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 92
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Mr. Keller was born near Marshfield, Webster county, Missouri, De- cember 25, 1865. He is a son of Joseph and Martha (Burks) Keller, both natives of Tennessee, from which state they came to Webster county in an early day, locating on a farm and there the death of the father occurred in 1913. when past seventy years of age. his birth having occurred in 1842. He was well known in Webster county, was a successful farmer and a good citizen. The mother of our subject, who was also born in 1842, is still living on the old home place near Marshfield. Joseph Keller took a great deal of interest in the public affairs of his county and for a period of twenty years was a judge of the County Court, retaining the office until his health failed and compelled him to retire. During that period he did a great deal for the permanent good of his county, always alive to its best interests. He was a Republican in politics and a leader in his party in Webster county. During the Civil war he enlisted at the beginning of the struggle in the Home Guards and was stationed in Springfield with a regi- ment of over one thousand men during the time of the Wilson's Creek battle and was wounded at that time. His family consisted of six children. all still living, namely: James; W. Robert, of this sketch; John, Jennie, Sophia and Catherine.
W. Robert Keller grew to manhood on the home farm in Webster county and there did his full share of the work when a boy. He received a common school education there and while yet a mere lad he began his railroad career. He came to Springfield in the fall of 1890 and secured
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a position as brakeman on a freight train for the Kansas City, Ft. Scott & Memphis road, now a part of the Frisco System. His run was between Springfield and Thayer. He proved to be a hard and faithful worker and in 1893 was promoted to freight conductor, at which he worked until 1900, when he was promoted to passenger conductor and has remained thus en- gaged to the present time, his run being from Springfield to Memphis, Tennessee.
Mr. Keller was married in Springfield, in October, 1890, to Millie Pipkin, a native of Greene county, where she was reared and educated. She is a daughter of James Pipkin, who was a soldier in the Civil war.
Politically, Mr. Keller is a Republican. He is a member of Division No. 321, Order of Railway Conductors. He belongs to the Masonic order, including the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, and religiously he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
JOB NEWTON.
It is proper to judge of a man's life by the estimatiton in which he is held by his fellow citizens. They see him at his work, in his family circle, in church, hear his views on public questions, observe the operations of his code of morals, witness how he conducts himself in all the relations of so- ciety and civilization and are therefore competent to judge of his merits and demerits. After a long course of years of daily observations, it would be out of the question for his neighbors not to know of his worth, for, as has been often said, "Actions speak louder than words." In this connection it is not too much to say that Job Newton, well-known business man of Springfield, has ever stood high in the estimation of his acquaintances here, during his residence of forty-five years, for his conduct has been honorable in all the relations of life and his duty well performed whether in private or public life, and that he has ever been industrious, never waiting for some one else to perform his tasks. He is one of the surviving band of the famous "forty-niners" in Greene county, and his reminiscences of his various ex- periences in the pioneer days when he was a young man are indeed inter- esting.
Mr. Newton was born five miles from Georgetown, Delaware, July 28, 1826. He is a son of and Mary Ann (Mariner) Newton, each parent of English descent. Mr. Newton's father died when he was an in- fant, and he has no recollection of him. His mother brought him overland through a long stretch of wilderness from Delaware to St. Louis, Missouri, in the year 1838; her other two children were Ann and Benjamin. Soon
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thereafter a brother of our subject's mother came to St. Louis and removed her and her children to Wabash, Indiana, in 1839, and there she spent the rest of her life, dying in 1848.
Job Newton grew to manhood in St. Louis, was educated there in the public schools and married there, remaining in that city until 1869, when he removed his family to Springfield, where he has since made his home. He first engaged in the woolen mill and fur business in St. Louis, but upon reaching Springfield he went into the dry goods business in which he re- mained about eight years, enjoying a good trade, then he started a produce business which gradually grew with advancing years until it reached exten- sive proportions and he is still thus engaged, with the exception of one year spent in Kansas City. He now handles not only produce but grain, hay and seed under the firm name of the Newton Grain Company, of which he is president, Dwight E. Newton being secretary and treasurer. They have a large substantial building and their operations extend over a vast territory. Although our subject is now advanced in years, being nearly eighty-nine years old, he is hale and hearty and is still actively engaged in business.
