USA > Missouri > Cooper County > History of Cooper County, Missouri > Part 100
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Aug. 1, 1885, Louis M. Meredith was united in marriage with Miss Addie Kirkman, of Cooper County, a daughter of Samuel and Susan (Shoemaker) Kirkman, both natives of Cooper County, and now deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Meredith have been born seven children, as follows: Oscar L., Waterman, Calif., married Katherine Williams, of Versailles, Mo .; Joseph Ross, married Jennie Oslander, served in the World War with 144th Field Artillery in France, from August, 1918, to February, 1919, having enlisted in June 24, 1918, at San Francisco, Calif .; Mary Susan,
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a .stenographer, resides at home; James Madison, now serving in U. S. Navy, and is stationed at Anapolis, Md .; William Ralph, a student in the Boonville High School; Louis M., Jr., and Alice Virginia, at home.
Abraham Potter, a well-to-do land-owner of Cooper County, now liv- ing retired, is one of the oldest native-born sons of Cooper County now living, he now being in his 94th year. He was born on a pioneer farm near Boonville, Nov. 12, 1825, a son of John and Martha (Edgar) Potter, who were among the pioneers of that vicinity. John Potter was a native of Virginia, born in Rockinghham County, in 1774, and came to Missouri in territorial days, and located at the landing at Boonville. In the early days he was widely known as a hunter, and he and his old flint-lock gun were inseparable companions This was frontier country when he came here, and there were no limits to the boundaries of the territory over which he the could range in quest of game. As the country settled he became a substantial farmer, a well-to-do land-owner in this county, and here spent his last days, his death occurring about 1860. His wife also spent her last days here. She was born in Kentucky, and also was of the real pioneer stock. John Potter and his wife were the parents of 12 children, six sons and six daughters, all of whom are now dead, save the venerable subject of this sketch.
Reared on the old Potter farm in this county, Abraham Potter re- ceived his schooling in the somewhat primitive schools of the time and place, and as a young man devoted himself to farming, a vocation at which he was working, when in 1849 the discovery of gold in California started the stampede of hardy and adventurous souls in that direction. He then was 23 years of age, and of the temperament eager to seize upon the prospect of so promising an adventure, and in 1849 he joined a band of "Argonauts" and started across the plains for the gold fields, arriving there without serious mishap in 1850. For four years he remained in the gold country, and then came back to Cooper County, returning by way of Panama and the East, and in the spring of 1855 became engaged again in farming in this county. Upon his return here he bought 222 acres, and in the years since has added to his holdings until now he has 720 acres of fine land, a part of which has been under cultivation more than 90 years. During the time of the Civil War, Mr. Potter served as a member of the Home Guards, but was not called into active service. In the fall of 1865 he married and established his home in a log cabin on his farm, but it was not long until he had a better home, and as the years passed he brought his farm up to a high standard, which is being
ABRAHAM POTTER
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maintained by his son, John J. Potter, who, since his father's retirement, has been directing the affairs of the home farm. Abraham Potter is a stanch democrat,. and has ever stoutly maintained the principles of that party. He is a stockholder in the Bank of Clifton City, and has other good investments besides his broad acres. He attends the Presbyterian Church, but is not a professed member of the same.
In October, 1865, Abraham Potter was married to Sarah Erwin, who was born in Pettis County in 1845, member of one of the pioneer families of that county, and who died in 1914, she then being 69 years of age. To that union were born 10 children, namely: Lura, wife of J. W. Neal, of Sedaila; Ella, who is living with her father; Granville, of Sedalia; John J., who is farming the old home place; Clayton, deceased; Flora, wife of A. M. Harlan, of Sedalia; Eva, wife of F. B. Richards, now living in Flor- ida; Hettie, at home; Ethel, wife of F. Griffin, of Pettis County, and Brookie, wife of T. A. Huffine, of Napton. Mr. Potter has 14 grandchil- dren, and in his old age takes much pride and interest in watching their growth and development. John J. Potter, who has charge of the old home farm, is carrying on operations there in progressive fashion and in accordance with up-to-date methods, which offer an amazing contrast to the methods which his father perforce had to employ in the days when he entered upon the development of that fine farm, and is doing well. He married Jennie Phillips, of Pleasant Green, and has a very pleasant home. Mrs. Potter also is a member of one of Coopeer County's pioneer families.
Hon. Henry Lee Myers, United States senator from the state of Mon- tana, is a native son of Cooper County, in whose preferment her citizens take a just measure of pride, and it is but proper that, though he long has been an honored citizen of another State, there should here be set out in this record of his old home county some brief record of his life and achievements. Cooper County has been singularly favored in the char- acter of her citizenship and in the number of her sons who have achieved distinction in the various fields of lofty human endeavor.
