A history of northwest Missouri, Volume III, Part 33

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

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B. F. Praiswater was born in Andrew County, Missouri, December 30, 1856, a son of Samuel and Susan (Nease) Praiswater. He was one of seven children, of whom five are still living. His father was born and reared in Tennessee, moved from there to Indiana, and then came to Missouri. His first land was an unimproved place, and for some time before buying he worked as a renter. He lived in Andrew County about ten years, and the first place he came to in Holt County was down near Newpoint on the Nodaway River. That farm stands today as a monument to his active labors in clearing up and developing a farm. Both parents were members of the Presbyterian Church, and in politics he was independent, a man of excellent character, and never sought the honors of public office. He saw some active service in the state militia.

B. F. Praiswater married May Ludema Trimmer, daughter of John Q. and Elizabeth Marian Trimmer. There were twelve children in the Trimmer family, six of whom are still living. Mr. and Mrs. Praiswater are the parents of four children : Lula May, wife of W. A. Richardson, and has two children, Wayne A. and Wilma R. ; John married Iva Drehen, and has one child, Leroy L .; Joseph B .; and Francis. All the children were born in Holt County.

Mr. Praiswater is one of the most extensive land holders in Holt County, and in his career has shown unusual capacity and judgment as a business man. He is the owner of 326 acres altogether in Missouri, and has 960 acres in Chase County, Nebraska. Mr. Praiswater has per- fected the improvements on his home farm, and now has one of the most attractive homesteads in this section of Holt County. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and has served his district on the school board. In politics he is independent. In his church he has worked actively and has been a deacon and is now an elder.

JAMES BUCHER. One of the best known residents of Lewis Township in Holt County was the late James Bucher, who died at his home there September 1, 1913. He was an industrious and thrifty farmer, a man who had lived in Holt County nearly half a century, and while winning a competence for himself and family had also played the part of a good citizen and was a father and husband and friend to those immediately

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dependent upon him. Mrs. Bucher still survives and resides at the old farm, and represents one of the oldest and most prominent pioneer fam- ilies of Holt County.

The late James Bucher was born at South Bend, Indiana, April 4, 1860, and was about five years of age when he came to Holt County. He and Mrs. Bucher were married in this county, and before her marriage she was Ione Curtis, daughter of John Curtis, a pioneer settler in Holt County. Mr. and Mrs. Bucher became the parents of four children :. Earl, died at the age of nineteen; Bessie, died when one year of age; Hazel is still living; and Paul is a young farmer and married Grace Dooley.

The late Mr. Bucher during his many years of residence and farming activities acquired a fine estate, the home farm now comprising 320 acres. He improved it extensively, and for a number of years the family resided in the large square farmhouse, which is now the home of the widow. It is a modern structure, situated in the midst of a big lawn, enclosed with an iron fence. All the buildings are substantial, and kept in fine repair.

The late Mr. Bucher was a member of the Christian Church, and for twenty-two years acted as superintendent of the Sunday School. Mrs. Bucher's father was also one of the active members of the church in his community, and her mother is still living. Mr. Bucher was a man of excellent habits, and left an honored name to his family. For several years he served on the school board, in politics was a republican, and was affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America.

DANIEL FUHRMAN. Representing the substantial German-American citizenship which has done so much to improve and develop the agricul- tural resources of this country, Daniel Fuhrman has spent nearly all his life in Holt County, the family having come here about forty-five years ago. As a farmer he is regarded as one of the most efficient and pros- perous in Lewis Township, and has also done his part in affairs of public importance.

Daniel. Fuhrman was born in Adams County, Indiana, October 24. 1861. His father, Christopher Fuhrman, was born in Germany. There were seven children in the family. In 1868 the parents located in Holt County, and came to the farm now occupied by Daniel Fuhrman. At that time the land was almost unimproved, and a log house was the first habitation. After living there a few years the father put up a frame house that is still standing, located some distance from the present resi- dence of Daniel. Fuhrman, standing on the North Road in the hollow. This farm was the scene of the activities and the home of both parents until late in life when they moved to Oregon and spent their last years in that town. The father was a man of good habits. and though be- ginning his career in Northwest Missouri a poor man. he left a property which was good evidence of his industry and successful management. All the fields in the farm were broken up as a result of his own labor at the plow.

