CHAPTER XXVII (Part 113)
BIOGRAPHICAL
John Cecil Trolinger - Nations preserve their histories and so do individuals. There is a sort of glamour cast around those brave ones who dared to come into a wild and unpeopled country, save for the savages and the wild beasts, and conquer the wilderness so that it might yield food and shelter for their loved one and also for their posterity. Mr. Trolinger is indeed proud of his sturdy ancestors, who were the early settlers of Henry County and laid the foundation for its broad fertile farms and prosperous institutions.
John Cecil Trolinger was born July 26, 1863, in Leesville, Missouri, the son of Dr. John Philip Trolinger who was born in Springfield township, February 7, 1835, and died in Benton County, January 25, 1885; and Martha Ann (Nichols) Trolinger, who was born in Lafayette County, Missouri, May 31, 1840, and died February 10, 1891. They were the parents of eight children as follows: William H., of Honey Creek township; John Cecil, with whom this sketch deals; James H., Welch, Oklahoma; Mrs. Alta C. Shrum of Frederick, Oklahoma; Mrs. Martha A. Gilcrest, residing in Benton County, Missouri; Archie N., Quapaw, Oklahoma; Mrs. Allie May Fewell, deceased; Samuel W., at Dillon, Montana.
The father of John Cecil Trolinger, who was Dr. John Philip Trolinger received his medical education in the Missouri Medical College at St. Louis, Missouri, and practised medicine in St. Clair County until the Civil War, when he removed to Leesville, Missouri, where he practised until a few years before his death. He moved across the line into Benton County and lived but a few years after his removal. Doctor Trolinger was the son of Henry Trolinger and Attelia Cecil Trolinger. The former was born in Virginia and came to Missouri in 1829, locating in Henry County in 1832. He entered land in Springfield township until the land was surveyed by the Government, when he, in 1837, filed on the land, becoming its legal owner. He was married in Virginia to Attelia Cecil, daughter of Philip Cecil, who was a very early settler of Springfield township.
Philip Cecil owned a very valuable violin, which made music during the long lonely hours of pioneer life which is highly cherished and is now in the hands of his grandson, John Cecil Trolinger.
The joys of companionship were rare in those early days, at least in the thirtys, when the neighbors were from twelve to twenty miles apart. "But where there is a will there is a way" and the young people of those early days thought nothing of trips on horseback to visit one another. Mrs. Attelia Cecil Trolinger, in Springfield township, neighbored with Mrs. Fields of Fields Creek township and also with the Sweeney family in Clinton township. Those were indeed the days when friendships were cherished and their long rides on horseback were forgotten in the joys of the moment. The little children were brought also on these long neighborly calls and enjoyed them as much as their elders.
John Cecil Trolinger was educated in the public schools of the county and attended Hooper's Institute, Clarksburg, Missouri, one year. He farmed in Springfield township until 1908. In 1896, he was elected County Assessor and served his county for four years. In 1907, he came to Clinton and was in the employ of the Elliston Insurance Company until his acceptance of the bookkeeper's chair in the Clinton National Bank, where he is now Assistant Cashier. He is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and also a stanch Democrat. In the Mason Lodge, he is an active member of the Blue Lodge Works.
February 14, 1888, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Trolinger and Miss Laura L. Magers, the daughter of Desha and Icy (Broyles) Magers, the former a native of Kentucky, and the latter born in Macon County, Missouri, and laid to rest in Mount Olivet Cemetery. Mrs. Trolinger was born in Macon County, Missouri, and she with her husband are the parents of two daughters: Leila, a graduate of Clinton High School, Warrensburg State Normal School, and is now at the University of Colorado; Mallie, the wife of C. E. Brodie, resides at Washington, D.C., but is now at Dallas, Texas, with her husband who is in the United States Aviation Corps, located at that place. Mrs. Brodie is also a graduate of Clinton High School and the Warrensburg State Normal.
Mr. Trolinger is justly proud of his antecedents and looks with pride upon their lives as they wove the woof of life in the community. The first brick chimney to be built in Henry County is still upon the Cecil farm, built by the original owner. Also Mr. Cecil's will was the first be recorded upon the Henry County books.
