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 97
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Mr. Mason was married, January 23, 1898. to Mina Nickel, a daughter of James A. and Jane (Breeden) Nickel, and to this union one child was born, James B. Mason, whose birth occurred on August 10, 1899. The death of the wife and mother occurred September 8, 1903: Mr. Mason was again married on April 10, 1906, to Daisy Smith, a daughter of Gaither and Melvina (Oldham) Smith. To this last union one child has been born, John M. Mason, whose birth occurred July 24, 1908.
Politically, Mr. Mason is a Republican, and fraternally, he is a member of the Masonic Order, including the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, the Chapter and the Royal Arch Masons, all of Ash Grove; he also belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Woodmen of the World.
DAVID MILLER RITTER.
We are always glad to talk to the aged veterans of America's great Civil war, in which nearly five million men took part, but of this vast number only a comparatively few remain with us to tell the interesting story of the dread- ful hardships they endured in their winter camps, in the hospitals, the harass- ing marches, in the battles and skirmishes, or in the prison hells. But their time is short now, so all persons should join in honoring them for sacri- fices they made when they were young and full of the love of life, but which was offered free on the altar of their country. David Miller Ritter of Center township, Greene county, is one of this number. He has made his home in our midst nearly a half century during which he has progressed from a modest beginning as a farmer to one of the largest agriculturists in the township.
Mr. Ritter was born near South Bend, St. Joseph county, Indiana, February 10, 1842. He is a son of Jacob and Elizabeth ( Miller) Ritter. The father was one of the pioneer settlers of that county, having moved there from Wayne county, Ohio. Our subject traces his ancestry back to the historical Boston "Tea Party," when Aaron Miller, his maternal
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great-grandfather, assisted in throwing the tea overboard. To Jacob Rit- ter and wife twelve children were born, seven of whom are living, namely : Aaron is a retired farmer of Greene county; William H. H. is a retired farmer of St. Joseph county, Indiana; Franklin is farming in the last- named county ; Emeline is the wife of I. N. Miller, a retired farmer of New Carlisle, Indiana; Clarinda B. is the widow of John T. Buchtel, of South Bend, Indiana; Lorinda is the wife of Quinn Bulla, a fruit grower of Pomona, California, and David M. of this sketch.
Our subject was reared in his native county and received a good edu- cation in the common schools and the Northern Indiana College at South Bend. In 1862 he enlisted in the Twenty-first Indiana Battery of Light Artillery and served gallantly in the Union army until the close of the war, reaching the rank of corporal. After he was honorably discharged he returned to Indiana, and after a term in college came to Springfield, Mis- souri, in the spring of 1866, accompanied by H. E. Hardman, a former army comrade. They came overland, driving a herd of one thousand sheep. They were three months on the road. They first settled on Leeper Prairie, Greene county, buying forty acres there, selling out two years later and moving near Springfield on the Campbell farm, where they broke seventy acres of prairie for June Campbell, using ox teams for this purpose, having traded their sheep for cattle. They remained with Mr. Campbell three years, then our subject and Mr. Hardman dissolved partnership and Mr. Ritter and his brother Aaron formed a partnership and bought forty acres in the eastern part of Center township, adjoining our subject's present farm. Mr. Ritter of this sketch then homesteaded eighty acres adjoining on the south where he now resides, later purchasing one hundred and sixty acres from the Frisco railroad in Campbell township, but adjoining his home place, the property lying on the eastern boundary of Center and western boundary of Campbell township. Later he purchased forty acres more, making a total of three hundred acres, one hundred and twenty acres of which has been set to an apple orchard, which is one of the largest producers in this section of the Ozarks. His land is all well improved and he has an attractive home and numerous outbuildings. He has been successful as a stock raiser also, giving preference to horses and mules. He is regarded as being exceptionally well informed in general farming subjects as well as horticulture and stock raising.
Mr. Ritter was married on May 30, 1872, to Josephine Martin, a daughter of Joseph and Lucinda ( Beets) Martin, who came from Anna, Union county, Illinois, to Greene county, Missouri, many years ago and here established their permanent home.
