History of Cooper County, Missouri, Part 115

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

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Frank E. Lionberger .- The late Francis Edward Lionberger was a member of one of the oldest Cooper County pioneer families. He was born April 7, 1842 in Boonville, and died April 13, 1913. His father was Isaac Lionberger, a pioneer merchant and very popular citizen of Boonville who died in 1861. The mother of F. E. Lionberger was Mary Ann Tutt, prior to her marriage, and both parents were natives of Virginia, and were descended from old American stock. Isaac Lionberger was for years, one of the leading merchants of Boonville, and was very popular with the ladies in the antebellum period. When making his yearly trips to New York City to do his buying for the season he would be commissioned by the Cooper County ladies to purchase their frocks-his judgment regard- ing the prevailing styles being so discriminating that he rarely made a mistake in selecting suitable wearing apparel for his patrons.

Frank E. Lionberger attended the Kemper School and the State Uni- versity at Columbia. He then settled on the farm owned by his mother, south of Boonville which is now owned by S. L. Hickam, and remained there until the farm was sold in 1891. He then bought a place of 100 acres adjoining the old home place and the family resided there until Sept., 1917, when they moved to the present home in Boonville.

May 13, 1869, Mr. Lionberger was married to Emma (Hersey) Talbot. To this marriage were born the following children: Charles Edward, Los Angeles, Cal., married Helen Baskerville and has two sons, Frances Edward and William Talbot; Bettie is the wife of Dr. C. H. Van Ravensway, is mother of two sons, Arie Cornelius and Charles Edward; Mary, at home with her mother; Addie Talbot, a member of the D. A. R., at home with her mother.

The mother of these children was born Jan. 1, 1850, on Loutre Island. Loutre Island is situated opposite Hermann, Mo., and in size it was two and a half miles wide by twelve miles long. William Irving Talbot, father of Mrs. Lionberger, was born in Lexington, Ky., in 1808 and died in 1874.

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He was a son of Matthew Talbot, whose father came to America from England early in the 18th century. Matthew Talbot was a pioneer in Missouri, settling here in the early thirties. He was a slaveholder and owned many fine horses. It was his custom to give each son a fine mare as he became of age. William Irving Talbot cleared his island farm of timber but left several fine pecan trees. He tilled his land with slave labor until the war brought freedom for the slaves and after the close of the Civil War he came to Boonville and died here. When a young man he married Mrs. Catherine Jane (Hersey) Bascom, a widow, who was born in Lynchburg, Va., in 1812 and died in Sedalia, Mo., in 1877. By her first marriage she had two daughters. Mrs. Lionberger is the only child of her parents.

The late Frank E. Lionberger was a democrat and was a member of the Methodist Church south. He was a great reader and student of the times and was posted on all subjects of interest. He was possessed of a very retentive memory which enabled him to converse with fluency and ability upon almost any topic of interest. Mr. Lionberger was a kind husband and a wise father to his children. His death was a sincere loss to the community.

Henry E. Brummel .- When Henry E. Brummel, prosperous farmer and stockman of the Prairie Lick neighborhood, came from Michigan to Cooper County, 26 years ago, he brought most of his earthly possessions in a prairie schooner, hauled by four horses. Mr. Brummel made the trip from Michigan in the late fall and it took six weeks because of the fact that he stopped enroute and worked two weeks on the railroad so as to get some needed money. He arrived at Boonville, Dec. 1, 1892 and during the latter part of the trip he would have to get up in the night from his rough couch and run around for awhile to restore circulation and get warmed up. Having sold his property in Michigan, realizing $800, he at once invested in Cooper County land at $28 an acre. Mr. Brummel has 208 acres of valuable farm land upon which he has placed every improve- ment including a large frame residence which stands on the highest spot of his farm, two large barns and silo. He raises Shorthorn cattle, hogs and sheep and is rated as one of the well-to-do farmers and stockmen of this section of Missouri.

