USA > Missouri > Jasper County > A history of Jasper County, Missouri, and its people, Vol. II > Part 45
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Mr. Knell was born in 1854, at Bayfield, Canada, thus being fifty-six years of age at the time of his demise. His parents were Miss Bernoli and Frederic Knell. At the age of ten years he went to Switzerland with them, and there studied German and French and visited many points of
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interest in that beautiful country. At the age of fifteen he came to the United States, going directly to Davenport, Iowa, where he had an elder brother living. When he reached Davenport he had but two dollars in money and could speak the English language but imperfectly, but he had a determination to make a success in life and to become a useful citizen in the country of his adoption. Mr. Knell's brother was in the furniture and upholstery business at Davenport and Mr. Knell entered the upholstery department of this establishment, where he thoroughly learned the business. Leaving there he went to Chicago, where he se- cured a position with Holden & Hildreth, one of the largest firms in the upholstery business in that city. Ile worked there one year and then went to Cincinnati, where he worked at his trade. Having satisfied him- self with travel in finishing his trade knowledge, Mr. Knell returned to his brother, who in the meantime had established a business at Moline, Illinois.
The brother returned to Davenport and Mr. Knell, then at the age of nineteen years, started a furniture and upholstery business of his own. He was succesful and met with encouraging results from the start. His good business methods, his attention to details, and his striet rule to have everything exactly as represented, made friends and permanent patrons for his establishment. Men learned to know that if Edward Knell made a statement regarding his goods, that statement was true in every detail. He scorned a falsehood and depised a man who would make a misrep- resentation. That early business training has followed him through life and made his business a snecess in Carthage.
At the age of twenty-one Mr. Knell was married to Miss Susan L. Wheelock, daughter of C. A. Wheelock, who was at that time interested in the Moline Paper Company of Moline, Illinois. To this union were born two sons and two daughters, namely: Emma; Lucy, now Mrs. G. C. Buekwell; Fred and Frank.
In 1882, on account of the severeness of the winters in Illinois, Mr. Knell and family removed to Carthage and he opened a furniture and undertaking business in the Burlingame & Chaffee building on the south side of the Square. He was the first to introduce the art of embalming in Jasper county. He made the undertaking business the study of his life, just as soon as he became interested in it. There was in death some- thing saered to him. To properly care for those who passed away so as to take away in a measure the horror of death from the loved ones re- maining was to him a subject of constant thought. He gave his time and money to perfecting himself in the art and succeeded beyond his highest expectations. His presence in a chamber of death was a solace and com- fort to the surviving friends of the dead. His life study was crowned with success and it was a happiness to him to know he was appreciated by his friends.
Mr. Knell has not only built the undertaking business to its highest perfection in Jasper county, but he was one of the first to bring to Jasper county standard bred horses. It was in 1889 that he purchased "Ben MeGregor" at a cost of three thousand dollars, and he continued inter- ested in horses until within a short time previous to his death. In faet each year he brought into Jasper county some of the best bred horses in the United States. In this list were "Allereyone 2:1714 ;"' the good sire "Kankakee;" the "Electioncer" stallion "Anteros;"' the game raee horse "Early Reaper" 2:0914; "Dare Devil" 2:09; and the great "Baron Wilkes" 2:18, the sire of the great futurity winning family. Mr. Knell has done more to build up the horse interests of Jasper county than any one individual, and the best horses now owned in the county have come from his farm or were sired by a horse which he brought here.
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It was in 1902 that Mr. Knell tried to organize a stock company for the purpose of giving Jasper county a fair. Not being able to interest a sufficient number to form a stock company he shouldered the burden him- self and proceeded to do the necessary building, expending $21,000 in building the fair grounds at Knell Driving Park. He was assisted by his daughter, Miss Emma, and by W. C. Boon. The first fair given was in 1902 and was for two years known as the Jasper County Fair, but since it was conducted by Mr. Knell the newspapers and people in gen- eral over the country referred to it as the Knell Fair and in 1904 the catalogue appeared with the fair name "Big Knell Fair." In 1905, the fair having grown to such large proportions that it was impossible for Mr. Knell to handle it alone, he incorporated it and some of the best citizens of Carthage and farmers of Jasper county subscribed liberally for the stock. After having incorporated, Mr. Knell continued as man- ager until the year 1908, when he resigned, feeling no longer equal to the work, and Frank Boland was selected to his place, Miss Emma Knell still continuing as secretary.
