Goodspeed biographies file name A.txt contributed by Mary Collins USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. *************************************************************************** Surnames "A" History of Southeast Missouri: Embracing the counties of Ste. Genevieve, St. Francois, Perry, Cape Girardeau, Bollinger, Madison, New Madrid, Pemiscot, Dunklin, Scott, Mississippi, Stoddard, Butler, Wayne, and Iron, Goodspeed Publishing Company: Chicago, 1888. Dr. J. E. ADAMS is the son of David H. Adams, M.D., who was born in New York City in 1790, and graduated in the Jefferson Medical College at Philadelphia, and practiced in New York City until he moved to Illinois, where he married Miss Cynthia Dodds, who bore him seven children—four sons and three daughters. Three of the boys studied professions, two were doctors, and one was a lawyer, and all were in the Union army, the youngest being thirteen years of age at the time of enlistment. The mother died in 1863, and the father in 1869. Both were active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and the father was a Republican in politics. Their son J.E. Adams, M.D., was born in Richland County, Ill., February 14, 1838, and received his education in the McKendrie College, Illinois. Having studied medicine under his father, he entered Georgetown Medical College, District of Columbia, and graduated from that institution in 1860. At the beginning of the war he was the first soldier to enlist from Richmond* County, Ill., going out in Company D, of the Eighth Illinois Infantry, as private. In a few days he was transferred to hospital service, being assistant surgeon. In 1862 he married Miss Martha Snyder, a native of Richland County, Ill. Three children were born to this union—one son and two daughters. The son, George, is a partner of his father’s, being a graduate of Missouri Medical College. In 1867 Dr. Adams went to Southeast Kansas, where he was the leading spirit in organizing, temporarily, Montgomery County. He was elected representative in 1869, and effected its permanent organization. He held this position four years in succession, and assisted in laying off Independence and Cherryvale in that county. Moving to St. Louis, he graduated from the St. Louis Medical College, and returned to Illinois with the intention of practicing, but came to Poplar Bluff in 1880, and here has since remained, engaged in the practice of his profession. Since 1880 Dr. Adams has been local surgeon of the Iron Mountain Railroad, but failing health has almost driven him from practice. He is deeply interested in farming, and has done much for the county, in raising fine stock, especially Clydesdale horses. He is a Republican in politics, is a member of the Masonic fraternity and also a member of the K. of H. Pages 1062-63. * This is what the history book said, but there is no Richmond County in Illinois. It apparently means Richland. WILLIAM B. ADAMS, county court clerk, was born in Humphreys County, Tenn., May 7, 1854, and when about five years of age was brought to this county by his parents, James T. and Amanda (Hooper) Adams, both natives of the same county as their son. In 1859 they came to Butler County. When young, the father took a course in the Nashville Medical College, from which institution he graduated. He then practiced for some time in Tennessee, but coming to Missouri, was the first surgeon to locate in this part of the State. Having practiced here until the breaking out of the late war, he then removed to Madison County, but returned after the trouble and turned his attention to farming. He represented Butler County in the Legislature two different times, and during his leisure hours studied law, being admitted to the bar a few years later. He was Democratic in his political views, was a Mason, and lived to be about fifty-two years of age. Mrs. A. died previous to this, in 1837. After the death of his wife, Mr. Adams married again. By his first marriage he became the father of four children—three sons and one daughter—and by the second marriage, four children—two sons and two daughters. William B. Adams was the eldest of the children born to the first marriage. He was reared on the farm, and educated in the common schools. At the age of twenty-one he began clerking in a general mercantile store in Arcadia, Iron County, and there remained three years, when he took a similar position in Poplar Bluff. For six years after this he was in the drug business at this place. In 1882 he was elected treasurer of Butler County, holding this position two terms. In 1886 he was elected to his present position. In 1881 he married Miss Carrie M. Leach, who born him one son, Owen J. Mr. Adams is a director in the bank at Poplar Bluff, is a staunch Democrat in politics, and his wife is a member of the Baptist Church. Page 1063 OSCAR R. ALBRO, a well-known citizen of Poplar Bluff, was born in Eaton County, Mich., August 3, 1852, and from a poor, uneducated boy of ten years he has carved out a career of excellent financial results. His parents, Sanford E.P. and Elizabeth (Rowlee) Albro, came from New York to Ohio, and in 1851 to Michigan. He was an adherent of the Adventist faith, while the mother was a Methodist. His life was occupied with the enterprises of a contractor and builder. He died in 1862, at the age of forty-five, and left a wife and three children. After his father’s death, young Oscar never had a day’s experience in any school but that of active life, and after his twelfth year was wholly self-dependent, working as a farm hand, railway gravel- shoveler, or anything else that offered subsistence, until in 1868 he entered the service of a large lumber firm in Indiana. He was employed by them for about eleven years, and it was as their representative that he came to Butler County in 1875. After he left their employ he dealt in lumber some time for himself, but in 1881 he became associated with William and T.D. Ferguson in handling general merchandise, with which he was more or less occupied until 1886, when he withdrew, and has since turned his attention to managing his capital. Mr. Albro believes in the political doctrines of the Republican party, and fraternizes with two orders, the K. of H. and K. of P. His marriage