Henry E. Brummel was born in 1860, at Aurora, Ill. He is a son of Peter (b. 1830. d. Feb. 28, 1899) and Mary Brummel (b. 1838, d. June 7, 1911). His parents came to America in 1852, although Peter Brummel crossed the ocean in 1851.

Peter Brummel went to Michigan in 1865 and settled on a farm near Burns. He sold out his holdings in Michigan in 1895 and came to Cooper

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County and spent the remainder of his days on a farm here. The chil- dren of Peter and Mary Brummel were: Anna and Kate, deceased; Mary Gertrude, deceased; Peter, Buffalo Prairie, Mo .; Joseph, trainmaster on the Minneapolis and St. Louis railroad at Monmouth, Ill .; Mrs. Margaret Whitehurse, living on a farm four miles southeast of Boonville; Mrs. Agnes Kronen, Michigan; Lena, wife of John Stoecklein, living near Pilot Grove; Jennie, wife of Fred Schuester, R. F. D. carrier, Pilot Grove ; Eliza- beth, wife of Joe Vollmer, Pilot Grove; two children died in infancy.

Mr. Brummel was married in 1896 to Verona Wittman, born in 1867, a daughter of Peter and Regina (Heilman) Wittman, natives of Baden, Germany. Peter Wittman was born in 1826 and died in 1901. Regina Wittman was born in May, 1837, and died in 1891. Peter Wittman came to America in the early forties and his wife came to this country in 1855. Peter Wittman was a "forty-niner" who went to California during the great rush for gold. The children born to Henry E. and Verona Brum- mel are: Viol, born March 31, 1897, married on March 7, 1916 to Marvin Eichelberger, who was born in Cooper County, in 1893 and is a son of A. H. Eichelberger. They have one child, Edward, born Feb. 5, 1918.

Mr. Brummel is a democrat and a member of the Martinsville Catholic Church and is affiliated with the Knights of Columbus.

Frank Bechtold .- The Bechtold Dairy Farm, located about one mile south of Boonville, Mo., consisting of 124 acres, was established in 1893 by Frank Bechtold. The farm is well equipped with every facility for caring for the dairy herd of 22 Jerseys and Holsteins and the output of the dairy is sold over established milk routes in Boonville. A large bank barn and silo, with a substantial cottage residence make up the improve- ments on the place which have all been placed thereon by the proprietor.

Frank Bechtold was born in Germany, Oct. 13, 1854, and is a son of Joseph and Christina Bechtold who lived all of their lives in their native country. Mr. Bechtold emigrated from his native land in 1880 and came directly to Boonville. He arrived here with a capital of about $200. He followed his trade·of stone cutter for 30 years and resided in Boonville until he purchased his dairy farm. For the past 40 years, Mr. Bechtold has resided in Boonville and vicinity and is well and favorably known as a conscientious and skilled stone worker who is also a good business man. Of late years, Mr. Bechtold has turned over the management of the dairy business to his capable and energetic son.

Mr. Bechtold was married in 1878 to Mary Hoflander, who was born in Germany, reared and married there, and is now aged 64 years. The oldest' child of the family was born in Germany. The children born to

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HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY

Frank and Mary Bechtold are: Theresa Bechtold married William Lever, a tinner of Boonville; William is a shoemaker in St. Louis; Rosa is the wife of Frank Oswald, Boonville; Charles, the soldier of the family, was born March 5, 1886, enlisted in July, 1918, in the National Army, was trained at Camp Cole, Gettysburg, Pa., for active tank service and sailed for France just one week before the armistice was declared which ended the great World War; Fred John was born June 14, 1888, and is a drug- gist at St. Louis; Bertha is the wife of Jacob Melkersman, who resides on a farm six miles southeast of Boonville; Clara; Mary Catherine, and Henry are at home. Henry Bechtold is the active manager of the dairy farm and business.

