USA > Missouri > Livingston County > Past and present of Livingston County, Missouri : a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 16
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on this side of the Atlantic, the paternal grandfather of our subject having already participated in the sanguine struggle known as the Blackhawk war.
John H. Mathews was reared under the parental roof and in the acquirement of his education attended the public schools of the neighborhood, assisting his father in the work of the farm until twenty-one years of age, and under the latter's able guidance acquir- ing agricultural methods which have later stood him in good stead. After his marriage he began to farm on his own account on thirty acres of land, but subsequently sold this tract and acquired forty acres, of which he also disposed and thereafter bought the old home- stead, on which he has since pursued general farming and stock-rais- ing, being successful along both lines. Forceful and aggressive, he follows modern methods in the cultivation of his farm and has attained highly satisfactory results, having instituted such equipment, implements and improvements as facilitate the labor and greatly in- crease the productivity of the soil.
On October 15, 1871, in Jackson township, Mr. Mathews was united in marriage to Miss Carrie Burns, an adopted daughter of Nicholas Walker, who died in September, 1877, and is buried in Brassfield cemetery. Mrs. Walker, foster mother of Mrs. Mathews, makes her home in Chillicothe, Missouri. Mr. and Mrs. Mathews have one living son, Nicholas Walker, who married Miss Eva Kilburn of Grundy county, Missouri, while two children died in infancy.
Politically Mr. Mathews is a republican and keeps well informed upon the issues of the day affecting the section, state or nation. His public spirit has been recognized in his election to the office of justice of the peace, in which capacity he has continuously served for the past eight years, his decisions being so strictly fair and impartial as to insure him the highest commendation. He also has been for a number of years clerk and a director of the local school board, mani- festing in that capacity an interest in the cause of education that found expression in a number of improvements which were under- taken at his instigation. His religious affiliations are with the Bap- tist church, of which he is clerk and treasurer, taking part in all that pertains to the well-being of the institution and its allied societies. A worthy man of forceful character and high qualities, Mr. Mathews is greatly honored by all who know him and he and his wife receive the regard of all their friends and neighbors. While he has attained personally to a position of substantiality, he has been a constructive factor in this section not only in promoting agricultural development
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but in the upbuilding of the people, for through his official positions he has largely contributed to bring about the high conditions of civili- zation which are enjoyed by the present generation in this part of Livingston county.
B. W. WENKE.
A history of the agricultural progress made in Livingston county would be incomplete without prominent mention of B. W. Wenke, whose name is well worthy to be represented in this volume as one of the foremost agriculturists of the section and the owner of a valuable farm of two hundred and twenty acres, located on section 32, Jackson township. Coming to this district in the fall of 1873, Mr. Wenke was born in Lee county, Iowa, at the city of Fort Madi- son, July 6, 1846, and is a son of John T. and Mary Wenke, the par- ents, of German birth, having both passed away, finding their last resting place in the Catholic cemetery at Fort Madison, Iowa. There they were well known and highly esteemed for their many substan- tial qualities of character and the Christian lives they led, faithful to the religion of their forbears.
B. W. Wenke received his education in the schools of Fort Madi- son, Iowa, laying aside his text-books at the age of fourteen years. From that time until he reached twenty years he assisted his father in his work and then founded the B. W. Wenke Soda Factory, selling out his establishment after conducting it for about two years. En- gaging along other business lines for a successive period of two years, he then came to Chillicothe, near which city he rented a farm which he cultivated until he came to Jackson township, acquiring one hundred and eight acres of land, on which he settled. There he gave his time and attention from morning until night to bringing his acres to a high state of productivity and his efforts were attended with such success that he was later able to extend the boundaries of his prop- erty to two hundred and twenty acres. Following general farming, he plants such grains as are suitable to soil and climate, using most of his harvests for feeding and raising live stock, deriving a gratifying income from this activity. Since becoming possessed of the farm he has made thereon a number of improvements and instituted equip- ment that has greatly increased the value of the property.
