USA > Missouri > Shelby County > General history of Shelby County, Missouri > Part 66
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84
Directly after his marriage Mr. Priest bought 185 acres of land and on that has been energetically and successfully en- gaged in farming and raising live stock ever since. His operations in both lines of his productive industry have been ex- tensive and have been conducted with judgment and skill. He is studious of his business and ever on the alert to take advantage of any suggestion extensive reading of the best agricultural and stock publications or the lessons of expe- rience given him, and so keeps his busi- ness up to date in every respect. He is accounted one of the most advanced and progressive farmers and stock men in his township and well deserves his rank. Two children have been born in this household, his daughters Myra C. and
525
HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY
Margaret, both of whom are living and help to brighten and warm the family hearthstone with their winsome presence. In politics Mr. Priest is a Democrat, in fraternal life a Modern Woodman of America, and in religions affiliation a Methodist Episcopalian, belonging to the Southern branch of that church, of which his wife is also a member.
Mr. Priest's grandfather, Matthew Priest, was a native of Virgina, where his forefathers were long residents and extensive planters. His father, William Priest, was born in Shelby county, Mis- souri, on November 4, 1837, and has passed the whole of his subsequent life in the county, except when he was absent on a short mining expedition to Colorado before the Civil war and another after it and during the years of that momentous sectional conflict, when he was in the Confederate army. He was educated in the district schools and at Shelbyville High school. After leaving the high school he taught for a year, then, in 1859, when the almost universal slogan was "Pike's Peak or Bust," he crossed the plains with a male team to Denver in search of gold. But he did not remain long on this expedition. Returning to Shelby county, he clerked in a general store in Shelbina until 1861.
In that year, when martial music was all the American people heard, and the lowering of clouds of civil strife, which had so long darkened our whole sky, burst with all their fury on our unhappy country, he enlisted in the Confederate army under the command of Major Adams. He served to the end of the war, and at its close was mnstered out of the service at Memphis, Tennessee.
He took part in the battles of Lexington, Missouri, and Corinth, Mississippi, and was then transferred to the cavalry di- vision of the army under General Mar- maduke as first lieutenant of Company F in what was known as the Burbridge Regiment. He was twice slightly wounded, but not seriously enough to in- capacitate him for service, and took part in all of General Marmaduke's engage- ments.
After the close of the war Mr. Priest returned to Shelbina and clerked in the general store of Sigbert Parsons until fire destroyed the entire business block in which the store was located. The next five years were passed by him on his father's farm, of which he had charge as general manager, and at the end of that period he again went to Colorado on a prospecting tour, which lasted until the autumn of 1876. Returning at that time once more to Missouri, he turned his at- tention again to farming and raising live stock, and to those industries he adhered until 1904, when he gave up all active pursuits. Since then he has been living quietly with his two married chi !? con.
Mr. Priest was married in September, 1877, to Miss Anna S. Vandiver, a dangh- ter of John W. Vandiver, of Shelby county, the patentee of the original corn planter. Of the four children born of this union three are living: William, who is a resident of Ogden, Utah ; Susan F., the wife of Dean C. Demmitt, whose home is in this county ; and Thomas E., with an account of whose life this me- moir begins. In politics the father has been a life long Democrat. He has served the township long and well as school di- rector and road overseer, and in other
526
HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY
ways of value and practical utility. He him. But he is not a man who cares for has for many years been a devout and this. It is results he aims at, and he is willing to let the rest of the considera- tions involved take care of themselves. zealous member of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, South and has taken a leading part in all the work of the con- gregation to which he belongs.
HENRY S. FUNK.
The capacity to conduct affairs of mag- nitude and great moment and bring them to a snecessful conclusion is a rare one, and admirable wherever it is shown. The power to do this in the face of great and obstinate obstacles and to do it with seeming ease and freedom from anxiety or worry, is still rarer and more admir- able. The commanding might of mind is involved in any case, and when that operates apparently without friction, easily, smoothly and without variation or delay toward the destined or desired end, the evidence is clear that there is serenity and loftiness of spirit, a healthy balance of attributes and personality and masterly self-mustering of forces, allied with the intellectual supremacy in the man who makes the exhibit. In other words, that a man who is master of the situation and of himself has the matter to be accomplished in hand and will achieve it.