Daniel Fuhrman grew up in Holt County, and acquired his education in such schools as existed at that time. He trained himself by practical work for the career which has brought him a satisfying degree of pros- perity, and is now the owner of 160 acres and has done much to improve the place and increase its value. His business is that of general farming and stock raising. and he is sharing in the general prosperity which Northwest Missouri farmers have enjoyed in recent years.

Mr. Fuhfman married for his first wife Jesta Price, daughter of H. R.

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Price. By this union there were three children : Edith, wife of Albert Noellsch ; Florence; and Edna. After the death of his first wife Mr. Fuhrman married Mary Noellsch, daughter of John Noellsch. By this marriage there is one son, Roy. All the children were born in Holt County and either have homes of their own or are preparing themselves for useful places in the world. Mr. Fuhrman is a member of the Evangelical Church, has served for three years on the school board, and in politics is a republican.

JOSIAH ELLINGSWORTH. One of the well-known and highly respected residents of Andrew County is Josiah Ellingsworth, now living retired in Rochester Township, for many years after completing his honorable service as a soldier in the Civil war, having been a farmer in Missouri. He is a native of this state, born on his father's homestead on Shoal Creek, near Mirabile, in Caldwell County, July 1, 1841. His parents were James and Elizabeth ( Estis) Ellingsworth.

James Ellingsworth and wife were natives of Maryland and married in that state. In 1833 they moved to Quincy, Illinois, and from there, in 1837, to Caldwell County, Missouri, where Mr. Ellingsworth secured a homestead on Shoal Creek, and there his first wife died when their son Josiah was ten years old. His second marriage was to a Mrs. Green, a widow, and in 1852 they moved to DeKalb County near Mays- ville, and in 1867 he died on his farm near Stewartsville. He was a man of solid worth and was widely known, was a stanch democrat in politics and a consistent member of the Christian Church. To his first marriage the following children were born: Margaret, who is deceased, was the wife of Thomas Williams; Josiah ; Martha, who is deceased, was the wife of W. N. Tucker; James, who is deceased, served almost four years in the Civil war as a member of the Twenty-fifth Missouri Regi- ment ; Elizabeth, who died at the age of four years; and William, who now lives in Washington, served three years of the Civil war as a member of the Twelfth Missouri Volunteer Cavalry. One daughter, Lucy, was born to the second marriage. She was the wife of Louis Davis and is now deceased.

Josiah Ellingsworth was reared on the home farm and went to school in boyhood as opportunity offered. At the outbreak of the Civil war he was at Sardis, in Mason County, Kentucky, on a visit and great excitement prevailed there, people taking sides as is usual in such cases, no one being permitted to be neutral. At once companies were raised for both the Federal and Confederate armies and Mr. Ellingsworth enlisted in the former, in Company A, Sixteenth Kentucky Volunteer Infantry, in which he served out a first enlistment of ninety days. On September 23, 1861, he enlisted for three years, in the same company and regiment, and the first battle in which he participated was that of Ivory Mountain in Kentucky, on November 8, 1861. Then followed others thick and fast, including the siege of Knoxville, all the engage- ments of the Atlantic campaign in which his regiment, as a member of the Twenty-third Army Corps, took part, following which came Nash- ville with two days of fighting, and the fierce battle of Franklin. He fought in two engagements after his time of enlistment expired, serving until February 28, 1865. In some ways he and his brothers were very fortunate. They served in different regiments and faced thousands of dangers but all lived to return home without suffering wounds, and Mr. Ellingsworth was not once posted on the sick list. On two occasions he was knocked down by the explosion of shells in his vicinity and at

Josiah Ellingsworth

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the time was blinded and deafened, suffering loss of hearing in his right ear.

After his military life was over Mr. Ellingsworth returned home and for forty years engaged in farming, residing on one farm, in Sherman Township, DeKalb County, one-half mile from the Andrew County line, where he owned 170 acres. After selling his farm property he moved to St. Joseph, where he resided for two years, in 1912 coming to the home of his son, Hugh O., at Helena, where he has since resided, surrounded with all the comforts dear to his age.

