USA > Missouri > Livingston County > Past and present of Livingston County, Missouri : a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 24
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G. M. Kriner acquired his education in the Clarence school in Shelby county and later attended public school in Green Grove, Rich Hill township. After the age of fourteen he studied only dur- ing the winter months, assisting his father during the summers, and at the age of twenty-one discontinued his lessons entirely and began his independent agricultural career. He first rented land and culti- vated it so successfully that in 1893 he was able to purchase a farm of his own, buying his present property of eighty acres on section 28, Cream Ridge township. This he has since improved with a fine residence, barns and outbuildings and upon it has carried on suc- cessfully general farming and stock-raising, being numbered today among the enterprising agriculturists of this part of the county.
On the 2d of September, 1892, Mr. Kriner was united in marri- age to Miss Ida Sneary, a daughter of James and Mahala (Harmon) Sneary. Mr. and Mrs. Kriner have five children: Ray, who is assist- ing his father ; Pearl, who graduated from district school; and Irene, Orville and Garnett, all of whom are attending school. Mr. Kriner gives his allegiance to the democratic party and has been several times a member of the board of school directors, although he has never sought prominence in public affairs. Capable and reliable, his industry and well directed activity are bringing him a gratifying measure of prosperity.
JOSEPH A. LEWIS.
In the eightieth year of his age, Joseph A. Lewis is still active and prominent in agricultural circles of Livingston county, where he has been engaged in farming since 1865. He has been a force in the early development of Blue Mound township and a factor in its later growth, standing today in the front ranks of progressive and successful agriculturists. He was born in Pembrokeshire,
JOSEPH A. LEWIS
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South Wales, in 1833 and is a son of Thomas and Mary (Rodrick) Lewis, both of whom have passed away, the latter dying in 1874 and the former in 1880. They are buried in the cemetery at Dawn.
Joseph A. Lewis came to America in his childhood and settled with his parents in Des Moines, Iowa, where he attended school, laying aside his books at the age of eighteen in order to assist his father with the work of the farm. For three years he remained upon the homestead and afterward worked for himself, spending four years in Des Moines. He came to Livingston county in 1865 and purchased his present farm, having the distinction of having been the first Welshman in this section of Missouri. He was ap- pointed agent for the Hannibal & St. Joe Railroad and given charge of their land sales in Livingston and Carroll counties and he accomplished this work successfully in connection with his private farming interests. Throughout the many years of his residence upon his property Mr. Lewis has steadily carried for- ward the work of development, building a fine residence, barns and outbuildings and making other substantial improvements in buildings and equipment. He owns today one hundred and ninety acres on section 16, range 24, Blue Mound township, upon which he carries on mixed farming. His business affairs are capably conducted and the neat and attractive appearance of his farm gives evidence of the many years of care and labor he has be- stowed upon it.
In Louisa county, Iowa, in 1868, Mr. Lewis was united in marriage to Miss Katherine Tudor, a daughter of David and Mary (Owens) Tudor, both of whom have passed away, the father being buried in Iowa and the mother in Dawn. Mr. and Mrs. Lewis have four children : David T., an engineer in Kansas City ; Mary, the wife of Henry Williams, a farmer of western Kansas; Margaret, who is a graduate of the Lexington College for women, at Lexington, Missouri, and who is now a teacher at Syracuse, Kansas; and John, who is assisting his father.
Mr. Lewis affiliated with the republican party, voting the straight ticket at every national and local election until 1912, when he identified his interests with those of the new progressive party, of which he is now a stanch supporter. He has served as justice of the peace for the past sixteen years, was for two years president of the town board and for four years road overseer. Fraternally he is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and his religious views are in accord with the doctrines of the Baptist
Vol. II-16
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church, of which he has been deacon for sixteen years. Having resided in Livingston county for almost half a century, Mr. Lewis has become thoroughly identified with its business and political affairs and in the successful conduct of his important agricultural interests has gained a measure of prosperity that entitles him to representation with the substantial and enterprising citizens of the community.
