USA > Missouri > Livingston County > Past and present of Livingston County, Missouri : a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 8
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Benjamin F. Broyles was reared at home and acquired a public- school education. He began his business career in Chillicothe by establishing himself in the real-estate business and has since become a representative factor in local business circles, for his patronage has steadily advanced in volume and importance. He has the utmost faith in the merits of Missouri land and in the continued prosperity of the state along all lines, and his success is due in large measure to his forceful personality and fine enthusiasm. He is president of the Broyles Land Company, dealers not only in Missouri lands but in
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Texas, Kansas and Oklahoma real estate. The concern handles tracts of from six to thirty thousand acres, and Mr. Broyles has reduced his business system to a science and has leased no tract so small that he cannot instantly lay his hands upon all the information pertaining to it. He is altogether one of the greatest individual forces in the development and upbuilding of this part of the state, his work being of the constructive kind which influences advancement. In business dealings he is able, resourceful and far-sighted and he has not only attained individual prosperity but has left a deep impress upon the history of the city and state.
Mr. Broyles married Miss Sadie Knouse and they have two chil- dren. His political allegiance is given to the democratic party and fraternally he is affiliated with the Masonic order. He is greatly respected wherever he is known, as his efforts are to a high degree unselfish and so directed as to prove of permanent and practical benefit to those with whom he is associated.
ALLEN MOORE.
The educational interests of Chillicothe find an able representative in Allen Moore, who is the president of the Chillicothe Business Col- lege and as such has exerted a far-reaching influence upon the young men and women of the community, many of whom he has prepared for a successful commercial career. Although quite a young man, or just because he is a young man, he has been successful, understand- ing more readily the needs and equipment of this age of intense and complex activity. He was born February 19, 1886, at Stanberry, Missouri, and is a son of Allen Moore, Sr., a native of Indiana, who was born July 4, 1853, at Huntington. About 1880 the father re- moved from his native state to Stanberry and a decade later came to Chillicothe. He became a prominent educator along commercial lines and was president of the Chillicothe Normal School, the Stanberry Normal School and also the Springfield Normal School. He was of the Quaker faith and in his political views a democrat. His active life was closed January 9, 1907, when he passed away at Chillicothe. On August 16, 1883, he was married at Linneus, Missouri, to Miss Emma Dryden, who was born in that city, June 9, 1862, and reared in Linn county, Missouri. She survived her husband until July 19, 1908. The paternal grandfather, Samuel Moore, was born September 25,
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1818, in North Carolina, but at an early age was taken by his parents to Huntington county, Indiana, where he was reared and grew to manhood. During all his life he followed the occupation of farm- ing. He was a republican in his political views and of the Quaker faith. He died at Huntington, Indiana, June 12, 1895. On October 7, 1846, he married Elizabeth Wiley, who was born October 20, 1826, in Ohio, and grew to womanhood in Huntington county, Indiana. They had eight children: George Moore, deceased; Minerva White, of Bloomington, Illinois; Vincent W. Moore, of Huntington, In- diana; John B. Moore, deceased; Allen Moore, Sr., the father of our subject, deceased; and three, who died in childhood. The maternal grandfather was Nathaniel Julien Dryden, a native of Kentucky, who was reared and grew to manhood in Linn county, Missouri. He was a physician and also followed agricultural pursuits for a part of his life. In politics he was a democrat and his religious faith was that of the Methodist church, South. He passed away about 1865. He was married to Martha Holland Russell, who was born in Virginia, May 23, 1820, and was reared in Linn county, Missouri. Mr. and Mrs. Nathaniel J. Dryden had fourteen children, including Mrs. Fannie Edwards, deceased; Nathaniel Dryden, deceased; Mrs. Sallie Lyons, deceased; Mrs. Mattie L. Meyer, of Excelsior Springs, Mis- souri ; D. C. Dryden, of Purdin, Missouri; R. H. Dryden, making his home in the same city; Mrs. Nannie Cassity, of Linneus, Missouri ; John Dryden, of Sumner, Missouri; Mrs. Mary Stannard, of Ipswich, South Dakota; and Emma, the mother of our subject. The other four have passed away. Mr. and Mrs. Allen Moore, Sr., were the parents of seven children: Vincent D., born October I, 1884, de- ceased; Allen, our subject; Ralph LeRoy, born August II, 1887, at Stanberry, Missouri, who is associated in business with his brother Allen; Irene M., born May 16, 1890, who married J. R. Townsend, a real-estate man of Chillicothe, Missouri; Elizabeth M., born No- vember 12, 1892, the wife of R. H. Vertrees, a banker of Olustee, Oklahoma; Mabel, born August 12, 1895, deceased; and George D., born June 6, 1898, who makes his home with our subject.
