USA > Missouri > Shelby County > General history of Shelby County, Missouri > Part 63
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Mr. Priest is a native of Shelby county and was born within its borders on Feb- ruary 1. 1855. His grandfather, Louis Priest, was a native of Virginia, and in that state, also, his father, Madison J. Priest, was born, his life beginning in 1811 and the place of his nativity being Frederick county. He was reared to manhood on his father's farm in that county and obtained his education in the schools of the neighborhood. In 1836,
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when he was twenty-seven years old, one year after his marriage, he brought his young wife to Missouri, both determined to brave the perils and privations of the western wilds in the hope of finding a fortune amid its boundless opportunities, and, at any rate, of securing a better chance of advancement than their own state at that time seemed to offer. They located in Shelby county on government land which they took up, and on this they expended their efforts to good purpose until the death of the husband in 1884. Mrs. Priest was born and reared in Hampshire county, Virginia, and her maiden name was Sarah A. Vandiver. They became the parents of five children, four of whom are living: William L., of Shelby county; Mary E., the widow of Robert M. Sprinkle, who lives in West Virginia ; Silas W., whose home is in Leonard, this county; and John C., the immediate subject of this review. In polities the father was a Democrat and took an active interest in the affairs of his party. He was also energetic in pro- moting the welfare of his community by every means in his power.
John C. Priest obtained his education in the district schools and the Shelby- ville high school. After leaving school he worked on the farm at home until 1894, laboring in connection with his father a portion of the time and on his JAMES J. HILES. own account during the remainder. In the year last mentioned he moved to Serving his country well in war and during the greater part of the rest of his life to this time (1910) helping to expand its greatness and augment its power through peaceful industry, James Shelbyville, and here he has been con- tinuonsly, prominently and successfully engaged in the real estate, loan and ab- stract business ever since. He has also, during the later years, been engaged in J. Hiles, of Black Creek township, Shelby
farming and raising live stock in a gen- eral way and on a large scale.
In 1883 Mr. Priest was united in mar- riage with Miss Emma C. McMurray, a daughter of John F. and Martha C. (Dunn) MeMurray, of Shelby county. Four children were born of the union and all of them are living. They are: Jessie, Minter, Vincil and Tommy D., the last three named are still living at home with their father. The mother died in 1894, and in 1896 the father mar- ried a second time, his choice on this oc- casion being Miss Nellie J. MeMurray, a sister of his first wife. She, also, has passed away, leaving Mr. Priest a wid- ower for a second time. In politics he is a Democrat and an earnest worker for his party. He is at the present pub- lic administrator of Shelby county and was mayor of Shelbyville two years, from 1902 to 1904. His fraternal rela- tions are with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and in religions affiliation he is allied with the Methodist Episcopal church, Sonth. Fortune has favored him in his business ventures because he has made her do it by his capacity, shrewd- ness and close attention to his affairs. And the people esteem him highly be- canse they have found him worthy of their regard.
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county, has proven himself an excellent legiance the father was a Democrat and citizen and worthy of the high and uni- in religion he belonged to the Christian church. He was active in the service of both organizations and made his mem- bership in each valuable to it. His wife survived him some years, her death occurring on March 14, 1894. versal esteem in which he is held throughout this county and in many por- tions of those that surround it. He is a native of Kentucky, born in Scott county on May 18, 1839, has lived and was edu- cated in Illinois, followed the flag through the terrible experiences of the Civil war, engaged in merchandising for a few years, served on the police force in the United States capitol at Washing- ton, D. C., and has been one of the promi- nent, progressive and successful farmers of this county during the last thirty-nine years. Thus, tried in many lines of use- ful endeavor, he has proved faithful and capable in all, and won on honest and demonstrated merit the rank he holds in the general estimation and regard of the public.