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At Fort Madison, Iowa, Mr. Wenke was married on April 12, 1864, to Miss Lizzie Rosen, a daughter of Bernard and Mary A. (Hatting) Rosen. The former was well known in his days as a car- penter and contractor and one of the old settlers of Fort Madison. Both parents, however, have passed away, being buried in the Catho- lic cemetery at Fort Madison, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Wenke are the parents of seven children : Kate, the wife of M. A. Moss, a farmer of Jackson township; Bernard, who follows that occupation in the same township; Lizzie, who married Stephen Freesmeire, who is engaged in the dairy business at Fort Madison, Iowa; Ella, the wife of Frank Flaherty, farming in Pawnee county, Kansas; Annie, who married P. Lewis, an agriculturist of Morrisville, Missouri; Stella, the wife of William Epperson, an agriculturist of Caldwell county, residing near Cowgill; and Arthur, making his home on his father's farm. Mr. and Mrs. Wenke also have twenty-four grandchildren.
Independent in his political views, Mr. Wenke follows the dic- tates of his own judgment in supporting measures and candidates according to their best qualifications. For eight years he has done efficient work as director of the school board, the cause of education finding in him a warm champion. His religious faith is that of the Catholic church, to which he gives his faithful support. Successful in the best sense of the word, Mr. Wenke has become prosperous by close attention to business, incessant industry and indefatigable energy, giving a large share of credit for his attainments, however, to the good services of his true and faithful wife, who with him shared times, good and bad. To this harmonious partnership must to a large extent be attributed the excellent results obtained.
MAURICE DORNEY.
Abraham Lincoln once said: "You can fool some of the peo- ple all of the time, all of the people some of the time but you can't fool all of the people all of the time." This philosophic utterance again and again finds demonstration in regard to poli- tics. There have been occasions when unworthy men have been elected to office, but standing in the light of public criticism their acts have shown up at their true worth. When a man is again and again chosen for a position of public honor and trust it is indicative of the fact that the public have reason to place their
CHIEF
MAURICE DORNEY
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faith in him, finding that he is always loyal to the interests entrusted to his care. Such has been the record of Maurice Dor- ney, chief of police at Chillicothe, Missouri, who for twelve years has occupied his present position. He was born in Livingston county, August 6, 1866, and is a son of Edward and Ellen (Toomey) Dorney. Edward Dorney was born in May, 1830, in County Tipperary, Ireland, a son of William and Catherine (O'Brien) Dorney, who both passed away in the Emerald isle. He was third in a family of three sons and two daughters and, coming to the United States in 1850, spent his first winter in New Orleans, Louisiana. He then removed to Butler county, Ohio, where he engaged in farming until he came to Livingston county in 1864. Here he rented land for four years and then purchased a farm in Blue Mound township, extending his acreage until he owned two hundred and thirty acres. His marriage took place in Butler county, Ohio, where he wedded Miss Ellen Toomey, a native of County Waterford, Ireland. They became the parents of eight children: William, who resides on a farm in Livingston county ; John, who makes his home with his brother William; Thomas, who passed away at the age of thirty-two years ; Johanna, who died in infancy ; Michael E., who died July 30, 1909; Maurice ; Dennis, who resides on the home place; and Ellen, who makes her home with her brother Dennis. Both Mr. and Mrs. Edward Dorney have passed away and were laid to rest in the cemetery at Chillicothe. The father died June 1, 1889, and the mother on the 25th of June, 1906.
