CHAPTER XXVII (Part 81)
BIOGRAPHICAL
H. C. Whitaker, the well known cashier of the Farmers Bank of Blairstown, is a native of Missouri. He was born at Weaubleau in Hickory County, October 28, 1889, a son of Rev. John and Emeline (Ernest) Whitaker, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Kentucky.
Rev. John Whitaker served in the Union Army during the Civil War and afterwards, came to Missouri. He taught a private college at Weaubleau for thirty years. This college was under the direction of the Christian Church. Reverend Whitaker was not only prominent in educational and religious work, but also took a leading part in politics. He represented St. Clair County in the Legislature and represented Hickory County two terms in that body. He was a Republican, and the nominee of that party for Congress from the Seventh District. Notwithstanding that this was a strong Democratic district, Mr. Whitaker lacked but a few votes of being elected. He died in January, 1909, at Weaubleau, and his wife preceded him in death about five years. They were the parents of the following children: O. B., who lives in Hickory County, Missouri, and is now a member of the Missouri State Legislature; Minnie, married Ed Buller and is now deceased; Unie, died in childhood; S. W., cashier of the State Bank of Brownington, Missouri; J. S., lumberman, Walnut Grove, Missouri; Jessie, deceased; Effie, wife of Cyrus Paxton, Strome, Alberta, Canada; and H. C, the subject of this sketch.
H. C. Whitaker was reared in Hickory County and educated in the Weaubleau Christian College, where he was graduated in 1906. He then taught school at Weaubleau and Brownington for two years, after which he was engaged in the lumber business in Oklahoma for one year. He was then assistant cashier of the Bank of Brownington until April 15, 1911, when he accepted the cashiership of the Farmers Bank of Blairstown and has served in that capacity to the present time.
The Farmers Bank of Blairstown was organized November 20, 1909, with a capital stock of $10,000. Its first officers were: W. W. Johnson, president; W. R. Farnsworth, vice-president; and J. S. Stover, cashier.
The present officers are W. W. Johnson, president; C. L. Farnsworth, vice-president, and H. C. Whitaker, cashier. The Farmers Bank is a substantial institution and has had a gradual growth since its organization. Its officers are safe and conservative financiers. To illustrate the increase in business of this bank, the deposits of March 7, 1911, were $19,803.14, and on June 28, 1918, the deposits had increased to $90,717.53. Mr. Whitaker was united in marriage March 20, 1912, with Miss Ruby Shepperd, a daughter of D. E. and Susie Fisher Shepperd, of Blairstown, Missouri. Mr. and Mrs. Shepperd reside at Blairstown, where the father is successfully engaged in the automobile, implement and hardware business. To Mr. and Mrs. Whitaker has been born one son, Valgean.
D. E. Shepperd, a well known hardware merchant and automobile dealer of Blairstown, Missouri, is a native of Ohio. He was born at Moxahala, Perry County, Ohio, December 23, 1865, and is a son of G. W. and Martha J. Shepperd, both natives of Ohio. The father was born November 27, 1841, and died April 25, 1905, and his wife departed this life several years before the death of her husband. She died in 1868 when D. E. was about three years of age. The following children were born to G. W. and Martha J. Shepperd: Mrs. W. H. Larick, Dally, Iowa; Mrs. M. Penman, Glouster, Oklahoma, and D. E., the subject of this sketch. After the mother died the father was again married and two sons and a daughter were born to that union: W. B., McKeesport, Pennsylvania; C. S., Moxahala, Ohio, and Mrs. Alice Stallsmith, who died at Zanesville, Ohio, in May, 1916.
D. E. Shepperd was reared in Perry County, Ohio, and educated in the public schools. When he was twenty-one years of age, he went to Pittsburg, Kansas, where he was employed about five months, when he went to Kansas City, Missouri, where he entered the employ of I. D. Clapp, a wholesale commission dealer. After remaining there about a year, he came to Blairstown and engaged in the harness business. A few years later, he added a hardware stock and later added the automobile business. He is one of the successful merchants of Blairstown and has built up a large trade. In 1906, he bought the J. H. Schweer building, where his hardware stored is located. In addition to his other business enterprises, he is now erecting a large garage.
Mr. Shepperd was united in marriage in February, 1893, to Miss Susan Fisher, a daughter of C. S. and Martha J. Fisher, Henry County pioneers. They settled in Big Creek township at a very early date. The father was a native of Missouri and the mother of Virginia. C. S. Fisher died in 1903 and Mrs. Fisher resides at Blairstown with their daughter, Mrs. Shepperd. To Mr. and Mrs. Shepperd have been born the following children: Ruby L., the wife of W. H. Whitaker of Blairstown, a sketch of whom appears in this volume; Lelia and Ronda, both of whom reside at home with their parents.
Mr. Shepperd served as postmaster of Blairstown for nine years, receiving his appointment from President Roosevelt. He is a member of the Masonic Lodge and the Modern Woodmen of America. Mr. Shepperd has been successful in his business undertaking. When he came to Blairstown, he only had $500 capital, and today, he is one of the well-to-do men of Henry County, and in addition to his prosperous business institution, he and his wife are the owners of 360 acres of valuable land in Big Creek township. He is one of Henry County's substantial citizens.
J. S. Pollock, a prominent merchant of Blairstown, Missouri, and senior member of the firm known as the Blairstovm Mercantile Company, is a native of Missouri. He was born in Chilhowee, Johnson County, December 27, 1872, and is a son of W. P. and Susan M. (McFarland) Pollock. W. P. Pollock was a native of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and an early settler in Johnson County.