Mr. Hiles is a son of Jacob and Mary (Haley) Hiles, the former born in Scott county, Kentucky, February 12, 1805, and the latter on June 1, 1813. His paternal grandfather, Palser Hiles, was a native of Germany. The father came to Missouri in 1863 and settled on eighty acres of land in this county, and on this land he was actively and continuously engaged in general farming, until his death, which occurred January 17, 1881. TIe was married in Kentucky to Miss Mary Haley. Of the eight children born to them five are living: James J., the immediate subject of this review ; Louisa, the wife of Zetos Beathards, of Shelby county; Alonzo, whose home is in St. Lonis; Eliza, the wife of John Griffith, and Martha, the wife of E. A. Baker, of Shelbyville. In political faith and al-
James J. Hiles obtained his edneation in the district and select schools of Adams county, Illinois. After leaving school he enlisted in the Federal army at Quincy, Illinois, his company forming part of the Third Missouri Cavalry under command of Col. John M. Glover, his enlistment taking place in Septem- ber, 1861. His regiment was soon at the front, and until the close of the momen- tons and sanguinary struggle was en- gaged in active service. Mr. Hiles par- ticipated in the battles of Mount Zion, in Boone county, Missouri, Little Rock, Arkansas, and a great many engage- ments of minor importance. He was dis- charged in New Orleans in 1865 and turned to his Shelby county home soon afterward.
After his return he located in Shelby- ville and engaged in the grocery and confectionery trade with enterprise and profit until 1869, when he was appointed a member of the capitol police force in Washington, D. C. Ile remained there in that capacity until 1871, then came back to Shelby county and bought a farm, on which he has been energetically and continuously occupied in general farming ever since. In connection with his farming operations he carries on an extensive and active live stock business. and he conducts both lines of his work with a vigor and intelligence that bring
THOMAS E. GARRISON
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excellent returns for his efforts, and give him high rank as a farmer and stock- man.
Mr. Hiles was married on July 18, 1871, to Miss Elizabeth S. Hill, a daugh- ter of Z. B. Hill, of Shelbyville. They have had five children, four of whom are living: William R., Mary I., Lucy E. and Zerald A., all of them still members of the parental family circle. The father is a Republican in politics, a mem- ber of the Christian church, to which his wife also belongs, and an Odd Fellow and member of the Grand Army of the Republic fraternally. He is a very prominent and influential man.
THOMAS E. GARRISON.
This progressive and enterprising farmer and stock man of Bethel town- ship, this county, has seen strenuous times in peace and war, but tried by the very extremity of fortune it did not sub- dne him, or even discourage his deter- mined spirit, which has always felt itself equal to any emergency, and ready for any undertaking in the line of his desires and abilities. He is a native of Missouri, born in Knox county on April 9, 1841, and has been a resident of Shelby county since he reached the age of ten years. His father, Thomas E. Garrison, was born and reared in Virginia and came to Missouri in 1839. He took up his residence in Knox county, where for a number of years he was actively and pro- gressively engaged in farming. His wife, whose maiden name was Jane C. Van- diver, was also a native of Virginia and a danghter of Samuel Vandiver. Six children were born of the union, all of
whom grew to maturity and four of them are living now. They are: James W., whose residence is in Shelbyville ; Thom- as E., the subject of this brief review; Francis N., who has his home in Adair county, this state; and Charles L., who is an esteemed citizen of the state of Arkansas. The mother died in 1877 and the father in 1883.
Thomas E. Garrison attended the dis- triet school's of Bethel township, Shelby county, and the high school in Shelby- ville. After leaving school he enlisted in the Confederate army, Company E, Third Missouri Infantry, and served to the close of the war except for a period of ten months, during which he lan- gnished in a Federal war prison. He took part in the battles of Lexington, Missouri, Corinth, Mississippi, and nu- merous others of greater or less im- portance. Not long before the siege of Vicksburg he was taken prisoner, and during the next ten months, as has been stated, he was confined in a Federal prison.
At the close of the war Mr. Garrison returned to his Shelby county home, and since then he has been continuously, actively and very successfully engaged in farming and raising live stock on a large scale. His fine farm in Bethel township comprises 500 acres and he has it well improved and the most of it under advanced and skillful cultivation. He manages his operations with judgment and conducts them with vigor, making every effort to secure the best returns for his outlay of intelligence and labor, and usually succeeding through the su- perior quality of his work and manage- ment. His extensive stock industry is
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condneted with the same care, skill and energy, and it also yields abundantly in response to his persuasive care and close attention to its every detail.
