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 89
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On March 8, 1865. he was married in Webster county to Anna Eliza- beth Turner, the daughter of an old Webster county family. To our subject
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and wife the following children were born, namely: John C. is engaged in farming near Green Forest, Arkansas; William D., deceased; Viola is the wife of L. A. Logan and they live in Hurley, Missouri; Bertha is teaching in the Pickwick school in Springfield; Adella is the wife of R. W. Swart and they live at Crane, Missouri; Bessie is the wife of E. M. Fite and they reside at Marionville, this state; Arch lives at Hurley, Missouri.
Bertha Stafford, mentioned above, and to whom we are indebted for this biographical data, was given good educational advantages, which she made the most of, being ambitious to do something worth while in the world. After completing the work in the common schools at Marionville, Lawrence county, she specialized in kindergarten work, after which she taught in the Marionville schools for a period of twelve years, then engaged in general merchandising for one year, but finding teaching more to her liking she came to Springfield and began teaching in the primary department of the McDaniel school, later being transferred to the Pickwick school as principal of the primary department, where she has since remained; she is giving eminent satisfaction. As a teacher she has kept well abreast of the times in her line and is alert, painstaking, energetic and sets a commendable exam- ple before her pupils. She is an active member of the First Baptist church of Springfield and is superintendent of the junior department in the Sunday school. She is a lady of pleasing personality and has made many friends since coming to Springfield.
GEORGE W. FERGUSON.
The art of photography has shown wonderful development during the past decade or two, more perhaps than during all previous times since it first became known as an art. It would seem that it has attained the zenith of perfection and that the "last word" has been said regarding photography, but the future is not within the horoscope of mortals, and who knows but that the coming years will reveal still greater wonders in this branch of science. Only a cursory glance at the modern and tastily kept studios of George W. Ferguson on South street, Springfield, Missouri, is required to show that he has kept fully abreast .of the times in his vocation and that he deserves to rank in the forefront of his profession.
Mr. Ferguson was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, April 4, 1856. He is a son of Isaac and Mary E. (Harrison) Ferguson, natives of Kentucky and Indiana, respectively. After spending several years in Indianapolis they removed to Louisville, Kentucky, and finally, in 1882, they came to Greene county, Missouri, located on a farm three miles east of Springfield,
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and there became well established through their industry. The mother is still living and making her home with subject. The father died about twelve years ago. They were popular with their neighbors as a result of their honesty and hospitality. They were the parents of the following children : Subject being the eldest; Sarah, who married Charles E. Lodge, of Greene county, both now deceased: Jennie, who married David Repass of Den- ver, Colorado; James E., deceased ; John, of Fayette, Missouri, who is in the photography business; Charles, deceased; Ella (Mrs. Ross Askins), in Springfield; Dora, now Mrs. Louis Funk, of Grand Junction, Colorado.
George W. Ferguson was a small boy when he removed with his par- ents from Indianapolis to Louisville, and he received his education in the schools of the latter city, including a course in the Spencerian Business College, from which he was graduated in 1876. After leaving school he engaged in the grocery business for three years, and although he was making a success as a merchant, this field seemed somewhat prosaic to one of his imagination and esthetic tastes, and he abandoned it and took up the study of photography in one of the best known photograph galleries of Louis- ville, where he made rapid progress and soon gave evidence of becoming exceptionally skilled in the work. Leaving the Blue Grass state in 1882, he came to Springfield and opened a gallery here. For many years his studio was on Boonville street, but later he moved in the arcade southeast of the Public Square, and finally to his present location on South street. He has thus been in the business in Springfield over thirty years, his success grow- ing with advancing years until he has long since become known over the Ozark region, his splendid work being pronounced by those well capable to judge the same to be inferior to none in the country, and many of his cus- tomers come from remote cities for sittings, for he has become celebrated · throughout southwest Missouri for securing to sitters before the camera a natural, life-like and graceful pose, and the master hand and thoroughly expert artist is readily seen in all his work.
