Page:History of Southeast Missouri 1912 Volume 1.djvu/644

 576 HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI for many years, and his wife, whose maiden name was Nellie Brenchley. The family is one of the oldest and most dignified in En- gland, its history having been traced back to 862 A. D. A part of the family, which is of Danish origin, removed to Holland in some jiolitical crisis and in that country the spelling of the name has been changed to Kulmer. Professor Culmer received a high school edu- cation in his native countrj' and at the age of twenty came to America, via Canada. In course of time he found his way to Knob Lick, Saint Francois county, Missouri, and there worked for a short time in a stone quarry. Although so young a man, he had already been active in church work as an exhorter and he now and then, after com- ing to the state, engaged in this. He was at first content with very humble positions and for some time drove a delivery wagon for the J. T. Evans department store at Elvins, Missouri. He continued thus em- ployed until the meeting of the district con- ference of the Methodist Episcopal church, at Oak Ridge, Missouri, when he was licensed to preach. He then filled the pulpit at Ar- cadia until the annual conference of the cluireli at DeSoto, Missouri. Subsecpient to tliat he accepted a home with Rev. T. W. Shannon, of Fredericktown, his duties in the household being to care for the consei-vatory and grounds. Meantime he attended Marvin College for two years, and his ability and character were so apparent that in the third year he was offered the position of assistant instructor of mathematics, while at the same time pursuing his studies. In 1907 he was graduated with the Ph. B. degree, and in the ensuing year was elected to the chair of mathematics. In the year subsequent h(took a special course in theology at Vander- bilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, and the next year mati-iculated at Morrisville Col- lege, where he pursued studies and at the same time taught English. In 1909-10 he accepted a call as pastor of the Park Avenue Methodist Episcopal church, South, of Rich Hill, Missoiiri. His pastorate there Avas of the most successful and satisfactory char- acter, and during it the present beautiful church was erected at a cost of twenty thou- sand dollars. Desiring to resume his career as a college instructor. Professor Culmer was proffered and accepted the chair of English and History at iIarvin College, and he is at the present time the incumbent of the same. He is a thorough as well as an am- bitious student and from boyhood has ling- ered willingly at the '"Pierian spring." Like so many other students he has found corre- spondence courses profitable and finished his incompleted studies by means of correspond- ence with Oskaloosa College, Oskaloosa, Iowa, his A. B. and A. M. degrees being obtained in this way. He received his LL. B. degree by correspondence work with the Illinois Col- lege of Law, and his Ph. B. degree from Marvin Collegiate Institute, now Marvin Col- lege. He is now pursuing his studies leading to the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Professor Culmer established an independ- ent household by his union with Miss AUeue Philips, of Higginsville, IMissouri, daughter of the late Rev. Laraartine Philips, for thirtj'- three years pastor of the IMethodist Episco- pal church. South, in the Southwestern Mis- souri Conference. The subject and his wife share their delightful home with a baby daughter, Fredonia Linnell, born December 7, 1910. Rev. Lamartine Philips Vvas a native of Roachport, Howard county, Jlissouri, and re- ceived his education in the Randolph-Macon College of Virginia. He prepared for both the law and the ministry, and he remained in the work of the latter iintil his death, on January 11, 1908, at the age of fiftj'-four years. This reverend gentleman, whose work was cut short when almost in the prime of life, is interred in Mt. Washington ceme- tery. Kansas City, Mis.souri.. The Philips fannly is one of the oldest in Missouri. Mrs. Culmer 's mother, whose maiden name was Verlinda Norfleet, was a native of Kentucky. Mrs. Culmer was reared in southwestern Missouri and is a cultured and admirable young woman. She received her musical edu- cation at Sedalia College of Music, where she spent four years and at Independence, Mis- souri, where she pursued her studies for three years. She devoted seven years to advanced piano study and is an ai'tiste. Edward D. Anthony, whose name occu- pies a conspicuous place on the roll of Mis- souri's eminent lawyers, during some three decades' connection with the bar of the state has won and maintained a reputation for ability that has given him just preeminence among his professional brethren. In the law, as in pverv other walk of life, success is