USA > Missouri > Nodaway County > Past and present of Nodaway County, Missouri Volume II > Part 10
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At Warsaw, Wisconsin, on May 16, 1858, Mr. Baker was united in marriage with Mary Pope, who was a native of Wyoming county, New York. Her brother had been a partner of Mr. Baker in the lumber busi- ness in Wisconsin and she came out from her New York home to act as housekeeper for them. her marriage to Mr. Baker occurring about a year afterwards. They have become the parents of four children, namely : Elmer A., who operates the old home farm, married Hattie Spaulding; Edna is the wife of Floyd Westfall, a farmer near Barnard. this county; Eda is the wife of W. B. Hanna, of Polk township; Delia is the wife of Wayland Wood. of Montana, where he conducts a cattle and horse ranch, owning five and a half sections of land.
Politically, Mr. Baker has always given stanch support to the Re- publican party, and he has served several terms as justice of the peace, giving eminent satisfaction in the administration of the duties of this office. Religiously, he and his wife are members of the Baptist church, to which they give a generous support. His life has been one of unceasing industry and perseverance and the systematic and honorable methods which he has followed have won him the unbounded confidence of his fellow men.
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NODAWAY COUNTY, MISSOURI.
GEORGE STOOLFER.
The record of Mr. Stoolfer is that of a man who by his own unaided efforts has worked his way from a modest beginning to a position of in- fluence and prestige in the community. His life has been of unceasing in- dustry and the systematic and honorable methods which he has followed have won him the unbounded confidence of his fellow citizens of Skidmore and Nodaway county.
George Stoolfer, who is acceptably filling the responsible position of postmaster at Skidmore, is a native of the old Keystone state, having first seen the light of day in Sugar Grove township, Warren county, Pennsyl- vania, on March 26, 1869. He is the son of Irvine and Eleanor (Gregg) Stoolfer, and is, as his name suggests, of German ancestry on the paternal side, his grandfather. George Stoolfer, having been a native of Germany. His maternal ancestors were from Ireland, and the sturdy qualities of these two nationalities have been inherited and are exemplified in the grand- son, the subject. Irvine Stoolfer was also born on the Pennsylvania home- stead farm, and there followed agricultural pursuits all his life, his death occurring there in 1902. George Stoolfer, the subject, was reared on the home farm and received his education in the public schools. At the age of twenty-one years he left home and during the two following years he was employed in the oil regions of Pennsylvania, which were then in the zenith of their prosperity. He then worked a year on the home farm, and later engaged in the same occupation in New York state several years. Dur- ing the following year he engaged in the fishing industry on Lake Erie, and in January, 1896, he came to Skidmore, Nodaway county, where, during the following eight years he was employed at farm work. He then accepted employment as clerk in a general store at Skidmore, at which he was employed for two years. In 1906 he became a partner in the firm of Barrett, Stoolfer & Owens, dealers in general merchandise at Skidmore, and was actively engaged in this enterprise, when, on July 4, 1908, he was appointed to the position of postmaster of Skidmore, entering at once on the duties of the position. He is a stanch Republican in his political faith, but the first person to urge his name for the postmastership was a Democrat and hun- dreds of voters of both parties signed a petition for his appointment, this standing is marked evidence of his popularity and the confidence reposed in him by his fellow citizens. In June, 1909, Mr. Stoolfer sold his business interests, his official duties requiring all his time. to which he now gives his undivided attention.
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On March 27. 1907, Mr. Stoolfer was married to Georgia McDonald, a native of Maryville, this county.
Fraternally, Mr. Stoolfer is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he takes a live interest. Religiously, he and his wife are consistent members of the Methodist church, to which they give an earnest and liberal support. In the performance of his official duties Mr. Stoolfer is accommodating and courteous to the patrons of the office and his administration has been eminently satisfactory. He is genial and approach- able and enjoys a large circle of warm and loyal friends, who esteem him because of his genuine worth.
GEORGE L. OWEN.
One of the busiest men in the bustling little city of Skidmore is the gentleman whose name appears at the head of this sketch, who performs the multitudinous duties connected with the three positions of railroad station agent, express agent and Western Union operator. Thoroughly qualified for these positions.both by natural ability and long experience, he has given a satisfactory service to both his superiors and the general public and he en- joys to a marked degree the regard of all who have dealings with him.