WILLIAM R. MAY. -
William R. May, who in a prominent way has for many years been identified with farming interests in Cream Ridge township and whose enterprise has contributed much toward the advancement of Livingston county, his native section, was born September 4, 1861. He is a son of James and Nancy (Creghead) May, the former a native of Missouri, who came to Livingston county in pioneer times, taking up a preemption claim of three hundred and twenty acres in Cream Ridge township in 1849. Little by little he increased his holdings and carried forward the work of development along pro- gressive lines, becoming finally one of the substantial and repre- sentative men of this locality. He was for twelve years public admin- istrator and in many other ways gave his active support to move- ments for the general welfare. He died in 1895, having reached the age of seventy-one, and is survived by his wife, who makes her home in Colorado during the summer months.
William R. May acquired his education in the public schools of Cream Ridge township, laying aside his books at the age of twenty- two in order to assist his father with the work of the homestead. After three years, however, he began his independent career, buying a small farm of eighty acres, which he has since increased to two hundred and sixty-seven acres. This farm, lying on section 18, is in a high state of cultivation and Mr. May has provided it with a fine residence, barns and other buildings. Each year he gathers abundant harvests as a reward for the care and labor he bestows upon the fields, while in addition he is extensively interested in stock-raising. He also operates a sawmill and has two threshing outfits upon his property. He is a director in the Farmers & Mer- chants Bank of Chula.
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Mr. May has been twice married. His first union occurred in Cream Ridge township, when he wedded Miss Melsina Clowdis, a daughter of John and Nancy A. Clowdis. Mr. May's first wife died in 1894, leaving four children : James E., a farmer in Cream Ridge township; Ora A., a blacksmith in Kenyon City, Texas; Pearl, the wife of Clarke Morris, a farmer in Rich Hill township; and Effie, who lives in Colorado. Mr. May's second union occurred in Chilli- cothe, Missouri, May 9, 1895, on which date he married Miss Pru- dence Luamy Austin, a daughter of Edwin and Jane Austin, both of whom have passed away and are buried in Ward cemetery.
Mr. May is affiliated with the blue lodge in Masonry and politic- ally gives his allegiance to the progressive party, having served three years as township collector. However, he has never desired office, preferring to give all of his time to his business affairs, which are capably conducted, so that he is justly classed with the progressive farmers of this county.
JULIAN THOMPSON.
In a history of the agricultural development of Cream Ridge township it is important that mention be made of Julian Thompson, who has been a resident of Livingston county since 1868 and who since attaining his majority has been influentially connected with farming interests. He owns four hundred acres of land lying on sections 26, 30, 32 and 33, and in its cultivation has displayed the progressive business methods and the careful management which constitute the basis of his success. He was born in Corning, New York, November 27, 1865, a son of Richard and Hester (Booth) Thompson, the former a flour miller who passed away in Millport, New York, May 9, 1868, at the age of forty-six years. A father of a large family he left his widow in straitened circumstances and burdened with the support of the younger of nine children, of whom two had passed away before the father's demise. With the remaining ones she came west in 1868 and settled upon the farm which is now the residence of the subject of this review. She made her home here in 1868 and on the 3rd of October, 1869, her eldest son, John Thompson, who was her main support, passed away at the age of twenty-five years, finding his last resting place in the Wallace ceme- tery. The struggle against poverty was hard and long but the brave
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mother faced the difficulties and hardships of her life with con- fidence and courage and gradually overcame them, rearing her chil- dren in paths of honor and respectability, becoming widely known as an exemplary woman, loyal and faithful to all the duties and obli- gations of her life. Beside John there were in the family, George, who passed away on the home farm in May, 1908, at the age of sixty- two, and is buried in the May cemetery; Herbert and Stephen, who both met their deaths by drowning in Millport, New York, the accidents occurring three weeks apart; Frank P., a farmer in Cream Ridge township; W. K., a jeweler in Chula; Dr. R. V., of Jamesport, Missouri; Mary, the wife of Wilbur F. Marsh, of Chillicothe, Mis- souri; and Julian, the subject of this review. The mother died in 1895, at the age of seventy-four, and is buried in the May cemetery.