Mr. Ellingsworth was married in October, 1867, to Miss Missouri Graham, who was born in Andrew County in February, 1840, and died on the farm in October, 1896. Her parents were Alexander and Elizabeth (Miller) Graham, the former of whom was born in Scotland and came first to Canada and then to Andrew County, Missouri. Mr. and Mrs. Ellingsworth had two sons: Hugh O., who is in business at Helena, Missouri; and Charles, who died when aged eight months. Hugh O. Ellingsworth married Miss Belle Dixon, and they have one son, Everett.

In politics Mr. Ellingsworth has always been a republican but has never consented to hold a public office. For many years he has been an Odd Fellow. His interest in the Grand Army of the Republic has never failed since he united with this noble organization, and it is but reasonable to suppose that these old soldiers find much of interest to quietly discuss as they, from the peaceful country their valor and patriotism won, watch another generation on the battlefields across the ocean. Knowing well what a soldier's life is, they can give a kind of sympathy that no others can. Mr. Ellingsworth is a member of the Baptist Church. He has a fund of recollections of early days that are interesting and instructive to those permitted to listen to their recital.

WESLEY ZACHMAN. In connection with the presentation in this his- tory of individual records concerning many of the representative farm- ers of Northwest Missouri, it is specially gratifying to note that there is a very appreciable percentage of this class who can claim as their native places the counties in which they are successfully pursuing their agricul- tural and live-stock enterprises and carrying forward the admirable work that had been instituted by their fathers. Such application is to be made in connection with the career of Wesley Zachman, who is one of the sub- stantial farmers and popular citizens of Holt County, where he was born on the farm which is now his place of residence, in Nodaway Town- ship, the date of his nativity having been April 25, 1868, and the same indicating definitely that he is a representative of a pioneer family of this county. He is a son of Henry and Mary ( Anselman) Zachman, who came from Ohio to Holt County about the year 1864 and who now reside in Oregon, the county seat, the father having retired after long years of earnest and productive application to agricultural pursuits. Upon com- ing to Holt County Henry Zachman purchased a portion of the present homestead farm of his son Wesley, a considerable portion of the land having previously been brought under cultivation, though the per- manent improvements on the place were otherwise of inferior order, as may be realized when it is stated that the only barn on the farm was a primitive log structure. He made excellent improvements on the home- stead, upon which he erected the present substantial and commodious house and barn, and with the passing years he added to his farm until he accumulated a valuable estate of 271 acres,-the present area of the place. Since the farm came into the possession of Wesley Zachman he has manifested the same progressive spirit and mature judgment that

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characterized the course of his father and has made numerous improve- ments, including the erection of a silo of the best modern type. He is wideawake and energetic as an agriculturist and stock-grower and well merits recognition as one of the essentially successful and representative farmers of Northwest Missouri.

Henry Zachman has ever been found enrolled as a stalwart advocate of the principles of the republican party, and both he and his wife are earnest members of the Evangelical Church. Of their nine children, the first two of whom were born prior to the removal from Ohio to Mis- souri, six are now living.

In his political allegiance Wesley Zachman is a republican and he has shown a lively interest in public affairs of a local order, though he has had no ambition for political preferment. He has served at several different times as a member of the school board of his district, and of the Evangelical Church in their home community both he and his wife are most zealous and valued members, he having served as a member of its board of trustees and as superintendent of the Sunday school for fif- teen years, besides having held the position of classleader for several years.

On November 15, 1894, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Zach- man to Miss Effia A. Hardman, who was born in Ohio, October 31, 1876, but who was a child at the time of the family removal to Holt County. She is the only daughter of Daniel and Jane (Bissel) Hard- man, the former of whom died in 1903, after having been for many years one of the substantial farmers and honored citizens of Holt County, where his widow still resides. Mr. Hardman was a consistent member of the Christian Church in which his widow likewise holds membership. They became the parents of three children, but one of the two sons is deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Zachman have three children, whose names, with respective dates of birth, are here recorded: Dwight, April 26, 1897; Harland, November 15, 1900; and Rhonald, August 28, 1903.

