USA > Missouri > Livingston County > Past and present of Livingston County, Missouri : a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 18
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JULIAN ROCKHOLD.
Julian Rockhold is a prominent representative of agricultural inter- ests in Mooresville township, Livingston county, Missouri, owning a farm of two hundred and eighty acres on sections 26 and 27. He is a native of Green township, this county, being born January 23, 1855, and is a son of John and Mary A. (Cave) Rockhold. The father was one of the earliest settlers in Livingston county, where he followed farming during all his life, buying his first land at a dollar and a quarter per acre. It was timber land, which he cleared and brought under the plow by incessant labor and under untold hard- ships, but he gradually succeeded in transforming this wild tract into
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a valuable farm. The father was very well known and well liked in this section, enjoying the esteem of all who were acquainted with him. He passed away in 1877, his wife following him in death in 1886, and both are buried in the Utica cemetery. John Rockhold was an indulgent and kind father and husband and his demise not only occasioned deep mourning to his own family but was widely regretted by all those who had learned to esteem and honor him. The family is of German origin, having come to this country at an early date in its history. Mr. and Mrs. John Rockhold were the parents of nine children.
. Julian Rockhold received his education in the Brush College, which derived its name from the fact that it was standing on a stretch of brush land. At the age of eighteen years he discontinued his lessons and assisted his father in the farm work, gradually acquir- ing under the latter's able guidance thorough methods of farm cul- ture. Subsequently, in 1883, he bought one hundred and thirty acres of land, which he owns today, and as his resources increased he extended his holdings to the present acreage. Our subject has instituted many improvements on his farm and has placed thereon such equipment as is considered necessary on an up-to-date and mod- ern agricultural establishment. His property stands today as a credit to his energy and industry and presents a pleasing appearance, be- speaking the prosperity of its owner. He engages in mixed farming, largely specializing in the raising of horses, cattle and hogs.
On February 22, 1883, Mr. Rockhold was united in marriage, in Mooresville township, to Miss Leora Kirtley, a daughter of Marcus and Mary C. (Stuckey) Kirtley, the former of whom was a prom- inent pioneer farmer of this district. He passed away in 1882, at the age of forty-nine years, and is buried in the Mooresville ceme- tery, leaving a widow and five children, namely: Homer; Melvin; Leora, the wife of our subject; Neill; and Gertrude, who died Feb- ruary 14, 1885, and is also buried in the Mooresville cemetery. Mr. and Mrs. Rockhold are the parents of three sons and two daughters : Herbert, assistant cashier of the First National Bank of Chillicothe, Missouri; Buford, who follows agricultural pursuits in this district; May, the wife of Hobart Bryan, a farmer in Mooresville township; Eugene, who is still attending school and assists his father in the work upon the farm; and Genevieve, also attending school. Among the many and important improvements which Mr. Rockhold made upon his property is the family residence, which is very comfortable, handsome and modernly equipped.
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Mr. Rockhold is a stockholder in the Mooresville Savings Bank and his political affiliation is with the democratic party, which finds in him a stanch supporter. He has always championed the cause of education and for a number of years has served in the capacity of school director of this district. His fraternal relations are with the Modern Woodmen of America. The success of Mr. Rockhold must be largely attributed to his energy and industry and the intelligent man- agement of his affairs, but he himself gives largely credit for his attainments to his wife, who has been his true and faithful helpmate for many years. He has made a creditable record in agricultural circles and his work has not only resulted in financial independence to himself but has been largely constructive in the development of agricultural methods in this locality and the prosperity which he has attained is the natural outcome of incessant and intelligently applied efforts. He is a man of strong character and highly esteemed and honored wherever known, his sterling qualities having won him the confidence of all with whom he has come in contact.
WILLIAM H. RUDDY.
One of the enterprising business men of Chillicothe is William H. Ruddy, who is connected with important mercantile interests as a dealer in meats. He has built up an extensive trade and his enter- prising methods and careful management promise further success in the future. Mr. Ruddy is a native of Huron county, Ohio, born near Monroeville, October 4, 1860, his parents being Michael and Mary (Welch) Ruddy, natives of Ireland. They came to America in the early years and made their first location in New York state, and later settled in Ohio, where the father followed farming until November 28, 1878, when he came to Missouri, the family locating on a farm near Avalon, in Livingston county. This property Mr. Ruddy improved and developed until his death, which occurred in August, 1910. His wife has also passed away, her death having occurred in Chillicothe. They were devout members of the Roman Catholic church and in this religion reared the nine children born to their union.
