USA > Missouri > Livingston County > Past and present of Livingston County, Missouri : a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 2
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30
Since his arrival in Chillicothe Mr. Isherwood has made his in- fluence felt in an important way in business circles of the city and
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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY
has, therefore, been carried forward into important relations with general business life. In 1909 he became connected with the Chilli- cothe State Bank and has since been vice president of the institution, which, owing to a great extent to his great financial ability, has be- come one of the strong money concerns of the county, established on a reliable basis and conducted along conservative lines which merit the confidence of the people.
Mr. Isherwood married, at Jamesport, Missouri, December 27, 1887, Miss M. Gillilan, a daughter of John and Mary Gillilan, the former a pioneer farmer of Daviess county and a representative of an old German family. Both have passed away and are buried at Jamesport. Mr. and Mrs. Isherwood became the parents of a daugh- ter, Edith, the wife of W. G. Wiley, a traveling salesman, with resi- dence in Chillicothe. Mr. and Mrs. Isherwood are well known in social circles of the city and their pleasant home at 1516 West Cal- houn street is one of the most modern and attractive in the com- munity. Fraternally Mr. Isherwood is a blue lodge Mason and be- longs also to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, of which latter institution he has been a member for thirty-five years. He is a progressive democrat in his political views and is interested in the social and political devel- opment a's well as in the material progress of Chillicothe. An analyza- tion of his work shows that his success is not the result of unusual circumstances but has come rather from his close application and ready use of opportunities. He has known how, when and where to put forth his best energies and the careful directing of his efforts, along the lines where mature judgment has led the way, has brought to him the prosperity which he now enjoys.
J. M. SEISER.
The business interests which constitute the commercial impor- tance of Chillicothe are not the result of the labor of one or even a few individuals but of the aggregate effort of the many, and yet there are certain men who are acknowledged leaders in the business world -men of energy, capable of forming original plans which they carry forward to successful completion and capable also of embracing the opportunities which arise in the course of their careers. To this class belongs J. M. Seiser, general contractor and builder in Chillicothe,
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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY
and his life record contains many lessons which may profitably be followed by all who seek progress in the business world. He was born in Ashland, Ohio, February 25, 1866, and is a son of Mathias and Phebe J. (Huff) Seiser, the former for many years a marble and granite monument manufacturer in Chillicothe. He died Janu- ary 16, 1891, at the age of fifty years, and his wife followed him on the 22d of August, 1893, her death occurring when she was fifty- five years of age. Both were representatives of German families and are buried in Edgewood cemetery.
At the usual age J. M. Seiser entered the public schools of Chilli- cothe and followed the complete course, graduating from the high school at the age of eighteen. He immediately began his independent business career, engaging as a manufacturer of brick and giving evi- dence even at that early day of the spirit of business daring and initiative upon which his present success is founded. It is a remark- able fact that the first contract which he accepted in 1900 was for the manufacture of six hundred thousand bricks to supply the large Marmaduke concern. Mr. Seiser made these bricks by hand and de- livered them at the required time, and since then has been making steady advancement in the business world. He built a plant of his own in 1902 and in it manufactured vitrified brick, conducting this enterprise with increasing success until 1905, since which time he has given all of his attention to the contracting and building business. The territory in which he operates extends for several hundred miles in all directions from Chillicothe and westward to Los Angeles, California, where he built the Seiser Piper building, one of the largest structures in that city. Mr. Seiser owns a large amount of valuable real estate, including business and residence property in Chillicothe, and he built his own residence, which together with many other at- tractive and beautiful dwellings and practically all of the prominent buildings in the city and county stand as a monument to his skill and ability.
On the 25th of February, 1895, Mr. Seiser was united in mar- riage to Miss Addie L. Culling, the daughter of Frank and Lizzie (Vanstane) Culling, the former a pioneer farmer of Chillicothe. He and his wife now reside at Alhambra, California.
Mr. Seiser is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and fraternally is identified with the Knights of The Maccabees and the Modern Brotherhood of America. He gives his allegiance to the progressive party and is actively interested in all movements for the
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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY
general good. He is a man of broad culture, of excellent business and executive ability and practical judgment and his life of industry has brought him rich reward in the high estimation in which his acquaint- ances hold him as a business man and as a citizen.