GEORGE KURTZ. A representative of one of the well known and highly honored pioneer families of Holt County, Mr. Kurtz has been a resident of the county from the time of his birth, has had the good judgment to avail himself of its natural resources and advantages and stands today as one of its popular citizens and substantial farmers. His well improved homestead comprises 100 acres of most fertile and pro- ductive land and is eligibly situated in Nodaway Township.

Mr. Kurtz was born on his father's pioneer farm in this county, on the 1st of February, 1859, and is one in a family of thirteen children, all of whom are living except two. He is a son of Isaac and Mary (See- man) Kurtz, all of whose children were born in this county, with whose civic and industrial development and upbuilding the family name has been closely and worthily identified. Isaac Kurtz came to Holt County in an early day and settled on a tract of wild land about one mile east of the present homestead of his son George, of this review. His original domicile was a primitive house of only two rooms, but with the passing of the years his ability and energy became manifest in the very appear- ance of his farm, which he reclaimed to cultivation and upon which he erected good buildings, this place continuing to be his home until his death, as was it also that of his wife. He eventually accumulated a valuable landed estate of 320 acres and was one of the substantial farmers and influential citizens of the county at the time of his death. His suc- cess was the result of close application and good judgment, as he started his independent career as a youth without financial resources or other fortuitous influences. He reared a large family of children and gave

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to them the best possible educational advantages, while his sterling in- tegrity of purpose gained and retained to him the good will and con- fidence of his fellow men. His political allegiance was given to the republican party but he had no desire for public office of any descrip- tion.

George Kurtz was reared to maturity on the home farm and is in- debted to the public schools of his native county for his early educational advantages. He has never wavered in his allegiance to the basic in- dustry of agriculture and has become one of its successful and progres- sive representatives in Holt County. He purchased his present farm in 1887, and has made all of the improvements now in evidence on the place, the farm having had only a small dwelling of primitive type when he purchased the property. He gives his attention to diversified agriculture and raises live stock upon a minor scale, as an effective supplement to other departments of the farm enterprise. He is a stalwart supporter of the principles of the republican party, takes a lively inter- est in public and general civic affairs of a local order and has served as a member of the school board of his district.

The maiden name of Mr. Kurtz's wife was Emma Derr, and she was born in Cumberland County,' Pennsylvania, being a daughter of the late Ferdinand and Sarah (Kissinger) Derr. Mr. and Mrs. Kurtz be- came the parents of six children, of whom three are living,-Ida, born September 28, 1880; Ernest, born April 22, 1888; and Esamiah May, born February 24, 1890.

JAMES E. BUNTZ is one of the representative farmers of the younger generation in his native county, where he is associated with his father in the management of their fine homestead farm of 160 acres, in Holt County. His father was a carpenter by trade and erected the present attractive and commodious residence building on the farm before the property came into the possession of the son, who has since made many other substantial improvements on the place.

James E. Buntz was born at Mound City, Holt County, on the 10th of August, 1879, and is a son of Andrew J. and Mary (Bucher) Buntz, both of whom still reside on the home farm. He is indebted to the pub- lic schools of the county for his early educational advantages and as a farmer he has displayed marked progressiveness and enterprise, besides which he has deep appreciation of the attractions and advantages of his native county and finds pleasure in his association with its civic and industrial interests. He is a republican in his political proclivities and has served as road overseer of his district. Both he and his wife are members of the Evangelical Church and he is affiliated with the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows.