Maurice Dorney acquired his education in the schools of Liv- ingston county, which he attended to the age of twenty years. He then took up the occupation of farming which he followed in Colorado for about two years, and then returned to Chillicothe where he entered business circles as a barber. For twelve years he was thus engaged, at the end of which time he received appoint- ment to the position of patrolman from Mayor T. Hoge. He acted in that capacity for a year and was then elected chief of police in 1901. For six consecutive terms he has been chosen for this office and will have served for twelve years if he remains in his present position until May, 1913. He has made many important arrests and has filled his position with credit to him- self and to the city. He has arrested criminals of all kinds from those engaged in chicken thieving to bank robbers. Probably the most important arrest made by him occurred several years Vol. IT-11
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ago when he and two patrolmen arrested four bank robbers who dynamited the safe in the Iowa State Bank at Udell, escaping with several thousand dollars. The robbers were in a saloon on the south side of the square when Chief Dorney and two of his men entered the saloon with drawn revolvers and compelled the culprits to throw up their hands. Each of the robbers carried two guns but were not quick enough for the Chillicothe officers and as a result of their crime are now incarcerated in the Iowa state penitentiary. In 1908 a gang of silk thieves were terroriz- ing the towns near Chillicothe and the officers were unable to cope with the situation. Chief Dorney was called into the case and within two days he had five men under arrest and they are now in the penitentiary at Jefferson City. In 1909 there were occurring many bank and postoffice robberies in Livingston county and Chief Dorney assisted the federal authorities in round- ing up the gang, all of whom were arrested and sent to the federal prison. Whenever a prisoner has been taken to police headquar- ters he has always been greeted by the chief, after which he has been searched, photographed and his measurements taken, pre- liminary to undergoing questions by the chief. Mr. Dorney does not believe in antagonizing the prisoner and thinks that if a crim- inal is handled carefully and with kindness he will be more apt to give out his story, but when occasion demands the chief's kind- ness will make way for the "third degree." He does not believe in circumstantial evidence and always obtains the evidence before the case is called in court. If he is unable to secure such evidence as he feels will convict, the prisoner is discharged. Mr. Dorney always uses common sense in settling a case and has been very successful. During his twelve years' service he has never hit a man with his night stick or a blackjack and when a criminal has been taken to the station in need of food or clothing the big- hearted chief would provide what was necessary. He is a believer in charity and thinks if the unfortunate men were treated with more kindness there would be less crime and fewer criminals in the country.
In politics Mr. Dorney has always been a democrat, giving stalwart support to the party. His religious faith is that of the Roman Catholic church. While he has been offered a number of good places at the head of railroad departments he has always preferred to remain in Chillicothe where he has a wide circle of
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friends and is held in highest esteem by the law-abiding citizens. His name has become a menace to those who do not hold them- selves amenable to law and inspires a feeling of confidence in the virtuous, self-respecting class.
HIRAM BROWN.
Hiram Brown, who for the past twenty years has been living retired in Utica, still owns one hundred and thirty acres of land on section 36, Green township, which he has cultivated since beginning his active life and which by well directed effort and presevering in- dustry he has made one of the finest agricultural properties in this part of Missouri. He was born in Mansfield, Ohio, April 21, 1838, and is a son of John and Matilda J. (Snoddy) Brown, the former for many years well known throughout all sections of Ohio. Both have passed away, the father dying in the fall of 1888 and the mother in 1898. They are buried in Ray county, Missouri.
Hiram Brown acquired his education in the public schools of Ray county, Missouri, laying aside his books at the age of eighteen in order to assist his father with the work of the farm. After five years upon the homestead he began his independent career, purchasing one hundred and thirty acres on section 36, Green township, whereon he resided until he retired twenty years ago from its operation. As the years passed by he made substantial improvements upon this prop- erty, built a fine residence, barns, granaries and outbuildings and made it in every respect a model farm. His labors in the fields were rewarded by abundant harvests and his success was of so im- portant a character that it constituted an element in the general devel- opment and progress of the county. In addition to general farming Mr. Brown was also interested in stock-raising.
On the 10th of February, 1859, Mr. Brown was united in mar- riage to Miss Antoinette Fortune, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Will- iam Fortune, both of whom have passed away. Mr. and Mrs. Brown became the parents of nine children: William, who is farming in New Mexico; Carrie Metilda, who died April 7, 1898; Ida R., whose death occurred April 13, 1870; Lula R., who passed away January 10, 1907 ; Porter, who operates his father's farm; Edward M., who passed away July 3, 1875; Pearl M., who died January 12, 1896; Oletha, the wife of Mathew McCarthy, a banker in York, North Dakota; and
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Gertrude, who became the wife of James McCarthy, a lawyer of North Dakota.
