CHAPTER XXVII (Part 65)
BIOGRAPHICAL
Charles Jacobs Simonds, a successful dairyman of Henry County, was born March 16, 1873, in Palmyra, McCoupin County, Illinois, the son of Charles Granby and Mary J. (McConthey) Simonds. They were the parents of four children, and by a former marriage to Elizabeth McConthey, sister of Mary McConthey, Mr. Simonds had three children.
Charles G. Simonds was born May 1, 1831, in Roodhouse, Green County, Illinois, and followed farming in that county until his removal to Cass County, Missouri, in 1878. He is a son of Joshua and Lulu Ann Simonds, the former a native of New York, where he was born January 8, 1802.
In the very early days, and the opening up of Illinois, Joshua Simonds came to Roodhouse, Illinois, and conducted a general merchandise store, where he died September 10, 1834. Charles G. Simonds, his son, passed away November 12, 1902, in Ft. Scott, Kansas.
Charles Jacobs Simonds received his education in the rural schools of Cass County and the schools of Harrisonville and Warrensburg, Missouri. In 1899, he rented land in Cass County and continued to farm until 1902, when he came to Henry County and purchased the Thomas Gray farm, east of Calhoun. The following year, he disposed of this land and purchased his present farm. He built a new house and made various other improvements.
The marriage of Charles Simonds and Lulu Alta Funk was solemnized, September 26, 1899, in Cass County. Mrs. Simonds was born May 9, 1878, in Cass County, a daughter of Joseph and Mary F. (Swank) Funk.
Joseph Funk was born July 5, 1845, in Wheeling, West Virginia, and his wife was born November 22, 1850, in Virginia. They now reside on their farm in Cass County, Missouri.
Mr. and Mrs. Simonds are the parents of six children: Marion Ashby, Joseph Charles, Mary Eunice, Perry Lawrence, Linneus Albert and Lulu Alta, all of whom are at home with their parents.
For the past six years, Mr. Simonds has been conducting a dairy business and his herd of Jersey cattle is increasing year by year with corresponding increase in the financial gains. He operates 250 acres of land, 200 acres of which he owns. Mr. Simonds is a Democrat, and is a member of the school board. He is a stockholder in the Farmers Elevator at Calhoun, and a member of the Mystic Workers.
John Tubbesing - The rich farming lands of Henry County have been attractive to farmers of other counties and we find many men from other places coming here and purchasing this land for their homes. One of those who has made Henry County his home is John D. Tubbesing, a prominent farmer and stockman, who was born May 23, 1866, in Franklin County, Missouri, a son of William F. and Anna Tubbesing. For a more complete record of this family, see sketch of William Tubbesing, which appears in this volume.
John Tubbesing was reared in Franklin and Jefferson counties, Missouri, and in 1890, came to Henry County, where he rented land for one year, and afterwards returned to Jefferson County.
In April, 1891, John D. Tubbesing and Zetta Fox were married and in 1897, came to Henry County to set up their home. They purchased eighty acres of land in Tebo township, section 30, and later purchased their present farm. In the years gone by, sons and daughters have come to bless their home as follows: Freddie and Edward, deceased; Lena, Herman, Lizzie, William, John and Harry at home with their parents. The mother of this family was born in September, 1866, in Jefferson County, Missouri, the daughter of John Fox, an early settler in Jefferson County, where he and his wife now reside.
Mr. Tubbesing is a breeder of Shorthorn cattle and owns 292 acres of land. He is a stockholder of the Farmers Elevator Company of Clinton, Missouri, and one of the substantial citizens of Henry County. He is public spirited and enterprising and has made good.