Senator Myers is a representative of one of Cooper County's real "old families," his mother's family having settled here in territorial days, and in his parental inheritance he partakes of the pioneer qualities of sturdy and self-reliant Virginia and Kentucky stock. The senator's father, Henry M. Myers, was a Virginian, born of Colonial stock in 1814. He grew to manhood in Virginia, receiving his schooling there and becom- ing a substantial citizen, remaining there until the year 1840, when he
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disposed of his interests there and came to Missouri, settling on a farm on the Jefferson City road, one mile east of Boonville, where he spent the rest of his active life, becoming a useful and influential citizen of the community. In his old age, and upon his retirement he joined his son, Henry L., at Hamilton, Mont., where he spent his last days. He died there in 1899, being 85 years of age, and his body lies in the cemetery at that place. Henry M. Myers was twice married, his first wife, who was a Hickox, and whom he married in Missouri, having died after about 14 years of married life. To that union were born four children, namely : Helen, widow of F. P. Bronaugh, of St. Louis; Martha, who married the Rev. G. W. Horn, and is now deceased; Kate, who died in the days of her girlhood, and Laura, wife of C. A. Patton, of Fulton, Mo. The second wife, mother of Senator Myers, was Maria Moss Adams, who was born on a pioneer farm, four miles east of Boonville, in 1831, a daughter of David and Margaret Adams, pioneers who had come here from Kentucky in the territorial days. To Henry M. and Maria (Adams) Myers were born two sons, Senator Myers having a younger brother, Dr. Ernest Adams Myers, a dental surgeon, now practicing at Portland, Ore. The mother of these sons died at Hamilton, Mont., in 1897, and is buried there beside the body of her husband.
It was on the Myers farm, a mile east of Boonville, that Henry Lee Myers was born, Oct. 9, 1862, and his boyhood was spent there. His schooling was received in private schools at Boonville under the preceptor- ship of Anthony Haynes and M. M. Singleton, who directed his studies, and under whose instructions he cultivated an inclination to adopt the law as his profession. Thus equipped by preparatory study he entered the law office of Draffen & Williams at Boonville, and under the preceptor- ship of this firm, teaching school at intervals, he made such advancement that in 1884 he passed the examination and was admitted to the bar. After admission, he continued to teach for a time, and also engaged in newspaper work. Later, he went to West Plains, Howell County, and opened an office for the practice of law, but conditions there not proving satisfactory, he yielded to an inclination to do a bit of pioneering, to go West and "grow up with the country," and in 1893 he went to Hamilton, in Ravalli County, on the very western border of Montana, and in the new county seat engaged in the practice of law. He arrived at singu- larly opportune moment, and it was not long until he was becoming widely recognized as one of the coming factors of Western Montana. Reared a
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democrat of the true Jeffersonian type, and with a lawyer's aptitude for such activities, it was but natural that he should early take his place in the rapidly expanding political arena of the community, and it was not long until he found himself elected to office, his first public service being rendered as county attorney of Ravalli county. He served two terms in this office, and in 1898 was elected to represent his senatorial district in the State Senate, the term being for four years. It was while thus serv- ing that Senator Myers acquired the initial legislative experience that later was to prove so valuable an acquisition in the greatest deliberative body in the world, the United States Senate. During his service in the Montana General Assembly the Senator extended his acquaintance pretty widely throughout the State, and became recognized by leaders generally as a State figure in politics. In the meantime he was not neglecting his practice, the modest law office which he had opened at Hamilton upon his arrival having early acquired a profitable clientele, and he also became recognized as one of the leading lawyers of his judicial district, a fit can- didate for judicial honors. A vacancy occurring, he was appointed dis- trict judge by the governor. At the next election his party presented him as its nominee for district judge of the Fourth Judicial District. He was elected, and was on the bench when elected by the General Assembly of his State to serve as a United States senator from Montana for the six-year term, beginning March 4, 1911. So satisfactory was Senator Myers' service in the United States Senate prove during his first term that in 1916 he was, without opposition, made the nominee of his party in Montana for re-election (the law relating to the selection of United States senators meanwhile having been revised), and in the following election was chosen by the vote of the people to succeed himself, and is now thus serving his second term in the United States Senate.
