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 94
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Reuben J. Hiatt grew to manhood on the home farm in Lincoln county, Kentucky, near Crab Orchard, and there assisted his father with the general work during the summer months, when he became of proper age, and in the winter time he attended the district schools, receiving the usual educa- tion of farmer boys of that period. He remained in his native community engaged in farming and stock raising until he was about twenty-six years of age, then came to Missouri, first locating at Liberty, Clay county, where he remained until his removal to Springfield, this being his home until 1901, when he went to Dallas, Texas, where he spent five or six years, then re- turned to Springfield, where he spent the rest of his life.
In his earlier career he was engaged in the sewing machine business, and was very successful in the same; later he traveled for a well-known piano house. He gave his employers eminent satisfaction in every respect and was regarded as one of their most faithful, efficient and trustworthy employees, and he remained a traveling salesman the rest of his life. He was widely known over the territory which he made and was popular with the trade, being a genial, obliging and friendly gentleman who made friends easily.
Mr. Hiatt was married to Minnie Cravens, who was born in Daviess county, Missouri, October 6, 1857. She is a daughter of William and Re-
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becca (Bryan) Cravens. The father was born in 1835, died in 1883, and the mother was born in 1838 and died in 1888. These parents spent their active lives on a farm. They removed with their only child, Minnie Cravens, who became the wife of our subject, to Springfield, Missouri, about forty- six years ago, when the town was small. Here Mrs. Hiatt grew to woman- hood and received her education in the common schools.
Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Hiatt, named as follows : Emma, born December 31, 1886, married Jerry Cravens, and they live in Chicago; Homer, born December 17, 1890; Thelma, born September II, 1894, and Wilbur, born September 4, 1895; the last three children live with their mother at the family home on St. Louis street.
Politically, Mr. Hiatt was a Democrat. He was a member of the Woodmen of the World and the Christian church.
The death of Mr. Hiatt occurred in 1906, at the early age of forty-six years.
HUGH P. COLVIN.
There was something essentially American in the life and character of the late Hugh P. Colvin. The United States has given rare opportunties from the first to men of courage, honesty of purpose, integrity and industry, to achieve success. The bulk of our public men and those who have legiti- mately achieved fortune, have been men of the above characteristics, and Mr. Colvin was essentially one of that stamp, although never a man of wealth or a holder of important public trusts, but his record shows that he was the possessor of the traits of character that men must have if they achieve much success in any field of human endeavor. He was a man of the people, and his success in life came as a result of his devotion to right and his tenacity to purpose.
Mr. Colvin, who devoted his active life principally to railroading in one form or another, was born February 4, 1861, in Clinton county, New Jersey. He was a son of Bernard and Rose (Mulligan) Colvin, both parents natives of Ireland, from which country they came to America when children with their parents, each family settling in New Jersey in which state the parents of our subject were married. Bernard Colvin was a quarryman by trade, and while he was an authority on political questions he was not an office seeker. His family consisted of ten children, eight of whom are still living, namely : Mary, Elizabeth, John is deceased, Bernard, Hugh P. of this sketch; Alice, Mike, Catherine, James and Ella.
Hugh P. Colvin grew to manhood in New Jersey and there received a
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common school education. He remained there until he was about twenty- one years old, when he came to southeastern Missouri, and he and his brother went into the railroad construction work, and became successful contractors. They built part of the Cotton Belt railroad in Arkansas, also part of the Canadian Pacific railroad. Later the subject of this sketch became an employe of the former road and worked his way up to a responsible position in the same. In 1886 he began with the Memphis railroad, first as fireman, and five years later he went to West Memphis, Tennesee, where he handled the trains across the Mississippi river on transfer boats, was yard master and in charge of a switch engine. In the summer of 1890, he went on the road as engineer in the freight service, was twice in the same service, and while still in the service went to Thayer, Missouri, where he remained in the same line of work until 1893. In 1893 he moved with his family to Springfield, and continued railroading as engineer in the passenger service between Springfield and Thayer, pulling the "Memphis Flyer," the Frisco fast train. In 1908 he was injured in a wreck, his fireman being killed at that time, and our subject was incapacitated for service for three months as a result of his injuries. He resumed his work as engineer which he followed until December 19, 1911, when he and his fireman were both instantly killed in a wreck two miles south of Mountain Grove, Missouri. He was well known to railroad men and was one of the Frisco's most trusted and efficient engineers.