Mr. Bechtold is a republican and he and his family are members of Sts. Peter and Paul's Catholic Church. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus.

Wilbur B. Wallace, retired stockman and farmer, Boonville, is a native of Cooper County. Mr. Wallace was born on a farm three miles west of Bunceton, Aug. 26, 1881. His father, Thomas J. Wallace was born in 1837 and died in 1900. He was a native of Virginia whose father migrated to Missouri about 1845 and settled in Cooper County. The Wal- lace family is an old American family which numbers among its members some of the most prominent men of Missouri and the nation. Hugh Wal- lace of Liberty, present ambassador to France is a cousin of W. B. Wal- lace. The grandfather of W. B. Wallace entered government land in this county and had quite a large estate. Thomas J. Wallace was reared to young manhood in Cooper County and married Martha S. Cockrell who was born in Virginia in 1824, and now resides in Boonville. She is a daughter of Thomas Cockrell who was related to Senator Cockrell of Mis- souri. She came to Cooper County when a child in company with her brother, George Cockrell. Thomas J. Wallace followed farming and stock raising during his active life and was very successful. During the Civil War he dealt extensively in mules, supplying the armies with these ani- mals. He was father of four children: Edgar Wallace, living in New York; A. A. Wallace, engaged in the manufacturing business in Boonville ; Thomas, deceased; Wilbur B., subject of this sketch.

W. B. Wallace was educated in the district school and Central College at Fayette, Mo. He entered Yale University and was pursuing a scientific course when his father's death made it necessary for him to return home to assist in looking after the estate. He engaged in farming and stock

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raising on his farm of 325 acres near Bunceton until March, 1918, when he sold his land holdings and moved to Boonville.

Mr. Wallace was married in 1906 to Miss Louise Harriman of Bunce- ton, a daughter of Col. Robert Harriman. Mr. and Mrs. Wallace have one child, Thomas Wallace, aged six years.

Mr. Wallace is a democrat. He is a member of the Methodist Epis- copal Church and the Knights of Pythias, the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and holds a membership in the Ararat Temple of the Mystic Shrine, Kansas City, Mo.

Joseph Walker Woolery, farmer and stockman of Palestine township who is operating the F. H. Muntzel farm of 347 acres, is a native of Cooper County. He was born May 26, 1877, within one-half mile of Nebo Church.

His father, Scott Woolery, was born in Cooper County, and was a son of pioneer parents in this county. He married Kate Patrick a daughter of a Cooper County pioneer who married a sister of Samuel Cole's second wife. Scott Woolery was a twin brother to Taylor Woolery of Pleasant Green and a brother to Col. Thomas S. Woolery of Bunceton.

J. W. Woolery was educated in Nebo School and Bell Air High School. From July 21, 1915, to Feb. 26, 1919, he was in the employ of the Standard Oil Company at Pilot Grove. He then leased the Muntzel farm and is operating the tract on a partnership basis.

Mr. Woolery was married in Oct., 1901, to Mary Susan Connelly, who has borne him two children: Joseph D. and Emily Margaretha. Mrs. Mary Susan Woolery was born in Cooper County and is a daughter of the late Joseph Connelly, who resided on a farm near Pilot Grove for over 50 years.

Joseph Connelly was born in 1846 and died April 1, 1910. He was a native of North Carolina and came to Missouri in 1867. Shortly after- ward he was married and settled on a farm near Pilot Grove where he lived until but a few years prior to his death when he moved to Pilot Grove. He was father of seven children: James Anthony, drowned; Mary Susan, wife of J. W. Woolery, of this sketch ; Mrs. Minnie Josephine, wife of Dr. Ely, Jacksonville, Texas; Ruth Ethel, wife of Arthur Haley, Pilot Grove; Margaret Lavinia, wife of Prof. J. C. Godley, Milton, Iowa; William Walter, deceased; John Daniel, was accidentally killed by a street car in Kansas City, Mo., in June, 1916. The mother of these children, Margaret (Boles) Connelly was born in Stone County, Mo., in 1854. She

