CHAPTER XXVII (Part 72)
BIOGRAPHICAL
W. A. Driggs, president and manager of the Peoples Hardware Company at Clinton, Missouri, is one of the well-known and successful business men of Henry County. Mr. Driggs was born in Woodsfield, Monroe County, Ohio, September 28, 1854, and is a son of William and Sarah Louise (Boyd) Driggs, the former a native of Connecticut and the latter of Alexandria, Virginia. William Driggs, the father, came from New England to Ohio with his parents when he was a child. In 1868, he came from Ohio to Missouri, and settled in Henry County. At that time, the nearest railroad to Henry County was at Warrensburg, and when he came here he made the trip from Warrensburg to Clinton by stage. He purchased a farm adjoining the city of Clinton on the north for which he paid forty dollars per acre. Here he followed farming and stock raising, the remainder of his life, with the exception of the last few years, when he built a home in Clinton and practically retired. He died April 28, 1891, age seventy-nine years, and his wife departed this life December 23rd of the same year. Five of their children are now living, Estella, the wife of John H. Lust, Altamont, Kansas; W. A., the subject of this sketch; Sopha, the wife of John C. Goodell, Mound Valley, Kansas; A. L. Baldwin, Kansas; Mary Frances, the wife of E. L. Redding, San Francisco, California.
W. A. Driggs was educated in the public schools of Henry County, receiving a good common school education. When he was nineteen years of age, he went to learn the tinner's trade and for thirteen years, worked as a journeyman tinner. He then engaged in the hardware business in Clinton, in partnership with G. W. Thomas, under the firm name of Driggs & Thomas. This firm did business about one year, when Mr. Driggs purchased his partner's interest and conducted the business alone until 1897, when he went to Nebraska. After remaining there about a year, he went to Kansas and in 1901, returned to Clinton, where he engaged in the furniture business, under the title of the Clinton Furniture Company. Three years later, he disposed of the furniture business and bought the hardware business which had been conducted by Thomas & Foster, and in 1910, incorporated this business under the corporate name of the Peoples Hardware Company, and since that time, has been president and manager of this institution. This is one of the extensive hardware establishments of Henry County, and it is seldom that one finds such a complete line of hardware made up of such clean stock as is found in this establishment. The store is located on the east side of the square and has a frontage of twenty-three feet and is one hundred feet deep. Two stories are occupied by the hardware business besides a large warehouse in the rear.
Mr. Driggs was united in marriage, June 12, 1888, to Miss Nanna R. Holliday, a daughter of George H. Holliday, deceased. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Driggs, Mary Louise, who resides at home with her parents and John, who now holds a commission as first lieutenant in the National Army of the United States.
Mr. Driggs is a member of the Independent Order of United Workman, Modern Woodmen of America and the Methodist Episcopal Church. One of the greatest bereavement of Mr. Driggs' life occurred December 13, 1914, when Mrs. Driggs departed this life.
W. A. Martin, one of the most extensive and successful merchants of Clinton, whose mammoth store is known as the "Home of Low Prices," is located on South Artesian avenue. Mr. Martin is a native of Illinois. He was born in Marshall, Clark County, November 23, 1862, and is a son of Andrew J. and Jane Caldwell Martin, the former a native of Missouri, and the latter of Illinois. Andrew J. Martin, the father, was a soldier in the Civil War and died at Nashville, Tennessee, while in the service. His wife died at Pierce City, Missouri. They were the parents of three children as follows: Lewis, now deceased; Mrs. Sarah McHenry of Clinton, Missouri, and W. A., the subject of this sketch.
W. A. Martin was reared near Versailles, Morgan County, Missouri, and educated in the public schools, and for a number of years was engaged in the sawmill business and later fanned in Saline County. He came to Henry County in 1884, where he was engaged in farming and gardening until 1892, when he engaged in business at his present location. He first started in a small way with a limited stock of goods in a store building 16 by 20 feet. After two years, he found it necessary to enlarge his store room to accommodate his rapidly growing business, and as his business has developed, he has added more store room, more warehouse room and more clerks until his business has grown to be one of the largest commercial enterprises in Henry County. His present store building is 44 by 66 feet, with basement, and he has two warehouses, 30 by 40 feet and 36 by 40 feet. When Mr. Martin began business at his present location, it was outside of the city limits, but in 1902, the city limits were extended which included the Martin store.
There are many contributing elements to the success of such a business as Mr. Martin has built up in Clinton. Square dealing and strict honesty and integrity are fundamentally the basic principles of success. These Mr. Martin has closely followed and in addition, he has given close attention to details. He buys for cash and thereby gets the advantage of discounts. Owing to the rapid growth of his business, he has been able to buy his goods in large quantities, which has given him an advantage in prices over smaller buyers, and thus enabling him to sell to his customers lower than his competitors and at the same time, make a reasonable profit. Mr. Martin is a capable business man and his square methods have won the confidence of the people.
May 6, 1881, W. A. Martin was united in marriage with Miss Mollie L. East of Pettis County, Missouri. She is a daughter of Thomas W. and Camelia W. East. Her father was a Union veteran of the Civil War and was in the service four years. To Mr. and Mrs. Martin have been born the following children: Lewis, a painter, Clinton, Missouri, married Lula Thomas; Walter L., in business with his father, married Rosa Hoppe; Laura, wife of W. D. Hunt, Clinton; Charles, farmer, Clinton, Missouri, married Mabel Cook; George, proprietor of the Martin Green House, Clinton, Missouri; Minnie, married Edwin Bennett, Clinton, Missouri; May, married James Dodson, Calhoun, Missouri; Ralph, Clinton, Missouri; Nellie, Pauline and Albert, residing at home with their parents.