David C. Spangler - The Middle West, known as the corn and wheat growing district, is noted for its corn-fed cattle. The people of Missouri contribute their share of the provision of the vast herds of cattle needed to supply the world with beef for the table. Among the Henry County stockmen who are doing this work on a large scale, David C. Spangler is one of the real leaders. Mr. Spangler raises from 800 to 1,000 head of hogs and about 200 head of cattle each year. This production is brought about on a large scale on a farm embracing 1,000 acres in Shawnee township. The Spangler Stock Farm is ideally adapted for the production of live stock in large numbers and is sufficiently watered by a well drilled to a depth of six hundred feet and which has been yielding a good flow of water for the past thirty years. This well is filled with water to within forty feet of the top and is forced to all parts of the feeding lots by a power pump.
David C. Spangler was born in Shawnee township, Henry County, December 3, 1888, and is the son of James W. and Alice (Houston) Spangler. James W. Spangler was born in Illinois and came to Missouri from that State in 1860, making a permanent location in Shawnee township. His farm was located within two and a half miles of Huntingdale. Mr. Spangler is now the owner of 2,235 acres of land, 1,000 acres of which is under the management of his son, David C. Spangler.
James Spangler was engaged in farming and stock raising for many years until his retirement to a home in Clinton, Missouri, where he now resides. Mrs. Alice Houston Spangler, his wife, was born in Deer Creek township.
David C. Spangler was reared in Henry County and has followed in his father's footsteps as a farmer and stockman.
Mr. Spangler was married on January 11, 1917, to Miss Nora Shackleford, the daughter of W. H. and Dora (Linley) Shackleford, both of whom were natives of Kentucky. W. H. Shackleford now resides in Kansas City, Missouri, and his wife is deceased. Mr. and Mrs. David Spangler reside in Clinton, from which point, Mr. Spangler travels to his farm and oversees the operation of his ranch.
Mr. Spangler is fraternally affiliated with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Workmen of the World.
James W. Crews - The automobile business has increased by leaps and bounds in the past fifteen years and Mr. Crews, a member of the Clinton Auto Company, has been personally interested in the motors since their introduction in the county. The first automobile in Henry County was built by the Bragg Brothers of Clinton. It was a steam-propelled motor and a year or more after it was built, it was purchased by Mr. Crews. He was the envy of all the men and the most looked-for man throughout the county as he went by in the first "horseless carriage." This machine was later exchanged for a one-cylinder Cadillac at Kansas City, Missouri. The second car owned at Clinton was a two-cylinder Oldsmobile, purchased by Garland Covington; the third one was a one-cylinder Cadillac owned by E. T. Montgomery; then a Ford, owned by Mr. Patterson, and a two-cylinder Buick by Dr. Marseilles came into the community at the same time. Thus has Mr. Crews seen the automobile evolve from a cumbersome slow, heavy-moving vehicle to a swiftly moving thing of beauty and an every-day necessity.
James W. Crews was born at Huntingdale, Missouri, August 3, 1878, and is the son of Floyd and Mary (Freeman) Crews. The former was a native of Illinois who came to Huntingdale, Missouri, where he made his home for many years. His wife, Mary (Freeman) Crews, was born near Huntingdale, Missouri. She was laid to rest in 1900. They are the parents of nine children as follows: James W., with whom this sketch deals; Garrett Allen, of Kansas City, Kansas; Clyde, death occurred at sixteen years of age; Sallie, died at six years; Bessie died at seventeen years; Ruby and Ruble twins, deceased and Mary deceased.
The early education of Mr. Crews was received in Huntingdale, Missouri, and Montrose, Missouri. For a good many years, he was employed as an electrician and also dealt in music and pianos. In 1916, Mr. Crews was made a member of the Clinton Auto Company and has since confined his efforts to the automobile business. Claude Lingle is the senior member of the firm and they are located on North Washington street. At the beginning of their business relations, they handled the Studebaker automobile, which they continue to handle and also the Chevrolet. The work rooms are fitted up for repair work and accessories of every sort for the automobile industry. The building is 50x120 feet on the west front and a building 50x90 feet in which they keep their new cars stored.