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is a daughter of Anthony and Ruth (Johnston) Boles, the latter being related to the old Johnston family of Cooper County, of whom Col. Thomas A. Johnston, head of the Kemper Military School at Boonville, is a mem- ber. Anthony Johnston was a native of Kentucky, was a stone mason, married in Indiana. He was also a millwright who built several water mills in Stone and Caney Counties, Mo., and also built the Harriman Mill at Pilot Grove. He owned the flouring mill at Bunceton. He was born in 1814, came to Cooper County, in 1863 and died April 30, 1901. Ruth Boles, his wife was born Dec. 5, 1808 and died March 15, 1898. There were seven children in the Boles family: Minerva; John W .; Johnston; Eli, and Julia, deceased; Josephine, wife of Wm. Fentress, lives at Mont- rose, Mo .; Mrs. Margaret Connelly of this review.

Mr. Woolery is a republican. He is a member of the Methodist Epis- copal Church and is a past grand of the Knights of the Maccabees of Pilot Grove and is a member of the Pilot Grove Business Men's Association.

Fred C. Stegner, farmer and stockman, owner of a well improved tract of 81 acres of land near Billingsville, was born and reared on the farm which he now owns. Mr. Stegner was born Feb. 15, 1878 and is a son of August and Annie (Angemann) Stegner, well-to-do residents of Cooper County who left the farm in 1908 and moved to Boonville.

Fred C. Stegner attended the Billingsville public schools and, with the exception of one year spent in the West engaged in railroading, he has always lived on the home place in Cooper County. His father, August Stegner, a wise and provident citizen, realizing that the best way to have his sons remain on the farms of Cooper County, has assisted each of his children to become farm owners and used his credit and means to this end while encouraging his sons to earn their own way. As a result, each boy is now a prosperous land owner and making good in Cooper County. Fred C. Stegner purchased the home place 1914 after renting it from his father for some time. He is improving the place and in 1913 replaced a barn which had been struck by lightning and burned to the ground.

Mr. Stegner was married Dec. 25, 1907, to Matilda Magdalena Koellner of Cooper County, a daughter of Christ and Annie (Timm) Koellner. Three children have been born to this union: Irvin Benjamin, born Dec. 26, 1911; Virginia, born April 22, 1914; Elmer August, born Dec. 27, 1916.

Mr. Stegner is a republican, a member of the Evangelical Church of Billingsville and is a good, industrious, progressive citizen.

George T. Steinmetz, although retired from active work, is kept busily employed in gardening at his fine old, country place on the hill just at the

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end of Locust street in the east part of Boonville. This tract of five acres is the old Nelson Place and embraces five acres, sufficient to keep one man busy almost the year around. A large brick house of imposing appear- ance graces this homestead. Mr. Steinmetz was born Dec. 12, 1856, at Glasgow, Mo., and is a son of Samuel and Lizette Steinmetz, natives of Germany, and Charitan County, respectively.

Samuel Steinmetz, his father, came from Germany to America when a young man, was first a shoemaker, then engaged in the grocery busi- ness, later conducted a live stock business at St. Louis, became one of the noted Shorthorn breeders of the West and achieved national fame as a horticulturist, becoming one of the most widely known men in this sec- tion of the country. He accumulated a large estate of 700 acres, his home place being across the roadway from Glasgow. He owned the old Cleve- land farm of 475 acres in Howard County. Mr. Steinmetz died in 1911 at the great age of 96 years and four days. Samuel Steinmetz maintained a large green house and spent his spare time in propagating rare and new specimens of flowers. He produced and bred the celebrated green dahlia which brought at sale the sum of $1,200. He also propagated the famous black dahlia which sold for $1,500. He had learned the art of cloriculture in his native Germany and was thus following his natural bent in indulg- ing his hobby. So expert did he become in the art of propagating and breeding flowers that he could change the color of blooms at will and he created many new flowering plants which are enjoyed by flower lovers everywhere to this day. A lover of the beautiful, he made life pleasanter by devoting his later years to the development of his latent powers in his inherited art.

