Springfield-Greene
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JOHN R. DRITT. The responsible position which John R. Dritt, freight agent of the Frisco Lines at Springfield, fills while yet a young man, would indicate that places of merit and responsibility are open to those who are capable of filling them no matter what their age or early environment may be. However, our subject had careful preparation, taking sure but definite steps in his chosen field of endeavor from the time he was a boy, having all the while been honest both with himself and his employers. This is, no doubt, the secret of his success.
Mr. Dritt was born in Pierce City, Missouri, November 13, 1880. He is a son of A. M. and Nancy Jane (Roark) Dritt. The father was born at Tipton, Missouri. He was engaged in the harness and saddlery business at Pierce City, where his death occurred in 1892, at the early age of thirty-four years. Politically he was a Republican, and religiously he belonged to the Baptist church. The mother of our subject is a daughter of W. B. Roark and wife. The father is engaged in the mercantile business at Aurora, Missouri, and in that city Mrs. Dritt is making her home. Three children were born to the parents of our subject, namely: John R., of this sketch; Russie, who married E. W. Cave lives in Chicago, where Mr. Cave is engaged in the automobile business, Wiley M., the third child, who was engaged in mercantile pursuits at Aurora, this state, died at the age of twenty-six years. Joseph Dritt, paternal grandfather of these children, was a prominent citizen of Tipton, Missouri, and was mayor of that town for a number of years.
John R. Dritt spent most of his early years at Aurora, where the family located when he was young, and there he attended the common and high schools. When sixteen years of age he went to work in that town for the Frisco System. He was messenger boy and did station work. Later he came to Springfield and engaged in the hotel business, clerking for some time in the Central hotel, then went back to Aurora and continued station work for the Frisco, remaining there until 1904, at which time he went to Monroe, Louisiana, and worked for the National Packing Company, remaining there until in December, 1905, as cashier and auditor. He then came to Springfield as cashier for the Frisco in its freight department. In May, 1907, he was promoted to assistant general agent of the general freight department, and in December, 1911, he was appointed agent of the freight department, which position he now holds, and the duties of which he is discharging with his usual fidelity and general satisfaction, and with much credit to himself. He has under his direction seventy-five clerks.
Mr. Dritt was married on December 15, 1912, to Edith Smith, a daughter of Earl N. and Lola (Doss) Smith, a well known family of Ash Grove, this county, where Mrs. Dritt grew to womanhood and was educated. To our subject and wife one child has been born, Nancy Jane Dritt, who was born April 27, 1914.
Politically Mr. Dritt is a Democrat. He belongs to the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and religiously he attends the Baptist church.
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