In many ways in his career Henry S. Funk, of Clarence, Shelby county, Mis- souri, has shown that he is snch a man. He has initiated, undertaken and accom- plished great things, and has done it with such seeming ease that the magnitude of the achievements have not sufficiently impressed the publie mind, and he has thereby robbed himself of a considerable measure of the credit that has been due
Mr. Funk is a native of Vermilion county, Illinois, and was born on a farm two and one-half miles east of Danville in that eounty on August 22, 1862. He is a son of Christian W. Funk, a native of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, who came from there to Danville, Illinois, in com- pany with his cousin, Dr. I. K. Funk, the celebrated publisher of New York, for the purpose of looking over the conn- try. Christian Funk later located there, but I. K. Funk returned to New York City. Christian Funk was a farmer and general business man, and also a ear- penter. He built the first large hotel in Danville, and he owned and conducted it for a number of years. He was a elose student of agriculture and horticulture and was a general seed producer for a number of years.
The Funk family in this country origi- nated with four Mennonite bishops who 'were exiled from Germany and came to the United States, loeating on Indian ereek, Pennsylvania. They founded the Mennonite college at Bethlehem, in that state, and in many other ways left their impress on their time and the locality in which they lived. For they were men of strong intellectual powers and exten- sive acquirements in wide and compre- hensive learning, and also had a great foree of character. One of them, Bishop Henry Funk, translated the celebrated work entitled "The Martyr's Mirror" from Duteh into English, and gave it eur- rency in this country.
Rudolph Funk, the paternal grand-
HENRY S. FUNK
527
HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY
father of Henry S., was born in Lan- sively in farming and raising stock. In caster county, Pennsylvania, and Hen- this county he controls and cultivates over 2,000 aeres of land and has a stock industry in proportion, giving close, care- ful and intelligent attention to every de- tail of the work in hoth lines of his en- deavor, and making everything connected with either tell to his advantage. ry's father was also a native of that state. During the Civil war in this coun- try he sympathized with the South, but he never took a very active part in po- litical affairs. In all the other relations of lite he was, however, a man of unusual energy and capability, and, like many But Mr. Funk has not been only a farmer and stock man, extensively as he has operated in these lines of effort. For a number of years he has been a railroad promoter, and his ability in this depart- ment of creative work is well shown by his latest achievement in it. At the ear- nest solicitation of the farmers along the line he inaugurated the Hannibal & Northern Electric Railway, of which he is now vice-president, an electric line operating between Hannibal and Kirks- ville, in this state, and it has been chiefly through his instrumentality and endeav- ors that the line became a possibility and later will be an accomplished and very useful institution. other members of the family, past and present, never undertook anything which he did not achieve. He died at Danville, Illinois, on May 10, 1872. The mother was Mary Shoff, a daughter of Rudolph and Christina (Stauffer) Shoff, who were also Pennsylvanians by nativity, and born and reared in Lancaster county. Of the seven children born of the union three grew to maturity and are still living. They are: Fanny, the wife of A. W. Boardman, of Toledo, Ohio, the general manager of the Rey- nolds Bros. Elevator Company, of that city; Albert, a prominent real estate dealer of Danville, Illinois, and Henry S., of Shelby county, Missouri.
The last named obtained his education mainly in the public schools of Danville, Illinois, but after leaving them and work- ing for a period of five years, he passed three months at a State Normal school in that city. At the age of thirteen he be- gan working for a small compensation in a garden and from that a few years later passed to renting farm lands and raising live stock. In 1883 he engaged in mer- chandising, but his interest was never weaned away from the farm, and after a time he returned to it. He came to Missouri in 1895 and located in Taylor township, this county, where he has ever sinee resided and been engaged exten-
Mr. Funk is an author, too, and many productions from his facile and virile pen have attracted wide attention and brought forth highly favorable com- ments, because of their genuine merit. He is now writing a book on "Farm Life," which is sure to be full of interest and information, for it will be based on the extensive experience of a man who knows how to tell his story in a graphie and impressive way. In addi- tion, he is not only a great lover of mu- sie, but is highly accomplished in both the science and the art of making "con- course of sweet sounds." He has a rich baritone voice that has delighted thou- sands who have heard him sing, and has
528
HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY
brought him many flattering offers of engagements on the stage.
