USA > Missouri > Cooper County > History of Cooper County, Missouri > Part 114
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William Speed Poage, owner of an excelent farm of 240 acres in Kelly township and one of the progressive and energetic young farmers and stockmen of that part of Cooper County, has created an admirable farm plant there and is doing well in his operations. He was born in Mon- roe County, Mo., Oct. 10, 1886, son of Samuel and Fannie J. (Speed) Poage, the latter of whom is living with his son William, her only surviving child. Of the children born to Samuel Poage and wife but two lived to maturity, a son and a daughter. The latter, Mary V., married A. A. Knoop and is now deceased. Samuel Poage was born in Monroe County, Mo., in 1852, and died in 1887, he then being but 35 years of age. His widow was born in Morgan County in 1853.
Dec. 18, 1908, William Speed Poage was united in marriage to Rhoda
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Richards, who was born in Carroll County, Mo., daughter of the Rev. F. C. Richards and wife, who are now living in Morgan County, and to this union three children have been born, Eva M., Mary H. and Sarah F. Mr. and Mrs. Poage are members of the Methodist Church and take a proper interest in church work, as well as in the general social activities of the community in which they live. Mr. Poage is a democrat and he is affiliated with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and the Modern Woodmen of America.
Homer E. Norris. a progressive young farmer of Kelly township, and owner of a fine farm, was born on a farm in Monroe County, Ohio, March 1, 1885, son of William L. and Adelia M. (Wise) Norris, both of whom also were born in Ohio and the latter of whom is still living in Pettis County.
William L. Norris was born in Monroe County, Ohio, and there grew to manhood. During the Civil War he enlisted and for three years served as a soldier of the Union, being twice wounded during this service. After; the war he engaged in farming in Monroe county, where he remained until 1887 when he disposed of his interests in Ohio and with his family came to Missouri and located on a farm near Pleasant Green, this county. where he was successfully engaged in farming until his retirement. He is now living in Pettis County with his daughter, Mrs. Mattie McMullen, being now 76 years of age. His wife died in Cooper County in 1904, she then being 57 years of age. William L. Norris and wife were the parents of eight children, five sons and three daughters, of whom the sub- ject of this sketch was the youngest and all of whom are still living save one of the sons.
Homer E. Norris was but two years of age when his parents came to Cooper County in 1887 and here he grew to manhood, receiving his school- ing in the local schools in the vicinity of Pleasant Green. When 20 years of age he began farming on his own account, renting for a season, and then in 1904 bought a farm in Pettis County and made his home there until 1907, when he sold that place and returned to Cooper County and bought the farm where he is now living. Mr. Norris owns an excellent farm of 1881% acres and in addition to that is farming an adjacent tract, 300 acres thus being under his control. His farm plant is well equipped and in addition to his general farming he gives considerable attention to the feeding of live stock.
Nov. 30, 1905, Homer E. Norris was married to Anna Woolery, who was born in this county, and to this union two children have been born. Homer E., Jr., and William L., the latter named in honor of his grand-
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father. Mrs. Norris is a member of one of the old families of Cooper County, the Woolerys having been represented here since pioneer days, and is a daughter of Taylor and Eliza (Berry) Woolery. Mr. and Mrs. Norris are members of the Methodist Church and take an interested part in church work. Mr. Norris is a democrat and he is affiliated with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and the Modern Woodmen of America.
Millard E. Thomas, one of Lebanon township's well known and pro- gressive young farmers, who is managing there a fine farm of 200 acres belonging to his father, who is now retired, was born on that farm, as was his mother. He was born July 26, 1882, son of Charles M. and Jennie (Steele) Thomas, both of whom also were born in Lebanon township, members of pioneer families there.
Charles M. Thomas was born in 1854, a son of Jonas Thomas and wife, the latter of whom was a Miss Woolery prior to her marriage. After his marriage Charles M. Thomas settled on his home on the farm which he now owns and which is being operated by his son, Millard, and was suc- cessfully engaged in farming and stock raising until his retirement and removal to Belton, where he is now living. His wife died in 1915. She was born on the farm on which she spent all her life in 1855, daughter of D. K. and Caroline (Burns) Steele, who were among the early residents in that part of Lebanon township. To Charles M. Thomas and wife were born five children as follows: May, wife of S. L. Burford, living in Kan- sas ; Carrie, married John Hawkins and is now deceased ; Millard E .; Dale, wife of John Schilb, living southwest of Otterville and Clarence, living south of Otterville.