William H. Ruddy acquired his education in the public schools of Huron county, Ohio, where his parents settled before they came to Missouri. He began his independent career in Livingston county,
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where he engaged in farming, but afterward abandoned this in order to establish himself in the meat business in Chillicothe, where he now has one of the high-class markets in the city. He is accorded a liberal patronage and his business is growing annually in volume and importance. The success of his undertaking is entirely attribu- table to his own efforts, for his methods are careful and systematic and his business discernment keen, and these qualities constitute important elements in the attainment of prosperity.
In June, 1888, Mr. Ruddy married Miss Ann Jordan, who was born in Kentucky in September, 1864. Both are well known socially in this city and are also active in religious circles, holding mem- bership in the Roman Catholic church. Without desire for public office, Mr. Ruddy gives a stanch allegiance to the democratic party and has always taken an active interest in the public welfare which he has aided in promoting by his private activities. He has put forth diligent effort along mercantile lines and has secured a gratifying trade by reason of his honest dealing and his earnest desire to please his patrons.
CHARLES E. VADNAIS.
Charles E. Vadnais is prominently connected with agricultural interests in Mooresville township, Livingston county, where he culti- vates three hundred and sixty acres of land, one hundred and twenty of which he owns and two hundred and forty of which he rents from his father. He is a native son of Livingston county, where he was born on the same place on which he now makes his home, August 21, 1872, and is a son of Octave and Rebecca (Marts) Vadnais. Octave Vadnais is one of the pioneers of this section, having settled on the property, which he now rents to his son and where he now resides, in 1869. There he reared his family. Before that he volunteered for service in the Union army in the Civil war and was assigned to duty as foreman and also after the war on the Hannibal & St. Joe Railroad, which was recently assimilated by the Chicago, Bur- lington & Quincy. During the time that he worked as railroad employe he saved his earnings and by his thrift and industry was enabled to buy the property that he now owns. The principles which induced him to offer his services to the Union cause decided him in his political later-day affiliations and he has ever since voted the republican
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ticket. Mrs. Vadnais passed away in July, 1903, at the age of fifty- three years, and found her last resting place in Utica cemetery. To them was born a family of four children : Charles E., of this review ; Richard R., a partner of his older brother; Mary E., the wife of Harry H. Stone, a harness maker of Lanesboro, Iowa; and Florence D., the wife of Everett G. Battis, a contractor and builder of Kansas City, Missouri. The father of our subject is not only well beloved by his family, to whom he has always been a good father, but is gen- erally highly esteemed in the community in which he has made his home for over forty years. Wherever known he is well liked and he is popular with many in the county.
Charles E. Vadnais was reared under the parental roof and in the acquirement of an education attended public school in Mooresville, laying aside his school books at the age of eighteen years. The sum- mer months, however, were largely devoted to work around the farm and there he acquired the details of thorough methods of agriculture under the able direction of his father. He has followed farming all his life and engaged in it along general lines, making live stock an important branch of his endeavors. He raises yearly about thirty- three head of cattle, seventeen horses, one hundred hogs and a number of sheep, and derives from this branch of his establishment a substantial income. He has acquired one hundred and twenty acres of land and two hundred and forty he rents from his father.
Charles E. Vadnais was married in Mooresville, Missouri, Jan- uary I, 1902, to Miss Lucie E. Hudgins, a daughter of John and Susan Hudgins. Mr. Hudgins was a prominent farmer and stock- raiser and one of the early pioneers of this section. Both parents are deceased and buried in Mooresville cemetery. Mr. and Mrs. Vadnais have three children: Raymond R. and Charles C., attending school; and Gertrude I. E.
