The History of Pettis County, Missouri, History of Sedalia, Part 67

Author: Demuth, I. MacDonald
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: [n.p.]
Number of Pages: 1148

USA > Missouri > Pettis County > Sedalia > The History of Pettis County, Missouri, History of Sedalia > Part 67

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REYNOLDS & CONNER.

General book and job printers. Mr. Reynolds is a native of Tennessee. His father, W. K. Reynolds, being a native of the same State. Mr. Reynolds was educated in Sedalia. In 1876 he began the printing busi- ness, and in January, 1882, he and Mr. Fred P. Conner opened the job printing house, where they are now rapidly building a large and profitable business. Mr. Fred P. Conner is a son of M.S. Conner, whose biography appears in this work. Mr. Fred P. was born in Cooper County, Mo. He followed the printing business until 1881, when he was appointed Deputy Sheriff of this county, which position he retained until January, 1882, when he became associated with his present partner in the printing business.

EDWARD G. COGLEY.

He is the son of Thomas Cogley, a native of Ohio, who died at Cleve- land in the fall of 1866. Edward G. Cogley was born in Cleveland, O., March 3, 1851, and received his education in the schools of his native

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city. When sixteen years of age he commenced railroading on the C. & T. Railroad, in which employ he remained six years, first as fireman and then being promoted to engineer. In January, 1873, he came to Sedalia, where he accepted a position as engineer with the Missouri Pacific Rail- road, and has retained it till the present time, July, 1882, with satisfac- tion to the company and great credit to himself. He has never met with an accident nor been suspended during his nine years of railroading here. He was married, Sept. 9, 1869, to Miss Nora Hayes, a native of Cleve- land, O., and by this union there were six children, only two of whom are living, James C. and Stella M. His faithfulness is appreciated by the company, and his social nature attracts many friends.

WM. P. COUSLEY.

Contractor and builder. Was born in 1840 in County Derry, Ireland. Robert Cousley, his father, died in Ireland, his native home, in 1848, and his mother emigrated to America in 1850 with her family, and is still living in Alton, Ill. She is seventy-two years of age, and retains the activity of youth to a remarkable extent. She located in Alton when she first came to America, and has never changed her place of abode since. Wm. P. was principally reared in Alton, and at the age of seventeen years he began the carpentering business, serving an apprenticeship of three years. When the war broke out he entered the Federal Army in April, 1861, in Company I, Fourth Missouri Regiment, and served three months, after which he entered Company D, Tenth Illinois Volunteers, serving until the close of the war in 1865. During his career as a soldier he met with many narrow escapes, as he participated in all the battles of the regiment, and on many occasions had his clothing pierced with balls from the guns in the enemy's hands. After the war he returned to Alton, Ill., where he remained until the year 1869, at which time he came to Sedalia and engaged in contracting and building. Mr. Cousley is one of the oldest contractors in the city, and has been connected with her growth and prosperity almost since the first. A great many of the elegant structures which line her streets were built under his supervision. He was married in 1871 to Miss Mattie McNeal, of Alton, and by her has four children living, named respectively, Eunice C., Esther C., Robert Grant and William Sherman. They have one child deceased. Mr. Cousley is a member of the Sedalia Lodge, No. 27 K. P., and he and his wife are also members of the Presbyterian Church.

ORESTES A. CRANDALL.

Attorney at law. Mr. Crandall was born on Feb. 25th, 1833, at Syra- cuse, New York. His father, Beman Crandall, and his mother, Pollie, nee Tuttle, were natives of Connecticut. O. A. Crandall, the subject of this

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sketch, came with his parents, in 1835, and settled at Crystal Lake, in what is now known as McHenry County, Ill., but at that time a vast wilderness. His earliest memory is of Indians and wild beasts. There was no settle- ment nearer than forty miles. It was several years before a sufficient number of settlers came in to establish a school. After a school was established he attended regularly about six months in a year until he was thirteen years of age. This is all the education he ever received at school except a part of a term at Gleason's Normal School in Chicago. Being thrown on his own resourses at the age of thirteen, and unable to attend school, he followed such pursuits as afforded him the greatest time for reading and study. He pursued his studies during his leisure hours, and obtained his education without a school, teacher or discipline. In 1853 he went to California, overland, walking the last five hundred miles, carrying his bundle on his back, where he spent eight years in mining. On his return, early in 1861, he settled in Saline County, Mo. On the breaking out of the civil war, he took sides with the Union, and went to his old home in Illinois and aided in raising two regiments of Union soldiers. His business interests again calling him to Missouri, he was in the battle of Marshall, in 1863, and in November, of that year, he perma- nently located in Sedalia. Was in the battle of Sedalia, Oct. 15th, 1864, and was taken prisoner by the Rebels when Sedalia fell. Having given considerable time to the study of law, in May, 1864, he applied to the Circuit Court of Pettis County for admission to the bar. He was publicly examined as to his proficiency, and granted a license by Hon. J. A. S.