George L. Owen was born at Randolph, Columbia county, Wisconsin. on January 28. 1867. and is a son of John R. and Mary (Jones) Owen. Both of these parents were natives of the little rock-ribbed country of Wales, the father coming from Shire Vaughn and the mother from Mont- gomeryshire. John R. Owen was born in 1814 and was a son of Richard and Catharine (Evans) Owen. At the age of twenty-three years he came to Pennsylvania, where he was employed in the coal mines, but soon after- wards he went to Oneida county. New York, and in 1865 he located on a farm near Randolph, Columbia county, Wisconsin. He was the first to introduce cheese making in that section of the country, having learned the art while living in New York state. The subject's mother came to America with her parents and located in Utica, New York, about 1834. she being about ten years old. She lived there until she married Mr. Owen and they moved to Wisconsin.
The subject of this sketch was reared on the home farm in Wisconsin. where he remained until 1884, when the family moved into the town of Randolph. He secured a fair education in the public schools, after which
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NODAWAY COUNTY, MISSOURI.
he was for a year employed in a store in Evansville, that state. In 1887 he began to learn telegraphy, and the following year he entered the employ of the Wisconsin Central Railroad Company as telegraph operator. During the first seven months he was employed as a night operator at Chelsea. and was then transferred to Worcester, where he became station agent and operator. In this little town he soon became a leader and served as justice of the peace, postmaster, commissioner of the township and other local offices. After five months here he was transferred to High Bridge, Wis- consin, as station agent, which position he retained a year and two months. He then went to work for the Santa Fe Railroad Company at Ethel, Mis- souri, and two weeks later became agent for the railroad in this new town. In June, 1893, he was sent to Bucklin, Missouri, where he remained as agent until 1900, when he quit the railroad business and went into the real es- tate business there, but in the fall of 1901 he entered the employ of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company, in the capacity of night operator at Napier, Missouri. Here he had much rapid work, but performed his duties satisfactorily and in 1902 he was made agent for the company at Skidmore, where he has since remained. Practically all the shipping in and out of Skidmore passes through his hands and he is thus brought into dealings with every business man in the town, and by all he is held in the highest esteem because of his integrity and squareness in everything with which he is concerned. Personally, he is genial and accommodating and enjoys an enviable popularity throughout the community.
On October 3. 1895, Mr. Owen married Anna Williams, with whom he formed an acquaintance while employed at Ethel. She is a daughter of IV. W. and Winefrede (Edwards) Williams, both of whom were natives of Wales. To Mr. and Mrs. Owen has been born a son. William Byron. whose birth occurred on July 7. 1897, and who is now a student in the public schools.
Fraternally, Mr. Owen is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. the Woodmen of the World and the Order of Railway Telegraphers. Religiously, he and his wife be- long to the Methodist Episcopal church. in which they take an active inter- est. Mr. Owen has been superintendent of the Sunday school continuously since 1904. In 1905 the Methodist congregation erected in Skidmore its present beautiful brick edifice, at a cost of about nine thousand dollars, and during its erection Mr. Owen served as chairman of the building committee.
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giving much time and careful attention to the work. He has served for sev- eral years as chairman of the board of trustees. In every relation of life he has acted well his part and has invariably given an earnest support to every movement for the advancement of the best interests of the community. He is widely known and is held in high esteem because of his genuine worth.
JAMES W. WEDDLE, JR.
Among the sturdy and industrious citizens of Skidmore, who by their honest and well directed efforts are entitled to representation among the best residents of the city, is numbered the gentleman whose name heads this sketch. Mr. Weddle was born in Pike county, Missouri, on November 7. 1855, and is a son of James W. and Anna (Cornett) Weddle. The sub- ject's paternal grandparents were D. D. and Mary (Sullivan) Weddle, the Sullivans having come from Ireland and the Weddles from Scotland, while the Cornetts were of French blood. James WV. Weddle, Sr., was born in 1822 in West Virginia and came to Missouri with his parents in about 1850. Anna Cornett was born in Virginia and came with her parents, Isaac and Elizabeth (Bogus) Cornett, to Jackson county, Indiana. James W. Weddle, Sr., was an expert blacksmith and worked at this trade all his active years. In 1862 the family moved back to Jackson county, Indiana, locating at Wed- dleville, a town started by the subject's uncle. In 1866 they moved to De- catur county. Iowa, and the following year to Harrison county, Missouri, where they remained four years. On May 3, 1870, they came to Nodaway county and located at Quitman, where the subject of this sketch was reared to manhood and spent the greater part of his life. He entered his father's blacksmith shop as an apprentice at the age of sixteen years, becoming an efficient and expert workman, and in 1876 he started a shop of his own at Quitman, which he continued to operate until August 18, 1908, when he sold out there and bought a shop at Skidmore. He here enjoys a large and constantly increasing patronage, and all work coming to him is handled promptly and in a thoroughly workmanlike manner. His shop is well equipped for general repair work, having a gas engine for motive power, as well as several other useful machines.