Reared on the home place in Lebanon township, Millard E. Thomas received his early schooling in the local public schools and supplemented this by a course in the college at Clarksburg. From boyhood he had given his attention to the labors of the home farm and after a while began farming on his own account there under a proper working arrangement with his father and was thus engaged until 1913 when he went to Sedalia and was there for three years engaged as check clerk in a wholesale grocery house. In 1916 Mr. Thomas returned from Sedalia and resumed the management of the home farm in his father's behalf and has since successfully been carrying on the operations of that place. He gives con- siderable attention to the raising of live stock.
July 26, 1904. Millard E. Thomas was married at Syracuse, Mo .. to Minnie Burford, who was born at that place June 28, 1878, daughter of Albert and Mary (Mathis) Burford. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas are members
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of the Baptist Church. Mr. Thomas is a republican and is affiliated with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons at Otterville.
Boone Hurt, a substantial farmer and stockman of Clear Creek town- ship is a native son of Cooper County. He was born on a farm in Clarks Fork township Aug. 30, 1854, son of Joel and Harriet (Fairs) Hurt, both of whom spent their last days here.
Joel Hurt was a Virginian, born near Culpeper Court House, March 11, 1814. He grew to manhood in Virginia and was there married to Elizabeth Hess, who also was born in Virginia and by whom he had three children. In the early '40s he came with his family to Missouri and set- tled on a farm in Clarks Fork township and spent the remainder of his life there. He died March 10, 1880. In his youth Joel Hurt had been trained as a brick mason and after locating on his farm here also followed that trade as demands warranted. He was a republican and was for years regarded as one of the leaders of that party in his part of Cooper County. For 25 years he served as justice of the peace in Clarks Fork township and it is a matter of record in which his family takes a just degree of pride that rarely indeed were the judgments rendered by him overruled by the higher courts, even in such few cases as were appealed from his court. Not long after coming to this county Joel Hurt's first wife died and he married Harriet Fairs, who was born in Saline township, in 1828; she died in 1905. To this latter union were born nine children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the fourth in order of birth.
Reared on the home farm in Clarks Fork township, Boone Hurt at- tended the local schools and from the days of his boyhood has followed farming. He married in the fall of 1880 and in 1885 bought a farm in Clarks Fork township, which he sold in 1892 and bought another farm in that township. This latter place he also sold to advantage and then bought a farm in North Moniteau township, where he resided until the spring of 1911, when he sold that place and moved to Oklahoma with the expectation of making his home in that state. Things there, however, did not present themselves to his liking and in the following October he disposed of such interests as he had acquired there and returned to Cooper County, buying here the farm of 287 acres on which he is now living in Clear Creek township and has there since resided. Mr. Hurt has made numerous improvements on the place. Mr. Hurt is a republican, as was his father.
Nov. 9, 1880, Boone Hurt was married to Malinda Haley, who was born Jan. 2, 1862, in Moniteau County, daughter of Thomas A. and Eliza- beth (Benson) Haley, both of whom were born in Howard County, and
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who after their marriage made their home in Moniteau County, where they reared their family. To Mr. and Mrs. Hurt have been born 13 chil- dren, namely: Edgar G., living at Pisgah; Nannie, wife of Homer Bru- baker, Lebanon township; Eliza, wife of Archibald Powell, Clear Creek township; Chester A., farming in Lebanon township; Bessie, wife of H. Carpenter, Prairie Home township; Leslie, deceased; Raymond, farming in Clear Creek township, and his twin sister, who died in infancy ; Ewing, who married Annabel Mayfield and is now, summer of 1919, with the American Expeditionary Forces in Europe : Gordon, deceased ; Thelma, at home, and Lewis and Huldah H., also at home. Sergt. Ewing Hurt, the soldier son, was born on April 21, 1896, in Clarks Fork township, and was engaged in farming when on Sept. 19, 1917, he was called to the colors in the World War. After a period of training at Camp Funston, he sailed with his command for overseas service in April, 1918, and thus partici- pated in considerable active service. After the armistice he continued on with the victorious army and was serving in the Army of Occupation in Germany, a sergeant of Company L, 356th Infantry, 89th Division, when the German government signed the treaty of peace in June, 1919.
