USA > Missouri > Johnson County > Portrait and biographical record of Johnson and Pettis counties, Missouri ; containing portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the counties, together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States > Part 11
USA > Missouri > Pettis County > Portrait and biographical record of Johnson and Pettis counties, Missouri ; containing portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the counties, together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States > Part 11
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Mr. Lupe was born in Louisville, Ky., April 23, 1848. His grandfather. Jacob Lupe, who was of German descent, was a farmer in West
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Virginia, and later in Roanoke, Ind., where his death occurred. Our subject's father, James, was a native of Wheeling, W. Va., and was captain and part owner of a steamboat which ran between Louisville and New Orleans, and during the winters ran up the Red River. Dur- ing the twenty-five years of his life on the river he never had an accident, and was one of the best known and most respected captains in the service. In 1848 he settled near St. Louis, and engaged in farming until 1860, when he entered the wholesale and retail liquor business in that city. In 1889 he moved to New Smyrna, Fla., where he owns an orange grove. He is now in his seventy-fourth year, and is a member of the Presbyterian Church. His wife, Anna E., a na- tive of Louisville, was the daughter of Henry H. Porter, who was of German and French extrac- tion, and operated a tannery at Louisville, where his death occurred. Mrs. Lupe died in Memphis in 1869, while on her way to New Orleans, where she hoped to regain her health. Her eldest son, James H., Jr., died in childhood.
Stephen T. Lupe was reared in St. Louis County, Mo., and obtained a good education. In 1869 he located on a farm in Dresden Tow11- ship, Pettis County, where he ultimately owned seven hundred and fifty acres. This property he improved and operated until 1885, when he moved to Sedalia. Entering the employ of Gaylord Leavenworth, a banker of St. Louis, in 1886, he remained there as Currency Teller for a year and a-half, after which he kept books for his father for nine months. He was next engaged in the real-estate and loan business, as a member of the firm of Reece, Lupe & Hansberger, of Sedalia, and later began contracting for mail routes, sometimes having as many as five hundred routes in the district, which was bounded by Arkansas, Nebraska and Indiana. Later the firm became Lupe & Evans, and as such continued in business for four years.
In St. Louis, October 13, 1869, Miss Mary Hood, a native of Edinburg, became the wife of Mr. Lupe. Their marriage has been blessed with seven children, viz .: Anna E., Mrs. Ed Evans, of Sedalia; James H., an electrical engi-
neer of San Diego, Cal .; and L. Loranie, Maude, Maggie, Minnie and Libbie. The parents are members of the Presbyterian Church, and enjoy the friendship of all who know them. In politics Mr. Lupe is identified with the Democratic party, but is not radical in his belief.
OHN A. WILLHITE. Having been in the railroad business-mainly in the employ of the Missouri Pacific-for the past quarter of a century, Mr. Willhite has gained a thorough knowledge of his chosen occupation, and has also become well and favorably known among the officials of the road. He is now engineer for the Missouri Pacific, and runs Engine No. 865, a big "Mogul," between Sedalia and Chamois, a dis- tance of eighty-eight miles.
The Willhite family was for several generations identified with the history of Kentucky, and our subject's grandfather, James, was a distiller in that state. After removing to Missouri he was similarly engaged in Cole County, where he also conducted agricultural pursuits. Jesse Will- hite, father of our subject, was born in Kentucky, but removed thence to Missouri in 1855, and settled in Cole County, fifteen miles west of Jefferson City. During the Civil War he enlisted in a Missouri regiment for service in the Union army, and died at Jefferson Barracks, before the expiration of his period of enlistment. His wife, Elizabeth, was born in Kentucky, where her father, James Fox, owned and operated a farm. She is still living, and resides on the old home- stead in Cole County.
Of a family of eight, six of whom are living, our subject was the next to the eldest who attained mature years. He was born in Casey County, Ky., July 29, 1852, and in boyhood was thrown upon his own resources for a livelihood, owing to his father's death in the army. When twelve years old he began for himself, his first work being in the employ of a farmer in Cole
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County. His connection with the railroad began in 1870, when he became brakeman for the Missouri Pacific between Jefferson City and Hol- den. Two years later he was promoted to be fireman, his run being between the same points. Afterward he was transferred to the line between Sedalia, Atchison and Kansas City.