Tutt, Judge of that court.

He was afterward examined by Hon. Arnold

Krekel, Judge of the U. S. District Court, and admitted to practice in that court, and was afterward enrolled by Judge .Dillon a member of the bar of the U. S. Circuit Court. He has always taken great interest in the growth and prosperity of Sedalia and Pettis County. In 1877 he was retained by the county court to defend suits brought against the county on bonds issued to various railroads. By his skillful management of these cases, the holders of the bonds were forced to compromise, which saved to the county over $100,000. At the same time, the city of Sedalia being largely in debt and unable to pay its interest, he volunteered his services, and went to Boston, and called a meeting of the holders of Sedalia bonds and effected a compromise by which the interest on the whole debt was reduced from ten per cent to five per cent, thereby saving the tax payers of Sedalia over $200,000 in interest alone. In 1875 he organized the Pettis County Bank, and was elected its president, which position he held for five years. On disconnecting himself from that institution he organized the Missouri Trust Company, and was elected president, which position he now holds. Mr. Crandall has always taken an interest in politics, but has never sought office. In 1868 he was run by the Demo-

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HISTORY OF SEDALIA.

cratic party for State Senator, from the district composed of Lafayette, Saline and Pettis Counties, but with the balance of the ticket was defeated, though he ran ahead of his ticket. From 1868 to 1872, he was a member of the Democratic. State Executive Committee, and was the first to suggest what afterwards became known as the " Possum Policy," which proved successful in 1870, and took the State out of the hands of the Republicans. In 1864, Mr. Crandall married at Sedalia, Mo., Miss Kate A. Kidd, by whom he has had four children, three of whom, Emma K., Arthur Lee, Stella May, are now living.

COL. JNO. D. CRAWFORD.

Col. Crawford was born in Pettis County, Mo., March 1, 1838, and during his boyhood attended the common schools. He afterwards attended William Jewell College, at Liberty, Mo. When the war of the rebellion

RESIDENCE OF COL. J. D. CRAWFORD, SEDALIA. MO.

broke out he espoused the Union cause, and on Aug. 18, 1862, was com- missioned Captain of Company C, Fortieth Regiment Enrolled Missouri Militia, and June 13, 1864, was commissioned Colonel of the same. Dur- ing a portion of 1862-63 he served as Provost Marshal at Warrensburg, Mo., and as Captain of Company K, Fifth Provisional Regiment, in South - western Missouri during the latter part of 1863. His military career as Commander of the Fort at Sedalia, and as an efficient officer in many other fields of operation, won for him the lasting gratitude of the Com-

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monwealth and approbation of his fellow-citizens. He was married, June 21, 1865, to Miss Annie E. Parberry, daughter of N. N. Parberry and Elizabeth H., nee Joplin, formerly of Virginia. In November, 1870, he was elected as a Republican to the office of Recorder of Deeds for Pettis County, and before his first term of office expired in Nov., 1874, was re- elected for another term of four years. He is now (July, 1882,) engaged with A. P. Morey, in the real estate, abstract and loan business on Ohio street, Sedalia, Mo., and his success as a business man is a source of grati- fication to himself and friends. Being well and favorably known through- out the county he commands the largest patronage of any similar firm in Central Missouri. He is of Scotch-Irish descent, son of Col. John E. Crawford and Sarilda Jane Crawford, nee Donnohue, both from Kentucky. His father is still living, though at the advanced age of eighty years. Mr. Crawford is a prominent member of the Baptist Church in Sedalia. His generous impulses and enterprising spirit place him before the public as one of Sedalia's most valuable citizens. A cut of his elegant residence on West Sixteenth street is represented on the preceding page.

FRANK CRAYCROFT.

Was born, Sept. 16, 1841, in Montgomery County, Maryland. His father, Aaron Craycroft, and his mother, Harriet G., nee Harris, were both natives of Maryland. Frank, the subject of this sketch, came to Missouri with his father's family in 1865, locating in Cooper County, where he engaged in farming until 1869, when he went to Chillicothe, Mo., and took the general agency for McCormick's Reapers, Mowers, Binders, etc., and has ever since had charge of their business in this part of Missouri. In 1874 he removed to Sedalia, where he has since made his headquarters. In 1881 he was elected Mayor of Sedalia, and under his able administration the affairs of the city were conducted in such a manner as to reflect great credit upon him. Mr. Craycroft was married in 1870 to Emilie Huff. They have three children, Grace, Emilie H. and Frank.