In addition to his mercantile business, Mr. Martin is interested in breeding Hereford cattle, and at this writing, has about forty head on his farm which is situated four miles south of Clinton. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Clinton, and he is recognized as one of the progressive citizens of Henry County.
Rolla W. Burch, one of Clinton's leading merchants, is located on the corner of Fifth and Elm streets, and his merchandise is well known in Clinton and vicinity as "Quality Groceries." Mr. Burch is a native son of Henry County, born at Lewis Station, September 23, 1883, a son of George M. and Boadicia (Miller) Burch. George M. Burch was a son of David L. Burch, a Henry County pioneer, who came here in 1854 and entered Government land in Deer Creek township, near Calhoun, where he spent the remainder of his life. He died February 21, 1915, aged eighty-two years. He was prominent in the affairs of Henry County and a member of the Methodist Church, and devoted much of his time and talent to the up-building of the church in this county. He was prominent in Masonic circles, being a thirty-third degree Mason.
David L. Burch was married to Frances E. Finks December 18, 1856 and the following children were born to this union: Thornton D. and George M. The mother of these children died June 7, 1895, and in 1899, David L. Burch married Jennie Finks, a sister of his first wife.
George M. Burch has made general farming and stock raising the principal occupation of his life, but for some years has been an invalid.
Boadicia (Miller) Burch is a daughter of Alexander and Eliza Jane (Gaskill) Miller. Alexander Miller was born in St. Clair County, Illinois, April 27, 1837, and died March 18, 1915. He married Jane Gaskill March 7, 1859, and the following children were born to this union: Dan W.; Boadicia, the wife of George M. Burch, and Mrs. W. P. Thornton. Alexander Miller came to Missouri in 1867 and settled on a farm in Henry County near Drake's Chapel.
Rolla W. Burch is the eldest of six children born to his parents. as follows: Homer W., a tanner near Drakes Chapel; Marshal M., on the home place with his father; Arthur and Lyman, also at home with the father, and Mrs. Edith Wiley, Lewis Station.
Rolla W. Burch received his education at Lewis Station in the public schools and remained on the home place until he was about twenty years of age. He then spent three or four years in the Dakotas, Montana and Colorado and when he returned to Clinton and bought out the Noman E. Peckstein store, which is his present location. Here he engaged in the grocery business and has built up one of the best trades in Clinton. His stock of goods are never below the standard in quality and his business slogan "Quality Groceries," means just exactly what the term implies.
On March 3, 1910, Rolla W. Burch was united in marriage with Miss Fornia S. Julian, a daughter of W. G. Julian, of Clinton, who at one time was the largest produce dealer in Clinton. He died November 24, 1910, and his widow, who bore the maiden name of Alice Phillips, now resides at Langdon, Alberta, Canada. Mrs. Burch was educated in the public schools of Clinton and at one time was a pupil of Uel W. Lamkin, the editor of this work. At the time of her marriage, she was a teacher in the Clinton public schools. She and Mr. Burch have a broad circle of acquaintances in Clinton and Henry County and are justly popular. Mr. Burch is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Woodmen of the World and Modern Woodmen of America.
William H. Wehmeyer, well known as a leading farmer and stockman and enterprising citizen of Bogard township, is a native son of Henry County and a descendant of pioneer parents. Mr. Wehmeyer was born in the township where he now resides in 1868, a son of J. B. and Mary (Studley) Wehmeyer, a sketch of whom appears in this volume.
William H. Wehmeyer was reared on the home farm in Bogard township and educated in the public schools, attending school at the old Bee Branch school district in Bogard township. He began farming and stock raising in early life, which has been his life's work. In 1891, he bought one hundred sixty acres of land from Benjamin Coke. Since that time he has added three hundred forty acres to his original purchase and is now the owner of a splendid farm of five hundred acres. The place is well improved. The residence, a modern eleven room structure, is equipped with water, lighting plant and all other conveniences. Mr. Wehmeyer follows farming and stock raising on an extensive scale. He raises horses, cattle and hogs, specializing in Shropshire sheep and Duroc Jersey hogs.
In December, 1892, William H. Wehmeyer was united in marriage with Miss Pearl Forsythe, the only daughter of Andrew G. and Nellie (Foreman) Forsythe, both of whom now reside at Creighton, Missouri. Andrew G. Forsythe was born in Stark County, Ohio, December 26, 1840.
His parents were John F. and Anna (Thomburg) Forsythe. John F. Forsythe was a native of Tyrone County, Ireland, born in 1780. He immigrated to America when a youth, locating in Ohio. He was a soldier in the War of 1812. His wife, Anna (Thornburg) Forsythe, was a native of Ohio. Andrew G. Forsythe was reared in Ohio and educated in the public schools of that State. About the time he reached his majority, the Civil War broke out and he enlisted in 1861 in Company H, 105th Illinois Infantry. He was mustered out of service after a long and honorable military career, June 17, 1865. He participated in the battle of Resaca, Kenesaw Mountain, Peach Tree Creek, Atlanta, Ezra Church and was with Sherman on his famous march to the sea.
To William H. Wehmeyer and wife have been born the following children: Mary, married Roy Hunter; John, married Bonnie Farnsworth and lives on part of the home place; Ruth, Fred and Robert, at home with their parents. Mr. Wehmeyer takes a deep interest in the civic welfare of his township and county and has served as township treasurer for four years. He is progressive and public spirited and stands ever ready to co-operate with any project for the betterment of the community. He is a Republican.
