R. C. Friend

As printed in 1901

R. C. FRIEND.

Thirty-two years have passed since R. C. Friend came to Jasper county and during the period of time that has elapsed since his arrival he has borne an important part in public affairs and in the development of the rich mineral resources of this portion of the state. A man of enterprise, strong determination and keen business sagacity, he has carried forward his work in search of the mineral deposits with which Nature has blessed this locality and in his mining operations has met with very creditable and gratifying success.

Mr. Friend is a native of Kentucky, his birth having occurred in Louisville. He represents one of the old and prominent families of that state, his grandfather, Charles Friend, having taken up his above there when the work of civilization and progress had just been begun. He was a native of Ireland, and emigrating to the new world, took up his above near Lynchburg, Virginia, where he made his home until his removal to Kentucky. He resided in what was then Hardin county, but is now Larue county, and was the owner of the farm upon which occurred the birth of Abraham Lincoln, later to become the most distinguished citizen the century produced. Fielding Friend, the father of our subject, was born in Louisville, and became well known throughout the state, operating stage lines in various parts of Kentucky before the advent of railroads. He also engaged in merchandising and the extent of his business operations gained him a wide acquaintance, while the sterling worth of his character won for him many friends. He married Elizabeth Sleeper, who was a native of Pittsburg. Although her husband and his people owned slaves, she was strongly opposed to the custom and endorsed the principles of the old Abolition party. She corresponded with northern papers on the subject, used her influence against the traffic in the colored race and was an earnest advocate of the Union cause at the time of the Civil war, although she had brothers and three sons who served in the Confederate army.

Although born in Louisville, R. C. Friend was reared in Hardin county. He was only thirteen years old when the Civil war was inaugurated, but though a mere boy, he was in the service, carrying news and running contrabands and carrying dispatches. In the last year of the war he regularly enlisted, becoming a member of the Twenty-seventh Kentucky Confederate regiment, with which he loyally performed his service as a brave soldier in defense of the cause and principles in which he believed. For four years following the cessation of hostilities he remained in Kentucky and then came to Missouri.

It was in 1869 that Mr. Friend arrived in Carthage and since that time he has resided continuously in Jasper county. He opened a dry-goods store in Carthage and for fifteen years successfully carried on business along that line, when he disposed of his store in order to enter upon an official position to which he had been elected and in which he was continued from 1886 until 1890. In the latter year he began mining. In connection with J. F. Purcell he sank the first shaft at Rubber Neck and at Hells Xeck and there developed the largest mining camp in the district. Its yield is greater than ever and though the district has long been worked its supply of minerals seems inexhaustible. Mr. Friend also developed Reed's Station. He has the lease there

.5i8 OF JASPER COUNTY.

on Center creek and is building two new mills. There are three shafts, all in rich ore beds, one having been sunk to the depth of two hundred and twenty-five feet, the second to the depth of one hundred and eighty-seven feet, and the third one hundred and sixty-five feet. He is now operating the property of the Allen Mining Company on the McConey land in Joplin township, working at a depth of eighty-five feet. His mining operations have thus reached extensive proportions. He has secured splendid equipments for securing and handling the ore and his success is annually adding to his well earned competence.

Mr. Friend has a pleasant home and interesting family in Carthage. He married Miss Laura Neeley, of Muncie, Indiana, a daughter of Moses Neeley, who was one of the pioneers of that portion of the state and there engaged in merchandising. Mr. and Mrs. Friend have three sons: Neeley E., Frank and George. The parents hold membership in the Christian church and are prominent and influential residents of Jasper county, where they have gained a wide circle of friends. In his political views, Mr. Friend is a stalwart Democrat, who does everything in his power to promote the growth and insure the success of his party. He was chairman of the county committee for a number of years and has been active in managing successful campaigns. For two years he has served as city clerk, and in 1886 was elected county recorder, in which position he was continued by re-election until 1890. His public duties have ever been discharged with promptness and fidelity and his career has ever been characterized by loyalty in citizenship, reliability in business and honor in all life's relations.

As printed in The biographical record of Jasper County, Missouri (1901). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.