Page:History of Southeast Missouri 1912 Volume 1.djvu/777

 HISTORY OP SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 675 soil, dying in Greenville in February, 1893, at the advanced age of sixty-seven years. He had taught school in Illinois for many years. His wife survives him, and at present makes her home in Greenville. She is still young in appearance, although the date of her birth was in June, 1839. Upon his settlement in Wayne county Ab- ner Barrow engaged in the tie business, and was associated in his initial venture in that occupation with the Frisco & Hauck Rail- road. Following that, he came to Greenville and took a tie contract for ilr. Halliday, whose section boss he subsequently became during 'Sir. Halliday 's active interest in the building of the W. G. & St. L. Railroad. During the winter of 1892 Mr. Barrow man- aged the laying of the ties and steel through Greenville. In this connection it is a pleasure to re- call that Greenville owes much the same sort of gratitude to Mr. Barrow that Ohio owes to the famous "Johnny Appleseed, " whose early efforts are responsible for most of the oldest apple orchards in that state, for it was Mr. Barrow who set out most of the maple trees that are at the present time one of Greenville's most attractive features. Be- fore returning to work for Mr. Halliday in 1896 Mr. Barrow turned his attention to the occupation that had been his father's dur- ing his boyhood days in Illinois, and for a brief time returned to farming. In the year 1897 he entered upon his first taste of public service, and accepted the posi- tion of postmaster, which position he held un- til 190-1, when he resigned to further serve the public in the position of sheriff, to which office he was twice elected, for two terms of two years each. On April 8, 1909, he was again appointed to the postmastership of Greenville, and he returned to his former post. By his first marriage Mr. Barrow became the father of six children, four of whom now survive, as follows : Lyman, of Bonne Terre ; ilalta, of East St. Louis; Waldo and Blanche. Three of the sons, Lyman, Malta and Waldo, with their uncle, Ellsworth Barrow, form the Barrow Quartette, well known in musical circles throughout southeastern Missouri. Lyman Barrow is a trombonist of ability and great renown, having toured the country as a trombone soloist two seasons with Wheeler's ilarine Band, appearing in almost every state of the Union. He has been in the ranks of professional musicians for the past fourteen j'cars. Malta Barrow has had long expe- rience with various bands and orchestras throughout the country and has appeared as saxophone and trombone soloist on various occasions. Waldo Barrow has been a profes- sional musician since twelve years of age, and is one of the youngest musicians appearing in concert to-day. His work is proclaimed by press and public of the highest type. Ells- worth Barrow^ the uncle, was for a number of years a teacher of wind instruments. In June, 1897, Mr. Barrow, of this review, contracted his second marriage, and ilrs. Alice (Baird) Barrow became the mother of one son, Ray, now at home. She died in September, 1909, aged thirty-six years. On jMarcli 27, 1911, Mr. Barrow was united in marriage with ^Irs. Rachel Goodwin. Both Mr. and Mrs. Barrow are valued and devoted members of the ^Missionary Baptist church. That Abner Barrow is indeed "one of the most popular and best-liked men in Green- ville," as has often been said of him, is at- tested by the number of his appreciative and enthusiastic fraternal affiliations. He is a member of the time-honored Masonic order, a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and of the Court of Honor. In his political affiliations he avows a stanch alle- giance to the "Grand Old Party," whose in- terests he has ever been ready to serve and to represent. Dr. John D. Porterfield, now retired from active practice, although he is not an old man, is one of Cape Girardeau's most re- spected citizens. A professional man, and above all a physician, may be looked upon as making more or less a sacrifice of himself to aid humanity and the cause of science. He receives less monetary returns for his work than a business man and yet as a general thing he has expended much more time and money in preparation for his career than has the business man. The physician who looks upon his profession as merely a means of livelihood is an utter failure. Monetary con- siderations had very little to do with Dr. Porterfield 's choice of a calling. From the very beginning of his training he has felt that he wanted to learn all that it was possi- ble for him to learn in regard to diseases and their cures. A most profound reader and thinker, he hailed every new discovery with the deepest interest. He was born in Venango county, Pennsyl-