Mr. Newton was married in the fall of 1856 to Minerva C. Ault, a native of Ohio, from which state she removed with her parents to Missouri when she was a child. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. New- ton, three of whom are still living, namely: Harry C. is the eldest; Joseph and Jefferson are both deceased; Emmitt and Dwight E. are the two young- est, the latter being associated with his father in business, and the former is manager of the Lander theater of this city.
Mr. Newton is a member of the Masonic Order, United Lodge No. 5, Royal Arch Chapter No. 15, is past commander of St. John's Commandery, No. 20, and is also a member of the Chapter, also the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, and is past grand patron of the Eastern Star of Missouri; he has long been prominent in Masonic circles. Politic- ally, he is a Democrat and has been more or less active in public affairs, and has been a member of the city council twice, and in the earlier years of his residence here he was chairman of the Democratic committee.
One of the most interesting chapters in Mr. Newton's life is that relat- ing to his trip to the far West, when he crossed the plains with the gold- seekers in 1849, and had the distinction of taking the first goods into Salt Lake City, Utah, after the Mormons had settled there. He started on his long journey from St. Louis on March 17, of that year, and arrived in Cali- fornia the following October, going the Truckee route, and he built the second house in the city of Grass Valley, California. He returned to St. Louis in 1851 by the Nicaragua route, on a Vanderbilt vessel., the first line run in opposition to the Pacific Mail route, Mr. Newton being one of the first passengers to come over this route. He crossed the Isthmus of Panama
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in 1855 en route to San Francisco, California, and in the spring of 1856 he returned to St. Louis, coming back via the Nicaragua route. In the spring of 1868 he came to Springfield, having sold his business interests in St. Louis. He immediately took up activities in the dry goods business, and in the spring of 1869 he moved his family here, where they have since remained with the exception of one year, which was spent in Kansas City. In the spring of 1854 he again crossed the arid and wild lands of the western territories, freighting to Salt Lake City, having charge of about twenty-five wagons, and he took a large herd of cattle on into California.
EDWIN L. FAY.
Among the best known railroad men of Springfield is Edwin L. Fay, who has been railroading for nearly a half century, and for over forty years connected with the Frisco system, at one time being superintendent of a division, and for the past quarter of a century has been a passenger con- ductor. His long and honorable record is one of which he may be justly proud. He has been regarded all the while as one of the most trustworthy and able of the employees of the Frisco, and his services have shown him to be a man of ability, fidelity and sobriety, thus meriting the confidence reposed in him and the high esteem in which he is universally held among railroad men.
Mr. Fay is a descendant of an old New England family, of which country he himself is a native, having been born in Orange county, Ver- miont. August 5, 1849. He is a son of Lorenzo D. and Levina (Chamber- lin) Fay. The father was born in the state of New York in 1809, and died in 1893 in Illinois; the mother was born in Vermont in 1822 and died in 1902. They both received good common school educations, and for a number of years the mother engaged in teaching. Lorenzo D. Fay was a mason, plasterer and building contractor and was very successful in his vocation. He was twice married, our subject being the eldest of four children by his second marriage.
Edwin L. Fay spent his early boyhood in Vermont and received most of his education in the public schools there. When he was twelve years of age the family removed to the state of Iowa, where they lived three years, then located in Illinois, where they established their permanent home. Our subject began his railroad career in 1867, when he took a position with the Chicago Northwestern railroad as brakeman, between Chicago and Janesville, Wisconsin ; continuing as brakeman until 1870, he went with the Chicago, Burlington & Quiney railroad, his return being between Rock Island
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and Bridgeport, Illinois. In March, 1871, he came to Springfield, Missouri. where he has since resided. He went to work soon thereafter as brakeman on the Frisco and four months later was given a train, and, showing that he was a man of ability in this line of endeavor, he was rapidly promoted and was made superintendent in 1889 of the eastern division, with head- quarters at Newburg, Missouri, this being one of the most important divi- sions on the system; although he was an efficient superintendent, he preferred active service on the road and was given a position as passenger conductor in 1890. A part of the time his run was between Springfield and St. Louis. During the past fourteen years he has been running between Monett, Mis- souri, and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He has been very fortunate in handling his trains and is one of the most reliable conductors on the system.
