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 9
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Politically, Mr. Williams is a Progressive, and is liberal in his public views. Fraternally, he is one of the leading Masons of this locality, being a member of Ash Grove Lodge No. 100, Ancient Free and Accepted Ma- sons; Ash Grove Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; and Zabud Council No. 125, Royal and Select Masters; he also belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He has for some time been a member of the local school board, and religiously he holds membership in the Presbyterian clfurch. He has had a vast experience in the world's affairs and talks most entertainingly of his life in the picturesque pioneer days of the North, and it is a pleasure to visit him in his neat, hospitable home.
FRED WILLIAM RAUCH.
Spake full well in language quaint and olden, One who dwelleth by the castled Rhine, When he called the flowers so blue and golden Stars that in earth's firmament do shine; Stars they are in which we read our history As did astrologers and seers of eld,
Yet not wrapt about with such awful mystery As were the burning stars which they beheld.
Thus wrote the poet Longfellow in his fine poem on the flowers, which have been a favorite theme of poets since the days of Homer, and it has ever been the opinion of the thinkers of the world that he who does not love and admire these "stars of earth" has little good in him. No vocation could be more conducive to pure and high thinking, and consequently right and wholesome living, as a natural sequence of such thoughts, as floriculture. Most of the flower gardens and green-houses in this country are conducted by Germans. We offer no theory as to why this is so. Suffice it to add that we are greatly indebted to our brothers of Teutonic blood in many respects, and especially because they keep us supplied with their beautiful and neces- sary "hot-house" products during the "winters of our discontent."
Fred William Rauch, a young German-American, is one of the success- ful florists of Springfield. He was born on July 7, 1881, in Springfield, Ohio, and is a son of Peter and Caroline (Winter) Rauch. The father was born in Hessedarmstadt, Germany, April 26, 1854, and there he grew to manhood and received a common school education. He remained in the Fatherland until 1873 when he emigrated to America with a brother, and settled in Urbana, Ohio. He learned the blacksmith's trade when a young man, also was a tool dresser and he followed his trades in a machine shop in Urbana a short time, then removed to Springfield, Ohio, where he con-
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tinued working at his trade until 1884, in which year he came to Billings, Missouri, located on a farm near there, which he operated four years. He then returned to Urbana, Ohio, and followed the cigar manufacturing busi- ness for eleven years, then came back to Billings, this state, and for the past fifteen years has engaged in farming there. He has been very successful in a business way and owns a good farm and is highly respected by all who know him. Politically, he is a Democrat. He has been school director at Billings for a number of years, having received every vote in that place ex- cept his own in the elections for director. Fraternally he is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is a member of the German Evangelical church. He and Caroline Winters were married in 1877. She was born in Baltimore, Maryland, December 31, 1859, and she received a good common school education. She is a daughter of William Winters and wife. Mr. Winters is a baker by trade and is still living, making his home with Mrs. Rauch at Billings. His wife died about fifteen years ago.
Eight children were born to Peter Rauch and wife, namely: George is a florist at Monett, Missouri; Fred W., of this sketch; Lulu is the wife of Frank Dean, of Billings; Charles is a florist in Monett; Katie lives in Mo- nett; Anna and Philip are at home with their parents; William died when six years old.
Fred W. Rauch received a good education in the common schools, and when a boy learned broom making and worked at the same about four years, after which he worked on a farm near Billings, Missouri, for four years, then came to Springfield and worked for a florist about two and one- half years, meanwhile learning the ins and outs of the business, then was employed at the Chalfant conservatories a year, then, with two brothers built green-houses and laid out gardens at Monett where they are still in business, his two brothers remaining there and operating the business, while our subject stays in Springfield, where he returned in I911 and began operating the Chalfant conservatory and later established offices in the Co- lonial Hotel under the firm name of Rauch Brothers, and he has built up a large and constantly growing business.
Mr. Rauch was married March 10, 1907, to Bertha Kemm, a native of Springfield, born April 10, 1886, in Wisconsin. She received a good edu- cation in the public schools. She was a child when her parents, Karl and Mary (Schmith) Kemm, brought her to Springfield. Her father's active life has been devoted to the ministry.
