USA > Missouri > Livingston County > Past and present of Livingston County, Missouri : a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 23
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Lewis C. Marlow received his education in the Blackburn district school which he left at the age of twenty years. He had, however, for a number of years before that time, during nine months every year, assisted his father in the work of the farm, and after definitely laying aside his text-books he continued to stay with his parents until his marriage, acquiring valuable knowledge in the methods and de-
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tails of agriculture. He then bought one hundred acres of land on which he engaged in farming, and upon his father's death inherited the other two hundred acres which now make up the Prairie Center Stock Farm. Following methods most thorough and most modern, Mr. Marlow has attained success along the line in which he spe- cializes, being extensively engaged in the raising of live stock. He has made a number of valuable improvements upon the farm, build- ing substantial barns and erecting a handsome residence. His fields are planted to the grain best suited to soil and climate and part of his property is under pasturage. His fields by their appearance betray the excellent management of Mr. Marlow and its attendant prosper- ity, and all of his acres are well fenced and subdivided into suitable tracts.
In Jackson township, Livingston county, on March 16, 1880, Mr. Marlow was married to Miss Jennie Ramsey, a daughter of James and Lennie Ramsey, the former of whom was a prominent farmer of this district who passed away in 1897, his wife following him in death in 1901. Both were highly esteemed for their many good qualities of heart and mind and enjoyed the friendship of many. They found their last resting place on the old Ramsey homestead. Mr. and Mrs. Marlow are the parents of four children : Howard, a graduate of the Chillicothe Business College who now follows the carpenter's trade in Jerome, Arizona; Fay, also a graduate of that school who is the wife of Robert Murphy, a merchant tailor of Chillicothe; Edith, who is pursuing a course at the Chillicothe Business College; and Darrell, at- tending district school.
Besides his extensive stock-raising and farm interests Mr. Mar- low is also connected with the First National Bank of Chillicothe in which institution he holds a considerable block of stock. For some time he was director of the First National Bank of Jamesport, Mis- souri, being one of its charter members, but of late has severed his connections with this bank. Public-spirited, he is well informed upon all questions arising on public issues and takes a deep interest in mat- ters affecting the local conditions, having participated in local gov- ernmental affairs as a member of the township board and also as a director of the local school board, giving thereby evidence of his deep concern for the cause of education. His fraternal affiliations connect him with the Masonic order in which he is a member of the blue lodge, while he also is carried on the membership roll of the Knights of Pythias. A successful man in the true sense of the word, he has been a factor in the agricultural development of Livingston county
F. V. ROSS
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where he has done no little service in promoting stock-raising inter- ests and while he has been constructive in advancing agricultural methods he has attained to a position which places him among the most substantial men of the county.
F. V. ROSS.
The executive force, watchfulness and accuracy demanded in banking circles find exemplification in the business record of F. V. Ross, who is cashier of the Farmers & Merchants Bank in Chula, a position which he has filled creditably since 1909. He was born in Chillicothe, February 21, 1874, and is a son of James K. and Emma (Shour) Ross, the former one of the pioneers of Livingston county. He came to this section with his father, David Ross, in the very early days of the county's organization and after he had grown to manhood followed the blacksmith's trade, with which he was connected prac- tically all his life with the exception of a few years spent upon a farm. He was a veteran of the Civil war, having served as bugler in the federal army and having had the distinction of being one of the youngest volunteers. He died June 20, 1912, at the age of sixty-five, having survived his wife since February 27, 1910. Both are buried in the Parson Creek cemetery in Linn county. The family is of old French origin but representatives have been in America for many generations.
F. V. Ross acquired his education in the district schools of Ever- sonville, which he attended until he was nineteen years of age. He assisted his father with his work when not engaged with his books but when he began his active career turned his attention to mercantile pursuits, becoming a clerk in Eversonville and later in Chula. In 1897 he entered the State Normal School at Kirksville and after tak- ing a literary course there returned to Eversonville, where he worked at various occupations until he came to Chula in 1909 as cashier of the Farmers & Merchants Bank, a position in which he has since re- mained. Since becoming connected with this institution his business capacity and enterprise have proven active and useful factors in its successful conduct and in the enlarging of its patronage. Mr. Ross is also interested in the general mercantile store operated by Elmore & Ross.