Mr. Calvin was married, January 28, 1892, to Margaret Irby, who was born in Memphis, Tennessee, May 23, 1875, and there reared to womanhood and educated. She is a daughter of Charles and Drusilla (Grant) Irby, natives of Kentucky and Tennesee, respectively. Mr. Irby was born on October 15, 1845, and his death occurred on December 31, 1913: his wife was born on January II, 1852, and she died in September, 1878. Mr. Irby was a railroad man and for many years was an engineer on the Memphis & Little Rock railroad, maintaining his home at Hopeville, Arkansas, and later he was master of mechanics for that road at Memphis, while the great bridge across the Mississippi river was being built. Politically he was a Democrat. He was twice married, and had two children by his first wife, Mrs. Marie Smith, and Mrs. Margaret Colvin, widow of our subject.
Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Colvin, all still living, namely : Harry, born on November 1. 1892: Bonnie, born on August 6, 1894: Edith. born on August 15, 1896; Frank, born on September 13. 1902: Hugh, born on March 3, 1905; Margaret, born on March 2, 1907; John, born on August 28, 1910; and James, born on July 24, 1912.
Politically Mr. Colvin was a Democrat. He was a member of the Brotherhood of Engineers. Fraternally he belonged to the Knights of
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Columbus. He was a Catholic in religious matters. His widow has a pleas- ant home on College street. He was a man whom his officials could always rely upon and whom his acquaintances and friends all liked for his friendly manner and high character.
JAMES GARFIELD CHILDRESS.
It is a great privilege to be able to spend our lives on the old home place. "The roof that heard our earliest cry" has a charm and fascination for us which we cannot find elsewhere, and no matter where on earth our restless footsteps may wander we ever long to be back under the old roof- tree of our parents. However, this is by no means practicable to many people. For various reasons, often through necessity, we leave our child- hood home and seek our fortunes in other countries, and seldom revisit the hearth-stone around which we played as a child. James Garfield Childress has been favored by fate in this respect and has always lived on the home- stead in Wilson township, Greene county, with the exception of a short period spent in the city.
Here Mr. Childress was born May 1, 1880. He is a son of William and Ellen (Tensley) Childress, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Illinois. The father of our subject came to Greene county, Missouri, in 1863, and settled on two hundred acres in Wilson township, a part of which excellent farm our subject now owns, and the elder Childress continued to reside here until his death, which occurred in 1883, his widow surviving un- til 1912, outliving him twenty-nine years. To these parents twelve children were born, six of whom survive at this writing, namely: Mrs. Mary Jones, wife of John Jones, a farmer of this township, and who is represented in this work by a separate sketch; Will lived in Clever, Missouri, until his death, which occurred about one year ago by accident; Charles lives south of Marionville; Dave lives in Clever, Missouri; Mrs. Minnie Campbell lives in Springfield, Missouri; Mrs. Fannie Brayfield lives in Carthage, Missouri; and James G., of this sketch, who is the youngest of the family.
James G. Childress was reared on the home farm and here he has always lived, with the exception of two years spent in Springfield. He received a limited education in the district schools of Wilson township. While his mother lived he was to be found at home, being very attentive to her every want, and since her death he has remained on the home farm, and is doing his own housework, since he has never entered the marriage state. He possesses seventy acres of the estate, and on this he carries on general farming, renting twenty acres from his sister, which he also operates and thus has a good acreage out each year in various crops. He has kept
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the old farm well cultivated and well improved, so that its value has increased in every respect, rather than deteriorated as some negligent farmers allow their land to do.
Mr. Childress has never affiliated himself with either church or fraternal organization, but in politics his views are pronounced, and he adheres to the Republican party in both victory and defeat, and he is desirous of seeing his locality improve in material and civic ways.
JOHN JONES.
