USA > Missouri > Cooper County > History of Cooper County, Missouri > Part 112
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Andrew Bestgen, grandfather of Louis A., was a pioneer of Cooper County, and for many years was a notary public and did a great deal of work of this kind in the early days. He died April 25, 1894, and his remains are buried at Tipton, Mo.
Louis A. Bestgen was one of six children born to his parents, the others being as follows: George J .; Urban J., both residing in Kelly town-
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ship, and Alverta, Leonard P. and Coletta, residing at home. Louis A. Bestgen was educated in the public schools, and has made farming and stock raising his principle occupation, and has met with well merited suc- cess .: The home place which he operates consists of 120 acres. The place is well improved with a good six room residence and a conveniently planned barn 28x32 feet, with metal roof. Mr. Bestgen raises wheat, corn and other grains, and also carries on stock raising. Being naturally a mechanical turn, Mr. Bestgen has built and fully equipped a blacksmith shop, where he has installed a high speed drill, emery wheel, and other mechanical devices. He is the inventor of the Farmers Barn Door Latch, which he manufactures here in his shop. This is regarded as one of the most cleverly designed and practical barn door latches on the market. It is used extensively by farmers in Missouri, Kansas and Iowa. The latch is made in a variety of sizes and styles, and is designed for barn doors, hay doors, double doors and garage doors. It is cheap, durable, simple in construction, easy to put on a door, and saves time, temper and money. The Farmers Barn Door Latch is sold by dealers throughout the country, although Mr. Bestgen also sells to the trade direct.
Mr. Bestgen is also an excellent woodworker and has done some fine cabinet work. Mechanical work of this character is as easy and natural for him as iron work, and his mechanical genius is evinced by many labor- ing saving devices around the Bestgen home. He has installed an irri- gation system for his garden which has proved of great value in extreme dry seasons. .
Louis A. Bestgen was married Oct. 6, 1914 to Miss Clara Dueber, of Moniteau County, where she was born March 27, 1891. She is a daughter of Martin and Mary (Leffler) Dueber, the former a native of Pettis County, and the latter of Ohio and now residents of Moniteau County. They are the parents of the following children: Joseph, Moniteau County ; Tillie, married Aquin Simpson ; Clara, wife of Louis A. Bestgen, the sub- ject of this sketch ; Adelia, married George Bestgen ; Nora, resides at home ; Leo, was in training during the World War at Camp Bowie, Texas, from Sept., 1918, until Feb., 1919, when he was discharged, and is now residing at home in Kelly township; John, George and Mamie, all residing at home. By a former marriage of Martin Dueber to Johana Brill, the following children were born: Augusta, married Henry Klein; Loma, El Reno, Okla., and Ida, married Andy Kuttenkueler, Tipton, Mo. To Mr. and Mrs. Bestgen have been born two children, Virginia and Eleanor.
Mr. Bestgen is a member of the Knights of Columbus, The Anti-Horse
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Thief Association, and the Farmers Club at Lone Elm. The Bestgen family are members of St. Andrews Catholic Church at Tipton.
Daniel Langkop, a prominent farmer and stockman of Kelly town- ship, bears the distinction of belonging to a family, three generations of which have been well represented in the wars of this country since the beginning of the Civil War. Daniel Langkop was born in Iowa in 1851, a son of William Henry and Anna (Klaus) Langkop, both natives of Ger- many. William Henry Langkop migrated to America in 1849 or 1850 and first settled in Iowa. He came to Cooper County, Mo., sometime in the 50's. When the Civil War broke out he enlisted in the Union Army at Boonville, and served three years. His two sons, Henry and Frank, also served throughout the Civil War and remained in the army for some years afterwards. They were in the cavalry and after the Civil War served under General Custer in his campaigns against the Indians in the west. They then returned to Cooper County, Mo., where they were engaged in farming during the remainder of their lives. Henry died, July 23, 1897, and is buried at Lone Elm. Frank died March 3, 1919, and is buried in Clarks Fork cemetery. William Henry Langkop died in 1880 and his remains are buried in Clarks Fork cemetery. His wife died in 1854 and her remains are buried at Dubuque, Iowa. They were the parents of the following children: Henry, mention of whom is made above; Mrs. Minnie Schubert; Frank, who is also previously mentioned in this sketch; and Daniel, the subject of this sketch.