To Mr. and Mrs. Rauch one child has been born, Frances Rauch, whose birth occurred on April 21, 1908.
Politically, Mr. Rauch is a Democrat, and religiously he is a member of the Presbyterian church. He is a prominent Mason, being a member of Gate of the Temple Lodge No. 422, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons ;
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Vincent Council, Royal and Select Masters; St. John's Commandery No. 20, Knights Templar; Abou Ben Adhem Temple and Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. One would judge from Mr. Rauch's daily in- tercourse with his fellow men that he is endeavoring to live up to the sublime precepts of Masonry.
ALEXANDER KNOX.
Born on the far-away heaths of bonnie Scotland, that picturesque coun- try, famed in song and story, familiar to us principally through the versatile descriptions of such immortals as Scott, Burns, Stevenson and Miller, but spending the major part of his life in America, the late Alexander Knox, a descendant of the famous British statesman, John Knox, is deserving of mentions in these pages. His long life of usefulness and commendable acts winning for him the sincere regard of all those with whom he came in con- tact, it is meet that his life record should be preserved in proper form. He possessed many of the traits of character of his sterling Scotch ancestors.
Mr. Knox was born in Scotland, January 26, 1848. He was a son of George Knox and wife, who were natives of Scotland, where they grew up and were married and spent their lives.
Alexander Knox grew to manhood in his native land and there received a good education, taking a high literary course in one of the best schools of the country. When twenty-one years of age, in 1869, he immigrated to the United States alone, and first settled in the South, but after a short time he came to Missouri. He began life for himself as a general farmer, which line of endeavor he followed until about 1875, then entered the employ of the St. Louis and San Francisco Railroad Company, first as fireman and later he became an engineer, and finally was engineer on a passenger train, which position he held for many years, or until his health failed. He was regarded as one of the most faithful and competent of the company's employees, and was popular with officials and his fellow employees.
Mr. Knox was married on January 1I, 1873, to Maria E. Ball, who was born near London, England, April 11, 1856. She is a daughter of Frederick and Margaret (Price) Ball, both natives of England, where they grew up, were married and established their home, and where they resided until 1870, when they immigrated to America, first locating in Illinois, later moving to Missouri, and here Mr. Ball began working for the St. Louis and San Francisco Railroad Company in their shops at Springfield. He was a skilled blacksmith, having as high as four and six helpers under him all the time, and was looked upon by his officials as one of their most valu- ·able men. He did a great deal in his department to make it up to date, and
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Alexander Prix
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he was given credit for many things of importance. He was a man who was held in high regard by all who knew him. He remained in the local shops until his death in the year 1882. His family consisted of six chil- dren, three of whom are still living, namely: Frederick, Mrs. Agnes Havens, and Mrs. Maria E. Knox, widow of our subject.
Mrs. Knox spent her girlhood in England and was educated in the common schools there and in the schools of St. Louis, Missouri. She was fourteen years of age when the family moved to America.
Two children were born to Alexander Knox and wife: Alice M., born on September 29, 1879, married first to Charles Schneider, who died about fourteen years ago; later she married T. P. Nichols, and they live in St. Louis. They have two children, Josephine and Charles A. George F. born on July 8, 1882, married Courtney Gustin, who is engaged in the shoe busi- ness in Springfield. Our subject and wife also raised James D. Knox, from the time he was five years old, and shortly after our subject's death Mrs. Knox adopted the child, who was born on November 18, 1880; he married Maude Walker; he is connected with the Frisco shops and lives in Spring- field. They have three children, Charles Vere, Maxine and Margaret.
Alexander Knox was a Republican. He belonged to the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, and was secretary of the local order for a period of fifteen years, performing the duties of the office most faithfully. He was a member of the Masonic Order, the Blue Lodge, Gate of the Temple (Masonic) and the Ancient Order of United Workmen, being a charter mem- ber of the same. He was a member of the Royal Arcanum Lodge, and belonged to the First Congregational church.
The death of Mr. Knox occurred on August 14, 1899, when scarcely past the half-century mark. Mrs. Knox has a cosy home on Washington avenue, Springfield.
FREDERICK CHARLES WILDER.