Samuel Steinmetz was father of 12 children: Captain Samuel Stein- metz, an elder son, was killed while serving with the Missouri militia dur- ing the Civil War; Aaron Steinmetz was also killed in the service of his country ; Mrs. Amelia Tillman lives at Glasgow, Mo .; Edward, died in Sedalia, Mo .; Mrs. Mary Myers lives at Glasgow, Mo .; George T., subject of this review; Mrs. Catherine Weiler lives at San Francisco, Cal .; Don Palmer, lives at Texarkanam, Ark .; John is deceased; William and Nannie live in Howard County; one child died in infancy. The mother of the foregoing children died at the age of 78 years.

George T. Steinmetz embarked in the meat market business in Glas- gow when a young man and was engaged in business for 22 years. In the meantime he was owner of a farm in Howard County, Mo., which had his supervision for a number of years. He came to Boonville in 1898 and

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was bookkeeper for George Roeder & Son for two years. For two years he served as street commissioner of Boonville, and was city treasurer for four years. He filled the office of police judge of the city for one year, but of late has been contenting himself with caring for his suburban place.

Mr. Steinmetz was first married to Julia A. Stettmund, of Glasgow, Mo., who died, leaving two children: Waldo, living at Belleville, Ill .; and Mrs. Verna Rankin, now making her home with her father. Mr. Stein- metz's second marriage occurred in 1882 with Miss Annie Roeder, a daugh- ter of the late George Roeder. She died in 1914 leaving four children : Lloyd, Denver, Col .; Alice, at home with her father; Martha, deceased; Samuel, Denver, Col.

Mr. Steinmetz is a republican, a member of the Presbyterian Church and is allied with the Knights of Pythias and the Ancient Order of United Workmen.

Dr. William H. Elliot, M. D., is the leading physician and the most popular practitioner in the southern part of Cooper County. Dr. Elliot located in Bunceton in 1904 and has built up a splendid practice in Bunce- ton and the surrounding country.

William H. Elliot was born Oct. 25, 1875 in Moniteau County. He is a son of Joseph and Naomia (Turner) Elliot, both of whom were born in Moniteau County, the children of pioneer parents. Joseph Elliot was the son of William Elliot a native of Kentucky who settled in Moniteau County and cleared a farm from the wilderness in 1840.

Joseph Elliot learned the trade of blacksmith in his youth and now resides at Latham, Mo., in the 67th year of his age. His wife, Naomia, was born in 1858 and departed this life in 1891. She was a daughter of Horace Turner, who was born in 1817 at Old Franklin, Mo. ' Horace Turner was a son of Philip Turner, of Kentucky, an associate and friend of Stephen Cole, the first settler of Cooper County. It will thus be seen that Dr. Elliot is descended on his mother's side from one of the first of the Cooper County pioneer families. To Joseph and Naomia Elliot were born four sons, as follows: Napoleon, living in Oklahoma; Walker, resides at Crocker, Mo .; Luther, a farmer, living west of Bunceton.

Dr. William H. Elliot was educated in the Warrensburg State Normal School. Following that course he entered Barnes Medical College at St. Louis and was graduated from that institution in 1899. He practiced his profession for the next five years with old Doctor Latham at Latham, Mo. and then came to Bunceton. Dr. Elliot is a member of the Cooper

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County Medical Society, the Missouri State and the American Medical Associations.

Doctor Elliot was married in 1905 to Miss Alberta E. Young, of Kan- sas City, Mo., a daughter of John C. Young, a carpenter and contractor. To Dr. and Alberta C. Elliot have been born four children: Marguerite, Joseph, Raymond and William Henry Junior.

