Springfield Missouri

Biographical Sketch of Mrs. Callie Elliott

Elliott, Mrs. Callie (See Foreman)—Callie, daughter of Samuel and Annie (Edwards) Whatenberger, born March 15, 1868, in Springfield, Mo. Educated in Texas. Married at Vinita Jan. 7, 1892, Hiram Thompson Elliott, son of Archibald and Rachel (Smith) Elliott, born May 22, 1858. They were the parents of Hiram Thompson Elliott, Jr., born November 26, 1892; Samuel Talbert, born July 5th, 1894, married Genevieve Blackford, Vera May, born February 26, 1896, married Guy L. Jones, and has one son, Raymond Jones, born April 4, 1914; Lucullus, born August 25, 1899, is in the United States Marine Corps in Haiti; Lucien Bell, … Read more

Biography of Tyree Glenn Newbill

Father of the John Glenn Newbill, was born in Franklin county, Virginia, May 17th, 1882. He was married December 1st, 1846, to Nancy A. Johnson, only daughter of James M. and Elizabeth Johnson, and in the following year removed to Southwest Missouri, locating on the farm now owned by Dr. H. H. Lea, in the northeast corner of the territory now known as Webster county. Three years afterward he removed to Greene county, where he purchased the fine farm of Samuel McClelland, two and one-half miles west of Springfield. Here he engaged largely in agriculture and stock-raising, and was one … Read more

Biography of Anton Andrew Ackerman

Anton Andrew Ackerman, born on November 23, 1876, in Illinois, has become a prominent business figure in Neosho County. Initially working on his family’s farm, he developed mechanical skills that led him to a successful career as a stationary engineer and later as a contractor and driller in the oil industry. He boasts a strong reputation, having drilled numerous wells in Kansas and Oklahoma. Alongside his brother, he operates a successful garage in Chanute. Ackerman has faced personal losses but remains active in his community and deeply engaged in the Democratic Party.

Biography of Thomas J. Delaney

THOMAS J. DELANEY. To become distinguished at the bar requires not only capacity, but also sound judgment and persevering industry. These qualifications are combined in no gentleman at the Greene County bar to a greater extent than in Thomas J. Delaney. A careful and accurate adviser, and an earnest and conscientious advocate, his success at the bar has been achieved by the improvement of opportunities, by untiring diligence, and by close study and a correct judgment of men and motives. Like so many of the eminent men of the present day his early career was not a very auspicious one … Read more

Biography of Ralph Chester Dixon

Ralph Chester Dixon. While many of the successful men represented in this publication have found their work as farmers, eattle men, merchants, bankers and in the professions, Ralph Chester Dixon had directed his energies practically along one line since leaving college and had made a notable success as a fruit grower and horticulturist in the vicinity of Arkansas City. He had a splendid fruit farm three miles northwest of the city, and is one of the leading commercial apple growers of the state. Mr. Dixon is a native of Kansas, born at Caldwell August 5, 1875. His people have lived … Read more

Biography of David O. Crane

David O. Crane. Of the men who have served Topeka in official capacities of importance and responsibility, few have won more fairly a reputation for fidelity than has David O. Crane, since 1884 superintendent of the Topeka Cemetery. In the thirty-two years that he has been the incumbent of this office he has labored efficiently and conscientiously to discharge its duties in a reverent and honorable way, and the mere fact that he has held his office during such a long period should be sufficient evidence of the quality of his ability and the worth of his service. Mr. Crane … Read more

Biography of Oscar L. Duemler

Oscar L. Duemler, member of the St. Louis bar, who is noted for his ability as a lawyer, particularly in his eloquence before a jury, was born at Springfield, Missouri, February b, 1891. His father, Louis P. Duemler, is a native of Franklin county, this state, and a son of John Henry Duemler, a pioneer settler of that locality and of French Huguenot descent. The grandfather was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, in 1834 and was brought to Missouri in 1836 by his father, who settled in Franklin county, this state. The journey westward was made by boat to Washington, … Read more

Biography of Adrian D. Nichols, D. O.

The school of osteopathy has a worthy representative in Adrian D. Nichols, who is a successful practitioner of St. Louis, and since his graduation from the Kirksville School of Osteopathy has practiced in this city. He was born on a farm near Nashville, Illinois, April 17, 1870, and is a son of David William and Tabitha (Ballard) Nichols. The father, a native of the state of New York, was born in what was then known as Bath Village but is now the city of Syracuse. He was a son of William Nichols who came to America from Scotland in early … Read more

Biography of John H. O’Bryant

JOHN H. O’BRYANT. – We esteem it a privilege to be permitted to chronicle for the history of our county a brief review of the substantial and prominent citizen, whose name is at the head of this article, and who has wrought in the pioneer’s life so well and faithfully for the opening of this and adjacent counties and for their development and advancement for over one-third of a century, while his life of constant adherence to right and the principles of truth and uprightness, together with manifestation of sagacity and sound judgment, has placed him in a most enviable … Read more

Fortney, Nelson David – Obituary

Nelson D. Fortney, 54 years old, died this morning at his home after a brief illness. He is survived by his widow [Della Hinkle], five daughters, Kennie, Edna, and Roxy Fortney of Kansas City and Orphia and Ruby Fortney, both of Springfield, two brothers, Lon and George Fortney, and five sisters, Mrs. Nannie Fortney, Mrs. Ella Shuey, Mrs. Mattie [Samantha] Shuey, Mrs. H. G. Heckley, and Mrs. Nancy Hayes of Springfield. Funeral arrangements are incomplete but burial will be in Green Lawn Cemetery. Springfield Leader, October 10, 1925 Contributed by: Shelli Steedman

