Howell County MO

Biography of D. F. Martin

D. F. Martin, born on December 9, 1833, in Tennessee, has been a notable figure in Howell County, Missouri, since 1851. A lawyer and politician, he served in various capacities, including circuit clerk, county treasurer, and sheriff. Martin fought for the Confederacy during the Civil War and later took on roles in local governance and education. He is also a successful businessman and active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. Martin’s family includes his wife, Emma, and their six children, with deep roots in the community.

Biography of Dr. N. C. Berry

Dr. N. C. Berry, born on April 5, 1838, in Union County, Kentucky, is a renowned physician based in West Plains, Missouri. He studied medicine under his father, Dr. J. T. Berry, before completing his education at Jefferson College in Pennsylvania. Dr. Berry served as an army surgeon in the Confederate Army during the Civil War. After the war, he resumed his medical practice in Kentucky before moving to Missouri in 1871. He is active in medical associations and community organizations, holding several leadership positions.

Biography of W. L. Stowers

W. L. Stowers, born on August 2, 1843, in Marion County, Missouri, became a notable businessman as the proprietor of the West Plains Hotel, established in 1883. Orphaned at four, he was raised by relatives and pursued education until the Civil War disrupted his studies. Following a successful stint in gold mining in Montana, he returned to Missouri, married Bettie Maddox, and engaged in farming before entering the hotel industry. Stowers is also involved in local finance and community organizations, remaining a prominent Democratic figure in West Plains.

Biography of Rufus McLelland

Rufus McLelland, born May 17, 1822, in North Carolina, moved to south Missouri in 1851 after a long journey. He established himself as a successful stockman in Oregon County. During the Civil War, he served as county clerk while managing his farms. A Democrat, McLelland’s early political engagement included voting for Polk and Taylor. He had eight children with his first wife, Mira Piercey, and later married twice more. McLelland is recognized for his honorable life and contributions to the community, now retired on his 333-acre farm.

Biography of Joseph Voohers

Joseph Voohers, born on January 24, 1853, in Missouri, is a prominent merchant in Willow Springs known for his integrity and entrepreneurial spirit. The son of Dr. James B. Voohers, an early Missouri pioneer, he began his career as a clerk and expanded into various businesses, including a successful general mercantile establishment. Voohers has also held local political positions and is an active community member. He married Flora E. Landon and has a daughter, Fay, who excelled academically.

Biography of S. G. Ramsey

S. G. Ramsey, born October 20, 1836, in Franklin County, Missouri, emerged as a notable business figure in West Plains. The son of pioneer J. A. Ramsey, he faced the challenges of a limited education and the hardships of pioneer life. In the 1850s, he began a varied business career, including lumber and merchandising, overcoming multiple financial setbacks. After moving to West Plains in 1883 with modest means, he achieved considerable success, becoming involved in the local banking sector. Ramsey was also active in politics and community affairs. His family life included two marriages and eight children.

Biography of S. J. Holt

S. J. Holt is the manager of the West Plains Electric Light Company, established in 1889, and is a significant business figure in West Plains. Originally from Grand Rapids, Michigan, he gained experience in the lumber industry before moving to Missouri in 1883. Holt successfully transitioned from general manager roles to owning a planing mill, collaborating with G. M. Fallett. Their enterprise, which includes a milling operation generating about $20,000 annually, employs many and contributes to the local economy. Holt is a Republican and an Odd Fellow, married with six sons.

Biography of G. B. Thomas

G. B. Thomas is the manager and bookkeeper of S. H. Henry & Co., a prominent lumber business in West Plains established in 1882. Born on March 7, 1848, in Greene County, Missouri, he came from a family with deep local roots. Thomas began his career in merchandising and later held significant political roles, including clerk of the county court. Married to Mary E. Lasater, he had four children. An active member of the community, Thomas is also a Master Mason and owns substantial real estate.

Biography of Marcus E. Benson

Marcus E. Benson, born on September 15, 1856, in West Plains, Missouri, is a notable manufacturer and lumber dealer. Raised in a farming background, he developed a strong work ethic early on. After moving to Missouri with his family in 1865, he pursued various business ventures, including a successful lumber manufacturing operation and managing the World’s Fair Fruit Company. He is recognized as an influential public figure and has engaged in local politics. Benson also built the Grand Opera House in West Plains and is active in real estate and banking.

Biography of S. H. Henry

S. H. Henry, born on December 9, 1836, in Coffee County, Tennessee, became a significant figure in West Plains, Missouri, where he established the first planing mill business. After moving to Missouri with his family in 1857, he transitioned from farming and stockraising to the lumber industry in 1882. Henry built a successful planing mill and a livery business, becoming a respected citizen and community leader. He was also involved in the Methodist Church and local politics, and he and his wife, Margaret Thomas, raised six children.

