Douglas County MO

Biography of Samuel Turner

SAMUEL TURNER, deceased, one of the leading merchants and most prominent citizens of Douglas County, Missouri, was born in Indiana, November 3, 1836, a son of William and Hannah (West) Turner, and grandson of James Turner, all of whom settled near Arno, Missouri, in 1839, or 1840, and there engaged in farming. The grandfather was a soldier in a number of the early Indian wars, and died in Missouri, in 1861, when quite advanced in years. His wife, Mary, died in Arno, a few years after his death, at the age of eighty-four. William Turner located in Lynn County, Missouri, … Read more

Biography of Andrew J. Coffey

ANDREW J. COFFEY. Ozark County, Missouri, is well known for the richness of its soil, and among those industrious farmers who have assisted in making this section the rich agricultural district that it is may be mentioned Andrew J. Coffey, who was born in Ashe County, N. C., in 1833, of which State his parents, Cleveland and Susan (Hayes) Coffey, were also natives. During the early boyhood of Andrew J. Coffey, he was taken by his parents to Hawkins County, Tennessee, and soon after to Granger County, where the mother died some fifty years ago. Mr. Coffey remarried afterward and … Read more

Biography of Isaac A. Tyndall

ISAAC A. TYNDALL. The gentleman who occupies the honorable position of assessor of Christian County, Missouri, was first elected to that office in 1890, and reelected two years later. He is one of the most prominent citizens, and has held many official positions of trust. Mr. Tyndall was born in Christian (then Greene) County, May 10, 1856. His parents, William V. and Hannah (Huff) Tyndall, were natives of Georgia and Arkansas, respectively, the father born April 19, 1818, and the mother in Fulton County. Our subject’s great-grandfather came from England to this country at an early date, and settled at … Read more

Biography of J. W. Miller

J. W. MILLER has been a resident of Douglas County, Missouri, since 1856, in which year he removed to this section from his native State of Tennessee. He was born January 1, 1827, a son of Dobson and Mary A. (Burnett) Miller, who came to this section at the same time as their son and settled on a farm in this county, on which both eventually died, the father in 1868 and the mother in 1867. The Millers are of English and Irish descent, while the Burnetts are of French extraction,and have been residents of America from the very early … Read more

Biography of H. M. Miller, M. D.

H. M. MILLER, M. D. He whose name heads this sketch is one of the early pioneers of Douglas County, for he took up his abode here in 1856, and has here ever since made his home. He is a native of east Tennessee, for there his eyes first opened on the light November 12, 1837, his parents being Dobson and Mary A. (Burnett) Miller, who were also natives of that State, although the paternal grandfather, Henry M. Miller, was born in England. He was a soldier of the Revolutionary War, and died after his removal to Tennessee, as did … Read more

Biography of James M. Curnutt

JAMES M. CURNUTT. This gentleman is one of the very prominent citizens of Ava, and has made his home in this county since 1876. He was born in Campbell County, Tennessee, July 12, 1835, a son of William and Lucinda (Dent) Curnutt, the former of whom was a product of North Carolina and a son of John Curnutt, who is supposed to have been born in France. In the State of Tennessee William Curnutt grew to manhood, married and there reared his family, which consisted of eight children, four of whom are now living: Preston, who died many years ago … Read more

Biography of John Kintrea

JOHN KINTREA. Among the countless industries of the United States, there are none which attracts more universal attention than that of merchandising. Among those prominently engaged in this occupation in Taney County, is John Kintrea, who has a fine store at Kirbyville. This gentleman was born at Woodstock, February 28, 1852, and, no doubt, inherits his perseverance, industry and sturdy traits of character from his Scotch ancestors. His father, James Kintrea, was born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1820, and when a young man emigrated to Canada. Later he found his way to Missouri and followed the painter’s trade at Springfield, … Read more

Biography of Prof. Thomas A. Kay

PROF. THOMAS A. KAY. This gentleman is one of the oldest and most successful educators of Douglas County, and is well known over a large territory. He is a Georgian by birth, his natal county being De Kalb, where he first saw the light December 12, 1853. The son of William T. and Lucretia (Cardar) Kay, the former of whom was a native of South Carolina and a son of Alexander Kay, who was a Virginian by birth and a farmer by occupation. William T. Kay was married in South Carolina and in 1850 took up his residence in Georgia, … Read more

Biography of William J. Turner

WILLIAM J. TURNER. The life narrative of the head of a family is interesting not only to his posterity but also to the citizens of the section in which he has resided, and this truth is doubly true when such a man has established for himself and his children a reputation for integrity, character and ability, and has been of value in the development of that portion of the country which was his home. Such a narrative do we have in this sketch of Samuel Turner, who was born in Indiana in 1836, and in 1844 was brought to Douglas … Read more

Biography of William C. Darrow

WILLIAM C. DARROW. A noble class of men have built up the agricultural interests of Douglas County, and among those who have been active and efficient in the work is he whose name stands at the head of this sketch. Mr. Darrow now resides about three miles from Arno and five miles from Ava, and is classed among the successful and prominent farmers of the county. He came originally from Nashville, Tennessee, his birth occurring September 7, 1849. His parents, Joseph and Lavina (Morris) Darrow, were natives of Tennessee, as was also the grandfather, Christopher Darrow, who was a soldier … Read more

Biography of Andrew P. Miller

ANDREW P. MILLER, one of the early pioneers of Douglas County, and son of Dobson Miller (see sketch of Dr. H. M. Miller and J. W. Miller, of Ava), came originally from Tennessee, his birth occurring in Roane County, that State, May 26, 1833. He was about twenty-one years of age when he left the State where he had received his education, and made his way to Missouri, where he has since followed farming. In the year 1862 he enlisted in Company B, of the Home Guards, but about a year later he enlisted in the Missouri State Militia, and … Read more

Biography of L. O. Hailey

L. O. HAILEY, attorney at law. This wide-awake man of affairs, in addition to practicing his profession, is also the able editor of the Farm Record of Douglas County, Missouri, and is a prosperous real estate and exchange broker of Ava. He has a large list of improved lands for sale, and makes a specialty of the purchase and sale of timber tracts. He has under his control thousands of acres of fine farming land in Douglas County alone, the most of which is well improved with good farm buildings and has more or less land under cultivation. For those … Read more

Biography of George W. Osburn, M. D.

GEORGE W. OSBURN, M. D. The life of the popular, successful physician is one of incessant toil, self-denial and care, yet all true followers of the “healing art” strive to attain prominence in their profession, regardless of added burdens which will rest upon their shoulders. Such a man is George W. Osburn, who was born in Gwinnett County, Ga., November 15, 1841, a son of Ectyl and Cynthia (Nelson) Osburn (see sketch of Dr. M. H. Osburn). George W. attended the common schools of Georgia, was brought up to the healthy and useful life of the farmer, and when the … Read more

Biography of Clinton M. Pease

C. M. PEASE and GEORGE A. PEASE, owners of the Enterprise Roller Mills, of West Plains, Howell County, Missouri, are conducting one of the largest concerns of the kind in south Missouri. The mill was built in 1889, at a cost of $10,000, by Dr. Pitts and George H. Carter (who is now of the Howell County Bank), and was operated by the above-mentioned gentlemen from July until October, 1889. G. A. and C. M. Pease then bought the mill and since that time have successfully operated it. In 1893 the present owners increased the capacity from 75 to 125 … Read more