As his farm has increased in value and his lands have returned larger and larger financial results Mr. Vadnais has become interested in various other enterprises, among them the Mooresville Savings Bank, of which he serves as vice president. In politics he is inde- pendent, preferring to follow the dictates of his own judgment in matters of preference and giving his support to such men and measures as he deems best fitted to serve the better interests of the majority. His fraternal affiliations are confined to the Modern Woodmen of America. Mr. Vadnais' activities along agricultural lines have not only brought about his own success but he has been constructive in the development of agricultural methods in this section and in that
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way has contributed to general prosperity. The improvements on his farm, which were made by his father and by himself, and the well kept appearance of his property are indications which bespeak his industry and energy. He has made a success of his life work in the truest sense of the word and is highly esteemed and well liked wherever known.
D. S. POTTER.
D. S. Potter, traveling salesman for the Hershel Manufacturing Company of Peoria, Illinois, and connected with agricultural interests of Cream Ridge township as the owner of a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres, was born in Lawnridge, Illinois, August 15, 1864, a son of Russell and Betsy (Taylor) Potter. The father, who was born February 13, 1828, was a farmer during his active life, but for several years before his death, which occurred May 4, 1899, lived retired. He is buried in Greenfield, Iowa, and is survived by his wife, who was born December 21, 1831, and makes her home there. In their family were four children besides the subject of this review, namely : Louisa, the widow of Asahel Fuller, of Lincoln, Nebraska; George W., who died at Greenfield, Iowa; Minnie, the wife of S. Y. Cornell, of Greenfield, Iowa; and Palmer, who has passed away and is buried at Lawnridge, Illinois.
In the acquirement of an education D. S. Potter attended the public schools of Lawnridge and later college at Galesburg, Illinois. He followed farming for some time thereafter and began his business career as an employe of the Hershel Manufacturing Company of Peoria, starting as shipping clerk and by reason of his energy, per- severance and industry winning rapid advancement, finally buying an interest in the concern. A short time afterward he went upon the road as a traveling salesman and for the past eighteen years has ably looked after the company's interests throughout the central west. In 1901 he established his residence in Livingston county, purchasing a one hundred and sixty acre farm in Cream Ridge township, which he now operates. He has made substantial improvements upon it, having erected a fine residence, barns and outbuildings and having installed new and labor-saving machinery. Mr. Potter annually harvests fine crops of grain and in addition is extensively interested in live stock, having fine herds of horses, cattle and swine. The property is a valu-
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able one, its profitable condition being in a great measure due to the able work and careful management of Mrs. Potter who, during the absence of her husband in the interests of his firm, practically looks after all of the work, managing the farm with great ability and business foresight.
At Wichita, Kansas, on the 6th of December, 1886, Mr. Potter married Miss Lettie V. Witmer, a daughter of Levi W. and Mary A. (Lyons) Witmer, the former of whom was a sawmill operator and afterward a pioneer farmer in Kansas. He died June 7, 191I, at the age of eighty years, and was survived by his wife until October 25, 1912. Both are buried at Millersburg, Indiana. They had four children: Daniel S .; Lettie V., the wife of the subject of this review; and two who died in infancy. Mrs. Potter was born at Millersburg, Indiana, and acquired her education in the public schools of that community, remaining at home until after her marriage. She and her husband have three children: Homer S., a mechanical engineer in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Iva, who married W. R. Uhrmacher, a farmer in Cream Ridge township; and Levi R., aged four years.
Mr. Potter is a republican in his political beliefs, and fraternally is connected with the United Commercial Travelers' Association. He is a man of great energy, perseverance and ability and has made those activities, which claim his interests, of value in promoting his success.
ORELIOUS C. BUSHONG.
Since beginning his independent career in 1890 Orelious C. Bushong has cultivated his present farm of one hundred acres on sec- tion 9, range 22, Medicine township, and his industry, ability and suc- cess have made him through the years a force in local agricultural development. He has lived in Livingston county since 1865 but is a native of Indiana, born August 21, 1861, a son of Samuel and Mary A. (Fulwider) Bushong, natives of Virginia, both of whom have passed away. The father died December II, 1903, and was survived by his wife only four days.
