A history of northwest Missouri, Volume III, Part 100

Author: Williams, Walter, 1864-1935 editor
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Chicago, The Lewis publishing company
Number of Pages: 912

USA > Missouri > A history of northwest Missouri, Volume III > Part 100

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

The oldest brother of Walter Kurz, Fred Emil Kurz, was born in Switzerland, July 10, 1856, and has lived on the old farm in Lincoln Township since 1883. He is likewise one of the successful general farmers and stock raisers of this county. He was well educated in his native land, but for more than thirty years has been a loyal and patriotic American citizen. He is a democrat and a member of the German Reform Church in Amazonia. In 1891 he married Minnie Segessemann, who was born in Lincoln Township, Andrew County, in 1870, a daughter of Gottlieb and Catherine Schneider Segessemann. Both her parents were natives of Switzerland and are now deceased. Fred E. Kurz and wife have the following children : Elizabeth, Fred H., Paul (who died at the age of thirteen years), Eric, Ada, Gertrude (died at the age of nine), Wilma, Alma, and Heinz.

JOHN AEBERSOLD. The possibilities of a human life and the wide opportunities of America are well illustrated in the career of John Aebersold, one of the most substantial citizens of Andrew County. Like many other residents around Amazonia he is of Swiss birth and parent- age, came to the United States a young man with knowledge and skill in a trade, but entirely unfamiliar with the English language or the customs of the New World. He had courage and determination, but no financial resources, and for a number of years battled manfully with circumstances, and not only mastered a new tongue but acquired by slow

1963

HISTORY OF NORTHWEST MISSOURI

and painful effort the capital which he brought with him into Andrew County.

John Aebersold was born in Canton Bern, Switzerland, December 25, 1835, a son of John and Catherine (Buhler) Aebersold, likewise natives of Canton Bern. His father was born in 1810, and died in the old country when the son, John, was seven years of age. The mother, who was born November 17, 1811, followed her son to America in the summer of 1867, and spent the last thirty years of her life in the Aebersold home in Andrew County. She died in March, 1900. Her children were John; Jacob, who died at the age of twenty; Elizabeth Steiner, of Switzerland ; and Caroline, deceased.

John Aebersold spent the first twenty-four years of his life in Swit- zerland, where he was educated in the national schools, and learned two trades, first the baker's occupation, and later the miller's trade. In 1859 he came to America, spent five years in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, and in 1864 reached Andrew County. Here he invested the capital which represented his savings since coming to America in a tract of raw land, forty acres, north of Amazonia. Later he sold that and bought his present place in section 14 of Lincoln Township. At the present time Mr. Aebersold owns 125 acres, and at one time his farm comprised 285 acres, but it was too much for his individual management, and he sold more than half of it. He did much pioneer work in Andrew County, having cleared about one-third of his land, and developed it into a farm that has long yielded regular returns in grain, fruit, and livestock.

Mr. Aebersold has been a republican voter ever since his naturaliza- tion as an American citizen, and has been one of the leaders and most generous contributors to the German Reform Church at Amazonia. He helped build the church of that denomination in Amazonia, and gave more for its construction than any other member. With success as a farmer he has naturally been called upon to take his part in other public affairs, and at one time was vice president of the Exchange Bank at Savannah, and also a director in the Commercial Bank at Savannah. At the present time he retains no active business interests, his son-in-law operating the farm, and in the eightieth year of his life is enjoying those comforts and the leisure which are the merited reward of his earlier efforts.

In 1859 in Ohio Mr. Aebersold married Anna Barbara Yenni, who was born in Canton Bern, Switzerland, September 13, 1840. She died at the Aebersold homestead in Andrew County, February 17, 1914. Her parents were John and Barbara Yenni, a family long well known in Andrew County. Mr. and Mrs. Aebersold were the parents of five children : Louis A., who lives in Jackson Township, Andrew County ; Emma Catherine, wife of Mike Ordnung, of Nodaway Township; Mary, wife of Frank Ruhl, who manages the Aebersold farm; Fred A., who died at the age of eleven years; and John A., who died in childhood.