Daniel Langkop attended such schools as the times afforded during his boyhood, and in early life was employed as a government teamster during the war, mostly in the vicinity of St. Louis. After the war he returned to Cooper County and has since been engaged in farming and stock raising. In 1917, he located on his present farm, which is two miles southeast of Bunceton. Here he owns 40 acres of well improved land, which is under a good state of cultivation. The farm residence is a well built modern cottage of six rooms and the other buildings are nicely arranged and well kept.
Daniel Langkop was married April 8, 1880 to Miss Louisa Longers, a daughter of Morine and Anna (Brandes) Longers. The former a native of Holland and the latter of Germany. They are both now deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Langkop have been born the following children: Frank, resides on the old home place in Cooper County; Charles was in South America when last heard of and is probably a soldier in the British army ; Herman, Bunceton; Albert, died at the age of 18 months; Oscar, Bunce-
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ton; Walter entered the United States Army in Sept., 1917, was sent to France in June, 1918, a member of Company A, 125th Infantry, and was taken sick while in the battle of Argonne Forest and died Oct. 23, 1918; Ed, who entered the United States Army Oct. 21, 1918, and was sent to Camp Bowie, Texas, for training and was transferred from there to Camp Pike, Ark., where he was discharged March 28, 1919; and Anna, resides at home with her parents.
Mrs. Langkop has spent her life in Cooper County and while she was a young girl during the Civil War, she has a distinct recollection of many of the events which transpired in the neighborhood where she lived, dur- ing the stirring days of that great conflict. She recalls an incident when the bushwhackers were about to take their last horse when the Captain of the company appeared on the scene and ordered the soldier who was tak- ing the horse to turn it loose.
Mr. and Mrs. Langkop are members of Clarks Fork Lutheran Church and the Langkop family are well and favorably known in Cooper County and highly respected.
John W. Richey, a prominent citizen of Kelly township, is a native Missourian. He was born in St. Clair County, Dec. 22, 1851, and is a son of John R. and Margaret (Keeton) Richey. In 1861, when the Civil War broke out, the Richey family resided in St. Clair County. The father entered the Confederate Army and served throughout the war. Shortly after he enlisted, the mother and children left St. Clair County and drove to Cooper County, with an ox team and wagon, bringing all their posses- sions with them. John W. was then a boy about 10 years old and he drove the oxen, riding one most of the way. The mother maintained the family and kept them together in their new home in Cooper County until the war ended, when the father returned. He rented land in Cooper County for a number of years, and spent the remainder of his life here. He died in March, 1917, at the age of 82 years, and his wife departed this life in 1910, aged 77 years, and their remains are both buried in Baxter cemetery, Kelly township. They were the parents of the following children: John W., the subject of this sketch; Andrew J. lives in Kelly township; Mrs. Nancy Majors, deceased; Wesley, Bunceton; James, Bunceton; Joshua, lives on the home farm in Kelly township; Mrs. Rhoda Potts, lives in the state of California and Robert died in California.
John W. Richey has been a resident of Cooper County since 1862. He remained on the home farm with his parents until he was married, when
.
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he engaged in farming and stock raising for himself. He bought his pres- ent place in 1890. This is one of the old historic places of Cooper County, and was formerly owned by John J. Chilton. Chilton was an early settler in this section and owned a number of slaves, and the old building in which the slaves lived is still standing on the place. It was built of hewed logs, weatherboarded with walnut boards, and is still in a fairly good state of preservation. It is probably 100 years old. Mr. Richey has a well im- proved farm with a nice seven room, two story, modern residence, which he built in 1917. The place is surrounded by locust and elm shade trees, and has altogether a well kept and neat appearance. The farm buildings, fences and general appearance of the place bears testimony to the industry of its owner. The place is known as the "Willow Spring Stock Farm" which name is officially recorded.
Mr. Richey was married Sept. 2, 1875 to Miss Jennie Morton, a daugh- ter of John C. and Isabel (Miller) Morton. The former a native of Vir- ginia and the latter of Tennessee. They were married in Tennessee and came to Missouri, first settling in Cedar County. When the Civil War broke out John C. Morton enlisted in the Confederate Army and served throughout the war under General Price. After the war the family came to Cooper County and settled near Bunceton, where the father was engaged in farming for a number of years, when he removed to Texas where he died in 1894. His wife died in Oklahoma in 1901. They were the parents of the following children: Jennie, wife of John W. Richey, the subject of this sketch; John P., died Aug. 6, 1915, aged 55 years; Sarah Elizabeth was born April 24, 1862 and died Jan. 6, 1916; Martha Lee, born June 5, 1866, married William J. Luker and they reside in Oklahoma; David Emmet, born Dec. 13, 1867 and died in Jan., 1890; Benjamin N., born March 22, 1879 and lives in Oklahoma. To Mr. and Mrs. Richey have been born the following children: Margaret Isabel, born Nov. 22, 1876, married Riley Marcum, Hughesville, Mo .; Lon, born Jan. 30, 1879, Jeffer- son City, Mo .; Henry, born June 26, 1881, died Sept. 7. 1909; Andrew Jackson, born Dec. 24, 1883, Sedalia, Mo .; Wallace, born March 15, 1886, lives in Kelly township, Missouri. Mr. and Mrs. Richey have 12 grand- children: Willie, Mary, Henry and Herbert, Norman Francis, Virginia, Ben Henry, Dortha Henrietta, Lucile, Louise and Lon, Jr., Richey.