FREDERICK G. CROWLEY.

Of the firm of F. G. Crowley & Co., wholesale and retail carriage factory. Mr. Crowley was born, March 20, 1828, in Baltimore, Md. His father, Frederick, was a native of Germany. His mother, Margaret, nee Dinges, was also a native of Germany. F. G., the subject of this sketch, learned the carriage business in his boyhood in Baltimore. In 1848 he moved to Columbus, Ohio, where he worked at his trade until 1851, when he opened a shop in Cleveland, Ohio, which he operated about eighteen months. In the fall of 1831 he married Susan Schriber, of Cleveland, a native of New York State. In 1853 he removed to Burlington, Iowa,

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where he engaged extensively in the manufacture of buggies and car- riages until 1873, when he was burned out. In 1879 he came to Sedalia and started the factory where he is now engaged. They have six children, James I., Jacob, Carrie, Emma, Frank, Lee, and four deceased.

PROF. DAVID R. CULLY.

The popular Superintendent of the public schools of this city is the subject of this sketch, David R. Cully. He is the son of Joseph Cully, a native of Maryland, and a grandson of George Cully, a soldier in the Revolutionary War. His father, in common with many others, sought to better his condition by "going west," and finally settled in Wayne County, Ohio, then the far west, where, by his energy and industry, he succeeded in accumulating a handsome competence for his family. Prof. Cully was born, January 17th, 1837; attended the common schools until he was twelve years old, when he was sent to Vermillion Institute at Hayesville, Ohio, then a popular and well known school, presided over by the Rev. Sanders Diefendorf, D. D. He graduated at this institute in September, 1856, and was valedictorian of his class. He then was sent to Jefferson College, now Washington and Jefferson, in Pennsylvania, where he graduated in August, 1858. After completing his education he moved to Missouri, settling in Cooper County, where he engaged in teach- ing and had charge of an academy for seventeen years, excepting the years 1864 to 1867, when he was principal of the Missouri Female Col- lege, at Boonville. In the years 1877-78 he had charge of the public schools at Mexico, Mo., but resigned to accept the superintendency of Seda- lia public schools, which position he has filled to the great satisfaction of the people since the fall of 1878. . To Prof. Cully's industry, tact and superior qualities as a teacher are due, in a great measure, the high standing which the schools of this city have taken. Sedalia may well feel fortunate in retaining the services of such an educator and organizer. He was married in October, 1864, to Miss Sue Chilton, a native of Cooper County, and the daughter of Charles Chilton, a young lawyer of eminence, who died at Boonville in the year 1848. Her mother, Mrs. Mary E. Chilton, a sister of Judge V. T. Chilton, of Pettis County, and her only other child, Miss Elvisa Chilton, still reside at the homestead in Cooper County. The names of Mr. Cully's children are: Mamie L., Maggie, Charles L., Walter B. and Bessie E.

WILLIAM CURRAN.

Was born in Prince Edward's County, Ontario, Canada, in 1850. His father, William Curran, was a native of Ireland, and is now living in Ontario. His mother, Elizabeth, nee Donahoe, was also born in Ireland 28

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HISTORY OF SEDALIA.

and died in 1876. William Curran, Jr., was reared in Canada, and after he left school learned the cloth manufacturing trade. In 1871 he came to Troy, Mo., where he joined his brother, who was a contractor on the St. Louis, Keokuk & Northern Railroad. He remained with his brother about one year. In May, 1872, he accepted a position with J. M. Clute, of Sedalia, and was retained in the services of this house seven years. In 1879 he engaged in the dry goods business with T. J. Fry. Here they continued in business until November, 1881, at which time Mr. Curran bought Mr. Fry's interest, and has since conducted it alone. He has an elegant store-room, which is filled with a large and well-assorted stock of dry goods, and is doing a good business. Mr. Curran is a member of the Catholic Church. He was married in 1880 to Miss Maggie H. Barrett, of Sedalia, daughter of E. S. Barrett, now deceased.

COL. BENJAMIN D. DEAN.

