CHAPTER XXVII (Part 44)
BIOGRAPHICAL
Judge Thomas W. Ogg - Popular with all classes of the people of Henry County, well read and progressive in his ideas and actions, having a splendid record as a public official who has truly and faithfully served his county to the best of his ability, Judge Thomas W. Ogg of Clinton and Bethlehem townships is a leading and foremost citizen of Henry County.
Thomas W. Ogg was born in Madison County, Kentucky, November 24, 1859, and is the son of St. Clair and Sallie Ann (Todd) Ogg, the former of whom was born in Virginia and the latter was a native of Kentucky. Sallie Ann Todd was a cousin of Mrs. Abraham Lincoln and a member of the famous Todd family of Kentucky and Illinois. St. Clair Ogg was killed during the Civil War, being shot from ambush in 1864.
Being a southerner by birth and instinct, his sympathies were naturally with the Southland in the great conflict. Having lost an arm, which had been torn off by a threshing machine, he was unable to enter military service, but being somewhat outspoken in his sympathies despite the fact that he was a non-combatant, he met death at the hands of a skulker. He was father of the following children, besides Thomas W., namely: Kansas Belle, died in 1878; Mrs. Martha Gaines, makes her home with Judge Ogg; and three died in infancy.
In the fall of 1865, the family settled in Howard County, Missouri, near the town of Glasgow. Twelve years later, in 1878, they came to Henry County and spent the first two years of their residence here in Brownington. In 1880, Mr. Ogg settled on his present farm in Bethlehem township, upon which he has placed all of the improvements. The Ogg farm consists of 157 acres, 120 acres of which is in the home tract and thirty-seven acres are in pasture land. During his residence in Clinton while attending to his official duties Judge Ogg rented his farm with the inevitable result of the land and buildings being neglected and allowed to get into a state of disrepair. In the spring of 1918, believing it to be every citizen's paramount duty to assist the country in producing more and more crops, especially if a land owner, he left his beautiful and comfortable home in the city of Clinton and returned to the farm, where he has been busily engaged in cultivating this year's crops and placing the farm buildings in good repair.
October 11, 1891, Judge Thomas W. Ogg and Miss Josie F. Massey were united in marriage. Mrs. Josie F. Ogg was born in North Carolina July 2, 1869, and is the daughter of Rufus H. and Christina (Dalton) Massey, natives of North Carolina. Mrs. Christina Massey was a niece of General Poindexter, her mother having been a sister of the general.
Rufus H. Massey was born in Rockingham County, Virginia, and Christina Massey was born in Stokes, County, Virginia. The Masseys came to Henry County in the spring of 1880 and settled in Bethlehem township, east of Clinton, where Rufus H. died in 1895. Christina Massey departed this life in 1893. They were parents of ten children, four of whom are living, besides Mrs. Massey: Dudley, residing in Arkansas; Robert, a farmer in Bethlehem township; Mrs. Amy Cummings, Adair, Oklahoma; Mrs. Ida Cummings, Adair, Oklahoma. The mother of Judge Thomas W. Ogg resides with her son. She was born July 17, 18__, and is one of the oldest pioneer women of Henry County.
Judge Ogg has been a life-long Democrat and is prominent in the councils of his party in Missouri. His official career is one of which any citizen can well be proud. He was elected district judge of the County Court in 1902 and served four years in this capacity, following which he filled the office of presiding judge of the court for four years. During his tenure of office, the indebtedness, bonded and otherwise, of Henry County was paid and the foundation of the whole financial structure of the government of Henry County was laid on modern and substantial lines, taking the place of former easy going and indifferent methods pursued by the county. The county business was placed upon a substantial plane and since that time affairs in Henry County have proceeded smoothly and well as regards the county government. The first thing which the court did under Judge Ogg's leadership was to refund the five per cent, bonds with four per cents, a proceeding which saved the county in interest alone over $2,000 per year. Many good bridges and highways were built and the present system of county roads was undertaken, a movement which is still continuing and which makes a vast difference in the overland travel as compared to former years. The time is fast coming when Henry County, if the plan of road grading and dragging is consistently and continually carried on and more extensively, the county will have all the year around roads. The brick paving around the court house square was built and many other notable improvements were accomplished. The Public Buildings Improvement Company was organized and began its efficient work. The county records had been kept in poor shape for many years, but during this notable era they were assembled in proper shape and rebound in substantial bindings and systematically arranged for ready reference. The cost of this binding did not exceed $2,000. Considerable time was spent in readjusting and equalizing the county taxing system, and a thorough business administration was given Henry County, setting an example for all future administrations.
Judge Ogg was elected county treasurer in 1912 and served in this important position for four years. He has made four campaigns for office in the county and has never suffered defeat. He is easily one of the most popular and best respected citizens of the county. Educated in the district schools, he has been a constant student and reader, owning one of the finest libraries in the county. He and Mrs. Ogg are members of the Christian Church, Judge Ogg having been an elder of the Clinton Christian Church for some years. He is affiliated with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and the Modern Woodmen of America.
Homer T. Burris - The Burris homestead east of Clinton in Bethlehem township is one of the finest and best improved in this section of Missouri. Fifty-one years ago the parents of the late Homer T. Burris came with him to the prairies of Henry County and the family settled upon partly improved land, which during the years that have passed has responded to the touch and care of capable hands and made to blossom as the rose in the desert. A beautiful home surrounded with splendid trees and shrubbery and flowers furnishes an attractive scene which pleases the eye of the traveler.