Biography of Lilburn H. Murray

Mr. Murray is the son of John and Sarah (Luttree) Murray, and was born in Crawford county, Missouri, September, 1834. His parents came to Greene county, Mo., and settled seven miles northwest of Springfield, where they lived one year and then moved to Grand Prairie, where L. H. was reared and educated. At the age of twenty-one, he went to California, where he was engaged in the stock and mercantile business for about ten years. He returned to Springfield, Mo., in September, 1866, and soon went into the hardware business. The firm was McGregor & Murray for some five years, … Read more

Biography of Thomas Albert Chandler

Thomas Albert Chandler, representative in congress from the First district of Oklahoma and a resident of Vinita, is a man of liberal education and of broad and important interests who has been a prominent figure not only in political circles but also in connection with extensive business interests of the state. He was born in the Indian Territory on the 26th of July, 1871, and is a representative of the Cherokee Nation. Liberal educational advantages were accorded him and following his graduation from the Worcester Academy of Vinita as a member of the class of 1888 he entered Drury College … Read more

Biography of John O. Morrow

JOHN O. MORROW. Activity and business enterprise is in no direction more lucidly marked in any city than in the livery business. This calling is the pulse of a city’s enterprise and vim. The experience and brain work of capable business men are called into requisition in this line, and a city that is noted for its transient patronage as well as its busy home life is sure to give good profits to the liveryman. One of the most popular establishments of this kind is that owned by John O. Morrow, which was established in Harrison in 1889, and as … Read more

Biography of A. Harrington

As a leading citizen of Springfield, in its professional, business and social life, lending eminent strength to her bar, to her finance and grace to her society, A. Harrington commands attention from the historian who would wish to do the city justice. He is one of the ablest of attorneys, and has few, if any, peers in his comprehensive knowledge of State and International law, and has conducted many cases to a successful issue. While a born orator he does not solely rely upon the rhetorical finish of his sentences, upon his fervid declamation or upon his rich imagery, but … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Nellie K. Ross

(See Grant, Sanders, Ross and Ghigau)—Nellie Katherine McLeod, born February 8, 1872 at Tahlequah. Educated in the Cherokee Public Schools, Female Seminary and Drury College, Springfield, Missouri. She married April 26, 1891 George Starr Ross, born June 27, 1865. He was educated in the Cherokee National Schools and Male Seminary. He died November 24, 1894. They were the parents of Wayne McLeod born February 27, 1892 and Roy Vivian Ross, born January 15, 1894 and died October 9, 1920. Mrs. Ross Cherokee name is Lyuka. She is a Presbyterian and a member of the Quest Club. Wayne McLeod Ross is … Read more

Findley, Ollie E. Fry – Obituary

Funeral services for Mrs. Ollie E. Findley, 61, of Macomb, who died Sunday morning [December 19, 1954] in Burge Hospital after a lingering illness, will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday in Macomb’s First Baptist Church with the Rev. Ben Kimbrough officiating. Burial will be in Findley Cemetery under direction of Kelly Ferrell-Bergman of Mansfield. Mrs. Findley is survived by her husband Harve; a daughter, Mrs. Sylvia Pope of Hickman Mills; a brother Fred Fry of Shelby, Miss., and five sisters, Mrs. Alva [Cora] Shores of Norwood, Mrs. Nellie Purtle of Lindsay, Calif., Mrs. Ruby Royal of Burbank, Calif., Mrs. May … Read more

Biography of Luther Henry Waddle

Luther Henry Waddle. One of the greatest influences existing in a community, and particularly in those localities removed from the larger cities, is that exerted by the newspaper. To it the people look for their information regarding questions of importance, and, in a large degree, their own stand is based upon that taken by it. It is therefore desirable that the newspaper of a community be in the hands of capable, reliable and right-thinking men, and in this respect Weir City, in Cherokee County, is particularly fortunate in that the Weir City Journal has as its editor and publisher Luther … Read more

Biography of James H. Luscombe

James H. Luscombe is present county attorney of Wyandotte County. He was elected in 1916 by a majority of 1,070 on the democratic ticket. He has been practicing law at Kansas City, Kansas, for the past eighteen years and entered the law after a long service as a plaster contractor. The chief factor in his success either as a mechanic or as a lawyer has been hard work. He is noted for the zeal and efficiency with which he handles every interest entrusted to his charge, and his uprightness of character and other qualifications made him one of the strongest … Read more

Biography of John G. Land

John G. Land, whose intimate friends call him Jack and who is representing the Prudential Life Insurance Company of America as manager for the territory embracing Oklahoma, Arkansas and Texas, was born in Springfield, Missouri, May 26, 1878, and is a son of J. G. and Nancy A. (Berry) Land, both of whom are deceased. The son was educated in the public schools of St. John, Kansas, and in Marmaduke College at Sweet Springs, Missouri. When sixteen years of age he took up the study of telegraphy and for fifteen years was an operator. In 1898 he came to Muskogee … Read more

Findley, Guy H. – Obituary

Graveside services for Guy H. Findley, 71, of 945 S. Avenue, will be at 2:30 p.m. Monday at Greenlawn Cemetery with the Rev. Ark Noel Officiating. Burial is under direction of Greenlawn North. Mr. Findley died Saturday morning [July 14, 1979] in Cox Medical Center after a long illness. Mr. Findley, a native of Mansfield, has been a Springfield resident since 1938. He was a retired district manager of Missouri Mutual and Franklin Life Insurance companies. He was a member of East Avenue Baptist Church. Survivors include his wife, Maxine; a son, Jerry L., 2254 FF. Highway; a daughter, Mrs. … Read more