One of the public-spirited citizens of Ashi Grove who withholds his cooperation from no movement which is intended to promote public improvement in that city and vicinity is Frederick Charles Wilder, who for the past fourteen years has been engaged successfully in the livery busi- ness there and is one of the best known men in this line of endeavor in Greene county, and what he has accomplished illustrates his steadfastness of purpose. In his earlier years he was a farmer and also worked as iron molder.
Mr. Wilder was born near Carpentersville, Illinois, August 9, 1865.
(65)
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He is a son of Thomas and Catherine (Tubbs) Wilder. The father was born in the state of New York, in October, 1828, was there reared to- manhood and educated in the district schools and he devoted his active life to farming. He joined the tide of "forty-niners" for the gold fields of California and remained in that state a few years, finally returning to Illi- nois, his trips across the great trackless plains being without particular incident. He resumed farming and remained in the Sucker state until in 1869, when he removed with his family to Lawrence county, Missouri, where he bought one hundred acres which he farmed until 1881, when he. went to Barry county, Missouri, and homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres, which he cleared, improved and farmed until his death, which oc- curred in 1902. Politically, he was a Republican, and religiously a Metho- dist. Catherine Tubbs, mother of the subject of this sketch, was born in 1837. It is not certain whether in Illinois or Wisconsin, and her death occurred in 1875.
Frederick C. Wilder grew to manhood on the home farm, where he worked when a boy, and he received his education in the district schools. He spent four years in Dundee, Illinois, working for the Illinois Iron Bolt Company, learning the molder's trade, from 1894 to 1898, after which he returned to the home farm in Lawrence county, Missouri, not caring to continue the molder's trade as a livelihood. He engaged in general farming until fourteen years ago, when he came to Ash Grove and started in the livery business, which he has continued here and in Mt. Vernon, Lawrence county, to the present time, and his is now the only livery business. in Ash Grove. He has a well-equipped barn, including such vehicles as his needs require and a large number of good horses. His barn is popular with the traveling public, prompt and honest service is his aim.
Mr. Wilder was married March 17, 1887, to Emma Bowman, who- was born in Christian county, Missouri, August 4, 1869, and was reared on the farm and educated in the public schools. She is a daughter of Will- iam P. and Sarah Bowman. The father was a pioneer of Christian county and the mother was born there.
Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Wilder, namely: Oma, born January 1, 1888, is cashier at Bourguenot's confectionery in Spring- field; Dade, born May 20, 1889, is employed by the Aurora Milling Company at Aurora, Missouri; Nellie, born February 5, 1892; she married Richard M. Ryan and they live in Hot Springs, Arkansas; Luna, born March 19, 1894; and Clyde, born May 17, 1897.
Politically, Mr. Wilder is a Republican. Fraternally, he is a member of the Knights of Pythias, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Woodmen of the World. Religiously, the family attends the Presbyte- rian church.
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DANIEL H. HERMAN.
For a period of thirty-five years the name of Daniel H. Herman has stood for the highest grade of tailoring known in southwest Missouri, and his business advancing with the years has long since assumed very large proportions, and, owing to the excellent quality and style of the work from his establishment, his prestige is such that many of his customers come from nearby towns, and the fact that many of them have remained with him for a quarter of a century or more is a criterion of not only good service but courteous and honest treatment. Mr. Herman has devoted practically his life to this line of business and no one is more thoroughly conversant with the various phases of the same than he. As a man of affairs and a citi- zen he has been one of the influential men of Springfield for many years.
Mr. Herman was born June 2, 1857, in Syracuse, New York. He is a son of Henry and Hannah (Stern) Herman. The father, a native of Bavaria, Germany, emigrated to the United States about 1832 and settled in Syra- cuse, New York, where he was an extensive live stock dealer until 1868, when he went to Chicago, where he continued the same business. In 1871 he went to Rochester, New York, and followed the same vocation, subse- quently moving to Elmira, that state, where his death occurred in 1904, at the home of his daughter, and he is buried in the lot adjoining that containing the grave of Mark Twain. His wife, Hannah Stern, was also born in the province of Bavaria, Germany. She came to America when young and mar- ried Mr. Herman in Syracuse, New York. Her death occurred in 1894 in Rochester, that state, but she was buried in Chicago. Mr. and Mrs. Henry Herman were the parents of five children, namely: Hannah is the wife of Albert Samuel, of Elmira, New York; Fanny is the widow of Henry Klopfer, the great Chicago packer; Benjamin lives in Rahway, New Jersey ; Daniel H., of this review; and Charles, who lives in New York City. Politi- cally, the father of these children was a Democrat. He belonged to the Masonic order, and he was a member of the Hebrew Reformed church.
