is consistent that such a review be entered, and that without the adulation of ornate praise.
Mr. Barron was born in Northhampton county, Pennsylvania, March 24, 1854. He is a son of Samuel C. and Sallie ( Major ) Barron. Samuel C. Barron was reared in Pennsylvania and received a good practical educa- tion, partly in the schools of Easton, that state, and later in life started in the retail cigar business for himself, which he continued until his death, in 1906. He and his wife were both natives of Northampton county, Pennsylvania, and were reared and married there. The Major family were in the cooperage business in that locality and were well known and highly respected, as were also the Barrons. During the war between the states. Samuel C. Barron served three years as a soldier in the Union army, as a member of a regiment from his native state. For some time after the close of the war he followed blacksmithing, but later took up the cigar business. Toward the latter part of his life his eyesight failed and he finally went blind.
Willard M. Barron was the only child of his parents. He grew to. manhood in Pennsylvania, remaining there until he was nineteen years of age, and there he was educated in the common schools. Leaving his native state he went to Michigan, locating twelve miles south of Kalamazoo, where he engaged in the grocery business for himself. later took in partners, the firm name becoming Barron, Frank Boner & Company, continuing for two years. During those carly years in Michigan our subject learned the cooperage business, for which he seemed to have a natural bent. His grandfather had operated a cooper shop many years at Martin's Creek, Pennsylvania, near the city of Easton, and there young Barron often visited and watched the workmen at their tasks, however he did not attempt the work himself at that time. He worked under John B. Major, an uncle, who was engaged in this line of endeavor in Michigan. Mr. Major is now deceased. He was foreman of the cooperage plant owned by Jacob Johnson. who had married the mother of our subject and was therefore at that time our subject's step-father. When twenty-two years old Willard M. Barron went to Winona, Minnesota, where he worked at the cooper's trade three years, then returned to Michigan and worked two years for his step- father, then located in Schoolcraft, that state, and started a grocery store. which he conducted two years, then sold out and came to Missouri, buying a farm in Jasper county, in 1880. In 1887 he came to Springfield and worked for the Springfield Lumber and Cooperage Company about six years, then went to Mammoth Spring, Arkansas, where he had charge of the Mammoth Spring Roller Mills cooper shop, which position he held seven
1706
GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
years, then went to Nashville, Tennessee, and took charge of the H. C. Mocker cooperage plant, which employed on an average of forty-five men. After spending two years there he returned to Springfield, Missouri, and took charge of the Wunderlich cooperage shop here, which he operated a year, which ended his work for other people. In all the above responsible positions he gave eminent satisfaction in every respect, being an exceptionally highly skilled workman, energetic, reliable and handled the men under him in a manner to get the best results possible and retain their good will at the same time. He continued learning the various ins and outs of the business until he felt eminently qualified to manage a plant of his own, and thus he went to Republic and began in the cooperage business for himself. He was successful from the first and his business grew by leaps and bounds under his able management and wise foresight until it has now reached enormous proportions and he has thriving factories in a num- ber of other cities besides his main plant at Republic. Upon establishing his plant in the last named place he contracted to make the barrels for the Becker, Langerberger Milling Company of Republic, which, however, was even at that time owned by the R. C. Stone Milling Company. He has three other plants, one at Joplin, one at Carthage, one at Aurora and, form- erly, he operated similar plants at Mt. Vernon and Marionville. His main plant and head office are at Republic, and the combined output of all his plants averages one hundred and fifty thousand barrels per year, all hand- made and of a superior quality and workmanship. The Barron Cooperage Company has a splendid financial rating and has from the first stood high in the industrial circles of the Southwest. Each factory is modern in every detail, equipped with up-to-date machinery and only the most highly skilled artisans are employed and the best material used. The various plants give employment to a large number of men.
Mr. Barron was married, first, to Mary Tweedy, a daughter of Thomas and Sarah Tweedy. Mr. Tweedy was a native of Ireland from which country he emigrated to New York, where he married a native of that state. He was a tailor by trade. Mrs. Barron was born in Constantine, Michigan, and was one of five children. She died three years after her marriage, without issue. Mr. Barron was married on January 5, 1879, to Sarah Jane Baldy, who was a daughter of Paul R. and Jane (Finley) Baldy, natives of Pennsylvania and Michigan, respectively. They were the parents of two children-Frank Baldy, who lives in Flint, Michigan; and Sarah Jane, wife of Mr. Barron. The latter was quite small when her mother died, and when her father married again he took her into his new home, she having spent about four years after her mother's death with an aunt in Pennsylvania. The mother of Mrs. Barron is living near Carthage, Jasper
1707
GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
county, Missouri, where she owns about three-quarters section of very valuable land.
Four children have been born to Mr. Barron and his last wife, named as follows: Sallie Annette is the wife of Edward Huckins and they live in Republic; Willard B. lives in Aurora, Missouri; Flora J. is the wife of J. C. McCleary, of Seattle, Washington; Lewis Whitfield lives in Joplin, Missouri.