ANDREW J. HEDRICK.
No history of Livingston county would be complete without men- tion of Andrew J. Hedrick, who is one of the largest landowners and prominent agriculturists of the state, his property holdings aggregat- ing two thousand acres. In the seventy-seventh year of his age, he still operates and manages his farm, which by hard labor and unremit- ting industry throughout the years he has made a valuable and pro- ductive property. Mr. Hedrick was born in Tazewell, Virginia, in September, 1836, and is a son of Henry and Nancy (Whitley) Hed- rick, both of whom have passed away, the mother dying December 22, 1880, and the father November 16, 1890. Both are buried at Utica.
Andrew J. Hedrick acquired his education in the public schools of his native section and laid aside his books at the age of sixteen, securing a position as a farm laborer. He worked thus for two years, after which he came to Livingston county and began his inde- pendent agricultural career, buying one hundred acres of land, which he has gradually increased to its present dimensions. Upon this property he is carrying on mixed farming, harvesting annually abun- dant crops of hay and grain and being likewise extensively interested in stock-raising. In addition to this Mr. Hedrick has gained some local reputation as an expert poultry raiser and has about five hun- dred fowl upon his premises. He has led an active, useful and honor- able life and now occupies a position of prominence and importance in agricultural circles as a result of his sound business ability and practical judgment.
Mr. Hedrick married, in Madison county, Illinois, March 9, 1869, Miss Ella Hughes, a native of Livingston county. They became the parents of two sons : Ira, who is assisting his father; and Ray, who died in infancy. Mrs. Hedrick passed away in March, 1873, and is buried in the Utica cemetery.
Mr. Hedrick gives his allegiance to the democratic party and since making his residence in Livingston county has taken an intelli-
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gent and public-spirited interest in the affairs of his community, and served as trustee of the school board for six years. He also was a director in the First National Bank of Chillicothe for a number of years. He is well known in Green township, where he has been a resident for over half a century, during which time his genuine worth, his upright life and his high principles have commended him to the good-will, trust and respect of all with whom he has been associated.
WILLIAM WILBERFORCE EDGERTON.
The life work of William Wilberforce Edgerton has in various aspects been of great benefit to the city of Chillicothe, in which he makes his home. One of the foremost financial men of the city, he exerts as president of the Citizens National Bank of Chillicothe a potent influence upon the commercial growth of the city and its general upbuilding. He was also active for many years before coming to Chillicothe as a prac- ticing physician and as a merchant. He was born August 4, 1845, near Lima, Ohio, a son of John Leffingwell and Delia (Doud) Edgerton. The father was born in Pawlet, Vermont, December 2, 1797, and was reared in Vermont and New York. He was well and favorably known as a teacher and lecturer. On March I, 1812, he enlisted for service in the war with Eng- land as a member of Captain Alexander McKenzie's command at Moriah, New York, and served valiantly for the preservation of his country. He was a republican in politics and died in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on July 3, 1870. He was married Febru- ary 4, 1832, to Miss Delia Doud, who was born at New Haven, Vermont, May 27, 1812, and was reared in that state. She passed away at Sparta, Wisconsin, in 1868. The paternal grand- father of our subject was Jedediah Edgerton, who was a native of Norwich, Connecticut, born in 1762, and his wife's maiden name was Lucy Curtis. He was reared and spent his life in Connecticut and Vermont and followed the occupation of farm- ing. His religion was that of the Congregational denomination and he was one of the heroes of the Revolutionary war, enlisting from: Pawlet, Vermont, and serving with the rank of captain during the conflict. He passed away in New York state in 1848.