Julian Thompson acquired his early education in the district schools of Cream Ridge township and later attended the Chillicothe Normal School, leaving this institution at the age of twenty-one. He then returned to the homestead and with his brother George took charge of the farm, which consisted of five hundred acres, one hun- dred of which have since been disposed of. After the death of his brother, Julian Thompson assumed entire charge of the property and has since been developing it along progressive and modern lines. He has erected a fine residence, substantial barns and outbuildings, and has made other improvements in equipment and accessories, being today the owner of one of the finest agricultural properties in this section of the state. He raises grain and is also extensively interested in stock-raising, feeding cattle, hogs and other stock. He is in addition connected with business interests of Sturgis as a direc- tor of the People's Exchange Bank of that city.
At Keokuk, Iowa, on December 20, 1896, Mr. Thompson was united in marriage to Miss Viola D. Leaton, a daughter of Robert C. and Florence (Lillard) Leaton, the former a mason and contractor in Chillicothe. He is a veteran of the Civil war and was also active in suppressing several Indian uprisings in California. He and his wife became the parents of eight children: Arthur, an engineer residing at El Reno, Oklahoma; Viola D., the wife of the subject of this review; Fanny, who married William Boyd, an express agent at Sapulpa, Oklahoma; Alice, the wife of Walter Hay, a civil engineer of Seville, Ohio; Milton, who resides at Laredo, Missouri, and is an engineer on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway ; Bertha, who married J. G. Ebetts, manager of the Democrat Printing & Lithographing Company of Little Rock, Arkansas; Valentine, who
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died at the age of twenty-five and is buried in the Edgewood ceme- tery at Chillicothe; and Harry, who resides in Chillicothe. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson are the parents of three children: Florence H. and Helen S., who are attending district school; and Dorothy D.
Mr. Thompson gives his allegiance to the democratic party. He is a member of the Anti-Horse Thief Association. Well known in Cream Ridge township and throughout the county as one of its substantial and progressive farmers, he owes his advancement entirely to his perseverance and well directed labor. His friends entertain for him high regard by reason of his fidelity to every trust reposed in him and because of the upright and straightforward methods which have marked all of his business dealings.
MRS. A. M. CLAY.
Among the women of Chillicothe who are doing worthy, beneficent and useful work in the amelioration of the condition of the misguided and unfortunate, Mrs. A. M. Clay, superintendent of the State Indus- trial Home for Girls, must be accorded an honored place. Her untiring energy, her courage and her patience have combined with her remarkable executive ability to crown her efforts with success and the value of her work is best proven by the splendid results she has obtained.
The Missouri Industrial Home for Girls was established in 1887, when the Marmaduke cottage was erected. As the demand for more room grew several more cottages were added and in the course of years a school, chapel and administration building constructed. Each cottage contains a "family" of girls, the inmates of each being selected according to the cause of commitment, age, disposition and previous education. The home contains at the present time two hundred and seventy girls between the ages of nine and seventeen, who have been committed until the age of twenty-one by the courts of the state for various infractions of the law and for other reasons. Mrs. Clay was appointed superintendent in 1907 and immediately proceeded to inaugurate an entirely new system of government and control. She established regular Sunday services and herself assumed charge of the Sabbath school, where the girls under her charge are taught their obligations to God and humanity. The practical duties of administration are never neglected and, indeed, they have been .
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reduced to a definite system, for Mrs. Clay is a capable business woman and possesses that spirit of initiative and practical insight and sympathy which make her ideally fitted for her difficult position. Aiding her in her work is a most efficient corps of officers who act together loyally and harmoniously, accomplishing in this way work which will live in the future and have a lasting effect upon coming generations. Mrs. Clay realizes the importance of the responsi- bilities which rest upon her in building up character in the unfor- tunate victims of circumstances under her charge and she brings to her duties a simple faith and high courage and a belief in the efficacy of hope and sincerity of purpose.
JOSEPH E. HILL.