These children all received good educational advantages and are well situated in life.
We quote the following paragraph from the leading newspaper of Aurora, this state, which article recently appeared, and we deem it in keeping with the rest of this chronicle :
"There may be some persons in Aurora and this section of the state who do not know that Willard M. Barron has one of his largest cooperage plants in this city, but everyone who is in the market for these goods has long since learned that Aurora supports one of the largest plants of this kind in southwest Missouri. The branch of the W. M. Barron Cooperage Company, which is established in Aurora is under the personal direction of Willard B. Barron, who is a stockholder in the concern. He is the son of Willard M. Barron, who is known throughout this country as being the pioneer in cooperage works. The Barrons are a family of coopers. The father came to this country fourteen years ago and located in Springfield. After remaining there for one year he saw an opening at Republic and moved there. He has been established in that town for thirteen years, now. As he remained there he saw the development of the wonderful orchards throughout Missouri. It was at this time that Aurora became the center of large orchards and, knowing that great opportunities awaited him, he established his plant here. Willard B. Barron, who has been in charge of the plant for a number of years, has long since demonstrated that he is one of the true, live ones of Aurora. He is for everything that will develop the city, and progress is the motto of the plant which he manages. With a number of young men of Mr. Barron's type in this city, Aurora would soon forge to the front ranks of the cities of Missouri.
"Lewis W. Barron, youngest son of Willard M. Barron, is soon to take charge of the cooperage plants in Joplin and Carthage. These plants were established in July, 1913. The Barrons have been spreading out until they are now the 'barons' of the cooperage business in southwest Missouri. From twelve to fifteen men are employed at the plant here whose salaries run from eighteen to thirty dollars a week. The coopers work mostly by piece. As in the other Barron cooperage plants, the workmen in this city are highly skilled and are ranked among the high-class laborers of the city. Despite the adverse conditions of last year. the plant here has
1708
GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
done a very nice business the present season. Thirteen cars of material have been shipped into Aurora and fifteen cars of barrels and other prod- utcs of the cooperage plants have been shipped to points throughout the country. The products are not confined to this territory, but are sent to many of the neighboring states. Only recently a carload of the products was sent to Oswego, Kansas. Aurora is fortunate in having a large branch of such a concern. It means much to the city. Men are employed and money is brought here. It is such establishments as W. M. Barron Cooper- age Company that have put Aurora on the map as a commercial center."
Politically, Willard M. Barron is a Republican and is well-informed on current public matters. Fraternally, he belongs to the Masonic order, the Knights of Pythias, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Knights of the Maccabees, Woodmen of the World and Woodmen's Circle. Mrs. Barron is a member of the Ladies of Maccabees and the Woodmen's Circle. Both belong to the Methodist Episcopal church, in which they are active workers, he being president of the board of stewards and is also a trustee of the church. He was formerly leader in the Sunday school.
We close this article by quoting the last lines in an account of our subject and his large business interests, which appeared some time ago in a newspaper at Republic :
"Mr. Barron is a fervent Christian, being a member of the Hood Methodist Episcopal church. He has been Sunday school superintendent for four years. He is a member of nearly all the lodges in Republic. No better neighbor or honest man lives today than Willard Barron, of the city of Republic."
JACOB WARREN GARTON.
Among the things which the modern farmer has to become familiar with is the nature of the soil with which he is working, if he would reap the maximum results for his toil and pains. Since the soil varies so much in regard both to its organic and inorganic constituents, marked differences in character must necessarily result from the almost indefinite number of combinations which may be found. All these differences, however, may be traced to two sets of factors: First, the character of the rock or material from which the soil has been derived; and, second, the processes or agencies by means of which this material has been changed from mere rock or rock debris into a medium suitable for the growth of plants. The former has to do with soil-forming material, the latter with soil-forming agencies. To these two groups of factors are to be attributed the numerous varieties in soil conditions found over various parts of the earth. One of the farmers
1709
GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
of Greene county who makes a study of soils and advanced methods of agriculture is Jacob Warren Garton of Wilson township.
Mr. Garton was born in Greene county, Missouri, February 18, 1862. He is a son of Jacob W. and Elizabeth ( Rainey) Garton, both natives of middle Tennessee, where they grew up, received common school educations and were married. Shortly thereafter they immigrated to Greene county, Missouri, locating in Wilson township, on a farm now owned by R. Steury. They remained on this place three years, then the elder Garton homesteaded a place in this township, of one hundred and sixty acres, which he cleared, improved and farmed until his death, which occurred in 1902. His family, by our subject's mother, consisted of five children, namely : Alice, who married George McElhany, is deceased; John is deceased; George lives in Springfield; J. Warren, of this review, and James, deceased. The mother of the above named children died in 1865, and in 1874 Jacob W. Garton married for his second wife Missouri A. Wallace, a daughter of Wash Wallace, who was one of the first settlers of Greene county, and to this second union seven children were born, four of whom are still living, and are named, Artie, who is the wife of Alfred Carden; Cordy, Ruby is the wife of Lee Blanton, and Ella.