John Harris Fray, owner and proprietor of "Walnut Grove Farm", LaMine township, is a well known and successful farmer and stockman of Cooper County. He was born in LaMine township Nov. 23, 1878, and is a son of Benjamin A. and Adelia Frances (Harris) Fray, and is one of the following children born to them: John Harris, the subject of this sketch; Elwood H., a stockman, Blackwater; William Tyler, St. Louis ; Mary E., married Leslie O'Rear, Chicago, Ill .; and Alva C., Marshall, Mo.
Benjamin A. Fray was born in LaMine township in 1853, a son of John A. and Martha Elizabeth (Herndon) Fray, natives of Virginia, who came to Cooper County from that state at an early date, and were among the pioneers of LaMine township, where they spent the remainder of their lives after coming here. They were the parents of nine children. Benj. A. Fray was successfully engaged in farming and stock raising in Cooper County for many years, and is now living retired at Marshall, Mo.
Adelia Frances (Harris) Fray was also born in LaMine township in 1851. She is a daughter of Washington and Mary (Tyler) Harris, who were early settlers in Cooper County. She was educated in the public schools and Pilot Grove College.
John Harris Fray was educated in the district school and also attended Pilot Grove College. He began life as a clerk in a drug store at Black-
.
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water. Two years later he entered the employ of the National Live Stock Commission Company and for ten years represented that company as a live stock salesman at East St. Louis, Ill., when he was transferred to Kansas City in the same capacity for that company and remained there about eight years. He then went to Colorado, where he remained about three years, when he returned to Cooper County and engaged in his pres- ent business on the place where he now resides, which he purchased in March, 1919. "Walnut Grove Farm" is a well improved place of 400 acres, and well adapted to the stock business. Mr. Fray is perhaps the largest cattle feeder in Cooper County, usually feeding for the market from 400 to 500 head of cattle each year, and about 800 head of hogs. His broad and varied experience in the live stock business well qualified him to get the best results out of his endeavor in this particular line, and he is meeting with well merited success.
Dec. 26, 1900, John Harris Fray was married to Miss Bessie E. Rey- nolds, who was born in Iowa and reared in Nebraska. She is a daughter of John H. and Mary (Claiborne) Reynolds, natives of Illinois and France, respectively. The father was engaged in railroad contracting for a num- ber of years and is now living in St. Louis. To Mr. and Mrs. Fray have been born one child, Mary Claiborne Fray.
Mr. Fray is a member of the time honored Masonic Lodge and also belongs to the Elks. He is one of Cooper County's substantial citizens.
Robert Leyton Miller, company officer at the Missouri State Train- ing School for Boys, Boonville, was born on a farm in Boonville township, March 23, 1889.
Everett Miller, his father, is also a native of Cooper County and was born Oct. 14, 1865, on what is called the old Miller home place, and is a son of Robert Miller, a native of Kentucky who settled in Cooper County before the Civil War and was a soldier in the Confederate Army. Robert Miller died in 1914 at the age of 89 years. Everett Miller has a splendid farm of 160 acres with excellent improvements. He married Miss Bettie Robinson, who was born in Cooper County, five miles southeast of Boon- ville, and is a daughter of John Robinson, a Cooper County pioneer.
Everett Miller, his father, is also a native of Cooper County and was educated in the Boonville High School and Christian Brothers College at St. Louis. Until his appointment to his present post on Sept. 23, 1917, he was engaged as a motor machinist in Kansas City. During the years of 1912 and 1913, Mr. Miller traveled over Colorado, Washington and Oregon,
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making trips also into Texas and New Mexico. He also made a trip through the East as far as Perry, N. Y. During his travels he visited various penal institutions such as the Federal penitentiary at Leaven- worth, Kan., the Illinois State penitentiary at Joliet, reformatory at Pont- iac, and various other penal institutions for the purpose of making a study of prison reform and prison management. He is still a student of state reform school management and his studies along the line of this pro- fession have been invaluable to him in the proper performance of the duties of his position at the Missouri Training School where a company of boys are in his charge.
Mr. Miller is a democrat. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church. He is well informed, broad minded, and of a kindly disposition, and seems especially fitted for the position which he holds.