Joseph E. Hill has for thirty-three years been influentially con- nected with farming interests in Cream Ridge township and his enterprise, his ability and his success have contributed much toward the agricultural development of the community. He owns and oper- ates a fine farm and by his progressive methods and careful super- vision has made it a well improved property. He was born in West Virginia, November 26, 1849, and is a son of A. C. and Mary (Cart- wright) Hill, the former one of the pioneers in Livingston county. The father came with horse teams by way of Knox county, where he remained for three years, after which he purchased a farm of eighty acres in Livingston county, which by degrees he increased until his holdings comprised two hundred acres. In 1878 he moved to Barry county and there died in 1895, at the age of seventy-two. He had survived his wife one year, her death having occurred when she was sixty-eight years of age, and both are buried in Barry county, near Golden.
Joseph E. Hill acquired his education in the Livingston county district schools and in the Chillicothe public schools, laying aside his books at the age of twenty in order to assist with the work of the homestead. He remained with his parents until 1879, when he pur- chased eighty acres of land on section 21, Cream Ridge township, a portion of his present farm, and later eighty more on section 21. He has since made two more additions to his holding, purchasing eighty acres on section 16 and eighty on section 14, range 24, and this property he has substantially improved with a fine residence, two
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large modern barns and a silo. The farm is in a high state of culti- vation, owing to Mr. Hill's progressive methods, and it constitutes a valuable addition to the agricultural resources of the county.
On March 26, 1879, Mr. Hill was united in marriage to Miss Esther Hurst, a daughter of Joseph and Margaret Hurst, the former of whom was for many years engaged in farming in Grundy county. He died in January, 1879, and is buried in the Wallace cemetery, in Medicine township. Mr. and Mrs. Hill became the parents of two children. Virgil, a prominent farmer in Montana, married Miss Jennie Stone, a daughter of Dr. Stone, of Laredo, Grundy county, and they reside at Polson, Montana. Eva passed away at the age of six years.
Mr. Hill is a director in the Farmers & Merchants Bank of Chula. He is a democrat in his political beliefs and has been on the township board for several terms. His religious views are in accord with the doctrines of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he has been a steward for over thirty years, and in his upright and honorable life he exemplifies the principles in which he believes. He is well known in Livingston county, where he has resided since 1857, and he has witnessed almost the entire growth and develop- ment of this part of the state. He has demonstrated in his life the value of integrity and industry, for he started out empty-handed and has won his prosperity through intense and well directed energy.
WILLIS COLE.
Willis Cole, the owner of a well improved and highly culti- vated farm of two hundred and ten acres on section 34, Jackson township, Livingston county, is a native of this county, being born April 13, 1855, and a son of Moses and Sarah (Wilson) Cole, the former of whom passed away in 1901, while the latter still makes her home in Jackson township.
Educated in the virtues of honesty, industry and thrift by his parents, Willis Cole acquired his learning in the public schools of Livingston county, laying aside his schoolbooks at the age of fifteen years. Early acquainting himself with efficient methods of agri- culture by assisting his father in the minor duties on the home place, he continued with the same for six years after leaving school, but at the end of that time began his independent career by renting land
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and engaging thereon in agricultural pursuits. Energetic and pro- gressive, he soon obtained results and was later enabled to acquire the valuable farm of two hundred and ten acres upon which he now resides. There he has erected a handsome residence and other sub- stantial farm buildings, making such improvements and instituting such equipment as are considered indispensable to modern and intensive farming. He devotes his land to such grains as are best adapted to soil and climate and also engages in stock-raising, receiv- ing gratifying returns from both lines of endeavor.
On April 17, 1879, Mr. Cole was united in marriage to Miss Susanna Wagner, a daughter of Frederick S. and Anna (Wortz) Wagner, both of whom have passed away, the father's death occur- ring in 1899 and that of the mother in 1910. Both the parents found their last resting place in Sampsell township. Mr. and Mrs. Cole are the parents of the following children: May, the wife of T. E. Stith, a farmer of Oklahoma; Awilda G., at home; Ella, the wife of Thomas Bills, who follows agricultural pursuits in Livingston county; Ollie, Mary and John W., all at home; Claude, who passed away in 1881; Moses F., who died in 1885; and an infant, who passed away in 1900.
