History of Cooper County, Missouri, Part 110

Author: Johnson, William Foreman, b. 1861
Publication date: 1919
Publisher: Topeka : Historical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1464

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Though born at Warrensburg, Johnson county, Findlay A. Collins was reared in Lafayette County, and grew up familiar with the details of farm life. Upon completing the course in the public schools of his home dis- trict he spent three and one-half years as a student at the Missouri State Normal School at Warrensburg. He then resumed farming in Lafayette

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County, and was thus engaged for two years, when he engaged in the gro- cery business at Warrensburg. In the spring of 1916 he married, and in September following came to Cooper County, and has since been engaged in farming on his present farm. Besides the 118 acres of his home farm, Mr. Collins is farming 122 acres adjoining, belonging to his father-in-law, C. H. Muri. He feeds two or three carloads of cattle a year. On the Col- lins farm, about 200 yards south of the residence, was the site of the his- toric old Prairie Home College, which had much fame as an educational institution in its day. The Collins residence, an attractive seven-room bungalow, was erected in 1917. The barn, built in 1916, is 36x50 feet, with metal roof and sides, and with a Gothic roof, the first of this type erected in Cooper County, and one of the finest barns in the county. Other buildings and the general equipment of Mr. Collins's farm plant are in keeping.

April 22, 1916, Findlay A. Collins was married to Alice Muri, who had been graduated in that same year from the State Normal School at War- rensburg. She was born in Moniteau County, and was graduated from the California High School in 1913, winning second honors of her class. Thus equipped she entered the State Normal School, took the four-years course in three years, and was graduated from that institution with the degree of Bachelor of Science in 1916. Mrs. Collins is a daughter of C. H. and Amanda J. (Gentzsch) Muri, both of whom were born in Moniteau County, the former in 1857, and the latter in 1872, and who are now living at Sandy Hook. C. H. Muri is the owner of 380 acres of land in Moniteau County, where he lives, and 120 acres in Prairie Home township, this county. He and his wife have two children, Mrs. Collins having a brother, Homer T. Muri, who is at home assisting in the management of his father's place.

Albert Brengarth, of Saline township, is a progressive and successful farmer and stockman, and one of the most extensive land-owners in Cooper County. At 17 he was making his own way, at 19 he was the owner of a team of horses and possessed a stout heart, willing hands, a clear head, and a realizing sence of farm values. At 21, in association with his brother, Frank, he made his first investment in farm lands, he and his brother buying 80 acres in Saline township. That was in 1898. Two years later they sold that place, and in partnership bought 253 acres a mile north of Gooch's Mill. That place Frank Brengarth now owns, hav- ing bought his brother's interest in it in 1914. The brothers in the mcan-

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time had bought and sold other farms and in the rising market had done well. In 1914 Albert Brengarth bought from T. L. Jones the latter's farm of 125 acres, which he sold in 1916, and then bought 225 acres of the place he now owns at the edge of Overton. The next year he bought the bal- ance of the place, 305 acres, and thus has in that tract 530 acres. Not long ago he bought from W. H. Swanstone 465 acres, also in Saline town- ship, the place being better known as the George Conner farm, and is culti- vating and improving them along modern lines, and also carrying on exten- sive live stock operation. Since taking possession of his place, just at the east side of Overton in 1916, Mr. Brengarth has improved it greatly, and is developing there one of themost up-to-date farms in Cooper County. He is a member of the Woodmen of the World and the Woodmen's Circle at Gooch's Mill.

Mr. Brengarth is a native son of Cooper County. He was born on a farm in Prairie Home township, May 2, 1877, son of Frank I. and Catherine (Schneider) Brengarth, the latter of whom is living at Boonville. Mrs. Brengarth was born in Germany, and was but a child when she came to this county with her parents, the family locating in this part of Missouri, and it was here that she married Frank I. Brengarth, who had come to America when a young man, and also had settled in this county. Frank I. Brengarth was born in Alsace-Lorraine, then a province of France, in 1831. There he remained until he had attained his majority, when, about 1852, he came to this country. For several years after coming to Cooper County, he worked by the month on the Edmond Elliott farm near Boon- ville, later buying a farm in Prairie Home township. On that place he lived until his retirement from the farm in 1904, when he sold the place and moved to Boonville, where he spent the remainder of his life. He died Oct. 25, 1917. His widow is still living. Mr. Brengarth was buried in the Catholic Cemetery at Boonville.