The above by no means completes the enumeration of his activities. He was a man of benevolent inclination and during the years 1897 and 1898 he was president of the Charity Union. He took pleasure in his lodge affiliations, his membership extending to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Modern Woodmen, the Fraternal Aid Association and the Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks. He was also a member of the First Methodist Episcopal church of this city.
Mr. Knell was held in high regard and affection for his personality, as well as for his splendid work for Carthage. His death, although not unexpected, for he had been ill for several months, came as a blow to the entire community. He was the more deeply regretted in that he was a man still in the prime of life. Carthage had seen no larger or more im- pressive funeral than that held over the remains of this distinguished citizen. The obsequies were held from the First Methodist Episcopal church. From many nearby towns friends gathered to pay their last respects to their dead comrade and associate. Three fraternal lodges, of which Mr. Knell was a member, attended the funeral in a body, these being the Odd Fellows, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Elks. Dr. J. W. Stewart, of Springfield, an intimate friend of Mr. Knell, had charge of the services, assisted by Rev. A. J. Van Wagner, Rev. W. C. Macurdy, pastor of the First Methodist Episcopal church, and Dr. H. E. Tralle, pastor of the Baptist church. The funeral cortege, going from the church to Park cemetery, where interment was made, was a most solemn spectacle. The funeral car, in which was the body of Mr. Knell. was drawn by one of his favorite teams. They were the black animals. Morg and Prince, by name. Morg is twenty-eight years of age and Prince is twenty-six. For sixteen years, side by side, they have been in Mr. Knell's service. Their harness and funeral car were draped in black crepe. Behind the hearse, with only a driver. came the undertaker's car- riage, in which he whom death had claimed had always ridden to the cemetery. The team was the sorrel one Mr. Knell always drove. This vehicle and the horses were also draped in mourning crepe. Hundreds of people accompanied the remains to the cemetery to witness the last sad rites. The pall bearers had been selected by Mr. Knell some time before his death. Many heart-felt tributes have been paid to him, Rev. Van Wagner delivering the eulogy proper, which was in part as follows :
"What we, as fellow citizens and friends have long feared, and yet hoped against. has finally happened. Our sympathies and prayers have been of no avail. He whose name was known to all. whose personality
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was familiar on our streets, who made himself felt in every department of our city's life, has passed away from the scenes of earth and soon will pass from our earthly sight forever. He who has for many years so kindly and tenderly cared for our precious dead and laid them away for their last slumber, has finally fallen asleep himself and will rest by those who received his faithful ministry.
"It is an impressive and touching spectacle we witness today. He, who was nearly always seen in our assemblages where we met to do honor to some fallen brother is no longer visible. We have gathered in his honor today and do for him what he so long did for our departed.
"He was no common man.
He was a man of intellectual force; of large executive ability ; a man who could plan large things and carry them through successfully. He was fertile in resources. His business . gifts were of high order. The various enterprises in which he engaged and in which he succeeded show this. Against great odds he often achieved distinguished success. His career among us abundantly proves this. Whatsoever his hand found to do that he did with all his might ! He went boldly forward and heroically. His courage was something wonderful. He moved onward hopefully when other men prophesied de- feat. By sheer force of character, by a kind of sublime daring, he fought his way against obstacles and difficulties, winning the victory. He often wrested victory out of defeat. He never lost heart or hope. He worked on just the same, whatever the prospect or whatever men might say. His perseverance was most striking. He often won by sheer holding on. He determined that if he went down it would be with his flag still flying.
"Our departed friend and brother was a man of much public spirit. He was enthusiastic for all modern and publie improvements. Whatever was for the growth and development of the city and the country found in him a warm friend and advocate. He was a splendid citizen. His liberality was well known. There is not a church in this city which he did not aid generously in building. He gave time, money, energy to what- ever would enhance the public good. He originated and founded and carried to success, alone and single-handed, our present successful and valuable county fair. In many valuable ways he advertised this city far and wide. He had a large hand in its upbuilding and reputation. He loved this city and made sacrifices for it.
