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 33
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 33
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The father of our subject has always taken a great interest in educational matters, and his chil- dren have doubtless inherited this tendency. He is a Republican, and has served as Township Trustee and Assessor. A brother of the Profes-
sor, Alva, is a graduate of Musselman's Business College, of Quincy, Ill .; and a sister, Mrs. Cora Long, lives on a farm in Bates County. Since he was seventeen years of age our subject has been a member of the Christian Church, and is now Assistant Sunday-school Superintendent, and President of the Christian Endeavor Union of this city.
OHN MORROW RICE, M. D., of Colum- bus, Johnson County, is associated in prac- tice with Dr. Baxter E. Morrow, to whom we will refer at greater length later in this article. Dr. Rice was born in Columbus Township, this county, August 30, 1871. As a basis for his medical education, he was well grounded in general knowledge in the schools of his home neighborhood and in the State Normal. He then went to Little Rock, Ark., where for years he was employed in a drug store, after which he read medicine under the tutelage of Dr. H. B. Coleman, of this place. In 1893, after pursuing a course of study and lectures at Beaumont Med- ical College of St. Louis, Mo., he was graduated with the degree of Doctor of Medicine, and at once entered into partnership with Dr. Morrow. The young men possess good ability, are steadily building up their already enviable reputation, and are on the high road to prosperity.
The parents of Dr. Rice are John Morrow, Sr., and Virginia (Tackett) Rice. The former is a native of this county, having been one of the first white children born within its boundaries, his birth occurring about 1833. His father, Pleasant Rice, emigrated from Tennessee to this locality, settling in the timber two miles north of where Columbus now stands, but later moved to a farm southeast of here, dying there at the age of eighty- nine years, in 1891. For nearly his entire life he was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. John M. Rice, Sr., was reared on his fa_ ther's farm and received a good education for
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those days. On reaching maturity he commenced farming on land that had been entered by some member of the family, it being a tract of one hun- dred acres lying southeast of Columbus. After becoming the owner of the same he continued act- ively engaged in its cultivation until 1881, at which time he was elected Clerk of Johnson Coun- ty, and for eight years made a most efficient of- ficer. He is now serving as Deputy-Clerk. He was reared in the faith of the Democracy, and still adheres to its teachings.
The first wife of J. M. Rice, Sr., was Mary, a sister of the lady who now bears his name. She was born in Virginia, and died before the war, leaving four children: Sallie, Mrs. Robert Ewing, of Lafayette County, Mo .; Linnie, wife of John A. Black, a farmer of Columbus Township; Mary, who is living with her father; and Mattie, de- ceased, formerly the wife of William Shouse, of Lexington, Mo. To the union of J. M. Rice and Virginia H. Tackett three children were born, namely: Cora, John M., Jr., and Marvin M., who is studying medicine with his elder brother. The senior Mr. Rice is a Knight Templar and a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
Dr. Baxter E. Morrow was born May 3, 1870, in this county, being a son of Baxter E. and Mary (O'Neill) Morrow. He is next to the youngest of five children, all of whom survive. The father was born in Lafayette County, Mo., in 1825, and was reared to farm life; but as he ap- proached manhood his preference for a mercantile career became manifest. He secured a position as salesman in a general store and assiduously de- voted himself to learning all the details of the business. A few years later he opened a store in Columbus, and conducted the same for several years successfully. About 1868 he disposed of his interests and bought land some two miles west of the village. Here in a quiet and unassuming way he passed his remaining years, his death oc- curring in 1890.
Dr. Morrow grew to manhood under the paren- tal roof and received a thorough training in the common-school branches. On arriving at an age where the problem of his future field of employ- ment presented itself, he chose the medical pro-
fession, and after studying with Dr. Coleman, of this place, for a year, entered Beaumont Hospital Medical College at St. Louis, graduating there- from with honors in 1892. Returning to his old home in Columbus, he practiced for a year under the direction of his former preceptor, and in March, 1892, joined his interests with those of Dr. J. M. Rice, a graduate of his Alma Mater. During the three years of his practice here, Dr. Morrow has made many friends, and his uniform success in the treatment of his patients has gained for him the confidence of the people of this com- munity. Politically he is a Democrat, and in his religious views he is a Cumberland Presbyterian. He is a valued member of the Columbus Church, and is always foremost in everything relating to its welfare.