In his political affiliations Mr. Cole is a republican and, being public-spirited, keeps himself well informed upon all matters affect- ing county, state and nation. His ability has been recognized many times in his election to various township offices. He is a worthy exemplar of the Masonic order, being a member of the blue lodge, and also is affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America. Ener- getic and active, he has brought about his own success by pro- gressive and scientific methods but has done more than that, for his labors have been instrumental in increasing the resources of this section and developing agricultural standards, contributing thereby to general advancement and development.
ELI J. MARSH.
Eli J. Marsh, living retired in Chillicothe, has many claims to the high respect and regard in which he is uniformly held, for he is an honored veteran of the Civil war and during his active life was closely identified with legal and business interests of the com- munity. He was born near Sacket Harbor, New York, on August
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2, 1833, and is a son of James and Sarah (Membry) Marsh, natives of Devonshire, England, who came to America at an early date and settled on a farm in New York. The father followed general agricultural pursuits during all his life. The mother was a daughter of Captain Amos Membry, prominent in the British navy. To their union were born ten children: Eli J., of this review; Luther, who resides in Charles 'City, Iowa; Sophia, who married J. S. Faudrey, of Adams Center, New York; Walter, who resides in Homer, Calhoun county, Michigan; George, who is a farmer near Charles City, Iowa; and Frederick, a colonel in the United States army, now residing in San Francisco. The other children born to Mr. and Mrs. Marsh died in infancy.
Eli J. Marsh acquired a public-school education and after com- pleting it taught in Jefferson county, New York, for three years. At the end of that time he entered law school in Albany, New York, and was graduated in 1858, after which he studied under Judge Ira Harris, then United States senator. He located for the practice of his profession in Adams, New York, and built up an extensive and representative patronage, conducting his patronage capably until the outbreak of the Civil war, when he went to the front as first lieuten- ant with a company of New York volunteer infantry. He afterward earned advancement and was mustered out as lieutenant colonel. In 1866 he came to Chillicothe and practiced in a private capacity until the spring of 1869, when he was appointed judge of the court of common pleas, serving with great energy, ability and impartiality and making a record in office over which no shadow or suspicion of evil ever fell. In 1869 Mr. Marsh purchased the Chillicothe Tribune, which he conducted for twenty years. He made this one of the leading journals in this part of the state, for in its columns he advo- cated always the most progressive and worthy principles and sup- ported warmly and intelligently all projects for the general good. As a director of public thought and opinion he was invaluable to the community, as his great influence was never given to a dishonorable cause and never unworthily used. He sold the paper on the Ist of January, 1890, and since that time has been living retired.
In the spring of 1859 Mr. Marsh was united in marriage to Miss Mary Skinner, a daughter of Judge Calvin Skinner, of Adams, New York. They became the parents of a daughter, Maria, born in May, 1860, who has passed away. Mr. Marsh has always taken an active interest in local affairs and has served in various important capacities, including those of city attorney and postmaster, which
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latter position he held for fourteen years. Since 1860 he has been affiliated with the Masonic order. In religious belief he is a Uni- tarian. There are few citizens in Livingston county more widely and favorably known than Mr. Marsh, whose enterprise and spirit of initiative carried him forward into important professional and business relations and whose stalwart character has made his promin- ence a force for good.
CHARLES M. POWELL.
Charles M. Powell, for twenty-four years past a lumber merchant in Chula and well known as a representative citizen of Livingston county, was born in Linn county, May 13, 1870. He is a son of S. M. and Emma (Heaston) Powell, the former a pioneer in Linn county, who came to that section at an early date from Virginia. He served during the Civil war and afterward followed farming until his death, which occurred in 1891. He is buried in the Mount Olive cemetery in Linn county and is survived by his wife, who resides upon the homestead. They became the parents of six chil- dren : Charles M., of this review; Zelma, the wife of E. Chapman, a merchant in Kansas City, Missouri; Lila, the deceased wife of Elmer Parkhurst; Ola, who is a traveling salesman, residing in Kan- sas City; Edgar, who is engaged in farming in Linn county; and Katie, who married Ike Larson, manager of Mr. Powell's farm.
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