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 79
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 79
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welfare of the public, and is identified with the Republicans. He has served on the City Cen- tral Committee, is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Sedalia Flambeau Club, and was Secretary of the Garfield Republican Club.
The Doctor is a son of Rev. Theodore and Al- bertina Dresel, and was born in Louisville, Ky., July 1, 1862. His education was received in Brooklyn, N. Y., and his initial studies in medi- cine were under the instruction of Prof. James R. Wood, M. D., of New York City. In 1880 he entered Bellevue Hospital Medical College, from which celebrated institution he was graduated in the spring of 1883, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. In order to obtain practical expe- rience, he spent the next year in dispensary work, after which he took a six-months post-graduate course in the New York Polyclinic. In 1884 he engaged in practice in Newark, N. J., where he remained but two years.
Being assured that the West afforded better opportunities for a young man of ambition and enterprise, Dr. Dresel went to Louisville, where he was a resident for eight months. From that time until 1889 he was engaged in practice in Goddard, Kan. Then, coming to Sedalia, he opened an office at No. 108 West Main Street, over Bard's drug store, and has since conducted a general practice. In the spring of 1895 he was honored by being appointed one of the Directors of the Sedalia Public (Free) Library, and was one of the foremost promoters of the Central Dis- trict Medical Association, doing all the clerical work. His associates in this enterprise were physicians of Boonville, and he is now serving in the capacity of Secretary. For two years he was Secretary of the Pettis County Medical Society, of which he is now President, and is a permanent member of the State Medical Association. He was also chosen to serve on the Committee on Necrology from the Sixth Congressional District.
In June, 1887, Dr. Dresel was united in mar- riage with Fannie Rehm, who was born in Louis- ville, and who is a daughter of Louis and Theresa Rehm. The young couple have one child, Ruth T., who is the pride and joy of their home. The parents are members of Trinity Evangelical Lu-
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theran Church, the Doctor being Secretary of the Board of Trustees. Judging by what he has ac- complished in his brief medical career, he is bound to come to the front, and at no distant date be numbered among the ablest practitioners of the country.
EORGE I. MURPHY. Both in his business success and in the position which he occupies in the community, Mr. Murphy is an ex- ample of what a man can accomplish, providing he possesses energy, pluck and good judgment, coupled with a respect for the confidence of the people among whom he may live. He is the pro- prietor of a large lumber-yard in Green Ridge, which he established in 1889, and possesses those qualifications which are necessary for a success- ful and prosperous career.
Mr. Murphy was born in Pennsylvania, May 28, 1828, and is the fifth child in the parental family. His parents, Philip and Elizabeth (Ster- mer) Murphy, were also Pennsylvanians, and spent their early lives in the Keystone State. When our subject was about six months old they moved to Tuscarawas County, Ohio, where the father turned his attention to agricultural pur- suits. He was a cabinet-maker by trade, but finding farming more profitable, spent his remain- ing years in cultivating the soil.
In 1849 the parents of our subject moved to Indiana, where they were living at the time of the father's decease, in 1866. His good wife sur- vived him until 1879, when she passed away, at. an advanced age. George I. was educated in the country schools of the Buckeye State, and was reared ou the home farm. As the father was a carpenter, our subject had more or less work in that line to do, and from his fifteenth until his nineteenth year was kept at the bench. He then started out to make his own way in life and did journeyman work as a carpenter for some time. In 1850 he went to Wabash, Ind., following his trade there through the summer months and
teaching school during the winter months. This continued for several years, or until 1877, when we find him en route for the state of Kansas. In Clay Center he built a foundry and machine-shop, and successfully conducted business for the fol- lowing twelve years.
In 1889 Mr. Murphy came to Green Ridge, and, as before stated, established a lumber-yard, which he is still successfully carrying on. In 1850 he was married to Miss Rebecca McConn, a daughter of Marcus and Mary (Craig) McConn, who were living in Indiana at the time of their daughter's marriage. Mrs. Murphy was born in Ohio, and by her union with our subject became the mother of three children: Philip, who is now City Marshal of Green Ridge; Joseph, living in Kansas City; and Sarena, who is now deceased. The wife and mother died in 1857, and the lady whom our subject chose as his second companion was Miss Ellen Bradley. She was a native of Ohio, and was married on Christmas Day, 1859. To them were born two children: George, a resi- dent of Denver, Colo .; and David, a citizen of Green Ridge. Mrs. Ellen Murphy closed her eyes in death in 1867.