In 1879 Mr. Weddle married Annie Laurie Wykoff, who was born two miles south of Maryville, this county. In 1863 she went to Clarinda.
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Iowa, with her parents, J. W. and Angeline Wykoff. Her father, prior to the Civil war, owned one hundred and sixty acres of land in this county. near Maryville, which he sold for five dollars an acre, and which has since so appreciated in value as to be worth probably forty times that price. The Wykoffs moved back to this county in 1876 and located at Quitman, where the mother died in 1888; the father's death occurred in 1893 at Trinidad. Colorado. To Mr. and Mrs. Weddle have been born nine children, namely : Charles Augustus, who runs a blacksmith shop at Graham. this county; Hallie M. is the wife of Jacob Calvert. of Amazonia, Missouri, and they have four children, Arlie. Lewis. Cecil and Laura : Iva B. is at home with her parents : James W. III, who .is a helper with his father in the shop at Skidmore, married Hazel Beorlin: Herbert, who lives southeast of Skid- more, married Meda Buntin and they have one child. Otis; Nellie married Alfred Logan. of Skidmore, and they have a daughter, Louise; Forrest as- sists his father in the shop: Anna Laura and Marguerite are at home. Mr. Weddle's father died April 6. 1910. aged eighty-seven years, seven months and two days, and the mother, who is eighty-nine years old, makes her home with her son, the subject.
Fraternally. Mr. Weddle is a member of Quitman Lodge, No. 196, An- cient Free and Accepted Masons. He has always taken an intelligent in- terest in public affairs and was township trustee of Green township six years, a member of the school board at Quitman sixteen years, during eight of which he was treasurer of the board. He was at one time appointed a jus- tice of the peace. but declined to serve. Mr. Weddle is a gentleman of splen- did personal qualities and is highly esteemed in the community where he resides.
D. R. BAKER.
The gentleman to a brief review of whose life the following para- graphs are devoted is prominently identified with the journalism of Nod- away county and at this time is editor and publisher of the New Era, at Skidmore. one of the most popular papers of the county, comparing favor- ably with the best local sheets in this section of the state in news, editorial ability and mechanical execution. The county recognizes in Mr. Baker not only a keen newspaper man, but also a representative citizen, whose interest
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in all that affects the general welfare has been of such a character as to win for him a high place in the confidence and esteem of the people.
D. R. Baker is a native of the county in which he now resides, having been born in Monroe township on July 1. 1864. He is a son of Andrew and Mary A. (Campbell) Baker. The father died some years ago, and sub- sequently his widow became the wife of a Mr. Hedgepeth. The subject's parents were both natives of Hardin county, Kentucky. His great-grand- father. Lawson Baker, who was a native of Virginia, was a soldier in the war of the Revolution, and also fought in the Indian wars, subsequently be- coming a pioneer settler of Kentucky. Lawson Henry .Baker, a son of Lawson Baker, was born in the Blue Grass state, and on attaining mature years became overseer on a plantation owned by Charles Marshall, a relative of Chief Justice Marshall and Tom Marshall, the noted orator of Kentucky in her early years. Lawson Henry Baker came to Missouri sometime during the fifties and settled on a farm of three hundred acres in section 17. Monroe township, two miles south of Skidmore, and it was on this farm that the subject of this sketch first saw the light of day. He was reared under the parental roof and secured his early education in the public schools. Sub- sequently he attended Amity College, at College Springs. Iowa, and also the Southwestern Normal School at Shenandoah, Iowa. On completing his education he engaged in teaching school and for two years was principal of the schools at Elmo, this county. Subsequently he became connected with the Elmo Register in an editorial capacity, in which he was engaged during the following five years, at the end of which period he engaged in the in- surance business at Maryville for about eighteen months. He was then chosen to the position of cashier of the Skidmore Bank, to which he gave three years of efficient service. At the end of that time he relinquished the po- sition and, going to St. Louis, he became bookkeeper in the office of the Willard Case Hardwood Lumber Company, where he remained until the spring of 1905, when he was sent by the company to Portland, Oregon. He represented the interests of the company there two years and was then transferred to San Francisco, California, where he served efficiently in a like capacity until October, 1908, when he returned to his native county. His former experience in newspaper work had touched a responsive chord and he determined to devote his future energies to this line of effort. He pur- chased the New Era and his career thus far in his chosen field has been satisfactory to an eminent degree. He is a ready and resourceful writer, a good judge of what is news, and a man of splendid business ability, so that his success has been fully merited. The New Era is a spicy and interesting paper
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NODAWAY COUNTY, MISSOURI.
