Page:History of Southeast Missouri 1912 Volume 1.djvu/694

 6U HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI ill St. Louis, the rental from which is a snug fortune in itself. He is also the owner of two iine residences at Frederiektown. In October, 1866, Mr. Benedict was united in marriage to iliss ilary Hallett, who was born and reared in Ohio. Concerning their children the following record is here of- fered, — Truman L. is owner of the telephone exchange at Clarendon, Texas, and he is mar- ried to Maud McAlpin, of Gurdon, Arkan- sas, aud has four children, viz., Mj'rle R., Grace T., Mary H. and William R. He was formerly connected with railroad construc- tion work. Russell Pope is connected with a telegraph company at St. Louis. He mar- ried first Miss Katie Hill, of Frederiektown, Missouri, who died January 25, 1908, leav- ing one daughter, ]Iary H., aged eleven years in June, 1911. His present wife was Miss Anna Weatherwax. Horace, Jr., married Carolyn Brock, of Frankfort, Ken- tuckj', and travels for the Thomas Law Book Company, of St. Louis. Norma is the wife of Louis F. Alt, who is in the license col- lector's office of St. Louis. They have one child, Benedict Alt, aged two years. Mr. aud IMrs. Benedict were married in Lucas county, Ohio, and for thirteen years followed farming near Toledo, Ohio. Then, in 1880, they removed to ^Marshall. Texas, where Mr. Benedict was engaged in con- struction work, under his half-brother, C. W. Hammond, who was superintendent of the whole Gould system, telegraph and con- struction work. He was a prominent man in those circles and was an old resident of St. Louis. He died in 1899, at his home at St. Louis. Mr. and Mrs. Benedict had little to start with except energy and ambition, and their united efforts have been crowned with success. In politics ]Ir. Benedict is a stanch ad- vocate of the cause of the Republican party in national issues but in local affairs he main- tains an independent attitude, voting for men aud measures meeting with the approval of his .iudgment. In 1910 he was elected mayor of Frederiektown, being incumbent of that office at the present time. He is proving a most efficient administrator of the munic- ipal affairs of the city and has instituted many improvements during his regime. In the time-honored Masonic order he has passed through the circles of both the York and the Scottish Rite branches, being a member of the Commandery and Consistorj^ at St. Louis. He retains a deep and abiding in- terest in his old comrades in arms and signi- fies the same by membership iu Hiram (javitt Post, Grand Army of the Republic. He aud his family are consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church. South. The life history of ilr. Benedict is certainly worthy of commendation and emulation, for along honorable aud straightforward lines he has won the success which crowns his efforts and which makes him one of the substantial resi- dents of Frederiektown. Moses H. Topping, M. D. One of the emi- nent citizens of Flat River, Saint Francois count.y, Missouri, is Dr. iloses II. Topping, a physician widely known for his high attain- ments in his profession, and who in addition to his general practice is extensively engaged in surgery among the miners. Dr. Topping is also president of the Bank of Flat River, and it is largely due to his discrimination and well directed administrative dealing that this institution has become one of the sub- stantial and popular smaller banking houses of the state of Missouri. Dr. Topping is a Virginian by birth, the place of his nativity having been Elizabeth City county, of the Old Dominion, and its date November 6, 1874. His father, James S. Topping, was also born in Virginia, and like most of the young men of his day and gen- eration he was a soldier in the Civil war, hav- ing entered the army of the Confederacy at the earl}' age of sixteen years. He saw some of the most active service of the war and par- ticipated in some of the closing events, hav- ing been with General Lee at the fall of Richmond. After the war he adopted the Republican policies and was throughout his life a useful and public-spirited citizen. He engaged in the wholesale wood, coal and stock food business and followed this actively until his demise, ^March 16, 1895, in Eliza- beth City county, Virginia. He was mar- ried at about the age of twenty-nine years to Alice Jane Hawkins, daughter of Captain James Hawkins, of Elizabeth City county, Virginia. The Hawkins famil,v is of English descent. Dr. Topping was the youngest of three children born to these worthy people, the others being James B., of Harriston, Vir- ginia ; and Alice Virginia, now IMrs. II. T. Webber. The father was a consistent mem- ber of the Baptist church and a popular and prominent lodge man, his fraternal affilia-