Page:History of Southeast Missouri 1912 Volume 1.djvu/695

 HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST JIISSOURI 615 tions extending to the Knights of Pythias, the Jlasons and the Rednien. The preliminary education of Dr. iloses H. Topping was received in the public and high schools at Hampton, Virginia. His higher training was of a varied and exten- sive character, including attendance at the Suffolk IIilitary Academy; a year at Wil- liam and ilary College at Williamsburg, Vir- ginia ; and two years at the Physicians and Surgeons College at Richmond. It was while he was a student at the latter institution that its name was changed to the University College of Medicine. He finished his prep- aration for his profession at the Louisville IMedical College, there graduating and re- ceiving his degree. He went to Oklahoma to begin active practice, but remained there but a short time, in 1897 removing to jIissouri and settling in Desloge, Saint Francois county. After a residence in that town he came on to Flat River, -where he has ever since remained, and where his ability has received enthusiastic recogTiitiou. Dr. Topping is president of the Bank of Flat River, as men- tioned previously, and he has held this high position ever since its organization, in which he was instrumental. He is likewise presi- dent of that flourishing concern — the Lead Belt Amusement Company. Dr. Topping is a stanch adherent of the Republican party, of which he is a disciple by inheritance and personal conviction, and he is a valued mem- ber of the Baptist church, assisting to the best of his ability in its good works. No movement calculated to result in bettered conditions for the whole of society fails to secure his support, and he is in truth at the head of many such. He has social pro- clivities, finding pleasure in association with his brethren, and his lodge affiliations ex- tend to the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Knights of Pythias. On May 4, 1898, Dr. Topping established a happ.y household by his union with Amanda C. Blue, daughter of John W. Blue, a promi- nent Saint Francois county agriculturist and one of the pioneer settlers of southeastern Missouri. Her grandfather, John W. Blue, was mayor of Farmington previous to the Civil war. The union of Dr. and Mrs. Top- ping has been blessed by the birth of three children, Vannesse, Virginia and Norman H.. and their home is the center of gracious hos- pitalit.v. George T. Dunmire, the postmaster at Kennett, has had a most interesting career. The educators of the present day are urging military training as a means of making bet- ter citizens. What ilr. Dunmire might have been without his military service it is hard to say, but at least the lessons he learned while in the army have been of more value to him than any experience gained before or since. He was born in ]Iercer county, Pennsyl- vania, April 21, 1837. He received his edu- cation in his native town and when the Civil war broke out he joined the One Hundred and Forty-second Pennsylvania Regiment, serving from August 8th until the close of the war. He was in the battle of the Po- tomac and at Appomattox, serving as Com- missary Sergeant for a time. After the war was ended he went back to Pennsylvania, where he stayed until 1866, when he located at what is now known as Cumberland City, Kentucky, the Coal Company having estab- lished the postoffiee there. In 1870 he left there to go to Springfield and a year later returned to Pennsylvania. After three years there he went to Indiana, remaining about a year, and thence to Birmingham, Kentucky, where he remained until 1878, when he came to ]Ialden, Missouri, where his brother-in-law, C. P. Phillips, had been in the mercantile business from its start. After remaining with Mr. Phillips for a year and a half, Mr. Dunmire went to Paragould, Arkansas, but his stay there was short lived, only lasting one year. He came to Kennett in 1884 and has been here ever since. For two years he was in the general store business, then he became a building contractor, continuing thus until 1901, when he was with his son in the drug store. In 1907 he was appointed post- master under President Roosevelt. He has fitted up a nice postoffiee and has one rural free delivery. During the four years of serv- ice he has devoted himself to the duties of postmaster and has fulfilled them to the sat- isfaction of the people in general. In 1868 Mr. Dunmire was married in Ken- tucky to Vienna JI. Phillips. Three chil- dren were born to the union, two of whom reached maturity, but only one is living now, John H., the dniggist at Kennett. In addi- tion to his drug business Mr. John Dun- mire is the assisting postmaster and has re- ceived the appointment as postmaster. Hat-