Mr. Fay has a good home on Robberson avenue, Springfield, the pre- siding spirit of which is a lady of pleasant manners, known in her maiden- hood as Lydia E. Kern, whom he married in St. James, Missouri, August 27, 1873. She was born in Pennsylvania, and is a daughter of Joseph and Hannah Kern. When she was a young girl her parents removed with her from Pennsylvania to Missouri.
To Mr. and Mrs. Fay two children have been born, namely: Gracie E. and Ethelyn I.
Politically, Mr. Fay is a Republican. He is a member of No. 415 Division, United Railway Conductors. Fraternally, he is a prominent Mason, having attained the thirty-second degree in that order, and is a member of the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He also belongs to the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
JAMES O. ATTEBERRY.
Cultivation of the soil began with the desire on the part of the culti- vator to destroy weeds or plants not desired that were likely to crowd out and injure the ones in which he was interested. But we now know that the destruction of weeds is a matter of very secondary importance. We now cultivate to conserve moisture and to promote chemical and biological activity. Our viewpoint has changed greatly with increased knowledge, yet it is a fact that we do not do all we might in this direction. We do not stir the soil during rainless periods as frequently as we should, or we do not do it at the time we should and allow valuable moisture to escape. It must be borne in mind that it is often quite as important to do a thing at the right time as it is to do it at all. One of the successful farmers of Clay township, Greene county, is James O. Atteberry, who not only seems to
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know how to carry on the various departments of modern agriculture, but when to do a thing and when not to do it.
Mr. Atteberry was born in Cassville, Barry county, Missouri, January 30, 1861. He is a son of John B. and Mary E. (Bills) Atteberry. The father was born in Tennessee, January 30, 1830, on the banks of the famous Cumberland river, and there he spent the first nine years of his life, then his parents brought him to Dallas county, Missouri, where he grew to man- hood on a farm and there received a common school education. He worked for his father until he was twenty-one years of age, then bought a farm of eighty acres. He learned the blacksmith's trade, which he followed in connection with farming. Then went to Barry county, where he owned a blacksmith shop for some time. Later he went to Springfield where he followed his trade and at which he was engaged at the outbreak of the Civil war, when he enlisted in the Federal army and was kept busy as a black- smith for some time by his general and later drove a team for his regiment. After the close of the war he returned to Dallas county, where he lived until his son James O. was fourteen years old, then came back to Springfield and resumed blacksmithing, at which he was quite expert. About five years later he moved back to Dallas county and bought a farm of eighty acres, which he operated about seven years, then moved back to Springfield, where he has resided to the present time, and is still active. Politically, he is a Demo- crat. He is a member of the Christian church. He had natural talent as a musician and when a young man taught vocal music, conducting singing schools. His wife, Mary E. Bills, was born in Tennessee, October 8, 1836, and was reared in that state and in Missouri, having been seven years of age when her parents brought her to Dallas county, making the overland jour- ney in wagons, experiencing numerous hardships. The family located on a farm and there Mrs. Atteberry was reared. She has known what hard work meant, wove and spun in her earlier years and made clothes, the last suit she made having been for the sheriff of Greene county. She is a mem- ber of the Christian church and has long been a great church worker. To these parents thirteen children have been born, namely: Mrs. Eliza Jane Woodle is deceased; Mrs. Ruth Davidson lives in Springfield; James O. of this sketch, and George, who lives in Christian county, Missouri, are twins; Elsie is living in the West; Daniel lives in Springfield; Mrs. Francis Welch lives in Christian county; Mrs. Laura Fishel lives in Springfield; Mrs. Etta Lawing lives in St. Joseph, Missouri; Mrs. Blanche Pritchard lives in Oklahoma City : the three youngest children died in infancy.