As every one knows, methods of farming are changing and we are learning many things that the husbandmen of half century ago did not know or at least did not attach much importance to. Among other things the farmer of today has learned that the soil is a mixture of ground rock frag- ments and mineral mixed with more or less organic material. Some one has rightly said, "The soil is Nature's dumping-ground." All animal and plant refuse not burned or carried away by streams, eventually reaches the soil. Were it not for the fact that this vast amount of material is constantly decaying and becoming soluable we would eventually become polluted in Na- ture's waste products.
One of the farmers of Wilson township, Greene county, who has not been slow in adopting advanced methods of tilling the soil is John Jones, owner of "Shady Grove Farm." Mr. Jones was born in Taney county, Missouri, September 4, 1847. He is a son of Jabis and Elizabeth Jones, natives of Missouri. The father owned eighty acres and rented the same amount of land in Greene county. He at one time lived near Lebanon, Laclede county. His death occurred when the subject of this sketch was seven years of age, and a year later the mother passed away.
John Jones received a very limited education. After his father's death the mother sold the home farm, and after her death our subject lived with his uncle, James Cook, and later with an aunt. When eighteen years of age he was married to Mary Graham, a daughter of James Graham and wife. both of Christian county, this state, where they lived on a farm. After four years of married life, the wife of our subject died. To this union two children were born, one dying at the age of three years and the other in infancy. Three years after the death of his first wife, Mrs. Jones married again, choosing as a helpmate Mary Childress, a daughter of William and Ellen Childress, formerly of Illinois, from which state they came to Greene county, Missouri, after the Civil war and settled in Wilson township on one hundred and sixty acres. Mr. Childress was born in Kentucky. Our
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subject's second union has resulted in the birth of seven children, named as follows: Johnnie, Ira, Robert, Madeen, Bessie (deceased), Mrs. Myrtle Barber, and Vida, the last named being at home with her parents.
Mr. Jones owns sixty acres of good land in Wilson township, which he operates together with twenty-two acres which he rents from his brother- in-law, Mr. Childress. He is making a comfortable living as a general farmer and stock raiser, and, considering his early environment and the fact that he grew up without the protection, advice and guidance of parents and has had to "hoe his own row" from the first, he is deserving of a great deal of credit for what he has acomplished. On his farm.is one of the most splendid wells in the township, which is a favorite among his neighbors. In connection with raising general crops, Mr. Jones is doing a very good business raising horses and mules, also handles other live stock.
Politically, he has voted the Democratic ticket since attaining his ma- jority. His jovial nature makes him many friends wherever he goes.
A. J. JOHNSTON.
A forward-looking, dynamic-energied citizen of Springfield, a man of vision and purpose, who has in many ways aided in Missouri's betterment, is A. J. Johnston.
Mr. Johnston was born in Washington county, this state, near Potosi, on June 14th, in the year 1869, of English and German parentage. His father was a minister of the Christian church, later joining the Baptist communion. While still a mere child he was brought to Houston, Texas county, and was reared on a farm near the county-seat. His equipment for the affairs of life in the way of an education came from the common schools and the training of a model Christian home. Reaching manhood's estate, in 1890, he and Miss Verta Cross were married and for twenty-five years now have faced sunshine and storm together. Mrs. Johnston is the daugh- ter of T. A. Gross, of Marion, Ohio.
The four children who have blessed this union are, Ray Augustus. Floyd Albert, Glen Paul and Beulah, but the little girl crossed over the river many years ago.
Some six years ago, Mr. Johnston moved to Springfield and for the last five years has been in the real estate business. He has made a number of deals and always has on his books a list of good properties. When he came to Springfield he determined to give of his talent, time and money in aiding the upbuilding of Greene county and its capital, and has never failed to do his part.
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In his chosen business, Mr. Johnston has always stood high, for he is honest and careful in all his dealings. Recently he has leased a suite of rooms in the Landers building, which are perfectly adapted to the business, fitted up with every modern convenience.
Mr. Johnston has been prominently identified with the development of southern Missouri, in which he has extensive interests. No one has given more time, thought and effort to bringing before the people of the United
A. J. JOHNSON.
States the great resources of the Ozark region and the opportunities which are presented here for men of moderate means to get a start and secure a competence in a few years.