In politics our subject is a stanch supporter of Republican principles, with which party he has been closely identified since its organization. He has never been an aspirant for public honors, pre- ferring to devote his time and attention to domes- tic and business interests.
AMES S. TEETER, one of the self-made, enterprising agriculturists of township 43, range 23, Pettis County, has one hundred and sixty-two acres of beautiful land, lying on section 2. The premises are kept up in a neat and thrifty manner, and modern improvements are to be seen on every hand.
Our subject was born in Boone County, this
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state, March 30, 1848, and is the eldest member of the family born to John E. and Lucy A. (Jef- fry) Teeter. The former was a native of Gar- rard County, Ky., and in that state spent the first eight years of his life. At that time he came with his mother and grandfather to Howard County, this state, where he lived until able to care for himself. He then changed his location to Boone County, where he followed his trade of a ship-carpenter, making and repairing boats to be used on the river. He was one of the old and respected residents of his community, and died when eighty-four years of age, December 28, 1893.
Mrs. Lucy A. Teeter was born in Boone Coun- ty, Mo. She preceded her husband to the grave, dying April 25, 1892, at the age of sixty-six years. Their son, our subject, was given the advantages of a common-school education, but his health being poor when young, he was un- able to stand the confinement of the schoolroom, therefore the information which he possesses on most subjects has been gained either by reading or actual experience.
The subject of this sketch remained upon the home farm, giving his father his time, until reach- ing his majority, when he began life's battle for himself. His first work was as a farm laborer, but the following year he operated a tract of land for his own profit in his native county. Until coming to this county, Boone County had always been his home, with the exception of about eleven months in 1890. He at once chose as his future home the beautiful tract on which he now resides. It is one hundred and sixty-two acres in extent, and is devoted to the raising of grain and stock. He had the misfortune to lose his right arm while operating a threshing-machine many years ago, and although this calamity has not been without its drawbacks, he has not let it interfere with his success. He has been a hard worker, ambitious and enterprising, and all that he has of this world's goods has been accumulated through his own efforts.
February 20, 1872, our subject and Miss Eliz- abeth, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Zumolt) Winterbowers, were united in marriage. Her
father's family were from Virginia, while on her mother's side she is of German descent. Mrs. Teeter was born in Callaway County, Mo., and by her union with our subject became the mother of two children. The elder, Laura, died when an infant; and Glenn is now in his nineteenth year. The wife and mother departed this life February 2, 1877. Mr. Teeter chose for his sec- ond companion Mrs. Louisa (Hall) Griffin, their marriage occurring February 13, 1881. This union was blessed by the birth of four sons, three of whom are now deceased. The surviv- ing member of the family is James Williams, who is at home with his father. Mrs. Louisa Teeter died at her residence in this township, September 13, 1894.
Our subject is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church, with which denomination his two sons are also connected. In politics he is a Republican, and has an abiding faith in the pur- ity of his party's teachings. He is a man who has never aspired to political honors, although he is qualified in many respects to fill positions of trust in an acceptable manner. In one respect his life has been different from that of almost every other citizen of the county, in that he has never been outside the borders of the state, nor has he ever served on the grand jury. He is a man of many good qualities, honest and upright in his dealings, and enjoys the esteem and confidence of a large circle of acquaintances.
*****
H. SMITH, who conducts the largest retail and wholesale establishment in central Mis- souri, is classed among the most prosperous merchants of Sedalia and has been identified with her upbuilding from the time of his first settle- ment here, in 1866. He was one of the organizers of the Crystal Ice Company in 1883, which has a capital of $50,000 and of which concern he has been Secretary and Treasurer since its organiza- tion. He was also one of the promoters of the
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Warsaw Branch of the Missouri Pacific Rail- road, being Vice-President of the same for years. As Treasurer of the Sedalia School Board, during his term of nine years, his financial ability had ample opportunity to be displayed, and by the help of a few others he managed to reduce the debt, guaranteeing a part of it himself, and brought it through the panic of 1873.