In 1878 Mr. Willhite became an engineer on the Missouri Pacific between Jefferson City and Sedalia, and later between Lexington and Kansas City. After the consolidation of the different lines in 1881, he was for two years with the Missouri, Kansas & Texas, between Denison, Tex., and Parsons, Kan. On resuming work with the Missouri Pacific, he was given the position of engineer between Kansas City and Atchison, and now has a local day run of eighty-eight miles. He has been very fortunate, never having had any serious wrecks, although at one time he narrowly escaped death in a collision, his engine being completely turned over. The position which he holds is one of responsibility, and the efficient manner in which he has discharged his duties entitles him to more than passing praise.
Socially Mr. Willhite is identified with the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, belonging to Division No. 178. He is a Knight of Pythias, and is connected with Equity Lodge No. 26, A. O. U. W. In religious belief he is a Presby- terian, and holds membership in the Central Church in Sedalia. His marriage to Miss Louise Becker took place in Tipton, Mo., in 1874. Mrs. Willhite was born in Cooper County, Mo., and is the daughter of Hon. Fred and Christine (Schenck) Becker, natives of Germany, who emigrated to America. Her father engaged in mercantile business in Tipton, was also proprietor of an hotel for a time, and filled the position of Judge of Moniteau County. He had but two children, and his only son, William Becker, who was a member of a Missouri cavalry during the civil war, died in Macon, Mo., leaving Mrs. Willhite the only survivor of the family.
Having no children of their own, Mr. and Mrs. Willhite took into their home and tenderly cared for an adopted daughter, Bessie W., a bright and intelligent child, whose sunny and
affectionate disposition won for her the love of all. She was truly the sunbeam of the home and the pride of her adopted parents, who were deeply bereaved by her death, January 9, 1895, aged nine years.
W. CAMPBELL, a retired farmer and stock dealer of Holden, was born in Rowan Coun- ty, N. C., March 8, 1828, and is a son of Eli and Martha (Renshaw) Campbell. When but ten years of age his parents removed to Mon- roe County, Ind., where they lived a number of years, and in 1853 removed to McDonough Coun- ty, Ill., where his mother died in 1854, and his father in 1857.
In 1849 our subject went to Adams County, Il1., where he engaged in working by the month at a salary of $13. He remained there until 1851, when he went to McDonough County, Ill., and started to farm for himself on rented land. He prospered fairly well, and in 1856 purchased eighty acres of land at $18 per acre. In that year he was married to Miss Mary E. Paine, and at once went to housekeeping upon the farm which he had just bought. He continued to there reside until 1866, when he sold out and moved to Johnson County, Mo., where, in com- pany with his father-in-law, he purchased four hundred and forty acres of land at $25 per acre. He still owns the greater portion of that tract, and in the 'Sos bought one hundred and ten acres more in Madison Township. He also owns another tract of one hundred and eighty seven acres in the same township, together with six acres in the city of Holden, in addition to his residence and a house which he rents. His wife died June 24, 1887.
Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Campbell: Mary, who married U. H. Boon, a farmer of Madison Township; Alice Ann, who
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died at the age of six years; and Cora E. and Flora A., twins, who still remain at home and serve as housekeepers for their father.
Eli Campbell, father of our subject, was a strong Henry Clay Whig, but on the dissolution of that party, early in the '50s, he became a Democrat, and in 1856 voted that ticket. Our subject is a life-long Democrat, and cast his first Presidential ballot in 1852 for Franklin Pierce. He has been a member of the Christian Church since 1855. His wife also held membership with the same denomination from her girlhood, and his children belong to the same church.
EV. FATHER BERNARD DICKMAN, who has charge of the Church of the Sacred Heart at Sedalia, has accomplished a great deal toward building up the interests of the Cath- olic Church in this part of Missouri, and has one of the most influential churches in the state. He is very popular, not only with the people of his own church, but with all of his acquaintances in Sedalia.
Our subject was born in Minster, Auglaize County, Ohio, October 3, 1839, and is the son of Henry and Angela (Drees) Dickman, both of whom were natives of Germany. The father was born in Oldenburg, whence he emigrated when quite a young man to America, and located in Auglaize County in 1831. There he was for a time employed in farming, and later engaged in merchandising, continuing thus engaged until his death, which occurred in the year 1841. The mother, who was also born in Oldenburg, sur- vived her husband twenty years, her death oc- curring in 1861. She never married again, and on her shoulders devolved the entire responsibili- ty of rearing her children. The family consisted of two sons, Henry, and our subject. The elder son, who was a soldier in the Civil War, was a tanner by trade, and having been very successful, is now living retired in Minster, Ohio.