Daniel H. Herman spent his boyhood in Rochester, New York, and there received a good common school education. When sixteen years old he went to Elmira, that state, and began learning the tailoring trade and clothing business in which he seemed to have a decided natural bent and consequently made rapid progress. He remained there until he was twenty-two years old, 1879, in which year he came to Springfield, Missouri, and opened a tailoring and clothing establishment on Boonville street and has continued in this line to the present time. Successful from the first, he managed his affairs with honesty and good judgment until in due course of time he became one of the substantial business men of the city, and now his establishment would be a
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credit to cities many times the size of Springfield. He had the distinction of setting up and running the first full page advertisement in a newspaper in this section of the country, for which he paid ten dollars per month. On his opening day here he hired a brass band to play in front of his estab- lishment and an orchestra on the inside. Later he opened branches in the same line at Lamar, Joplin, St. Louis, Ft. Smith, Arkansas; and Dallas, Texas, all of which were successful under his able management, and pro- gressive methods. In a few years he opened up where the Globe Clothing Company is now located on South street and the public square. In 1885 he sold out on the public square and devoted his business on Boonville street to tailoring exclusively, then moved where the Union National Bank now stands. Selling his lease there he moved on South street, where he remained four years, and in 1912 moved to his present location on St. Louis street, where he has a modernly appointed, neat, inviting and convenient estab- lishment and carries an extensive and carefully selected stock of goods and employs several skilled tailors, including two expert cutters and about forty other employees. Prompt and high-grade service is his aim as it has ever been. In 1889 the company was incorporated as the Herman Tailoring Company. Mr. Herman and family are sole owners. They handle all the best domestic and imported cloths, which are made up for an exclusive clientele from southwest Missouri, southeastern Kansas and northwestern Arkansas. The firm has patrons even from New York City, Boston, St. Louis, Kansas City, the far West and Mexico. They have also unquestionably the highest class of haberdashery in this part of the United States. They are ex- clusive agents for Crofut & Knapp, Knapp felt and the Dobbs hats, Keyser cravats, Mark-Cross gloves, Vassar underwear, Manhattan shirts, S. Stein & Company, importers of woolens, Burberry's of London, England; Water- house & Resher Company, of New York City.
Mr. Herman was married, June 16, 1885, to Nellie Langsdorf, of St. Louis. She was born, December 7, 1864, and is a daughter of Morris and Hannah (Rosenstine) Langsdorf, an old and prominent family of the Mound City, where Mrs. Herman grew to womanhood and was educated. She is a lady of culture and has long been a favorite in the best social circles of St. Louis and Springfield.
The union of Mr. and Mrs. Herman has been graced by the birth of four children, namely : Hortense, wife of Nathan S. Rose, of St. Paul, Minnesota ; Edgar S., who is in business with his father, was born in Spring- field, Missouri, November 25, 1888, was graduated from the common schools, after which she spent a year in high school and a year in Drury College; from a mere child he has shown an aptness and interest in cutting, fitting and designing clothes and now has full charge of that department of the Herman Tailoring Company; at the age of twenty-one years he took his
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first honors at the National Clothiers' Association in New York City. He has refused flattering offers from large tailoring concerns in Chicago and New York to act as their designer at a large salary. His ideas are always in advance of others and he is indeed a genius in his line. The third child of our subject and wife is Blanche D., who is attending Soldon high school in St. Louis; Ruth, the youngest of the children, is at home and attending Springfield high school.
Mr. Herman has always been a supporter of laudable movements for the general improvement of Springfield, whose interests he has had at heart from the beginning of his residence here, and he has ever enjoyed the good will and confidence of his fellow citizens as a result of his industry, public spirit and manly principles.
ROBERT FRANK KISSICK.
