CHAPTER (Part 47)
BIOGRAPHICAL
Claude Lingle - The Clinton Auto Company, established in March, 1916, while one of the newer business enterprises of Clinton, is a leading automobile concern of Henry County. The business is installed in a large room near the northwest corner of the court house square in Clinton and is in a thriving and prosperous condition, due to the enterprise and hustling proclivities of the manager and proprietor, Claude Lingle, one of the younger business men of Henry County and a native born citizen of Clinton. A repair department is maintained in connection with the salesroom for the convenience of the automobile owners and the patrons of the establishment. The concern sells the Studebaker and Chevrolet automobiles and have little difficulty in disposing of the cars which they are able to obtain from the factory. Square dealing and honest and dependable business methods have made the Clinton Auto Company a popular concern in Henry County and the company's many patrons have no complaint of the treatment accorded them. In fact, Mr. Lingle emphasizes the point that every care is to be taken of the needs of their many patrons.
When a sale is made a friend is gained and retained. Associated with Mr. Lingle in the conduct of the business is his father, James H. Lingle, and J. N. Crews. Claude Lingle was born in Clinton, Missouri, October 24, 1879, and is the son of James H. and Lillie (Whitehead) Lingle, well known residents of Clinton.
James H. Lingle was born in Warsaw, Benton County, Missouri, September 20, 1854. He is the son of John S. and Elizabeth (Cleveland) Lingle, the latter of whom was a native of Kentucky died in 1862. John S. Lingle was born in Pennsylvania in 1808 of Pennsylvania Dutch stock, and died in Sedalia, Missouri in October, 1893. His remains rest by the side of his wife in the cemetery at Warsaw, Missouri.
John S. Lingle came to Missouri during the early thirties and followed his profession of bookkeeper, in the employ of leading business firms in Warsaw, for a number of years. He assisted in making the survey of a portion of the territory embraced in Henry and Benton counties during the period when this entire section of Missouri was known as Rives County and the population was sparse, much of the land being an unreclaimed wilderness.
He was a good bookkeeper and always held excellent positions. After the close of the Civil War he removed to Sedalia and was there employed for a number of years by leading business concerns of the city as an expert bookkeeper, always dependable and trustworthy. To John S. and Elizabeth Lingle were born seven children: George R., T. J., W. P., James H., all residing in Clinton; B. R. Lingle, Warsaw, Missouri; Mrs. Rosa Early, Sedalia, Missouri; and Mrs. Susan Hastie, Green Ridge, Missouri.
James H. Lingle was educated in the schools of Warsaw and Sedalia, and early learned the trade of printer. He was employed in the office of the Windsor Courier for some time and for a number of years was with the Sedalia Democrat. He removed to Clinton in 1877 and was employed by Lingle Brothers as foreman and practical head of the Henry County Democrat, and remained in charge of the news department of this paper after it was purchased by C. H. Whitaker. For thirty-nine years, he was foreman and the real head of the Democrat and remained with this newspaper until April 1, 1918, when he took up his duties with the Clinton Auto Company. Mr. Lingle was married in 1875 to Miss Lillie Whitehead, of Sedalia, a daughter of Edmund and Sarah Whitehead, both of whom are deceased. To this marriage were born two children: Edmund Stoner, who died at the age of fourteen years; and Claude Lingle, subject of this review. Mr. Lingle is prominent in the affairs of the Modern Woodmen of America, and has represented this order in three national conventions and is the present national delegate of the order. He has been a life-long Democrat.
Claude Lingle was educated in the Clinton public schools and the Clinton Business College, graduating from the latter institution in 1898. He was then employed in a hardware store for one year. For the following eighteen years he was engaged in the telephone business as expert lineman in charge of the district between Sedalia and Nevada. In the meantime he became interested in the automobile business and established himself as owner of the Clinton Auto Company in March, 1916, while still engaged in telephone work. A natural aptitude for the business, an agreeable manner, and possessed of decided business ability, he is making a success of the business.