Doctor Elliot is a democrat. He is a member of the Christian Church and is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and the Knights of Pythias.

John Coleman, retired veteran grain dealer, Bunceton, was born at New Philadelphia, Ohio, Dec. 29, 1839. His parents were Ephraim and Nancy (Bess) Coleman, who were of true pioneer stock of Ohio. In 1842 he loaded his movable effects upon a wagon and set out across country enroute to Missouri. He located in Phelps County, Mo. and developed a farm. In 1859 he removed from Phelps County to Gasconade County, where he bought 300 acres of Missouri River bottom land. In the course of time the fickle and treacherous Missouri River carried away his river bottom farm and left him without a home or farm. Undaunted, he decided to make a new start and went to Moniteau County, locating at California, where he spent the remainder of his days.

John Coleman began his business career at Chamois, Mo., in 1874 and was located in that town for about six years. During the Civil War he bought horses and mules for the Federal government. After the term- ination of his business career in Chamois, he located at California, Mo., where he bought grain and live stock until his removal to Bunceton in 1886. Here he has been successfully engaged in the buying and shipping of grain and live stock for the past 31 years. His sons have taken up the business and have relieved him of the work to a considerable extent.

John Coleman was married the first time in 1865 to Miss Rhoda Edel- man who died in 1904, leaving four children: Edgar, engaged in the grain business with his father at Bunceton; Walter E., of the firm of Coleman and Lee, Bunceton; Morris, who is a partner in the grain business at Bunceton; James M. died in St. Louis. Mr. Coleman was married the second time to Eva Ewing. She died in 1907 without issue. He is a democrat; is a member of the Presbyterian Church and has been a Free Mason since 1872.

William Bechtold .- The farm of William Bechtold, south of Boon- ville, now managed by his son, George Bechtold, is, besides being a fertile tract of land, and highly productive, unique in a particular sense, because

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of the great amount of stone work which is in evidence in the buildings for ornamentation. Mr. Bechtold was originally a skilled stone mason, and artistic stone cutter who learned his trade in Germany and plied it for many years in Boonville prior to locating on the farm. A stone wash house, a stone drying and smoke house, and other structures which are built enduringly partly of stone testify to the handiwork of Mr. Bechtold. In the front yard of the Bechtold home is a complete suite of stone tables and settees handsomely carved and chiseled from the solid stone.

William Bechtold was born in Germany in 1848 and immigrated to America in 1867. Here he followed his trade of stone mason and cutter at Boonville, and worked on the construction of the Katy railroad bridge across the Missouri River. For several months he was foreman of a gang of men engaged in the stone laying of the abutments of the bridge, also the building of the pillars. He built many culverts and bridge founda- tions of stone throughout Cooper County. Me moved to his present place in 1884. There are 120 acres in the home place and 35 acres addi- tional in another tract. Owing to the continued illness of the elder Bech- told, his son George has the active management of the farm.

William Bechtold was married in 1872 to Bertha Lieber, born in Ger- many in 1849, and immigrated to America in 1851. She is a daughter of Peter and Mary Lieber. Peter Lieber came to Boonville in 1854 and reared a family of eight children, six of whom came to America; they were Joseph, Boonville township; Adam, Gottfried, Mary and John, de- ceased; and Mrs. Bertha Bechtold.

To William and Bertha Bechtold have been born the following chil- dren: William; Joseph; Herman; Albert, deceased; Frank, living on the Scott farm; George, on the home place; Paul, farmer, living on the Stretz place; Joseph, living on the Chambers farm. Mrs. Bechtold has seven grandchildren. Frank Bechtold married Nora Schuester, and has four children: Abra, Clarence, William and Mary Margaret. Joseph married Anna Martensen and has three children: Cecilia, Bertha and Anna. Paul Bechtold married Lizzie Heilman.

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History of Cooper County, Missouri, Part 115

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