Upon the shoulders of a train dispatcher rests grave responsibilities. A little mistake on his part may, and often does, result in most revolting dis- asters, so that it behooves one thus employed to keep a clear head and a steady nerve, be wide-awake when he is on duty and also a conscientious worker. Such a man is Robert Frank Kissick, train dispatcher for the Frisco Lines at the Springfield North Side shops. He is a man in whom the head officials repose the utmost confidence in every respect.
Mr. Kissick was born in Holt county, Missouri, in January, 1873. He is a son of William and Jane (McKane) Kissick, both natives of the Isle of Man, a British possession. The father was born in 1827, and the mother first saw the light of day in 1839. They grew up in their native country and there attended school, emigrating to the United States when young and they were married in Illinois, where they resided on a farm until 1871, when they removed to Holt county, Missouri, remaining there on a farm until 1886, when they moved to Kansas, in which state the father spent his last days in general farming and died there in 1892; the mother is now making her home in Hutchinson, Kansas. To these parents eight children were born, namely: Mary Jane lives in Wisconsin, Ida C., William E., Walter S., deceased; Lottie E., Robert F., Fannie F. and Daisy P.
Robert F. Kissick grew up on the home farm in Holt county, this state, where he worked when a boy and there he attended the common schools. In 1890 he entered railroad service for the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe at Nickerson, Kansas, as call boy, remaining with that road in various capacities until 1900. He remained in Nickerson until August, 1892, after which he was telegraph operator at Sterling, that state, working in this capacity there, at Great Bend and Dodge City, Kansas, for a period of
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ten years. After this he worked for the Rock Island railroad in Kansas and Texas when that company, was building its line to California. He was in the building department and remained with that road until August, 1901, when he came to Springfield, Missouri, and began working for the Frisco as telegraph operator. Thus employed for three years he was promoted to extra train dispatcher and then promoted to regular train dispatcher at the North Side shops, which position he holds at this time. He has given emi- nent satisfaction with each of these three roads in every position he has filled.
Mr. Kissick was married in June, 1905, in Springfield to Eva Skates, who was born in Union county, Missouri. She is a daughter of Robert and Mary Skates. Her father is a carpenter and contractor by trade, and has done a great deal of this kind of work for railroads. He now lives in Kansas City, Missouri.
To our subject and wife one child, Roberta Jane, has been born, the date of her birth being October 22, 1913.
Politically, Mr. Kissick is a Republican. Fraternally, he belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America and the Masonic order, in which he has taken all the degrees except that of the Scottish Rite. He is well known in Masonic circles.
JOSEPH HENRY TURK.
It is oftentimes considered by those in the habit of superficial thinking that the history of so-called great men only is worthy of preservation and that little merit exists among the masses to call forth the praises of the his- torian or the cheers and appreciation of mankind. A greater mistake was never made. No man is great in all things and very few are great, even es- pecially competent, in many things. Some by a lucky stroke achieve lasting fame, who before that had no reputation beyond the limits of their neigh- borhoods. It is not a history of the lucky stroke that benefits humanity most, but the long study and effort which made the lucky stroke possible. It is the preliminary work, the method, that serves as a guide for the success of others. Among those enterprising men of Greene county who have forged ahead along well-established lines, gradually mounting to the lad- der's summit by earnest, honest endeavor is Joseph Henry Turk, the present efficient and popular postmaster of Ash Grove and for many years a well- known hardware dealer of that city.
Mr. Turk was born in Lawrence county, Missouri, October 18, 1871. He is a son of Thomas B. and Sarah Jane (Stotts) Turk. The father was born in Cumberland county, Kentucky, in 1834, and there grew to man-
GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI. IO3I
hood, received his education and resided until about 1865 when he emi- grated to Missouri and located in Lawrence county, where he engaged in general farming until about eighteen years ago when he returned to Ken- tucky, and engaged in the real estate and insurance business in Bowling Green, that state, until his death on August 14, 1914. Politically, he was a Democrat. He belonged to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and was a member of the Presbyterian church. He and Sarah Jane Stotts were married in 1865. She was born in Cumberland county, Kentucky, about 1840, and there she was reared and educated and they were married in their native locality. Thomas B. Turk and wife were the parents of five boys and one girl, namely: James; Joseph H .; Lee; Luther; Loren and Hiram.
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