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In Eversonville, on the 21st of March, 1901, Mr. Ross was united in marriage to Miss Mary Devaul, a daughter of Robert and Louisa Devaul, the former a pioneer settler in Grundy county and a resi- dent of Livingston county for the past thirty-five years. Mr. and Mrs. Ross have a son, Vernon, who is now attending school in Chula. Mr. Ross is progressive in his political beliefs and fraternally is con- nected with the Masonic order. He is also well known in the affairs of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, for he has been through all the chairs in this organization. His time and energies have, how- ever, been largely concentrated upon his business affairs and his indus- try, honesty and success have made him a factor in financial circles of Chula.
LAWRENCE UHRMACHER.
Lawrence Uhrmacher, who since 1870 has been a resident of Liv- ingston county and for many years one of its most enterprising and progressive agriculturists, was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Sep- tember 2, 1855, a son of Nicholas and Catherine (Sebastian) Uhr- macher. The father was a shoemaker by trade and followed that occupation for some time in Wisconsin, moving in 1870 to a farm in Livingston county. He resides thereon at the present time and has reached the advanced age of ninety-five. His wife passed away in 1902, at the age of seventy, and is buried in the May cemetery.
Lawrence Uhrmacher acquired his education in the public schools of Hustisford, Wisconsin, and laid aside his books at the age of fif- teen. He came with his parents to Livingston county and was here reared to the occupation of farming, becoming familiar at an early age with the duties and labors which fall to the lot of the agriculturist. He assisted with the work of the homestead until the age of twenty- six, when he began farming on his own account, and he has since followed the business, having today attained a position as one of the most prominent and successful agriculturists in this part of the county. When he started out on his own account he had but forty acres of land on section 22, Cream Ridge township, but he carefully managed his finances, made the best use of his opportunities and, as the years passed by, was enabled to purchase more land until he now owns one hundred and forty acres. He has not only successfully tilled the fields, but has also fed cattle on a large scale, his stock-raising inter-
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ests being profitable and important. He has improved his farm with a fine residence, erected the necessary outbuildings and barns and installed the newest machinery, owning today a model farm.
In Cream Ridge township, February 20, 1881, Mr. Uhrmacher was united in marriage to Miss Ida Thompson, a daughter of George and Emily (Booth) Thompson, the former a veteran of the Civil war and a pioneer farmer of Mercer county, Missouri. He died in 1864 and was survived by his wife until 1866. Both are buried in the Goshen cemetery in Mercer county. They had two children besides the wife of the subject of this review: William, who is a farmer in Ottawa, Kansas, and Elesta. The latter married H. C. Miller, of Princeton, Mercer county, Missouri. She died in 1892 and is buried in the Goshen cemetery. Mr. and Mrs. Uhrmacher became the par- ents of six children : Lawrence N., a railroad carpenter residing in Omaha, Nebraska; William R., a farmer in Cream Ridge township; Fern, who became the wife of Clarence Sandidge, by whom she has one daughter, Ida Catherine; Garnett, who married Lloyd Littrell, a bookkeeper residing in Chula; and Dixie and H. Glenn, who are at- tending school. Mr. Uhrmacher gives his political allegiance to the democratic party and is active and progressive in matters of citizen- ship, having served for some time as director of the school board. He is interested in all that pertains to the welfare and upbuilding of the community and his labors have brought him a measure of success which is gratifying, his prosperity being due to his diligence and his business probity.