"His philanthropy is known to hundreds. He had a kind, tender, generous heart for the poor and afflicted. His benevolences were without number. He gave freely to help those in need and without ostentation. Much of it was unknown to the public. Many unfortunate and poor re- member him with gratitude. This gave him much comfort when he lay sick and helpless. He gave away hundreds of dollars to the poor and sick which was never placed on subscription paper, and which was not known to any but God and those he helped. He loved children and ministered to their happiness in many ways.
"He loved his friends and appreciated every kindness and loyalty on their part. He spoke of them frequently during his illness and said he longed to recover that he might repay their kindness and fidelity. He rehearsed their kind acts when in great pain and weakness.
"He made no loud professions. He hated hypocrisy. He laid no claim to saintliness nor perfection. 'I am what I am,' he said; 'the people know me.' During his illness he prayed himself and asked others to pray for him. He said that he believed God would forgive him for any wrong he may have done; that as he forgave his children, so God would forgive him. He died, trusting in the love and merey of his Heav- enly Father. I feel sure that he has found rest and peace in a better world."
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Dr. J. W. Stewart, of Springfield, his former pastor, paid him an ex- ceptionally eloquent tribute, which concluded with these words: "I loved Mr. Knell for what some people called his faults. I have heard some people say he was impulsive. I loved him for his impulses-be- cause he was not a 'dead-level,' but was undulating. An iceberg is not impulsive. A mountain of granite is not impulsive, but a beautiful land- scape is. It undulates, has hills and valleys, springing grass today, flowers tomorrow, yellow leaves of autumn the day following and then the frost of winter. This is what gives the landscape its beauty. I loved his life for this kind of beauty, for I knew the sublimity of its highest impulses."
The written tribute of Charles H. Smith, a friend of many years standing was beautiful and characteristic of the man and this brief memoir will be concluded with a few paragraphs from the same.
Says Mr. Smith : "If E. Knell had not come to Carthage to live the results of his creative, venturesome mind would never have been felt in this community. We would have been poor in many ways. It was his mind that conceived and boldly executed many things that are and will be of service to Carthage for all time. Jasper county was bettered by his having lived here. Then so long as this community is receiving ben- efit from the mind of Edward Knell, can we truly say that Edward Knell is dead ?
"The ambition of Mr. Knell's life was gratified, but he did not long live to enjoy that ambition. Those he loved most tenderly will enjoy it, for he trained each of them to participate with him in every detail of the ambition that guided his life. . The world builds monuments to perpetuate the memories of its great men. Edward Knell built his own. His memory can never fade from the hearts of those his largess has made happy. His generous contributions have connected his mem- ory with every public building in Carthage. His life dream was for the public good. Edward Knell will live so long as the community he ben- efited shall exist.
"So carefully did he look after every detail and possible contingency during his life his departure will make no change in his business. His family, trained for the work, will continue it as he left it. That they might have the more confidence in themselves he gradually withdrew him- self from active participation in the undertaking business long before his last illness. He said to his sons and daughters: 'Hold my business to -. gether by doing it right, doing it better than others do it and you cannot fail. If you do not adopt this rule, you do not deserve success.' Mr. Knell completed an undertaking establishment twenty-five years in ad- vance of a city the size of Carthage. It is complete in every detail. There may be larger establishments of its kind in St. Louis or Kansas City, but not one so complete in its entirety."
HENRY C. HENSON of Carterville, this county, who is one of the masters of the lumber trade in all its bearings in this part of the coun- try, began his acquaintance with the material he handles by using it in the most practical way as a carpenter and builder. From the mechani- cal department of the great industry of making it serviceable to his fellow men he passed easily and logically to the mercantile one of handling it in large quantities for their convenience and having always on hand an extensive and varied stock of it wherewith to supply their wants. He has made a striking success in both branches of the work; for as close study, the utmost care and zealous attention to details made him an excellent carpenter, the same qualities and habits in business have developed him into a first class merchant of commanding ability Vol. 11-20
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in his line of trade and capacity for conducting it on a very large scale.