To Frank I. and Catherine (Schneider) Brengarth were born 12 chil- dren, all of whom are still living, namely: Catherine, wife of J. B. Felton, of Boonville ; Frank, is a well-to-do farmer and stockman in Saline town- ship; Anna, wife of Charles Tritzell, of Jefferson City ; Taritha, wife of Wil- liam Walterscheid, of Boonville township; Albert, the subject of this sketch ; Mary, wife of David Diehl, of Boonville; Philip, now living in Kan- sas City ; Margaret, who is living with her brother Frank in Saline town- ship; Rose, wife of E. A. Bacon, of St. Louis; Henry, who is now with the American Expeditionary Forces in Europe; Augusta, who is living at Boon-

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ville ; and John, who is with the American Expeditionary Forces in Europe. Henry Brengarth, the elder of the two soldier sons, has been in the service of the United States Army since May, 1918; was at the front at the time the armistice was signed, and is now (spring of 1919) with the Army of Occupation at Coblenz, attached to the 89th Pioneer Infantry Regiment. John Brengarth, the other soldier son, enlisted for service in the World War in November, 1917, and has now (spring of 1919) been in France for more than 18 months, attached to the Aviation Corps, a member of the 222nd Aero Squadron, and during this long period of service has been a participant in some exceedingly spectacular and thrilling actions. The Brengarth children received their schooling in the New Salem School in Prairie Home township, and though the members of the family are now widely scattered, as is the way of families, that community ever will be regarded by them as "back home."

Ernest H. Ambrose, proprietor of the "Ambrose Missouri River Val- ley Farm," at the north edge of the town of Overton in Saline township, and recognized as one of the most progressive and energetic young farmers of that section of Cooper County, is a native of this county. He was born Oct. 15, 1881, son of J. T. and Elizabeth (Bell) Ambrose. J. T. Ambrose was born in Howard County in 1845, and though but 16 years of age when the Civil War broke out, he enlisted at Boonville in the cause of the Con- federacy as a member of Company B, 14th Infantry, and served for three years, or until the close of the war, and was at Shreveport, La., with the army when the war ended. Mr. Ambrose then engaged in farming, and so continued the rest of his active life. He died in March, 1916, he then being 71 years of age, and is buried in the Sulphur Springs Churchyard in Howard County. His widow is still living, a resident of Lloyd Station. She and her husband were the parents of five children, all of whom are still living: Margaret, wife of Daniel Stewart, of Columbia, Mo .; Thomas, near Rochefort, Boone County ; Ernest H .; Fannie, wife of Edgar McVee, near Pierson Spur in Howard County; and Grover M., who is living with his mother at Lloyd Station.

Ernest H. Ambrose has always followed farming pursuits. He re- ceived his schooling in the public schools, and early began farming on his own account. In the spring of 1913 he bought 100 acres of the farm on which he is now living, just north of Overton, and since then has added to this by purchase from Mont Cooper of an adjoining strip of eight acres, having now 108 acres, as rich a tract of land as lies in the whole Missouri

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Valley. During the past few years, Mr. Ambrose has made some very sub- stantial improvements on his place. Included in these improvements is a modern ne wseven-room house, a barn 30x48 feet, a machine shed 20x50, a garage, an up-to-date poultry house in which Mrs. Ambrose has 300 Plymouth Rock chickens. The farm has an excellent orchard of 50 or more trees. During the current year (1919) Mr. Ambrose had raised 15 acres of alfalfa, 35 acres of wheat, one acre of potatoes and the balance in corn.