J. F. KESSLER.
J. F. Kessler, who is one of the representative and progressive agriculturists of Jackson township, where he owns a splendid prop- erty comprising two hundred and eighty acres located on sections 17, 20 and 21, is a descendant of one of the old pioneer families of Livingston county. Being born on the place where he is now residing, on December 26, 1875, he is a son of Daniel and Sarah A. (Faulk) Kessler, the grandfather, Daniel Y. Kessler, having settled one mile east from where the present homestead is located, in 1839, at the time when this part of the country was raw prairie land. He was one of the first settlers in the county. The father, also one of the pioneers of this section, was well known and highly esteemed in the
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community. Taking up the farm on which our subject now resides, he broke and improved the property, following successfully agri- cultural pursuits until his death on April 12, 1910, his wife passing away only about six months later, on November 16th of the same year. Both were esteemed for their many high qualities of mind and character and during their long residence in the county enjoyed the good-will and confidence of their many friends. They are buried side by side in the Jamesport cemetery. Of their family four chil- dren grew to maturity, those beside our subject being: E. A., a farmer who makes his home in this vicinity; Ida M., the wife of J. W. Thompson, an agriculturist of Daviess county, Missouri; and D. W., a resident civil engineer of Washington, D. C.
J. F. Kessler was reared on the home farm and received his edu- cation in the district schools of the neighborhood, which he left at the age of twenty years, having during that time, however, assisted his father with the work on the home place. Early he became ac- quainted with thorough methods of agriculture and the details of the work, and the instructions which he received in that line have stood him in good stead ever since in attaining to success. His large farm is in a high state of cultivation and by its appearance bespeaks the prosperity of its owner. Beside general farming he largely engages in stock-raising and by mixed methods has succeeded in making the property one of the most productive in Jackson township.
On September 30, 1906, Mr. Kessler was united in marriage at Sampsel, Missouri, to Miss Della Tye, a daughter of Thomas and Nancy (Buchanan) Tye. Her father, one of the old settlers of Sampsel township, where he attained to prominence and is widely and favorably known, is a veteran of the Civil war and has served with distinction for a number of years, as director of the school board. Highly esteemed for his commendable standards of citizenship, he en- joys the confidence and regard of his many friends and neighbors. Mr. and Mrs. Kessler are the parents of three children : Mildred V., Grace A. and Frances M.
In his political affiliations Mr. Kessler is a democrat and although he is not a politician in the office-seeking sense of the word, has served efficiently as member of the township board. His fraternal relations are confined to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which organization he has served in all the chairs of the local lodge. Be- side his agricultural connections he has interests in another direction which connect him with the financial institutions of Jamesport, in which city he has served for a number of years as director of the
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People's Exchange Bank, of which he is one of the largest stockhold- ers. By industry and energy, and using progressive and scientific methods, he has not only succeeded in bringing about his individual prosperity but has been a force in the general development of agri- cultural standards in the section. His farm stands as a monument to his skill and his labor and by its improvements bespeaks the pro- gressive tendencies of its owner. A worthy representative of an old German family and a descendant of one of the first settlers of this section, Mr. Kessler enjoys a position of distinction among the agri- cultural fraternity of Livingston county.
FRANK P. THOMPSON.
Frank P. Thompson owns and operates a good farm of one hun- dred and six acres on sections 26 and 28, Cream Ridge township, and his business qualifications and his genuine personal worth entitle him to mention with the representative residents of Livingston county. He came here in 1868 but is a native of New York, born at Corning, May 9, 1853, a son of Richard and Hester (Booth) Thompson, of whom more extended mention is made elsewhere in this work, in con- nection with the sketch of Julian Thompson, brother of the subject of this review.
Frank P. Thompson acquired his education in the public schools of Millport, New York, which he attended until he was fifteen years of age. He came to Livingston county in 1868 with his mother, who in that year brought her family here and settled on the farm where Julian Thompson now resides. Mr. Thompson of this review re- mained at home until 1871 and then began his independent career, renting land which he farmed for a number of years with gratifying success, finally saving enough money to purchase land of his own. He bought forty acres and developed this tract until 1883, in which year he sold the property and after renting for one year, bought his pres- ent farm, which he has cultivated since that time. At first he was in partnership with his father-in-law, William Sinnock, but upon the latter's death in 1885 Mr. Thompson assumed entire charge and has since developed the farm alone. He has made substantial improve- ments upon it, building a fine residence, barns and outbuildings and installing the most modern labor-saving machinery. He raises grain
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and is also extensively interested in stock-raising, both branches of his work being extremely profitable to him.