WILLIAM W. EDGERTON
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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY
The father of Mrs. Delia (Doud) Edgerton was Silas Doud, who was born in 1773 at New Haven, Vermont, and was reared in that state, where he subsequently followed the occupation of farming. He also was a Congregationalist. He was prominent in his locality, having for several terms served in the state legis- lature. His death occurred in the town of New Haven, Ver- mont, in 1826. He was married in 1791 to Miss Irena Scovil, who was born in August, 1770, in Meriden, Connecticut, was reared in Connecticut and Vermont, was married in New Haven, the latter state, and passed away at the age of about one hundred years in 1870. Mrs. Delia (Doud) Edgerton, the mother of our subject, was one of ten children born unto her parents, the others being: Betsey, who was born in 1793 and died in 1835; Laura, born in 1795, who passed away in 1881; Silas, who was born in 1797 and died in 1867; Hiram, who was born in 1799 and died in 1820; Amy, who was born in 1801 and died in infancy ; Osmund, who was born in 1803 and died in 1865; Sylvester, who was born in 1806; Adeline, born in 1809; and Rozalia, born in 1815. Mr. and Mrs. John Leffingwell Edgerton, who were married at New Haven, Vermont, had four children: Harriet Augusta Tenney, who was born in 1834 and died in 1898; Martha Irena Newton, born in 1838, who passed away in 1901; William W., the subject of this review; and John Howard, who was born in 1850 and makes his home in Sulphur Springs, Arkansas.
William W. Edgerton was reared at home and attended school in Waverly, New York. In the spring of 1872 he grad- uated from Rush Medical College of Chicago, Illinois, with the degree of M. D., and in April of that year removed to Wheeling, Livingston county, Missouri, where he engaged in practice. For nine years he followed his profession in that city and built up an extensive clientage during that time. He was subsequently engaged for eight years in the general merchandise business and his efforts in that direction were attended by success. In August, 1889, he came to Chillicothe, Missouri. With experienced eye he immediately recognized the necessity of a banking institu- tion in this city and was active in the organization of the Citi- zens National Bank, of which he has since served as an officer continuously, acting as cashier for eight years and subsequently filling the office of vice president, being later elected to the presi- dency. He has guided the policies of the bank with great cir- cumspection and has been instrumental in making this institution Vol. II-2
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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY
one of the foremost in this section of the country. Under his able management the resources of the bank have increased won- derfully and the foremost individuals and many of the important enterprises of the city do business with his institution or are depositors.
On April 1, 1876, Mr. Edgerton was married at Wheeling, Missouri, to Miss Elizabeth Davis, who was born August II, 1853, in Dunkirk, New York. They were the parents of three children: Ethel, who was born in Wheeling in 1882 and grad- uated in 1900 from the Chillicothe high school, subsequently attending Stephens College at Columbia, Missouri, and who in 1907 married Edgar O. Welch, residing in Chillicothe; and Leah and Lillian, twins, born in 1884, both of whom died the same year. Mr. and Mrs. Edgar O. Welch have three children: Edgerton, born July 3, 1908; Owsley, born December 3, 1910; and Catharine Elizabeth, born September 29, 1912.
Mr. Edgerton is a republican in his political views and has always taken an active interest in all matters pertaining to the public welfare. He has been honored with election to the mayor's chair and during his administration has brought about many important improvements which have greatly benefited the city. He is a veteran of the Civil war, receiving a government pension. In the spring of 1862 he enlisted for service in Company A, One Hundred and Seventh New York Volunteer Infantry and served in the ranks for three years, being discharged in June, 1865, at the close of the war. He is a member of the Masonic order. In whichever capacity one may review the life work of Mr. Edgerton it has always been one of usefulness and service and he has attained success not only as physician, healing the sick and helping the suffering, but also as a merchant and financier, and his labors wherever exerted have resulted in benefit to mankind.
J. BERNARD KLEIN.
J. Bernard Klein, whose intense and well directed energy consti- tutes a forceful factor in the successful management of the interests of the Klein Plumbing & Heating Company, of Chillicothe, is man- ager of that concern. His sound judgment has made his opinions
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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY
of weight in determining the policy of the house and his business acumen has been instrumental in placing it among the leading enter- prises of this kind in this part of the state. He is a native son of the city, born August 13, 1889, his parents being Nicholas M. and Mar- garet (Rommelfenger) Klein, representatives of old German fam- ilies. The father was one of the early settlers in Chillicothe and for some years was identified with business interests as a successful shoe merchant. He is now living retired in this city.
J. Bernard Klein acquired his education in the St. Columban parochial school and later attended the Hartford (Wis.) high school. He laid aside his books at the age of fifteen and at once began learn- ing the plumbing trade, his special training and practical experience gained at this time becoming the broad foundation of his later suc- cess. Since June, 1911, he has been manager of the Klein Plumbing & Heating Company, conducting one of the largest establishments of this kind in the city and doing work throughout a territory of seventy-five miles around Chillicothe. Mr. Klein devotes his entire attention to the affairs of this concern and under his able guidance it has become a profitable business and a factor in the commercial activity of the city.
