The Sedalia weekly bazoo., 1884-05-20
A Brief Sketch of it's History
Development and Re-
sources.
Some Account of its Moneyed
Men and Veteran Pi-
oneers.
A Very Interesting and Readable
Letter from the Bazoo's Cor
respondent.
BooNvILLE, Mo, May IA.

BooNvILLE, Mo, May IA.
Correspondence OF the Bazeo.
There are few counties in this imperial
state that can equal in point of wealth, ole
Cooper. Though surrounded on all side.
by rich and prosperous neighhors, Boone
with her cultured msgni6ceEce Saline
boundless In resources and unlimited in
hospitality Peltis, peOpled by enterp-is
ing and wonderfully thriving citizens yet
still when the roll of Central Missouri
counties is called, Cooper, whose separate
existence dates back more than half a cen.
tury, answers with as much of wealth as
any of her younger sisters. To enumerate
all of our rich men would require more
space than is now at our disposal, hence, in
| This article We are OF necessity circum-
scribed In our references. Ii is our pur.
pose simply to present to the BAZoo's reed
ers mention of some of those who give
solidity to our business circles and add in
many ways to the character and prosperity
of our county.
A quiet old gentleman, with hair show
ing the marks of times pitiless frost, sits in
the private office of the Central National
bank. He is the richest man in Cooper
county, and is the president of an institu
tion second 10 none In the west for hnan-
cisl strength. James VI. Nelson has earned
his wealth by perseverance, economy and
close figuring, mixed with plenty of hard
work. When We say his wealth to-day
amounts TO nearly one million dollars, We
do not overesiimste it in the least. With
the exception of Speed and Lon Stephens,
We believe he owns a larger amount OF
Central National bank stock than any
other individual, and mas had executive
control of that concern since the death OF
Col. Jos. L. Stephens. Mr. Nelson's wealth
is invested In real estate, government
bonds and bank stock. Much of it is in
vested in ST. Louis. Mr.. Nelson has an in
terest in a large number of Central Mis-
souri, banks. He is 6S years OF age and has
three children living, one the wife of Chss.
Z. Leonard, another of Lon. V. Stephens
and the third is Louis C. the well known
ST. Louis banker. For number of ye.rs
he was farmer and also made some mon
ey by trading. He is emphatically self
mare IN an, starting In life pe1niless.
The brothers, c. w and J. Sombart. are
both directors In the Central National
bank, and the former is also director in the
Commercial bank. Their joint wealth
amounts to 5000, 900. Their immense mill
ing interests here they would not part
with for 100000. Much of their money
is loaned u Germans in this county, and
they have also made some heavy invest.
ments In real estate that brings in good
dividends. They have some money in
government bonds. All this wealth has
been amassed by hard and honest work.
Their Touring mill, probably the finest in
the state, has fairly coined money. They
have been in this business since 1851, hav-
ing been attracted previously to that time
TO California, by the gold mining craze.
OF German birth, their habits of frugality
and industry have always served them in
good stead William is 81 years of age and
has seven children Julius is So years OF
age and has FIVE children. In politics they
are republicans.
The backbone of the republican party in
Cooper county, a man who says little and
does much. i yOnder tall, straight grena-
dier .ookIug uIan, of 68 years of age. Har
vey Bunce is an American, born in this
country and endowed with the close calcu-
lation of born fnancier. His property
is valued at 100000, though this is put
ting low estimate on il. This is largely
invested in good eight and ten per cent.
paper, and yields a handsome dividend.
He has also increased his capital by judi
cious land purchases and investments in
bank and government stock. Mr.. Bunce
obtained his start In the world as a ship
builder In the east. Coming to Missouri
he has successively and successfully been
carpenter, sheriff, public administrator,
farmer and vice-president OF the Central
national bank. He has four children.
William Harley has for years been
rich man, and despite his liberslity, having
given away several good sized fortunes, he
is still the owner OF cool hundred thou
sand dollars. This is invested mostly in
government bonds, though he owns consid-
ersble real estate. Though rs years of
age his mental faculties are unimpaired,
and he is still active. He can transact
more business to-day and better than many
men of half his age. Msjor Harley is
very public-spirited citizen, and has re-
Gently presented Boonville with beautiful
park.
William johnson, the popular tailor, is |
a man in the very prime Of life. He has
fortune of of about $4,000 invested in |
real estate snd bank stock. He is also the !
of large clothing store and is |
y III kuc SOmkuCIClaA Udhhs Ilc Is 4
the father of three children, two of whom |
are unmarried. His money has been
earned by patient industry.
The president of the commercial bank,
Col. John s. Elliott, has about 81, 900, but
being a shrevd business man his wealth is
apprecisting in value. Only
10 years of age he has abundant and favor
able opportunities to make large fortune.
Col. Elliott is one OF the most prominent
democratic politicians of the state.
Speed and Lon Stephens, sons OF the late
Col. Jos. L. Stephens, and directors Of the
National bank, of which they are the lar
yest stock holders. are too well known to
'equire any extended notice, and too favor
.bly known to require eulogy from us.
Their wealth amounts now to $500, 900,
md is rapidly increasing by care
al management and prudent in .
'estments. Though the greater part of