Nov. 20, 1907, Ernest H. Ambrose was married to Bessie Groom, who was born in this county, and to this union two children have been born, Hazel and George. Mrs. Ambrose is a daughter of Colby C. and Emma (Kickashear) Groom, the latter of whom, born in Cooper County in 1864, is still living on the Groom home farm a mile and a half east of Overton. Colby C. Groom was born in Virginia and came to Cooper County when 23 years of age. Here he married and became engaged in farming, a voca- tion which he followed the rest of his life. He died in 1913, and is buried in the Clayton Cemetery. To him and his wife were born four children, Mrs. Ambrose having three brothers, Hurt, Clay and Colby Groom, all residing at Overton. Mr. and Mrs. Ambrose are members of the Highland Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and both are teachers in the Sunday School of that church. Mr. Ambrose also gives his thoughtful attention to local educational matters, and has served as director of the Overton School District.

John Emil Derendinger, a substantial farmer of Prairie Home town- ship, was born in Switzerland, March 2, 1864, son of Rudolph and Louisa (Bucher) Derendinger, both natives of that same country, who came to America in 1887 and spent their their last days in Cooper County. Rudolph Derendinger and his wife first located in Moniteau County, but about five years later moved to Prairie Home township, this county, with their son Fred, and here spent the remainder of their lives. Mr. Derendinger died in 1913, and his wife in 1915. They were members of the Evangelical Church at Pleasant Grove, and are buried in the cemetery there. Of the seven children born to them, John Emil was the eldest, the others being: E. F. Derendinger, deceased ; Mrs. Louisa Hosman, also deceased; Rudolph, of Sandy Hook; Eliza, wife of Louis Hersick, Hamburg, Germany; and J. F., Gooch's Mill.

J. E. Derendinger came to this country in 1881 and in 1887 he sent for his parents and the younger members of the family to join him here

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in Missouri, and in the summer of that same year he married. In 1888 he bought 200 acres of the farm on which he is now living in Prairie Home township,, established his home there and has ever since resided there. In 1916 Mr. Derendinger added to his acreage there by the purchase of 120 acres, and now has an excellent farm of 320 acres, in the management of which he is ably assisted by his second son, Louis Derendinger, who is married and makes his home in a house nearby the family residence. Since taking possession of that farm Mr. Derendinger has made numerous substantial improvements on the place.

August 12, 1887, John E. Derendinger was married to Wilhelmina Schilb, who was born in this county, and to this union five children have been born: Margaret, wife of Waller Neiderwimmer, of Sedalia; E. F. married Laura Friederich, now living at Kansas City; Louis, married Nannie Friederich, and is living on the home farm, assisting his father; J. C., engaged in the mercantile business at Gooch's Mill, and Meta Bertha, at home with her parents. J. C. Derendinger married Bertha Reglin, who died leaving two children, Cecil R. and Marjorie Elene, who are being reared by their grandparents. Mr. and Mrs. Derendinger have three other grandchildren, Herbert and Harold Neiderwimmer and William Deren- dinger. Mrs. Derendinger was born in Saline township, Oct. 15, 1864, daughter of Jacob and Barbara (Kesseling) Schilb, who had settled there in 1847 and there spent the remainder of their lives. Mrs. Shilb died in 1894, and her husband died in 1908. They were charter members of the Pleasant Grove Evangelical Church, and are buried in the churchyard there. Mr. and Mrs. Derendinger are members of this church and have reared their children in the faith of the church.

St. Peter's Evangelical Church at Pleasant Grove was the first church organized by the German-speaking people of Cooper County, and was or- ganized in 1849 under the ministry of the Reverend Kewing, who for some time remainded as pastor, being succeeded in turn by the following pas- tors: The Reverends Rauschenbusch, Hoffmeister, Lange, Streit, Von Teobel, Dellwo, Kraft, Woelfle, Moore, Leutwein, Klingeberger, Alber, Egger, Rasche, Jennerich, Lehman, Bredehoeft, Leibner and Beisenherc, the latter of whom was installed as pastor in the fall of 1917, and is now serving the congregation. The first meeting house erected by the congrega- tion of St. Peter's was a little log church building. The present building was erected in 1877. The charter members of St. Peter's Evangelical Church were the following: Adam and Jacob Schilb, Nicholas Blank, George

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Knorp, Fred Stock, J. A. Spieler, J. G. Spieler, William Baker, F. Schenck, T. Miller, E. Kirschman, Jacob Schilb, Jr., Henry Meier, H. J. Meier, A. Kaempfer and William Hobrecht.