Senator Myers is married. In July, 1896, at Hamilton, Mont., he was united in marriage with Nora S. Dora, of that place, whose parents, T. M. Doran and wife, still live there, and to this union one child has been born, Mary Annetta. The senator and his wife are Presbyterians, and he is affiliated with the Masons, the Knights of Pythias and the Benevo- lent and Protective Order of Elks.
William A. Smith, a well-to-do retired farmer of Prairie Home town- ship, is a native son of Cooper County. He was born on a farm in Prairie Home township, April 24, 1860, son of Jeremiah and Letitia (George) Smith. Thomas Smith, father of Jeremiah Smith, entered from the Gov-
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ernment a tract of land in Prairie Home township upon coming here, and the west half of the plat of the town of Prairie Home covers a part of that land.
William A. Smith received his schooling in the local public schools, his attendance at school, as he recalls it, being pretty largely confined to rainy days. He stuck to the home farm when he grew up, and after his marriage at the age of 23, his father gave him 80 acres on which he established his home. As his affairs prospered he bought adjoining land until he became the owner of a fine farm of 210 acres a mile west of town, where he continued his operations until his retirement from the farm and removal to Prairie Home in 1914, since which time his farm has been under the management of his son, Elmer Smith. Prior to moving to Prairie Home in September, 1914, Mr. Smith had bought a four-acre tract within the corporate limits, erected a five-room house, and he and his wife have since resided there, their chief domestic concern being the care of their poultry yard, where they have a fine flock of White Wyandot chickens. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are members of the Baptist Church at Prairie Home, and Mr. Smith is clerk of the congregation. He also gives close attention to local civic affairs, and is a member of the Town Council, serving as clerk of the same, and is secretary-treasurer of the local light plant. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America.
Nov. 29, 1883, William A. Smith was married to Bettie Muir, who was born in this county, and to this union two children have been born, namely : Mamie Levens, born on Oct. 7, 1884, married Harold Mills, Dec. 27, 1905, of Clarks Fork township, and has two children, Jerome and Vir- ginia; and Elmer K. Smith, born June 15, 1888, who, on Feb. 11, 1914, married Melvina Milner, who was born at Medill, Okla., and has two chil- dren, Harry Milner and Mildred Elizabeth. Elmer K. Smith is now farm- ing the home place, where he and his family live. Mrs. Bettie Smith was born at Bunceton, daughter of Thomas J. and Rhoda (Levens) Muir, both members of old families in this part of Missouri. Dr. B. W. Levens, maternal grandfather of Mrs. Smith, was one of the pioneer physicians of Cooper County, he having practiced in what is now the Bunceton neigh- borhood long before the town of Bunceton was laid out. He married Rhoda Stevens in 1818. Henry Levens, an uncle of Mrs. Smith, wrote in collaboration with his partner, N. M. Drake, an attorney of Boonville, a history of Cooper County in 1876. William Basil Muir, paternal grand- father of Mrs. Smith, was a pioneer of Howard County, locating there upon coming from Tennessee in the early days. His son, Thomas J. Muir,
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father of Mrs. Smith, was born in Howard County, Sept. 21, 1828, and died at his home in Cass County on Feb. 18, 1875. His remains rest in the family cemetery in Howard County. His widow, who was born on April 29, 1834, died Jan. 18, 1889, and she was buried at Bunceton. Thomas J. and Rhoda (Levens) Muir were the parents of seven children, namely: Thomas H., born Nov. 1, 1854, Gridley, Kan .; William B., Jan. 20, 1857, Hammond Ind .; Bettie, wife of William A. Smith, Feb. 4, 1861; Margaret L., June 17, 1863, married Charles Stemmons, and died July 6, 1902, and is buried at Bunceton; Cora, March 15, 1870, wife of J. A. Cleary, deceased, of Kansas City ; Minnie, July 6, 1872, married George A. Barker, and was killed in a street railway accident at St. Louis, Sept. 22, 1900, and was buried in the family plot at Bunceton, and George Wash- ington, the first born, died an infant in 1854.
Herman F. Kuhn, member of the firm of Kuhn Bros. & Co., general merchandise, at Prairie Home, was born on the farm now owned by Nich- olas Meyer in Prairie Home township, July 19, 1893, son of H. G. and Margaret A. (Schilb) Kuhn, who are now living on their farm near Prairie Home.