Mr. Brown is a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal church and fraternally is identified with the local post of the Grand Army of the Republic, in this way keeping in touch with his comrades of the Civil war, of which he is an honored veteran. He gives his allegiance to the republican party and served for nine years as road overseer and for twelve years as school director. He is, however, preeminently a business man, active and energetic, who throughout his entire life has been connected with agricultural pursuits and who has made his influence felt in agricultural development. Nearly a half century has come and gone since he made his home in this county and he has, therefore, been a witness of many of the changes which time and man have wrought, bearing his part in the work of upbuild- ing as a progressive and public-spirited citizen, and well merits the rest from active work which he now enjoys.
CHARLES E. McWILLIAMS.
A spirit of marked enterprise and industry characterizes the busi- ness career of Charles E. McWilliams, engaged in the real-estate, loan, abstract and insurance business in Chillicothe. His standing in the commercial circles is indicated by the fact that he is now serving as secretary of the Chillicothe Chamber of Commerce, in which connec- tion his labors have been effective and far reaching in promoting the general conditions and interests of the city, whereby the public at large has benefited while individual prosperity has been advanced. With a nature that could never be content with mediocrity he has utilized his opportunities for progress and, having left the ranks of the many, stands among the successful few. He was born in Platts- burg, Missouri, and is a son of W. E. and Martha (Shoemaker) McWilliams, the former a pioneer of that section of the state. The father enlisted in the Civil war but before he had served his term engaged a substitute, whom he paid fifteen hundred dollars. In 1866 he came to Clinton county, Missouri, where he has since made his home. His wife is a daughter of Peter Shoemaker, a native of Har- rison, Pennsylvania, born in 1824 and is still living. The family on both sides is of Scotch-Irish origin and representatives of both branches have been in America for many generations.
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In the acquirement of an education Charles E. McWilliams at- tended public school in Plattsburg and was graduated from the high school of that place. He began his business career as a traveling salesman for a general farm supply house and worked in that capacity for two years after which he returned to the farm and remained there until 1901. In that year he became identified with the grain and milling business and when he abandoned that field of activity he be- came connected with newspaper and real-estate interests in Mead- ville, Missouri. In the fall of 1907 he came to Chillicothe, Missouri, and developed the different branches of his business into the large concern, of which he is now the head. He is one of the leading busi- ness men of Chillicothe-president of the Chillicothe Abstract & Realty Company, president of the Chillicothe Automobile & Supply Company, president of the Chillicothe Cemetery Company and of the Livingston County Fair Company, and secretary of the Chilli- cothe Chamber of Commerce-and in many other ways he has been the moving factor in measures for the general progress.
He was married to Hattie M. Reece, a daughter of James and Martha (Newman) Reece, of Lathrop, Missouri. Her father was a native of South Carolina and a pioneer of Missouri. During the Civil war he was a teamster in the Black Hills.
In politics Mr. McWilliams adheres to the progressive wing of the democratic party, but the demands of his business have left him no time for active participation in political affairs. He is a man of marked force of character, strong determination and honorable pur- pose, and these qualities have been general elements in a career which is most commendable in all its phases.
WILLIAM FREDERICK WILLIAMS.
William Frederick Williams is a member of an old pioneer family of Livingston county and the owner of a valuable farm of four hun- dred acres on sections 24 and 31, Jackson township, being born near Springhill, Missouri, December 14, 1866. He is a son of James Harve and Mary E. (Sterlings) Williams. The father came here with his parents, who were among the earliest pioneers. He took up a tract of land covered with brush and timber, and giving to its clearing his incessant labor he gradually brought his tract, acre by acre, under the plow and put his land under cultivation, bringing it
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to a high state of productivity and becoming one of the prominent agriculturists of the section. At the time of the Civil war he fol- lowed the call for troops and enlisted for service. In his political affiliations he was a democrat and a public-spirited man, always tak- ing an intelligent interest in such matters as affected the public weal. He died February 3, 1905, at the age of seventy-six years and found his last resting place in the Edgewood cemetery, his passing being deeply regretted by a large circle of friends who highly esteemed him for his many good qualities of mind and character. His wife survives him and now makes her home at Brush, Colorado.