ALEN TERRY STARK, M. D., one of the honored residents of Chilhowee, Johnson County, has been successfully engaged in the practice of his profession here for the past twelve years. He has prospered financially and has won an enviable place for himself, both in the opinion of the public and in the estimation of his brother physicians. He is a man of broad and liberal ideas, and by constant study and a perusal of the best medical journals keeps in touch with modern discoveries in the treatment of disease.
The Doctor was born in Logan County, Ky., March 20, 1848, being a son of Terry and Mary (Smith) Stark, the former of whom was born just across the Kentucky line in Tennessee, while the latter was, like our subject, a native of Logan County. A history of the parents may be found at greater length in the biography of the Doctor's brother, W. H. Stark, which is printed elsewhere in this work. The youth of G. T. Stark was passed on his father's farm in an uneventful man- ner, his time being divided between work and play and attendance on the common schools. His summers were employed on the farm until he
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was about sixteen years of age, when he entered Bethel College at Russellville, the county seat of Logan County. There he pursued his studies for two years, after which he entered the state military school at Lexington, where he remained for another year and a-half. The cost of his edu- cation was partly met by the proceeds of the property he had inherited from his father's estate, as he was only about a year old when death de- prived hint of his natural protector. An elder brother, the W. H. Stark previously referred to, took charge of the old homestead and stood in the father's place toward the younger members of the family. The mother did not long survive her husband's death, but passed away some five or six years afterwards.
After leaving the military school, our subject drifted from one thing to another, clerking to some extent in stores, and in 1869 took a trip to the West. In the fall of the same year he began reading medicine with Dr. Hendrickson, of Adair- ville, Logan County, Ky. In the winter of 1870- 71 he took a course of lectures in the State Uni- versity at Nashville, and would have completed the course, but on account of lack of money was obliged to abandon his plan for the time being. For six months he practiced with his former pre- ceptor, and in the fall of 1871 located at Palma, Marshall County, Ky., where he built up a fair practice.
In the latter place occurred the Doctor's mar- riage, December 10, 1874, Mary Liles being the lady of his choice. She was born and reared in Palma, and has become the mother of four chil- dren: Lou, who was born in October, 1875; Lena May, whose birth occurred in February, 1879; Edward Galen, born in August, 1882; and Free- dom, born March 9, 1887. The three eldest chil- dren are natives of Palmna, but the youngest was born in Chilhowee.
In 1875 Dr. Stark returned to Nashville, where he completed his medical course and graduated the following year. He then resumed practice at Palma and continued to dwell there until 1883, when he sold out and transferred his family and effects to this place, where he intends to make his future home. He is not a politician, but uses his
franchise in favor of the Democracy. In com- pany with his estimable wife, he holds member- ship with the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and takes an active part in religious work. His eldest daughter, who has received an excellent education and is a graduate of the State Normal School at Warrensburg, is now engaged in teach- ing in the schools in this county. The family are esteemed and respected by their neighbors and many friends, and their pleasant home is al- ways open for their entertainment.
OBERT F. GRAHAM. Among the prom- inent agriculturists of Johnson County who were born within its limits, mention may be made of our subject, whose birth occurred in Center View Township, February 8, 1856. He is a practical farmer, and the admirable manner in which he is cultivating his fine property on section 12, township 44, range 27, yields him a good in- come.
The parents of our subject were James J. and Louisa E. (Stockton) Graham, the former of whom was born in Wythe County, Va., Decem- ber 18, 1819. He came to this state when a lad of fourteen years, while Mrs. Graham was brought hither at the age of six or seven. Since his mar- riage Mr. Graham has made his home in Johnson County, a portion of the time living in Hazle Hill Township, while the rest of his life thus far has been passed in Center View, where he now resides.