Mr. Klein gives his allegiance to the democratic party, believing in all progressive political measures and giving his active cooperation to movements for the public welfare. His religious views are in accord with the doctrines of the Roman Catholic church and fra- ternally he is affiliated with the Knights of Columbus. He is still a young man but he possesses a keen ambition to achieve success in the business world, which combined with his ability and force of per- sonality will undoubtedly be factors in his continued progress.
JOHN T. MILBANK.
John T. Milbank is prominently connected with milling interests in Chillicothe and his is a well directed enterprise in which careful management and unfaltering industry are meeting with success. While Mr. Milbank has spent much of his life in Livingston county he was born in Troy, Madison county, Illinois, February 9, 1861, his parents being George and Nellie (Swain) Milbank. The father's birth occurred in Essex, England, on the 14th of July, 1833, and he was a young man of twenty-two years when in 1855 he came to
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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY
America, settling first at Akron, Ohio. He was a miller, which trade he had learned in his native land, and later followed it in Ohio. Sub- sequently he took up his abode near Evansville, Indiana, and after- ward removed to St. Louis, where he resided from 1856 until 1860. In the latter year he removed to Troy, Madison county, Illinois, where he conducted a milling business on his own account. In 1867 he arrived in Chillicothe and built the plant known here as the City Mills, thus establishing the business of which his son John T. is now proprietor and which for more than forty-five years has been one of the important manufacturing industries of the city.
On the 3d of May, 1860, George Milbank was married to Miss Nellie Swain and they became the parents of nine children : John T., of this review; Sallie W .; George M .; Lucy T .; Charles R .; Mary L .; Henry S .; Kate S .; and Nellie May, deceased. The father died in 1903 after having lived retired since 1897. It is interesting in this connection to note something of the more remote ancestry of John T. Milbank, whose paternal grandparents were Thomas and Sarah (Wallace) Milbank, both natives of England, where they spent their entire lives.
John T. Milbank, spending his youthful days under the parental roof, acquired his education in the district schools and was trained to habits of industry and economy. He early became familiar with the milling business through the assistance which he rendered his father from early boyhood and in 1897 upon his father's retirement he and his brother Henry Milbank purchased the mills which they ope- rated in joint ownership until February 14, 1911, when the subject of this review bought his brother's interests and is now sole proprietor. The plant has a capacity of one hundred and fifty barrels of flour and fifty barrels of corn meal per day, and this product is sent out over a broad territory, covering a radius of one hundred miles from Chillicothe. It is also sold on the St. Louis market and is shipped extensively into the south. The establishment of these mills in Chilli- cothe encouraged the growing of wheat in Livingston county, some- thing that had been done to a very limited extent prior to that time, but its production has since greatly increased until it is now one of the staple crops of the county.
On the 9th of May, 1895, Mr. Milbank was married to Miss Bessie W. Palmer, a native of Des Moines, Iowa, and a daughter of Serring Palmer, who was born in Canada. Mr. and Mrs. Milbank have become the parents of three children: George Edward, born July 14, 1897; John Palmer, born February 17, 1900; and Elizabeth
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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY
Sarah, born July 18, 1905. Mrs. Milbank holds membership in the Episcopal church and Mr. Milbank is a member of the Masonic fra- ternity in which he has attained the Royal Arch degree. His life conforms to the high teachings of that organization and his social and business connections both place him in a prominent position among the representative citizens of Chillicothe. His has been a useful, active and well spent life in which enterprise, energy and ambition have triumphed over difficulties and obstacles and placed him among the more successful representatives of industrial activity.
ELMER A. DUSENBERRY.
Elmer A. Dusenberry is manager of the R. Lee Lumber Company and by virtue of this position and the force of his ability and per- sonality one of the prominent and representative business men of Ludlow. He is a native son of Missouri, born in Dawn, April 20, 1879, his parents being Dr. Frank and Emma (Essig) Dusenberry, both of whom have passed away. The father practiced medicine and surgery at Richmond and Lexington Junction, Missouri, and became one of the most successful professional men in that part of the state. He died in 1882, at the early age of thirty-eight, and is buried near Dawn. His wife survived him until 1888, dying in that year at the age of twenty-nine. She is buried in Carroll county.
