USA > Missouri > Shelby County > General history of Shelby County, Missouri > Part 45
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The family, on the father's side, is of English ancestry, but has long been resi- dent in this country. The grandfather of the senator, William Henry Hum- phrey, was born in Harrison county, Kentucky, and came to Missouri in 1839, making the journey on the rivers. He located in Lewis county, where he took up a tract of wild land and by skillful and systematic husbandry transformed it into a well improved and highly produc- tive farm. On this he passed the remain- der of his days, dying at a good old age and leaving behind him the priceless leg- acy of a good name and in addition a val- uable monument to his thrift and enter- prise in the excellent farm which he had redeemed from the wilderness and made fruitful in all the products of advanced
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agriculture. His offspring numbered five, four sons and one daughter. Of these two sons are living.
Senator Humphrey was reared in Lewis county, this state, and obtained his education in the public schools and at La Grange College. He taught in the public schools for a number of years and for some time was the superintendent of those in Shelbyville. In 1890 he began the study of law in the office and under the direction of Hon. R. P. Giles, of Shel- bina, who was elected a member of the United States House of Representatives in 1896. He was admitted to the bar in 1893, and for nearly a year was a partner of Hon. James T. Lloyd, the present rep- resentative of the district in the congress of the United States.
' In 1907 he formed a co-partnership with J. T. Gose, who is still associated with him. From the dawn of his man- hood, and even long before that, he has taken a deep and earnest interest in pub- lic affairs, both local and general, being a close and reflective student of political policies and governmental theories. He is therefore wise on the subject and the people know it. They showed their con- fidenee in his intelligence and public spirit by electing him to represent them in the state senate in the fall of 1904. The period since his election has been an ex- acting and fruitful one, and has given him exceptional opportunities for demon- strating that the public confidence ex- pressed in his election was not misplaced. He has been prominent in every session of the legislature since his election, in- cluding the extra session of 1905, whiel had highly important matters for the
welfare of the state to consider and dis- pose of.
In the most elevated legislative forum in the state Senator Humphrey las served on many important committees, in- eluding the committee on appropriations, of which he was chairman in the session of 1907, and others of which he was made a member by special resolution of the senate. He was president pro tempore of the senate in 1909 and 1910, and as such served as governor during the ab- sence of the governor and lieutenant gov- ernor from the state. It is worthy of note that in the whole history of Mis- souri he has been the second man who has enjoyed the distinction of occupying the governor's ehair as a member of the political party whose candidate was not elected to the office, and also that of be- ing the only president pro tempore of the senate who has done this. While presi- dent pro tempore of the senate he ap- pointed all committees for the entire ses- sion. These are small and accidental events, it is true, but they are significant in showing that a man universally es- teemed throughout the state had been placed in a position of exalted trust and prominence. and was therefore ready for the performance of a duty for which he had not been especially chosen. With one voice the people of the state rejoiced that their welfare had fallen into such clean and capable hands for proper preserva- tion and promotion.
Senator Humphrey has been the legal counselor of the city authorities of Shel- bina during all of the last twelve years and has rendered them satisfactory serv- ice in that capacity. He has also served
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the city as mayor, giving it a clean and progressive administration and looking carefully after all its interests. All his life he has shown a deep and abiding in- terest in the welfare of the community of his home and given his active and intelli- gent aid to every worthy undertaking de- signed to promote the comfort, conve- nience and substantial good of its people.
In fraternal relations he is united with the Masonic order, the Knights of Pyth- ias and the Order of Elks. His relig- ions affiliation is with the Baptist church. On November 25, 1903, he was married to Miss Gertrude List, an adopted daughter of the late W. H. Warren, of Shelbina, a sketch of whom will be found in this work. Mr. and Mrs. Humphrey are the parents of three children, their sons, William W., George R. and Patrick List, who bless and brighten the domestic shrine by their presence and the hopes of future good which they inspire in their parents and all who know them.
WILLIAM STEINBACH.