Mr. Smith was born in New Carlisle, Clarke County, Ohio, October 27, 1835. His father, David J. Smith, was born in Scotland in 1795, and in 1810 went on a trip to Ohio as a member of the Government Survey Corps, which corps established the boundary line between Ohio, In- diana and Michigan. He took a contract and built the first brick storehouse for the Govern- ment in Detroit, and also built the first one on Mackinaw, both being forts at that time. In May, 1827, he married and settled in New Carlisle, where he first engaged in merchandising, and later conducted a large farm near that village. His death occurred in 1878, aged eighty-three years. He was a member of the Christian Church, and politically was first a Whig and later a Re- publican, with strong anti-slavery principles. His wife, formerly Sallie Cory, is now in her eighty- seventh year, in the enjoyment of good health, and is living on the old homestead. She is a daughter of Elnathan Cory and wife, who was formerly a Miss Jennings, and a direct descendant of Sir Francis Drake of England. Elnathan Cory owned land in various parts of northwestern Ohio, and when he died in 1845, in his seventy-second year, his real estate was appraised at $144,000, and his personal at $50,000. With his young wife he moved to the Buckeye State, making the jour- ney with an ox-team. He had only $100 in his possession, and this he used in payment of eighty acres of land. In raising and dealing in livestock he was very successful, and in this industry made his fortune. The parents of our subject lived to celebrate their golden wedding in May, 1877.
D. H. Smith, who was reared on a farm, re- ceived his higher education in Antioch College, at Yellow Springs, Ohio. In 1859 he started on a trip westward into Missouri, and for two years engaged in selling fruit trees. In October, 1862,
he entered the Commissary Department, where he remained for three years, most of which time he was in the Army of the Potomac. In January, 1866, he came to Sedalia and started in the hard- ware business in an old frame building on the site of his present establishment. In 1870 he removed to Smith's Hall, where he remained for eight years, and then built the three-story building at the corner of Ohio and Main Streets, where he re- mained for sixteen years. In July, 1894, he moved into his new storehouse, which was completed in sixty-eight days from the time it was started. The building is of brick, 46x100 feet in dimen- sions, and comprises two stories and basement.
Mr. Smith keeps three traveling men on the road, his sales being chiefly in Missouri, Kansas and the Indian Territory. In order to facilitate shipping he has a side track from the Missouri, Kansas & Texas to the Missouri Pacific Railroad.
Among Mr. Smith's real-estate ventures is a valuable farm of four hundred and seven acres adjoining the city, which is well stocked and on which he erected a substantial barn at a cost of $4,000, the finest in the state. He also has a farm of five hundred and ten acres, located four miles southwest of Sedalia. The Smith & Potter Addition comprises fifty acres, besides which our subject is the owner of Smith's Addition, in the southern part of the city, a one-third interest in South Park Addition, forty-six acres in south- western Sedalia, and property in Texas and else- where. Mr. Smith has been connected with sev- eral building and loan associations and is a stock- holder in the Third National Bank. When he became a member of the School Board the debt of the same amounted to $57,500, and during his nine years' service, eight years of which he was Treasurer of the board, the debt was reduced to $35,000, and this refunded at a lower rate of in- terest.
Mr. Smith, as special agent of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroad, when it was in the re- ceivers' hands, made many very large contracts for said receivers, aggregating over $1,500,000.
In 1887 he was selected one of five trustees to represent his mother in the settlement of the estate of Judge D. J. Cory, of Findlay, Ohio.
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In that capacity he made the remarkable sale of six hundred and forty acres of land for $90,000. This land was part of a farm of nine hundred and sixty acres situated in Wood County, Ohio, which was appraised at $58,600. From the sale of the entire nine hundred and sixty acres the sum of $140,000 was realized.