On the 25th of December, 1879, Mr. Thompson married Miss Alice Sinnock, a daughter of William and Sarah (Wilson) Sinnock, the former of whom passed away in 1885 and is buried in the May cemetery. Mrs. Thompson's mother is a representative of an old English family. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson are the parents of eight children : George, who resides in Sturgis, Missouri; Agnes G., the wife of Lee Wardlow, a farmer in North Dakota; William R., a farmer in Cream Ridge township, who married on January 12, 1913, Miss Jennie Olenhouse; Clarence B., of Sturgis, who was married on December 25, 1911, to Miss Mabel Rickett; Alice L., at home; Moses M., who is assisting his father; and Ola A. and Chester B., who are attending school.
Mr. Thompson gives his political allegiance to the democratic party but while progressive and public-spirited in matters of citi- zenship, is never active as an office seeker. Having spent practically his entire life in Livingston county, he is widely and favorably known and his methods in business life are such as commend him to the confidence and good-will of all with whom he comes in contact.
GEORGE A. GARDNER.
Among the most honored and respected citizens of Chula is numbered George A. Gardner, who has been a resident of Livingston county since 1883 and who since that time has been a force in the agricultural and business development of this part of Missouri. He today occupies an enviable position in financial circles, not alone by reason of the success he has achieved but also owing to the fact that his business methods have been straightforward and honorable. He has ever utilized his opportunities to the best advantage, making steady progress in the business world, and has reached a position of prominence and influence, being president of the Exchange Bank of Chula. He was born in Muskingum county, Ohio, October 3, 1843, and is a son of Adam and Elizabeth (Smith) Gardner. The father was a native of Germany and there learned the weaver's trade, which he followed in the fatherland but which he abandoned after coming to America. He here followed farming for a number of years but enlisted in the United States Army for the Mexican
GEORGE A. GARDNER
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war and died during that conflict. His wife had previously passed away, her grave being upon the banks of the Muskingum river.
George A. Gardner acquired a very meager education in the district schools, attending only a few weeks out of every year. When he was seventeen years of age he offered his services to the Federal army, enlisting in the fall of 1861 and participating in many important campaigns and hotly contested engagements, being some- times on the line and at other times on detached service. He received his honorable discharge from Company A, Fifteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, December 25, 1865, and immediately afterward began his career as a farmer, renting land in his native county. This he continued to operate until 1883, when he removed to Livingston county and purchased two hundred and twenty acres of land which he continued to develop with great success for a number of years.
In 1891 Mr. Gardner abandoned farming and turned his attention to business pursuits in Chula, associating himself with a few others in the organization of the Chula Exchange Bank, with which he has been connected since that time. For a short period he was also engaged in the flour-milling business and was for three years the proprietor of a large hardware concern, but he has now sold both of these enterprises and is giving all of his attention to his banking affairs. He was the first vice president of the Chula Bank, and from that office became president, in which position he has served ably and successfully since 1910. He has largely helped to make the institution one of the substantial financial concerns of the county, capably controlled along conservative lines, every means being em- ployed to protect the depositors and at the same time to give them the benefit of a progressive business policy.
At Zanesville, Ohio, on the 23d of October, 1866, Mr. Gardner wedded Miss Tena Ganter, a daughter of Andreas and Frances Ganter, the former a farmer in Ohio, who passed away in 1873. His wife survived him ten years and both are buried in the Catholic cemetery at Zanesville. Mr. and Mrs. Gardner have three children : Frances, who became the wife of R. L. Taylor, a carpenter and contractor in Chula; Louise, who married Joseph Uhrmacher, a farmer in Cream Ridge township; and Elizabeth, who resides at home. The family are well and favorably known in Chula and have an attractive home here which they have made the center of a charming social circle.