Allen Moore was reared at home and attended school until he began a course in the Chillicothe Normal School and, graduating therefrom, attended Valparaiso University of Valparaiso, Indiana, until 1906. He then became associated with his father in his various educational institutions and upon the death of the latter took charge and became president of the Chillicothe Business College, which was formerly called the Chillicothe Normal School, and also became vice
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president of the Springfield Business College of Springfield, Mis- souri. His brother, Ralph LeRoy, is associated with our subject in conducting these schools. He is a graduate of the Chillicothe public schools and the Chillicothe Normal School and at this writing occu- pies the position of vice president of the Chillicothe Business College. The courses of instruction these schools furnish are of the very high- est class and that they are effective is manifest by the large attendance the institutions enjoy. Both brothers devote their undivided atten- tion to the betterment and conduct of these business colleges, which enjoy a reputation of the highest character in the city and surrounding country. Allen Moore is a democrat in his political views and al- though he is public-spirited and takes a laudable interest in the upbuilding and development of Chillicothe, has never aspired to public office, as the many demands his schools make upon his time make active participation in political affairs practically impossible. His religion is that of the Methodist church, South. He is a member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks.
Ralph LeRoy Moore was married October 5, 1910, at Twelve Mile, Indiana, to Miss Maud Maus, who is a native of that place. He is a democrat in politics, a member of the Methodist church, South, and an Elk. Allen Moore, as the head of two of the most important educational institutions along commercial lines, occupies a foremost position in the city which he calls his home, especially in relation to the younger generation, many of whom have laid by the courses which they took in his schools the foundation for a successful commercial career.
MONTREVILLE W. MADDUX.
Montreville W. Maddux, prominently identified with agricultural interests as the owner of a farm of one hundred acres on section 31, Mooresville township, Livingston county, and another of one hundred and twenty acres in Caldwell county, is a native of Livings- ton county, born near the village of Mooresville, May 4, 1861. His parents were Thomas B. and Abigail (Reynolds) Maddux, the for- mer one of the pioneer settlers in Livingston county, who came from Lafayette county, where he was born, and settled on a farm in this section of the state in 1856. At the outbreak of the Civil war he enlisted in the Confederate army and after loyal and faithful service
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received his honorable discharge, afterward resuming his agricultural pursuits. He was prominent and well known as a farmer and stock- raiser and held the high esteem and regard of all with whom he came in contact. He died November 29, 1865, at the early age of thirty-two, having been murdered and robbed. His grave is in the Mooresville cemetery. His wife survived him a number of years and died on the home farm in 1880. The family is of old Scotch- Irish origin and the American progenitor settled in early times in Virginia, whence representatives of the line later came to this part of the country.
Montreville W. Maddux acquired his education in the Oakridge district school, pursuing the usual course of studies. His father hav- ing died when he was but four years old, the entire responsibility for the management of the homestead and for the welfare of the family was placed upon his shoulders at the early age of sixteen and from that time to this he has never forsaken the trust. He has since re- mained upon the homestead, concentrating his energies upon its further improvement and development, facing obstacles patiently and bravely and finally reaping the reward of his efforts in well earned success. He has greatly improved the place, building a modern resi- dence, a fine barn and other substantial outbuildings and installing all the needed machinery and equipment. He raises every year fine crops of hay and grain but all of his farm produce is fed to his herds of cattle, horses and swine, his stock-raising interests forming a most important branch of his work.