The first marriage of Mr. Smith was celebrated in Greenville, Ohio, in 1862. The lady of his choice was Laura, daughter of John Potter, a merchant. Mrs. Smith was born in Greenville, and died in February, 1880, leaving four children, of whom Harry and George died when eleven and nine years of age, respectively. Gertrude was educated at Wellesley (Mass.) College, and Jessie at Glendale, Ohio. In Vicksburg, Miss., in 1884, Mr. Smith and Mrs. Kate (Barnett) Harrison were united in marriage. Her father, Richard Barnett, a native of Virginia, was an able attorney and was Circuit Judge in Vicksburg for many years. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have one child, Harry B. They occupy a pleasant home at the corner of Broadway and Ohio Street, which was built by our subject. Both are members of Cal; vary Episcopal Church.
Politically Mr. Smith is a Republican. Socially he is Past Worshipful Master of Granite Lodge and Past Eminent Commander of St. Omer Com- mandery, K. T. He also belongs to the Ararat Shrine of Kansas City. He is a charter member of all the Masonic bodies to which he belongs.
ALVIN BRUNER TEATER, one of the substantial and influential inhabitants of Johnson County, makes his home on a fine tract of land on section 20, township 44, range 27. It comprises two hundred well developed acres, upon which have been placed modern im- provements. Mr. Teater was born northwest of Richmond, Madison County, Ky., September 22, 1862, and is the son of Robert and Paulina (Davis) Teater, natives of Boyle County, that
state. In the latter county they were reared to mature years and married, later going to Madison County, where Robert Teater was the owner of considerable real estate. He there passed his re- maining years, dying in 1873.
Mrs. Teater disposed of her home in Kentucky in 1883 and with the family came to this state. The old place was a very valuable one, and had she been able to collect the money she would have been able to live comfortably the remaining years of her life, besides giving her sons and daughters a good start. The little which she obtained was invested in eighty acres in Chilhowee Township, and the sons were compelled as soon as old enough to make their own way in the world. Our subject remained at home until attaining his twenty-fifth year, devoting a great portion of his income up to that time to the support of his mother.
In the fall of 1887 Mr. Teater went to the state of Washington, and fourteen months later was engaged in the livery business with a brother. At the end of that time they sold out and our subject returned to Missouri and began operating the home place. He was married, April 10, 1890, to Miss Ada Stark, the daughter of William H. and Virginia Josephine (Benton) Stark, then res- idents of Chilhowee Township. Mrs. Teater was born in Logan County, Ky., January 5, 1868, and is a well educated and intelligent lady, greatly aiding her husband in his business projects. Their three children are Claude Stark, born Feb- ruary 19, 1891; George Benton, March 7, 1893; and an infant born April 30, 1895.
Our subject, together with his brother Mal- colm, purchased a quarter-section of land, going in debt for the greater part of it. The first year they put in a large crop of wheat, for which they received a good price. In a short time he sold his interest to his brother and invested his money in two hundred acres, on which he is now living. He was unable to pay for it at that time, but by his unflagging perseverance and indomitable will he has liquidated the debt and placed the farmi under the best improvement. Fifteen acres are devoted to an apple orchard, and on this estate may be found many other fruits, both large and small.
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Mr. Teater is a stanch Democrat in politics, but in no sense of the term can he be consid- ered an office-seeker, as his time is entirely taken up in operating his farm. He isa member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, with which congregation his wife is also connected. He has been Deacon in his congregation for several years, and in many other ways is actively engaged in church work.
OHN B. BROWN. Few citizens of Johnson County are more deserving of special notice than the subject of our sketch, who is self- made, and by the exercise of industry and econ- omy has accumulated a handsome fortune, so that he is now enabled to live retired. He owns a good estate in township 47, range 25, on which he has placed many improvements.
Mr. Brown was born in Washington County, Pa., September 16, 1828, and is the son of Andrew and Margaret (Brarard) Brown, both of whom were born in the Old Country. The mother came to America and met and married her hus- band in the state of Ohio. They soon there- after removed to Pennsylvania and farmed for some time, when they changed their location, this time making their home in West Virginia. There the father died about 1862, and his good wife passed away in 1859.
In the parental family were the following chil- dren: James, Betsy, Margaret, Rachel, Maria and John B. The latter lived at home until twenty-seven years of age, about which time he married and began working in the coal mines. The lady of his choice was Miss Elizabeth Ron- dells, a native of Ohio, whence she was taken by her parents to West Virginia. She was born in the year 1837, to Josephus and Margaret Ron- dells. Some time after the removal of their
daughter to this state they came to Cooper Coun- ty, where they lived for a time, but later became inmates of our subject's household, where Mr. Rondells died. His wife now makes her home in Cooper County, with her youngest son, Frank.