Robert F., of this sketch, was fourth in order of birth of a family of ten children, eight of whom are now living. Mrs. Frances V. Morrison lives at Eddy, N. M .; Mrs. Nannie J. Wyrick lives in Elk County, Kan., while the other members of the household make their home in this county. Our subject grew to man's estate on his father's farmı, a part of which he is now occupying. He was married, September 1, 1880, to Miss Nancy Elmira Willianis, of Warrensburg. She is a fine- ly educated lady, being one of the Class of '78
Z. CASE, M. D.
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that graduated from the State Normal School. She began teaching when sixteen years old, fol- lowing that vocation until her marriage.
Four children came to bless the union of our subject and his wife. Mary E. was born June 20, 1882; Effa died when eighteen months old; Robert Roy was born May 6, 1888; and Julia Lee, January 14, 1893.
Mrs. Graham was born in Warrensburg Town- ship, November 9, 1857, and is the daughter of Thomas N. and Narcissa (Weems) Williams. Her father, who now makes his home in Newton County, this state, was born September 12, 1819, in Tennessee, in which state Mrs. Williams was also born, April 25, 1827. She departed this life in Warrensburg about 1884. Mrs. Graham was reared on a farm east of Warrensburg and, as be- fore stated, attended the State Normal School, earning the money to pay for her education by teaching. Her parents reared a family of eleven children, of whom seven are now living.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Graham are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and in the work of the congregation in their neighborhood take a leading and prominent part. In politics he is a Democrat, and socially is connected with the Masonic fraternity.
OPHAR CASE, M. D., is a leading physi- cian and surgeon of Warrensburg, John- son County, and though he has been locat- ed in this place but five years, numbers many of her best citizens among his clients, and finds his time fully employed in meeting the needs of his numerous patrons. He has been engaged in the practice of his profession for nearly two decades, his field of labor being Johnson County, with the exception of three years spent in St. Louis. He aims to keep thoroughly abreast of the times in all the latest discoveries relating to the science of medicine, and to that end took a post-graduate course a few years ago in the New York Post- Graduate College.
The parents of Dr. Case were Zophar and Mary E. (Halstead) Case. The former was a native of Warren, Trumbull County, Ohio, born in 1805, and in early life was a civil engineer. He studied for that branch of professional life in Cleveland, Ohio, under his brother Leonard, who died in 1868, and in 1832 helped to make the Government surveys in southern Illinois. In middle age he became a lawyer, practicing at Carlyle, and was associated with Judge Omal- vaney. Then for a few years he was engaged in the mercantile business, and after retiring made his home in Cleveland, where he lived for four years prior to his death, which occurred in 1884. From his early years he was identified with the growth and development of Illinois, and held the offices of County and Circuit Clerks of Clinton County for several terms, besides serving as Coun- ty Surveyor. His wife, Mary, was born near Frankfort, Ky., in 1818, and died in Cleveland in 1881. One of her ancestors, Richard Nichols, was at one time Provincial Governor of New York, and her great-great-grandmother, Aneka Jans, leased the ground on which stands the famous Trinity Church of New York. Her progenitors crossed over to England with the Prince of Orange, and subsequently helped to uphold him as King William III. A son of Dr. Case's uncle Leonard, previously mentioned, William Case, was President of the Lake Shore Railroad and Mayor of Cleveland, and another son, Leonard, Jr., established the School of Applied Science, and endowed it in 1880.
The birth of Dr. Zophar Case occurred Jan- uary 22, 1847, in Carlyle, Ill., and his school days were spent in that locality. When he was in his eighteenth year he obtained employment at the railroad station, and two years afterwards began clerking in stores in his birthplace. At the age of twenty-six years he took up the study of medicine under Dr. J. T. Gordon, of Carlyle, and after completing a three-years course in a little over two years, graduated from the St. Louis Medical College, of St. Louis, Mo., in the Class of '75. The following year he began prac- ticing in Johnson County, and continued uninter- ruptedly here until 1882, when he went to St.
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Louis. He practiced in that city for three years, and while living there was married, June 11, 1884, to Laura Ellen Gallaher, a native of John- son County. In 1885 he returned to Johnson County, and a few months afterwards his wife died.
In 1890 Dr. Case went to New York City, where he took a post-graduate course, and when he returned to the West he decided to locate in Warrensburg. May 31, 1894, his marriage with Anna Blanche Beegle, of this city, was celebrated. She was born at Pleasant Hill, Mo., and is a lady of superior education, who with her husband is received in the best social circles of this place. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, the Doctor having become identified with the denomination in 1868. In politics he fol- lows his father's example, and votes the straight Democratic ticket, as he has always done since casting his first ballot for Seymour in 1868.