On the Ist of January, 1885, in Daviess county, Mr. Maddux was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Lutz, a daughter of B. F. and Rebecca Lutz, the former a pioneer in Daviess county, who came to that section from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He is today one of the most prominent and progressive agriculturists in that part of Mis- souri. Mr. and Mrs. Maddux became the parents of ten children. Rebecca died in infancy. Jessie is a graduate of the Chillicothe Nor- mal School and later engaged in teaching. She is now the wife of Everett T. Johnson, of Ralls county. Tracy resides at home. Thomas B. is in partnership with his father in the operation of the farm. The other members of the family are Ida, Lafayette, Walter, Edi- son, Gwendolyn and Waitman, all of whom are with their parents.
Mr. Maddux gives his allegiance to the democratic party and is serving as justice of the peace. He has also done able work in the cause of education through his efficient service as director of the school board. His religious views are in accord with the doctrines
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of the Christian church, of which he is a devout member. He started out in life burdened with heavy responsibility and has battled earn- estly and energetically, achieving success and prominence and winning the proud American title of a self-made man.
DAVID J. BALLANTYNE.
David J. Ballantyne, who since the organization of the First National Bank of Ludlow in 1905, has capably and acceptably filled the office of cashier, was born at Flint, Michigan, July 22, I864. He is a son of David and Jessie (McIntyre) Ballantyne, the former for many years a prominent sawmill and lumberyard owner in that city. He died in 1879 and was survived by his wife until 1903. Both are buried in the Glenwood cemetery at Flint, Michigan.
In the acquirement of an education David J. Ballantyne attended the public schools of his native city and left the Flint high school when he was fifteen years of age. He has been identified with financial interests of some kind since the beginning of his active career, his former expert and able work along this line furnishing the broad foundation of his present success. Im- mediately after laying aside his books he obtained a position as clerk in the First National Bank at Flint and he remained with that institution for nine years, winning rapid promotion to the office of teller. From Flint he went to Spokane, Washington Territory, accepting a position as teller in the Exchange & Traders National Bank, a capacity in which he acted for two years. At the end of that time he went to the mountains and spent eight years prospecting, also doing expert work for the county. In November, 1902, he went to Granite, Montana, to accept a posi- tion as paymaster for the Granite Bimetallic M. & M. Company and when he resigned this office, entered the New England National Bank at Kansas City as bookkeeper. He remained in that position until 1905, when he came to Livingston county and aided in the organization of the First National Bank of Ludlow, an institution which was capitalized at twenty-five thousand dol- lars and which today has a surplus and undivided profit of nine thousand dollars. Since December in that year Mr. Ballantyne has served as cashier of this institution and has proved himself
DAVID J. BALLANTYNE
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a capable incumbent, quick, positive, exacting and gifted with the ability to comprehend every detail of the many affairs which come within the scope of his activities.
Mr. Ballantyne was married at Spokane, Washington, Octo- ber 10, 1898, to Miss Miriam Mumpower, a daughter of David and Julia Mumpower, the former a pioneer farmer of Polo, Mis- souri. Mr. and Mrs. Ballantyne have four children: Glenn and Edwin, twins, who are attending school; George; and Alma. Mr. Ballantyne is a blue lodge Mason and is affiliated also with the Order of the Eastern Star, the Knights of Pythias and the Independent Order of Foresters. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and he is active and progressive in all matters of citizenship, giving loyal support to measures for public advancement. He is popular in social circles, while in business affairs he commands the respect and honor of all with whom he has dealings. He is an expert and experienced financier, method- ical and accurate as to details, and he displays splendid judg- ment in handling the affairs of the bank which come under his supervision.
ZACHARIAH TAYLOR HOOKER.
