Springfield-Greene
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of Many of the Representative Citizens
ELISHA DEBOARD. The true western spirit of progress and enterprise is strikingly exemplified in the lives of such men as Elisha DeBoard, one of Greene county's most progressive citizens whose energetic nature and laudable ambition have enabled him to conquer many adverse circumstances and advance steadily. He has met and overcome obstacles that would have discouraged many men of less determination and won for himself not only a comfortable competency, together with one of the very choice farms of this favored locality, but also a prominent place among the enterprising men of this section of our great commonwealth, and no man is worthier of conspicuous mention in a volume of the province of the one in hand.
Mr. DeBoard, one of the leading citizens of Republic, and president of the State Bank of that city, is of Huguenot descent, his more immediate forebears being of the Blue Grass state. His birth occurred at Mt. Vernon, Kentucky, January 5, 1860. He is a son of Abner C. and Susan (Souel) DeBoard, and is one of twelve children, five sons and seven daughters. The father was a native of Kentucky where he spent his life, he and his wife dying in that state a number of years ago.
Elisha DeBoard grew to manhood in his native state and there received his education in the common schools, adding to this foundation in later years by contact with the business world and by wide home reading. leaving Kentucky when twenty-one years of age he came to Greene county, Missouri, and took up farming for his life work. Saving his earnings he purchased a farm of his own when twenty-five years old, and by close application and good management prospered with advancing years. He purchased the fine farm on which he now lives near Republic in 1896, and this he has brought up to a high state of cultivation and improvement. It consists of three hundred and twenty acres, and on it stands a commodious home in the midst of pleasant surroundings and numerous substantial barns and other buildings. He has been a general farmer and has paid special attention to raising good grades of live stock and preparing them for the markets. In the year 1912 he became interested in the Republic State Bank and is a heavy stockholder in the same, and since 1912 has been president of this popular, sound and safe institution, one of the best banks in this section of the state and one of the most ably and conservatively managed. Its rapid growth and increased prestige of recent years has been due for the most part to the wise management and popularity of its president, who has ever been a man in whom the people of this locality have reposed the utmost confidence. It was organized in 1912, with a capital stock of ten thousand dollars. A general banking business is carried on under the state laws of Missouri. The other officers of the bank, besides our subject are, Jim Decker, vice-president; Lon Edmondson, cashier; Ray Grove, assistant cashier; directors, William Pierce, Ed Gammon, Jack Davis, William Beard. The bank has a modern equipment in every respect, safety vault and all conveniences and has a substantial building.
Mr. DeBoard was married in July, 1884, to Mary Harlason, who was born, reared and educated in Greene county. She is a daughter of James Harlason and wife, and is one of five children, three sons and two daughters. Mr. Harlason was one of the earliest pioneers of Greene county, having come here in the year 1825 and developed a good farm and became well known. His death occurred in 1901 at an advanced age.
Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. DeBoard, namely: Ralph is married and farming in Republic township, this county; Roxie married Milton Paulson, a farmer, and they have two children; Susie is still with her parents; Ruby married Lawrence Britton, a farmer, and they have one, child, Don; Glynn is married, lives in Aurora, Missouri, where he worked for the Shendon-Robinson hardware firm; Lucy, William and Fay are all three at home.
Politically, Mr. DeBoard is a Republican, but he has never sought to be a leader in public affairs. He and his family attend the Christian church.
[1856-1858]
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