Prominent among the propositions which he has on hand at the present time is the disposition of the Springdale ranch, the only body of land of its kind remaining in this section. Eight thousand acres of virgin soil under- laid with mineral wealth and covered with a forest in which valuable timber abounds, here await development. The position of this great tract of land is in the midst of a portion of the country in which important projects are
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on hand and rapid progress is being made. Springdale ranch is inter- esting, not only in connection with prospective developments there, but in the fact that it is a great reservation in which the natural resources of the Ozark region are shown in a remarkable manner, exhibiting to the people of this day and generation a view of the land as it appeared to the pioneers who made their way into this country in the first quarter of the nineteenth century, a reminder of the vision which excited the enthusiasm of the French explorers of an earlier period, causing them to write charming descriptions of this portion of the domains of the king of France, then known as Louis- iana. Samples of ore taken from the Springdale ranch have been sent to a prominent assayer at Denver, Colorado, who reports a value of $78.90 of gold, silver, lead and zinc per ton.
JAMES E. LUPER.
All who have studied the present-day problems of supply and demand, will agree that there is always a market for what the farmer raises, but that it is costing him too much to "get by the middle men" and get his products in the hands of the consumers. When this problem is satisfactorily solved such careful and industrious farmers as James E. Luper, of Wilson township, Greene county, will be more justly rewarded for their labors.
Mr. Luper was born in Washington county, Arkansas, January 5, 1867. He is a son of John and Eliza (Ingram) Luper, both natives of Tennessee, born on farms and there spent their early lives, but removed to Arkansas when young and established their future home, and there the death of the father occurred in 1867, a few months before the subject of this sketch was born. The mother survived until in January, 1911, reaching an advanced age, having survived her husband about forty-seven years. To these parents six children were born, named as follow : Mrs. Amanda Luttrell, Mrs. Jane Maxie, Simion A., John A., William S., all live in Arkansas; and James E., of this sketch.
James E. Luper grew to manhood on the farm in Washington county, Arkansas, and there he received his education in the rural schools. When eighteen years of age he left home and came to Greene county, Missouri, June 27, 1885, and went to work for Jonathan Moore, with whom he re- mained two years and four months. He saved his earnings and finally began farming for himself, which he has continued to the present time, and is now owner of eighty acres of good land in Wilson township on which he is making a comfortable living by general farming and stock raising. He has
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worked hard for what he has and has led a quiet life, progressing slowly with advancing years.
Mr. Luper was married on September 4, 1887, to Ella Moore, a daugh- ter of S. B. and Ann (Payne) Moore, who were old residents of Greene county, where they spent their active lives in farming, and they are now living retired in Springfield. The following children were born to them : Ella, wife of our subject ; J. R., who lives in Greene county ; Mrs. Ollie Burk- head, of Springfield; Anderson lives in Kansas; Flossie V., who lives in Springfield, is the widow of Dr. Knowles, deceased; Charles lives in Spring- field ; Bessie has remained unmarried; Fred and Harvey both live in Kansas City. Mrs. Luper grew to womanhood in Wilson township, this county, and received her education in the district schools, and, having spent her life in her native vicinity has many friends throughout samic.
Mr. and Mrs. Luper have but one child, Lulu May Luper, who is at home with her parents.
Politically Mr. Luper is a Republican in national affairs, but often votes independently in local elections. He and his wife are members of the Christian church.
WARREN NELSON CAMP.
Longfellow said, "The talent of success is nothing more than doing what you can do well and doing well whatever you do, without any thought of fame." Illustrative of this sentiment has been the life of the late Warren Nelson Camp, one of the well-known railroaders of Springfield, of a past generation. Those familiar with his life work readily corroborate the state- ment that he did well whatever he turned his attention to and therefore suc- cess attended his efforts.
Mr. Camp was born at Adrian, Michigan, August 5, 1843. He was a son of Robert Camp and wife, and grew to manhood and spent his early life near his native city, and there received a good practical education, however, his schooling was not as extensive as he desired, for his father was a farmer and on the homestead our subject found plenty of work to keep him busy most of the year when he was a boy. He began life for himself as a rail- roader in his native state, and he followed this line of endeavor the rest of his days, his promotion being rapid owing to his faithfulness to duty, his sober habits and intelligence. He engaged in the creamery business in Michi- gan for about seven years. After leaving his native state, he went to Ft. Wayne, Indiana, where he continued railroading for some time. On March 17, 1898, he came to Springfield, Missouri, and took a position with the Frisco System as conductor and continued in the service until his death,
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which occurred here on May 6, 1901. He accumulated considerable property, which was left to his widow and children, Mrs. Camp being well provided for.
