Mr.

engaging in the stock industry independently. From the start he paid particular attention to the breeding of Berkshire hogs, importing them in large numbers. At the Centennial Exposition at Philadelphia, in 1876, he paid $550 for the Berkshire hog which was awarded the first prize there. In later years he has also bred Shorthorn cattle. At the convention of the stockmen of the United States and Canada, in 1890, a committee of eighteen men was appointed to look after their interests at the Columbian Exposition of 1893, held at Chicago. Gentry was one of this number, and a large measure of the success of that great exhibit is due to his well directed efforts. At the same time he served as president of the Missouri World's Fair Commission, a position of great responsibility and trust. At this great fair, members of his famous herd of Berkshires were awarded thirty-two separate prizes greater in both number and value. than those of any other exhibiter of swine of any breed at the fair. The showing made is the more remarkable when it is understood that Mr. Gentry competed with the best herds in America, as well as the most noted prize-winners from the leading exhibits in England in both 1892 and 1893. No exhibiter of any class of stock shown at Chicago was the breeder of so large a percentage of the winners. Since his first exhibit in 1874 (in Missouri), he has won prizes at every fair and show to which he has sent stock, and holds to-day more prizes and diplomas than any other breeder in America, if not in the world. For seven years Mr. Gentry has been president of the American Berkshire Association; he is a director and member of the American Shorthorn-Breeders' Association; for. three years he has been president of the National Association of Live Stock Exhibiters of America, organized to make known to the management of the State fairs the wants of breeders. He is vice president of the Missouri State Fair Association, and chairman of the committee to improve the grounds, and was one of the organizers of that association in 1899. Fraternally he is a Master Mason, and in religion he is a member of the Christian Church. He was married, December 29, 1875, to Minnie D.. Carter, a native of Dover, Missouri, and a daughter of Jesse W. and Margaret (Campbell) Carter. They have been the parents of

seven children, of whom five are living. They are Jael, a graduate of the Chicago Musical College, in the class of 1899, in which she was the winner of the diamond medal for general proficiency; Ella, Nannie M., Lucy H. and Lee M. Gentry, all of whom reside on the home farm, where Mr. Gentry and his family dispense a generous hospitality.

Gentry, Reuben Joel, was born six miles north of Sedalia, January 2, 1839, and was a son of Richard and Alzira (Miller) Gentry. His father was a son of Reuben E. Gentry. Reuben J. Gentry's education was obtained in the country schools of Cedar Township, Pettis County, and the Kemper School at Boonville. Upon the completion of his studies in the latter institution he returned to the farm of nearly eight thousand acres belonging to his father, and assisted in its supervision until the death of the latter, in February, 1865. Richard Gentry had begun life with a limited capital, and after taking up his original small tract added to it by the purchase of forty acres at a time until he possessed one of the most extensive and most carefully cultivated farms in Missouri. It was known as the model farm of the State, and was visited by inhabitants of all sections of the United States. From the beginning he engaged in stock-raising, and during his successful career he bred some of the finest horses, cattle, sheep and hogs ever produced west of the Mississippi River. Upon his death the estate was divided into farms averaging about 1,700 acres each, one of these being allotted to each member of the family. Upon the outbreak of the Civil War, Reuben J. Gentry tendered his services to the Union and received an appointment on the staff of Colonel John F. Philips, his warm personal friend, who had raised the Sixth Regiment of Missouri State Militia (cavalry). Colonel Thomas T. Crittenden subsequently assumed command, and under these two gallant leaders, Mr. Gentry participated in the stirring scenes enacted within the borders of Missouri and in Arkansas during the four years which followed his enlistment. Upon the conclusion of peace he returned to his farm and resumed its operation in partnership with his brother, directing his attention toward the breeding of fine stock, much of which secured a world-wide reputation. Probably no family in the United

States is better known than the Gentrys in connection with the stock interests of the country, and no small share of the credit for the high grade attained by American horses, cattle and other stock is due to the scientific labors of Reuben J. and William M. Gentry. The subject of this sketch was through his entire life, a Democrat, but his policy was never dictated by those narrow and shallow sentiments altogether too prevalent in both the great parties. He never sought public office, but his deep interest in the cause of education led to his repeated election as school director in his district, and he employed all his influence in behalf of the improvement of the educational facilities in his township. Fraternally he was a Master Mason. He was married April 5, 1871, to Bettie Hughes, a native of Georgetown, Pettis County, and a daughter of Reece Hughes. Their living children are: Sallie Burch, wife of Thomas J. Sturges, of Sedalia; William Henry, Charles Richard and Reuben Joel, at home. The three last named are engaged in the cattle business under the firm name of Gentry Brothers, occupying the estate left by their father and uncle. Charles R. is also a student in the law department of the Missouri State University, and Reuben J. is attending the high school in Sedalia. All are members of the Christian Church, of which Mrs. Gentry is also a communicant. One child died in infancy. Ruby, wife of Dr. W. J. Ferguson, of Sedalia, died June 16, 1900. The useful career of Reuben Joel Gentry was terminated by death October 5, 1881, while he was still in the prime of life.