Edward F. Cuthrell is a successful farmer of Tebo township, who owns 590 acres of well improved land. This farm of generous proportions had its nucleus in 240 acres purchased in 1902 and Mr. Cuthrell has added to it until he has 590 acres of good farm land. Mr. Edward F. Cuthrell was born in Davie County, North Carolina, December 17, 1875, the son of James F. and Nettie (McBride) Cuthrell. James Cuthrell was a native of North Carolina and served in the Confederate Army for a short while, but was discharged because of disability. He was a tiller of the soil and lived to an advanced age, passing away in 1911. His wife, also a native of North Carolina, survived him until June, 1917, when she was laid away.
Edward F. Cuthrell remained in his native State until he was seventeen years of age, when he came to Clinton, Missouri, in 1892 and received employment as a farm hand. After five years of work as a farm hand, Mr. Cuthrell, in 1897, rented land for himself, until by dint of hard labor and economy, he was able to purchase the 240 acres, the nucleus of the present farm, in 1902. He made needed improvements, building a large barn 64x100 feet in extent and various other outbuildings.
February 3, 1894, Edward Cuthrell and Emma Gilkerson were united in marriage, and are the parents of the following children: Hattie, wife of E. Wilson, farmer of Tebo township; Taylor, a soldier in the United States Army; Rolla, in the United States Navy; Elmer, in Iowa; Alpha, Edward, Effie and Pauline at home with their father. The mother of this family, Mrs. Emma (Gilkerson) Cuthrell, was born in 1878 in Fields Creek township, Henry County, the daughter of Charles and Mollie (Page) Gilkerson, the former a native of Henry County and the latter of Lafayette County, Missouri. They live in California. In June, 1910, Mrs. Cuthrell passed away and her younger daughters are shouldering the responsibility of the home making since her demise.
Mr. Cuthrell has been an extensive breeder of jacks, road horses, Percheron and Belgian horses for twenty years. He has been a member of the Methodist Church since childhood.
John H. Royston - "Uncle John Henry" Royston, as he was lovingly called by his friends, was one of the upright and conscientious men who make for the betterment of mankind. He was a devout member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and always active in religious work.
His friends and relatives who honor his memory say that he was never known to use profanity. Such a man was the late John H. Royston, who was born May 12, 1827, and departed this life February 2, 1898. John Royston left his birthplace, Caroline County, Virginia, with his parents, Thomas W. and Susannah Royston, when a very young child. They first located in Monroe County, Missouri, and remained there until 1841, when they came to Henry County, Missouri, locating on the Grand River in the southeastern part of the county. They were God-fearing people who put their whole trust in His care, knowing that He cared for them among the wild and uninhabited lands of Missouri, as well as the more thickly settled part of their native State. They impressed their lives upon their son, who followed so faithfully his. early training.
John Royston was one of those "forty-niners" who left their homes and families and crossed the plains to California. He left Clinton, April 16, 1849, and arrived in California, August 8, 1849. Many never returned, but Mr. Royston came back to his old home and was married to Rachel Harris September 5, 1855. She was born June 29, 1836, in Charitan County, Missouri, and was reared by Major Daniel Ashby of Mexican and Indian War fame. Major Ashby was one of the early men in the county and won for himself, through his bravery and uprightness, a name honored by Henry County people.
Mr. and Mrs. Royston set up their home on the present farm in Deer Creek township and reared their sons and daughters, as follows: Mollie, at home; George, manager of the old home place, was born December 28, 1857, in Deer Creek township, educated in the district school and has devoted his best energies to the farming business, knowing Nature in all of her moods and how best to woo the crops from her unwilling hand. He owns 160 acres of land in partnership with his brother, John E., the farm being known as the Royston Brothers farm. The other children are Grace D., deceased; Samuel and Susan, deceased; Anna, at home; Thomas W., in Oklahoma; John E. and Mora at home. Mrs. Royston, at the advanced age of eighty-two years, is still active in her home and a blessing to her children.
Politically, Mr. Royston was a staunch Democrat and served as county assessor two terms in the eighties. In every capacity that Mr. Royston served, he lent the color of his upright life, doing things in such a manner that while they were unobtrusive, still they lingered in the hearts of his friends and acquaintances.