Henry Knosp, proprietor of "Hazel Grove Farm," in Saline township, one of the most substantial farmers of that section of Cooper Count, is a native son of this county. He was born on a farm two and one-half miles east of Prairie Home, Feb. 12, 1853, son of George and Minnie (Schenck) Knosp, both of whom spent their last days on that place.

George Knosp, who lived to be nearly 84 years of age, was born in Germany, and was but a child when he came to this country with his parents, the family settling in Cole Count, Mo., in the '30s. He came to Cooper County some time in the '40s, was here married, established his home, and spent the rest of his life here. He was one of the organizers of the Evangelical Church at Pleasant Grove, and is buried in the cemetery there, as is his wife, who lived to be 75 years of age. They were the parents of eight children, those besides the subject of this sketch being as follows Louise, wife of J. H. Stock, of Sedalia; Charles, of Jamestown, Mo .; Minnie, Clarks Fork township, widow of William Fricke; Mary, wife of Theodore Brandes, also of Clarks Fork township; Caroline, wife of John Kaiser, of North Moniteau township; John, living on the old home place; and Fred, of Calfornia, Mo.

Henry Knosp received his schooling in the Splice Creek School, his first teacher having been Bartlett Metcalf, who taught in the little log school house. Mr. Knosp has devoted his attention to farming. In 1883, he bought from the Haxel heirs the quarter section, and has since resided on that place, bringing the place up to a state of improvement second to none in the neighborhood. For that tract of 160 acres he paid about $24 an acre. As his affairs prospered, Mr. Knosp bought from William Oerly an adjoining 120 acres, but this he recently has sold to his son, who lives on the place. All the improvements on the farm have been made by Mr. Knosp. For years he was engaged in the raising of Whiteface cattle, but of late years has not done so much in that line, though he still maintains a excellent drove of Duroc Jersey hogs, all eligible to register. He and his family are members of the Lutheran Church at Pleasant Grove.

Feb. 16, 1882, Henry Knosp was united in marriage to Sophia Fred- ericka Lonjers, at Lone Elm, by the Rev. J. H. Thiess, and to this union 10 children have been born, namely: Albert, born April 5, 1883, died in the fall of 1902; Anna B., Sept. 17, 1885, wife of Charles Langer, of Moniteau County ; Minnie, Jan. 15, 1886, wife of Louis Dahler, of California,

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Mo. : Henry, April 2, 1887, of Prairie Home township; Fred, Jan. 12, 1839, died Nov. 3, 1907; Cora, August, 1891, who died at the age of 13 months; Oliver, July 28, 1893, died Dec. 4, 1918; Lydia, Nov. 25, 1896, at home ; George, Feb. 26, 1898, also at home, and Herbert, May 24, 1900, at home. Mrs. Knosp was born on a farm near Lone Elm, in Clarks Fork township, daughter of Maurine and Johanna (Brandes) Lonjers, both of whom spent their last days in this county. Maurine Lonjers was born in Holland, and many years ago settled in the Lone Elm neighborhood, where he died Sept. 28, 1914. She was born in 1838. After the death of her first hus- band she married Louis Lebbing and had two children, Theodore Lebbing, now a merchant at Clarks Fork, and a daughter who died in infancy. By her marriage to Maurine Lonjers she was the mother of 10 children, of whom Mrs. Knosp was the fourth in order of birth, the others being as follows: Henry Lonjers, Stockton, Calif .; Louise, wife of Daniel Langkop, Bunceton; Christian, Colorado; Herman, who married Lizzie Kluss and died in 1911 in Clarks Fork, leaving a widow and two sons, Emil and Wil- liam; Charles, who died in California at the age of 28 years; Bettie, whe died at the age of 19 years; Caroline, wife of William Hein, of Appleton City, Mo .; Margaret, who died at the age of 14 years, and William, who died in youth.

