| CHARLES E. WADLOW.
Human life is made up of two elements, power and form, and
the proportion must be invariably kept if we would have it
sweet and sound. Each of these elements in excess makes a
mischief as hurtful as would be its deficiency. Everything
turns to excess; every good quality is noxious if unmixed,
and to carry the danger to the edge of ruin nature causes
each man's peculiarity to superabound. One speaking from the
standpoint of a farmer would adduce the learned professions
as an example of this treachery. The farmer has a much
better chance to observe and enjoy art as it is found in
nature, and, therefore, ought to be a man of the highest
ideals and cleanest characteristics. One of the well-known
citizens of the northern part of Greene county who has been
contented with life in the rural districts and has been a
close observer of the uplifting things about him is Charles
E. Wadlow, who is not only an excellent agriculturist, but a
good citizen in the fullest sense of the term.
Mr. Wadlow was born on the old home farm in
Murray township, Greene county, March 3, 1864. He is a son
of John Wesley and, Mary Ann (Lethco) Wadlow. The father of
our subject was born on December 17, 1797, in Washington
county, Virginia, now a part of West Virginia, and there he
spent his earlier years, removing first to Tennessee, where
he remained until about 1835, when he made the rough
overland journey to Greene county, Missouri, and settled
about twelve miles northwest of Springfield.
On July 24, 1837, he
married Mary Hastings, and to them seven children were born,
namely: Alzirah Jane, deceased; Mary Louisa is living; Sarah
Ann, Margaret Elizabeth, Martha Agnes, Matilda Caroline and
John W. are all deceased. Mary Hastings was born on January
27, 1820, and her death occurred on December 12,
1854. John W. Wadlow married, on November 29,
1858, Mary Ann Lethco. To this second union were also born
seven children, namely: Joanna, Susan Arbell, Charles E,
George W. and Dora Emma were twins; Laura May is deceased;
and Lillie D. The death of the mother of these children
occurred on March 13, 1909. Cyrus Cunningham, grandfather of
the subject of this sketch, was a soldier in the
Revolutionary war. John Wesley Wadlow was one of the
early-day leaders in the Southern Methodist church in Greene
county. He gave a tract of land on which was built the
Wesley chapel, of Murray township, and close by he donated
ground for a cemetery, in which he himself was finally laid
to rest, when he had finished his useful, industrious and
honorable life at the ripe old age of ninety-two years. In
his early days he taught school, and was a justice of the
peace in Greene county for many years. He was a successful
farmer and accumulated a comfortable fortune by his thrift
and honest dealings. He was a well-informed man, was a loyal
Democrat and an influential citizen. His wife, Mary Ann
Lethco, was born on March 28, 1829, in Richland
county, North Carolina, and when twelve years of age she
emigrated from that state to Illinois, later to Greene
county, Missouri, the family locating near Ebenezer, in
Robberson township. Her death occurred at the age of
seventy-nine years; she had been a member of the Southern
Methodist church for over sixty years.
Charles E. Wadlow spent his boyhood days
on the old homestead, where he assisted with the general
work, remaining there until he was twenty-seven years of
age. He received his education in the public schools, mostly
at the Waterloo schoolhouse. Later was a student in the
preparatory branches of Morrisville College, in Polk county.
Later he attended a business college in Springfield. After
his marriage he located near where his present farm is
located. He has spent all his life in Murray township, his
native county. He has been very successful as a general
farmer and stock-raiser and is owner of a finely improved
and productive farm of three hundred and fifty acres, all in
Murray township. They have a pleasant home in the midst of
attractive surroundings. Mr. Wadlow formerly handled large
numbers of cattle and hogs, and at present he feeds a
great many mules from year to year. He built his present
commodious residence in 1898, but for seven years previous
he had lived in a small house on his farm.
Mr. Wadlow was married, November 26, 1890,
to Jerena Boston, a daughter of Thomas Y. and Nannie (Killingsworth)
Boston. Mrs. Wadlow was born in Greene county, here grew to
womanhood and was educated. Her family is well known in the
northern part of this county, where they have long been well
established on farms.
To Mr. and Mrs. Wadlow five children have
been born, namely: Mabel L., Thomas Wesley, Jerena, Mary
Charlotte and Josephine. They are all at home.
Politically, Mr. Wadlow is a Democrat, and
while he has never been an office-holder, he has been more
or less active in party affairs. Fraternally, he belongs to
the Royal Arch Masons, at Springfield, and the Blue Lodge at
Willard, being chaplain of the latter. He is also a member
of the Modern Woodmen of America at Willard. Religiously, he
belongs to the Southern Methodist church at Willard and is
on the official board of the same. His wife also holds
membership with this congregation and they are both
active in church and Sunday school work. As a representative
of one of the leading families of Greene county Mr. Wadlow
is widely and favorably known, having the reputation of
being a good neighbor, and helpful, public-spirited
citizen, always ready to assist in any laudable movement
having for its aim the betterment of his community in any
way.
Source:
Past and Present of Greene County, Missouri by
Jonathan Fairbanks and Clyde Edwin Tuck, A. W. Brown &
Company, 1915. |
