Biographical Sketch of M. D. Aber, Johnson County, Missouri, Warrensburg Township >From "History of Johnson County, Missouri," by Ewing Cockrell, Historical Publishing Company, Topeka, Cleveland, 1918. ********************************************************************** M. D. Aber, a prominent attorney of Warrensburg, is a member of a pioneer family of Johnson county. He was born in Ashland county, Ohio April 22, 1867, son of David and Eliza (Shoup) Aber. David Aber was born in Carroll county, Ohio, January 9, 1843. He came to Knob Noster, Missouri, in the spring of 1869 and located on a prairie farm, four miles southeast of Knob Noster. The Aber family lived on this farm until 1883 when they moved to Warrensburg in order that the children might have better school facilities. Eliza (Shoup) Aber was born in Pennsylvania in September, 1842, daughter of Henry Shoup, who was a pioneer of Johnson county. Henry Shoup died March 12, 1875 at Knob Noster. To David and Eliza Aber were born eight children: M. D., the subject of this review; William H., the widely known physician of Aullville, Missouri; David A., a carpenter and contractor, Warrens- burg; Samuel W., farmer, Warrensburg township; Leah, lives with her parents; Mrs. Alma Whitten, Jackson county, Missouri; James F., a teacher at Buckley, Missouri; and John H., died in infancy. Mrs. Aber, the mother of the subject of this review, is still enjoying excellent health. She is the only survivor of a family of twelve children. David Aber enlisted in the Civil War with Company K, Eighty-second Ohio Infantry in 1861. He enlisted in Ashland County, Ohio, and was muster- ed out at Indianapolis, Indiana in 1865, having been in the service nearly four years. At the battle of Gettysburg he was shot through the body and for six months was confined in an army hospital. When he had recovered sufficiently he returned to his company and served throughout the remainder of the war. David Aber now lives in Warrensburg and, though he has passed the seventy-fourth mile stone, he is more active than many younger men. M. D. Aber received his early education in the country school. He is a graduate of the Warrensburg State Normal, class of 1888, and of De Pauw University, Greencastle, Indiana, class of 1894. After leaving the university, Mr. Aber was employed as court reporter, from 1894 to 1897. He was admitted to the bar and has been practicing law at Warrensburg since that time. For more than three years he was assistant superintendent in the State Insurance Department under the administration of Governors Hadley and Major. November 17, 1897, M. D. Aber and Mary Wright were united in marriage at Marion, Indiana. The friendship which culminated in marriage began at De Pauw University where both were students. Mary (Wright) Aber is a daughter of Jesse D. and Caroline (Sears) Wright, of Marion, Indiana. Mrs. Wright died September 4, 1905. Mr. Wright still makes his home in Marion. To M. D. and Mary (Wright) Aber have been born two daughters: Caroline and Mary Wright, both students in the Warrensburg State Normal. Both Mr. and Mrs. Aber trace their lineage back to colonial ancestors. James Aber, an ancestor of M. D. Aber, came to America from Scotland in 1750 and settled at Morristown, New Jersey on a land grant which his father had procured from King George. Paul Sears, an ancestor of Mary (Wright) Aber emigrated from England to France and from France to Vir- ginia about 1730 or 1735. During the grasshopper devastation of 1874 the Aber family were living in Washington township. The grasshoppers left just enough corn in the Aber field to fill a wagon bed. It is impossible for words to depict the havoc wrought by the destroyers or the suffering caused by their raid. By means of a letter written to his father in Ohio, David Aber was instrumental in aiding many of the needy settlers in that never-to-be-forgotten spring of 1875. The letter was received by his father who immediately secured donations from members of his church by reading the message to them. The letter pictured so clearly the wretched condition of the stricken settlers that when the call for help was read at the church a substantial sum was raised and forwarded to David Aber, who purchased flour and other necessities and saw that it was wisely and properly distributed. Politically, M. D. Aber is a liberal Democrat, one who stands firmly for principles which seem to him to be right. He is a strong supporter of President Wilson. Mr. Aber has a broad perspective of live and it is a pleasure to discuss leading issues with him and to obtain his view point on current events. He has marked ability as an attorney, posess- ing a splendidly trained legal mind and keen reasoning powers, and he is regarded highly by members of the legal fraternity. M. D. Aber stands high among the best lawyers of the State of Missouri. He has been affiliated with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons for twenty three years. He is a member of the Knights Templar, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and the Protestant Episcopal Church. He is one of the vestry of his church. ==================================================================== 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. 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