Page:History of Southeast Missouri 1912 Volume 1.djvu/651

 HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 581 reliable finaucial institution and on the 1st of March, 1909, he was pi-omoted to the posi- tion of cashier. The Sturdivant Bank is the oldest monetary concern of its kind in south- eastei-n Jlissouri, having been established in 1866, by Colonel Robert Sturdivant, one of the early pioneers in this section of the state. The bank has always enjoyed a good business and has successfully passed through three panics. It has a very conservative policy and through shrewd management has won a well merited reputation as one of the finest finan- cial institutions in this part of the country. Prior to Colonel Sturdivant 's acquisition of this bank it was a branch of the State Bank of Missouri. Up to 1882 it was a private cor- poration but in that year it was incorporated as a state bank, with a capital stock of thirty thousand dollars. Later the capital was in- creased to fifty thousand dollars and in 1902 to one hundred thousand dollars. The sur- plus and undivided profits amount to forty- five thousand dollars. The stockholders of the Sturdivant Bank are some of the wealth- iest and most reliable citizens of southeastern Missouri and the splendid reputation enjoyed by the bank is largely the outcome of the sterling attributes of the ofSeials and board of directors. Mr. ]Iaehen is strictly a self- made man and in addition to the duties de- volving upon him as cashier of the above bank he is a director and one of the large stockholders in the Elks Realty Company. He is also a stockholder in the Cape Girar- deau Park Association, and has a fine farm in New Madrid county. In a fraternal way Mr. Machen is affil- iated with the local lodge of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and his relig- ious faith is in harmony with the tenets of the Presbyterian church. In politics he ac- cords an unswerving allegiance to the cause of the Democratic party and while he has never manifested aught of ambition or de- sire for the honors or emoluments of public oiBce of any description he was persuaded at one time to accept the temporary position of city treasurer, after the impeachment of the regular incumbent of that office. He is not married and resides with his mother and sister in their beautiful home at 315 Bell- view street. In all the relations of life Mr. Jlachen has so conducted himself as to com- mand the unalloyed confidence and esteem of his fellow citizens and at Cape Girardeau he is universally admired and respected for his straightforward and honorable business career. Henry T. West, one of Kennett's promi- nent business men, is also identified with the political life of the town. It is not often that there are united in one man the qualities which make a successful farmer, an enter- prising business man and a jurist, but Judge West is the unusual exception. During the thirty years and more that he has been a resident of Dunklin county, the Democratic party has found in him one of its most stal- wart supporters, and a brief review of his life will serve to recall to the minds of his friends and acquaintances his business and public career of faithfulness, ability and lionoi'. Henry T. West was born November 30, 1852, in Williamson county, Illinois, where his father was a leading merchant and county official. After attending the public schools of his home locality and obtaining valuable experience as a farmer, on December 15, 1878, the stalwart young man of twenty-six left his native state and came to Missouri, where he likewise devoted himself to agricul- tural pursuits. He located on a farm five miles north of Kennett, but at the time of his coming the land was in its primitive con- dition, covered with a thick growth of tim- ber. During the twelve years following his arrival Mr. West cleared a great portion of the land, brought it under cultivation, built good fences and made many other improve- ments. In 1890 he established a general mer- chandise business at Kennett, vinder the firm name of West & Bailey. For six years, under able management, the enterprise prospered, but in 1896 the store was destroyed by fire and the partnership was dissolved. In the course of the following years he twice entered into business in Kennett, and in April, 1902, he opened the store which he owns to-day. He carries a complete line of groceries of all kinds, but he aims to carry only one cpiality, and that the best. Mr. West's third and last venture in the mercantile field has already l)een of longer duration than either of his previous undertakings, and it has met with success from the very outset. Mr. West has been married twice ; his first wife was Miss Pauline Jane Ralls, to whom he was united on September 26, 1873, just before he had attained his majority. During the seven years of married life which fol-