Orelious C. Bushong acquired his education in the public schools of Medicine township and laid aside his books at the age of twenty- one in order to assist his father with the work of the farm. After
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two years he began his independent career, and in 1890 bought one hundred acres on section 9, range 22, Medicine township, upon which he has now resided for twenty-three years. He has made all the improvements upon this farm, erecting a fine residence, barns and outbuildings, and upon it is carrying on mixed farming, specializing in the raising of stock, of which he keeps eight horses, about twenty- five head of cattle and seventy-five swine. In all of his business affairs he is alert and enterprising and has met with that degree of success which always rewards earnest, persistent and well directed labor.
Mr. Bushong married, in Grundy county, February 15, 1883, Miss Frances M. Pridemore, a daughter of Andrew J. and Malinda (Eaststep) Pridemore, both of whom have passed away and are buried in Oklahoma. Mr. Bushong is independent in his political beliefs and has never been active as an office seeker, preferring to con- centrate his attention upon the development of his farm. Well known in the county, where he has resided from early boyhood days, he has a wide acquaintance here and has won uniform trust and good-will by reason of a life which in all of its phases has been straightforward and honorable.
CHRISTIAN SEIFERT.
The life record of Christian Seifert is another example of the fact that this country offers opportunities to all those who seek for and know how to make use of them, and that the man of foreign birth enjoys the equal opportunity with the native son in making these advantages the basis of his success. Mr. Seifert owns a farm of ninety-nine acres on section 10, Mooresville township, Livingston county, and is a native of Switzerland, leaving the land of the Alps for the United States in 1872, when he was about thirty years of age to seek the greater chances of the new country. He was born in Sevelen, in the canton of St. Gallen, Switzerland, June 5, 1843, and is a son of Mathias and Martha (Dudler) Seifert, both of whom spent their entire lives among the mountains of their native land and were buried in their native earth in St. Gallen.
Christian Seifert attended the excellent schools of his native coun- try in the acquirement of an education and discontinued his lessons at the age of fourteen years. He began to earn his own living as a cow herd and followed this occupation for two summers. He then
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learned the trade of carpentry and followed that occupation until he decided upon removal to the United States. After arriving in this country he worked for three years as a bricklayer and by thrift and industry succeeded in accumulating sufficient means to buy a part of his present farm, beginning with acquiring forty acres. Settling upon the land which was an undeveloped tract he cleared the timber and as he gradually brought his land under the plow acquired additional acres. On coming to this district he had to contend with many hard- ships and struggles for after buying his land there was left to him only a total of six dollars, and this sum he had set aside to buy provisions. But the tax collector came a few days after he had made settlement, and took with him all the cash at hand. Finally, however, by extreme hard work and careful expenditure he succeeded in his undertaking and worked himself into a more comfortable position. He now engages in general farming, making a specialty of cattle raising, having a herd of twenty-one head. When he began his farming operations in this section he had but one cow. He now owns a valuable farm of ninety-nine acres, all of which is under cultivation and planted to such cereals as are best adapted to soil and climate. In the course of years his labors have been attended with success, and he is considered to be one of the prosperous agriculturists of this section today.
In April, 1863, when still in his native country, Mr. Seifert was united in marriage to Miss Rosalia Bonderer, a daughter of H. Peter and Catharine (Probst) Bonderer, both of whom spent their entire lives in Switzerland and found their last resting place in Vättis, Canton St. Gallen. Mr. and Mrs. Seifert have four children: Peter, living in California; Martha, the wife of Adolph Lazer, a farmer of St. Joseph, Missouri; May, the wife of Milton Sprague, living in Mooresville township; and Christian, Jr., a farmer of Sampsell town- ship, who married Ina Donegan and has two children. Our subject has twenty-two grandchildren. The family live in a pleasant resi- dence which was erected by Mr. Seifert upon his property. He also has built most of the other farm buildings thereon and instituted a number of other valuable improvements and provided the necessary equipment for running a modern agricultural enterprise.
The political affiliations of Mr. Seifert are with the democratic party and he has supported this organization since being admitted to United States citizenship. His success has been largely attributable to his indomitable courage under adverse conditions, his unfaltering industry and his energy, but he himself gives credit largely to his
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faithful wife, who shared all of his hardships and assisted him in all of his endeavors, working unceasingly to bring about his present pros- perity. Both Mr. and Mrs Seifert are highly esteemed in this local- ity and enjoy the friendship and high regard of many who delight to honor them for their high qualities of character.