Mr. Gardner is a republican in his political beliefs, and frater- nally is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He
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is also connected with the Chillicothe chapter of the Masonic order. There are few men in Chula more widely or favorably known than he, for his business enterprise, frugality and sound judgment have carried him into important financial relations, while his honorable and upright life and high principles have gained him the warm and lasting regard of all who come into contact with him.
JAMES M. WILSON.
James M. Wilson, who for about six decades has made his home in Livingston county, receives well merited honor as one of the pioneers of this section, to which he came when frontier conditions still prevailed. Owning a valuable farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section II, Sampsell township, he has in the course of years become one of the substantial men of this region and in no mean way has contributed to bring about the general prosperous conditions that now prevail. Coming from Brown county, Illinois, he was there born August 1, 1840, and is a son of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Har- vie) Wilson, both of whom have passed away, the father dying in 1853 but the mother surviving him for fifty-seven years, passing away at the remarkable age of ninety-six years in 1910, both finding their last resting place in Missouri. The parents were highly esteemed and enjoyed the friendship of many, the mother being especially ven- erated in her high old age as one of the few pioneer women of the county who at that time survived.
James M. Wilson received his education in Illinois and Liv- ingston county, coming to the latter when a young boy and leaving school when he had passed his fourteenth birthday. Early he began to make his own way in the world, for shortly after laying aside his text-books he began to earn his support by hiring out as a farm hand, making his living in that way for the next twelve years. Thrift, frugality, industry and energy combined in pushing him toward the goal for which he strove, to become an independent agriculturist; and at the end of the period he had acquired the means to set himself up on his own land. He subsequently acquired the property which he now owns and to the cultivation and develop- ment thereof he gave his assiduous and undivided attention. As the years passed and his financial resources increased he erected a handsome residence upon his farm and built substantial barns
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and outbuildings, instituting new equipment, implements and machin- ery and generally improving his property in such a way as to make it one of the most valuable in this section.
In April, 1866, in Livingston county, Mr. Wilson was united in marriage to Miss Mary Lyons, a daughter of Granberry and Lucinda Lyons, both of whom have passed away and are buried in Sampsell township. On January 5, 1900, after thirty-four years of happy domestic life, Mrs. Wilson passed away, finding her last resting place in a cemetery in Sampsell township. Mr. Wilson subsequently married, in this county, Mrs. Amanda (Jones) Gann, a daughter of John H. and Nancy E. Jones, both deceased. The humane quality in the characters of Mr. and Mrs. Wilson stands forth in an act of kindness that evidences the high perception both have of their obligation toward humanity, for, having no children of their own, they took care of thirteen orphans, five of whom have passed away, but eight they have reared to useful members of society, they in turn repaying their benefactors by the honorable lives which they lead. One of these children, Ola Stewart, is now attending Chillicothe high school at the expense of Mr. Wilson.
James M. Wilson is a faithful member of the Baptist church, to the work of which he gives his helpful cooperation. His fra- ternal connections extend to the Masonic order, in which he is a member of the blue lodge, while his political affiliations are with the progressive party, in the ideals of which he steadfastly believes and which he thinks will bring about freedom from corrupt political practices. A man of worthy principles, a farmer of progressive methods, Mr. Wilson is highly regarded for the many substantial qualities which he has displayed in the many years of his residence in Sampsell township and, while he has attained to prosperity, has done great service in this section as a forceful element and con- structive factor in upbuilding and developing.
G. M. KRINER.
G. M. Kriner, a representative agriculturist of Cream Ridge township, was born in Clarence, Shelby county, Missouri, May 6, 1866, and is a son of Jeremiah and Henrietta Kriner, both of Ger- man ancestry. The father was for thirty years a resident of Shelby county and well known and popular there. He was prominent in
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the public life of this section, having served as tax collector of Rich Hill township, as road overseer and as director of schools and having been otherwise identified with the general progress and growth. He died in 1903, and is buried in the May cemetery. In his family were four children: G. M., of this review; J. C., a farmer of Rich Hill township; Lilly M., the wife of S. J. Hoge, connected with the real-estate, land and loan business in St. Louis; and Frank L., who is farming on the old homestead.
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