Robert P. Burge, vice-president of the Boonville Mercantile Company, Boonville, Mo., is a native Missourian and was born on a farm near Butler, Bates County, April 6, 1863. Oscar Burge, his father, was born in Ken- tucky in 1822 and died in 1900. Oscar Burge's father was a soldier in the War of 1812 and had a government land grant in Bates County, Mo. Oscar Burge made the long overland trip to the gold fields of California in 1850 and remained there for two years. He acquired a quantity of gold, a part of which his son, Robert P., still has in his possession, con- sisting of a gold nugget valued at over $100. Mr. Burge returned to Ken- tucky by way of Cape Horn and soon afterwards went to Bates County, Mo., where he took possession of his father's land grant. Disposing of this he came to Cooper County and settled seven miles southeast of Boon- ville where he developed a good farm of 150 acres and there spent the remainder of his days. Early in young manhood he married Elizabeth Miller who was born and reared in Cooper County, a daughter of pioneer parents. 'She was born on a farm south of Boonville in 1824 and departed this life in 1872, leaving children as follows: John, a farmer, southwest of Boonville; William, a farmer, near Blackwater; Robert P., of this re- view ; and Dora Burge lives in Kentucky.
Robert P. Burge was reared on his father's farm, attended the dis- trict school and followed farming until 1904. He became owner of a fine farm of 136 acres in the old home neighborhood which is well improved. After leaving the farm he spent the winter of 1904 and 1905 at Eldorado Springs, Mo., and then engaged in business in partnership with H. G. Hudson of Boonville for two years. The Boonville Mercantile Company
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was then organized and he became a stockholder and officer in the concern. Mr. Burge has charge of all the plumbing and electrical work done by this large establishment.
He was married in Oct., 1893, to Miss Addie Parker, who was born in Ohio, and is a daughter of Samuel J. Parker who settled in Cooper County some years ago. The children born to Robert P. and Addie Burge are as follows: Alma Burge, a student in Monticello Seminary, Godfrey, Ill .; Grace Burge, attending the Boonville High School.
Mr. Burge is a democrat and attends the Baptist Church. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias and is an industrious, substantial citizen and loyal to his home city and county.
Joseph M. Clark, painter and decorator, Boonville, was born on a farm six miles east of Boonville, April 4, 1861. The farm on which he was born is one of the most historic in this section and is the site of the first Battle of Boonville which was fought between the Confederates and the Union soldiers in June, 1861.
David B. Clark, his father was born in Zanesville, Ohio, in 1828 and died in 1914. He was a son of Adam and Nancy Clark, the latter of whom died at the age of 85 years. Adam Clark was born in Ireland and died in Boonville at the age of 86 years. He was born in Belfast and learned the trade of mill wright and bridge builder. After settling in Ohio he followed his trade. He came to Cooper County in the thirties and here built many of the earlier bridges and mills in this section. Two of the bridges which he built across the Petit Saline River are still standing, one of which the covered wooden bridge known as the Shumaker bridge, was erected in 1857 and the other spans the river at Big Lick, or Gooch Mill. In all, he erected six bridges across the Petit Saline and built many flour mills. When he approached the Board of County Judges relative to erect- ing a wooden, covered structure such as he had in mind he found the judges skeptical about the strength of the proposed bridge. He there- upon built a model bridge four feet in length, complete in every detail. Calling the judges to a store, he placed each end of the bridge upon a chair and then placed a 100 pound sack of flour on the center of his model. The model sustained weight of the flour and the judges were convinced of the stability of the proposed bridges.
David B. Clark removed from his farm to Boonville in the spring of 1861 and resumed his occupation as river man. For a period of 35 years he operated steamboats on the Missouri River and served as purser and captain on many boats. During the Civil War his steamer transported
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Union soldiers down the river and he carried the troops which invested Vicksburg. For several years after the war he carried provisions to Fort Benton on the upper reaches of the Missouri. After his retirement from the river he followed his natural bent as a skilled cabinet maker and many pieces of furniture and ornamentation, such as mantels and stair cases and panel work adorn the Clark home on Seventh street. His wife was Margaret Mitchell prior to her marriage. She was born in 1812 and died in 1884. She was born near Brighton, Beaver County, Pa., and was a daughter of John Mitchell who came to Boonville in 1848 and conducted a retail store in this city until his death at the age of 83 years. The other children born to David B. and Margaret Clark are, besides the subject of this sketch: Mrs. Agnes Askew, deceased; and John Clark, of Kansas City, Mo.
