Goodspeed biographies file name N-O.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. *************************************************************************** Subject: Goodspeed N-O WILLIAM F. NEAL, one of the leading merchants in Poplar Bluff, is a son of James W. and Nancy H. (Ford) Neal, natives of South Carolina and Virginia, respectively. They were married in Georgia, and here made their permanent home. He was a farmer by occupation, and both were members of the Baptist Church. While visiting his son in Butler County, Mo., the father died in 1878. The mother then broke up housekeeping, and now lives with her son. She is sixty-one years of age. In their family were six children, three now living—two sons and one daughter. The eldest son, William F., was born in Dawson County, Ga., in October, 1846, and was reared in Whitfield County, on a farm. He secured a fair education in the subscription schools, and in December, 1862, he enlisted in Company A, Fourth Georgia Cavalry, Confederate States army, and served until the close of the war. He was in the battle of Chickamaugua, was taken prisoner near Knoxville, Tenn., and held fifteen months at Rock Island, Ill. He then returned to his home, and engaged in agricultural pursuits. In 1868 he married Miss Sarah J. Keith, a native of Whitfield County, Ga., who was born, reared and married in the same house. In 1870 Mr. Neal moved to Missouri, located at Poplar Bluff, and in partnership with John F. Lane opened a store, which he has since continued. He has had a number of partners, but for the past twelve years has been principally by himself. To Mr. and Mrs. Neal were born four children, two living, both daughters. Although starting with comparatively little means, Mr. Neal has succeeded well, and is now one of the heaviest taxpayers of the county. He is a Democrat in politics, is a member of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to the Chapter, and he and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church. Pages 1084-1085. WILLIAM W. NORMAN, proprietor of a saw and planing mill, established his business at Ash Hill in 1887, and employs about twenty men. They cut about 10,000 feet per day, and are doing a thriving business. Mr. Norman was born in Scott County, Mo., in 1853, and is the son of Elias and Telitha (Matthews) Norman, who died when William W. was but a boy, the father when he was two years old and the mother when he was ten. He is the only child living. After the death of his parents William W. hired as a farm hand, with the promise of five months a year at the common school. At the age of twenty-one he purchased a team and went to logging, which occupation he continued for four years. Then he and Mr. J.G. Scholz purchased a saw mill in Cape Girardeau County, which he operated with success for four years. He then purchased another, and at the end of a year Mr. Scholz retired, and Mr. Norman continued the business. He as 680 acres of timber land at Ash Hill, also has 200 acres in Scott County, and 700 or 800 acres in Cape Girardeau County, all the result of his own hard work. He is one of the best business men in the county. He was married in 1879 to Miss Mena Nussbaum, daughter of J.J. and Wilhelmina Nussbaum, natives of Germany. Mr. Nussbaum died, but Mrs. Nussbaum is still living, and is now a resident of Scott County, Mo. To Mr. and Mrs. Norman were born three children: Floy T., Lyman E. and Rosy L. Mr. Norman is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and of the I.O.O.F., also of the A.O.U.W., and is a Democrat in his political views. He cast his first vote for Rutherford B. Hayes. Page 1085. GEORGE C. ORCHARD, dealer in groceries, provisions, and feed, was born in Salem, Mo., September 1, 1860. William A. Orchard, after his marriage with Rebecca S. Welborn, located at Salem, where he carried on a line of merchandise, and also engaged in railway contracting. He served in the late war as a captain in the Confederate army. He died in 1882. His wife still survives him. Both belonged to the Baptist Church. George C. is the second of their three children. The Salem schools furnished his preparatory education, and in 1883 he graduated from Bryant & Stratton’s Business College, at St. Louis. Thereupon he came to Poplar Bluff and became a salesman and bookkeeper for Ferguson & Co. he afterward clerked for R.P. Liles, and soon became his partner. This continued until 1886, when he opened his present establishment. Mr. Orchard’s ability as a general dealer has given him a first-class trade