For five years after his marriage Mr. Brown continued to live in Brooke County, W. Va. In the mean time he had been receiving such encour- aging letters from his brother-in-law, Mr. Bow- man, who was living in Missouri, that he decided to try his fortunes in this state also. He accord- ingly packed together his household goods, and did not tarry anywhere until reaching Lexing- ton, Mo., in 1863. He lived with Mr. Bowman for about two years, when he obtained a position in Sedalia, driving a team in the employment of the Government. His duty was to haul hay and provisions to be used by the soldiers. When this work was no longer necessary, he returned to Lexington, but very soon went to Hazle Hill, near which place he rented a farm. He cultivated this for about one year and then moved on to the Thomas Anderson Place. This he also made his home for a twelvemonth, and at the expiration of that time he was enabled to make a purchase of land. He bought forty acres at that time in an- other part of the township, and selling it sometime later, became the owner of a seventy-acre tract west of his present home.
Mr. Brown lived on the above farm for eight years, when he disposed of it by sale and bought forty acres now forming part of the estate on which he lives. He moved upon this tract about thirteen years ago, and so prosperous has he been in all his ventures since coming here, that he is now the possessor of one hundred and ten well- cultivated acres. The farm was an unimproved tract, but under his able management he has made of it one of the most valuable estates in the township. About two years ago he sustained a heavy loss by the burning of his farm buildings, but he lost no time in replacing them.
To our subject and his wife there have been born twelve children, all of whom are living with the exception of three. The eldest died unnamed, and Annie, the second-born, was Mrs. Harmon Iiams at the time of her decease. She had for-
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merly been married to Walker Crawford, who is also dead. Ida died at the age of twelve years. The remaining members of the family are Alvin, Maggie, Floyd, Oliver, Josiah, Andy, Lettie, Lu- ther and Lizzie.
Mr. Brown has witnessed the development of 'this section and has also aided very materially in bringing this wonderful change about. He has never desired official honors, preferring to devote his time to grain and stock-raising, but has been persuaded by his fellow-townsmen to serve as a member of the School Board of the Simpson Dis- trict. He is and always has been a Democrat in politics.
OHN H. GORDON, one of the wealthy ag- riculturists of Pettis County, owns two hun- dred and forty-six acres of fine land lying on section 6, township 43, range 23. He is a native of the Old Dominion, and was born in 1849. His parents were Robert and Sarah (Coles) Gordon, natives also of Virginia, and John H. was their eldest son.
The parents of our subject were reared, educa- ted and married in their native state, and in 1855 bade adieu to their old home and friends and moved to Ohio. There the father carried on ag- ricultural pursuits until old age warned him to cease from active labor, and he is now living with his good wife on a fine estate in that state. He has been prosperous in life, and has sufficient means to enable him to pass the remaining years of his life in comfort.
John H. of this sketch had the advantages of a common-school education, attending the insti- tutions of learning near his home until his services could no longer be spared from the farm. In 1871 he came to Missouri, locating in Henry County. His stay there was of short duration, for shortly afterward lie returned to the Buckeye State, thence moved to Illinois, and later to the state of Kansas. In 1880 he returned to Missouri, and for the succeeding eleven years lived in various por-
tions of Pettis County, at the end of that time lo- cating on his present estate. He is a man of practical and progressive ideas, using the latest and most improved methods in the management of his broad acres. Industrious and persevering, he has met with unusual success, and is now nini- bered among the substantial residents of the county.
In 1882 John H. Gordon and Miss Alice Swisher were united in marriage. The lady was the daughter of Samuel and Sarah Swisher, na- tives of Virginia. To them has been granted a family of six children, named as follows: Perl, Saddie, Emery, May, James and John. Socially Mr. Gordon is a Mason of high standing, and in politics never fails to cast a ballot in favor of Re- publican candidates. He has never aspired to hold office, but, being a peaceable and law-abid- ing citizen, is just to his neighbor and of kindly spirit. He is greatly respected by those about him, being pointed out as a fine example of the self -made man.
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