A sterling citizen and native son of Shelby county, Mr. Steinbach has been identified with the agricultural industry in said county during his entire active career, marked by industry and generous accomplishment, and he is now the owner of a fine landed estate of 255 acres, where he continued to reside until April, 1909, when he took up his abode in his native village of Bethel, where he owns and ocenpies an attractive and commo- dious residence.
Mr. Steinbach was born in Bethel, this county. on December 22, 1851, and is a son of Philip and Elizabeth (Froelich)
Steinbach, whose marriage was solem- mized in the year 1844 and both of whom were natives of Germany.
Philip Steinbach was born on Feb- rnary 6, 1824, and was reared and edn- cated in his native land, whence he immi- grated to America as a young man. In 1845 he became a member of the German colony founded at Bethel, Shelby county, Missouri, and he became one of the pros- perous farmers and stock growers of the county, having continued his residence in the village of Bethel until the disband- ing of the colony, after which he resided on his farm. He passed the closing years of his life, however, in Bethel, where he died on April 6, 1909, at the venerable age of eighty-five years. His life was one of signal integrity and honor, and he was not denied the fullest measure of popular confidence and esteem in the community that so long represented his home and the scene of his earnest and fruitful endeavors. He was one of the organizers of the Bank of Bethel. of which he was president for ten years and of which he continued a director until the time of his death. He contributed materially to the industrial and social upbuilding of the county and was a broad-minded and loyal citizen. His po- litical support was given to the Republi- can party, with which he identified him- self at the time of its organization, and both he and his wife, who died on Octo- ber 7, 1888, were consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church. They became the parents of nine children, of whom seven are living-Philip, William, George and Henry, all of whom still re- side in this county ; Elizabeth, who is the wife of Julius Will, of Green City, Sulli-
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HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY
van county; Mary, who is the wife of Flora (twins), and John, all of whom George Kraft, of Bethel; and Christian, remain at the parental home. who likewise resides in this village.
William Steinbach gained his early education in the village schools of Bethel, and as a youth he learned the trade of blacksmith, to which he here devoted his attention for a period of fifteen years, having been a skilled artisan and built up a successful business. His career has been marked by consecutive and well di- rected industry and also by that earnest regard for principle that ever calls forth the confidence and good will of men. After abandoning the work of his trade he removed to a farm in Bethel township, where he continued successful operations as an agriculturist and stock grower un- til the spring of 1909, since which time he has lived retired in Bethel, where he is enjoying the rewards of former toil and endeavor and is surrounded by friends tried and true. He owns 255 acres of most productive farming land, has made the most substantial improve- ments on the property and still gives to the same a general supervision. In poli- tics he is found arrayed as a staunch and intelligent advocate of the cause of the Republican party, and he and his wife hold membership in the M. E. church.
On September 14, 1879, Mr. Steinbach was united in marriage to Miss Mary Ziegler, who was born and reared in this county, being a daughter of George Zieg- ler, who was for many years a represent- ative citizen of Bethel, where his death occurred. Mr. and Mrs. Steinbach have four children, namely: Sophia, who is the wife of Walter Curry, of Kit Carson county, Colorado; and Albert W. and
ALBERT W. STEINBACH.
Mr. Steinbach is a representative of the third generation of the family in Shelby county, of which he is a native son, and he stands essentially as one of the alert, enterprising and loyal business men of the younger generation in the county and as a citizen whose popularity in the community is of the most unequiv- oeal type. He is incumbent of the impor- tant office of cashier of the Bank of Bethel, of which his honored grand- father, the late Philip Steinbach, was one of the founders and for a decade the president. Mr. Steinbach is a son of William Steinbach, a sketch of whose career is given on other pages of this volume, so that further review of the family history is not demanded in the present connection.
Albert W. Steinbach was born in the village of Bethel, this county, on April 26, 1883, and to the public schools of his native town he is indebted for his carly educational training. He manifested distinct predilection for business and in 1906, when but twenty-three years of age, he was elected cashier of the Bank of Bethel, of which position he has since continued ineumbent. His administra- tion of the practical affairs of the insti- tution has been marked by discrimina- tion, judgment and progressive policy, and his efforts have been a distinct fac- tor in the upbuilding of the substantial business of the bank, which is one of the well-conducted and ably managed finan-
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cial institutions of the county and one which receives a representative support.