Gentry, Richard, soldier and pioneer, was born in Madison County, Kentucky, August 21, 1788. He was the son of Richard Gentry and Jane Harris, who emigrated to Kentucky from Virginia among the early pioneers in 1786, coming over the Wilderness trail through Cumberland Gap. The elder Gentry enlisted twice as a soldier in the Revolution, and was present at the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown. Entering land and building his cabin in the rich cane brakes of Madison County, he became rich in land. and slaves, and raised a family of sixteen. sons and three daughters. Eight of his sons came to Missouri while it was yet a Territory and settled in what was afterward Marion, Ralls. Boone and Pettis Counties,

and raised large and influential families. The most prominent of them were: Reuben Gentry, the ancestor of the Pettis County Gentrys; Rev. Christy Gentry, a pioneer Baptist minister of Missouri; Honorable Joshua Gentry, the first president of the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad, and General Richard Gentry, the subject of this sketch.

General Gentry was by nature and training a soldier, fond of adventure and daring; he inherited the true pioneer spirit, was a born hunter, and delighted to follow the Indian trail. As a boy, he was always put forward by his brothers to execute any of their plans requiring strength and bravery. He was popular, for he was generous, hospitable, patriotic and brave. Governor Christopher Greenup, of Kentucky, appointed him a lieutenant in the Kentucky militia at the age of twenty. Three years later, in 1811, he was appointed a captain, and Governor Shelby commissioned him as regimental ensign for the Kentucky Volunteers sent to the assistance of General W. H. Harrison on the lakes in the War of 1812 against the British. While on this campaign, his oldest son was born October 15, 1812, and with his characteristic patriotism, he named him Richard Harrison Gentry, in honor of his general. There was great hardship and suffering among the volunteers on account of the severity of the northern winter and the scarcity of supplies. The Kentucky wives and mothers responded quickly with their looms and needles to supply them with clothing. Young Gentry wore with great satisfaction a new suit of Kentucky jeans, which had been spun, woven, cut and made by his young wife at home.

After the war was over, desirous of new adventure and new opportunity, he collected his personal property, consisting of some live stock and a few slaves, and in pioneer fashion, started for the new territory of Missouri, arriving at the little French town of St. Louis on the banks of the Mississippi in 1816. After remaining a short time in St. Louis County, he pressed forward to the new center of population and influence growing up on the then western frontier of civilization. The town of Old Franklin was fast becoming a place of political and commercial importance. The old forts of Hempstead, Kincaid and Cooper in the vicinity of Old

Franklin gave evidence of the necessity of means of protection from the savage Indians which still frequented that portion of Missouri.

While at Old Franklin, General Gentry formed the acquaintance of the leading men of the State, many of whom resided there. His great friendship and admiration for Thomas H. Benton no doubt influenced him to become a Democrat and leave the old Whig party of his father. He was a good public speaker and took an active part in every political campaign. He often boasted in Democratic style "that he was born in a canebrake and was rocked in a sugar trough."

In 1820 he became one of the incorporators of the town of Columbia, Missouri, and built the first hotel of the town, and made it his permanent home. He devoted himself to the building up of the new town for a time, but was also deeply interested in public affairs, especially in the military organizations of the State. In 1821 Alexander McNair, the first Governor of Missouri, appointed him a captain of the State militia, and in the following year gave him a commission as colonel.

About this time he became interested in the lead mines of Galena, Illinois, and spent some time in that exciting mining camp. In 1826 he was elected a State Senator and served four years as such in the Missouri Legislature. He had the pleasure of voting for Senator Benton for his second term as United States Senator. In 1830 President Jackson appointed him postmaster at Columbia, which office he held during his life, and after his death it was held by his widow until 1867, a period of thirty years, she having the distinction of being the first woman who ever held such an appointment in the United States. The old Santa Fe trail passed through Columbia and thence over the plains to New Mexico. General Gentry could not refrain from becoming interested in the promising opportunities of the Mexican trade, and he listened to the stories of the freighters stopping at his hotel with the deepest interest. Senator Benton, too, was advocating in the Senate the importance of this Mexican trade and urging appropriations for the Santa Fe trail. Between the years 1830 and 1832, General Gentry made several successful freighting trips with mer

chandise from Missouri to Santa Fe, New Mexico.