Three children have been born to our subject and wife, namely: How- ard J., born on July 4, 1873, was educated in the Springfield high school
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and Drury College, married, in 1907, Ollie Piper, a daughter of Wesley Piper, of Ash Grove, Missouri; he is engaged in farming, his place lying beside that of his father, our subject; Clara L., born on January 31, 1876, was educated in the Springfield high school, married in September, 1895, Robert L. Toombs, a traveling salesman of Springfield, and they have two children, Robert, Jr., age eighteen; and Ethel May, age sixteen. Ethel E., our subject's youngest child, was born on April 21, 1878, was educated in the Springfield high school, married, in 1900, Alfred O. Smith, a travel- ing salesman of Springfield, and they have three children, Alfred Ritter, who is now thirteen years old; Richard Ritter, who is now ten years old; and Helen Josephine, who is eight years old.
Politically, Mr. Ritter is a Republican.
BENJAMIN B. COUNTS.
"Whatever is, is best" wrote the poet Longfellow. Evidently he did not believe in destiny or good fortune; rather, any man who blames destiny should blame himself. Good fortune simply means good opportunities that come to every man if he has the sagacity to see and accept that which is offered. Providence rules, but not to the advantage of the lazy and inef- ficient. Every man must be the architect of his success. If he has the right mettle in him he cannot be kept down. If he is made of inferior material he cannot be kept up, though all the world try to elevate him. Benjamin B. Counts knew at the beginning of his career that if he succeeded he would have to be industrious, capable and conscientious, and so he has forged ahead because of these qualities.
Mr. Counts was born on March 22, 1874, at Indianapolis. Mahaska county, Iowa. He is a son of James Alexander Counts, a native of West Virginia, where he spent his boyhood and attended school, coming West before the breaking out of the Civil War, but was in Ohio when Lincoln called for troops to suppress the Southern rebellion, so he at once cast his lot with the Union and enlisted in the Forty-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in which . he served as a private for three years, taking part in many of the most important battles of the war. In early life he learned the blacksmith's trade, at which he became an expert and owned and operated a large shop of his own until three years before his death, when he retired from active life. He died at Afton, Oklahoma, in 1910 at the age of sixty-nine years. Politically he was a Democrat. He belonged to the Masonic order and to the Baptist church. He married Margaret L. Houghton, who is living at the homestead in Afton, Oklahoma, being now sixty-seven years of age.
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To these parents five children were born, namely: John Vester, formerly a section foreman on the Santa Fe road, is now farming in Oklahoma ; Benjamin B., of this sketch; Claudius is a printer by trade and lives at Alhambra, Colorado; Erma is the wife of Oscar Byers and they live at Afton, Oklahoma; Joat is an electrician and lives at Bartlesville, Oklahoma.
Benjamin B. Counts received his education in the public schools, leaving school when seventeen years of age and went to work for his father at blacksmithing, remaining with him until he was twenty years of age, then married and began working for himself, following his trade, at Senecca, Missouri, where he ran a shop two years, then worked in the lead and zinc mines at Webb City for eight years. He came to Springfield on October 5, 1908, and began working in the Frisco's south side shops as fireman, later being promoted to assistant engineer, which position he held until the spring of 1915, when he resigned and moved to his farm of forty acres near Republic.
Mr. Counts was married on February 25. 1893, to Sarah S. Westfall, a daughter of William and Sarah F. (Linger) Westfall, of Afton, Okla- homa. The father was a native of West Virginia. To our subject and wife six children have been born, namely: Bertha is the wife of William F. Hartney, a machinist in the north side Frisco shops, Springfield; the sec- ond child died in infancy unnamed: Mildred lives in St. Louis: Ralph, Cecil and Harold are deceased.
Politically Mr. Counts is a Democrat, fraternally he belongs to the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen of America: he is a mem- ber of the National Order of Stationary Engineers and religiously he holds membership in the Methodist Episcopal church.
RANSOM BENTON WOODWARD.