Henry H. Knosp, proprietor of a fine farm of 120 acres three and one- half miles from Wooldridge in Saline township, was born at "Hazel Grove Farm," April 2, 1887, son of Henry and Sophia Fredericka (Lonjers) Knosp, both members of pioneer families in this section, and both of whom are still living at "Hazel Grove Farm."

Reared at "Hazel Grove Farm," Henry H. Knosp received his early schooling in the church school at Pleasant Grove, and in the Liberty dis- trict school. He has applied himself to farming, remaining at home until his marriage when 23 years of age, when he began farming on his own account in Moniteau County. Three years later, in 1914, he bought from his father, 120 acres, and has since resided there. Mr. Knosp has made substantial improvements and is contemplating more. Among the im- provements is a modern poultry house, 14x36, Mrs. Knosp being much interested in her finc flock of more than 200 Rhode Island Reds. Mr. Knosp raises Duroc Jersey hogs and is meeting with success. He and his family are members of the Pleasant Grove Lutheran Church.

March 12, 1911, Henry H. Knosp was married to Mollie Lenger, whom he had known from childhood, and to this union three children have been born, Florence, Harry and Pauline. Mrs. Knosp was born over in Moni-

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teau County, April 18, 1884, daughters of Charles and Minnie (Hampster) Lenger, natives of Germany, both of whom are living on the farm in Moniteau County, where they have resided for more than 40 years, Mr. Lenger now being 88 years of age and his wife 77. Charles Lenger and his wife have five children, those besides Mrs. Knosp being: Sophia, wife of William Gross, a woodworker living at California, Mo .; Matilda, wife of William Kieslig, also of California; Charles, Jr., who married Anna Knosp, operating his father's farm, and Fred, who married Nettie Graff, and is also on the home farm.

D. D. Hurt, a well known and successful farmer of Clarks Fork town- ship, was born in this township March 25, 1879. He is a son of A. C. and Celesta A. (Holestein) Hurt, natives of Cooper County and descendents of early pioneers in this section. A. C. Hurt and his wife spent their lives in Clarks Fork township. He was a Confederate veteran of the Civil War, and was with the army at Shreveport, La., when the war closed. A. C. and Celesta A. (Holestein) Hurt were the parents of the following chil- dren: B. F., Bunceton; J. A., North Moniteau township; William A., Clarks Fork township; D. D. the subject of this sketch, and O. F., Blackwater.

D. D. Hurt was reared on the home farm in Clarks Fork township, and received his education in the Ellis School District. He has been a farmer and stockman all his life. He purchased 80 acres of his present farm in 1905, and since that time has added 40 acres. He has a well improved place with good residence and other buildings. The farm is located on the Bunceton-Pisgah road in the southern part of Clarks Fork township, and is valuable property. Mr. Hurt carries on general farming and stock raising, and has been very successful.

May 20, 1900, D. D. Hurt was united in marriage with Miss Myrtle Jones, a daughter of B. L. Jones, of Pisgah. Her mother is deceased. Mrs. Hurt is one of the following children born to her parents: J. T., Pisgah ; Myrtle, wife of D. D. Hurt; L. T., Prairie Home ; Mrs. R. W. Lacy, Prairie Home; Mrs. A. L. Lewis, Kansas City, Mo., and Mrs. Ben Harned, who resides on the home place at Pisgah.

To D. D. Hurt and wife has been born three children, as follows: Opal, died when 14 years of age; David, born Sept. 30, 1903; and Louis, born Sept. 26, 1908.