On August 27, 1916, Mr. Lingle was united in marriage with Miss Cora Elizabeth Padfield, of Clinton, a daughter of Isaac H. and Sallie Padfield, the former of whom is deceased and the latter lives in Clinton.
Mr. Lingle is a Democrat, but confines his interest in political matters to casting his vote. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, and Mrs. Lingle is a member of the Baptist Church.
George W. Bailey - For over forty years, George W. Bailey has resided in Walker township and has accumulated a splendid farm of 281 acres. Three farm residences are located upon this large farm, two of which Mr. Bailey erected himself, and also placed all other buildings upon the land. For many years he has been an extensive breeder and feeder of Shorthorn cattle and has about fifty head of cattle on the place at the present time. Of late years, Mr. Bailey has been renting out the greater part of his land.
George W. Bailey was born August 4, 1850, in Edgar County, Illinois, the son of George W. Bailey (born 1800, died 1861). Mr. Bailey, Sr., came to Missouri in 1857, and located upon a pioneer farm, three miles northwest of the present home of his son. He was shot down by guerrillas at the beginning of the Civil War because of his Union sympathies. He was taken from his home in company with his son James and shot down by a band of Southern men. Seven children were left fatherless: W. T., deceased; Mrs. Frances Holsten, deceased; John, deceased; Mrs. Amanda Paxton, Independence, Missouri; Mrs. Serena Lane, deceased; Mrs. Mary Laylock, Gentry County, Missouri; George W., youngest son of the family. The mother of these children was Julia Howard, prior to her marriage. She was born in 1814 and died in 1877. In 1863, she took her family and went to Cooper County, Missouri, and in the following spring they settled on a farm in Morgan County, where they resided until the spring of 1865. They then located on a farm southwest of Warrensburg in Johnson County. In the fall of that year they returned to the homestead in Henry County.
George W. Bailey, subject of this review, remained at home until 1875 and then settled on a farm one mile east of his present home and resided there for three years. He then purchased his farm, buying it on time payments. He secured eighty acres of land from his father-in-law and later added forty acres to the original place. He bought an additional tract of land in 1910.
Mr. Bailey was married in November, 1874, to Miss Margaret A. Long, who was born in Henry County, January 17, 1857, a daughter of Nicholas Long, a pioneer of this county who came from Miller County in 1854 and became owner of two thousand acres of land. Three children have been born to George W. and Margaret Bailey, two of whom died in infancy.
Henry Bailey, their only son, is located on a farm, three miles southwest of his father's home. He was born October 1, 1875, and has been twice married. His first marriage was with Daisy Tinsley, who bore him five children. Frank, deceased; Roy, George Alexander, Joseph Haven, and Tina. His second marriage was with Miss Bettie Stone.
Mrs. Bailey is a Republican and is a member of the Baptist Church. He is one of the substantial citizens of Henry County.
Harry Armstrong, farmer and stockman, proprietor of a well improved farm of 160 acres in Davis township, is a native of Kansas, but has lived nearly all his life in Henry County. He was born in 1867 in Davis County, near Fort Riley, Kansas, and is the son of James Armstrong, one of the oldest residents of Henry County.
James Armstrong was born in Madison County, Ohio, September 20, 1833, the son of Robert and Elizabeth (Earl) Armstrong. Robert Armstrong was a son of James Armstrong, a native of Pennsylvania of English descent. James Armstrong, father of Harry Armstrong, left his native State, Ohio, in 1855 and located on a homestead in Kansas near Fort Riley. He preempted land and was induced to locate in Kansas by the free state advocates. Being an ardent Union sympathizer and patriotic he enlisted in the Union Army in 1862. Mr. Armstrong became a private in Company E, 2nd Kansas Cavalry, and served for three years in Missouri and Arkansas. He fought in the battles of Elkhorn Tavern, Prairie Grove and was engaged in many skirmishes. He was twice wounded while campaigning in Arkansas, being shot through the left thigh and in the left ankle. In 1868, he came to Henry County and purchased an entire section of land in Davis township, which is held intact to this day, and is being cultivated by the sons of Mr. Armstrong.