H. G. Kuhn was born in Moniteau County, May 15, 1869, son of Christian Kuhn, who came to the United States from Germany when a boy, grew up in Missouri and in time became a substantial land-owned in Moniteau County, where he is still living, being now 86 years of age. Christian Kuhn's wife, Laura, died in 1917, and is buried in the Evangeli- cal Churchyard in her home county. Margaret wife of H. G. Kuhn, was born in Clarks Fork township, this county, Aug. 31, 1869, a daughter of Frederick Schilb, who also is now a resident of Prairie Home township. To H. G. Kuhn and wife have been born seven children, as follows: Viola May, deceased; Herman F .; William McKinley, born on Nov. 3, 1896, married Blanche Griesbach, of Moniteau County, and is farming near Jacksonville; Leslie Christian, is now serving in the United States navy; Emil Wilbur, is at home assisting his father; Henry Howard, Jackson- ville, and Theodore R., at home. Leslie Christian Kuhn, the sailor son, enlisted in the U. S. Navy in August, 1918, and was sent to the Great Lakes Naval Training Station at Chicago for preliminary training, and from there to the Naval Station at Norfolk, and was assigned to service on a United States submarine chaser, and is still (spring of 1919) in service.
Herman F. Kuhn was reared on the farm and received his early schooling in the schools of Prairie Home. He early decided upon a busi-
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ness career, and upon completing the course in the home schools entered Central Business College at Kansas City, from which institution he was graduated in 1913. For three years thereafter he was engaged as book- keeper and stenographer in the office of the Hadley Milling Company, at Olathe, Kan., and then returned to Prairie Home, and bought the interest held by E. M. Kirschman in the mercantile firm of Kuhn Bros. & Co., at that place, of which firm he since has been a member, devoting his earnest attention to the growing business of that firm, the other members of which are H. G. Kuhn and W. H. Kuhn. The building in which Kuhn Bros. & Co. are doing business is a sightly brick building erected in 1912, and the mercantile firm occupies the first and second floors and basement of the same, carrying a complete line of general merchandise. This firm also has a similar stock of goods at Lupus, and is known as an enterpris- ing and energetic firm of merchants, enjoying a constantly growing trade. In connection with its mercantile enterprise the firm publishes a neat little monthly paper, the title of which is "Over the Top," and which car- ries prominently displayed the firm's motto: "Good service means good will; good will means good business." The paper properly enough is devoted to the company's trade announcements, but carries in addition a lot of entertaining reading matter, which makes it a welcome visitor in the homes of the community.
Nov. 17, 1915, Herman F. Kuhn was married to Olive G. Meek, daughter of M. B. and Frances Meek, of Ochiltree, Kan., and to this union two children have been born, Edgar Milton, born on Nov. 29, 1916, and Loyal Margaret, Nov. 10, 1918. Mr. and Mrs. Kuhn are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church (South) and take a proper interest in church work.
Joseph Hurt Groom, proprietor of "Sunny Crest Stock Farm," near Overton, in Saline township, is one of the leading young stock breeders in Cooper County. He was born on a farm in Saline township, Aug. 18, 1884, son of Colby C. and Emma Davis (Kickashear) Groom, the latter of whom is living at her fine home on the outskirts of Overton.
Joseph H. Groom received his schooling in the Highland School, and from his boyhood has devoted his attention to farming and stock raising. He remained on the home farm until his marriage, when he moved to LaMine township, and was there engaged in farming near Blackwater until 1913, when he bought 70 acres of his present farm southeast of Overton, and has since made his home there. Not long afterward he bought 87 acres adjoining, and now has a well improved place of 157
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acres, which he has developed with special reference to his stock breeding, "Sunny Crest Stock Farm" being widely known for its high grade of stock. The original patent for "Sunny Crest" was made out to one James M. Farris, who filed on this land over 100 years ago, he having come here from the section of Missouri that was devastated by an earth- quake. During the past century there have been numerous transfers made of this tract, and by a somewhat singular coincidence of names it was owned by James W. Farris at the time Mr. Groom bought it, this latter Farris being of no known kinship to the original owner. But speaking of "original" owners, there are evidences on the farm of a much prior own- ership, these mute testimonials of prehistoric proprietorship being five mounds, typical of the work of the Mound Builders. "Sunny Crest" is branch bottom and upland, and about half of it is now in pasture, it being Mr. Groom's intention eventually to devote the whole place to pasture in extension of his stock-breeding operations. He is a breeder of Per- cheron horses, Shorthorn cattle, jacks and jennets, Duroc-Jersey hogs and Shropshire sheep, all eligible to registry, and is doing a constantly in- creasing business in that line. "Black Coco," the Percheron stallion he has owned for the past three or four years, has won 16 blue ribbons in this State. He also has two registered Kentucky bred jacks, "Governor Glenn 7250" and "Tom Mace," the former of which won a second premium at the Missouri State Fair and sweepstakes at the Moniteau and Cooper County fair. In his stable are also 16 good brood mares, and his flock of Shropshires now numbers about 40.