Mr. Ferguson was married in 1884 at Rising Sun, Indiana, to Mary Bedgood. Her death occurred in 1885 in Springfield, Missouri, leaving one son, Clarence, who is now in St. Louis, with the Frisco railroad, in the engineering department. Mr. Ferguson's second marriage was celebrated in 1888 to Louise Leetsch, of Helena, Arkansas, and to this union a son was born, Gussie, who is now at home in Springfield.
Politically, Mr. Ferguson is a Democrat and has been more or less active in party affairs. Soon after coming to Springfield he became a mem- ber of the city fire department, and his work was so well done that he was elected to every position in the company. In 1892 he was elected chief of department No. I. and held the same for some time, taking an abiding interest in the affairs of the department and not infrequently manifesting
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unusual courage and presence of mind in emergencies. He was recognized as an expert fireman and had complete control of his men, whom he kept well trained; in fact, he did as much as any one ever did to give Spring- field an up-to-date and efficient fire department.
Fraternally, Mr. Ferguson is a member of Royal Arcanum Lodge No. 418, the Knights of Pythias Lodge No. 213, and the Uniform Rank No. 21, and Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He and his family are members of the Christian church.
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN DENNIS.
The office of biography is not to give voice to a man's modest estimate of himself and his accomplishments, but rather to leave upon the record the verdict establishing his character by the consensus of opinion on the part of his neighbors and fellow citizens. The life of Benjamin Franklin Dennis, president of the Bank of Rogersville, for many years a leading agriculturist and business man of the eastern part of Greene county, has been such as to elicit just praise from those who know him best, owing to the fact that he has always been loyal to the trusts reposed in him and has been upright in his dealings with his fellow men, at the same time lending his support to the advancement of any cause looking to the welfare of the community at large. No man has been better known or more influential in this section of the county during the past quarter of a century or more, and yet he is a plain, easily approached and unassuming gentleman, contented to lead a quiet life and be regarded only as a good citizen.
Mr. Dennis was born near Gainesboro, Jackson county, Tennessee, on July 22, 1839, and is therefore nearly seventy-six years of age, but is still hale and hearty and as capable a business man as ever in his career. This is all due very largely to the fact, no doubt, that he has led a well-regulated life, free from bad habits and worry. He is a son of William R. and Sarah (Chaffin) Dennis. The father was born in North Carolina in 1813, but removed to Tennessee at an early age, where he grew to manhood and received a limited education in the pioneer schools. He was reared on a farm, but when young learned the shoemaker's and carpenter's trades, at both of which he was quite skilled. He remained in Tennessee until 1850, when he removed with his family to Greene county, Missouri, making a tedious trip by boat and wagon and encountered considerable hardships and exciting experiences on the way. Upon reaching his destination. William R. Dennis rented a farm for three years. He did not live long to enjoy the
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MR. AND MRS. B. F. DENNIS.
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new country, dying in January, 1853. He was twice married, his first wife dying in Tennessee. In that state he married the mother of our subject, who was born in that state in 1818, near the town of Gainesboro, Jackson county, and there she grew to womanhood and attended the old-time subscription schools, taught near her father's farm. Her death occurred in Texas in 1876.
William R. Dennis' family consisted of six children, namely: Nancy, deceased; Benjamin F., of this review; James William, deceased; Martha Jane, deceased; Narvell A., deceased; Mrs. Elizabeth Brickey lives in New- ton county, Missouri.
