much more than the major part was owned by Mr. Guernsey, who had bought the interest of a partner, making payment with his own notes endorsed by such sterling men as George D. Barnard, Samuel Kennard, Richard Scruggs, Charles Barney, Frank Ely, D. Crawford, Joseph Specht, Joseph Franklin, D. M. Houser, L. M. Hellman, A. F. Shapleigh, Daniel Catlin, Judge J. E. McKeighan, E. J. Crandall, Byron Nugent and Daniel Nugent.

The assignment swept away all of Mr. Guernsey's possessions, furniture stock and electric light plant. He lost all save his energy and his integrity; but his friends, including his security creditors, held to him. They recognized that all his business concerns had been conducted with scrupulous honesty, and they made no complaint of his indebtedness to them. Many gave him encouragement, and in a substantial way. The friendly feeling felt for him was reflected in the sympathetic notices of the local press. On his part, despite the magnitude of the disaster, he professed faith in his recuperative powers and determination to pay all his indebtedness. It was wonderful pluck for a man of two-score years and ten, bankrupted, and with $40,000 additional of personal obligations. His friends continued to give him their encouragement, but many had little faith in his ability to repay, though they did not question the desire of his heart.

The furniture stock and electric light plant were sold under process of law. The latter was purchased by a number of Mr. Guernsey's friends, in his interest, who organized the St. Louis Electric Light and Power Company, and elected Mr. Guernsey president, with the understanding that he should purchase the stock from time to time as his ability might permit. From this on, success attended him. He was yet agent for the Sprague Electric Railway & Motor Company, of New York, and this was an advantage. The affairs of the reorganized. Elettric Light and Power Company prospered. The original capital of $8,000 was increased to $15,000, then to $30,000, to $75,000, and again to $200,000, all paid up, onehalf of the stock being held by Mr. Guernsey; at the outset he had held only one share, but acquired additional stock rapidly. He then interested capitalists who bought the Scudder interest, of which Mr. Guernsey secured $10,

000, giving him a majority of the stock. Among the new stockholders and directors was Sim T. Price, who became one of the attorneys for the company, at Mr. Guernsey's suggestion, and was largely instrumental in bringing about the subsequent sale. The capital stock was now increased to $700,000. New equipment was added; a lot was secured on the northwest corner of Lucas Avenue and Eighth Street; plans were drawn and estimates made for a new power house; the underground system was determined upon, and the cash deposit required by the city, was in hand; the $500,000 in bonds authorized on the increase of capital stock, were practically placed; the future was never so promising. At this juncture the Edison Missouri Electric Company made a purchase of the property. There was no desire to sell, but the Guernsey Company was offered its price, and it sold.

Now was the triumph of a lifetime for Mr. Guernsey, an ample recompense for his weary waiting, his patient enduring, and his untiring effort. No sooner was the purchase money paid in, than he made immediate payment to his endorsers of years before, adding to the principal compound interest at the rate of six per cent. Many, at the outset, had despaired of receiving any return, and none could expect repayment so much in excess of what simple, honesty would demand. Thanks and congratulations came to him from every hand, the letter following being a representative expression of the general voice, and as such it is, perhaps, Mr. Guernsey's most valued treasure:

"CATLIN TOBACCO COMPANY,

"ST. LOUIS, May 10, 1897. "Mr. D. W. Guernsey, St. Louis.

"Dear Sir: Your kind favor of May 7th, enclosing check for $382.15 in full payment of all interest, compounded to date, on your $1,000 note December 15, 1886, reached me this morning, and I beg to return my thanks for your favor, and congratulations upon the manly and unusual course you have pursued throughout in this transaction.

"It is so entirely out of the usual course, and such a complete reversal of my usual experience in affairs of this kind, I intend to put it thoroughly and carefully before my two sons, who are now at college, as a shining example of upright and thoroughgoing man

hood that I should like to have them take pattern from. Again thanking you, with sincere regards, believe me, Yours truly,

"DANIEL CATLIN."

Mr. Guernsey was married November 9, 1864, to Miss Annie Shattuck, of Boston, Massachusetts, who survives him. Of this union were born three children, of whom are deceased, Remington Bancroft, named for an old and valued friend, and Ella May. Grace M., the second child, is living.

Mr. Guernsey, as may be traced in this sketch, was ever an earnest, unobtrusive Christian man. For years he was a member and deacon in the Third Baptist Church. He had no active business concerns to disturb him, and he passed his later days in possession of ample means, quietly and peacefully, and taking pleasure in aiding the needy and suffering.

The details of Mr. Guernsey's life hereinbefore given render it hardly necessary to draw the general features of his character, already sufficiently disclosed by the incidents of his life.

Although not visionary, he was, in the large and better sense of the word, an optimist, and yet he never suffered himself to be deluded by his wishes and expectations, but on the contrary, weighed carefully every business enterprise that he ventured upon. Clearly perceiving the natural aids, as well as the difficulties, which attend every undertaking, he was never unduly elated by the former nor dismayed by the latter, but met every obstacle with fine courage and spirit.

Mr. Guernsey, in everything that he undertook requiring great labor and persistent effort, was always able to work more hours in the day than the average man, thereby greatly increasing his chances for success.

The recital of the varied incidents of Mr. Guernsey's experience renders it unnecessary to make any formal declaration that honesty, integrity and energy were the controlling factors in his career, making it impossible for him to gain anything by fraud, deceit or treachery, or to fail because of any neglect or carelessness on his part. Those who performed service for Mr. Guernsey, either professional or otherwise, unite in their testimony that he was, in such relations, as generous as he was just, and that no matter whether success or failure may have attended

the efforts of those who served him, yet no unmerited censure or reproach ever fell upon them from Mr. Guernsey so long as he believed that they were true to his interests, and that they had used their best capacity and judgment in serving him.

In the social relations of life he was most pleasing and agreeable, and no man can truthfully say that Mr. Guernsey was his personal enemy, for he was incapable of holding resentment or revenge against anyone, no matter how much he might have been justified in doing so, according to the ordinary standards of human conduct. As a husband and father he might well serve as a model for the most exacting and critical, and as a citizen, there is but one judgment with respect to him, and that judgment would honor the best.

The large assembly of representative citizens who attended his funeral attested his deserved popularity. The sermon, delivered by his friend, Dr. R. P. Johnston, pastor of the Third Baptist Church, was one of the most inspiring, beautiful and eloquent tributes ever paid to an honored and beloved citizen of St. Louis.

Guilford.-A town of 100 inhabitants, in Washington Township, Nodaway County, fourteen miles southeast of Maryville. It has the Bank of Guilford, with a capital and surplus of $10,105, and deposits of $40,000; a Methodist Episcopal Church, a Methodist Episcopal Church South, a Masonic lodge and a lodge of Good Templars.

Guinn, John C., one of the widely known and eminently successful farmers of Missouri, was born August 29, 1832, in Greene County, Tennessee, son of P. R. and Lottie (Lauderdale) Guinn, both of whom were natives of the county in which their son was born. The elder Guinn, who was a farmer by occupation, was born March 3, 1800, and lived to be sixty-six years of age. His wife was born in 1802 and died when thirty-eight years of age, leaving a family of six children, named respectively, George W., William M., Caroline M., John C., Pleasant M., and P. E. Guinn. John C. Guinn grew up on a farm, receiving a good practical education and thorough industrial training. In 1850, when he was eighteen years of age, he obtained a position in a mercantile establishment at Atlanta, Georgia, and remained