James O. Atteberry spent his early boyhood on the home farm in Dallas county, where he worked during the crop seasons and in the winter time attended the common schools. When fourteen years of age he hired out on farms in Greene county, working thus until he was twenty-two years of
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age, when he married Mary E. McCorkle, and rented a farm for several years, then moved to Christian county, where he rented land for fourteen years, also bought a farm of one hundred and ten acres which joined the farm he rented. In connection with general farming he raised cattle and hogs in large numbers, also sheep. Finally selling out, he bought the farm where he is now living in Clay township, Greene county, which consists of one hundred and forty-five acres and is well improved and productive, one of the best in this part of the county. In connection with general farming he is successfully operating a dairy.
Mr. Atteberry's wife was born in Greene county, October 8, 1859. When three years old her parents brought her to the place where she is now living. She received a good common school education, and when eighteen years old began teaching and taught two years in the rural schools. She is a daughter of Neely and Catherine (Rainey) McCorkle. She is a member of the Christian church.
To Mr. and Mrs. Atteberry eight children have been born, namely: George A. is living in Greene county ; Elmer is deceased; Neely J. lives in Springfield :; Mrs. Mary Snyder lives in Greene county; Stanley lives at home; Lemuel lives in Greene county ; Mrs. Birdie Jones lives at home with her parents; Nellie is married and lives in Clay township, Greene county, Missouri.
Politically, Mr. Atteberry is a Republican. Fraternally, he belongs to the Woodmen of the World, the Modern Woodmen, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Maccabees. He belongs to the Christian church.
SILAS M. JOHNSON.
Silas M. Johnson was born in Tennessee, August 30, 1855. He is a son of John A. and Nancy (Ferguson) Johnson. The father was a son of Benjamin and Betsy Johnson, the former a native of Scotland, from which country he immigrated to North Carolina in an early day, and in that state his son John was born, and was four years of age when the family removed to Tennessee where he grew up and married. Nancy Ferguson was a native of Tennessee, in which state she spent her early life. Benjamin Johnson spent the rest of his life in Tennessee, dying there after an active life on the farm. John A. Johnson spent his boyhood on the farm, and received his education in the common schools at Pulaski, Giles county, Tennessee, and began his career as a farmer in that vicinity. He married in Macon county, that state. During the Seminole Indian war in Florida he enlisted in a Tennessee regiment and served with credit. Politically, he was a Re-
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publican, and he belonged to the Christian church. His family consisted of twelve children, namely: Benjamin, deceased; William, who was a soldier in the Union army, was killed in battle; James was also a soldier in the Federal ranks during the Civil war; Mrs. Clarissa E. Powell was next in order; Louis lives on the Carthage road in this county; Agnes is de- ceased; John is railroading in California; Neil owns and operates a ranch in Colorado; Mary makes her home with our subject; Silas M. of this re- view; Nannie is deceased; one child died in infancy.
John A. Johnson, the father, left Tennessee in 1854 and lived in Texas a year ; then moved to Arkansas, where he lived until 1863, in which year he located in Greene county, Missouri, purchasing a farm of one hundred and sixty-eight acres, and on this spent the rest of his life.
Silas M. Johnson grew to manhood on his father's farm and he re- ceived his early education in the district schools, and he has devoted his life to general farming and stock raising. He owns sixty-six acres in Campbell township, where he has a substantial home, with many modern conveniences, large barns and well-kept surroundings.
Mr. Johnson has remained unmarried. Politically, he is a Democrat. He belongs to the old brick Christian church in his vicinity. He is a mem- ber of the Anti-Horse Thief Associatiton. He leads a quiet life, and per- sonally, is a very accommodating gentleman and is therefore well liked by all who know him.
WILLIAM R. WATSON.