When John Aebersold landed in Ohio he possessed only fifty cents in American money. For five years he worked at day wages on farms in Eastern Ohio, and spent the winter months as a coal miner. He learned the English language by the rough and ready method of actual conversa- tion and by hearing others speak it, and learned to read and write by the help of newspapers. He has mastered the language, and for many years has been a devoted reader of the county and the daily metropolitan papers, and also has taken several agricultural journals. He takes no German papers, and has completely transformed himself into an Ameri- can citizen, and is one of the most loyal Americans to be found in North- west Missouri. When Mr. Aebersold reached Andrew County he had about three hundred dollars, representing his hard earned savings during

1964

HISTORY OF NORTHWEST MISSOURI

his residence in Ohio. Aside from what his hard labor has accomplished, Mr. Aebersold gives the credit for his success in life to his good wife. She was an industrious homemaker, always ready with valuable counsel to her husband in his affairs, and is remembered by all the people of her community in Andrew County for her kindness of heart and prac- tical charity. When people were in trouble she was always sympathetic, and turned her sympathy into deeds of practical helpfulness and was a welcome visitor at every home in times of affliction.

JUDGE CHRISTIAN YENNI. A representative of that sterling Swiss people, a large colony of whom have been identified with the development of a section of Northwest Missouri lying north of St. Joseph, Judge Christian Yenni has lived in Andrew County a half century, and he himself and other members of the family are men of prominence and distinctive leadership in affairs. Judge Yenni has been singularly pros- perous as a farmer, and owns one of the fine estates in Lincoln Township near Amazonia. His home place is in section 23 of that township. While engaged in the productive activities of farming he has not neglected public affairs, and among other responsibilities was for eight years one of the county judges of Andrew County.

Christian Yenni was born in Canton Bern, Switzerland, June 30, 1850, a son of John and Barbara (Lichti) Yenni, natives of the same canton. His father was born in 1809 and his mother in 1826. In 1859 the family emigrated to America, and after five years spent in Tus- carawas County, Ohio, they moved to Northwest Missouri, arriving in Andrew County in the fall of 1864. Here the parents spent the rest of their lives on a farm in Lincoln Township. The father died in 1869 and the mother in 1886. John Yenni, while most of his time was devoted to agricultural efforts, was a useful citizen, and held several offices in the democratic republic which was his native land. He was a lifelong member of the German Reformed Church. Judge Yenni was the seventh in a family of twelve children, three of the sons and four of the daughters being still alive. Barbara, the oldest, is the deceased wife of John Aebersold of Lincoln Township; Elizabeth married John Vetter of the same township; Rosa is the deceased wife of E. Oppliger; Verena is the wife of Peter Bauman of Lincoln Township; Mary married John Graff of Bedford, Iowa; John lives in Chicago; Judge Yenni is the next in order of birth; Magdaline died at the age of twenty-two years; Fred is deceased; Gottlieb lives in Jackson Township; Caroline is the wife of William Bawman of Dade County; and Emma is the wife of Fred Beverly of Los Angeles, California.

Judge Yenni has had his home in Andrew County since 1864. He was a boy of nine years when the family came to this country, and the education which had been begun in Switzerland was continued in the public schools of Tuscarawas County, Ohio. After the death of his father he managed the home farm for his mother until his marriage, and then spent three years as a renter. Thrift, industry, and the thoroughness and adaptability for agriculture which he probably in- herited from his long line of Swiss ancestors have brought Judge Yenni to a place among the most successful men of Andrew County. After his work as a renter he bought a place of ninety-eight acres, but sold that in 1890 and came to his present farm in section 23. This comprises two hundred and forty acres, all highly improved and valuable land. Besides this he owns a hundred and two acres of bottom land in the county and has a half section of land in Hartley County in the Texas Panhandle. From the superficial appearance of the Yenni homestead anyone may quickly judge the excellence of its improvements and may

1965

HISTORY OF NORTHWEST MISSOURI

understand how thoroughly its owner has conducted his business affairs. One of the conspicuous features on the farm is a large bank barn, on a basement foundation 40 by 80 feet, with a stock shed 80 by 10 feet. It is a grain and stock farm, and has been so conducted for many years. At one time Judge Yenni had a large area devoted to fruit. Having worked hard and being able to see the fruits of his efforts, Judge Yenni gives only nominal supervision to his farming interests, and two of his sons rent and manage the home place.

Judge Yenni assisted in the organization of the Amazonia State Bank, and has been its president, with the exception of two years, since its organization. He is president of the Amazonia Fruit Growers' Association. In early life he was a republican, but for the past twenty- five years has been affiliated with the democratic party. As a democrat he was three times elected county judge, at a time when Andrew County regularly returned a normal majority between three and six hundred to its republican candidate. He served two two-year terms and one term of four years, thus making eight years of service in the most important administrative office within the gift of his fellow citizens. It was during his term as judge that the present courthouse and jail were built at Savannah, and it has been frequently said that no county ever received better value for the money expended than Andrew County in its present chief public buildings.