DWARD L. DE GARMO, one of the lead- ing dry-goods merchants of Warrensburg, has been engaged in business here for thir- ty years, and no one stands higher in the re- spect of his fellow-citizens than lie. In a long business career, covering over forty years, during which time (especially during the war, when so many business firms went down) he has passed safely through every panic, he has never assigned, failed in business, or compromised a debt, but has always paid one hundred cents on the dollar. He is a self-made man, having been the architect of his own fortune and having gradually worked his way upward from the humble walks of life by his own worthy characteristics. Some years since he took his two sons into business with him as part- ners, the firm name now being E. L. De Garmo & Son.
The parents of Edward L. De Garino were Ja- cob and Susan (Beardsley ) De Garmo, the former born in 1797, in Albany, N. Y., and the latter in
Bridgeport, Conn., in 1812. The father was of French extraction, and his father was one of the early settlers on Manhattan Island. Having come to this country with considerable means, he left his son Jacob a goodly inheritance. The latter grew to manhood in Albany and then engaged in the wholesale drug business in his native state. About 1840 the family moved from New York City to Tennessee, where the father engaged in large land speculations, being interested in the de- velopment of some property which had a wealth of minerals yet unmined. About three years later he moved to Kentucky, settling at Augusta, and a few years later he went to Louisville, where he passed the remainder of his life. He died while on a visit to a son in Hillsdale, Mich., in 1879. His wife was of English ancestry, and her par- ents lived in Paterson, N. J. After her husband's death Mrs. De Garmo continued to dwell in Louis- ville, Ky., until 1888, when she went to California to visit her two sons, and died at Denver, while on her way to Warrensburg, September 23, 1890. She was buried at Louisville, Ky., while her hus- band is sleeping his last sleep in the cemetery at Hillsdale, Mich. They were the parents of ten children. John, the eldest, was engaged in busi- ness in this city several years, and died in St. Louis in 1887, leaving two children. George, a mechanic, was formerly a manufacturer of nails and iron fences; he is the father of three children, and now lives in Philadelphia. Henry, who was a minister, died in Colorado, whither he had gone for his health; he left one daughter. Cornelia died at the age of twenty-one years. Garrett and William are both living in California, the former being the owner of a fruit farm, and the latter a resident of Los Angeles. Like his elder brother, Henry, Charles is a minister in the Episcopal Church, and has a parish in Philadelphia. Two children died in infancy; and our subject com- pletes the family.
The birth of Edward L. De Garmo occurred in Philadelphia, Pa., September 4, 1831, and his boyhood days were spent at the family residence in New York City. When he was nine years old he went with his parents to Tennessee, where he had but little chance for obtaining an education.
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Through the efforts of his father, school was held in an old log building with a dirt floor. Logs served the purpose of seats, a hole in the side of the building admitted the light, and a box of sand answered for a blackboard. When they moved to Augusta, Ky., his opportunities were better and he attended college there for six years, after which he returned to Louisville. Later he went to Vienna, Ind., where, for a short time, he was engaged in the coopering business. He then went to New Albany, Ind., where he engaged to serve an apprenticeship of three years as a cabinet- maker, his father having met with financial re- verses. The first year he received $2.50 per week, the second $3 (out of which he had to pay for his board and clothes), and the third was to re- ceive $5 per week. When about two years had passed he was much surprised one day when his employer came to him and told him that as he had been so faithful he would henceforth allow him journeyman wages. The next day he earned $3 and felt rich indeed. He continued with his employer for another year, after which he went into business for himself with one of his brother apprentices in North Madison, Ind. A year later he took charge of the office and warerooms of Robins & Pindell, wholesale manufacturers of furniture, and during the five years that he was in their employ he managed to save quite a sum of money. In 1856 he moved to Hope, Ind., and there engaged in general merchandising until the close of the war.