occurred in 1873, when he married his first wife, Miranda Crady, a native of Kentucky. She died in 1886, having become the mother of five children, four of whom survive her. The following year he married Mrs. Emma D. May, nee Dills, a daughter of Col. Dills, and a native of Kentucky. Mrs. Albro is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Albro has built many fine buildings in the city of Poplar Bluff, among which is the excellent brick business block at the corner of Main and Vine Streets, which is one of the finest and most substantial business blocks in the city. He, with his family, occupy one of the finest residences in Poplar Bluff. He also built the brick business block adjoining the Morris House, also in 1885 erected the Powell House block in Dexter, Mo., the finest in the city. Probably no citizen has taken a more active interest in the growth of Poplar Bluff or done more toward her advancement that Mr. Albro. He and his family are universally respected and held in high esteem by all who know them. Pages 1063-64 JUDGE ANDREW S. ARMSTRONG, business managers of the Farmers’ Alliance Business Co-operative Association, was born in Jersey County, Ill., August 4, 1833. His paternal grandfather, who lived to be eighty-eight years old, was a soldier of the Revolution, together with four brothers of his. Maurice Armstrong was born in 1800, in Kentucky, but at an early age was taken to the present State of Illinois, then a Territory, and there devoted his life to farming on an extensive scale. He also served as judge of Jersey County. His wife, Elizabeth (Sims) Armstrong, also a native of Kentucky, was born in 1805, and both lived to the age of seventy-five years. She was a member of the United Baptist Church. One of the twelve children born to them was Andrew S. He was educated in the old private schools, and spent his early life on the farm until 1861, when he went to Girard, Ill., with a brother, and engaged in dealing in general merchandise. After some seven years in this pursuit, he returned to Jersey County, and began farming and running a country store. Since 1880 he has been in Butler County, devoted to agriculture, until in February, 1888, he was chosen to his present position by the directors of the company. From 1883 to 1885, he also served as county judge, and was also appointed to superintend the building of the jail of Butler County. Judge Armstrong is an ardent Democrat, and is one of the first fraternity men of his lodge, being a charter member of the Masonic Chapter to which he belongs. He was married in 1856 to Martha L. Everts, a native of Vermont, who came to Illinois when a young girl. The union has been blessed with six children. Page 1064 JAMES R. ARRENDALE, conductor on the Doniphan branch of the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Railroad, was born in Dahlonega, Ga., in 1848, and received a common country-school education. He was reared on a farm, and when about eighteen he began as a brakeman on the Memphis & Charleston Railroad. About eight months after this he was promoted to the position of conductor on the same road. He went from there to the Louisville & Nashville Railroad, and ten months later, from there to the Iron Mountain, from Little Rock, Ark., and Poplar Bluff, Mo., as freight conductor for three years. He was then transferred to the Doniphan branch, where he has since been, with the exception of short intervals on other branches. As a railroad man, Mr. Arrendale has proven himself faithful, honest, and efficient. He was in the employ of the Memphis & Charleston Railroad for nearly fifteen years as brakeman, quarter-master and freight conductor, and for his faithful and meritorious services, rendered during the yellow fever scourges of 1878 and 1879, running from Memphis, was awarded a gold medal by the Howard Association. In 1875 he married Miss Fannie Carr, a native of Vicksburg, Miss. Mr. Arrendale’s parents, Rice and Sarah (McElroy) Arrendale, were natives of South Carolina and Georgia, respectively. The mother died in Georgia, where the father is still living. He is of Scotch-Irish descent, a farmer by occupation, and was at one time sheriff of Lempkin County, Ga. He also served two years in the Confederate army. His father, Thomas Arrendale, was a soldier in the Mexican War. James R. Arrendale is successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits and has a farm of 120 acres. He is a Democrat, politically, casting his first presidential vote for Horace Greeley in 1872. He is a member of he K.P., and of the A.R.C. Page 1064 ARTHUR P. ASHER, farmer, was born on Christmas day, 1838, in Wayne County, Mo. Martin and Rachel (Howard) Asher were both natives of Tennessee, and were young in years when they came to Missouri, and after their marriage settled in Wayne County. They soon moved to Stoddard County, and there spent the remainder of their lives on the farm. Both were members of the Baptist Church. The father was a conservative, although he was a supporter of the Republican party. He reached the age of sixty-four, and she lived to be but forty-two years old. Of the six children born to them, Arthur P. was their second child. Like many farmer youths of those days, his education was limited to barely six months of school. At his majority he became a farmer, but afterward engaged in the liquor trade. St. Francisville became his next home, and there he opened a line of merchandise and became such a leading spirit in the place that the name was changed in his honor to Asherville. After he left there he spent five years at the butcher business in Poplar Bluff, moving there in the centennial year. He is now, and has since been engaged in the lumber business in connection with farming, in all of which he has been skillful and successful. He served, during the late war, in the State militia. His political opinions are generally represented by the Republican platform. In 1860 he was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Stringer, a native of Kentucky. Five children have blessed their union, but only two are living. Pages 1064-1065. ----------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------- Use your Browsers "Back" button to return from this text page to Butler county GoodSpeed File