Mr. Henson is in the very prime of life, forty-seven years old, vig- orous in body, active and versatile in mind and full of ambition and enterprise in spirit. He is a native of Danville, Indiana, where he was born on June 4, 1864, the son of William and Amanda (Haines) Hen- son. The father was born in Virginia, on July 6, 1820, and died in Garnett, Anderson county, Kansas, December 7, 1872, when his son Henry was eight years of age. He was a farmer, contractor and mer- chant in Indiana until the winter of 1869-70, when he moved his family to Garnett, and there he passed the remainder of his life in the same pursuits. The mother, who was born in Ohio on February 3, 1826, is still living, at the advanced age of eighty-five, and makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. Allie Cline, in Garnett, Kansas. She and her hus- band were the parents of ten children, Henry being the eighth in the order of birth. Her advanced age is but the realization of the promise of her youth and later womanhood. She was always very active and energetic, had great vigor and powers of endurance, and has been blessed with excellent health during the greater part of her long and very industrious life.
Her son Henry began his education in the public schools of his na- tive town and completed it in those of his new home in Kansas, being graduated from the high school in Garnett at the age of sixteen. After leaving school he learned the carpenter trade, which he followed as a journeyman and contractor for about six years. In 1893, he moved to Carterville and accepted a position as bookkeeper for the Carterville Lumber Company. At the end of one year he resigned his position and returned to his former home in Kansas, and there farmed and dealt in live stock as a feeder, buyer and shipper for a period of five years.
But he had found Missouri, and especially this part of it, profitable to many men and promising to him, and in 1899 he came back to Carter- ville and resumed his old position with the Carterville Lumber Com- pany. Soon afterward the business was purchased by J. H. Leidigh. and the name of the establishment was changed to the Mineral Belt Lumber Company, of which Mr. Henson was made general manager This arrangement continued five years. Then Mr. Henson purchased a one-half interest in the business and it was incorporated with a capital stock of fifty thousand dollars. It was rebaptized as the Leidigh & Henson Lumber Company, with Mr. Leidigh as president and Mr. Hen- son as manager and treasurer.
On December 1, 1909, Mr. Leidigh withdrew from the company and his stock in it was purchased by James A. Daugherty and others. Mr. Daugherty was made president and the name of the corporation was changed to the H. C. Henson Lumber Company. Its yards are the pioneers in this district and the oldest in length of service in the city of Carterville. Mr. Henson has been in full charge of them and the business of the company during all of the last twelve years, and in spite of a great deal of competition, has been very successful in in- ereasing his trade year by year. These yards are the only independent ones in the Carterville-Webb City Distriet. All the others, six in num- ber. are owned and controlled by one corporation.
Notwithstanding the heavy burden of his business in connection with this company Mr. Henson has found time to give attention to the ac- quisition and expansion of other interests. He is president of the Henson-MeDonald mine at Prosperity, a rich property and large dividend payer. He was also, in 1906, vice president and treasurer of the L. & II. Mining Company. a very prosperous company in its day and owner of
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one of the most prominent mines in this district, and is now one of the stockholders in the First National Bank of Carterville.
In the public affairs of the city and county of his home Mr. Hen- son is always an active participant, eager to advance the interests of the region in the way of development and improvement, and doing his full share of the work required for the purpose. He adheres to the Republi- can party in politics but takes no active part in its campaign. Polit- ical contentions are not to his taste, and he has no desire for public office, although he has served as a member of the city council of Carter- ville. As a thirty-second degree Free Mason, he is active in the frater- nal life of his community. He has filled a number of the offices in his lodge and the other Masonic organizations to which he belongs. and was very energetic as one of the leading spirits connected with the erection of the Masonic temple. Ile was reared in the faith of the Methodist church, and has remained true to its principles and helpful to its interests.
Mr. Henson has maintained a domestic shrine since November 6, 1884, when he was married in Garnett, to Miss Lydia Pontions, a dangh- ter of Nicholas and Harriet (Bowman) Pontions, who belong to the contingent of that county's population which came from Ohio. where Mrs. Henson was born. She and her husband have had two children, their daughter Osa May, who was born in Garnett on December 17. 1886, and is now the wife of William Leonard Pitman. a scion of old Carterville families who were among the pioneers of this region; and their other daughter. Olive Van, who was also a native of Garnett. born on September 12, 1894, died in Carterville in March, 1900.