In 1861 Governor Morton requested Mr. De Garmo to enter the secret service of the state, this request coming in response to a letter asking the Governor to commission him as Captain of a com- pany which he had organized and which had elect- ed him to the Captaincy. He acceded to Gov- ernor Morton's wishes, and rendered valuable service until peace was declared. No one, not even his wife, knew of it until the war ended. At one time during the Morgan raid his neigh- bors brought him all their money, $20,000, and valuables to be kept for security in his safe. He did not wish to take the responsibility, but did so upon being urged. Wisely determining not to place them in the safe, however, he marked
each roll separately and put them in a large earthen jar and buried it under his house, the place of burial being known to no one but him- self. His safe was robbed, his store set on fire, and his stable, containing a very fine horse, a carriage, sleigh, harness, etc., burned, but the money and valuables were saved, much to the surprise of those who had entrusted them to his keeping. In the secret service he had many ex- citing experiences. Once he received word that his property was to be burned and he murdered, so he prepared for the parties, but as they became apprised of his movements never came. At one time, in a skirmish with the enemy, he was shot in the forehead, and on another occasion received a sabre cut on the head.
In 1865 Mr. De Garmo and his partner came to Warrensburg, bought a lot, and put up the third business house on the south side of Pine Street, stocking it with a general line of merchant- dise. On Christmas Eve, 1865, a disastrous fire consumed nearly all of the buildings on Pine Street, and our subject and his partner sustained a very heavy loss. Afterward they assisted in erecting the Eureka Mills, the first mill construct- ed in this city after the war, and as soon as they were in running order sold out to other parties. Next they built the storehouse in which Mr. De Garmo now runs a business and put in machinery for the manufacture of woolen goods. This es- tablishment they operated until 1886, when they closed it out, still continuing in the dry-goods business, however. In 1887 our subject bought the farm of two hundred and fifteen acres in this county which he still owns, living upon it over a year for the benefit of his health, when he're- turned to business in this city.
June 14, 1854, at Madison, Ind., Mr. De Garmo married Miss Mary Schmidlap, who has borne him four children, namely: Lewis Edward, Cornelia, Frank and Hettie L. Lewis E., who was born in Madison, Ind., and is now a dry-goods merchant in Chicago, was formerly in business with his father and brother, but wanted to go to a larger city. He was married in that city to Dora Mick, and has one child, Lewis Emmett. Cor- nelia, born in Hope, Ind., married J. W. Suddath,
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whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work. Frank, born in the same place, October 9, 1862, was married, October 8, 1890, to Mary E O'Don- nell, of Jackson County, Mo. She is also a na- tive of Indiana, her birth having occurred Sep- tember 5, 1864, and by her marriage became the mother of two children: Mary Cora, born August 28, 1891, and Margaret Frances, August 1, 1893. Lewis E. and Frank De Garmo were employed in the woolen-mills until the business was closed out, when they became identified in business with their father. Both sons were educated in the State Normal at Warrensburg, and Frank's wife was one of the teachers in that institution for four or five years. Hettie, also born in Hope, Ind., married Emmett Mick, of Chicago, general sales- man for Carson, Pirie, Scott & Co., and they have one child, Louise.
Mrs. De Garmo's parents, Caleb and Sarah Schmidlap, were of German ancestry and birth, but came to this country when quite young. After a time they established a grocery and bak- ery business in Madison, Ind., and by industry and frugality saved a sufficient amount of money to enable them to retire from business entirely. They lived in their beautiful home, comfortably and happily, for many years, and reared a family of ten children. In religious belief they were Methodists, and in that faith they trained their children. "Father" Schmidlap (for by that title he was familiarly called) was a Master Mason and active in that fraternity. He died some years ago at eighty years of age and was buried at Madison, Ind. The mother is living in Warrens- burg with her daughter Mary, and though eighty-nine years old, is hearty and strong, and is passing her declining years in the midst of plenty and comfort. Of her children, six are liv- ing, all well-to-do and prosperous.
In 1852 Edward De Garmo cast his first Presi- dential ballot for General Scott, and has ever since voted the straight Republican Presidential ticket. He has served on the City Council two terms, and has been a member of the School Board for a like period. Besides being instrumental in building the new Presbyterian Church of this city, he also took an active part in getting the normal school
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