William Frederick Williams acquired his education in the dis- trict schools near his father's farm, abandoning his lessons at the age of eighteen years. Early he became acquainted with the minor duties on the home place and after leaving school ably assisted his father in the operation of the property until he reached his majority. He then bought one hundred and forty acres of land, which he brought to a high state of cultivation, and as his means increased gradually acquired more land until his farm comprised four hundred and twenty acres, this property by its appearance denoting the prosperity of its owner. He has since erected a handsome residence and built a substantial barn, also making a number of other improvements and instituting equipment that has greatly enhanced the value of his establishment. He follows general farming and also extensively specializes in stock-raising, the latter branch of his activity returning to him gratifying profits.
On January 28, 1891, Mr. Williams was united in marriage to Miss Katie Moseley, a daughter of Alexander S. and Fannie (Guth- ridge) Moseley, the former a well known agriculturist of Jackson township, but the latter passed away on November 1, 1875. Mr. and Mrs. Williams are the parents of four children : Ira Bertis, a stu- dent at Jackson University ; Velma F. and J. Howard, attending dis- trict school; and Buel S., five years of age.
Mr. Williams gives his allegiance to the democratic party, of which he is a steadfast supporter. Taking a deep interest in educa- tional matters, he has efficiently served for ten years as school di- rector. His religious affiliations are with the Methodist Episcopal church, South, he being an active and helpful member of the local organization. Fraternally he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and the Knights of the Maccabees. One of the substan- tial men in Jackson township, the success of Mr. Williams must largely be attributed to his incessant industry, his close attention to
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detail and his progressive methods, and while he has attained to individual success and prosperity, he has been a factor in the general agricultural advancement of this section and has been a constructive force in the development of agricultural standards.
REV. E. R. DOWELL.
Rev. E. R. Dowell, whose work in connection with the Baptist church has been of a helpful kind in those communities and parishes where he has worked, is the owner of a farm of eighty acres on sec- tion 4, Jackson township, Livingston county. Coming to Livingston county in 1861, he is a native of Van Buren county, Iowa, his birth having occurred March 7, 1855, and his parents being E. R. Dowell, Sr., and Mary F. Dowell. His father was a prosperous agriculturist in his district and politically prominent, having served for many years as justice of the peace. He was a native of Meade county, Kentucky, and a son of James Dowell. Widely known and well beloved, the father passed away in January, 1903, at the venerable age of eighty- three years and eleven months. His wife still lives in Jackson town- ship, at the age of ninety years, and has the distinction of being one of the oldest women in this section.
E. R. Dowell was reared under the parental roof, where he was well grounded in the old-fashioned virtues of honesty and industry by his parents, and in the acquirement of his education attended the district schools in the neighborhood of his father's home. Subse- quently he rounded out his learning by taking courses at the Grand River College and was ordained on June 18, 1889, as a Baptist min- ister. Ever since he left school he has engaged in the dual occupa- tions of farming and preaching, having achieved success along both lines, and now resides on the place, on which he settled over fifty years ago. There he has built a residence and made a number of other improvements, engaging in general farming and stock-raising.
On October 25, 1876, Rev. E. R. Dowell was married in Jackson township to Miss Mary J. Brassfield, a daughter of Adam and Mary A. (Fletcher) Brassfield, both prominent in the county. The father was widely and favorably known as one of the first settlers in the district, where he passed away May 22, 1893, at an age of nearly sixty-eight years, his passing being mourned by a great number of friends. His wife followed him on November 17, 1899, being about
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sixty-five years of age, and both found their last resting place in Brassfield cemetery. Rev. and Mrs. Dowell were the parents of six children, of whom five are living, namely: Benjamin A., a blacksmith and farmer of Jackson township; Oliver R., who follows agricultural pursuits in the same township; Mary A., the wife of Straude Pond, who is foreman of the smelter mills of Joplin, Missouri; Corda B., a farmer of Cream Ridge township; and Paul M., attending district school No. 5. Charles F., another son, died at the age of nearly four years and is buried in Brassfield cemetery.
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