In addition to his farm and stock busi- ness Mr. Garrison has other interests of value. He is a stockholder in the Farm- ers' Bank of Bethel and a member of its board of directors, and he also holds a considerable block of the capital stock of the Bank of Newark, Missouri. All that he has he has acquired solely through his own efforts and good business ca- pacity, and his high standing as a man and citizen is also due to the inherent elements of his character and his de- voted attention to all things involving the welfare of his township and county, whose interests are all very dear to him. He was married in 1867 to Miss Sophia A. Ellyson, a native of Macon county, Missouri, and a daughter of Davis M. and Ruth (Spencer) Ellyson, who were born and reared in Virginia. Four chil- dren have been born in the Garrison household, and two of them are living: Lena, the wife of Christie Moore, of Bethel, and Jane D., the wife of J. M. Whitelock, of Kirksville, Missouri. The father is a consistent member of the Methodist church. In politics he is a Democrat and has served some years as school director.
CHARLES B. GARNER.
Born, reared and educated in Shelby county, and during all the years of his mature life but one taking part in its industries and mingling freely with its people, Charles B. Garner, of Black Creek township, is well known through-
ont its extent, and the general confidence and esteem of the people, which is freely accorded to him, is based upon definite knowledge of his worth as a man and usefulness as a citizen. He is one of the leading farmers and stock men of the township in which he lives, and one of the most important factors at work for its development and improvement.
Mr. Garner's life began on October 6, 1871, and he is a son of Charles Julius and Mary (Glahn) Garner, natives of Germany, where Mr. Garner's grand- parents and other ancestors were born and lived, contributing in their several ways and generations to the progress of that great empire. The father was born in 1831 and came to the United States in 1855. He passed the first three years of his life in this country travel- ing over it and making studions oh- servations with a view to finding a loca- tion that pleased him for a permanent residence. He then located in Marion county. where he lived until 1864. In that year he moved to Shelby county and settled on a farin near Leonard, on which he passed the remainder of his days in energetic and successful farming and stock-raising, dying on May 10, 1903.
He was a man of considerable promi- nence locally, and through his industry and frugality acquired a competency. In 1866 he was united in marriage with Miss Mary Glahn, who came to this coun- try from the Fatherland also and helped to make one of its comfortable and pros- perous homes. They had seven children and five of them are living: Rozena, whose home is in Hannibal ; Louise W., the wife of George E. Clote, of Tulsa. Oklahoma; George B., who lives in
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Shelby county; Angusta F., the wife of Charles E. Post, of Gridley, California, and Charles B., the subject of this me- moir. The father was a Lutheran in religious faith and a Republican in poli- tics. Both his church and his political party received his earnest and helpful support.
Charles B. Garner was educated in the country schools and an excellent academy at Leonard. He was reared on his father's farm, and after leaving school continued to assist in its labor and help the family until 1900. He then went to Sue City, in Macon county, and took charge of a drug store. But he did not find mercantile pursuits agree- able, and at the end of one year returned to Shelby county, and here he has ever since been engaged in farming and rais- ing stock with great enterprise, intelli- gence and success. His fine farm com- prises 180 acres of land and is well im- proved and skillfully cultivated. The knowledge of his business which Mr. Garner applies to both his farming op- erations and his stock industry, are well rewarded in the returns they bring him, and his rank as a progressive and up- to-date farmer is among the highest in his township.
On October 31, 1900, Mr. Garner united in marriage with Miss Anna Val- lier, a daughter of William and Susan (Linton) Vallier, esteemed residents of this county. But two children have been born in the Garner household, a son named Edwin Kenneth, and Mary A., who is the light and life of the home. In political faith and allegiance Mr. Gar- ner gives his earnest and effective sup- port to the Democratic party, and in
fraternal relations he is allied with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America. His wife is a loyal and devout member of the Christian church. Both stand high in the confidence and respect of the peo- ple and richly deserve the regard so generously bestowed upon them.
THEODORE HEINZE.