Merchant. Col. Dean was born, Oct. 7, 1828, in Greenville, Darke County, O. His father, Aaron Dean, was a native of New Jersey, who emigrated to Ohio at an early day. He was an. officer in the war of 1812. Col. Dean, the subject of this sketch, was educated at Greenville, O. He afterward studied dental-surgery, which profession he followed for several years, after which he engaged in merchandising with marked success. In 1857 he came to Missouri and settled on a farm. In 1861 he raised a company for the Twenty-Sixth Regiment, Missouri Volunteer Infantry, and was commissioned its captain. He was wounded three times at the battle of Iuka, Miss. He was highly complimented by his Colonel, who said, "By your bravery and skill you have made the reputation of this regiment." On the 28th of May, 1863, he was commissioned Colonel by Gov. Gamble, for gallant conduct at Champion Hill and Vicksburg, Miss. He was the first of the three thousand men who crossed the Tennessee River, at midnight, Nov. 23, 1863, and routed the rebels at Mission Ridge. He took part in many other hotly-contested battles during the war, always acquitting himself as a brave soldier and gallant officer. On the 9th of January, 1865, he was mustered out of the service with his regi- ment, and returned to his home in Missouri. In 1872 he was elected · Treasurer of Franklin County, and was re-elected in 1874. He was on the Republican ticket, as Presidential Elector, for the Fifth Congressional District. He was made a Mason in 1856. He married Sarah S. Harlan, daughter of a worthy resident of Warren County, O. They have three children, two sons and one daughter. In the spring of 1877 Col. Dean removed to Sedalia, where he has since been engaged in merchandising. Since coming here Col. Dean has served the city as Chairman of the City Council.

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HISTORY OF SEDALIA.

JOHN N. DALBY.

Wholesale grocer, Sedalia. Was born in 1837 in Edwards County, Ill. His father, Samuel N., was a native of England, who came to America about 1821, and settled in the county before mentioned, where he still resides. His mother, Elizabeth, nee Brisenden, was also a native of Eng- land, but died in 1844. John N., the subject of this sketch, was brought up to the merchant tailoring business. In 1862 he went to Cincinnati, O., where he was employed in the wholesale grocery house of Bishop Bros. for eleven years. Here he began without a dollar, but during the succeed- ing years helped his father and brothers to the extent of several thous- and dollars. In 1874 he came to Sedalia, and together with J. H. Hogue built the house and opened the wholesale grocery business, where he has

RESIDENCE OF JOHN N. DALBY, SEDALIA, MO.

ever since been engaged. In March, 1882, Mr. Hogue sold his interest in the business to Mr. Dalby, who associated with himself T. J. Porter. The firm is now Dalby & Porter, wholesale grocers. Mr. Dalby was married in 1871 to Lucy A. Waller, of Cincinnati, O., a native of Lafay- ette County, Mo. They have two children living, George L. and John Leroy. Two deceased, Nelson W., killed by an engine in 1879, aged five years, and Lucy E., died in 1881, aged two years. He has been a Mason since 1859, and has taken thirty degrees in that order. He and his wife are members of the Christian Church, of which he is a deacon and teacher of the infant class, in the Sunday School, numbering 130 scholars. Mr. and Mrs. Dalby have an elegant home on the corner of Fifth street and Washington avenue, a view of which appears in this volume, beautifully

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furnished, with all the comforts as well as luxuries of life, including Brus- sels carpets, lace curtains, a Decker Bros' Upright Piano, a choice library, and fine oil paintings, among the most attractive of which is " A Kentucky Mountain Scene," from the brush of Prof. Young. His house is also furnished with all the modern conveniences of water attach- ments and gas throughout.

CAPTAIN HARRY C. DEMUTH.

Of the firm of Easton & Demuth, books and stationery. Mr. Demuth was born in 1850, in Ohio. His father, Christopher Demuth, was a native of Ohio, now of St. Louis. His mother, Mary, nee McDonald, was also a native of Ohio. Capt. Harry C. Demuth was educated in St. Louis, and came to Pettis County in 1865. In 1870 he was appointed Assistant Postmaster of Sedalia, which position he occupied constantly until 1882, filling it in a manner which reflects great credit on himself, and gave him a name and reputation second to no man in the county. In February Capt. Demuth and his partner, Mr. Easton, bought the large book and stationery store of Brown Bros., where they are now engaged in business. Capt. Demuth is a member of the I. O. O. F. He was married, Oct. 21, 1880, to Miss Dora Lamy, of Sedalia, a daughter of E. Lamy, of this city, whose biography appears in this work. Capt. Demuth is a self- made man, having started out in life without a dollar, but by his own efforts has now taken his place in the front rank of Sedalia business men.

DR. HEZEKIAH E. DEPP.