In politics he adheres faithfully and firmly to the Democratic party, but at the same time is independent, and in local affairs believes in voting for the candi- date he considers best for the welfare of the people without regard to partisan considerations. In advocating the con- victions he holds he has always been ac- counted a successful political leader, but he has never sought or desired a political office of any kind, either by election or appointment. Fraternally he is allied with the Masonic order, the Improved Order of Red Men and the Modern Wood- men of America, and believing in their benefit to the communities in which they are located, he has ever been a liberal contributor to all churches without re- strietion on account of denominational or other considerations. His publie spirit is shown in his ardent support of all undertaking's of merit for the improve- ment or advancement of his township and county, and by his having laid out and given to the city of Danville, Illi- nois, more streets and alleys than any other man. It is shown especially by his self-sacrifice and enterprise in connection with the electric railway line he is build- ing, which, while it may result in con- siderable profit to him hereafter, sub- jeets him at present to the risk of losing everything he has. Mr. Funk has been twice married and has a family of three daughters by his first marriage, as fol- lows: Lila, who is now Mrs. John Fish- er, of this county : Ada, still at home, and Zora, now Mrs. Dale Holloway, of Hen- ning, Ill. His second marriage occurred on December 23, 1902, the lady of his
choice being Mrs. Georgia A. Qeenan, a native of Crawfordsville, Ind. Mrs. Funk's maiden name was Georgia A. Nilest. Her parents, George and Lena (Fisher) Nilest, are still esteemed resi- dents of Crawfordsville, Ind. One dangliter has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Funk, Romona Cecelia. He is one of the most prominent and influential men in the county and is fully entitled, on demonstrated merit, to the rank he holds.
DR. HARRY B. HAMMOND.
Standing high in his profession, prom- inent and influential as a citizen, having a potential voice in the public affairs of the community of his home, and radiant as a sunbeam in social life, Dr. Harry B. Hammond, one of the leading dentists of Shelby county. is of great service to the people of Shelbyville, which is the seat of his operations, in many different ways. He is a native of Missouri, born in Lincoln county on February 6, 1872, and a son of Thomas H. Hammond. who was born at Troy in that county in 1$39. The paternal grandfather, Robert Ham- mond, came to this state from Kentucky at an early date and helped to lay the foundations of the present civilization and fix the forms of government of the locality in which he settled. He was a man of strong personality, great force of character and a wide knowledge of pub- lie affairs, and as the period of his ar- rival was a formative one, his capabil- ities were in great demand in the service of the people.
His son Thomas, the father of the Doctor, was reared to manhood and edu- cated in Lincoln county, Missouri, and
529
HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY
followed farming there in a vigorous and progressive way, and with great suc- cess, until 1907, when he retired from active pursuits and moved to St. Louis, where he is now enjoying the competence he acquired by his long years of ardu- ous labor, the esteem of the people, which he won by his worth as a man and his usefulness as a citizen, and the rest he so richly earned. He also was a man of prominence during the days of his activity and wielded considerable influ- enee in Lincoln county, being elected county assessor in 1SS0 and re-elected in 1882. After that he served for a number of years as chairman of the county cen- tral committee of the Democratic party, of which he has been a life-long member, and won high commendation for his wis- dom in the councils and his activity and effectiveness in the detail work of his party through many hard-fought cam- paigns.
He was married in 1861 to Miss Mollie Shelton, of Lincoln county, in this state. They had four children, all of whom are living: Robert L., Cooper S., and Lucy, who are all residents of St. Louis, and Dr. Harry B., of Shelbyville. Their mother died in 1878, and in 1881 the father married a second time, making Miss Martha Light, a native of Virginia, his wife on this occasion. They have had two children, their son Wallace T. and their daughter Mary I., both of whom are living and reside in St. Louis. The father is a member of the Masonic order and of the Missionary Baptist church.