Father Dickman passed his earlier years in the town of Minster and attended its public schools. Upon completing the common-school course, he entered the St. Charles Seminary, of the Congre- gation of the Most Precious Blood, located at Carthagena, Ohio. There he studied everything taught in the institution, completing the four courses, namely: the academic, classical, philo- sophical and theological. In his old home, in 1862, he was ordained by Bishop Rosecrans, and remained as Professor in the seminary where he had gained his education.
Upon the completion of the Union and Central Pacific Railroads in 1869, Father Dickman made an overland trip to California. He was there ap- pointed rector of the Catholic Church in Eureka, Humboldt County, where he remained for five years. One year previous to his location in Cali- fornia, however, he made a trip to Europe, visit- ing England, Germany and Italy, and while in the last-named country visited Pope Pius IX. He remained on the continent about six months and returned to his priestly duties much invigorated by the tour.
In the year 1874 our subject returned to Ohio, and became Rector of St. John the Baptist's Church at Glandorf. This was a large and wealthy congregation, and he there built a church costing $75,000. Seven years later, in 1881, he removed to Nashville, Tenn., where he was pastor of the Assumption Catholic Church until 1882. During the latter year he came to Sedalia for the purpose of founding the German congregation known as the Sacred Heart Parish, in which work he has been very successful.
The first building erected by our subject was only a temporary structure, but served for church and school until the completion of the new build- ing, which was begun in 1891. The new church, which was dedicated in May, 1893, is located on the corner of Third Street and Moniteau Avenue. It covers a space one hundred and sixty-five feet in length and sixty-five feet in breadth. It is very finely furnished, and is by far the handsomest church in the state, outside of St. Louis. The architecture is of Gothic style, and the windows are of cathedral glass. The congregation num-
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bers one hundred and fifty families, and the school is very ably conducted. There are three teachers in charge, all Sisters of the Most Precious Blood, and the school has an attendance of about one hundred and twenty-five.
Father Dickman owns half a block on Third Streets, Vermont and Moniteau Avenues, which was all vacant when he came here. He erected the beautiful residence which now occupies the grounds, and over $51,000 have been spent on improvements, which include the residence, school and church property. Socially our subject be- longs to the Catholic Knights, and is a valued member of the Brothers of Council of C. P. P. S., and is a highly esteemed member of the commu- nity.
WILSON CARR, M. D., has for eighteen years been one of the leading practitioners of Sedalia, where he located in 1877. He belongs to the homeopathic school, and in both the practice of medicine and surgery has ever met with excellent success. He is an electro- therapeutist, having for many years made elec- tricity a special study, and was one of the first physicians to use it and find it efficacious in dis- ease.
Dr. Carr was born on the 3d of March, 1831, near Baltimore, Md., and is a son of John Carr, a native of Anne Arundel County, Md. His grandfather, Robert Carr, was also a native of the same state. The latter had a brother, Col. John Carr, who served under that title during the Revolutionary War. The ancestors of our subject came to this country with Lord Baltimore, and received a grant of several thousand acres of land in Maryland. His father owned and resided upon a part of it, there engaging in farming. On his plantation in 1694 an Episcopal Church was erected, which still stands, being over two hundred years old. His father had four brothers, two of whom became physicians. He served as a priv- ate in the War of 1812, and after his return lo-
cated in Baltimore, where lie died at the age of seventy years, during the Civil War. His wife, who was in her maidenhood Eliza Wilson, was born in Baltimore, where her father, George Wilson, who was a native of Scotland, had lo- cated. Both parents were members of the Epis- copal Church, and the mother's death occurred at the age of sixty-nine years. In the family were four sons and one daughter, the latter of whom is now deceased. The others are Robert and John, who are merchants of Baltimore; Sam- uel, a farmer residing near the old home in Mary- land; and R. Wilson, the youngest of the family.
The Doctor was reared to manhood in his na- tive state, and attended Dickinson College, of Carlisle, Pa., from which he was graduated. He then began the study of medicine in the medical department of the University of Maryland, grad- uating from that school in March, 1852, when he entered Bay Hospital as resident physician.
