Individual Details
James Jasper Cantrell
(June 29, 1856 - March 1, 1931)
"James Jasper Cantrell was about two years of age when his parents relocated on Cantrell Creek in Webster County, Missouri among relatives from Warren, McMinn and DeKalb Counties, Tennessee. He was stricken with polio during early childhood. Dr. Wallace of Marshfield was summoned, but nothing could be done. The doctor encouraged the parents by telling them the boy would find some way to get around. The father carried him to school for the first two years. Then James Jasper learned to ride a horse to school, and he acquired a good education, far in excess of others in the vicinity. He realized that he would have to excel in school to compete favorable with others in adult life. There were no teaching aids such as found in the present day school to assist in the disemmitation and assimitation of knowledge. In the early school, curriculum was the usual "Readin,' Ritin' and Rithmetic" taught by young men and women whose training did not exceed that of our present elementary school. James Jasper's legs remained paralyzed, but his grit, courage and determination enabled him to largely overcome his tremendous handicap. His congenial disposition, mild manner, soft spoken characteristics wer partially responsible for the good relationship with neighbors, and making many friends in Webster and Wright Counties. James Jasper was one of the enterprising and progressive men in the community.
"In 1879, he opened a general merchandise store in Duncan, Missouri. Even though he had no use of his limbs, he got around fairly well in a wheel chair. In his old fashion store, merchandise was placed on shelves around the walls of the one room building. An aisle between the shelves and the counter was wide enough for a wheel chair. He had strong arms, and he could pull himself high enough to reach merchandise on the top shelf. There were five stores in Duncan, but James Jasper had his share of the business. He taught school for a few years, then became a merchant, postmaster, registered pharmacist, notary public and justice of the peace." (CANTRELL-CANTRILL by Horace Elbert Cantrell, 1972, page 79)
"In 1879, he opened a general merchandise store in Duncan, Missouri. Even though he had no use of his limbs, he got around fairly well in a wheel chair. In his old fashion store, merchandise was placed on shelves around the walls of the one room building. An aisle between the shelves and the counter was wide enough for a wheel chair. He had strong arms, and he could pull himself high enough to reach merchandise on the top shelf. There were five stores in Duncan, but James Jasper had his share of the business. He taught school for a few years, then became a merchant, postmaster, registered pharmacist, notary public and justice of the peace." (CANTRELL-CANTRILL by Horace Elbert Cantrell, 1972, page 79)
Events
| Birth | June 29, 1856 | Webster County, Missouri | |||
| Marriage | August 28, 1883 | Emma Pitchford | |||
| Death | March 1, 1931 | ||||
| Burial | Mount Zion Cemetery, Wright County, Missouri |
Families
| Spouse | Emma Pitchford (1859 - 1914) |
| Child | Ola Mae Cantrell (1884 - ) |
| Child | Cora Cantrell (1888 - 1909) |
| Child | William Harley Cantrell (1889 - 1965) |
| Child | Lovie Ann Cantrell (1891 - 1949) |
| Child | Fred Dee Cantrell (1894 - ) |
| Child | Ruben Ray Cantrell (1901 - ) |
| Father | John James Cantrell (1827 - 1915) |
| Mother | Didema Van Hooser (1830 - 1871) |
| Sibling | Elizabeth Jane Cantrell (1849 - 1893) |
| Sibling | Sarah Caroline Cantrell (1854 - 1931) |
| Sibling | William Watson Cantrell (1858 - 1928) |
| Sibling | Melissa Ann Cantrell (1860 - 1941) |
| Sibling | John Abraham Cantrell (1865 - 1944) |
| Sibling | Mary Didema Cantrell (1868 - 1950) |
| Sibling | Rebecca Cantrell (1870 - 1901) |