and is a welcome visitor in the homes which it enters. The paper is indepen- dent in matters political and exerts a beneficent influence for the advancement of the best interests of the community, taking high ground on all moral and ethical questions.
On August 27, 1890, Mr. Baker married Cora L. Case, a daughter of L. H. and Amanda (Terhune) Case, of Maryville, this county, and they have become the parents of three children, namely : Raphael A., born November 29. 1898, died on the 5th of the following January ; the other two are Helen, who was born at Maryville, and Richard Case, born in St. Louis.
Politically, Mr. Baker is a stanch Democrat and takes a keen and intel- ligent interest in public affairs, though in no sense an office seeker. His religious membership is in the Methodist Episcopal church South, to which he gives an earnest and liberal support. Of a quiet and unassuming dispo- sition, yet genial and approachable, Mr. Baker is well liked by all who know him and has many warm friends throughout this part of Nodaway county.
CHARLIE E. OWENS.
There could be no more comprehensive history written of any commun- ity than that which deals with the life work of those who, by their own energy and indomitable endeavor, have placed themselves where they well deserve the title of "prominent and progressive," and in this sketch will be found the record of one who has, by his own efforts, attained not only a fair measure of success in material things, but also, what is far better, the esteen and respect of his fellow citizens.
Charlie E. Owens was born in Randolph county, Indiana, on October 10. 1864, and is a son of John Robert and Anna E. (Mendenhall) Owens. These parents were both natives of North Carolina, the former born in 1828 and the latter in 1830. They were reared and married in their native state and in about 1860 they moved to the state of Indiana, locating in Randolph county. On the paternal side the subject is descended from Welsh ancestry, his grandfather, John Owens, having come to America from rock-ribbed Wales.
Charlie Owens was reared on the paternal- farmstead in his native county and is indebted to the common schools for his educational discipline. In February, 1884. believing that the West offered superior opportunities
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for a young man, he came to Skidmore, Nodaway county, And obtained em- ployment by the month on a farm owned by Judge W. H. Wright, in Atch- ison county. Upon his marriage, about three years later, Mr. Owens rented a farm and pursued agriculture on his own account. About 1894 he bought a farm of one hundred and eight acres lying two and a half miles northwest of Skidmore and from this beginning he has progressed steadily on and al- ways upwards. He has bought and sold a number of farms and is now the owner of four hundred and forty acres, comprising some of the best farm- ing land in Monroe township. He gave personal and intelligent direction to his farming operations and has always operated with financial success, being numbered among the leading farmers of the township.
Besides farming, Mr. Owens has given considerable attention to mer- cantile business affairs, his first venture having been about 1896, when he entered into a partnership with H. T. Barrett at Skidmore. In November, 1906, he entered into a partnership with Frank H. Barrett and George Stool- fer and bought the store which they now own and operate in Skidmore, and which at one time Mr. Owens had owned himself. They carry a large and comprehensive stock of general merchandise and the firm is numbered among the leading business houses of Skidmore.
In 1887 Mr. Owens was united in marriage with Indiana Beverlyn, the daughter of George W. and Sarah J. (Haynes) Beverlyn. She was born in Randolph county, Indiana, and in the spring of 1885 she came to Mis- souri with her parents, who located eight miles northwest of Skidmore, in Atchison county. To Mr. and Mrs. Owens have been born five children. namely : Nelson died in 1896, at the age of five years; an infant daughter died in November, 1906; John, who runs a barber shop in Skidmore, mar- ried Minnie Logan; Juanita and Marion are at home with their parents.