In 1853 Dr. Carr went to California, by way of Panama, and after remaining in San Francisco for a time practiced medicine in Downieville, Sierra County, until the fall of 1856, when, in company with an expedition under General Walker, he went to Nicaragua as a surgeon. He remained with him until the spring of 1857, when he returned to Baltimore, where he en- gaged in practice. During the war he rendered professional service at Antietam and Gettysburg as a volunteer surgeon In 1876 he took up the study of homeopathy, which he has since prac- ticed. The following year he located in Sedalia, where he has made many friends and has a large and lucrative practice. He makes a specialty of the diseases of women and electro-therapeutics. He has all the appliances needed for electrical treatment, in which he is very successful. His office is in the Alamo Block, on Third Street. Be- sides his many patients in Sedalia and vicinity, he has others from adjoining states.
The Doctor was married, in Baltimore, to Miss Susan E. Johnson, a native of that city, and a daughter of Dorsey Johnson. Her family took a prominent part in the Revolutionary War, and one of her ancestors was the first Governor of Maryland. In Sedalia Dr. Carr served for five
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terms as City Physician, and is a member of the State Homeopathic Institute of Medicine. In politics he is a Democrat, and also belongs to the Knights of Pythias, Knights of Honor and Knights Templar, the latter of the Masonic fra- ternity. He holds membership with Calvary Episcopal Church, in which for fifteen years he has been Vestryman.
12 ANIEL R. ELLIOTT is one of the pro- gressive and wide-awake farmers who find both pleasure and profit in cultivating the soil, and by means of dignity and ability tend to raise the standard of their chosen occupation. His fine estate, which includes two hundred and thirty broad acres, is pleasantly located on section 13, township 44, range 23, Pettis County.
Our subject is a native of this county, and was born in Washington Township, March 30, 1855, to John and Sarah (Ramey) Elliott. His father was a Kentuckian by birth, and was a lad of nine years at the time of his parents' removal to Mis- souri. He was therefore reared to mature years in Pettis County, and choosing agriculture as his vocation in life, followed it with success until his decease, March 21, 1893. Industry and energy were the qualities which won the prosperity he enjoyed. His good wife, the mother of Daniel, was born in Missouri, and departed this life in November, 1884.
Daniel R. Elliott carried on his studies for a time in the common schools of the home neigh- borhood, and after becoming informed in the common branches there taught began farm work on the homestead. He proved a very valuable assistant to his father, and remained with him un- til attaining his majority, when the desire to con- mence in life for himself became manifest. Rent- ing a portion of his father's farm, he began its operation, but he has for the past four years lived on his present valuable tract, and is very de- servedly classed among the intelligent and promi-
nent agriculturists of the county. He grows both grain and live stock in large quantities, and is well and favorably known in this section.
The lady to whom our subject was married March 8, 1877, was Miss Lucinda C., daughter of Charles and Mary ( Allfather) Harkless, na- tives of Pennsylvania. Upon leaving their old home her parents moved to a point in Minnesota, and finally took up their abode in Missouri. Mrs. Elliott was born during their residence in Minne- sota, and was given such an education as the day and locality afforded. She is now deceased, hav- ing departed this life, January 2, 1893.
To Mr. and Mrs. Elliott were born seven chil- dren. Those living are Marcellus, Gerald, Maude, Blanche, Emmet and Vest. They are all at home with their father, with the exception of the youngest, who makes his home with a sister of Mr. Elliott. In politics our subject is Democrat- ic and a strong supporter of his party's prin- ciples. He is interested in all worthy matters that effect the welfare of the community in which he resides. With the exception of a position on the School Board, he has at all times refused to hold office.
G EORGE S. McCLINTON, Superintendent and General Manager of the Sedalia Plan- ing-mill Company, owns over one-fifth of the stock. The plant was organized in 1889, but Mr. McClinton's connection with it dates from April, 1894. The company has a capital stock of $10,000, paid in, and transacts a very exten- sive business.