Judge Yenni is an active member and is an elder of the German Reformed Church at Amazonia. In 1877 he married Bertha Zimmer- man, who was born in Ohio, September 20, 1856, and in 1858 came to Andrew County with her parents, John and Magdalena (Ziset) Zimmer- man. Her father was a native of Switzerland, while her mother was born in Ohio. Both are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Yenni may take pride in their fine family of children, and have had ten in number: John Henry of Andrew County; Marie M., wife of Walter Ryan of Andrew County ; Emma L., wife of Roy Abersold of White Deer, Texas; Leonard L., of Andrew County; Anna, who died at the age of seventeen ; Edward F. and Albert Christian, who are now the active managers of the Yenni home farm in Lincoln Township; Ida Lalah, who lives at home; Minnie Helen, attending the State Normal School at Maryville; and Clarence. at home. The children were all born in Andrew County, and received their preparatory education in the Liggett school district, which Judge Yenni has served in an official capacity for many years.

D. C. ALLEN. For the greater part of a lifetime of near eighty years D. C. Allen has lived in Clay County, Missouri. His active retro- spect over affairs in his part of the state covers more than half a century, and in his work as a lawyer he has come into close touch with the more important events which have shaped political history and local progress.

De Witt Clinton Allen was born at Upper Liberty Landing in Clay County, Missouri. November 11, 1835. His family on both sides is one of more than ordinary distinction. His grandfather was Thomas Allen, . whose wife was Bathsheba Stodhart. These people were from Massa- chusetts near Groton, and belonged to an old Massachusetts lineage. Col. Shubael Allen, father of D. C. Allen, was born near Goshen, Orange County, New York, on February 28, 1793. He came to Missouri in 1817, several years before the territory was admitted to the union and settled in Clay County, far out on the western frontier of civilization, May 10, 1820. By profession he was a civil engineer. and built the first bridge over the Susquehanna River at Columbia. Pennsylvania, about 1814, and also constructed the first bridge over the Kentucky River, at Frank- fort. in 1816. In Clay County, in 1825, he established a steamboat Vol. III-43

1966

HISTORY OF NORTHWEST MISSOURI

landing on the Missouri River. He was colonel of the Clay County regiment of militia and commanded that body of troops in the Heatherly war and in the expedition to observe Black Hawk in 1836. Mr. Allen's mother was Dinah Ayres Trigg, and she was born in Estill County, Kentucky, February 19, 1803, and came to Howard County, Missouri, with her father, Gen. Stephen Trigg, in 1818. She was married to Colonel Allen, in Howard County, September 19, 1822. She died June 25, 1886. She was a communicant of the Baptist Church, a woman of high intelligence, very fond of books and literature and was well read. The Trigg family came originally from Cornwall, England, settling in Virginia about 1710. In the old dominion members of the Trigg family intermarried with the Clark, Johns, Henderson, Anthony, Moorman, Preston, Leftwich and Ayres families. Mr. Allen's great-grandfather on the maternal side was Maj. John Trigg, of Bedford County, Virginia. He was in the Continental Army, commanding a battery under Wash- ington at Yorktown. He subsequently had a distinguished position in public life. He was a member of the Virginia convention of 1788 which ratified the Federal Constitution, and was subsequently a member from Virginia in the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth congresses. While in Congress he voted against the alien and sedition law.

D. C. Allen was educated in the common schools as they existed in Clay County during the '40s and '50s. All of these schools were main- tained by subscription, and for only a few months each year. At the age of fourteen he entered William Jewell College at Liberty and was graduated from that old institution at the age of nineteen in June, 1855, receiving the degree A. B. In 1898 the Missouri State University awarded him the degree LL. D. Like many successful professional men, Mr. Allen has had his share of experience as a teacher. During 1855-56 he taught in the Masonic College at Lexington, Missouri. In 1856 he took up the study of law and was licensed to practice in Missouri in 1857. From August 1, 1858, to April, 1860, he practiced in Leavenworth, Kansas, in partnership with Richard R. Rees. In April, 1860, he re- turned to Liberty and has lived in that city and practiced law ever since. His professional career has been successful, though not marked with unusual incidents. He bears the reputation of a studious, hard-working lawyer, and for many years has owned a very fine law library. He served as attorney for the Kansas branch of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company from 1865 to 1870, and since September, 1871, has been an attorney for the Wabash Railway Company and its predecessors in Missouri. From November, 1860, to December 17, 1861, he served as circuit attorney for the Fifth Judicial Circuit of Missouri.