In a history of any community certain names stand forth pre- eminent because their owners have made them honorable and worthy by beneficial and useful accomplishments. Livingston county's list of names which since pioneer times have been borne by able, upright and straightforward men, who have been factors in the general growth, upbuilding and development, contains none more deserving of special mention than that of Hooker, which has stood for over sixty-seven years as a synonym for integrity in business, loyalty in citizenship and trustworthiness in all the relations of life. The pres- ent representative of the name, Zachariah Taylor Hooker, is a native son of the county and has devoted practically all of his life to farm- ing interests here. He inherits the traditions and character of his father, Solomon R. Hooker, who came as a pioneer into the section and who during more than half a century gave to Livingston county the best energies and efforts of his life. He came of a family well known in recent years, his cousin being Gen. Joseph Hooker, of military fame. Solomon Hooker was a son of John Hooker, of Eng- Vol. II-6
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lish and Scotch descent, who came from his native Scotland, settling in Windham county, Vermont, where the father of our subject was born November 20, 1805. He was reared in that locality and when still a child worked in a bleaching factory there, afterward becoming identified with the hotel business in Boston, where he remained for a number of years. Later he returned to his old home in Londonderry, Vermont, where he purchased a tract of land and engaged in farm- ing. In 1830 he married Miss Rebecca Parks and soon afterward they moved to Tazewell county, Illinois, where in the following sum- mer his young wife passed away. Solomon Hooker returned to Ver- mont but after a short stay moved to Ohio, where he married, in 1838, Miss Lucinda M. Webber, a daughter of John and Hanna Web- ber and a lineal descendant of William of Holland. She was a woman of broad culture and excellent education, being especially well versed in the scriptures, which she made the guide and rule of her life. Previous to her marriage she taught in various public schools through- out the state. In June, 1839, Mr. and Mrs. Hooker made their set- tlement in Livingston county, locating four miles north of Chillicothe, and in 1840 Solomon R. Hooker and his brother-in-law erected the first frame dwelling in Chillicothe. They remained there until the spring of 1850, when Mr. Hooker sold his property with the inten- tion of making his home in California. Reports of an epidemic of cholera in that state, however, influenced him in abandoning his proj- ect and he determined to remain in Missouri. Accordingly, he pur- chased land four miles north of his former farm and cultivated and improved it along progressive lines until his death. He was a man of great determination and force of character, of wide charity and effective public spirit, always ready to do his part in public life and never seeking to evade any obligation which devolved upon him. For fifteen years before the breaking out of the Civil war he was post- master of Grassy Creek but his political views were finally the cause of his removal from office. On the night of June 17, 1863, his house was burned by a band of outlaws and he himself was shot. He died February 4, 1879, as a result of the wound. His wife, who was a native of Hampshire county, Massachusetts, born November 20, 1815, survived him three years, dying February 1I, 1882. They had five children: George W .; John E., who has passed away; Zachariah Taylor, of this review; Hattie E., deceased, the wife of William T. Harper; and Henry, who died in infancy. All the children who sur- vive live upon the homestead. George W. has made two trips to the Rocky mountains, going for the first time in 1863 and again in 1882.
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John E. Hooker made a journey to Montana in the spring of 1864 and there contracted mountain fever, dying September 15, of the same year. He was buried near Nevada City, Montana. On the maternal side this family is of Revolutionary stock, Mrs. Lucinda M. Hooker's uncle, Colonel Webber, having been killed in the battle of Bunker Hill.
Zachariah Taylor Hooker acquired his education chiefly in the district schools but attended for a while private school in Chillicothe and the State Normal at Kirksville, an institution which he left at the age of twenty-eight years. During the time he was pursuing his studies he aided his father with the work of the farm and he after- ward taught for two years in the schools of the vicinity. However, on account of the need for his services in the management of the homestead he gave up his professional career and has spent practic- ally all of his time engaged in farming. In partnership with his brother, George W., he is the owner of four hundred and nineteen acres on section 19, Cream Ridge township, which, owing to his pro- gressive and practical methods and his unremitting industry, is one of the finest farms in this locality. The work of development has been steadily carried forward through the years, the buildings have been remodeled and new ones erected and everything about the place is kept in excellent condition, reflecting Mr. Hooker's care and supervi- sion. He engages in general farming and stock-raising and is well known as an able and successful agriculturist, to whom success has come as a natural result of ability and industry. He is president of the Farmers & Merchants Bank of Chula and influential in business circles of the town, his success and prominence drawing him into important relations with many phases of community life.