The marriage of Mr. James Crews and Maude Eleanor Barnes of Golden City, Missouri, was solemnized May 5, 1902. Mr. and Mrs. Crews are the parents of one son, Jule Garrett, who is at home with his parents. Mr. Crews is a member of the Woodmen of the World and the Travelers Protective Association. He is a progressive business man and thoroughly alive to the best interests of his city and county.
William F. Hall, president and manager of the Industrial Iron Works of Clinton, Missouri, represents one of the important industrial institutions of Henry County. Mr. Hall is a native son of this County. He was born at Shawnee Mound, March 1, 1869, a son of Frank and Sarah (Arnold) Hall, Frank Hall, the father, was born in Orange, New Jersey. His mother died when he was a child and when he was thirteen years old he went to Ohio, where he grew to manhood, and when the Civil War broke out he enlisted in an Ohio Regiment, and after the expiration of his term of enlistment, he next enlisted in an Iowa regiment and served until the close of the war. He was taken prisoner at Richmond, Kentucky, by the Confederates, but escaped shortly after his capture. He was in Georgia with his regiment when General Lee surrendered. After the war, he returned to Ohio and in 1867, came to Missouri and settled in Shawnee township, Henry County. He followed farming there about two years, when he came to Clinton and engaged in the boot and shoe business, which he followed until his death. He was a lifelong Republican and always active in his party organization. He was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Grand Army of the Republic. He was a substantial citizen, and during the course of his business career, built up a reputation for honesty and integrity, which is a lasting heritage to his descendants. Sarah (Arnold) Hall, mother of William F. Hall, was a native of Ohio, and now resides at her home in Clinton at Sixth and Franklin streets. Frank and Sarah (Arnold) Hall were the parents of three children: William F., the subject of this sketch; C. E., who is engaged in the electrical business at Wichita, Kansas; and Frances, now the wife of W. E. Myers, Clinton, Missouri.
William F. Hall was reared in Clinton, educated in the public schools and graduated from the Clinton High School. He then entered Lampkin's Academy and was graduated from that institution. He then entered the University of Missouri and was graduated from the electrical engineering course in the Class of 1891. He was then engaged as an electrical engineer, superintending the installing of electrical machinery in Ohio, Kentucky, Missouri, and Illinois. In 1895, he purchased an interest in the Industrial Iron Works of Clinton, and that institution was operated under the firm name of Pierce & Hall for five years. In 1900, Mr. Hall became the sole proprietor and conducted the business until 1907, when the factory was incorporated, and Mr. Hall became president and manager, and holds that position at the present time. When he became interested in this plant, they were doing a general machine and foundry business on a moderate scale, and he immediately enlarged the capacity of the plant and added much machinery. They are the builders of what is known as the "Industrial Engine." It is a very successful gas engine and regarded as one of the best engines on the market for the purposes for which it is constructed. It is manufactured in sizes ranging from two to twenty horse-power, and this engine is in great demand throughout the country.
They have recently constructed a type of locomobile, which is the first machine of this kind ever built, which is constructed in the form of a truck designed for heavy hauling purposes, the first one built was for the Miller & Spangler Coal Company, which has proved very successful for hauling coal from the mines to the railroad. The Industrial Iron Works manufactures sawmills, coal mining machinery, and all kinds of steam and gas engines, repairing and rebuilding, as well as new work. They have recently added a garage and other additional space for machine work. The floor space of the machine shop is 40x145 feet and the garage is 60x145. They employ from fifteen to twenty men, mostly skilled mechanics, and frequently have employed as high as twenty-five.
The Industrial Iron Works of Clinton was established in 1888 by A. H. Crandall, in a very small way as a repair shop. Its initial home was near the Frisco roundhouse. Shortly afterwards, it was removed to Center street, and about a year later, to the present location on South Washington street. Michael Hanna, later became a partner of Crandall and the business was conducted by them until Crandall was killed in a railroad accident.