The late Homer T. Burris was born in Knox County, Ohio, on a farm between the cities of Mt. Vernon and Newark May 31, 1846. He was the son of Dennis and Keziah (Wilcox) Burris. Dennis Burris was born near Boston, Massachusetts, and came to Ohio with his parents when eight years of age. Keziah Burris was born in Pennsylvania and came to Ohio with her parents when a child. She was a cousin of General Rosencranz, of Civil War fame. She was the daughter of Franklin Crandle Wilcox, who married a Miss Joanna Stark, a descendant of Col. John Stark, of Revolutionary fame. Homer T. Burris was reared in Knox County and served as a member of a one hundred day regiment of Union soldiers during the Civil War. He was in service with the "Squirrel Hunters," who were called out to protect the city of Cincinnati when that city was threatened by Gen. John Morgan during his famous raid through Ohio.
September 26, 1867, Homer T. Burris and Miss Annabel Roberts were united in marriage. To this union were born six children: May, wife of F. B. Henry, Bethlehem township, mother of two children: Merle F. Henry, born June 10, 1897, enlisted in the National Army for overseas service in France in June, 1917, and Mildred, a teacher in the public schools; Mrs. Cora Massey, living on the adjoining farm, mother of two children, Rufus Homer and Ruth; John D., managing the Burris home place, married Florence Campbell and has one child, Irene; Grace Burris, at home with her mother; Walter, died at age of thirty-two years, and Homer Clyde, died in infancy.
Mrs. Annabel Burris was born October 22, 1845, in Knox County, Ohio, and is the daughter of John and Elizabeth (Jones) Roberts, both natives of Ohio. John Roberts was the son of Abram Roberts, a pioneer of Knox County, Ohio. Elizabeth Roberts was the daughter of Nelson Jones, a native of Maryland. Following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Homer T. Burris made the long trip to Henry County, Missouri, to build a permanent home on the prairies of western Missouri. They were accompanied by the parents of Mr. Burris and all lived together while building up their farm and creating a beautiful home, which is modeled after an old Buckeye farmstead. The Burris farm comprises 200 acres of fertile and well tilled land. Homer T. Burris departed this life July 11, 1904, sincerely mourned by a host of friends in Henry County. His death was a distinct loss to the community in which he had become such a useful citizen. He was progressive and enterprising in all things and was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Clinton, Missouri.
Homer T. Burris was a man of kindly and loving disposition who was devoted to his family and children. He was a home man in all things and never allowed outside matters to distract his attention to what he rightly considered his paramount duty to his home and family interests. As a result he prospered and left his widow in comfortable circumstances. Henry County is the better for citizens of the Burris type of manhood and progressiveness.
Logan S. Lawler - The late Logan S. Lawler was born in St. Clair County, Missouri, July 21, 1859, and departed this life at his home in Bethlehem township, Henry County, August 4, 1917. He was the son of Rev. William B. and Amelia (Molder) Lawler. William B. Lawler was born in North Carolina. Rev. William B. Lawler was born in North Carolina November 4, 1821, and went to Tennessee with his parents when six years old. He was the son of Evan and Sarah (Barker) Lawler, the former of whom was born in North Carolina July 27, 1799, and the latter was born October 10, 1799. Amelia (Molder) Lawler was born in Tennessee June 8, 1822, and was married to Rev. W. B. Lawler November 21, 1843.
To Rev. William B. and Amelia Lawler were born children as follows: Daniel E., John T., William A., Sarah A., Mary J., James W., Alfred F., Logan S., Theodosia and Robert G. Lawler. Rev. William B. Lawler was a minister of the Baptist Church and preached the Gospel for forty-six years in St. Clair and Henry Counties. He was a farmer as well as being a minister and was well and highly regarded by the people living in an extensive section of territory over which he traveled and organized Baptist Churches.
William B. Lawler and family moved to a farm near Windsor, Missouri, in 1865 and some time later settled in Bethlehem township, where Robert G. Lawler now resides. When Logan S. attained his majority he bought eighty acres of land nine miles east of Clinton and erected a good home. He became owner of 410 acres of land in this locality, which is now being managed by his eldest son, Berry Lawler. He was an extensive live stock man who bought grain to feed to his stock as well as feeding all grain raised on the land.
December 27, 1891, Logan S. Lawler and Miss Zora Scott were united in marriage. To this marriage have been born children as follows: Lydia, at home; Mrs. Eula Gray, Eoseland, Missouri; Ruth, at home; Berry, manager of the home farm, born April 16, 1900, an industrious and enterprising young man; Ora, at home; Arthur and Luther (twins), the former residing at home and the latter is deceased. The mother of these children was born in Cooper County, Missouri, July 13, 1868, the daughter of Byron and Lydia Jane (Hombeck) Scott, who came to Henry County, Missouri, in 1882. Byron Scott was born June 12, 1849, and makes his home in Clinton. Mrs. Scott is deceased.
Logan S. Lawler was prominent and was widely known throughout the county as one of its best and most enterprising citizens. He was very influential as a citizen and man of affairs throughout the county. His death was a distinct loss to Henry County in many ways. He is buried in Englewood Cemetery, one mile east of Clinton.