accompanied by the confidence of the community. His political interests are with this Democratic party. He now serves the city as clerk and assessor. In 1887 he married Maggie Smith, a native of Illinois. He is a member of the K. of P. Page 1085. HON. WILLIAM L. OURY, proprietor of the Butler County Advocate, is a Virginian, a native of Wythe County, where he was born June 29, 1840. His father, John M. Oury, still lives in Carroll County, Miss., at the advanced age of seventy-eight years, and has, during his varied career, been an earnest, progressive man. He came from his native State of Virginia in 1844 to Mississippi. His political views have passed through the changes of Whig, Unionist and Democrat. In the Mexican War, he served in the First Mississippi Regiment, and his former skill with the shears and needle was gained on the same bench that taught President Johnson that trade. His wife, Elizabeth (Duncan) Oury, a native of South Carolina, died at the age of seventy-six years. Both were members of the Christian Church. Nine children were born to them, and the eldest but one is our subject. Young Oury enjoyed the common school privileges, and spent a term in the University of Oxford, Miss. His journalistic career began with his printer’s apprenticeship, at the age of sixteen years, but this was interrupted in 1861 by his war service in Company I, Eleventh Mississippi Infantry, Confederate States army. Both battles of Manassas, Fredericksburg, Antietam, Wilderness, Gettysburg, Spottsylvania Courthouse, and nearly all of Jackson’s Shenandoah Valley engagements witnessed his services, and although he entered as a private, he received a captain’s commission before the close of the conflict. With the return of peace he resumed his newspaper connection, and published the Mississippi Conservative, and afterward the Brownsville (Tenn.) Bee. After Missouri became his home, in 1882, he owned the West Plains Gazette for about three years, but in 1887 purchased his present paper. His journal is a bright and wide-awake sheet, and represents its editor’s views with fidelity. Mr. Oury is a strong and uncompromising Democrat, and his qualities led to his representing Carroll County, Miss., in the Legislature of that State, while he was yet a resident. In fraternal matters he supports the K. of H., A. O.U.W. and I.O.O.F. In 1864 he married Miss Emma Hansbrough, a native of Mississippi. Eight children have been born to them, and five are now living. Pages 1085- 1086. F.G. OXLEY, president of the F.G. Oxley Stave Co., is the son of Clare and Philadelphia (Oliver) Oxley, natives of Virginia. Clare Oxley became a lawyer, and, soon after his marriage, began the practice of his profession in Kentucky where he remained until 1833. He then went to Boone County, Mo., where he was associated as law partner with Sterling Price, the gentleman with whom he served in the Mexican War, under a colonel’s commission. Soon after the close of the war he died. His political predilections were of the Clay-Whig order. His widow lived to be eighty-four years old. Six children were born to them, but only two now are living. The subject of this sketch was born in Boone County September 21, 1834, and received but few advantages in the old country schools. After his father’s death he became the main support of the family. He has engaged extensively in the real estate business, both in Eastern Kansas and Western Missouri, aiding in the laying out of Leavenworth and Atchison. He was engaged in the same line at Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1857, and afterward became a druggist at Louisville, Ky. During the war his attention was given to contracting to furnish beef for the Union army. Since the war, however, he has been vigorously pushing the stave business, and with such unexampled success that his present company is probably the most extensive one of the kind in existence. The firm has passed through many changes, but Mr. Oxley always remains the leading spirit of it and established the present firm in 1886. They have an extensive plant at Poplar Bluff, one at Cincinnati, Ohio, and one at Junction City, Ky. They employ vast resources and men, and ship to California, Cuba, Liverpool, England, and many foreign ports elsewhere. Mr. Oxley was married in 1867 to Miss Margaret J. West, a native of Kentucky. Their two children, Robert F. and Mary E., are both attending college in Kentucky. Mr. Oxley and his wife are members of the Southern Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a Democrat. Page 1086.