REUBEN HAWKINS.
Reuben Hawkins, living retired in Chillicothe, for thirty-four years held a position of distinction as a financier and through his long connection with banking interests stood as an honored repre- sentative of a department of activity which has ever been an impor- tant factor in conserving business development and progress in every community. He was born in Franklin county, Indiana, January 21, 1834, and is a son of David and Margaret J. (Alley) Hawkins, the former a native of Sullivan county, Tennessee, and a cousin of the famous Davy Crockett. On the paternal side the grandparents of our subject were Mr. and Mrs. John Hawkins, the latter a Gray before her marriage and the former, as far as is known, a native of Maryland and a brother of Rebecca (Hawkins) Crockett, the mother of Davy Crockett. Mr. Hawkins' paternal grandfather was a stanch Method- ist and a man of exemplary character. He died in Franklin county, Indiana, about the year 1839. He had a large family of children, among whom may be mentioned the following: Robert, the eldest, who served under General Andrew Jackson from 1812 to 1815 in Florida and New Orleans and died soon after the close of his service ; and Reuben, Nathan, Sally, Mrs. Bettie Abrams and Mrs. Rebecca Nordyke, all of whom have passed away. On the maternal side Mr. Hawkins' grandparents were Mr. and Mrs. John Alley, the latter a Miss Porter, and the former probably a native of Vir- ginia, who afterward engaged in farming and preaching, affiliating with the Methodist church. He died in Franklin county, Indiana. He and his wife besides the mother of our subject had the follow- ing children: John, who, according to the family records, repre- sented Franklin county, Indiana, in the state legislature previous to the year 1839; Samuel; Joseph; and Anna, who became the wife of James Alley, of Mercer county, Missouri. All have probably passed away. The father of our subject, David Hawkins, was born in Sullivan county, Tennessee, May 17, 1805, and moved from Frank-
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lin county, Indiana, in the fall of 1839 to Missouri. He located first on a farm in Jackson township, Livingston county, whence he moved in 1865 to Cedar county, Missouri, where his death occurred December 30, 1880. He was a devout member of the Christian church, and politically affiliated with the democratic party. He mar- ried Miss Margaret J. Alley, who was born in Virginia, January 6, 1811. She died in Cedar county, Missouri, January 17, 1874. In this family were nine children: Mary, who died in infancy ; Reuben, of this review; Jasper N., a farmer in Clay county, Texas; Samuel, an expert mechanic, who died in St. Louis in January, 1912; Nathan ; John, a farmer, who resides near Bertram, Texas; Zerelda Ward, a widow who resides in Cedar county, Missouri; William W., of Kansas City; and Elzira Ann, who died in October, 1861.
Reuben Hawkins was reared upon his father's farm in Jackson township and acquired such education as the limited school facilities of the section offered. However, he is largely self-educated, having supplemented his limited course by hard study in private and by constant reading, research and observation. In this way he fitted himself for teaching and still holds a certificate issued by D. R. Martin, the first school commissioner of Livingston county, holding office in 1853. From the time he was eighteen years of age until he attained his majority Mr. Hawkins taught in the public schools of Livingston county and from 1855 to 1860 worked as a merchant's clerk and bookkeeper. He read law in the office of W. Y. Slack, of Chillicothe, until the outbreak of the Civil war, when he offered his services to the Confederate government, serving with ability and loyalty until the close of hostilities. After his discharge he resumed his mercantile pursuits and engaged in this line of work from 1866 to 1876, in which year he began his banking career. He identified his interests with those of the People's Savings Bank of Chillicothe, serving first as assistant cashier but winning rapid promotion to the office of cashier and then to that of vice president, doing efficient and conscientious work for thirty-four years. The bank was remarkably successful under his administration and the deposits and capital stock increased greatly during his period of association with the insti- tution. His judgment came to be regarded as practically invaluable concerning the complex problems of banking and finance, for his progressiveness was tempered by a safe conservatism based upon a thorough understanding of the conditions of the money market and the business principles involved. After thirty-four years of active and faithful service Mr. Hawkins resigned his office in the People's Sav-
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