J. Warren Garton, of this sketch, grew to manhood on the home farm and worked hard when a boy. During the winter months he attended the district schools of his township, first the old-fashioned subscription schools, then went as far as the eighth grade in the public schools, and when about seventeen years old entered high school in Springfield, which he attended a little over two years, then he took a course in the Marionville Collegiate Institute, which he attended a little over two years, and later took a business course in Springfield, embracing bookkeeping and business forms. Thus he received an exceptionally good general and practical education which well prepared him for life's serious work. After leaving school he returned to the old homestead, where he remained until he was twenty-five years of age. then launched out on his own account, buying ten acres of the old homestead. later purchasing twenty-six acres adjoining, and for many years lived in a small home he had built on his land, keeping bachelor apartments with his brother George. They worked their land during the crop seasons and there- by earned money with which to defray their expenses in school. Our sub- ject is now owner of an excellent farm of one hundred and eighty-five acres on which he carries on general farming and stock raising successfully, his place being known as "Rainbow Farm," a name which his oldest daughter gave it. He handles a great deal of live stock and when he and his brother farmed together they bought and shipped stock quite extensively to the St. Louis and Kansas City markets. Mr. Garton built a new dwelling on his farm in 1914. It is modernly appointed and appropriately furnished. It has
I710
GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
as nearly up-to-date conveniences as can be installed in a house in the country.
Mr. Garton was married, September 4, 1893, to Alwilda Medora Owen, a daughter of Charles B. and Nancy C. Owen, her father being a native of Tennessee, from which state he came to Greene county when a young man. He was a son of Solomon H. Owen, one of the first settlers of Greene county, and who became one of the most extensive land owners and prom- inent citizens here. A complete chronicle of this worthy old family will be found under the caption of Charles J. Owen, appearing on another page of this volume. Our subject's wife was one of eight children, namely : Charles J., Bettie, deceased; George, Frank, Edward, Susie is the wife of Gary Martin, Alwilda, who married the subject of this sketch, and Joseph, . who is the youngest.
Nine children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Garton, namely: Lee, Urith, Owen, Howard, Cleo, Rollie, Lester, Sterling and Thelma. They are all at home with their parents at this writing.
Politically, Mr. Garton is a Democrat, and he and his wife are mem- bers of the Christian church.
WALTER B. YOUNG.
The farmer who succeeds must plan his planting well ahead. He must sub-divide his crop area into sections of a size to suit his requirements, and in such manner as to keep his ground fully occupied by a continued succes- sion of crops, throughout the growing season, and thus obtain the maximum of produce from his soil with no loss of fertility and with the minimum risk of loss from insect attacks, drought, flood or from disease. One of the successful young farmers of Wilson township, Greene county, who seems to have a comprehensive grasp of the above phases of agriculture and a myriad of others of importance, is Walter B. Young.
Mr. Young was born near Greenville, in eastern Tennessee, Decem- ber 8, 1882. He is a son of J. H. and Mary J. (Walker) Young, both natives of Tennessee also, where they grew to maturity and were married. The father was a shoemaker in his earlier life, but later devoted his atten- tion to farming, purchasing a farm in Greene county, Tennessee, when our subject was about six years old, and lived on the place three years, when he sold out and removed to Greene county, Missouri, settling on the Walter Bray farm near Bois D'Arc, where he resided six years, then purchased twenty acres near that town. He is now making his home in Bois D'Arc. His wife died in 1909. They were the parents of six children, namely :
I711
GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
John lives on a farm in Murry township; Mrs. Mollie Bean, Mrs. Lee Lock- wood, Charles is deceased, Walter B. of this sketch, and Mrs. Bertha Peck lives near Kansas City, Missouri.
Walter B. Young grew to manhood on the farm and assisted his father with the general farm work. He received his education in the dis- trict schools of Tennessee and at Bois D'Arc, Missouri. He remained with his parents until he was eighteen years of age. He began farming for him- self when but a boy and has continued in this vocation with gratifying success. He has for the past five years been operating two hundred acres in Wilson township and has been well repaid for his labor and careful atten- tion to it.
Mr. Young married on March 17, 1901, Eva Robinson, a daughter of Marion and Cornelia (Carter) Robinson, both natives of Greene county, this state, where our subject's wife grew to womanhood and was educated in the common schools. She is the oldest of six children, the others being named as follows: the second child died in infancy; William and Walter, twins; Mrs. Bertha Arbuckle, who was next in order, and Gertie, who is at home with her parents, who live on a farm near Elwood, this county.
Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Young, namely: Virgil Ray, Lorena Essie and Velma.
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.