Mr. Steinbach manifests a deep inter- est in all that tends to conserve the prog- ress and material and social prosperity of his native town and county and lends his influence and aid in the promotion of all worthy public enterprises. He is a stalwart in the local camp of the Repub- lican party, is a member of the Metho- dist Episcopal church and is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity, the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America. He is a popular figure in the social life of the community and his circle of friends. is coincident with that of his acquaintances.
JOHN C. BOWER.
Mr. Bower is one of the substantial citizens of Shelby county, which has rep- resented his home from his boyhood days, and here lie is the owner of a well improved farm of 320 acres, eligibly lo- cated in Bethel township. The farm is now rented to his elder son, and Mr. Bower is living virtually retired in the village of Bethel, where his parents settled in the pioneer days, as member of the sturdy Germany colony founded here in the '40s.
John C. Bower claims the old Key- stone state of the Union as the place of his nativity. having been born in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, on July 23, 1833, and being a son of John L. and Chris- tina (Schnanfer) Bower, both natives of Wurtemburg, Germany, the father hav- ing been born in the year 1800. Their marriage was solemnized in the year 1832, in Pennsylvania. Of their twelve
children eight are now living, and con- cerning them the following brief record is entered: John C., the eldest, is the immediate subject of this review; and Theodore L., Samuel F., Walter C., Christina, August, and David, all of whom are residents of Bethel, this county ; and Miranda, who is the wife of Charles F. Stecher, of Camp Point, Il- linois. Christina is the wife of William Seppel, a well known citizen of Bethel. The family name has been prominently and honorably linked with the industrial and civic progress of this section of the county, and its representatives of the present day are well worthy of the nn- qualified esteem in which they are held in the community. The father came with his family to Missouri and numbered himself among the Betliel colonists in 1846. He was a cabinetmaker by trade and he followed the same in Betliel until his death, which occurred in 1872, his devoted wife having been summoned to the life eternal in 1863. Both were zealous members of the Bethel Colony church and he was identified with the Re- publican party from the time of its or- ganization until his death.
John C. Bower, whose name intro- duces this article, gained his early edu- cation in the common schools of his na- tive county in Pennsylvania and was abont thirteen years of age at the time of the family removal to Missouri. Ile was reared to manhood in the village of Bethel, where he learned the trade of cabinetmaking and also that of wheel- wright, under the able direction of his honored father, who was a skilled and versatile mechanic. He continued to be associated with his father in the work of
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his trade until 1870, and in the mean- while he has also turned his attention to farming and stock-growing. He event- ually gave his undivided attention to the latter lines of industry, with which he continued to be identified during the re- mainder of his active business career. Since 1894 he has lived retired, having an attractive home in Bethel and renting his farm to his son, as has already been stated in this context. He is known as a plain, unassuming citizen of sterling integrity of character and as one who has ever borne his share in connection with the work of material and social de- velopment and progress. His political support is given to the Republican party and both he and his wife hold member- ship in the Methodist Episcopal church.
In 1861 Mr. Bower was united in mar- riage to Miss Caroline Roser, who was born in the city of Philadelphia, Penn- sylvania, on March 1, 1833, and who came with her parents to Shelby county in the pioneer days, the family becom- ing members of the Bethel colony. Mr. and Mrs. Bower became the parents of four children, of whom three are living. Miranda, who is the wife of Henry Fox. of Bethel; John J., who resides on and rents the old homestead farm of his father; and Gideon, who likewise is a successful farmer of this county.
HARRY C. BAIR.
The able and popular postmaster of the village of Bethel is Harry C. Bair, who is a native son of Shelby county, where his grandfather, Reuben Bair, a native of Westmoreland county, Penn- sylvania, took up his abode in 1846, hav-
ing come hither from Stark county, Ohio. The postmaster is a son of Samuel J. Bair, who is the subject of a specific sketch on other pages of this volume, so that further reference to the family his- tory is not demanded in this article.