Orphaned at the age of six years by the death of his father, and brought into a strange land, far from the scenes and associations of his childhood and the tra- ditions and history of his family, when he was nine, Theodore Heinze, one of the substantial and progressive farmers and stock men of Black Creek township, in this county, began life in this country mider very trying circumstances, and with no prospect of advancement except the possibilities of what he should be able to do for himself. No smiles of Fortune brightened his rugged pathway and no favoring circumstances helped him in his slow and painful progress. But he had that within him that gave him assurance of success, and he was guided by its influence, using all his powers and living frugally and judi- cionsly until he got a good start.
Mr. Heinze was born on March 20, 1863, in Berlin, Germany. He is a son of Theodore and Louisa (Hueter) Heinze, also natives of Germany, where the father was born in 1823, and where he passed the whole of his life, dying there in 1869. He was a carriage and wagon maker and flourished at his trade, but his health failed and he passed away at the early age of forty-six. In 1862
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he was married to Miss Louisa Hueter and they became the parents of four children, two of whom are living, Theo- dore and his sister Martha, the wife of John Rufner, of Shelby county.
Three years after the father's death, the mother, finding herself without much prospeet of advancement in a worldly way, and having small children to rear, educate and prepare for the battle of life, determined to seek the greater free- dom of choice and abundance of oppor- tunity offered by this country to work- ers, and in 1872 brought her family to Missouri, locating in Shelby county, and here the members of the family who are living have ever since been domesti- eated, mingling freely in the activities of this locality and taking their part in its produetive industries with advantage to themselves and benefit to the town- ship and county of their residence, in whose prosperity and progress they have shown themselves to be deeply and earnestly interested.
Theodore Heinze's seholastie training was begun in his native land and com- pleted in the district schools of Shelby county. He began his life work here on a farm, and he has been engaged in farming and raising live stock ever since. By thrift, industry and good manage- ment he has acquired the ownership of 175 aeres of good land, and he has im- proved his farm with commodious and comfortable buildings, equipped it with all the necessary appliances for ad- vaneed agriculture and brought the land to a high state of cultivation. His stock industry is as extensive as his facilities allow and is as flourishing and profitable as first rate management can make it.
Mr. Heinze was married on December 7, 1892, to Miss Louisa Rathjen, of Shelby county. They have had five chil- dren, but only three of them are living -Martine, Dora and Alvina-all of whom are still at home with their par- ents and popular members of the family circle. In polities the father adheres to the principles of the Republican party and is zealous in the support of them. His religious connection and that of his wife is with the Lutheran church, and in the affairs of the congregation to which they belong they both take an earnest interest and an active part. They are esteemed wherever they are known as worthy and estimable citizens, enterprising in the management of their own affairs and energetic in helping to promote the enduring welfare of the community around them.
JOHN H. WERR.
The interesting subject of this brief memoir is well worthy of honorable men- tion in a work that purports to show in personal histories the qualities of in- dustrial force, productive energy, ster- ling manhood and elevated citizenship which have given Shelby county its dis- tinctive character and won its advanced state of progress and development. For. while the story of his life presents no spectacular features or high adventures for contemplation, it shows well what thrift and enterprise can accomplish through steady application to the ordi- nary affairs of life.
Mr. Werr is a native of Würtemburg. Germany, where he was born on April 4. 1870. He is a son of George and
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Rosie (Weinman) Werr, also natives of Germany, but long residents of this county. The father was born in 1833 and married in Germany. He brought his family to the United States in 1886 and settled near Bethel, in Shelby county, Missouri, and here he was ae- tively, energetically and profitably en- gaged in farming and raising stock until his death, which occurred in 1905. He and his wife were the parents of eight children, six of whom are living: George; Maggie, the wife of John Bower; John, whose home is in Black Creek township; Fred; Rosina, the wife of Christian Claussen ; and Henry, all residents of Shelby county and good factors in its industrial, mercantile and social life. The father was a Lutheran in church connection and a Republican in political faith and allegiance. He was success- ful in his business in this country and rose to general esteem and popularity among the people, who recognized his worth, intelligence and excellent citizen- ship, and found him npright and reliable in every relation in life and warmly in- terested in the welfare of the community in which he lived and expended his strength in useful and productive labor.