Susan M. McFarland was born in Centerview, Missouri, and belongs to one of the oldest pioneer families of Johnson County. Her mother was a daughter of Levi Simpson, who was prominent in the early history of Johnson County and Simpson township of that county was named in his honor.
W. P. Pollock and Susan M. McFarland were married in Johnson County in 1869 and after nearly fifty years of wedded life they reside at Chilhowee. This venerable couple are the parents of the following children: James, Chilhowee, Missouri; J. S., the subject of this sketch; C. W., Chilhowee; Arthur, a merchant, Chilhowee; Rev. L. N., Arrow Rock, Missouri; Mrs. E. B. Strasburg, Strasburg, Missouri; Mildred, Kansas City, Missouri; and W. P., Jr., Mullinville, Kansas.
J. S. Pollock was reared in Johnson County and educated in the public schools and the State Normal School at Warrensburg. He began his mercantile career when a boy as a clerk in the store of G. K. Christopher at Chilhowee. He worked for two months without pay and then his employer started him at $10.00 a month. This store changed hands a number of times and young Pollock remained with the store each time until it was finally discontinued. In 1896, J. S. Pollock, in partnership with his father, opened a general store at Chilhowee and continued until 1898, when, after disposing of his business, J. S. Pollock went to Butler and was with the McKibbon Mercantile Company about one year, when he resigned and came to Blairstown. Here he entered the employ of J. N. Schweer, and after remaining here three years, he accepted a position with the Holden Mercantile Company at Holden, Missouri. One year later, he returned to Blairstown and has been connected with the Blairstown Mercantile Company ever since. This institution was organized as a stock company by J. H. Schweer in 1904 and incorporated the same year with a capital stock of $8,000.00. The business is now owned by J. S. and C. W. Pollock. This is one of the important mercantile houses of Henry County. They carry a complete line of general merchandise, including groceries, dry goods, etc. It is a popular trading place and has a good business.
Mr. Pollock was united in marriage August 16, 1900, with Miss Nellie Cobb, a daughter of Rev. W. B. Cobb and Elizabeth (Davis) Cobb of Butler. Rev. W. B. Cobb was born in Lafayette County, Missouri, April 13, 1844, and died July 16, 1916. He was a son of James M. Cobb, a pioneer of Lafayette County, who was prominent in the early day affairs of that county. Mrs. Pollock has a half brother and a half sister living: Mrs. J. H. Hereford, Kansas City, Missouri; and W. T. Cobb, LaMonte, Missouri. To Mr. and Mrs. Pollock has been born one daughter, Virginia Elizabeth. Mr. Pollock has an extensive acquaintance in Henry and adjoining counties and he is that type of man who makes friends for the old reason, that he is a good loyal friend himself.
Thomas P. Prouse - In the southeastern part of Clinton township are some splendid farms, nearly all of which have been built up and created by their owners. It is a picturesque and fertile region, bordering on the Deepwater River, the banks of which are heavily timbered. The Prouse farm of eighty-four acres is among the best in the country and very fertile. Mr. Prouse is owner of four tracts of land, eighty-four acres, forty acres, sixty acres and eighty acres, making a total of 264 acres, besides a six acre tract. He has resided upon his home place since 1879 and rented the land during his first year's residence. He then paid $1,700 for 140 acres, and has placed all of the existing improvements upon his farms. It was necessary for him to clear away considerable timber before he could place the land in cultivation. He paid $1,500 for his home tract of eighty-four acres and $900 for forty acres. This land is now worth $75 an acre and Mr. Prouse is in very comfortable circumstances. Much of the land is underlaid with coal and much coal has been mined from the Prouse land.
Thomas P. Prouse was born in Ross County, Ohio, November 10, 1851. He is the son of Thomas and Barbara (Kellar) Prouse, both of whom were born and reared in Ohio. They went to Edgar County, Illinois, in 1855, and after a residence of fourteen years there, they came to Henry County and settled on the Deepwater, where Thomas died in 1874. To Thomas and Barbara Prouse were born seven children, three of whom are living: Thomas P., subject of this review; George, a farmer in Clinton township; Daniel, Denver, Colorado.
Thomas P. Prouse was married October 15, 1879, to Serilda Moyer, born December 25, 1861, in Illinois, the daughter of Solomon (born 1830, died 1893) and Elizabeth Moyer (born November 24, 1831, died April 9, 1905), natives of Kentucky who came from Illinois to Henry County, Missouri, in 1870. Solomon Moyer died near Osceola, St. Clair County, Missouri. Five children were born to Thomas P. and Serilda Prouse, as follows: James A., living on the home place, married Maggie Raper and has one child, Percy Thomas Prouse; Mrs. Callie Lee Schmidt, Clinton township; Celeste, deceased; Effie, wife of Isaac Arnold, living in Oklahoma, has three children, Thomas Jefferson, Gladys and Beulah,' Nora, married Forrest Caldwell and has three children, Paulline, Edna and Kenneth Forrest.
Since 1870, when she was nine years of age, Mrs. Thomas P. Prouse has lived on this farm and has witnessed the wonderful development of this great county. She and Mr. Prouse have seen the country emerge from a wilderness state to become one of the thriving and richest portions of the great state of Missouri, and best of all, they have progressed and prospered with their home county. Mr. and Mrs. Prouse are members of the Evangelical Church and are kindly, hospitable folk of the true Missouri type, and have a host of friends and well wishers in Henry County.
