Biographical Sketch of John H. Onstott, Greene County, Missouri, Springfield >From "History of Greene County, Missouri," St. Louis: Western Historical Company, 1883. ********************************************************************** Mr. Onstott is the son of John W. and Rebecca Onstott, and was one of a family of two sons and two daughters, born in Fayetteville, Arkansas, July 23, 1839. His father, John W., was a native of Kentucky, born in Shelbyville in 1781. He served in the War of 1812, and was in the same company with Dick Johnson, who killed Tecumseh, enlisting as a private, but coming out as a commissioned officer. After the war he came to Little Rock, Arkansas, and entered 80 acres of land, where the court house now stands. He sold the land for a shot gun and thirty dollars in money. In 1837 he moved with his family to Fayetteville, where he died in 1863. His wife, mother of John H., died in Springfield, Mo., in August, 1882. She was a South Carolinian, and was married to the elder Onstott at Little Rock. The subject of this sketch was educated at Arkansas College, located at Fayetteville, then presided over by Robert Graham. At 21 years of age, he went to Illinois, whither he re- moved his mother and family after his father's death. After the civil war, he came to Springfield, this county, where he has been engaged in active business ever since. For several years he was at the head of the "Springfield Zinc and Lead Company," and in 1876 he opened the "Alma" mine in Christian County, of which he is sole proprietor. Its name being in honor of his oldest daughter. Mr. Onstott takes great interest in public improvements, and was largely the means of securing the water works in Springfield. Formerly he was president of the imp- lement and hardware firm of H. O. Dow & Co. In 1882, he organized the South Western Implement Company, with a cash capital of $10,000 and is now the president and principal proprietor of that concern. They work about 75 operatives, and have four men "on the road" as "drummers." Their works cover half an acre of ground. They have the exclusive right of manufacture and sale of the Davis Automatic Hay Stacker. Mr. Onstott was married to Miss Veda Massey, of Springfield, February 14, 1869. They have three children: Alma, Edna and John H., Jr. Mr. Onstott belongs to the K. of P., K. of H., and Chosen Friends. He is also a strong temperance advocate, and labors arduously in that cause. ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Joe Miller Penny Harrell ====================================================================