Harry C. Bair was born in Bethel, this county, on October 15, 1875, and here he was reared to maturity, securing his early educational discipline in the pub- lie schools and assisting his father in his farming operations. At the age of twenty years he severed the home ties and during the ensuing five years he traveled about from place to place, prin- cipally in the west, for the sake of seeing the country, gaining experience, ete., the while he found employment at various occupations and defrayed his expenses. besides saving a portion of his earnings. In 1900 he returned to Bethel, and here he followed the carpenter's trade and house painting until July 1, 1907, when he received appointment to the office of Postmaster, under the administration of President Roosevelt. Ile has since con- tinned incumbent of this position, has carefully handled the affairs of the office and has gained publie commendation of an unequivocal type. He is well known in this part of the county and his friends are in number as his acquaintances. In polities he is an uncompromising Re- publican and he has been a zealons worker in the local camp of the "grand old party."
On August 30, 1908, Mr. Bair was united in marriage to Miss Bertha Zieg- ler, who was born and reared in Bethe! and who is a daughter of William F. Ziegler, of this village.
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HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY
SAMUEL J. BAIR.
It is gratifying to be able to enter in this volume even a brief review of the career of this well known and honored citizen of Bethel, who is a member of one of the sterling pioncer families of Shelby county, which has represented his home from his childhood days and which has been the scene of large and worthy accomplishment on his part, in connec- tion with the practical and productive activities of life. He rendered valiant and faithful service as a Union soldier in the Civil war and in the "piping times of peace" his loyalty has ever been of the same insistent type, the while he has so ordered his life as to merit and re- ceive the unqualified confidence and es- teem of his fellow men.
Mr. Bair claims the old Buckeye state as the place of his nativity, as he was born in Stark county, Ohio, in the year 1843. He is a son of Reuben and Mary (Berlin) Bair, both of staunch German lineage, and when he was about three years of age, in 1846, his parents came from Ohio to Missouri and numbered themselves among the German colonists in Bethel and vicinity, thus becoming pioneers of Shelby county, where they passed the remainder of their lives, se- cure in the respect and confidence of all who knew them. Mr. Bair's educational privileges were those afforded in the vil- lage schools of Bethel and were some- what limited, owing to the exigencies of time and place. As a yonth he found employment in a local furniture shop, where he worked at the trade of cabinet making, to which he devoted his atten- tion for two years. At the age of nine-
teen years he subordinated all other in- terests to tender his aid in defense of the Union, whose integrity was in jeopardy through armed rebellion. On February 14, 1862, he enlisted as a private in the Eleventh Regiment of Missouri State Militia, under Capt. James B. Lambkin, and he received his discharge at the ex- piration of his term, on September 27 following. On May 14, 1863, he re-en- listed in the Eleventh Missouri Cavalry, which was regularly mustered into the United States service, and he was as- signed to Company G, under Captain Collier. He participated in a number of the important engagements marking the conflict between the opposing forces in Missouri and Arkansas, and among the more notable of these may be mentioned those of Cherry Grove, Kirksville, Walk- ersville, Little Rock, Devall's Bluff and Clarendon, besides which he took part in many skirmishes and other minor en- gagements. He continued with his regi- ment until the close of the war and was mustered out in the city of New Orleans on July 27, 1865, duly receiving his hon- orable discharge.
After thus admirably aequitting him- self as a loyal and faithful soldier of the republic, Mr. Bair returned to his native county and located in Shelbyville, where he served as carrier of mail between the local postoffice and La Grange for nearly a year, at the expiration of which period he returned to Bethel and in this imme- diate vicinity identified himself with farming and stock raising, in which con- nection he gained marked snecess through his close application and well di- rected energies, and he continued to give the same his personal supervision until
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1906, when he sold the property. Since that time he has lived virtually retired in the village of Bethel, where he has an attractive home and is surrounded by friends who are tried and true. In poli- ties he gives a staunch support to the eause of the Republican party, taking an intelligent interest in the questions and issues of the hour. He is identified with the Grand Army of the Republic, and both he and his wife are zealous members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is now serving as justice of the peace.