Life primarily is designed for what joy one can get from it. Happi- ness is the thing we all crave, the thing that we all need, for it best builds character ; it comes from several causes, one a fine state of health. Happily the country affords the ideal place for bodily health and vigor. Happiness comes from the use of the body in vigorous and successful endeavor. Here is where life on the farm comes in strong; there is chance to develop the body perfectly in all manner of healthy work. And there is no need of overworking in the country. Happiness comes, too, from having an appre- ciative mind able to take in the beauty of the world and the delights of one's own environment. This application comes from training, largely. There are men who cannot see with any joy the most serene landscape and even
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view with utter indifference the splendor of the autumn woods. Ransom Benton Woodward is a farmer who fully appreciates the advantages for happiness in a rural life and beauty of the outdoors.
Mr. Woodward was born two miles north of Bois D'Arc, Greene county, Missouri, April 3; 1850. He is a son of Jacob and Susan Caroline (Robinson) Woodward. The father was born on September 13, 1819, in Calloway county, Kentucky, and was a son of Edward Woodward, who was born in Virginia about 1795. The latter's father immigrated to America from Scotland prior to the Revolutionary war, he and his four brothers working their way across the Atlantic on board an old-fashioned sailing vessel, the trip requiring several months, and they fought under Washing- ton in the Revolutionary war. The father of our subject came to Greene county, Missouri, in 1837 and bought a distillery three miles northeast of Ash Grove, which he operated until about 1850. The first farm on which he lived after locating in this county was rented from Governor Polk. Early in the fifties Jacob Woodward entered one hundred and sixty acres from the government on the Leeper Prairie, now known as the Thorn place, and he remained there until 1857. In 1859 he bought the farm now occu- pied by his son, Ransom B. of this sketch. It lies in section 2, and consists of one hundred and sixty acres. He erected the family home here, which was at that time the only dwelling for miles around. The building is still standing and is used by our subject for storage purposes. During the Civil war Jacob Woodward enlisted in the state militia shortly after hostilities began, under Capt. F. S. Jones, and he remained in the service until the close of the war, and, being an excellent soldier, rose to the rank of orderly sergeant under Gen. C. B. Holland, with whom he fought at the battle of Springfield, January 8, 1863, when General Marmaduke and General Shelby attacked the place. After the war he continued general farming and stock raising. He devoted especial attention to mule raising, up to the time of the war.
Ransom B. Woodward was reared on the home farm and his schooling was limited to about fifteen months in the Kelley school, the only graded school in Greene county at that time. It was under the management of Major L. P. Downing and Professor Crane. Our subject lived at home and assisted with the general work there until he was twenty-seven years old, at which time he married, on October 3, 1877, Margaret Elizabeth McQuigg, a daughter of John W. and Elizabeth Jane (Robberson) McQuigg. The former died on August 16, 1883, but the latter is still living, having survived her husband thirty years. She was born on August 28, 1835. She makes her home with our subject, keeping house for him, his wife having died on September 27, 1911. She was a woman of many praiseworthy charac-
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teristics and was greatly beloved by all who knew her. She was a good wife and helpmate, and no small part of our subject's success was due to her counsel, encouragement and sympathy.
Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Woodward, namely : Freddy Elbert, born in 1881, died in infancy; Edwin Deams, born on October I, 1882, was educated at Drury College, Springfield, and he returned to the farm in 1902; on September 16, 1904, he married Jessie C. Brower, a daughter of Jesse D. and Mary E. Brower of Center township, this county. He lives on a farm adjoining that of his father and follows general farming.
Our subject has devoted a large portion of his time during the past thirty-five years to cattle and mule raising and has been very successful. He now owns two hundred acres in one farm in sections 2 and 3, East Center township, and eighty acres in section I, this township. The former place is one of the best in the township, has good drainage into Clear creek and is well improved in every way. On it is to be found a substantial resi- dence and good outbuildings; in fact, two comfortable residences, one of which is occupied by his son.
In 1909 Mr. Woodward and wife made an extended trip through the West and Northwest, including visits at Denver, Salt Lake City, Portland. Seattle, Spokane and Billings. After Mrs. Woodward's death our subject took another trip west as far as Los Angeles, where he spent two weeks, and then visited San Francisco, Oakland, Sacramento, on up the coast to Seattle and Vancouver, British Columbia, remaining six weeks in Seattle.
Politically he is a Democrat, and his support has never been withheld from any movement having for its object the general public good. He is a member of the Anti-Horse Thief Association.
JAMES L. HECKENLIVELY.