Benjamin F. Dennis spent his early boyhood in Tennessee, being eleven years old when he removed with his family to Greene county, Missouri, and here he grew to manhood and has continued to reside for a period of nearly sixty-five years, during which he has been not only a most interested spec- tator to the wonderful development that has taken place here, but has played well his part in the same. He received a limited education in the early-day schools of Tennessee and Missouri, but he had by nature an inquiring and plastic mind, and eventually became a well-informed man by wide miscella- neous reading and contact with the business world, and today no one is better informed on current events in this community as well as questions of business and civic affairs. He is a fine type of the successful self-made man. He worked on the farm as a hired hand until he was eighteen years of age. In 1856 he made the long and hazardous trip across the great western plains to California and engaged in farming near Sacramento for awhile, then returned home, but went back to California a little later. However, he did not remain long, returning to Missouri in 1864, twenty-nine days of the trip being made by stage. He had numerous unusual experiences in the West and talks most interestingly of them. Mr. Dennis was successful as a man of business from the first. and he was only a young man when he purchased a farm of two hundred acres in the eastern part of Greene county. This he managed judi- ciously and added to his possessions until he owned eight hundred acres of valuable, productive and desirable land. Being a man of progressive ideas. he has always kept his land well improved and under a high state of culti- vation, and farmed on a general plan and raised large herds of all kinds of live stock, making a specialty of handling mules, and no small portion of his income for years was derived from this source. He has long been regarded as one of the best judges of mules, if not all kinds of live stock. in the county. On his farm is to be seen a commodious residence in the midst of attractive surroundings, and numerous substantial outbuildings- everything about the place denoting good management, thrift and prosperity.
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Mr. Dennis continued agricultural pursuits until three years ago, when he retired from his farm, renting his lands since then, and making his home in Rogersville, Webster county, where he has a modernly appointed and pleasant residence. He has also built several new buildings in Rogersville, and has done much toward the general material and civic improvement of the town. He has for some time been the principal factor in the Bank of Rogersville, of which he is president, and its pronounced success has been due in no small measure to his efforts. It is one of the safe and popular banks of southern Missouri. A general banking business is carried on. It is well equipped with a modern safe and other necessary furnishings, and is managed under a conservative and sound policy. It was organized in 1892, and its capital stock is $10,000.00 and $10,000.00 surplus. The other officers of the bank besides Mr. Dennis are George M. McHaffie, vice-president ; L. H. McHaffie, cashier, and H. E. Dennis, assistant cashier. It is the sec- ond oldest bank in Webster county.
Mr. Dennis has been twice married, first, in April, 1864, to Margaret Anne Smith, who was born in Greene county, Missouri, in 1843, and here grew to womanhood and was educated. Her death occurred in 1876, leav- ing four children, all of whom survive at this writing, namely; John E .. a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work; Clara B., William A., and George F. Mr. Dennis was married a second time, in 1877, to Martha G. Ferrell, who was born in Tennessee in 1861 and there spent her early girlhood, removing with her parents when thirteen years of age to Greene county, Missouri, and here she received a common school education and lived on the home farm until her marriage, which occurred when she was seventeen years of age. She has proven to be a faithful helpmate, is indus- trious, kind-hearted and genial and, like her husband, has a host of warm friends throughout this locality.
Mr. Dennis is the father of five children by his second wife, named as follows: Henry E. is assistant cashier in the Bank of Rogersville: Cora A. is deceased; Grover C. is engaged in the hardware business in Rogersville; Shirley V. died at the age of eighteen years; Ben Elmer is at present a sol- dier in the regular United States army, and is stationed in California.
Mr. Dennis has traveled extensively and, being a keen observer, has profited much by what he has seen. In 1898 he was a member of the adven- turous and hardy band of prospectors that invaded the Alaska gold fields and experienced the usual hardships and privations of such an expedition. and from a financial standpoint the venture was not successful. He was absent in the rugged and picturesque Northland made famous by London, Beach, Curwood and other noted authors, about a year, returning to his farm in Greene county. But, unlike many who returned from that precari- ous country of the mighty Yukon, having lost their all in practically a game
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of chance, Mr. Dennis had plenty to return to, and despite the fact that he brought back no sacks of gold dust, is rated among the well-to-do men of Greene county, and, having honestly earned every dollar in his possession through his individual efforts, he is eminently entitled to his fortune and also to the high esteem in which he is universally held.
Politically, Mr. Dennis is an ardent Democrat and has long been influ- ential in party affairs, although not seeking to become a political leader him- self .· preferring to devote his attention exclusively to his extensive business affairs and his home. Religiously he is a worthy member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and fraternally is a member of the Masonic Order, includ- ing the Knights Templars and the Ancient Orabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He stands high in all circles in which he moves, being an honest, obliging, courteous and hospitable gentleman at all times.
RANSOM S. LAFOLLETTE.