Politically, Mr. Owens is a Republican and while living in Atchison county he served for a time as a justice of the peace. Fraternally, he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, while. religiously, he and his wife are faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal church, to which they render an earnest and liberal support. In every avenue of life's activities in which he has engaged, Mr. Owens has faithfully discharged his full duty and among his business associates and acquaintances he is re- garded highly because of his personal integrity and his business qualifica- tions, which are of a high order. He is energetic, quick and decisive in his methods and leaves no stone unturned in executing whatever he under- takes, much of his success having been due to these qualities.
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NODAWAY COUNTY, MISSOURI.
CLARENCE ALBERT THOMAS.
Though not long a resident of Nodaway county, and numbered among the younger members of the business circles of Skidmore, Clarence A. Thomas has earned an enviable reputation as a progressive and enterprising man of affairs and is held in high esteem among his business associates. Mr. Thomas was born August 18, 1883, at Rio, Knox county, Illinois, and is a son of John W. and Mary A. (Melton) Thomas, who are mentioned specifically elsewhere in this work. He was reared under the parental roof and accom- panied the family in its several moves, going from Illinois, when he was six years old, and eventually locating in Skidmore, in 1905. Soon after their arrival here, the subject of this sketch formed a partnership with L. D. Jor- dan in the hardware, furniture and undertaking business, in which they still continue, having met with a gratifying measure of success from the begin- ning. Mr. Thomas is well qualified for his business undertakings. After completing the common school grades he attended the high school at Afton, Iowa. Subsequently he entered the National School of Embalming, at St. Louis, where he graduated in 1906. He is a licensed embalmer and has charge of the embalming and undertaking department of the firm's business, as well as of the furniture department, Mr. Jordan looking after the hard- ware and kindred lines. Both members of the firm are energetic and hustling in their methods and the success which has come to them is the direct result of correct policies and sound business principles. They carry a large and well-selected stock of goods in every department of their store and their courteous and prompt dealings have brought to them a large and constantly growing patronage.
On September 3, 1902, Mr. Thomas married Ethel Mary Smith, the daughter of Sterling Smith. She was born at Maryville, this county, but about a year prior to her marriage she had gone with her parents to live at Raton, New Mexico. To Mr. and Mrs. Thomas has been born a son, Sterling Albert.
Politically. Mr. Thomas is a stanch Democrat and at present a member of the board of aldermen of Skidmore. Fraternally, he is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and its auxiliary order, the Daughters of Rebekah, as well as the Modern Woodmen of America. Genial and of pleasing address, Mr. Thomas has made many warm friends since locating in Skidmore and is numbered among the popular young men of the community.
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THE HAYS FAMILY.
Among the leading families of Nodaway county, Missouri, none is held in higher repute than the Hays family, representatives of which have occu- pied respected and honorable positions in the life of the community for many years.
Thomas R. Hays was born February 14, 1800, in Washington county, Kentucky, and was a son of William H. and Susannah (Ray) Hays. Wil- liam H. Hays was a native of Virginia, born in 1770, and died in 1845, while his wife, who was born in Maryland in 1773, died in 1854. They were married in 1799 and settled soon afterwards in Kentucky. Thomas R. spent his boyhood days in his native state and secured his education in the common schools there. In 1831 he moved with his parents to McDonough county, Illinois, where he commenced farming on his own account. In 1856 he came to Nodaway county, Missouri, and bought over two thousand acres of land in one tract at Burr Oak Grove, west of Skidmore. He married Mary McDonald, who was born in Washington county. Kentucky, on November 20, 1804. the daughter of Richard and Mary (Long) McDonald. Her father was born in Virginia in 1773 and died in 1809, while her mother, who was born in 1774, also in Virginia, died in 1851. They were married in 1790. Thomas R. Hays and his wife were numbered among the early pioneers of Nodaway county, and they spent the rest of their days here. The country at that time was mostly a vast untouched prairie, with settlers few and far be- tween and they were eye witnesses of the wonderful transformation which took place here during the subsequent years. They were both members of the Methodist Episcopal church and lived faithful and consistent Christian lives. Thomas R. Hays died in February, 1884. They became the parents of eleven children, of which number six are living. They are briefly mentioned as follows :
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