In reviewing the various professional interests of Greene county, the name of James L. Heckenlively cannot be ignored, for he has long been one of the most successful and best known architects in the Southwest. Although it is a known fact that, given the ordinary average education and good judgment, any man may make a success in the avenues of trade, yet in what are known as the fine arts, of which architecture is one, he must be endowed with superior natural attributes and have gone through years of careful. study and training to be able to cope with the brilliant minds which do honor to this vocation.
Mr. Heckenlively was born on August 18. 1863, in Gentry county. Missouri. He is a son of Jacob and Martha J. (Shisler) Heckenlively.
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The father was born in Crawford county, Ohio, May 9, 1838, and the mother was born in Meigs county, Ohio, in April, 1842. . They grew to maturity in their native state; they were educated in the early-day schools. The death of Mrs. Heckenlively occurred on March 28, 1914. Mr. Heck- enlively has devoted his active life to agricultural pursuits, and is now living in St. Joseph, Missouri. His father, John Heckenlively, was born in April, 1799, in Germany, where he grew up, was educated and he became a Luth- eran minister. He married Margaret Leffler, who was born in 1803 in Germany. They immigrated to America in an early day, located in Ohio, where they spent the rest of their lives, his death occurring on May 10, 1856. She died on March 24, 1852. Their children are all now deceased except Jacob, father of our subject, he being the youngest child. The family name was originally spelled in Germany as Heckenlaible. Jacob Hecken- lively remained in Ohio until about he was about twenty years of age, when he removed to Iowa, where he resided until he came to Gentry county, Missouri, where he was married, in 1862. Barnabas Shisler, our subject's maternal grandfather, was born in Ohio. He was an early settler in Gentry county, Missouri. His wife, Susan Consolver, died near Warsaw, this state, as a result of a fall, when nearly one hundred years of age.
Politically, Jacob Heckenlively is a Republican. During the Civil war he enlisted from Gentry county in an infantry regiment, and served in the Federal army six months. His family consisted of eight children, seven of whom are still living, namely: James L., of this sketch; John B., born on November 8, 1865, lives in St. Joseph, Missouri; Delila J., born on Feb- ruary 2, 1868, lives in Colorado; Susan E., born on January 4, 1870, lives in Colorado City, Colorado; Della C., born on March 4, 1872, died at Lakin, Kansas, September 28, 1911; Lafayette H., born on October II, 1874, lives in Columbus, Montana ; Jefferson H., born on March 14, 1878, lives in Harrison county, Missouri ; Orville, born on March 14, 1884, lives in El Paso, Texas.
James L. Heckenlively received part of his education in Gentry county, Missouri, and there he taught school for some time, later attending the Normal College at Stanberry, this state. He had a decided natural bent toward architecture, which manifested itself when he was a small boy, and when he left school he began the study of this profession with diligence and devotion, making rapid progress, serving an apprenticeship in an architect's office. He also learned the practical end of the business in Stanberry. Later he went to St. Joseph, Missouri, where he continued draughting, studying and carpenter work as well. He got his training by persistent hard work, close application, observation and practical experience. He began life for himself in 1893 at St. Joseph and Stanberry, and in 1894 came to Springfield and he has remained here ever since, and during this
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period of over twenty years his career has been marked by a steady growth, each year finding him further advanced than the preceding. He began on a small scale, but worked up to a large and lucrative business in a reasonably short time in general architecture, including not only all lines of the busi- ness, but also included civil engineering work. He has become widely known throughout this section of the state and his services have long been in good demand in other cities and towns besides Springfield. Among his more important jobs in Springfield may be mentioned the Carnegie Public Library, the high school, Masonic Temple, Grace Methodist Episcopal church, St. Paul's Methodist Episcopal church, South, St. John's Hospital. nearly all the ward school buildings and many others; also three buildings of the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, and Indian schools and dor- mitories at Wagoner, Oklahoma. He has attractive offices on the fifth floor of the Landers Building.
Mr. Heckenlively was married on June 5. 1889, in Albany, Gentry county, Missouri, to Leanora E. Campbell, who was born in Kentucky. She is a daughter of John P. and Amanda L. (Pelley) Campbell. This was a prominent old Kentucky family, members of which were noted in various walks of life. They emigrated here from the Blue Grass state in an early day and became well established in Missouri by their thrift and industry. Mrs. Heckenlively's father devoted his active life to general agricultural pursuits. She was given the advantages of an excellent education and is a lady of many admirable characteristics.