Some farmers seem to forget that a worn soil is a hungry soil whose breathing is difficult because its organic matter is exhausted, and whose nat- ural mineral elements of plant food have been depleted by constant cropping -a soil that does not furnish a suitable home for the manufacturing bac- teria-a soil that constantly pleads through its stunted, scrawny, half-nour- ished plant growth, for material with which to satisfy its hunger, and from which its bacteria may manufacture food for the support of its vegetation. One hundred bushels per acre crops are never grown on such soil, and a resort to stimulants in the form of so-called "complete fertilizers" only hastens land ruin. These things are well understood by Ranson S. LaFol- lette, a farmer of Pond Creek township, Greene county, and he has been careful to prevent his soil from becoming thin by proper rotation and fertili- zation and therefore his productive and well-kept place yields abundant harvest annually.
Mr. LaFollette was born on June 28, 1861, in Christian county, Mis- souri. He is a son of Amos M. Lafollette, who was born on March 22, 1833, in Tennessee, from which state he emigrated with his parents to Greene county, Missouri, in an early day. He grew up on the farm and received a limited education in the rural schools. After spending his boy- hood days on his father's farm he began life for himself by entering forty acres of land from the government in Christian county, which he cleared and improved in a general way. When the Civil war came on he cast his lot with the Federal army, soon after the outbreak of hostilities, being a private in the Eighth Missouri Cavalry. He proved to be a gallant soldier and was
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promoted to the rank of corporal. He was attacked by the measles and a fever from which he had not fully recovered when he joined his regiment in a march in Arkansas, during which he took cold which resulted in his death at Devall Bluff, that state, September 1, 1863. On September 9, 1860, he had married Nancy E. Blades, a daughter of R. D. Blades, Sr. She was born on August 2, 1843, in Greene county, Missouri, and her death occurred on February 25, 1863. Thus these parents died in early life within a few months of each other, thereby leaving two small children orphans, namely : Ransom S., of this sketch; and Samuel M., who lives in Greene county on a farm. The father was a Republican, and belonged to the Methodist Episcopal church.
When eighteen months old Ransom S. LaFollette was taken into the home of his Grandfather Blades where he grew to manhood and remained until reaching his majority. He received his education in the common schools of Greene county. He began life for himself by renting one of his grandfather's farms, which he operated two years, then rented another place for a year. His grandfather gave him and his brother fifty-five acres, which they operated in partnership until our subject bought the interest of his brother, and he lived on this place for seventeen years, when he sold out and moved to his present farm of one hundred and twenty acres, which he has placed under excellent improvements and he has a good home. He car- ries on general farming and stock raising.
Mr. Lafollette was married on October 1, 1882, to Sophronia Foun- tain, who was born in 1858 at Granby, Newton county, Missouri. She grew up on a farm and received a common school education. When a young man Mr. Fountain learned the blacksmith's trade which he followed a number of years, but devoted his later life to farming. Politically, he was a Repub- lican, and he belonged to the Missionary Baptist church. His death occurred on March 1, 1883. His wife, who was Sarah Crickmur before her marriage, died on July 1, 1902, having survived him nearly twenty years.
Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. LaFollette, namely: One died in infancy; Ella married C. T. Dean and they live on a farm in northwestern Kansas; Mattie is the wife of R. R. Brown and they live on a farm in Greene county; Florence is the wife of Joe Bell, a farmer of northwestern Kansas: Marion .H. is at home; Pearl is teaching school in Pond Creek township, this county; Grace is attending high school in Billings.
Politically, Mr. LaFollette is a Republican and has long been more or less active in the work of the party in his community. For a period of six years he filled very ably and successfully the office of justice of the peace in Pond Creek township. Fraternally, he is a member of the Woodmen lodge at Billings. He belongs to the Methodist Protestant church, in which he has been a director at different times.
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JAMES EDWIN DEWEY, M. D.