Willie Marcum, a grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Richey enlisted in the United States army in July, 1917, and went to France in April, 1918, a member of Company D, 140th Infantry, 35th Division. He participated
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in the battles of Argonne Forest and St. Mihiel. For five days he was under fire without intermission. He was discharged and returned home in May, 1919.
John W. Richey is one of Cooper County's most substantial citizens and the Richey family stand high in the community.
John W. Morris, a prominent pioneer and successful farmer and stock- man of Kelly township, is a native of Missouri. He was born near Roscoe, St. Clair County, March 30, 1858, a son of Snodent and Nancy (Dallas) Morris. Snodent T. Morris was born in Howard County, and came with his father, Shadrach Morris, and family to Cooper County, when he was six years old. Snodent T. Morris was reared to manhood in Cooper County, when he went to St. Clair County, and was there when the Civil War broke out. He enlisted in the Confederate army, and served three years and six months. During the war his wife and children came to Cooper County, where he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives.
The Morris family is an old American family, which dates back in this country to Colonial times. They are of English descent and first settled in Virginia. Shadrach Morris, grandfather of John W. of this review was born in Kentucky. He was a son of Hammond Morris, Jr., who was a native of North Carolina, and was one of the very first settlers of Howard County, Mo. Hammond Morris, Jr., was a son of Hammond Morris, Sr., who was a son of Edward Morris.
John W. Morris has in his possession some interesting family docu- ments, one of which is the will of Edward Morris, which was filed by his widow, Elizabeth Morris, in Richmond County, Va., in 1752. Another interesting old document which he has is a will executed by Jesse Morris and wife, conveying land in Madison County, Ky., to Hammond Morris, dated Sept. 5, 1816. He has a letter dated Nov. 6, 1839, written by Ham- mond Morris, who at that time lived in Kelly township, to John Morris and family, and Jene Fry and family. This letter states that the parties to whom it is written would do well to come to Cooper County. That land there is selling for $1.25 per acre; corn is worth from 20 to 25c per bushel; wheat, 75c; oats, 20c; bacon, 7c per pound and pork from 3 to 31bc per pound. That there is no money current here in the land office, except Missouri paper, and gold and silver.
John W. Morris has lived in Kelly township since 1862 since he was four years old. He bought his present home farm, which consists of 150 acres in 1886. He also owns 80 acres in another tract, making 230 acres in all. His place is well improved with a good farm residence and
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he is successfully egaged in carrying on general farming and stock raising.
Mr. Morris was married Oct. 8, 1878 to Miss Mattie J. Cline, a daugh- ter of John Cline of Kelly township, and the following children were born to this union: Arthur, born Nov. 29, 1879, resides near Turney, Mo .; Grace Ann, born Sept. 15, 1889, married Fred Ratchey and they reside on the home place; Edith Kline, born June 8, 1897 and died July 5, 1916, was the wife of Arthur Holliday. There are two grandchildren in the family, Herbert J. C. Morris and Laura Ritchey.
The Morris family is one of the representative pioneer families of this section of Missouri, and John W. Morris is one of Cooper County's most substantial citizens.
Harry Williams, a progressive and enterprising farmer and stockman of Kelly township, was born April 9, 1873. He is a son of Isaac and Anna (Yontz) Williams. Isaac Williams was born in Richland County, Ohio, in 1840, a son of Joseph Williams, who was also a native of Ohio. Isaac Williams was a Union veteran of the Civil War, having served in Company G, 163d Ohio Infantry until the close of the war. He then returned to Ohio where he remained until 1873, when he came to Cooper County. A few years after coming here, he bought a farm in Kelly township, which he later sold, and in 1882 purchased the place where Harry Williams now resides. He was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and was a prominent and public spirited citizen. He died May 11, 1916, and his remains are buried in the I. O. O. F. cemetery at Tipton, Mo.
