p. 772

VIVIAN O. BOOGS. Having tried his hand at many different things in various parts of the country, Vivian O. Boggs has been content at last to settle down near his old home to the life of a prosperous merchant. His varied business experiences equipped him well for his present occupation, and the drygoods store which he bought, as recently as 1909, is one of the most popular trading places in Dongola.

Vivian O. Boggs, was born in 1878, a Christmas gift to his parents, F. G. Boggs and Emma (Norfleet) Boggs, for his birthday was the 25th of December. F. G. Boggs is a native of Marion county, Illinois, having been born and reared on the farm where he now resides, and where his son was born. His father was Clark Boggs, who is supposed to have emigrated from one of the eastern states at an early date. Clark Boggs was a soldier in the Union army during the Civil war and laid down his life for his country, being buried in Tennessee where he died. F. O. Boggs was born in 1852. His wife, Emma Norfleet, is the daughter of Benjamin Franklin Norfleet, who was a native of Tennessee. They had three sons, Vivian O., Victor, and Earl. The father is one of the most respected and admired men in Marion county, and some of his son's success is no doubt due to the qualities he inherited from his father.

Vivian O. Boggs was educated in the common schools of his home county, and then studied for three years at the Southern Illinois Normal school at Carbondale, Illinois. Later he spent one year at Monmouth College, at Monmouth, Illinois and finally finished his work by taking a course at Brown's Business College in Centralia, Illinois, in the fall of 1901. His first position was held with the Harrison Machine Works, at Belleville, Illinois. He remained in their sales

p. 773

department for one year as stenographer and bookkeeper, and then became assistant purchasing agent for Armour and Company for the same length of time. Butler Brothers of St. Louis offered him a position as house salesman, and he accepted, remaining with them for a year. The next two years he spent in the employ of various firms, all the while storing up for future use many bits of business knowledge and valuable experience. During parts of 1907-08 he was engaged in a hardware business at Flat River, Missouri, and on the 18th of January, 1908, he removed to Dongola, where he began to put his experience to good use as a manager of the store which he afterwards bought. He purchased this general merchandise and dry goods business in 1909, and the trade has so increased that he has been forced to add to the amount of stock carried, until it is now valued at $10,000.

Mr. Boggs believes thoroughly in tlie principles adhered to by the fraternal orders, and is himself a Modern Woodman of America, and also belongs to the Royal Neighbors of Dongola. He is a member of the Presbyterian church of Belleville, Illinois, and in the absence of a church of this denomination in Dongola, he is a faithful attendant at the Lutheran church in his home town, believing that in religious matters a broad minded attitude is most desirable.

In 1904, Mr. Boggs married Anna May Eimer, a daughter of Charles G. Eimer, of Belleville, Illinois. They have only one child, Leland C. G. Boggs.

Although the years that Mr. Boggs has spent in his present home have been comparatively few yet he, being originally from this section of the country, naturally has the welfare of the community at heart and is glad of any chance he may have in the building up of Dongola. In this short time he has made many friends in the district, as well as among the many patrons of his store.