The desire to be remembered is inherent in the human race, hence the necessity for biographical and memorial works of the nature of the one in hand. Dr. James Edwin Dewey, who is a distant relative of Admiral George Dewey, one of America's greatest naval heroes, is a descendant of a long line of French ancestry, many of his progenitors having been men of prominence. History shows that the ancient Deweys were compelled to flee from France, owing principally to ecclesiastical and political reasons. They accordingly established homes in England, and subsequently one of the number, William Dewey, immigrated to America, landing at Dorchester, Massachusetts, in the year 1650. He was one of the older members of the English colony of that name, and from him descended the numerous fami- lies of Deweys in the United States at present. He had five sons, who dis- persed to various localities, establishing homes. From one of them our subject is descended. They remained in the Atlantic states for some three centuries, finally penetrating to the Middle West and the plains beyond the Father of Waters, our subject's immediate family locating in the state of Kansas.
Dr. James E. Dewey was born near Stockton, Kansas, November I, 1879. He is a son of Charles Holt Dewey and Mary E. (Lyon) Dewey. The latter was a native of western New York. The father was one of the early pioneers of Stockton. Kansas, and there has become well to do through farming and other business operations, and is a well known and influential man in that locality, and although he is now sixty years of age is still an active man of affairs. The mother is also still living. Dr. Samuel C. · Dewey, our subject's paternal grandfather, spent his life in the practice of medicine in Iowa and Wisconsin, principally in the town of Fairbanks, Iowa.
To Charles H. Dewey and wife a son and two daughters were born, namely: Dr. James Edwin, of this sketch; Marion, who is single and is still with her parents at Stockton. Kansas ; and Mrs. Gertrude Welch, who resides at Coffeyville, that state.
Dr. James E. Dewey grew to manhood on the home farm in the Sun- Hower state and there he assisted his father with the general work when he became of proper age, and in the winter time he attended the public schools in his vicinity, later took the course of study at the Stockton Academy. after which he entered the Rush Medical College in Chicago in 1899, and was gradu- ated from that institution with the class of 1903. Soon thereafter he came to Springfield. Missouri, where he began the practice of his profession and has remained to the present time with ever-increasing success. He was house surgeon at the Frisco Hospital here for a period of three years, filling
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this responsible position in a manner that reflected much credit upon his ability as a surgeon and to the entire satisfaction of all concerned. He is now making a specialty of genito-urinary diseases. He has spent consider- able time in post-graduate work in Chicago and Philadelphia, and is now well prepared for his special line of practice.
Doctor Dewey is a member of the Greene County Medical Society, the Missouri State Medical Association, the American Medical Association, is an honorary member of the Lawrence-Stone Medical Society, and the South- west Missouri Medical Society. Fraternally he belongs to the Modern Woodmen and the Knights of Columbus. Politically he is a Democrat, and in religious matters a Roman Catholic.
Doctor Dewey was married to Estella Whaley, of a well family of Springfield where she was long popular with the best social circles. She was a native of Mt. Vernon, Missouri. She was summoned to an untimely grave on November 17, 1912. The union of Doctor Dewey and wife was without issue.
Our subject is a young man of genial address and is well liked by all who know him, having made a host of friends since coming to the Queen City of the Ozarks.
SAMUEL L. ESLINGER.
It is in such countries as the United States that full swing can be given to the energies of the individual. A man may choose any business or pro- fession he desires, and he is limited only by competition. He must meet the skill of others and give as good service as they or he will not get the positions, will not attain a place in the front ranks of the men of affairs. Such adaptation to any work or business is well shown in the career of Samuel L. Eslinger, vice-president of the Springfield Bakery Company. He has turned his hand to various things and proved that there were more than one occupation which he could make successful.
Mr. Eslinger was born on June 18, 1866, at Sullivan, Sullivan county, Indiana. He is a son of James E. Eslinger, who was born in Tennessee, from which state he removed to Indiana when a young man, learned the carpenter's trade and he has devoted his active life to carpentering, con- tracting and building houses, bridges, etc .. He is now living in retirement in Sullivan county, Indiana, having attained the advanced age of eighty- three years. Politically he is a Republican. He is a member of the Chris- tian church. He has always been a quiet, unassuming home man, one who attends strictly to his own affairs. He married Elizabeth Allen, who was born and reared in Kentucky. Her death occurred thirty-nine years ago,
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