Biography of Capt. John Halstead

Capt. John Halstead, born October 8, 1841, in Pickaway County, Ohio, emerged as a prominent citizen of Howell County. His lineage traces back to early English immigrants in New York. After serving in the Civil War as a captain in the Eightieth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, Halstead transitioned to a successful career in real estate, influencing growth in West Plains. A committed Democrat, he served as mayor and contributed significantly to local governance. Capt. Halstead’s legacy includes a strong community standing and a well-established family.

Biography of Franklin Marion Chapin

Franklin Marion Chapin was born in 1837 in Overton County, Tennessee, and later moved to Howell County, Missouri. Growing up in a large family, he worked on the farm with limited education but later became a knowledgeable scholar. He married Emeline Daniel in 1860 and had several children. Chapin engaged in various trades, including farming and railroading, and was involved in the Civil War as part of the Missouri State Militia. A respected citizen of Winona, he was a dedicated Democrat and actively supported community causes.

Biography of Judge Hezekiah Weaver

Judge Hezekiah Weaver, born in 1832 in Laurel County, Kentucky, was a prominent figure in Shannon County, known for both his judicial acumen and community involvement. After marrying Catherine Brock and having eleven children, he engaged in farming and blacksmithing. He served in the Civil War and returned to Missouri post-war, where he became a respected leader, elected as presiding judge. Weaver remained active in politics, supporting the Democratic Party, and was a member of the Christian Church and the I. O. O. F.

Biography of John A. Chapin

John A. Chapin was born in 1829 in Sangamon County, Illinois, to Paul Stillman Chapin and Sarah Harrison. He married Sarah Kyle in 1851 and later Mariah E. Gillum in 1868. A farmer by trade, he settled in Howell County, Missouri, where he cultivated land for farming. Active in community affairs, he served as sheriff and collector of Howell County and was a member of the Methodist Church and the Masonic Lodge. Chapin played a significant role in the region’s development during its early years.

Biography of O. H. P. Catron

O. H. P. Catron, born on December 27, 1842, in Lafayette County, Missouri, is a prominent figure in West Plains, where he co-owns the Daily and Weekly Gazette, the region’s only daily newspaper. After serving as a lieutenant in the Confederate Army, he engaged in farming and later entered banking and real estate. A Democratic leader, he was West Plains’ first mayor and has been active in veteran organizations. Catron is married to Martha E. Goodwin, and they have one son, Lee M. Catron, who manages the Gazette.

Biography of Capt. Francis Marion Pollock

Capt. Francis Marion Pollock, born on April 19, 1840, in Limestone County, Alabama, became a prominent farmer and stock dealer in Mt. View, Missouri. His upbringing, marked by hardship in pioneer life, shaped his industrious character. A Confederate Army captain during the Civil War, he participated in numerous battles before returning to civilian life. Pollock operated a grist mill and cultivated a 400-acre farm. Married twice, he fathered several children and was known for his business acumen and community ties, though he never pursued public office.

Biography of Hon. Pleasant N. Gulley

Hon. Pleasant N. Gulley, born in 1824 in Hawkins County, Tennessee, was raised on a farm and faced limited educational opportunities. Married in 1849, he moved to Missouri in 1855, settling in Howell County, where he became a prominent farmer and stockraiser, accumulating significant land. Gulley held various political positions, including justice of the peace and associate judge, while also engaging in mercantile pursuits. A lifelong Democrat and active community member, he has been a respected figure in Howell County, known for his hospitality and commitment to agriculture.

Biography of Dr. H. C. Shuttee

Dr. H. C. Shuttee, born March 24, 1858, in Huntington County, Indiana, was the son of the esteemed Dr. C. H. E. Shuttee. Following his medical education at Missouri Medical College, he began his practice in West Plains, Missouri, where he gained renown as a physician and surgeon with a focus on otolaryngology and surgery. An active member of various medical associations, he also served as the Gulf Railroad’s surgeon and contributed to the community as a Mason and a Democrat. He was married twice and fathered three children.

Biography of Dr. A. J. Stephens

Dr. A. J. Stephens, born on November 22, 1853, in Clay County, Tennessee, emerged as a prominent physician and surgeon in Howell County, Missouri. After receiving his early education in Tennessee, he settled in Missouri, where he practiced medicine after graduating from Missouri Medical College in 1891. Renowned for his surgical expertise, particularly in women’s health, he performed notable operations, including the removal of large ovarian tumors. Actively involved in community and educational matters, Dr. Stephens is a respected figure in West Plains, known for his commitment to medical advancements and his Democratic values.

Biography of William C. Smith

William C. Smith, born in Overton County, Tennessee in 1820, emerged as a prominent farmer and stockraiser in Howell County, Missouri. The son of George and Nancy Smith, he faced significant hardships, including the loss of many family members in the Civil War and struggles during his early life. After serving in the Third Kentucky Infantry, he returned to a family nearly unrecognizable due to adversity. In 1872, he settled on a 320-acre farm in Hutton Valley and became an active member of the Christian Church and the Republican Party.