J. N. Pierce then became Hanna's partner. Later Pierce became the owner of the business and he later sold a half interest to Mr. Hall as above stated, and since Mr. Hall became connected with it, the business has had a rapid development until it has reached its present magnitude.
William F. Hall was united in marriage December 28, 1892, to Miss Lucy Hallie Pierce, a daughter of Rev. J. M. Pierce of Clinton, a sketch of whom appears in this volume. To Mr. and Mrs. Hall have been born four children: Mildred, a graduate of the Clinton High School and, later, a student at the University of Missouri, now the wife of C. K. Wilkerson, superintendent of the city schools at Mena, Arkansas; Helen, who was educated in the Clinton High School, of which she is a graduate. University of Missouri, and Baker University at Baldwin, Kansas; Wilma, also a graduate of Clinton High School, and is now specializing in music at DuPauw University at Greencastle, Indiana; and Vivian, a student in the Clinton High School.
Mr. Hall is a stanch Republican and takes a keen interest in political matters, having for a number of years been active in his party organization. He has served as chairman of the Republican County Central Committee and also chairman and secretary of the Republican City Committee. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, Woodmen of the World, and he and the other members of his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
E. C. Kent, president of the Clinton National Bank, and a leading clothing merchant of Clinton, Missouri, is a native of Dublin, Ireland. He is a son of Edmund C. Kent, who during his active career conducted a large dyeing establishment in Dublin. He was also engaged in the bakery and grocery business and now resides in Dublin, Ireland, where he is living retired. His wife died in 1916. The Kent family emigrated from Ireland to Canada when E. C. Kent was a boy of fourteen years. The family returned to Dublin two years later, but E. C, who was then about sixteen years of age, remaining with an uncle, who lived at Peru, Indiana. Here he attended school until he was twenty-one years of age, when he made a trip to his native land, and Scotland. Shortly afterward he returned to Peru, Indiana, where he learned the tailor's trade with his uncle. When he was twenty-four years of age he went from Peru, Indiana, to Great Bend, Kansas, and after working at his trade there about one and one-half years, when he went to Palestine, Texas. He engaged in the merchant tailoring business in the latter place, and conducted an extensive business, frequently employing as many as twelve or more tailors, and was recognized as having the best merchant tailoring business in the State of Texas. In 1891, he came to Clinton, where he conducted an exclusive merchant tailoring establishment until 1915, when he added a complete line of clothing and men's furnishings. The Kent Clothing House is not only an attractive establishment, but carries a complete line of high class clothing and furnishings of well recognized merit. Mr. Kent aims to carry well-known and well-established makes of clothing which have stood the test of time.
Mr. Kent has met with a large degree of success in the mercantile world, although he has not confined his activities to this field, alone. He is a successful banker and a large landowner. He was one of the organizers of the Clinton National Bank, and was a member of its first board of directors, and he has been connected with that bank in an official way since its organization, January 13, 1006, having continually served on the board of directors. In January, 1916, he was elected president of that institution and is still serving in that capacity. In addition to his property interests in Clinton, he owns considerable property in Kansas City, Missouri, and also a section of valuable land in Barton County, Kansas, which is located about five miles from Great Bend. This is recognized as some of the most fertile and productive wheat land in Kansas.
Mr. Kent was first married at Great Bend, Kansas, to Miss Ellen Uphins Diffenbacher, daughter of C. F. Dilfenbacher, a prominent attorney of Great Bend, Kansas, who for a time was a member of the law firm of Diffenbacher & Banty. Mr. Diffenbacher served as district judge in Kansas for a number of years. To Mr. and Mrs. Kent were born three children, as follows: E. C, who is associated with his father in the clothing store at Clinton; P. J., of the United States Aviation Corps, who is now general instructor at United States Aviation, Camp Wright, Fairfield, Ohio. He is an honor graduate of Cornell University; F. D., the youngest son of Mr. Kent is now serving as first lieutenant in the National Army in France. Mr. Kent's first wife died May 22, 1914. On July 10, 1917, he was united in marriage with Mrs. Christine Vanderespt of Louisville, Kentucky.
Mr. Kent is a member of the Masonic Lodge and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He is one of the substantial business men of Henry County.