On November 4, 1869, Mr. Bair was united in marriage to Miss Rebecca E. Gooden, who was born in Indiana, whence her parents, John and Elizabeth Gooden. came to Shelby county, Mis- souri, when she was eighteen years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Bair became the pa- rents of five children, of whom four are living-William W., who is engaged in farming at Bethel; Harry C., who is in- dividually mentioned on other pages of this work; Mary, who is the wife of Bruce Runyon, of Bethel township, this county; and Reuben, who lives in this county.
THOMAS W. P. REED.
In even a cursory review of the careers of the honored business men of the city of Shelbina there is eminent consistency and. in fact, imperative demand that rec- ognition be given the late Thomas W. P. Reed, who was for more than a fourth of a century engaged in the real estate and loan business. He was a dominating fig- ure in the business circles of Shelbina, and through his well-directed efforts ac- cumulated a modest fortune. Progres-
sive in both private and public affairs, he proved a most valuable citizen, and he so ordered his course as to retain at all times the confidence and esteem of his fellow men.
Mr. Reed was born near Sidney, in Shelby county, Ohio, December 2, 1842. His parents, James and Mary (John- ston) Reed, were natives of Pennsylva- nia and Ohio, respectively. His father. James S. Reed, was born in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, but spent the most of his youth in Richland county, Ohio. In 1863 he moved to Iowa, in 1866 to Saline county, Missouri. and the following year to Monroe county. After a residence there of a few years he became a resident of Shelby county, where he passed the residue of his life, his death occurring at Shelbina on February 27, 1874, and that of his wife in 1880. Of their four chil- dren one is now living. The father was possessed of a fine landed estate at the time of his death, besides a considerable amount of city property. He was a man whom every one respected for his many sterling qualities, and was ever ready to promote the best interests of the people among whom he resided.
Thomas W. P. Reed was a young man at the time of the family removal to Mis- sonri. After assisting for a short time with the labors of the home farm in Mon- roe county, he purchased a farm near Paris, Monroe county, in company with his brother Charles. This they success- fully operated until 1876. when failing health compelled him to dispose of his . interest in the same, and for a year fol- lowing was engaged in business at Ot- tumwa. Iowa. In 1878 he became a resi- dent of Shelbina, and was here actively
THOMAS W. P. REED
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HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY
and successfully engaged in the real es- promote the best interests of her people. tate business until his death, on March His wife's death occurred July 1, 1895. 31,1900.
In 1895 Mr. Reed was one of the ten men who formed what was known as "The Shelbina Corn Company." This company purchased the surplus corn crop of that year, placing the same in cribs along the railroad, and were com- pelled to hold it for over three years, finally disposing of it at a loss of several thousand dollars to themselves, but they prevented many a poor farmer from los- ing everything he possessed by thus fur- nishing a market for his crop and at a price far in advance of what was being offered for it elsewhere. Mr. Reed was a large stockholder of "The Old Bank of Shelbina" at the time of his death, be- sides having a large amount of eity prop- erty.
He was married March 23, 1869, at Dayton, Ohio, to Miss Isabella Hoover. One child was born to them, Mary L., who is now the wife of John R. Morgan, of Shelbina, a sketch of whom will be found on other pages of this work. Both he and his wife were active and leading members of the Christian church. In polities he was ever found arrayed with the Democratic party, but never con sented to hold public office of any kind, though often urged to allow his name to go before the people. He preferred to serve in the more humble position of a private citizen, though no worthy project ever went without his earnest support. He was a man who had unbounded confi- dence in the future of northern Missouri, and was ever ready to lend his aid and support to any plan that promised to
AUGUST BOWER.
This well known business man and honored citizen of Bethel is a native son of Shelby county and a member of one of its sterling pioneer families. In the sketch of the career of his elder brother, John C. Bower, on other pages of this work, is given a review of the family his- tory, so that it is not necessary to repeat the data in the present sketch.
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