Dental surgeon. Dr. Depp was born in 1829, in Barron County, Ky. His father, John Depp, was a native of Kentucky, who emigrated to Jefferson City, Mo., in 1836, who was also the discoverer of the Depp Lead Mines, in Moniteau County, Mo., and operated them several years. His mother, Mary, nee Ellis, was a native of Kentucky. Dr. Depp began the study of dentistry in his boyhood, taking a course in St. Louis, under the celebrated Dr: H. E. Pubels, where he continued to practice until 1865, when he came to Sedalia, where he has ever since practised his profession. Dr. Depp assisted in the organization of the Western Dental Society, in 1867, being one of its original members, and was one of the first Vice- Presidents. Out of this has since grown the Missouri Dental Society and the Missouri Dental College. Dr. Depp was married, in 1853, to Eliza- beth Sweeney. His wife died, in 1859, leaving three children, Olivia M., Leon and John H. He was married the second time, in 1870, to Margaret M. Stephens. He is the inventor of motive power for street railroad cars, which is considered a great revolution in this department of passenger transportation.

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HISTORY OF SEDALIA.

CHARLES A. DEXTER.

Was born in New York city; is the son of Norman Dexter, who, for many years, was a ship-owner, controlling the South American trade. Charles A.'s childhood was spent in New York; fitted for college at Hart- ford, Conn .; then studied civil engineering; was engaged on the New York & Erie and Panama Railroads; afterward filled a State appointment on the New York & Erie Canal; had charge of the transit in running a line for a railroad the entire length of Indiana, from the Ohio River to Lake Michigan, which is now known as the Louisville, New Albany & Chicago Railroad. Owing to ill health he was obliged to quit the profes- sion and went to South America, thence to New York, but finding the climate too severe in winter, went to Texas in the interest of several mer- cantile houses having claims in that then considered risky State, where he remained two years, and then returned to New York. This was the time the whole country was flooded with what was then known as " Wild-Cat " money. He was engaged by New York bankers in making exchanges and collections in the West, and was connected with, and the correspond- ent of, the first mercantile agency established in. New York, by the Tap- pans, with headquarters at Cincinnati. During the cholera epidemic, which proved so terribly fatal in the West, he went to the Cumberland Mountains, in Middle Tennessee, and bought a tract of land, where the Nashville & Chattanooga Railroad tunnelled the mountain, and after laying out a town, erected a steam saw and grist mill, store, blacksmith shop, shoe store, har- ness shop, grocery store, smoke house and pork-packing house, and was engaged in general merchandising, buying and selling grain, cotton, tobacco and all plantation products, his office being the general exchange for the planters in that section, and also headquarters of the Chattanooga Division of the Nashville & Chattanooga Railroad. Matters were pro- gressing to the utmost extent when the war broke out. Then Mr. Dexter was politically opposed to Isham G. Harris, at that time Governor of Tennessee, and felt his contemptible malicious power when he refused a commission in the Confederate army by being banished from the State. Through the influence of an intimate friend he joined the Fourteenth Regi- ment Iowa Volunteer Infantry. His intimate knowledge of the South made him a very valuable acquisition, and therefore was immediately detailed for special service. This was at the commencement of the war, and Missouri was the source of considerable uneasiness. He was ordered to report to Gen. McClellan, commanding at St. Louis, and was by him sent on a quick topographical survey of the country between Sedalia and Kan- sas City, after which he was sent to Springfield, then ordered back to Sedalia, where he remained till orders came to examine the sur- roundings of Island Number Ten. After making this report he was attached to the Provost Marshal's Department, and his services

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were acknowledged by the appointment of Captain and Chief of the U. S. Secret Service, Department of Illinois. At the close of the war he was ordered on the Plains in the capacity of Captain and military store keeper. Army life, at a military post in time of peace, becoming irksome, he resigned, and came to Kansas City, Mo., receiving an appointment in the Internal Revenue Service, organizing the levying and collecting of the revenue tax, with headquarters at Versailles, California, Tipton and Seda- lia, changing as the geographical boundaries of his district changed, and while thus engaged advanced capital to a friend in the book, news and stationery business, and finally took charge of the business in person, enlarging his business until he now has two extensive stores in successful operation, carrying large stocks of miscellaneous books, papers, wall- papers and notions. He is the oldest merchant in his line in the city, and is thoroughly identified with the prosperity of the city and county. He has made many expensive and valuable improvements, and invests every dollar he can command in the county. His knowledge and experience in the West is extensive, and he firmly believes that Sedalia is destined to become an important and large commercial center. Mr. Dexter married, in Cincinnati, O., the daughter of John B. Clark, a merchant of that city, and has one son, Charles Stanley .

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The History of Pettis County, Missouri, History of Sedalia, Part 67

Author: Demuth, I. MacDonald Publication date: 1882 Publisher: [n.p.] Number of Pages: 1148

Author: Demuth, I. MacDonald
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: [n.p.]
Number of Pages: 1148