In 1832, when the Northern Indians threatened a raid into Missouri, led by their famous chief, Black Hawk, General Gentry was appointed by the Governor of Missouri a major general, and given command of all the Missouri troops. He soon organized his forces and led them to the northern border of the State in time to prevent the raid into Missouri and to protect its citizens from the cruel savages. He remained at Fort Pike in Clark County, Missouri, for several months, and caused the wily chief to change his plans and the course of his raids. There was no engagement, therefore, with the Indians in Missouri. A little later this same band raided Illinois and were defeated at the battle of Bad-ax by the regulars under Colonel Taylor, and Chief Black Hawk was captured.

In 1835 the United States government attempted to remove the Seminole Indians from Florida to the Indian Territory, west of the Mississippi; they refused to go, and the long and costly Seminole War was the result. In 1837 President Van Buren asked Senator Benton if Missourians could be induced to travel so far from home as the swamps of Florida to assist in chastising the Seminoles. Senator Benton's prompt reply was: "The Missourians will go wherever their services are needed." He went immediately to the Secretary of War and secured a commission for General Gentry as colonel of volunteers, and orders for raising a regiment of Missouri troops for the Florida war. The following is a letter from Senator Benton to General Gentry notifying him of the orders from the War Department, authorizing him to raise the first regiment of volunteers for the government service ever furnished by the State of Missouri:

"SENATE CHAMBER, "September 8, 1837. "Major General Gentry, Colonel Volunteers, Columbia, Mo. :

"Dear Sir: I have the gratification to write you simultaneous with the issue of orders from the War Department for the march of 600 of your volunteers to Florida. This is an event which you have ardently desired, and I have no doubt but that the brave spirits who volunteered with you will rejoice

to have an opportunity to display their courage, devotion and patriotism. I feel proud for Missouri that her gallant sons are called to take a part in this war, and am fully assured that there will be no disappointment, neither of the promptness of the march nor in bravery of conduct after you reach the field of action. I make great calculations upon the 600 that will go with you, and great will be my pride to see them turn out with an alacrity, and signalize themselves by exploits, which will give me an opportunity to celebrate their praises on this floor.

"Your old friend,

"THOMAS H. BENTON."

The orders from the War Department were dated September 8, 1837, and on October 15th, General Gentry marched out of Columbia for St. Louis with his regiment of 600 men. Such promptness in enlisting, equipping and marching to the scene of battle is an example of energy and patriotism worthy of praise and emulation. Senator Benton came all the way from Washington to meet the volunteers at St. Louis, where he made them a stirring and patriotic address. General Gentry lost no time in reaching Florida and joining the army already in the field under General Zachary Taylor, who had been in Florida for the past year, but had been unable to meet the Indians in any decisive battle. On the arrival of the Missouri Volunteers, the army under General Taylor advanced about one hundred and fifty miles into Florida in search of the Indians. The country was an unexplored wilderness, full of swamps and everglades. After several skirmishes the Indians were finally found congregated in force in a very strong position on the north side of the Okeechobee

Lake. In front of them was a swamp nearly a half mile wide and they were protected by dense woods in which they. hid themselves. A decisive battle, which terminated the war, was fought on Christmas day, 1837. The Missouri Volunteers brought on the fight in gallant style, led by their brave commander; they waded the swamp on foot, almost to their armpits in water, to attack and drive a concealed enemy from the dense hammock on the opposite side. Of the 138 soldiers killed and wounded, the most of them were Missourians. Their brave and gallant commander, General Gentry, received a mortal

wound just as he emerged from the swamp, but he continued on his feet for some time in front of his men, urging them forward to the attack. General Taylor in his report of the battle says: "Colonel Gentry died in a few hours after the battle, much regretted by the army, and will be, doubtless, by all who knew him, as his State did not contain a braver man or a better citizen." The remains of General Gentry were brought from Florida to Missouri and buried in the national cemetery at Jefferson Barracks, where his grave is marked by a small monument. His son, Richard Harrison Gentry, was wounded in the arm by a ball from an Indian rifle about the same moment General Gentry was shot. The first intelligence of the death. of General Gentry that came to Missouri was by the following letter from Senator Benton at Washington to his widow:

"WASHINGTON CITY, January 12, 1838. "Mrs. Richard Gentry, Columbia, Mo.:

"Dear Madam: The melancholy intelligence from Florida, though not yet confirmed by the arrival of the official reports, seems too well substantiated to admit of a doubt that your brave and patriotic husband has nobly fallen in the cause of his country. Twenty years of friendship between us enables me to appreciate his loss to his family, and makes me feel how much the country is bound to endeavor to alleviate the calamity of that loss. With that view,. I have already applied to the President and Postmaster General to have you appointed to keep the postoffice at Columbia, and think it probable that the application will be granted. President Van Buren deeply regrets the death of your husband, and feels that everything is due to his family which can lawfully and consistently be done. A pension for five years will be granted to you, at the rate, I think, of about $450 or $500 a year. I shall also be glad to assist in doing anything for your children, and must request a statement of the names and ages of your sons, that I may see whether any of them can be educated at the military academy or placed in the navy. With my assurance that you and your children can rely on my friendship at all times, and that I shall lose no opportunity to promote your and their welfare, I remain, dear Madam,

Yours truly,

“THOMAS H. BENTON.”

General Gentry has a large number of descendants in Missouri and adjoining States, but only four grandsons bearing his name: Richard Gentry, of Kansas City, Missouri, and Oliver Perry Gentry, of Smithville, Missouri, sons of Richard Harrison Gentry; and North Todd Gentry, of Columbia, Missouri, and Wm. Richard Gentry, of St. Louis, Missouri, sons of Thomas Benton Gentry.

Gentry County, one of the richest and most prosperous counties of Missouri, was named by the Missouri Legislature, when it was formed, in honor of General Gentry.

General Gentry was cut down in the very prime of life, full of the vigor and spirit of a well matured manhood. Had he lived to return from the Florida War he would doubtless have taken a very prominent position in the public affairs of the country.

Richard Gentry, the grandson and namesake of General Gentry, is president of the Bond Shoe Company, one of the large manufacturing and jobbing house of Kansas City, of which city he has been a resident for eighteen years. He was born at Columbia, Missouri, November 11, 1846, graduated from the University of the State of Missouri in 1868, and for many years thereafter was engaged in civil engineering, being at different times connected with the Chicago & Alton, the Wabash, the Iron Mountain and other railways. In 1889 he became one of the incorporators and was a large stockholder in the Pittsburg & Gulf Railway, of which he was successively chief engineer, general manager and vice president within the next eight years. He has always been an active man of affairs and has been engaged in various large enterprises, such as cattleraising and mining in Colorado, and banking. in Kansas City, and other Missouri towns. Successful in his business enterprises, he is numbered among the prominent financiers of Kansas City. November 11, 1873, he married Susan E. Butler, of Callaway County, Missouri, who is the daughter of Martin Butler, of New Bloomfield, in that county. Four sons and two daughters have been born of this union.

Gentry, Richard T., general manager of the Union Central Life Insurance Company of Cincinnati, is one of Kansas City's most popular and energetic 'men. He is a

native Missourian, having been born in Sedalia, Pettis County, son of Major William Gentry, a noted man and pioneer breeder of fine cattle. Mr. Gentry resided in Sedalia until 1898, when he removed to Kansas City. He has been identified with the insurance business in Missouri for about ten years, and has held many public and social positions of dignity and importance. He was treasurer of Pettis County from 1878 to 1884, and has figured prominently in State politics as a leading and representative Democrat. In 1886 he came within a few votes of receiving the Democratic nomination for State Treasurer. In 1900, his abilities having been recognized throughout the insurance world, he accepted the general management of the Union Central at Kansas City, with jurisdiction over the company's affairs in Missouri and with about twenty men under his able direction. Mr. Gentry is a writer of ability and has contributed considerable interesting matter on the subject of life insurance to journals devoted to that important line of business. In Kansas City he is as popular socially as he is esteemed in financial and commercial circles. He is a thirtysecond degree Mason, is a member of Ararat Temple of the Mystic Shrine, and also of the order of Elks. He is secretary of the Gentry Family, one of the most noted family associations in the country. There are over ten thousand members of the Gentry family, of whom there is kept an accurate record, and their reunions are important gatherings and widely reported in the daily press. Most of the members of the association reside in Missouri, Kentucky, and other Southern States, but almost every State in the Union. is represented when the Gentry kin are gathered together. November 27, 1877, Mr. Gentry married Miss Mattie C. Prewitt, of Clarksville, Pike County, Missouri, daughter of Honorable Wm. C. Prewitt, one of the pioneers and substantial men of that portion of the State. Mrs. Gentry died in 1881. Mr. Gentry is a man of fine business qualifications and acumen, a courteous, polished and dignified gentleman, and of unusually pleasing address. He is a natural politician, and his charming manners and personal magnetism irresistibly draw men to him. He is just in the prime of life, enthusiastic, active and untiring in all his efforts.