CAPTAIN S. E. WETZEL .- Distinguished not only for his gallant con- duct on the field of battle during the Civil war, but as one of the most highly esteemed and public spirited citizens of Carthage, Missouri, Cap- tain S. E. Wetzel is widely and favorably known throughout this part of Jasper County. A native of Pennsylvania, he was born April 27, 1840, near Selinsgrove, Snyder county, of substantial German ancestry. The branch of the Wetzel family from which he is descended immigrated to this country about 1730, locating near Philadelphia. His ancestors were Revolutionary soldiers. Four descendants of the founder of the family, Lewis, Jacob, John and Martin, subsequently became famous as Indian fighters.
The subject of this sketch was educated at New Berlin, Pennsylvania. In 1861, soon after attaining his majority, he came west to Elkhart county, Indiana, when he offered his services to his country, enlisting in Company B, Twenty-ninth Indiana Infantry, as a private, his regiment being assigned to the Army of the Cumberland. He took an active part in many of the battles in which the army was engaged, and for his pro- nounced bravery in battle and for efficiency of service was promoted to different ranks until he attained the captaincy of his company. For twenty-seven months he was the acting adjutant of his regiment. On de- tached service he was an A. A. A. General of Brigades and Divisions, also Judge Advocate of Court Martials and Military Commissions. His service ended in December, 1865, while in command of the post and troops at Kingston, Georgia. His regiment has the honor of being the first to veteranize in the Union army, and it is due Captain Wetzel for this ser- vice. It has also the eredit of losing a greater per cent of its members at Chickamauga than any other regiment engaged.
Soon after his return home Captain Wetzel removed to Tipton, Iowa, when he was engaged in the dry-goods business until 1873, going thence to Denver, Colorado, where he embarked in the cattle business on the
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plains. While thus engaged he was for seven years the secretary of the Colorado Cattle Growers Association, during which period he also or- ganized and conducted the Colorado cattle delective system. This was the first effort of its kind in any of the range cattle growing states. He was also the first compiler of the cattle brands of the state. In 1882 he moved to Carthage, Jasper county, Missouri, where he has resided since, and has been engaged in real estate, loans, farming and flour-milling.
Fraternally Captain Wetzel is a mason and at present is the com- mander of the local post of the Grand Army of the Republic. He had formerly been honored by election as junior vice department commander of the Missouri department. He is a man of much intelligence, well in- formed on all topies of general interest, a forceful writer and has the honor of having been designated by his regimental organization as the historian of his regiment. He is a man of strong religious views and a member of the Presbyterian church.
Captain Wetzel married in La Grange county, Indiana, Mary A. Cook, a daughter of George Cook, a native of England. She passed to the higher life in September, 1909. She was a woman of the highest honor and much force of character and a member of the Presbyterian church. Captain Wetzel has two children, namely : Alberta, wife of R. W. Evans, of Chicago, Illinois, and Mary F., wife of D. L. Morton, of Neosho, Missouri.
GREENBERRY B. YOUNG .- On the 26th of February, 1908, Greenberry B. Young.
"Gave his honors to the world again, His blessed part to Heaven, and slept in peace."
But his loss is still keenly felt and his influence remains in the community for whose welfare he labored so zealously and so well. He was one of the pioneer citizens of the place and a progressive business man, his energies for many years having been divided between the dry goods business, banking and the mining industry, and although thoroughly altruistic his success was of the most unequivocal type. He was born in Cass county, Missouri, August 31, 1851, his parents being Chesny and Elizabeth Young. Mr. Young of this review attended school in Kansas City, and his identification with Joplin dates from his young manhood. He first came here in 1876, when the place bore little resemblance to the present day city. Shortly after his arrival in the new locality he embarked in the dry goods business, and continued in the field until about 1890, when he retired in order to give more attention to other interests of large scope and importance. He was very successful in his mining ventures, and at one time was manager of the American Concentrator Company, which position he held for six or eight years. About ten years previous to his death he became identified with the Miners' Bank and was one of the directors of that financial institution at the time of his death. From an appreciation of this gentleman in a local newspaper the following is in- corporated.
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