Mr. Hurt is a member of the school board of Consolidate District No. 1, and takes a commendable interest in local affairs. He is a member of the Mystic Workers at Pisgah, and he and Mrs. Hurt belong to the Baptist

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Church at that place. Mr. Hurt is a congenial man, a good neighbor and citizen, and has many friends in Cooper County.

George Truman Cole, a progressive farmer and stockman of Prairie Home township, was born in this township, Oct. 2, 1875, and is a descend- ent of one of the first families that settled in Cooper County. He is a son of Andrew B. and Mary J. (Hickox) Cole. Andrew B. Cole was born at Bell Air, Cooper County, in 1827. He was a son of Samuel, who was a son of Hannah Cole, who, with the Stephens family, were the first settlers in Cooper County. Samuel Cole lived to the advanced age of 92 years, and died near Bell Air, and his remains are buried at the Nebo Church Cemetery. Andrew B. Cole made three trips across the Plains to Cali- fornia in the early days. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge and an influential citizen. He died in 1913, and his wife departed this life in 1917, and their remains are buried in the Pisgah Cemetery. They were the parents of three children as follows: Edward, Prairie Home township; George Truman, the subject of this sketch; and Warren, who died at the age of two years. By a former marriage to Rebecca Ann Boughman there were three children born: W. H., North Moniteau township; Mollie, mar- ried J. O. Morris, North Moniteau township; and Clara, who died at the age of 20 years.

George Truman Cole traces his ancestry in this country back for 300 years, to the landing of the Mayflower at Plymouth Rock in 1620. Thomas Clark, who was a passenger on the Mayflower, was a direct ancestor of George Truman Cole, on his mother's side. Mary J. Hickox, mother of George Truman Cole, was a daughter of Charles and Mara (Hill) Hickox, the latter being a native of Kentucky, born Feb. 4, 1804. Hon. H. L. Meyers, U. S. senator from Montana, a sketch of whom appears in this volume, is a second cousin of Mary J. (Hickox) Cole.

George Truman Cole was reared and educated in Cooper County, and has spent his life here, engaged in farming and stock raising. He owns a well improved farm of 200 acres in Prairie Home township, where he is successfully carrying on farming and stock raising. Mr. Cole was mar- ried Nov. 25, 1897, to Miss Ida Tumy, a daughter of James and Bettie (Hall) Tumy, the former a native of Boone County, born in 1857, and the latter a native of Cooper County, born in 1862. They now reside at Bunce- ton. To James and Sallie (Hall) Tumy have been born the following chil- dren: Ida, wife of George Truman Cole, the subject of this sketch ; Robert, Bunceton; Gracia, married Leonard Holliday, Bunceton; William, Bunce- ton, who served with the 42d Infantry, Rainbow Division, in France during

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the World War; Mary, married Edgar Byler, Dinuba, Calif. ; Porter, a book- keeper in the Bank of Bunceton. To George Truman Cole and wife have been born the following children: Lena Leota, a graduate of the Pisgah High School, who has also attended the State Normal School at Warrens- burg, is a teacher in the Jefferson district; Claude; James; Mary Arostine and Martha Pauline, twins; Warren Gregory, and Clara Booksie.

Henry H. Tumy, grand father of Mrs. Cole was a native of Kentucky, and came to Missouri when a young man, locating at Rocheport. He was a saddler, and for 50 years conducted business in that town, but for the last few years of his life he lived retired. He died at the age of 78 years, and is buried in the Rocheport Cemetery. He was the father of the fol- lowing children: John. Fayette, Mo .: James, Bunceton; Frank, Columbia, Mo .; Henry, Fayette, Mo .; Mrs. Laura Meyers, Fayette; Mrs. Debroh Robertson; Mrs. M. T. Lyell, Crawfordsville, Ind., and Mrs. Hiriam Bur- rous, Crawfordsville, Ind.

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History of Cooper County, Missouri, Part 110

Author: Johnson, William Foreman, b. 1861 Publication date: 1919 Publisher: Topeka : Historical Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1464

Author: Johnson, William Foreman, b. 1861
Publication date: 1919
Publisher: Topeka : Historical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1464