Nathaniel McClinton, the great-grandfather of our subject, was an Orangeman, and served in the English army under Wellington. He was born in County Antrim, Ireland, and emigrated to the United States, settling in Moon Township, Alle- gheny County, Pa., in 1816. There he improved and cultivated a farm until just before his death, which occurred when he was in his eighty-ninth
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year. He was a Protestant and a member of the Presbyterian Church. One of his sons, John, the father of George S., was born in 1823, and learned the trade of wagon-making in his native county. I11 1868 he moved to Allegheny City, remaining there until 1889, when he came West, and now, at the age of seventy-two years, is a resident of Se- dalia. Mary J., wife of John McClinton, was a daughter of Robert Miller, a carpenter, who came of an old Pennsylvania family. Mrs. McClinton died in 1893, at Windsor, Mo., and of her five children all but one grew to maturity. George S. is the eldest of the three living children. William J. was in the Fourth Pennsylvania Ar- tillery for nine months during the late war; then for three years was in the Fifth United States In- fantry, and for five years served in the Third United States Cavalry, under General Terry, in the Sioux campaign, and at the battle of Little Big Horn was a Sergeant. He died in Sheridan, Wyo., January 5, 1895. Charles A. is a farmer of this county; and N. F. is a conductor, and a resident of Allegheny City.
George S. McClinton was born in Allegheny County, Pa., January 15, 1850, and was a student in the common schools until the spring of 1867, when he was apprenticed as a carpenter and stair- builder with A. & S. Wilson, of Pittsburg. Leaving them at the end of three years, he worked for different firms until 1871, when he came West, but only remained a month, at the end of that time returning to his old home. In the spring of 1872 he went to Washington, Pa., and the following year engaged in contracting and building in Pittsburg, afterwards being em- ployed in a planing-mill for a year. In 1875 he went to Chicago, and later to St. Louis, where he gave his principal attention to stair-building. In the spring of 1878 he began taking contracts for stairs, and was thus employed until 1890. The next twenty-six months he was Superintendent of M. H. Boals & Sons' mills. In May, 1893, he proceeded to St. Louis and from there came to this city, where after working as a journeyman in the Sedalia Planing-mill a year, he was promoted to the superintendency.
The planing-mill is located on Second Street
and extends half a block on Mill Street. The warehouse is 50x120 feet, the mill 8ox60 in di- mensions and two stories in height. Modern ma- chinery and improved plans for the manufacture of mouldings, sash, doors, blinds and stairs are in use, and an engine of seventy-five-horse power is required. In busy times forty men are required to carry on the business and more than half of that number are constantly retained. The mill is the largest of the kind in central Missouri and its stock is now above par.
In 1871 Mr. McClinton was married, in Pitts- burg, to Helen G. Showman, who was born in New Castle, Pa. Of the children born to them, eight are now living, and the two eldest, Joseph L. and Clifford L., are employed in their father's planing-mill. The younger ones are Estolee R., Frank G., George S., Jr., Edith C., Margaret M. and Roy. Our subject is a member of the Royal Tribe of Joseph, and is independent in politics. He is a man of strict temperance, and is a valued member of the United Presbyterian Church.
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TEPHEN A. COLLIER, who occupies an influential position among the agricultural population of Johnson County, has his home- stead in township 47, range 27, where he has a fine farm. Upon this he has made some excel- lent improvements, and here he lives, surrounded by a fair share of the comforts of this life. Missouri claims him as one of her native sons, his birth having occurred in Howard County, on the 9th of December, 1854, and he is the third in a family of nine children born to Louis K. and Rebecca (Creason) Collier, of whom seven still survive.
The father was born in Illinois July 31, 1826, but came with his parents to Missouri when a small boy of six, settling in Howard County. His father owning a tannery, he learned that trade, which he followed to a limited extent, but most of his time was given to farming. During
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the Civil War he became a member of the Con- federate army, serving from the fall of 1864 until its close, and was with Price on his famous raid. He had also enlisted in the service during the Mexican War, though at that time he was quite young, and was a valiant soldier, ever found at his post of duty. He now makes his home in the northern part of Howard County, on the same farm where he has resided for forty-five years. He is held in the highest esteem in that commnu- nity, all who know him being numbered among his friends.
Reared upon the paternal farm, the subject of this history received his education in the district schools of this state, and remained at home, assist- ing his father in his agricultural labors, until he had attained his majority. Leaving the parental roof in 1878, he then started out in life for him- self, going first to Cass County, where he re- mained for one year. On the expiration of that time he came to Johnson County, operating rented land for four years, but being very am- bitious and anxious to get ahead in the world, he saved his money and purchased his present farm, where he now successfully carries on general farming.
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