Isaac Williams was married in 1872 to Anna Yontz, a native of Vir- ginia. She was a daughter of John and Harriet (Windall) Yontz, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Virginia, the former died in 1865 and is buried in Mifflin County, Pa., and the latter died in 1892 and is buried in Tipton, Mo. Three children were born to this union: Lewis, who resides in Kelly township; Harry, Tipton, Mo., and Anne (Yontz) Williams, who resides on the old home place with her son, Harry Williams. Three children were born to Isaac and Anna (Yontz) Williams, as follows: Harry, the subject of this sketch; Lavern, who died in 1908, at the age of 33 years, married Anna Turnell, to whom was born a daugh- ter, Lillian, and they now live in Arizona; and Lillian, married Harry Shrout and they reside in Kelly township.
Harry Williams was reared and educated in Kelly township and has spent all his life in Cooper County. He has made farming and stock rais- ing his life occupation and is meeting with well merited success. He is the owner of 100 acres of valuable and well improved land in Kelly town-
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ship, and carries on general farming and stock raising. His place is located three miles north of Tipton. Mr. Williams was married Nov. 20, 1900, to Miss Laura Snorgrass, of Moniteau County. She is a daughter of Baily and Ella (Robinson) Snorgrass. The father is now deceased and the mother resides at Tipton, Mo. To Mr. and Mrs. Williams have been born one son, Virgil, who is now a student in the Tipton High School.
Mr. Williams is a member of the local school board and takes a com- mendable interest in local public affairs. He holds membership in the Modern Woodmen of America at Tipton, and is one of Cooper County's substantial citizens.
Frank B. White, a well known and prosperous farmer of Kelly town- ship, is a native Missourian. He was born July 2, 1865 in Moniteau County, a son of Stephen and Martha (Robertson) White. Stephen White was a native of Louisiana, and spent most of his life in Moniteau County, where he was engaged in farming. He at one time decided to go to Nebraska and chartered a car to ship his household goods, and started to drive overland to Nebraska. However, he returned to Moniteau County within 30 days, and for the rest of his life was well satisfied with Missouri. He died in 1883 and his wife died in 1907. They were the parents of the following children: Frank B., the subject of this sketch; A. J., mention of whom is made in this volume; Edna, married Robert M. Hudson, and they live in Moniteau County, and Vesta who married Henry Swarner, of Moniteau County.
Frank B. White was reared in Moniteau County and educated in Pleas- ant View school district. He and his brother bought the farm where Frank now lives in partnership in 1887, later Frank B. bought his brother's interest and since that time has owned and operated the place. The place is well improved with a good residence and other farm buildings. Mr. White carries on general farming and stock raising and raises and feeds cattle and hogs, although he has given special attention to breeding and raising pure bred Shropshire sheep. He has made an unusual success of this department of animal husbandry, and is recognized as one of the suc- cessful pure blood sheep breeders of Cooper County.
Mr. White was married, March 28, 1895, to Miss Nannie Masters, a daughter of Charles and Elizabeth (Price) Masters, the former a native of Morgan County and the latter of Kentucky. The father died in 1907 and the mother departed this life in 1866. Mrs. White was one of eight children born to her parents, the others being as follows: Mrs. Fannie Askew, deceased; Mrs. Mary Gilliam, Blairstown, Mo .; William, Blue-
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jacket, Okla .; Richard, Berryville, Ark .; Wade, Kansas City, Mo .; Walter, Calhoun, Mo., and Charles Woodland, Calhoun. To Mr. and Mrs. White have been born one daughter, Daisy Lee, who resides at home with her parents. She is a graduate of the Tipton High School and attended Howard Payne College and is also a graduate of the State Normal School at Warrensburg, Mo.
Mr. White is a progressive and public spirited citizen, and has always been a strong supporter of good schools and in recent years has been an enthusiastic advocate of better roads. He has served as overseer of his local road district for 14 years. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America at Tipton.
Dr. M. R. Huffman, who formerly was engaged in the practice of medicine in this state, but who for the past six or seven years has been engaged in the general merchandise business at Blackwater, is a native of West Virginia. Doctor Huffman was born on a farm in the vicinity of Alderson, W. Va., Sept. 1, 1867, son of Washington and Mary Ellen (Bibb) Huffman.
Washington Huffman was a native of Virginia and was a tanner by trade. He died in 1869, at the age of about 47 years, and his widow, who also was born in Virginia, afterwards married Lewis Alderson, who in 1880 came to Missouri and located in Montgomery County, where he is still living. Mrs. Alderson died in 1909 at the age of 65. To the second union no children were born.