Elmer A. Dusenberry acquired his early education in the public schools of Dawn and supplemented this by a course in the Gem City Business College at Quincy, Illinois. He laid aside his books at the age of sixteen and began his active career as a farm laborer, working upon various properties and receiving for his services about thirteen dollars per month. He also spent twenty months in Montana, en- gaged in freighting from Billings to a ranch, a distance of one hun- dred miles, driving an eight-horse team. While there he engaged to work for the R. Lee Lumber Company as clerk and bookkeeper in their office at Braymer, Missouri, and through successive stages of progress and advancement attained his present position as manager of the head office. The R. Lee Lumber Company was incorporated with a capital stock of fifty thousand dollars and today conducts one of the largest enterprises of its kind in this part of Missouri, having their main office at Ludlow and branches at Mooresville, Dawn and Chilli- cothe. Since entering upon active connection with the concern Mr.
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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY
Dusenberry has made a close study of the business in principle and de- tail, so that he is well qualified for the responsible duties which devolve upon him as manager, secretary and treasurer.
Mr. Dusenberry married, in Carroll county, in May, 1905, Miss Cora Cherry, a daughter of James A. and Jennie Cherry, the former a prominent farmer, now residing at Braymer, Missouri. Mr. and Mrs. Dusenberry have two children, Lois V. and Cleo M., who live with their parents in one of the finest and most modern residences in Ludlow.
Mr. Dusenberry has always been a stanch republican but in 1912 gave his allegiance to the progressive party. He is a blue lodge Mason and his religious views are in accord with the doctrines of the Methodist Episcopal church. While he possesses a commendable ambition to achieve success in the business world, it has not been the only aim for which he has striven. He has found time for other interests, especially those relating to the general welfare, and his labors are considered a valuable asset in public progress.
RICHARD J. LEE.
Richard J. Lee, prominently connected with business interests of Ludlow as the founder and president of the R. Lee Lumber Com- pany and with agricultural interests as the owner of one of the finest farms in Livingston county, is a native of Ohio, born in Lake county, January 1I, 1859. His parents were Richard and Mary (Robinson) Lee, both of whom have passed away. The father spent the early years of his life engaged in farming in Ohio and came to Livingston county with his family in 1865. Here, also, he bought land and turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, becoming also interested in financial matters of Ludlow as president of the Farmers National Bank. He was also the first president of the R. Lee Lumber Com- pany. He died in 1904, at the age of seventy-seven, having survived his wife since 1884. Both are buried in the Monroe cemetery, Mon- roe township. The family is of English origin and representatives came from Great Britain to Ohio in 1852.
Richard J. Lee supplemented his public-school education by a course in Avalon College, an institution from which he was graduated at the age of twenty-two. He spent three years thereafter upon his father's farm and when he was twenty-five began his independent
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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY
career on a tract of three hundred and twenty acres in Carroll county. Upon this he built a good residence, substantial barns and outbuild- ings and installed all of the conveniences and accessories of a model agricultural enterprise. He still owns this property and in addition two hundred and forty acres near Ludlow. The latter farm one of the finest in the county is equipped with good buildings, the house being a beautiful one, strictly modern and up-to-date.
In 1893 Mr. Lee became connected with business interests of Ludlow in an important way, for in that year he helped to organize the R. Lee Lumber Company, of which he is now president. This concern, capitalized at fifty thousand dollars, has made a healthy growth during the past years and is now one of the most important business enterprises in this section of the state. Besides the main office at Ludlow the company conducts branches at Mooresville, Dawn and Chillicothe, and its patronage is drawn from all sections of Missouri and extends even beyond the state limits. Much of its prosperity is due to the excellent management and business enter- prise of Mr. Lee, who is a man of marked executive and organizing ability and who by the wise use of his talents and of the opportunities which have come to him has built up a large industrial institution and gained for himself a commanding place in commercial circles of Liv- ingston county. He is identified with various other business concerns in Ludlow, among the most important of which is the Farmers Bank, of which he is president.
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