Dr. Harry B. Hammond obtained his academic training in the district schoots of his native county and a graded public
school in Troy, Missouri. After leaving school he worked for the street railway company in St. Louis two years. In 1895 he entered the dental department of Washington University, St. Louis, and was graduated from that institution with the degree of D. M. D. in 1898. Ile began practicing at Shelbyville the same year and has been continuously and suc- cessfully engaged in his professional work there from that time to the present (1910). He is considered invaluable to the professional life of the city, as his practice is very large and his patrons are devotedly loyal to him and constant in their esteem of him and his work.
On October 22, 1897, Dr. Hammond was united in marriage with Miss Anna M. Knest, a daughter of John C. and Katherine Knest, popular residents of St. Louis. They have one child, their son Thomas B., who is living at home with his parents. The Doetor is a Dem- ocrat in polities, an Odd Fellow in fra- ternal relations and a Baptist in relig- ious affiliation. He is a leading member of the Missouri Dental Association and the Washington University Alumni As- sociation. He takes an earnest interest and helpful part in all matters of local improvement, and is accounted one of the best citizens of Shelbyville and Shelby connty.
FRED CRAIGMYLE.
The interesting subject of this brief memoir is in all essential respects a self- made man. He began the battle of life for himself at the age of twenty, and without variance or a shadow of turn- ing he has remained in his part of the great field of human endeavor from that
530
HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY
time to the present (1910), except that he is now living on and cultivating a farm of 175 acres of his own, which he has acquired through his industry, thrift and excellent management.
Mr. Craigmyle was born in Shelby county, Missouri, on February 18, 1873. His grandfather Craigmyle was a native of Kentucky, as was also his father, hav- ing been born in that state in 1821. He came to Missouri in about 1855, and took up his residence in Marion county, but after a residence of a few years in that county he moved to Shelby county and located on a good farm near Oakdale. There he followed farming and general stock raising until his death in Novem- ber. 1878. He was successful in his un- dertaking's and prospered here in a gratifying manner.
On May 30, 1861. he was united in marriage with Miss Sallie Evans, a na- tive of Maryland. They became the par- ents of three children, all of whom are living and reside in Shelby connty. They are: Kate, the wife of Fred Beottcher, John T. and Ferd. The father was a Democrat in political faith and a mem- ber of the Sonthern Methodist church in his religious connection. The mother is still living and has her home on the old homestead.
Their son Ferd. was educated in the district schools of Shelby county, but his opportunities in this respect were lim- ited. For his services were needed on his father's farm during the working seasons, and even in the winter months he was often obliged to remain away from school to perform some duty at home. In April, 1890, he purchased a farm of 160 acres and set up for himself
as a farmer of extensive operations. He worked hard and saved his revenues, making every hour of his time and every stroke of his arm tell to his advantage, and managing his affairs with excellent judgment in order to secure a foothold in the struggle among mankind for ad- vancement. On this land he carries on general farming and handles large num- bers of live stock of various kinds. Every year of effort has added to his success and prosperity, and he is now one of the substantial and well-to-do farmers of the township in which he lives. His farm is near Oakdale in Jack- son township.
On February 15, 1899, he was united in marriage with Miss Maud Coomes, a native of Shelby county. They have one child, their son Lloyd, who is at home and going to school. In politics the father is a firm and faithful Democrat, and while he neither seeks nor desires a political office of any kind, he takes an active interest and a helpful part in the affairs of his party, giving it loyal sup- port on all occasions and doing what he can to help make it successful in all its campaigns. In religious affiliation he is connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.
As a good citizen should, Mr. Craig- myle has manifested a deep and earnest interest in the growth, development and improvement of his township and county, and he has at all times done what he could to push their car of progress along on lines of wholesome advancement. His worth as a man and his usefulness as a citizen have won him the confidence and respect of all classes of people wherever he is known.
531
HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY
HENRY VON THUN.