, M. R. Huffman was about 13 years of age when he came to Missouri in 1880 with his mother and stepfather and he grew to manhood in Mont- gomery County. Upon completing the course in the high school at New Florence, he attended the Normal School at Warrensburg and for six years thereafter was engaged in teaching school, three terms at Americus and three at Big Springs. Meantime, he had been giving his attention to the study of medicine under private preceptorship and in 1889, he entered the Kentucky School of Medicine at Louisville, where he was graduated with the degree of Doctor of Medicine in June, 1892. Doctor Huffman then re- turned to Missouri and began the practice of his profession at Minneola. A year later he moved to Big Springs, where he formerly had been suc- cessfully engaged in teaching school, and at that place continued in prac- tice for four years, when he moved to Americus, where he also had been engaged in teaching and here remained in practice for 13 years, or until 1913, when he moved to Blackwater. where he bought the Joseph Fisher
(54)
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stock of general merchandise and engaged in business. In 1916 Doctor Huffman found that his growing trade required more extensive quarters and in November of that year he moved his store to its present admirable location, carrying a full line of general merchandise, including groceries, dry goods and shoes. Doctor Huffman is a Democrat and his family are members of the Baptist Church.
Jan. 23, 1892, Dr. M. R. Huffman was married to Zula Mosley and to this union two children have been born, Paul B., who married Elsie G. Cramer and is an able assistant to his father in the store at Blackwater, and Vera B., who married George Huber, Boonville. Mrs. Huffman is a member of one of the pioneer families of Missouri, her parents, John T. and Virginia (Bush) Mosley, both having been .born in Montgomery County, their respective parents having been among the early settlers of that part of the state, and it was in Montgomery County that Mrs. Huff- man was born and reared.
Sims Brothers, farmers and stockmen, who are operating a well- ordered and progressively conducted place of 390 acres in section 31 of LaMine township, this county, have long been recognized as among the substantial factors in the agricultural development of that section of the county in which they live and it is regarded as but fitting to the purposes of such a chronicle of the times and place as is this work that mention should here be made of the work they are carrying on.
The three brothers, James W., Joseph E., and Claibourne J. Sims, are farming the old Sims home place of 390 acres in LaMine township and in addition to their general farming are giving proper attention to the rais- ing of live stock, their operations being carried on in accordance with modern methods and with gratifying results. The brothers are bachelors and their home five miles east of Blackwater is presided over by their widowed mother and their sister. The Sims family came into Cooper County from Howard County more than 40 years ago and has long been recognized as one of the established families of LaMine township. Further reference to this family will be found in a biographical sketch relating to John N. Sims, another brother, presented elsewhere in this work, where fitting reference also is made to the late John C. Sims, father of these sons, who died on the place which he had established nearly a half cen- tury ago and where his widow and the four unmarried children still reside.
Rev. Benjamin F. Reed, a minister of the Baptist Church and a farmer and landowner in the vicinity of Blackwater, is a native Missourian. He
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was born on a farm in Livingston County, July 14, 1853, son of John and Jane (Justice) Reed, who were the parents of 14 children.
John Reed was born in Carroll County, Mo., in 1822, his parents hav- ing been pioneers of that section. He was reared a farmer and in the days of his young manhood went to Livingston County, where he married, established his home and he spent the remainder of his life, his death oc- curring in 1905. His widow died in 1907. She was born in Frankfort, Ky., in July, 1822. Her parents died when she was a child and when 14 years of age she came to Missouri and grew to womanhood in the home of her aunt, Mrs. Betsy McCroskey.
Reared on a farm, the Rev. Benjamin F. Reed grew up familiar with the details of farm life. His early schooling was received in the schools of Livingston County and from boyhood he has been a close student, early giving his attention to the study of theology and philosophy. In 1870 he married and continued farming, meanwhile pursuing his theological studies and in 1889 was licensed a minister of the Baptist Church and has ever since been engaged in the ministry of the gospel, during that time serving in a pastoral relation many congregations and driving or riding many miles horseback throughout this region. For the past 14 years he has been the settled pastor of Heaths Creek Baptist Church in Saline County. In 1897 Mr. Reed came to the Blackwater neighborhood and bought the 40 acres of land two miles south of town in Blackwater town- ship, where he has since made his home, giving his active attention to the operation of the farm in addition to attending to his ministerial duties. Mr. Reed is a Democrat and a Mason and also belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
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