Two children have been born to our subject and wife, namely : Mepha May died in infancy; Lura F., who is at home with her parents, was educated in the public schools, the high school and Drury College, all of Springfield, and she made a fine record in all of them.
Politically, Mr. Heckenlively is a Republican, but he has never been an office-seeker, although taking much interest in general public affairs, espe- cially as they affect the welfare of his county and state. His family attends the South Street Christian church. He has long been prominent in the Masonic order, his record in the same being as follows: He was made a Mason in Springfield in 1901. Since then he has been worshipful master of the lodge, high priest of the chapter for two terms, commander one term, thrice illustrious master two terms, grand master of the grand council, Royal and Select Masters, in 1914 and 1915: received the Shrine in Spring- field in 1903 and served in all the offices but potentate ; was deputy inspector of the Grand Commandery of the Second District in 1909: received the honorary Red Cross of Constantine in Joplin in 1910; was consecrated and anointed into the Order of High Priesthood in Springfield in 1908; is grand representative of the Grand Council of Arkansas and the Grand Chap- ter of Arizona.
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JOHN BARRETT.
There are farmers who might be known as one idea men, for they give too much attention to some particular phase of their work to the neglect of the general system required to make farming a success. Such men may have a bad influence. The man who has a reputation for big crops should study his farming to see if it will bear close critical inspection in its various details. John Barrett, one of the foremost farmers of East Center town- ship, Greene county, does this. He gives such attention as is necessary to produce large yields of all his crops and at the same time keeps his place attractive in every way, thus setting a good example.
Mr. Barrett is a scion of one of the earliest pioneer families in this section of the state, and for a period of eighty-six years the Barretts have been well and favorably known in Greene county-good farmers and good citizens. Our subject was born in Center township, this county, December 22, 1873. He is a son of Thomas Lafayette Barrett and Margaret A. (Binns) Barrett, the mother a daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth Binns. The father of our subject was born on November 10, 1843, in this county, here grew to manhood, attended the early-day subscription schools, and spent his life engaged successfully in general farming and stock raising, and became one of the best known men in the county. His father came from Hawkins county, Tennessee, early in the nineteenth century, and located in Greene county when this country was wild and settlers were few, but he was a man of courage and soon had a home established and land under cultivation. The death of Thomas L. Barrett occurred in 1910, after a life of usefulness and honor. He was married on September 28, 1871, and reared a family of six sons and one daughter, namely: Eldorado married W. H. Yeakley, a farmer of Stockton, Missouri; Walter, who is farming in Center township, Greene county, married Bertha Redfearn of Center township; Arthur, who was graduated from the Missouri State University, who is farming in Center township, married Mattie Sparkman; Elbert Lee. who is also farming in Center township, married Minnie Sparkman, a sister of his brother's wife; Thomas V: died on October 3, 1913, at the age of twenty-three years, after securing a good education in the Missouri State University; John, of this sketch; Weldon L., who is in the state university at this writing.
Mr. Barrett, of this review, grew to manhood on the homestead, where he assisted with the work during crop seasons when growing to manhood and in the winter time he attended the local schools, obtaining a good educa- tion. He has always followed general farming and lives on the homestead with his mother, the place consisting of four hundred acres of valuable
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and productive land, constituting one of the choice farms of this part of the county. It lies along the Carthage road, eight miles west of Springfield.
Mr. Barrett was married on June 4, 1911, to Mary Harris, a daughter of William and Margaret Harris of Republic township, Greene county, where Mrs. Barrett was reared to womanhood and educated. To our sub- ject and wife one child has been born, Esther Margaret Barrett, whose birth occurred on October 1, 1912.
Fraternally, Mr. Barrett is a member of Bois D'Arc Lodge No. 449, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, also the modern Woodmen of America and the Anti-Horse Thief Association. Politically he is a Democrat, and he and his family attend the Methodist church. Like his father and grand- father before him, he takes keen interest in all movements looking to the general improvement of his township and county.
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