Mr. Hooker married, at Glasgow, Missouri, October 31, 1890, Miss Dixie A. Wallace, a daughter of William J. and Elizabeth Wal- lace, pioneers in Livingston county and honored residents of Medicine township, where they made their first settlement in the spring of 1839. William J. Wallace was a witness of the many wonderful changes which have taken place in this section of the country as growth and development have advanced and in all of the work of progress he was a worthy participant. He could remember a time when Chillicothe was his nearest trading point and when wild animals roamed through the forests of Livingston county. Mr. Wallace was a Kentuckian by birth, born in Madison county in 1812, a son of Samuel Wallace, who moved to Howard county in 1819 and farmed upon the property upon which he settled until his death in 1851. He married Miss Anna Snoddy. She was a daughter of John Snoddy, an early settler
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of the Blue Grass state and later an active participant in many of the early Indian wars. Samuel Wallace was a son of Andrew Wallace, a Virginian by birth and captain in the Revolutionary war. Mrs. Hooker's father, William J. Wallace, was one of a family of ten children, all deceased. He acquired his education in the public schools of Livingston county but his facilities were very meager on account of the pioneer conditions which prevailed at that time. In 1839 he wedded Miss Mary J. Birch, of Chariton, Missouri. She died in 1859, leaving six children. In the following year Mr. Wallace was again married, his second wife being Miss Elizabeth Williams, and to this union were born four children. On the farm, on which he lo- cated in 1839 his death occurred May 8, 1887. During the interven- ing period he gave a great deal of his attention to the further develop- ment of his property, carrying on general agricultural pursuits and stock-raising and becoming numbered among the progressive and representative agriculturists of the community. Mr. and Mrs. Hooker became the parents of three children: Harriett, a graduate of the Chillicothe high school and now a student at the Howard Payne College; Wallace T., a student of the Central College at Fayette, Missouri; and George W., who is attending district school.
Mr. Hooker is a devout member of the Union Baptist church and in his upright and honorable life exemplifies the doctrines in which he believes. He does not leave the active religious work to others, for he has been interested in the growth of the Sunday school for many years and has served ably and successfully as president of the organ- ization. He gives his political allegiance to the democratic party and for some time was a director of the school board. For five years he also served as assessor and clerk of Cream Ridge township. An analyzation of his life record shows him a man of ability and indus- try and of firm convictions, able in business, loyal in citizenship, with a spirit active in support of those measures and projects which influ- ence general advancement.
W. H. FAIR.
For over twenty years W. H. Fair has been a factor in agricul- tural circles of Livingston county, where he owns a fine farm of one hundred and seventy-two acres on sections 4 and 5, Mooresville township. He has cultivated this property by the most progressive
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methods, influenced in all of his farming operations by a marked spirit of enterprise and initiative, and as a result he stands today among the men of prominence and substantial worth in this section of the state. He was born in Holmes county, Ohio, August 5, 1857, and is a son of Daniel and Lucinda Fair, the former of German ancestry. The father of our subject followed the trade of black- smithing and later became identified with mercantile interests, after which he engaged in farming for a number of years. His death oc- curred in 1894, having been killed in a railroad accident, and is buried in the Clark cemetery. His wife survives him and is residing on the old homestead in Coshocton county, Ohio.
W. H. Fair acquired his education in the district schools of Ohio and laid aside his books at the age of nineteen, after which he assisted his father with the work of the farm for several years. In 1891 he came to Livingston county and purchased a farm of one hundred and seventy-two acres lying on sections 4 and 5, Moores- ville township, upon which he has since resided. He has made sub- stantial improvements upon the place, erecting a fine residence and barns, and has installed modern machinery and provided all of the conveniences and accessories of a model farm. General farming and stock-raising engage his attention and he has made both branches of his work profitable. He has today one of the finest agricultural properties in Livingston county, the neat and attractive appearance of his place evidencing his many years of care and labor. Aside from his agricultural interests Mr. Fair is a large holder of valuable mining stock in Mexico and Idaho and is also connected with the Uncle Sam Oil Company.
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