Probably his most noteworthy public service was as a member of the Missouri Constitutional Convention of 1875, which framed the present organic law of the state. Concerning his political opinions and the direction of his influence in public life it may be said that Mr. Allen stanchly represents those time-tried principles of the old Jeffersonian democracy. He confesses an active opposition to the initiative and referendum, the recall and all similar developments of socialism, and. believes in upholding the Constitution, first, last and all the time. He is also opposed to woman suffrage.

Mr. Allen is a member of several Masonic bodies, including the Blue Lodge, the Royal Arch Chapter, and the Knights Templar Commandery, and in earlier years served, officially, as secretary, but has held no office for the past thirty-six years. He is a member of the Liberty Commercial Club, of the Missouri Historical Society at St. Louis, of the Missouri Valley Historical Society at Kansas City, the Missouri Bar Association and the American Bar Association. He is not connected with any

1967

HISTORY OF NORTHWEST MISSOURI

church, though reared in a Baptist family, and with sympathies and belief inclining to that denomination.

In Ray County, Missouri, May 18, 1864, Mr. Allen married Emily Elizabeth Settle, who was born at Culpeper Court House, Virginia, January 18, 1843, a daughter of Hiram Perry and Juliet Adelaide (Duval) Settle. The Settle family is one of early settlement and many influential associations with the old state of Virginia. The Duvals were of French descent, and their first ancestry in Virginia was one of Lafayette's soldiers during the Revolutionary war. Mr. and Mrs. Allen became the parents of three children: Lee, who was born August 26, 1865, and died November 4, 1897; Juliet Rushbrooke, born September 30, 1867, is the wife of Lyman H. Howard of Unionville, Missouri; Perry Settle, born June 24, 1869.

JUDGE HENRY C. KORNEMAN. An eminently useful and esteemed citizen of Clinton County, Judge Henry C. Korneman, ex-county judge. is an important member of the agricultural community in which he resides, owning and managing one of the best and most extensive farms in Shoal Township. He not only carries on general farming with most satisfactory results, but is known as one of the largest and most success- ful stock feeders and dealers in the vicinity of Cameron, his home city. Coming to this township somewhat more than thirty years ago with but $20 to his name, he put into actual practice those lessons of industry, economy and integrity in which he had been so well trained by his parents, and in due course of time had saved a sufficient sum to buy a piece of land. As his means increased he bought other near-by tracts, and now holds high rank among the more prosperous and enterprising farmers of this part of the state.

He was born in Hesse, Germany, and was there bred and educated, attending school regularly until fourteen years old. He came to the United States in 1873, accompanying his parents, John and Minnie Korneman, the former of whom died aged thirty-nine while the latter is still living, her home being in Muscatine, Iowa.

In 1881 Henry C. Korneman located in Clinton County, and later, having accumulated some money, he bought 160 acres of land in Shoal Township, where he at once began the improvement of a farm. Although the location was a fortunate one, the clearing and cultivation of a good farm was a work of no small magnitude; but as the years sped on field after field was added by purchase; a well furnished and convenient house of nine rooms was erected; a general utility barn, 40 by 90 feet, was built ; a horse barn, 20 by 40 feet, was also put up ; and subsequently Mr. Korneman, with his usual foresight and business acumen, began the buying and feeding of cattle on an extensive scale. Meeting with well merited success, he has continued his operations until the present day. and is now one of the large landholders of his township, having a well improved farm of 640 acres, and an extensive stock feeder, keeping on an average two hundred head of fine cattle in his herd.

Judge Korneman married, in 1882, Christine Stein, who was born in Shoal Township, a daughter of William Stein, who came to this country from Germany when young, and settled as a farmer in Clinton County, near Cameron. Mr. and Mrs. Korneman have eight children, namely : Minnie, Lizzie, Emma, Susan, Charles, Herman, Mary and John. One of the leading democrats of the county, Judge Korneman has been active in the interests of his party, serving as a delegate to several county conventions. He was also county judge for two years, serving in that position with credit to himself, and to the honor of his constituents.