James Armstrong was married April 16, 1867, to Miss Minerva A. Cruzen, who was born in Virginia in 1834. The following children were born to them: Harry, subject of this sketch; Dr. Claude L., a physician at Webster Grove, Missouri; Robert C, living on the home place; J. Otis, a farmer in Davis township. Mr. Armstrong has always been a Republican. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and the Grand Army of the Republic.
Harry Armstrong was reared to young manhood on the home place in Davis township. When he began farming on his own account he improved 160 acres of land which was formerly a part of the Armstrong home place. He has erected a nice cottage residence and has his farm well improved.
On February 18, 1897, Mr. Armstrong was united in marriage with Miss Ella P. Vickers, who was born in Bear Creek township, the daughter of W. H. and Cornelia (Peyton) Vickers, old settlers of Henry County.
W. H. Vickers was the son of Stephen Vickers, who made a settlement in Bear Creek township as early as 1842. To Mr. and Mrs. Harry Armstrong have been born five children: Helen, aged twenty years; Margaret, aged sixteen; Harry V., thirteen years old; Frederick, nine years of age; and Minerva, aged five, all of whom aye at home with their parents.
Mr. Armstrong is a Republican. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and is affiliated with the La Due Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
Charles D. Brown - The Brown farm, consisting of 500 acres of rich land on Deepwater Creek in the southeastern part of Walker township, is a very attractive place in which the proprietor takes a just and abiding pride in keeping in first class condition. The handsome residence is built against a background of forest and presents a pleasing view to the travelers moving along the highway which passes through the land.
Charles D. Brown, progressive and successful farmer and stockman, was born on the old Brown homestead in Deepwater township, February 15, 1876, and is the son of Martin V. Brown, pioneer settler of Henry County, concerning whose career an extended account is given in this volume. Mr. Brown, after receiving such education as was afforded by the district school in his neighborhood, attended the Appleton City. Missouri, Academy. He has always been engaged in farming and learned his vocation from his successful parent. He came to his present location in 1902 and has been constantly engaged in farming and stock raising pursuits, keeping upon an average of forty-nine head of cattle upon the place.
December 15, 1902, Charles D. Brown and Miss Edna J. Oliver were united in marriage. To this union have been born three children: Cecil, born August 31, 1904; Maude Rea, born December 6, 1906; Millard V., born January 13, 1912. Mrs. Edna J. Brown was born in Deepwater township December 22, 1874, the daughter of Henry and Mary (Martin) Oliver.
The late Henry Oliver, one of the best known of the old time citizens of Henry County, was born in Morgan County, Ohio, March 9, 1838, the son of John and Martha Oliver. He came to Henry County and settled in Deepwater township in 1866, and died here June 3, 1917. He accumulated a fine farm and improved it with one of the most imposing farm residences in Henry County and became widely and favorably known.
Mrs. Mary (Martin) Oliver was born September 2, 1840, and died September 5, 1900. Henry and Mary Oliver were parents of the following children: Millie, born July 8, 1863, and died March 28, 1912; Clara Belle, wife of J. R. Carter, born August 26, 1866, lives at Vinita, Oklahoma; Emma, died March 2, 1881; Martha Lea, wife of George Newberry, was born March 25, 1868, and lives in Chicago; Henry, born March 10, 1872, died February 25, 1877; Elmer, died at the age of five years; Mrs. Edna Jane Brown, of this review; Mary Maude, wife of C. W. Lampkin, was born July 8, 1877, and resides in Deepwater township in Bates County; Charles Omer, born April 13, 1879, lives at Webaugh, Montana; Lotta Dale, died October 1, 1886, aged two years. Mr. and Mrs. Oliver were members of the Christian Church.
Mr. Brown is a Democrat and usually takes a good citizen's part in all civic and political matters affecting the general welfare of the people of his native county, Mr. Brown is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Montrose, Missouri.