Joseph H. Groom has been twice married. In 1909 he was united in marriage to Edith May Hill, of LaMine township, who died on May 4, 1916, and on June 3, 1918, he married Mrs. Arminda (Bell) Hyatt, widow of Paul Z. Hyatt, and the mother of two sons, Paul Z. and Manlies Chap- man Hyatt. Paul Z. Hyatt, first husband of Mrs. Groom, died Oct. 29, 1915. To Mr. and Mrs. Groom has been born a son, Joseph Hurt Groom, born June 24, 1919. Mr. and Mrs. Groom are members of the Highland Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and Mr. Groom has been ordained both a deacon and an elder in the church, in which the Groom family for many years have been among the most active workers.
Samuel T. Fulton, a well known citizen of Kelly township and owner and proprietor of the "Green Ridge" farm, is a native of Kentucky. He was born at Carlisle, Oct. 5, 1848. the son of James and Sallie (Alexander) Fulton, both natives of Kentucky. They were the parents of two chil- dren: Samuel T., the subject of this sketch, and Mary Jane Berry, who
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died at Pilot Grove. The father died in 1850 in Kentucky and the mother afterwards married Singleton Paxton and to this union two daughters were born: Hattie, who resides at Bunceton and Mrs. James Hall, Butler, Mo. In 1864, shortly after her second marriage, the mother and her second husband and other members of the family came to Cooper County, Mo., and settled at Pilot Grove, where she died March 6, 1898.
Samuel T. Fulton was educated in the schools of Kentucky and Illi- nois, and after coming to Cooper County attended Simpson's private school, which was located near Nebo. He lived for a few years in Illinois and for a time in Cass County, Mo., and has resided on his present place since 1892. He owns 160 acres, which he bought from T. J. Wallace for $30.00 per acre. At that time it was unimproved land. Mr. Fulton has added valuable improvements and has a very good farm. He raisqs Scotch Top cattle, eligible to registration and he also raises Poland China hogs, and formerly was an extensive cattle feeder.
Mr. Fulton is unmarried and spends a part of his time on his farm, but practically makes his home with his sister in Bunceton. Mr. Fulton is a member of the Masonic Lodge at Bunceton and one of Cooper County's substantial and highly respected citizens.
Hiram D. Case, president of the Farmers and Mercants Bank of Otterville, was born on a farm in Lafayette County, Wis., Jan. 18, 1867, son of Samuel S. and Elizabeth (Miller) Case, natives of Ohio, whose last days were spent in Missouri.
Samuel S. Case was born in Ohio, Aug. 4, 1815, and some time after his marriage in that State became a resident of Lafayette County, Wis., remaining there until 1868, when he moved with his family to Missouri, driving through in a covered wagon, and became engaged in farming near Boonville, later establishing his home on a farm in Blackwater township. During the '70s he moved to Bates County, but after four years of resi- dence there returned to Cooper County. Upon his retirement from the farm he went to Marshall, and there spent his last days. He died Dec. 15, 1895. His wife died Nov. 8, 1883. She was born in Ohio in 1820. During the Civil War, Samuel S. Case served for nine months as a soldier of the Union, and his eldest son, Jacob M. Case, served throughout the war as a soldier of the Union. Samuel S. Case and wife were the parents of eight children, of whom six are still living. Of these, three are resi- dents of Cooper County, the subject of this sketch having two brothers here, E. A. Case, of Blackwater township, and J. T. Case, of Clarks Fork township.
Hiram D. Case was but a babe in arms, not yet a year old, when his
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11. EARL CASE
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parents came to Cooper County in 1868, and he was reared in this county, receiving his schooling in this county and in Bates County. When 17 years of age, in association with his brother, J. T. Case, Mr. Case began farming on his own account, and in 1892 he rented a farm in Clarks Fork township. Two years later he married and then continued to make his home on that farm until in 1900, when he bought a place of 90 acres in Lebanon township, where he remained until 1905, when he sold that place and bought his present excellent farm of 271 acres near Otterville, where he and his family have since resided. Mr. Case has made numerous sub- stantial improvements on the place, and is contemplating more. He gives considerable attention to the raising of cattle and hogs, and his operations have been profitable. In 1914, he was elected president of the Farms and Merchants Bank of Otterville, a position which he still occupies. Mr. Case also has ever taken a close interest in educational affairs, and for the past 14 years has been serving very effectively as president of the Otterville School Board.
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