For 38 years, Joseph M. Clark has followed his trade of painter and decorator and fills contracts in Cooper County and the surrounding cities and towns in central Missouri, including Jefferson City. He is a born artist and many fine paintings which he has created with his brush adorn the walls of his home. He was married in 1895 to Miss Cora F. Fritts, who was born in Cooper County in 1868, a daughter of John and Patsie Fritts, the former of whom is deceased, while the mother is still living at the age of 77 years.
Mr. Clark has two sons who are assisting him in his business. The eldest son is Leonidas M., a decorator and painter like his father, and who served six months in the National Army as first sergeant of his company, stationed at Fort Bliss. The younger son is Price Boone Clark, aged 14 years.
Mr. Clark is an independent republican. He is a Presbyterian and comes from a long line of Presbyterian ancestors of Scotch descent. He is affiliated with the Woodmen of the World lodge.
Joseph Anthony Oswald, farmer and live stock dealer, Boonville, is proprietor of two farms aggregating 400 acres, one farm being located two miles south and the other five and a half miles southeast of Boon- ville. Mr. Oswald was born Oct. 16, 1870, on a farm four miles south of Boonville and is a son of the later Herman Oswald.
Herman Oswald was born in Bavaria, Germany, April 17, 1820, and died in Cooper County, Dec. 15, 1903. His wife, who was Christina Youngkamp prior to her marriage was born in Westphalia, Germany, Oct. 12. 1844 and died March 10, 1893. They were parents of the following children: Frank, born Sept. 17, 1868, lives in Boonville ; Julius, born Feb.
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2. 1863. Cooper County farmer; August, born July 6, 1864, Cooper County farmer: Christina, born Jan. 6, 1867, deceased wife of Matt Cleary; Joseph A., of this review; Lizzie, born Oct. 10, 1872, wife of William G. Robien. well known stockman and farmer of Cooper County; Margaret, born March 7, 1875, deceased wife of John H. Schnuck, Boonville township; Katie. born Feb. 7. 1878. wife of P. F. Fitzpatrick, a farmer west of Boonville; Julia. born Sept. 17. 1880, wife of Ed Darby. Boonville.
Herman Oswald came to America in 1854 and first located in the timber lands of Wisconsin. He entered 40 acres of virgin timber land near Green Bay, and proceeded to clear the land. In order to afford him an outlet to the village he cut a road through the timber which to this day is known as the Oswald road. He came to Cooper County after a year or so to be able to live in a climate which was not so severe as the Wiscon- sin climate. Not long after he came here he sold his northern farm and after renting land for a time in Cooper County he purchased a place south of Boonville. He accumulated over 400 acres of land and became one of. the wealthy citizens of Cooper County. He owned prior to his death a total of 1.300 acres of land. 1.000 acres of which was situated in Cooper County and 300 acres located in Kansas. Mr. Oswald followed general farming and stock raising and operated on a large scale as a feeder of live stock. He prospered until the breakng out of the Civil War when the depredations of the bands of soldiers who were overrunning the country practically cleaned him out; his live stock was run off; his provisions taken whenever he had any and everything movable was "requisitioned". At the close of the war he was practically "broke" and a new start was necessary. Like others who were in the same plight, he recovered from his losses and became wealthy. He was married in 1861 to Christina Youngkamp, who came to America from Germany in 1858 with her father. Bernard Youngkamp.
Joseph A. Oswald attended the school at Stony Point, and worked for his father on the farm until 1900. He and his three brothers farmed together and handled live stock until 1906. Joseph and Julius Oswald then became partners in the live stock business. Mr. Oswald feeds about 300 head of cattle and 500 hogs annually. He ships about 200 car loads of stock each year. Mr. Oswald left the farm and moved to Boonville in 1913.
April 16. 1913. Joseph A. Oswald and Miss Minnie Dumalt, of Bill- ingsville, were married. This marriage has been blessed with the follow- ing children: Edward, born Feb. 5. 1914; Margaret. born Aug. 25, 1915;
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Mildred, born Oct. 15, 1916; Harold, born Dec. 8, 1918. The mother of these children was born on a farm seven miles southwest of Boonville and is a daughter of Michael and Catherine (Esser) Dumalt, the former of whom was born in 1851, and the latter born in 1852, both being natives of Germany. Mrs. Catherine (Esser) Dumalt is a daughter of Bertram Esser.
Mr. Oswald is a democrat and he and his family are members of the Sts. Peter and Paul's Church. Mr. Oswald is affiliated with the Knights of Columbus.
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