One of the most enterprising of Greene county agriculturists is William R. Watson, now living practically retired in Springfield. He believed from the outset of his career that the "wisdom of yesterday is sometimes the folly of today," and that while the methods of our ancestors in tilling the soil were all right in their day, yet in the twentieth century we have been compelled to adopt new methods and farm along different lines, in view of the fact that conditions of climate, soil, grains, etc., have changed since the days of the pioneers. Mr. Watson has been a close observer of modern methods and is a student at all times of whatever pertains to his chosen life work and he has therefore met with encouraging success all along the line, . and while comparatively young took his place among the leading farmers and stock raisers of a locality noted for its fine farms and adroit hus- bandmen.
Mr. Watson was born in Robberson township, Greene county, Missouri, July II, 1854. He is a son of Spencer and Margaret (Holloway) Wat- son, both natives of Tennessee. The mother was a daughter of Minter Hol-
WM. R. WATSON.
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loway, an old settler in Tennessee. The parents of our subject grew to maturity in their native state and there received the usual limited educations in the country schools of those early days and they were married in their home locality, continuing to reside there until the spring of 1852, when they made the overland journey to Greene county, Missouri, arriving here on May 10th. They bought and entered land in Robberson township, which they developed into a good farm by hard persistent work and there they resided until December 5, 1866, when they removed to Cass township, this county, and there the death of the father occurred on June 20, 1887, being born on December 9, 1823. He was a Southern sympathizer during the war between the states but he was not in the service. Politically he was a Democrat, and he held membership in Wesley Chapel Methodist Episcopal church, South.
William R. Watson, of this sketch, grew to manhood on the home farm where he worked hard when a boy, and during the winter months he attended the district schools, entered Drury College in 1877 and in 1878 took up his studies at Morrisville College in Polk county. After leaving school he began his life work as a teacher and for ten consecutive years followed this profes- sion with much success in the schools of Greene county, then began his career as farmer on his own land in Cass township. Working hard, look- ing well to details and being on the alert for new and better methods of doing things he prospered with advancing years and he is now owner of a well- improved and productive farm of six hundred and ninety acres in Cass town- ship, on which is to be seen a large residence and a group of substantial outbuildings. Here he has long carried on general farming and stock rais- ing on an extensive scale, making a specialty of the mule business. He is at present making his home on Benton avenue, Springfield, owning a cozy residence there. He left the farm on August 26, 1911, his object being that his children might have better school facilities.
Mr. Watson was married on October 12, 1884, to Laura Boston, a daughter of Thomas Y. Boston, an old settler of Cass township, and a pros- perous farmer and well-known citizen in the northern part of the county. Our subject began housekeeping on a sixty-two-acre farm near Harold. November 6, 1884. Our subject's first wife died on March 3, 1889; she was the mother of two children, the second of whom died in infancy; it was named Olga : the other. Nannie, was born December 26. 1885, who married Ray Chumm, lives in Carthage. On September 25, 1890, Mr. Watson took for his second wife Clara Boston, a sister of his first wife. To this second union six children have been born, namely: Agatha. born on August 9, 1891, who lives at home, was graduated from Drury College in June, 1915, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts: Minnie, born on February 10, 1893.
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Willie, born on December 16, 1895; Pauline, born October 7, 1897, and Florence, born on February 19, 1899, are all attending the Springfield high school; Helen E., born on July 12, 1906, died when four years old.
Politically, Mr. Watson is a Democrat but has never been especially active in public affairs. He is a Royal Arch Mason, a member of Ash Grove Chapter, Blue Lodge membership, O'Sullivan Lodge No. 7, Free and Ac- cepted Masons, at Walnut Grove; he also belongs to the Modern Woodmen lodge at Cave Spring. The family are members of the Methodist Episco- pal church, South, at Pearl, Cass township. Personally, he is a well-educated, well-read gentleman, with correct views in all the relations of life.
Mr. Watson is especially proud of the time spent in the interest of the public schools of Greene county. He enjoys the distinction of being the oldest member, in point of service, of any school board in Greene county. He has always been a man to whom any deserving teacher could come for advice and sympathy, for, being an old teacher he has always known the needs and ambitions of those in this profession. As chairman of the school board he put his energy and zeal into the work and placed the Pearl dis- trict school at the head of the list of schools of Greene county, which posi- tion it held until he left the district and ceased giving his attention to the rural schools.
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