1968

HISTORY OF NORTHWEST MISSOURI

FATHER F. X. HOCHGESANG. Into the commonplace, everyday life of each man comes problems and perplexities, frequently difficult of solution, although these are usually entirely personal, pertaining to the small circle to which his interests are bound. In the adjustment of these his interests and energies are often taxed to their utmost. Heavy as their sum is ordinarily, their total weighs little when compared with the aggregation of responsibilities that are placed upon the members of the priesthood of the Roman Catholic Church. The great, distinctive doctrines of the mother church for ages have been cherished and per- petuated by those who have been especially prepared for this important task, and, the world over, no more scholarly, zealous, pious, broad-minded men can be found than the priests of this great religious body. Their burdens are heavy, the responsibilities great, their influence wide-spread- ing, their value to civilization incalculable.

The Holy Trinity Parish of the Catholic Church, embracing the large church at Weston and the mission churches at Platte City and Parkville, are under the able care of the Rev. Father F. X. Hochgesang. He was the fourth son of J. B. Hochgesang, his parents being of German extraction, although born in the United States, and he himself first saw the light of day here, being born at St. Anthony, Du Bois County, Indiana, August 22, 1876. He was reared at St. Anthony and received a collegiate education at St. Meinrad's, Indiana, and later resumed his studies at St. Mary's Seminary, East Cincinnati, Ohio, where he received his training for the priesthood, on the completion of which he was ordained a priest. The solemn ceremony of ordination took place at St. Peter's Cathedral, in Cincinnati, under the auspices of the Most Rev. Henry Miller, D. D., archbishop of the Diocese of Cincinnati, Wednes- day, June 16, 1909, and shortly thereafter Father Hochgesang entered fully upon his life work.

Coming West, Father Hochgesang was appointed by the Rt. Rev. M. F. Burke, D. D., bishop of the Diocese of St. Joseph, to mission labors, which he continued for about two years, and during this time he was connected with and taught Latin in the Christian Brothers' Col- lege, St. Joseph, and was also chaplain in the Sisters' Hospital in that city. He finally received his appointment to Weston, his first parish, in 1911, coming to that town in March of that year.

It soon became apparent to Father Hochgesang that a new building was needed here. The old structure, erected in the years from 1844 to 1847, had served Holy Trinity congregation faithfully for over sixty years, but was showing unmistakable signs of going the way of all things material, and was becoming unsafe for public usage. So Father Hoch- gesang and his people pitched in and went to work, and in a few short months the present beautiful and stately building arose on the site of the old one. That Father Hochgesang is a man of ability and resource no one will doubt after a visit to the splendid sacred edifice that has been erected under his supervision. A plain man of the people he is, also, and one not afraid to labor with his hands, as the lovely landscape gar- dening about the church amply testifies, for it is all the result of his personal skill and work. Modest, unassuming and kindly, he has proved an ideal pastor, and is greatly beloved by all classes in his parish, both Catholics and non-Catholics, and his daily walk among them has been of a character to uplift and guide to higher ways of living. He has been also, not only the spiritual guide of his people, but their personal friend, assisting them with his kindly philosophy and directing them aright by his excellent and experienced counsel. Of himself he has given freely to the betterment of the people and their interests, and there is probably no more popular man in the entire community.

Per F.D. Hochgesang

1969

HISTORY OF NORTHWEST MISSOURI

It is exceedingly appropriate to give in this connection a history of Holy Trinity Parish of the Roman Catholic Church, and the following article was taken from the Weston Chronicle, issue of May 31, 1912: "Through the grace of Almighty God and the excellent will of our parishioners, as well as our esteemed non-Catholics of Weston and friends at large, we have the great honor on Thursday, May 30, 1912, Decoration day, to hold the solemn services of laying the cornerstone for our new church. More than an honor, for such an edifice that is built solely to the glory and honor of God with the greatest sacrifices of the worshipers of the Creator of heaven and earth. With the bless- ing of God it is but once that such a calling is in request to the present generation, and owing to such a rare calling, it is but proper to execute such a voice with the utmost zeal for a collective home where to gather and pay due respects and worship of their Maker.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

A history of northwest Missouri, Volume III, Part 100

Author: Williams, Walter, 1864-1935 editor Publication date: 1915 Publisher: Chicago, The Lewis publishing company Number of Pages: 912

Author: Williams, Walter, 1864-1935 editor
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Chicago, The Lewis publishing company
Number of Pages: 912