John Werr grew to the age of sixteen in his native land and obtained his edu- cation there. He came to this country with his parents in 1886 and has ever since been a resident of this county. For some years after his arrival in this lo- cality he worked on the home farm with his father. He then hired out as a hand on other farms in the neighborhood until 1899, when he bought a farm of eighty acres and began operations on his own account. He was frugal and thrifty
while he was working for others, and he has applied the same qualities to his efforts in his own behalf, in which he has also shown great industry and ex- cellent judgment. He has been success- ful from the beginning of his enterprise and his progress in it has been steady and substantial. He now owns 160 acres of first rate land and has it all under advanced and productive cultivation. His stock industry is in just proportion to his farming operations, and is man- aged with the same care and skill that he bestows on them, and he is prosperous in both.
On February 12, 1899, Mr. Werr was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Nenschafer, a danghter of John and Catherine (Reinheimer) Neuschafer, es- teemed residents of Shelby county. Two children have followed the union and they still sanetify and brighten the fam- ily altar. They are Evers and William, and both are attending school. The po- litieal faith of the father is firmly an- chored to the Republican party and he is an energetic and effective worker in behalf of its principles and candidates. He and his wife are leading members of the Lutheran church in their neighbor- hood, and by all classes of the people living around them and wherever they are known elsewhere they are held in high esteem and cordial regard. They are model farmers and excellent citizens.
HENRY ARNOLD.
This leading farmer, esteemed citizen and public-spirited man of Black Creek township, this county, has shown in his successful and somewhat striking career in this country that, in spite of adversi-
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ties and trials which attended him for years from his childhood, he is made of the fiber and possesses the qualities which command success and compel even troubles to minister to the progress of the man who has them. He is a native of Germany, where he was born on Feb- ruary 14, 1864, and is a son of Henry and Mary (Neuschafer) Arnold. also na- tives of the Fatherland and belonging to families long resident in that country.
The fatlier passed the whole of his life in his native land, conducting a promising business as a farmer. and dying there in 1867. He was married in 1860. and by his marriage became the father of one child, the interesting sub- jeet of this brief sketch. He obtained a birth, his opportunities being seant be- cause he lost his father by death three years after his own life began. and the mother was left in straitened cireum- stanees. When the son was seventeen years old lie and his mother determined to try for better conditions and more extensive opportunities than their own land seemed to offer. in the land of prom- ise in which so many of their country- men had found fortune and favor.
Accordingly they came to the United States in 1881 and located in Shelby county. and here the son has been con- tinuously, actively and very successfully engaged in farming and raising stock ever since. He had nothing to start on. but he met his requirements bravely and resolutely, and has made every day of his labor tell to his advantage. The qualities of industry, frugality and good management that have made his race so
thrifty and progressive, and won it the high rank it has attained in the industrial world. were manifest in him and he stemmed the tide of poverty and disaster that seemed against him with a patient and determined spirit, and he has won the success in life that he must have felt was due him if he made the proper ef- forts to secure it. He now owns 380 acres of good land. having recently added twenty acres to his farm. and has the greater part of it under advanced cultivation, with good buildings for the accommodation of his family and the products of his land and a complete equipment of good farming implements. including everything necessary for the complete and profitable farming of his tensive and is managed with great skill, intelligence and thrift.
limited education in the place of his estate. His stock industry is also ex-
Mr. Arnold is also a stockholder in the Bank of Lentner and the State Bank of Clarence. He was married in 1888 to Miss Anna Reinheimer, who was at the time a resident of Shelby county. She is a daughter of Peter and Catherine (Noah) Reinheimer, who are well known in the county and held in respect by all who know them. Mr. and Mrs. Arnold have had eight children, five of whom are living. and all still at home with their parents. They are: Edward, Mar- tin, Anna. Henry P. and Ireta D. The father is a pronounced Republican in his poltical convictions and allegiance. and takes an active part in the affairs of his party, although he has never been a can- didate for any political office. He and his wife are zealous and devoted mem- bers of the Lutheran church.
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