Although he has passed nearly the whole of his life to this time in Shelby county, and is thoroughly imbued with the spirit and aspirations of its inhab- itants, Henry Von Thun, of Black Creek township, where he is one of the substan- tial and progressive farmers and stock men, is not a native of this state or country. He was born in the provine of Victoria, Australia, on October 31, 1861, and is a son of Nicholas and Caroline (Burkhart) Von Thun, and a brother of John G. Von Thun, a sketch of whom will be found in this volume. Reference is made to that sketch for the history of the parents.
ceeded admirably, winning a competence for himself and establishing himself firmly in the regard and good will of the people around him.
On January 14, 1892, he was united in marriage with Miss Mary Neuschafer, a daughter of John and Catherine (Rein- himer) Neuschafer, esteemed residents of this county. Five children were born of the union, all of whom are living and still members of the parental family circle. They are Anna, Bertha, Lena, Virgie and Mary Evelyn. The parents are devoted and active working mem- bers of the German Lutheran church, and in polities the father is a Republican of firm convictions, always loyally sup- porting the principles and candidates of his party and working for its success, al- though he is not himself desirous of hold- ing any political office.
The family moved to the United States and located in Shelby county, Missouri, in 1868, when Henry was seven years old, being among the early arrivals in the German Lutheran settlement here. He His devotion to his party springs from a sense of duty, and is kindred in its source and its results to his deep and serviceable interest in the welfare of his township and county. In their behalf he is always ready to do anything in his power to advance their interests, pro- mote their improvement, or enlarge the conveniences and comforts of their peo- ple. He is true to every duty of good citizenship, and the people who live around him and know his worth and fi- delity, esteem him highly and aceredit him as one of the best and most useful men among them. obtained his education in the district schools of this county, and while at- tending them assisted the family by working on the home farm and hiring out on other farms and cropping on his own account. In 1866 he engaged in farming and raising live stock for him- self, and he has continued his operations in these lines of interesting and profit- able effort from then until now. His present farm comprises 160 acres and the greater part of it is under advanced and skillful cultivation. The stock in- dustry carried on in connection with the farming operations is extensive and it also is profitable. Mr. Von Thun is a PETER KELLER. man of intelligence and good judgment Peter Keller, one of the prosperous, enterprising and progressive farmers of Black Creek township, Shelby county, is in his lines of work, and he puts all his energies and acquirements in service to make a success of it. In this he has sue- a member of that industrious and thrifty
532
IIISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY
raee whieli has commanded the admira- number of years on his father's farm and tion of the world by the persisteney of its enterprise, its capacity for close and steady application, and its masterly achievements in every line of human thought and action. He was born in Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, on May 23, 1867, a son of Philip and Margaret (Feldman) Keller, also natives of that portion of the German empire, and be- longing to families resident there for many generations.
The father was born in 1840 and in 1882 eame to the United States and di- reet to this county, bringing his family with him. His first marriage, which was with Miss Margaret Feldman of the same nativity as himself, took place in 1860. They had eight children, four of whom are living: Peter, the subject of this brief review; Philip, who resides in this county ; Catherine, the wife of Henry Rathjen, also a resident of this county, a sketch of whom appears in this volume ; and Louis J., whose home is in St. Joseph, Missouri.
The mother of these children died in 1883 and in 1884 the father was married to Mrs. Catherine Quenzer (Beyer), who was also born in Germany. He is a Re- publican in polities, with an abiding faitlı in the principles of his party and great zeal and activity in its service in all cam- paigns. His religious connection is with the Lutheran church, in which he takes a very earnest interest and is an active worker, especially in the congregation to which he belongs.
His son Peter was edneated in the state or publie schools of his native land, and after his arrival in this coun- try at the age of fifteen worked for a useful citizens they have.
assisted the family. When he attained his majority, or soon afterward, he be- gan farming for himself, applying to his work all that close study of the business and reflective observation taught him about it, and from the very beginning of his career as a farmer he has been sue- cessful and prosperous. He now owns 190 acres of good land which he has made very productive and improved with taste and good judgment, making it one of the valuable and attractive rural homes in Black Creek township, which has many of the same kind.
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.