At the age of twenty-four years Mr. Buntz was united in marriage to Miss Blanche Stephenson, daughter of George Stephenson, concerning whom individual mention is made on other pages of this work. The one child of this union is a winsome little daughter, Marjorie. Mr. and Mrs. Buntz are popular factors in the social life of their home community and have a wide circle of friends in the county which has been their home from the time of their birth,

CHRISTIAN MEYER. Born on the fine farmstead which is now his place of residence, in Nodaway Township, Mr. Meyer has gained secure status as one of the enterprising and successful agriculturists and stock- growers of Holt County, and is a scion of one of the well known and highly honored pioneer families of this county. He was born on the 12th of February, 1875, and is a son of Gottlieb and Anna (Mart) Meyer. The

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father came to Holt County about the year 1846 and settled on the farm now owned by his son Wesley. On the place at the time it came into his possession was a primitive log house of the type common to the pioneer days, and the land was virtually in its wild state. Indefatigable industry and well regulated policies brought to Gottlieb Meyer a gen- erous measure of success as the year passed by, and he became eventually the owner of a valuable landed estate of 310 acres, the while he was known as one of the representative farmers and sterling citizens of the county in which he long maintained his home and in which he con- · tinued to reside on his farm until his death. He erected excellent build- ings and made other substantial improvements that indicated his progres- siveness and thrift, and he was about seventy years of age at the time of his death. His wife still survives him and is more than eighty years of age,-known and revered as one of the noble pioneer women of Holt County. Mr. Meyer was a stalwart adherent of the republican party and was a consistent member of the Evangelical Church, of which his widow has been a devoted communicant for many years.

Christian Meyer was reared to manhood on the old homestead oc- cupied by his brother Wesley, and in connection with its work he early gained benignant fellowship with honest toil, the while he duly availed himself of the advantages of the public schools. He has continuously been identified with agricultural pursuits on the old homestead and is one of the energetic and successful farmers of his native county, his landed estate comprising 155 acres of excellent land and his attention being given to diversified agriculture and stock-growing. His farm came into his possession in 1900 and he is fully appreciative of the advantages that have been afforded him for productive effort in his native county, where he is recognized as a loyal and public-spirited citizen. Mr. Meyer gives his alliegiance to the republican party, is affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America, and both he and his wife are zealous members of the Evangelical Church of their neighborhood, he being a trustee of the same.

In 1902 Mr. Meyer wedded Miss Estelle Belle Miller, who was born and reared in Andrew County, Missouri, and who is a daughter of Elmer Miller. Mr. and Mrs. Meyer have three children .- Paul A., Beatrice M. and Elmer Ray.

WESLEY MEYER. One of the well improved and eligibly situated farms of Holt County is that which figures as the birthplace and present residence of Wesley Meyer, who is a scion of a family that has been one of prominence in the industrial and civic development of this county, his father having settled on the present homestead fully fifty years ago and having achieved success through earnest and honest endeavor.

Wesley Meyer was born on his present homestead, on the 8th of July, 1872, and is a son of Gottlieb and Mary (Mart) Meyer, the former of whom was born in Ohio, of German parentage, and the latter of whom was born in Germany. The marriage of the parents was solemnized in Holt County and here were born their four children,-Grant, Albert, Wesley, and Christian. Gottlieb Meyer was reared and educated in the old Buckeye State and about the year 1844 he came to Holt County, Mis- souri, the long overland journey having been made with a wagon and ox team. Ile was fortified with ambition and resolute purpose; but his financial resources when he came to this county were merely nominal. He purchased from a man named Nichols the present homestead farm of his son Wesley, erected on the same a log cabin and then essayed the arduous task of reclaiming a farm from the wild state. Industry and good management brought to him with the passing years definite and

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well merited success, and at the time of his death he was the owner of a valuable landed estate of 310 acres. He erected on his farm the present house and barn, and the son has since made other excellent building im- provements on the place, which gives evidence of thrift and prosperity. Wesley Meyer has 160 acres of the landed estate accumulated by his father and he gives his attention principally to the raising of excellent grades of live stock, though the agricultural department of his farm en- terprise likewise is given the careful supervision that entails due returns. He is indebted to the public schools for his early educational discipline and his progressiveness and energy have given him place as one of the substantial and representative farmers and stock-growers of his native county. He is a republican in his political allegiance, as was also his father, and for several years past he has served as a member of the school board of his district. He and his wife are members of the Evangelical Church. His mother still remains with him in the old homestead and to whom he accords the deepest filial affection and solicitude. She is a member of the German Methodist Episcopal Church.

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A history of northwest Missouri, Volume III, Part 33

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