Mr. Camp's marriage was celebrated in Dertoit, Michigan, to Mrs. Marie O. Holmes, widow of John B. Holmes, a railroad man who was killed while on duty for the Michigan Central railway. By her marriage with Mr. Holmes three children were born to the widow of our subject, namely : Walter B., Charles R., and Howard D. Her union with our subject was without issue. Mr. Camp became the father of three children by his first marriage, namely: Maude, who is the wife of William Shotwell; Major and Mamie, twins, both deceased.
Mrs. Camp is one of four children, she being the oldest; her three sisters are Mrs. Margaret Louise Carnley, Mrs. Josephine Odell is a widow, living in Detroit; and Mrs. Sarah Lanniere lives in Ottawa, Canada. The parents of these children were George and Oberline ( Paquette) DeGras, both natives of St. Johns, New Brunswick, and all their ancestors were of French origin. In his earlier career George De Gras was a deep-sea sailor, and later went into the ship-building business, and with his father he also engaged ex- tensively in fishing, which is a great industry, for some time before coming to this country. Mrs. Camp was twelve years of age when her father died. He was a "forty-niner," making the long journey to California across the great plains. He never returned; in fact, was never again heard from, and it is the supposition that he was murdered. Mrs. Camp received a good com- mon school education. She is a member of the Sorosis club.
Mr. Camp joined the Presbyterian church early in life. He belonged to the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Masonic Order and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
EMIL O. DAVIS.
Though no land is richer in opportunities or offers greater advantages to its citizens than America, success is not to be attained through desire alone, but must be persistently sought. In this country "labor is king," and the man who resolutely sets to work to accomplish a given purpose is cer- tain of success if he has but the qualities of perseverance, untiring energy and practical common sense. Emil O. Davis, well known Frisco passenger con- ductor, of Springfield, through his diligence and perseverance has attained definite success in his calling and has won the respect of all who know him through his unfailing courtesy and trustworthiness.
Mr. Davis was born at Springfield, Greene county, Missouri, February
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1, 1870. He is a son of Robert Henry and Victoria (Caynor) Davis. The father was born in Nashville, Tennesee, and the mother is a native of Greene county, Missouri. Robert H. Davis left his native state and located in this county in an early day and here established his permanent home. He was a soldier in the Civil war, in Company H, Eighth Missouri Volunteer In- fantry, under Capt. "Bob" Mathias, serving over four years in a most faith- ful manner, taking part in several engagements, including the battle of Wil- son's Creek. He was mustered out and honorably discharged at St. Louis. After the war he returned to Springfield and spent the rest of his life en- gaged as traveling salesman for many years for the J. Baum Shoe Company, of St. Louis.
Emil O. Davis, only child of his parents, grew to manhood in his native community, and he received his education in the common schools of Spring- field. He spent his boyhood days at home, but in early life took up rail- roading for a career, which he has followed ever since. In his early boyhood, however, he was employed as a grocery clerk, and once when delivering goods a patrol wagon overtook him and two policemen climbed into his de- livery wagon and were rapidly driven by young Davis to a place where they desired to make an arrest, and in their haste most of the groceries were lost along the street. This resulted in his employer discharging him upon his return to the store. This seemingly insignificant incident resulted in chang- ing the lad's subsequent career, for soon thereafter he took up railroading. In 1885, he accepted a position with the Frisco as caller and later worked as switchman until 1899, when he began his road service as brakeman, con- tinuing thus for three years, then was promoted to freight conductor and, in 1896, to passenger conductor. Leaving the road service he was appointed yard master of the terminal in 1900, which position he held until 1904, when he went back to a passenger run and has continued to the present time. Dur- ing his entire 'service with the Frisco, covering a period of nearly thirty years, he has never been discharged. He has done his work faithfully and conscientiously and is one of the company's most trusted employees.
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