Page:History of Southeast Missouri 1912 Volume 1.djvu/378

 318 HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI generally southern direction. On the west of Current river two creeks, Davis and Rogers, drain that part of the county. The northeast part of the county is drained by Brushy creek, which is a tributary of Current, and the south- eastern part is drained by Little Black river and Cane creek. These streams or most of them are very beautiful. This is true, espe- cially of Current river, which is famous for its clear sparkling waters. The streams afford great water power which is yet largely unde- veloped, though some of it is used for run- ning mills. The chief resource of the coimty is timber, of which there are a number of varieties, the most abundant being pine and oak. The county is divided into five to-wTiships: Carter, Jackson, Johnson, Kell.y, and Pike. Biographies In a former chapter we have given the his- tory of the settlement and organization of the eight comities organized before the ad- mission of Jlissouri to the Union. It is de- sired to recall the names of some of the citi- zens of these counties who were especially active in building up this part of the state and whose names are connected with much of the progress which has been made. It is not possible to recite the lives of all of them ; some are mentioned in connection with other matters, but some whose lives are of especial interest are referred to here. Charles Welling was for many years one of the leading citizens of Cape Girardeau county. He was born in 1812 in New Jersey, was edu- cated in the common schools and came to St. Louis coimty in 1830. One j'car later he re- moved to Jackson and became a clerk in the general store of Ralph Guild, and afterwards became a partner in this concern. He dis- solved this partnership in 1848 and became associated with Joseph Russell and still later with J. V. Priest. Mr. Welling continued in the mercantile business until 1888, when he was appointed postmaster by President Cleve- land. For a number of years he was cashier of the Cape Girardeau Savings Bank and was for twelve years treasurer of Cape Girardeau county. He was one of the best known citi- zens in the county and a man universally held in highest respect and esteem. He was of a most upright character and was known for his strict devotion to whatever duty he imder- took. He was one of the first members and organizers of the First Presbyterian church at Jackson in 1856. He served the church as a, leader and as superintendent of the Sunday school. Mr. Welling married Elizabeth Bol- linger Frissell, a granddaughter of Colonel George Frederick Bollinger. Their descend- ants are prominent in Cape Girardeau county. He died at Jackson, June 20, 1900. Few men have exercised a greater or better influence over affairs in Southeast Missouri than Robert Sturdivant. He was born March 31, 1817, in Lunnenberg county, Virginia, and died at Tallapoosa, Georgia, Oc- tober 12, 1905. He came to Cape Girardeau in 1835. He received in his native state a good education for the time, having attended an academy, as the organized schools of the south were known. On coming to Cape Girardeau he entered into a business partner.ship with Edmund White, who was his brother-in-law. Within a few years, however, he was forced into bank- ruptcy during a great panic which caused the financial wreck of hundreds of men. He was left penniless and made his way to IMissis- sippi, where for a time he taught school and then worked with a construction gang on a railroad. Through the kindness of Andrew Giboney,